“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?” (Qur’an 47:24)
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To be sure, the Qur’an itself does not especially tell us why this particular word, which is etymologically Greek, is used. It is one of many loan words in the Qur’an that have become part of the Arabic language.
However, we do have this verse:
“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon their hearts?” (Qur’an 47:24)
This verse, as well as others like it, encourage Muslims to reflect upon the Qur’an. As the word Injeel is part of the Qur’an, we may reflect upon it as well.
First it is interesting that the Qur’an mentions the word injeel 12 times.
Christian scripture and tradition tell us that Jesus (as) had 12 disciples.
So it would be good to start first with what the Qur’an says about this Injeel.
What is the information supplied about the Injeel in the Qur’an?
“O People of the Scripture, why do you argue about Ibrahim while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after him? Then will you not reason?” (Qur’an 3:65)
- Here nothing of the content of the Injeel or its nature is revealed.
- Only that it (The Injeel), like the Torah, came after Ibrahim.
Thus, Muslims would not accept the following from the Christians.
Galatians 3:8 Gospel unto Ibrahim?
“And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” (Galatians 3:8)
The Qur’an is clear that the Injeel is something that was revealed after Ibrahim and not to him.
“He has sent down upon you,, the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.” (Qur’an 3:3)
Allah revealed the Injeel.
“And Allah will teach him writing and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel.” (Qur’an 3:48)
That Allah (swt) will teach Jesus (as) the Injeel. It is noteworthy that it says that Allah (swt) will teach Jesus (as) the Torah. Now this verse can be argued in two ways.
- The Torah is not intact. If it was, Allah (swt) would not need to teach it to him as the Rabbis could do this.
- The Torah is indeed intact, but Allah is going to teach Jesus (as) the Torah via the Rabbis.
- Allah (swt) will teach Jesus (as) the truth about what is the Torah and what is not the Torah.
“And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus , the son of Mary, having authority over the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and having authority over that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.” (Qur’an 5:46)
Here we are supplied with more information about the Injeel.
- It contained guidance and light.
- It had authority over that which preceded it of the Torah.
- It contained instruction and guidance for the righteous.
We know that what was given to Jesus (as) was authority over the Torah because Allah (swt) revealed in the Qur’an:
“And having authority over the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me.” (Qur’an 3:50)
“And let the People of the Gospel(ahlu l’injili) judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.” (Qur’an 5:47)
- The People of the Gospel are to judge by what Allah has revealed therein.
Now when it says the People of The Gospel (ahlu l’injili)
It is understood that this is not the common people are not to judge by the Gospel for a number of reasons:
- The average Joe at that time was illiterate, and they were people who put their trust in who/what?
“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers.” (Qur’an 5:44)
They put their trust in their scholars to derive the truths and evidence for them. In much the same way that Muslims put their trust in their scholars to derive the truths and evidence for them.
2. Also, this was way before the printing press, and it is obvious that people did not walk around with complete manuscripts and the whole text of their sacred writings. This is a point forgotten too easily.
3. Note that the verse says: What Allah has revealed therein. This presents a caveat much like the du’a of Ibrahim:
“And remember that Ibrahim was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled: He said: “I will make thee an Imam to the Nations.” He pleaded: “And also (Imams) from my offspring!” He answered: “But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers.” (Qur’an 2:124)
If the Gospel (Injeel) was in pristine the verse could have simply stated: “And let the Christians judge by the Gospel.” Yet it is drawling attention to People of the Gospel. (ahlu l’injili) to judge by what Allah has revealed therein.
“And if only they upheld the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed [provision] from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them are a moderate community, but many of them-evil is that which they do.” (Qur’an 5:66)
- The verse only tells us that they—the People of the Gospel—did not uphold the Injeel.
- If the Injeel was sufficient, the verse would not say uphold the Injeel and “what has been revealed to them from their Lord.”
“Say, “O People of the Scripture, you are upon nothing until you uphold the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.” And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. So do not grieve over the disbelieving people.” (Qur’an 5:68)
- We are told here the Injeel has been revealed by the Lord.
- We are told that if the Injeel is not sufficient because one must stand upon all that has been revealed by the Lord.
” When Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, “This is not but obvious magic.” (Qur’an 5:110)
- Here Allah (swt) mentions that he taught Jesus (as) the Injeel.
” Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find mentioned in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be the successful.” (Qur’an 7:157)
- This Injeel that they have has information about the unlettered Prophet (saw).
*note* The Arabic word ‘maktub’ does not necessarily mean written.
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed (kutiba) to you as it was prescribed (kutiba) to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.” (Qur’an 2: 183)
This is similar to the following:
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45)
There is no mention of the name Jesus in the Law of Moses nor in the Prophets.
“For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.” (Acts 18:28)
This individual was able to prove from the scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah without having to find the name Jesus in the scriptures (TNCH).
“If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.” (John 5:46-47)
Moses (as) did not write the name Jesus a single time anywhere in the first books of the Bible, which Christians call the Pentateuch, also known as the Torah.
All the information that Christians derive about Jesus from the TNCH or Old Testament is via the process of analytical deduction.
Analytical deduction being: A deduction is information that we can determine whether is true or false based on other related pieces of information.
“Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah , so they kill and are killed. A true promise upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah ? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.” (Qur’an 9: 111)
- The Injeel contains teachings about martyrdom. Fighting in the cause of Allah.
” Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah ; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating in prayer, seeking bounty from Allah and pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers – so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Qur’an 48:29)
- That the Injeel should at the very least contain the following information:
“A plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers – so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers.”
In other words that the Injeel that Jesus (as) brought would contain at the very least this parable.
“Then We sent following their footsteps Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the approval of Allah. But they did not observe it with due observance. So We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.” (Qur’an 57:27)
The verse above says that Jesus (as) was given the Injeel.
So these are all the relevant verses concerning the mention of the word Injeel.
So what does the word Injeel mean in Greek if it is a loan word from that language?
Why would that be important?
In trying to understand their sources, the Christian academics rely primarily upon Greek manuscripts to support their claims of preservation of the text.
We are often told that the word Gospel is to be translated as ‘Good News’ or ‘The Good News’.
However, there seems to be some obfuscation as to what the εὐαγγέλιον actually means.
εὐαγγέλιον is very legible Greek for εὐ άγγελος which actually means good angel. Or of a Good Angel.
εὐ -good, well.
https://biblehub.com/greek/2095.htm
ἄγγελος- angel, messenger
https://biblehub.com/greek/32.htm
Now this is very fascinating because it tells us as Muslims what Jesus (as) received from the Angel of Revelation. This is huge evidence that Jesus (as) is not God incarnate because the message/revelation would precede from himself!
If there are good angels, are there bad angels?
According to the sacred text of the Christians, Paul, one of their chief architects, claims he was hindered by an angel from Satan.
“Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud(hyperairōmai), I was given a thorn in my flesh, a (ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ) an angel from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.” (2 Corinthians 12:7)
ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ (The Injeel of Satan) (Angel of Satan) (Gospel of Satan)
A form of this word that Paul used of himself as becoming very haughty is also used of the Anti-Christ in the following text.
“He will oppose and will exalt himself (hyperairomenos) over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
Anti in Greek actually means: In place of. It does not mean against.
Is there internal evidence with in the sacred sources of the Christians that claim there are different Injeels?
There are indeed Christians whom were alleging that those concurrent to their times were teaching things that were from negative angels? There is internal evidence stating that different angels from heaven could be giving us competing/conflicting Injeels!
“For if he that comes preach another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another (εὐαγγέλιον) gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.” (2 Corinthians 11:4)
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another(εὐαγγέλιον) gospel.” (Galatians 1:6)
“But though we, or an angel (ἄγγελος) from heaven, preach any other gospel (εὐαγγελίζηται) unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel (εὐαγγελίζεται) unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9)
Question: What if God wanted to send an angel from heaven to teach something contrary to what Paul is teaching?
Answer: Paul says let that angel be accursed!
Prima Qur’an comments: This Paul is not educated about the angel of revelation. The angel of revelation is none other than Gabriel (as).
“Say, “Whoever is an enemy of Gabriel should know that he revealed this to your heart by Allah’s Will, confirming what came before it—a guide and good news for the believers.” Whoever is an enemy of Allah, His angels, His messengers, Gabriel, and Michael, then Allah is certainly the enemy of the disbelievers.” (Qur’an 2:97-98)
“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?” (Qur’an 47:24)
So, by using this word Injeel, we believe that Allah (swt) wants to reflect on the use of this word to describe what it is that Jesus (as) was given from Allah.
By reflecting upon the etymological origin, we likewise reflect upon the obfuscation surrounding the word εὐαγγέλιον in Greek.
Again reflect upon what was said earlier:
“Now this is very fascinating because it tells us as Muslims that which Jesus (as) received from the Angel of Revelation.”
However, now rather than Jesus (as) receiving revelation from an angel. The book called: ‘Revelation’ in English now makes Jesus (as) the one sending angels!
“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel (ἀγγέλου) to his servant John.” (Revelation 1:1)
The 7 lost letters to the Churches apparently authorized by Jesus to the angels?
For example: In one letter supposedly commissioned by Jesus, it states how Jesus tells various Christian Churches how they have fallen.
“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:5-7)
“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” (Revelations: 2:14-15)
Jesus apparently reprimands one Christian Church for following a false prophet.
” Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” (Revelation 2:20)
May Allah Guide the Christians to the truth so that they do not burn in hellfire.
Prima Quran 