Al-Bayan, Discourses on the Qur'an Javed Ahmad Ghamidi
Surah Aal i Imran Aayaat 61 to 117.
Gratitude is only for God, the Lord of the World,
and may His peace and mercy be on Muhammad, the trustworthy.
I seek refuge with God from the accursed Devil.
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful.
Ladies and Gentlemen, We are beginning
the study of Surah Aal I Imran from verse 61 in the Quran.
It is the last verse of that chain of narration
where the truth of Prophet Jesus has been manifested
upon the christians.
Muslims are made aware that this is the truth that Allah has clarified.
And after making explicit the point about the manner in which the jews
have conducted themselves with this emiment Prophet,
the Quran has thrown light on the nature of their crimes.
At a end of the discourse, the Quran said:
Faman haaajjaka feehi mim ba 'di maa jaaa'aka minal 'ilmi
after you have received knowledge in this regard,
that is, the sort of knowledge that was discussed earlier.
The manner in which the Quran has explicated
the truth is referred to as Al-Ilm
You have received knowledge in this regard,
You can make an argument in the case
where you have not received knowledge,
where the truth has not manifested itself.
The Prophet (pbuh) is seemingly addressed in these verses;
if people still dispute with you after you have received knowledge in this regard.
In other words, You have received knowledge,
the truth has been manifested
even then if your addressees are not willing to listen to you.
Since, these are the people of the book, since they profess faith in Allah
and believe that one day they will be standing in the court of Allah,
all these things are there.
It is not that they are disbelievers or that they have doubts
about the existence of God.
They profess faith in his books, and his prophets
but they run away from the facts.
They are a Muslim community.
So, the Quran said that they profess faith in Allah,
so if they are not willing to accept truth, based on evidence,
the truth which has been explicated in great deal before them
then tell them: You people believe in God and so do we,
then let us put god in charge of this issue.
faqul then tell them:
ta'aalaw Come
nad'u abnaaa'anaa wa abnaaa'akum
then tell them: “Come, let us call our sons and your sons,
wa nisaaa'anaa wa nisaaa'akum our wives and your wives,
wa anfusanaa wa anfusakum our people and your people,
summa nabtahil then We pray together
fanaj'al la'natal laahi 'alal kaazibeen
Then We pray, suplicate and call down the curse of God on every liar.
In other words, we call down the wrath of Allah.
The matter has now boiled down to what is right and what is wrong
Now, if someone deliberately lies, then according to the Quran:
put God in charge of this issue.
This verse in the Quran is known as the Mubahala verse.
This is the same verses of the Quran, known as Mubahala verse
This verse is used to end the discussion.
Firstly, we saw that arguments were given, the truth was made explicit,
and then as a challenge it was said that we are confident about
the truth and soundness of our position.
And with this certainty we are asking you
to put God in charge of this issue.
It is verse showcasing weariness. An expression of dismay.
When the discourse is not settled through discussion,
then it is said that:
let us call our sons and your sons
our wives and your wives,
our people and your people, then We pray
and call down the curse of God on every liar.”
In other words, let us put God in charge of this issue.
Consequently, the Prophet (pbuh) is asked to convey this message.
The Prophet (pbuh) is asked to put an end to this debate with this proposition.
And then the Quran further reiterated:
Innaa haazaa lahuwal qasasul haqq;
There is no doubt that this is the whole truth.
This statement does not demand any rational deliberation.
Come and then pray to Allah to put an end to this matter.
He will decide In this world and the next.
wa maa min ilaahin illal laah;
There is no doubt that This is the whole truth
The truth is that there is no truth to the misconceptions
that you have about Jesus
There is no god but God. He is alone worthy of worship.
wa innal laahaa la Huwal 'Azeezul Hakeem It is God who is the Mighty, the Wise One.
Fa in tawallaw If they show indifference then,
if they are still unwilling to accept the truth then tell them:
fa innal laaha'aleemun bil mufsideen
If they show indifference then [their stubbornness
will become evident to people also] because God knows such mischief mongers.
Allah doest need to know these things.
But if they are unwilling to accept the truth then there will be consequences.
The result of putting the discussion to end in this style would be that
their stubbornness will become evident to people also.
They only want to stubbornly adhere to it in their false pride.
They are left with nothing substantial to say.
Divinity is only for God. Jesus (pbuh) or any person has no share in it.
Whatever status a Prophet has is on the basis of a servant and
a messenger of the Almighty.
The mistakes that they have made with respect to the facts
they have been adhering to we have manifested those
facts in their real shape and form.
Now you have received knowledge, you should pray together in this regard.
The Quran has said, while ending this discussion, the way we say that
let us put god in charge of this issue.
Come and let us pray and call down the curse of God on every liar
and let God declare his judgement.
There is no scope for rational argumentation between us.
We have reached the end of our discussion.
It is obvious that there could have been one possibility after that
where they would have said that they are really truthful,
that they are certain about their position.
Since you have put an end to this discussion here
then let us come and pray to Allah.
But we know from history that nothing of this sort happened.
A lot of stories have become commonplace with respect to this verse.
But if you locate it in the Quran and the manner in which it has been revealed
this is a statement to your brethren, to fellow believers,
those who believe in the same religion, those who have recieved His guidance,
they have received this statement which symbolises an end to this discussion
where they pray and call down the curse of God on every liar,
whether it is Us or Them.
This is the point where the discussion ends.
In a way, the Quran has ended the discussion on a point of certainty.
You cannot find any proof of it in any of the historical facts,
there was to response in this regard from the other side.
You cannot find an instance where in both of them came on the same table
put forward their views, or accepted the challenge or anything of that sort.
Rather the Quran is silent on this issue and there is no mention of it.
Since, the discussion was culminated by the Quran on this issue,
The Quran reiterated and carried on its mission,
Qul yaa Ahlal Kitaabi [Tell them]: “O People of the Book!
ta'aalaw ilaa Kalimatin sawaaa'im bainanaa wa bainakum
Come to what is common between you and us:
Is there a contradiction between us in principle with respect to Tawheed
which is the reason behind this debate?
If you read the Torah or the Gospel,
you will find out that they are proclaiming the oneness of God.
People are divided into numerous sects.
So, it is not as though they have conflicting opinions
on the conceptualisation of tawheed.
Is is not as if some of them have decided that they no longer accept tawheed.
If you talk to Deobandis, Barelvis or Ahl Hadees
or if you talk to people who have a different point of view,
all of them will tell you that they believe in the oneness of Allah.
So, the Christians and the Jews say the same thing.
Even today if you speak with the Jewish or Christian scholars,
they will insist that they accept the oneness of Allah.
Where does the problem lie?
In Muslim communities, sometimes the problem occurs due to certain
interpretations, or sometimes due to some narrations,
and sometimes owing to our prejudices we give rise to certain misconceptions
through which we make our own interpretations
in order to make room for our own misconceptions.
It was the same case with the philosophical theology
in the Christian tradition.
The conception that they had of Jesus or of Moses was not found in the Bible
or the Torah respectively which they then misunderstood.
Even today we have the collection of bible at our disposal.
And even today if you read it,
you will find that this statement which its mentioned in the Quran that
Come to what is common between you and us:
That point which is agreed upon by us and them.
What is that point?
allaa na'buda illal laaha that we will worship none but God,
wa laa nushrika bihee shai'anw
that we will associate none with Him,
wa laa yattakhiza ba'dunaa ba'dan arbaabam min doonil laah;
and that none of us shall make other deities besides God.
In other words, the Quran elaborated on this point.
There is only one God worthy of worship.
That we will worship none but God, That we will associate none with Him,
and that none of us shall make other deities besides God.
We should do nothing of the sort.
At another instance, the Quran instructs us to
call people towards God through wisdom and sound counsel.
So, the Quran has given this invitation in the same manner.
A special feature of this methodology of wisdom is that
if there is some commonality in views, between you and the interlocutor,
it should be used as a launchpad to start the discussion.
A person should not needlessly and recklessly present views
which are unique to him.
Thus the Qur’ān here has also adopted this method.
Since the People of the Book were recipients of divine guidance,
they were fully aware of the teaching of monotheism
and also claimed to be its vociferous advocates.
Very recently I went to Britain and the Christians were distributing
copies of Arabic translation of the Bible.
They were distributing it to spread the message.
I have it with me.
If you open it, its first page reads:
'We are the believers in one god alone.
They have marked out those passages in the Bible
where this point is made using the same set of words.
If you translate it in Arabic, it will read as following:
La illaha illalah
Hence, they mentioned it.
This is the extent to which they insist on it.
This teaching can be found in their books in quite clear terms.
If they had become incriminated with various forms of polytheism,
it was not because there was any room for it in their religion,
but it was through the path of religious innovation that they were led into it.
And, as the Quran said in the beginning of this chapter that
by following the mutashābihāt issues
Like the issues of the unseen world mentioned in the Quran,
which is planned for later.
People tend to misinterpret and take wrong implications out of these verses.
The Qur’ān called upon them to take heed of this commonality of tawhīd:
Muslims and Christians both believe that no one except God
should be worshiped nor partners be associated to Him and
nor anyone be regarded as the Lord.
So, the Quran said that this is a universal truth, a common ground,
a common factor, Muslims and Christians both believe in it.
Come and forsake that which you are practicing
in contradiction to this common factor.
They should be concordant with each other on this fundamental point.
The Qur’ān called upon them to analyze their beliefs
and such spurious beliefs which we have adopted against pure tawhid
should be discarded.
Here a specific mention of the fact that no deities besides God should be set up
refers to the authority (This point has been made explicit
in the Quran at another instance)
which the People of the Book had invested their clergy and ascetics
regarding what is prohibited and what is permissible.
Allah says that, in such an arrangement, the authority to decide
what is prohibited and what is permissible.
is with Allah alone,
It is nobody's business to command people regarding what is prohibited
and what is permissible.
the Qur’ān has clarified that investing someone
with such an authority is equivalent to make something as one’s Lord.
Discarding all such things, the Quran called upon them
to come to what is common between you and us:
fa in tawallaw But if they turn away even after this,
faqoolu say:
ish'adoo bi annaa muslimoon Bear witness, then, that we are Muslims.
The word 'we are muslims' has been used literally here.
The People of the Book should be witness to the fact that
Muslims have fulfilled their responsibility by communicating to them
that tawhīd is the real essence of Islam.
If a person deprives oneself of it, he can never reach the Almighty.
The People of the Book should be witness
to the fact that Muslims have testified to the truth of Allah.
So, they were called upon...
on first instance, arguments were put forth the entire reality of Jesus
was made explicit,
how the jews conducted themselves with Jesus was clarified
and then they were called upon to the commonality of tawheed
for which the arguments were already made
and the argumentation had reached such a point that
at the end of the discourse it was said that
if you really insist on something apart from this point
and if you really think that you are the carriers
of the word of Allah,
then let us sit together and pray for the curse of Allah upon the lies.
The invitation was concluded with this point.
This is the truth and let go of your stubbornness
and Come to what is common between you and us.
Yaaa Ahlal Kitaabi limaa tuhaaajjoona feee Ibraaheema
People of the Book! Why do you argue about Abraham?
Why would you present the name of Abraham (pbuh)
in support of your innovations and idolatrous views,
that you have made part of your religion?
Since Abarham is the leader of of all monotheistic traditions.
Things have begun from him only.
Both Jews and Christians believe in the apostleship of Abraham.
And they associate themselves with his message.
And when the Quran mentions Abraham and states that
your innovations were not part of Abraham's teachings.
He was the standard bearer of pure Tawhid.
And so they would start fighting them.
Yaaa Ahlal Kitaabi People of the book
imaa tuhaaajjoona feee Ibraaheema
Why do you argue about Abraham?
wa maaa unzilatit Tawraatu wal Injeelu illaa mim ba'dih;
even though the Torah and the Gospel were only revealed after him?
The Torah and the Gospel were not revealed before Abraham.
In fact, they were revealed much later after him.
Then how is it possible that the Torah and the Gospel stated something
which you interpreted and then
tried to present Abraham (pbuh) in support of those views.
It is not possible.
it is similar to a person interpreting the views of contemporary religious sects
and then ascribing those views to the Prophet (pbuh).
During the time of the Prophet (pbuh), there were no deobandis, or ahl-Hades
or Barelvis. His followers were given the name Muslim.
So, when you are ascribing a view to the Prophet (pbuh),
you can't try to present the Prophet in support of the views of your own sects.
These were a later development.
Here, the Quran used the same argument;
How is it possible?
Why do you argue about Abraham?
Why do you drag him in support of your innovations?
We couldn't comprehend this verse until we had a practical experience
where every group tries to prove that the Prophet (pbuh)
was a Hanafi or Shafei or Maliki
This is the situation upon which the Quran has commented
that people of the book it is such a stupid position.
limaa tuhaaajjoona feee Ibraaheema
How did Abraham become a part of this debate?
If you want to hold a conversation then talk about your innovations.
The Jews, Christians and the Idolaters–
all three would try to present Abraham (pbuh) in support of their errant views,
as he was considered their forefather.
Here the Qur’ān has referred to their dispute:
Just like I mentioned that the hanafis would claim that the Prophet (pbuh)
was a hanafi, the Shias would claim that the prophet was a Shia
the Sunni would claim that the Prophet (pbuh) was a Sunni.
When they are making these arguments they are basically claiming these things only.
The Quran said that both the Torah and
the Gospel were revealed centuries after him;
how could then Abraham (pbuh) be a Christian or a Jew?
What sort of a frenzy are you in?
You know that both the Torah and the Gospel
were revealed centuries after him.
afala ta'qiloon Then do you not understand even this?
They are not being able to grasp this simple fact.
afala ta'qiloon Then do you not understand even this?
Haaa antum haaa'ulaaa'i haajajtum feemaa lakum bihee 'ilmun
Indeed, you are the ones who have argued about things
of which you have some knowledge.
Those things of which you had some knowledge;
let's say we had a debate on the Torah or the Bible
and you argued about that. Tell us:
falima tuhaaajjoonaa feemaa laisa lakum bihee 'ilm;
Must you now argue about that of which you have no knowledge at all?
In other words, if a narration or a Hadith was being discussed, then
if you try to drag Abraham into this argument
what is the basis of this knowledge?
We could have discussed the knowledge that you possessed
or the arguments that your scholars or jurists were making
but why are you arguing about that of which you have no knowledge at all?
wallaahu ya'lamu wa antum laa ta'lamoon
And [in reality] God knows, but you know not.
The truth was made explicit by Allah.
And what is that truth? The truth is that:
Maa kaana Ibraaheemu Yahoodiyyanw wa laa Nasraaniyyanw
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian;
This is a categorical truth.
One of the groups among you wants to prove that Abraham was one of them,
as I mentioned.
They are not going to say it outright but the truth is that
every group wants to present the prophets in support of their views.
So, the Quran said that has there been a confusion about this fact,
about the birth of Prophet Abraham. That he was born later?
This is a categorical truth that neither the Torah nor the Gospel were
revealed at that time.
So, the Quran said that And [in reality] God knows, but you know not.
Listen to the truth.
Maa kaana Ibraaheemu Yahoodiyyanw wa laa Nasraaniyyanw
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; Who was he?
wa laakin kaana Haneefam Muslimanw He was but a devout Muslim.
With utmost devotion he commenced a journey of Tawhid.
This was Abraham. Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian;
This is the same point which should be put across
to the groups in contemporary times that these innovations that
you consider religious commands and the sects that you consider the standard
of good and evil, the Prophet (pbuh) did not teach us any of these things.
The Prophet (pbuh) taught us the oneness of God,
and called us upon to become Muslims.
The Prophet (pbuh) did not call upon us to join certain sects or groups.
The Prophet (pbuh) has no connection with any of those groups.
The Prophet (pbuh) gave people the name of Islam.
He was but a devoted Muslim.
The Quran has argued with them along the same lines.
Maa kaana Ibraaheemu Yahoodiyyanw wa laa Nasraaniyyanw
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian;
wa laakin kaana Haneefam Muslimanw he was but a devoted Muslim
Abraham (pbuh) was obedient to God and solely adhered to the path of the truth.
This is what Haneef refers to.
wa maa kaana minal mushrikeen And he was also not among the Idolaters.
The Jews, Christians and the Idolaters are three groups.
The Quran said that Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian nor an idolater.
Now, let me tell you who Abraham was really related to.
Innaa awlan naasi bi Ibraaheema lallazee nattaba 'oohu
Those who followed Abraham are more entitled to ascribe themselves to him
and adhered to the path of Abraham.
The Quran elucidated a principle here that Abraham's follower would be someone
who adheres to the path of Abraham
and not someone who is been captivated by his own innovations and his own sect.
after explicating this position in terms of a principle, the Quran said:
wa haazan nabiyyu
Only this Prophet (pbuh) is entitled [to this ascription] who is calling upon you
wallazeena aamanoo; and those who professed faith in him,
those who are the standard bearers of tawheed.
Hence, the Quran refuted their innovations and stated that
if someone is entitled [to this ascription], it is these people.
They are entitled to this ascription, as they are giving the right message of Islam
Not the ones who are associated with sectarianism or the ones
who are the standard bearers of polytheism
or the ones who are associating Abraham (pbuh) among jews and christians.
Only Abraham's followers are entitled to his ascription
and after that it is the Prophets who can claim entitlement to His ascription.
and those companions who have professed faith to the path of Abraham.
wallaahu waliyyul mu'mineen
and know that God is a companion of such faithful.
The Quran said it so beautifully that the basis for ascription to Abraham
is devoting yourself to Abraham's religion, his method and
his devotion to the oneness of God.
Abraham was but a devoted Muslim and he was also not among the Idolaters.
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian;
Only these people are entitled to his ascription
And if their ascription is to Abraham and Abraham's relation is with God
then God's companionship will be reserved for those people
and not for you.
Look how beautifully the Quran has exposed
their claims of companionship with God: wallaahu waliyyul mu'mineen
and God is a companion of such faithful.
And what does 'a companion of such faithful' mean?
The implication is that if God is their guardian,
He will help them and also grant them dominance over their enemies.
This point has been made explicit in the Quran
right at the begining of its message in terms of
Abraham's religion, what he was the standard bearer of,
and the message that he brought with himself.
He called upon them to take heed tawhīd,
He was the standard bearer of Tawheed
Just as Abraham (pbuh) had no relation with Judaism and Christianity,
similarly, he (pbuh) had no relation with the Idolaters of Makkah.
the Idolaters of the Ismaeilites are not directly addressed in this sūrah.
As has been explained earlier, this sūrah is specifically addressed
to the People of the Book, in particular the Christians.
If the Idolaters are refuted in some of their views,
it is in a secondary capacity.
What is stated here is also stated in a secondary manner
and the need to mention it, as indicated earlier,
arose because just as the Jews and Christians would present
the name of Abraham in support of their innovations and deviant views,
in a similar manner, in fact even more vehemently,
the Idolaters of the Quraysh would present his name in their support;
they went as far as to claim that the people of the book
were followers of the later Prophets
but the religion they were following was inherited by them from Abraham (pbuh).
Due to this reason, the Quran includes them to make the entire point explicit
with respect to who Abraham was and the basis for any relationship with him.
This is in the nature of human beings that the way man is inclined towards religion
and the truth, he similarly engenders a relationship with the great personalities.
In our civilisation, the being and character of the Prophet (pbuh)
forms the basis of everything.
whatever point one has to prove he does it in relation to the Prophet (pbuh).
If someone has to claim an affiliation with Islam,
they do it vis a vis the Prophet (pbuh).
This was an opportunity to refute such misguided claims
which were made vis a vis the Prophets.
The Quran made explicit the truth behind the mission of Abraham
and then stated that only a true follower,
is entitled to ascribe themselves to him.
A devout muslim, adhering to the path of tawhid is entitled to ascribe themselves
to him and not someone who indulges in idolatry and religious innovations.
Waddat taaa'ifatum min Ahlil Kitaabi law yudil loonakum
O Believers, a group from among the People of the Book
desires to somehow make you deviate from the right path;
In other words, the people who pin point certain things.
On the one hand, you have the apostle of Allah,
who is calling upon you [towards Islam] with a revelation descending upon him.
But the common populace give attention to both sides.
Now, the Quran is addressing them:
[Believers!] a group from among the People of the Book desires ...
though it is a group which is doomed, a group which is adhering to evil
and is deliberately denying the truth
they desire to somehow make you deviate from the right path;
wa maa yudilloona illaaa anfusahum
and [in reality] they mislead none but themselves,
wa maa yash'uroon but they do not understand.
This method used by the Quran embodies such wistfulness.
Look, this group is well aware of the fact that they are on the side of evil.
and it is not only that but
the People of the Book desire to somehow mislead the Muslims
who are on the right path.
But do they not know that [in reality]
they mislead none but themselves,
They are further misled. wa maa yash'uroon
but they do not understand.
Yaaa Ahlal Kitaabi lima takfuroona bi Aayaatil laahi wan antum tashadoon
People of the Book! Why do you deny God’s revelations
when you have witnessed them!
It would have made some sense if someone else had denied the revelations
even though you are witnesses upon it.
The repetition in this sentence is to express reproach and yearning:
in spite of the fact that they are People of the Book
they are trying to mislead people.
Yaaa Ahalal Kitaabi lima talbisoonal haqqa bilbaatili
People of the Book! Why do you mingle truth with falsehood
wa taktumoonal haqqa
People of the Book! Why do you hide the truth
wa antum ta'lamoon when you know it well!
You know the truth.
This style of repetition of this word is to express reproach and yearning
about their pettiness in spite of the fact that the truth has been manifested.
Notice the reproach in these verses that:
People of the Book! Why do you deny God’s revelations
People of the Book! Why do you deny the truth
when you bear witness to them?
Why do you mingle truth with falsehood?
Why do you hide the truth when you know it?
Wa qaalat taaa'ifatum min Ahlil Kitaabi
And a group of the People of the Book says:
aaminoo billazeee unzila 'alal lazeena aamanoo wajhan nahaari
wakfurooo aakhirahoo la'alla hum yarji'oon
As it was mentioned earlier that they try to deviate the simple minded
among muslims from the right path.
Here, its form has been elucidated that one of their group says:
aaminoo billazeee unzila 'alal lazeena aamanoo wajhan nahaari
And a group of the People of the Book says:
“Believe in that which is revealed to believers in the morning
wakfurooo aakhirahoo
and deny it in the evening
la'alla hum yarji'oon. so that they may themselves abandon their faith.
Earlier, it was mentioned that they hide the truth.
This is a reference to the interpolations of the People of the Book
regarding the Baytul Haram, the chronicles of Abraham (pbuh)
and the predictions made by their Prophets
about the advent of Muhammad (pbuh).
The words 'wa antum ta'lamoon' (when you know it)
show that the scholars of the Jews
present in the time of the revelation of the Qur’ān
were aware of these interpolations.
Nothing was hidden from them.
And then later it was stated that they used a ploy.
What was the ploy they used so that they may themselves abandon their faith?
One of the tricks was that their leaders trained some of their people
to first openly declare faith in Islam so as to be regarded as Muslims and later ...
the use of the word 'night and day'
should not be understood in a literal manner.
It means doing someonthing in the morning
and then denying it at night.
It is usually said that when a person,
after committing any kind of mistake or crime, quickly repents from that work
Quran uses a similar idiom here.
What it means is that you should profess faith,
spend a few days with Muslims,
and then tell them that you have observed the faith up close
and the flaws has become clear.
and later dissociate themselves from it by recounting some flaws in this faith.
It is a very efficient method by which a common man
becomes confused about his religion.
That look, they are so sincere and honest, they professed faith in Islam,
had the claim been truthful, they would have stood by it.
One of the benefits of this trick would be to shake the faith of
the Muslims and even they would start to think.
It is obvious that they could not manage to deceive
the likes of Abu Bakr or Umar.
They would be induced to think that there indeed was some flaw in this faith
because of which the literati, who were well versed in religion,
had their own history,
find themselves repelled by it after drawing close to it.
Naturally, they would be induced to think that
there indeed must have been some flaw in this faith,
because of which the literati, who were well versed in religion,
find themselves repelled by it after drawing close to it.
which only suggests that
there indeed were some flaw in this faith.
If you read the Quran you will understand how different groups play their own part
to deceive someone of his faith and put them in a state of contention.
It is a ploy which they thought would be useful in this suburban settlement
so that they may themselves abandon their faith
The Quran unveiled this plot, and stated that this is what they had planned.
Wa laa tu'minooo illaa liman tabi'a deenakum
Believe in that which is revealed to believers in the morning and
deny it in the evening so that they may themselves abandon their faith
and then the Quran stated:
and do not listen to anyone except those of your own faith”
When you go to them, keep in mind to only listen to people from your own faith
This sentence is worthy of attention.
when religious leadership becomes stable
and religious innovations and such things become stimulating for people
then a truthful message arises as was the case here.
it is obvious that the earlier message
which was brought to us by other Prophets was the truth as well.
when innovations, misguidance, deviations became part of that message,
when tawhid was replaced by polytheism,
a number of misconceptions were created in relation to the religion.
The belief in Jesus's divinity and atonement came into being,
which is present right in front of us.
what happens when the Quran starts raising the curtain from these things
Now, what after that?
Then they say that the scholars of truth are among our group,
in fact the tradition of truth is also within our group.
There can be a possibility that a message can be heard and if there is something
worth appreciation, it can further be communicated to others
so that they can accept something that is reasonable.
Or the other method that the Quran states is:
Wa laa tu'minooo illaa liman tabi'a deenakum
and do not listen to anyone except those of your own group.”
and if you so much as show an inclination to listen to anyone
except those of your own faith, then you will be misguided.
there is no doubt about it.
Recently, I saw that our dar-ul-uloom gave a fatwa against 3 individuals.
it has already been published.
one among them is yours truly, another Dr. Israr Ahmad and then Dr. Zakir Naik.
A fatwa has been published against three of us.
The point that has been made in the fatwa is that
we should cross check their claims with our own religious scholars.
Accept their points only if they are in accordance
with the views of our own scholars reject their claims if they don't match
with the views of our own scholars.
This mindset has been described by the Quran in the following verse:
Wa laa tu'minooo otherwise, you are in the right.
you will say that the truth is not restrained in any one place.
All of us are human beings.
It is possible that we may have made a mistake
Go and listen to their point of view.
even we will accept it if there is some truth to it
they tell their people:
Wa laa tu'minooo illaa liman tabi'a deenakum
and do not listen to anyone except those of your own faith
now listen to the reply given by the Quran
qul Tell them [O Prophet!]:
innal hudaa hudallaahi
Guidance in reality is the guidance of God!
guidance is not with people.
qul innal hudaa hudallaahi
Guidance in reality is the guidance of God!
This statement was made in contrast to the corresponding verse that was to follow
in order to show how foolishly they act.
The actual verse corresponding with the previous verses of the Quran was:
do not listen to anyone except those of your own. Why?
ai yu'taaa ahadum misla maaa ooteetum mubaada
[so do not listen to it] lest such a thing which is bestowed on you
is bestowed on others aw yuhaaajjookum 'inda Rabbikum,
or that they dispute with you in your Lord’s presence.
qul Tell them:
innal fadla biyadil laah; you were given an office.
you were bestowed with a status,
an honour, Allah had given you a post, a responsibility.
God did not tie His hands.
Here, Allah referred to the first point when they said that
do not listen to anyone except those of your own faith
the Quran commented that
Guidance in reality is the guidance of God
guidance does not come from your own people or from others
then the Quran stated another point:
[so do not listen to it] lest such a status and honour
which is bestowed on you, here the curtain is raised from the hidden
it is actually us
[so do not listen to it] lest such a thing which is bestowed on you
is bestowed on others.
Here, their jealousy is being noted.
Here the Quran has said that
Tell them: “Grace, blessing, honour is in the hands of God
innal fadla biyadil laah; yu'teehi mai yashaaa'
He bestows it on whom He will.
wallaahu Waasi'un 'Aleem He is not a miser like you.
God is munificent and all-knowing.
Yakhtassu birahmatihee mai yashaaa'
He is merciful to whom He chooses;
wallaahu zulfadlil 'azeem His blessings are immense.
This is how the Quran has commented on their words,
this verse has other implications and we will discuss those implications
in the begining of our next session.
Now, listen to the simple translation of these verses.
Then if they still dispute with you
after you have received knowledge in this regard,
then tell them: “Come, let us call our sons and your sons,
our wives and your wives, our people and your people,
then We pray and call down the curse of God on every liar.”
This is the whole truth. There is no god but God.
Surely it is God who is the Mighty, the Wise One.
If they show indifference then [their stubbornness will
become evident to people also] because God knows such mischief mongers.
[Tell them]: “O People of the Book!
Come to what is common between you and us:
that we will worship none but God, that we will associate none with Him,
and that none of us shall make other deities besides God.”
If they turn away, say: “Bear witness, then, that we submit to God.
People of the Book! Why do you argue about Abraham
even though the Torah and the Gospel were only revealed after him?
Then do you not understand even this?
Indeed, you are the ones who have argued about things of which
you have some knowledge.
Must you now argue about that of which you have no knowledge at all?
And [in reality] God knows, but you know not.
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; he was but a devoted Muslim
and he was also not among the Idolaters.
Those who followed Abraham are more entitled to ascribe themselves to him.
After this, this Prophet is entitled [to this ascription]
and those who professed faith in him and God is a companion of such faithful.
[Believers!] a group from among the People of the Book
desires to somehow make you deviate from the right path;
and [in reality] they mislead none but themselves,
but they know not. People of the Book!
Why do you deny God’s revelations when you bear witness to them?
People of the Book! Why do you mingle truth with falsehood when you know it?
And a group of the People of the Book says:
“Believe in that which is revealed to believers in the morning
and deny it in the evening so that they may themselves abandon their faith
and do not listen to anyone except those of your own faith” –
Tell them [O Prophet!]: “Guidance in reality is the guidance of God!”
– [so do not listen to it] lest such a thing which is bestowed on you
is bestowed on others or that they dispute with you in your Lord’s presence.
Tell them: “Grace is in the hands of God:
He bestows it on whom He will. God is munificent and all-knowing.
He is merciful to whom He chooses; His blessings are immense.
I say this saying of mine, and
I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and for you and for all Muslims.