AL BAYAN - Surah AL IMRAN - Part 10 - Verses 61 - 74 - Javed Ahmed Ghamidi

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.