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Al-Bayan, Discourses on the Qur'an
Javed Ahmad Ghamidi
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Surah Aal i Imran
Aayaat 61 to 117.
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Gratitude is only for God,
the Lord of the World,
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and may His peace and mercy
be on Muhammad, the trustworthy.
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I seek refuge with God
from the accursed Devil.
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In the Name of God, the Most Gracious,
the Ever Merciful.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, We are beginning
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the study of Surah Aal I Imran from
verse 61 in the Quran.
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It is the last verse of that chain
of narration
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where the truth of Prophet Jesus
has been manifested
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upon the christians.
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Muslims are made aware that this
is the truth that Allah has clarified.
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And after making explicit the point
about the manner in which the jews
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have conducted themselves with this
emiment Prophet,
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the Quran has thrown
light on the nature of their crimes.
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At a end of the discourse,
the Quran said:
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Faman haaajjaka feehi mim ba
'di maa jaaa'aka minal 'ilmi
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after you have received knowledge
in this regard,
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that is, the sort of knowledge that
was discussed earlier.
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The manner in which the Quran has
explicated
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the truth is referred to as Al-Ilm
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You have received knowledge
in this regard,
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You can make an argument in
the case
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where you have not received knowledge,
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where the truth has not
manifested itself.
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The Prophet (pbuh) is seemingly
addressed in these verses;
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if people still dispute with you after you
have received knowledge in this regard.
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In other words, You have received
knowledge,
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the truth has been manifested
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even then if your addressees are
not willing to listen to you.
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Since, these are the people of the book,
since they profess faith in Allah
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and believe that one day they will
be standing in the court of Allah,
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all these things are there.
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It is not that they are disbelievers
or that they have doubts
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about the existence of God.
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They profess faith in his books,
and his prophets
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but they run away from the facts.
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They are a Muslim community.
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So, the Quran said that they profess
faith in Allah,
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so if they are not willing to accept
truth, based on evidence,
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the truth which has been explicated
in great deal before them
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then tell them: You people believe in God
and so do we,
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then let us put god in charge of
this issue.
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faqul
then tell them:
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ta'aalaw
Come
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nad'u abnaaa'anaa wa abnaaa'akum
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then tell them: “Come, let us call our
sons and your sons,
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wa nisaaa'anaa wa nisaaa'akum
our wives and your wives,
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wa anfusanaa wa anfusakum
our people and your people,
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summa nabtahil
then We pray together
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fanaj'al la'natal laahi 'alal kaazibeen
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Then We pray, suplicate and call down the
curse of God on every liar.
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In other words, we call down the
wrath of Allah.
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The matter has now boiled down to
what is right and what is wrong
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Now, if someone deliberately
lies, then according to the Quran:
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put God in charge of
this issue.
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This verse in the Quran
is known as the Mubahala verse.
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This is the same verses of the Quran,
known as Mubahala verse
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This verse is used to end the discussion.
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Firstly, we saw that arguments were
given, the truth was made explicit,
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and then as a challenge it was said
that we are confident about
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the truth and soundness
of our position.
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And with this certainty we
are asking you
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to put God in charge of
this issue.
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It is verse showcasing weariness.
An expression of dismay.
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When the discourse is not settled
through discussion,
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then it is said that:
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let us call our sons and your sons
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our wives and your wives,
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our people and your people, then
We pray
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and call down the curse of
God on every liar.”
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In other words, let us put God in charge
of this issue.
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Consequently, the Prophet (pbuh) is asked
to convey this message.
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The Prophet (pbuh) is asked to put an
end to this debate with this proposition.
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And then the Quran further
reiterated:
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Innaa haazaa lahuwal qasasul haqq;
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There is no doubt that
this is the whole truth.
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This statement does not demand
any rational deliberation.
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Come and then pray to Allah
to put an end to this matter.
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He will decide In this world and the
next.
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wa maa min ilaahin illal laah;
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There is no doubt that
This is the whole truth
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The truth is that there is no truth to
the misconceptions
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that you have about Jesus
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There is no god but God.
He is alone worthy of worship.
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wa innal laahaa la Huwal 'Azeezul Hakeem
It is God who is the Mighty, the Wise One.
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Fa in tawallaw
If they show indifference then,
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if they are still unwilling to accept the
truth then tell them:
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fa innal laaha'aleemun bil mufsideen
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If they show indifference then [their
stubbornness
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will become evident to people also]
because God knows such mischief mongers.
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Allah doest need to know these things.
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But if they are unwilling to accept the
truth then there will be consequences.
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The result of putting the discussion to
end in this style would be that
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their stubbornness will become
evident to people also.
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They only want to stubbornly adhere
to it in their false pride.
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They are left with nothing substantial to
say.
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Divinity is only for God. Jesus (pbuh)
or any person has no share in it.
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Whatever status a Prophet has is on
the basis of a servant and
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a messenger of the Almighty.
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The mistakes that they have made with
respect to the facts
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they have been adhering to we have
manifested those
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facts in their real shape and form.
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Now you have received knowledge,
you should pray together in this regard.
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The Quran has said, while ending
this discussion, the way we say that
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let us put god in charge
of this issue.
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Come and let us pray and call
down the curse of God on every liar
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and let God declare his judgement.
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There is no scope for rational
argumentation between us.
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We have reached the end of our discussion.
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It is obvious that there could have
been one possibility after that
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where they would have said that
they are really truthful,
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that they are certain about their
position.
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Since you have put an end to
this discussion here
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then let us come and pray to Allah.
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But we know from history that nothing
of this sort happened.
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A lot of stories have become commonplace
with respect to this verse.
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But if you locate it in the Quran and
the manner in which it has been revealed
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this is a statement to your brethren, to
fellow believers,
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those who believe in the same religion,
those who have recieved His guidance,
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they have received this statement which
symbolises an end to this discussion
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where they pray and call down the
curse of God on every liar,
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whether it is Us or Them.
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This is the point where the
discussion ends.
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In a way, the Quran has ended the
discussion on a point of certainty.
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You cannot find any proof of it in
any of the historical facts,
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there was to response in this regard
from the other side.
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You cannot find an instance where in
both of them came on the same table
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put forward their views, or accepted the
challenge or anything of that sort.
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Rather the Quran is silent on this
issue and there is no mention of it.
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Since, the discussion was culminated by the
Quran on this issue,
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The Quran reiterated and carried on
its mission,
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Qul yaa Ahlal Kitaabi
[Tell them]: “O People of the Book!
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ta'aalaw ilaa Kalimatin sawaaa'im
bainanaa wa bainakum
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Come to what is common
between you and us:
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Is there a contradiction between us
in principle with respect to Tawheed
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which is the reason behind this debate?
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If you read the Torah or the
Gospel,
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you will find out that they are
proclaiming the oneness of God.
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People are divided into numerous
sects.
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So, it is not as though they have
conflicting opinions
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on the conceptualisation of tawheed.
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Is is not as if some of them have decided
that they no longer accept tawheed.
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If you talk to Deobandis, Barelvis or
Ahl Hadees
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or if you talk to people who have a
different point of view,
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all of them will tell you that they
believe in the oneness of Allah.
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So, the Christians and the Jews
say the same thing.
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Even today if you speak with the
Jewish or Christian scholars,
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they will insist that they accept the
oneness of Allah.
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Where does the problem lie?
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In Muslim communities, sometimes
the problem occurs due to certain
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interpretations, or sometimes due
to some narrations,
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and sometimes owing to our prejudices
we give rise to certain misconceptions
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through which we make our
own interpretations
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in order to make room for our own
misconceptions.
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It was the same case with
the philosophical theology
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in the Christian tradition.
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The conception that they had of Jesus
or of Moses was not found in the Bible
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or the Torah respectively which they
then misunderstood.
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Even today we have the collection of
bible at our disposal.
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And even today if you read it,
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you will find that this statement which
its mentioned in the Quran that
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Come to what is common between you and us:
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That point which is agreed upon by us and
them.
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What is that point?
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allaa na'buda illal laaha
that we will worship none but God,
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wa laa nushrika bihee shai'anw
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that we will associate none with Him,
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wa laa yattakhiza ba'dunaa ba'dan
arbaabam min doonil laah;
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and that none of us shall make other
deities besides God.
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In other words, the Quran elaborated
on this point.
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There is only one God worthy of
worship.
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That we will worship none but God,
That we will associate none with Him,
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and that none of us shall make
other deities besides God.
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We should do nothing of the sort.
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At another instance, the Quran instructs
us to
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call people towards God
through wisdom and sound counsel.
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So, the Quran has given this
invitation in the same manner.
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A special feature of this methodology
of wisdom is that
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if there is some commonality in views,
between you and the interlocutor,
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it should be used as a launchpad
to start the discussion.
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A person should not needlessly and
recklessly present views
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which are unique to him.
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Thus the Qur’ān here has also
adopted this method.
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Since the People of the Book were
recipients of divine guidance,
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they were fully aware of the
teaching of monotheism
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and also claimed to be its
vociferous advocates.
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Very recently I went to Britain and the
Christians were distributing
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copies of Arabic translation of the
Bible.
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They were distributing it to spread the
message.
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I have it with me.
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If you open it, its first page reads:
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'We are the believers in one god alone.
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They have marked out those passages
in the Bible
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where this point is made using the same
set of words.
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If you translate it in Arabic,
it will read as following:
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La illaha illalah
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Hence, they mentioned it.
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This is the extent to which
they insist on it.
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This teaching can be found in
their books in quite clear terms.
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If they had become incriminated
with various forms of polytheism,
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it was not because there was
any room for it in their religion,
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but it was through the path of religious
innovation that they were led into it.
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And, as the Quran said
in the beginning of this chapter that
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by following the mutashābihāt issues
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Like the issues of the unseen world
mentioned in the Quran,
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which is planned for later.
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People tend to misinterpret and take
wrong implications out of these verses.
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The Qur’ān called upon them to take
heed of this commonality of tawhīd:
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Muslims and Christians both believe
that no one except God
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should be worshiped nor partners
be associated to Him and
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nor anyone be regarded as the Lord.
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So, the Quran said that this is a
universal truth, a common ground,
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a common factor, Muslims and Christians
both believe in it.
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Come and forsake that which you
are practicing
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in contradiction to this common factor.
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They should be concordant with each other
on this fundamental point.
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The Qur’ān called upon them to
analyze their beliefs
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and such spurious beliefs
which we have adopted against pure tawhid
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should be discarded.
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Here a specific mention of the fact that
no deities besides God should be set up
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refers to the authority (This point has
been made explicit
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in the Quran at another instance)
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which the People of the Book had
invested their clergy and ascetics
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regarding what is prohibited
and what is permissible.
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Allah says that, in such an arrangement,
the authority to decide
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what is prohibited
and what is permissible.
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is with Allah alone,
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It is nobody's business to command people
regarding what is prohibited
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and what is permissible.
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the Qur’ān has clarified that
investing someone
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with such an authority is equivalent
to make something as one’s Lord.
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Discarding all such things,
the Quran called upon them
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to come to what is common
between you and us:
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fa in tawallaw
But if they turn away even after this,
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faqoolu
say:
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ish'adoo bi annaa muslimoon
Bear witness, then, that we are Muslims.
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The word 'we are muslims' has been
used literally here.
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The People of the Book should
be witness to the fact that
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Muslims have fulfilled their responsibility
by communicating to them
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that tawhīd is the real essence of Islam.
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If a person deprives oneself of it,
he can never reach the Almighty.
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The People of the Book should be witness
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to the fact that Muslims have
testified to the truth of Allah.
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So, they were called upon...
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on first instance, arguments were put
forth the entire reality of Jesus
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was made explicit,
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how the jews conducted themselves
with Jesus was clarified
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and then they were called upon
to the commonality of tawheed
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for which the arguments were
already made
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and the argumentation had reached
such a point that
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at the end of the discourse it was
said that
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if you really insist on something
apart from this point
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and if you really think that
you are the carriers
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of the word of Allah,
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then let us sit together and pray
for the curse of Allah upon the lies.
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The invitation was concluded
with this point.
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This is the truth and let
go of your stubbornness
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and Come to what is common
between you and us.
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Yaaa Ahlal Kitaabi limaa tuhaaajjoona
feee Ibraaheema
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People of the Book! Why do you argue
about Abraham?
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Why would you present the name
of Abraham (pbuh)
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in support of your innovations and
idolatrous views,
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that you have made part of your
religion?
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Since Abarham is the leader of of all
monotheistic traditions.
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Things have begun from him only.
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Both Jews and Christians believe
in the apostleship of Abraham.
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And they associate themselves
with his message.
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And when the Quran mentions Abraham
and states that
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your innovations were not part
of Abraham's teachings.
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He was the standard bearer of
pure Tawhid.
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And so they would start fighting them.
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Yaaa Ahlal Kitaabi
People of the book
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imaa tuhaaajjoona
feee Ibraaheema
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Why do you argue about Abraham?
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wa maaa unzilatit Tawraatu wal
Injeelu illaa mim ba'dih;
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even though the Torah and the Gospel
were only revealed after him?
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The Torah and the Gospel were
not revealed before Abraham.
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In fact, they were revealed much later
after him.
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Then how is it possible that the Torah
and the Gospel stated something
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which you interpreted and then
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tried to present Abraham (pbuh) in
support of those views.
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It is not possible.
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it is similar to a person interpreting the
views of contemporary religious sects
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and then ascribing those
views to the Prophet (pbuh).
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During the time of the Prophet (pbuh),
there were no deobandis, or ahl-Hades
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or Barelvis. His followers were given
the name Muslim.
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So, when you are ascribing
a view to the Prophet (pbuh),
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you can't try to present the Prophet
in support of the views of your own sects.
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These were a later development.
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Here, the Quran used the same argument;
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How is it possible?
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Why do you argue about Abraham?
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Why do you drag him
in support of your innovations?
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We couldn't comprehend this verse
until we had a practical experience
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where every group tries to prove that the
Prophet (pbuh)
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was a Hanafi or Shafei or Maliki
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This is the situation upon which
the Quran has commented
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that people of the book it is
such a stupid position.
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limaa tuhaaajjoona feee Ibraaheema
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How did Abraham become a part of this
debate?
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If you want to hold a conversation then
talk about your innovations.
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The Jews, Christians and the Idolaters–
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all three would try to present Abraham
(pbuh) in support of their errant views,
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as he was considered their forefather.
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Here the Qur’ān has referred
to their dispute:
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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
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the Sunni would claim that the
Prophet (pbuh) was a Sunni.
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When they are making these arguments they
are basically claiming these things only.
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The Quran said that both the Torah and
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the Gospel were revealed centuries
after him;
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how could then Abraham (pbuh)
be a Christian or a Jew?
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What sort of a frenzy are you in?
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You know that both the Torah and
the Gospel
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were revealed centuries after him.
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afala ta'qiloon
Then do you not understand even this?
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They are not being able to
grasp this simple fact.
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afala ta'qiloon
Then do you not understand even this?
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Haaa antum haaa'ulaaa'i haajajtum
feemaa lakum bihee 'ilmun
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Indeed, you are the ones who have
argued about things
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of which you have some knowledge.
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Those things of which you
had some knowledge;
-
let's say we had a debate on the
Torah or the Bible
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and you argued about that.
Tell us:
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falima tuhaaajjoonaa feemaa
laisa lakum bihee 'ilm;
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Must you now argue about that of
which you have no knowledge at all?
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In other words, if a narration or a Hadith
was being discussed, then
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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
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And [in reality] God knows,
but you know not.
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The truth was made explicit by Allah.
-
And what is that truth?
The truth is that:
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Maa kaana Ibraaheemu
Yahoodiyyanw wa laa Nasraaniyyanw
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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,
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as I mentioned.
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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
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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
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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.