06-17-2004, 07:54 PM
Bismillah
As salam alaikum
Muslims believe that Allah sent down all three books but the only book that has remained unchanged for centuries has been the Qur'an. Allah Says that He Will Protect the Qur'an from ever being tainted as past books were. In the Qur'an it also states that jews changed the words of their Lord. If the words are changed then they are no longer from Allah. The Torah and the Gospel that exist today are not in the forms that Allah revealed them.
One example that I found on my own was in my mother's family Bible, quite an old edition. In it Jesus promised that after him the comforter would come after him and teach him about our religion. When I read this, I was amazed. Who else could this be but the Prophet Muhammad? He came after Jesus and taught everything about the religion of Allah, all acts of worship, manners, encompassing all aspects of life. Yet when I went to point out this passage to a friend of mine later, the Bible that they owned had changed the word from comforter to Holy Spirit. So the interpretations of men tainted the Bible's true message. If one believes that Jesus is the end all of the religion then one must do away or tweek the discrepensies that present itself.
Also the four gospels in included in the Bible were not the only ones written. Many people wrote accounts of Jesus' life. Some made him out to be more God than man. Others made him more human than God. The gospel of Barnabas (an apostle) actually portrays Jesus as just a prophet of God. Why were these gospels not included? A council was held to decide which gospels would be perpetuated, a council of men. Once again, humans are deciding how to define the religion that Allah Sent us? Can you see the error in this?
So when muslims say that we believe in the Torah and Gospel and Qur'an, we mean in the forms in which they were revealed, not the altered versions of the Torah and Gospel that are present today.
"Many times in the Quran I have read that Allah says the ones who believe in the Gospel, the ones who believe in the Torah, and the ones who believe in the Quran are the ones who are righteous."
Allah is referring to those who followed the uncorrupted books at their times. He is Also referring to the jews and christians who believed in their message then heard the message of Islam and followed Islam. Jews and christians are rewarded for recognizing the fact that Islam is the finale of the message that Allah has been Sending since the beginning of time.
Those who hear of the message but refuse to follow Islam can be likened to person trying to become a doctor. The jews would be like the student who believes that they already know enough after earning a bachelors degree. Sure they have some knowledge but not enough to be a full doctor. Believing that one can practice medicine at this level can only lead to trouble. The christians would be like those who think they are finished with their education after medical school. They know more than the one who only has only a bachelors but they still have far to go before becoming a full doctor. Muslims are those who understand that all three stages are important but know that without the last part of the education, their knowledge is incomplete which will only result in troubles and possible harm.
Does it seem logical to begin a book so stop reading halfway through and believe that one knows the story?
Insha'Allah this has been helpful. If not for anyone else, it has renewed my faith a bit. Allah Forgive me for the mistakes that I made. Alhamdulillah.
As salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu