09-29-2007, 04:23 AM
Misconceptions raised by a lost Nazarine
Q. 1st. I read in a newspaper that 15% of the Quran speaks about the Messiah, I also read in the English translations of the meanings of Quran that Mohamed believed in Jesus, Ibraheem and all other prophets as well as their scriptures that preceded Quran. Given the previously mentioned, how come Quran accepts some of the teachings contained in the holy book such as miracles performed by Jesus, his infallibility, that he is a prophet and others. Concurrently, Quranic texts contradict a large number of teachings introduced in the holy book such as Jesus divinity as mentioned in John 1:1 and 16:3, his suffering and death in expiation of human being sins according to both OT and NT?
2nd. If Quran is an error free book, how come there are a number of sects in Islam such as the Shia and others?
3rd. Why does Islam allow polygyny while the holy bible prohibits this practice by virtue of John 2:24 and Mathew 5:19?
My soul is searching for the truth.
A. Praise be to Allah,
1st. Allah may He Be Glorified and Exalted frequently mentioned Messiah Jesus son of Mary prayer and peace be upon him in His book for numerous reasons as follows:
He is one of Allah’s Prophets who is also one of the Messengers of strong will sent to Allah’s creation and devotees. Believing in him is a must just exactly as believing in the other prophets according to Allah’s command in: “Say, "We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and to the tribes, and that which has been given to Moses and Jesus, and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam)." (Quran 2:136).
Being the closest – time wise – to the nations which received messengers, people of the book, i.e Jews and Nazarine – who also received messengers – were expected to be more concerned about Dawa. Both Jews and Nazarines were aware of the advent of Prophet Mohamed prayer and peace be upon him. Their Torah and Injil contain his description. They should not deny it on the contrary they should hasten to believe in him specially that they already believe in messengers contrary to idol worshipers. Based on their violating attitude presented in rejecting Allah’s command to believe in the final messenger prayer and peace be upon him, a response to their position became necessary. They were frequently mentioned in many Ayahs of Quran with special emphasis on introducing their distortion of the monotheism and provisions.
Monotheism is the fundamental of fundamentals forming the basis of Deen (religion) and Dunia (this world). Rescue from Hell and admission into Jannah depends on monotheism. It is to declare the Oneness of Allah the One Who Is not Made of parts. Jews and Nazarines had a disparity regarding Jesus prayer and peace be upon him. The Jews claimed that he is a phony, liar and claiming falsehood on Allah who deserves to be killed! As for the Nazarines, their inter conflict is even more serious. A group of them claimed that he is Allah! Others claimed he is the son of god who is united with god in divine persons, they further explained that superficially he is the son of god while in reality he is god! In another opinion, he is the third of the divine persons that stand as the reference of the basic of monotheism as well as core of the trinity! Another group sees him as a messenger sent by Allah and a human being just like all other creations. But Allah exclusively empowered him to perform miracles and use it as argument with the servants of Allah. The latter group is correct. In light of this situation, it was necessary to clearly explain and reveal the truth in order to present Jesus in the image he deserves. Being a human being, just like all other prophets and messengers who is created from mud, does not diminish his position. Allah Chose him from among the human beings to be born without the normal interference of a male aiming to manifest Allah’s Capability to Create even in the absence of the key factors of creation.
Matter of fact, according to Allah, the creation of Jesus is just simply like that of Adam as explained in Quran: “Verily, the likeness of Jesus before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "Be!" - and he was.” (Quran 3:59). This is the criterion in creating Allah’s Prophet Jesus in a miraculous manner right in front of the naked eyes of mankind whereas in fact the creation of Adam is even more miraculous.
As for Jesus prayer and peace be upon him who was born without the interference of a male father, Allah Created Adam in absence of the normal male – female process which is a stronger evidence to Allah’s Capacity regarding to creation and innovation. It is even a more effective miracle than creating Jesus prayer and peace be upon him. Due to all of the previously mentioned and other points, it was important to explain in detail the issue of Jesus prayer and peace be upon him aiming to establish the relevant facts.
Conclusion: Miracles that Allah may He be Exalted Endowed upon Jesus peace and prayer be upon him are similar to the miracles of all the other prophets. They aim to prove his position as a messenger of Allah who is saying the truth. Those who adopted a distorting position, introduced those miracles in a confusing manner to simple people. They turned his miracles into means to present him as the son of god or god himself. All this is seen as distortion to the teaching of Jesus and his message.
As such, in case all those who followed prophets turned their miracles bestowed by Allah into causes to make those prophets divine, all prophets would be turned into gods. Actually, each prophet was granted a different type of miracles that distinguish him from others. For example, mountains praised Allah with David, while they didn’t do the same with Jesus. The sea was split into two sections for Moses who also spoke with Allah and Allah Spoke with him, while Jesus didn’t. Allah Flooded the earth in response to the invocation of Noah, while this was not granted to Jesus. As for Mohamed prayer and peace be upon him, Allah advantaged him with revealing Allah’s Word. His miracle was well protected against elimination and distortion. He was sent to all mankind (and Jin this is not in the article but this should be mentioned). He was also granted different types of miracles which were not enabled to Jesus, will this makes them gods?
2nd: As for the point saying that if Quran was not distorted, why there are numerous groups such as Shia and others?
A. Quran has nothing to do with people being right or wrong in their orientation. Quran is a book of guidance to people. Actually, Allah Warned against those groups and Told us not to follow the example of other nations who divided their religions as in Quran: “Always) Turning in repentance to Him (only), and be afraid and dutiful to Him; and perform the prayer and be not of the polytheists (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, idolaters, etc.).* Of those who split up their religion (i.e. who left the true Islamic Monotheism), and became sects, [i.e. they invented new things in the religion (Bid'ah), and followed their vain desires], each sect rejoicing in that which is with it.” (Quran 30:32).
And “And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment.” (Quran 3:105).
Allah Commanded them to adhere to His book and follow the Sunnah of His Messenger prayer and peace be upon him saying: “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren, and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Signs clear to you, that you may be guided.” (Quran 3:103). In another Ayah, Allah Say: “you who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allah and His Messenger, and fear Allah. Verily! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Quran 49:1).
This means that be ware not to say something or do an action that violate the book of Allah and Sunnah of His Messenger prayer and peace be upon him.
Conclusion: Allah may He be Exalted warned people against being divided and Commanded them to adopt unity, however, they followed their own whims, desires and misconceptions. They also ignored the book of Allah and kept it behind their backs. They interpreted Quran and Sunnah in a way that satisfies their own goals.
But what is more important is that the point being raised against the authenticity of Quran is the same point that stands as a clear proof to its authenticity. If Muslims were not to divide, the words of Allah in this book as well as the misconception regarding the Prophethood of Mohamed prayer and peace be upon him wouldn’t have been cleared. Because Quran is the word of Allah and because Mohamed prayer and peace be upon him is His final messenger, Muslims did divide. The Messenger of Allah said in a hadeeth:
Narrated under the authority of Abi Horairah that the Messenger prayer and peace be upon him said: The Jews were divided into seventy one or seventy two groups, and the Nazarines the same, and my Ummah shall divide into seventy three groups. (reported by Sunan Termidhi).
Is there a stronger argument that can stand (even it is against this Ummah) that Quran is the word of Allah that was well Protected, not distorted, changed, twisted, taken from and that Mohamed prayer and peace be upon him who clearly foretold the condition of the Ummah 1400 years ago is the final Messenger. Who taught Mohamed about this anticipated condition?? Only Allah Can do that. Thus, Quran is not distorted that is why Muslims divided into sects, try counting them we are very close to this figure and will certainly come to it very soon. Truth Sayer Is Allah. A reader might say but the Ayahs are warning against division not stating that this shall take place. We tell the reader, we are going to try and help you overcome the language barrier. Quran is the word of Allah Who Is the Khabeer (Well Acquainted with all things), Allah in a simple format Told us about the condition of the past nations while concurrently warning us not to follow with an implication that the Ummah is going to be inflicted with this trauma of division. This is exactly how each one of the above mentioned noble Ayahs serve. And Allah Knows best.
3rd. As for the question pertaining to the permissibility of polygyny in Islam that was prohibited in the NT. Allah may He be Glorified and Exalted enacted a methodology and legislation to each messenger. Allah Sent no prophet except to call for monotheism, however, legislations came different and they even abrogated one another. What was permissible – of rulings and legislations - during Adam’s era prayer and peace be upon him was abrogated during Noah. Likes wise Mussa’s legislations were abrogated during Jesus era prayer and peace be upon all of them as established in the Ayah:
“To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way.” Quran 5:48.
Nevertheless, polygyny was not prescribed in the law revealed to Mohamed prayer and peace be upon solely. But it was permissible according to the provisions of other preceding prophet such as Jacob prayer and peace be upon him who took two wives who were even sisters according to the OT Genesis 29: 15 – 35.
Father of the Prophets peace and prayer be upon him was married to two women; namely Hajjar and Sarah. The OT contained information as well about the marriage of Allah’s Apostle David to numerous women according to Samuel 2 3:2-5. There are other examples explaining that each of the prophets applied what Allah decreed for him of rulings and provisions. Thus, we conclude that polygyny is not an exclusive practice permitted to this Ummah. As for the Nazarines prohibiting this practice, it might be for two reasons:
1. It was a part of Allah’s legislation that must be applied before the message of Mohamed prayer and peace be upon him. 2. They invented it themselves aiming to impose strict rulings just exactly as they did when they invented Monasticism. Through this practice, they were seeking to please Allah may He be Glorified.