Peace unto those who follow the right guidance. A transcript of a video was shared by some friends on Facebook and I feel compelled to respond (based on my own limited understanding of the Qur’an). I wouldn’t want to go into the tafsir (commentary) of the relevant verses this former ‘imam’ alluded to but would rather clarify some points for those with sound judgement to comprehend. It was claimed that Mariam (Mary) went to heaven in her physical form in Qur’an 50:23 which is a palpable falsehood. And his companion, [the angel], will say, This [record] is what is with me, prepared. Clearly, the above verse he quoted has absolutely nothing to do with Mary or anything to do with ascension to heaven. It was also claimed that chapter three of the Qur’an is named ‘Family of Mary’ which is also an inaccuracy. The correct name for the chapter is ‘Family of Imran’. It was also stated that, Jesus (AS) was mentioned more than Muhammad (SAW) by name in the Qur’an which is correct. However, what this ‘honest’ ex-‘imam’ failed to add is that, Moses (AS) and a host of other prophets and messengers were also mentioned by name many more times than both Jesus (AS) and Muhammad (SAW) in the Qur’an. Simply put, it is absolutely baseless to claim superiority of Jesus (AS) over Muhammad (SAW) on this score. For your information, the only prophet mentioned in the Qur’an whom Allah and the angels salute is Muhammad (SAW) [Qur’an 33:56]. I wonder how this gentleman could miss this after reading the whole of the Qur’an. On the point about Jesus being ‘the Word of God’, the text from the Qur’an actually says (literally) ‘…a word from Allah’ (bi kalimaati minal Lah). If the text in arabic had read ‘bi al kalimaatil Lah’, then it would have been appropriate to translate that literally as ‘the Word of Allah’. Without going deep into Arabic grammar, I will just conclude on this point by saying that, regardless of how anyone decides to translate, it still does not confer any form of divinity to Jesus (AS) but rather, it implies that Jesus is one of the many signs from God. For instance, does the fact that Christians believe the Bible is the word of God means that the Bible is the Creator? Or does that make the Bible an object of worship??? Jesus spoke while in a cradle, true! This only tells you the reliability of the Qur’an as a Book from God. How could the authors of the Bible miss this all-important miracle of Jesus? Oh, they were men and forgetful too. All the prophets sent by God performed various miracles and this is not a piece on ‘Miracles of Prophets of God’ but suffice to state that, this ‘sincere’ so-called ex ‘imam’ failed to say that the same Qur’an he claimed to have read over and over also stated that Muhammad ascended to the above the seven heavens (where no creature including Jesus has ever been) to receive the Salat (the five compulsory prayers) in one night. The point here is, God chooses whom He wills from among His creation to perform a specific task and cannot be construed to mean equality or partnership with God whatsoever. It appears this ex ‘imam also missed out on a verse where God talks about his prophets and messengers as regards to their statuses. In Qur’an 2:253 God says ‘those messengers – some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke (directly) [ie, Muhammad and Moses] and He (Allah) raised some of them above others. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and We supported him with the Pure Spirit (Angel Gabriel)’.Also, the point about Jesus’ ability to give life is highly disingenuous because this gentleman failed to add the other side of the verse which Jesus himself admitted he did all that by the permission of Allah. The relevant verse also answers the question of the status of Jesus and it reads (to the nearest meaning); Qur’an 3:49“And (make him) a MESSENGER to the Children of Israel, (who will say), ‘Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay (that which is) like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. And I cure the blind and the leper and I give life to the dead by permission of Allah. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you if you are believers’.” Finally, a point was made of the fact that Muhammad (SAW) was commanded to seek clarification from the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) if he was in doubt about what has been sent down to him (ie, the Qur’an). In fact, this should be argument for the Muslims about the truthfulness of Muhammad as a Prophet and Messenger of God because the previous nations (ie, Jews and Christians) before us had full knowledge of the coming of Muhammad in which he Muhammad was asked to confirm from those who had prior knowledge of this fact. It similar to a verse in Chapter 2:89 which reads (to the nearest meaning):“And when there came to them a Book from Allah confirming that which was with them – although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved – but (then) when there came to them that which they recognised, they disbelieved in it; so the curse of Allah will be upon the disbelievers”. And also similar to another verse in the same chapter in verse 146 which reads; “Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him (Muhammad) as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know (it)”. My final commentsThe Qur’an being the verbatim Word of God and for that matter, a book of timeless guidance has answers to all your questions. It is amazing how this ‘sincere’ ex ‘imam’ after having read the Qur’an thoroughly as he claimed to have done could not spot the following verses about who God truly is; Qur’an 112:1-4 “Say, ‘He is Allah, (who is) One,Allah, the Eternal RefugeHe neither begets nor is bornNor is there to Him any equivalent” The verses above give the criteria for choosing an object of worship. Any born or created thing cannot be worshipped and for that matter, God! The Qur’an also has this to say concerning the miraculous birth of Jesus (AS) in quran 3:59: “Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him ‘Be’, and he was.” I hope this piece will go a long way to clear all doubts in the minds of both muslims and non-muslims alike who may have read the ‘expose’ of this ex ‘imam. Once again peace unto those who follow the (right) guidance!
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 11:19:46 +0000
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