CHAPTER 3: SECTION SIX: REFUTING THE CHRISTIANS’ CLAIM
To answer the previous claim, we say:
This verse does not support the Christians’ claim for it placed the Christians, the Jews, and the Sabians on the same level. The Christians agree with the Muslims that the Jews are disbelievers, as Jesus was sent to them but they believed him. The Sabians are also disbelievers because they too believed the prophets who were sent to them. If there were any praise for the Christians who adhered to their religion after Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent to them, the Jews would be included in that, which is not possible according to the Christians and the Muslims. And if the verse does not intend any praise for the religion of the Jews after it was abrogated and changed, this would mean that it does not intend any praise for Christianity after it was abrogated and changed. The same argument can be said to the Jews if they want to refer to the verse to prove the validity of their religion. Moreover, the Christians regard the Jews as disbelievers; so, if their religion is true, then the Jews are surely disbelievers; and if the Jewish religion is true, then Christianity will surely be false. One of the two religions must be incorrect, so it is impossible that their praise would be mentioned in the verse while they are regarded as being on the same footing.
We are sure that the verse does not intend to praise either of the two religions after they were abrogated and changed. But it is correct to say that the verse refers to those who believe in Muhammad (peace be upon him), the followers of Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) who adhered to his religion before it was abrogated and changed, the followers of Jesus who adhered to his religion before it was abrogated and changed, and the monotheist Sabians, like the Arab Sabians and others, who adhered to the true religion of Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael), and Ishaq (Isaac) (peace be upon them all), before it was abrogated and changed. The Arabs are those who belong to the descendants of Ismail, who lived near the Ancient House (i.e., the Ka’bah), which was built by Ibrahim and Ismail. They were both monotheists who embraced the true religion of Ibrahim. Then, this religion was changed by one of the rulers of the Khuza’a tribe named ‘Amr bin Luhay. He was the first person to change the religion of Ibrahim by introducing polytheism and prohibiting what Allah had made permissible. That was why the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I saw ‘Amr bin Luhay dragging his intestines in Hellfire.” He (‘Amr bin Luhay) was the first person to assign Bahirah (a she-camel whose milk was spared for the idols and nobody was allowed to milk it) and Sa’ibah (a she-camel let loose for free pasture for their false gods, e.g., idols, etc., and nothing was allowed to be carried on it. They changed the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham). Similarly, the descendants of Ishaq (Isaac, peace be upon him) had adhered to the religion of Ibrahim before Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) was sent to them, so they are among the happy, praiseworthy people. So, Allah, exalted be He, praised all those who adhered to the religion of Musa, Christ, and Ibrahim in the Qur’anic verse,
Which means, verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians (worshippers of stars), whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.’ (Al-Baqarah, 5: 69)
Thus, the people of the Scripture, after the changes they made in their religion and its abrogation, are not counted among those who believe in Allah and in the Last Day; as Allah, the Exalted, says in the following verse,
which means, “Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e., Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” (At-Tawbah, 9:29)
By: Sheikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah
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