CHAPTER 3: SECTION TWO: REFUTING THE CHRISTIANS’ CLAIM ASKING THE PEOPLE OF THE SCRIPTURE
They said that the Qur’an also says,
which means, “So if you (O Muhammad) are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed unto you, [i.e. that your name is written in the Tawrah (Torah) and the Injil (Gospel)] then ask those who were reading the Book [the Tawrah (Torah) and the Injil (Gospel)] before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So be not of those who doubt (it).” (Yunus, 10: 94)
The Answer:
It is an acknowledged fact that the verse is not referring to Christians only, for the Jews also read the Book before us. We explained before that ‘the book’ or ‘the Scripture’ is a gender in the verses which contains phrases like ‘O people of the Scripture’ and in verses that say,
which means, “Lest you (pagan Arabs) should say: The Book was only sent down to two sects before us (the Jews and the Christians).'” (Al-An’am, 6: 156)
The Divine order for Muhammad (peace be upon him) to ask the people of the Scripture in case of doubt does not mean that the prophet himself doubted. The order is either for him or for anyone else, which is more likely.Basing the judgment on a condition does not entail implementing that condition. In fact, the purpose of mentioning an impossible condition may be to clarify its judgment.
Allah, the Exalted, says,
which means, “And We bestowed upon him Ishaq (Isaac) and Ya’qub (Jacob), each of them We guided, and before him, We guided Nuh (Noah), and among his progeny Dawud (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), Ayyub (Job), Yusuf (Joseph), Musa (Moses), and Harun (Aaron). Thus do We reward the good-doers. And Zakariyya (Zachary), and Yahya (John) and Isa (Jesus) and lliyas (Elias), each one of them was of the righteous. And Isma’il (Ishmael) and Al-Yasa’a (Elisha), and Yunus (Jonah) and Lut (Lot), and each one of them We preferred above the ‘Alamin (mankind and jinn) (of their times). And also some of their fathers and their progeny and their brethren, We chose them, and We guided them to a Straight Path. This is the Guidance of Allah with which He guides whomsoever He will of His slaves. But if they had joined in worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.” (Al-An’am, 6: 84-88)
The above verse stresses the fact that if they had been guilty of joining in worshiping others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them. However, prophets can never join others in worship with Allah, because they are infallible concerning the message with which they were sent.
We find the same meaning when Allah says, “So if you (O Muhammad) are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed unto you, (i.e. that your name is written in the Torah and the Gospel) then ask…” it is no proof that there is an actual doubt or questioning. In fact, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would never ask any of them for verification.
What is meant here is to clarify that the people of the Scripture have evidence, which proves your truthfulness regarding matters, which the disbelievers disbelieve you in. Allah, the Exalted, says,
which means, “Say: ‘Sufficient for a witness between me and you is Allah and those too, who have knowledge of the Scripture (such as ‘Abdullah bin Salam and other Jews and Christians who embraced Islam).'” (Ar-Ra’d, 13: 43)
This Point has Several Aspects:
One: Previous Divine Books state that Musa (Moses) and other prophets invited people to worship Allah alone and forbade them from joining others in worship with Him. Thus, this was proof against those who think that joining others in worship with Allah can ever be a religion. Allah says,
which means, “And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We inspired him (saying): La ilaha ilia Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)), so worship Me (Aione and none else).”‘ (Al-Anbiya’, 21: 25)
Two: The people of the Scripture know that Allah sent human beings and not angels as prophets to mankind. Some disbelievers claim that Allah would not send any messenger except an angel or a human being accompanied by an angel, and they wondered at sending a human being alcne without an angel. Allah, the Exalted, says,
which means, “And nothing prevented men from believing when the guidance came to them, except that they said: ‘Has Allah sent a man as (His) Messenger?’ Say: ‘if there were on the earth, angeis walking about in peace and security, We should certainly have sent down for them from the heaven an angel as a Messenger.”‘ (Al-lsra’, 17: 94-95)
Allah, the Exalted, also says,
which means, “And they say: ‘Why has not an angel been sent down to him?’ Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been judged at once, and no respite would be granted to them. And had We appointed him an angel, We indeed would have made him a man, and We would have certainly caused them confusion in a matter which they have already covered with confusion (i.e. the Message of Prophet Muhammad).” (Al-An’am, 6: 8-9)
Therefore, Allah, the Exalted, clarifies that mankind could not stand having angels as messengers, so if He, the Almighty sends an angel, that angel would assume the form of a human being, and thus, people would be confused and think that he is a human being. Thus Allah, the Exalted, orders people to ask the people of the Scripture whether the messengers sent to them were humans or angels in order to present the proof to those who disapprove of sending a human being.
Three: Those who are skeptical about the Prophet are ordered to ask the people of the Scripture about what happened to their prophets and their nations. They were asked to question what was the end of those who believed in them and those who disbelieved in them.
Four: They are also ordered to ask the people of the Scripture about the religion which Allah sent with His Messengers. It was the religion of Islam that was agreed upon by all the messengers. Among its teachings are the following: commanding to believe in the Oneness of Allah, adhering to truthfulness and justice, being dutiful and merciful to one’s parents, maintaining good relations with kith and kin, and forbidding associating partners in worship with Allah, doing injustice and committing abominable sins.
Five: Through asking the people of the Scripture, skeptical people will know the witnesses and prophecies concerning the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). This was mentioned in the Qur’an. Allah says,
which means, “..and My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) ! shall ordain for those who are the Muttaqun (pious – see V.2:2), and give Zakah; and those who believe in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs and revelations, etc.). Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad) whom they find written with them in the Tawrah (Torah) (Deut, xviii, 15) and the Injil (Gospel) (John xiv, 16), – he commands them to Al-Ma’ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from A!-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Taiyyibat ((i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), and prohibits them from unlawful Al-Khaba’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah’s Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them….” (Al-A’raf, 7: 156-157)
Allah, the Almighty also says,
which means, “And (remember) when ‘Tsa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: ‘O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you confirming the Tawrah ((Torah) which came) before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed. But when he (Ahmed i.e. Muhammad) came to them with clear proof, they said: This is plain magic.'” (As-Saff, 61: 6)
‘Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) believed in the Messenger as well as the Book revealed before him, which is the Tawrah (Torah), and gave glad tidings of the coming of a Messenger after him whose name would be Ahmad.
The verification that the people of the Scripture knew about the description of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is evident in their original books. The fact that they changed the words of Allah is evident and they have no pretext in what was revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him).
By: Sheikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah
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