CHAPTER 6: REFUTING THE CHRISTIANS’ CLAIM
The Islamic Law Combines Justice and Generosity:
The answer to the Christian claim will be given in several parts:
One, it should be said that there are in fact three laws: a law of justice only, a law of generosity and a law that combines the two. The latter is a law that enjoins justice but prefers generosity and tolerance, and this is the most perfect law among the three. It is the law of the Qur’an, in which justice and generosity are combined. But we cannot deny that Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) enjoined justice but preferred generosity, as did Christ.
As for those who say that Christ enjoined generosity and prohibited every oppressed person from retaliating against his oppressor, or that Musa did not prefer benevolence, this is considered as being a flaw in the law of the prophets.
But it could be said that there is more mention of justice in the Torah, while in the Gospel, there is more mention of generosity. The Qur’an is associated between the two in a most perfect way.
The Qur’an explains that the joyous dwellers of paradise, who are the pious worshippers of Allah are of two types: the pious people who strictly perform whatever is obligatory and abandon whatever is prohibited and the nearest people to Allah who perform whatever is obligatory as well as whatever is desirable.
The first degree is attained by justice, which means performing obligations and abandoning prohibitions, while the higher degree cannot be attained except through generosity, which indicates performing obligations as well as ail desirable acts and abandoning prohibitions as well as all undesirable acts.
Therefore, the complete law is that which combines justice and generosity, as the Exalted says,
which means, “And if the debtor is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him time till it is easy for him to repay.” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 280)
Then He, the Almighty says,
which means,” but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but know.” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 280)
This is a desirable and preferable kind of generosity, and whoever does it, Allah will reward him and exalt his rank. But whoever abandons it will not be punished.
The Exalted also says,
which means, “and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, (it is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave and a compensation (blood money, i.e., Diyyah) be given to the deceased’s family.” (An-Nisa’, 4: 92)
This is justice. Then He, the Almighty adds,
which means, “unless they remit it. ” (An-Nisa’, 4: 92)
That is generosity.
The Exalted also says,
which means, “And wounds equal for equal.” (AI-Ma’idah, 5: 45)
So, this is justice Then He, the Almighty adds,
which means, “But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation.” (Ai-Ma’idah, 5: 45)
That is generosity.
Concerning another issue, the Exalted says,
which means,” And if you divorce them before you have touched (had a sexual relation with) them, and you have appointed unto them the Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), then pay half of that (Mahr).” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 237)
So, this is justice. Then He, the Almighty adds,
which means, “Unless they (the women) agree to forego it, or he (the husband), in whose hands is the marriage tie, agrees to forego and give her full appointed Mahr. And to forego and give (her the full Mahr) is nearer to At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.).” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 237)
That is generosity.
The Exalted also says,
which means, “And if you punish (your enemy, O you believers in the Oneness of Allah), then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted.” (An-Nahl 16:126)
This is justice. Then He says,
which means, “But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).” (An-Nahl 16: 126)
That is generosity.
The Exalted also says,
which means, “The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof.” (Ash-Shura, 42: 40)
This is justice. Then He, the Almighty says,
which means, “but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.” (Ash-Shura 42: 40)
That is generosity.
Two, Allah sent messengers to order people to do what is for their benefit. The Exalted says,
which means, “Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e., neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection. He will say, ‘O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before).’ (Allah) will say, ‘Like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came unto you, but you disregarded them (i.e., you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hellfire, away from Allah’s Mercy).'” (Tana, 20: 123-126).
Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent with judgment and benefits greater than those with which Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) were sent. In addition, uprightness was achieved in the affairs of Allah’s servants in this life and the next one is many times greater than that which happened by sending Musa and ‘Isa as regards rulership over mankind.
His law of guidance and the true religion is more complete than what is in the two previous laws. Allah facilitated for him that many of His creatures would follow and be guided by him more than he did for the previous messengers. The virtue of His law is established through its inherent virtue on the one hand, and through the great number of those who accepted it most completely and perfectly unlike previous laws. Musa (peace be upon him) was sent to the children of Israel, whose apostasy and obstinacy, whether during his lifetime or after his death, is well known. Christians themselves mentioned that in their book.
The law of the Torah is not as perfect as that of the Qur’an, for the latter includes mentioning the Promise (i.e., Resurrection), arguments to prove it, its description, and the description of Paradise and Hellfire. This was not mentioned in this detail in the Torah.
The Qur’an also mentions the stories of Hud, Salih Shu’aib and other prophets (peace be upon them all), which are not mentioned at all in the Torah. It also mentions many names and attributes of Allah, descriptions of His angels and their categories and the creation of mankind and jinn in such detail that is not found in the Torah. It comprises establishing monotheism with several kinds of evidence that is not mentioned in the Torah. It includes mentioning the religions of the people of the earth, the like of which is not found in the Torah. It also includes debates with those who dissented with their prophets and established proof about the fundamentals of religion. Such matters were not mentioned in the Torah, although no revealed book contained more guidance than the Qur’an and the Torah.
The law of the Quran renders all good things lawful and all evil things unlawful. But the Law of the Torah prohibits many of the good things for the Jews as a kind of punishment for them.
The law of the Qur’an also includes accepting blood money for the crime of murder, which is not found in the law of the Torah. It also consisted of freeing mankind from many of the restrictions and fetters ordained by the Torah, and this clarifies Allah’s Grace on the people of the Qur’an and highlights its completeness.
As for the Gospel, it does not contain an independent law and it does not mention monotheism, the creation of the world or the stories of the prophets and their nations. In most cases, the gospel refers to these matters to the Torah. But Christ made lawful some of that which was previously prohibited for them. He also ordered them to be benevolent, forgive oppression, endure harm and renounce worldly pleasures. He set forth a number of examples concerning that.
What distinguishes the Gospel from the Torah is the exhortation to praise high, noble manners and to praise asceticism as well as legalizing some prohibitions. These are all found in the Qur’an but in a more complete manner. Any beneficial knowledge or righteous deed in the Torah, the Gospel, or prophecies is found in the Qur’an. The Qur’an also contains a great deal of beneficial knowledge and many righteous deeds from divine guidance and true religion that are not found in the other two books.
But the Christians neither followed the Torah nor the Gospel. They rather invented a law with which none of the prophets were sent. They compiled the Canon for Constantine and compiled forty books, which they call the Canons. They include some of that with which the prophets were sent and many of that which disagrees with the law of the prophets. They included many aspects of the religion of the disbelievers who associated others in worship with Allah and belied His messengers. Thus, the invented religion included much disbelief and alteration of the religion of the messengers that also changed the law of the Gospel. That is why the law of the Gospel became mixed with other rulings, so they no longer knew which of the laws of the Torah Christ had abrogated, set or legalized and which had been invented after him.
Christ (peace be upon him) did not order Christians to worship him and he did not say that he was Allah. He also did not order them as regards the trinity and unification that they invented. He did not order them to legalize all the evil things that Allah had prohibited in the Torah such as pork and so on. By Christians legalized evil, prohibited things and altered the law of the Torah and the Gospel.
In addition, Christ did not order them to face the east while praying or glorify the cross. He did not command them to abandon circumcision or to believe in monasticism or in whatever they invented after him.
Three, if we say that the law of both books is sufficient, this will be true if it has been preserved and applied. But this was not the case. The truth was that most of their features were distorted. By the time Muhammad was sent, nothing was left of the message that Allah had sent the messengers with. At that time, people were either illiterate with no divine book, or polytheists and idolaters or people of a scripture, which they had altered in its meanings and rulings, distorted its lawful and unlawful matters, and confused the right with the false. So if a person wanted the people of the book to distinguish for him what the prophets were sent with, from what they had invented after the prophets, most of them would not be able to do so. To them, both became one religion.
Then, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) with the book which He revealed to him confirming the scripture that came before it and trustworthy in highness and a witness over it. So, Allah distinguishes in it between truth and falsehood, guidance and error, the right path and the wrong path. The Exalted says,
which means, “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and passing over (i.e., leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad) and a plain Book (this Qur’an). Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism). Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary). Say (O Muhammad), ‘Who then has the least power against Allah, if He were to destroy the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), his mother, and all those who are on the earth together?’ And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them. He creates what He wills. And Allah is Able to do all things. And (both) the Jews and the Christians say, ‘We are the children of Allah and His loved ones.’ Say, Why then does He punish you for your sins?” Nay, you are but human beings, of those He has created, He forgives whom He wills and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and to Him is the return (of all). O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad) making (things) clear unto you, after a break in (the series of) Messengers, lest you say, There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner. But now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And At ah is Able to do all things.'” (Al-Ma’idah, 5: 15-19)
Four, harshness prevails in the law of the Torah, while leniency prevails in the law of the Gospel. The law of the Qur’an is moderate and comprehensive between the previous two. When Allah granted the Children of Israel victory and made them conquer Fir’awn (the Pharaoh), innovations in religion appeared among them after that and they behaved so arrogantly that they in fact began to resemble the people of Fir’awn. Then, Allah sent Christ (peace be upon him) with leniency and advice, pardoning the transgressor and enduring his harm, so that he may soften their hearts and efface their strictness and harshness. But the Christians exaggerated in leniency and, therefore, abandoned commanding right, forbidding wrong, fighting for the Cause of Allah, judging between people with justice and applying prescribed punishments. Moreover, the pious worshippers among them became monks and secluded themselves.
On the contrary, we find that Christian kings and rulers were more tyrannical and harsh than what their scholars and worshippers commanded them with. They ruled with other than that which Allah had sent and shed blood without right. So, in the end they resembled the Jews in their rulership.
Then Allah sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) with the complete, just law and made his nations just and good. They are moderate, so they do not incline either toward this or that. They are harsh toward the enemies of Allah and lenient toward the pious worshippers of Allah. They use pardoning and forgiveness in what concerns them personally but use fighting and punishment in whatever relates to any of Allah’s Rights.
In the law of the Messenger (peace be upon him), there is much more leniency, pardon, forgiveness, and noble manners than that which are found in the Gospel, and there is also much more harshness, fighting for the Cause of Allah and applying the prescribed penalties on disbelievers and hypocrites than that which are found in the Torah. This is the highest degree of perfection.
That is why some say, “Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) was sent with loftiness, ‘Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) was sent with beauty and Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent with perfection.”
Five, the Christian allegation, which starts with, “We wonder at those people …” till the end of their words, which deserves to be refuted by saying, The true wonder is in fact of that wonder of yours. It is well known that the religion of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the religion of truth and who would know that and then intentionally follow another religion? It is well known that whoever does so is either extremely ignorant or an extremely unjust person who follows his desires limitlessly.
Before Muhammad’s mission, the people of the earth were of two kinds: the people of the Scriptures, i.e., the Jews and Christians, on the one hand and the people other than the people of the scripture, such as: Arabs, Hindus, Turkish polytheists and others like magi, Persians, and apostates like philosophizers and the like.
The people of the Scripture acknowledged that the people other than them had benefited manifestly from the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). He called all the polytheist sects, magi and apostates to what was better than their original condition. These people were in dire need of his message.
As for the people of the scripture, the Jews admitted to us the Christians’ need for him and that he called them to what was better than their original condition. The Christians too admitted the Jews’ need for him and that he called them to what was better than their original condition, Thus, all the communities on earth admit that Muhammad (peace be upon him) called all the sects and others to what was better than their original condition. The testimony of a single sect is accepted as regards groups other than them, if they are not a part of them. In spite of that, they are enemies of Muhammad, his nation and all other sects.
Six, it should be said to the Jews, “When you followed Musa (Moses, peace be upon him), you were following right guidance and the true religion, so you were victorious. But when you innovated in matters of your religion, in a manner that you all know, you committed mischief, worshipped false deities, etc.”
On the other hand, it should be said to the Christians, “You remained subdued, overpowered and threatened on earth until Constantine ruled. He established Christianity with the sword and killed those polytheists and Jews who opposed him. He altered the religion and this altered religion became triumphant; not the religion of Christ (peace be upon him). In spite of that the inhabitants of Iraq and Persia were still magi, while others were polytheists. As for the lands of the east and west, they were populated by different types of polytheist nations. Polytheism and disbelief were predominant in Yemen, Hejaz, Sham (the region covering Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine), and Iraq.”
When Allah sent Muhammad (peace be upon him), believing in the Oneness of Allah and worshipping Him Alone became predominant in such a manner that had never existed in any of the nations before. Through him, confirming the divine books: the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms and the previous messengers: Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him), Dawud (David, peace be upon him), Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him) and others became manifest, the like of which was neither shown by what is with the people of the Scripture or any other people. Although the people of the scripture were better than others, they did not have true faith in Allah, His messengers, the Last Day or the Laws of the Books revealed to them. They also did not conquer most of the disbelievers or even oppose them. As for the Jews, the manner in which they abused their prophets is well known, and so is the fact that they falsely attributed shortcomings to their prophets above which Allah deemed them. For example, some Jews say that Sulayman was a magician and that Dawud was a soothsayer and not a prophet. Among them are those who disbelieve in the prophets in the same manner as that of their evil predecessors. As for Christians, although they highly exalt Christ and his followers, they take other prophets lightly. They sometimes give the disciples the same rank of Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) and Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) or even render them above those prophets. At other times they say, just as the Jews do, that Sulayman was not a prophet, and even say that the Divine Speech directed to Dawud and other prophets is actually directed to Christ.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his nation established the same monotheism that was established by Ibrahim, Musa and all the other prophets. They believed in every Book revealed by Allah and every Messenger sent by Him. They established the religion of the Most Beneficent in such a way that had never happened before by any of the previous nations.
This is a fact known in the land of disbelievers whether they are polytheists, Christians or Jews. This is due to guidance and the true religion, which Allah made specific for Muhammad and his nation.
They manifested the religion of the lord in the East and the West by word and deed. Can any wise person who happens to possess knowledge and justice say that sending Muhammad (peace be upon him) is useless or that having what is with the people of the book makes one dispense with his message?
Seven, the Christians say, “Because the Creator is Just and Generous, His justice must be shown to His creatures.”
It should be said to them: The Generosity of the Generous is different from obliging people to relinquish their rights. A generous man is one who is good toward people, not he who obliges people to give up their rights.
Those people, i.e., Christians, claim that the Law of the Gospel obliged people to relinquish their rights and that it does not defend the oppressed against the oppressor. You do not consider this as a just criterion with which you judge between people. You rather have two rules:
1. Church rule: It does not include establishing justice between the oppressed and the oppressor.
2. Monarchy: It is not a revealed law established by Allah, but rather a positive law that depends upon the personal opinions of kings.
That is why we find them sometimes referring their people to the law of Islam in matters of blood, property, etc. In some of their countries where the king, soldiers and the majority of the inhabitants are Christians, while there is a small Muslim group with a ruler, they refer their people as regards matters of blood and property to the rule of Islamic law.
This is because in matters of blood and money, although it is preferable that the oppressed would forgive his oppressor, if the ruler who judges between people judges that the oppressor must give up his right, he will be unjust.
If we order every next of kin of a murdered person not to retaliate against the murderer, every creditor not to reclaim his money from the debtor, and every insulted or beaten person not to demand justice against his oppressor, nothing will deter transgressors and strong people from oppressing the weak. The earth will indeed be full of mischief. The Exalted says,
which means, “And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief.” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 251)
There has to be a law that enforces ruling with justice. In addition, people should be exhorted to forgive and be generous. This exists in the law of Islam, just as we have mentioned in the verses in the first aspect.
Eight, they say, “Because perfection, which is generosity, cannot be established by anyone other than the Most Perfect Being, it must be Him.”
It should be said to them: Justice and generosity are only legislated by Allah. The laws of the Torah and the Gospel were not legislated by anyone other than Allah, the Exalted and Ever- Majestic.
Proof of this is that Allah spoke directly to Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) through the bush. The evidence they give of Isa’s (Jesus’) divinity is nothing further than their claim that Allah spoke to people through the divine nature of Christ just as He spoke to Musa through the bush.
But every wise person knows that the most glorified speech spoken by the Lord to His servants was that given from Allah to Musa, if it was really through the bush. How could it be said that the law of justice was not enacted by Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic?
It should also be said to them: it is more proper to attribute the law of justice to Allah than to attribute to Him the law of generosity, for the command of benevolence and forgiveness can be done by anyone, but the law of justice and judging between people cannot be enforced except by very few people. That is why there are many of those who reconcile people by means of benevolence, but there are only a few who judge between them with equity.
Therefore, how could it be said that the one who legislated the law of generosity is Allah without Him being the one who legislated the law of justice?
Allah, the Exalted, sent the messengers and revealed the Divine Books so that mankind may maintain justice, as He says,
which means, “Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.” (AI-Hadid, 57: 25)
Christ’s ordering the oppressed to forgive the oppressor is not an obligation; the abandonment of which does not entail dispraise and punishment. It is rather a preferred exhortation; those who abide by it deserve to be praised and rewarded.
Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) enjoined justice, whose abandonment entails dispraise and punishment. Thus, there is no contradiction between enjoining justice and preferring generosity.
Enjoining justice is coupled with alarm and of it being abandoned, while exhortation to generosity is coupled with exhortation and encouragement to adopt it. The first one contains fear as well as exhortation, and the second contains exhortation without fear. Otherwise, if it is said that Christ (peace be upon him) enjoined every oppressed person to forgive his oppressor, every one who demands justice to be executed as regards his oppressor will be regarded as an oppressor himself who deserves dispraise and punishment. This is another form of imposing oppression on the oppressed person who sought justice. He was firstly oppressed by the oppressor, then when he sought to establish justice, he was oppressed for the second time. The latter is an injustice done to a just person who only wanted justice to be executed on his oppressor.
Can any law be unjust toward the one who is seeking justice while he is right? Can any law be just toward the oppressor while he is not, right?
This means that when Christ commanded forgiveness, he did not mean that those who wilt not forgive deserve to be dispraised or punished. He meant that they will only deprive themselves of the great reward given to the benevolent forgivers. This is the truth, which does not contradict the law of the Torah. Therefore, the taw of the Gospel does not contradict that of the Torah. So, the Christian claim that the Law of the Gospel was established by Allah and not that of the Torah can only belong to the most ignorant and people, who are astray. It is part of their claim concerning unification and that Christ is Allah. This straying was the cause behind such an impossible claim!
Is there any Evidence Regarding the Prophethood of those whose Words they Take as Evidence?
All the arguments they extracted from the speeches of the prophets found in the Torah, the Gospel and other books are considered as evidential scientific arguments, only if they prove the prophethood of those whose words are regarded as evidence. They should clarify the possibility of his prophethood as well as it happening to the specified person using the ways that verify prophethood.
But the Christians did not do any of that, but instead they took their prophethood as an introductory postulate, which Muslims should accept. This does not benefit them because:
1. Among those whom they mention, there are some persons not proven to be prophets to Muslims, such as: Micah and Amos.
2. It is not proven to Muslims that the prophets whose prophethood is verified like: Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), Dawud (David) and Sulaiman (Solomon) realty said all the things they mention, that its Arabic translation is really what is mentioned, and their interpretation of these sayings is correct.
3. The Majority of Muslims do not know about the prophethood of any prophet before Muhammad except through the conveyance of Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself about their prophethood. Thus, they cannot believe in the prophethood of any of those except after believing in the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Therefore, if the Christians asked the Muslims to believe in the prophethood of such persons without believing in the prophethood of Muhammad, it would be impossible for Muslims to do so, and it is inconceivable for them whether rationally or textually. Thus, if they do not bring sufficient evidence to prove the prophethood of those persons, they will not have submitted any evidential or dialectical proof.
4. Muslims did not believe in the prophethood of Musa or Isa except through their prophesying about the prophethood of Muhammad. If the Christians admit that Musa and ‘Isa prophesized the prophethood of Muhammad, his prophethood as well as their prophethood will be proven. But if they deny this, Muslims will deny the prophethood of the ones they claim to be Musa and Isa who did not prophecy the coming of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
5. Muslims and every wise person cannot, after thorough examination, confirm the prophethood of Musa and Isa without confirming that of Muhammad (peace be upon htm), whose prophethood was more complete and whose ways of knowledge were many and more perfect.
Any evidence used to prove the prophethood of any other prophet further proves the prophethood of Muhammad. Denying his prophethood entails denying the prophethood of any other prophet. That is why Allah says concerning the disbelievers,
which means, “Certainly, you have different ideas (about Muhammad and the Qur’an). Turned aside therefrom (i.e., from Muhammad and the Qur’an) is he who is turned aside (by the Decree and Preordainment of Allah). (Az-Zariyat, 51: 8-9)
By: Sheikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah
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