Tafsīr Of The Verse 5:73
By:
Shahid Bin Waheed شاهد
بن وحيد
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمدلله رب العالمين والصلوة والسلام على اشرف الانبياء
وسيدالمرسلين نبينا محمد صل ا لله عليه وعلى آله واصحابه وازواجه اجمعين - امابعد
All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, Sustainer of the Universe, and blessing and salutation to be the most distinguish of the Messengers and foremost among the Prophets, our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allaah be on him and on his wives, children and Companions.
I was appalled when I read the Tafsīr Of The Verse 5:73 that was authored by my dear brother Muhammad Ghoniem, and published by the website “Islamic Awareness.org.” I must state that there is nothing wrong in the Tafsīr itself. However, the way Tafsīr is published and/or presented by lifting off the context and/or suppressing the context, it creates doubts and confusions in a Muslim reader’s mind not to mention the grave misconception and confusion in a non-Muslim’s mind, especially a Christian. In this treatise, I will inSha Allaah present the full context with complete Tafsīr while refuting the “Sam Shamoun” a Christian missionary of website “answering-islam.org” who has seized the opportunity to distort the truth further, using Muhammad Ghoniem’s misleading article. Let me point out for readers’ sake that “Sam Shamoun” a Christian missionary of website “answering-islam.org” is so ignorant of Islaam & Qur’aan let alone familiar of their sciences; that he does not even know the ABC of Islaam and is known for publishing disinformation. For example, claiming that “Qunut” is an Ayaah (verse) of Qur’aan (not) which is missing and/or abrogated.
In the Tafaseer تفاسير (plural of Tafsir) Qur’aanic Ayaat آيات (verses) are divided according to context and according to their complete meaning and message. In this case Hafiz Ibn Kathir حافظ ابن كثير رحمة الله عليه in his renowned Tafsīr has offered his commentary of Ayaat آيات 5:72 through 5:75 by putting them together and/or since they carry the context. First let us examine the Ayaah آيه 5:73 and see what questions remains unanswered when it is taken off the context.
Ayaah
آيه
5:73
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ
الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلاَثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـهٍ إِلاَّ إِلَـهٌ
وَاحِدٌ وَإِن لَّمْ يَنتَهُواْ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ
مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Surely, disbelievers are those who said:
"Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity)." But
there is no ilah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilah
(God -Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful
torment will befall the disbelievers among them.
The bold text in the English translation requires
elaboration especially the underlined phrase, not to mention the absence of Asbaab-ul-Nuzool
اسباب النزول
of Ayaah آيه
5:73, which deprives the readers from clear understanding. Now let us read the
Ayaah آيه
5:73 with context (i.e. Ayaat آيات 5:72-75):
لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ
إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ
اللّهُ عَلَيهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
72. Surely, they have disbelieved who say: "Allah is
the Messiah (Iesa (Jesus)), son of Maryam (Mary)." But the Messiah (Iesa
(Jesus)) said: "O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your
Lord." Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then
Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for
the Zalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers.
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ
إِنَّ اللّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلاَثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـهٍ إِلاَّ إِلَـهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَإِن لَّمْ
يَنتَهُواْ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
73. Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is
the third of the three (in a Trinity)." But there is no ilah (god) (none
who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilah (God -Allah). And if they
cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the
disbelievers among them.
أَفَلاَ يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللّهِ
وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
74. Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness?
For Allah is OftForgiving, Most Merciful.
مَّا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلاَّ
رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُ صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأْكُلاَنِ
الطَّعَامَ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ الآيَاتِ ثُمَّ انظُرْ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ
75. The Messiah (Iesa (Jesus)), son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother (Maryam (Mary)) was a Siddiqah (i.e. she believed in the words of Allah and His Books (see Verse 66:12)). They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allah does not eat). Look how We make the Ayāt (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth).
Now
the context
is there and the readers can clearly understand the meaning and message with
complete and conclusive thought, which can be summed up:
Cashing in the fallacy of Muhammad
Ghoniem, of website “Islamic
Awareness.org” since he lifted the Ayaah 5:73 off the context and
suppressed the facts, which explicitly makes the meaning and message clear; Sam Shamoun
writes:
Muhammad Ghoniem's article seemingly
tries to hide the obvious mistake that the Quran makes, namely defining the
Christian Trinity as Father, Mary the Mother, and Jesus Christ the Son. Presumably, by citing certain Muslim exegetes
he hopes to find support for his contention that the Quran does not confuse the
true doctrine of the Trinity. Yet, by so doing Ghoniem actually solidifies the case that the Quran is
grossly mistaken on what Christian belief of the Trinity actually is.
Response!
First of all let me be very clear that the first highlighted part is yet another boldface misrepresentation of truth by spinning the issue in opposite direction. Glorious Qur’aan has not defined the trinity at all in Ayaah آيه 5:73, which readers can see above in original Arabic and English translation. From Qur’aanic point of view it does not matter who the “three stooges” are, be they Father, Son & Holy Ghost or Father, Son & Holy Spirit or Father Son & Maryam, or Larry, Curly & Mo. Another point should be considered that since when heretics like Sam Shamoun became qualified to speak on such issues when their cult and their Bible never existed until 16th century. Readers musk at this point know:
Sam
Shamoun continues:
Tafsīr
Ibn Kathīr
5:73 They
disbelieved who say: Allah is one of three (in a Trinity): for there is no god
except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a
grievous chastisement will befall the disbelievers among them. [Qur'ān:
5:73]
The first thing we should point out is
that the word, "Trinity" does not even appear in the Arabic text. The literal Arabic text reads: "They are
blasphemers who say that Allah is the third of three (innallaha thaalithu
thalaathah)" Hence, the Quran is rebuking belief in three Gods, that
God is the third of three deities. This is something that Trinitarians
wholeheartedly agree with since we do no believe in three Gods but in only one
true God who is tri-personal in nature.
Response!
I have been unable to determine
that how severely brain-dead Sam Shamoun’s readers are? In the dictionary (المورد >عربي ـ انكليزي<) we find the following:
Trine
(adj.; n.) ثلاثي ـ ثالوث
Trinitarian
ثالوثي
Trinity ثالوث
Sam
Shamoun said that “trinity does
not even appear in the Arabic text” which is not true, and why Sam Shamoun fell
short telling us that according to the context and Qur’aan vocabulary what the
phrase إِنَّ اللّهَ
ثَالِثُ ثَلاَثَةٍ means with the correlation of
previous and former Ayaat آيات? Fact of the matter is that Glorious Qur’aan
is rebuking the belief in Isa Ibn Maryam عليه السلام as so-called god by mentioning that he
was a mere messenger. Glorious
Qur’aan gives no status to Christianity as all (Period); they Ayaat آيات 5:72 and 5:75 makes it absolutely clear. But how Sam Shamoun would
know that, this is the individual who is clueless about anything he write about
Islaam besides being a compulsive liar. He is too imbecile
to know the truth about Qunut, which he lies about as missing Ayaah آيه. Again, Glorious Qur’aan
has not defined the trinity ay all in
Ayaah آيه
5:73, which readers no see above in original Arabic and English translation.
From Qur’aanic point of view it does not matter who the “three stooges” are. Glorious Qur’aan is the custodian of
previous scripture revealed to previous prophets, therefore, Ayaah آيه 5:72 confirms and/or harmonize what
is already and/or also found in the adulterated Christian Bible e.g. Matthew
4:10; Luke 4:8 & Luke 18:19.
Sam
Shamoun writes:
Concerning
"They disbelieved who say: Allah is one of three", Ibn Abī Hātim said
that Ali Ibn al-Hasan al-Hisinjāni told us that Saceed Ibn al-Hakam Ibn Abi
Maryam told us that al-Fadl told us that Abu Sakhr told me about God's words
"They disbelieved who say: Allah is one of three": it refers to the
opinion of the Jews "Uzayr is the son of God" and the opinion of the
Christians "The Messiah is the son of God"; thus making God one
among three [i.e., a trinity].
We would like to quickly comment on
what Ibn Kathir has said thus far. First, Kathir claims that the statement
"Allah is one of three" was
revealed against the Jewish and Christian belief that Ezra and Jesus were the
sons of God. Seeing that there is absolutely no documentary evidence to support
that the Jews viewed Ezra as God's son in the same way Christians believe Jesus
is the Son of God strongly implies that the Quran is grossly mistaken in what
the Jews actually believed.
Response!
Nice try to pull a fast one on us, it will definitely
work with your brain-dead readers, but not of Muslims. Glorious Qur’aan says in Ayaah آيه 5:72 (verse) لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ
ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ [Surely, they have
disbelieved who say: "Allah is the Messiah (Iesa), son of Maryam."]. Ayaah آيه 5:72 confirms and/or harmonize what is
already and/or also found in the adulterated Christian Bible e.g. Matthew 4:10;
Luke 4:8 & Luke 18:19. And then continues to say in Ayaah آيه 5:73, لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ
قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلاَثَةٍ [Surely,
disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is the third of the three”]. Readers can notice that Sam Shamoun has
lifted the phrase twice off the context. It must be noted that Christian Bible
itself is rebuking the belief in the “trinity.”
Let me quote from
Tafeer-e-Majidi تفسيرِ ماجدی (part of the commentary of Ayaah آيه 5:73)[See Vol. 1, Page. 448 § 528 & 529]
528.
‘There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word,
and the Holy: and these three are one.’ (1 Jn. 5:7). The Athanasian Creed runs:
- ‘There is one person of the Father, another of the
Son and another of the Holy Ghost; the Father is God and Lord; the Son is God
and Lord; and the Holy Ghost is God and Lord.’ ‘These
words of the Creed, ‘ says Swedenborg, ‘make it as clear as water in a crystal
cup, that there are three persons, each of whom is God and Lord.’ (The True Christian religion, p. 224). This
central doctrine of the Christian religion can only mean that God ‘is three
really distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost… Three
persons are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-consubstantial, and deserve co-equal
glory and adoration.’ (CD. p. 973) ‘The dogma of the
“Trinity”, which still comprises three of the chief articles of faith in the
creed of Christian people, culminates in the notion that the one God of
Christianity is really made up of three different persons: - (1) God the
Father;(2) Jesus Christ; and (3) Holy Ghost, a mystical being, over whose
incomprehensible relations to the father and the Son millions of Christian
theologians have racked their brains in vain for the last 1900 years.’
(Haeckel, op. cit. p. 227) [Bold text is for emphasis]
529. (with no divisibility of Person). And thus the Christians are as much steeped in polytheism, as are pagans. The Christians ‘acknowledged one God indeed with lips, but in three persons, each of whom simply or by himself was God.’ (Swedenborg, op. cit., p.817)[Bold text is for emphasis]
إِنَّ اللّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلاَثَةٍ rebuking the so-called unity in “trinity” with three persons in one godhead, which is the common belief among Christians. Sam Shamoun is explaining this Trinitarian belief that is supported by neither reason nor revelation with a language that is kept circuitous and ambiguous. When not understood Christians’ declare it to be reality beyond comprehension.
Sam Shamoun has fraudulently
and/or perjuriously concealed that Ibn Kathir ابن
كثير has said that:
“Allaah states that the
Christians such sects as Monarchite, Jacobite and Nestorite are disbelievers,
those among them who say that Isa is Allaah.”
Sam Shamoun is also concealing the
fact, that his heretic cult (Protestantism) was born in 16th century, about nine hundred
years after the revelation of Glorious Qur’aan. It constitutes that his cult is
not even close to the “People of the book” mentioned in the Qur’aan.
I will now conclude the article ignoring rest of the gobbledegook, but the fact remains that Muhammad Ghoniem, of website “Islamic Awareness.org” initiated this disinformation by lifting the Ayaah آيه 5:73 off the context while suppressing the context, where the fact, thought, meaning and message is to be found. That in result gave an opening to Sam Shamoun to spin the issue and pass on the disinformation. This treatise may raise few eyebrows' and perhaps cause discomfort among some Muslims, but some how I suspect that it is not only the anti-Islaam forces cashing in on Muslims’ apparent ignorance, it is some from within (of their own) as well. Now Muhammad Ghoniem, of website “Islamic Awareness.org” may understand that why I politely declined his offer/request to be the Webmaster of one of his website “Jews for Allah” and also to publish my articles there as well. Having said that let me quote Qur’aan 5:74,
أَفَلاَ يَتُوبُونَ
إِلَى اللّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
74. Will they not repent to Allah and ask His
Forgiveness? For Allah is OftForgiving, Most Merciful.
This is your opportunity Sam Shamoun and/or
Christians to repent and accept Islaam. Because it is also decreed for you
(beside your fancies) in the Glorious Qur’aan [98:6
& 3:85],
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ الْبَرِيَّةِ
Verily, those who
disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qirān and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be
upon him)) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and
Al-Mushrikūn will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ
غَيْرَ الإِسْلاَمِ دِيناً فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.
Saturday, January 01, 2005