النص المفهرس

When Rasulullaah p arrived in Madinah, the Arabs believed in him, but were
surprised when the Jews did not whereas they had been waiting so long. This
was despite the fact that they recognised him to be the Nabi of Allaah. What
better testimony can be given to this fact than the word of Ummul Mu'mineen
.رضي الله عنها Hadhrat Safiyya
She was the daughter of a Jewish leader and scholar and narrates, "When
Rasulullaah p arrived in Madinah, both my father and uncle, who were both
learned scholars, went to meet him. After speaking to him for a long while, they
returned home, where I personally heard their conversation. My uncle asked, 'Is
this truly the Nabi about whom our scriptures have informed us?' My father
replied, 'I swear by Allaah that he certainly seems to be.' My uncle asked further,
'Are you certain about it?' My father replied, 'I am as certain about it as I am
certain that my children are mine.' 'What then do you intend to do?' my uncle
asked. My father said, 'Be it as it may, I shall oppose him for as long as I have life
in me and shall never allow him to make progress.""416
The fact of the matter is that they were envious that Rasulullaah p was from
amongst the Arabs and not from the Jews.
Allaah says:
.62 وَتَرَى كَثِيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ يُسَارِ عُوْنَ فِى الْإِثْمِ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ وَ أَكْلِمُ السُّحْتَ * لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُوْنَ (٢)
416 Ibn Hishaam (Vol.2 Pg.165).
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TRANSLATION: You will see most of them (the Jews) rush into sin, transgression
(violating Allaah's laws) and their devouring of the unlawful (doing that which is
Haraam, especially dealing with interest). Evil indeed is that which they do.417
To make matters worse, their scholars did not only fail to forbid them from their
evil, but they even joined them in it.
Allaah also says:
◌ِتَّخَذُوْا أَحْبَارَبُمْ وَرُبْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللهِ وَالْمَسِيْحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ نَّ وَ مَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْا إِلَهَا وَاحِدًا ◌ٌّ لَا إِلَّمَ
إِلَّا بُوَ ن* سُبْحَنَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُوْنَ (٣١)
TRANSLATION: They take their rabbis and their monks as gods besides Allaah
(by accepting what they declare as Halaal or Haraam), and Maseeh the son of Maryam
as well. However, they were commanded (in the Torah and the Injeel) to worship
only the One Ilaah (Allaah). There is no Ilaah besides Him. He is Pure from all
that they ascribe as partners to Him. 418
When Hadhrat Adi bin Haatim t (who was the son of the renowned generous
man Haatim Tie) became a Muslim, he asked Rasulullaah p what was meant by
verses like the above when the Jews never worshipped their Rabbis.
Rasulullaah p asked, "Do the people not regard as lawful whatever their Rabbis
declare lawful and regard as unlawful whatever their Rabbis declare
unlawful?" When Hadhrat Adi v replied in the affirmative, Rasulullaah p said,
"That is how they regarded them as gods."
417
Surah Maa'idah, verse 62.
418
Surah Taubah, verse 31.
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Allaah says in verse 34 of Surah Taubah:
يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ أُمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيْرًا مِّنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَ الرُّبْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُوْنَ آَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّوْنَ عَنْ سَبِيْلِ اللهِ (٢+
TRANSLATION: O you who have Imaan! Verily many of the priests and monks
(whom the Ahlul Kitaab regard as their divinely appointed religious leaders) falsely
(unlawfully) devour (consume) the wealth of people and forbid (others) from the
path of Allaah (Islaam).
Not only did these people devour gratuities, interest and bribes, but they went
further to turn people away from the way of Allaah so that only their word
counted. They therefore misled Allaah's creation only because of their greedy
desires and paltry personal gain.
Allaah says in verse 169 of Surah A'raaf:
فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِيِمْ خَلْفٌ وَّرِثُوا الْكِتُبَ يَأْخُذُوْنَ عَرَضَ بُذَا الْأَدْنَى وَيَقُوْلُوْنَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَاءٌ وَ إِنْ يَّأْتِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُمَ
يَأْخُذُوْهُ - أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَّيْنَاقُ الْكِتُبِ أَنْ لَّا يَقُوْلُوْا عَلَى اللهِ إِلَّ الْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوْا مَا فِيْهٍ ﴿ وَالدَّارُ الْآَخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ
لَلَّذِيْنَ يَتَّقُوْنَ - أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُوْنَ (١٩٩)
TRANSLATION: After them followed an evil generation who inherited the Book
(the Torah from their forefathers). They grabbed the (lawful and unlawful) goods of
this lowly thing (this world) and claimed, "We shall be forgiven (for all our
wrongdoing)." If the same kind of (unlawful) goods came to them (a second time),
they seized it as well (even though they knew that they were guilty of a sin the first
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time. They therefore persisted in sin, an act for which the Torah did not promise
forgiveness). Was the pledge of the Book (Torah) not taken from them that they
will attribute only the truth to Allaah? And did they not learn what was
contained in the Book (Torah) (How can they then claim that they will be forgiven
despite sinning so persistently)? The home of the Aakhirah is best for those who
adopt Taqwa. Do you not understand? (One who understands will opt for the life of
the Aakhirah instead of the life of this world.)
While sinning with the knowledge that the act is sinful is bad enough, it is much
worse to sin in the belief that one will somehow be forgiven regardless. This is
worse because it creates the boldness to sin, after which a person will continue
sinning without any guilt whatsoever and at every opportunity.
Allaah says in verse 42 of Surah Maa'idah:
سَمُّعُوْنَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكُلُوْنَ لِلِسُّحْتِ *
(These Jews are) Eager listeners to lies and enthusiastic devourers of the
unlawful (such as interest, bribery, etc) !
The words used in this verse describe them not as occasional sinners, but ones
who engaged in these sins to a very great degree. In fact, these were ingrained in
all of them, common men and scholars alike. Allaama Raazi il das, explains the
verse to mean that they would listen intently to the talks of Islaam with the sole
intention of making lies out of them and then propagating the false and
distorted image of Islaam.
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The Four Gospels of the Bible
A commonly asked question is whether the Injeel revealed to Hadhrat Isa v is the
same as the four gospels found today. Were these written afterwards? The
question has remained unanswered for centuries and still remains a debt the
Christian world owes to Islaam. Scholars, including Christian scholars, admit that
these gospels are neither the Injeel that Hadhrat Isa v received, nor are they
translations of this Injeel. In fact, the Christians cannot prove a chain of narrators
to verify that the present day Injeel had come from Hadhrat Isa v or from his
disciples.
Christian records prove that from the first to the fourth centuries after Hadhrat
Isa v, there existed more than 21 gospels. However, these were reduced to just
four by the Council of Nicea in the year 325 A.D. The others were written off as
unauthentic and unreliable. This selection by the council was not based on any
historical or investigative basis, but was something done on a purely inspirational
basis. They placed all the gospels on a table and then placed their hands upon
the various gospels, as they invoked the name of Allaah and recited some verses
of the Bible. Any gospel that fell off the table was declared improper and only
those remaining on the table were regarded to be the true word of Allaah. These
four were:
1. The first was the Gospel of Matthew, which was the oldest of them.
However, many Christian scholars believe that this was not the original
gospel written by him, but a translation. There are no traces of the original
gospel written in Hebrew and it is evident that no translation can compare to
the original, especially when the author of this translation is unknown and
it cannot be established when it was written.
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2. The second is the Gospel of Mark, whom scholars claim was a Jew by birth
and a student of two of the disciples of Hadhrat Isa v. His gospel was
written upon the request of the Romans after they accepted Christianity. He
was executed by idolaters in a prison in Alexandria in the year 68 A.D.
3. The Gospel of Luke. This gospel has stirred up more controversies than the
gospel of Matthew. In fact, in his prologue to Theophilus, Luke himself
writes, "In as much as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the
things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered
to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of
the word, it seemed good to me also, having informed myself about all
things from their beginnings, to write an orderly account for you, most
excellent Theophilus, that you may know the truth concerning things of
which you have been informed." He therefore warns us that he is going to
write a narrative of the facts using the accounts and information of
eyewitnesses. This clearly implies that he himself was not a disciple of
Hadhrat Isa v. Christian scholars agree that the Gospel of Luke came after
the Gospel of Matthew and after the demise of Paul and Peter.
Luke was really a medical practitioner in Antioch who never saw Hadhrat
Isa v and learnt Christianity from Paul. What is known about Paul was that
he was a staunch Jew who hated Christianity. When he realised that his
efforts to stop Christianity were futile, he decided to work from within. He
therefore professed to have a miraculous experience in which he was
thrown to the ground just as people are floored in a wrestling bout. Hadhrat
Isa v then stood over him and warned him in a stern tone never to do
anything against his followers. He professed to have believed in Hadhrat Isa
v that very moment and Hadhrat Isa v instructed him to serve mankind, to
inform people about the Injeel and exhort them to follow its teachings.
Paul then gradually rose amongst the ranks of the Christian clergy until he
gained sufficient authority to alter the teachings of Christianity, eradicate
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the original belief system and introduce new innovations. By introducing
and reviving beliefs such as Trinity, the divinity if Hadhrat Isa v and other
key beliefs, he managed to turn the Christians into idol worshippers. It is
still upon his doctrines that Christians base their religion today.
Therefore, how can it be said that the Gospel of Luke is the true gospel when
it is based on Paul's teachings? Furthermore, this gospel contradicts the
gospel of Matthew in more than 20 occasions and the gospel of Mark in
many more. The gospel of Luke is therefore not the gospel preached by
Hadhrat Isa v or any of his disciples.
4. The fourth gospel is the Gospel of John. Christian scholars agree that John
was the closest of the 12 disciples to Hadhrat Isa v and was called John the
son of Zebedee. Christian scholars write that in the year 96 A.D. Christian
elders requested John to write his gospel after a group rose to denounce the
divinity of Hadhrat Isa v, claiming that he was a human and the son of
Maryam Wie dl (h). They encouraged John to add what was not in the other
gospels, especially concerning the issue of divinity. However, there are
many Christian scholars who believe that the gospel of John was not
written by him. Their names have been listed by the author of Qasasul
. عليهم السلام Ambiyaa
After this brief introduction to the four gospels, one will begin to understand
that they were certainly not the Injeel that Allaah revealed to Hadhrat Isa v.
Another factor proving this point is the fact that these gospels speak about the
arrest and subsequent crucifixion of Hadhrat Isa v, together with occurrences
that happened after he left this world. How can it be the revelation sent to him
when he could not have related this to anyone? The gospels can therefore be
said to be a historical account, not the book of Allaah.
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Another factor proving that these cannot be the Injeel of Hadhrat Isa v is the
fact that no attention has been given to preserving the original languages of
these gospels. In fact, the original language has become extinct and there are
now several editions of the Bible in every language, because of which there are
so many contradictions in them.
Details about the alterations in word and meaning as well as the many
contradictions can be found in the book Mizaanul Haqq by Moulana Aal Nabi
Amrohi, the book Hidaayatul Hayaari by Haafidh Ibn Qayyim al way, the book Al
Faariq baynal Khaaliq wal Makhlooq by Allaama Baaji Zaadah al das, and the book
Iz'haarul Haqq by Hadhrat Moulana Rahmatullaah Kiranwi &l 4.43 ).
The Injeel in the Qur'aan
The Qur'aan attests to the fact that Hadhrat Isa v was amongst the greatest of
the Ambiyaa >ull poule and that the scripture revealed to him was indeed the book of
Allaah, which contained guidance to the straight path. The Qur'aan also points
out in no uncertain terms that the scholars of the book altered it to promote
teachings that were false. The Qur'aan often cautioned the Jews and Christians
against contradicting the injunctions of their scriptures and referred them back
to the original scriptures. This indicates that original scriptures were in their
possession at the time, even though it may have been in an adulterated form. In
fact, the Qur'aan also challenges the Jews on one occasion to produce their
proof from the Torah if they are true in their claim. Allaah says, "Say, "Bring the
Torah and read it to us if you are truthful".419
The fact of the matter is that although both the Torah and Injeel were with the
people during the time when the Qur'aan was being revealed, they were not
419
Surah Aal Imraan, verse 93.
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worthy of being called the Torah of Hadhrat Moosa v and the Injeel of Hadhrat
Isa v because they had been altered so much. Hereunder are a few verses of the
Qur'aan that speak about the revelation of these scriptures:
Verses 3-4 of Surah Aal Imraan state:
٠٥(٢) نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتْبَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لَّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَةَ وَالْإِنْجِيْلَ (٣) مِنْ قَبْلُ بُدَّى لَّلنَّاسِ
وَأَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ ﴿ إِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِإِيْتِ اللهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيْدٌ * وَاللهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُوانْتِقَامٍ (٣)
TRANSLATION: He revealed the Book (the Qur'aan) to you (O Muhammad ) with
the truth, confirming that (the Books) which was before it (the previous scriptures
were in agreement with the fundamentals of our Islaam). And He (also) revealed the
Torah and Injeel from before as a guidance to man and He revealed the Furqaan
(Decider between right and wrong, referring to the Qur'aan). Verily those who
disbelieve in the Aayaat of Allaah (those who misinterpret the Qur'aan) shall have a
severe punishment. Allaah is Mighty, the Avenger (He has the might to punish those
who disobey Him and those who corrupt valid beliefs).
Verse 65 of Surah Aal Imraan states:
يَأَبْلَ الْكِتُبِ لِمَ تُحَاجُّوْنَ فِىَّ إِبْرُبِيْمَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَتِ التَّوْرُةُ وَالْإِنْجِيْلُ إِلَّ مِنَّ بَعْدِهِ - أَفَلا تَعْقِلُوْنَ (٢٥)
TRANSLATION: O people of the book! Why do you argue about Ibraheem v
(claiming that he belonged to your religion) when the Torah and Injeel were only
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revealed after him (How could he then be a Jew or a Christian)? Do you not
understand (that your claims are absurd and illogical)?
Verses 46-48 of Surah Maa'idah state:
وَقَقَيْنَا عَلَى أَثَارِبِمْ بِعِيْسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لَّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَةِ ﴾ وَأَنَّيْتُمُ الْإِنْجِيْلَ فِيْهِ بُدَّى وَنُوْرٌ ﴾
وَمُصَدِّقًا لَّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرِيِةِ وَبُدَّى وَّمَوْعِظَةَّ لَّلْمُتَّقِينَ (٢٢٠) وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَبْلُ الْإِنْجِيْلِ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ فِئْهِ ﴾﴾
وَمَنْ لَّمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَاَ آَنْزَلَ اللهُ فَأُولَئِكَ بُمُ الْفُسِقُوْنَ (٢٧) وَ آَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتْبَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لَّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ
الْكِتُبِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَبْوَآءَبُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ ن * لِكُلِّ جَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ
شِرْعَةَ وَّمِنْهَاجًا * وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَّ لَكِنْ لَّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَا أَتُكُمْ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَتِ ٥ ﴿ إِلَى اللهِ
مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيْعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيْمِ تَخْتَلِفُوْنَ (٣٨)
TRANSLATION: In their footsteps (in the footsteps of the other Ambiyaa) We sent
Isa the son of Maryam, confirming the (teachings of the) Torah that was before
him. We gave him the Injeel in which there is guidance (towards the truth) and
light (the commands of Allaah), confirming the Torah before him. It (the Injeel) was
(also) a guidance and advice to those who adopted Taqwa (who feared Allaah). (We
had instructed them saying,) The people of the Injeel should judge (their disputes) in
accordance with what Allaah has revealed in it (in the Injeel). Whoever does not
judge by what Allaah has revealed, then they surely are sinners (because of their
disobedience). We have revealed the Book (the Qur'aan) to you (O Muhammad &)
with the truth to confirm the Books before it and as witness (custodian, protector)
over them (to attest to the truth that they professed). So (O Muhammad &) judge
between them (between people, even though they may not be Muslims) by that which
Allaah has revealed (to you) and do not follow their wishes, leaving aside the
truth that has come to you. For each of you (nations of the various prophets
throughout time) We have fixed a Shari'ah and a set way (according to which your
lives are led). If Allaah willed He could have made you a single nation (following
the same Shari'ah) but (He has not done so) so that He may test you with regard to
that which He has given you (to see who are obedient and who are not). So hasten
to (do) good works! To Allaah shall you all return (on the Day of Qiyaamah) and
then He will inform you about that in which you used to differ (then each one will
receive the rewards or punishment for what they did).
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Verses 156-157 of Surah A'raaf states:
فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِيْنَ يَتَّقُوْنَ وَ يُؤْتُوْنَ الزَّكُوةَ وَ الَّذِيْنَ بُمْ بِأَيْتِنَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ (١٥٢) الَّذِيْنَ يَتَّبِعُوْنَ الرَّسُوْلَ النَّبِىَّ الْأُمِّىَّ
الَّذِى يَجِدُوْنَهُ مَكْتُوْبًا عِنْدَبُمْ فِى الَّوْرَةِ وَالْإِنْجِيْلِ.
I shall soon (in the Aakhirah) ordain it (My mercy) for those who adopt Taqwa, who
pay zakaah, who believe in My Aayaat and who follow the Rasool (who is also)
the untutored Nabi (Muhammad &, about) whom they find (his name and description)
written in the Torah and the Injeel (both of which they have) with them.
Verse 75 of Surah Baqarah states:
اَفَتَطْمَعُوْنَ آَنْ يُّؤْمِنُوْا لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُوْنَ كَلِمَ اللهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُوْنَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوْهُ وَبُمْ يَعْلَمُوْنَ
(٧٥)
TRANSLATION: (O Mu'mineen) Do you still hope that they (the Jews) will have
Imaan for your sake when there is a party from them (their Rabbis as well as those
who went to Mount Toor with Moosa v and heard Allaah speak) who listen to Allaah's
speech (the Torah) and then purposely alter it after understanding it? (Entertain
no such hopes because they will not follow you in Imaan.)
Verse 79 then continues to say:
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فَوَيْلٌ لَلَّذِيْنَ يَكْتُبُوْنَ الْكِتْبَ بِأَيْدِيْهِمْ * ثُمَّ يَقُوْلُوْنَ بُذَا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ لِيَشْتَرُوْا بِمِ ثَّمَنَّا قَلِيْلًا - فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُمْ مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ
آَيْدِيْهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُمْ مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُوْنَ (٧٩)
TRANSLATION: May those people be destroyed who write the Book with their
hands (dreaming up the words) and then say, "This is from Allaah," so that they
may sell it for a worthless price (for a small commercial profit). May they be
destroyed because of what their hands write and may they be destroyed
because of what (bribes) they earn.
Verse 13 of Surah Maa'idah states:
يُحَرِّفُوْنَ الْكَلِمَ عَنْ مَّوَاضِعِم ◌ٌ وَنَسُوْا حَظًّاً مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِمِ نَّ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى خَائِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيْلًا مِّنْهُمْ
فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ ﴿ إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ (١٣)
TRANSLATION: They changed words (of the scripture) from their places (such as
the description of Rasulullaah p) and forgot a great deal of the advice given to them
(so they derived no benefit from it). You (O Muslims!) shall continuously discover
some sort of treachery from them (from the Jews), except from a few of them
(who become Muslims). Forgive them and overlook (if you are not in a position to
wage Jihaad). Verily Allaah loves those who are good
Allaah says in verse 42 of Surah Maa'idah:
سَمُعُوْنَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكُلُوْنَ لِلِسُّحْتِ ٠٥
(These Jews are) Eager listeners to lies and enthusiastic devourers of the
unlawful (such as interest, bribery, etc) !
891

Hawaari
The word Hawaariy literally refers to a person who washes clothing and makes
them brilliantly clean. The disciples of Hadhrat Isa v were given this name
because the early disciples worked by the riverside as washer men do. At the
same time, the figurative meaning of this name is a person who is sincere and a
helper. Rasulullaah p said that every Nabi has a few men who are his
Hawaariyyeen (aides) and his was Hadhrat Zubayr t.
While the Qur'aan refers to the disciples only as the Hawaariyyeen, the gospel of
Matthew lists twelve of them.
Women and Nubuwwah
The Qur'aan attests to the purity, piety and righteousness of Hadhrat Maryam)
Wie ul in several verses and also states that she had been selected above all other
women. These verses have already passed.
Amongst our pious predecessors, there have been several who are of the
opinion that Nubuwwah (prophethood) can be conferred to women. Amongst
these scholars were Muhammad bin Is'haaq al 44), Sheikh Abul Hasan Ash'ari al das ),
Imaam Qurtubi al wasy and Ibn Hazam &l das ). In fact, Ibn Hazam &ld, states that
Hadhrat Hawwa رضي الله عنها, Hadhrat Saarah رضي الله عنها, Hadhrat Haajirah رضي الله عنها, the
رضي الله عنها and Hadhrat Maryam رضي الله عنها mother of Hadhrat Moosa v, Hadhrat Aasiya
. عليهم السلام were all Ambiyaa
892

However, it is the opinion of Imaam Haasan Basri al das), Imaamul Haramain Sheikh
Abdul Azeez dila, and Qaadhi Ayaadh &il das, that a woman cannot be a Nabi.
Therefore, none of the women listed above were Ambiyaa >all Moale. Allaama Ibn
Katheer al das, has written that this is the opinion of the majority of scholars. To
substantiate this opinion, they cite the verse:
وَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا تُّوْحِى الَّتِهِمْ فَسْلُوْا أَبْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَّمُوْنَ (٣٣)
TRANSLATION: Before you (O Muhammad &) We sent only men (not angels or
women) as Rusul, sending revelation to them. So (O people of Makkah) ask the
people of knowledge (those who understood the Torah and Injeel as they were
revealed) if you do not know (that a Nabi to mankind has to be a man).420
Verse 75 of Surah Maa'idah clearly refutes that Hadhrat Maryam bie del pla) Was a
Nabi when it states:
مَا الْمَسِيْحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُوْلٌ وَ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِ الرُّسُلُ ﴿ وَ أُمُّمْ صِدِّيْقَةٌ نـ
TRANSLATION: Maseeh the son of Maryam is but a Rasool. Many Rusul have
passed before him and his mother was a Siddeeq - extremely truthful (true in her
Imaan and chastity; a saintly woman).
Verse 69 of Surah Nisaa makes it clear that the Siddeeqeen are a group of people
who are not the Ambiyaa >ull poule. The verse states "Those who obey Allaah and
the Rasool p will be (in the Aakhirah) with those Ambiyaa (those who received divine
revelation), "Siddeeqeen", martyrs (those prepared to die for Allaah and for Rasulullaah
420
Surah Nahl, verse 43.
893

p) and righteous ones (those who purify their bodies and souls) on whom Allaah has
bestowed His bounties".
Those scholars who believe that a woman can be a Nabi quote verses of the
Qur'aan that mention revelation being sent to certain women such as the
mother of Hadhrat Moosa v. Some of the verses quoted above also state that
Allaah sent angels with messages to Hadhrat Maryam wie al way and that Allaah also
spoke to her. Such messages and speech from Allaah also reached women such
as Hadhrat Saarah wie al gh) (see Surah Hood and Surah Dhaariyaat) and the mother
of Hadhrat Moosa v (see Surah Qasas). These scholars state that the revelation
coming to these women was not mere inspiration, as Allaah gives to bees when
He says, "Your Rabb inspired the bee".421
Another proof they cite about the opinion that Hadhrat Maryam Wie dul play Was a
Nabi is the manner in which Allaah speaks about her in Surah Maryam. In this
Surah, Allaah says "Mention Maryam (the mother of Isa v) in the scripture (the
Qur'aan)'. This is just as Allaah says "Mention Ibraaheem (the mother of Isa v) in
the scripture (the Qur'aan)", "Mention Moosa (the mother of Isa v) in the scripture
(the Qur'aan)", "Mention Idrees (the mother of Isa v) in the scripture (the Qur'aan)',
etc.
The above are brief proofs for the opinions of both parties concerning whether
women have been given Nubuwwah or not. Apart from the above, there is much
more to be said for both parties and this has been extensively researched in
more detailed books. In his book Kitaabul Fasl, Ibn Hazam always has written that
this matter has been a prominent bone of contention amongst the scholars of his
city (Cordoba). Apart from the above two opinions, he states that there is also a
421 Surah Nahl, verse 68.
894

group who believe that no comment is to be passed on the subject and therefore
opt to remain silent on the issue.
He writes further that the verse of Surah Nahl stating "Before you (O Muhammad
&) We sent only men as Rusul" proves only that no woman has not been sent as
a Rasool. However, he argues, the issue is not concerning a woman being a
Rasool, but concerning a woman being a Nabi. To understand this, we need to
specify the meaning of the word Nabi. The words is derived from the Arabic
word Ambaa, which means 'to inform'. Therefore, a person will be regarded as a
Nabi when s/he is informed by Allaah through revelation of something before it
occurs. This revelation does not refer to an inherent instinct to do something
because Allaah had inspired it, as in the case of the bee, about which Allaah says,
"Your Rabb inspired the bee" .422
Ibn Hazam al das, writes further that this revelation does not refer to information
that is probable, but information that is absolutely certain and beyond any
doubt. Similarly, it also does not refer to the 'inspiration' that fortune tellers
receive from the Shayaateen. This information is received by the Shayaateen
eaves dropping on the conversations of the angels. Allaah had sealed the doors
to the Shayaateen accessing such information from the time that the Qur'aan
started being revealed by having the Shayaateen pelted with searing stars
whenever they attempted to eavesdrop. Concerning this, Allaah says, "In a like
manner (just as these people are your enemies, O Muhammad &) We have appointed
for every Nabi enemies (forces of evil) who are Shayaateen from among humans
and Jinn. Some of them (the Jinn Shayaateen) whisper to others (to the human
Shayaateen) things that seem good but (are intended to) deceive".423
422
Surah Nahl, verse 68.
423
Surah An'aam, verse 112.
895

In a like manner, this revelation does not refer to the information people glean
from the movements of the stars or that which is received through dreams since
none of these are certain. Therefore, the revelation that Allaah sent to these
women was the type that was sent to all the Ambiyaa pul . It was therefore
absolutely certain knowledge about something they could never have known by
any other means, whether physical or intellectual. This information would have
come to them either through the agency of an angel or by direct contact with
them. It is therefore evident that the women who received revelation as
mentioned in the Qur'aan can certainly be referred to as Ambiyaa pull peale,
The news that Allaah sent to the mother of Hadhrat Is'haaq v (Hadhrat Saara
Wie aul) was through the agency of angels. With refersnce to this, Allaah says, "His
wife (Sarah), standing by, laughed (with happiness) as We conveyed to her the
good news (that she would be giving birth to a son by the name) of Is'haaq v, and
(that she will have a grandson by the name of) Ya'qoob v after Is'haaq v. She said (in
astonishment), "Oh dear! Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman (of over 80
years) and my husband here is an old man (of over 100 years) ? This is indeed a
strange event!" They (the angels) said, "Are you surprised at the command (and
power) of Allaah (Who can do anything) ? May Allaah's mercy and blessings be on
you, O members of the household (of Ibraheem v). Verily He is Worthy of all
praise, The Exalted.""> 424
Allaah also sent Hadhrat Jibra'eel v to Hadhrat Maryam Que al (a), who said to her,
"I am but a messenger of your Rabb (and my task is) to convey to you the good
news of a pure son (that is to be born to you" .425 In addition to this, Hadhrat
Zakariyya u would always find food with Hadhrat Maryam wie al dony when he came
to her room, prompting him to pray for a son.
424 Surah Hood, verses 71-73.
425
Surah Maryam, verse 19.
896

Concerning the revelation sent to the mother of Hadhrat Moosa v, Allaah says,
"We inspired Moosa v's mother (instructing her), " (Continue to) Nurse him.
(However,) When you fear for his life, then place him in (a basket, which should be
put into) the river (Nile) and neither fear (for his safety because We shall protect him)
nor grieve (over your separation from him because it will not be for a long while). We
shall certainly return him to you (to suckle) and have made him from among the
Ambiyaa". 426 Addressing Hadhrat Moosa v, Allaah also says in verse 38 of Surah
TaaHaa, "We inspired your mother with that with which she was inspired". It is
sufficient for anyone to understand that this message to the mother of Hadhrat
Moosa u was not some dream she had or just any vision, because such avenues
of information could be doubted. The revelation was from Allaah and she knew it
to be such, otherwise no mother would have subjected her infant to such a
perilous plight, especially when the verse states that his safety was her primary
concern.
Her dangerous action was certainly an instruction from Allaah, just as the action
of Hadhrat Ibraheem v was when he intended to slaughter his son. Had Hadhrat
Ibraheem v not been a Nabi and instructed by Allaah, his act would have been
unlawful. The same applies to the mother of Hadhrat Moosa v. It is therefore
evident that the mother of Hadhrat Moosa v was a Nabi.
A verse that proves that Hadhrat Maryam Que dul uth, was also a Nabi is verse 58 of
Surah Maryam, in which Allaah says, "These (Ambiyaa mentioned above from
Zakariyya v until Idrees v) are the ones whom Allaah has favoured from the
progeny of Aadam v". Included in the discussion of the Ambiyaa all paule Was
Hadhrat Maryam Wie wil (a). It would therefore be wrong to remove her from this
list.
426
Surah Qasas, verse 7.
897

Ibn Hazam al, states further that the Nubuwwah of Hadhrat Maryam (i dil(i)
cannot be disproved by the verse "and his mother was a Siddeeq". This is
because Hadhrat Yusuf v who has been declared by the Qur'aan as a Nabi and a
Rasool, has also been addressed as a Siddeeq in the verse, "O Yusuf! O Siddeeq -
most truthful!" 427
He goes further to say that together with Hadhrat Saarah wie al (s), the mother of
رضي الله Fir'oun's wife Hadhrat Aasiya ,رضي الله عنها Hadhrat Moosa v and Hadhrat Maryam
Wie can also be included in the list of women Ambiyaa all Male. This is because
Rasulullaah p said, "Although many men have been perfected, there have not
been many women apart from Aasiya bint Muzahim the wife of Fir'oun and
Maryam bint Imraan. Furthermore, the excellence of Aa'isha over all other
women is like the virtue of excellence of Thareed over all other foods."
This proves that from amongst the females Ambiyaa >ull poule, the above two were
higher is status. This is in keeping with the verse in which Allaah says, "We have
given excellence to some of these Rusul over others".428 Just as some Ambiyaa Male
like Rasulullaah p and Hadhrat Ibraheem u stood out above the rest, so too
did these two Ambiyaa >wll Make from amongst the women.
The above has been adapted from Vol.5 Pg. 12 of Kitaabul Fasl by Ibn Hazam ail dany
and is also quoted in Fat'hul Baari (Vol.6 Pg.348).
In Summary
427
Surah Yusuf, verse 46.
428
Surah Baqarah, verse 253.
898

The gist of what Ibn Hazam al wasy has written is that the revelation that Allaah
sends to the Ambiyaa >>wll poule can be classified into the following two categories:
1. That revelation that concerns the guidance and reformation of people
2. That revelation that concerns news of some future occurrence or that
concerns something of benefit to the Nabi
If a person receives the first type of revelation, he will be regarded as a Nabi as
well as a Rasool. This revelation and duty to guide and reform people was
reserved for men and it is this that is referred to in the verse, "Before you (O
Muhammad &) We sent only men as Rusul". However, the second form of
revelation is sent to both men and women. It is also this form of revelation that
the Qur'aan refers to in verse 51 of Surah Shura, where Allaah states, "It is not
(suitable) for a human that Allaah speaks to him (face-to-face) unless (Allaah
communicates with him) by means of inspiration (by creating a thought in his mind), or
from behind a veil (telling him something without being seen), or that He sends a
messenger (angel) who conveys the revelation by Allaah's command, as He
pleases. Verily Allaah is Exalted (cannot be seen in this world), the Wise. (This verse
mentions the methods in which revelation came to the Ambiyaa)."
Therefore, when the Qur'aan states that revelation came to women such as
رضي الله عنها the mother of Hadhrat Moosa v, Hadhrat Aasiya ,رضي الله عنها Hadhrat Saarah
and Hadhrat Maryam Wie dl (ab), it refers to the same revelation that came to the
Ambiyaa >ll posle , thereby placing them also into the category of the Ambiyaa posle
• السلام
Dispelling a Doubt
899