Indexed OCR Text

This episode is related in verses 112-115 of Surah Maa'idah in the following
words:
إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّوْنَ يُعِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ بَلْ يَسْتَطِيْعُ رَبُّكَ أَنْ يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ ٥ * قَالَ اتَّقُوا اللهَ إِنْ
كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ (١١٢) قَالُوا نُرِيدُ أَنْ نَّكُلَ مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوْبُنَا وَنَعْلَمَ أَنْ قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُوْنَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الشَّهِدِيْنَ
(١١٣) قَالَ عِيْسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُوْنُ لَنَا عِيْدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَأَخِرِنَا وَ أَيَّةً
مِّنْكَ نَّ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرُّزِقِينَ (١١٣) قَالَ اللهُ إِنِّيْ مُنَزَّلُهَا عَلَيْكُمْ ◌َّ فَمَنْ يَّكْفُرْ بَعْدُ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنِّئْ أُعَذِّبُهُ
عَذَابًا لَّا أُعَذِّبُهَ احَدًا مِّنَ الْعُلَّمِيْنَ (١١٥)٪
TRANSLATION: (Remember also the time) When the Disciples said, "O Isa, son of
Maryam! Is your Rabb able to send to us a set (fully laid) table (spread with food)
from the skies?" He (Isa v) replied, "Fear Allaah (and do not make such requests) if
you are indeed Mu'mineen (if you truly have Imaan, you need not ask for miracles) !"
They said, "We wish to eat from it, to put (the Imaan in) our hearts at ease, to
know (to have added conviction) that you have been truthful to us (in your claim to
prophethood) and to be witnesses to it (to this wonderful event)." Isa the son of
Maryam prayed, "O Allaah, our Rabb! Send down to us a set table (spread with
food) from the heavens so that it may be a (day of) celebration for those of us
present here and for those of us still to come (when they recall the day) and a sign
from You (to show Your power and prove the truthfulness of my prophethood). Provide
for us, for You are the Best of providers (because You can provide without effort or
labour)." Allaah said, "I shall certainly send it (the set table) to you. (However)
Whoever of you commits kufr after this (miracle), I will surely punish him in a
manner (so severe) that I will never punish anyone in the universe (so severely)."
An Important Note
Did the laden table descend from the heavens or not? Neither the Qur'aan nor
authentic Ahadeeth say anything about this question. However, Imaam
Mujaahid al dony and Imaam Hasan Basri ail das, have mentioned that when they
heard the warning, the Hawaariyyeen opted not to have the table sent down
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because they feared that they should ever fall foul of it. It is also noted that the
Christians have not mentioned anything about the set table from the heavens.
This indicates that it never did come otherwise they would have certainly
boasted about it.
However, the majority of Mufassireen share the opinion of Hadhrat Abdullaah
bin Abbaas t and Hadhrat Ammaar bin Yaasir t, who claim that the table did
descend from the heavens. Mufassireen differ with regard to the details of the
table. While some say that it came for only one day, while others claim that it
came everyday for forty days. Furthermore, some say that they were instructed
to feed it only to the poor and ill and not to the wealthy, but they then
disobeyed this instruction. Others say that the instruction was not to store the
food for the following day, which they disobeyed. Nonetheless, their
disobedience led to them being deprived of more food from the heavens and
them being transformed into apes and swine. And Allaah knows best.
However, it needs to be borne in mind that it was not the Hawaariyyeen who
disobeyed the instruction, but other people. This is evident because the
Qur'aan praises the Hawaariyyeen as devoted and obedient servants of Allaah.
It has also been reported from the Sahabah w that an angel brought the table
down from the heavens while Hadhrat Isa v was engaged in du'aa. When he saw
it, Hadhrat Isa v performed two Rakaahs salaah in gratitude before uncovering
the food. There was fried fish, fresh fruit and bread on the table, all of which
caused a wonderful aroma to waft through the air. When Hadhrat Isa u bade
the people to eat, they submitted that he should start first. However, Hadhrat
Isa v reminded them that the food came because of their request and he would
not be eating from it. Worried that they should eat when he was not eating, the
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Hawaariyyeen hesitated. Noticing their hesitation, Hadhrat Isa u told them to
call the poor and incapacitated people to eat first since they were most
deserving of a share in the food. They then called for such people and even
after a thousand of them had eaten to their fill, the food was still as much as it
had originally been.
Hadhrat Shah Abdul Qaadir al was, writes in his Tafseer that this table was sent
down on a Sunday and it is because of this that the Christians regard Sundays
as days of worship. It is also perhaps of this du'aa of Hadhrat Isa v that it is
seen that Christians are usually wealthy nations.
A Sermon Delivered by Hadhrat Ammaar T
After mention of the laden table sent to Hadhrat Isa v and his disciples, the
eminent Sahabi Hadhrat Ammaar bin Yaasir t delivered a sermon, in which he
said, "When Hadhrat Isa v prayed for the set table from the heavens, Allaah
responded by telling him that the condition for it being sent was that no stealing,
hiding or storing of the food takes place. If this condition is breached, the food
will stop coming and the guilty ones will be punished very severely. O Arabs!
Think about yourselves. You were once holding the tails of camels and goats as
you grazed them in the desert. Allaah then sent to you His chosen Rasul-
messenger through His grace, whose lineage you knew very well. He then
informed you that you will soon take control over the territories of the non-
Arabs, but also vehemently forbade you from amassing gold and silver after
being exposed to it. However, the time is nigh that you will start to amass gold
and silver, after which you will also become deserving of a severe punishment
from Allaah."402
402 Tafseer Ibn Katheer.
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Ascent to the Heavens
Hadhrat Isa u did not marry or settle in a home. All he did was move from town
to town to propagate the message of Allaah. He spent the night wherever he
found himself at night, without bothering to secure the necessary means and
comforts. Because he offered the people both spiritual and physical healing,
there was always a large crowd of people eager to listen to him and many
became his followers.
However, this proved to be a thorn in the sides of the Jews, who abhorred his
growing popularity and feared that his religion would overshadow Judaism. The
Jewish leaders therefore started to devise plans to put a stop to Hadhrat Isa v.
They eventually decided to incite the king against Hadhrat Isa v so that he could
effectively stop him.
Although the Jews were allowed limited liberties under the Roman rule in
Palestine and could try people under their traditional law, they were bound to
enforce punishment only under the Roman law. Blinded by the hatred they had
for Hadhrat Isa v, the Jews sacrificed their enmity for the Roman emperor to put
a stop to the new religion, they therefore approached the Emperor and told him
that Hadhrat Isa v posed a threat to all of the Roman empire because together
with wiping out the Jewish religion, he will soon seize control over the Roman
empire because of his tremendous influence over the people. They told him that
Hadhrat Isa v mesmerises people with his miraculous feats so that he could
influence them to appoint him as king of the Jews and eventually king of all. They
went further to accuse Hadhrat Isa v of wanting to make people irreligious. They
therefore proposed to the king to put an end to the efforts of Hadhrat Isa v
before it got too late.
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The king then permitted the Jews to arrest Hadhrat Isa v and bring him to the
royal court for judgement. The Jews were pleased with the warrant they
received from the king and started to congratulate each other. They agreed to
arrest Hadhrat Isa v at a time when he was alone so that the people may not
protest. The words of the Bible referring to this incident are:
"Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
"What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many
signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the
Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation." Then one of
them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know
nothing at all! $% You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for
the people than that the whole nation perish." He did not say this on his own,
but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish
nation" 403
The discussion that Hadhrat Isa v had with his disciples as quoted in the verses
of Surah Aal Imraan and Surah Saff took place when he sensed that the Jews
were bent on opposing him and putting an end to his duty. He then gathered the
Hawaariyyeen and told them that the time was near when they would be put
through the most gruelling of tests. He wanted to know from them which of
them would pledge to continue serving and propagating the Deen. It was then
that the Hawaariyyeen declared, "We shall be the helpers (of the Deen of) Allaah.
We believe in Allaah and you be the witness that we are indeed Muslims
(subservient to Allaah). Our Rabb, we believe in what You have revealed (the Injeel)
403 New International Version, John 11: 47-51.
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and we have followed the Rasool (Isa v), so record us among those who have
testified (to the truth of Towheed and Isa v)".404
These words were the same as all the devoted followers of the Ambiyaa all posle
spoke when their Ambiyaa >wll poule called for their support. Upon this reply from
them, Hadhrat Isa v prayed for them and then recited to them the revelation
that Allaah had sent to him.
Allaah had made the following five promises to Hadhrat Isa v:
1. That he will not be killed by the Jews
2. He would be raised to the heavens
3. He will be protected from the libelling of his enemies
4. His followers would dominate over their enemies until the Day of Qiyaamah
5. Allaah will be judge over the differences between his followers on the Day of
Qiyaamah
This is articulated in the verse 55 of Surah Aal Imraan, where Allaah says, "O Isa,
I shall take you away (from this world), raise you to Me (to the heavens), purify you
from (the company of) those who disbelieve and make those who follow you
above (superior to) those who disbelieve (the Jews) until the Day of Qiyaamah.
Then to Me shall you all return and I shall judge between you concerning those
things about which you differed."
Every Nabi v met opposition from his people and it had always been the
practice of Allaah to do one of the following two things when the people
resolve not to accept the Nabi v:
404 Surah Aal Imraan, verses 52-53.
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1. The nation is wiped out by Allaah's punishment, as happened to the Aad
and the Thamud
2. Allaah instructs the Nabi v to emigrate from the land to a place where he
receives support from others to eventually prevail over his people. This
happened when Hadhrat Ibraheem v left Iraq to emigrate to Shaam, when
Hadhrat Moosa v left Egypt to emigrate to Madyan and when Rasulullaah p
left Makkah to emigrate to Madinah
Allaah took the second course of action with Hadhrat Isa v, but his place of
emigration was the heavens. He will return to earth before Qiyaamah.
Narrations from both the Jews and Christians confirm that when the head of the
Jews learn that Hadhrat Isa v had left the crowd of people and was alone with
his disciples in a locked house, he immediately had the house surrounded. The
plan was to arrest Hadhrat Isa v and have him presented before the king to be
crucified because the sentence had already been passed on the grounds that he
was causing strife and dissent amongst the people. The soldiers and Jews then
raided the house.
However, Allaah protected His chosen Nabi by raising him to the heavens and
changing the appearance of one of the Jews so that he looked just like Hadhrat
Isa v. Thinking that he was Hadhrat Isa v, the others grabbed hold of him. It is
this episode that Allaah refers to when He says, "They never killed him, nor did
they crucify him, but they were cast into doubt (when Allaah made the people think
that another person was Isa v, whom they killed instead). Indeed those who dispute
about him (who say that Isa v was crucified) are definitely in doubt. The only
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knowledge they possess (about Isa v) is guesswork (they have no accurate
knowledge about his whereabouts). With certainty, they never killed him".405
Historical reports make it clear that although the order for execution proceeded
from the Roman court, it was the by the instigation of the Jews that it was
passed. It is for this reason that the Qur'aan pins the blame to trying to
assassinate Hadhrat Isa v upon the Jews. In fact, all the four books of the Bible
agree that the Roman king Pilate was reluctant to have Hadhrat Isa v executed,
but the continued insistence by the Jews and the treat of anarchy that they
raised finally sort him.
The Bible states, "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?"
Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he
committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" When
Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting,
he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this
man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" All the people answered, "His
blood is on us and on our children!" Then he released Barabbas to them. But he
had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified".406
In their historical works, many Jews have boasted about being the ones
responsible for the crucifixion. Nonetheless, the Qur'aan makes it explicitly clear
that Hadhrat Isa v was never killed or crucified, but that Allaah raised him alive
to the heavens, where is living to this day.
405
Surah Nisaa, verse 157.
406
Matthew 27:22-26.
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In the Words of the Qur'an
Verses 157-158 of Surah Nisaa state:
وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيْحَ عِيْسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ نَّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوْهُ وَلَكِنْ شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ * وَ إِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ
اخْتَلْفُوْا فِيْهِ لَفِىْ شَكٌّ مِّنْهُ * مَا لَهُمْ بِم مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّ اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ يَّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِيْنًا (١٥٧) بَلْ رَّفَعَهُ اللهُ إِلَيْهِ ﴾
وَكَانَ اللهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيْمًا (١٥٨)
TRANSLATION: And (they are also cursed) because they said, "Without doubt we
have killed Maseeh Isa the son of Maryam, the Rasool of Allaah." They never
killed him, nor did they crucify him, but they were cast into doubt (when Allaah
made the people think that another person was Isa v, whom they killed instead). Indeed
those who dispute about him (who say that Isa v was crucified) are definitely in
doubt. The only knowledge they possess (about Isa v) is guesswork (they have no
accurate knowledge about his whereabouts). With certainty, they never killed him.
On the contrary, Allaah raised him towards Himself (in the heavens). Allaah is
Mighty (Powerful to do whatever He wants), the Wise.
Imaam Dahhaak &il dang stated that when Hadhrat Isa v was alone with his disciples,
it was Shaytaan who alerted the Jews about his whereabouts. They then
surrounded the house with four thousand men. Hadhrat Isa v then asked the
disciples which of them would volunteer to go outside so that he may be
executed. In return for this, Hadhrat Isa v promised that the person would be
with him in Jannah. A man stood up and Hadhrat Isa v gave his turban and
clothing to him. Allaah then changed the man's appearance to look exactly like
Hadhrat Isa v. It was this man who was crucified and Hadhrat Isa v was raised
to the heavens.
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Another narration states that the Jews sent one of their men in the house to
kill Hadhrat Isa v, but he could not find anyone inside. When he came out to
inform them, Allaah had already altered his appearance to resemble Hadhrat
Isa v and, despite his incessant protests, he was killed instead.407 It is stated that
after the execution, some of the Jews were in doubt and asked, "Although the
face is that of Isa, the body does not appear to be his. Furthermore, if this is Isa,
where is our man and if this is our man, then where is Isa?"
Concluding the incident, Allaah says:
وَ إِنْ مِّنْ أَبْلِ الْكِتُبِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِم قَبْلَ مَوْتِمِ نَّ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيْمَةِ يَكُوْنُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيْدًا (١٥٩)
TRANSLATION: Every person belonging to the Ahlul Kitaab shall certainly
believe in him (Isa v) before his death, and on the Day of Judgement, he (Isa v)
shall be a witness against them. 408
Some scholars say that the pronoun 'his' in the phrase 'his death' refers to the
person of the Ahlul Kitaab. This means that the person will believe in the
Nubuwwah of Hadhrat Isa v when the person is dying and can see the unseen.
However, such Imaan is invalid, just as it was in the case of Fir'oun.
However, majority of scholars as well as a large group of Sahabah y and
Taabi'een are of the opinion that the pronoun 'his' refers to Hadhrat Isa v. This
407
Mazʼhari.
408
Surah Nisaa, verse 159.
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means that although they do not believe in him, they will when he descends
back to earth before Qiyaamah. He will then expel all forms of kufr from earth
and only true Islaam will reign. Rasulullaah p said that when Hadhrat Isa u will
return to earth, he will come as a just ruler and kill Dajjaal and rid the earth of
swine. He will also destroy the cross and it will only be Allaah Who will be
worshipped on earth. After narrating this Hadith, Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah t said,
"You may also recite the verse of the Qur'aan which makes it clear that every
member of the Ahlul Kitaab will believe in him before he dies." He then thrice
repeated "Before the death of Isa u".409
This also reiterates the fact that Hadhrat Isa u did not pass away, but will do so
only after he returns before Qiyaamah. This is also substantiated by verse 61 of
Surah Zukhruf in which Allaah says, "And he (Isa v) is certainly a sign of
Qiyaamah (proving that just as Allaah created him miraculously, Allaah can also enact the
miraculous feat of resurrecting mankind), so never doubt it, and follow me. (All of)
This (towards which I am calling you) is the straight path." Hadhrat Abdullaah bin
Abbaas t stated that Hadhrat Isa v being a sign of Qiyaamah also refers to his
return before Qiyaamah, which will denote that Qiyaamah is imminent.
A Witness on the Day of Riyaamal
The Ambiyaa >ull posle will be summoned on the Day of Qiyaamah and questioned
about the response they received from their people when they conveyed the
message to them. This will be a critical juncture for every nation because they
will anticipate the intercession of their Nabi v and entertain the hope that the
words of their Nabi u would secure their salvation. However, those who rejected
the message will only find further incrimination and damnation in this. Allaah
makes specific reference to the time when He will summon Hadhrat Isa u for
questioning on the Day of Qiyaamah. This is mentioned in the following verses of
Surah Maaʼidah:
409
Qurtubi.
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In the Words of the Qur'an
Verses 116-120 of Surah Maa'idah state:
وَ إِذْ قَالَ اللهُ يُعِيْسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ءَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُوْنِى وَ أُمِّىَ الْهَيْنِ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللهِ ﴿ قَالَ سُبْحَنَكَ مَا يَكُوْنُ
لِ أَنْ آَقُوْلَ مَا لَيْسَ لِىْ * بِحَقِّ -صـ إِنْ كُنْتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهَ ن تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِئْ نَفْسِکَ
٥* إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوْبِ (١١٢) مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا آَمَرْتَنِىْ بِمْ آَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمْ ◌َّ وَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ
شَهِيْدًا مَّا دُمْتُ فِيِهِمْ وَّ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْنَنِىْ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الرَّقِيْبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ٥* وَ أَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ (١١٧) إِنْ تُعَذِّبْهُمْ
فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ نَّ وَ إِنْ تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ (١١٨) قَالَ اللهُ بُذَا يَوْمُ يَنْفَعُ الصُّدِقِيْنَ صِدْقُهُمْ ﴾﴾
لَهُمْ جَنَّتٌ تَجْرِئْ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهُرُ خُلِدِيْنَ فِيْهَا أَبَدًا * رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوْا عَنْمُ نْ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
(١١٩) لِلهِ مُلْكُ السَّمُوتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيْهِنَّ ٥* وَبُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ (١٢٠)٪
TRANSLATION: (Do not forget the time) When (on the Day of Qiyaamah) Allaah shall
say, "O Isa son of Maryam! Did you say to the people, 'Take myself and my
mother both as Ilaah instead of Allaah?" He (Isa v) will reply, "I express Your
purity (You have no need for partners) ! It does not befit me to say what I have no
right to say! If I had said so, You would certainly have knowledge of it (You
therefore know that I did not say anything like it). You know what is in my heart and I
do not know what is in Your knowledge. Most assuredly, You are the Knower of
the unseen. I told them only what You had commanded me (to tell them, which
is): Worship Allaah, Who is my Rabb and your Rabb! I was a witness to them as
long as I was with them. (However) When You took me away (raised me to the
heavens), then You were watching over them (You have perfect knowledge about
what they said and did after I had left them). You are Witness over all things. If You
punish them, then verily they are Your slaves (and You are at liberty to treat them
as You please), and if You forgive them, then surely You are the Mighty, the Wise
(and Your reason for doing so is filled with wisdom)." Allaah will say, "This (Day of
Qiyaamah) is the day when the truthfulness of the truthful ones shall profit
them. They shall have (as a reward) Jannaat beneath which rivers flow, where
they shall live forever and ever." Allaah is pleased with them and they are
pleased with Him (with the way in which He shall reward them). This (attaining Allaah's
pleasure) is a magnificent achievement. To Allaah belongs the kingdom of the
heavens and the earth and whatever is within them. He has power over all
things.
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Haafidh Ibn Asaakir al wasy has quoted a narration from Hadhrat Abu Moosa Ash'ari
t in which Rasulullaah p said that Hadhrat Isa v will be summoned on the Day of
Qiyaamah together with all the other Ambiyaa >wll Moule. Allaah will recount all the
favours that he was blessed with in this world, which he will acknowledge. Allaah
will then ask him, "Did you say to the people, 'Take myself and my mother both
as Ilaah instead of Allaah?" Hadhrat Isa v will deny it. Allaah will then summon
the Christians and ask them about this. When they will lie and claim that he did
tell them to do this, Hadhrat Isa u will be overcome with fear and fall prostrate
before Allaah. He will remain like this for what would seem like a period of a
thousand years before Allaah disproves the Christians and then dispatches them
all off to Jahannam. 410
410 Tafseer Ibn Katheer (Vol.1)
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Lessons and Conclusions
A Physical Description of Hadhrat Ina V
In the narration describing the journey of Mi'raaj, Rasulullaah p said, "When I
met Isa, I found him to be of average height and with a fair, but reddish
complexion. His body was so radiant that it appeared as if he had just emerged
from the bath." Another narration adds that he had long hair, which reached up
to his shoulders. 411
The Da' wal of Hadhrat Ina V
The Injeel (Bible) given to Hadhrat Isa v was essentially a completion of the
Torah given to Hadhrat Moosa v. Therefore, while the basis of the Injeel was
really the teachings of the Torah, it served the fundamental purpose of
correcting that which the Jews had corrupted in the Torah. While there were
many issues that the Injeel sought to redress, there were a few which Hadhrat
Isa u gave particular attention to.
The Jews had divided into four groups in terms of their beliefs, all of whom were
deviated. These were:
1. A group of them believed that reward for all good deeds and punishment for
all sins will be received in this very world and there shall be no need for the
Aakhirah. This was the Sadooqi group
411
Bukhaari.
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2. There was another group called the Farisi who believed that the Aakhirah
was a reality to be, but believed that the pleasure of Allaah is found only in
forsaking the pleasures of this world. They therefore left the towns and
cities and lived in seclusion in forests and deserts, living lives of austerity
and abstinence. However, even before the coming of Hadhrat Isa v, these
people lost their identities and, although pretending to be ascetic, they
engaged in the darkest of sins and indulgences in private
3. The third group was called the Kaahineen. These people served the temples
and were responsible for carrying out their rituals and customary practices.
However, the practices that required sincerity and piety as prerequisites
were turned into a trade and people were required to make offerings to
them before they did anything. In fact, they even went as far as altering
the teachings of the Torah to accommodate their trade
4. The fourth group was in control over all the others. In fact, they gradually got
the others to believe that the fundamentals and belief system of the religion
meant nothing unless it was sanctioned by them. They gave themselves the
right to declare what was unlawful as lawful and vice versa. They added
and omitted from the Deen whatever they wished and would pass
judgement over others, declaring whether they were destined for Jannah
or Jahannam. They were bold enough to alter the words and injunctions of
the Torah as and when they pleased and were regarded as gods apart from
Allaah. This power they used to satisfy their greed for this world by getting
paid gratuities for altering injunctions according to the whims of the
people.
It was therefore amongst the primary tasks of Hadhrat Isa v to address the
wrongs of these groups. He proceeded to point out their wrongs with great love
and compassion and continued to make great efforts to reform them. However,
those who chose to remain obstinate labelled him as a deviant and opposed him.
874

Making reference to their evil manner in the Qur'aan, Allaah says:
فَوَيْلٌ لَلَّذِيْنَ يَكْتُبُوْنَ الْكِتُبَ بِأَيْدِيْهِمْ * ثُمَّ يَقُوْلُوْنَ بُذَا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوْا بِمِ ثَمَنَّا 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.
Also amongst the many false beliefs that the Jews propagated was that they
would say, "The Fire will touch us only for a limited number of days." They
professed that since they were the children of Allaah, they would not burn for
long in Jahannam even if they sinned.
Also making reference to their false beliefs, Allaah says:
يَأَبْلَ الْكِتُبِ لِمَ تَلْبِسُوْنَ الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوْنَ الْحَقَّ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ (٧١٪)
TRANSLATION: O people of the book! Why do you mix the truth with falsehood
(Why do you confuse and contaminate your scriptures by changing their words and
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meanings) and (why do you) knowingly hide the truth (about the prophethood of
Muhammad & as mentioned in your scriptures)?412
وَ إِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيْقًا يَّلَوَّنَ الْسِنَتَهُمْ بِالْكِتُبِ لِتَحْسَبُوْهُ مِنَ الْكِتُبِ وَمَا بُوَ مِنَ الْكِتُبِ ◌ٌ وَيَقُوْلُوْنَ بُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ وَمَا بُوَ
مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِّ وَيَقُوْلُوْنَ عَلَى اللهِ الْكَذِبَ وَبُمْ يَعْلَّمُوْنَ (٧٨)
TRANSLATION: Indeed among them (among the Ahlul Kitaab) is a party who twist their
tongues with (when reciting) the Book (the Torah) so that (by their deceptive tone and manner of
reading) you may regard it (the fabrications that they recite) as part of the Book when it is
really not part of the Book. They say that it is from Allaah when it is not (at all) from Allaah
and they knowingly lie about Allaah. 413
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُوْنَكَ وَعِنْدَبُمُ التَّوْرَةُ فِيْهَا حُكْمُ اللهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَّلَّوْنَ مِنَّ بَعْدِ ذُلِكَ * وَمَا أُولَئِكَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ (٣٣)
TRANSLATION: How can they seek judgement from you (O Muhammad &) when
they have with them the Torah which contains Allaah's order (to stone married
adulterers to death) and thereafter they turn away (refusing to accept your judgement
which corresponds with the law of the Torah) ? These people (certainly) do not believe
(will not accept the law in their own scripture even though they profess that they believe
in the scripture).414
This verse was revealed when a prominent personality amongst the Jews of
Khaybar committed adultery with a certain woman. Both were married and were
to be stoned to death according to the Torah. The Jews were reluctant to
enforce this law since he was one of their leaders, so they decided to refer the
matter to Rasulullaah p since his book (the Qur'aan) did not contain the law of
rajm.
412
Surah Aal Imraan, verse 71.
413
Surah Aal Imraan, verse 78.
414
Surah Maa'idah, verse 43.
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Consequently, they sent a message to the Jewish tribe of Bani Quraizah in
Madinah telling them to seek a verdict from Rasulullaah p with regard to the
adultery of a married man and woman. They also made it clear to them to accept
the verdict of lashing, but to reject one of rajm (stoning to death). The Jews of
the Bani Quraizah told them that Rasulullaah p would pass the verdict that they
most feared.
The leader of the Jews then approached Rasulullaah p and requested him to pass
judgement. Rasulullaah p first asked them whether they were prepared to
accept his verdict. When they agreed to do so, Rasulullaah p ruled that rajm be
enforced. They refused to accept the verdict.
Hadhrat Jibra'eel v appeared before Rasulullaah p and instructed him to allow a
Jew by the name of Ibn Suriya to mediate. Ibn Suriya was a one-eyed scholar of
the Jews. Rasulullaah p summoned Ibn Suriya and asked the Jews whether they
recognised him. They replied by saying that none on earth was more learned of
the injunctions of the Torah than he. They also agreed when Rasulullaah p told
them that Ibn Suriya would issue the verdict about the matter on hand.
Rasulullaah p then turned to Ibn Suriya and said, "I want you to swear on oath by
that Allaah besides whom there is no other deity. By Him Who revealed the
Torah to Hadhrat Moosa v, Who rescued you from Egypt and split the ocean for
you. By Him Who shaded you with the clouds and provided Manna and Salwa to
you. Do you find in the Torah the injunction that a married adulterer is to be
stoned to death?"
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Ibn Suriya admitted, "Yes! I swear by the Being by Whom you have asked me to
swear that the injunction of rajm is present in the Torah. If I had not the fear of
lying and of burning due to changing the laws of the Torah, I would never have
admitted to it." Rasulullaah p asked them since when had they adopted this
practice of circumventing the law of Allaah. Ibn Suriya replied that whenever a
noble person committed adultery, the Jews would ignore it and not enforce the
penalty. However, when another person did so, he would be punished. "In this
way," he said, "adultery was rife among the noble people." He continued, "It
once occurred that the son of our king's uncle committed adultery and was not
stoned. Later a common person also committed this vile act and, when we
wanted to stone him, his family protested saying that they will not hand him
over for execution until the king's cousin was stoned. It was then decided that a
standard form of punishment be meted to one and all. We then resolved that
the married adulterer be lashed forty lashes with a rope covered in tar. His face
was then blackened and he was paraded throughout the streets riding on a
donkey while sitting with his face towards the back of the animal."
The Jews disliked that this had now surfaced and Ibn Suriya said, "I would have
never said this if I did not have the fear that the Torah would be defiled."
Thereafter Rasulullaah p had the guilty couple stoned near the Masjid and
submitted to Allaah saying, "O Allaah I am the first to revive Your injunction that
was stifled by the Jews." It was on this occasion that Allaah revealed the above
verse.
This incident revealed the truth of the Qur'aan, which exposed the injunctions of
the previous scriptures even though the people of the scriptures deny them.
However, the truth was verified by their truthful scholars.
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Allaah says:
وَلَمَّا جَاءَبُمْ كِتُبٌ مِّنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ " وَكَانُوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ يَسْتَفْتِحُوْنَ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا ◌ٌ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ مَّا
عَرَفُوْا كَفَرُوْا بِمْ فَلَعْنَةُ اللهِ عَلَى الْكَفِرِيْنَ (٨٩)
TRANSLATION: When a Book (Qur'aan) from Allaah comes to them confirming
(supporting) that (Torah) which is with them, (they reject it) even though before
this they used to pray for victory over the Kuffaar (by saying, "O Allaah! Assist us
against our enemies through the avenue and grace of Your final prophet Muhammad &.")
However, when what they recognise comes to them (the prophethood of
Rasulullaah p), they deny it (they reject it fearing that they will lose their leadership).
Allaah's curse is on the Kaafiroon. 415
The Jews had settled in Madinah for the sole purpose of meeting Rasulullaah p,
whom they believed to be the final prophet of Allaah. When they used to fight
the idolatrous Arab tribes, they would tell them that they would soon pledge
their allegiance to the final messenger of Allaah, under whose command they
would annihilate their enemies.
Certain narrations report that the Jews used to make the following du'aa to
Allaah: "Oh Allaah! Send the prophet who is mentioned in our scripture, so that
we may fight the Arabian Mushrikeen with him."
415
Surah Baqarah, verse 89.
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