Opening the Qur'an: Introducing Islam's Holy Book

Eleven. The Qur’an on Biblical Figures, Jews and Christians

Eleven The Qur’an on Biblical Figures, Jews and Christians Say:“O people of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not from among ourselves lords and patrons other than Allah.” If then they turn back, say:“Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah’s will). Surah 3:64 Islam, the Qur’an, and the Messenger constantly engage the Bible, Jews, and Christians. Historically, the presence of significant Jewish and Christian communities in Arabia challenged Muhammad and the Message while providing a pool of potential converts and possible allies. This chapter opens with Islamic-Quranic perspectives on the Bible, then examines the four messengers who appear in the Bible and the Qur’an in terms of the Qur’an’s accounts about them,their relevance for Muhammad and the first umma, and what I suggest may be their relevance for present-day Muslims and non-Muslims.1 It then develops Quranic views of the People of the Book,that is, Jews and Christians,their relevance for Muhammad and the first umma, and my perspective on the relevance Quranic treatment may have for the present. 297 QURANIC PERSPECTIVES ON THE BIBLE Ye people of the Book!Why dispute ye about Abraham when the Law and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye no understanding? Ah!Ye are those who fell to disputing (even) in matters of which ye had some knowledge! But why dispute ye in matters of which ye have no knowledge? It is AllahWho knows, and ye who know not! Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian, but he was true in faith and bowed his will to Allah’s (which is Islam) and he joined not gods with Allah.Without doubt among men the nearest of kin to Abraham are those who follow him, as are also this Messenger [Muhammad] and those who believe; and Allah is the Protector of those who have faith. It is the wish of a section of the People of the Book to lead you [Muhammad] astray. But they shall lead astray (not you) but themselves and they do not perceive!Ye People of the Book!Why reject ye the signs of Allah of which ye are (yourselves) witnesses?Ye People of the Book!Why do ye clothe truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while ye have knowledge? Surah 3:64 –71 Surah 3:64–71 epitomizes the Quranic view of the Bible, Jews, and Christians. Muslim traditions hold that the passage is part of the MuslimChristian encounter that concerned those gathered under Muhammad’s cloak. Three factors are singled out to be understood Islamically: worship only the God who reveals His ultimate Message through the final Messenger , Muhammad; do not place anyone or anything on par with this One-Only God;and do not make any human or divine being an intercessor between the believer and God.Although Jews were not present when Surah 3:64–71 was revealed, they could later step gingerly on a common 298 T H E Q U R ’ A N O P E N E D The Qur’an on Biblical Figures, Jews and Christians 299 monotheistic ground but would find that other steps would to lead to their conversion to Islam. Christians would balk at even a first step. The passage entails renunciations of the Trinity, of the meditorial-salvational role of Jesus, and of the veneration of saints as well as the authority of their clergy. In later settings, however, the threefold basis appealed to Christians disaffected by the imperially sponsored church and its increasingly complicated theology, squabbling clergy, and hostile treatment of dissenters. THE ISLAMIC POINT OF DEPARTURE FOR UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE Muslim understandings of the Bible are framed by the conviction that God’s revelatory activity among all cultures manifests His One-Only-ness (tawhid) in many forms, specifically here in the disclosure of His plan for creation and humanity. The plan unfolds in a covenantal, consistent, and developmental manner through His messengers and prophets with revelatory books sent to particular peoples addressed to them in their languages and cultures. The message’s core was God’s One-Only-ness and His will for men and women to tread the Straight Path through right worship and justice.Each messenger...