Previous Scriptures Altered

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Previous Scriptures Altered

Khaled Fahmy

Previous Scriptures Altered

The previous scriptures were meant for a limited period. Their use ended with the revelation of the Qu’ran, which abrogated them and exposed their distortions and changes. That is why they were not protected from corruption. They underwent distortion, addition, and omission: “Some of the Jews pervert words from their meanings” [4:46]; “So woe to those who write the Book with their hands, and then say: ‘This is from Allâh,’ that they may sell it for a little price. So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for their earnings” [2:79]; “Say, who sent down the Book that Moses brought as a light and a guidance to people? You put it into sheets of paper showing some of them and concealing much” [6:91]; “And there is a group among them who twist their tongues with the Book, that you may think it is a part of the Book but it is not part of the Book. And they say ‘It is from Allâh,’ yet it is not from Allâh, and they tell a lie against Allâh and they know it. It is not for any human being to whom Allâh has given the Book, the Wisdom and the Prophethood to say to men ‘Worship me instead of Allâh” [3:79]; “People of the Book! Our Messenger has come to you, making clear to you many things you have been concealing of the Book and forgiving you of much. A light has come to you from Allâh and a glorious Book, with which He will guide whoever follows His pleasure in the way of peace, and brings them forth from darkness into the light by His will” [5:15-16].


Belief in Messengers:
We believe that Allâh has sent to His people messengers who were “bringing good tidings and warning, so that mankind might have no argument against Allâh after the Messengers. Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise” [4:165].


The First and Last Messengers:
We believe that the first among the messengers is Noah and the last is Muhammad, peace be upon them all: “We revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him” [4:163]; and “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but the Messenger of Allâh and the Seal of the Prophets” [33:40].


The Most Excellent Messengers:
We believe that the most excellent among the messengers is Muhammad, then Abraham, Moses, Noah, and Jesus, son of Mary. It is they who are meant by the following Qu’ranic verse: “And when We took a covenant from the prophets, and from you, and from Noah, and Abraham, then Moses, and Jesus, son of Mary. We took from them a solemn covenant” [33:7].


We believe that Muhammad’s message, peace be upon him, includes all the merits of the messages of those dignified messengers, because Allâh says: “He ordained for you what He enjoined on Noah and what He revealed to you and what He enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus; namely, establish this faith and be united in it” [42:13].


Messengers are Human Beings:
We believe that all messengers are created human beings who have none of the divine qualities of Allâh. Allâh, the Exalted, said about Noah, who was the first among them: “I do not say to you, ‘I possess the treasures of Allâh.’ I do not know the unseen, and I do not say ‘I am an angel” [11:31] Allâh directed Muhammad, who is the last among them, to say: “I do not say to you I possess the treasures of Allâh, nor do I know the unseen, and I do not say to you I am an angel” [6:50]; and to say that “I have no power to bring profit or hurt for myself, but only as Allâh wills” [7:188]; and: “I have no power to hurt or benefit you. Say none can protect me from Allâh, nor can I find any refuge besides Him” [72:91-2].


We believe that the messengers are among Allâh’s servants. He blessed them with the message and described them as servants, in the context of praising and honouring them. He says about Noah, the first among them: “You are the descendants of those whom We carried with Noah, he was a truly thankful servant” [17:3]. Allâh said about the last among them, Muhammad, peace be upon him: “Blessed be He who sent down the Qu’ran to His servant, that he may warn mankind” [25:1].


As for some other messengers, he said: “And mention Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men of might and vision” [38:45]; “And remember Our servant David, who was a mighty and penitent man” [38: 17]; “And to David, We gave Solomon, he was an excellent and penitent servant” [38:30]. Allâh said about Jesus, son of Mary: “He is only a servant whom We blessed and We made him an example to the children of Israel” [43: 59].


We believe that Allâh concluded all messages with the message of Muhammad, peace be upon him, to all people, because He said: “Say, ‘O mankind, I am Allâh’s Messenger to you all. To him belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth; there is no god but He. He ordains life and death. So believe in Allâh and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who believes in Allâh and His words. Follow him so that you may be rightly guided” [7:158].