Compiled by William Albrecht

HEOS HOU

An argument we hear brought up a lot is the argument that Matthew 1:25 proves that LATER on Mary and Joseph must have had sexual relations.

Matthew 1:25 reads

Matthew 1:25 And he knew her not until she brought forth her firstborn son; and he called his name Jesus.

The argument commonly put forth is that the construction HEOS HOU must surely mean that sexual relations LATER ensued.

In examining HEOS HOU we find that the Septuagint has 85 uses of heos hou where the action of the main verb can continue. In the NT there are 4 of the 19 in which it occurs.

The percentage ratio in which the Septuagint and the NT both have the main verb continuing with the usage of heos hou is virtually the same! Matthew 14:22, 26:36, 2 Peter 1:19, and Rev. 6:11.

If HEOS HOU were such a landmark argument against the Perpetual Virginity of Mary we would surely find it employed by the early opponents of the Perpetual Virginity. But indeed, we only find this passage used in the late 4th century. What’s even more glaring is the fact that CODEX VATICANUS lacks the HOU after HEOS in it’s manuscript.

The fact of the matter is that HEOS and HEOS HOU really aren’t different at all and simply because we have the form HEOS HOU, does not then entail that this is clearly showing that Mary must have later on lost her virginity. The verse is simply telling us that Mary remained a virgin before she gave birth to Christ. It gives no indication as to what occurred afterwards.

There are a few other arguments that are levied by the Protestant critic. For we also hear that since Christ is called PROTOTOKOS, FIRSTBORN, then this means MORE children were born after him.

A simple way to answer this is to note that this is a title that is applied to a child of honor, and a child who is not preceded by other children. It need not entail that OTHER children are born.

Consider David who is called God’s Firstborn, the highest of all the kings of earth

PS. 89:19-20, 26-28 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him… He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

PS. 88:28 LXX And I will make him [my] first-born (prototokon), higher than the kings of the earth. 

David was neither the first son born, since he was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons (Cf. 1 Samuel 16). Nor was the first king of Israel, let alone from all the kings of the earth. Saul had been appointed King long before him (Cf. 1 Sam. 9-10).

ADELPHOS

Indeed, the Protestant argument that the NORMAL usage of Adelphos requires these to have been normal siblings is disqualified by the fact that ADELPHOS is NOT always used in speaking of a BROTHER in the strict sense ONLY, we find proof of this in the SEPTUAGINT and the NT alike!

In the Septuagint we read,

Deuteronomy 23:7

^NAB Deuteronomy 23:8 But do not abhor the Edomite, since he is your brother, nor the Egyptian, since you were an alien in his country.

The Septuagint rendering has Adelphos here.

Indeed in Jerimiah 34:9,

^NAB Jeremiah 34:9 Everyone was to free his Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should hold a man of Judah, his brother, in slavery.

Again the same term employed here and not in reference to a strict sibling.

Many examples can be given such as Genesis 29:15, 1 Chronicles 23, 2 Kings 10 and a whole lot more.

Indeed Genesis 13:8 and 14:14 tell us,

^NASB1995 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.

^KJV Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

The Greek reads ADELPHOS here, but it’s no wonder that the translations such as the NEW AMERICAN BIBLE render it relative and nephew, respectively.

Indeed in the New Testament the examples can also be multiplied, but we’ll specifically examine a few of them.

Matthew 5:47 reads

^NAB Matthew 5:47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?

^NAS Matthew 5:47 “And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”

The Greek rendering has ADELPHOUS from ADELPHOS. The meaning here is clearly not that of BLOOD SIBLINGS for there are indeed other variant readings where the Greek word PHILOUS from PHILOS is used, meaning FRIEND, close friend.

Indeed Peter and Andrew are called brothers, but we are never told that they have the same Father in the New Testament.

MARK 6:3

Mark (and Matthew), speaks Biblically by using the Mosaic Law’s division of the family in Numbers.

LXX Numbers 1:2-3: Take a census of all the synagogue/assembly (synagôgês) of the sons of Israel, by their clans/cousins (kata sygeneias autôn), by their patrilineal houses (kat’oikous patriôn autôn), by number of names taken by their head (kata kephalên autôn), i.e., every male (arsên) twenty years old and above; everyone who can go out among the [armed] force of Israel.

^BGT Numbers 1:2 λάβετε ἀρχὴν πάσης συναγωγῆς υἱῶν Ισραηλ κατὰ συγγενείας αὐτῶν κατ᾽ οἴκους πατριῶν αὐτῶν κατὰ ἀριθμὸν ἐξ ὀνόματος αὐτῶν κατὰ κεφαλὴν αὐτῶν πᾶς ἄρσην (Num. 1:2 BGT)

The divisions are as follows: (1.) A patrilineal house (oikos) with heads (kefalê) above twenty years old, (2.) clansmen or cousins (syngeneis) who are blood relations broader than the patrilineal household, and (3.) the twelve tribes of Israel named according to Israel’s son.

This division is VERY clearly brought out in Mark 6 where the BROTHERS and SISTERS of Christ are IDENTIFIED as his SYNGENIS of the HOUSE.

Mark 6

^DRA Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? are not also his sisters here with us? And they were scandalized in regard of him. (Mk. 6:3 DRA)

^BGT Mark 6:3 οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τέκτων, ὁ υἱὸς τῆς Μαρίας καὶ ἀδελφὸς Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωσῆτος καὶ Ἰούδα καὶ Σίμωνος; καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν αἱ ἀδελφαὶ αὐτοῦ ὧδε πρὸς ἡμᾶς; καὶ ἐσκανδαλίζοντο ἐν αὐτῷ. (Mk. 6:3 BGT)

^KJV Mark 6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. (Mk. 6:4 KJV)

^BGT Mark 6:4 καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν προφήτης ἄτιμος εἰ μὴ ἐν τῇ πατρίδι αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τοῖς συγγενεῦσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ. (Mk. 6:4 BGT)

^NKJ Jeremiah 3:18 “In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers.

^BGT Jeremiah 3:18 ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις συνελεύσονται οἶκος Ιουδα ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ισραηλ καὶ ἥξουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἀπὸ γῆς βορρᾶ καὶ ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν χωρῶν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἣν κατεκληρονόμησα τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν

Hegesippus

Hegesippus speaks of ‘Jude, his brother according to the flesh, as he was called’ (Eusebius, HE 3:20:1), presumably reporting Jewish Christian usage, while in another passage dependent on, though not explicitly quoting, Hegesippus, Eusebius calls members of the family of Jesus’those who belonged to the Lord’s family according to the flesh’ (HE 3:11:1).

That the qualification ‘according to the flesh’ was Jewish Christian terminology with reference to the family of Jesus is also suggested by the fact that Julius Africanus, in a passage dependent on Jewish Christian sources, refers to Jesus’ ‘relatives according to the flesh,’ ‘the brother of Christ according to the flesh’; and Joseph as Jesus’ father ‘according to the flesh‘in History of Joseph; cf. also Rom 1:3;I Clem 32:2 for Jesus’ ancestry.

⁴ They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah,^[b] who is over all, God blessed forever.^[c] Amen. Romans 9:4-5

KATA SARKA doesn’t mean they were actual BLOOD brothers; the very same phrase is USED for COUSINS of the Lord!

In the VERY same author’s work, book 3 of his Church History he SHOWS us how he is using the phraseology!

1. After the martyrdom of James and the conquest of Jerusalem which immediately followed, it is said that those of the apostles and disciples of the Lord that were still living came together from all directions with those that were related to the Lord according to the flesh (for the majority of them also were still alive) to take counsel as to who was worthy to succeed James.

2. They all with one consent pronounced Symeon, the son of Clopas, of whom the Gospel also makes mention; to be worthy of the episcopal throne of that parish. He was a cousin, as they say, of the Saviour. For Hegesippus records that Clopas was a brother of Joseph.

Eusebius Commentary on Psalm 69

Patrologia Graeca 737B

Translation by Rev. Dr. Kappes

*PG 737B+ But also: “I’ve become someone estranged from my brother (adelphois), and an alien to the sons of my mother.” Two orders are set up in the formerly mentioned phrase: first, the one [order], which belongs truly to his brothers (adelphôn), who “was become estranged.” Second, what belongs to the sons of his own mother [See in last paragraph: These brother for Eusebius is the Jewish Synagogue of the mother of all Israel] . Nay more it ought to have been that the sons of his mother, since they [the latter] are “brothers”, they also likewise prophecy to the former. But he [the Psalmist] did not name the sons of his mother “brothers” (adelphous), as the the other [order], that is following the first order of his aforenamed brothers. So, it is that his disciples have become like his brothers, about whom also in another place [Psalms], he says: “I will announce your name to my brothers (adelphois), and I will hymn you in the midst of the Church.” And in the Gospel, he [Jesus] appeared to Mary after the resurrection of the dead, saying: “Walk toward my brothers, and tell them: ‘I go up to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.’” So, “he was become estranged to his brothers” following the time of the obvious passion, when all his disciples had left him and fled, and the very crown of the apostles Peter denied him thrice. “He became estranged and an alien to them.” An alien he was become to the sons of his mother, of a truth not also to those being his “brothers.” The Gospel has remembered “his brothers” and “mother”, when, he went into his own country (Mark 6), he taught in their synagogue, to the effect that they [the people there] were surprised and said: “Whence this wisdom from him? Is not this who is the son of a carpenter? Is not his mother and his brothers (adelphoi) and are all his sisters among us? Whence all these things from him?” Now, therefore, if we would take the so-called sons (in what is at hand) of his mother to be those [referred to in the Psalm], it is then necessary that the holy Virgin appears to become the mother of “the rest of his brothers.” However, James his brother who stands in relation to him [Jesus], did not “become the estranged man of him”, and he is not “an alien” regarding faith in him, but rather [this is] very much so regarding one of his racially related (gnêsiôn) disciples [viz., Judas?], with the result that [James] he takes up too the very first throne of the Church in Jerusalem. And the rest of his brothers, even if they were not also from the very first much believing in him, but after all these things they are those that are clearly believing. The Gospel recounts that, consequently: “His mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to him.” And in the Acts of the Apostles is read, consequently, that: “The apostles were all hardy in common in prayer with Mary his mother and his brothers.” So, how is it possible for them [apostles] to be considered “an alien”? Since there is no place for it to be said about them: “I was become estranged from my brothers, and an alien to the sons of my mother”? For he [Jesus] was no alien regarding them, but quite precious [to them]: such that his aforesaid brothers are no longer to be regarded sons as belong to Mary, but they who are called sons of his mother would be other men who are following them, to whom he [Jesus] became an alien. First, you should understand then that “mother” is the “gathering/synagogue” (Number 1:2-3) of Jews and every kinsmen (syngeneian) [of a different biological mother] by flesh (kata sarka) among [Jews] from circumcision [Romans 1:3;9:3]; second the sons of this kind of mother [viz., synagogue] who have rejected him, and who said: “We know not this one, whence he is from.” Because he was telling them, since they thought him to be an alien: “Why do you not know my speech? Namely you are not able to hear my word” [PG 740B]

Here is the link to the first part in this series: A QURANIC VARIANT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

In this post I am going to show another variant reading found among the conflicting and contradictory Qurans compiled by Muhammad’s companions which is both viable and meaningful, one that changes the meaning entirely.

According to the Muslim scripture, the sun sets out on a fixed course for an appointed term:

And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. S. 36:38 Hilali-Khan

Muhammad explained that the sun’s course includes its physical descent into a spring of murky water from which it then ascends back to the throne of Allah in order to prostrate before him, in order to receive his permission to resume its orbit:  

One of the major signs of the Hour

91. Abu Dharr narrated, “Once I was with the Prophet (riding) a donkey on which there was a saddle or a (piece of) velvet. That was at sunset. He said to me, ‘O Abu Dharr, do you know where this (sun) sets?’ I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know better.’ He said, ‘It sets in a spring of murky water, (then) it goes and prostrates before its Lord, the Exalted in Might and the Ever-Majestic, under the Throne. And when it is time to go out, Allah allows it to go out and thus it rises. But, when He wants to make it rise where it sets, He locks it up. The sun will then say, “O my Lord, I have a long distance to run.” Allah will say, “Rise where you have set.” That (will take place) when no (disbelieving) soul will get any good by believing then.’” (Ahmad) (The Translation of: The Meaning of the Fifty Hadith of Jame Al-uloom Wal-Hakim (“A Compilation of Knowledge and Wisdom”), compilation by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (736 H-795 H), translated and spotlights by Yaseen Ibrahim al-Sheikh (Vol. 1), A Selection of Authentic Qudsi (Sacred) Hadiths, translated by Muhammad M. ‘Abdul-Fattah, edited by Reima Youssif Shakeir (Vol. 2) [Dar Al-Manarrah for Translation, Publishing & Distribution], pp. 319-320 https://archive.org/details/50HadithJameAlUloomWalHikamSelectionAuthenticQudsi; emphasis mine)

And:

(3991) Abu Dharr said: I was sitting behind the Apostle of Allah who was riding a donkey while the sun was setting. He asked: Do you know where this sets? I replied: Allah and his Apostle know best. He said: IT SETS IN A SPRING OF WARM WATER (hamiyah).³⁴⁰⁸ (Prof. Ahmad Hasan, Sunan Abu Dawud – English Translation With Explanatory Notes [Sh. Muhammad Ashraf, Publishers, Lahore, 1984], Volume III. Chapters 1338-1890, XXV. Kitab Al-Ahruf Wa Al-Qira’at [Book of Dialects and Readings Of The Qur’an], Chapter 1498, p. 1120; bold and capital emphasis mine)

3408. Qur’an, xviii. 86. The word hami’ah in this verse has two readings. Abu Ja‘far, Abu ‘Amir, Hamzah, al-Kisa’i and Abu Bakr read it hamiyah with long vowel a. Hamiyah means warm water. The others read it hami’ah meaning musky water. (Ibid.)

Not only do we have a gross scientific error, we also find another variant reading from the one I will be highlighting in a moment. What this means is that, contrary to Muslim propaganda, the Quran hasn’t been perfectly preserved since the extant manuscripts and the Islamic traditions highlight many variant and conflicting readings.

And here is another English rendering of Abu Dawud’s narration:

4002. It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: “I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah while he was on a donkey, and the sun was setting. He said: ‘Do you know where this (sun) sets?’ I said: ‘Allah and his Messenger know best.’ He said: ‘IT SETS IN A SPRING OF WATER (fa innaha taghrubu fi ‘ainin hamiyah).’” 

Grade: SAHIH in chain (Al-Albani)  (English Translation of Sunan Abu Dawud, Compiled by Imam Hafiz Abu Dawud Sulaiman bin Ash‘ath – From Hadith no. 3242 to 4350, ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Canada), final review by Abu Khaliyl (USA) [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, First Edition: July, 2008], Volume 4, 29. The Book Of The Recitations And Readings Of The Qur’an, p. 375 https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4002; capital emphasis mine)

Now pay close attention to what Ibn Kathir wrote in regards to the meaning of Q. 36:38:

… Allah’s saying:

﴿وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ ﴾

(And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing) There are two views over the meaning of the phrase…

(on its fixed course for a term (appointed).) (The first view) is that it refers to its fixed course of location, which is beneath the Throne, beyond the earth in that direction. Wherever it goes, it is beneath the Throne, it and all of creation, because the Throne is the roof of creation AND IT IS NOT A SPHERE AS MANY ASTRONOMERS CLAIM. Rather it is a dome supported by legs or pillars, carried by the angels, and it is above the universe, above the heads of people. When the sun is at its zenith at noon, it is in its closest position to Throne, and when it runs in its fourth orbit at the opposite point to its zenith, at midnight, it is in its furthest position from the Throne. At that point it prostrates and asks for permission to rise, as mentioned in the Hadiths. Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Dharr said, “I was with the Prophet in the Masjid at sunset, and he said:

<<O Abu Dharr! Do you know where the sun sets>> I said, `Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said:

<<(It goes and prostrates beneath the Throne, and that is what Allah says: (And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.)>>” It was also reported that Abu Dharr said, “I asked the Messenger of Allah about the Ayah…

(And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term.) He said…

<<Its fixed course is beneath the Throne.>>” (The second view) is that this refers to when the sun’s appointed time comes to an end, which will be on the Day of Resurrection, when its fixed course will be abolished, it will come to a halt and it will be rolled up. This world will come to an end, and that will be the end of its appointed time. This is the fixed course of its time. Qatadah said…

(on its fixed course for a term (appointed).) means, “It has an appointed time and it will not go beyond that.” It was also said that this means, it keeps moving in its summer orbit for a certain time, and it does not exceed that, then it moves to its winter orbit for a certain time, and it does not exceed that. This was narrated from `Abdullah bin `Amr. IBN MAS`UD AND IBN `ABBAS recited this Ayah as:

(وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لَامُسْتَقَرَّ لَهَا)

(And the sun runs with NO fixed course for a term,) meaning that it has no destination and it does not settle in one place, rather it keeps moving night and day, never slowing down or stopping, as in the Ayah…

(And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you) (14:33). which means, they will never slow down or stop, until the Day of Resurrection. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Q. 36:38 https://www.alim.org/quran/tafsir/ibn-kathir/surah/36/37; emphasis mine)

Ibn Kathir, who is considered one of Islam’s greatest Quranic expositors, plainly states that the Quran and Muhammad’s authentic sunnah deny that the world is spherical. Rather, according to Allah and his “messenger” the cosmos is a dome with Allah’s throne being the roof which envelops it.

To make matters worse, Ibn Kathir quotes from the Qurans of Abdullah ibn Masud and Ibn Abbas, which read differently from the Muslim text standardized by Uthman and used by Muslims today. In their Quranic codices, the sun does not set on a fixed course thereby directly contradicting the codex of Uthman.

Note the conflicting reading once again:

“And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term…”

Versus:

“And the sun runs with NO fixed course for a term…”

Now to show the readers why the reading of Ibn Masud and Ibn Abbas is extremely important, the former was one of the four men that Muhammad commanded his followers to learn the Quran from:

Narrated Masruq: ‘Abdullah bin Masud was mentioned before Abdullah bin ‘Amr who said, “That is a man I still love, as I heard the Prophet saying, ‘Learn the recitation of Quran from four from ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud –he started with him–Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudaifa, Mu’adh bin Jabal and Ubai bin Ka’b.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 153 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3808)

Masruq reported: We used to go to Abdullah b. ‘Amr and talk to him, Ibn Numair said: One day we made a mention of Abdullah b. Mas’ud, whereupon he said: You have made mention of a person whom I love more than anything else. I heard Allah’s Messenger as saying: Learn Qur’an from four persons: Ibn Umm ‘Abd (i. e. ‘Abdullah b. Mas’ud) he started from him-then Mu’adh b. Jabal and Ubayya b. Ka’b, then Salim the ally of Abu Hudhaifa. (Sahih Muslim, Book 031, Number 6024 https://sunnah.com/muslim:2464a)

Masruq reported: We were in the company of Abdullah b ‘Amr that we made a mention of a hadith from Abdullah b. Mas’ud; thereupon he said: That is a person whose love ever remains (fresh in my heart) after I heard Allah’s Messenger as saying: Learn Qur’an from four persons: Ibn Umm ‘Abd, i.e. Abdullah b. Mas’ud and he started from his name-then Ubayy b. Ka’b and Mu’adh b Jabal. Zuhri did not make a mention of the words yaquluhu in his narration. (Sahih Muslim, Book 031, Number 6025 https://sunnah.com/muslim:2464e)

In the case of Ibn Abbas, not only was he Muhammad’s paternal first cousin Muhammad even prayed that Allah would grant him knowledge to correctly understand the Muslim scripture:  

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas: Once the Prophet embraced me and said, “O Allah! Bestow on him the knowledge of the Book (Qur’an).” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, Number 75 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:75)

Narrated by Ibn Abbas: Once the Prophet embraced me (pressed me to his chest) and said, “O Allah, teach him wisdom (i.e. the understanding of the knowledge of Qur’an).” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Number 100 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3756)

Narrated by ‘Abdul Warith: The same but said, “O Allah, teach him (Ibn Abbas) the Book (i.e. the understanding of the knowledge of Qur’an).” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Number 101 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3756b)

Thus, the Qurans compiled by two of Muhammad’s personal followers, who were considered to be some of the most knowledgeable Muslims that ever lived when it comes to their knowledge of the contents and meaning of the Islamic “holy” book, agreed with each other that the sun does not run on a fixed course, thereby contradicting the reading found in Uthman’s codex.

Seeing that this is variant contains a major contradiction, this refutes the propaganda of Muslims that the Quran is a perfect scripture. The fact is that this and other variant readings, highlighted within the Islamic sources themselves, prove that the Muslim scripture has not been perfectly preserved and contains major errors and serious defects.

FURTHER READING

Muhammad on the Setting Place of the Sun

CHALLENGES FOR ONE MESSAGE FOUNDATION PT. 1

Textual Integrity

The Quran and hadiths ascribe to Allah bodily attributes and parts, which Muslims such as the Salafis argue are unlike anything in all creation.

According to the ahadith, Allah sacrifices one of his limps for the salvation of mankind:

CCCXXXIII: His words, “It will ask, ‘Are there more to come?'” (50:30)

4567. It is related from Anas that the Prophet said, “They will be thrown into the Fire and it will say, ‘Are there more to come?’ (50:30) until He places His foot in it and it says, ‘Enough! Enough!'”

4568. It is related (marfu’) that Abu Hurayra said, “It will be said to Jahannam, ‘Are you full?’ It will reply, ‘Are there more to come?’ Then the blessed and exalted Lord will place His foot ON IT (FEE-ha) and it will say, ‘Enough! Enough!'”

4569. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet said, “The Garden and the Fire argued, and the Fire said, ‘I have been preferred by being given the arrogant and the tyrants.’ The Garden retorted, ‘What is that to me? Only the weak and disregarded among people will enter me.’ Then Allah Almighty said to the Garden, ‘You are My mercy which I show to whomever I wish of My slaves.’ He said to the Fire, ‘You are My punishment by which I punish whomever I wish of My slaves.’ Each of them will have its fill. As for the Fire, it will not be filled until He places His foot over it so that it will say, ‘Enough! Enough! Enough!’ Then it will be full and its parts will come closer together. Allah Almighty will not wrong any of His creation. As for the Garden, Allah Almighty will originate a creation for it.'” (Aisha Bewley, The Sahih Collection of al-Bukhari, Chapter 68. Book of Tafsir; emphasis mine)

How noble of Allah to place his foot in hell for the express purpose of preventing others from entering in torment!

There’s more:

36) Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said: Once Paradise and Hell argued with one another. Hell said: I have been given preference by the oppressors and tyrants. Paradise said: What is the matter with me that only weak and humble people enter me. Allah said to the Paradise: You are My mercy. I will bestow mercy through you on whom I wish from among My slaves. And He said to Hell: Rather you are My torment. I will torment by you whom I wish from among My slaves. The Prophet added: Each of them will take its capacity. As for Hell, it will not be filled until Allah puts down His glorified foot IN IT. Then it will say: Enough! Enough! Enough! at that time all its parts will be filled up. Allah will not treat unjustly anyone of His creation. As regards Paradise, Allah will create other creations to fill it. (Being All-Merciful)

(This Hadith is sound and reported by Bukhari and Muslim).

On Doomsday, Allah fills Hell by putting His Foot (a foot that suits his Glory and no human brain can perceive). As for Paradise he fills it by a new creation. This Hadith reveals that the mercy of Allah supercedes His anger, as He will not fill Paradise, too, by putting His Foot. (110 Ahadith Qudsi: Sayings of the Prophet having Allah’s Statements, translated by Syed Masood-ul-Hasan, Revision and Commentaries by Ibrahim M. Kunna [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia], p. 49 https://islamicstudies.info/hadith/110-Ahadith-Qudsi.pdf; bold and capital emphasis mine)

Here is the same narration from another Islamic site:

Hadith No: 36
Narrated/Authority of Abu Huraira 

The Prophet said: Once Paradise and Hell argued with one another. Hell said: I have been given preference by the oppressors and tyrants. Paradise said: What is the matter with me that only weak and humble people enter me. Allah said to the Paradise: You are My mercy. I will bestow mercy through you on whom I wish from among My slaves. And He said to Hell: Rather you are My torment. I will torment by you whom I wish from among My slaves. The Prophet added: Each of them will take its capacity. As for Hell, it will not be filled until Allah puts down His glorified foot in it. Then it will say: Enough! Enough! Enough! at that time all its parts will be filled up. Allah will not treat unjustly anyone of His creation. As regards Paradise, Allah will create other creations to fill it. (Being All-Merciful) (This Hadith is sound and reported by Bukhari and Muslim). (110 Ahadith Qudsi | Sacred Hadith Compilation; bold emphasis mine)

Muslims should really be thankful to their god for sacrifice the comfort of his foot by allowing it to be tortured in hellfire for their salvation!

THE ORIGINAL SHIN

Seeing that one of Allah’s feet is in hell in order to cover it up entirely from consuming more victims, this helps us appreciate why Allah will appear at the last day to his followers and unveil only one of his shins:

The Day that THE SHIN SHALL BE LAID BARE, and they shall be summoned to prostrate, but they shall not be able,- S. 68:42 Hilali-Khan

According to the ahadith this shin is Allah’s which he will bare for all to see on judgment day:

(2) “(Remember) the Day when the Shin shalt be laid bare…” (V.68:42)

Narrated Abu Said:

I heard the Prophet saying, “ALLAH WILL LAY BARE HIS SHIN, and then all the believers, men and women, will prostrate themselves before Him; but there will remain those who used to prostrate in the world for showing off and for gaining good reputation. Such a one will try to prostrate himself (on the Day of Judgment) but his back (bones) will become a single (vertebra) bone (so he will not be able to prostrate).” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 441, by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali, Ph.D., Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan in The Noble Quran English Translation of the Meanings and Commentary [King Fahd Complex for the printing of the Holy Qur’an, Madinah, K.S.A.], p. 779, f. 1a https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4919; bold and capital emphasis mine)

And:

Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri… Then the Almighty will come to them in a shape other than the one which they saw the first time, and He will say, ‘I am your Lord,’ and they will say, ‘You are not our Lord.’ And none will speak to Him: then but the Prophets, and then it will be said to them, ‘Do you know any sign by which you can recognize Him?’ They will say. ‘THE SHIN,’ AND SO ALLAH WILL THEN UNCOVER HIS SHIN whereupon every believer will prostrate before Him and there will remain those who used to prostrate before Him just for showing off and for gaining good reputation… (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 532s https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7439)

ALLAH’S GENITALS

If this weren’t perplexing enough, the Islamic traditions ascribe loins/gonads/genitalia to Allah!

[111] Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Prophet as saying that, <<When Allah had finished creating all things, ties of relationship arose AND SEIZED THE LOINS OF THE COMPASSIONATE ONE. He said <<STOP!>> And they said, <<This is the place for him who seeks refuge in Thee from being cut off>>. He replied <<Are you not satisfied that I should keep connection with him who keeps you united and sever connection with him who severs you?>> They said, <<Certainly, O Lord>>. He replied, <<Well, that is how things are>>. Abu Huraira said, <<Recite if you wish, <<Then, is it to be expected of you, if ye were put in authority, that ye will do mischief in the land, and break your ties of kith and kin?>>⁽¹⁾>>. Bukhari transmitted it.

(1) Qur’an (47:22). (The Divine Traditions: “Al-Ahadith Al-Qudsiya”, rendered into English by Dr. Ibrahim Al-Selek [Dar El Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon 1994], Chapter XII. The Lord of Glory Speech to the (Womb) Ties of Kith and Kin, pp. 80, 82; bold and capital emphasis mine)

And:    

Abu Hurayra narrated on the authority of the Prophet: When God completed the creation the rahim STOOD UP AND SEIZED THE LOIN OF THE MERCIFUL (akhadhat bi-haqwi al-Rahman). He said to her: ‘STOP IT!’ And she said: ‘This is the place where a person seeks Your protection from the enmity among relatives.’ He replied: ‘Will you be satisfied if I stay close with the person who makes you close to him, and be detached from the person who detaches himself from you? She said: ‘Of course, my Lord.’ And He said: ‘So, here then, this shall be granted to you.’ Abu Hurayra added: ‘If you want, you can recite [the Quranic verse]: “If you [the hypocrites] renounced the Faith you would surely do evil in the land and violate the ties of blood”.’⁸⁸ (Livnat Holtzman, Anthropomorphism in Islam: The Challenge of Traditionalism (700-1350) [Edinburgh University Press LTD, 2019], 4. The Diversified Solution to the Challenge of Islamic Traditionalism: Ahadith al-Sifat and Bi-La Kayfa, II. The Earliest Debate, p. 209; bold and capital emphasis mine)

88. Al-Bukhari, al-Jami‘, vol. 3, p. 292 (Kitab al-Tafsir, bab wa-tuqatti’u arhamakum). For the sentence ‘I stay close with the person who makes you close to him, and be detached from the person who detaches himself from you’, see Lane, , vol. 3, p. 1056 (the entry rahim). (Ibid., p. 253)

Finally:

<spread corruption on earth, and sever your ties of kinship>…

<Such are the ones whom Allah has cursed, so He has made them deaf and blinded their vision.> This involves a general prohibition of spreading corruption on earth, and a specific prohibition of severing the ties of kinship. In fact, Allah has commanded the people to establish righteousness on earth, as well as to join the ties of kinship by treating the relatives well in speech, actions, and spending wealth in charity. Many authentic and sound Hadiths have been reported through numerous routes of transmission from Allah’s Messenger in this regard. Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Allah’s Messenger said…

<<“After Allah completed creating the creation, THE WOMB STOOD UP AND PULLED AT THE LOWER GARMENT OF THE MOST MERCIFUL. He said, ‘Stop that!’ IT REPLIED, ‘My stand here is the stand of one seeking refuge in you from severance of ties.’ Allah said, ‘Would it not please you that I join whoever joins you and sever whoever severs you?’ IT REPLIED, ‘Yes indeed!’ He said, ‘You are granted that!’”>> Abu Hurayrah then added, “Read if you wish… Imam Ahmad recorded from `Abdullah bin `Amr that Allah’s Messenger said…

<<Verily, the womb is attached to the Throne. And connecting its ties does not mean dealing evenly (with the kinsfolk), but it rather means that if one’s kinsfolk sever the ties, he connects them.>> This Hadith was also recorded by Al-Bukhari. Ahmad also recorded from `Abdullah bin `Amr that Allah’s Messenger said…

<<The womb will be placed on the Day of Resurrection, curved like a spinning wheel, speaking with an eloquent fluent tongue, calling to severing whoever had severed it, and joining whoever had joined it.>>. Imam Ahmad recorded from `Abdullah bin `Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah’s Messenger said…

<<The merciful ones will be granted mercy from the Most Merciful. Have mercy on those on earth — the One above the heavens will then have mercy on you. And Ar-Rahim (the womb) is from Ar-Rahman, so whoever joins it, it joins him; and whoever severs it, it severs him.>> Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi both recorded this Hadith and it has been reported with continuous chains of transmission. At-Tirmidhi said, “Hasan Sahih.” There are numerous other Hadiths in this regard. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Q. 47:22 https://www.alim.org/quran/tafsir/ibn-kathir/surah/47/20; bold and capital emphasis mine)

Talk about a rather weird and awkward situation!

Here we have a primordial womb that clutches Allah by his loins so hard that it makes Allah scream at her to stop, and who is also attached to his throne!

Since the womb is obviously a female this means Allah actually has a woman consort, a female companion who his consort on the divine throne!

This isn’t the only time where reference is made to the loincloth that Allah wears to cover up his genitals:

19) Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger said: Glory is Allah’s loin cloth and pride is His cloak. Allah says: He who contends with Me in regard to them, I will torment him.

(This Hadith is sound and reported by Muslim, Ibn Majah and Abu Da’ud). (110 Ahadith Qudsi: Sayings of the Prophet having Allah’s Statements, p. 30; bold emphasis mine)

Here is this same report from another Muslim site:

Hadith No: 19
Narrated/Authority of Abu Said Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira

Allah’s Messenger said: Glory is Allah’s loin cloth and pride is His cloak. Allah says: He who contends with Me in regard to them, I will torment him. (This Hadith is sound and reported by Muslim, Ibn Majah and Abu Da’ud), (110 Ahadith Qudsi | Sacred Hadith Compilation

; bold emphasis mine)

ALLAH’S FLANK

As if it couldn’t get any more bewildering, the Islamic sources ascribe a flank to Allah:

Lest any soul should say, “Alas, my grief that I was unmindful of the flank of Allah (janbi Allahi), and was a scoffer,” S. 39:56

ALLAH’S MULTIPLE EYES

Allah is even described as having more than two eyes:

Build the ship under Our eyes (bi-ayunina) and by Our inspiration, and speak not unto Me on behalf of those who do wrong. Lo! they will be drowned. S. 11:39 Pickthall

Then We inspired in him, saying: Make the ship under Our eyes (bi-ayunina) and Our inspiration. Then, when Our command cometh and the oven gusheth water, introduce therein of every (kind) two spouses, and thy household save him thereof against whom the Word hath already gone forth. And plead not with Me on behalf of those who have done wrong. Lo! they will be drowned. S. 23:27 Pickthall

So wait patiently (O Muhammad) for the Decision of your Lord, for verily, you are under Our Eyes (bi-ayunina), and glorify the Praises of your Lord when you get up from sleep. S. 52:48 Hilali-Khan

The Arabic word for eyes, ayun, refers to three or more.

ALLAH’S THREE HANDS: TWO RIGHT ONES AND ONE LEFT ONE

Allah is further depicted as having three arms, two right and one left!

Abdullah b. ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger saying: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, would fold the Heavens on the Day of Judgment and then He would place them on His right hand and say: I am the Lord; where are the haughty and where are the proud (today)? He would fold the earth (placing it) on the left hand and say: I am the Lord; where are the haughty and where are the proud (today)?

(Sahih Muslim, Book 039, Number 6704 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=39&translator=2&start=0&number=6703)

49 The Book of the Etiquette of Judges

(1) Chapter: Virtue of the Judge Who is Just in Passing Judgement

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘As that: The Prophet said: “Those who are just and fair will be with Allah, Most High, on thrones of light, at the right hand of the Most Merciful, those who are just in their rulings and in their dealings with their families and those of whom they are in charge.” Muhammad (one of the narrators) said in his Hadith: “And both of His hands are right hands.”

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 5379

In-book reference: Book 49, Hadith 1

English translation: Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5381 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/nasai:5379; emphasis mine)

18 The Offices of Commander and Qadi

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Those who act justly will be with God on pulpits of light* at the right hand of the Compassionate One, and both His hands are right. They are those who are just in their jurisdiction, towards their people and what is under their charge.”

Muslim transmitted it.

*This phrase is explained either in a literal sense, or as indicating their high station.

Reference: Mishkat al-Masabih 3690

In-book reference: Book 18, Hadith 30 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/mishkat:3690; emphasis mine)

ALLAH’S FAVORITE EXERCISE

The ahadith go so far as to inform us that Allah actually loves running:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Allah says: ‘I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 502 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=93&translator=1&start=0&number=502)

Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, “My Lord says, ‘If My slave comes nearer to me for a span, I go nearer to him for a cubit; and if he comes nearer to Me for a cubit, I go nearer to him for the span of outstretched arms; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.'” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 627 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=93&translator=1&start=0&number=627)

This explains how Allah keeps his shin so tight and vascular!

ALLAH: A GROTESQUE LOOKING MONSTER

Unbelievers aren’t the only ones who think that these Islamic depictions of Allah portray the Muslim deity as a grotesque looking being, since even non-Salafi Muslims agree.

For instance, Salafi literalists argue that these are actual characteristics of Allah, and should therefore not be interpreted allegorically or metaphorically, leading certain Muslim scholars to sharply rebuke theme, in particular their hero Ibn Taymiyya, for depicting the Muslim deity as a hideously ugly and deformed looking figure:

We say to him: What do you say concerning the mention of “several eyes” (a‘yun), the mention of the “flank” (janb), the mention of the single “shin” (saq), and the mention of the “several hands” (aydi)? If we take these literally then we must affirm a being that has one face with many eyes, a single side, many hands, and a single shin! What being on earth is possibly uglier? And if you take the liberty of interpreting this and that to be dual or singular, then why does Allah not mention it, nor the Prophet, nor the Salaf of the Community? (Ibn Jahbal Al-Kilabi, The Refutation of Him (Ibn Taymiyya) who Attributes Direction to Allah (al-Raddu ‘ala Man Qala bil-Jiha), Introduction by Shaykh Wahbi Sulayman Ghawji, translation and notes by Gibril Fouad Haddad [Aqsa Publications, Birmingham UK 2008: http://www.aqsapublications.com], Chapter Seven. The Absurdity of His Literalism, pp. 221-223; bold emphasis ours)

FURTHER READING

Allah – An Immaterial Entity or an Invisible Man?

The Annihilation of Allah

Allah: An Exalted Woman? Examining the Issue of Allah’s Veil

Revisiting the Face of Allah

Revisiting the Irrationality of Salafi Anthropomorphism