Tag: hadith

THE JOLLY REDDISH GIANT

Some may have heard of the jolly green giant but may be oblivious of another giant, one who was of ruddy complexion. According to the supposedly authentic sunni reports attributed to Muhammad, Adam was actually 90 feet tall when Allah created him. Muhammad further taught that Adam’s initial offspring were also 90 feet tall but started gradually shrinking overtime.

 The following post is taken from Islam Question & Answer (IslamQA): How Tall Was Adam? All emphasis is mine.

How Tall Was Adam?

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Publication: 28-02-2003

Views: 245550

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Question

In saheeh al-Bukhari hadith No. 246, Prophet Muhammad states that Adam was created 30m in height. I cannot understand and imagine this, can you please explain this to me?

Summary of answer

1- A Muslim is obliged to believe in every idea for which there is evidence in the Quran or the Sunnah. 2- The basic principle is to accept the absolute power of Allah. 3- Allah created Adam and he was sixty cubits tall. For more, please see the detailed answer.

Answer

ContentsRelated

Praise be to Allah.

How tall was Adam?

This hadith was narrated by Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet who said: 

“Allah created Adam and he was sixty cubits tall. Then He said, ‘Go and greet those angels and listen to how they greet you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your progeny.’ He said, ‘Al-salamu ‘alaykum (Peace be upon you).’ They said, ‘Al-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allah (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah).’ So they added the words ‘wa rahmat Allah.’ And everyone who enters Paradise will be in the form of Adam. People kept on growing smaller until now.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 3336; Muslim, 7092) 

According to a version narrated by Muslim: “Everyone who enters Paradise will be in the form of Adam who was sixty cubits tall. People kept growing smaller until now.” 

With regard to the words of the Prophet, “People kept growing smaller until now,” al-Hafiz ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Bari (6/367): “This means that in every generation people grew shorter than the previous generation, and continued to grow shorter until the time of this ummah, then they stayed like that.” 

The Muslim is obliged to believe in every idea for which there is evidence in the Quran or sahih Sunnah from the Messenger of Allah. Imam al-Shafi’i said: “I believe in Allah and in that which came from Allah in the sense meant by Allah. I believe in the Messenger of Allah and in what came from the Messenger of Allah in the sense meant by the Messenger of Allah.” See al-Irshad Sharh Lam’at al-I’tiqad, p. 89. 

So the believer is required to believe with firm faith in everything that we are told by Allah and by the Prophet, if it is proven to be soundly reported from him. He must believe in it with firm faith that leaves no room for the slightest doubt. He must accept it in general and specific terms, whether he understands it or not and whether he finds it strange or not, because not understanding something that is proven in a sound report does not mean that it did not happen. All that means is that he cannot comprehend this particular issue. Allah has commanded us to believe in everything that He tells us and everything that His Prophet tells us. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not but strive with their wealth and their lives for the Cause of Allah. Those! They are the truthful” [al-Hujurat 49:15]

Is belief in the unseen an article of faith?

Part of faith is belief in the unseen (al-ghayb). The hadith we are discussing here comes under this heading. Allah praises those who believe in the unseen, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Alif-Lam-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.]

This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious believers of Islamic Monotheism who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)].

Who believe in the Ghayb[the unseen].” [al-Baqarah 2:1-3]

Belief in the Omnipotence of Allah 

You should note that Allah is Able to do all things. Just as He is able to create man in the form that he appears in now, He is also able to create man in a larger or smaller form. 

If this is difficult for you to understand, then think of the dwarves that we see, who are child-sized men. If this can happen, then why could the opposite not happen, namely a man being sixty cubits tall? In the history of mankind there have been giants as the archaeologists tell us. 

The basic principle here is to accept the absolute power of Allah and to accept what He tells us and what His Messenger tells us, and to say what those who are well versed in knowledge say: 

“We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord.”  [Al ‘Imran 3:7 – interpretation of the meaning].

We ask Allah to show us the truth as true and help us to follow it, and to show us falsehood as false and help us to avoid it. 

For more about some issues related to Prophet Adam, please see these answers:  8492 , 20652 , 4622 , and 170025 .

And here’s another IslamQA post on this issue:

Man was created tall then he kept getting shorter until now

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Publication: 24-03-2002

Views: 38898

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Question

Was man short at the time of Adam then he gradually grew taller, or was it the other way round? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Allah created Adam sixty cubits tall, then mankind gradually grew shorter until they stopped and remained as they are now. The evidence for that in the Sunnah is the hadeeth of the Prophet: “Allah created Adam sixty cubits tall, then mankind kept getting shorter until now.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3326; Muslim, 2841). Ibn Abi Haatim narrated with a hasan isnaad from Ubayy ibn Ka’b that the Prophet said: “Allah created Adam a tall man with a lot of hair on his head, as if he were a tall palm tree.”

 Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Baari:

“‘Mankind kept getting shorter until now’ means that each generation grew shorter than the generation before, and that decrease in height ended with this ummah, and that is how they stayed.”

Conveniently, IslamQA do not quote Ibn Hajar’s candid admission that Muhammad’s claim that Adam was created 90 feet tall was a problematic issue that he did not know how to explain:

“What is problematic here is what is observable today of the archaeological remains of previous nations, such as those of Thamud, since the size of their houses does not give the impression that they were exceptionally tall, as this would imply. Furthermore, it is obvious that they lived a long, long time ago, and the time between them and Adam was less than the time between them and those at the beginning of this nation. To date, I have not been able to explain this problem.” (Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Fath al Bari) (Man was created tall then he kept getting shorter until now.; emphasis mine)  

FURTHER READING

UNVEILING ALLAH’S PHYSICAL CLONE

BUKHARI & THE UNCREATED QURAN

I will be uploading specific responses from one of the most prominent online salafi websites in regards to the traditional sunni position on the Quran being uncreated, namely, Islam Question & Answer (IslamQa). In particular I will cite what this site writes in respect to al-Bukhari’s view of the Quran, one that initially got him in trouble. All emphasis will be mine.

The following is titled: Is the Quran Created? – Islam Question & Answer.

Is the Quran Created?

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Publication: 03-09-2024

Views: 108957

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Question

I know that the Quran is one of the attributes of Allah, like His Eye, His Hand and so on, and that it is the word of Allah in a real sense, that was sent down to the Prophet through Jibril, and that the Quran is not created. But what is meant by that? Does that mean that the words of Allah are not created, even when we read them, although we are created by Allah and everything we say or do is part of the creation of Allah? Is thinking in this way regarded as a kind of overstepping the mark? I do not want to do that, all I want is to ensure that my belief is sound.

Summary of answer

The Quran is the word of Allah and is not created. What is meant by that is that Allah spoke the words of the Quran, which Jibril heard from Him, and brought down to and conveyed it to Prophet Muhammad.

Answer

Related

Is the Quran Created?

The Quran is the word of Allah and is not created . What is meant by that is that Allah, may He be exalted, spoke the words of the Quran, which Jibril heard from Him, and brought down to the Prophet, and conveyed it to him. 

All of the attributes of Allah are uncreated; they are eternal, with no beginning. The words of Allah are among these attributes, and that includes the Quran. Therefore, the scholars said that the Quran is not created, because it is the words of Allah , and that is one of His attributes. 

Are people’s actions created?

With regard to people’s actions, they are created. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“While Allah has created you and what you do [or make].” [As-Saffat 37:96]

There are two issues that we must distinguish between: 

  • The first is the words of Allah that He spoke initially, and Jibril heard them from Him, and the Prophet conveyed them to us. This is an attribute of Allah that is not created in its letters and words; the same applies to His voice with which Allah spoke initially, and Jibril heard it from Him. 

All of this comes under the heading of the words of Allah, nothing of which is created, no matter how it is written, recited or heard. 

  • The second is the actions of the person, who is the vessel which carries the words of Allah, so he writes them in a book, reads them and hears them. All that comes from a person and that he does is created. 

So the hand of the person is created, the ink with which he writes is created, the paper on which he writes is created, the person’s tongue is created, his voice that belongs to him is created. All of these are vessels in which people carry the word of Allah and transmit it and convey it. 

More than one of the leading scholars have explained this issue and differentiated between these two matters. Foremost among them is the leader of hadith scholars, Imam Muhammad ibn Isma`il Al-Bukhari. He wrote a book on this specific topic entitled Khalq Af`al Al-`Ibad. Among other things he said in it (2/70): 

“Abu `Abdullah ibn Isma`il said: I heard `Ubaydullah ibn Sa`id say: I heard Yahya ibn Sa`id say: I always heard our companions say that people`s deeds are created. 

Abu `Abdullah said: Their movements, voices, actions and writing are created. As for the Quran that is recited, RECORDED IN THE MUS-HAF, written, and memorised in people’s hearts, it is the word of Allah and is not created. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Nay, but they, the clear Ayat (i.e., the description and the qualities of Prophet Muhammad written like verses in the Tawrat (Torah) and the Injil (Gospel)) are preserved in the breasts of those who have been given knowledge (from the people of the Scriptures)

But it is clear revelations in the hearts of those who have been given knowledge.” [Al-`Ankabut 29:49]

Is-haq ibn Ibrahim said: “As for the vessels, who would doubt that they are created?” 

Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:  

“When we recite the Quran, we recite it with our voices that are created, that cannot resemble the voice of the Lord. The Quran that we recite is the word of Allah, conveyed from Him and not heard directly from Him. Rather we recite it with our voices. The words are the words of the Creator, but the voice is the sound of the reciter, as is indicated by the Quran and Sunnah, as well as common sense. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And if anyone of the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allah (the Quran), and then escort him to where he can be secure.” [At-Tawbah 9:6]

And the Prophet said: “Make the Quran beautiful with your voices.”  (Majmu` Al-Fatawa, 12/98) (See also: Majmu` Al-Fatawa, 12/53) 

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said: 

“What we are required to believe concerning the Quran, which is the view of Ahl As-Sunnah wal Jama`ah, as indicated by the Quran and Sunnah, is that the Quran is the word of Allah in a true sense. Its letters and meanings were sent down, not created . It came from Him and will return to Him. It is the word of Allah when it is recited and when it is written. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“(It is) in Records held (greatly) in honour (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh).

Exalted (in dignity), purified,” [`Abasa 80:13-14]

“A Messenger (Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) from Allah, reciting (the Quran) purified pages (purified from Al-Batil (falsehood, etc.))

Containing correct and straight laws from Allah.” [Al-Bayyinah 98:2-3]

The Quran that we read is the word of Allah but we recite it with our voices. So the words are the words of the Creator and the voice is the voice of the reciter.” (Fatawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Da’imah, 3/21) 

For more details on this issue, please see Mukhtasar As-Sawa`iq Al-Mursalah by Ibn Al-Qayyim (503-510) 

Here’s what IslamQA says elsewhere (the link to which is found in the aforementioned post):

Ten textual and rational proofs that the Quran is the word of Allah and is not created

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Publication: 18-01-2016

Views: 49789

Question

I hope that you can advise me how to deal with the specious argument of the innovators, especially the innovated view that says that the Quran is created. I hope that you can give a detailed refutation of their specious argument, mentioning the books of trustworthy scholars who spoke at length in refuting the innovators concerning this issue.

Answer

Refuting innovation should be based on the fundamentals of the Sunnah and the fundamentals of ‘aqeedah, as knowledge should follow sound methodology that is based on Quran and Sunnah. 

That type of knowledge cannot be acquired from random fatwas or reading at random; rather it is done through the methodical pursuit of knowledge, studying that is truly founded on the fundamentals, in which the seeker of knowledge spends years of his life researching, memorising, understanding and learning. Only then will he be able to understand the specious arguments and to understand the words of the scholars, and he will be able to have deep insight into ambiguous arguments that led to such serious errors in ‘aqeedah. 

Here we will present a brief discussion to show how we could build an argument based on the fundamentals of religion, in order to prove that the Quran is the word of Allah and refute the specious argument that it is created. We will present this argument in brief, quoting it from specialised research, and from this presentation you will learn a little of the way to discuss issues of ‘aqeedah, and how vast in scope and subtle it is, and how much research and study is needed to understand it properly. 

Hence we say:

We can quote ten proofs to demonstrate that the Holy Quran is the word of Allah and is not created. These proofs are as follows: 

1. The first proof 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He Istawa (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Command. Surely, His is the Creation and the Command. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists)” [al-A‘raaf 7:54]. 

The evidence in this verse consists of two points: 

(i) Allah differentiated between the creation and the command, which are two of His attributes which He ascribed to Himself. As for the creation, this has to do with His deeds; as for the command, it has to do with His words. In principle, when two words are mentioned in conjunction, they should have different meanings, unless the context indicates that no differentiation is intended. In this case there is evidence to indicate that there is a difference between them, including the following point.

(ii) Creation can only occur through the command, as Allah says elsewhere (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is” [Ya-Seen 36:82].

The word “‘Be!’” is His command. If it were created, then its creation would require a command, and that command would require another command, and so on ad infinitum. That cannot be so. 

Imam Ahmad quoted this verse as evidence against the Mu‘tazili Jahamis. 

He said:

 I say: Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Surely, His is the Creation and the Command” [al-A‘raaf 7:54]. Thus He differentiated between the creation and the command.

Narrated by Hanbal in al-Mihnah (p. 53) 

And he said to them: Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “The command of Allah has come” [an-Nahl 61:1], and His command is His word and His power, and that is not created. So do not interpret the Book of Allah in such a way as to make it sound as if it contradicts itself

Narrated by Hanbal in al-Mihnah (p. 54) 

In what he wrote for al-Mutawakkil, when he asked him about the issue of the Quran, Imam Ahmad said: 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And if anyone of the Mushrikoon (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allah (the Quran), and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men who know not” [at-Tawbah 9:6] and “Surely, His is the Creation and the command” [al-A ‘raaf 7:54]. So He tells us that the creation is His, then He says “and the command”. Thus He informs us that the command is not created. End quote. 

Narrated by his son Saalih in al-Mihnah (p. 210-121) 

Before Imam Ahmad, this argument was presented by Imam Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah al-Hilaali al-Haafiz ath-Thiqah al-Hujjah [a great muhaddith] who said: 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Surely, His is the Creation and the command” [al-A‘raaf 7:54].

The creation is the creation of Allah and the command is the Quran. 

Narrated by al-Aajurri in ash-Sharee‘ah (p. 80) with a jayyid isnaad from him. 

2. The second proof 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“The Most Beneficent (Allah)

Has taught (you mankind) the Quran (by His Mercy).

He created man”

[ar-Rahmaan 55:1-3]. 

Here Allah differentiates between His knowledge (which He taught) and His creation. The Quran is His knowledge and man is His creation. His knowledge is not created. 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say: “Verily, the Guidance of Allah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) that is the (only) Guidance. And if you (O Muhammad) were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Quran), then you would have against Allah neither any Walee (protector or guardian) nor any helper”

[al-Baqarah 2:120].

Allah calls the Quran knowledge , because it is what came to the Prophet from his Lord, and it is what Allah taught him. Allah’s knowledge is not created because, if it were created, He would have had the opposite attribute before it was created – glorified and exalted be Allah far above that.

This proof was cited by Imam Ahmad when he presented his argument against the Jahamis in the court of al-Mu‘tasim: 

‘Abd ar-Rahmaan al-Qazzaaz said to me: Allah was there and there was no Quran. I said to him: Then (what you are saying is that) Allah was there and there was no knowledge that He possessed! He kept quiet, because if he had claimed that Allah was there and there was no knowledge that He possessed, then he would be a disbeliever in Allah.

Narrated by Hanbal in al-Mihnah (p. 45) 

It was said to him: 

Some people say, if a man says that the words of Allah are not created, they say: Who is the scholar who taught you that? Where did you get the idea that His words are not created?

He said: The proof is the words of Allah (interpretation of the meaning): “Then whoever disputes with you concerning this matter after (all this) knowledge that has come to you” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:61]. There is nothing that came to him except the Quran (i.e., the Quran is the knowledge referred to here). 

And he said: 

The Quran is knowledge from Allah. Whoever claims that the knowledge of Allah is created, is a disbeliever. 

Narrated by Ibn Haani’ in al-Masaa’il (2/153, 154) 

3. The third proof 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say (O Muhammad to mankind). ‘If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely, the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished, even if we brought (another sea) like it for its aid’”

[al-Kahf 18:109]

and

“And if all the trees on the earth were pens and the sea (were ink wherewith to write), with seven seas behind it to add to its (supply), yet the Words of Allah would not be exhausted. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise”

[Luqmaan 31:27]. 

Allah tells us – and what He says is true – that His words are unending, and that if the seas that Allah has created were ink with which to write, and the trees that Allah has created were pens with which to write, the ink of the seas would run out, and the pens would wear out, but the words of Allah would not be exhausted. 

This highlights the greatness of His words, and that His words or speech is His attribute and His knowledge. This cannot be compared with the created, finite words of His creation, for if His words were created, they would have been exhausted before one of the seas was exhausted. But Allah has only decreed an end and a limit for created beings, not for Himself or His attributes. 

4. The fourth proof 

The names of Allah in the Quran, such as Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Generous and so on are part of His words or His speech, because it is He Who gave these names to Himself, with these words and meanings. Allah has made it equal to glorify His Essence and to glorify His names, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High” [al-A‘laa 87:1]. He has made it equal to call upon Him by His Essence and to call upon Him by His names, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them” [al-A‘raaf 7:180]. Similarly, He has made it equal to remember Him by His Essence and to remember Him by His names, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “And remember the Name of your Lord every morning and afternoon” [al-Insaan 76:25]. 

This glorification, supplication and remembrance, if applied to anything that is created, would constitute disbelief in Allah

If it is said that His words are created, His names are included in that, and whoever makes such a claim has gone beyond the pale of Islam, for the reasons we have mentioned, and because what that implies is that Allah did not have those beautiful names before He created His words; and the one who swore an oath by one of His names would be a mushrik, because he would be swearing by something that is created, and that which is created is different from the Creator

This argument was presented by a number of the early generations and imams to prove that the Quran is not created, including Imam al-Hujjah Sufyaan ibn Sa‘eed ath-Thawri, who said: Whoever says that [the words] “Say (O Muhammad): He is Allah, (the) One, Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks)”[al-Ikhlaas 112:1-2] are created is a disbeliever

Narrated by ‘Abdullah in as-Sunnah (no. 13). Its isnaad is jayyid. 

Imam ash-Shaafa‘i said: 

Whoever swears by one of the names of Allah and breaks his oath has to offer expiation, because the name of Allah is not created; whoever swears an oath by the Ka‘bah, or by as-Safa and al-Marwa, does not have to offer expiation (for breaking his oath), because these things are created, whereas (the name of Allah) is not created. 

Narrated by Ibn Abi Haatim in Aadaab ash-Shaafa‘i (p. 193) with a saheeh isnaad. 

Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: 

The names of Allah are in the Quran, and the Quran is part of the knowledge of Allah. So whoever claims that the Quran is created has gone beyond the pale of Islam, and whoever claims that the names of Allah are created has gone beyond the pale of Islam. 

Narrated by his son Saalih in al-Mihnah (p. 52, 66-67) 

5. The fifth proof 

Allah has told us that the Book is from Him and is attributed to Him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists)”

[as-Sajdah 32:2]

“Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) know that it is revealed from your Lord in truth”

[al-An‘aam 6:114]

“Say (O Muhammad) Ruh-ul-Qudus (Jibrael (Gabriel)) has brought it (the Quran) down from your Lord with truth”

[an-Nahl 16:102]. 

Allah has not attributed anything to Himself that He sent down, except His words, which indicates that there is a special meaning for that, so it is not like the sending down of rain, iron and so on. Allah has told us that He sent down these things, but He did not attribute them to Himself, unlike His words. His words or His speech is an attribute, and an attribute can only be ascribed to the one who possesses it, and not to anyone else. If His words were created, they could have departed from the Creator and would not be attributed to Him, because He has no need of His creation and none of it is His attribute. 

6. The sixth proof 

It was narrated that Khawlah bint Hakeem said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Whoever stops at a place and says: I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of that which He has created, nothing will harm him until he moves on from that place.”. Narrated by Muslim (2708). 

If His words were created, then seeking refuge in them would be shirk, because that would be seeking refuge in something that is created. It is well-known that seeking refuge in anything other than Allah and His names and attributes is shirk, so how could the Prophet have taught his ummah something that is obviously shirk, when he is the one who came to teach them pure Tawheed? 

This indicates that the words of Allah are not created. 

Na‘eem ibn Hammaad said: Refuge is not to be sought in anything that is created, or in the words of people, jinn, humans or angels. 

Al-Bukhaari said, after quoting that: This indicates that the words of Allah are not created, and that everything other than Him is created

See: Khalq Af‘aal al-‘Ibaad (p. 143) 

7. The seventh proof 

The hadith of Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet who said:

“The superiority of the words of Allah over all other words is like the superiority of Allah over all of His creation.” 

A hasan hadith, narrated by ‘Uthmaan ad-Daarimi in ar-Radd ‘ala al-Jahamiyyah (no. 287, 340); al-Laalkaa’i (no. 557) 

This hadith confirms the belief of the salaf, that the Quran is the word of Allah and is not created. It does so in two respects: 

(i) It differentiates between the words of Allah and other words. Words are either the speech of Allah, which is one of His attributes, or they are created words, which are part of the creation of Allah. Whatever is a divine attribute is ascribed to Allah, whereas the rest are mentioned in general terms, so as to include all words other than those attributed to Allah. If all words were created, there would be no need for this differentiation.

(ii) The differentiation between the words of Allah and the words of others is like the differentiation between the essence of Allah and the essence of others. Allah’s words and the nature thereof are connected to His essence and the nature thereof, just as the words of created beings and the nature thereof are appropriate to and connected to the essence of created beings and the nature thereof. 

This argument was presented by Imam ‘Uthmaan ibn Sa‘eed ad-Daarimi in ar-Radd ‘ala al-Jahamiyyah (p. 162-163). After quoting the hadiths on this topic, he said: 

These hadiths indicate that the Quran is not created, because you would not see such a great difference when comparing between two created beings as you will see when comparing between Allah and His creation, because the difference between the two created beings is measurable, whereas the superiority of Allah over His creation is unmeasurable and no one can grasp it. The same applies to the superiority of His words over the words of created beings. If the words of Allah were created, there would not be such a great difference between them and the words of others, which is like the superiority of Allah over His creation. There is nothing like unto Him, so there are no words like His words, and no one could ever produce anything like them. End quote. 

8. The eighth proof 

On the basis of rational thinking, if the words of Allah were created, then it must be one of two scenarios: 

(i) They are created and exist as part of the essence of Allah

(ii) or they are separate from Allah.

Both scenarios are false and in fact constitute abhorrent disbelief.

As for the first, it implies that a created thing could exist within the Creator, which is false according to the view of Ahl as-Sunnah and most of the followers of innovation [among the Muslims]. Allah is independent of His creation and has no need of any of them in any way whatsoever.

As for the second, its implications lead to denying the attribute of divine speech, because the attribute exists in the one who possesses the attribute – as stated above – and does not exist in anyone or anything else. If it existed in anything else, then it would be an attribute of the one in whom it existed. What this would imply is that the Lord does not speak, and this is obvious disbelief, as we have explained above.

9. The ninth proof

As is clear to everyone, an attribute does not exist by itself. If the attribute is an attribute of the Creator, it should exist in Him, and if it is an attribute of a created being, it must inevitably exist in him, such as moving, staying still, standing, sitting, power, will, knowledge, life and other attributes. If an attribute is ascribed to something, then it is describing it and it belongs to the one in whom it exists. So these attributes may be ascribed to the created being, therefore they are descriptions of the created being, as they are ascribed to him. Some of them may also be ascribed to the Creator, such as power, will, knowledge, life and so on. Therefore they are attributes of His, as they are ascribed to Him. When they are ascribed to the created being, they are created, and when they are ascribed to the Creator, they are not created.

The attribute of speech is like other attributes; it must exist in something, and if it exists in that thing then it is an attribute of that thing and not of anything else. If it is ascribed to the Creator, may He be exalted, then it is His attribute. If it is ascribed to anyone else, then it is an attribute of that other entity. The attribute of the Creator is not created, just as His essence is not created, whereas the attribute of the created being is created, just as his essence is created. As Allah has ascribed speech to Himself, and has described Himself as speaking, then His speech (or words) is not created, because it is something that is connected to His essence, and His essence is not created. Discussion of the divine attributes is connected to discussion of the divine essence, and it must be discussed in the same terms.

If it is said that the Quran is created, we say: Allah should be above having ascribed to Him anything that is created. You (Jahamis) – according to your claim – declare Allah to be above having any created things existing IN HIM. As you declare your Lord to be above that, then you should not attribute speech to Him, but if you do not attribute speech to Him, you will be denying textual and rational evidence which testify that Allah possesses the attribute of speech.

But they refuse to admit that the words of Allah are not created, on the basis of an argument that is even more false than what is discussed above. They say: We affirm that Allah speaks with words that exist in something other than Him. Allah spoke to Moosa through created words that existed in the bush and did not exist in Him, therefore we declare Him to be above having created things (i.e., words) exist in Him.

We say in response: you regard the words as an attribute of the thing in which they exist, which implies – according to your view – that these were the words of the bush, so it is the bush that spoke to Moosa and said (interpretation of the meaning): “ ‘O Moosa (Moses)! Verily! I am Allah, the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists)’” [al-Qasas 28:30]. In that case, there is no difference between the words of the bush and the words of the accursed Pharaoh (interpretation of the meaning): “ ‘I am your lord, most high’” [an-Naazi‘aat 79:24], because the words of the bush are its attributes, and not the attributes of Allah, and the words of Pharaoh are his attributes; each of them claimed to be divine [according to your claim], so Moosa had no right to object to what Pharaoh said, yet accept the words of the bush!

Think about this blatant disbelief which led people who believed in this argument to this shameful innovation and not to submit and accept the facts of revelation mentioned in the Quran, and to turn away from the noble revelation and prefer to it the scum of minds that are controlled by whims and desires that direct them wherever they want.

This rational argument was something used by Imam Ahmad against the Mu‘tazili Jahamis when he debated with them in the presence of al-Mu‘tasim. He said:

This is the story of Moosa. Allah said in His Book, speaking of Himself (interpretation of the meaning): “and to Moosa (Moses) Allah spoke directly” [an-Nisa’ 4:164]. Thus Allah affirms that He spoke to Moosa by way of honouring Moosa, and confirms that it was indeed speech. Allah said (interpretation of the meaning): O Moosa “Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I)” [Ta-Ha 20:14] but you are denying this, so this pronoun (“I”) would then refer to something other than Allah, and a created entity would be claiming to be the lord!

Narrated by Hanbal in al-Mihnah (p. 52)

10. The tenth proof

Words of the leading scholars of the early generations affirming this belief:

‘Amr ibn Dinaar – one of the best of the Taabi‘i imams – said:

I have been meeting the companions of the Prophet and others who are next in status to them for seventy years, and they say: Allah is the Creator, and everything other than Him is created. The Quran is the word of Allah; it came from Him and will return to Him.

‘Abdullah ibn Naafi‘ said: Maalik used to say:

The Quran is the word of Allah. And he used to regard as abhorrent the view of those who said that the Quran was created.

Narrated by Saalih ibn Ahmad in al-Mihnah (p. 66) with a saheeh isnaad from him.

Ar-Rabee‘ ibn Sulaymaan, the companion and student of ash-Shaafa‘i, said, narrating a debate that took place between him and Hafs al-Fard concerning the Quran:

He (Hafs) started the debate with Ash-Shaafa‘i, and ash-Shaafa‘i presented his argument with proof, and there was a lengthy debate in which ash-Shaafa‘i established proof that the Quran is the word of Allah and is not created, and he regarded Hafs al-Fard as a disbeliever. Ar-Rabee‘ said: I met Hafs al-Fard in the gathering later on and he said: ash-Shafaa‘i wanted to kill me.

Narrated by ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan ibn Abi Haatim in Adaab ash-Shaafa‘i (p. 194-195). Its isnaad is saheeh.

Ibn Abi Haatim said:

I asked my father and Abu Zar‘ah about the views of Ahl as-Sunnah concerning the fundamentals of religion and what they learned from the scholars in all regions, and what they believed concerning that.

They said:

We met the scholars from all regions, the Hijaz, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and their view was that faith is both words and deeds, and it may increase or decrease; the Quran is the word of Allah and is not created in any way.

Narrated by Ibn at-Tabari in as-Sunnah (1/176) with a saheeh isnaad.

Imam Abu’l-Qaasim Hibatullah ibn al-Hasan at-Tabari al-Laalkaa’i quoted, in his great book Sharh Usool I‘tiqaad Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah: This is the view of five hundred and fifty individuals among the scholars and early generations of this ummah, all of whom say: The Quran is the word of Allah and is not created; whoever says that it is created is a disbeliever.

He said:

These people number five hundred and fifty or more, from among the Taabi‘een and their followers and leading scholars, other than the righteous Sahaabah, despite the differences in their locations and the passage of many years. Among them are approximately one hundred imams from whom the people learned their beliefs and followed them in their views. If I wanted to write down the views of the hadith scholars (concerning this issue), their names would be many thousands.

End quote from as-Sunnah (493)

Summarised from the book al-‘Aqeedah as-Salafiyyah fi Kalaam Rabb al-Bariyyah wa Kashf Abaateel al-Mubtadi‘ah ar-Radiyyah (p. 121-147)

For more information on this topic, see also the twelfth volume of Majmoo‘ Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, “al-Quran Kalaam Allah”; and Mukhtasar as-Sawaa‘iq al-Mursalah by Ibn al-Qayyim

See also a useful article on this topic entitled Lima kaana al-Qawl bi Khalq al-Quran Kufran? Wa’l-Kalaam an-Nafsi by Shaykh ‘Amr Basyooni.

Here’s the final one, the link to which is again found in the initial IslamQA post cited at the start:

The Quran was revealed by Allah, not created

 10153

Publication: 27-03-2001

Views: 56740

Question

Can you recommend a book in english that explains what it really means that the Quran is not a creation ; and what we should believe in as Muslims? 

Answer

What we Muslims are obliged to believe is that which has come to us from Allah, and that which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has told us. Allah has told us that He speaks, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And who is truer in statement than Allah? [al-Nisaa’ 4:87] 

“and whose words can be truer than those of Allah?

[al-Nisaa’ 4:122] 

These two aayahs offer proof that Allah speaks, and that His words are true, and there is no kind of lie in them at all. 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): ‘O ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)!…’”

[al-Maa’idah 5:116] 

This aayah shows that Allah speaks, and that His speech can be heard, so His speech has sound. And His speech includes words and phrases. The evidence that the speech of Allah is composed of letters is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):  

“O Moosa (Moses)!

Verily, I am your Lord!” [Ta-Ha 20:11] 

because these words are composed of letters, and they are part of the speech of Allah. And the evidence that the speech of Allah has sound is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning]: 

“And We called him from the right side of the Mount, and made him draw near to Us for a talk with him [Moosa (Moses)].

[Maryam 19:52] 

Calling and talking can only happen with sound. 

See Sharh Lam’ah al-I’tiqaad by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, p. 73 

Hence the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah is that Allah speaks in a real sense, when and as and with whatever He wills, with letters and sound, but this does not resemble the voices of created beings. The evidence that it does not resemble the voices of created beings is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): 

“There is nothing like Him, and He is the All‑Hearer, the All‑Seer” [al-Shoora 42:11] 

So it is known from the outset that this is the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah. Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah believe that the Quran is the word of Allah, and among the evidence for this belief is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And if anyone of the Mushrikoon (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) seeks your protection then grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allah”

[al-Tawbah 9:6] 

what is meant here is the Quran, by scholarly consensus. The fact that Allah mentions kalaam (speech, word) in idaafah (genitive or possessive construction) with Himself indicates that the Quran is His Word. 

The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah is that the Quran is the word of Allah which was revealed, not created; it began from Him and will return to Him.  

The evidence that it is revealed is as follows (interpretation of the meanings): 

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran”

[al-Baqarah 2:185] 

“Verily, We have sent it (this Quran) down in the Night of Al‑Qadr (Decree)”[al-Qadr 97:1] 

“And (it is) a Quran which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages” [al-Israa’ 17:106] 

“And when We change a Verse (of the Quran) in place of another — and Allah knows best what He sends down — they (the disbelievers) say: ‘You (O Muhammad) are but a Muftari! (forger, liar).’ Nay, but most of them know not.

Say (O Muhammad) Ruh‑ul‑Qudus [Jibreel (Gabriel)] has brought it (the Quran) down from your Lord with truth, that it may make firm and strengthen (the Faith of) those who believe, and as a guidance and glad tidings to those who have submitted (to Allah as Muslims).

And indeed We know that they (polytheists and pagans) say: ‘It is only a human being who teaches him (Muhammad).’ The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign, while this (the Quran) is a clear Arabic tongue[al-Nahl 16:101-103] 

– the One Who changes a verse in place of another is Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. 

The evidence that the Quran is not created is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Surely, His is the creation and commandment” [al-A’raaf 7:54] 

So Allah describes creation as one thing and commandment as another. The conjunction implies that the second thing mentioned is different, and the Quran is part of the commandment because of the evidence of the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad) Rooh (a revelation, and a mercy) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? But We have made it (this Quran) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will”

[al-Shoora 42:52] 

If the Quran is part of the command or commandment, which is different from creation, therefore it is not created, because if it were created, this division of categories would not be correct. This is the evidence from the Quran. 

The rational evidence is that the Quran is the word of Allah, and words cannot exist in and of themselves so that they would have a distinct and separate identity.  If they did exist separately and distinct from Allah, then we would say that they are created, but words are an attribute of the speaker. If they are an attribute of the speaker and they are spoken by Allah, then they are not created, because the attributes of Allah are not created

Sharhal-‘Aqeedah al-Waasitah by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/418-426-441  

We must believe this and be certain of it. We should not change the meanings of the verses of Allah, for they clearly indicate that the Quran is a revelation from Allah. Hence Imaam al-Tahhaawi said: “The Quran is the word of Allah which came from Him in the form of speech, without any need for us to know how. He sent it down to His Messenger by Revelation, the believers believe that it is true and they are certain that it is indeed the word of Allah and that it is not created like the words of human beings. Whoever hears it and claims that it is the words of human beings is a kaafir, who is condemned and warned of Hell, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

‘I will cast him into Hell fire’ [al-Muddaththir 74:26]. 

Since Allah threatened with Hell the one who said, ‘This is nothing but the word of a human being’ [al-Muddaththir 74:26 – interpretation of the meaning], we know and are certain that it is the word of the Creator of mankind, and it does not resemble the speech of human beings.”  Sharh al-‘Aqeedah al-Tahhaawiyyah, 179

FURTHER READING

THE UNCREATED CREATED QURAN

ZAKIR NAIK & HIS LIES

The Muhammadan quack “Dr.” Zakir Naik has been caught lying about his prophet discouraging marital relationships with close relatives, i.e., cousins. He has been exposed for citing an inauthentic narration, one deemed to be unreliable, which has Muhammad prohibiting the marriage of first cousins generation after generation.

In order to expose his lie I post this response from a reputable online Muslim site: Ahaadeeth prohibiting marriage among relatives inauthentic. All emphasis mine.

Question

Assalaamu alaykum, dear Shaykh. I sent you a question (no. 2634677) earlier. Shaykh, I know that marriage between cousins is permitted and that those hadiths discouraging marriage between relatives are inauthentic. Shaykh, I saw a YouTube video of Dr. Zakir Naik regarding consanguineous marriage wherein he quoted Dr. Ahmad Sakr as saying, “Our beloved Prophet said, ‘Do not marry generation after generation among first cousins.’” Shaykh, I want to know whether that hadith is authentic or not. Thank you very much.

Answer

We have not come across any scholar who mentioned the hadeeth that you asked about in your question. However, some scholars stated that the ahaadeeth that are mentioned about the prohibition of marrying among relatives are not authentic.

For instance, the prominent scholar Ibn Al-Mulaqqin said in Al-Badr Al-Muneer, “It was reported that the Prophet said, ‘Do not marry a close relative because the offspring will be weak.’ Al-Qaadhi Al-Husayn and the Imaam al-Haramayn (Al-Juwayni) reported it also and said, “It is inauthentic.”

As regards Ibn As-Salah, he said, “I did not find a reliable source for this hadeeth. He also commented on it saying, ‘The offspring will be weak’; that is because his lust cannot be completely fulfilled with a female relative.”

Al-Qaadhi Al-Husayn mentioned another hadeeth with the same meaning, which is, ‘Marry strangers, (do not marry relatives), otherwise the offspring will be weak.’

I have not seen any reliable narration in this regard in any Hadeeth book, except what I read in Ghareeb Al-Hadeeth complied by Ibraaheem al-Harbi from ‘Abdullaah ibn Al-Mu’ammil from Ibn Abi Mulaykah that ‘Umar said to the tribe of As-Saa’ib, ‘Your offspring has become weak; so marry strangers.’” [End of quote]

For more benefit, please refer to fataawa 92604 and 107116.

Allaah knows best.

The following is from SeekersGuidance. All emphasis mine.

Did the Prophet Discourage Marrying Cousins?

[October 7, 2011]/in Hanafi Fiqh

Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: Did the Prophet discourage marrying relatives (ie. cousins) even though it is lawful?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.

The short answer is that there are certain narrations that discourage marrying cousins, yet experts of hadith verification have determined them to be extremely weak or fabricated.

The Narrations in Question

– “Do not marry within the family [i.e., cousins], as that leads to children that are thin and weak.”

– “Do not marry within the family [i.e., cousins], since the child would be born thin and weak.”

– “Marry outside the family, lest the offspring be thin and weak.” [Ibn Hajar, Talkhis al-Habir]

Regarding these and similar narrations, the 7th century hadith specialist Ibn Salah said, “I found no reliable basis for them.” Many eminent hadith masters mentioned his statement and concurred, such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Ibn Mulaqqin, and others. [Ibn Hajar, Talkhis al-Habir; Ibn Mulaqqin, Khulasat al-Badr]

Taj al-Subki said regarding these narrations, “I found no chain of transmission (isnad) for them.” [Subki, Ahadith al-Ihya Alati La Asla Laha]

Hence it can be concluded that these narrations — as statements of the Prophet — are fabricated.

After mentioning Ibn Salah’s verdict, Hafiz Iraqi does state that it was rather Sayyidina Umar who made such a statement, specifically in response to a certain family/tribe whose offspring were thin and weak. He said, “You all have become thin and weak, so marry outside the family.” [Iraqi, Takhrij Ahadith al-Ihya’]

Incidentally, this advice from Sayyidina Umar corresponds with current genetic research indicating that marriage to cousins in successive generations is associated with increased likelihood of disability in offspring.

Also, the Hanbalis in particular explicitly mention that it is recommended (mustahabb) for a man to marry outside the family, as doing so normally leads to healthier and stronger offspring. [Mawsu`a Kuwaitiyya]

The Legal Ruling

As a legal ruling however, marrying one’s cousin is completely lawful in Islam, based on the Qur’an, Noble Sunna, and scholarly consensus (ijma`).

The categories of women one is forbidden to marry are clearly delineated in the Qur’an (see 4:22-24), and one’s cousin is not listed there.

Moreover, it is well-known that the Prophet married off his daughter Fatima to Sayyidina Ali, who was the Prophet’s cousin.

And the Prophet himself married his first cousin, Zaynab bint Jahsh, as she was the daughter of the Prophet’s paternal aunt Umaymah.

Of course, the permissibility does not necessarily mean that such marriages are encouraged in the Sacred Law, especially when repeated over generations. As mentioned above, there are often health concerns if first cousin marriages continue over several generations. A physician should be consulted in particular cases.

This answer sheds more light on the issue: The Ruling of First Cousin Marriages – A Balanced Perspective

And Allah knows best.

wassalam

Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

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ISLAMIC FEMALE CIRCUMCISION

HOMOSEXUALITY AND PEDERASTY IN ISLAM’S PARADISE?

ISLAMIC INCEST

The Quran’s Confused Stance on Sexual Ethics

REVISITING ISLAM’S GROSS SEXUAL ETHICS

Islam – The Religion of Pedophilia

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Dr. Zakir Naik

Dr. Zakir Naik

INJIL, IBN ABBAS & Al-BUKHARI

This post is intended to supplement the following material: MATERIAL FOR THE ANDANI DISCUSSION.

Tawrat as the Hebrew Bible and the Injil as a written text

Tawrat occurs eighteen times in the Qur’an, and seems to be derived, perhaps indirectly, from the Hebrew term Torah.7 It describe a scripture given to Moses, which was “sent down” from God (Q5:44). The Qur’anic term Tawrat is often taken to denote the Pentateuch, or the first five books, associated with Moses, though it is later used by Muslims to signify the whole of the Hebrew Bible. Jewish tradition refers to the Written Torah (the Pentateuch) and the Oral Torah (the midrash and Talmud) and Islamic tradition does not necessarily distinguish these. In subsequent chapters, particularly Chapter 3 on Muslim tradition literature, an invocation that “it says in the Tawrat” may refer to either.   

… The Qur’an also assumes that a text which it calls the Injil was available to the Christians contemporary to Muhammad, and this text could serve as a reliable source for their judgments (Q5:47, 7:157). Whether, and to what extent, these verses refer to what Christians understand to be the four gospels is an important question, to which Muslim answers have varied.13 (Martin Whittingham, A History of Muslim Views of the Bible: The First Four Centuries [De Gruyter, 2021], Volume 7, pp. 22-23; bold emphasis mine)  

Al-Bukhari on Corruption

Sunni Islam’s greated hadith compiler Al-Bukhari denied textual corruption of the Bible, and even cited Ibn Abbas as agreeing with this position:

LV. The words of Allah Almighty, “It is indeed a Glorious Qur’an preserved on a Tablet.” (85:21-22)

“By the Mount and an Inscribed Book” (52:1-2): Qatada said that “mastur” means “written”. “Yasturun” (68:1) means “they inscribe”, and the Umm al-Kitab (43:4) is the whole of the Qur’an and its source. [He said that] “ma talfizu” (50:18) means: “He does not say anything but that it is written against him.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Both good and evil are recorded,” and “yuharrufuna” (4:46) means “they remove”. No one removes the works [sic] of one of the Books of Allah Almighty, but they twist them, interpreting them improperly. “Dirasatihim: (6:156) means “their recitation” “Wa’iyya” (69:12) is preserving, “ta’iha” (69:12) means to “preserve it”. “This Qur’an has been revealed to me by inspiration that I may warn you,” meaning the people of Makka, “and all whom it reaches”(6:19) meaning this Qur’an, so he is its warner. (Aisha Bewley, Sahih Collection of al-Bukhari, 100. Book of Tawhid (the belief that Allah is One in His Essence, Attributes and Actions); emphasis mine)

And:

Chapter 69. Book of the Virtues of the Qur’an

I. Chapter. How the Revelation descended and the first of it to be revealed.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that “muhaymin” (5:48) means “TRUSTWORTHY.” The Qur’an is the gurantor of every Book before it. (Bewley, The Sahih Collection of al-Bukhari; emphasis mine)

Martin Whittingham provides his own rendering of al-Bukhari’s comments from Ibn Abbas:

Just as tradition literature contains few references to textual corruption of the Bible, it likewise provides few references to the issue of corrupt Biblical interpretation (tahrif al-ma’na or tahrif ma’nawi). Al-Bukhari adds a note between hadiths in the section of his hadith collection entitled “The Book of Divine Unity” (Kitab al-Tawhid). Here he quotes Ibn ‘Abbas, Muhammad’s cousin and one of the Companions, as commenting on the term “yuhairifuna” (here best translated as “they alter”). Referring to Q4:46, which uses this term, Ibn ‘Abbas is reported as explaining yuharrifuna by saying, “but no one removes an utterance from one of the books of God. But they altered it: they interpreted it according to the wrong interpretation”.63 This concerns Q4:46, which specifically accuses some Jews of taking words out of their context. The statement appears to conflict with Ibn ‘Abbas’ other statement in the hadith quoted above and involving Q2:79, which states that at least some Jews corrupted the text. The two statements could be reconciled if the accusation related to Q2:79 was regarded as only describing a specific group of Jews, rather than as a general statement.

Another hadith making the accusation of corrupt interpretation is recorded by al-Darimi (d. 255/869) in his Sunan, one of the collections not included in the canonical six collections but included in the most prominent nine. “They have corrupted (harrafu) the scripture through their interpretation (tafsir).”64  

63 Al-Bukhari, Sahih, vol. 9, Kitab al-Tawhid (The Book of Divine Unity), comment before hadith no. 7553, my translation. The translators of the Darussalam edition leave this comment untranslated.

64 Al-Darimi, Sunan al-Darimi, vol. 1 (Beirut: Dar al-Kitab al-‘Arabi, 1987), 169. These reports are not numbered, but the report cited here is the last in the section of assorted introductory topics before the commencement of the first “Book,” on “Purity” (Tahara). (A History of Muslim Views of the Bible, pp. 60-61; emphasis mine)

This explains why scholars of the past, including two of Ibn Taymiyya’s premiere students, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah and Ibn Kathir, included al-Bukhari among those who believed that the previous scriptures were not corrupted:

On the other side, another party of hadith and fiqh scholars said: these changes took place during its interpretation and not during the process of its revelation. This is the view of Abi Abdullah Muhammad bin Ishmael Al-Bukhari who said in his hadith collection:

“No one can corrupt the text by removing any of Allah’s words from his Books, but they corrupted it by misinterpreting it.” (Al-Jawziyyah, Ighathat Al Lahfan, Volume 2, p. 351)

And:

Mujahid, Ash-Sha’bi, Al-Hassan, Qatadah and Ar-Rabi’ bin Anas said that,

<who distort the Book with their tongues.>

means, “They alter (Allah’s Words).”

Al-Bukhari reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Ayah means they alter and add although none among Allah’s creation can remove the words of Allah from His books, they alter and distort their apparent meanings. Wahb bin Munabbih said, “The Tawrah and Injil remain as Allah revealed them, and no letter in them was removed. However, the people misguide others by addition and false interpretation, relying on books that they wrote themselves.” Then,

<they say: “This is from Allah,” but it is not from Allah;>

As for Allah’s books, they are still preserved and cannot be changed.” Ibn Abi Hatim recorded this statement… (Tafsir Ibn Kathir – Abridged, Volume 2, Parts 3, 4 & 5, Surat Al-Baqarah, Verse 253, to Surat An-Nisa, verse 147 [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Houston, New York, Lahore; First Edition: March 2000], p. 196; emphasis mine)

Al-Bukhari wasn’t alone in listing Ibn Abbas:

“… The Andalusian interpreter Ibn ‘Atiyya stated that Tahrif means “to change or transfer something from its original character to another” and that Ibn ‘Abbas held that the Jewish (and possibly the Christian, by implication) corruption and change was to be found in exegesis, the letter of the Torah surviving intact, although a second school of scholars maintained that the letters themselves had been changed on the basis that although the Jews had been asked to safeguard the Torah, unlike the Qur’an it was not safeguarded by God Himself.” (Dr. Muhammad Abu Laylah, The Qur’an and the Gospels – A Comparative Study [Al-Falah Foundation for Translation, Publication & Distribution, Third edition, 2005], pp. 145-146; emphasis ours)

Ibn Hisham and John’s Gospel

Ibn Hisham was the Muslim editor who purged material from Ibn Ishaq’s biography which he didn’t like, and yet he kept the latter’s reference to John’s Gospel intact. This means that Ibn Hisham affirmed this tradition, otherwise he would have omitted it:

Ibn Ishaq’s Sira originally began with a section, known as the Book of the Beginning (Kitab al-Mubtada’) which drew partially on Biblical tradition, and even more on Jewish and Christian extra-Biblical tradition. This was cut by his subsequent editor, Ibn Hisham. Ibn Ishaq’s omitted text can be partially recovered only from other versions, such as the recension of Ibn Bukayr and the many reports from Ibn Ishaq preserved in the history of al-Tabari.  Ibn Hisham comments that “I shall begin this book with Isma’il son of Ibrahim and mention those of his offspring who were the ancestors of God’s apostle … omitting some of the things which Ibn Ishaq has recorded in this book in which there is no mention of the apostle and about which the Quran says nothing.” Ibn Hisham also omits “things which it is disgraceful to discuss; matters which would distress certain people.69 It is not surprising that in this broad-ranging cull, aimed at training the gaze on Muhammad himself, Biblical material has largely fallen by the wayside. Yet Ibn Hisham preserves the famous identification of the Paraclete, referred to in John’s Gospel (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) with Muhammad. This is explicable because although this is a Biblical reference, it is taken by Ibn Ishaq to be a reference to Muhammad, the person at the heart of Ibn Hisham’s concerns. Ibn Ishaq in his Sira preserves a Christian Palestinian Aramaic translation of “parakletos” (Paraclete) as “mnhmn”, a unique rendering compared to later Arabic translations drawn from Greek or Syriac. Of four different recensions of Ibn Ishaq’s work, mostly incomplete, it is only the version used by Ibn Hisham which preserves the reference to the Paraclete.70

An example of the biblical material cut out by Ibn Hisham is a report found in Ibn Bukayr’s version of Ibn ishaq stating that Muhammad’s description is found in the Tawrat: “His name is al-Mutawakkil (“the one who trusts,” [in God]). He is not harsh or rough; nor does he walk proudly in the streets. He is given the keys that by him God may make blind yes see, and deaf ears hear, and set straight crooked tongues so that they bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone with associated. He will help and defend the oppressed.”71 this passage contains various resemblances to Isaiah 42:2-7. The application to Muhammad parallels the application of Isaiah 42 to Jesus (Matt 12:15-21). (Whittingham, A History of Muslim Views of the Bible, pp. 62-63)

The fact that Ibn Hisham removed the supposed prophecy of Muhammad in the Hebrew Bible, but kept the one on John’s Gospel is quite significant.

Ibn Taymiyyah on Q. 5:47

The following quotes are taken from Martin Whittingham, “What is the ‘Gospel’ Mentioned in the Qur’an?”, pp. 4-6, which can be accessed online: https://www.academia.edu/25583711/What_is_the_Gospel_mentioned_in_the_Quran_Research_Briefing_from_the_Centre_for_Muslim_Christian_Studies_Oxford_Spring_2016. All emphasis mine.

The parable in Q 48:29, likening believers to a strong plant, has some parallels to the parable of the sower (see, for example, The Gospel of Matthew 13:1-23). However, there are of course many differences between the Qur’an and the New Testament. Wherever Christians deny certain components of the Muslim view of the Injīl this has prompted charges of alteration of the text (taḥrīf lafẓī), or of alteration of its interpretation (taḥrīf ma‘nawī). An example of the second, that is corrupt interpretation of the text, would be failing to discern references to Muhammad in the Bible, or misunderstanding metaphorical statements about Jesus and the Father as literal. It is worth noting in passing that a number of significant writers give considerable scope to the view of biblical corruption as mainly relating to its wrong interpretation rather than focusing on a corrupt text. These include Ibn Khaldūn (d.809/1406) and Ibn Taymiyya, but in practice this does not lead them to accept the text overall. Where New Testament teachings diverge from the Qur’an or Muslim interpretation of the Qur’an, for example on whether the crucifixion of Jesus occurred, the New Testament is to be rejected.13 To summarise, the content of the Injīl as understood in Qur’anic terms is significantly different from how Christians understand it.

However, there are verses where the Qur’an seems to affirm the Injīl, for example in Q 5:46, where it is described as guidance (hudā’), and light (nūr). So an obvious historical question presents itself. If the Qur’anic Injīl diverges from the New Testament gospels, to what text of the Injīl is the Qur’an referring when it makes positive comments? This question is not only textual, but of course historical…

There is a question over the correct reading of the verse. As Ibn Taymiyya and other exegetes explain, ‘Let the followers of the Gospel judge’ (wa’l-yaḥkum) is a command, using the jussive mood. An alternative reading uses the subjunctive, ‘waliyaḥkuma’ or ‘so that the followers of the Gospel judge’. This expresses the reason why Jesus was given the Injīl, namely so that the People of the Gospel could judge by it. But this difference in readings does not affect the heart of the verse’s meaning, as al-Ṭabarī states.14 The verse has been interpreted in various ways, linked to the question of whether Q 5:47 is exhorting Christians in some sense to follow the Injīl available at the time of the rise of Islam, which would indicate that the Injīl in circulation in the C1st/C7th was a valid criterion for judgment. This raises the question of what form of the Injīl was invoked…

But despite this dismissal by Ibn Ḥazm, Q 5:47 would appear to be appealing to the gospel as it existed in the C1st/C7th as a standard of judgment. If so, were there two versions circulating at the time of Muhammad, one pure and one corrupted? Ibn Taymiyya identifies this as a plausible position. He states that a proper Muslim view of the Tawrāt and Injīl is:

That in the world there are true (ṣaḥīḥ) copies [versions], and these remained until the time of the Prophet, and many copies [versions] which are corrupted… The Qur’an commands them to judge with what Allah revealed in the Tawrat and Injil. [Allah] informs that in both there is wisdom [ḥikmah]. There is nothing in the Qur’an to indicate that they altered all copies [versions].20

Ibn Taymiyya’s solution is thus to assume that the Qur’an gives grounds for believing that there must have been some reliable versions of the Injīl in circulation at the time of Muhammad, as well as some unreliable ones. He does not state whether these reliable versions had disappeared by the time he was writing, though this seems to be the implication. To accept his argument as conclusive, however, it would be necessary to find evidence of uncorrupted and different gospels which had previously been accepted as authentic by Christians. (This excludes apocryphal or non-canonical gospels, which are in general very different from the New Testament gospels, and were never regarded as authoritative by large numbers of Christians). Abdullah Saeed, writing in 2002, notes that by the time of Muhammad’s preaching, the Christian scriptures were documented, and were the same as those used today. He argues that, ‘Since the Qur’an refers to those same scriptures, its references to them should equally apply in the modern era. This is perhaps the main challenge to Ibn Taymiyya’s position’.21

It is interesting that despite his statements in his Tafsīr, Ibn Taymiyya himself puts forward a different, more traditional view in al-Jawāb alṣaḥīḥ. 23 Here he interprets the reference in Q 5:47 to ‘what God sent down’ in the Injīl as a command about following Muhammad: ‘God handed down in the Gospel the command to follow Muhammad, just as He commanded it in the Torah’.24

Can Ibn Taymiyya’s two different statements be reconciled? Perhaps it can be stated that they are not in direct conflict, since a command to follow Muhammad – or at least a prediction of him – can be found, according to some Muslim exegesis, in the extant New Testament gospels. This would be consistent with the view Ibn Taymiyya expresses in his Tafsīr that some sound version of the Injīl was in existence in the C1st/C7th. However, this would still leave Ibn Taymiyya with the problem that those gospels contain plenty of information about Jesus, such as his crucifixion, which no Muslim usually accepts.

13 On Ibn Khaldūn see Martin Whittingham ‘The Value of Taḥrīf Ma‘nawī (Corrupt Interpretation) as a Category for Analysing Muslim Views of the Bible: Evidence from al-Radd aljamīl and Ibn Khaldūn’, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations 22:2 (2011), pp. 209-222. On Ibn Taymiyya and the cruciixion, see Ibn Taymiyya, al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr (Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, 1988), I: 210.

14 Al-Ṭabarī, Jāmi‘ al-bayān i’l-ta’wīl al-Qur’ān (Beirut: Dār al-kutub al-‘ilmiyya, 1999), IV: 605.

20 Ibn Taymiyya, al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr, I: 209; English translation from Abdullah Saeed, ‘The Charge of Distortion of Jewish and Christian Scriptures’ Muslim World 92 (2002), p. 430.

21 Saeed, ’Distortion’, p. 434.

23 Ibn Taymiyya, al-Jawāb al-ṣaḥīḥ.

24 Ibn Taymiyya, al-Jawāb al-ṣaḥīḥ, I: 382; English translation in Michel, Response, p. 227.

FURTHER READING

MUHAMMAD’S CONFUSION ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES