Part 2 (2/2)

When they advanced to meet Goliath20 and his forces, they prayed:”Our Lord! Pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm; help us against those that reject faith.” By G.o.d's will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and G.o.d gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not G.o.d check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief-but G.o.d is full of bounty to all the worlds (2:250251).

We did bestow on some prophets more (and other) gifts than on others, and We gave to David the Psalms (17:55).

The prayer dearest to G.o.d is David's and the fasting dearest to G.o.d is David's. He would sleep half the night, get up to pray for a third of it, then sleep the remaining sixth; and he would fast on alternate days (hadith).

When G.o.d's messenger mentioned David and talked about him, he would say that, ”David was, of men, the most devoted to wors.h.i.+p” (hadith).

Solomon.

We indeed gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and they both said, ”Praise be to G.o.d, who has favored us above many of His servants who believe!” And Solomon was David's heir. He said, ”O ye people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (abundance) of all things; this is indeed grace manifest (from G.o.d).” [The story of Solomon and the queen of Sheba is told]. . . And he (Solomon) diverted her (the queen of Sheba) from the wors.h.i.+p of others besides G.o.d, for she was of a people that had no faith. She said, ”My Lord! Verily I have wronged myself, and I surrender with Solomon unto G.o.d, the Lord of the worlds” (27:15-44).

The Children of Israel.

Because of the wrongdoing of the Jews We forbade them good things which were (before) made lawful unto them, and because of their much hindering from G.o.d's way, and of their taking usury when they were forbidden it, and of their devouring people's wealth by false pretences. We have prepared for those of them who disbelieve a painful doom. But those of them who are firm in knowledge and the believers (who) believe in that which is revealed unto thee (O Muhammad) and that which was revealed before thee-especially the diligent in prayer and those who pay the poor-due, the believers in G.o.d and the Last Day-upon these We shall bestow immense reward (4:160-162).

And verily we gave the Children of Israel the Scripture (Torah) and the Judgment, and prophethood, and provided them with good things and favored them above (all) peoples; and gave them plain commandments. And they differed not until after the knowledge came unto them, through rivalry among themselves. Verily thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Judgment21 concerning that wherein they used to differ (45:16-17).

CHRISTIANITY.

The Virgin Mary.

Behold! A woman of (the family of) Imran22 said, ”O my Lord! I do dedicate unto Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service, so accept this of me-for Thou hearest and knowest all things.” When she was delivered, she said: ”O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child! . . . I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from the Evil One, the rejected.” Right graciously did her Lord accept her. He made her grow in purity and beauty. To the care of Zachariah (father of John the Baptist) was she a.s.signed. Whenever Zachariah went in to her in the sanctuary, he found her provisioned. He said: ”O Mary! Whence (comes) this to you?” She said, ”From G.o.d, for G.o.d provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure” (3:35-37).

And (remember) she who guarded her chast.i.ty, We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples (21:91).

And (remember) Mary, daughter of Imran, who guarded her virginity, so We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and she confirmed the Words of her Lord and His Books, and was one of the devout (66:12).

Many men have been perfect, but among women only Mary, the daughter of Imran, and Asiya, the wife of a Pharaoh (of Egypt),23 were perfect (hadith).

Except Mary and her son (Jesus), no human being is born without the devil touching him, so that he raises his voice crying out because of the devil's touch (hadith).

The Story of John the Baptist's Birth.

(This is) a recital of the mercy of thy Lord to His servant Zachariah. Behold! He cried to his Lord in secret, praying, ”O my Lord! Infirm indeed are my bones, and the hair of my head doth glisten with gray; but never am I unblest, O my Lord, in my calling upon Thee! I fear my kinsfolk after me, since my wife is barren. Oh, give me from Thy presence a successor. (One that) will (truly) represent me, and represent the posterity of Jacob; and make him, O my Lord! one with whom Thou art well pleased!” (His prayer was answered), ”O Zachariah! We give thee good news of a son-his name shall be John; on none by that name have We conferred distinction before.” He said, ”O my Lord! How shall I have a son, when my wife is barren and I have grown quite decrepit from old age?” G.o.d said, ”So (it will be).”. . . (Zachariah) said, ”O my Lord! Give me a sign.” ”Thy sign shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three nights, although thou art not dumb.” [The story of John the Baptist's birth and righteousness is related]. . . So peace on him the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)! (19:2-15).

The Story of Jesus' Life.

Behold! The angels said, ”O Mary! G.o.d hath chosen thee and purified thee-chosen thee above the women of all nations. O Mary! Wors.h.i.+p thy Lord devoutly, prostrate thyself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down.”. . . Behold! The angels said, ”O Mary! G.o.d giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Messiah Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to G.o.d. He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.” She said, ”O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?” He said, ”Even so. G.o.d createth what He willeth. When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!” And He will teach him (Jesus) the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel, and (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel, (with this message), ”I have come to you, with a sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by G.o.d's leave. And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by G.o.d's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a sign for you if ye did believe. (I have come to you), to attest the law which was before me and to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. So fear G.o.d, and obey me.”. . . When Jesus found unbelief on their part, he said, ”Who will be my helpers to (the work of) G.o.d?” Said the disciples, ”We are G.o.d's helpers. We believe in G.o.d, and do thou bear witness that we have surrendered (unto Him). . .”. (And remember) when G.o.d said, ”O Jesus! Verily I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing thee of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Judgment.24 Then unto Me ye will (all) return, and I shall judge between you as to that wherein ye used to differ” (3:42-55).

They (who) rejected faith-they uttered against Mary a grave false charge. And they said (in boast), ”We killed Messiah Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of G.o.d.” But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them; and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, G.o.d raised him up unto Himself-G.o.d is exalted in power, wise-and there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him (Jesus) before his (own) death; and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them25 (4:156-159).

Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. . . . He said, ”Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.” She said, ”How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?” He said, ”So (it will be). Thy Lord saith, 'That is easy for Me, and (We wish) to appoint him as a sign unto men and a mercy from Us.' It is a matter (so) decreed.” So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. [The birth of Jesus is related]. . . She pointed to the babe. They said, ”a child in the cradle?” He (Jesus) said, ”I am indeed a servant of G.o.d, He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet. And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me prayer and almsgiving as long as I live. . . . Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!”26 Such (was) Jesus, the son of Mary. (It is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. It befitteth not (the majesty of) G.o.d that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, ”Be,” and it is27 (19:16-35).

Jesus.

Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter anything concerning G.o.d save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of G.o.d, and His Word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in G.o.d and His messengers, and say not ”Three”-cease! (It is) better for you!-G.o.d is only One G.o.d28 (4:171).

They surely disbelieve who say, ”Verily G.o.d is the Messiah, son of Mary.” The Messiah (Jesus) said, ”O Children of Israel, wors.h.i.+p G.o.d, my Lord and your Lord. Verily whoso ascribeth partners unto G.o.d, for him G.o.d hath forbidden Paradise.” They surely disbelieve who say, ”Verily G.o.d is one of three in a Trinity,” when there is no G.o.d save the One G.o.d. If they desist not from so saying, a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve. . . . The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) had pa.s.sed away before him, and his mother was a saintly woman-and they both used to eat (earthly) food. See how We make the revelations clear for them, and see how they are turned away! (5:72-75).

One day will G.o.d gather the messengers together, and ask, ”What was the response ye received (from men to your teaching)?” They will say, ”We have no knowledge-it is Thou who knowest in full all that is hidden.” Then will G.o.d say, ”O Jesus, son of Mary! Recount My favor to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Scripture and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. And behold! Thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! Thou bringest forth the dead by My leave.”. . . And behold! G.o.d will say, ”O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, 'Wors.h.i.+p me and my mother as G.o.ds in derogation of G.o.d'?” He (Jesus) will say, ”Glory to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, Thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden” (5:109-116).

If anyone testifies that there is no G.o.d but G.o.d alone, who has no partner, that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, that Jesus is G.o.d's servant and messenger, the son of His handmaid, His Word which he cast into Mary and a Spirit from Him, and that Paradise and h.e.l.l are real, then G.o.d will cause him to enter Paradise no matter what he has done (hadith).

All the descendants of Adam have their sides pierced by the devil with two of his fingers at birth, except the son of Mary (hadith).

Christians.

And with those who say: ”Lo! we are Christians,” We made a covenant, but they have forgotten a portion of that which they were reminded of-so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, till the Day of Resurrection; and G.o.d will a.s.suredly tell them of the things they have done (5:14).

Thou wilt surely find that the nearest . . . in love to the believers (Muslims) are those who say, ”We are Christians”; that is because there are priests and monks among them, and because they are not proud (5:82).

”PEOPLE OF THE BOOK”

Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand (for the right). They rehea.r.s.e the signs of G.o.d all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. They believe in G.o.d and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works. They are in the ranks of the righteous. Of the good that they do, nothing will be rejected of them-for G.o.d knoweth well those that do right (3:113-115).

If only the People of the Book would believe and ward off (evil), surely We should remit their sins from them and surely We should bring them into gardens of delight. If they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto them from their Lord, they would surely have been nourished from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them there are people who are moderate, but many of them are of evil conduct. . . . Say: O People of the Book! Ye have naught (of guidance) until ye observe the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto you from your Lord.” That which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) from thy Lord is certain to increase the contumacy and disbelief of many of them. But grieve not for the disbelieving folk. Verily those who believe, and those who are Jews, and Sabians, and Christians-whosoever believeth in G.o.d and the Last Day and doeth right-there shall no fear come upon them, neither shall they grieve (5:65-69).

When the funeral bier of a Jew, a Christian, or a Muslim pa.s.ses you, stand up for it. You are not standing for its sake, but for the angels who are accompanying it (hadith).

When the Prophet went to his bed he used to say, ”O G.o.d, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of everything, who splittest the grain and the kernel, who hast sent down the Torah, the inspired statements of Jesus (Gospel), and the Koran, I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of every evil agent whose forelock Thou seizest. Thou art the First and there is nothing before Thee; Thou art the Last and there is nothing after Thee; Thou art the Outward and there is nothing above Thee; Thou art the Inward and there is nothing below Thee” (hadith).

Does any of you imagine that G.o.d has prohibited only what is to be found in the Koran? By G.o.d, I have commanded, exhorted, and prohibited various matters as numerous as what is found in the Koran, or more numerous. G.o.d has not permitted you to enter the houses of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) without permission; nor dishonor their women, nor eat their fruits, when they give you what is imposed on them (hadith).

Appendix of Additional Koranic Verses Other Religions: 2:2-4, 2:87, 2:106, 2:177, 2:213, 3:33, 3:81, 3:161, 3:179, 3:194, 4:41-42, 4:136, 6:34, 6:42-44, 6:39, 10:13, 11:100-108, 11:120, 12:109-111, 13:32, 14:4, 15:10-11, 16:43-44, 16:89, 19:58-60, 19:73-75, 21:7-9, 22:17, 22:42-53, 25:20, 25:35-39, 28:58-60, 30:47, 32:3, 33:7-8, 35:24-26, 37:108-139, 38:12-14, 39:23, 42:51, 43:6-8, 43:23-25, 50:12-14, 51:38-53, 58:21, 72:26-27, 87:17-19 Adam: 7:11-17 Noah: 10:71-74, 23:23-30, 40:5, 71:1-3 Hud: 11:50-59 Salih: 11:61-68, 14:5-13, 27:45-53 Shuaib: 11:84-95 Abraham: 2:124-127, 6:161, 14:35-41, 16:120-123, 19:41-50, 26:69-103, 29:23-29, 29:31, 43:26-29, 60:4, 89:6-13 Lot: 11:77-83, 15:51-77, 27:54-58 Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Enoch, Elisha, Ezekiel, and Job: 19:54-57, 21:83-86, 38:41-48 Moses: 2:47-67, 2:92-93, 5:20, 5:44, 7:103-170, 10:74-93, 19:51-53, 20:9-99, 21:48-49, 26:1267,

27:7-14, 29:39-40, 32:23-25, 40:23-54, 41:45, 45:45-48, 46:12, 61:5, 62:5.

David: 34:10, 38:17-26 Solomon: 21:81, 34:12, 38:30-40 The Children of Israel: 2:40-41, 3:93, 5:12, 26:192-199, 27:76-77, 44:31 Jesus: 2:253, 3:49, 3:59, 5:17, 5:46-48, 61:6, 61:14 John the Baptist: 3:38-41, 21:89-90 People of the Book: 2:62, 2:111-113, 3:2-5, 3:199, 4:47, 4:153-155 Become a ”hanif”, free from restrictions of sect.

Come into the monastery of Faith like a monk.

As long as your vision beholds traces of otherness,

Your being in a mosque is like being in a church.

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