Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun's comments on Muslims deceiving the Christians of Negus

 

By

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://./Shamoun/christians.htm

 

 

The aim of this rebuttal will not to refute his whole article, but to simply concentrate on one small issue in which Shamoun brought up.

 

 

He Wrote

 

Interestingly, Ibn Kathir provides evidence that the Muslims deceived the Negus in his commentary on S. 61:6 :

 

    ‘Amr bin Al-‘As said, "They [Sam- the Muslims] contradict your creed about ‘Isa, son of Maryam." The king asked, "What do you say about ‘Isa and his mother Maryam?" Ja‘far said, "We only say what Allah said about him, that he is Allah’s Word, His Spirit and sent down to the honorable virgin who was not touched by a man nor bearing children before." An-Najashi lifted a straw of wood and said, "O Ethiopians, monks and priests! By Allah, what they say about ‘Isa IS NO MORE THAN WHAT WE SAY ABOUT HIM, NOT EVEN A DIFFERENCE THAT EQUALS THIS STRAW. You are welcomed among us, and greetings to him who sent you. I bear witness that he is Allah’s Messenger whom we read about in the Injil. He is the prophet who ‘Isa, son of Maryam, foretold the good news about his advent. Live wherever you wish. By Allah, had I not been entrusted with the responsibilities of kingship, I would have gone to him, so that I could be honored by carrying his slippers and his water for ablution." (Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged), Volume 9 (Surat Al-Jathiyah to the end of Surat Al-Munafiqun), abridged by a group of scholars under the supervision of Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Houston, New York, London, Lahore; First Edition, September 2000], p. 620; bold and capital emphasis ours)

 

 

 

My Response

 

One of the most glaring inconsistencies which I find among Christians is that they like to interpret Islamic titles and information according to how they see fit, such as in this case.

 

Many Christians have their own mis-understood interpretation of what it means when Jesus is called the spirit of God, and due to their wrong interpretation they start to see things in some different light, and then they go to attack it.

 

Why don’t we just post the tafsir of Ibn Kathir to see what he said on Jesus being called Allah's spirit:

 

Allah forbids the People of the Scriptures from going to extremes in religion, which is a common trait of theirs, especially among the Christians. The Christians exaggerated over `Isa until they elevated him above the grade that Allah gave him. They elevated him from the rank of prophethood to being a god, whom they worshipped just as they worshipped Allah. They exaggerated even more in the case of those who they claim were his followers, claiming that they were inspired, thus following every word they uttered whether true or false, be it guidance or misguidance, truth or lies. This is why Allah said,

 

 

 

[ÇÊøóÎóÐõæÇú ÃóÍúÈóÜÑóåõãú æóÑõåúÈóÜäóåõãú ÃóÑúÈóÇÈÇð ãøöä Ïõæäö Çááøóåö]

 

 

 

(They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah.) Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,

 

 

 

«áóÇ ÊõØúÑõæäöí ßóãóÇ ÃóØúÑóÊö ÇáäøóÕóÇÑóìö ÚöíÓóì ÇÈúäó ãóÑúíóãó. ÝóÅöäøóãóÇ ÃóäóÇ ÚóÈúÏñÝóÞõæáõæÇ: ÚóÈúÏõÇááåö æóÑóÓõæáõå»

 

 

 

(Do not unduly praise me like the Christians exaggerated over `Isa, son of Maryam. Verily, I am only a servant, so say, `Allah's servant and His Messenger.') This is the wording of Al-Bukhari. Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik said that a man once said, "O Muhammad! You are our master and the son of our master, our most righteous person and the son of our most righteous person...'' The Messenger of Allah said,

 

 

 

«íóÇ ÃóíøõåóÇ ÇáäøóÇÓõ Úóáóíúßõãú ÈöÞóæúáößõãú¡ æóáóÇ íóÓúÊóåúæöíóäøóßõãõ ÇáÔøóíúØóÇäõ¡ÃóäóÇ ãõÍóãøóÏõ Èúäõ ÚóÈúÏöÇááåö¡ ÚóÈúÏõÇááåö æóÑóÓõæáõåõ¡ æóÇááåö ãóÇ ÃõÍöÈøõ Ãóäú ÊóÑúÝóÚõæäöí ÝóæúÞó ãóäúÒöáóÊöí ÇáøóÊöí ÃóäúÒóáóäöí Çááåõ ÚóÒøó æóÌóá»

 

 

 

(O people! Say what you have to say, but do not allow Shaytan to trick you. I am Muhammad bin `Abdullah, Allah's servant and Messenger. By Allah! I do not like that you elevate me above the rank that Allah has granted me.) Allah's statement,

 

 

 

[æóáÇó ÊóÞõæáõæÇú Úóáóì Çááøóåö ÅöáÇøó ÇáúÍóÞøó]

 

 

 

(nor say of Allah except the truth.) means, do not lie and claim that Allah has a wife or a son, Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. Allah is glorified, praised, and honored in His might, grandure and greatness, and there is no deity worthy of worship nor Lord but Him. Allah said;

 

 

 

[ÅöäøóãóÇ ÇáúãóÓöíÍõ ÚöíÓóì ÇÈúäõ ãóÑúíóãó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøóåö æóßóáöãóÊõåõ ÃóáúÞóÜåóÇ Åöáóì ãóÑúíóãó æóÑõæÍñ ãøöäúåõ]

 

 

 

(Al-Masih `Isa, son of Maryam, was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit from [created by] Him;) `Isa is only one of Allah's servants and one of His creatures. Allah said to him, `Be', and he was, and He sent him as a Messenger. `Isa was a word from Allah that He bestowed on Maryam, meaning He created him with the word `Be' that He sent with Jibril to Maryam. Jibril blew the life of `Isa into Maryam by Allah's leave, and `Isa came to existence as a result. This incident was in place of the normal conception between man and woman that results in children. This is why `Isa was a word and a Ruh (spirit) created by Allah, as he had no father to conceive him. Rather, he came to existence through the word that Allah uttered, `Be,' and he was, through the life that Allah sent with Jibril. Allah said,

 

 

 

[ãøóÇ ÇáúãóÓöíÍõ ÇÈúäõ ãóÑúíóãó ÅöáÇøó ÑóÓõæáñ ÞóÏú ÎóáóÊú ãöä ÞóÈúáöåö ÇáÑøõÓõáõ æóÃõãøõåõ ÕöÏøöíÞóÉñ ßóÇäóÇ íóÃúßõáÇóäö ÇáØøóÚóÇãó]

 

 

 

(Al-Masih [`Isa], son of Maryam, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam] was a Siddiqah. They both ate food.) And Allah said,

 

 

 

[Åöäøó ãóËóáó ÚöíÓóì ÚöäÏó Çááøóåö ßóãóËóáö ÁóÇÏóãó ÎóáóÞóåõ ãöä ÊõÑóÇÈò Ëõãøó ÞóÇáó áóåõ ßõä Ýóíóßõæäõ ]

 

 

 

(Verily, the likeness of `Isa before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "Be! Ü and he was.)

 

 

 

[æóÇáøóÊöì ÃóÍúÕóäóÊú ÝóÑúÌóåóÇ ÝóäóÝóÎúäóÇ ÝöíåóÇ ãöä ÑøõæÍöäóÇ æóÌóÚóáúäóÜåóÇ æóÇÈúäóåó ÁóÇíóÉð áøöáúÚóÜáóãöíäó ]

 

 

 

(And she who guarded her chastity, We breathed into her (garment) and We made her and her son [`Isa] a sign for all that exits.) (21:91)

 

 

 

[æóãóÑúíóãó ÇÈúäóÉó ÚöãúÑóÇäó ÇáøóÊöì ÃóÍúÕóäóÊú ÝóÑúÌóåóÇ]

 

 

 

(And Maryam, the daughter of `Imran who guarded her chastity,) and Allah said concerning the Messiah,

 

 

 

[Åöäú åõæó ÅöáÇøó ÚóÈúÏñ ÃóäúÚóãúäóÇ Úóáóíúåö]

 

 

 

(He [`Isa] was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Meaning of "His Word and a spirit from Him

 

 

 

`Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ma`mar said that Qatadah said that the Ayah,

 

 

 

[æóßóáöãóÊõåõ ÃóáúÞóÜåóÇ Åöáóì ãóÑúíóãó æóÑõæÍñ ãøöäúåõ]

 

 

 

(And His Word, which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit from [created by] Him;) means, He said,

 

 

 

[ßõäøó]

 

 

 

(Be) and he was. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ahmad bin Sinan Al-Wasiti said that he heard Shadh bin Yahya saying about Allah's statement,

 

 

 

[æóßóáöãóÊõåõ ÃóáúÞóÜåóÇ Åöáóì ãóÑúíóãó æóÑõæÍñ ãøöäúåõ]

 

 

 

(and His Word, which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit from [created by] Him;) "`Isa was not the word. Rather, `Isa came to existence because of the word.'' Al-

 

 

 

Bukhari recorded that `Ubadah bin As-t said that the Prophet said,

 

 

 

«ãóäú ÔóåöÏó Ãóäú áóÇ Åöáåó ÅöáøóÇ Çááåõ¡ æóÍúÏóåõ áóÇ ÔóÑöíßó áóåõ¡ æóÃóäøó ãõÍóãøóÏðÇ ÚóÈúÏõåõ æóÑóÓõæáõåõ¡ æóÃóäøó ÚöíÓóì ÚóÈúÏõÇááåö æóÑóÓõæáõåõ æóßóáöãóÊõåõ ÃóáúÞóÇåóÇ Åöáì ãóÑúíóãó æóÑõæÍñ ãöäúåõ¡ æóÃóäøó ÇáúÌóäøóÉó ÍóÞøñ¡ æóÇáäøóÇÑó ÍóÞøñ¡ ÃóÏúÎóáóåõ Çááåõ ÇáúÌóäøóÉó Úóáóì ãóÇ ßóÇäó ãöäó ÇáúÚóãóá»

 

 

 

(If anyone testifies that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, and that `Isa is Allah's servant and Messenger and His Word which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit created by Him, and that Paradise is true and Hell is true, then Allah will admit him into Paradise with the deeds which he performed.) In another narration, the Prophet said,

 

 

 

«ãöäú ÃóÈúæóÇÈö ÇáúÌóäøóÉö ÇáËøóãóÇäöíøóÉö íóÏúÎõáõ ãöäú ÃóíøöåóÇ ÔóÇÁ»

 

 

 

(...through any of the eight doors of Paradise he wishes.) Muslim also recorded it. Therefore, `Ruh from Allah', in the Ayah and the Hadith is similar to Allah's statement,

 

 

 

[æóÓóÎøóÑó áóßõãú ãøóÇ Ýöì ÇáÓøóãóÜæóÊö æóãóÇ Ýöì ÇáÇøñÑúÖö ÌóãöíÚÇð ãøöäúåõ]

 

 

 

(And has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth; it is all from Him.) meaning, from His creation. `from Him' does not mean that it is a part of Him, as the Christians claim, may Allah's continued curses be upon them. Saying that something is from Allah, such as the spirit of Allah, the she-camel of Allah or the House of Allah, is meant to honor such items. Allah said,

 

 

 

[åóÜÐöåö äóÇÞóÉõ Çááøóåö]

 

 

 

(This is the she-camel of Allah...) and,

 

 

 

[æóØóåøöÑú ÈóíúÊöìó áöáØøóÂÆöÝöíäó]

 

 

 

(and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it.) An authentic Hadith states,

 

 

 

«ÝóÃóÏúÎõáõ Úóáóì ÑóÈøöí Ýöí ÏóÇÑöå»

 

 

 

(I will enter on my Lord in His Home) All these examples are meant to honor such items when they are attributed to Allah in this manner. Allah said,

 

 

 

[ÝóÜóÇãöäõæÇú ÈöÇááøóåö æóÑóÓõæáöåö]

 

 

 

(so believe in Allah and His Messengers.) believe that Allah is One and Alone and that He does not have a son or wife. Know and be certain that `Isa is the servant and Messenger of Allah. Allah said after that,

 

 

 

[æóáÇó ÊóÞõæáõæÇú ËóáóÜËóÉñ]

 

 

 

(Say not: "Three!") do not elevate `Isa and his mother to be gods with Allah. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. In Surat Al-Ma'idah (chapter 5), Allah said,

 

 

 

[áøóÞóÏú ßóÝóÑó ÇáøóÐöíäó ÞóÇáõæÇú Åöäøó Çááøóåó ËóÜáöËõ ËóáóÜËóÉò æóãóÇ ãöäú ÅöáóÜåò ÅöáÇøó ÅöáóÜåñ æóÍöÏñ]

 

 

 

(Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is the third of the three.'' But there is none who has the right to be worshipped but One God.) Allah said by the end of the same Surah,

 

 

 

[æóÅöÐú ÞóÇáó Çááøóåõ íÚöíÓóì ÇÈúäó ãóÑúíóãó ÃóÁóäÊó ÞõáÊó áöáäøóÇÓö ÇÊøóÎöÐõæäöì]

 

 

 

(And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O `Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: `Worship me''') and in its beginning,

 

 

 

[áøóÞóÏú ßóÝóÑó ÇáøóÐöíäó ÞóÂáõæÇú Åöäøó Çááøóåó åõæó ÇáúãóÓöíÍõ ÇÈúäõ ãóÑúíóãó]

 

 

 

(Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Maryam.) The Christians, may Allah curse them, have no limit to their disbelief because of their ignorance, so their deviant statements and their misguidance grows. Some of them believe that `Isa is Allah, some believe that he is one in a trinity and some believe that he is the son of Allah. Their beliefs and creeds are numerous and contradict each other, prompting some people to say that if ten Christians meet, they would end up with eleven sects!

 

So note, spirit of Allah does not mean Jesus is part of God or any of that! This is a Christian invention, and anyone else who believes such a blasphemy is as wrong as the Christian is.

 

When the Muslims called Jesus the spirit of Allah, they did not believe he was God or part of God, they did not believe in any of that, if some did, then they were wrong and I doubt any did. Either way, there was no deception done by the Muslims, they stated their beliefs to the Negus.

 

In fact how can it be a deception? This is what is stated in the Quran! The Muslims were simply telling their beliefs, so if I go to a Christian today and tell him we believe that Jesus is a spirit of Allah, am I trying to deceive the Christian? I mean that is what my Quran says; all I am doing is saying what my Quran teaches! So how is that deception????

 

So some respectful and friendly advice to Shamoun is this, stop trying to demonize your enemies over and over again, if they are bad as you believe, that is fair enough, but please do not make false attacks upon them such as this one. There was no deception done by any of them, they were simply telling the Negus what they believed, and all Muslims to this day believe this. It is very unfair of you to label them as such, since this also mis-leads your readers.