Children of Abraham - 0403
(Ed. Note: This is one of a series of occasional columns in which the author, raised in the Christian tradition, searches for common ground and common history among the teachings, beliefs and practices of Islam, Christianity and Judaism.)
In the Koran[1], you’ll find many references to the Torah, the Gospels, Jews and Christians. In this column, we’ll look at one chapter, to see if there are clear commonalities and differences among the three Abrahamic religions.
Chapter 5 of the Koran, “The Table,” describes the development through time of God’s revelations: “[God has] revealed the Torah, in which there is guidance and light.” (5:44) The Torah is said to enshrine God’s own judgement.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17-18). "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets" (Act 24:14).
Islam admits to the truth of the Hebrew Scriptures in the followings Koranic passages: "And most certainly We gave Moses the Book and We sent apostles after him one after another" (Koran 2:87). "Surely We revealed the Torah in which was guidance and light; with it the prophets who submitted themselves to God, judging for those who were Jews." (Koran 5:44). "Certainly We made a covenant with the children of Israel and We sent to them apostles" (Koran 5:70). "And certainly We gave the Book to Moses, so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it, and We made it a guide for the children of Israel." (Koran 32:23).
“After them [God] sent forth Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the Torah already revealed, and gave him the Gospel, in which there is guidance and light, corroborating what was revealed before it in the Torah, a guide and an admonition to the righteous.” (5:46)
“And to you [God has] revealed the Book with the truth. It confirms the Scriptures which came before it and stands as a guardian over them.” (5:48)
. Muslims are given permission to eat all the foods that Jews can eat, and Jews may eat food permitted for Muslims. Muslim men may marry free Jewish women, provided they “give them their dowries and live with them in honor (5:5).”
This chapter describes covenants made between people and God. The Jews were cursed by God after they broke their covenant with Him. “You will find ever them deceitful. . .but bear with them and pardon them.” And Christians are likewise accused of not living by the revelation given them. (5:12-14).
Much of the chapter is given to warning Muslims not to act the way many Jews and Christians have acted. They are told to not turn away from the teachings and commandments of the Torah and the Gospel. “Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends. . . .Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number.” (5:51) On the other hand, “Believers, Jews, Sabaeans and Christians – whoever believes in God and the Last Day and do what is right – shall have nothing to fear or regret.” (5:69)
Jesus is revered as a prophet in Islam. At verses 5:110-111, the Koran tells how God will remind Jesus of how He bestowed favor on Jesus and Mary; how He strengthened Jesus with the Holy Spirit; how He instructed Jesus in the Book and in wisdom, in the Torah and in the Gospel; and on and on. The last 10 verses of the chapter describe how God answers a request of Jesus, and how Jesus submits to God.
Buried in this, of course, is the Islamic perspective that Jesus is a major prophet of God, but not God, nor the Son of God. At verse 5:72, “Unbelievers are those that say: ‘God is the Messiah, the son of Mary.’ For the Messiah himself said: ‘Children of Israel, serve God, my Lord and your Lord.’”
At verse 5:75, “The Messiah, the son of Mary, was no more than an apostle: other apostles passed away before him. His mother was a saintly woman. They both ate earthly food.
Perhaps the interesting issue here is the appeal to all of us to act on what God has given us. How’s that for common ground?! We’ve recently seen some bumper stickers around here, saying “Be a revolutionary: Live your faith.” I’m sure Muhammad would be very comfortable with that.
[1] “The Recitation,” believed to be God speaking through the prophet Muhammad. Quotations used here come from a translation by N.J. Dawood, published by Penquin Books, 1990
In the Koran[1], you’ll find many references to the Torah, the Gospels, Jews and Christians. In this column, we’ll look at one chapter, to see if there are clear commonalities and differences among the three Abrahamic religions.
Chapter 5 of the Koran, “The Table,” describes the development through time of God’s revelations: “[God has] revealed the Torah, in which there is guidance and light.” (5:44) The Torah is said to enshrine God’s own judgement.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17-18). "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets" (Act 24:14).
Islam admits to the truth of the Hebrew Scriptures in the followings Koranic passages: "And most certainly We gave Moses the Book and We sent apostles after him one after another" (Koran 2:87). "Surely We revealed the Torah in which was guidance and light; with it the prophets who submitted themselves to God, judging for those who were Jews." (Koran 5:44). "Certainly We made a covenant with the children of Israel and We sent to them apostles" (Koran 5:70). "And certainly We gave the Book to Moses, so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it, and We made it a guide for the children of Israel." (Koran 32:23).
“After them [God] sent forth Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the Torah already revealed, and gave him the Gospel, in which there is guidance and light, corroborating what was revealed before it in the Torah, a guide and an admonition to the righteous.” (5:46)
“And to you [God has] revealed the Book with the truth. It confirms the Scriptures which came before it and stands as a guardian over them.” (5:48)
. Muslims are given permission to eat all the foods that Jews can eat, and Jews may eat food permitted for Muslims. Muslim men may marry free Jewish women, provided they “give them their dowries and live with them in honor (5:5).”
This chapter describes covenants made between people and God. The Jews were cursed by God after they broke their covenant with Him. “You will find ever them deceitful. . .but bear with them and pardon them.” And Christians are likewise accused of not living by the revelation given them. (5:12-14).
Much of the chapter is given to warning Muslims not to act the way many Jews and Christians have acted. They are told to not turn away from the teachings and commandments of the Torah and the Gospel. “Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends. . . .Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number.” (5:51) On the other hand, “Believers, Jews, Sabaeans and Christians – whoever believes in God and the Last Day and do what is right – shall have nothing to fear or regret.” (5:69)
Jesus is revered as a prophet in Islam. At verses 5:110-111, the Koran tells how God will remind Jesus of how He bestowed favor on Jesus and Mary; how He strengthened Jesus with the Holy Spirit; how He instructed Jesus in the Book and in wisdom, in the Torah and in the Gospel; and on and on. The last 10 verses of the chapter describe how God answers a request of Jesus, and how Jesus submits to God.
Buried in this, of course, is the Islamic perspective that Jesus is a major prophet of God, but not God, nor the Son of God. At verse 5:72, “Unbelievers are those that say: ‘God is the Messiah, the son of Mary.’ For the Messiah himself said: ‘Children of Israel, serve God, my Lord and your Lord.’”
At verse 5:75, “The Messiah, the son of Mary, was no more than an apostle: other apostles passed away before him. His mother was a saintly woman. They both ate earthly food.
Perhaps the interesting issue here is the appeal to all of us to act on what God has given us. How’s that for common ground?! We’ve recently seen some bumper stickers around here, saying “Be a revolutionary: Live your faith.” I’m sure Muhammad would be very comfortable with that.
[1] “The Recitation,” believed to be God speaking through the prophet Muhammad. Quotations used here come from a translation by N.J. Dawood, published by Penquin Books, 1990
posted by Ric at 11:35 AM
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