Slanders regarding Holy Prophet's (PBUH) marriage with Sayyidah Safiya exposed!

Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) marriage with Sayyidah Safiya (RA) is another topic that critics of Islam often take up. They say:

1-Holy Prophet (PBUH) married a woman after killing her husband and father, so how could she be happy or even willing for it?
2-The rules of Iddah were violated in this marriage.

MY RESPONSE

In the following lines we explain the whole issue in detail. Ahadith in Sahih Bukhari explain as to what actually happened.

We conquered Khaibar, took the captives, and the booty was collected. Dihya came and said, 'O Allah's Prophet! Give me a slave girl from the captives.' The Prophet said, 'Go and take any slave girl.' He took Safiya bint Huyai. A man came to the Prophet and said, 'O Allah's Apostles! You gave Safiya bint Huyai to Dihya and she is the chief mistress of the tribes of Quraiza and An-Nadir and she befits none but you.' So the Prophet said, 'Bring him along with her.' So Dihya came with her and when the Prophet saw her, he said to Dihya, 'Take any slave girl other than her from the captives.' Anas added: The Prophet then manumitted her and married her." Thabit asked Anas, "O Abu Hamza! What did the Prophet pay her (as Mahr)?" He said, "Her self (i.e. freedom) was her Mahr (dower) for he manumitted her and then married her." Anas added, "While on the way, Um Sulaim dressed her for marriage (ceremony) and at night she sent her as a bride to the Prophet. So the Prophet was a bridegroom and he said, 'Whoever has anything (food) should bring it.' He spread out a leather sheet (for the food) and some brought dates and others cooking butter. (I think he (Anas) mentioned As-SawTq). So they prepared a dish of Hais (a kind of meal). And that was Walima (the marriage banquet) of Allah's Messenger (pbuh)." (BukharI, Hadith 358)

Were the rules of Iddah violated?

Following Hadith needs a careful reading;

Abu Sa’id Khudri narrated the following statement from Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) regarding the captives of Awtas: “There must be no intercourse with a pregnant woman till she gives birth, or with one who is not pregnant till she has had one menstrual period.” (Abu Dawud, Hadith 2157. Albani classified it as Sahih)

This Hadith lays down a rule that a man is not allowed to have intimate relations with a captive woman till she is clean from menses. This is to avoid any confusion in the lineage.

Now considering the fact that Sayyidah Safiya (RA) was actually a captive woman who was then freed and married to by the Holy Prophet (pbuh), in the light of the above Hadith the Prophet (PBUH) was to wait for her being clean from a menstrual course before consummating the marriage and this is exactly what he did. We read in Sahih Bukhari:

Narrated Anas bin Malik: …The Prophet (pbuh selected her for himself, and set out with her, and when we reached a place called Sadd-as-Sahba’, Safiya became clean from her menses then Allah's Messenger married her. (Bukhari, Hadith 3889)

Was Sayyidah Safiya willing for the marriage?

As to the question whether Sayyidah Safiya (RA) was willing for the marriage or not, no body’s conjecture but her own words can make things clear. The following narration explains in detail:

When Safiya came to the Holy Prophet (pbuh), he said to her; ‘Among the Jews your father did not stop in his enmity towards me until Allah destroyed him.’ She said: ‘O Allah’s Messenger! Indeed Allah says in His book, ‘No one will take anyone else’s burden’. So the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said to her: ‘Make your choice, if you will chose Islam I’ll select you for myself and if you chose Judaism, I’ll set you free and send you to your people.’ She said; ‘O Allah’s Messenger indeed I longed for Islam and testified for you even before you gave me this invitation when I came to you. I have no guardian among the Jews, neither father nor brother and I prefer Islam over disbelief. Allah and His Messenger are dear to me then freedom and to return to my people.” (Ibn Saad 8/123)

Lest one should doubt this narration as to how did Sayyidah Safiya (RA) know before embracing Islam that Allah says in His book ‘No one will take anyone else’s burden’, it needs to be clarified that even in the Jewish scriptures the same is mentioned e.g. in Ezekial 18: 20 and it is comprehendible that she coming from a Jewish background knew it.

About a Companion standing armed outside their camp and Sayyidah Safiya’s feelings:

Unaware of such an affectionate talk between Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Sayyidah Safiya(RA) , one of the pious Companions, Sayyidina Abu Ayub (RA), stood armed outside their camp for the fear that Sayyidah Safiya, whose father and brother were killed in the battle, may try to harm the Prophet (pbuh) (Ibn Saad 8/126). Some Missionaries refer to this happening giving an impression as if Sayyidah Safiya (RA) was forced into marriage and was really unhappy. While the very conversation quoted above belies such a notion, it must also be known that Abu Ayub (RA) was standing there voluntarily and Holy Prophet (PBUH) had not made him to stand there as he knew the actual position of Sayyidah Safiya. The pious companion in his innocence didn’t know and the cunning polemicists in their evil designs run away from the fact that much before Holy Prophet (PBUH) reached Khyber the All-Wise, the Almighty had sown the seeds of the love of the Prophet in the heart of Sayyidah Safiya (RA).

When Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) reached Khyber while Safiya was a bride at her place. She saw in her dream that a sun came into her lap. She mentioned it before her husband. He said; ‘By Allah you do not wish for anyone except the King who has come upon us.’ Allah’s Messenger conquered Khyber and her husband was killed. From that time (of dream) she loved that the Prophet (pbuh) may marry her. (Tabarani Kabeer, Hadith 19667)

Ibn Umar narrates: In the eye of Sayyidah Safiya was a scar. Holy Prophet (pbuh) said to her, ‘What is this scar in your eye?’ She said, ‘I mentioned before my husband that I saw a moon falling into my lap in a dream so he slapped me and said; ‘Do you long for the King of Yathrib [i.e. Holy Prophet pbuh]’ She said: ‘There was none more hateful to me then Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) as he killed my father and husband. [But] the Prophet (pbuh) explained, ‘O Safiya your father instigated the Arabs against me and did so and so…’ He kept on explaining until that feeling (of hatred) vanished from me.’
(Tabarani Kabeer, Hadith 19668. Albani classified it as Sahih in his Silsala Sahiha H. 2793)

Taking together all the narrations above we come to know that Sayyidah Safiya (RA) had a feeling of affection for the Prophet (pbuh) before they met (Tabarani 19667). When her father and husband were killed in the battle she developed some feeling of hatred for the Prophet (PBUH) for natural reasons but when the Prophet (PBUH) explained to her what all her father did to him (Tabarani 19668) she realized that her father met such an end because of his own deeds (Ibn Saad 8/123) and so her ill feelings for the Prophet (PBUH) completely vanished and she was left with the feelings of love for the Prophet (pbuh) that the All-Wise and Almighty had put in her heart through a dream (Tabarani 19667 & 19668).
Truly unique and inscrutable are the ways of My Lord!

INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST!

...by Waqar Akbar Cheema

Is there any bad omen in woman?

Some evil hearted people often use certain narrations to argue that Islam looks down upon women and consider them evil or something of that sort. They use narrations like the following.

Narrated Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "Evil omen is in the women, the house and the horse." (Bukhari, Book 62, Hadith 32)

Same has been narrated through some other companions as well including Sayyidina Abu Huraira (ra) in Mu'jam Tabarani al-Awst Hadith 7710.

Truth about these narrations:

But the fact remains that these pious companions only heard a part of Holy Prophet's (pbuh) saying. This is clarified through some other narrations. Read below:

Abu Hassan narrated: Two men from Banu Aamir came to Sayyidah Aisha and told her that Sayyidina Abu Huraira narrates that the Prophet (pbuh) said; 'Bad omen is in a house, a woman and a horse.' She was enraged, full of anger and said; 'By the One Who Revealed Quran on Muhammad, Allah's Messenger (pbuh) did not say that, what he actually said was that in the days of ignorance people used to take bad omen in these things.'
(Musnad Ahmad Hadith 24841. Shu'aib 'Arna'ut said the Hadith is Sahih on the conditions of Sahih Muslim. Albani also authenticated it in Sahiha H.993)

It was mentioned before Aisha that Abu Huraira narrates that Allah's Messenger (saaw) said; 'Bad omen is in three things; house, woman and horse.' So Aisha said; "Abu Huraira does not remember it for he entered and Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said; 'May Allah destroy the Jews as they say bad omen is in three things; in a house, a woman and a horse.' So he heard the last part of the saying and did not hear the first part."
(Musnad Tiyalsi Hadith 1630. Albani classified it as Hasan in Silsala Sahiha 3/67).

So we can see that it was not the Holy Prophet (pbuh) who declared women to have bad omen, infact he only mentioned that people in ignorance thought this way, he rather rebuked Jews for such an idea. It was only that some of the Companions heard a part of his saying and a confusion emerged which was cleared by the emphatic words of Sayyidah Aisha (ra), the Mother of the Believers.

Infact this is what Islam has to say about the issue in general and women in particular;

Muawiyah said: I heard Allah's Messenger (pbuh) say: "Do not believe in omens, and good fortune is to be found in three things: A woman, a horse and a house."
(Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1993. Albani classified it as Sahih)

LET ME TURN THE TABLES!

Mostly Christian Missionaries raise this issue, so lets help them recall what their 'Holy' BIble speaks of women.

"And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof." (Bible, Zecharariah 5:7-8)

So once again we find the the cunning missionaries exposed!

INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST!!!

...by Waqar Akbar Cheema

Exposing Polemic Methods Against Islam and learning to answer them!

Crusades, as they say, may have ended centuries ago but the crusading spirit is alive still. Innumerable polemics written against Islam and slanders against the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and the Holy Quran are a practical manifestation of the same.

Muslims have been putting in their efforts to launch an academic Jihad against this spirit. But in these times when the World Wide Web paradigm has exposed the innocent minds to this ever rising crusading onslaught there is a necessity to arm and enable each one of the Muslims to take up this challenge. In the following lines I give certain points that will, Insha’Allah, help you understand the roots of the lies against Islam and, if a little effort is put in, enable you to expose them.

Following reasons explain as to how certain people are able to make allegations against Islam and why naïve Muslims are taken off-guard. I am confident that if a person has adequate knowledge, he can easily make a rebuttal to all the slanders against our Noble Faith considering the following points. So, here you go;

1- Taking a single Ayah or a Hadith in isolation from the rest of Islamic rubric (rest of the Quran and other Ahadith).

2- Isolating an Ayah or a Hadith from its context.

3- Ignoring the fact that not all Ahadith are authentic; infact some are termed as weak and some even as fabrication by Muhaddithin (Masters of the Sciences of Hadith).

4- Extensive use of the traditions from history books like those of Al-Tabari, Ibn Ishaaq and Ibn Sa’ad etc which contain raw material about early Muslims and include numerous unauthentic narrations. Infact their compilers didn’t take the amount of care as is done in Hadith compilations. (Scholars did their best either not to narrate unauthentic narrations or to mention their weakness when they dealt with narrations of legal and juristic importance but not so with those merely of historical import).

5- Disregard to the fact that not all the narrations that may have connected chains of trustworthy narrators serve as evidence. One needs to take into account what other narrators relate about the same issue and compare with different narrations before making an inference or deduction.

6- Indifference to the delicacies and subtleties of the Arabic language. A single word or phrase may have quite different meanings in different contexts.

7- Not understanding the peculiar environment and culture of 7th A.C. Arabia especially when it comes to the life of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and his companions.

8- Ignoring the fact that’s it’s the Arabic text of the Quran and Ahadith that matters and not the translations and commentaries.

9- ‘Overlooking’ the fact that when it comes to explanation and commentary, no single or a certain group of scholars is an absolute authority in the House of Islam. Opinion of any scholar, however erudite, may be rejected or ignored subject to valid reasons.

10- Referring to the deeds of ordinary Muslims and putting the blame on Islam. Such an attitude is absolutely wrong. Only the deeds of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), understood in the right context, represent the Islamic Faith. What if we see the Christian religion in light of the doings of the likes of Hitler?

These are the polemic tactics, assessing each of their arguments against these points will lead us to answer them in a profound manner.

Hope all this will be helpful!

INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST!!

Why does Islam not allow Muslim women to marry Christian or Jewish men while it allows vice versa?

Quite often non-Muslims raise the question as to why does Islam not allow Muslim women to marry Christian or Jewish men while it allows Muslim men to marry Christian or Jewish women.

Muhammad Asad, the famous Muslim scholar much before his reversion to Islam witnessed a Greek asking the same to an illiterate Egyptian and the found an interesting reply. Here is the account in the very wording of Muhammad Asad. The Greek speaks to the Egyptian:

'You people say that your religion is so equitable. Couldst thou perhaps then tell why it is that Islam allows Muslim men to marry Christian or Jewish girls but does not allow your daughters and sisters to marry a Christian or Jew? Dost thou call this justice, huh?'

'I do, indeed,' replied the portly umda [a village headman] without a moment's hesitation, 'and shall tell thee why our religious law has been thus laid down. We Muslims do not believe that Jesus-may peace and God's blessings be upon him-was God's son, but we do consider him, as we consider Moses and Abraham and all the other Prophets of the Bible, a true Prophet of God, all of them having been sent to mankind in the same way as the Last Prophet, Muhammad-may God bless him and give him peace-was sent: and so, if a Jewish or Christian girl marries a Muslim, she may rest assured that none of the persons who are holy to her will ever be spoken of irreverently among her new family; while, on the other hand, should a Muslim girl marry a non-Muslim, it is certain that he whom she regards as God's Messenger will be abused… and perhaps even by her own children: for do not children usually follow their father's faith? Dost thou think it would be fair to expose her to such a pain and humiliation?'

The Greek had no answer to this except an embarrassed shrug of his shoulders; but to me it seemed that simple, illiterate umda had, with that common sense so peculiar to his race, touched the very kernel of a very important problem.'

(Muhammad Asad, The Road to Mecca, 1985, Dar Al-Andalus, Gibraltar. pp 186-187)

INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST!!!

What Islam says regarding physical relations with slave women?

Non-Muslims especially Christians very often raise the point as to how Muslims treated the women captives of war. They say why Islam allowed Muslims to have physical relations with those women.

SEE who were the first recipients of the Message of Islam, they were Arabs, and like else where there was a custom in Arabia to take women captives of War. Actually the wars were on tribal bases, when the men were killed there women taken and undoubtedly they were treated very badly in Pre-Islamic Arabia. Now there was the advent of Islam. Two things could have been done to abolish this bad practice.

1-To abolish it at once.
2-To do the same gradually with wisdom.

Islam preferred the second because if it would have been at once then thousands of women would have been at the mercy of the people who yet knew no manners. So ISLAM first asked them to be treated fairly and then also encouraged their manumission.

Islam put those women with none of their own to take care of them under the custody of Muslim men that they should treat them kindly, provide them board and lodge and give them respect. Imagine what could have been their fate in that particular environment where people married their own step-mothers?

Islam laid down rules which would eventually lead to eradicating the practice. So it allowed Muslims to have intercourse with slave women taken as captives of just and legitimate wars. In so doing, the woman would automatically become free if she got pregnant. What's more, her child would also become free.

The intimate physical relation, if any, had to be consensual:

The intimate physical relation had to be consensual. For, asking somebody to get into such a relation is against the very spirit of Islam. Read the following Hadith;

Narrated Abu Dharr: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Feed those of your slaves who please you from what you eat and clothe them with what you clothe yourselves, but sell those who do not please you and do not punish Allah's creatures." (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 4, Hadith 5142)

The Hadith clearly tells us that if slave woman does not please her master i.e. refuse to work for him or allow him to lay down with her, the master is supposed to get away with her. If he will not; he will indulge in something wrong i.e. he may force her into such an action and Hadith terms such an act as 'punishing Allah's creature.'

The following Hadith clearly says that it is unlawful to force a slave woman into physical relations.

Narrated Salamah ibn al-Muhabbaq: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made a decision about a man who had intercourse with his wife's slave-girl as follows. If he forced her, she is free, and he shall give her mistress a slave-girl similar to her; if she asked him to have intercourse voluntarily, she will belong to him, and he shall give her mistress a slave-girl similar to her. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 38, Hadith 4445)

This is the most categorical Hadith maintaining that forced relationship is forbidden and it makes her free. Also,

The Prophet (pbuh) was narrated to have said; "He who slaps his slave or beats him, the expiation for it is that he should set him free" (Sahih Muslim, Book 15, Hadith number 407)

When slapping the slave is such a heinous crime in the House of Islam, how can one think that Islam would allow the raping of slave women?

May Allah give people the understanding of the things as they really are!

INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST!

...by Waqar Akbar Cheema

Why were the wives of Holy Prophet (PBUH) not allowed to remarry after his demise?

Certain polemics try to make an issue of the Quranic verse the declares that no one is allowed to marry the wives of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) after his demise. The verse goes as:

"O ye who believe! …Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy Allah's Messenger, or that ye should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in Allah's sight an enormity." (Quran 33:53)

Such polemics try arguing that it was unjust to the wives to be forbidden to remarry. But such an argument shows total ignorance of the details of the issue and status of the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) in the House of Islam.

Wives of the Prophet (pbuh) are Mothers of the Believers:

In very clear terms Quran calls the Wives of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) as the Mothers of the Believers. Allah says in the Holy Quran:

"The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers." (Quran 33:6)

This shows the strong spiritual relation between the Holy Prophet's wives and the Believers and obviously the command under discussion goes very much in consonance with their status mentioned here. None with even the slightest sense of morality will ever take an exception to it.

They will remain the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) even in the Hereafter:

Further we read in Hadith a prayer of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) regarding his wives. It is stated:

Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: 'I asked Allah that I marry none of my people but she be with me in the Heaven and I was granted.' (Mustadrik Al-Hakim, Hadith 4650)

And as they were to be the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) both here and hereafter so the wives of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) were not allowed to marry any other person. Following narration makes it absolutely clear:

Huzaifa (Prophet's Companion) said to his wife, 'If you wish to be my wife in the Heaven do not marry anyone after me for a woman will be with last of his husbands and for this reason Allah forbade it for the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) to remarry after him.' (Mushkil Al-Athaar 2/147 Hadith 552)

His wives never showed any will to remarry after him:

And above all, never did anyone of his wives show any desire to remarry after him. Infact there are many of their statements which show that they understood and made claim to their motherly right over the Believers. Moreover those who had been the wives of the Best of Humankind must have willed to enjoy the same status in eternity and thus no idea of remarriage would have ever hit them (Recall above narrations).

So when they never had any problem with the Quranic Law why on earth should someone talk of that?

INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST!!

Does Allah misguide people?

Christians try their best to make issue of certain Quranic verses and argue that Allah Himself misguides people. They use many different verses. Today lets have wholesome look into the issue and unveil the slanders against the Noble Faith of Islam.

There are three set or types of verses we can say that are used by the polemics.

1- Verses on the lines that Allah guides and misguides whom He wills.

2- Verses that use the Arabic word 'ghayy' or 'ghawa'.

3- Verses that say Allah has sealed the hearts of so and so people.

In the following lines we consider these types of verses one by one. But before that we need to understand the word 'Hadaya' i.e. guidance as Quran speaks of it.

Meaning of 'Guidance' (Hadaya):

The Holy Quran speaks of certain Guidance on certain degrees. The first degree of guidance is universal and is granted to all beings, living and otherwise:

"He said: "Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance."" (Quran 20:50)

This means Allah has given every creation a particular function and then guided it to correspond to its role in the scheme of things. This guidance is granted to everything, men, jinns, animals, plants and all the other creation.

The second degree is only for men and the jinn i.e. creation that will be help accountable for its deeds. This guidance is always there and one is free to work for it or reject it.

"By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it; And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right; Truly he succeeds that purifies it, And he fails that corrupts it!"

And third degree of guidance is for those who heed to the message of Truth and grants them more help in their pursuit of righteousness.

"But to those who receive Guidance, He increases the (light of) Guidance, and bestows on them their Piety and Restraint (from evil)." (Quran 47:17)

So when Allah says that He does not guide people it only refers to the third degree of guidance and this He does only because they do not show the yearning for what is the prerequisite for it.

Meaning of 'Allah guides whom He Wills…':

There are some verses in the Holy Quran which say that Allah guides whom He wills and leaves straying who He wills e.g. Surah 14 Ayah 4 where it reads:

'…Now Allah leaves straying those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases: and He is Exalted in power, full of Wisdom.' (Quran 14:4)

Some people especially Christian polemics argue that Allah Himself misguides people and does not give them free-will and therefore He would be unjust in punishing them. This is utterly wrong interpretation!

We have been arguing for long that no Quranic verse should be taken in isolation from the rest of the Quran and the Ahadith.

MAN HAS THE CHOICE:

Other passages of the Quran refute such an interpretation. Quran infact maintains that Allah has made the Truth and Falsehood clear and now man has the choice to accept either of them.

"By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it; And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right; Truly he succeeds that purifies it, And he fails that corrupts it!" (Quran 91:7-10)

"Say, "The truth is from your Lord": Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it): for the wrong-doers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in:" (Quran 18:29)

THOSE WHOM ALLAH GUIDE:

Now we see who does Allah guide and whom He leaves straying and at the same time Allah also clarifies who what is for whom.

"…He guideth to Himself those who turn to Him in penitence," (Quran 13:27)

"And those who strive in Our (cause),- We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right." (Quran 29:69)

"Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him)." (Quran 42:13)

THOSE WHOM HE MISGUIDES:

And similarly He plainly tells us;

"…He causes not to stray, except those who forsake (the path)," (Quran 2:26)

"…but Allah will leave, to stray, those who do wrong: Allah doeth what He willeth." (Quran 14:27)

HOW DOES ALLAH MISGUIDE?

Now is the question as to how Allah misguides. This is plainly told in the Quran.

"If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell,- what an evil refuge!" (Quran 4:115)

So Allah misguides the evil doers and those who reject the guidance brought by the Messenger by letting him follow the path they choose.

Through His signs He makes things clear and those who will and show passion to follow the Truth, He guides them further and but those who resort to evil, He lets them follow the path they choose, so He wouldn't be unjust in punishing such.

Meaning of the verse 'If Allah leads you astray (yughwiyakum) ...':

Some quote Quran 11:34 which speaks of Prophet Noah saying to his rebellious people;

"Of no profit will be my counsel to you, much as I desire to give you (good) counsel, if it be that Allah willeth to leave you astray (yughwiyakum): He is your Lord! and to Him will ye return!" (Quran 11:34)

We have to see that here Prophet Noah is speaking to the people when they have crossed all limits and even challenged to bring the torment that he used to warned them of. So here Allah's act of misleading is just as explained earlier i.e. He will leave them on the path they have chosen by stubbornly rejecting the Truth. And this may even be about the punishment, the torment that Prophet Noah knew was due for these people because the same word is used in the meanings of punishment and destruction as well. In Quran 19:59 we read:

"But after them there followed a posterity who missed prayers and followed after lusts soon, then, will they face Destruction (ghayya)," (Quran 19:59)

Some use Quran 7:16 and 15:39:

"He said: "Because thou hast thrown me out of the way (aghwaytanee), lo! I will lie in wait for them on thy straight way:" (7:16)

(Iblis) said: "O my Lord! because Thou hast put me in the wrong (aghwaytanee), I will make (wrong) fair-seeming to them on the earth, and I will put them all in the wrong,- (15:39)

But interestingly one can see that these are only the words of Satan who is just seeking excuses for his transgression by slandering that Almighty Allah misled him. Only the Satanic souls turn to these verses for proving their point!

Meaning of the saying that 'Allah seals the hearts..':

Some people argue that when Allah Himself says that He puts seal on the heart of disbelievers then why are they to be blamed for their acts. Such arguments come only because of the basic misunderstanding of the whole issue.

Allah seals the hearts of only those who stubbornly reject the message or simply as explained above, Allah seals the hearts of those who reject the second degree of guidance which is universal and only needs one own will to be attained. So we see that whenever Allah says something on these lines in the Quran it's always about the stern rejecters of Truth e.g. Quran 2:7, 4:168 & 16:106-109. All such passages talk about those who reject the Truth and do no show the will to follow the Right Path.

Summary:

The gist of the matter is that Allah grants guidance to all by making the Truth and Falsehood clear through His signs within our own selves and the phenomenon around and through the Holy Prophets and the scriptures and everyone is free to follow it. One who hearkens to the message and shows yearning Allah guides him further but one who rejects the Truth Allah lets him follow the way he likes (Quran 4:115) and withholds the further degrees of guidance from him, seals the hearts of such and lets him astray.

NOW LET ME TURN THE TABLES!

Christian missionaries keep saying such things about Quran and malign Islam but they 'forget' for the same applies to their Book of Authority, Bible, as well.

God hardens the heart of Pharaoh according to the Bible:

At least at six places Bible tells that Gods hardened the heart of Pharaoh and he against the Will of the God did not let the people of Israel go.

"And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go." (Exodus 4:21)

Same thing is repeated in Exodus 7:3, 10:1, 10:20 & 10:27.

See how God hardens the heart of the greatest transgressor. Those who speak against Quran, what they have to say about this?

God didn't give Israel the heart to perceive and eyes to see…:

Here are more interesting things for the Christians who malign Islam.

"Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day." (Deuteronomy 29:4)

"He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." (John 12:40)

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. (Romans 11:8)

God in the Bible misleads the Prophets even:

There are many who refer to Quran 7:16 and 15:30 wherein Satan is reported as slandering Almighty Allah to have mislead him but in the Bible even the Prophets, the chosen one of the God say that they are mislead by Him.

"O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance." (Isaiah 63:17)

"And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel." (Ezekial 14:9)

What about this? Can some Christian explain?

Remember Christ (PBUH) said: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST !!!

Did Holy Prophet Muhammad commit sin?

We will often find Christians taking a lot of pain to prove that Prophet Muhammad was not sinless and Prophet Jesus was so. Indeed all the Prophets including, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them both, were sinless and at times some mistakes made by them were not sins as such. In the following lines we do explain the whole thing and expose another Christian lie.

SOME QURANIC VERSES AND THEIR ACTUAL MEANING:

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

“Patiently, then, persevere: for the Promise of Allah is true: and ask forgiveness for thy fault (wastaghfir li-zanbika) , and celebrate the Praises of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning.” (Quran 40:55)

“Know, therefore, that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for thy fault (wastaghfir li-zanbika), and for the men and women who believe: for Allah knows how ye move about and how ye dwell in your homes.” (Quran 47:19)

“That Allah may forgive thee (li-yaghfira laka) thy faults (zanbika) of the past and those to follow; fulfill His favour to thee; and guide thee on the Straight Way;” (Quran 48: 2)

A TOKEN OF HUMILITY AND MODESTY:

One of the morals taught to man by Islam is also this: however hard and sincerely may man be trying to serve and worship his Lord and fighting and struggling in the cause of His Religion, he should never be involved in the misunderstanding that he has done and accomplished whatever he was required to do. Rather, on the contrary, he should have the feeling that he has not been able to do full justice to what was expected of him by his Lord and Master. Therefore, he should confess his errors constantly and pray to Allah saying 'Lord, forgive me for whatever fault and error I may have committed in Your service." , this is indeed the essence of Allah's Command: 'O Prophet. ask forgiveness for your fault ..'' And in Hadith we find Holy Prophet (PBUH) praying exactly on the same lines, e.g.

“O Allah! Forgive me my sins that I did in the past or will do in the future, and also the sins I did in secret or in public.” (Sahih Bukhari, Book 93, Hadith 482)



This does not mean that the Holy Prophet had actually committed an error willfully, but its correct meaning is that it did not even behoove the servant who was the greatest worshiper of his Lord that he should harbor even a tinge of the pride of accomplishment in his heart, but his true position also was that in spite of all his great and glorious services he should continue confessing his shortcomings before his Lord. It was under this state of the mind that the Holy Prophet often implored his Lord for forgiveness.

One also needs to understand that for a person with more responsibility and greater honor, the standards are also different. Holy Prophet (PBUH) received direct revelations from the Almighty so he was supposed to be the best and at times when he had actually done no wrong as we can see, he was still admonished because of the higher levels set for him.

A TEACHING FOR THE FOLLOWERS:

Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to ask Allah for forgiveness as a token of his modesty and also to teach his companions and followers to do the same.

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Messenger saying." By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day." (Sahih Bukhari, Book 75, Hadith 319)

Another narration makes it absolutely clear that he prayed to Allah this way as a token of modesty and more importantly to teach his followers:

Ibn Umar narrated: I heard Allah's Messenger saying, "O people ask Allah for forgiveness verily I ask Him for forgiveness hundred times a day." (Musnad Ahmad Hadith 17173)

The very words of the Hadith above prove that he did and said this to inspire his followers to repent to Allah often.

Another interesting point we need to consider here is that Quran 48:2 quoted above which says all the past and future sins of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) are forgiven was revelaed in 6th year after Hijrah while Abu Huraira, who is the narrator of the hadith saying that Holy Prophet (pbuh) repented 70 times a day, accepted Islam and came to the Holy Prophet in the 7th year after Hijrah. This proves Holy Prophet (pbuh) prayed even after Allah that verse was revealed. This is enough to prove that it was only out of modesty and to teach the followers.

ETYMOLOGY OF THE ARABIC WORDS USED:

According to Mufarridat fi Gharaib al-Quran, a book on the etymology of the Quranic words, by Isfahani, the word ‘Ghafar’ means ‘to cover with something that protects from dirt’ (vol.1 p.362). Keeping this in mind the verses can mean that Holy Prophet (PBUH) is asked to pray to be saved from the sins.

And as to the word ‘zanb’ which generally means ‘sin’ Isfahani in his above mentioned books says; ‘it is used for every deed whose outcome is not good.’ (vol.1 p.181) This makes it evident that the word can be used for everything whose outcome is not good or as expected. The following supports our contention on these lines.


AN EXAMPLE OF A 'SIN' WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROPHET (PBUH):

Holy Prophet (PBUH) was once even admonished by the Almighty and that one event clearly shows what the matter was. It is stated in Qur'an 80:1.

"He frowned and turned away his face because there came up to him the blind man. And what would make you know that he might reform, or heed the admonition, and admonishing might profit him? As for him who is indifferent, to him you attend, though you would not be responsible if he did not reform. And the one 'who comes to you running, of his own will, and fears, from him you turn away."(Qur'an 80:1-10)

It so happened that Holy Prophet (PBUH) was talking to some leaders of Makkah who had not embraced Islam and right them one of his companions Ibn Umm Maktum came in and Holy Prophet (PBUH) disliked his entry at that time. In fact Holy Prophet (PBUH) thought that even if a single man from among the people whom he was trying to bring to the right path, listened to him and was rightly guided, be could become a powerful means of strengthening Islam. Therefore, none of his companions should interrupt at that time; whatever he wanted to ask or learn, he could ask or learn at some later time.

By this style the Holy Prophet (PBUH), by a subtle method, has been made to realize that it was an act unseemly for him. Had somebody familiar with his high morals witnessed it, he would have thought that it was not he but some other person who had behaved in that manner.

So, this was a deed which the Holy Prophet (PBUH) did, and was disliked by the Almighty Allah. We can see Holy Prophet's (PBUH) intention was not to commit sin and hurt anyone but Allah who knew that those to the Prophet was talking were not sincere but the blind man who came was sincere. And so he was admonished.

This is a clear manifestation that for Holy Prophet (PBUH) the standards were much higher. And so what’s called a 'sin' is only this much when it comes to The Most Perfect of All Humans.

NOW LET ME TURN THE TABLES!

Having explained the Quranic verses that Christians misinterpret, now we come to the Bible and what it tells us about Jesus Christ (PBUH) whom Christians take not a holy man or perfect human but God Incarnate.

According to the Gospel of Matthew:

Jesus (PBUH) prayed to the Father in the Heaven; “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

The Greek word translated as ‘debts’ is opheilēma (of-i'-lay-mah), which according to Strong’s Bible Dictionary (Entry G3783) means ‘something owed, that is, (figuratively) a due.; morally a fault: - debt.’ In Thayer’s lexicon the words ‘offense’ and ‘sin’ are clearly used.


Infact according to Smith and Van Dyke Arabic Bible, the word used to denote the actual Greek word is ‘zunubana’ (i.e. our sins):

(وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا كَمَا نَغْفِرُ نَحْنُ أَيْضاً لِلْمُذْنِبِينَ إِلَيْنَا) transliterated as ‘waghfirlana zunubana’ i.e. forgive us our sins. Infact same words are used in Quran and Hadith where there is a mention of sin concerning Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Agreed that the context of the verse says he asked his disciples to pray this way but Bible proves he himself often prayed to God and it no where says he prayed differently.

Further Jesus (pbuh) was Baptized by John the Baptist and we know about John the Basptist; "And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (Luke 3:3)

Now Christians can take only two courses; either they can argue that this is only in fugitive sense or a lesson for the disciples and later followers. We, the Muslims, have no problem with either of these explanations but this only exposes the double standards of the Christians.

If Jesus Christ, the ‘God Incarnate’ and a ‘God’ himself can pray for the forgiveness of his sins and take the Bapstism of repentance then there is no problem in Prophet Muhammad who was human only, indeed the best and perfect of them but a human still, doing the same. A human, however great needs to show his modesty but not so a divine person as Christians think of Jesus.

And also the fact that it makes more sense of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who came with a doctrine of salvation based on good deeds and repentance, asking the Almighty God for forgiveness teaching his followers the same then Jesus (PBUH) who as per Christian belief brought the gift of salvation merely through his own vicarious sacrifice.

These double standards of the Christians remind one of Jesus (PBUH) who said:

"First cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5)

And also: "You blind guides, you strain out a gnat, and swallow the camel." (Mathew 23:24)


INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST !!!

...by Waqar Akbar Cheema