Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:People of the Book: Difference between revisions

Jews and Christians, along with mysterious Sabeans of the Qur'an, form the "People of the Book", those with scriptures whose communities preceded Islam. The Qur'an has both good and bad things to say of them; condemning some while promising reward for others among them depending on their beliefs. Taken in view of the hadith though (which in some respects may reflect later developments), the wider Islamic tradition on them is clear: they were people who had been given the Taurah and the Injeel, the true message of Allah, but for their own benefit hid and altered it. As such they are still subject to the wrath of Allah and doom. In terms of coexistence, they may be offered the ability to live under dhimmitude, paying the jizyah and feeling themselves subdued, so in this regard they are better off than polytheists who get a choice of either the sword or Islam. Despite this pact of "protection" as dhimmis or "protected ones" they are subject to numerous rules and regulations that set them apart from and under Muslims socially and economically. The tradition also saves special enmity for the Jews, whom it accuses of murdering Muhammad and who are blamed for their intransigence in resisting Muhammad and his movement. Theologically, they are accused raising up mere humans to divine figures (this accusation is made, without any basis in fact, against the Jews in relation to the prophet Ezra) and are thus subject to destruction and doom eternal in the Fire.  

 

 

 

 

 

{{Quote|{{Quran|2|61}}|And when ye said: O Moses! We are weary of one kind of food; so call upon thy Lord for us that He bring forth for us of that which the earth groweth - of its herbs and its cucumbers and its corn and its lentils and its onions. He said: Would ye exchange that which is higher for that which is lower? Go down to settled country, thus ye shall get that which ye demand. And humiliation and wretchedness were stamped upon them and they were visited with wrath from Allah. That was because they disbelieved in Allah's revelations and slew the prophets wrongfully. That was for their disobedience and transgression.}}

{{Quote|{{Quran-range|5|12|14}}And Allah had already taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We delegated from among them twelve leaders. And Allah said, "I am with you. If you establish prayer and give zakah and believe in My messengers and support them and loan Allah a goodly loan, I will surely remove from you your misdeeds and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow. But whoever of you disbelieves after that has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way."

So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. And you will still observe deceit among them, except a few of them. But pardon them and overlook [their misdeeds]. Indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.

And from those who say, "We are Christians" We took their covenant; but they forgot a portion of that of which they were reminded. So We caused among them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection. And Allah is going to inform them about what they used to do.}}