YMD Children’s Column

Verses from Surah no. 2, Al-Baqarah

[139] Say, ‘Do you dispute with us about Allah? – although, He is our Lord and your Lord (too). Anyway, for us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. We are sincerely faithful to Him.

[140] Or, will you say that Ibrahim, Isma`il, Is-haq, Ya`qub and the Tribes were Jews or Christians?’ Ask them, ‘Do you know better than Allah?’ And who can do greater wrong than he who hides a testimony of Allah that is with him? Allah is not unaware of what you do.

[141] That was a nation which has passed away. For them will be what they earned (of the deeds) and for you what you earn. And you will not be questioned about what they were doing.

Understanding the above Verses

Jews and Christians keep debating with Muslims about God. The Jews say, “The God in the heavens is our God in a very special way. He is our Father and we are His children. In fact, we are His chosen people.”

The Christians claim that: “Jesus was the son of God. He is part of a trinity, which is like a triangle. The triangle has three corners. One corner is God, another corner is Jesus Christ, and the third corner is the Holy Ghost. In this triangle, all the three gods are equal.”

Both the Jews and Christians claim that they are closer to God than Muslims.

Verse 139 tells us that God is the God of all. He is the God of the Jews, the Christians, the Muslims, rest of the peoples, and the whole world.

The verse is saying that since all men are his creations, He will judge them by their deeds. And, one man’s deeds will not benefit another. Similarly, one man’s sins will not be placed on the shoulders of another. To each, according to his deeds. Is that fair enough?

The Jews and Christians believe that the only way a man can enter Paradise is by becoming a Jew or a Christian. So, verse 140 asks them: what about the Prophets of old mentioned in your Holy Books: Abraham, Ismail, Isaac?

What about the 12 tribes who came from the 12 sons of Ya`qub (Jacob)? Were they Jews or Christians? Was there any Judaism or Christianity during their times? Do the Jews and Christians have any knowledge of this? Do they know better than Allah?

Of course, the scholars from among the Jews and Christians knew that the Prophets of old were neither Jews nor Christians. But they concealed the testimony coming from their own hearts. So, who can be more wrong? But the problem is that they think that Allah cannot be aware of little things.

Those nations of the past have gone their way. They will benefit from what good they did, and suffer punishment for what evil they did. There is no point in you claiming relationship with them. You will not be questioned for any evil that they did, and so, you will not benefit for the good things they did. To each, according to his deeds.

Muslims also need to make note of this.

Lessons:

1. The Lord we Muslims believe in, is the Lord of all peoples and Lord of the world.
2. There are no separate gods for each nation.
3. The Prophets of past were neither Jews, nor Christians.
4. The 12 tribes originated with the 12 sons of Ya`qub.
5. The Jews came several centuries after them. Even Musa (Moses was not a Jew). The 12 sons and their children who became 12 tribes, became Jews after several centuries. Just as the followers of Jesus Christ were not Christians. They were initially Nazarenes. They became Christians after about half a century.

Exercise:

1. What is it that the Jews and Christians debate with Muslims?
2. What do they think their relationship is with God?
3. Is God, the god of a tribe?
4. Who were the Tribes?
5.  When did the Children of Ya`qub become Jews?
6. When did followers of Jesus become Christians?
7. Will a saint, peer, waliyyullah or sheikh questioned about your bad deeds?
8. What will benefit you most in the Hereafter?

Dictionary:

Dispute: to argue.

Tribe: a group of people agreeing to the leadership and obedience of a Chief of the group.

Testimony: a declaration (confirmation) under oath.

(To be continued)