|
|
But those of them that are grounded in
knowledge, and the faithful, believe in that which hath been revealed unto thee,
and in that which hath been revealed before thee. And those that observe prayer,
and give alms, and the believers in God and in the last day, unto these shall We
give a great reward.
Verily We have revealed our will unto thee, as We revealed our will unto
Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and Jesus, and Job,
and Jonas, and Aaron, and Solomon, and We gave unto David the Psalms;
and Apostles, whom We have already made mention of unto thee; and Apostles, of
whom We have not made mention unto thee; and God spake with Moses in open
discourse, &c.
Note, first: that the passage, though addressed
primarily to the Jews, is expressed in terms equally applicable to all
Mussulmans. It is to those who believe not only in the Corân, but in that
likewise which was revealed before it, that a "great reward" is
here promised.
Second: the mode of Mahomet's inspiration is declared to be the same as
that of former prophets.
Third: the Corân does not profess to give any complete enumeration of
former prophets, which may account for the indefinite manner in which they are
here and elsewhere enumerated. But remark the difference between this avowedly
loose and indeterminate specification of prophets to whom God revealed His will,
and the precise and definite manner in which the "Scriptures"
are always spoken of as having been "given" or delivered.
|
|
|
TESTIMONY TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURES |
179 | |
CIV.—SURA IV., v. 169[171].
سورة النساء
يَا
أَهْلَ
الْكِتَابِ
لاَ
تَغْلُواْ
فِي
دِينِكُمْ
وَلاَ
تَقُولُواْ
عَلَى اللّهِ
إِلاَّ
الْحَقِّ
إِنَّمَا
الْمَسِيحُ
عِيسَى ابْنُ
مَرْيَمَ
رَسُولُ
اللّهِ
وَكَلِمَتُهُ
أَلْقَاهَا
إِلَى
مَرْيَمَ
وَرُوحٌ
مِّنْهُ
فَآمِنُواْ
بِاللّهِ
وَرُسُلِهِ
وَلاَ
تَقُولُواْ
ثَلاَثَةٌ
انتَهُواْ
خَيْرًا
لَّكُمْ
إِنَّمَا
اللّهُ
إِلَـهٌ
وَاحِدٌ
سُبْحَانَهُ
أَن يَكُونَ
لَهُ وَلَدٌ
لَّهُ مَا فِي
السَّمَاوَات
وَمَا فِي
الأَرْضِ
وَكَفَى
بِاللّهِ
وَكِيلاً
Ye people of the book! commit not
extravagance in your religion; and say not of God other than the truth. For
verily the Messiah, Jesus, the Son of Mary, is an apostle of God, and His word
which He placed in Mary, and a spirit from Him. Wherefore believe in God, and in
His apostle; and say not, —"the Trinity";—refrain; it will be
better for you. For verily God is one God;—far exalted is He above the
possibility that there should be unto Him progeny! to Him belongeth whatever is
in the heavens and in the earth, and He sufficeth as a guardian.
The charge of extravagance,—error in doctrine,—is all
that is brought against the Christians. The imputation of
misinterpreting Scripture by dislocating it from the context, is
never alleged of them. But, notwithstanding the imputation of
mistake, what a close approximation do we not here find to the
doctrines held by Christians!
From Sura V. 125[116], it appears probable that the creed of the
Christians of his day was understood by Mahomet to be, that Mary was
one of the
|
|
