Excuses for Transgression

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The Jews are habitual quibblers. It is the history of this accursed nation that they always created awful nuisance for Allah^-SWT's Prophets^-AS, His^-SWT people and His^-SWT Din. They always think, talk and act in a crooked manner. Now they demand from the Holy Prophet'^-SW that if he can fetch a printed Book from the heaven, they will believe in his Prophethood. Whereas when Prophet Musa^-AS had actually brought a written Divine Scripture, they had demanded even more. They had asked him to show them Allah^-SWT with naked eye and only then would they believe. For this transgression, the lightening struck them and they were devastated. It was only due to the prayer of Prophet Musa"^-AS that Allah^-SWT raised them from the dead. Yet again they were saved from the army of the Pharaoh when the sea had split to make way for them, and the forces of the Pharaoh perished right in front of their eyes. Moreover, they had witnessed many encounters and expeditions of Prophet Musa"^-AS with the Pharaoh earlier yet they indulged in worship of the calf. As a result they were hit with punishment and were forgiven only after the intercession by Prophet Musa^-AS.

 

Allah^-SWT had granted Prophet Musa^-AS such authority and domination that he took over cities without much effort. But his people were so unfortunate that they again vexed him and said that they could not abide by the Commandments of the Torah. They disdainfully asserted themselves and said that they would do as they pleased. So Allah^-SWT suspended mount Tur over them compelling them into obedience. They were given power over a city without any fighting, and were only told to prostrate and be humble when entering the gate. They were also told not to go fishing on Saturdays, and they promised to obey but soon they went back on their promise, denying the Ayat of Allah^-SWT . They murdered the Messengers of Allah wrongfully. When they attained power and reign they completely changed there demeanour, so much so much that when Messengers were sent by Allah, they heartlessly slew them. Murder is always wrongful, but here the word wrongful implies that the murderers also knew their victims to be innocent, yet they cruelly slew them. With such character these Jews claim that their hearts are sheathed in covers and are thus impervious to any misleading outside influences. But what has actually happened is that as a result of their blatant profligacy Allah^-SWT has sealed their hearts. There may be very few among them who are blessed with faith; the majority die as infidels. They are always actively engaged in opposing the true faith.

 

See how outrageously they incriminated Hadhrat Maryam, accusing her of immorality. They not only denied Prophet Isa^-AS but also raised an uproar against him and his pious and chaste mother. They were wicked enough to plan Prophet Isa^-AS‘s assassination, as they could not defeat him rationally or intellectually. So they instigated the king to sentence Prophet lsa"^-AS to death but inspite of all their efforts they could not kill him. Their claim of having slain Prophet Isa^-AS is a blatant lie. Neither could they kill him nor crucify him; in fact they themselves were thoroughly confused. Some scholars comment that the person who went to search for Prophet Isa^-AS alongwith troops could not find him inside the house, as Allah^-SWT had taken him up to their heavens. But the face of that person was made to look like Prophet Isa^-AS. 

 

When he came out of the house to tell the soldiers that Prophet ‘Isa^-AS was not in the house, they grabbed him taking him for Prophet 'Isa^-AS and crucified him. Afterwards when they went inside to search for their comrade they could not find him and on return were flabbergasted to see his body hanging on the cross. They wanted to conceal his death but could not do so. Neither could they produce the dead body of Prophet 'Isa^-AS. The Jew scholars themselves differ on this episode because it is wrapped in doubt and there is no solid evidence. Thus they are guided by pure conjecture and guess work and speculate about what might have happened. The account given by the scholars also does not sound too reliable, as details are not recounted in the Quran and Hadith. Yet the Quran has clearly stated. Wa ma Qataluhu Yaqina It is definite that they could not kill him. Rather, Allaah^-SWT ascended him. He^-SWT is Omnipotent and Wise; and can do whatever He^-SWT wants, through whatever means He^-SWT chooses.

 

Those who interpret this Ascension to be spiritual must realize that murder or crucification would also have resulted in death. If the Jews could not kill him and Allah^-SWT did, it would mean that their purpose was still served. What, then, was the logic behind Ascension and what difference did it make? This phenomenon has already been discussed in Al-Baqarah. Now a few words for better understanding of those who argue that the existence of human life in the heavens is unimaginable. They question as to what would people eat in heavens and where would they excrete? But is it easy to imagine the existence of life in the layers of the womb? Where does the fetus get its food from and where does it go to excrete? The all Powerful who can make arrangements for the baby in the womb can also provide for life the heavens. Moreover, a person is subjected to the rules pertaining to food, chronology and seasons of whatever world he lives in. Prophet Musa^-AS left this world almost two thousand years ago, but in the celestial world a single day is equivalent to one thousand years of this world. Thus Prophet Isa^-AS has not been there for two complete days yet. To comprehend such matters it is imperative to accept and admit the Sovereignty and Omnipotence of Allah^-SWT . Those who doubt and question in fact try to assess Allah^-SWT keeping their own capabilities as a standard.

 

How, then, would Prophet Isa^-AS‘s death come about? Allah declares that he will be sent back to this world, as per details in Hadith. All the Jews and Christians will start believing in him or else they will be slain. He will get married, have children, and will be buried inside the Prophet'^-SW ‘s tomb in Madinah. The space for a fourth grave is kept there. So the question of how he will die will be answered.

 

Maulana Thanvi^-RUA asserts that before the Ruh is seized by the angel, Barzakh is revealed to the dying who comes to know the reality. But it is useless for a non-believer to embrace faith in those moments, for the time to repent over disbelief is gone past. Allah^-SWT says that if these infidels still ask for more clarification they should wait for a little while as Prophet Isa^-AS shall be called as a witness upon these people on the Day of Judgement and they shall be taken to task for all the atrocities they did against him and against Islam. Then they will be fully satisfied.

 

Allah^-SWT made many things unlawful for the Jews which were formerly permissible. This was due to their wickedness and sins. Certain things are declared unlawful in Islamic Shari'ah too, but only because these are all harmful, physically or spiritually, for humans. Whereas for the Jews, certain beneficial things were also forbidden because of their misdeeds. The Jews indulged in all sorts of despicable activities, such as deviating people from Allaah^-SWT ’s Path, hindering Allah^-SWT's Zikr, dealing in usury which was forbidden for them, and usurping the wealth of others. All these sins led them into disbelief and they were marked for the horrendous retribution prepared for the infidels.

 

Yet despite all their sins, there were certain people amongst them who had a deep know ledge of Din, and were of noble character. They knew the signs and approximate time of the raising of the Holy Prophet^-SW. They were watchful of the right beliefs and on top of all, were devoted and righteous. They believed in the Book they had, and followed it. Therefore, when Prophet Muhammad^-SW announced his^-SW  Prophethood, they embraced Islam. They established Salat with all its conditions and would tell others to offer it too. They paid Zakat and believed in Allah^-SWT and the Hereafter. Such people will be rewarded fabulously by Allah^-SWT , though they were very few in number. Nevertheless they were the few exceptions among the impudent Jews who as a nation always opposed the true faith and harmed the true believers. After the advent of Islam, most of the wars broke out as a result of their conspiracies. They set the foundation for sectarianism in Islam. This was the mischief of ibn-e-Saba and his group, which has been constantly damaging both Islam and the Muslims to date.