“But we delivered Him (Abraham) and Lot to the land which We have blessed for all the people of the world” (Qur’an;21:71).
“Glory to (God) Who transported His Servant (Muhammad) by night from the inviolable House of Worship (at Makkah) to the Remote House of Worship (at Jerusalem) the environs of which we have Blessed..” (Qur’an;17:1)
“The fair promise of the Lord was fulfilled for the children of Israel”(Qur’an;7:137)
“But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house which I have built!” (Solomon, 2 Chronicles 6:18, 1 Kings;8:27)
Introduction
In While Israeli oppression of the Palestinians continues for around a century, Jerusalem has been in the grip of the worst bloodshed for years during July 2017 over Israel’s decision to install metal detectors at the entrance to the Old City`s holy compound. It appears strange how a simple matter of metal detectors, very common around the world could trigger such violence. But as with anything connected to politics and religion in the Holy Land, the dispute is about much more than the security devices, touching on issues of sovereignty, religious freedom, occupation and Palestinian nationalism. The UN envoy on Middle East peace has warned that the developments in and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem have demonstrated the grave risk that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could become a religious one that could ultimately engulf the rest of the region.
There is need for reappraisal and retrospection in the light of sacred texts – the Bible and the Quran and History. Israel colonised the land of Palestinians decades ago, captured East Jerusalem, including the Old City in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed them, a move not recognised internationally. As a result, it is to this day seen by much of the world as an occupier, and the status of the area is regarded as disputed until resolved via negotiations. Hence the Palestinians reject Israel’s authority, its heavy security presence and the unilateral move relating to the metal detectors.
The dispute goes deeper. For centuries, a delicate status quo has existed at the Noble Sanctuary-Temple Mount whereby Jews and Christians can visit, but only Muslims are allowed to pray. When Israel captured the area it committed itself to that agreement yet many Palestinians are upset that more and more religious nationalist Jews visit the compound each day, with some attempting to pray. They are usually ejected by the Israeli police but Palestinians feel the status quo is changing.
The installation of metal detectors has contributed to the impression that Israel is changing the rules, a view rejected by the Israeli government. The problem is any Israeli-led initiative is likely to be rejected by the Palestinians and possibly Jordan. So the United Nations, the United States, Europe and Russia may get involved.
On the Palestinian side, tempers are frayed. “Sovereignty over the blessed mosque is for us, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech. `We are the ones who should be monitoring and standing at its gates.’ Abbas has broken off security coordination with Israel, a significant move since Palestinian and Israeli forces work together daily on security in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinians have limited self-rule. Palestinians see it very differently. The Noble Sanctuary has become a symbol of national aspiration, with the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque painted on murals all over Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The area, a large stone and marble plaza lined with Cypress trees is one of a few open spaces for Muslims in the Old City used for celebrations and gatherings. `Our problem is not just the gates, our problem is the Israeli occupation’.
Palestine is the most complex geopolitical and religious issue confronted by humanity which if left unresolved will continue to be threat to the world peace. This historic flashpoint which kicked off the clash of civilizations centuries ago, still has the potential to flare up to repeat the history with unpredictable terrible consequences. While the followers of three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have the historic, religious, emotional and sentimental attachments with this land, no sane person can agree to deny the right of the Palestinian people as human beings to enjoy the fruits of freedom in their own land in this age of freedom and democracy. The Zionists claim that ‘this land has been given to them by God as His chosen people’. To ascertain the veracity of this claim and to contemplate possible peaceful resolution, this issue is being reviewed in the light of Bible, Qur’an and History in two parts:
Part-1: Claims according to Bible and Quran. [This issue]
Part-2: Historic Review. [Next issue]
The Holy Land
The Holy Land (Al-Arḍ Al-Muqaddasah) is an area located roughly between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea that also includes the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River. Traditionally, it is synonymous with both the biblical Land of Israel and historical Palestine. The term usually refers to a territory roughly corresponding to the modern State of Israel, the Palestinian territories, western Jordan, and parts of southern Lebanon and southwestern Syria. It is considered holy by Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Palestine – A Brief History
The Holy Land is part of Palestine which was a common name used until 1948 to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The Palestine region or parts of it have been controlled by numerous different peoples and regional powers, including the Canaanites, Amorites, Ancient Egyptians, Israelites, Moabites, Ammonites, Tjeker, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, different dynasties of the Early Muslim period (Umayads, Abbasids, Seljuqs, Fatimids), Crusaders, Late Muslim dynasties (Ayyubids, Mamluks, Ottoman Turks), the British, Jordanians (1948–1967, on the “West Bank”) and Egyptians (in Gaza), and modern Israelis and Palestinians. Other terms for the same area include Canaan, Zion, the Land of Israel, Southern Syria, Jund Filastin, Outremer, and the Holy Land.
Canaanites are known to be the earliest population that inhabited Palestine living lived in the land around 3rd millennium BC. The 2nd millennium saw the area taken over by Pharaonic Egypt and their rule was weakened by new invaders, who included the Hebrews from the Semitic tribes of Mesopotamia and a group of Aegean people from Indo-European stock, the Philistines. The country was given the name of “Philistine” because of their Philistine inhabitants. The Israelites were an alliance of Hebrew tribes, who although defeated the Canaanites, found defeating Philistines much difficult. The philistine population took over the southern coast of Palestine and established an independent state there, controlling Jerusalem, the Canaanite own, and defeated Israelites in 1050 BC.
Construction and Destruction of the First and Second Temple
One feature which gave the Israelite tribe recognition was their unity which enabled Prophet Dawood, (Pbuh) to work for an independent state for his people, which he did, making Jerusalem the capital of this state. A place of worship was built by Prophet Dawood’s son, Prophet Suleyman (Pbuh) and this magnificent structure was named The First Temple. This temple was destroyed by the pagan Assyrians as it housed the Ark of Covenant. After the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem they built another temple deciding on the site of The First Temple for this purpose.
The Second Temple which was further expanded by King Herod but was turned to rubble and the city along with it, when Romans reached Jerusalem in 70 CE.
Muslim Rule in Palestine
In 324 CE, Constantine of Byzantine marched into the city, rebuilt it and opened it for Christian pilgrimage; however, they were harsh on the populace. Their discrimination was not only limited to Jews who were banned from entering Jerusalem but they were equally unjust to those Christians who would not act upon the same teachings as they did.
The situation was completely different with Muslims who were known to have compassion and mercy as victors. Therefore, when Muslims entered the region the people of Palestine gave up the city without much struggle and there was no bloodshed or massacre. Instead, people were given freedom to leave the city with all their goods if they wished or stay with complete religious freedom and security. Peace and prosperity in the region was introduced by Muslim conquerors who put an end to oppression and tyranny which had prevailed in the land for centuries. Palestine flourished to the extent that it became a center of learning and produced a large number of scholars. Muslims ruled over Palestine for 1300 years, with the exception of a period where the Crusaders took over it and named it Filastin. The Crusader occupation brought injustices and massacres whose targets were Muslims, Jews and Christians equally. Palestine was liberated from the Crusaders’ clutches by Salahuddin Ayyubi, who worked once again to bring peace and justice to the land and to implement Islamic law.
Israel and Palestine
The First World War brought the fall of the Ottoman Empire, following which the French and British victors divided the Arab region. It was also the start of British occupation in Palestine. While this was going on, the population of Jews in Palestine started increasing through immigration with the help of non-Muslim countries. In 1917, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration which stated Palestine as a homeland to Jews and after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire it encouraged Jewish immigration from European countries to Palestine. The population of Jews in Palestine kept increasing so that by 1947 the total number of Jews had become 650,000. They began establishing organizations to train the Jews in arms and terrorist activities. They prepared to the extent that Jews had thousands of trained and armed people at their disposal at the time Division of Palestine was announced. The modern history of Palestine begins with the termination of the British Mandate, the Partition of Palestine and the creation of Israel, and the ensuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kirk Bailey has summed up the long Palestinian history in few words:
The Partition of Palestine
In 1947, the United Nations (U.N.) proposed a Partition Plan for Palestine titled “United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) Future Government of Palestine.” The resolution noted Britain’s planned termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and recommended the partition of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with the Jerusalem-Bethlehem area protected and administered by the United Nations. The resolution included a highly detailed description of the recommended boundaries for each proposed state. The resolution also contained plans for an economic union between the proposed states and for the protection of religious and minority rights. The resolution called for the withdrawal of British forces and termination of the Mandate by August 1948 and establishment of the new independent states by October 1948.
First Arab-Israeli War (1948)
Jewish leadership accepted the Partition Plan but Arab leaders rejected it. The Arab League threatened to take military measures to prevent the partition of Palestine and to ensure the national rights of the Palestinian Arab population. One day before the British Mandate expired, Israel declared its independence within the borders of the Jewish State set out in the Partition Plan. The Arab countries declared war on the newly formed State of Israel beginning the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
After the war, which Palestinians call the Catastrophe, the 1949 Armistice Agreements established the separation lines between the combatants: Israel controlled some areas designated for the Arab state under the Partition Plan, Transjordan controlled the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip.
The Six Day War
The Six Day War was fought between June 5–10, 1967, with Israel emerging victorious and effectively seizing control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. The U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 242, the “land for peace” formula, which called for Israeli withdrawal “from territories occupied” in 1967 and “the termination of all claims or states of belligerency.” Resolution 242 recognized the right of “every state in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.”
The 1973 War
In October 1973, war broke out again between Israel and Egypt and Syria. A ceasefire was achieved (U.N. resolution 339) by U.N. Israel occupied Senia up to Suez canal and Golan heights from Syria. Peacekeepers deployed on both the fronts, only withdrawing from the Egyptian front after Israel and Egypt concluded a peace treaty in 1979. U.N. peacekeepers remain deployed in the Golan Heights.
Rise Of The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
In 1974, the Arab League recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and relinquished its role as representative of the West Bank. The PLO gained observer status at the U.N. General Assembly the same year. In 1988, the Palestinian National Council of the PLO approved a Palestinian Declaration of Independence in Algiers, Tunisia. The declaration proclaims a “State of Palestine on our Palestinian territory with its capital Jerusalem,” although it does not specify exact borders, and asserts U.N. Resolution 181 supports the rights of Palestinians and Palestine. The declaration was accompanied by a PLO call for multilateral negotiations on the basis of U.N. Resolution 242.
The Intifada (1987 To 1993)
Conditions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including Jerusalem, after more than 20 years of military Israeli occupation, repression and confiscation of land, contributed to a Palestinian uprising called the Intifada in December 1987. Between 1987 and 1993, over 1,000 Palestinians lost their lives and thousands were injured, detained, imprisoned in Israel or deported from the Palestinian territories.
The Peace Process
In 1993, the Oslo Accords, the first direct, face-to-face agreement between Israel and the PLO, were signed and intended to provide a framework for the future relations between the two parties. The Accords created the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) with responsibility for the administration of the territory under its control. The Accords also called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Implementation of the Oslo Accords suffered a serious setback with the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli Prime Minister and signer of the Oslo Accords, in November 1995. Since 1995, several peace summits and proposals, including the Camp David Summit (2000), Taba Summit (2001), the Road Map for Peace (2002), and the Arab Peace Initiative (2002 and 2007), have attempted to broker a solution, with no success. During the Second Intifada (2000–2005) Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip and began building the West Bank barrier. In 2006 Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections and took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, triggering the Israeli and Egyptian Blockade of the Gaza Strip (2007-the present). In 2008–09 and again in 2014, Israel bombed militants in Gaza in response to rocket fire, these operations were, however, criticized for causing civilian deaths.
The Drive for Recognition of Palestinian Statehood
In a speech on September 16, 2011, Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority declared his intention to proceed with the request for recognition of statehood from both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council. On September 23, 2011, President Abbas delivered the official application for recognition of a Palestinian State to the United Nations Secretary General. In October 2011, UNESCO admitted the “State of Palestine” as a member. In November 2012, the State of Palestine was upgraded in the UN to non-member observer state status, a move that allows it to take part in General Assembly debates and improves its chances of joining other UN agencies. Numerous issues remain to be settled by Israelis and Palestinians, however, before an independent state of Palestine emerges. Negotiations are ongoing. Israel continues with building settlements to annex maximum Palestinian territories. The split of Palestinians to Gaza controlled by Hamas and West Bank under Mahmoud Abbas of PLO has benefited Israel from Palestinian disunity. Jerusalem is of prime importance to Muslims and Jews due to religious reasons.
The Spiritual Aspects
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is the main city of Palestine; historically there is evidence of existence of population in the area around 3000 B.C.E. The city derives its name from Hebrew; Yerushalayim in Arabic it is called Al-Quds Located in the heart of historic Palestine, it is nestled between the West Bank and Israel. It is holy to Judaism as the site of the Temple of Jerusalem, to Christianity because of its association with Jesus (Pbuh), and to Islam because of its connection with the Mi’rāj [Prophet Muhammad’s (Pbuh), ascension to Heaven and prayer direction (Qibla) of Muslims for some period. Jewish shrines include the Western Wall while Islamic holy places include the Dome of the Rock and Mosque.
Around 1000 BC King and Prophet Dawood [David] (Pbuh) made it the capital of Israel. Razed by the Babylonians in the 6th century BC, it thereafter enjoyed only brief periods of independence. The Romans devastated it in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, banishing the population. From 637 C.E onwards it was ruled by various Muslim dynasties, except for short periods during the Crusades. Rule by the Ottoman Empire ended in 1917, and the city became the capital of the British mandate of Palestine. It was thereafter the subject of competing Zionist and Palestinian national aspirations. Israel claimed the city as its capital after the Arab-Israeli War in 1948 and took the entire city during the Six-Day War of 1967. Its status as Israel’s capital has remained a point of contention: because the Palestinians have also declared it as capital of their future state, official recognition by the international community has largely been withheld pending final settlement of the issue. The roots of the present turmoil due to Zionist oppression of Palestinians, has been condemned worldwide, especially by the Islamic world. The Zionist Jews claim divine right to this land through Covenant of God with Hebrews.
The Covenant
In the Hebrew Scriptures, Covenant is an agreement or treaty among peoples or nations, but most memorably the promises that God extended to humankind (e.g. the promise to Noah never again to destroy the earth by flood or the promise to Abraham that his descendants would multiply and inherit the land). God’s revelation of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai created a pact between God and Israel known as the Sinai Covenant. According to Christian traditions Jesus Christ established a new covenant with God. Islam holds that the Last & Final Covenant was between God and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for all the humanity till eternity.
Hence for proper understanding, the doctrine of ‘Covenant’ should be studied in the light of the Bible, the Qur’an and the history. Without going into the historic details of the issue, well known to the readers, here the scriptural aspects are being covered. There is general agreement that Prophet and Patriarch Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them all) believed and worshiped the same God. In Arabic this supreme God is called Allah, while Hebrews have been calling Him El ‘Elyon, Yahweh (Jehovah), elohiym, (el-o-heem) or Adonai. God is the supreme creator and Sustainer of all the worlds. He is the God of all the creatures and people, He is not the God of any one group only, though He loves and prefers those who obey Him and dislikes those who are disobedient, transgressors, and disbelievers. He is Kind and Merciful to those who repent and perform deeds pleasing to Him. He is not unjust; God established His Covenant with the humanity, individually as well as collectively through prophets.
What is meant by Word ‘Covenant’?
According to ‘Merriam Webster Collegiate’ dictionary, ‘covenant’ is a formal, solemn, and binding agreement, a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action or the common-law action to recover damages for breach of such a contract. ‘Covenant’ is a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word [’tyrb berith’] is always thus translated as covenant. ‘Berith’ is derived from a root which means “to cut,” and hence a covenant is a “cutting,” with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Genesis:15:1-21; Jeremiah;34:18-19). The corresponding word in the New Testament Greek is, [diatheke dee-ath-ay’-kay] which is, however, rendered “testament” generally in the Authorized Version. It ought to be rendered, just as the word berith of the Old Testament, “covenant.” In Qur’an, two Arabic words [aahad’, ‘methaq’] are translated as ‘covenant’.
Covenant in Qur’an and Bible
The word ‘covenant’ is used in variety of meanings in the Bible and the Qur’an:
In Qur’an ‘covenant’ of God with Abraham and his obedient decedents has been mentioned as aahd (covenant, pledge) (Qur’an;2:124) and with the Children of Israel (Qur’an;2:83). However: “Those who break Allah’s Covenant after it is ratified, and who sunder what God has ordered to be joined, and do mischief on earth: these cause loss (only) to themselves.” (Qur’an; 2:27).
The covenant with the people of scripture (Jews & Christians) is also mentioned: “And remember God took a Covenant (methaq) from the people of the Book, to make it known and Clear to mankind, and not to hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And vile was the bargain they made!” (Qur’an;3:187).
The word ‘aqad’ is used for marriage contract (Qur’an;2:235, 237), oath (Qur’an;5:89). ‘Ahad’ is also used for ‘treaty’ (Qur’an;8:56), promise (Qur’an;17:34),
A covenant or compact between man and man (Genesis;21:32), or between tribes or nations (1Samuel;11:1; Joshua;9:6,15). In entering into a covenant, Jehovah was solemnly called on to witness the transaction (Genesis;31:50), and hence it was called a “covenant of the Lord” (1Samuel;20:8). The marriage compact is called “the covenant of God” (Proverbs;2:17), because the marriage was made in God’s name. Wicked men are spoken of as acting as if they had made a “covenant with death” not to destroy them, or with hell not to devour them (Isaiah;28:15,18).
The word is used with reference to God’s revelation of Himself in the way of promise or of favour to men. Thus God’s promise to Noah after the Flood is called a covenant (Genesis;9:1-29; Jeremiah;33:20, “my covenant”). We have an account of God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis;17:1-27, comp. Leviticus;26:42), of the covenant of the priesthood (Numbers;25:12-13; Deuteronomy;33:9; Nehemiah; 13:29), and of the covenant of Sinai (Exodus; 34:27-28; Leviticus; 26:15), which was afterwards renewed at different times in the history of Israel (Deuteronomy;29:1-29; Joshua;1:18; 2 Chronicles; 15:1-19; 23:1-21; 29:1-36; 34:1-33; Ezra;10:1-44; Nehemiah;9:1-38). In conformity with human custom, God’s covenant is said to be confirmed with an oath (Deuteronomy;4:31; Psalms;89:3), and to be accompanied by a sign (Genesis;9:1-29; 17:1-27). Hence the covenant is called God’s “counsel,” “oath,” “promise” (Psalms;89:3-4; 105:8-11; Hebrews;6:13-20; Lu 1:68-75). God’s covenant consists wholly in the bestowal of blessing (Isaiah;59:21; Jeremiah;31:33-34).
The term covenant is also used to designate the regular succession of day and night (Jeremiah;33:20), the Sabbath (Exodus;31:16), circumcision (Genesis;17:9-10), and in general any ordinance of God (Jeremiah;34:13-14).
A “covenant of salt” signifies an everlasting covenant, in the sealing or ratifying of which salt, as an emblem of perpetuity, is used (Numbers;18:19; Leviticus; 2:13; 2 Chronicles;13:5).
Covenant of Works, the constitution under which Adam was placed at his creation. In this covenant, (1) The contracting parties were (a) God the moral Governor, and (b) Adam, a free moral agent, and representative of all his natural posterity (Romans;5:12-19). (2) The promise was “life” (Matthew;19:16-17; Galatians;3:12). (3) The condition was perfect obedience to the law, the test in this case being abstaining from eating the fruit of the “tree of knowledge,” etc. (4) The penalty was death (Genesis;2:16-17). This covenant is also called a covenant of nature, as made with man in his natural or unfallen state; a covenant of life, because “life” was the promise attached to obedience; and a legal covenant, because it demanded perfect obedience to the law. The “tree of life” was the outward sign and seal of that life which was promised in the covenant, and hence it is usually called the seal of that covenant. [According to Qur’an, Adam and Eve repented and were pardoned by God, (Qur’an;2:37, 7:23 ), however they were sent to this world, those who follow His guidance, have nothing to fear but those reject or defy it, will fall into hell].
According to common Christian belief (not shared by Jews, Muslims and many early and even some present Christians): ‘This covenant is abrogated under the gospel, inasmuch as Christ has fulfilled all its conditions in behalf of his people, and now offers salvation on the condition of faith. It is still in force, however, as it rests on the immutable justice of God, and is binding on all who have not fled to Christ and accepted his righteousness’.
Covenant of God with Humanity and Prophets
God is linked with humanity through different covenants: Firstly, Covenant with each member of humanity; and secondly, Covenant with people through His prophets, this includes specifically the covenant of God with Abraham (as a reward of being obedient servant of God, who succeeded in the test of his obedience to God) and his descendents through their prophets culminating to the final covenant with humanity through His last prophet.
The First Direct Covenant of God with Humanity
Much earlier than the creation of humanity, God first created all the spirits of humanity, which testified Him to be their Lord; this was the ‘First Covenant’, which is binding accordingly on each individual. God says:
“O Prophet, remind mankind about incident when your Lord brought into existence the offspring from the loins of Adam and his descendants (virtually each single individual of mankind) and made them testify about themselves. God asked them: “Am I not your Lord?” They all replied: “Yes! We bear witness that You are.” This We did, lest you mankind should say on the Day of Resurrection: “We were not aware of this fact that You are our Lord and that there will be a Day of Judgment.” (Qur’an;7:172). He brings the humankind into this world in succession, each one at appointed time, spirit is breathed into him. This spiritual heritage, the individual covenant with God, is part of his nature of every human being as human consciousness.
The Covenant is fulfilled by human to acknowledge that Allah is the Creator, Cherisher, and Sustainer; therefore they should acknowledge their duty to Him. When people so testify concerning themselves, the obligation is as it were assumed by them; for it follows from their very nature when it is pure and uncorrupted. Knowledge of right and wrong is ingrained in human nature, God says: “by the soul and Him Who perfected it and inspired it with knowledge of what is wrong for it and what is right for it: indeed successful will be the one who keeps it pure, and indeed failure will be the one who corrupts it!” (Qur’an;91:7-10). Some remain conscious of it while others tend to suppress this awareness.
In addition to giving form and nature, God has also given guidance to all the creations (Qur’an;20:50). The humanity is expected to be steadfast in the belief of natural faith, part of human conscious. God says: “Therefore, stand firm in your devotion to the upright faith – the nature made by God, (hanefa fitr’ah) the one on which mankind is created – and the laws of Nature ordained by God cannot be changed. That is the ‘Standard True Religion’, but most among mankind do not know.” (Qur’an;30:30). The ‘True Nature’ (hanefa fitr’ah), “true” is used in the sense in which it is said, “the magnetic needle is true to the north”, the ‘First Covenant’ is part of human nature. Those who have been privileged to receive the ‘Truth’ should never hesitate or swerve but remain constant, like the men of knowledge. As turned out from the creative act of God, man is innocent, pure, true, free, inclined to right and virtue, and endowed with true understanding about his own position in the Universe and about Allah’s goodness, wisdom, and power. That is his true nature, just as the nature of a lamb is to be gentle and of a horse is to be swift. But man is caught in the webs of customs, superstitions, selfish desires, and false teachings. This may make him pugnacious, unclean, false, slavish and hankering after what is wrong or forbidden, thus getting deflected from the love of his fellow-men and the pure worship of the One True God. The problem before the messengers and prophets had been to cure this crookedness, and to restore, (hanefa fitr’ah) human nature to what it should be under the Will of God, the uncorrupted pure nature. The “standard True Religion or the ‘Straight Way’ is thus contrasted with the various human systems that conflict with each other and call themselves separate “religions” or “sects”. Allah’s standard Religion is the one, based upon total surrender to the Will of God. The man has been endowed with the intellect so that he could use this faculty to differentiate between right and wrong, truth and falsehood.
The human intellectual power of rational thinking and reason is further facilitated by the teachings of the great Messengers or teachers sent to every nation. God says:”…And there never was a people, without a Warner having lived among them (in the past).” (Qur’an;35:24). Where such teachers do not come into direct contact with an individual or a generation, their revealed scripture is available to them which is conveyed by the preachers (dai). Even if some one does not receive the message through direct means then the true faith can be revived through means of the ‘Intellect and Reason’, His ‘signs’ spread all around and true nature (hanefa fitr’ah) part of human conscious (the 1st Covenant). This is the reason that even some of African tribes cut off from the civilized world worship One God without images. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has been reported to have mentioned that every human child is born in true nature (Al-Fitra ) which is obedience to God (Islam) and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian. The scholars stipulate that, if the message of ‘true faith’ (complete obedience, surrender to God – Islam) does not reach to some one, then in hereafter he will be judged by the (hanefa fitr’ah), the human nature conscious of One God (monotheism- Tawhid). God says: “We charge no soul with more than it can bear; We have a Book of record which shall clearly tell the truth, and they shall not be treated unjustly.” (Qur’an;23:62).
The Covenant of the Prophets
From Noah to Jesus & Muhammad (peace be upon them all): There is an implied covenant on all created things to follow the Law of God, which is the law of their being; But there is a special implied covenant with all Prophets, strict and solemn, that they shall carry out their mission, proclaim Allah’s Truth without fear or favour, and be ever ready in His service in all circumstances. That gives them their position, dignity, and their tremendous responsibility in respect of the people whom they come to instruct and lead to the right Path. God says: “And remember We took from the Prophets their Covenant as (We did) from thee (Muhammad): from Noah Abraham Moses and Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn Covenant” (Qur’an;33:7). The narrative of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) is similar to the Bible, with some differences narrated in Qur’an more prominently at Chapter;7, 11, 23, 26, 71 and elsewhere.
The Seven Laws of Noah
The covenant of God with Noah and all creatures according to Bible: “And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” (Genesis;9:16). According to traditional Judaism, God gave Noah and his family seven commandments to observe when he saved them from the flood. These commandments, referred to as the ‘Noahic or Noahide Commandments’, are inferred from Genesis, Chapter 9 and Jeremiah:33:20:
1) To establish courts of justice.
2) Not to commit blasphemy.
3) Not to commit idolatry.
4) Not to commit incest and adultery.
5) Not to commit bloodshed.
6) Not to commit robbery.
7) Not to eat flesh cut from a living animal.
According to Jewish belief the Noahic commandments are binding on all people, because all people are descended from Noah and his family. These commandments are fairly simple and most of them are recognized by most of the world as sound moral principles. any non-Jew who follows these laws has a place in the world to come. The 613 mitzvot of the Torah, on the other hand, are only binding on the descendants of those who accepted the commandments at Sinai and upon those who take on the yoke of the commandments voluntarily (by conversion). In addition, the Jews opine that the Noahic commandments are applied more leniently to non-Jews than the corresponding commandments are to Jews, because non-Jews do not have the benefit of Oral Torah to guide them in interpreting the laws. Hence non Jews automatically get relegated to a lower position to the Jews.
The Covenant with Prophet Abraham (Pbuh)
Though Muslims believe in all the Hebrew prophets and scriptures, but the Last revealed Scripture Qur’an preserved in its original revealed shape forms, the criteria (Furqan) of tracing and confirming the true revelations of God in the texts of old scriptures, mixed up with commentaries and errors during loss, translation, retranslation and rewriting spread over centuries. Some errors may be deliberate and some unintentional distortions by the scribes. Some verses from the Qur’an about the Covenant of God with Abraham, his descendants & the status of Promised Land are mentioned here. Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) has been highly appreciated in Qur’an: “Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to God, true In Faith, and He joined not gods with God. He showed His gratitude for the favors of God who guided Him to a straight way. And we gave Him good In This world, and He will be, In Hereafter, in the ranks of the Righteous. So we have taught Thee the inspired (Message), the ways of Abraham the true In Faith, and He joined not gods with God” (Qur’an;16:120-123).
The contents of covenant of God with Abraham and his descendants can be traced in the following verses of Qur’an: “But we delivered Him (Abraham) and (his nephew) Lot (and directed them) to the land which We have blessed for all the people of the world. And we bestowed on Him Isaac and, as an additional gift, (A grandson), Jacob, and we made righteous men of every one (of them). And we made them leaders, guiding (men) by Our command, and we sent them inspiration to do good deeds, to establish regular prayers, and to practice regular charity; and They constantly served us (and us only).” (Qur’an;21:71-73). This verse signifies that the Blessed Land is not for any specific group [Hebrews or Jews alone] but for all the people of the world [including Muslims and Christians].
“And call to mind through this divine writ, Ishmael, Behold he was always true to his promise, and He was an apostle (of God), a prophet.” (Qur’an’ :19:54.),“We gave him (Abraham) the good news of Isaac – a prophet – one of the righteous. We blessed him and Isaac both. Among their progeny there are some who are righteous and some who are clearly wrong doing to their own souls.” (Qur’an;37:112-113), “And commemorate Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, possessors of power and Vision. Verily we did choose them for a special (purpose) proclaiming the Message of the Hereafter. They were, In Our sight, truly, of the company of the Elect and the good. And commemorate Isma’il, Elisha, and Zul-Kifl: each of them was of the company of the good.” (Qur’an;38:45-48). “And we gave (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, and ordained among His progeny Prophethood and revelation, and we granted Him His reward In This life; and He was In the Hereafter (of the company) of the Righteous.” (Qur’an;29:27), “Remember that when Abraham was tested by his Lord with certain commands, he fulfilled them. God said: “Surely, I will make you the leader of mankind.” “What about my offspring?” Asked Abraham. “My Covenant,” said God, “will NOT apply to the evil doers.” (Qur’an;2:124).
Here the claim of the children of Israel as “Chosen People of God” by only virtue of their descent from Abraham, who was made “a leader of mankind”, has been negated. It is conditional to the obedience of God by not doing evil acts. This also understandable through common sense. The Bible also affirms: “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee (Abraham) and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee”. (Genesis;17:7). “Now therefore, If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:” (Exodus;19:5).
They were chosen to be the vehicle of the message of God, the highest honour which any nation can receive: “And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyed before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy;8:19-20).
The covenant with Abraham is narrated in the Bible: “And I will make of you (Abraham) a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis;12:2-3). In the Bible deliberate effort appears to have been made (to change the words, Qur’an:5:13) to exclude Ishmael, but he is still found to be addressed by God as seed of Abraham: “And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed” (Genesis:21:12-13).
A controversy has raged between the followers of the Bible and the adherents of Islam as to which of the sons of Abraham, Ishmael or Isaac was offered as a sacrifice. It is important to note that a peculiar sanctity was attached to the first-born both of man and of cattle among people right since the time of Adam, it was especially of great importance among the Israelites. God claimed that the first-born males of man and of animals should be consecrated to him, the one as a priest (Exodus;19:22,24), representing the family to which he belonged, and the other to be offered up in sacrifice (Genesis;4:4). The laws concerning this redemption of the firstborn of man are recorded in Exodus;13:12-15; 22:29; 34:20; Numbers;3:45; 8:17; 18:16 and Leviticus;12:2,4. Even the first-fruits of the ground were offered unto God just as the firstborn of man and animals. Ishmael, without any doubt was first born son of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). The Bible is quite clear in designating the offering: “He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis;22:2). If at anytime, an offspring of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) can be described as “thine only son: it could only be Ishmael, because for more than thirteen years, he was the only son and seed of Abraham. God Almighty acknowledges Ishmael as the “son and seed“ of Abraham in the Book of Genesis. At no time was Isaac the only son and seed of Abraham. The false pen of the scribe was in the hand of the Hebrews who edited the Books of Moses, as the prophet Jeremiah lament: “How do ye say, We are wise, and the law (the Torah) of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribe is in vain.” (Jeremiah;8:8). When the Hebrews are found to convert an Israelite into an Ishmaelite when no motives are involved, then how much easier for them to change the word “you only son Ishmael“ to : your only son Isaac!” Hence the claim in Islamic traditions that the son offered for the sacrifice was Ishmael not Isaac stands validated. This incidence took place at Makkah where Muslims celebrate this event every year during the annual pilgrimage (Hajj).
Jacob’s wife Leah’s maidservant, Zilpah, bore him Gad and Asher, and Rachel’s maidservant, Bilhah, bore him Dan and Naphtali. The children born through maidservants of wives of Jacob are not dealt with contempt in line with the prevalent custom, whereas in case of Ishmael, born from Hager, the prejudice and dichotomy of Israelites is too palpable. Hagar was the wife of Abraham (Genesis;16:3). “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Genesis;22:18)
The Qur’an mentions the grant of revelations to the house of Abraham, including Ishmael: “Do they, perchance, envy other people for what God has granted them out of His bounty? But then, We did grant revelation and wisdom unto the House of Abraham (aal Ibraahem– Descendants), and We did bestow on them a mighty dominion:” (Qur’an;4:54). “Also mentioned in the Book (the story of) Ishmael: He was (strictly) true to what He promised, and He was an apostle (and) a prophet.”(Qur’an;19:54)
The descendants obviously include the progeny of Ishmael and Isaac (peace be upon them). Jacob and his descendents have been specially mentioned in addition to Abraham’s at Genesis;17:1-27 & Leviticus;26:42, while excluding Ishmael from the covenant, though was first born son of Abraham, his seed and a Prophet, he remains part of House of Abraham.
Abraham’s Legacy
“Behold! His Lord said to him: “Bow (thy will to Me):” He said: “I bow (my will) to the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe.” And This was the legacy that Abraham left to His sons, and so did Jacob; “Oh My sons! God hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him). “Were ye witnesses when death appeared before Jacob? Behold, He said to His sons: “What will ye worship after me?” They said: “We shall worship Thy God and the God of Thy fathers, of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac One God, and unto Him we have surrendered.”(Qur’an;2:131-133). “They say: “Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (to salvation).” say thou: “Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and He joined not gods with God.”(Qur’an; 2:135)
Covenant with Moses and Children of Israel: It is described in the Bible: “Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD has spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, and be ready by the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And you shall set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that you go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whoever touches the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not a hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through, whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mount. And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready by the third day: come not near your wives. And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightning and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud so that all the people that were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God and they stood at the lower part of the mount. And mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke of it ascended as the smoke of a furnace and the whole mount quaked greatly.” (Exodus 19:5-18).
“O Children of Israel! Remember the special favor which I bestowed upon you; that I exalted you above all other nations.” (Qur’an;2:122). Abraham & Ishmael, while building Ka’bah prayed “O Lord, make us both submissive to You (Muslims); and make our descendants a nation that will be submissive to You (Muslims). Teach us our rites of worship and forbear our shortcomings; surely, You are the Acceptor of repentance, the Merciful.” (Qur’an;2:128).
Violation of Covenant is breaking the Covenant
“And if you shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhors my judgments, so that you will not do all my commandments, but that you break my covenant:” (Leviticus;26:15)
Covenant with Prophets and Decedents of Abraham
The Mountain of Sinai (Tur-u-Sinin) is a prominent mountain in the Arabian desert in the peninsula between the two arms of the Red Sea. Here the Ten Commandments and the Law were given to Moses. Hence it is now called the Mountain of Moses (Jabal Musa). The Israelites encamped at the foot of it for nearly a year. The Covenant was taken from them under many portents (Exodus:19:5,8,16,18), which are described in Jewish tradition in great detail. God says in Qur’an: “Remember that when We took a Covenant from you and We lifted the Mount of Tur over your heads saying: “Take what We have given you firmly and listen to Our Commandments,” you replied: “we have heard but we will not obey.” So much was the love of that calf in their hearts due to their unbelief. Tell them: “If you are real believers, then why does your faith prompt you to do such evil things?” (Qur’an;2:93). Under thunder and lightening the mountain must indeed have appeared an awe-inspiring sight above to the Camp at its foot. And the people solemnly entered into the Covenant: all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.” But they said in their hearts: “We shall disobey”. The Jewish traditions assume that all the spirits of descendants of Israel, even to be born in future were present is some way to undertake the covenant.
Moses asked them to enter the Promised Land
“(Moses said) O my people! Enter the holy land which God has promised you and turn not back ignominiously for then will ye be overthrown to your own ruin.” (Qur’an;5:21). The spies reported that the land was rich, but the men there were too strong for them. The people of Israel had no courage and no faith, and Moses remonstrated with them, they had to suffer for forty years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. Children of Israel, which was despised, became a great and glorious nation under David and his son Solomon, who had goodly territory, and was doubly blest. His land and people were prosperous, and he was blessed with wisdom from God. His sway and his fame spread east and west. And thus promise of God with the Children of Israel was fulfilled: “And We made a people considered weak (and of no account) inheritors of lands in both east and west lands whereon We sent down our blessings. The fair promise of the Lord was fulfilled for the children of Israel ….” (Qur’an;7:137). “And after that We said unto the children of Israel: “Dwell now securely on earth – but [remember that] when the promise of the Last Day shall come to pass, We will bring you forth as [parts of] a motley crowd!” (Qur’an;17:104). Motley crowd denotes a human crowd composed of innumerable heterogeneous elements, good and bad, strong and weak, fortunate and unfortunate: in short, it characterizes mankind in all its aspects. It is obviously used here to refute, once again, the idea that the children of Israel are a “chosen people” by virtue of their Abrahamic descent and, therefore, a priori and invariably destined for God’s grace. The Qur’an rejects this claim by stating that on Resurrection Day all mankind will be judged, and none will have a privileged position.
Special Covenant – Moses, Jesus & Their Followers To Believe in Prophet to Come (Muhammad, Pbuh): This was the general covenant particularly with the Prophet Moses and Jesus, still forms part of their scriptures: “The people who were given revelations earlier are bound by their own oaths, sworn solemnly in the presence of their own Prophets: “Behold! God took the covenant of the Prophets saying: “I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an Apostle confirming what is with you; do ye believe him and render him help.” God said: “Do ye agree and take this My Covenant as binding on you?” They said: “We agree.” He said: “Then bear witness and I am with you among the witnesses.” (Qur’an;3:81).
This covenant In the Old Testament as it now exists, Muhammad (Pbuh) is foretold to Moses: “God speaks to Prophet Moses: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not harken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him” (Deuteronomy; 18:18,19). The rise of the Arab nation in Genesis;12:2,3, 17:10-12, 20,21, Isaiah. 42:1-8, 11-13, 60:7, for Kedar was a son of Ishmael and the name is used for the Arab nation (Genesis;25:13).
Covenant in The New Testament still Exists
Muhammad (Pbuh) is foretold in the Gospel of John. 14:16, 25,26, the future Comforter cannot be the Holy Spirit as understood by Christians, because the Holy Spirit already was present, helping and guiding Jesus. The Greek word translated “Comforter” is “Parakletos”, which is an easy corruption from “Periclytos”, which is almost a literal translation of “Muhammad” or “Ahmad”.
[More details about Prophesies of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) in Bible, visit link: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgxfvv3_93c9fjj7cx]
Further, there were other Gospels that have perished but of which traces still remain, which were even more specific in their reference to Muhammad e.g. the Gospel of St. Barnabas of which an Italian translation is extant in the State Library at Vienna. It was edited in 1907 with an English translation by Mr. Lonsdale and Laura Ragg. [URL: https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dgxfvv3_77c5cxzwdc&hl=en]
Israelites Violated The Covenant
With the passage of time the Israelites violated the Covenant as mentioned in Bible:
(1) The Israelites became unfaithful to covenant engagements (Jeremiah;3:6-8, 31:32; Ezekiel;16:59).
(2) Became rebellious against God (Deuteronomy;32:15;9:7; Isaiah;1:2,Exodus;32:9)
(3) They often displeased God by their sins (Numbers;25:3; Deutreronomy;32:16; 1Kings;16:2; Isaiah;1:4; 5:24-25).
(4) They were punished by God for; Idolatry (Psalms;78:58-64; Isaiah;65:3-7), Unbelief (Romans;11:20), Breaking covenant (Isaiah;24:5; Jeremiah; 11:10), Transgressing the law (Isaiah;1:4; 24:5-6), Changing the ordinances (Isaiah;24:5), and Killing the prophets (Matthew;23:37-38, 27:25).
(5) They were scattered among the nations (Deuteronomy;28:64; Ezekiel; 6:8; 36:19).
(6) Despised by the nations (Ezekiel;36:3), their country trodden under foot by the Gentiles (Deuteronomy;28:49-52; Luke;21:24).Their house left desolate (Matthew;24:38) and were deprived of civil and religious privileges (Hosea;3:4).
Jesus Christ, Prophet for Israelites
Finally God sent a prophet for the Israelites, the Bible affirms it: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:” (Acts;2:22).“But he (Jesus) answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. (Matthew;15:24).“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew;4:17). “These twelve (disciples) Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew;10:5-7). Jesus said: “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (Matthew;3:9).
Jesus Christ Forewarned Jews
Jesus said: “Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matthew;21:43),“Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall it be restored? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke;14:34-35, also Matthew;5:16, Mark;9:50). “What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the tenants, and will give the vineyard unto others.” (Mark;12:9).This may also be linked with: “Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in” (Isaiah;26:2). These parables apply to the Jews. They had been the children of the kingdom, or under the reign of God; having his law, and acknowledging him as King. They had been his chosen and peculiar people. But he says that now this privilege should be taken away, and they cease to be the peculiar people of God; and the blessing should be given to a nation who would bring forth the fruits thereof, or be righteous. Keeping in view the Covenant with Abraham (Genesis;12:2,3, 17:10-12, 17:20-21), it obviously refers to the Children of Ishmael, to keep the leadership within the progeny of Abraham.
Jews rejected Jesus and arranged to kill him (Luke 22:63-71, 23:1-56, John;19-42), though his innocence was also acknowledged by Pilate, the Roman ruler (John;19:4).
Deceived By Own Self-Invented Beliefs: Allah says: “The Jews and the Christians say: “We are the children of God and His beloved ones.” Ask them, “Why then does He punish you for your sins? Nay! In fact you are human beings like others which He has created. He forgives whom He pleases and He punishes whom He pleases. To God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and to Him is the final refuge.” (Qur’an;5:18).“This is because they say: “The fire of Hell shall not touch us; even if it does, it will be for a few days.” In their religion they are deceived by their own self-invented beliefs. What will they do when We will gather them together on the Day which is sure to come, when every soul will be given what it has earned and there shall be no injustice? “ (Qur’an;3:24-25).
Thus the Children of Israel as a community did not adhere to the Covenant in totality, though there were some exceptions: God says: “There are some among the people of the Book who truly believe in Allah and what has been revealed to you, (Muhammad), and what has been revealed to them before you. They humble themselves before Allah and do not sell the revelations of Allah for a petty price. For them, there will be a reward from their God. Surely Allah is very swift in settling the accounts.(Qur’an;3:199). “Rest assured that the believers (Muslims), the Jews, the Sabians and the Christians – whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does righteous deeds – will have nothing to fear or to regret”. (Qur’an;5:69). “If they would have believed (in Islam) and kept themselves away from evil, there would have been a better reward from Allah, if they could understand it!” (Qur’an;2:103).
Special Favors and Non Fulfillment of Covenant: God addresses the children of Israel: “O children of Israel! Remember My favors to you; fulfill your covenant with Me and I will fulfill My covenant with you, that you should fear none but Me. Believe in My revelations, which are confirming your scriptures; do not be the first one to deny My revelations, and do not sell them for a petty price, fear Me and Me alone. Do not mix the Truth with falsehood, or knowingly conceal the truth. (Qur’an;2:40-42), “…Do you believe in a part of your Holy Book and reject the rest? So what other punishment do such people among you, who behave like this, deserve, than disgrace in this world and to be driven to grievous punishment on the Day of Judgment? God is not unaware of what you do.” (Qur’an;2:86), “As for those who break their covenant with God after confirming it and cut asunder what God has commanded to be joined and create mischief in the land, they are the ones on whom there shall be a curse and they are the ones who will have a terrible home.”(Qur’an;13:25), “Tell them: “O people of the Book! Do not transgress the bounds of truth in your religion, and do not yield to the fancies of those people who went astray before you, They misled many others and have themselves strayed away from The Right Way.”(Qur’an;5:77).
Rebellion and Disbelief in Scriptures
Rebelliousness of Jews has also been mentioned in Bible: “And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff necked people: (Exodus; 32:9)”;“Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiff-necked people. Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD. Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you.” (Deuteronomy; 9:6-8); “Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice. Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.” (Deuteronomy; 9:23-24), “Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin”: (Deuteronomy; 9:27).
God address the Jews & Christians through Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh): “Tell them: O people of the Book! You have no ground to stand on unless you observe the Torah, Gospel and other revelations that have come to you from your God. This revelation (The Qur’an) which has come to you from your God will surely increase the rebellion and disbelief of many of them but you should not grieve for the disbelievers”(Qur’an;5:68); “If they would have observed the Laws of Torah and the Gospel and other Revelations which were sent to them from their God, they would have certainly enjoyed abundance from above and from beneath. Though there are some among them on the moderate course; but most of them do nothing but evil”. (Qur’an;5:66), “Overshadowed by ignominy are they wherever they may be, save (when they bind themselves again) in a bond with God and a bond with men; for they have earned the burden of God’s condemnation, and are overshadowed by humiliation: for all this (has befallen them)” because they persisted in denying the truth of God’s message and in slaying the prophets against all right: transgressing the bounds of what is right” (Qur’an;3:112); “O people of the Book! there hath come to you Our Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide In the Book, and passing over much (That is Now unnecessary). there hath come to you from God a (new) light and a perspicuous Book (Qur’an;5:13-15).
God Reminds The Covenant
Ask Jews and Christians to Obey The Final Prophet: “Remember Allah’s favor to you and the covenant by which He bound you to Himself when you said: “We hear and we obey.” Have fear of God; surely God knows the secrets of your hearts.” (Qur’an;5:7).; “God accepted a covenant form the Children of Israel and appointed twelve chieftains from among them and said: “I am with you; if you establish Prayers (Salah) pay Alms (Zakah), believe in My Apostles, support them [this includes Prophet Muhammad, Pbuh] and give a generous loan to God (spend in charity), I will certainly forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which the rivers flow. However, if any one of you, after this, violates this covenant, he will indeed go astray from the Right Way. Even after that, they broke their covenant; as a result, We laid on them Our curse and hardened their hearts. They tempered with words out of their context and neglected much of what they were enjoined. You will always find most of them deceitful except for a few of them. Yet forgive them and overlook their misdeeds. God loves those who are kind to others. Likewise We also made a covenant with those who call themselves Christians, but they too have neglected much of what they were enjoined. As a result, We stirred among them enmity and hatred, which will last till the Day of Resurrection and soon God will inform them all of what they have done. O people of the Book (Jews and Christians)! Now Our Messenger (Muhammad) has come to you to reveal much of what you have concealed from the Holy Books and to pass over much which is no longer necessary. There has come to you from God a new Light and a clear Book (Qur’an), with which God will guide to the ways of peace all those who seek His good pleasure and bring them out of the depth of darkness into the light of His grace and guide them to the Right Way.” (Qur’an;5:12-15).
“Do you claim that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants were all Jews or Christians? Are you more knowledgeable than God?” Who is more wicked than the one who hides the testimony he has received from God? Allah is not unaware of what you do.” (Qur’an;2:140); “So if they argue with you (O Muhammad), tell them: “I have submitted myself entirely to God and so have those who follow me.” Then ask those who are given the Book and those who are illiterates: “Will you also submit yourselves to God?” If they become Muslims they shall be rightly guided but if they turn back, you need not worry, because your sole responsibility is to convey the Message. God is watching all His servants very closely.” (Qur’an;3:20).
Covenant Fulfillment with Abraham through Muslims
The role of leadership of mankind to convey the message of God is now the responsibility of Muslims, God says: “We have made you a (umuh-wasta, middle, central) middle way nation so that you may testify against mankind and that your own Messenger (Muhammad) may testify against you.” (Qur’an;2:143). The place of Remote House of Worship at Jerusalem, is sacred to Muslims as well, being their prayer direction for initial few months at Medina, till changed to Makkah, the original house of worship built by Abraham and his son Ishmael. Later it also became venue of Prophet’s mystic journey, (Mara’j) hence highly revered by Muslims: “Glory to (God) Who transported His Servant (Muhammad) by night from the inviolable House of Worship (at Makkah) to the Remote House of Worship (at Jerusalem) the environs of which we had Blessed..”. (Qur’an;17:1)
Muhammad Asad [Leopold Weiss (1900-1992), Jewish convert to Islam, a scholar] writes: “It should be noted that the Prophet’s Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, immediately preceding his Ascension was apparently meant to show that Islam is not a new doctrine but a continuation of the same divine message which was preached by the prophets of old, who had Jerusalem as their spiritual home, This view is supported by Traditions (quoted in Fath al-Bari VII, 158), according to which the Prophet, during his Night Journey, also offered prayers at Yathrib, Sinai, Bethlehem, etc. His encounters with other prophets, mentioned in this connection, symbolize the same idea. The well-known Traditions to the effect that on the occasion of his Night Journey the Prophet led a prayer in the Temple of Jerusalem, in which all other prophets ranged themselves behind him, expresses in a figurative manner the doctrine that Islam, as preached by the Prophet Muhammad, is the fulfillment and perfection of mankind’s religious development, and that Muhammad (pbuh) was the last and the greatest of God’s message-bearers”.
Another Perspective
Sheikh Ahmed Deedat (may God bless him), the renowned scholar and expert on Bible gives another aspect with references from Bible. Here is his perspective:
If you ask any Jew in Israel, “Who gave you Palestine?” They have all programmed themselves with the idea of Genesis 17:8. Without the slightest hesitation every Jew will reply ‘GOD!’ That it was God Almighty who had given Palestine, to the Jews. But over 75% of the Israeli Jews if questioned “Do you believe in God?” They immediately respond with “NO!” Yet these atheist and agnostic Jews falsely use God’s name for their usurpation of the land of the Palestinians.
Examine Their Fanciful Claim!: Memorise the above verse in full – “And I will give unto thee.. ..all the land of Canaan…” Gen.17:8. It will prove invaluable against all Christian and Jewish Zionists. So this is the Jewish “Holy Tide Deed” to see and bring about its fulfillment, the Muslims have done nothing over the past thousand years to remove this misconception! They have to convince the Jews and the Christians to the fact that morally and ethically the Jews have no right to Palestine.
True Test of Prophecy
He had a discussion, while the other Jews were keenly following the discussion he told a Jew: ‘What you have quoted from your Torah’ (the first 5 Books of the Bible are common to both the Jews and Christians), is a prophecy of what God Almighty had promised to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” He replied, ‘Yes!’ he said, “God gives us in the Torah a test with which we can ascertain whether a prophecy attributed to Him is actually His Word or not. He :says And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not ? spoken When a prophet speaketh in the name of the lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing the Lord hath not spoken, but the Prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Holy Bible (Deuteronomy 18:21- 22)
He (Deedat) asked him, “Is this a valid test?” To which he replied, “Yes!” I said, “Then let us apply it to the – prophecy!” The Torah says that on the death of Abraham And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave….The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Herb: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. Holy Bible (Genesis 25:9-10)
And further, the Bible testifies about God’s unfulfilled “Promises to the patriarch Abraham and the :elders of Israel in these words These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off.. Holy Bible (Hebrews 11:13) And can anything be more explicit than these statements from the Holy Writ And God said unto him (Abraham), Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, .and come into the land which I shall show thee Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Haran; and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land (Palestine) in which ye now dwell And he (God) gave him (Abraham) no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot upon; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him….. Holy Bible (Acts 7:3-5)
Still Some Good Jews
I asked my Jewish visitors whether these simple facts were “Gospel Truth”, and to my amazement he as a spokesman of the group, answered, “YES!” This confirmed for me this Qur’anic statement: “That among them (the Jews and the Christians) are mu’mins (sincere, faithful people) but the majority of them are perverted transgressors.” (Qur’an 3:110).
We must find ways and means of communicating with these Mu’mins – sincere, godly people .among the Jews and the Christians When my employer agreed that the facts of unfulfilled promises in the Bible were, according to his knowledge correct, I said. “In that case God Almighty could never have made such promises, God also confirms in the Holy Qur’an that if He makes a promise, His promise MUST ‘come to pass’ in Deuteronomy 18:22
The Promise of Allah is True: Holy Qur’an 4:122
The conclusion was that the Jewish title deed to Palestine based on the prophecy of Genesis 17:8 was invalidated by the test given in the last Will and Testament of Moses – Deuteronomy 18:22. For a reasonable Jew the discussion would be over. But (Deedat) wanted to pursue the dialogue further, so he said, “I am prepared to concede that God did make such a promise as “I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting) possession.”
Abraham’s Seed
Conceding the point that the prophecy in question was authoritative, I asked, “Who is the seed of Abraham?” Without the slightest hesitation Mr. Beare replied, “We, the Jews!” I said, “No doubt, you are the sons and seed of Abraham, but are you the only seed? No less than in twelve places, in the first Book of the Bible, Ishmael the progenitor of the Arabs is :spoken of as the son and seed of Abraham And Hagar bore Abram (changed to Abraham by God in Genesis 17:5) a son: and:
1) Abram ceded his SON’S name, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Holy Bible (Genesis 16:15) And Abraham took Ishmael, his SON… (Genesis 17:23) .
2) And Ishmael, his SON, was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh .
3) of his foreskin. Holy Bible (Genesis 17:25) In the very same day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael, his SON. (Genesis 17:26)
4) And his SONS Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron… (Genesis 25:9)
Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s SON, whom Hagar the Egyptian…. (Genesis 25:12)
If the Lord God, disdaineth not to recognise Ishmael as the SON and SEED of Abraham in the Torah, who are we to deny him his patrimony. Indeed, God will not allow the rights of the “first-born” to be jeopardised even if the child is the offspring of a hated wife (Deuteronomy 21:16)
Why should not the Children of Ishmael (the Arabs) and the Children of Isaac (the Jews) live in peace and harmony and enjoy the blessings of God together in the land of promise?
Is Might Right?
Theoretically the Jew was prepared to concede the points, but prejudices die hard. He retorted, “Palestine belonged to us, we ruled it under David and Solomon!” I said, “Sir, if having ruled a territory once by force of arms entitles you to repossess it, then we Muslims, if we had the power, would equally be justified to re-conquer Spain. We Muslims ruled that country for almost eight hundred years. A longer period of time than the Jews ever ruled parts of Palestine! The only thing really worth seeing in Spain are the magnificent gardens and fountains, and monumental buildings the Muslims left behind. Does that entitle the Muslims to re-colonise Spain? And on the same basis, would the Dutch be entitled to invade Indonesia, because their ancestors ruled it for three centuries? Or, could the Italians lay claim to Britain because the Romans ruled it”?
At one stage under Caesar No!” said Mr. Beare, “Those were foreign conquests, but Palestine is our Motherland, we have” only taken back what we have been wrongfully dispossessed” “I beg your pardon,” I said, “there is a grave historical oversight on your part here. The Jews also, under Joshua, invaded Palestine over three thousand years ago and conquered the inhabitants of the land. It was no virgin territory ready to be betrothed. You conquered thirty kingdoms in as many days (Joshua 12:24). Twelve united tribes of Israel against each divided village state, with their little village chief whom you called “kings!” So you knocked over the Amorites, the Edomites, the Philistines, the Moabites, the Hittites and other too numerous to mention. You destroyed them utterly and they came back for more. And again you “destroyed them utterly,” and yet they were there And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. (Joshua 6:21)
Cry With Rodinson
With all the destruction of past, present and future for Israel there is a perpetual spectre of war. Without friendly co-operation with the Arabs there can be no solution to the Jewish problem in Palestine. Morally and ethically the Jews have no right to Palestine. Rodinson, an elite Jew says – in his book – “Israel and the Arabs:
But for one thing, they (the Israelis) cannot be said to have a historic right to a piece of territory because:
1. Some of their ancestors supposedly inhabited it two thousand years ago.
2. For another, they ought to recognize that they have done a considerable wrong to another people in depriving them of rights at least as great as their own, the bitterness felt by the people to whom this wrong was done still persists, and as long as it does, the rights of the Israelis will remain purely hypothetical.
3. They can only hope that the Arabs will one day recognize and accept them, only then will their rights become real. The Arabs, too, have rights.
4. In many respects, they may justifiably be held to be greater than Israelis. The Arabs of Palestine have the same rights over Palestine territory as the French exercise in France and the English in England. These rights have been violated without any provocation on their part.
5. The wrong done to the Arabs by the Israelis is very real with all the admissions, confessions and mortifications, the Jew persists – we possess Palestine, we keep Palestine! Possession is nine-tenth of the law, this was the attitude of my Jewish visitor too.
So, I asked:
“How did you (meaning the Jews) possess it?” By force of arms?”. Then by force of arms the Arabs have every right to seek to repossess their homeland.” To be concluded ………
Links/References
http://freebookpark.blogspot.com/2012/06/zionism-bible-quran.html
