The argument against three salat concept

Salam,

There is some claim that since there are only three names of salat mentioned in the Quran some interpreters take to mean that God commanded Muslims to establish the salat at three specific times. To determine whether three names of salat is the source of three times of prayer one has to revert back to the original command of God ordained in the Quran.

The command to establish salat or obligatory prayers

In the Quran the command to establish the salat is clear that it is to be done at specific time and this specific timing is fixed by God and not at the whims and fancies of anybody. It is stated in the following verse the time is ordained by God:

When ye pass (Congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah's praises, standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from danger, set up regular prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times. (Surah 4:103)

It is also stated in the Quran that the specific times ordained by God cannot be compromised whatsoever because whatever you are doing or wherever you maybe the salat has to be established at the specific times:

Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers and the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). If ye fear (missing the prayers), pray on foot, or riding, (as may be most convenient), but when ye are in security, celebrate Allah's praises in the manner He has taught you, which ye knew not (before). (Surah 2:238-239)

O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on a day of assembly, hastens earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew! (Surah 62:9)

The time commanded by God is precise that it is easily determined and easily understood as has been stated in the Quran and as an example of noon it is at the time when the sun decline from its zenith as being clearly expounded in the following verse quoted below:

Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline towards the darkness of the night, and the morning reading: for the reading (the Quran) in the morning carry their testimony. (Surah 17:78)

  

The name of salat is designed not only to determine the specific times of prayer but the name is also being utilized for other purposes.

1.The names of salat is also to determine the time of family privacy times and to dedicate the time for household daily etiquette.

With the names “salat fajar” and the “salat Isha” the time is not only for salat or prayer, the names are also to indicate the privacy times in the morning and the night when the siblings is to take note that they cannot simply enter the parents rooms without giving any proper signal at those specific times as stated in the following verse:

O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and the (children) among you who have not come of age ask your permission (before they come to your presence), on three occasions: before morning prayer; the while ye doff your clothes for the noonday heat; and after the late-night prayer: these are your three times of privacy: outside those times it is not wrong for you or for them to move about attending to each other: Thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. (Surah 24:58)

So the names of the salat and the time of noon is to point towards the specific times when the parents are to left by themselves and certain etiquette is to be maintained if the children were to meet them.

2. The name middle salat or the Salat Wusta is not for a salat name exclusively it is also designed to indicate the number of obligatory prayers one has to establish daily.

The Quran in Arabic shows a clear indication the number of salat that is commanded by God according to specific times daily. The name Middle Salat verified that the total number must be an odd number of three or five or seven which can carry a middle number. And the role of middle salat is not only a name of salat it function as a middle salat in term of name and of time difference between adjoining salat. The middle salat must be in a position midway of equal time from and towards two adjoining salat time. The name middle salat is stated in the following verse:

Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers (salawaat) and the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). (Surah 2:238)

Some translators used “Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers especially the Middle Prayer” but there is no Arabic “awwal or aula” to indicate foremost or especially in the above Arabic text as compare to other examples of the Quran to put an “emphasis” it should be stated as in the following verse:

…..But kindred by blood have prior rights (aulaa) against each other in the Book of Allah. Verily Allah is well-acquainted with all things. (Surah 8:75)

So to insert the word “especially or foremost” instead of the simple “wa” or “and” in the surah 2:238 is therefore erroneous and misleading. The obligatory salat must be treated equal in important none is better than the other. Praying to God at any of the times fixed by Him carries the same virtue.

It is with the Arabic text that it cannot be disputed that the meaning in English of the Surah 2:238 which says “preserves all your prayers “salawaat” and the “Middle salat” gives the true number of total salat to be done daily.

The beauty of Arabic language is that there is the singular, the dual and the plural. Thus the plural of “salawaat” is not less than three but three with an extra one in a total of four cannot have a middle salat. That is the very reason in the Surah 2:238 the middle salat must be accompanied by four salat from the Arabic word “salawaat” making the total of five.

In the case of three salat in total ordained by God daily the middle salat is accompanied with two adjoining salat this will contradict with the Arabic text in the Quran. There is no Arabic dual word “salatain” in the Quran to accommodate the two salat plus the middle salat or three salat’s hypothesis.

Exposing the discrepancies created by the proponents of three salat.

The basis by which the mentors of the practice of three salat derived their belief is that since there are three names of salat in the Quran then God must have commanded Muslims to pray at only three specific times during the day. They claimed that the three names is the determinant of three salat times in the Quran and any other timing must suit itself into one of the names of salat mentioned in the Quran.

There is however two prominent groups of those practicing three salat and the differences of their belief are stated below:

Three Salat at sunrise (Salat Fajri), sunset (Salat Wusta) and early night (Salat Isha)

1.This group believes that one verse quoted in the Quran is conclusive enough conveying the three times to establish salat which coincide with the three names of salat mentioned in the Surah 24:58 the Salat Fajri (early part of the day) and Salat Isha (early part of the night) and Surah 2:238 mentioning the name Salat Wusta or the middle prayer. The Surah commanding the three specific timing is stated in the following verse:

And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: …..(Surah 11:114)

The proponents of this group who practice three salat concluded that the three salat names that were mention in the Quran is reflective of the timings stated in the above Surah. They claimed that the names Salat Fajri takes the early end of the day while Salat Wusta take the other end of the day and Salat Isha take the early part of the night salat. So they have two salat during the day and another salat during the night. They claimed this is conclusive enough that there are three salat names which matched with these three salat times.

Contrary to most opinion that the Surah 17:78 “Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline towards the darkness of the night…” is understood to be at the time of noon, they contended that this sun’s decline is actually at sunset and this coincide with the further end of the day salat as stated in the Surah 11:114 of the two ends of the day. There is no noon salat.

This group also claim that the command to establish salat on the Surah 62:9 which says “O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to salat on a day of assembly, hastens earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic):….” and this is also interpreted to be at the far end of the day as stated in the same Surah 11:114 which mentioned to establish the prayer at the two ends of the day. Therefore they have the salat at dawn, at sunset and at the early part of the night.

However this understanding creates distortion in the meaning of some of the words relating to salat and cause discrepancies and God says in Surah 4:82 “Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.” Their understanding is thus questionable.

First there is a clear distortion in the definition of “middle salat” according to this hypothesis. The time between the adjoining salat to its middle salat is in total distortion. The length of time from sunrise to sunset and from sunset to the early night salat which is about twelve hours verses two hours respectively disqualify sunset as being the middle salat. The criterion of middle salat is not only in name but the timing which must exhibit its true meaning of middle between two adjoining equal time frames from the center.

Secondly their view that the Surah 62:9 calling to salat at business time is also at sunset generate further contradiction in the Quran. It is stated at the verse 62:10 after finishing this salat believers were supposed to seek bounty as the Quran says “And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the bounty of Allah….” If this time is taken as at sunset they would end up seeking bounty at night after sunset which contradicts with the following verses of the Quran fostering seeking bounty during daytime:

He it is Whom hath made you the night that ye may rest therein, and the day to make things visible (to you). Verily in this are signs for those who listen (to His Message). (Surah 10:67)

We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs: the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the Day We have made to enlighten you; that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number and count of the years: all things have We explained in detail. (Surah 17:12)

Thus the propagators of the Quran based on the above understanding is therefore faulty and distorting as it does not conform with the true message of the timings to establish the salat during the day.

  

Proponents of three Salat at dawn (Salat fajri), noon (Salat Wusta) and sunset (Salat Isha)

Then there is another group who practice three salat juggling the times of salat to suit the three names of salat mentioned in the Quran. They claimed the three salat times are two ends of the day at Surah 11:114 and the middle salat at noon is the one mentioned in Surah 17:78. They do not accept Surah 11:114 of God commanding to establish three salat but they believe it is only two salat times.

They claimed the Surah 11:114 is speaking of two salat time which is two ends of the day. The early end speaks of Salat fajri while the other far end speaks of the Salat Isha. They believe that it is two salat times because sunrise and sunset (the two ends of the day) are events that take less than 2 minutes to be completed. It is only with the addition of the words "wa zulufan min al-layl" in the same verse that they are given a time range as to when these two salat are to be observed.

They claimed that the root of the word "zulufann" is "Zulfa". The word "Zulfa" is used in the Quran to mean near or close. As a result, the phrase "zulufann min al-layl" means the near parts of the night. The obvious question is: near to what? Nothing can be described as 'near' in absolute terms. The word 'near' can only have a meaning when one have a reference point to which this thing is near to. For example, one cannot say "my house is near" nor "the chair is near"! These phrases on their own do not have any meaning, but one can say "my house is near the school" and "the chair is near the table.

From this they see to read Surah 11:114 and make inference what God mean by 'near parts of the night', or in other words, near to what? The only other reference points given in 11:114 are the "ends of the day", which are sunrise and sunset. As a result, the words "zulufann min al-layl" can only mean the parts of the night which are near to sunrise and sunset.

As a result, 11:114 speaks of two salat only, and God is giving us they claimed in 11:114 the range of two salat. The range for the two salat are the parts of the night which are just before sunrise and immediately after sunset.

However this understanding is questionable on the belief that God command only two salat in the Surah 11:114 instead of three. It causes errors and contradiction with other verses of the Quran.

First their claim that sunrise or “fajar” is bordering the night is not true because the Quran mentioned early morning of “suboh” is earlier than fajar as stated below of the morning which is near part of the night:

(The Messengers) said: "O Lut! We are Messengers from thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! Now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind): To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning (Assubhi) is their time appointed: Is not the morning (assubhu) nigh?" (Surah 11:81)

The above verse of the Quran clearly show morning of “suboh” is nearer the night and this discard their claim that two ends of the day makes up of the salat fajri and the salat Isha which is near parts of the night. The command to establish the salat fajri is located at the time after morning suboh.

Another evident which proves that “suboh” is earlier than “fajar” is stated in the following verses of the Quran:

So verily I call to witness the planets - that recede, Go straight, or hide; and the night as it dissipates; and the dawn (assubhi) as it breathes away the darkness. (Surah 81:15-18)

Furthermore it is not true to say sunrise and sunset (the two ends of the day) are events that take less than 2 minutes to be completed and impossible to establish the salat. This is a weak excuse because sun rises until noon when it will decline from its zenith and for sunset the time is not two minutes but the time takes as long as the sun hits the horizon and sink completely when the day becomes total darkness. The prayer at two ends of the days therefore is to be done as the sun hits at the horizon during two ends of the day when it is still bright.

Another argument against the three salat concept is their three timings at sunrise (fajar), at the decline of the sun at noon (wusta) and the early night time (isha) contradict to the time exhibit in the scenario presented in the Surah 62:9 -11 as stated in the following verses:

O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on a day of Assembly, hastens earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew! And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper. But when they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave thee standing. Say: "The (blessing) from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! And Allah is the Best to provide (for all needs)."

The scenario above cannot be at sunrise (fajar) because before sunrise normally people were asleep. The above give an impression of a time there is trading and amusement or sports and none of this is done before the time of fajar. The time of early night or Isha is also impossible to fit into the scenario as the night is for rest as advocate by God in the following verse:

He it is Whom hath made you the night that ye may rest therein, and the day to make things visible (to you). Verily in this are signs for those who listen (to His Message). (Surah 10:67)

Their wusta time or at the decline of the sun at noon also contradict the calling people to salat at the time of business as visualize in the Surah 62:9-10. Noon is not the time of business, it is unlikely any call is being made at this time as noon is a time of privacy where people take a nap after the noon meal or this is a time of “undress’ as they rested from the morning activities. Business will resume only in the later afternoon and this is the actual time depicted in the above mentioned Surah 62:10.

It is obvious that when God commanded five times of obligatory prayer any manipulation to reduce the number will cause discrepancies and contradictions with other verses of the Quran. Hence it is proven that if the advocates of the three salat moves the time of their salat at Surah 62:9-10 outside the three timings given by them it will only mean the time is fixed at their own whims and fancies and the number of times they perform their salat during the day becomes more than three.

Conclusion

God does not command to establish the obligatory daily Salat based on name it is based on time and He is the one who fixed the time.

Surah 4:103

When ye pass (Congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah's praises, standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from danger, set up Regular Prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times.

The timings He fixed are five times daily as follows:

Surah 17:78

You shall observe the obligatory Prayer (Salat) when the sun declines from its highest point at noon, as it moves towards sunset. You shall also observe (the recitation of) the Quran at dawn. (Reciting) the Quran at dawn is witnessed.

Surah 62:9-10

O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to do obligatory prayer on a day of congregation, hastens earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew! And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper.

Surah 11:114

You shall observe the obligatory Prayers (Salat) at both ends of the day (tarafay al-nahar), and the early parts of the night (wa zulafan minal layl). The righteous works wipe out the evil works. This is a reminder for those who would take heed.

The timings is therefore as follows when the sun rise in the morning, when the sun decline from its zenith at noon, to be done at business time in the afternoon, when the sun decline at sunset and at early part of the night when it is completely in darkness.

It can be witnessed from the five times mentioned above the time to do salat at the time of business in the late afternoon is ordained to be the middle salat. This is because it is located in the center between sun’s decline at noon and sunset as its adjoining points where the time frame is at equal distance from the center point being the middle salat.   

If the salat at business time is moved earlier to that point between the salat fajar and sun decline at noon you will notice the sun’s decline at noon will take the role of the middle salat but this will distort the definition of middle as the time distance from the business before noon salat will not be equal to the time frame from noon to sunset salat.

Thus none can manipulate God message if He ordained five time daily obligatory salat it can never be attributed with discrepancy or contradiction to that of other verses in the Quran.

ASAR



A brief concept and application of Christian and Islamic beliefs

Salam,

Both Christian and Muslim believe and strive to do good deeds in this world in order to have an eternal life in the hereafter by entering heaven. Apart from doing good deeds there are extra requirements that both faithful must fulfill.

As for the Christian, to enter heaven they have to believe that Jesus is God that was why with the grace and mercy of God, He sent His only begotten son Jesus to be sacrificed on the cross and to die for the sins of human kind. The belief that Jesus is God is taken from the Bible which says that:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Therefore to gain salvation a Christian has to confess his sins and to believe that Jesus died for his sins. Everyone will not be free of sin and has to confess his sins as stated in the following verses of the Bible:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Roman 10:9-10)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Roman 3:23-24)

In Islam, to have an eternal life and to enter heaven a Muslim have to uphold the commandments, he is to believe and worship only one God Allah. And Allah says about Himself in His Book the Quran He is the Creator of everything as He created the human and thus He commanded human to worship Him as stated in the following verses:

I have only created Jinns and men that they may worship Me. (Surah 51:56)

"Verily, I am Allah: There is no god but I: So worship thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise. (Surah 20:14)

However to gain salvation the Muslims are not to idolize any other being besides or along with Allah. To God the most heinous crime is to put partners beside Him and this is stated clearly in the teaching of the Quran as follows:

Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgive anything else to whom He please; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed. (Surah 4:48)

Allah forgives not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgive whom He please other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah, Hath strayed far, far away (from the right). (Surah 4:116)

However with the grace and mercy of Allah the door of repentance is always open and he who repent, He will forgive as He will, depending on our sincerity. For only God knows our innermost thoughts.

"But, without doubt, I am (also) He that forgives again and again, to those who repent, believe, and do right, who, in fine, are ready to receive true guidance."

(Surah 20:82)

If any one does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah 4:110)

The Christians worship the Father, the Holy Ghost and Jesus as God

Since Christians believe that Jesus is God, therefore they worship him as they worship God as they believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost is one of the three in a trinity. They interpreted the following verses of the Bible in what is being said by Jesus is he is also God as the vision of God is in him:

Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:9-10)

Jesus forgives sins and therefore he is God as only God can forgive sins and he is sinless. And the Christians believe that the Word which with God in the beginning was Jesus and the interpretation is, although Jesus was with God they are not separated but one and the same identity. The following verse of the Bible is taken to mean not only God was the beginning Jesus was there too in the beginning. The following verse of the Bible gives this interpretation:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

Since the Word is interpreted to be “Jesus” as the beginning in John 1:1 the meaning of the verse is therefore “In the beginning was Jesus and Jesus was with God and Jesus was God. With this interpretation however it deprived the beginning of the Holy Ghost as there will be an error of omission in the Bible.

It is also interpreted from the verses of the Bible that Jesus claim his kingdom is not of this world and that he is the savior of mankind and therefore he is God:

Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is borne this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

The Christians worship Jesus is also because he is regarded as sinless and he is claimed to be the only begotten son of God and he is therefore God. The Bible says:

All human sins: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Roman 3:23-24)

Lovable God: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Thus the Christians believe that only through Jesus they will enter paradise without him no one will taste heaven.

The Muslims only worship Allah

On the other hand, Muslim worship only One God and there is no other representative besides Him, neither has He a son nor appear as a man but He is to be worshipped as an unseen God:

He is Allah, the one and only; Allah the eternal. Absolute; He beget not nor is he begotten; and there is none unto like Him (Surah 112)

No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things. (Surah 6:103)

And Muslims believe that only God Allah can forgive sin none others and He is the First and He is the Beginning while His words which He taught His creatures come after that:

And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins, and who can forgive sins except Allah? And are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done. (Surah 3:135)

To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: It is He Who gives Life and Death; and He has Power over all things. He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Immanent: and He has full knowledge of all things.

(Surah 57:3-4)

And put thy trust in Him Who lives and dies not; and celebrate his praise; and enough is He to be acquainted with the faults of His servants. (Surah 25:58)

No Sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me. For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance, Lord of Power, Steadfast (for ever).

(Surah 51:57-58)

 And call not, besides Allah, on another god. There is no god but He. Everything (that exists) will perish except His “own Face” (Presence). To Him belongs the Command, and to Him will ye (all) be brought back. (Surah 28:88)

He taught Adam of His words:

Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

(Surah 2:37)

For to anything which We have willed, We but say the word, "Be", and it is. (Surah 16:40)

Unlike Jews and Christians who have no specific names for God Muslims are commanded to worship God alone and to mention His Names during worship as commanded by Him in His Book the Quran and to shun any other names which has been invented without His authority:

"Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and of all that is between them; so worship Him, and be constant and patient in His worship: know thou of any who is worthy of the same Name as He?" (Surah 19:65)

He said: "Punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord: dispute ye with me over names which ye have devised - ye and your fathers, without authority from Allah? Then wait: I am amongst you, also waiting."

(Surah 7:71)

God whom the Muslims worship is never absent in term of place and in term of time He is ever presence and none can escape His authority and Judgment:

 And verily, We shall recount their whole story with knowledge, for We were never absent (at any time or place). (Surah 7:7)

When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he call on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.

(Surah 2:186)

The choice is yours to take salvation through Jesus the Son of God or through God only who is Allah “The One God”.

On the Day of Judgment all will be judged for the deeds which they have forwarded in this world and the true God will appear by the attributes as described in truth in His Holy Books and He will be presence as the ultimate Judge. The correct belief will come to pass.

In Christianity it is being propagated that Jesus taught that anyone who believes in Him "shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" as stated in John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Christians therefore will conclude that those who have been "born again" by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will be transformed into a heavenly state when Jesus Christ comes back again. All of these people, according to the apostle Paul, will answer for their Christian service and stewardship at the "judgment seat of Christ" at that time as stated in the following verses:

But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)

To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; (2 Corinthians 5:10)

None of these true believers, however, will face eternal condemnation at the Great White Throne, because Jesus Christ has already paid for their sins at Calvary (A hill outside ancient Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified).

"Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

Salvation is through the One God Allah is the only path.

On the contrary in Islam salvation belong to God alone as He is the One who can save and none can intercede except with His permission and He only accepts those who intercede for a good cause as stated in the following verses:

O ye who believe! Spend out of (the bounties) We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (Will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith they are the wrong-doers. (Surah 2:254)

Whoever intercedes for a good purpose will receive his share of the reward but the intercession for an evil purpose only adds more to one's burden. God has control over all things. (Surah 4:85)

Allah promise the good in this world and the hereafter for believers

Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions. (Surah 16:97)

"He that works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof: and he that works a righteous deed - whether man or woman - and is a Believer- such will enter the Garden (of Bliss): Therein will they have abundance without measure.

(Surah 40:40)

Allah will deliver those who believe and work righteousness and abandon the evils ones on the Day of Judgment.

So, by thy Lord, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and (also) the Evil Ones (with them); then shall We bring them forth on their knees round about Hell; Then shall We certainly drag out from every sect all those who were worst in obstinate rebellion against (Allah) Most Gracious. And certainly We know best those who are most worthy of being burned therein. Not one of you but will pass over it: this is, with thy Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. But We shall save those who guarded against evil, and We shall leave the wrong-doers therein, (humbled) to their knees. (Surah 19:68-72)

To be delivered one has to worship God alone and not to put partners to God whether it being a son or wife or other entities invented by human faculties. Allah says in the Quran:

Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore worship Me (and no other). (Surah 21:92)

Among His Signs are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon. Do not prostrate to the sun and the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him ye wish to worship. (Surah 41:37)

Those to whom We have given the Book rejoice at what hath been revealed unto thee: but there are among the clans those who reject a part thereof. Say: "I am commanded to worship Allah, and not to join partners with Him. Unto Him do I call, and unto Him is my return." (Surah 13:36)

Allah makes it easy His path to salvation there is no necessity the intercession of “a middleman”. Allah is directly approachable:

If any one does a righteous deed, it ensures to the benefit of his soul; if he does evil, it works against (his own soul). In the end will ye (all) be brought back to your Lord. (Surah 45:15)

Say: "Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the sustenance to such of his servants as He pleases: and nothing do ye spend in the least (in His cause) but He replaces it: for He is the Best of those who grant Sustenance. (Surah 34:39)

We shall set up scales of justice for the Day of Judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least, and if there be (no more than) the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it (to account): and enough are We to take account. (Surah 21:47)

He that doeth good shall have ten times as much to his credit: He that doeth evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil: no wrong shall be done unto (any of) them. (Surah 6:160)

Only those who disbelieve and who reject with arrogance to His message in the Holy Books will be of those unfortunate in this world and more in the hereafter:

And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): but those who are too arrogant to worship Me will surely find themselves in Hell - in humiliation!" (Surah 40:60)

"And O ye in sin! Get ye apart this Day! "Did I not enjoin on you, O ye Children of Adam, that ye should not worship Satan; for that he was to you an enemy avowed? "And that ye should worship Me, (for that) this was the Straight Way? "But he did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did ye not, then, understand? (Surah 36:59-64)

Finally the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was inspired by God to say to all human kind:

"I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner. (Surah 18:110)

ASAR

Identifying a Divine Book (The Quran) from an adulterated one (The Bible)

Salam,

Below is a checklist as a guidance to verify how and what are the criteria to justify whether the Book is genuinely divine without corruption as compared to an adulterated one.

1.The Holy Books of God must be inspired and written by pious people.

It is stated and sustained in the Quran that the Book was inspired to only one man, Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). It was through the Angel Gabriel that he received the oral inspiration which he memorized and put in a book form.

The Inspirations the Prophet received revealed through Gabriel is stated in the following verses of the Quran:

Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel-for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe. (Surah 2:97)

And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful. Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds: With it came down the spirit of Faith and Truth - To thy heart and mind, that thou mayest admonish in the perspicuous Arabic tongue. (Surah 26:191-195)

And the inspiration is then written in the form of a book even during the time of the Prophet Muhammad:

And they say: "Tales of the ancients, which he has caused to be written: and they are dictated before him morning and evening." (Surah 25:5)

By no means (should it be so)! For it is indeed a Message of instruction: Therefore let whoso will, keep it in remembrance. (It is) in Books held (greatly) in honor, Exalted (in dignity), kept pure and holy, (Written) by the hands of scribes- Honorable and Pious and Just. (Surah 80:11-16)

As to thee, the Qur'an is bestowed upon thee from the presence of one who is wise and all-knowing. (Surah 27:6)

Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide. (Surah 39:23)

The Message must be genuine and there is guaranty that no alteration is permitted in its original form. The Quran has this confirmation:

If thou bring them not a revelation, they say: "Why hast thou not got it together?" Say: "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord: this is (nothing but) lights from your Lord, and guidance, and mercy, for any who have faith." (Surah 7:203)

That this is verily the word of an honored apostle; It is not the word of a poet: little it is ye believe! Nor is it the word of a soothsayer: little admonition it is ye receive. (This is) a Message sent down from the Lord of the Worlds.  And if the apostle were to invent any sayings in Our name, We should certainly seize him by his right hand, And We should certainly then cut off the artery of his heart: Nor could any of you withhold him (from Our wrath).But verily this is a Message for the God fearing. And We certainly know that there are amongst you those that reject (it). But truly (Revelation) is a cause of sorrow for the Unbelievers. But verily it is truth of assured certainty. (Surah 69:40-51)

However the Bible gave a different narration on the origin of the book or books of its divination. It is claimed by the Christians that the Bible was inspired to many people and was written by human authors on a series of books that witnessed to God’s revelation of Himself through history. This cognition is taken from the Bible from the following verses as stated:  

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:15-20)

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. (Ephesians 3:1-6)

2.The criterion that the Holy Books must be without crookedness

A divine book must demonstrate the evidence of integrity in fineness of words and stories that it is suitable to be read basically all category groups of people and it must be free of deviousness. It is stated in the Quran this will not happen:

Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no crookedness: (He hath made it) straight (and clear) in order that He may warn (the godless) of a terrible punishment from Him, and that He may give glad tidings to the believers who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a goodly Reward. (Surah 18:1-2)

(It is) a Qur'an in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against evil. (Surah 39:28)

The word of thy Lord doth find its fulfillment in truth and in justice: None can change His words: for He is the one who heareth and knoweth all. (Surah 6:115)

"And Allah by His words doth prove and establish His truth, however much the sinners may hate it!" (Surah 10:82)

We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, in that We reveal to thee this (portion of the) Qur'an: before this, thou too was among those who knew it not. (Surah 12:3)

Thus do We relate to thee some stories of what happened before: for We have sent thee a Message from Our own Presence. (Surah 20:99)

This fineness of words can then be compared how the statement on prostitution is being put into words in the Quran as compared to the Bible:

Let those who find not the wherewithal for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah gives them means out of His grace. And if any of your slaves ask for a deed in writing (to enable them to earn their freedom for a certain sum), give them such a deed if ye know any good in them: yea, give them something yourselves out of the means which Allah has given to you. But force not your maids to prostitution when they desire chastity, in order that ye may make a gain in the goods of this life. But if anyone compels them, yet, after such compulsion, is Allah, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to them), (Surah 24:33)

On the contrary in the Bible there are examples of not only filthiness of words used but the message is in conflict and incriminate the true moral character of the prophets of God who represents Him in this world. The following is an example of the Prophet Lut:

And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yester night with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

(Genesis 19:33-35)

And in another example, it is unimaginable to acknowledge that this is what God says about prostitution in a divine Book as nearly the whole of Chapter 16 of the Book of Ezekiel is about prostitution and it is very unusual for a religious book to be so. Some examples are stated in verses 36 and 37:

Thus saith the Lord God; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them; Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them roundabout against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.

3.The messages of the Holy Books must be preserved

There are many ways a message can be preserved and one of it is that the book is to be preserved in its original language and the Quran is still preserved in the original Arabic language and has not been altered since and it is memorized by many Muslims all over the world:

(It is) a Qur'an in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against Evil. (Surah 39:28)

We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption). (Surah 15:9)

Move not thy tongue concerning the (Qur'an) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it: But when We have promulgated it, follow thou its recital (as promulgated): Nay more, it is for Us to explain it (and make it clear): (Surah 75:16-19)

The revelation of this Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom. Verily it is We Who have revealed the Book to thee in Truth: so serve Allah, offering Him sincere devotion. (Surah 39:1-2)

Thus have We revealed it to be a judgment of authority in Arabic. Wert thou to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither protector nor defender against Allah. (Surah 13:37)

That We might make it a Message unto you, and that ears (that should hear the tale and) retain its memory should bear its (lessons) in remembrance.

(Surah 69:12)

By degrees shall We teach thee to declare (the Message), so thou shalt not forget, except as Allah wills: For He knoweth what is manifest and what is hidden. (Surah 87:6-7)

However it is not easy to find the Bible with the original texts as it can be found with the English translation of the Quran side by side with the Arabic text. The Old Testament was written for the most part in Hebrew, a few sections were written in Aramaic. The whole of the Old Testament was translated into Greek about 200 years before Christ (known as the Septuagint). The Septuagint was used by Christian missionaries among Greek speaking pagans. The whole of the New Testament was written in Greek and as long as Greek remained the dominant language the Bible then was referred in that language. Now English is the dominant language and the reference of the Bible is made in this language. 

Among the English speaking Protestant Christians the most influential translation is the Authorized King James Version completed in 1611. And from this version it is translated to many other languages of the world, meaning the Bible would not have maintained its original message as the original meaning in the original language of the Bible have shifted many times from Hebrew to Latin, then to Greek and in the modern era, to English.

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According to King James Version in each of the books’ synopsis out of 39 books in the Old Testament 10 of the books were written by unknown authors – the books are Judges, Ruth, 1and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Esther and Job. While the New Testament with 27 books according to the synopsis in the Book of Hebrews it is stated that the author is uncertain. It can be concluded that it is impossible to reconcile the truth when the source is with doubtful origin.

4. The Holy Books must be consistent in itself and without contradiction

The Quran is consistent with no contradiction and if a close study of the message is undertaken there is no conflicting content whatsoever and in the message God even call a challenge to strengthen this status:

Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides there with whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide. (Surah 39:23)

Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy. (Surah 4:82)

Or they may say, "He forged it," Say, "Bring ye then ten chapters forged, like unto it, and call (to your aid) whomsoever ye can, other than Allah! If ye speak the truth! "If then they (your false gods) answer not your (call), know ye that this revelation is sent down (replete) with the knowledge of Allah, and that there is no god but He! Will ye even then submit (to Islam)?" (Surah 11:13-14)

The description of the attributes of God in a divine book should not cause any doubt or to be questionable especially in term of His Strength which the Quran describes:

We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us. (Surah 50:38)

Allah! There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him or sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth.

(Surah 2:255)

Another attribute is that God is not the source of evil but only good and so He did not command as an example, Abraham to slaughter his son. Abraham misinterpreted his dream that God command him to slaughter his son. Instead when he was about to perform it God commanded him to replace with an animal sacrifice. God only command to do good, evil comes from the Devil or human’s dark soul:

Whatever good, (O man!) happens to thee, is from Allah; but whatever evil happens to thee, is from thy (own) soul. and We have sent thee as a messenger to (instruct) mankind. And enough is Allah for a witness. (Surah 4:79)

When they do aught that is shameful, they say: "We found our fathers doing so"; and "Allah commanded us thus": Say: "Nay, Allah never commands what is shameful: do ye say of Allah what ye know not?" (Surah 7:28)

One of the important aspect in a divine book is God surely have a name and it is through the name that we are to call on Him and this is important to be stated in a divine book:

Say: "Call upon Allah (The God), or call upon Rahman (Most Gracious): by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names….(Surah 17:110)

Blessed be the name of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honor.

(Surah 55:78)

However there are many questions and uncertainties that can be labeled at the Bible as a divine book free from contradiction and manipulation. Some examples are listed below:

With many books in the Bible and with many authors there are bound to be contradictions:

The examples stated in the Bible from various books in the number of horses belonging to Solomon and the correct age of Jehoichin.

And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. (2Chonicles 9:25)

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. (I Kings 4:26)

Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 36:9)

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. (2 Kings 24:8)

The portrayal of God as the Almighty in the Bible has its restraint as described:

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (Genesis 2:2)

This limitation invites inquisitive and curious mind wondering what did God do when he rested? Doze a few hours? Lying down on the beach? Had a day dreaming?

Why did God in the Bible command Abraham to slaughter his son? Was not killing children a pagan ritual?

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. (Genesis 22:2)

How about Jesus? The only “Begotten Son” being sacrificed for the sins of human kind?

And it appears that God in the Bible is shy to announce His names there are not many that Christians or Jews can call upon the names of God as compared to that of His names in the Quran. One example quoted in the Bible is stated below:

Thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: (Exodus 34:14)

Have any Christians called on God by the above name in their prayer?

The Jews are reported even in worst situation as far as God’s name is concerned. Since the Middle Ages the name of God had become so sacred that it was never uttered. Even in classical times, as early as the Second Temple period only the high priest could pronounce the name of God and only once a year in prayer of the Day of Atonement. Once the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D, no Jew ever uttered the name again. From that time to this the devout have avoided this word in the text of their Bible reading “Adonai” (The Lord) when they come to the word YHWH. Many orthodox go a step further, refusing even to say “Adonai” and substituting “ha-Shem” (Or The Name) instead.

This is where the Quran expose and make reform the errors of previous people that His servants must call upon Him by His Names as He declared of His Names are all good and shun names which is invented as stated:

The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on him by them; but shun such men as use profanity in his names: for what they do, they will soon be requited. (Surah 7:180)

5.The Holy Books must be described in detail and complete for the salvation of mankind

The Quran is a book of salvation and any who reads it, believe in it and make it into practice will have his salvation. It is God who confirmed that the Quran is very detail and is a complete book for salvation from the following verses:

There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, or a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end. (Surah 6:38)

There is no necessity or need of other books to support the Quran as it is sent down complete and in detail for the human kind:

For We had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on knowledge, which We explained in detail, a guide and a mercy to all who believe. (Surah 7:52)

Say: "Shall I seek for judge other than Allah? - when He it is Who hath sent unto you the Book, explained in detail." They know full well, to whom We have given the Book that it hath been sent down from thy Lord in truth. Never be then of those who doubt. (Surah 6:114)

On the other hand, the Christian in particular the Catholic point of view on completeness of the Bible is based on their belief that God does continue to reveal himself to the world in the period after the Bible, although not in the form of biblical inspiration. He reveals himself in the Church through the Councils, through what Catholics called the “magisterium” or “teaching authority of the Popes and Bishops” and through the lives of our people. They believed all these priests are inspired by God! In the Catholic faith this has been called “Tradition.” It embraces all that long rich history of the Church when God’s Spirit was, in accord with Jesus’ promise, guiding them to all truth. The verse that they referred to is stated below: 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)

Nevertheless it is worth mentioning that the Quran acknowledge the divinity of the scriptures of the people of the Book – the books of the Jews and the Christians provided they make their books as the guiding principles in their lives in this world but ultimately the Quran is the guardian over those scriptures in disclosing the truth about God and salvation in this world and the hereafter and this is clearly stated below:

It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.  We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers. (Surah 5:44-45)

And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah. (Surah 5:46)

Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel. (Surah 5:47)

To thee (Muhammad) We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute. And this (He commands): Judge thou between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away, be assured that for some of their crime it is Allah's purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious. (Surah 5:48-49)

ASAR