Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him was an Arab from the descendants of Prophet Abraham.  He received the word of God at age of forty in a cave near Makkah. He belonged to the family associated with the House keeping of the Holy Kabba, a temple believed to be constructed by Abraham during his travel to Arabia. Muhammad peace be upon him proclaimed that  he is the  Messenger of Allah like Abraham, David, Moses and Jesus. He taught that for success in Hereafter, one must believe that God has sent earlier the Holy Scriptures on Moses, David and Jesus.  The revelations sent on him, now called Quran claimed that the basic faith of all the Prophets was same, however, with the passage of time this message is lost. And it happened due to people in the past, who have tempered with words of God by quoting out of context verses and changing the Divine text.

Quran is not unique in claiming the textual changes of the Torah.  The biblical Prophet  Jeremiah referred to it by saying,  false pen of the scribes has made it (word of God) into a lie (Jeremiah 8:8). Also Jeremiah said: They have not heeded my words, and as for my Torah, they have spurned it (Jer 6:19). Jesus has also denounced scribes for misinterpreting the God’s word (Mathew 23). Even before Jesus and Jeremiah, the authors of Book of Kings and Book of Chronicles informed that King Josiah  (639-609 BCE)  was a devout king of Jewish people and he  acted on law with all his heart and all his soul (2 Kings 23:25 and 2 Chronicles 34: 31-32). Josiah ordered the renovations of Solomon’s Temple to fill up the crevices (2 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 34). While people were renovating it, the Torah, revealed on Moses was discovered.  When Josiah came to know about this he tore his robe in grief. After that Josiah started his mission of Catharsis of Land. He destroyed all High Places and graves where people were practicing the deviation from Law. It is believed that the hidden text in walls of Temple was based on book of  Deuteronomy.  Thus historically there was an attempt by the Temple Priesthood to hid the book of God.  Also, in the book of Nehemiah it is informed that Ezra, the scribe recited the whole Torah in congregation with some verses, which were never heard before.  Thus there was a tendency among scribes to add into the text of Holy book of Moses.

The recent advances in Biblical research has brought Abrahamic faiths much closer. The recent research on Documentary Hypothesis by biblical scholar Richard Elliot Friedman, is very interesting.  His research is now available in books titled Who wrote the Bible? and The Bible with Sources Revealed. Friedman has proposed that the Bible especially the five Books of Moses are comprised of different writings done in different times and circumstances. These writings were created under the influence of different   political conditions and tastes. For example the details of Temple services in Bible come from Priestly Writings. Also  there are writings which have clear influence of politics of southern and northern kingdoms. Some parts of the biblical text we have today are made up of the interweaving done by the Redactor. Not only that but the last book, Deuteronomy has three different writings. Friedman has identified the Deuteronomy chapter 12 to 26 as a separate ancient writing, which is referred as  Deuteronomic Law code.

Another important recent discovery is that of the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS). DSS  contains more than 225 biblical manuscripts, about 215 were discovered from Qumran, in region of Khirbet Qumran, near Dead Sea in  Israel between 1947 and 1956.  The manuscripts were in jars laid in eleven caves. It is still not resolved to which Jewish sect these  manuscripts were belong to. However one thing is clear that it was against the Priesthood in the Temple in Jerusalem and a community waiting anxiously for the appearance of Messiah. The manuscripts were written in Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek. The excavations further revealed the manuscripts in Wadi Murabbaat (1951-1952), Nahal Hever (1951-52 and 1960-61) and Masada (1963-65).  Through scientific methods the DSS are placed in the last two centuries BCE and the first century CE. Thus they are older than any available Bible present. DSS text quoted in this work is taken from The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the First Time into English,  by Abegg, Jr., Martin, Peter Flint, and Eugene Ulrich, published by Harper, 2002.

A theory is proposed in this book  that some of the verses in Laws of Moses were added later as an outcome of the political and religious divisions in the early Second Temple  period. In the book of Nehemiah it is informed that Ezra the scribe recited the whole Torah with verses never heard before. The information given in Book of Chronicles, Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah is compared to understand the political divisions in this period.

The contents of chapters 12 to 24 of Deuteronomy is compared with Quran and Prophetic literature. The book is therefore gives reader a comparison between Torah,  Quran and Sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.  The chapters in this work starts with an introductory chapter followed by a chapter on importance of Torah in Islam and then onwards the chapter numbers starts with  12, as in Book of Deuteronomy.  It is  hoped that readers find this investigation illuminating and interesting.

 

Abu Shahiryar

2013

There is almost a dearth of research on Biblical texts by Muslims in present era. The last noteworthy work in this field was done by  Rahmatullah Kiranvi (d.  1864 AD) by writing a book, Izhar-ul-Haque, on refutation of Christianity. But he too relied heavily on the earlier works[1].  In present era, Ahmed Dedaat,  has also followed the Izhar-ul-Haque in his speeches.  The approach followed by all these scholars is that the so-called five books of Moses or Pentateuch are changed due to textual corruption. From Islamic perspective this point of view is not incorrect, but this does not guide the readers to the True Torah of God still hidden in Bible.

 

About fourteen hundred years back, Quran claimed that Jews and Christians have tempered with the Divine text. The books of Jews were in Hebrew and Christians used Greek in liturgy and prayers.  It is informed in Hadith literature[2] that when the revelations first came on our holy Prophet peace be upon him, he went to his wife’s relative Waraqa bin Naufal, an Arab Christian who used to recite gospels in Arabic in Makkah.  Bukhari reported  that:

 

Khadija (Prophet’s wife, may Allah pleased with her) then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin ‘Abdul ‘Uzza, who, during the PreIslamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, “Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!” Waraqa asked, “O my nephew! What have you seen?” Allah’s Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, “This is the same one who keeps the secrets whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out.” Allah’s Apostle asked, “Will they drive me out?” Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, “Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly.” But after a few days Waraqa died…

 

Quran not only hinted towards scribal rendering of the Torah but it also says that it is known to the God fearing People of Scriptures. Quran says (Al-Imran 199):

 

And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before Allah. They do not sell the Verses of Allah for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, Allah is Swift in account. 

 

The true text of Torah and Injil thus was known to these God fearing people of the book.  The purpose of this work is to explore the hidden Torah in the five books of Moses.  The recent biblical scholarship and the discovery of Dead Sea Scrolls have brought us enough information that we can better understand the Quranic stance on previous scriptures.

 

Traditional view among Jewish people is that the Torah was written in Hebrew[3], called Tanakh comprising of five books. The names of each of these books are Bereshit (In  beginning; Genesis), Shemot (Names; Exodus), Vayikra (He called; Leviticus), Bamidbar (In the desert; Numbers) and Devarim (Words; Deuteronomy). In Rabbinic literature this is called Torah Shebichtav (תורה שבכתב) or written Torah. Christian called the first five books of the Hebrew Bible as the Pentateuch, a term coined in Alexandria during Greek Period.

 

Among the Judeo-Christian scholars a theory was proposed by Eduard Reuss or Wilhelm Vatke and Leopold George called the Documentary Hypothesis, also known as the Grafian Hypothesis^[4]. According to this theory, it is proposed that  parts of Pentateuch  were not written till after the fall of kingdom of Judah, and that the Pentateuch  in its present form was not publicly accepted as authoritative word of God till the reformation of Ezra during early Second Temple Period.  The work on this hypothesis continued and recently it is proposed by one scholar, Richard Elliot Friedman, that the Pentateuch is comprised of ten different writings. The list of his findings based on narrative style, idioms, textual intricacies and themes;  the ten different textual trends are following[5].

 

 

J	It is called J because it always referred to God by name Jahveh (pronounced Yahweh in German). This text is most likely composed from 922 to 722 BCE. The author lived in southern Kingdom of Judah.
E	It is called E because the author always referred to God with name Elohim or El. The author most likely a priest lived in northern Kingdom of Israel.
RJE	This author is a historian who combined the text of J and E. So called Redactor of J & E.
P	The central concern of this author is Priesthood, Temple paraphernalia, sacrifices and its issues. One view is that it is composed by Jerusalem Priesthood during first temple period.
Other text	Some additional text on ages, lineages and Jewish tribes like book of Numbers 33
Genesis 14	A separate independent text
Dtn	Deuteronomic Law code (chapter 12 – 26)
Dtr1	Deuteronomic history addition done in reign of Josiah circa 622 BCE
Dtr2	An exilic addition
R	Final Redactor, who did interweaving of all above texts

 

The work is significant as it is not done by a Muslim and it proposed what Islam is saying for fourteen hundred years. The identification of Deuteronomy chapter 12 to 26 as Deuteronomic Law code as an independent ancient writing is a significant finding.   Further the discovery of  Dead Sea Scrolls shed a new light on the text of Bible as a whole. It is therefore used for comparison of texts in this work[6].

Political Influence of Ezra on Torah

 

The historical records of Book of Kings, Book of Chronicles, Book of Ezra and Nehemiah are also used to understand the final redaction of these chapters.  The early second temple period is very significant as Ezra, the scribe played a pivotal role in shaping up the final text of Bible.

 

It is informed in book of Ezra that King, Cyrus allowed the Jews in Babylon to return to Jerusalem. His decree was:

 

The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you-may his God be with him, and let  him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the  God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. And the people of any place  where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem (Book of Ezra).

Table- 1: List of Persian Acahaemenid Kings[7]

Reign                     King                                       Period

539 -530               Cyrus II                                10 years

530 – 522              Cambyses II                        09 years

522 – 486              Darius                                   37 years

486 – 465              Xerxes I                                21 years

465 – 423              Artaxeres I                           42 years

 

Acting upon the Decree of Cyrus, some 42,360 Jews return to Jerusalem. The Prince of Jews was called Sheshbazzar (in Book of Ezra). The Sheshbazzar could be a non  Jew who might haven been acted as an administrator from Persian side. Zerrubabel son of Shealtiel^[8] was the descendant of the King Joconiah and hence belonged to Davidic Dynasty. He was like the staff of Jesse[9] he has the chance to rule the Judeans again. The word Shealtiel sounds very similar to Shthiyl and Shathal,  meaning root plant in Hebrew.  Another important figure was Joshua son of Jehozadak^[10] (as in Haggai and  Zechariah). Also known as Joshua son of Jozadak (as in Ezra). In First Book of Chronicles  we have been informed that Jehozadak was the High Priest of Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.  This shows that Zerrubabel belonged to Davidic dynasty and the Joshua belonged to  the high priest family. This theocratic administration under the guidance of Sheshbazzar  was the first Judean administration after Babylonian Exile.

 

 

 

Table- II: Information from Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah

 

Date                      

539                         Cyrus II allowed the Jews in Babylon to return to Judah [Ezra 1]

536                         Zerrubabel and Joshua the priest assign duties for TempleServices [Ezra 1]

536                         Temple foundations were laid [Ezra 3]

525 – 404                Egypt under Persian Control

520                         Revelation of God comes to Prophet Haggai and Zechariah [Haggai and Zechariah]

                                 Work stopped at Temple site till the second year of reign of Darius [Ezra 4]

516                         Work on Temple completed in the sixth year of reign of Darius [Ezra 6]

516 – 458                No information, 58 year silence

458                         Ezra met Artaxeres I in 7^th year of his reign and arrived Jerusalem [Ezra 7]

445                         Nehemiah comes with Persian Army to Jerusalem [Nehemiah 1]

                                 In 52 days the Wall surrounding Jerusalem completed

433                         Nehemiah visited Artaxeres I [Nehemiah 13]

 

 

From 538 to 519 B.C.E. the most of returnees were poor except some elite clan  of former king’s and high priest’s family. The High priest Joshua and Judean leader Zerrubabel allowed the people of the land and Judeans to inter-marry and many of the priest and Levites had married with the non Jewish communities in Jerusalem. The fact only revealed at the end of book of Ezra.  In Judah a strong tension had been created within the Priestly class. Some supported the marriages with local communities and some straight-away rejected them. The group dynamics has affected the religious literature in this period.

 

Two contemporary prophets in time of Zerrubabel and  Joshua son of Jehozadak were Prophet Haggai and  Prophet Zechariah. The significant revelations they received were:

Table III: Revelation of God to Haggai and Zechariah

In Second year of Reign of Darius year 520

Date                                      Revelation

1st day – 6th month           People say it is not the time of Construction of Temple! (Haggai chapter 1)

21st day – 7th month        People say: Temple not majestic as it was before  (Haggai chapter 2)

8th month                                God says: Return to me I will return to you (Zechariah chapter 1)

24th day -9th month        Temple foundations laid (Haggai Chapter 2)

24th day – 11th month     God says: Jerusalem constructed without walls (Zechariah chapter 1)

 

 In Fourth year of Reign of Darius year 518

Date                                      Revelation

4th day – 9th month           Zechariah chapter 7

                                                        – Pray for rain Zechariah chapter 10

 

The prophet Haggai also mentioned the plan of God that He will shake the nations and kingdoms to support the Judean leader Zerrubabel and God has declared him as his hand signet.

 

On that day, declares the LORD Almighty, ’I will take you, my servant  Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ’and I will make  you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD  Almighty.” (Haggai 2:23).

 

Thus revolutionary tendencies were brewing in Jerusalem. At the same time another prophet Zechariah were receiving the revelations from God Almighty that He has purified the High Priest Joshua. God announces to High Priest Joshua and his companions that He is about to bring in his slave meaning the branch[11] (Zechariah 3 and 6:9-15).  Prophets Haggai and Zechariah the son of Berechiah son of Iddo were closely associated with Zerrubabel and Joshua. What happened next is mysteriously missing.  There is almost a silence of 58 years between chapters 6 and 7 in book of Ezra.  In the text of Book of Ezra further information about  Zerrubabel and Joshua is strangely absent.

 

In the early second temple period the internal strife in the Jewish community has forced the Persian Administration to intervene. They sent a priestly Scribe who has the knowledge of Law (Ezra 7:1-6). The scribe requested the authority from Acamechmanid administration (Ezra 7:6):

 

Ezra[12] was a secretary[13] with a thorough knowledge of the Law which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to Moses. Because Ezra had the blessing of the Lord his God, the emperor gave him everything he asked  for. In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, Ezra set out from Babylonia for Jerusalem with a group of Israelites which included priests, Levites, Temple musicians, Temple guards, and workers. They left Babylonia on the first day of the first month, and with God’s help  they arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. Ezra had devoted his life to studying the Law of the Lord, to practicing it, and to teaching all its laws and regulations to the people of Israel. And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which  you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the  people of Trans-Euphratesall who know the laws of your God. And you  are to teach any who do not know them. Whoever does not obey the law  of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment -Ezra 7:25-26

 

From the very start of his mission Ezra had the plan to replace the temple personal.   Ezra was against the marriages of leaders and TemplePriesthood with other nations. Ezra first looked for the Temple personnel (Levites) and brought them from Babylon. He enrolled 220 new personnel in Temple service[14]. In his next move[15], he handpicked Temple Priesthood for corrupting the holy seed and list them out in public and ask them to publically pronounce their confession[16].

 

Also Prophet Zechariah the son of Berechiah was brutally murdered in the precincts of HolyTemple by Jewish people themselves.  Jesus reprimanded the TemplePriesthood in Mathew 23:33-36:

 

You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.  And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.  Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation

 

It is not clear whether Prophet Zechariah was murdered before the arrival of Ezra or after. Ezra later becomes the close associate of Nehemiah, the governor of Judah appointed by Persians.

 

The book of Nehemiah begins with a dramatic scene. A cup-bearer of the King Artaxeres in the palace Susa met with the Judeans. The Judeans narrated to the Royal cup-bearer the plight of Jews in Judah and the sorry state of holy city. We have been informed that Nehemiah had no prior knowledge of the Judeans and it seems like as if for the first time he heard the news that Jerusalem is the city with out walls with burned entrances and thresholds! Nehemiah cried and fasted.

 

There were in the 445 B.C.E. great upheavals in the Persian Empire. In Egypt in year 460 B.C.E. revolt broke out, which was put down in 455 B.C.E. In 448 B.C.E. Megabyzus, the satrap of trans-Euphrates rebelled. It means that just three years before Nehemiah met Judeans, a revolt broke out in the vicinity of Judah. It is quiet possible that some revolutionary tendencies were emerging in Judah also[17]. Nehemiah asked for the king’s permission to go to Judah to control the administration. Nehemiah’s visit of Judah looks more like an attempt to remove the then Jewish leaders from power. He arrived in Jerusalem with Army commanders and soldiers. We have been informed that he stayed in city for three days and told no body about his plans even the local Jews, priests, elites etc (Neh 2:16) were ill informed. The mission was kept in utter secrecy and at one night he inspected the city surroundings as well. No information has been given about the so called leaders of the city. Nehemiah is also very critical of former rulers and priests of the city. He denounced the rulers for heavy taxes on the population. The taxes were so high that people were mortgaging their property even selling there children into slavery. Nehemiah forced the Judean leaders and priests to take the  oath of returning what they had lent from farmers.  Further contrary to what God instructed via Zechariah that Jerusalem would be a city without walls, Nehemiah made a wall surrounding city in just 52 days, as if, he was set to construct it from beginning. This shows that there were differences between the people in land.

 

Nehemiah had benign relations with Ezra and even appointed him as the spokesman of the Judean-satrapy.  In book of Nehemiah it is informed that Ezra the scribe recited the Torah in congregation and read verses which were not heard before. The political differences between different groups caused the schism and emergence of Samaritan sect of Jews. For sake of comparison the Samaritan Deuteronomic law code is also included[18].

 

The focus in the present work is to compare the Deuteronomic Law code (in chapter 12 to 24) in its present form with the text discovered in Dead Scrolls and also to interpret the text with Quran and Prophetic saying to propose that this Law code is the actual hidden Torah. Further the content of some of the verses is explored in the light of politics of early second temple period to understand the final scribal touches done by Ezra.

---

Taurat or Torah  (lit. instructions) was revealed to Moses on Mount Tur (Tur-ah in Hebrew would mean towards Tur ). Allah informed us in surah Al-Araf 145-147:

 

And We wrote for him (Moses) on the Tablets the lesson to be drawn from all things and the explanation of all things (and said): Hold unto these with firmness, and enjoin your people to take the better therein. I shall show you the home of the rebellious disobedient to Allah.  I shall turn away from My verses those who behave arrogantly on the earth, without a right, and (even) if they see all the proofs, they will not believe in them. And if they see the way of righteousness, they will not adopt it as the Way, but if they see the way of error, they will adopt that way, that is because they have rejected Our  verses, and were heedless (to learn a lesson) from them.  Those who deny Our  verses and the Meeting in the Hereafter (Day of Resurrection,), vain are their deeds. Do they expect to be rewarded with anything except what they used to do?

 

 

Belief in earlier scriptures is a central faith in Islam. Allah said in surah Al-Baqarah  verse 285:

 

The Messenger (Muhammad ) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, “We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers” – and they say, “We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all).”

 

Therefore a Muslim is not a Muslim if he denies the Torah and Injil.  In Prophet’s era Jews, Christians and pagans were claiming that Prophet Muhammad has copied the earlier scriptures and he is not a prophet but writing things from himself. Allah denounced this claim and informed that people of Scriptures were involved in this act.  Allah said in surah Al-Baqarah-79:

 

Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, “This is from Allah,” to purchase with it a little price! Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for that they earn thereby.

 

The scholars of Jews quote out of context verses and changed the words from their places. Allah said in surah Al-Maidah verse 13:

 

So because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them. And you will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them. But forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds). Verily, Allah loves good-doers.

 

 

 

Also,  Allah said in surah Al-Maidah 41:

 

O Messenger (Muhammad )! Let not those who hurry to fall into disbelief grieve you, of such who say: “We believe” with their mouths but their hearts have no faith. And of the Jews are men who listen much and eagerly to lies – listen to others who have not come to you. They change the words from their places; they say, “If you are given this, take it, but if you are not given this, then beware!” And whomsoever Allah wants to put in error, you can do nothing for him against Allah. Those are the ones whose hearts Allah does not want to purify (from disbelief and hypocrisy); for them there is a disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a great torment.

 

Allah said in surah Al-Imran 78:

 

And verily, among them is a party who distort the Book with their tongues (as they read), so that you may think it is from the Book, but it is not from the Book, and they say: “This is from Allah,” but it is not from Allah; and they speak a lie against Allah while they know it.

 

Allah informed that Jews still have the Torah with them. Allah said in surah Al-Maidah 43

 

But how do they come to you for decision while they have the Taurat (Torah), in which is the (plain) Decision of Allah; yet even after that, they turn away. For they are not (really) believers.

 

Also Allah said that Jews and Christians have Torah and Injeel (Gospel), but they implement it not. Allah said in surah Al-Maidah 66-68

 

And if only they had acted according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the Qur’an), they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet. There are from among them people who are on the right course, but many of them do evil deeds. O Messenger (Muhammad )! Proclaim  which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allah will protect you from mankind. Verily, Allah guides not the people who disbelieve.  Say “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! You have nothing till you act according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has been sent down to you from your Lord.” Verily, that which has been sent down to you (Muhammad ) from your Lord increases in many of them their obstinate rebellion and disbelief. So be not sorrowful over the people who disbelieve.

 

It is thus the stance that the Taurat or Torah is still known to Jews, but they followed it not and  quoted out of context verses, they uttered things as if sent by God and hid the Truth.

 

Further Allah said in surah Al-Baqarah -91

 

And when it is said to them (the Jews), “Believe in what Allah has sent down,” they say, “We believe in what was sent down to us.” And they disbelieve in that which came after it, while it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say: “Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers?”

 

It is instructed in these verses that when you enter the holy land then you must not indulge yourselves into the false practices of those nations. Their places of worship should be destroyed.

 

Quran informed that  Allah instructed Moses  that you must show humility and ask forgiveness of Allah (surah Al-Araf 161-162):

 

And (remember) when it was said to them: “Dwell in this town  and eat there from wherever you wish, and say, ‘(O Allah) forgive our sins’; and enter the gate prostrate (bowing with humility). We shall forgive you your wrong-doings. We shall increase (the reward) for the good-doers.”. But those among them who did wrong changed the word that had been told to them. So We sent on them a torment from heaven in return for their wrong-doings.

 

There was cult of Mother Goddess prevailing in World at that time. Asherah in Semitic mythology was a Semitic mother goddess.  There were trees and posts dedicated to her[3].

 

It is informed that nation of Prophet Moses changed this commandment of Allah and act as wrong-doer.

In these verses Allah instructed that you should not start worshipping at the altars of pagans. The place of Mosque would be shown to them when they enter the holy land.

 

Seven kind of offerings are explained that are permissible for Mosque or Temple service.

 

1. Burnt offerings

2. Sacrifices

3. Tithes- Ushur in Arabic i.e. one-tenth of production

4. Heave offerings- offered on special days

5. Vows- to fulfill one nazar.

6. Freewill offerings or voluntary offering

7. Firstlings of your herds- First yield from herd and field dedicated to God.

 

Muslims can understand the close parallel to these offerings in relation to Masjid-ul-Haram[5], as one cannot disrobe the Ihram[6] before doing the special sacrifice in the precinct of Holy Haram[7].

Allah said in surah al-Maidah 4:

They ask you (O Muhammad ) what is lawful for them (as food ). Say: “Lawful unto you are At-Tayyibat [clean animals and foods]. And those beasts and birds of prey which you have trained as hounds, training and teaching them (to catch) in the manner as directed to you by Allah; so eat of what they catch for you, but pronounce the Name of Allah over it, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Swift in reckoning.”

 

 

 

It is instructed in Torah that:

 

“When a prophet or one who has a dream will get up among you and will give you a sign or a wonder,  and the sign or the wonder of which he spoke to you saying, ‘Let’s go after other gods,’ whom you haven’t known, ‘and let’s serve them’ -will come to pass, “you shall not listen to that prophet’s words or  to that one who has the dream, because YHWH, your God, is testing you, to know whether you are loving YHWH, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul.

Prophet Muhammad is the only known, non-Jew, Prophet who claimed that God of Abraham and Moses is the true God. He is thus completely fulfilled this condition of Torah. Further Kabbah as a sanctuary established by Abraham and Ishmael was also well established.  Dead Sea Scrolls, describes Abraham’s travel to east to the Euphrates and the Persian Gulf region, then around the coast of Arabia to the Red Sea, and finally to the Sinai desert and then to his home[1].

Thus Allah or  Elah ( אֱלָהּ Aramaic word for God used in book of Ezra and Daniel, also see Deut. 32:15; 2Chr 23:15; Neh 9:17, Ez 5:1, 11; 6:14, 7:12, 19,21,23; Daniel 2:18,23,28,37,47; 3:15,6:8,13)  is worshiped at the temple at Makkah in Arabia  but with the passage of time people associated different minor deities working under Allah, like Arabs started believing that Angels are Allah’s daughters similar to Christian belief that Elah or El  has a son.

Dream-diviner was a practice prevalent in the then Egypt[2]. In both Judaism and Islam  there is no concept of dream-diviner.  A dream-diviner is only a prophetic attribute.

Allah said in surah Ash-Shura 51-53

It is not given to any human being that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by Inspiration, or from behind a veil, or (that) He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His Leave. Verily, He is Most High, Most Wise.  And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad ) an Inspiration of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? But We have made it (this Qur’an) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will. And verily, you (O Muhammad ) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path.  The Path of Allah, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Verily, all the matters at the end go to Allah (for decision).

 

While Moses were receiving these instructions on false prophets. An imposter by the name of  Samiri arouse among the Bene Israel and instructed them to worship  the Bull.

 Allah said in surah Al-Araf  145- 154

 And We wrote for him on the Tablets the lesson to be drawn from all things and the explanation of all things (and said): Hold unto these with firmness, and enjoin your people to take the better therein. I shall show you the home of the rebellious to Allah. I shall turn away from My signs those who behave arrogantly on the earth, without a right, and (even) if they see all the proofs, they will not believe in them. And if they see the way of righteousness, they will not adopt it as the Way, but if they see the way of error, they will adopt that way, that is because they have rejected Our verses and were heedless from them.  Those who deny Our signs and the Meeting in the Hereafter (Day of Resurrection,), vain are their deeds. Do they expect to be rewarded with anything except what they used to do?  And the people of Musa (Moses) made in his absence, out of their ornaments, the image of a calf (for worship). It had a sound (as if it was mooing). Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to the way? They took it for worship and they were wrong-doers.  And when they regretted and saw that they had gone astray, they (repented and) said: “If our Lord have not mercy upon us and forgive us, we shall certainly be of the losers.”  And when Musa (Moses) returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said: “What an evil thing is that which you have done (i.e. worshipping the calf) during my absence. Did you hasten and go ahead as regards the matter of your Lord (you left His worship)?” And he threw down the Tablets and seized his brother by (the hair of) his head and dragged him towards him. Harun (Aaron) said: “O son of my mother! Indeed the people judged me weak and were about to kill me, so make not the enemies rejoice over me, nor put me amongst the people who are wrong-doers.”  Musa (Moses) said: “O my Lord! Forgive me and my brother, and make us enter into Your Mercy, for you are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.”  Certainly, those who took the calf (for worship), wrath from their Lord and humiliation will come upon them in the life of this world. Thus do We recompense those who invent lies.  But those who committed evil deeds and then repented afterwards and believed, verily, your Lord after (all) that is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.  And when the anger of Musa (Moses) was appeased, he took up the Tablets, and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who fear their Lord.

 

Allah said in surah Ta-ha 85-97:

 

(Allah) said: “Verily! We have tried your people in your absence, and As-Samiri has led them astray.” Then Musa (Moses) returned to his people in a state of anger and sorrow. He said: “O my people! Did not your Lord promise you a fair promise? Did then the promise seem to you long in coming? Or did you desire that wrath should descend from your Lord on you, so you broke your promise to me (i.e disbelieving in Allah and worshipping the calf)?” They said: “We broke not the promise to you, of our own will, but we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the [Fir’aun’s (Pharaoh)] people, then we cast them (into the fire), and that was what As-Samiri suggested.”  Then he took out (of the fire) for them a statue of a calf which seemed to low. They said: “This is your ilah (god), and the ilah (god) of Musa (Moses), but [Musa (Moses)] has forgotten (his god).'” Did they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good?  And Harun (Aaron) indeed had said to them beforehand: “O my people! You are being tried in this, and verily, your Lord is (Allah) the Most Beneficent, so follow me and obey my order.” They said: “We will not stop worshipping it (i.e. the calf), until Musa (Moses) returns to us.” [Musa (Moses)] said: “O Harun (Aaron)! What stopped you when you saw them going astray; “That you followed me not (according to my advice to you)? Have you then disobeyed my order?” He [Harun (Aaron)] said: “O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard, nor by my head! Verily, I feared lest you should say: ‘You have caused a division among the Children of Israel, and you have not respected my word!’ ” [Musa (Moses)] said: “And what is the matter with you. O Samiri? (i.e. why did you do so?)” (Samiri) said: “I saw what they saw not, so I took a handful (of dust) from the foot print of the messenger and threw it. Thus my inner-self suggested to me.” Musa (Moses) said: “Then go away! And verily, your (punishment) in this life will be that you will say: “Touch me not; and verily (for a future torment), you have a promise that will not fail. And look at your god, to which you have been devoted. We will certainly burn it, and scatter its particles in the sea.”

 

Samri claimed that he took the dust from the footprint of Messenger i.e. of Moses  and it become so miraculous that it turned the effigy of the calf to utter sounds. Thus Samiri tried to show to Moses that he is still on his side.

 

 

Similar instructions Allah gave in surah Luqman 14-15

And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.  But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.

These verses are about changing of faith from Monotheism back to Polytheism. The punishment for it is death both in Islam and Judaism.

Bukhari reported Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57:

Narrated ‘Ikrima:  Some Zanadiqa  were brought to ‘Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn ‘Abbas who said, “If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah’s Apostle forbade it, saying, ‘Do not punish anybody with Allah’s punishment (fire).’ I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah’s Apostle, ‘Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'”

Changing faith in ancient times was more like an act of treason.

In Islam the  land-animals who have flowing blood in them and they survive on natural vegetation like  grass and leaves, and animals which  do not prey on other animals i.e. predators are all considered clean or Kosher. This category includes animals like camel, cow, goat, buffalo, sheep, deer, etc.

In Islam All predatory animals and beasts, i.e. animals that hunt with their teeth, are considered unclean, such as a lion, cheetah, tiger, leopard, wolf, fox, dog, cat, etc. This includes also the birds of prey like eagle etc.

Further in Islam  all the non-hunter  birds who do not eat with their claws and do not prey on other animals and consume  grains and crop, are all considered Halal, such as a chicken, duck, pigeon, dove, sparrow.

So the principal is that the consumer of clean is considered as a clean animal. Locust, Camel and Hare on this principal are considered clean in Islam.

Now we analyze what is stated in the Torah verses:

 

Edible in Judaism every animal that  has a hoof and that has a split of hooves in two, that regurgitates cud	Non-edible in Judaism you shall not eat this out of those that regurgitate the cud and out of those that have a (undivided)  hoof
Ox Sheep Goat Deer Gazelle Roebuck Wild goat Bison Antelope Mountain sheep	because they regurgitate cud and do not have a (undivided) hoof; CamelRock-badgerHare	it has a hoof but no cud;  Pig
Also Kosher  in Islam	Camel and Hare  are Kosher (Halal) in Islam	Pig is non-Kosher in Islam

 

 

Further Allah said in surah Al-Anam 121

 

Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allah’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal), for sure it is a disobedience of Allah. And certainly, the devils do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them , then you would indeed be polytheists.

 

Allah instructed in Makkah, He  said in surah al-Anam:

 

141- And it is He Who produces gardens trellised and un-trellised, and date-palms, and crops of different shape and taste (its fruits and its seeds) and olives, and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in taste). Eat of their fruit when they ripen, but pay the due thereof on the day of its harvest, and waste not by extravagance. Verily, He likes not those who waste by extravagance.

 

142. And of the cattle (are some) for burden  and (some are) small.  Eat of what Allah has provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan. Surely he is to you an open enemy.

 

143. Eight pairs (you are allowed to  eat);  of the sheep two (male and female) , and of the goats two (male and female). Say (to pagans of Arabia): “Has He forbidden the two males or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful.”

 

144. And (you are also allowed to eat) of the camels two (male and female), and of oxen two (male and female). Say (to pagans of Arabia): “Has He forbidden the two males or the two females or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Or were you present when Allah ordered you such a thing? Then who does more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead mankind astray without knowledge. Certainly Allah guides not the people who are  wrong-doers.

 

145. Say (O Muhammad ): “I find not in that which has been inspired to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytatah (a dead animal died accidently) or blood poured forth (i.e. drink blood), or the flesh of swine (pork, etc.) for that surely is impure or  impious, (also forbidden to eat anything) that is dedicated to  others than Allah. But whosoever is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, (for him) certainly, your Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

 

146. And unto those who are Jews, We forbade every (animal) with undivided hoof, and We forbade them the fat of the ox and the sheep except what adheres to their backs or their entrails, or is mixed up with a bone. Thus We recompensed them for their rebellion. And verily, We are Truthful.

 

147 If they (Jews) belie you (Muhammad ) say you: “Your Lord is the Owner of Vast Mercy, and never will His Wrath be turned back from the people who are wrong-doers.

 

Further instructions were given in Medinah:

• Allah said in surah Al-Baqarah 173

He has forbidden you only the dead (animal which died without slaughter), and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a scrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

 

 

Further instructions were given later:

• Surah Al-Maidah 3

Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maytatah (the dead animals – cattle-beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and the meat of that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah, or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns – and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal – unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) – and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An-Nusub (stone altars). (Forbidden) also is to use arrows seeking luck or decision, (all) that is Fisqun (disobedience of Allah and sin). This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me. This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But as for him who is forced by severe hunger, with no inclination to sin (such can eat these above-mentioned meats), then surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Allah said in Surah Maidah 5

Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibat. The food of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them.

 

 

 

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

The Prophet came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura[2]. He asked them about that. They replied, “This is a good day, the day on which Allah rescued Bani Israel from their enemy. So, Moses fasted this day.” The Prophet said, “We have more claim over Moses than you.” So, the Prophet fasted on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to fast (on that day)[3].

Narrated Abu Musa:

The day of ‘Ashura’ was considered as ‘Id (Celebration) day by the Jews. So the Prophet ordered, “I recommend you (Muslims) to fast on this day.”[4]

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

When the Prophet came to Medina, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: “This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah.” The Prophet said, “I am closer to Moses than they.” So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it[5].

It is believed by author that verse 9 till 17 (excluding some of  verse 16) were added by Ezra. As these days were not celebrated before Second Temple Period.

It is believed by author that Feast of Booths was added by Ezra in Law.  It is written in book of Nehemiah:

They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: ”Go out into the hill country  and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make booths”-as it is written. So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves booths on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house  of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole company that had returned from exile built  booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it. And their joy was very great. Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of  the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly- Nehemiah 8: 14- 19

Ezra wants the feast of Seventh month to be celebrated in Public. It is also important that this feast is ordained by God but none of the King of Jews bothered to celebrate this, not even David celebrated this.  On the contrary, according to Zechariah, this was not a day of Feast but of mourning:

 

Then the word of the LORD Almighty came to me: ”Ask all the people of the land and the priests, Have you fasted and mourned in the fifth  and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that  you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves? Are these not the words the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns  were at rest and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills  were settled?’ ” -Zechariah 7: 3 – 6

After some time in the Second Temple period, Jewish people declared some days as days of festival. Zechariah received revelations:

Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me. This is what the LORD Almighty says: The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth  months will become joyful and glad  occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace. Zechariah 8: 18

No one knows about these days as festival before Second temple period. The Judeans used to mourn on these days and later after return they changed the same days into days of celebration. We know from book of Kings and Chronicles that King Josiah was very devout and religiously observed the festivals mentioned in Book of Moses (In words of author of book of Kings and Chronicles, acted on law with all his heart and all his soul 2 Kings 23:25, 2 Chr 34: 31-32). The only festival he had celebrated was feast of unleavened bread.

The contemporary of Ezra, Prophet Zechariah claimed that the feast of booths or Tabernacle would be celebrated not only by Jews  but by all nations

Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.

 On the other side, Ezra wants these festivals for Jews only.

  

 

Allah said in surah Al-Araf 157:

Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad ) whom they find written with them in the Taurat (Torah), – he commands them for Al-Ma’ruf (all that is established as good by human nature); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (all that is established by human nature as bad); he allows them as lawful and all good, and prohibits them as unlawful evils,, he releases them from their heavy burdens, and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad ), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur’an) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful.

 Jesus said in John 14:16

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever,

 There were prophecies in circulation among Jewish settlers of Arabia on the appearance of Prophet in Bene Ishmael. In a recent book Seeing Islam as other saw it, it is elaborated as[1]:

The renowned second-century rabbi Simon ben Yohai is credited with a number of related apocalyptic works. The Tefillia (“Prayer”) pertains   to Crusader times in its present form, but draws indirectly upon the   Nisiarot (“Secrets”) and Midrash ‘aseret meliikhim (“Midrash of the  Ten Kings”), also ascribed to Rabbi Simon, which deal with the career  of Islam until the fall of the Umayyad dynasty and the rise of the  Abbasids respectively.” In their turn, these two, and the Secrets in particular, make use of an earlier apocalypse, seemingly contemporary with the Arab conquests.”

 At the opening of the scene we are introduced to Simon, who has been “hidden {for thirteen years} in a cave from the emperor, the king of Edom, {who had decreed destruction on Israel}.”He has been fasting and praying for a number of days, and he calls upon God to answer his prayer for enlightenment:

At once the secrets of the end and the mysteries were revealed to him, and he sat and began to expound: “And he saw the Kenite” (Numbers xxiv.21). Since he saw the kingdom of Ishmael that was coming, he began to say: “Was it not enough what the wicked kingdom of Edom has done to us, but [we deserve] the kingdom of Ishmael too?” At once Metatron, the foremost angel (sar ha-penfm), answered him and said: “Do not fear, son of man, for the Almighty only brings the kingdom of Ishmael in order to deliver you from this wicked one (Edom). He raises up over them (Ishmaelites) a prophet according to His will and He will conquer the land for them, and they will come and restore it to greatness, and a great dread will come between them and the sons of Esau.” Rabbi Simon answered him and said: “How [is it known] that they are our salvation?” He (Metatron) said to him: “Did not the prophet Isaiah say that ‘he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen etc.’ ? Why did he put the chariot of asses before the chariot of camels when he should rather have said ‘a chariot of camels and [then] a chariot of asses,’ because when he (Ishmael, i.e. the Arabs) goes forth [to war], he rides upon on a camel, and when the kingdom will arise by his hands he rides upon an ass? [Given that he said the reverse of this]’ the chariot of asses, since he (the Messiah) rides upon an ass, shows that they (the Ishmaelites, represented by the chariot of camels) are a salvation for Israel, like the salvation of the rider on an ass (i.e. the Messiah).”

Another exegesis: Rabbi Simon used to say that he heard Rabbi Ishmael [say], when he had heard that the kingdom of Ishmael was approaching: “They will measure the land with ropes, as it is said, ‘And he shall divide the land for a price’ (Daniel xi.39). And they will make cemeteries into a pasturing place for flocks; and when one of them dies, they will bury him in whatever place they find and later plough the grave and sow thereon. Thus it is said: ‘The children of Israel shall eat their bread defiled (Ezekiel iv.13),’ because the unclean field should not be encroached upon.,, Again: “And he saw the Kenite:” and what parable did the wicked one (Balaam) take up, except that when he saw the sons of his (the Kenite’s) sons who were to arise and subject Israel, he began to rejoice and said: “Strong (etan) is your dwelling place. I see that the sons of man do not eat save according to the commandments of Etan the Ezrahite[2].

 Thus there was an expectation that the Prophet would soon appear among the Arabs.   It is stated in Quran surah 145-147  that

And even if you were to bring to the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) all the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they would not follow your Qiblah (prayer direction), nor are you going to follow their Qiblah (prayer direction). And they will not follow each other’s Qiblah (prayer direction). Verily, if you follow their desires after that which you have received of knowledge (from Allah), then indeed you will be one of the  wrong-doers, etc.  Those to whom We gave the Scripture (Jews and Christians) recognise him (Muhammad  or the Ka’bah at Makkah) as they recongise their sons. But verily, a party of them conceal the truth while they know it .  (This is) the truth from your Lord. So be you not one of those who doubt.

Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 546 reported that

Narrated Anas:

When ‘Abdullah bin Salam heard the arrival of the Prophet at Medina, he came to him and said, “I am going to ask you about three things which nobody knows except a prophet:

 What is the first portent of the Hour?

 What will be the first meal taken by the people of Paradise?

 Why does a child resemble its father, and why does it resemble its maternal uncle”

 Allah’s Apostle said, “Gabriel has just now told me of their answers.” ‘Abdullah said, “He (i.e. Gabriel), from amongst all the angels, is the enemy of the Jews.”

 Allah’s Apostle said, “The first portent of the Hour will be a fire[3] that will bring together the people from the east to the west;

 The first meal of the people of Paradise will be Extra-lobe (caudate lobe) of fish-liver[4].

 As for the resemblance of the child to its parents: If a man has sexual intercourse with his wife and gets discharge first, the child will resemble the father, and if the woman gets discharge first, the child will resemble her.”

 On that ‘Abdullah bin Salam said, “I testify that you are the Apostle of Allah.” ‘Abdullah bin Salam further said, “O Allah’s Apostle! The Jews are liars, and if they should come to know about my conversion to Islam before you ask them (about me), they would tell a lie about me.” The Jews came to Allah’s Apostle and ‘Abdullah went inside the house. Allah’s Apostle asked (the Jews), “What kind of man is ‘Abdullah bin Salam amongst you?” They replied, “He is the most learned person amongst us, and the best amongst us, and the son of the best amongst us.” Allah’s Apostle said, “What do you think if he embraces Islam (will you do as he does)?” The Jews said, “May Allah save him from it.” Then ‘Abdullah bin Salam came out in front of them saying, “I testify that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.” Thereupon they said, “He is the evilest among us, and the son of the evilest amongst us,” and continued talking badly of him.

Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 362, reported that

Narrated Ibn Umar:

Bani An-Nadir and Bani Quraiza fought (against the Prophet violating their peace treaty), so the Prophet exiled Bani An-Nadir and allowed Bani Quraiza to remain at their places (in Medina) taking nothing from them till they fought against the Prophet again). He then killed their men and distributed their women, children and property among the Muslims, but some of them came to the Prophet and he granted them safety, and they embraced Islam. He exiled all the Jews from Medina. They were the Jews of Bani Qainuqa’, the tribe of ‘Abdullah bin Salam and the Jews of Bani Haritha and all the other Jews of Medina.

Bukhari reported Volume 9, Book 87, Number 142:

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Salam:

(In a dream) I saw myself in a garden, and there was a pillar in the middle of the garden, and there was a handhold at the top of the pillar. I was asked to climb it. I said, “I cannot.” Then a servant came and lifted up my clothes and I climbed (the pillar), and then got hold of the handhold, and I woke up while still holding it. I narrated that to the Prophet who said, “The garden symbolizes the garden of Islam, and the handhold is the firm Islamic handhold which indicates that you will be adhering firmly to Islam until you die.”

Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 157:

Narrated Sad bin Abi Waqqas:

I have never heard the Prophet saying about anybody walking on the earth that he is from the people of Paradise except ‘Abdullah bin Salam. The following Verse was revealed concerning him: “And a witness from the children of Israel testifies that this Qur’an is true” (46.10)

 

Allah said in surah Al-Maidah 44-45

Verily, We did send down the Taurat (Torah), therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah’s Will, judged the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s Book, and they were witnesses thereto. Therefore fear not men but fear Me (O Jews) and sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the . disbelievers. And We ordained therein for them: “Life for life , eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.” But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation. And whosoever does not judge by that which Allah has revealed, such are the  wrong-doers.

 

Allah informed in surah al-Baqarah  247 – 251

And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them, “Indeed Allah has appointed Talut (Saul) as a king over you.” They said, “How can he be a king over us when we are better fitted than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth.” He said: “Verily, Allah has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah grants His Kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.”  And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: Verily! The sign of His Kingdom is that there shall come to you At-Tabut (Ark of Covenant), wherein is Sakinah (peace and reassurance) from your Lord and a remnant of that which Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) left behind, carried by the angels. Verily, in this is a sign for you if you are indeed believers.  Then when Talut (Saul) set out with the army, he said: “Verily! Allah will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand.” Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: “We have no power this day against Jalut (Goliath) and his hosts.” But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their Lord, said: “How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allah’s Leave?” And Allah is with the patient ones.  And when they advanced to meet Jalut (Goliath) and his forces, they invoked: “Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people.”  So they routed them by Allah’s Leave and Dawud (David) killed Jalut (Goliath), and Allah gave him [Dawud (David)] the kingdom and  Wisdom, and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of Bounty to the worlds.

It is reported in Sahih Muslim

It has been narrated by Abu Hurrairah that Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said:
One of the Prophets made a holy war. He said to his followers: One who has married a woman and wants to consummate to his marriage but has not yet done so; another who has built a house but has not yet erected its roof; and another who has bought goats and pregnant-camel and is waiting for their  offspring will not accompany me.

 

 

 

The verses related to Eating of spoils is an addition. According to Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him it was forbidden on previous nations to eat from spoils of war (Sahih Muslim) Further the rampant killings based on nationalities could not taken seriously as Ezra and Nehemiah both were highly biased people and involvement of these nations in marriage bond with Jews of Second Temple period as discussed in Ezra chapter 9 indicate that some thing went wrong in history and that needs correction, so the verses are added that these nations should haven been extinct long ago.

Surah al-Anfaal 1:

They ask you (O Muhammad ) about the spoils of war. Say: “The spoils are for Allah and the Messenger.” So fear Allah and adjust all matters of difference among you, and obey Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad ), if you are believers.

It is instructed that

10 “When you’ll approach a city to fight against it, then you shall call to it for peace. “And it will be, if it will answer you with peace and open up to you, then it will be that all the people who are found in it shall become yours for a work-company and shall serve you. 12 And if it will not make peace with you, but it will make war with you, then you shall besiege it. 13 And YHWH, your God, will put it in your hand, and you shall strike all its males by the sword. 14 0nly, you shall take as spoil the women and the infants and the animals and everything that will be in the city, all its spoil, and you shall eat your enemies’ spoil that YHWH, your God, has given you.

In year 627 AD,  the pagans of Arabia besieged the city of Medinah. Prophet ordered the digging in of trench surrounding city and fortunately pagans were forced to flee as their supplies were over and Allah sent a severe desert storm on them.  This war is known as t he Battle of the Trench. The Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza secretly played with pagans and found guilty of treason. Muslims besieged  the settlement and they finally agreed on the verdict of Saad bin Mu’ad, a former ally of Jews[2].

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

The people of (Banu) Quraiza agreed to accept the verdict of Saad bin Mu’adh. So the Prophet sent for Saad, and the latter came (riding) a donkey and when he approached the Mosque, the Prophet said to the Ansar, “Get up for your chief or for the best among you.” Then the Prophet said (to Saad).” These (i.e. Banu Quraiza) have agreed to accept your verdict.” Saad said, “Kill their (men) warriors and take their offspring as captives, “On that the Prophet said, “You have judged according to Allah’s Judgment,” or said, “according to the King’s judgment.”[3]

Volume 5, Book 59, Number 448:

Narrated ‘Aisha:

Saad was wounded on the day of Khandaq (i.e. Trench) when a man from Quraish, called Hibban bin Al-‘Araqa hit him (with an arrow). The man was Hibban bin Qais from (the tribe of) Bani Mais bin ‘Amir bin Lu’ai who shot an arrow at Saad’s medial arm vein (or main artery of the arm). The Prophet pitched a tent (for Saad) in the Mosque so that he might be near to the Prophet to visit. When the Prophet returned from the (battle) of Al-Khandaq (i.e. Trench) and laid down his arms and took a bath Gabriel came to him while he (i.e. Gabriel) was shaking the dust off his head, and said, “You have laid down the arms?” By Allah, I have not laid them down. Go out to them (to attack them).” The Prophet said, “Where?” Gabriel pointed towards Bani Quraiza. So Allah’s Apostle went to them (i.e. Banu Quraiza) (i.e. besieged them). They then surrendered to the Prophet’s judgment but he directed them to Sad to give his verdict concerning them. Saad said, “I give my judgment that their warriors should be killed, their women and children should be taken as captives, and their properties distributed.”

Narrated Hisham: My father informed me that ‘Aisha said, “Saad said, “O Allah! You know that there is nothing more beloved to me than to fight in Your Cause against those who disbelieved Your Apostle and turned him out (of Mecca). O Allah! I think you have put to an end the fight between us and them (i.e. Quraish infidels). And if there still remains any fight with the Quraish (infidels), then keep me alive till I fight against them for Your Sake. But if you have brought the war to an end, then let this wound burst and cause my death thereby.’ So blood gushed from the wound. There was a tent in the Mosque belonging to Banu Ghifar who were surprised by the blood flowing towards them . They said, ‘O people of the tent! What is this thing which is coming to us from your side?’ Behold! Blood was flowing profusely out of Sad’s wound. Sad then died because of that.”

 

Later it is revealed in Surah Al Maidah 33

The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.

 

Saad could have ordered the expulsion of Banu Quraizah as Prophet did before with another Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa. But the crime of Treason committed by Banu Quraizah was much severe than the crime of Banu Qaynuqa[4].

 

 

It is ordered that:

 

“When you’ll besiege a city many days, fighting against it to capture it, you shall not destroy a tree of it, moving an axe at it, because you’ll eat from it, so you shall not cut it down; because is a tree of the field a human, to go from in  front of you in a siege?!

 

When Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him migrated to Medinah, he asked the Jewish tribes there to accept Islam. However the Jewish leadership declared him a false prophet and made an agreement with him that in case of attack on Medinah from any side. The people of Medinah would defend it irrespective of religious affiliations. However that treaty failed to fully materialize as they secretly passed on the messages to pagans and hypocrites of Medinah.

 

In year 625 AD, Arab tribes attacked on Medinah. The Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir helped secretly the pagans against Muslims. The pagans were defeated in this battle and Muslims surrounded the settlement. There were trees surrounding the Jewish villas and hideouts. Contrary to Torah’s order, Prophet ordered that the trees be cut down.  Prophet asked Banu Nadir to surrender and leave Medinah. While they were leaving Allah revealed that cutting of Trees was an order given by Him.

 

Allah said in surah Al-Hasr 5:

 

What you (O Muslims) cut down of the palm-trees (of the enemy), or you left them standing on their stems, it was by Leave of Allah, and in order that He might disgrace the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).

 

Bukhari reported that Volume 9, Book 83, Number 20:  Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

For the children of Israel the punishment for crime was Al-Qisas only (i.e., the law of equality in punishment) and the payment of Blood money was not permitted as an alternate. But Allah said to this nation (Muslims): ‘O you who believe! Qisas is prescribed for you in case of murder, …..(up to) …end of the Verse. (2.178)  Ibn ‘Abbas added: Remission (forgiveness) in this Verse, means to accept the Blood-money in an intentional murder. Ibn ‘Abbas added: The Verse: ‘Then the relatives should demand Blood-money in a reasonable manner.’ (2.178) means that the demand should be reasonable and it is to be compensated with handsome gratitude

Safiya was the daughter of Jewish leader Hai bin Al-Akhtab.  Narrated Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 522:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

We arrived at Khaibar, and when Allah helped His Apostle to open the fort, the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtaq whose husband had been killed while she was a bride, was mentioned to Allah’s Apostle. The Prophet selected her for himself, and set out with her, and when we reached a place called Sidd-as-Sahba,’ Safiya became clean from her menses then Allah’s Apostle married her. Hais (i.e. an ‘Arabian dish) was prepared on a small leather mat. Then the Prophet said to me, “I invite the people around you.” So that was the marriage banquet of the Prophet and Safiya. Then we proceeded towards Medina, and I saw the Prophet, making for her a kind of cushion with his cloak behind him (on his camel). He then sat beside his camel and put his knee for Safiya to put her foot on, in order to ride (on the camel).

 

Also reported in Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 524:

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet stayed for three rights between Khaibar and Medina and was married to Safiya. I invited the Muslim to his marriage banquet and there was neither meat nor bread in that banquet but the Prophet ordered Bilal to spread the leather mats on which dates, dried yogurt and butter were put. The Muslims said amongst themselves, “Will she (i.e. Safiya) be one of the mothers of the believers, (i.e. one of the wives of the Prophet ) or just (a lady captive) of what his right-hand possesses” Some of them said, “If the Prophet makes her observe the veil, then she will be one of the mothers of the believers (i.e. one of the Prophet’s wives), and if he does not make her observe the veil, then she will be his lady slave.” So when he departed, he made a place for her behind him (on his and made her observe the veil.

 

The firstborn has higher right than others. In this perspective the glorification of  Prophet Isaac son of Abraham is done only to highlight the Bene- Israel over Bene-Ishmael.

 

 

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Umar:

The Jews brought to the Prophet a man and a woman from among them who had committed illegal sexual intercourse. The Prophet said to them, “How do you usually punish the one amongst you who has committed illegal sexual intercourse?” They replied, “We blacken their faces with coal and beat them,” He said, “Don’t you find the order of Ar-Rajm (i.e. stoning to death) in the Torah?” They replied, “We do not find anything in it.” ‘Abdullah bin Salam (after hearing this conversation) said to them. “You have told a lie! Bring here the Torah and recite it if you are truthful.” (So the Jews brought the Torah). And the religious teacher who was teaching it to them, put his hand over the Verse of Ar-Rajm and started reading what was written above and below the place hidden with his hand, but he did not read the Verse of Ar-Rajm. ‘Abdullah bin Salam removed his (i.e. the teacher’s) hand from the Verse of Ar-Rajm and said, “What is this?” So when the Jews saw that Verse, they said, “This is the Verse of Ar-Rajm.” So the Prophet ordered the two adulterers to be stoned to death, and they were stoned to death near the place where biers used to be placed near the Mosque. I saw her companion (i.e. the adulterer) bowing over her so as to protect her from the stones[1].

 

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:

A Jew and Jewess were brought to the Prophet on a charge of committing an illegal sexual intercourse. The Prophet asked the Jews, “What do you (usually) do with them?” They said, “We blacken their faces and disgrace them.” He said, “Bring here the Torah and recite it, if you are truthful.” They (fetched it and) came and asked a one-eyed man to recite. He went on reciting till he reached a portion on which he put his hand. The Prophet said, “Lift up your hand!” He lifted his hand up and behold, there appeared the verse of Ar-Rajm (stoning of the adulterers to death). Then he said, “O Muhammad! They should be stoned to death but we conceal this Divine Law among ourselves.” Then the Prophet ordered that the two sinners be stoned to death and, and they were stoned to death, and I saw the man protecting the woman from the stones[2]. (See Hadith No. 809, Vol. 8)

 

It is believed by author that the prohibition of Ammonite and a Moabite  to enter the house of God is related to marriage issues discussed in book of Ezra and Nehemiah.

 

It is informed in Book of Nehemiah that Bene Israel gathered in congregation and prayed:

 

Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. ”You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham.  You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous. -Nehemiah 9

 

 

Nehemiah is referring to the following verses in Genesis:

 

To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river,the Euphrates the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”. – Genesis 15:18 – 21

 

Table: Intermarriages Prohibition

Genesis 15	Deuteronomy 7	Ezra 9	Nehemiah 9
Kenites	–	–	–
Kenizzites	–	–	–
Kadmonites	–	–	–
Hittites	Hittites	Hittites	Hittites
Perizzites	Perizzites	Perizzites	Perizzites
Rephaites	–	–	–
Amorites	Amorites	Amorites	Amorites
Canaanites	Canaanites	Canaanites	Canaanites
Girgashites	Girgashites	Girgashites	Girgashites
Jebusites	Jebusites	Jebusites	Jebusites
–	–	Ammonites	–
–	–	Moabites	–
–	–	Egyptians	–
–	Hivites	–	–

In table above list the nations with whom inter marriages are forbidden. The column one and four  list the nations which God gifted to Abraham as reported in Genesis and Nehemiah. Column two list the nations with whom inter marriages are forbidden as commanded by God in Deuteronomy. Column three list the nations which were problematic in connections with the Priest and leaders marriages during the Second Temple period when Ezra, the scribe was controlling the affairs of Temple. We know that Abraham married an Egyptian women, Joseph married Egyptian woman and Moses married Moabite woman. At the end of book of Nehemiah, we have been informed that Nehemiah saw the Jews who had married the Ashdodites, Ammonites and Moabite women. In his anger Nehemiah pulled those Jews, even plucked out their hairs. Nehemiah mentioned the sins of Solomon in marrying unholy nations but said nothing on the marriages of Moses, Joseph and Abraham.  We can simply infer from this information that both Ezra and Nehemiah added the Amorites, Moabites, Egyptians and Ashdodites in the list of intermarriage Prohibition.

 

According to book of Nehemiah, the Eliasib (the grandson of Joshua the high priest in time of Zerrubabel) and Meshullam the son of Berekiah , the son of Meshezabel both were involved in the inter-marriage with surrounding nations and committed the sin of corrupting the holy seed. Eliasib the priest was relative of Tobiah (Neh 13:4),  and the grandson of Eliasib had married the daughter of Sanballat the Horonitte (Neh13:28). Both Tobiah and Sanballat were arch enemies of Nehemiah. No wonder that Nehemiah had removed his opponents by disparaging them on marriage issues. Not only  that Nehemiah also removed them from the temple personnel. This was the beginning of the schism in Judaism. Josephus has written in Antiquities (XI 306-312) that Manasseh the brother of high priest Jaddua married Nikaso, daughter of Sanballat, governor of Samaria. Meshullam the son of Berekiah the son of Meshezabel and Tobiah were close relatives (Nehemiah 6:17-18). Both Meshullam and Eliasb had helped Nehemiah in Wall construction project. It is clear that they were deceived in this project and Nehemiah like Ezra has not revealed his motives in beginning. Because of this politics in early second temple  period, the schism occurred. The anti-Ezra group decided to make a new temple in parallel to Jerusalem. The site they selected was the MountGerizim in  Shechem (Nablus) part of Samaria, which was under Sanballat control[1]. The Jews of Samaria were later appeared as a separate sect called Samaritan Jews[2].

 

Ezra and Nehemiah wanted to through non-Jews out of Temple. On the other side, Prophet Zechariah in the early Second Temple Period claimed that God promised that:

 

‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. (Zech. 8:23)

 

Nehemiah made the wall surrounding city within 52 days. On the contrary Zechariah also said that God has instructed not to make Jerusalem a walled-city.

 

Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it.

(Zech. 2:4)

 

The voice of Zechariah was silenced by brutally killing him near Altar in Temple (Mathew 23).

 

In Gospel of John[3] a conversation is reported between the Samaritan Jewish women and the Prophet Jesus:

 

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain[4]; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.    God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am [he].

 

Jesus thus proclaimed that neither the Jew in Jerusalem nor the Jews at MountGerizim were worshipping the God in true spirit. Samaritan woman also called Jesus Prophet and inquired about Messiah, on which Jesus said that he is the Messiah.

 

Prophet said:

Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 63, Number 258:

Narrated Abu Mas’ud:

The Prophet prohibited taking the price of a dog, the earnings of a soothsayer and the money earned by prostitution

 

Allah said surah Al-Baqarah 275-276

 

So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating Riba (usury) shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns [to Riba (usury)], such are the dwellers of the Fire – they will abide therein. Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners.

 

Allah said in surah Al-Maidah 62-63

And you see many of them (Jews) hurrying for sin and transgression, and eating illegal things [as bribes and Riba (usury), etc.]. Evil indeed is that which they have been doing. Why do not the rabbis and the religious learned men forbid them from uttering sinful words and from eating illegal things. Evil indeed is that which they have been performing.

 

 

 

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Surah Al-Maidah 5

(Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before your time, when you have given their due Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends. And whosoever disbelieves in the Oneness of Allah and in all the other Articles of Faith [i.e. His (Allah’s), Angels, His Holy Books, His Messengers, the Day of Resurrection and Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], then fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.

As we have analysed, the wisdom and knowledge contained in these verse of Torah are also supported by the Prophet of Islam. The Quran and Sayings of Prophet in fact revealed that Prophet had followed Torah[1] even though it was only available to selected few at that time. The Jews kept it in a scroll and recited it in Hebrew. Quran not only endorsed the Torah but in its essence it add on to the Divine Wisdom.  Muslim thus have more elaborated book then Torah and  need to go back and consult Torah was not needed.

It is explained that the Deuteronomic Law code in chapter 12 to 24 is very similar to teachings of Islam and practice of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Laws of Moses discussed in Quranic verses also occur in these chapters. Even before Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, the biblical Prophets and God fearing Jews followed these verses.

Quran says that

Say (O Muhammad ) “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! You have nothing  till you act according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to you from your Lord (the Qur’an).” Verily, that which has been sent down to you (Muhammad ) from your Lord increases in many of them their obstinate rebellion and disbelief. So be not sorrowful over the people who disbelieve.

It is explained that the original Torah was not comprised of five books but was only one single book. People added text before and after the Torah’s original chapters. Not only that they added their own verses, which made Torah distinctly racial at some places.

[1] Like ruling on Adultery and Treason