A Look of Faith at the Qur’an

1. The Qur’an is an Arabic text of the Bible

The trap, into which both Christians and Muslims fell into, was to consider that the Qur’an’s religion opposes that of the Bible. The Qur’an is not responsible for this misunderstanding. On the contrary, it presents itself as a resume of the Biblical message, inspired to Muhammad, in “manifest Arabic Speech”, addressed to the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula, as they did not have -like the people of the Bible- holy messengers to inform them. The Qur’an says:

“It (the Qur’an) is indeed a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds, brought down (from Heaven) by the Trustworthy Spirit, upon your heart (Muhammad), so that you may be a warner, in manifest Arabic speech. It (the Qur’an) is also in the Books of the Ancients (the Bible, of the Jews and Christians)”. (Qur’an XXVI; The Poets,192-196)

It should be noted that the Qur’anic Inspiration is already found in the Bible, which precedes the Qur’an. The Qur’an, therefore, does not differ from the Bible, since it emanates from it. The only difference is that it was revealed in “manifest Arabic”:

“So also did We send it down as an Arabic code of law” (Qur’an XIII; Thunder,37)

“Thus have We revealed to you an Arabic Qur’an, in order that you warn Mecca, the Mother of Cities, and its surroundings” (Qur’an XLII; Deliberation,7)

“Rather, it (the Qur’an) is the Truth from your Lord, to warn a people to whom no Warner had been sent before you, that they may be guided.” (Qur’an XXXII; The Prostration,3)

In spite of these clear verses, some fanatics, desiring to convert humanity into a fundamentalist Islam, rise “to defend” the Qur’an, proclaiming that it is not only for Arabs, but for the whole world. They should rather refer themselves to the Qur’anic texts where Inspiration is addressed to the Arabs of “the Mother-city”. Nevertheless, and in a very different spirit, we support that the Qur’an is effectively a light for the whole world, and its message is nothing but the Biblical one. This is apparent in the aforesaid verse:

“It (the Qur’an) is also in the Books of the Ancients” (Qur’an XXVI; The Poets,196)

Muhammad, like all the prophets, was sent as a universal guide, well beyond the religious confessions of today.

The word “Qur’an” in Arabic means a reading, this Holy Book being an Arabic “reading” of the Bible of which the original is in Hebrew (for the Old Testament) and in Greek (for the New Testament). The Arabs of Muhammad’s epoch were ignorant of these two languages. They justified their ignorance of the Bible on the pretext of their incapacity to read. They also claimed, with pride, that if they had known the message of the Bible, they would have been -because of their superior intelligence- more erudite than the Jews and the Christians. To cut these arguments short, God thus inspired the Qur’an “in manifest Arabic language”, to inform them of the content of the “Books of the First”. In fact, God says:

“Lest you should say: ‘The Book was only revealed to two communities before us (the Jews and the Christians), and we were unschooled in their religious learning’; or lest should you say: ‘If only the Book had been sent down upon us, we would have been more rightly guided than they are’, manifest proof (the Qur’an) has now come to you from your Lord, a guidance and a mercy. What greater sinner than he who calls the lie to the revelations of God and turns away from them? We shall recompense those who disdained Our revelations with a wretched torment in return for their disdain.” (Qur’an VI; Cattle,156-157)

The verses of the Qur’an -which is an Arabic version of the Bible- have been “molded” with precision, in an Arabic style and mentality, adapted to the Arabs:

“Behold a Book (the Qur’an) whose verses are made distinct: an Arabic Qur’an (a reading), to a people who have knowledge… Nothing is being said to you (Muhammad) that was not said to messengers (biblical) before you… Had We revealed the Qur’an in a foreign tongue, they (the Arabs) would have said: ‘If only its verses were made clear! What? Foreign and Arabic? (so to understand it)’ Say: ‘To those who believe (so, the Arabs), it (the Qur’an in Arabic) is Guidance and Remedy’…” (Qur’an XLI; Made Distinct,3 & 43-44)

Just as the Qur’an is a Biblical reading fashioned for the Arabs, this work which I have translated from the Arabic is aimed at presenting to the West, the Qur’anic message shaped for the Western mentality.

The Qur’an, which is an Arabic reading of the Bible, does not add anything new or contrary to the latter, since God reveals to Muhammad that “nothing is being said to you that was not said to messengers before you”, as reported in the verses above.

The Qur’an, however, does not entail the whole Biblical message, as God says to Muhammad:

“We sent messengers before you, some of whose stories We narrated to you, and some We have not…” (Qur’an XL; Forgiver,78)

The prophets and Apostles who are not mentioned in the Qur’an are mentioned in the Bible. It is the reason why I said that the Qur’an presents itself as a summarized Inspiration of the Bible, and does not differ from it in its essence.

This is why, during the time of Muhammad, some Muslims asked some Christians to become Muslims, whence the former answer that they are Muslims before the Qur’an; the word Muslim in Arabic means: resigned to God:

“They to whom We brought the Book (The Bible) before this present Revelation (the Qur’an) believe in it (the Qur’an). And when it is recited to them, they say: ‘We believe in It; It is the truth (that comes) from our Lord. We had indeed been Muslims before it. These shall be paid their wages twice…” (Qur’an XXVIII; The Narrative,52-54)

Notice the expression “We had indeed been Muslims before it”. This means that the Christians did not hesitate in declaring themselves Muslims, submitted to God, before the revelation of the Qur’an. The attitude of the Qur’an and of Muhammad, was to grant a “double reward” to these believers who, without renouncing their Christianity, recognize, and without restraint, Muslims just as Christians. The logical conclusion that comes out from these verses, is that Islam, in the Qur’an’s view, is nothing save another name for Christianity. This is confirmed by the Qur’an Itself:

“He (God) chose you and did not burden you in religion; it is the religion of your father Abraham, and it was he (Abraham) who before now (in the Qur’an, as in former Scriptures) called you ’Muslims’, in order that the Prophet might witness on your behalf…” (Qur’an XXII; The Pilgrimage,78)

During a visit to a so-called Muslim society, I was engaged in a discussion in which I say: “I am a Muslim before the Qur’an”. One of the fundamentalist religious leaders present became very angry and says: “These words are blasphemy!” I answer: “The difference between the Qur’an and yourself, is that you judge my words as blasphemy, whereas the Qur’an, on the contrary, blesses me for proclaiming this and grants me a double reward”. This is just one of a multitude of examples I experienced in various places, so-called Christian or Muslim. These experiences have taught me to discern between what is authentic faith and religious chauvinism.

As a witness to the unity of Islam and Christianity, let us quote these examples:

1. The Qur’an considers the Apostles of Jesus as Muslims, who came into the world seven centuries before it:

   “When I inspired the Disciples to have faith in Me and in My Apostle, and they said: ‘We believe, so witness that we are Muslims (submission).’” (Qur’an V; The Table,111)

   (French translations of the Qur’an sometimes mention “submitted”, sometimes “resigned” for the Arabic word “Muslims”.)

2. Abraham, who came twenty seven centuries before the Qur’an, is considered a Muslim by the Qur’an:

   “Abraham was neither Jew nor a Christian, but a man of pristine faith, a Muslim (submitted)…” (Qur’an III; The Family of Imran,67)

3. The prophet Muhammad says in the Qur’an:

   “And I am the first of Muslims.” (Qur’an VI; Cattle,163)

The official interpretation reported by “Al Jalalein” explains that Muhammad is the first Muslim among the Arabs.
(The Al Jalalein interpretation of the Qur’an is officially admitted to be the authoritative interpretation in the Muslim and Arabic worlds).

The Qur’an consoles the heart of every true believer in the quoted verses of chapter XXVIII, The Narration, which relates the openness of the Christians of that time to the Qur’an, and the double blessing poured on to them by it. Where can we find, today, in a fanaticized world of various cults and rituals, such a grandeur of the soul from one side or the other? If a Christian dares to affirm today, that he is a Muslim before the Qur’an, he would arouse against him the anger of many Christians, and traditional Muslims. Here appears the abyss between God’s original design, and deviant human traditions.

The Qur’an commands Muslims:

“Do not argue with the People of the Book (the Bible) except with the best (of arguments), save the wicked among them, and say: ‘We believe in what has been sent down upon us (the Qur’an), and sent down upon you (the Bible). Our God and yours is One God, and to Him we submit.’” (Qur’an XXIX; The Spider,46)

A Muslim therefore, must believe in the Bible. He must strive, incessantly, with a pure heart, in discovering the “best of arguments” to support this faith. This is the “Straight Path” (Qur’an I; Al-Fatiha,6).

To be Christian or Muslim is thus two names for the same truth. Because, to be Christian means to witness that Jesus is truly the Messiah, and this is what the Qur’an attests; to be Muslim, is to give oneself to God, to submit to Him, and this is the attitude that every true Christian should have.

We regret, and are astonished, of the behaviors of some Muslim countries which ban the Bible within their borders. Do they not know that the Qur’an condemns them? The Qur’an does not preach another religion, nor does it reveal another God other than the One of the Inspiration, who is found in the Bible. Those who are able to understand this simple truth do a giant leap in the Way of God.

Some think that the Qur’an dispenses the Bible and goes so far as to despise it. Others suffice themselves with the Bible and disdain the Qur’an. Each one or the other has their arguments and pretexts. All thus fall into the trap of religious racism, breaching God’s commandments in all the inspired Books.

The Qur’an has never claimed of being a substitute of the Biblical Scriptures, but brings closer, Jewish and Christian readers to the latter:

“O People of the Book (Bible), you follow no religion unless you practice the Torah and the Gospel.” (Qur’an V; The Table,68)

The Qur’an pushes the Arabs themselves in knowing the Bible; God says to Muhammad:

“Time was when you knew not what the Book was (the Bible), nor faith, but We brought it forth as a light by which We guide whomever We will.” (Qur’an XLII; Deliberation,52)

In spite of the testimony, repeated numerously, of the Qur’an in favor of the Bible, several Muslim scholars have interpreted the Qur’anic verses without recurring to the Bible. For this reason, their interpretations are alien to the spirit and logic of the Inspiration, carrying the seeds of dissension and separation between believers. The Qur’anic Inspiration is found in the “Books of the first”, and hence is not isolated from the Biblical Inspiration. The Prophet Muhammad did not know “the Bible and the faith”, so God revealed to him the Qur’an to instruct him on the Biblical message in Arabic.

Whoever reads the Bible and the Qur’an with objectivity, without prejudices, will render count of the parity of the two messages and two Inspirations, and will grow in wisdom and insight.

Some narrations related in the Bible are found in the Qur’an. And the Qur’an uniquely reports, of Biblical narratives starting from creation, up to the last days, passing from Noah, Abraham, the twelve tribes, the breaking of the Covenant by the Jews, and the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary. Why then, must one further himself from one of the two Books, since the Bible contains an additional Light which explains the Qur’anic Inspiration?

A great number of people discuss religion, and devote themselves to it with enthusiasm, yet this ignorant enthusiasm is not enlightened with the substance of the Inspired Books; they thus entangle themselves in the nets of fanaticism. Such an attitude is an abomination in the eyes of God and his prophets.

Whoever wants to discuss religion should know how to lay back and closely consult the Bible and the Qur’an before launching himself into a dialogue, which a fanatic transforms into a contest and a fight. Divine Inspiration, on the contrary, commands us to discuss with the “Best of Arguments” and comportments. How many religious leaders trample over this Qur’anic commandment, ignoring the Books, and digress from the Inspiration, even in its name? They thus sow discord amidst the ranks of believers, brothers.

Following these reflections, we thus understand the essence of Islam from the definition that the Qur’an gives. We thus strip it of the traditionalist ideas -added like parasites throughout the ages and events- which have disfigured the purity of its traits.

We have perfectly understood that, in the eyes of the Qur’an, the Muslim:

“Whoso surrenders his face to God, and acts righteously, has held fast to a Handle most secure.” (Qur’an XXXI; Luqman,22)

Such is the essence of Qur’anic Islam. Now, it is for good that we submit to the Bible, as God is found in it just as in the Qur’an. Happy are those, whomever they may be, who submit to God by reading his Books and believe in them. They “held to a handle most secure”.

Here, it is for us to raise the following fact: it was impossible for the Arabs, before Muhammad, to study the Bible because it was written in Hebrew and in Greek. Today, the Bible is translated in Arabic and many other languages understood by Arabs (like English). They no longer have any pretext to ignore it.

In the spirit of what was said to the people of the Bible, we tell the people of the Qur’an today: “You will attain nothing until you observe the Torah and the Gospel”, because without them you will be unable to grasp the Divine Spirit in the Qur’an (see Qur’an V; The Table,68).

Indeed, the plenitude of the Qur’anic Spirit cannot be understood without referring to the Bible, which is the source.

We believe that the Judaism of the Torah, the Christianity of the Gospel, and the Islam of the Qur’an have one and the same essence. We do not hesitate to proclaim our faith in Islam and its noble Prophet Muhammad. We owe it to them, to affirm our testimony to God, the Messiah and the Gospel.

We want, through this study to instill, and without compromise, the spirit of mutual understanding and harmony between true believers of all confessions, in exposing total agreement between the Bible and the Qur’an.

My companions and myself, well aware of the difficulties and persecutions that we will face from the extremists of different confessions, have nevertheless took an oath to go forward with patience and determination. In the name of God, we tread our path, ignoring all the narrow and fiery interpretations made by troublemakers. We have sought tirelessly, to search for the “Best of Arguments”, and not to lose sight of it, so to satisfy God alone and our conscience, treading along this “Straight Path” of spiritual salvation.

Believers from all spiritual currents and all religions who will be able to free themselves from prejudices against the Holy Books, will discover with joy that they are sons of the same God, that they are brothers and friends, after having long thought that they were mortal enemies.