Commentary on the Koran: Surah 3 (No. Q003)

Pickthall translation with Scriptures from the RSV unless otherwise noted.

Surah 3 takes its name from the Imram or Amram the father of Mariam, Moses and Aaron (used at verse 32) and refers to all the ministry under the family of Levi and is a generic name for all the prophets of the faith descending from Moses and Aaron down through all the prophets to John the Baptist and then to the Messiah and the apostles and the elect over the Church of God. The faith develops to the priesthood of Melchisedek with Christ as High priest after the order of Melchisedek (No. 128) and all of the elect as priests of the order of Melchisedek (see also Commentary on Hebrews (F058)).

The name Mariam as applied to the sister of Moses and Aaron is also the same name applied to Mariam the mother of Christ, as the mistranslation as Maria or Mary has led to confusion among both so-called Christians and Muslims. Maria (Mariah) was the sister of Mariam and was the wife of Clophas. The family of Mariam mother of Messiah also had Levitical blood from the wife of the high priest Zachariah of the eighth division of Abijah and mother of John the Baptist (cf. v. 35).

The wife of Imram is named in verse 35 as the mother of Mary, which is attacked by the uninformed thinking they meant the mother of Christ as Mary which is the deliberate purpose of the text naming in verses 35-36 identifying the women as carrying the same name. Mary, Mariam or Marium (I, A and U are used interchangeably in Semitic languages) was a prophetess and the firstborn of Imram or Amram and Yochebed (Num. 26:59). All three of her offspring were set aside to be prophets and protected from Satan as the text says. Mariam (Mary) is also named as sister of Aaron (S. 19:28) whereas Mariam is the true sister of Aaron but the text for Mariam or Mary mother of Christ is also directed at her levitical lineage as sister of Aaron in conformity with her lineage as daughter of Heli of David through Nathan and of Levi through Shimei whom they pierced in accordance with the prophecies in Zechariah 12:12-14.

The text in the Surah goes on to deal with Mariam (called Mary) the Mother of Christ the Messiah and his place in the plan of salvation from verses 42-61. So the setting aside of the Family of Imram and Yochebed was to continue down to the Messiah and the elect of the church who are mentioned in the texts to verse 61.

The traditions claim that verses 1-34 were revealed on the occasion of the deputation of the Christians of Najran which took place on the tenth year of the Hijrah (632) (termed “the year of deputations”). However, they can only have been revealed much earlier and only recited by the prophet at that time. The Jews became embittered after their experience at Badr. The reverse that occurred at Uhud, is referred to from verses 120-188. This reverse would have emboldened the Jews. They were desperate to wipe out the Unitarian Christians as they were allied with the Paulicians to the West who were preoccupied with the Byzantine Empire who themselves became Unitarians under some emperors (e.g. John Tzimiskes; cf. Role of the Fourth Commandment in the Sabbath-keeping Churches of God (No. 170); cf. also General distribution of the Sabbath-keeping Churches (No. 122)). The Trinitarians were nowhere near the threat to the Jews in Arabia that the Unitarian Christian Muslims were as they represented the original Christian church and a greater challenge to them.

The period of Revelation of this Surah is the Third and Fourth years of the Hijrah (624-625) and the explanation of the Battle of Mt. Uhud is given by Pickthall in his introduction.

In the third year of the Hijrah (624) the Beccans of the idolatrous sections of the Qureysh with a force of 3000 came against Al-Madinah to avenge their defeat at Badr in the Second Year of the Hijrah (623) and wipe out the Muslims. The prophet initially decided to defend Al-Madinah but at the insistence of the companions went out to meet the enemy on Mt. Uhud posting his 1000 men carefully. He posted a third under Abdullah ibn Ubeyy who deserted him before the battle and said after the battle they did not think there would be any fighting that day and hence earned the term “the Hypocrite”.

The battle had begun well for the Muslims but was changed to near defeat by a band of fifty archers placed to guard an important sector of the battlefield. On seeing the Muslims winning they feared to lose their share of the spoil and abandoned their post and moved in to the main location. That opened the sector they were guarding to the Beccan cavalry who were able to attack and inflict severe losses on the Muslim force. The prophet himself was wounded in the struggle and the force thought he had been killed and became demoralized until someone recognised him and that he was still alive and thus rallied the troops and they were able to retire in reasonable order.

The army of the Qureysh also retired after the battle and the wives of the tribal leaders who had accompanied them to the battlefield for purposes of morale began to mutilate the slain of the Muslims, making necklaces and bracelets of the ears and noses of the Muslim slain. Hind, the wife of Abu Safyan, plucked out the liver of the prophet’s uncle and began to eat it. The prophet on seeing this was moved to vow reprisals but an important revelation was granted to him and as a result mutilation was forbidden to all Muslims. Thus any Muslim that allows or condones mutilation of soldiers and the dead shows thereby they are not true Muslims and must be punished for the offence.

On the day after the Battle of Mt. Uhud the prophet went out with those that survived of the force, including many of the wounded, seeking to convince the Qureysh that they were able to defend Al-Medina and discourage an attack. Tradition says that a friendly nomad met the prophet’s force and went on and met the Qureysh and told Abu Sufyan that they were in good order and numbers and bent on revenge and thus this report convinced the Qureysh under Abu Sufyan to retire to Becca.

3.1. Alim. Lam. Mim.

3.2. Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal.

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD;

3.3. He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.

3.4. Aforetime, for a guidance to mankind; and hath revealed the Criterion (of right and wrong). Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).

All scripture provides guidance to the elect of God. The Holy Spirit guides you into all understanding. Disbelievers or those not of the elect or chosen of God for the First Resurrection will be consigned to the Second Resurrection (Rev. Ch. 20).

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. ⁶In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Ayat 3.4 has to be put in connection with the Song of Moses. It is very important.

Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

3.5. Lo! nothing in the earth or in the heavens is hidden from Allah.

[God knows all. There is nowhere to hide. The text deals with the Omniscience of God as we see in the texts and especially regarding the elect.]

Hebrews 4:13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Psalm 44:21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

3.6. He it is Who fashioneth you in the wombs as pleaseth Him. There is no God save Him, the Almighty, the Wise.

Psalm 139:16 Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Romans 8:29-30 is involved in the omniscient allocation of the elect to the Church of God from the Beginning of the world.

“For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son in order that he might be the firstborn of many brethren. ³⁰And those whom he predestined He also called, and those whom He called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

The Glorification of the elect follows on from the Glorification of Christ that we saw develop in Surah 2 and now here in Surah 3 the elect are extended as the priesthood developed from the texts in Romans 8:29-30.

3.7. He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations - they are the substance of the Book - and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed.

To understand we need to place all scriptures on the same topic together.

Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? ¹⁰For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little."

Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Ephesians 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles.

Disbelievers are removed from understanding.

Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. (ESV)

Ezekiel 12:2 Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house.

3.8. Our Lord! Cause not our hearts to stray after Thou hast guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Thy Presence. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Bestower.

2Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. ¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The center of this Surah III is Christ as the High Priest of the order of Melchisedek. It explains that Christ was the beloved one of God sent according to the Scriptures (i.e. Zabur) to shepherd his people (Isa.40:11; Jer. 23:1-6; Ezek. 34: esp. v. 11) , and that the elect are the beloved ones of God, His Father as coheirs with Christ and whose purpose is to be made elohim as sons of God (cf Zech. 12:8; Ps. 82; Jn. 10:34-36) (see also The Elect as Elohim (No. 001)). That is exactly the meaning of the word Muhammadun in this Surah (cf. Introduction Q001).

What we need to bear in mind is that to preach the Kingdom of God, the Church of God, that is the Muhammad, had to put in writing their teachings. The Qur'an did not fall from the sky.

3.9. Our Lord! Lo! it is Thou Who gatherest mankind together to a Day of which there is no doubt. Lo! Allah faileth not to keep the tryst.

3.10. (On that Day) neither the riches nor the progeny of those who disbelieve will aught avail them with Allah. They will be fuel for Fire.

3.11. Like Pharaoh's folk and those who were before them, they disbelieved Our revelations and so Allah seized them for their sins. And Allah is severe in punishment.

Plagues of Egypt: Exodus Chapter 7ff. (see Moses and the Gods of Egypt (No. 105)).

3.12. Say (O Muhammad) unto those who disbelieve: Ye shall be overcome and gathered unto Hell (The grave), an evil resting-place.

3.13. There was a token for you in two hosts which met: one army fighting in the way of Allah, and another disbelieving, whom they saw as twice their number, clearly, with their very eyes. Thus Allah strengtheneth with His succour whom He will. Lo! herein verily is a lesson for those who have eyes.

Judgement and the Second Resurrection for evildoers.

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Revelation 20:11-12 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. ¹²And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books,

Abdullah Yusuf Ali in his fn. to 3.13 notes that it refers to the battle at Badr during the fasting month and says that the fighting force with the prophet was far smaller than the enemy force. The enemy force was soundly beaten. The men taken prisoner said they saw the force as many times bigger than their own. However the Battle of Mt. Uhud also involved as stated above an inferior force of 1000 Muslims against the 3000 Beccans.

3.14. Beautified for mankind is love of the joys (that come) from women and offspring; and stored-up heaps of gold and silver, and horses branded (with their mark), and cattle and land. That is comfort of the life of the world. Allah! With Him is a more excellent abode.

1John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

3.15. Say: Shall I inform you of something better than that? For those who keep from evil, with their Lord, are Gardens underneath which rivers flow wherein they will abide, and pure companions, and contentment from Allah. Allah is Seer of His bondmen,

3.16. Those who say: Our Lord! Lo! we believe. So forgive us our sins and guard us from the punishment of Fire;

3.17. The steadfast, and the truthful, and the obedient, those who spend (and hoard not), those who pray for pardon in the watches of the night.

3.18. Allah (Himself) is Witness that there is no God save Him. And the angels and the men of learning (too are witness). Maintaining His creation in justice, there is no God save Him the Almighty, the Wise.

3.19. Lo! religion with Allah (is) the Surrender (to His Will and Guidance). Those who (formerly) received the Scripture differed only after knowledge came unto them, through transgression among themselves. Whoso disbelieveth the revelations of Allah (will find that) lo! Allah is swift at reckoning.

3.20. And if they argue with thee, (O Muhammad), say: I have surrendered my purpose to Allah and (so have) those who follow me. And say unto those who have received the Scripture and those who read not: Have ye (too) surrendered? If they surrender, then truly they are rightly guided, and if they turn away, then it is thy duty only to convey the message (unto them). Allah is Seer of (His) bondmen.

Allah is the One True God and those who surrender their wills to Him are rightly guided. Their reward is eternal which is the loyal angelic host. The Gardens referred to here are the two resurrections of Revelation Ch. 20.

Revelation 20:4-6 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. ⁶Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

3.21. Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, and slay the prophets wrongfully, and slay those of mankind who enjoin equity: promise them a painful doom.
3.22. Those are they whose works have failed in the world and the Hereafter; and they have no helpers.
3.23. Hast thou not seen how those who have received a portion of the Scripture invoke the Scripture of Allah (in their disputes) that it may judge between them; then a faction of them turn away, being opposed (to it)?
3.24. That is because they say: The Fire will not touch us save for a certain number of days. That which they used to invent hath deceived them regarding their religion.
3.25. How (will it be with them) when We have brought them all together to a Day of which there is no doubt, when every soul will be paid in full what it hath earned, and they will not be wronged.

Some desire to use some Scripture to their own advantage. Truth will finally prevail. It is the resurrections of the dead that will judge those who claim the faith and there is no heaven or hell as the Scriptures correctly say.

3.26. Say: O Allah! Owner of Sovereignty! Thou givest sovereignty unto whom Thou wilt, and Thou withdrawest sovereignty from whom Thou wilt. Thou exaltest whom Thou wilt, and Thou abasest whom Thou wilt. In Thy hand is the good. Lo! Thou art Able to do all things.

3.27. Thou causest the night to pass into the day, and Thou causest the day to pass into the night. And Thou bringest forth the living from the dead, and Thou bringest forth the dead from the living. And Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou choosest, without stint.

His is the dominion of all things in all of the universe.

Psalm 89:6-11 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, ⁷a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? ⁸O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? ⁹You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. ¹⁰You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. ¹¹The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.

Psalm 145:13-16 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] ¹⁴The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. ¹⁵The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. ¹⁶You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

God raised us from our sins; He will raise us again to a spiritual body. In the end the unrepentant will die and be consumed. Only through baptism and the laying on of hands in the Spirit can the human be saved.

Colossians 2:12-14 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (ESV)

See also Hebrews 11 regarding faith (cf. Commentary on Hebrews (F058)).

3.28. Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. Whoso doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless (it be) that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking (as it were) security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying.

2Corinthians 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, ¹⁸and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." (ESV)

3.29. Say, (O Muhammad): Whether ye hide that which is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knoweth it. He knoweth that which is in the heavens and that which is in the earth, and Allah is Able to do all things.

3.30. On the Day when every soul will find itself confronted with all that it hath done of good and all that it hath done of evil (every soul) will long that there might be a mighty space of distance between it and that (evil). Allah biddeth you beware of Him. And Allah is Full of Pity for (His) bondmen.

Psalm 139:7-12 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ⁸If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there! ⁹If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, ¹⁰even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. ¹¹If I say, "Let only darkness cover me, and the light about me be night," ¹²even the darkness is not dark to thee, the night is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with thee.

Psalm 147:4 He determines the number of the stars, he gives to all of them their names.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Revelation 20:11-12 Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. ¹²And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done.

3.31. Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

3.32. Say: Obey Allah and the messenger. But if they turn away, lo! Allah loveth not the disbelievers (in His guidance).

3.33. Lo! Allah preferred Adam and Noah and the Family of Abraham and the Family of 'Imran above (all His) creatures.

3.34. They were descendants one of another. Allah is Hearer, Knower.

3.35. (Remember) when the wife of 'Imran said: My Lord! I have vowed unto Thee that which is in my belly as a consecrated (offering). Accept it from me. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower!

3.36. And when she was delivered she said: My Lord! Lo! I am delivered of a female - Allah knew best of what she was delivered - the male is not as the female; and lo! I have named her Mary [Mariam], and lo! I crave Thy protection for her and for her offspring from Satan the outcast.

3.37. And her Lord accepted her with full acceptance and vouchsafed to her a goodly growth; and made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah went into the sanctuary where she was, he found that she had food. He said: O Mary! Whence cometh unto thee this (food)? She answered: It is from Allah. Allah giveth without stint to whom He will.

The text here refers to the birth of Mariam daughter of Imram and Yochebed and carries with it a resemblance to the birth of Messiah in the texts. The link through the family of Zechariah ties the links of the Levites from Aaron and Moses to the line of Shimei who is attributed to the line of Gershon also (cf. Strong’s note).

John the Baptist was of Abijah and also of Shimei and was the cousin of Christ who was born well after this event regarding Zechariah and John the Baptist. These texts refer to the birth of John the Baptist and the place of Zechariah also.

Matthew 1:18-23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; ¹⁹and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; ²¹she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." ²²All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ²³"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanu-el" (which means, God with us).

Luke 1:26-35 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" ²⁹But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." ³⁴And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" ³⁵And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.

3.38. Then Zachariah prayed unto his Lord and said: My Lord! Bestow

3.39. And the angels called to him as he stood praying in the sanctuary: Allah giveth thee glad tidings of (a son whose name is) John, (who cometh) to confirm a word from Allah lordly, chase, a prophet of the righteous.

3:40. He said: My Lord! How can I have a son when age hath overtaken me already and my wife is barren? (The angel) answered: So (it will be). Allah doeth what He will.
3:41. He said: My Lord! Appoint a token for me. (The angel) said: The token unto thee (shall be) that thou shalt not speak unto mankind three days except by signs. Remember thy Lord much, and praise (Him) in the early hours of night and morning.

Luke 1:5-25 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. ⁷But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. ⁸Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, ⁹according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. ¹³But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. ¹⁶And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." ¹⁸And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." ¹⁹And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." ²¹And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. ²²And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. ²³And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. ²⁴After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, ²⁵"Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people." (ESV)

Luke 1:57-64 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. ⁵⁸And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, ⁶⁰but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." ⁶¹And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." ⁶²And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. ⁶⁴And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. (ESV)

The protoevangelion of James indicates that Maryam's parents were Joachim Heli Ben David and Ann (Hanna) sister of Hanana the wife of Zechariah and mother of Yahya or John the Baptist. Imran was Maryam's maternal Grandfather whose other grandchild was Elizabeth. Imran was reportedly a Zaddokite Kohen descendant of Aaron. Thus Imram is tied into the family of Moses by name and then continues to the family of Christ and John the Baptist.

The story of Marium and Jesus continues in the following ayats.

3.42. And when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah hath chosen thee and made thee pure, and hath preferred thee above (all) the women of creation.
3.43. O Mary! Be obedient to thy Lord, prostrate thyself and bow with those who bow (in worship).
3.44. This is of the tidings of things hidden. We reveal it unto thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they threw their pens (to know) which of them should be the guardian of Mary, nor wast thou present with them when they quarrelled (thereupon).
3.45. (And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah).
3.46. He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteous.
3.47. She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath touched me? He said: So (it will be). Allah createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is.

The reference to the pens refers to the pens used for the transcription of the Torah and Heli and Hannah were both dead and Maryam an orphan. These became instruments of choosing the guardian and refer to the writings of the First and Second century concerning the matter.

Surah 3.45 is very important because the author of this Surah identifies Christ as Al-Masah (Al Masih), meaning The Messiah. As Peter says in Acts 2:36:

Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

Also the author was following exactly the teaching of Paul when he said here that Al-masih (or Al Masah) (Messiah) is a son of Marium.

Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

This definitely shows us that the author of the text was a Christian because he believes that Jesus is the Messiah in this Surah. The attribution of Isa the Christ as the Messiah is constant through the Koran.

From 3.33 to 3.37, the author of the Surah makes a commentary about the entire Chapter 1 of Luke.

Note that in the New Testament the composed term "al-masihu Isa" here in this ayat is used six times as Christos Iesous. Again that shows us that the author follows the Injil we have today.

The Author of the Surah knows perfectly the OT and the NT, thus certainly he did not make a mistake about who is Mariam, mother of Jesus or Miriam (Mariam), Moses and Aaron's sister as examined above. It is in fact to tie the family of Imram from Mariam, Aaron and Moses to John the Baptist and Mariam and her son the Messiah and the elect of the Church of God.

3.48. And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel,

3.49. And will make him a messenger unto the Children of Israel, (saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah's leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead, by Allah's leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! herein verily is a portent for you, if ye are to be believers.

Luke 2:46-52 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; ⁴⁷and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." ⁴⁹And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" ⁵⁰And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. ⁵¹And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.

Matthew 10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.

Matthew 4:23 And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

Luke 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity."

Matthew 12:13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, whole like the other.

Mark 1:30-31 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. ³¹And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.

Luke 8:48 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

3.50. And (I come) confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I come unto you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

3.51. Lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.

Matthew 5:17-18 "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. ¹⁸For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

Matthew 12:39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.

Matthew 7:12-14 So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. ¹³"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

3.52. But when Jesus became conscious of their disbelief, he cried: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples said: We will be Allah's helpers. We believe in Allah, and bear thou witness that we have surrendered (unto Him).
3:53. Our Lord! We believe in that which Thou hast revealed and we follow him whom Thou hast sent. Enrol us among those who witness (to the truth).

John 6:64-69 But there are some of you that do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. ⁶⁵And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." ⁶⁶After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him. ⁶⁷Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; ⁶⁹and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

3.54. And they (the disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed (against them): and Allah is the best of schemers.

[Note that Trinitarians use the word “deceivers” and attribute deception to Allah or Eloah which is blasphemy. The word and meaning is “scheme” meaning to plan ahead.]

3:55. (And remember) when Allah said: O Jesus! Lo! I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing thee of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then unto Me ye will (all) return, and I shall judge between you as to that wherein ye used to differ.

3:56. As for those who disbelieve I shall chastise them with a heavy chastisement in the world and the Hereafter; and they will have no helpers.

3:57. And as for those who believe and do good works, He will pay them their wages in full. Allah loveth not wrong-doers.

3:58. This (which) We recite unto thee is a revelation and a wise reminder.

3:59. Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is.

Hence the text refers to creation by divine fiat.

Psalm 2:1-4 Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? ²The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his anointed, saying, ³"Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us." ⁴He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision.

Matthew 17:22-23 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, ²³and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed.

Psalm 16:10 For thou dost not give me up to Sheol, or let thy godly one see the Pit.

Mark 14:3-8 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. ⁴But there were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment thus wasted? ⁵For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." And they reproached her. ⁶But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you will, you can do good to them; but you will not always have me. ⁸She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burying.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth.

Romans 5:17-19 If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. ¹⁸Then as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. ¹⁹For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Adam was created out of dust. In the case of Christ He said unto him: Be! and he is. Both resemble one another being made in the form or morphe of God. Yet Christ did not seek to grasp equality with God (Phil. 2:5-8).

Ayat 3.55 is the key in this Section. It is clearly explaining that Christ was raised from the dead. The version of the Qur'an (in French) used, translates it as: In that time Allah said : “O Jesus, it is Me who will make you shine and will raise you to me, separating you from apostates. I will devote those who have sought thee as a stumbling block to those who apostatize until the day of resurrection.

Then to Me your rest. I shall judge between you on the changes you have made.”

Ayat 3.59 then points against the false Trinitarian apostate teachings about Christ at that time. It declares that Christ was created like Adam. He is not part of a Trinity.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali is also clear in his translation that Christ was resurrected from the dead.

In ayat 3.55, Behold! Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute.

Ayat 3.59 from the Ali translation reads as " The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was.

It is the Koran quoting the Scriptures from the Gospels and the Psalms and none who has not read the Gospels and the Scriptures can understand Surah 3.

This is why the Hadithic Muslims cannot deal with this. They simply do not know enough. Only a long term member of the Church of God can properly understand and explain the Koran once they have studied it.

The Koran like the Torah and the Injeel needs the Holy Spirit to understand it and to have that you must be properly baptised.

Also unless you have studied the Torah, Job, Zechariah and the prophets and Gospels, you cannot understand Surah Al Tarikh, the Morning Star. The Hadithic commentaries are inadequate and uninformed.

3.60. (This is) the truth from thy Lord (O Muhammad), so be not thou of those who waver.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth.

Psalm 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; and every one of thy righteous ordinances endures for ever.

3.61. And whoso disputeth with thee concerning him, after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, say (unto him): Come! We will summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then we will pray humbly (to our Lord) and (solemnly) invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie.
3.62. Lo! This verily is the true narrative. There is no God save Allah, and lo! Allah, He verily is, is the Mighty, the Wise.
3.63. And if they turn away, then lo! Allah is Aware of (who are) the corrupters.

Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable.

Isaiah 43:10-12 "You are my witnesses," says the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. 11I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. 12I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," says the LORD.

Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it; that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Psalm 12:6-7 The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 7Do thou, O LORD, protect us, guard us ever from this generation.

Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

GOD will preserve His TRUTH for ever.

Revelation 22:18-19 I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, ¹⁹and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

3.64. Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).

Isaiah 44:24-26 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth--Who was with me?-- ²⁵who frustrates the omens of liars, and makes fools of diviners; who turns wise men back, and makes their knowledge foolish; ²⁶who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited,' and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins';

The Psalms and the Prophets say that He will keep His words forever. The Hadith is therefore a lie that says the words of God are lost. It is the sheer nature of God that the Laws of God and the faith and Testimony of Christ are unable to be lost and these are the elect (Rev. 12:17;14:12).

Therefore Islam must follow the laws of God forever.

They (Islam) are Christians, the Hadith refuse the historical facts. Modern Islam tells lies to their followers about their own historical origins. Islam must follow the laws of God forever as they endure forever.

3.65. O People of the Scripture! Why will ye argue about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye then no sense?

James 2:23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God.

Romans 4:11-12 He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, ¹²and likewise the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but also follow the example of the faith which our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Abraham believed God before he was circumcised. The Torah was revealed to Moses generations later. However, Abraham understood and kept the laws of God from the time of his calling.

3.66. Lo! ye are those who argue about that whereof ye have some knowledge: Why then argue ye concerning that whereof ye have no knowledge? Allah knoweth. Ye know not.

3.67. Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah), and he was not of the idolaters.

3.68. Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe (with him); and Allah is the Protecting Guardian of the believers.

Romans 4:13 The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants--not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all,

3.69. A party of the People of the Scripture long to make you go astray; and they make none to go astray except themselves, but they perceive not.

3.70. O People of the Scripture! Why disbelieve ye in the revelations of Allah, when ye (yourselves) bear witness (to their truth)?

3.71. O People of the Scripture! Why confound ye truth with falsehood and knowingly conceal the truth?

3.72. And a party of the People of the Scripture say: Believe in that which hath been revealed unto those who believe at the opening of the day, and disbelieve at the end thereof, in order that they may return;

3.73. And believe not save in one who followeth your religion - Say (O Muhammad): Lo! the guidance is Allah's Guidance - that anyone is given the like of that which was given unto you or that they may argue with you in the presence of their Lord. Say (O Muhammad): Lo! the bounty is in Allah's hand. He bestoweth it on whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.

Romans 1:18-22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. ¹⁹For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; ²¹for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. ²²Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

The Jews changed the words of God by their traditions and the Christians made God out to be a Binity or Ditheist entity (3^rd century) and then a Trinity (4^th century). And then again the Churches of God made God Ditheist or Binitarian in the Last Days of the 20^th and 21^st centuries.

Mark 7:13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do.

Matthew 15:6-9 So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. ⁷You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ⁸'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; ⁹in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'"

Isaiah 28:15 Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement; when the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter"; (cf. also the paper Binitarian and Trinitarian Misrepresentation of the Early Theology of the Godhead (No. 127B)).

3.74. He selecteth for His mercy whom He will. Allah is of Infinite Bounty.

3.75. Among the People of the Scripture there is he who, if thou trust him with a weight of treasure, will return it to thee. And among them there is he who, if thou trust him with a piece of gold, will not return it to thee unless thou keep standing over him. That is because they say: We have no duty to the Gentiles. They speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly.

[Thus Salvation is of the Gentiles.]

3.76. Nay, but (the chosen of Allah is) he who fulfilleth his pledge and wardeth off (evil); for lo! Allah loveth those who ward off (evil)

Romans 9:15 or he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

Exodus 33:19 And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Leviticus 6:1-7 The LORD said to Moses, ²"If any one sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor ³or has found what was lost and lied about it, swearing falsely--in any of all the things which men do and sin therein, ⁴when one has sinned and become guilty, he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, ⁵or anything about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it in full, and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs, on the day of his guilt offering. ⁶And he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued by you at the price for a guilt offering; ⁷and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any of the things which one may do and thereby become guilty."

The Israelites were not permitted to deal falsely with their neighbours by Leviticus 6 above. The Jews may have changed that as they felt they had no such duty to Gentiles. However, theft is punished at four times the value of the item and is found in the sections of the law under Law and the Eighth Commandment (No. 261).

3.77. Lo! those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant and their oaths, they have no portion in the Hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them nor look upon them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He make them grow. Theirs will be a painful doom.

3.78. And lo! there is a party of them who distort the Scripture with their tongues, that ye may think that what they say is from the Scripture, when it is not from the Scripture. And they say: It is from Allah, when it is not from Allah; and they speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly.

3.79. It is not (possible) for any human being unto whom Allah had given the Scripture and wisdom and the prophethood that he should afterwards have said unto mankind: Be slaves of me instead of Allah; but (what he said was): Be ye faithful servants of the Lord by virtue of your constant teaching of the Scripture and of your constant study thereof.

3.80. And he commanded you not that ye should take the angels and the prophets for lords. Would he command you to disbelieve after ye had surrendered (to Allah)?

Romans 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.

Distorting or falsifying the truth unless repented of will land you in the Second Resurrection.

Job 31:3 Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity?

Matthew 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'

1Corinthians 11:1-2 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. ²I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.

Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel-- ⁷not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.

If it is from the Scripture it will be quoting the Scripture and the Hadith does not and claims the Scripture is lost. This text refers to the precursors to the Hadithic scholars and the Binitarians and Trinitarians equally and neither will enter the First Resurrection.

3.81. When Allah made (His) covenant with the prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and knowledge. And afterward there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which ye possess. Ye shall believe in him and ye shall help him. He said: Do ye agree, and will ye take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter)? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear ye witness. I will be a witness with you.

Exodus 24:3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, "All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do."

Acts 3:22 Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Acts 7:37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up.'

3.82. Then whosoever after this shall turn away: they will be miscreants.

3.83. Seek they other than the religion of Allah, when unto Him submitteth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and unto Him they will be returned.

3.84. Say (O Muhammad): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and that which was vouchsafed unto Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.

3.85. And whoso seeketh as religion other than the Surrender (to Allah) it will not be accepted from him, and he will be a loser in the Hereafter.

3.86. How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and (after) they bore witness that the messenger is true and after clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) had come unto them. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

3.87. As for such, their guerdon [reward: but here an actual punishment] is that on them rests the curse of Allah and of angels and of men combined.

3.88. They will abide therein. Their doom will not be lightened, neither will they be reprieved;

3.89. Save those who afterward repent and do right. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

3.90. Lo! those who disbelieve after their (profession of) belief, and afterward grow violent in disbelief: their repentance will not be accepted. And such are those who are astray.

3.91. Lo! those who disbelieve, and die in disbelief, the (whole) earth full of gold would not be accepted from such an one if it were offered as a ransom (for his soul). Theirs will be a painful doom and they will have no helpers.

Religion is submission to the Almighty the one True God. There is no other option.

Acts 24:14-15 But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law or written in the prophets, ¹⁵having a hope in God which these themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

God guides the elect in His ways, commandments and testimony. The rest are allowed to go astray. Their destiny is the Second Resurrection. The messengers sent by Eloah are listed in Ayat 84. The ransom for salvation was paid for by Messiah.

Hebrews 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹²he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Many Muslims can recite the Qur'an from memory but none understand what is said in the words and how they are a retelling of Scripture.

The Koran and Scripture are a serious exposition of the will of God through the prophets. Islam is the surrender to God and a Muslim is one that obeys the laws of God as given through the prophets and the Testimony of Messiah.

3.92. Ye will not attain unto piety until ye spend of that which ye love. And whatsoever ye spend, Allah is Aware thereof.

Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

1Timothy 6:9-11 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. ¹¹But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Luke 16:10-11 "He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. ¹¹If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches?

Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

3.93. All food was lawful unto the Children of Israel, save that which Israel forbade himself, (in days) before the Torah was revealed. Say: Produce the Torah and read it (unto us) if ye are truthful.

This verse refers to Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 in relation to the food laws (see the paper The Food Laws (No. 015)).

Refer also to The Acts 15 Conference (No. 069) notations regarding food sacrificed to idols. The text here refers to the Food laws and to the laws of Kashrut which Judah inflicted on themselves in Egypt before Moses was given the limitations by the Angel of the Presence at Sinai.

The only alleged change to the food laws was when the Prophet is claimed to have allowed the desert tribes to cut the flanks of the camels in strips when they were starving as we will see elsewhere in Surah 22:36ff (Q022); and The Food Laws (No. 015) above. This text here refers the tribes to the food laws given to Moses and there is no doubt the Arabs and all Islam were to follow them,

Acts 15:19-20 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

1Corinthians 10.25-28 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. ²⁶For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." ²⁷If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. ²⁸But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—

3.94. And whoever shall invent a falsehood after that concerning Allah, such will be wrong-doers.

3.95. Say: Allah speaketh truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, the upright. He was not of the idolaters.

Zechariah 5:4 I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. (KJV)

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (KJV)

1Timothy 6:3-6 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, ⁴he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,⁵and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. ⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain, (ESV)

2Peter 2:1-3 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ²And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.³And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (ESV)

Ayat 3.95 is not talking about "religion" of Ibrahim at all. It is talking about what the Qur'an in 2.131 says: When his Lord said to him, Be a Muslim, he said: I submit myself to the Lord of the worlds.

Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (KJV)

Now, when you look at the Targum of this Genesis 17:1 you have SHD 8549 tamiym the derivation of SHD 8552 tamam meaning perfect or upright, thence the word aslim which is selim. And here in Surah 2.131 Ibrahim says: aslamtu, I am perfect.

3.96. Lo! the first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Becca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples;

3.97. Wherein are plain memorials (of Allah's guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth, (let him know that) lo! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures.

[Note: The Bible tells us there are Three Annual Festivals (Pilgrimages) we are commanded to keep (Ex. 23:14-19; Deut. 16:1-17; Lev. 23:1-44); see also God’s Calendar (No. 156).]

We can see that in Judges 2:5

Judges 2:5 And they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there to the LORD.

SHD 1058 bakah (baw-kaw’) means 1) to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to weep (in grief, humiliation, or joy)
1a2) to weep bitterly (with cognate acc.)
1a3) to weep upon (embrace and weep)
1a4) to bewail
1b) (Piel) participle
1b1) lamenting

We have today the Wailing Wall at Jerusalem.

The al-bayt in the Qur'an is the Temple at Jerusalem, never in Mekka. (It was moved to Mecca in 699 CE (cf. Chronology Part II: Becca and the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs (Q001D)).

Ayat 3.96 says: Yes, the first House which gave the life to the humans is that of Bekka, blessing and Way for the centuries.

In Luke 2:26-39, Christ was brought into the Temple, and verse 32 says that Christ is a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

The paganised Arabs brought the concept of the House of God to Mecca in 699 CE after the death of the Prophet and the Ka’aba which the church had cleansed of its multitude of idols. The so-called ride to Jerusalem is the First Resurrection of the Dead which the church taught and which the Hadith corrupted.

Pickthall makes the notation that Becca was Mecca. That is impossible because the Temple was placed at Jerusalem and Christ was given as its light. The word Bek'a is a Hebrew and Chaldean word meaning a Bekah (Ex. 38:26) which is a bronze coin equalling half a shekel which was the head tax paid at the Temple in Jerusalem once a year. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Mecca. This was paid by Christ in his sacrifice.

Abraham tithed to Melchisdek at Jerusalem while it was a Jebusite city and there was no temple built there by Israel but rather it was the place of sacrifice of Melchisedek and the church was the priesthood of Melchisedek under Christ. After the destruction of the Temple and the dispersion of the church the place of the offerings was where the church chose to appoint as the Feast sites and these became the place of offerings as the Bekah or personal offerings under the law.

In Eastern Aramaic Bekah became Becca in Arabic. The word was used rather than Jerusalem to show that the church had the authority to determine the place of the Feasts and offerings. There was no temple in Mecca either around the Ka’aba or anywhere else until after 699 CE and after the revolution of 750.

Scholars say Bakka designated the "valley of Baka" which is located north of the Himnom Valley, west of Jerusalem, the final stage of the pilgrim, at the crossroads from the north, from the west, and from the south to the holy city.

When you take a look at the map of Vidal de la Blache (1896), which reproduced a South Arabia map with commercial (incense) roads based on historical facts and which is ante-Islamic. The map does not disclose the existence of Mecca. And in the Qur'an it is not spoken of Mecca but the Qur'an speaks of only one place of pilgrimage that is Jerusalem.

The search for a place named Becca may well have sought to identify Baka and indeed Mecca was not a place of pilgrimage but the Hebrew word Bekah meaning the half shekel coin as an offering is a reference to the feasts. There is no doubt that the church never made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and the Ka’aba[h] was an idolatrous place cleansed of idols which was moved to Mecca in 699 CE well after the death of the Prophet.

The Temple mount was a rubbish pit until it was conquered and ordered cleansed of rubbish by Omar.

One of the later attempts after the death of the Prophet and the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs was to locate the area of Becca away from Jerusalem to the area of the Family of the Prophet and their clan of the Qureysh which was located at Petra and their name of the area as Becca. This aspect is explained in the text of Commentary on the Koran Part II: Becca and the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs (Q001D). Bekka was originally west of Jerusalem where Abraham originally prayed as explained above and not east of Petra where the clans of Ishmael and the Qureysh were located adjacent to the sons of Edom and the Amalekites. The Ka’aba as the Temple of Baal or Hubal and the Gods of the days was located there with the Temple also of the goddess Al Lat at Wadi Rum. Mecca was a post Islamic substitute for the relocation of the Ka’aba and the Meteorite as the centre of the worship of Baal/Hubal in Arabia to displace the faith in the Churches of God.

3.98. Say: O People of the Scripture! Why disbelieve ye in the revelations of Allah, when Allah (Himself) is Witness of what ye do?

3.99. Say: O People of the Scripture! Why drive ye back believers from the way of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, when ye are witnesses (to Allah's guidance)? Allah is not unaware of what ye do.

3.100. O ye who believe! If ye obey a party of those who have received the Scripture they will make you disbelievers after your belief.

3.101. How can ye disbelieve, when it is ye unto whom Allah's revelations are recited, and His messenger is in your midst? He who holdeth fast to Allah, he indeed is guided unto a right path.

Romans 1:19-21 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; ²¹for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened.

God's revelations are there for all to read, some turn to fables and commentaries – the Talmud, Hadith and the councils of the Trinitarian church.

1Timothy 1:3-11 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, ⁴nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than the divine training that is in faith; ⁵whereas the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. ⁶Certain persons by swerving from these have wandered away into vain discussion, ⁷desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions. ⁸Now we know that the law is good, if any one uses it lawfully, ⁹understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, ¹⁰immoral persons, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

2Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, ⁴and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.

3.102. O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not save as those who have surrendered (unto Him)

3.103. And hold fast, all of you together, to the cable of Allah, and do not separate. And remember Allah's favour unto you: How ye were enemies and He made friendship between your hearts so that ye became as brothers by His grace; and (how) ye were upon the brink of an abyss of fire, and He did save you from it. Thus Allah maketh clear His revelations unto you, that haply ye may be guided,

3.104. And there may spring from you a nation who invite to goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency. Such are they who are successful.

3.105. And be ye not as those who separated and disputed after the clear proofs had come unto them. For such there is an awful doom,

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Colossians 1:21-23 And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²²he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, ²³provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

God has reconciled us to Himself by the sacrifice of Christ and we are brothers and sisters to each other and to the loyal angelic host.

Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, ⁶and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

1Peter 2:9-12 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰Once you were no people but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy. ¹¹Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. ¹²Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

3.106. On the Day when (some) faces will be whitened and (some) faces will be blackened; and as for those whose faces have been blackened, it will be said unto them: Disbelieved ye after your (profession of) belief? Then taste the punishment for that ye disbelieved.

3.107. And as for those whose faces have been whitened, in the mercy of Allah they dwell for ever.

This refers to Matthew 25:31-46, the parable of the sheep and goats. The sheep on Messiah's right hand are blessed by God and given their inheritance. The goats on his left hand are however consigned to the 2^nd Resurrection. Though works are noted here, works alone without faith are dead.

Romans 3:22-24 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; ²³since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,

Galatians 3:6-9 Thus Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." ⁷So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham. ⁸And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." ⁹So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith.

James 2:14-17 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

3.108. These are revelations of Allah. We recite them unto thee in truth. Allah willeth no injustice to (His) creatures.

3.109. Unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth; and unto Allah all things are returned.

Ayats 3.106 to 3.109 speak of Judgment. 106. [On the] Day [of Judgment], [there will be] souls will be white and souls will be black. We will say to those whose soul is black: Did you apostatize after your agreement with the Faith? See the abandon, due to your apostasy.
107. As for those whose soul is white, they will be in the mercy of God, where they will dwell.

Those that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment from Revelation 3:4, 18; 19:8

Those that have defiled their garments are not worthy for the First Resurrection.
White symbolizes purity
Black symbolizes impurity.
It relates to the foolish virgins and the wise virgins.

3.110. Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the People of the Scripture had believed it had been better for them. Some of them are believers; but most of them are evil-livers.

God gives understanding and wisdom to the elect. He is just in what He does.

Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Psalm 81:13-16 O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! ¹⁴ I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes. ¹⁵Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last for ever. ¹⁶I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

3.111. They will not harm you save a trifling hurt, and if they fight against you they will turn and flee. And afterward they will not be helped.

3.112. Ignominy shall be their portion wheresoever they are found save (where they grasp) a rope from Allah and a rope from men. They have incurred anger from their Lord, and wretchedness is laid upon them. That is because they used to disbelieve the revelations of Allah, and slew the prophets wrongfully. That is because they were rebellious and used to transgress.

3.113. They are not all alike. Of the People of the Scripture there is a staunch community who recite the revelations of Allah in the night season, falling prostrate (before Him).

3.114. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency, and vie one with another in good works. These are of the righteous.

3.115. And whatever good they do, they will not be denied the meed thereof. Allah is Aware of those who ward off (evil).

3.116. Lo! the riches and the progeny of those who disbelieve will not avail them aught against Allah; and such are rightful owners of the Fire. They will abide therein.

3.117. The likeness of that which they spend in this life of the world is as the likeness of a biting, icy wind which smiteth the harvest of a people who have wronged themselves, and devastateth it. Allah wronged them not, but they do wrong themselves.

3.118. O ye who believe! Take not for intimates others than your own folk, who would spare no pains to ruin you; they love to hamper you. Hatred is revealed by (the utterance of) their mouths, but that which their breasts hide is greater. We have made plain for you the revelations if ye will understand.

3.119. Lo! ye are those who love them though they love you not, and ye believe in all the Scripture. When they fall in with you they say: We believe; but when they go apart they bite their finger-tips at you, for rage. Say: Perish in your rage! Lo! Allah is Aware of what is hidden in (your) breasts.

3.120. If a lucky chance befall you, it is evil unto them, and if disaster strike you they rejoice thereat. But if ye persevere and keep from evil their guile will never harm you. Lo! Allah is Surrounding what they do.

3.121. And when thou settedst forth at daybreak from thy housefolk to assign to the believers their positions for the battle, Allah was Hearer, Knower.

3.122. When two parties of you almost fell away, and Allah was their Protecting Friend. In Allah let believers put their trust.

Hosea 10:12-13 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain salvation upon you. ¹³You have plowed iniquity, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your chariots and in the multitude of your warriors,

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Matthew 12:34-37 You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; ³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Deuteronomy 28 also comes to mind - there are blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

Psalm 49:7-8 Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life, ⁸for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice,

Psalm 135:5-6 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. ⁶Whatever the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

God rules over all His creation.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.

Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed.

3.123. Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear Allah. thus May ye show your gratitude.
God gave the prophet's party the victory even though they were poorly armed and they were vastly outnumbered.

3.124. When thou didst say unto the believers: Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should support you with three thousand angels sent down (to your help)?

3.125. Nay, but if ye persevere, and keep from evil, and (the enemy) attack you suddenly, your Lord will help you with five thousand angels sweeping on.

3.126. Allah ordained this only as a message of good cheer for you, and that thereby your hearts might be at rest - Victory cometh only from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

Psalm 58:10-11 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. ¹¹Men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth."

Psalm 118:15 Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

God encouraged the believers by supplying the angelic forces to fight on their side.

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. ¹⁴The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still."

3.127. That He may cut off a part of those who disbelieve, or overwhelm them so that they retire, frustrated.

3.128. It is no concern at all of thee (Muhammad) whether He relent toward them or punish them; for they are evil-doers.

Exodus 14:13-14 applies here as well.

Romans 9:15-19 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." ¹⁶So it depends not upon man's will or exertion, but upon God's mercy. ¹⁷For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." ¹⁸So then he has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart of whomever he wills. ¹⁹You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"

3.129. Unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. He forgiveth whom He will, and punisheth whom He will. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

1Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Daniel 4:34-35 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; ³⁵all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?" (ESV)

[This text refers to the Battle of Mt. Uhud and the deserting of the post of the 50 archers to seize spoil in the battle (see introduction above.).]

3.130. O ye who believe! Devour not usury, doubling and quadrupling (the sum lent). Observe your duty to Allah, that ye may be successful.

Exodus 22:25 "If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest. ²⁰You may charge a foreigner interest, but you may not charge your brother interest, that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

3.131. And ward off (from yourselves) the Fire prepared for disbelievers.

3.132. And obey Allah and the messenger, that ye may find mercy.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

2Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

3.133. And vie one with another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off (evil);

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Psalm 130:4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. (ESV)

2Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (ESV)

3.134. Those who spend (of that which Allah hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loveth the good;

3.135. And those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins - Who forgiveth sins save Allah only? - and will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did.

3.136. The reward of such will be forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever - a bountiful reward for workers!

[Plural Gardens here refer to the 1^st and 2^nd resurrections.]

Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (ESV)

Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. (ESV)

James 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (ESV)

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

2Timothy 2:11-13 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; ¹²if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; ¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)

Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (ESV)

3.137. Many were the Ways of Life that have passed away before you: travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who rejected Truth.

Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. (ESV)

Hebrews 4:2 For good news came to us just as to them; but the message which they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in the hearers.

3.138. Here is a plain statement to men, a guidance and instruction to those who fear Allah.

3.139. So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you."

3.140. If a wound hath touched you, be sure a similar wound hath touched the others. Such days (of varying fortunes) We give to men and men by turns: that Allah may know those that believe, and that He may take to Himself from your ranks Martyr-witnesses (to Truth). And Allah loveth not those that do wrong.

3.141. Allah’s object also is to purge those that are true in Faith and to deprive of blessing Those that resist Faith.

3.142. Did ye think that ye would enter Heaven without Allah testing those of you who fought hard (In His Cause) and remained steadfast?

1Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

[Hence the faith is an ongoing test.]

3.143. And verily ye used to wish for death before ye met it (in the field). Now ye have seen it with your eyes!

Some were tested to the point of death for the truth and been taken to the prospect of death.

The prophecy of Pergamos was made in the First Century in the Revelation of God to Christ to John (cf. Rev. chapter 2:12-17). They were forced to fight for survival both there at Badr and Mt. Uhud and also among the Paulicians. It was the most warlike of the church eras. That is why they are told that God will come against them with the sharp two edged sword and the sword of His mouth.

They were told that God supported them with 3000 angels at Badr and Mt. Uhud and He will send them 5000 if they need it and so have faith. So also are we the church promised support and strength.

3.144. Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him. Will it be that, when he dieth or is slain, ye will turn back on your heels? He who turneth back on his heels doth no hurt to Allah, and Allah will reward the thankful.

Matthew 23:34,37 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,

³⁷"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

God sent His prophets and messengers to His people, the Arabian prophet was just one of them.

2Peter 2:20-22 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²²It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire.

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.

If Muslims today would only realize that the Arabian prophet is only a messenger. There have been many attacks to revenge the name of the prophet in Europe in the last decades. Salman Rushdie has had a death sentence on him for decades from Iran for supposedly speaking against Islam. How many Muslims do this to avenge God? Hasn't Islam in effect made their belief system and their messenger above the Creator?

The followers of the message of the Muhammad, which is the Qur’an as part of the Scriptures, are those with the Holy Spirit. The Ummah are reminded that no prophet is God, a god or a demi-god. They are men that live and die. The mission of delivering a message doesn't make them above other people and they shouldn't be elevated above others of the Ummah. It then states that those that believe the messenger is a type of god should repent. There were some of those in early Islam that had begun to deify their prophet, the same as they are doing today. Even their declaration of the last section of the faith that Muhammad is a prophet of God (referring to the prophet rather than the council) is shirk or false declaration.

The duty of the messenger is to deliver the message just like the postman will deliver a letter. No one in his right mind will elevate the postman. Any being that can die cannot be a god.

In Ayat 3.144 the word used is muhammadun, It is not a name here but a description.

One of the more accurate translations of this word should be a "beloved one". As we say in the paper Commentary on the Qur'an Q1 muhammadun is a way of describing those who are in communion with Christ.

And never muhammad, muhammadun; hamad is a proper name in the Qur'an.

This word muhammadun is only used 4 times in the Qur'an (3:144; 33:40; 47:2; 48:29).

Surah 3.144b ...even if he died, or if he was killed, would you go back on your steps? the one who goes back on their steps does no harm to Allah, and God rewards those who pay with their lives.

This is exactly what happens to the elect in Revelation 12:11

Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Christ is the beloved one of God who paid with his life (cf. Mk 8:31; 9:31).

3.145. No soul can ever die except by Allah's leave and at a term appointed. Whoso desireth the reward of the world, We bestow on him thereof; and whoso desireth the reward of the Hereafter, We bestow on him thereof. We shall reward the thankful.

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Ezekiel 18.4 says that the soul who sins shall die.

Ayat 3.145 can be related to Mt. 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Daniel 12:1-3 At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time; but at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book. ²And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

3.146. And with how many a prophet have there been a number of devoted men who fought (beside him). They quailed not for aught that befell them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor were they brought low. Allah loveth the steadfast.

The battles of Gideon in Judges 7 and 8 are relevant. The stories of other judges like Jephthah, Samson, Othniel and Ehud are relevant too. The battles of Badr and Uhud follow in that tradition of the judges and prophets.

Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

3.147. Their cry was only that they said: Our Lord! forgive us for our sins and wasted efforts, make our foothold sure, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.

1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

2Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. (KJV)

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness; because we have rebelled against him,

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

3.148. So Allah gave them the reward of the world and the good reward of the Hereafter. Allah loveth those whose deeds are good.

2Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, ⁴by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3.149. O ye who believe! if ye obey those who disbelieve, they will make you turn back on your heels, and ye turn back as losers.

[So also the third that left the battle of Mt. Uhud are classed here.]

Galatians 1:6-7 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel-- ⁷not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

2Peter 2:1-3 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ²And many will follow their licentiousness, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. ³And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from of old their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not been asleep.

3.150. But Allah is your Protector, and He is the Best of Helpers.

Psalm 54:4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

Psalm 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.

Also at Ayat 3.150: Allah is your Circumciser and it is He who delivers those who are the object of His protection.

Comment: The apostate Christians are returned only to the uncircumcised of the Second Resurrection.

3.151. We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve because they ascribe unto Allah partners, for which no warrant hath been revealed. Their habitation is the Fire, and hapless the abode of the wrong-doers.

[Thus the Binitarians and Trinitarians are condemned to the Second Resurrection.]

1Timothy 6:3-5 If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness,⁴he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, ⁵and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Proverbs 11:21 Be assured, an evil man will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will be delivered.

Isaiah 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, and lay low the haughtiness of the ruthless.

The punishment for the apostates, e.g. those who are Ditheists, Binitarians or Trinitarians, is to be purified by fire, which is the judgement of correction in Revelation 19:20. The Lake of Fire is “Puros” and “Theiou.” This is not fire and brimstone.

It is the Lake fiery and divine.

The Lake of Fire is the final disposal of the dead of the Second Resurrection that do not repent. It is unlikely that any will not repent but it will be reserved for those that do not repent.

3.152. Allah verily made good His promise unto you when ye routed them by His leave, until (the moment) when your courage failed you, and ye disagreed about the order and ye disobeyed, after He had shown you that for which ye long. Some of you desired the world, and some of you desired the Hereafter. Therefore He made you flee from them, that He might try you. Yet now He hath forgiven you. Allah is a Lord of Kindness to believers.

3.153. When ye climbed (the hill) and paid no heed to anyone, while the messenger, in your rear, was calling you (to fight). Therefor He rewarded you grief for (his) grief, that (He might teach) you not to sorrow either for that which ye missed or for that which befell you. Allah is Informed of what ye do.

3.154. Then, after grief, He sent down security for you. As slumber did it overcome a party of you, while (the other) party, who were anxious on their own account, thought wrongly of Allah, the thought of ignorance. They said: Have we any part in the cause? Say (O Muhammad): The cause belongeth wholly to Allah. They hide within themselves (a thought) which they reveal not unto thee, saying: Had we had any part in the cause we should not have been slain here. Say: Even though ye had been in your houses, those appointed to be slain would have gone forth to the places where they were to lie. (All this hath been) in order that Allah might try what is in your breasts and prove what is in your hearts. Allah is Aware of what is hidden in the breasts (of men).

3.155. Lo! those of you who turned back on the day when the two hosts met, Satan alone it was who caused them to backslide, because of some of that which they have earned. Now Allah hath forgiven them. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Clement.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali in his translation says the above is what transpired at the battle at Uhud where they had almost routed the enemy. Their minds were distracted by the booty to be had rather than completely defeating the enemy. As a result they paid a much higher price to overcome the enemy. Coveting for the things of the world takes your focus away from the main goal.

The two parties both erred, the one third that fled from the battle and the 50 archers that left their posts to take the spoil, both were judged and corrected.

Israel's battle under Saul against the Amalekites is similar. They disobeyed the order given and God was not pleased.

1Samuel 15:7-11 And Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. ⁸And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. ⁹But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; all that was despised and worthless they utterly destroyed. ¹⁰The word of the LORD came to Samuel: ¹¹"I repent that I have made Saul king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry; and he cried to the LORD all night.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.

Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

3.156. O ye who believe! Be not as those who disbelieved and said of their brethren who went abroad in the land or were fighting in the field: If they had been (here) with us they would not have died or been killed: that Allah may make it anguish in their hearts. Allah giveth life and causeth death; and Allah is Seer of what ye do.

3.157. And what though ye be slain in Allah's way or die therein? Surely pardon from Allah and mercy are better than all that they amass.

3.158. What though ye be slain or die, when unto Allah ye are gathered?

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

Job 1:21 And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

1Samuel 2:6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

3.159. It was by the mercy of Allah that thou wast lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if thou hadst been stern and fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round about thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in Allah. Lo! Allah loveth those who put their trust (in Him).

Numbers 12:3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men that were on the face of the earth.

Exodus 32:11-14 But Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, "O LORD, why does thy wrath burn hot against thy people, whom thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? ¹²Why should the Egyptians say, 'With evil intent did he bring them forth, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. ¹³Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou didst swear by thine own self, and didst say to them, 'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it for ever.'" ¹⁴And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people.

Moses pleaded with God for his people to save them as Abraham tried when the angels told him about Sodom and Gomorrah.

3.160. If Allah is your helper none can overcome you, and if He withdraw His help from you, who is there who can help you after Him? In Allah let believers put their trust.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Hebrews 13:6. Hence we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?"

3.161. It is not for any prophet to embezzle. Whoso embezzleth will bring what he embezzled with him on the Day of Resurrection. Then every soul will be paid in full what it hath earned; and they will not be wronged.

Deuteronomy 25:4 You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.

1Timothy 5:18 for the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

1Corinthians 9:16-17 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.

Jeremiah 20:8-9 For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, "Violence and destruction!" For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. ⁹If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

There is an obligation and a necessity laid on the prophet to do as he is directed or sent to do. He has to accomplish his mission. Woe to him if he does not go. Like Jeremiah says if he does not he is in trouble anyway, so he might as well do the right thing and take whatever comes his way. Running away is not an option. Jonah tried but God brought him back to go on his mission. The Sign of Jonah is the Sign of the Church of God (see Commentary on Jonah (No. 021E)).

3.162. Is one who followeth the pleasure of Allah as one who hath earned condemnation from Allah, whose habitation is the Fire, a hapless journey's end?

Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.

Revelation 22:12 Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done.

Romans 14:10-12 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; ¹¹for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." ¹²So each of us shall give account of himself to God.

2Corinthians 5:9-10 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

Matthew 25:46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Reward of the righteous is the 1^st Resurrection and eternal life whereas the disobedient and unfaithful will be consigned to the 2^nd Resurrection to face intensive training and correction as per Revelation 20.

3.163. They are in varying gardens in the sight of Allah, and Allah sees well all that they do.

Two different gardens of paradise – 1^st Resurrection and the 2^nd Resurrection. The comments on 3.162 are applicable here also.

3.164. Allah verily hath shown grace to the believers by sending unto them a messenger of their own who reciteth unto them His revelations, and causeth them to grow, and teacheth them the Scripture and wisdom; although before (he came to them) they were in flagrant error.

Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Acts 3:22-23 Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. ²³And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'

Acts 7:37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up.'

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.

Luke 24:44 Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

3.165. What! When a single disaster smites you, although ye smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, do ye say?- "Whence is this?" Say (to them): "It is from yourselves: For Allah hath power over all things."

Ecclesiastes 9:11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

Sometimes we get into trouble because of foolish decisions. We bring some things on ourselves; it is our own fault. The prophet's men suffered because they did not follow instructions during the battle at Uhud.

God is merciful and He does not allow what is beyond our capacity to endure, but we do pay a price for own foolishness.

3.166. What ye suffered on the day the two armies met, was with the leave of Allah, in order that He might test the believers

God allowed them to be tested during the battle as we are all tested during the struggles of the faith.

1Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.

3.167. And the Hypocrites also. These were told: "Come, fight in the way of Allah, or (at least) drive (The foe from your city)." They said: "Had we known how to fight, we should certainly have followed you." They were that day nearer to Unbelief than to Faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts but Allah hath full knowledge of all they conceal.

3.168. (They are) the ones that say, (of their brethren slain), while they themselves sit (at ease): "If only they had listened to us they would not have been slain." Say: "Avert death from your own selves, if ye speak the truth."

3.169. Think not of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord;

Some come to us but when they are told what is required of them to be part of the faith they shy away. Study the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 and Luke 8.

Those that die in the LORD have just fallen asleep. They await the resurrection.

1Thessalonians 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!"

1Corinthians 15:51-52 Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

3.170. Jubilant (are they) because of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of His bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not joined them but are left behind: That there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.

3.171. They rejoice because of favour from Allah and kindness, and that Allah wasteth not the wage of the believers.

Psalm 23:4-5 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. ⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.

3.172. As for those who heard the call of Allah and His messenger after the harm befell them (in the fight); for such of them as do right and ward off (evil), there is great reward.

Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

3.173. Those unto whom men said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefore fear them. (The threat of danger) but increased the faith of them and they cried: Allah is Sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust!

Psalm 18:29 By your help I have made a way through the wall which was shutting me in; by the help of my God I have gone over a wall. (BBE).

Psalm 18:29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. (NIV)

2Corinthians 12:9a but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

3.174. So they returned with grace and favour from Allah, and no harm touched them. They followed the good pleasure of Allah, and Allah is of Infinite Bounty.

Psalm 91:9-10 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation, ¹⁰no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.

Psalm 91:14-16 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. ¹⁵When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. ¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

3.175. It is only the devil who would make (men) fear his partisans. Fear them not; fear Me, if ye are true believers.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (ESV)

3.176. Let not their conduct grieve thee, who run easily to disbelief, for lo! they injure Allah not at all. It is Allah's Will to assign them no portion in the Hereafter, and theirs will be an awful doom.

3.177. Those who purchase disbelief at the price of faith harm Allah not at all, but theirs will be a painful doom.

3.178. And let not those who disbelieve imagine that the rein We give them bodeth good unto their souls. We only give them rein that they may grow in sinfulness. And theirs will be a shameful doom

Psalm 81:11-12 But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would have none of me. ¹²So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.

Romans1:24-25, 28 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, ²⁵because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.

²⁸And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct.

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death."

3.179. It is not (the purpose) of Allah to leave you in your present state till He shall separate the wicked from the good. And it is not (the purpose of) Allah to let you know the Unseen. But Allah chooseth of His messengers whom He will, (to receive knowledge thereof). So believe in Allah and His messengers. If ye believe and ward off (evil), yours will be a vast reward.

The parable of the goats and the sheep and the parable of the wise and foolish virgins apply and the Holy Spirit gives knowledge.

Revelation 3:4-6,18 ⁴Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. ⁶He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

¹⁸Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.

Revelation 19:8 it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure"--for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

3.180. And let not those who hoard up that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of His bounty think that it is better for them. Nay, it is worse for them. That which they hoard will be their collar on the Day of Resurrection. Allah's is the heritage of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Informed of what ye do.

Ecclesiastes 5:13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt,

Proverbs 11:24-26 One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. ²⁵A liberal man will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. ²⁶The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

Proverbs 3:27 o not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

3.181. Allah hath heard the taunt of those who say: "Truly, Allah is indigent and we are rich!"- We shall certainly record their word and (their act) of slaying the prophets in defiance of right, and We shall say: "Taste ye the penalty of the Scorching Fire!

Matthew 12:36-37 I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; ³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

1Thessalonians 2:14-15 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all men

3.182. This is on account of that which your own hands have sent before (you to the judgment). Allah is no oppressor of (His) bondmen.

1Timothy 5:24 The sins of some men are plain before, going before to judgment, but indeed some follow after. (LITV)

Psalm 105:14-15 He allowed no man to oppress them; yea, He reproved kings for their sakes; ¹⁵saying, Touch not My anointed; and, Do My prophets no harm. (LITV)

3.183. They (also) said: "(Allah) took our promise not to believe in an apostle unless He showed us a sacrifice consumed by Fire (From heaven)." Say: "There came to you apostles before me, with clear Signs and even with what ye ask for: why then did ye slay them, if ye speak the truth?"

Matthew 12:38-39 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." ³⁹But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Luke 13:34a O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you!

Matthew 23:29-32 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰saying, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' ³¹Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³²Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.

3.184. Then if they reject thee, so were rejected apostles before thee, who came with Clear Signs, Books of dark prophecies, and the Book of Enlightenment.

John 15:18-20 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

The Apostle John and a few others died a natural death, the rest died miserable deaths at the hands of their fellowmen. What enmity and how bad the rejection (see the Fate of the Twelve Apostles (No. 122B)).

3.185. Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Matthew 25:46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

1John 2:16-17 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever.

3.186. Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs.