JABRIL.MUHAMMAD
I ended my last article with these words: I intend to finish this and my reason, next article, Allah willing. Study the word “reason.”
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The word “reason” means: a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event; good or obvious cause to do something; Logic, a premise of an argument in support of a belief, esp. a minor premise when given after the conclusion; the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic: there is a close connection between reason and emotion; What is right, practical, or possible; common sense, think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic; find an answer to a problem by considering various possible solutions; persuade (someone) with rational argument.
In the Thesaurus we can see the relationship; cause, ground(s), basis, rationale; motive, motivation, purpose, point, aim, intention, objective, goal; explanation, justification, argument, defense, vindication, excuse, pretext; rationality, logic, logical thought, reasoning, cognition; formal ratiocination; good sense, good judgment, common sense, wisdom, sagacity, reasonableness; think rationally, think logically, use one’s common sense, use one’s head/brain.
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In the previous article, I saw that I made a mistake when I said that I wrote “two” books before 1977. I actually wrote “three” books. I didn’t realize the mistake until Wednesday March 18, 2015.
A mistake is very different from a lie.
The first book involves the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan who read the book and responded to it. I place his response along with others in the inside cover of the book. This book was first published in 1970. It was republished two other times.
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This below is from the 3rd book that Minister Farrakhan did not read until much later. And then he urged others to get it and read it. He made that public.
“The Messenger once said, ‘… God never speaks nor does a work without a purpose.’
His purpose, as you saw in the Messenger’s words on page 103, pervades the universe. Scientists know that some uniform purpose rules every aspect of the universe through the laws that govern every atom that makes it up. They call it the rule of law.
“Again,” asks the Apostle of Allah, ‘why should God love Jesus more than any other of His prophets while Jesus was unable to convert the Jews (to whom he was sent) to Him?’
“Moses’ grave has not been found nor has Moses been seen by the world since his death; nor any of the former prophets.
“Abraham was one of the beloved prophets, but we have not seen him risen from his death.
“It seems to me that if He were to break the law of nature and bring one back from a real physical death, He would do that for His last Messenger, rather than for Jesus. Can we expect this even for the last one? No. The Originator of the universe created death. He made it part of the life in and of the universe.
“Allah’s prophets are signs of the last one. They all reflect the life and work of the last Messenger. However, there is special mention in the Holy Qur’an on the fact that Jesus was a sign.
“Let us understand the fact that the Messenger teaches that Jesus (Isa) was a sign is the KEY to grasping that man’s life and death. This is true both of the historical Jesus and of the Biblical Jesus.”
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“Going by the numbering of verses in the Muhammad Ali translation, we read in verse 51 that Jesus “perceived disbelief” on the part of those to whom he was preaching his message. From the context one gets the distinct idea that this particular perception occurred toward the end of his mission. Further, one gets the idea that this disbelief, or resistance to Jesus, reached a point or intensity that became crucial. Jesus’ enemies were about to make an all out move to take his life. It seems to have become crucial in God’s eyes too.
“We read that Jesus’ enemies planned. So did Allah. He planned in such way so as to make their plans against Jesus serve His (Allah’s) purpose.
Verse 54 reads: “When Allah said: ‘O Jesus, I will cause thee to die and exalt thee in My presence and clear thee of those who disbelieve and make those who follow thee above those who disbelieve to the day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, so I shall decide between you concerning that wherein you differ.’ ”
Verse 55 reads: “Then as to those who disbelieve, I shall chastise them with severe chastisement in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers.”
The believers are promised a great reward by Allah in the next verse. Then in verse 59 we read: “(This is) the truth from thy Lord, so be not of the disputers.” We are then told by Allah in verse 61 that what we have just read of Jesus is the true account.
Here are other translations of verse 54. The translator’s name is given first, then his translation.
Yusuf Ali: “Behold! Allah said ‘O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehood) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the day of Resurrection … .’ ”
Abdul Majied: “Recall what time Allah said: ‘O Isa! verily I shall make thee die, and am lifting thee to Myself and am purifying thee from those who disbelieve … .’ ”
Sher’ Ali: “When Allah said, ‘O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself, and will clear thee from the charges of those who disbelieve … .’ ”
Nazir Ahmad: “When Allah said: ‘O Jesus! I will cause you to die and exalt you in My presence and clear you of those who disbelieve … .’ ”
Geoffrey Parrinder: “Recall when God said: ‘O Jesus, I am going to bring thy term to an end and raise thee to Myself, and purify thee from those who have disbelieved … .’ ”
J. M. Rodwell: “Remember when God said, ‘O Jesus! verily I will cause thee to die, and will take thee up to Myself and will deliver thee from those who believe not … .’ ”
A. J. Arberry: “When God said, ‘Jesus, I will take thee to Me, and will purify thee of those who believe not.’ ”
A. Maududi: “(It was to carry out His secret plan that) He said, ‘O Jesus, now I will recall you and raise you up to Myself and cleanse you of (the uncongenial company and the filthy environment of) those who have rejected you … .’ ”
It should be clear to you that these various translators understand Allah’s words differently. Now let us look at their notes, where these writers gave them.
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Do you know the relationship between the Bible and the Holy Qur’an? Have you read The Final Call Vol. 34 Number 21? Study it. This involves Minister Farrakhan’s words about the intensifying universal cry for justice?
More next issue Allah willing.
