Translation
Address the People who follow earlier Revelations [People of the Book]: “Let’s come to an equitable understanding among ourselves that we serve none but God and that we associate no human with God in divinity and that some of us will not take others for gods besides God.” If they refuse to accept such understanding, then simply say, “We ourselves submit wholeheartedly to God alone.” Ask the People of the Book why they dispute about Abraham, whereas the Torah [Old Testament] and the Bible were both revealed after him. Is it that difficult to comprehend? It is bad enough that you argue about things that are made known to you [i.e., Jesus], but to argue about things [i.e., about Abraham] that you have no knowledge of is certainly uncalled for [beyond reasonableness]. Know that Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but an upright human being, a muslim [one who submitted to God] and was not a polytheist. The people who can claim to be the kin to Abraham are the ones who follow Abraham’s way—like this Prophet [Mohammad] and those of true faith. Indeed, God is a friend of those who truly believe [like the beliefs of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad].187
A segment of the People of the Book desires that you fall to disbelief and evil ways, but they lead none to such conditions but themselves, without being aware of such [a gradual transformation of themselves]. Why is it that they disbelieve in the message, while they are witness to [and the receiver of] such messages from earlier times? Why do they confound truth with falsehood and hide what is made known?188
Interpretation
187. The global message of Islam and the grand theme of global unity through unity of vision, a common faith, and a shared commitment to good works is again put in front of us by the example of the one of the greatest of prophets and greatest of human beings—Abraham—whom Jews, Christians, and Muslims all equally hold in deep and passionate esteem and claim to be his followers. Instead of battling to put a label on him according to our own wishes, it perhaps is more appropriate that we try to emulate his beliefs and his guidance, which oddly enough, resonates with the messages that came to Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad. This should be of no surprise to anyone who truly believes in One God and one source of divine revelations.
188. The Qur’an is emphatic in asking questions about our faith and ways of life. As we read the Qur’an and see such scrutiny of Jews and Christians, it is equally important that Muslims of today ask exactly the same questions of ourselves—are we leading people to disbelief and evil ways? Are we becoming ever more ignorant about our own faith? Are we confounding the truth in the Qur’an with our false notions of our faith and our ways of life?
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REFLECTION
It is quite remarkable how consistently different faith groups over time commit the same kinds of mistakes that they themselves accuse others of doing. The condition of the affairs of today’s world—where more money is being spent in weaponry than on human education, where a larger segment of human population lives in poverty, where human rights are being violated in front of our own eyes by elected officials and so-called leaders as much as by various fringe groups, where global warming is being dismissed as science fiction, where despite an unprecedented rise in technology and communication, a larger segment of human population suffers from ignorance and empowerment—is no different than arguing about whether Abraham is a Jew or a Christian or a Muslim. The real debate should be how we get to know Abraham better from all our collective perspectives and emulate his superb human qualities and elegant ways in our own lives.
ACTION
Let’s bring the current crisis of faith and goodwill among the human race to the forefront and remove the discourse of religious pettiness, justification for financial polarization, mutual deception, empty ego, and power mongering. Unless we truly feel accountable to God and to fellow human beings for what we do and what we choose not to do, it will be very difficult to mend our ways and improve human conditions on this planet. Each one of us as a person of faith has to play our due role in this regard!
Key Arabic Term
67. Ahl al-Kitab: People of the Book