format_quote Originally Posted by
MadameCurie
Salam
Thanks for your replies!
@ Syed_z
Regarding the first questions.
So the jews in Medinah did not believe that Ezra was the son of god in the same way the christians believed that Jesus was the son of god?
Wa Alaikum Salaam Madamecurie,
All jews in general held Uzair (alaihi Salaam) in great reverence because he dictated the lost Torah to them. Some even went to the extent of assigning divinity to him like Christians do to Jesus (alaihi Salaam).
How many Madinah Jews assigned sonship to him? I am not sure. But there is no doubt that Quran's Verse 30 addresses in the first instance to Madinah Jews and then to all Jews (till the end of the world) is because of their taking the rewritten Torah to be the exact word of God which isn't true, its as wrong as assigning sonship to a Prophet of God. Its Shirk.
Also one of the reasons why it could be that some Jews assigned divinity to him like Christians did to Jesus (alaihi Salaam) is because of Uzayr (alaihi Salaam) had been put to sleep by Allah (swt) for over a 100 years and he was woken up and he returned to his people which was a great shock to them and a Miracle of Allah (swt)..
(2:259) ..and We will make you a sign for the people
format_quote Originally Posted by
MadameCurie
Regarding the second question.
The quran says
"And whoever desires the harvest of this world..."
While the Tafsir says
And whoever only desires the harvest of this world..."
If you add an "only" as the Tafsir did, the meaning of the ayat changes, doesnt it?. Because without the word "only" it means that even if you desire the harvest of the hereafter as well as the harvest of this world, you will just get the harvest of this world.
Thanks. I like the translation of Muhammad Assad it explains well. Just a word of advise, try to understand the verses not in isolation, you won't be able to grasp their meaning. For example Surah 9 Verse 30 can be understood when Verse 31 is also understood.
Similarly Surah 42 Verse 20 should also be read in conjunction to the Verse 21.
Verse 20 says....
whereas to him who desires (but) a harvest in this world, We (may) give something thereof - but he will have no share in (the blessings of) the life to come.
....thats because Verse 21 says....
Is it that they (who care for no more than this world) believe in forces supposed to have a shared in God's divinity ...
They believe that wealth, luck, fame, power, social status are exclusive in determining their destiny in this world. They begin to loose sight of a higher power that influences all things in this world. Thats the reason why commentators used the word only I guess.
By the way what Tafsirs are you reading these days and what made you begin to ponder on the Quran? Are you a revert or a non-muslim? Just asking to understand you better.