A recent comprehensive study concluded that there is harmony between the principal teachings of the Bible and the Qur'an, but that Christianity and Islamic tradition are incompatible. I read it and I believe it. The study is called Brothers Kept Apart, and it can be partially read on-line at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is also available as an e-book for $6 from iUniverse.com
From my previous discussions here, I have found that so few Muslims will read the Bible, yet they continue to criticize their interpretation of Christian tradition. Similarly, few Christians will actually read the Qur’an, but will criticize their interpretation of Islamic tradition.
I have examined the author’s claims and have found that even the most contentious verses in the Qur’an can be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the Bible, the rest of the Qur’an, and the historical record, yet, for whatever reason, Islamic tradition interprets them in a contentious way. This is similar for Christian tradition’s interpretation of the Bible.
It seems that Christians and Muslims are brothers who have been unnecessarily kept apart for the past 1,300 years by their religious leaders.
Depends on who you ask, Anti-Karate-Kid. Some of the most renown scholars would disagree with very strong evidences from Qu'ran and Sunnah.
Imam Nawawi, for example, when giving his explanation of the hadith, "No man truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself" said that "brother" here meant "brothers in humanity" and not simply brothers in Islam, and he was one of the top scholars of Hadith exegesis, if not the number 1 scholar in this field of all time. It is also related that there was a certain du'a that the Prophet [saas] would make before going to sleep that began with him saying, "O Allah, I do testify that all of mankind is brethren..."
Also, Ibn Umar [raa] considered it lawful to give zakah to non-Muslims in certain conditions, in part because of his understanding of the above Hadith.
I would love to have those references if you can provide them. I'm not challenging you. I just want to record them for personal use and hence wish to know how to reference them should I ever be challenged.
I would love to have those references if you can provide them. I'm not challenging you. I just want to record them for personal use and hence wish to know how to reference them should I ever be challenged.
Jazakallahu khayr and thanks for your inquiry. The understanding of the hadith by Imam Nawawi can be found in Imam Nawawi's book "the 40 hadith" in his exegesis for the hadith in mention. [That hadith, that states a believer should love for his brother what he loves for himself, is rcorded in the two most reliable books of Prophetic Traditions, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]. The quote of the Prophet Muhammad [saas] where he used to say in his prayers that "all mankind are brethren" I actually cannot remember the exact book of sunan it is recorded in, but I do know it was used by a well known Indian sheikh named Maulana Wahudiddin Khan in his book "Islam and Peace." -As for the point of Ibn Umar's [raa] allowance for non-Muslims to receive the zakah or alms tax, this was the fatwa given by my personal Sheikh, Osama Bahloul who has a double PHD in Islamic studies from Al Azhar university in Cairo, when I asked him if it was allowed to give non-Muslims zakah. [side note: I am only 98% sure it was Ibn Umar [raa] who allowed this, it may have been another early Muslim Fuqeha].
Last edited by MuslimCONVERT; 11-05-2009 at 08:54 PM.
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Quote
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Bookmarks