And
let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And
whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are
the defiantly disobedient. [Surah 5:47]
Christians
are under the assumption this verse is referring to them. Let us examine this
claim.
Firstly,
the verse explicitly states, "judge by what Allah has revealed." Do
Christians believe Allah Swt revealed judgment to Isa As?
Secondly, according to the Islamic paradigm, the Injeel contains alongside
some rulings the description, advent, and prophecies of Prophet Muhammad Pbuh.
Do Christians believe this to be the same Gospel as the one they have?
Thirdly, the Qur’an explicitly states that Isa As was not crucified,
that there was no third day resurrection, that he is not the Son of God nor God
Himself, and that there is no Trinity thus completely rejecting Christian
creedal beliefs. Do Christians still consider themselves to be the People of
the Gospel according to the Islamic understanding of the Qur’anic narrative?
Fourthly, there are significant theological sayings revealed to Isa As :
[Jesus]
said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture
and made me a prophet. [Surah 19:30]
They
have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allah is the Messiah, the son of
Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship
Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allah
– Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are
not for the wrongdoers any helpers. [Surah 5:72]
And
[beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say
to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?' " He will
say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no
right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within
myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is
Knower of the unseen
I
said not to them except what You commanded me – to worship Allah, my Lord and
your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when
You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things,
Witness. [Surah 5:116-117]
Do Christians believe that Jesus is the servant of Allah Swt? Do they
also believe that, when questioned, he denied being God and instructed his
followers to worship Allah alone without associating any partners with Him,
warning that whoever does so will be forbidden from Paradise? According to the
Islamic understanding, this would form part of the revelation of the Injeel.
Finally, if Nasara means helpers
of Allah Swt that is, by spreading the message of Tawheed (the oneness of Allah,
Monotheism) while believing in the Last and Final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad Pbuh,
as well as the rulings and judgments given to Isa As from Allah Swt then, by
default, one would be considered a Muslim.
Though we know through classical commentators that this verse is
referring to the people from the time of Isa As, those who were living during
his time. Even if we accepted your interpretation that the verse is referring
to you, it would still backfire, and you would have no ground to stand upon, as
mentioned a few verses later.
Say, "O
People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the
law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord
[i.e., the Qur’an]." And that which has been revealed to you from your
Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. So do
not grieve over the disbelieving people. [Surah 5:68]
