Thursday, 16 November 2017

There Are Not 613 Biblical Commands

Despite the rabbinic concept that there are 613 biblical commands, a careful examination produces a much smaller number. Interestingly, in his list of the 613 Maimonides included commands that the rabbis said were biblical in origin, even though they are not explicit in the Torah. The following is from my recent book “Mysteries of Judaism II: How the Rabbis and Others Changed Judaism.”
Rabbi Simlai’s Sermon


 The first report that the Torah contains 613 commandments dates to the third century CE, when Rabbi Simlai mentioned this concept in a sermon that is recorded in the Babylonian Talmud, Makkot 23b. The Talmud states: “Rabbi Simlai gave as a sermon [darash Rabi Simlai]: 613 commandments were communicated to Moses – 365 negative commands, corresponding to the number of solar days [in a year], and 248 positive commands, corresponding to the number of the members [bones covered with flesh] of a man’s body.” It thus appears that Rabbi Simlai invented the number 613 because it fit his sermon: A person should observe the Torah with all his body parts (248) every day (365). The two numbers add up to 613.

As far as we know, no one thought there were 613 biblical commandments before Rabbi Simlai offered his sermon. In fact, 150 years before Rabbi Simlai, ben Azzai is quoted as saying that there were three hundred biblical commands.[1] E. E. Urbach wrote: “In the Tannaitic sources this number [613] is unknown.”[2]

The Reactions of Abraham ibn Ezra, Nachmanides, and Others

Ibn Ezra (1089–1167) recognized that if one counts all of the divine commandments recorded in the Bible, the number would be well over a thousand; and that if only the commandments relevant to his day were numbered, the total would be less than three hundred. He wrote in his Yesod Moreh 2: “Some sages enumerate 613 mitzvot [divine commandments] in diverse ways[3]…but the truth is that there is no end of the number of mitzvot…and if we were to count only the root principles…the number of mitzvot would not reach 613.”

Nachmanides (1194–1270) writes in his Hasagot, his critical commentary to Maimonides’s Sefer Hamitzvot, that the 613 count is a matter of dispute and there is no certainty that it is true, but since “this total has proliferated throughout the aggadic literature…we ought to say that it is a tradition from Moses at Sinai.”[4]

Judah ibn Balaam (eleventh century) rejected the notion that there are 613 biblical commands. He wrote “To my mind, the dictum [of Rabbi Simlai] was said only as an approximation.”[5]

Gersonides (1288–1344) also rejected the idea that there are 613 biblical commandments. He wrote that the number is only homiletical, teaching that Jews should obey God’s laws with their entire being (248 organs) every day (about 365 days in the solar calendar).[6]

Rabbi Shimon ben Tzemach Duran (1361–1444) summed up the above-mentioned views: “Perhaps there is agreement that the number 613…is just Rabbi Simlai’s opinion, following his own explication [account] of the mitzvot. And we need not rely on his explication when we come to determine the law, but rather on the Talmudic discussion.”[7]

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that early attempts to list the 613 commandments failed. In his introduction to his own listing in Sefer Hamitzvot, Maimonides pointed out some attempts to list the 613, including such errors as inserting post-biblical rabbinic commandments such as the lighting of Chanukah candles into the list of biblical commandments.

Maimonides’s List

Maimonides’s itemization of the 613 biblical commandments is the most logical, but it is not accepted by all rabbis. Nachmanides, for example, rejected some of Maimonides’s items and included others.[8]

There is one serious problem with Maimonides’s list of biblical commands. Most of the laws in Maimonides’s list, if not all of them, have been modified and explained by the rabbis in ways that are not explicit in the Torah. For example, Rashbam (c. 1085–c. 1158) recognized that when the Bible states that a particular law shall be “a sign between the eyes and a sign on the hand”[9] it means that the law should be remembered always, whenever you look at or do anything. Rashbam was explaining that the law of tefillin, which the rabbis derive from these verses, is not the original biblical intent. Yet Maimonides includes tefillin as two of the 613 biblical commandments – listing a commandment that was apparently enacted by the rabbis and, in any event, not explicitly written in the Torah.

How should Maimonides be interpreted? It would be absurd to say that Maimonides did not realize that virtually all, if not all, of the commandments that he enumerated are rabbinic interpretations of the Bible, not explicit biblical commandments. Thus, although he does not say so, we should understand that he listed those commandments that the rabbis said were biblical in origin, even though they are not explicit in the Torah. The rabbis classified them as biblical because they used biblical words as pegs (asmakhtot) for their laws.[10]

In short, a careful examination of Maimonides’s Sefer Hamitzvot, which contains his listing of the 613 commands, and his Mishneh Torah, his code of Jewish laws, shows that the rabbis changed Judaism. They gave the Hebrew Bible a meaning that is not the literal meaning of the text, changed the biblical laws, and invented laws that were later included in the list of 613 biblical commands.[11]

How Many of the Commands Are Relevant Today?

Not only is the number 613 the result of a third-century sermon, with the list debated by many rabbis and including commands instituted by the rabbis who considered them “as if” they were biblical, but most of the inventory of 613 commands are not relevant today.
In his Sefer Hamitzvot, Maimonides enumerated the positive commandments that “a Jew in the ordinary course of life has always the opportunity to fulfil.”[12] Maimonides records only 60 positive commands, not 248, that are applicable to men. The number for women is only 46. Chavel states that one could add 23 other commands to the list, commands that were added by Rabbi Israel M. Kagan (the Chafetz Chaim, 1839–1933).[13] These are laws that most Jews rarely if ever need to observe, such as redeeming the firstling of an ass, canceling claims in the Sabbatical year, and unloading a tired animal. Even if these 23 are added to Maimonides’s 60 for men and 46 for women, the total of 83 and 69 fall far short of 248, the traditional number of positive commandments.[14]

[1] Sifrei Deuteronomy 76.
[2] The Sages: Their Concepts and Beliefs (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1987).
[3] By “diverse ways,” ibn Ezra meant that rabbis differed in what they included in the 613 “biblical commandments.” The most famous catalogue is that of Maimonides, discussed below, who included beliefs in his list. In contrast, Bachya ibn Pakuda (eleventh century) considered that only practical duties and not beliefs should be included, so he had a different list of 613 commands. Ibn Pakuda’s list appears in Sefer Torat Chovot Halevavot (Jerusalem: Feldheim, 1984).
[4] See the Ramban’s introduction to his Hasagot, especially page 6, in Sefer Hamitzvot l’Harambam im Hasagot Haramban, ed. Charles Ber Chavel (Jerusalem: Mossad HaRav Kook, 1981). Nachmanides’s willingness to call a doubtful idea “a tradition from Moses at Sinai” is remarkable. It is clear that what he means by the term is not that these laws were literally obtained by Moses from God at Sinai, as many think, but since the notion of 613 commandments has become part of Jewish tradition, we should consider the idea as important as if it had been revealed at Sinai.
[5] Harkavy, Abraham E., “Zikhron Hagaon Rav Shmuel ben Hofni u’Sefarav,” in Zikaron la’Rishonim v’Gam la’Acharonim (St. Petersburg, 1880), 1:41–42. Also cited by Yerucham Perla in his introduction to Sefer Hamitzvot – Rasag (Jerusalem, 1973).
[6] See Menachem Kellner, Torah in the Observatory: Gersonides, Maimonides, Song of Songs (Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2010).
[7] In Zohar Harakia (Academic Studies Press, 2012).
[8] For example, Maimonides did not include a command to dwell in Israel in his list, whereas Nachmanides did.
[9] Exodus 13:9, 16; Deuteronomy 6:8–9 and 11:18.
[10] The rabbis use two terms to classify the origin of laws: mi’d’oraita, “from the Torah,” and mi’d’rabbanan, “from the rabbis.” These terms should not be taken literally. A law is often considered to be mi’d’oraita even though it is clearly not mentioned in the Torah, because the rabbis found an asmakhta, a pin or nail upon which they could hang their decree.
Albert D. Friedberg also noted that Maimonides included rabbinic laws in his itemization of 613 commandments. See Crafting the 613 Commandments: Maimonides on the Enumeration, Classification, and Formulation of the Scriptural Commandments (Academic Studies Press, 2014). Friedberg writes: “[Amid] the heavily politicized atmosphere of Cairo, where Rabbinites were both assiduously courted and continuously attacked by sectarian groups [largely Karaites] over the role of the oral law in interpreting Scripture, Maimonides chose to keep his radical opinions hidden yet recoverable. When applied to the legal sections of the Torah, Maimonides’ peshateh di-qera hermeneutics [interpreting Scripture according to its plain meaning in context rather than the manner that rabbis used to teach their laws] would likely raise hackles among his own co-religionists and, worse yet, give comfort to the deniers of the oral law. His carefully planted literary clues could lead the reader who is familiar with rabbinic terminology and unburdened by popular and superficial conclusions to discover the Master’s true opinion or at the very least sense his ambivalence.”
[11] One way of seeing this is to note what Maimonides states is a biblical command and then look at the verse that he cites to show where the Torah mentions the command. In many instances, this examination will reveal that the quoted text does not explicitly mandate the command. A further examination will reveal that even if the Bible text does contain the command, the details of its implementation are not in the Torah, but were developed by the rabbis. Examples of commands in Maimonides’s list that are not really in the Bible include a mandate to believe in God, cleaving to God, reading Shema, studying the Torah, the two commands regarding tefillin, mezuzot, Grace after Meals, shechita, counting the omer, fasting on Yom Kippur, resting on Yom Kippur, reading the prophets, and abiding by a majority decision.
[12] Maimonides: The Commandments, trans. Charles B. Chavel (Soncino Press, 1967), 348–49.
[13] In Sefer Ha-Mitzvoth Hakotzer, published by Rabbi David Katz, 2000.
[14] Maimonides did not itemize the negative commands that are relevant today, probably because strictly speaking, all of the prohibitions are in effect today, even though in many instances people do not have an opportunity to transgress the prohibitions. Rabbi Israel M. Kagan listed 200 negative commands, again far short of the traditional number 365. The total, according to Rabbi Kagan’s register, is 283, less than half of 613.


Kitaab


by  Mohammed M. Khan


Warning: Please note that this is my personal understanding, you can ask Allah to help you & guide you, and please go through it in detail, before accepting it.



1- Is AlKitaab different from AlQuraan?

Yes, it is.

02:02 
ذلك الكتب لا ريب فيه هدى للمتقين
Zaalika AlKitaab - That AlKitaab

17:09 
إن هذا القرءان يهدي للتي هي أقوم ويبشر المؤمنين الذين يعملون الصلحت أن لهم أجرا كبيرا
Haaza AlQuraan - This AlQuraan



2- Do we have to believe in AlKitaab and AlQuraan, both?

Yes, we do have to believe in both.

3:118   
 يأيها الذين ءامنوا لا تتخذوا بطانة من دونكم لا يألونكم خبالا ودوا ما عنتم قد بدت البغضاء من أفوههم وما تخفي صدورهم أكبر قد بينا لكم الءايت إن كنتم تعقلون
3:119   
 هأنتم أولاء تحبونهم ولا يحبونكم وتؤمنون بالكتب كله وإذا لقوكم قالوا ءامنا وإذا خلوا عضوا عليكم الأنامل من الغيظ قل موتوا بغيظكم إن الله عليم بذات الصدور
3:118    O you who believe do not take as an inner-circle any from besides yourselves; they will only disrupt you greatly. They wish that you deviate; the hatred is apparent out of their mouths and what their chests conceal is even greater! We have made clear for you the signs if you comprehend.
3:119    Here you love them while they do not love you, and you believe in the entire AlKitaab. And if they meet you they say: We believe, and if they are alone they bite their fingers out of frustration at you. Say: Die in your frustration, Allah is aware of what is in the chests.

34:31
    وقال الذين كفروا لن نؤمن بهذا القرءان ولا بالذي بين يديه ولو ترى إذ الظلمون موقوفون عند ربهم يرجع بعضهم إلى بعض القول يقول الذين استضعفوا للذين استكبروا لولا أنتم لكنا مؤمنين
34:31    And those who rejected have said: We will not believe in this AlQuraan, nor in what is already with him. And if you could but see these transgressors when they stand before their Lord, how they will accuse one another back and forth. Those who were weak will say to those who were mighty: If it were not for you, we would have been believers!



3- How is AlKitaab different from AlQuraan?

2:2    
ذلك الكتب لا ريب فيه هدى للمتقين
2:2    That is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guidance for Al-Muttaqeen.

2:185
     شهر رمضان الذي أنزل فيه القرءان هدى للناس وبينت من الهدى والفرقان فمن شهد منكم الشهر فليصمه ومن كان مريضا أو على سفر فعدة من أيام أخر يريد الله بكم اليسر ولا يريد بكم العسر ولتكملوا العدة ولتكبروا الله على ما هديكم ولعلكم تشكرون
2:185    A month of aspiration, in which the Quran was revealed; as a guide to the mankind and clarities from the guidance and the Criterion. Therefore, whoever of you witnesses the month, then let him fast therein. And whoever is ill or traveling, then the same number from different days. God wants to bring you ease and not to bring you hardship; and so that you may complete the count, and glorify God for what He has guided you, that you may be thankful.



4- Was AlKitaab also given to Prophet Mohammed?

Yes, direct aayat:

4:136    
يأيها الذين ءامنوا ءامنوا بالله ورسوله والكتب الذي نزل على رسوله والكتب الذي أنزل من قبل ومن يكفر بالله وملئكته وكتبه ورسله واليوم الاءخر فقد ضل ضللا بعيدا
4:136    O you who believe; believe in Allah and His messenger, and the Book which was sent down to His messenger, and the Book which was sent before. And whoever rejects Allah, and His angels, and His Books, and His messengers, and the Last Day; then he has strayed a far straying.

Indirect:

3:3   
 نزل عليك الكتب بالحق مصدقا لما بين يديه وأنزل التويرة والإنجيل
3:3    He sent down to you the Book with the truth, authenticating what is between his hands; and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel.

And also 3:7, 4:105, 4:113, 5:48 and more...



5- What is the exact meaning of AlKitaab and AlQuraan?

56:77    
إنه لقرءان كريم
56:78    
في كتب مكنون
56:77    It is an honorable Reading.
56:78    In a protected Writing.

AlQuraan = The Reading
AlKitaab = The Writing



6- What is the exact difference between AlKitaab and AlQuraan?

54:17   
 ولقد يسرنا القرءان للذكر فهل من مدكر
54:17    And We made the Quraan easy to remember. Are there any who want to learn?

and also: 54:22, 54:32, 54:40

16:89    
ويوم نبعث في كل أمة شهيدا عليهم من أنفسهم وجئنا بك شهيدا على هؤلاء ونزلنا عليك الكتب تبينا لكل شيء وهدى ورحمة وبشرى للمسلمين
16:89    And the Day We send to every nation a witness against them from themselves, and We have brought you as a witness against these. And We have sent down to you the Book as a clarification for all things, and a guidance and a mercy and good tidings to those who have submitted.

6:38   
 وما من دابة في الأرض ولا طئر يطير بجناحيه إلا أمم أمثالكم ما فرطنا في الكتب من شيء ثم إلى ربهم يحشرون
6:38    And there is not a creature on the earth, nor a bird that flies with its wings, except they belong to nations like you belong. We did not leave anything out of AlKitaab; then to their Lord they will be gathered.

Besides this

10:37   
 وما كان هذا القرءان أن يفترى من دون الله ولكن تصديق الذي بين يديه وتفصيل الكتب لا ريب فيه من رب العلمين
10:37    This Quran could not have been produced without Allah; it is to authenticate what is between his hands, and details AlKitaab [the Book] in which there is no doubt, from the Lord of the worlds.



7- Whom else AlKitaab is given?

6:83   
 وتلك حجتنا ءاتينها إبرهيم على قومه نرفع درجت من نشاء إن ربك حكيم عليم
6:84   
 ووهبنا له إسحق ويعقوب كلا هدينا ونوحا هدينا من قبل ومن ذريته داود وسليمن وأيوب ويوسف وموسى وهرون وكذلك نجزي المحسنين
6:85   
 وزكريا ويحيى وعيسى وإلياس كل من الصلحين
6:86   
 وإسمعيل واليسع ويونس ولوطا وكلا فضلنا على العلمين
6:87   
 ومن ءابائهم وذريتهم وإخونهم واجتبينهم وهدينهم إلى صرط مستقيم
6:88
    ذلك هدى الله يهدي به من يشاء من عباده ولو أشركوا لحبط عنهم ما كانوا يعملون
6:89   
 أولئك الذين ءاتينهم الكتب والحكم والنبوة فإن يكفر بها هؤلاء فقد وكلنا بها قوما ليسوا بها بكفرين

6:83    And such was Our argument that We gave Abraham over his people; We raise the degree of whom We please. Your Lord is Wise, Knowledgeable.
6:84    And We granted him Isaac and Jacob, both of whom We guided; and Noah We guided from before; and from his progeny is David, and Solomon, and Job, and Joseph, and Moses, and Aaron. It is such that We recompense the good doers.
6:85    And Zachariah and John, and Jesus, and Elias; all were from the upright.
6:86    And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot; and each We have preferred over the worlds.
6:87    And from their fathers and their progeny and their brothers We have also chosen; and We guided them to a straight path.
6:88    Such is the guidance of God, He guides with it whom He pleases of His servants. And if they set up partners, then all that they had worked would fall away from them.
6:89    Those to whom We have given AlKitaab [the Book],[singular] and the law, and the Prophethood, if they reject it, then We will entrust it to a people who will not reject it.



8- What if someone don't know what AlKitaab is?

2:78   
 ومنهم أميون لا يعلمون الكتب إلا أماني وإن هم إلا يظنون
2:78    And among them are Ummis who do not know AlKitaab [the Book] except by hearsay, and they only conjecture.

3:20   
 فإن حاجوك فقل أسلمت وجهي لله ومن اتبعن وقل للذين أوتوا الكتب والأمين ءأسلمتم فإن أسلموا فقد اهتدوا وإن تولوا فإنما عليك البلغ والله بصير بالعباد
3:20    If they debate with you, then say: I have submitted myself to Allah, as well as those who follow me. And say to those who have received the Book and the Ummis: Have you submitted? If they have submitted then they are guided, and if they turn away, then you are only to deliver, and Allah is Seer over the servants.



9- In the Day of Judgement, we will be questioned as per AlKitaab or AlQuraan?

39:68   
 ونفخ في الصور فصعق من في السموت ومن في الأرض إلا من شاء الله ثم نفخ فيه أخرى فإذا هم قيام ينظرون
39:69
    وأشرقت الأرض بنور ربها ووضع الكتب وجايء بالنبين والشهداء وقضي بينهم بالحق وهم لا يظلمون
39:70
    ووفيت كل نفس ما عملت وهو أعلم بما يفعلون
39:68    And the horn will be blown, whereupon everyone in the heavens and the earth will be struck unconscious, except those spared by Allah. Then it will be blown another time, whereupon they will all rise up, looking.
39:69    And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and AlKitaab will be placed, and the Prophets and the witnesses will be brought forth; and it will then be judged between them with the truth, and they will not be wronged.
39:70    And every soul will be paid for whatever it did, for He is fully aware of everything they have done.

18:47
    ويوم نسير الجبال وترى الأرض بارزة وحشرنهم فلم نغادر منهم أحدا
18:48
    وعرضوا على ربك صفا لقد جئتمونا كما خلقنكم أول مرة بل زعمتم ألن نجعل لكم موعدا
18:49
    ووضع الكتب فترى المجرمين مشفقين مما فيه ويقولون يويلتنا مال هذا الكتب لا يغادر صغيرة ولا كبيرة إلا أحصيها ووجدوا ما عملوا حاضرا ولا يظلم ربك أحدا
18:47    And the Day We move the mountains, and you see the earth level, and We gather them; so We will not leave out anyone of them.
18:48    And they are displayed before your Lord as a column: You have come to Us as We had created you the first time. No, you claimed We would not make for you an appointed time!
18:49    And AlKitaab was displayed, so you see the criminals fearful of what is in it. And they say: Woe to us! What is this AlKitaab that it does not leave out anything small or large but has counted it. And they found what they had done present. And your Lord does not wrong anyone.



10- What could be the purpose of AlKitaab? 

2:213    
كان الناس أمة وحدة فبعث الله النبين مبشرين ومنذرين وأنزل معهم الكتب بالحق ليحكم بين الناس فيما اختلفوا فيه وما اختلف فيه إلا الذين أوتوه من بعد ما جاءتهم البينت بغيا بينهم فهدى الله الذين ءامنوا لما اختلفوا فيه من الحق بإذنه والله يهدي من يشاء إلى صرط مستقيم
2:213    The people used to be one nation, then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of good news and warners, and He sent down with them the Book with the truth so that they may judge between the people in what they were disputing. But after receiving the clarity, the people disputed in it due to animosity between them. And Allah guided those who believed with His permission regarding what they disputed in of the truth. And Allah guides whoever He wishes to a straight path.

39:2   
 إنا أنزلنا إليك الكتب بالحق فاعبد الله مخلصا له الدين
39:2    We have sent down to you AlKitaab with the truth, so serve Allah while devoting the system to Him.

39:41
    إنا أنزلنا عليك الكتب للناس بالحق فمن اهتدى فلنفسه ومن ضل فإنما يضل عليها وما أنت عليهم بوكيل
39:41    We have sent down to you the Book for the people with the truth. Then, whoever is guided is guided for himself, and whoever goes astray goes astray to his own loss. And you are not a keeper over them.

4:105   
 إنا أنزلنا إليك الكتب بالحق لتحكم بين الناس بما أريك الله ولا تكن للخائنين خصيما
4:105    We have revealed to you AlKitaab with the truth that you may judge between the people by that which Allah has shown you, and do not be an advocate for the treacherous.



11- How to believe in AlKitaab?

2:121
    الذين ءاتينهم الكتب يتلونه حق تلاوته أولئك يؤمنون به ومن يكفر به فأولئك هم الخسرون
2:121    Those to whom We gave AlKitaab, they recite it as it truthfully deserves to be recited; they believe in it. As for those who disbelieve in it, they are the losers.



12- OK, after getting AlKitaab, what is our duty? 

2:151
    كما أرسلنا فيكم رسولا منكم يتلوا عليكم ءايتنا ويزكيكم ويعلمكم الكتب والحكمة ويعلمكم ما لم تكونوا تعلمون
2:151    As We have sent a messenger to you from among yourselves to recite Our revelations to you, and purify you, and teach you AlKitaab and the wisdom, and teach you what you did not know.

62:2
    هو الذي بعث في الأمين رسولا منهم يتلوا عليهم ءايته ويزكيهم ويعلمهم الكتب والحكمة وإن كانوا من قبل لفي ضلل مبين
62:2    He is the One who sent in Ummis a messenger from among themselves, to recite to them His revelations, and to purify them, and teach them AlKitaab and the wisdom. And before this, they were clearly astray.

2:159
    إن الذين يكتمون ما أنزلنا من البينت والهدى من بعد ما بينه للناس في الكتب أولئك يلعنهم الله ويلعنهم اللعنون
2:159    Surely those who conceal what We have sent down to them of the clarities and the guidance, after We Had made it clear for the people in AlKitaab; these will be cursed by Allah and be cursed by those who curse.

2:174
    إن الذين يكتمون ما أنزل الله من الكتب ويشترون به ثمنا قليلا أولئك ما يأكلون في بطونهم إلا النار ولا يكلمهم الله يوم القيمة ولا يزكيهم ولهم عذاب أليم
2:174    Surely, those who conceal what Allah has sent down of AlKitaab, and they purchase with it a cheap price; they will not eat in their bellies except the Fire, and God will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they will have a painful retribution.

3:187
    وإذ أخذ الله ميثق الذين أوتوا الكتب لتبيننه للناس ولا تكتمونه فنبذوه وراء ظهورهم واشتروا به ثمنا قليلا فبئس ما يشترون
3:187    And Allah took the covenant of those who were given the Book: You will make it clear to the people and not conceal it. But they placed it behind their backs and purchased with it a cheap price. Miserable indeed is what they have purchased.



13- What if someone don't believe in AlKitaab? 

3:70
    يأهل الكتب لم تكفرون بءايت الله وأنتم تشهدون
3:70    O people of AlKitaab [the Book], why do you reject the revelations of Allah while you are bearing witness?

57:16
    ألم يأن للذين ءامنوا أن تخشع قلوبهم لذكر الله وما نزل من الحق ولا يكونوا كالذين أوتوا الكتب من قبل فطال عليهم الأمد فقست قلوبهم وكثير منهم فسقون
57:16    Has not the time come for those who believed to open up their hearts for the remembrance of Allah, and the truth that is revealed herein? And they should not be like those who were given AlKitaab before, and the waiting became long for them, so their hearts became hardened, and many of them were wicked.



14- Is there anything else can be followed besides AlKitaab? 

3:71
    يأهل الكتب لم تلبسون الحق بالبطل وتكتمون الحق وأنتم تعلمون
3:71    O people of AlKitaab, why do you confound the truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while you know?

5:77
    قل يأهل الكتب لا تغلوا في دينكم غير الحق ولا تتبعوا أهواء قوم قد ضلوا من قبل وأضلوا كثيرا وضلوا عن سواء السبيل
5:77    Say: O people of AlKitaab, do not overstep in your system other than the truth, and do not follow the desires of a people who have been misguided beforeand they misguide many; and they strayed from the right path.

6:114
    أفغير الله أبتغي حكما وهو الذي أنزل إليكم الكتب مفصلا والذين ءاتينهم الكتب يعلمون أنه منزل من ربك بالحق فلا تكونن من الممترين
6:114    Shall I seek other than Allah as a judge when He has sent down to you AlKitaab fully detailed? Those to whom We have given AlKitaab know it is sent down from your Lord with the truth; so do not be of those who have doubt.



15- Where is this AlKitaab came from? 

18:1   
 الحمد لله الذي أنزل على عبده الكتب ولم يجعل له عوجا
18:1    Praise be to Allah who has sent down AlKitaab to His servant, and He has not made in it any crookedness.

32:2   
 تنزيل الكتب لا ريب فيه من رب العلمين
32:2    The sending down of AlKitaab, without a doubt, from the Lord of the worlds.

39:1   
 تنزيل الكتب من الله العزيز الحكيم
39:1    The sending down of AlKitaab is from Allah, the Noble, the Wise.

40:2   
 تنزيل الكتب من الله العزيز العليم
40:2    The revelation of AlKitaab is from Allah, the Noble, the Knowledgeable.

42:17   
 الله الذي أنزل الكتب بالحق والميزان وما يدريك لعل الساعة قريب
42:17    Allah is the One who sent down AlKitaab with the truth, and the balance. And for all that you know, the Hour may be very near.




May Allah guide us all towards His path.

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additional information by others

Browse here for word occurance: http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=ktb

Hans Wehr: kitab (pl. kutub) piece of writing, record, paper; letter, note, message; document, deed: contract (esp. marriage contract); book. 





Did Jesus call Andrew the father?




In Matthew we read Jesus asking Peter who he thinks (Jesus) was? So Peter replied the Messiah and Jesus responded by saying the father had revealed it to him (Peter)



15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and   blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.… (Matthew 16:15-17)

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when we read this same episode in John, we find that Andrew told Peter the Messiah has Been found. Which tells us Peter knew from Andrew that Jesus was the Messiah


The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). (John 1:41)


Just for the record Peters original name was Simon till Jesus changed it)


And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). (John 1:42)



Why would Jesus say god revealed it to Peter when Andrew was the first to tell him Jesus was the Messiah?  Seems like Andrew was the father who revealed to Peter, Jesus was the Messiah. Ams that according to the words of Jesus, unless u reject the both accounts!


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