Who are the People of the Gospel?

 

 Assalamu Alaikum

 

A typical gloss reading of a specific verse from the Qur’an by Christians is becoming a social media trend. Christians depict the character Jekyll and Hyde from a famous novel. Jekyll suffered from a multiple personality disorder just like Christians do.

 

What do I mean by this? One instance Christians claim the Qur’an is not the word of God and another instance they say the Qur’an is confirming the bible? What kind of nonsense is this?

 

So which verse are they playing Jekyll and Hyde with, let us take a read.

 

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 boldly claim Surah 5:47 is speaking about them hence, somehow their understanding is, according to this verse they must follow the Gospel which they apparently have i.e., the New Testament.

WONDERFUL EXPLANATION NOT!

 

Another speciality Christians have is, CHERRY PICK! And what is cherry pick? Selecting the best text which suits their needs without any context. Unlike Christians, Muslims read the entire context and refer to the scholars of the Qur’an to get the best understanding.

 

Let us read the verse in question from context and understand what verse 47 of chapter 5 means.

 

Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price [i.e., worldly gain]. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers. [V 44]

 

And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives [up his right as] charity, it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust]. [V 45]

 

Verses 44-45 is speaking about the Torah which was given to Moses and those who followed him and who succeeded after i.e., the Jews, Rabbis, scholars were commanded to judge by what Allah Swt revealed therein. This would include the legal ruling and injunctions and those who do not judge by what Allah Swt has revealed are the wrong doers.

 

So far by context verses 44-45 is regarding the revelation given to Moses Pbuh and his followers. Key word here is followers keep a note of that. Let us continue reading the following verses.

 

And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous. [Surah 5:46]

 

Notice the subject has changed from Moses Pbuh to Isa As Here, Isa As came after a succession of Prophets Pbut confirming what was revealed to Moses Pbuh alongside another revelation known as the Injeel [Gospel].

 

 

Now before we move to the verse in question there is another verse which complements Surah 5:46. Let us take a read.

 

And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], 'Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. And I cure the blind [from birth] and the leper, and I give life to the dead – by permission of Allah. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.

 

And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. [Surah 3:49-50]

 

As you can see not only was Isa As sent to the Children of Israel, he performed many miracles by the permission of Allah Swt as proof and sign to those people who were around him. Interestingly the chapter also informs us what we read in Surah 5:46 i.e., he came with the Torah and Injeel, alongside additional information. He came to inform them regarding lawful and unlawful matter i.e., legal injunctions and they should fear Allah Swt and obey him.

 

Keep that in mind and let us now move to the verse in question.

 

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]

 

This is where the Christians start flapping their broken wings assuming the verse is speaking about them. Remember context matters. We have already established the verses 44-45 is speaking of Moses Pbuh and his followers then the subject changes to Isa As in verse 46 continuing to verse 47 which is now referring to the followers of the Injeel [Gospel] for the time of Isa As, just like the Torah was for the followers of Moses Pbuh. The question is, how do we know is this the case?  Arabic grammar.

 

 Verse 47 reads وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ ٱلْإِنجِيلِ “And let the People of the Gospel”. The verse starts with the key word “AND”

 

Waw (و) – Also known as the “joining waw,” it is used to connect similar or related ideas. For example, طالبٌ و مُعَلِّم (student and teacher).

 

And is a conjunction to connect words in the same part of the speech. The waw indicates that what comes after it shares with the previous one meaning and indicate more than the partnership in the general meaning and indicate a chronological order between the sympathizers at the time of the occurrence of the meaning or on accompaniment, comment, or time limit, except by presumption.

 

Examples from the Quran :

 

One meaning:

 

and the earth and mountains will be lifted up and crushed with one blow

وَحُمِلَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ  [69:14]

 

The conjunctions (Waw) here indicate that both the earth and the mountains share the same meaning, which is that they carry the Day of Resurrection, so they will be one bench.

 

Associated and accompanying.

 

But We delivered him and those in the Ark, making it a sign for all people. فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلسَّفِينَةِ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهَآ ءَايَةًۭ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ [29:15]

 

It is known that salvation happened to Noah and those with him at the same time, and this is the meaning of the accompaniment.

 

The order:

 

When the earth is shaken ˹in˺ its ultimate quaking

and when the earth throws out ˹all˺ its contents,

and humanity cries, “What is wrong with it?”

 

إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا

وَأَخْرَجَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا

وَقَالَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا لَهَا [99:1,2,3]

 

Also

 

And indeed, We sent Noah and Abraham. وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًۭا وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَجَعَلْنَا [57:26]

In this verse, Abraham – who is late in time – to Noah, who is ahead of him. That is, one succeeded the other.

 

There are many more example that can be shown from the Qur’an where the word Waw (و)  “and”, conjunction is connected to the statement which is being addressed more importantly these correlative conjunctions part of grammar therefore, Surah 5:46 and 47 are both connected as one message.

 

Let us break this down.

 

V 44 – Moses Pbuh is given the Torah. His nation [people of his time] was to judge using the Torah

 

V 45 – Rulings and injunctions are mentioned which were part of the revealed Torah. Notice the word Waw (و)  “and” is used meaning this is connected to the previous verse.

V 46 – Isa As is the subject now he came to confirm the previous scripture and was given a new revelation Injeel [Gospel]

V 47 – Once again notice the word Waw (و)  “and” is used meaning this verse is connected to the previous one which means, that the PEOPLE OF THE GOSPEL وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ ٱلْإِنجِيلِ will be referring to the time of Isa As not the modern-day Christians who are not the true followers of Isa As.

 

The followers of Isa As for his time were called PEOPLE OF THE GOSPEL. Christians now do not follow the Gospel of Isa As they follow the gospel of Mark, Matthew, Luke, John and Paul.

The irony about this is, Christian don’t believe the Injeel was revealed Isa As by Allah Swt how then do they consider themselves as THE PEOPLE OF THE INJEEL? Ask any Christian does he believe in the One and Only True Creator Allah Swt who revealed the Scriptures to all the People and watch them openly reject it. In fact, they don’t even consider Isa As from the Qur’an as the true Messiah why then would they think the verse is somehow applying to them? Remember Jekyll and Hyde syndrome that’s what they suffer from.

 

One moment they believe in the Qur’an next moment they don’t. Christians have embodied this crafty, deceptive approach towards Muslims which they themselves know is misleading. 

 

Tafsir of Al-Qurtubi also says this verse is speaking of the people of the time of Isa As 

Conclusion :

 

Surah 5:46-47 is speaking of the People of the Gospel who lived during the time of Isa As and after until the arrival of Prophet Muhammed Pbuh.

 

Once again big thanks to my dear brother Adnan my Ustad JazakhAllahu Khair.