Hadith: Jew and Christians read from the Tawrah and Injil.

                                                                                          

Bismillah

 

During a recent discussion with my dear brother and Ustad Adnan an interesting hadith was brought up by him. Though this beautiful hadith is self-explanatory, there may be a few individuals who fully grasp the text and might take a different approach to its meaning.

 

"Let us read the hadith to clear up any misunderstandings that could benefit those with a clear agenda, whether unintentionally or, in our case, intentionally, using it to attack our position."

 

It was narrated that Ziyad bin Labid said:

 

“The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned something and said: ‘That will be at the time when knowledge (of Qur’an) disappears.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how will knowledge disappear when we read the Qur’an and teach it to our children, until the Day of Resurrection?’ He said: ‘May your mother be bereft of you, Ziyad! I thought that you were the wisest man in Al- Madinah. Is it not the case that these Jews and Christians read the Tawrah and the Injil, but they do not act upon anything of what is in them?’”

                                                         (Sunan Ibn Majah 4048)

 

The above hadith states that there will be a time when the knowledge of the Qur'an will disappear, meaning people will not act upon the teachings of the Qur'an. As mentioned, at first glance, the hadith seems self-explanatory; however, the latter part of the hadith may raise a few eyebrows. The hadith concludes by saying, 'Jews and Christians read the Torah and the Injil, but they do not act upon anything in them,' indicating that Jews and Christians possess the 'Torah' and 'Injil,' even though, in reality, we argue they do not.

 

So, how is this hadith understood, considering it confirms that Jews and Christians do have the Torah and Injil, which is contrary to the Muslim position?

 

"With all certainty, this hadith supports the Muslim position, not that of the Jews or Christians. To demonstrate this, we will turn to the Qur’an and other ahadith. Notice the hadith states, 'Jews and Christians read the Torah and the Injil, but they do not act upon anything in them.' The Qur’an does not deny that the Torah or Injil were fully forgotten by either Jews or Christians; rather, it confirms that they had access to the scriptures but distorted them. Consider, for example, the following verses from the Qur’an.

 

And they did not appraise Allah with true appraisal when they said, "Allah did not reveal to a human being anything." Say, "Who revealed the Scripture that Moses brought as light and guidance to the people? You [Jews] make it into pages, disclosing [some of] it and concealing much. And you were taught that which you knew not – neither you nor your fathers." Say, "Allah [revealed it]." Then leave them in their [empty] discourse, amusing themselves. [Surah 6:91]

 

Here we read the Jews did have access to the scriptures given to Moses Pbuh and what did they do, made into pages [scrolls] showing little, but hiding much.

 

And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. And they speak untruth about Allah while they know. [Surah 3:78]

 

Again, a party of Jews [the learned men i.e. rabbis] would alter the scripture with there tongues. This verse is clear the Jews had access to the scripture given to Moses Pbuh and also connected to Surah 6:91

 

They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him. [Surah 9:31]

 

The Jews and Christians took the rabbis and monks and lord beside Allah Swt. This is as clear as it gets. We also have a hadith which further elaborates.

 

Narrated 'Adi bin Hatim:

"I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) while I had a cross of gold around my neck. He said: 'O 'Adi! Remove this idol from yourself!' And I heard him reciting from Surah Bara'ah: They took their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah (9:31). He said: 'As for them, they did not worship them, but when they made something lawful for them, they considered it lawful, and when they made something unlawful for them, they considered it unlawful.'" [Trimidhi 3095 Grade: Hasan li ghayrihi (fair due to external evidence) according to Al-Albani]

 

So when the hadith reads “these Jews and Christians read the Tawrah and the Injil, but they do not act upon anything of what is in them?” it is referring to the Jew and Christians not acting upon the scriptures revealed to their Prophets, rather they abandoned it and instead followed their rabbis and monks and own desires.

 

And [mention, O Muhammed], when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear [i.e., explain it] to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased. [Surah 3:187]

 

We also read in the Qur’an that the People of the Book were entrusted with the scriptures, i.e., to preserve them, yet they did the contrary and followed their own desires, even writing their own books.

 

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. [Surah 5:44]

 

Conclusion:

 

The hadith is a prophecy of the future regarding the disappearance of knowledge. This hadith is very concerning, and we pray to Allah Swt to grant us knowledge and preserve it. The hadith also gives an example of what became of the Jews and Christians, showing how they had the scriptures given to the Prophets Pbut by Allah Swt, yet they dismissed them and instead took another path that led to misguidance i.e., following their vain desires and adhering to what their rabbis and monks told them. This does not mean they had or have the Torah and Injil; rather, they had something they chose to reject. While the hadith does mention that Jews and Christians 'read the Torah and the Injil,' it doesn't necessarily imply that the versions they possess today are the same as the original, unaltered scriptures revealed to the Prophets Pbut.

 

This can also be proven by sources found within Jewish and Christian literature. The Talmud and Mishna hold more authority than the Torah, just as the Church Fathers possess authority, often rejecting what the earlier scriptures stated. Take a look at the screenshot below, where the rabbis explicitly say that the Mishnah has precedence over the Torah.

Without they Qur’an the jews and Christians have nothing to stand upon.

 

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 Quran]." 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]

 

Allah Swt knows best.