Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

you often quote from sources other than the Quran. How do we know these

sources are authentic? What are these sources? For example, in a reply to one of the questions, you have a qoute about God cursing the Christians and Jews. Is there any reference to it in the Quran? If not, could this not just be an innovation of a human being, just like the innovations practiced by the Bohris that you normally manage to separate out from mainstream islamic beliefs.

It seems to me that if you take the approach that the Quran is the Guiding

document, then you should stick to it, and disregard other sources. If the

Quran is silent on a particular subject, then why do want to give an interpretation from another source, rather than simply stating that the Quran is silent on that subject?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What are our sources?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

My beloved brother in Islam, our only sources when quoting are the very Words of Allah Subhanah, the Glorious Quran, or the authentic Sunnah of the Last and Final Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws). There is no third source binding on the believers who sincerely and truly fear Allah Subhanah and the Last Day!

Allah forbid we ever quote from any source other than the Glorious Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet of Allah (saws)!

Your Statement: For example, in a reply to one of the questions, you have a qoute about God cursing the Christians and Jews. Is there any reference to it in the Quran? If not, could this not just be an innovation of a human being, just like the innovations practiced by the Bohris that you normally manage to separate out from mainstream islamic beliefs.

It seems to me that if you take the approach that the Quran is the guiding document, then you should stick to it, and disregard other sources. If the Quran is silent on a particular subject, then why do want to give an interpretation from another source, rather than simply stating that the Quran is silent on that subject?

My beloved brother in Islam, if the Quran is silent on the subject, we normally always say it is silent; and if both the Quran and Sunnah are silent on a subject, to the best of our knowledge, we also always let it be known.

Regarding the Quran being silent on the cursing of the People of the Book (the Jews and the Christians):

Far from being silent, Allah Subhanah has frequently laid his curse upon the People of the Book, who rejected the Message sent down by the All-Mighty Lord in the Glorious Quran.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 78: Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected faith by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 64: The Jews say: "Allah's hand is tied up." Be their hands tied up, and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter! Nay! Both His Hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth. But the Revelation that cometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. Amongst them We have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 46-47:

46 Of the Jews there are those who displace words from their (right) places and say: "We hear and we disobey"; and "Hear what is not heard": and "Ra`ina"; with a twist of their tongues and a slander to faith. If only they had said: "We hear and we obey"; and "Do hear"; and "Do look at us": it would have been better for them and more proper; but Allah hath cursed them for their unbelief; and but few of them will believe.

47 O ye People of the Book! Believe in what We have (now) revealed confirming what was (already) with you before We change the face and fame of some (of you) beyond all recognition and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers (the Jews): for the decision of Allah must be carried out.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verses 51-52:

51 Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who were given a portion of the Book (the Jews and the Christians)? They believe in sorcery and evil and say to the unbelievers that they are better guided in the (right) way than the believers!

52 They are (men) whom Allah hath cursed: and those whom Allah hath cursed thou wilt find have no one to help.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verses 64-65:

64 Verily Allah has cursed the Unbelievers and prepared for them a Blazing Fire

65 To dwell therein forever: no protector will they find nor helper.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 13: But because of their (The Bani Israel (Jews)) breach of their Covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard: they change the words from their (right) places, and forget a good part of the Message that was sent them; nor wilt thou cease to find them barring a few ever bent on (new) deceits: but (O Prophet) forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verses 59-60:

59 Say (O Prophet): "O People of the Book! Do ye disapprove of us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah and the Revelation that hath come to us, and that which came before (us), and (perhaps) that most of you are rebellious and disobedient?"

60 Say (O Prophet): "Shall I point out to you something much worse than this (as judged) by the treatment it received from Allah? Those who incurred the curse of Allah and His Wrath (the Jews), those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine (the Jews), and those who worshipped Evil; these are (many times) worse in rank and far more astray from the even Path!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 87-90:

87 We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of Prophets; We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a Messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride? Some ye called impostors and others ye slay!

88 They (the Jews and the Christians) say "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's word we need no more)." Nay!!! Allah's curse is on them for their blasphemy; little is it they believe.

89 And when there comes to them a Book from Allah confirming what is with them, although from of old they had prayed for victory against those without faith; when there comes to them that which they (should) have recognized they refused to believe in it; but the curse of Allah is on those without Faith.

90 Miserable is the price for which they have sold their souls in that they deny (the Revelation) which Allah has sent down, in insolent envy that Allah of His Grace should send it to any of His servants He pleases; thus have they drawn on themselves Wrath upon Wrath. And humiliating is the punishment of those who reject Faith.

In light of the above Aayahs of the Glorious Quran, there is absolutely no doubt that Allah Subhanah has laid his curse upon the people who have rejected the Last Messenger (saws) and the Message that was sent down to him; be they Jews, the Christians, the pagans or the disbelievers!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan