Then when they recited their own writing...

Then when they recited their own writing, they twisted their tongues and distorted their pronounciation to pretend that they were Allah's word from the Bible: ``And there is a sect of them who twist their tongue when reciting the Book, that you may suppose it a part from the Scripture, while they know that it is not from the Book.'' They were not content even with such a heinous sin, and explicitly ascribed their forgeries to God and said: ``This is from Allah, while it was not from Allah!'' The ending of the verse affirms that it was not a mistake on their side, and they did that deliberately: ``And they tell lies against Allah and they know!

[ 376 ] مَا كَانَ لِبَشَر أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ اللهُ الْكِتَـابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَاداً لِيّ مِن دوُنِ اللهِ وَلَـكِن كُونُواْ رَبَّـانِيِّنَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَـابَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ(( 79 )) 79- IT WAS NOT (BECOMING) TO A MAN THAT ALLAH SHOULD GIVE HIM BOOK, JUDGEMENT, AND PROPHETHOOD THEN HE SAYS TO PEOPLE BE YOU WORSHIPPERS TO ME INSTEAD OF ALLAH!

HE WOULD RATHER SAY: BE YOU GODLY, FOR THAT YOU WERE LEARNING THE BOOK, AND FOR THAT YOU WERE STUDYING. وَلاَ يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَن تَتَّخِذُواْ الْمَلائكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّن أَرْبَاباً أَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُون(( 80 )) 80- NOR WOULD HE ORDER YOU TO TAKE THE ANGELS AND PROPHETS AS LORDS. WOULD HE ORDER YOU TO DISBELIEVE AFTER YOU HAVE SUBMITTED? THE COMMENTARY OCCASION OF REVELATION (VERSE NO.

79 AND 80) As for the cause of these two verses, it is narrated that some of the Muslims said to the Messenger of God (AS) that we salute and greet you as we salute an ordinary man! Then give us leave to bow or to prostrate before you for salutations, to exhibit a mark of deference to your superiority. The prophet said: ``It is unlawful to prostrate to any one other than Allah.

It is enough to salute your prophet as you greet others, but recognize his rights, and follow him.'' [ 377 ] COMMENTS The verses reject and amend the dogma of making a deity and Lord of man, as the Christians have done; saying that Jesus was the son of God or the God Himself. As a matter of fact, Jesus was no more than a man chosen by God as a prophet, and strengthened by the Holy Spirit (GABRIEL), the arch angel, who brought the revelation to him.

It is neither natural nor reasonable that God's Messenger should preach against God; saying worship me and not Him.

✦ ✦ ✦