Knowledge Every Muslim Should Know (Book One)

Explanation to a Christian: Jesus, Sects, and Polygyny

In conclusion, the miracles which Allah gave to Isa (peace be upon him) were just like the miracles of all the other Prophets, to prove that he was speaking the truth and that he was truly a Messenger from Allah. But those who distorted the religion confused the matter for the simple-minded people and used his miracles as a justification to say that he was the son of God or that he was God. All of that is a distortion of the teachings and message of the Messiah (peace be upon him). 

If everyone who follows a Prophet were to take the miracles which Allah bestowed upon him as a sign that he was a god, then all the Prophets would be gods and each Prophet would be different from the others. For the mountains glorified Allah along with Dawood (David—peace be upon him), but they did not do so with Isa. The sea was parted for Moosa (Moses—peace be upon him) and he spoke with his Lord and his Lord spoke with him, so he was known as Kaleem-Allah (the one who spoke with Allah), but this did not happen to Isa (peace be upon him). Allah flooded the earth in response to the supplication of Nooh (Noah—peace be upon him) and that did not happen to Isa (peace be upon him). Allah singled out Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to speak to him and to protect his miracle from being lost or distorted; he alone was sent to all of mankind, and he was given miracles that were not given to Isa. So how could that be taken to mean that they were all gods? 

Sects 

With regard to the view that if the Qur’aan were not distorted there would not be all these many sects such as the Shi’ah and other groups. 

The answer to that is that the Qur’aan cannot force people to choose the right path, because the Qur’aan is simply guidance (and it is up to people to choose). Allah has warned us about these sects and groups, and He has forbidden us to imitate the nations who became divided in religious matters. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And be not of Al-Mushrikoon (the polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah). Of those who split up their religion (i.e. who left the true Islamic Monotheism), and became sects, [i.e. they invented new things in the religion (Bid’ah), and followed their vain desires], each sect rejoicing in that which is with it.” [al-Room 30:31-32] 

“And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment.” [Al-Imran 3:105] 

Allah has commanded them to adhere to His Book and to follow the sunnah (way, path) of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), as He says (interpretation of the meanings): 

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur’aan), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s Favor on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided.” [Al-Imran 3:103] 

“O you who believe! Make not (a decision) in advance before Allah and His Messenger, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”[al-Hujuraat 49:1] 

i.e., do not say or do anything that goes against the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). 

What is meant here is that Allah forbade the people to split into various groups, and He commanded them to be united, but they followed their own whims and desires, and they cast the Book of Allah behind their backs, and if they were confused about a verse from the Book of Allah, they did not refer to the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in order to understand it, rather they let their own opinion and corrupt reasoning be the judge. All of that is not from the Qur’aan and not from the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). 

Polygyny 

With regard to the question about plural marriage in Islam and its being forbidden in the New Testament, it should be noted that Allah gave each Messenger his own laws and path. Allah enjoined tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah) upon every single Prophet whom He sent, but the laws varied and some of them abrogated others. Some things that were permissible at the time of Adam (peace be upon him) were abrogated at the time of Nooh (peace be upon him).  

The laws that existed at the time of Moosa (Moses—peace be upon him) were partially abrogated at the time of Isa (Jesus—peace be upon him), as Allah tells us (interpretation of the meaning): 

“To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way.” [al-Maa’idah 5:48] 

So once this is understood, we will realize that plural marriage did not exist only in the law of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), rather it existed in the laws of all the previous Prophets. For example, Ya’qoob (Jacob—peace be upon him) had two wives and was married to two sisters at the same time, according to the Old Testament, as it says in the Book of Genesis 29:15-35. 

The father of the Prophets, Ibrahim (Abraham—peace be upon him) was also married to two women, Hajer (Hagar) and Sara (Sarah). The Old Testament mentions that the Prophet of Allah Dawood (David) had seventy or ninety-nine wives, and Sulayman (Solomon) had one hundred wives. These and other examples demonstrate that each of the Prophets implemented the laws that Allah had prescribed. Plural marriage is not only for this ummah (nation—i.e., the Muslims). The fact that the Christians do not allow it may be for two reasons: 

1 – This is one of the laws of Allah which was binding before the time of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

2 – They introduced their own innovation and went to extremes in this matter, as in the case of monasticism which they invented and which was not prescribed for them, but they sought to earn the pleasure of Allah thereby. 

We ask Allah to guide you and to help you find the true religion, which is Islam, and the path of the Prophet of Mercy (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) according to the understanding of his noble Companions.

 And Allah is the Guide to the Straight Path.