THE QURAN AND HADITH CONFIRM PAUL'S PROPHETHOOD

 

1. PAUL'S PROPHETHOOD ACCORDING TO THE HOLY QURAN

To begin, I remind Muslims that Islam has the following characteristics (swifat ul I’iman mufaswalu):

1. Faith in God.

2. Faith in the Angels of Allah.

3. Faith in the Books of Allah.

4. Faith in the Prophets of Allah.

5. Faith in the Good and Bad of Allah.

6. Faith in the Last Day.

Based on today’s topic, I will focus on Faith in the Prophets.

Muslims believe there are about 124,000 Prophets. Out of these, only 25 were known to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), as we read in:

[AN-NISAAI – 164]
"And We sent Messengers We have mentioned to you before and Messengers We have not mentioned to you. And Allah spoke to Moses directly."

This means that Muhammad knew very little about the Prophets, i.e., only about 0.0002% of them. This is also the understanding of all Muslims regarding Prophets. However, Allah S.W directed Muhammad on where to get more light by saying:

[YUNUS – 94]
"So if you are in doubt, [O Muhammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters."

So, concerning the Prophets, almost all the Prophets narrated to Muhammad are found in the Bible. As we saw in the first part of our topic today, we inform Muslims about Paul’s prophethood.

If you read the Quran carefully, you will find that the story of Paul is well described.

Examine this verse:

[YA-SIN – 13-14]
"And present to them an example: the people of the city, when the messengers came to it—
When We sent to them two but they denied them, so We strengthened them with a third, and they said, 'Indeed, we are messengers to you.'"

This verse tells the story of Allah's messengers. Commentators and scholars like Sheikh Balwani and Yusuf Ali have interpreted this verse and said that the city to which the messengers were sent is Antioch.

Ibn Kathir, in his commentary, states that the messengers were John, Simon, and Paul.

Here, I quote Ibn Kathir:

"It is narrated by Ibn Jurayj from Wahb bin Sulayman, transmitted by Shu’ayb Al-Jaba’i, 'The names of the first two messengers sent were Simon and John, and the name of the third was Paul. The city was Antioch.' They said (to the people of the city), 'Indeed, we are sent to you as messengers,' meaning 'Messengers from Allah who created you and commands you to worship Him alone and not associate any partners with Him.' Qatada said they were messengers of Jesus, son of Mary (a.s), sent to the people of Antioch. They said, 'You are but human beings like us... How can you receive revelation when you are human like us? Why do we not receive revelation like you?' This was the attitude of the people of other nations who said, 'We do not believe,' as Allah tells us in Surah 64:6: 'That was because their messengers used to come to them with clear proofs, but they said, "Shall mere men guide us!" So they disbelieved and turned away. And Allah was in no need of them.'"

Thus, we see that the argument against Paul is a recent invention. Muslims, scholars, and early ulama did not have this argument against Paul.

2. PAUL'S PROPHETHOOD ACCORDING TO THE HADITH

After seeing the evidence from the Holy Scriptures about the prophethood of Paul, let’s turn to the hadiths of Prophet Muhammad. Why should we turn to hadith? Because of the advice given by Allah S.W within the Quran itself:

[AN-NISAAI – 59]
"O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result."

In a book called SIRAT NABAWIYA, written by Ibn Hisham, a student of Ibn Ishak, in the fourth volume of that book, page 140, Muhammad lists the names of the disciples of Jesus. He divides them into two groups: those who followed Jesus during His life and those who followed after He ascended. Muhammad describes each of the disciples and where they were sent; concerning Paul, he states that Paul was sent to Rome.

Here, I quote Ibn Hisham:

أسماء رسل عيسى عليه السلام

"Amesema ibh Is-hak: walikuwa miongoni mwa wanafunzi wa Yesu (amani iwe juu yake) wale waliomfuata wale waliokuwa baada yake duniani: Petro Mwanafunzi wa Yesu, na pamoja naye alikuwepo Paulo miongoni mwa wafuasi, Paulo hakuwa miongoni mwa wale wanafunzi wa Yesu. Naye (Paulo) alitumwa Rumi. Na Andrea naye alitumwa katika nchi ambayo wakazi wake wanakula watu. Na Tomaso alitumwa katika nchi ya Babeli katika nchi za mashariki. Na Philipo alitumwa katika nchi pande za Afrika, na Yohana alitumwa Efeso na Yakobo alitumwa Yerusalemu na Batholomeo alitumwa Uarabuni katika nchi ya Hijaz. Na Simoni alitumwa Baribari."

Majina ya Mitume wa Yesu Masihi:
“Amesema ibn Is-hak: walikuwa miongoni mwa wanafunzi wa Yesu (amani iwe juu yake) wale waliomfuata wale waliokuwa baada yake duniani: Petro Mwanafunzi wa Yesu, na pamoja naye alikuwepo Paulo miongoni mwa wafuasi, Paulo hakuwa miongoni mwa wale wanafunzi wa Yesu. Naye (Paulo) alitumwa Rumi. Na Andrea naye alitumwa katika nchi ambayo wakazi wake wanakula watu. Na Tomaso alitumwa katika nchi ya Babeli katika nchi za mashariki. Na Philipo alitumwa katika nchi pande za Afrika, na Yohana alitumwa Efeso na Yakobo alitumwa Yerusalemu na Batholomeo alitumwa Uarabuni katika nchi ya Hijaz. Na Simoni alitumwa Baribari.”

It is surprising to see that despite such significant evidence, today’s Muslims (especially activists) have chosen to ignore this truth and start misleading people, either intentionally or out of ignorance. The question is: for whose benefit are they doing this?

My Muslim friend, I want to warn you that Satan is cunning and will always come with deception, using false teachers. Some will come as defenders of the faith, but they are the greatest destroyers of the faith.

Allah S.W says in the Quran to tell Muslims:

[AL-BAQARA – 136]
"Say: We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."

You see that Allah S.W has instructed Muslims not only to believe in the 25 mentioned Prophets in the Quran but also to believe in what was revealed to the descendants of Jacob. PAUL IS ALSO A DESCENDANT OF THE PROPHET JACOB. But not only that, Allah S.W has asked Muslims to believe in what was revealed to "other prophets." PAUL IS ALSO AMONG THE OTHER PROPHETS.

Therefore, rejecting Paul is to reject the faith, reject the Quran, and ultimately reject Allah Himself. AND THIS IS EXTREME UNBELIEF.

Is there any hadith where the Prophet warned his companions or Muslims in general about Paul’s teachings?

No, instead, we see Muhammad himself quoting Paul's teachings and calling it a message from Allah:

“It is narrated by Abu Huraira, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said; Allah said, ‘I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived.’”

Thus, we see that the argument against Paul’s prophethood has no foundation in the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and is a distortion by self-seeking religious teachers.

Shalom,

Max Shimba Ministries Org

WHY DIDN'T YAHYA "JOHN" IN THE QURAN BAPTIZE MUSLIMS?

 

MUSLIMS: ACCORDING TO YOUR QURAN, WHERE DID JOHN'S BAPTISM COME FROM?

When I say every day that Islam is a fabricated religion made by Muhammad, I am not joking. The John the Baptist in the Bible is not the same as the fake Yahya in the Quran in Surah Maryam, verse 7. Not at all.

John in English is John
John in Arabic is يوحنا (Yuhanna)
John in Japanese is ジョン (Jon)
John in Chinese is 約翰 (Yuēhàn)

So where did the name Yahya come from for Muslims, and did this Yahya baptize people like John in the Bible, who existed 600 years before Islam? In the Arabic Bible, the name is يوحنا (Yuhanna) and not Yahya, the fake name given by Muslims. You can verify this here: Arabic Bible

To test this truth, today I ask Muslims a simple question:
Matthew 21:25 "The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?" They reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'"

QUESTION: Where did the baptism of John come from?
I would like Muslims to answer me with verses and not just their own words.

If the baptism of "Yahya" came from the Great God, why aren’t you Muslims baptized?

If it came from men, why isn’t there a verse in the Quran that rejects the baptism of "John"?

If it came from men, why was Jesus baptized?

If there is no verse in the Quran that talks about baptism, then "Yahya" is not the same as "يوحنا (Yuhanna)" John in the Bible, and the Yahya in the Quran is fake and was fabricated by Muhammad.

The Bible says, “Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4).

In Christian baptism, the act of being immersed in water symbolizes being buried with Christ. The act of coming out of the water symbolizes being resurrected with Christ.

Shalom,

Max Shimba, servant of Jesus Christ, the Great God and our Savior. Titus 2:13

ALLAH AND ISLAM: A RELIGION OF THE DEAD

 

Dear reader,

The Holy Bible, which is the Word of God, states: God is the God of the living, not the dead. Read Matthew 22:32, "...I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

Mark 12:27, "He is not the God of the dead but the God of the living."

The Bible assures us that God is not the God of the dead, unlike the late Muhammad in the Quran, who is prayed for daily by Allah and his angels. Let's read a verse from the Quran:

Surah Al-Ahzab 56, "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace."

Muslims are commanded to pray for the deceased Muhammad, who is still in his grave today, awaiting judgment from his Creator, Jesus.

Imam Amirul Mu’minin Ali (a) said:
"Visit the graves of the deceased, for they feel joy when you visit them. Ask for whatever you need at the grave of your father and mother after praying for them." Al-Akhlaq wa al-Aadab al-Islamiyyah compiled by Hay’at Muhammad al-Amin, Qum.

Imam al-Sadiq (a) urges Muslims to visit graves because the dead, through Allah, know when you visit them and feel joy when you do so. Abu Muhammad Zaynu’l ‘Abidin, Manifestations of the All-Merciful:

The dead are grateful when you visit their graves, and they feel lonely when you leave. Alseraj.net

The above testimonies confirm that ISLAM is a religion of the dead, and they believe that the deceased, who have decayed and been eaten by termites in their graves, hear them and are present in those graves. But what happens on the first night when a Muslim is buried? Read this astonishing story from an authentic hadith.

THE FIRST NIGHT OF A MUSLIM IN THE GRAVE:

[Hasan: At-Tirmidhee from Abu Hurairah.]
The Prophet of Allah (sallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, when a deceased person is buried, two angels, one black and the other blue, called Al Munkar and Al Nakeer, come to him. They talk to the deceased and ask, "What did you say about this man?" He says what he used to say, "He is the servant of Allah and His messenger. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and Muhammad is His servant and messenger." The angels then say, "We knew you would say this," and his grave is widened to seventy by seventy cubits, illuminated for him, and they say, "Sleep." He says, "Let me return to my family to inform them..."

Muhammad said, "The deceased hears the footsteps of their relatives when they leave the grave..." [Saheeh: Al-Bukhaaree (2/422), Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Daud, an-Nasaa.ee: from Anas.]

Al-Baraa b. 'Azib said, we went to a grave, and we found a man who had not yet been buried, so the Prophet of Allah asked the deceased, "Do you submit to Allah?"... [Saheeh: Ahmad, Abu Dawud (3/4735) Ibn Khuzaimah, al-Haakim, al-Baihaqee in 'Shu'ab ul-Imaan', ad-Diyaa: from al-Baraa.]

The hadith above confirms that Islam is a RELIGION OF THE DEAD, while the Bible states that God is not the God of the dead but of the living.

CONTINUE:

The practice of the Prophet (Swalla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) after burial was to stand by the grave and say, "Ask Allah for forgiveness for your brother and pray for him to be steadfast, for he is now being questioned." (Abu Daawuud).

NOW MUSLIMS PRAY FOR THE DEAD WITH QURAN

The dead are prayed for in the following manner:
The Imam (prayer leader) stands at the head of the deceased if the deceased is a man, as established in the Hadith of Abu Ghaalibi al-Khayyaat, who said:

"I witnessed Anas bin Malik praying for a deceased man, and he stood by his head."

The Imam also stands by the middle of the body if the deceased is a woman, as established in the Hadith of Samurah bin Jundub, who said:

"I prayed behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he prayed for the mother of Ka'ab...he stood by her middle."

Then, the Imam will say the takbir (saying 'Allah is the Greatest') four or five or nine times, as all these forms have been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). However, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) often said the takbir four times.

Allah and Muhammad continue to say, "Pray for forgiveness for the deceased...," "Pray for your brother's forgiveness and ask Allah to make him steadfast, for he is now being questioned." [36] as narrated by ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan.

This implies that you, as a Muslim, can continue to sin without worry because, upon death, your relatives will pray for your forgiveness. This is a BIG LIE.

Praying for the dead encourages sinners to continue sinning, believing that after death, the church will pray for them to enter heaven. Dear friend, I tell you again, SALVATION IS NOW.

Luke 16:26 says, "And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us." The Bible shows that the dead are either in paradise or in hell.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE DEAD?

God accepts a sinner who repents wholeheartedly and sanctifies himself based on faith alone in the blood of Jesus Christ. He then grants him eternal life. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, "(For He says, 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation)."

The Bible tells us that after a person dies, they are taken to heaven or hell based on whether they accepted or rejected Christ as their Savior. For believers, death is leaving the body to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). For non-believers, death means eternal judgment in hell (Luke 16:22-23).

This is where the confusion about what happens after death arises. Revelation 20:11-15 describes those in hell being cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 21 and 22 talk about a new heaven and a new earth. Therefore, it means that until the final resurrection, after death, one remains in a place resembling heaven or hell. The place where a person is to reside permanently will not change, but temporary dwellings will. Sometime after death, believers will be taken to the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1), and non-believers to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the eternal dwelling places based on whether one believed in Jesus Christ alone for salvation from their sins.

Muslims, after death, it is judgment, and there is no praying for the dead's forgiveness. The time to set your life right is now and not to wait for intercessions after death. That is a trap set by Satan in the straight path of Allah.
How about you? How prepared are you for death?

Life here on earth is uncertain; we may not see tomorrow. Death comes suddenly, and the Bible warns, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (James 4:13-14). The Bible also says, "For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2). Start today, while there is still time, believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24). He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Only in the name of Jesus Christ can we be saved (Acts 4:11-12). Repent of all your sins (Acts 17:30-31). Confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37). Be buried with Him in baptism for the remission of your sins (Romans 6:4; Acts 22:16). Then serve Christ in His Church for the rest of your life, and you will be blessed.

Today we have learned the difference between DEATH in Islam and Christianity. Muslims believe in praying for the dead's forgiveness, while Christians believe that salvation is now.

God bless you.

I am Dr. Max Shimba, a servant of Jesus Christ, the Great God.

For Max Shimba Ministries Org,

MAX SHIMBA MINISTRIES ORG ©2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
March 11, 2016

Wapi Kaini Alipata Mke Wake?

na Dr. Maxwell Shimba

Moja ya maswali yanayoulizwa sana kuhusu Biblia ni "Kaini alipata wapi mke wake?" Wanaoshuku wamegundua kuwa Wakristo wengi wanashindwa kujibu swali hili, lakini jibu si gumu kama unavyoweza kufikiria.

Miaka michache iliyopita, nilinunua Biblia ya Watoto ya Dhahabu ili kutumia na binti yangu mdogo Elizabeth wakati wa wakati wa ibada. Ilichapishwa awali mwaka 1965, na nilivutiwa na vielelezo vya kweli vilivyokumbusha vile nilivyokuwa naviona katika shule ya Jumapili. Biblia hiyo haikuwa tafsiri maalum bali ilikuwa ni paraphrase ya matukio teule kutoka kwa Maandiko. Nilipofika kwenye sehemu iliyoitwa, “Kaini na Abeli, Wana wa Adamu,” niliisoma,

Baada ya hayo [wakati Mungu alipomwekea Kaini alama], Kaini akaenda kutoka mbele za Bwana, na akaishi katika nchi ya Nodi, upande wa mashariki wa Edeni.

Na baadaye katika nchi ya Nodi, Kaini akachukua mke na akamzaa mwana ambaye aliitwa Henoki.

Akaunti hii ya paraphrase ya Maandiko inaonyesha dhana potofu sana inayohusiana na wapi Kaini alipata mke wake. Wakristo wengi wamefundishwa kuwa Kaini alienda Nodi, alipata mke, akaoa, na akapata mwana. Lakini ikiwa Adamu na Eva walikuwa watu wawili tu ambao Mungu aliwaumba, watu wa Nodi walitoka wapi?

Biblia Inasema Nini?
Kwanza, hebu tusome maneno halisi ya Mwanzo 4:16–17, ambayo Biblia ya Watoto ya Dhahabu ilijaribu kupunguza:

Kisha Kaini akaenda zake kutoka mbele za Bwana, akakaa katika nchi ya Nodi, mashariki mwa Edeni. Kaini akamjua mkewe, naye akapata mimba akamzaa Henoki. Alipojenga mji, aliuita jina la mji huo kwa jina la mwanawe, Henoki.

Biblia haisemi kuwa Kaini alienda Nodi na baadaye alipata mke huko. Badala yake, maelezo ya Maandiko ni kwamba tayari alikuwa na mke alipokwenda Nodi. Tukio lililofanyika Nodi ni kwamba alimjua mkewe—alikuwa na uhusiano wa ndoa naye—na alipata mimba na kuzaa mwana.

Ikiwa Kaini hakuoa mtu aliyeishi katika nchi ya Nodi, bado tuna swali, "Kaini alipata wapi mke wake?" au "Kaini alioa nani?" Tena, tunahitaji kuangalia Maandiko kwa jibu.

Katika Mwanzo 2:7, tunasoma juu ya uumbaji wa Adamu, “Kisha Bwana Mungu akamfanya mtu kutoka mavumbi ya ardhi na akampulizia puani pumzi ya uhai, na mtu akawa nafsi hai.”

Mwanzo 2:21–22 inasimulia uumbaji wa Eva, “Basi Bwana Mungu akamleta usingizi mzito Adamu, naye Adamu akalala usingizi; akachukua ubavu wake mmoja, kisha akaufunga mwili mahali pake. Na ule ubavu Bwana Mungu aliouchukua katika Adamu akaufanya mwanamke, akamleta kwa Adamu.”

Na katika Mwanzo 1:28, tunasoma amri ya Mungu kwa Adamu na Eva, “Mungu akawabarikia, Mungu akawaambia, Zaeni, mkaongezeke, mkaijaze dunia na kuitiisha.”

Mwanzo 5:4 inafanya wazi kuwa Adamu na Eva walikuwa na wana na binti wengi.
Mungu aliwaumba watu wawili tu, Adamu na Eva, na aliwaambia wapate watoto wengi—“Ijazeni dunia!” Maandiko yanataja majina ya watoto watatu tu wa Adamu na Eva (Kaini, Abeli, na Sethi). Hata hivyo, Mwanzo 5:4 inafanya wazi kuwa walikuwa na wana na binti wengi:

Siku za Adamu baada ya kumzaa Sethi zilikuwa miaka mia nane; na alikuwa na wana na binti wengine.

Zaidi ya hayo, Mwanzo 3:20 inasema, Adamu akamwita mkewe jina lake Eva; kwa kuwa ndiye mama wa wote walio hai.

Maandiko yanaweka wazi kwamba kila mwanadamu anazaliwa kutoka kwa Adamu na Eva. Ingawa ni kawaida kuainisha watu katika “rangi” kulingana na rangi ya ngozi, umbo la macho, na kadhalika, kwa kweli kuna jamii moja tu.

Kwa hivyo, kwa kuwa sisi ni "damu moja" inayotokana na Adamu na Eva, mtu pekee ambaye Kaini angeweza kuoa angekuwa dada au mpwa wake.

Ni kweli kwamba jamii ya wanadamu sasa inajumuisha makundi mengi ya watu. Hii ilikuwaje? Historia ya baadaye katika Mwanzo inatusaidia kuelewa kwa nini watu sasa wanaonekana tofauti sana kutoka kwa kila mmoja, ingawa wote walitoka kwa watu wawili tu.

Uzao wa Adamu na Eva uliongezeka na kuijaza dunia kwa takriban miaka 1,500 kabla ya gharika ya Nuhu. Wakati huo, tukio muhimu lilitokea katika vinasaba vya binadamu: idadi ya watu ilipunguzwa hadi familia ya Nuhu ya watu wanane waliokuwa kwenye safina. Baada ya gharika, jamii ya wanadamu iliongezeka tena, lakini kwa kutotii Mungu, hawakujaza dunia. Hivyo, Mungu aliwahukumu kwa kuchanganya lugha zao kwenye mnara wa Babeli, na kutoka hapo, wakahamia, wakijaza dunia, kama Mungu alivyokusudia. Watu walipojitenga katika vikundi tofauti ulimwenguni, tabia fulani za mwili zilitawala, kama vile ngozi nyeusi Afrika na macho yenye umbo la mlozi Asia.

Licha ya utofauti wa sifa za mwili tunaouona leo, Biblia (na sayansi ya vinasaba) inathibitisha kwamba sisi sote ni jamii moja. Kama Matendo 17:26 inavyosema, “Naye alifanya kila taifa la wanadamu kutoka kwa mtu mmoja kuishi juu ya uso wa dunia yote, na akaweka nyakati zao na mipaka ya makao yao.”

Je, Unaweza Kuoa Jamaa Yako?
Majibu ya haraka kwa Kaini kuoa dada yake au mpwa wake ni mshtuko au kuchukizwa. Leo, kuoa jamaa wa karibu kunaitwa uzinzi. Hata hivyo, takriban miaka 6,000 iliyopita, Mungu hakukataza ndoa kati ya jamaa wa karibu. Kwa nini?

Adamu na Eva waliumbwa wakamilifu. Haikuwa mpaka baada ya kuanguka kwamba mateso na kifo vilivyoathiri wanadamu na kila kiumbe hai kingine. Jambo moja la mateso haya lingekuwa mabadiliko katika DNA yanayosababisha magonjwa. Kwa kuwa Adamu na Eva waliumbwa wakamilifu kijenetiki, watoto wao wangekuwa na mabadiliko machache. Mabadiliko katika vizazi vinavyofuata yangeendelea kuongezeka na kujilimbikiza. Hatimaye, ikawa hatari sana kuoa jamaa wa karibu kwa sababu ya uwezekano mkubwa wa ugonjwa wa kurithi.

Wakati wa Musa, takriban miaka 2,500 baada ya uumbaji, Mungu alipiga marufuku ndoa kati ya jamaa wa karibu (Mambo ya Walawi 18:6–18). Inaonekana kwamba sababu moja ilikuwa ni afya. Ingawa Waisraeli hawakujua chochote kuhusu DNA, Mungu alijua, na alijua jamaa wa karibu walikuwa na uwezekano wa kuwa na mabadiliko sawa. Kwa kuwa magonjwa mengi hutokea tu wakati mtoto anapokuwa na nakala mbili za mabadiliko sawa (moja kutoka kwa mama na moja kutoka kwa baba), ndoa kati ya jamaa wa karibu ingeathiri Waisraeli. Hii ni moja ya sababu ndoa kama hizo zimepigwa marufuku leo—kuzuia magonjwa yanayoweza kuwapata watoto wa aina hii ya ndoa.

Jinsi Jibu la Swali Hili Linavyoathiri Injili?
Mara nyingi nimesikia Wakristo wakisema kwamba haijalishi kama Mwanzo unatoa historia ya kweli, kama ndoa ya Kaini. Uumbaji ni suala la pembeni, sio fundisho kuu, na jambo muhimu zaidi ni “kumtumaini Yesu.” Ingawa nakubaliana kabisa kwamba injili ndiyo ujumbe wetu mkuu, watu lazima waitegemee Biblia ili kujua injili ni nini. Ikiwa Biblia inayohusisha injili si sahihi na ya kweli katika Mwanzo, basi tunajuaje kama inasema ukweli kuhusu Yesu Kristo?

Zaidi ya hayo, historia ya uzao wa Adamu katika Mwanzo ni msingi wa kuelewa jinsi injili inavyotumika kwa watu wote. Kwa sababu watu wote ni wazao wa Adamu na Eva, watu wote ni wenye dhambi (Warumi 3:23, 5:12). Kristo alikufa na kufufuka ili kuwakomboa uzao wa Adamu (Warumi 5:15, 17; 1 Wakorintho 15:21–22, 45). Ikiwa Kaini alioa mtu mwingine zaidi ya uzao wa Adamu na Eva, hiyo ingepingana na mafundisho ya wazi ya Maandiko, sio tu katika Mwanzo bali pia jinsi yanavyohusiana na injili. Ikiwa kuna jamii zingine, basi injili haiwezi kuwa kwa watu wote (1 Timotheo 2:4). Haiwezi—injili inategemea kwa sehemu jibu sahihi la kibiblia kuhusu wapi Kaini alipata mke wake. Kwa hivyo, si suala la pembeni tu, ni sehemu ya suala kuu!

Petro anatunasihi tuwe tayari kila mara kutoa jibu kwa tumaini tulilo nalo (1 Petro 3:15). Historia katika Mwanzo, ikijumuisha utambulisho wa mke wa Kaini, ni muhimu kwa kuelewa kwamba sisi sote ni wenye dhambi na tunahitaji msamaha na wokovu unaotolewa kupitia Yesu Kristo.

Dr. Maxwell Shimba ni rais wa Taasisi ya Theolojia ya Shimba

Where Did Cain Get His Wife?

by Dr. Maxwell Shimba

One of the most frequently asked questions about the Bible is, "Where did Cain get his wife?" Skeptics have discovered that many Christians struggle to answer this question, but the answer is not as difficult as you might think.

What Does the Bible Say?

"Where did Cain get his wife?" or "Whom did Cain marry?" To find the answer, we need to look carefully at the Scriptures.

Creation of Adam and Eve:
In Genesis 2:7, we read about the creation of Adam:

“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

Genesis 2:21–22 recounts the creation of Eve:

“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.”

God’s Command to Multiply:
In Genesis 1:28, we read God's command to Adam and Eve:

“And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.’”

Adam and Eve's Offspring:
Genesis 5:4 makes it clear that Adam and Eve had multiple sons and daughters:

“The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters.”

Additionally, Genesis 3:20 states:

“The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.”

Scripture is clear that every human being is descended from Adam and Eve. Although it is common to classify people into “races” based on skin tone, eye shape, and so on, there is actually only one race.

Since we are “one blood” descended from Adam and Eve, the only people Cain could have married would have been his sister or niece.

The Spread of Humanity

Genesis and Human Diversity:
Adam and Eve’s offspring multiplied and filled the earth for approximately 1,500 years before Noah’s flood. At that point, an important event happened in human genetics: the population was reduced to Noah’s family of eight aboard the ark (Genesis 7:13, 7:23).

After the flood, the human race multiplied again. In disobedience to God, they did not fill the earth. God judged their disobedience by confusing their language at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and from there, they migrated, filling the earth as God intended.

As people became isolated in different groups around the world, certain physical characteristics became dominant, such as dark skin in Africa and almond-shaped eyes in Asia.

Despite the diversity in physical characteristics we see today, the Bible (and the science of genetics) confirms we are all one race. As Acts 17:26 states:

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.”

Can You Marry Your Relation?

The immediate reaction to Cain marrying his sister or niece is often shock or disgust. Today, marrying close relations is called incest. However, approximately 6,000 years ago, God did not forbid marriage between close relatives. Why?

Genetic Purity of Early Humanity:
Adam and Eve were created perfect. It wasn’t until after the fall that suffering and death affected mankind and every other living thing. One aspect of this suffering would have been mutations in the DNA that result in disease. Since Adam and Eve were created genetically perfect, their children would have had few mutations. Mutations in subsequent generations would have continued to increase and accumulate. Eventually, it became too dangerous to marry a close relation because of the increased likelihood of inherited disease.

During the time of Moses, approximately 2,500 years after creation, God forbade marriage between close relatives (Leviticus 18:6–18). It seems that one reason was health. Although the Israelites knew nothing of DNA, God did, and He knew close relatives were likely to have the same mutations. Since many diseases occur only when a child has two copies of the same mutation (one from Mom and one from Dad), marriage between close relatives would be harmful to the Israelites. This is one of the reasons such marriages are prohibited today—to prevent diseases that can afflict children of this kind of union.

How Does the Answer to This Question Affect the Gospel?

Some Christians say that it doesn’t matter whether Genesis presents true history, such as the marriage of Cain. Creation is a side issue; it’s not a primary doctrine, and the most important thing is to “trust in Jesus.” While the gospel is indeed central to our message, people must depend on the Bible to know what the gospel is. If the Bible that relates the gospel is not accurate and truthful in Genesis, then how do we know it is telling the truth about Jesus Christ?

Genesis and the Gospel:
The history of Adam’s race in Genesis is foundational to understanding how the gospel applies to all people. Because all people are descendants of Adam and Eve, all people are sinners (Romans 3:23, 5:12). Christ died and rose again to redeem Adam’s race (Romans 5:15, 17; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, 45). If Cain married someone other than a descendant of Adam and Eve, that would contradict the clear teaching of Scripture, not only in Genesis but also as it relates to the gospel. If there are other races, then how can the gospel be for all people (1 Timothy 2:4)? It can’t—the gospel depends in part on the accurate biblical answer to where Cain got his wife. So it’s not just a side issue, it’s part of the main issue!

Peter admonishes us to be ready always to give an answer for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15). The history in Genesis, including the identity of Cain’s wife, is crucial to understanding that we are all sinners and in need of the forgiveness and salvation offered through Jesus Christ.

Dr. Maxwell Shimba is president of Shimba Theological Institute

Mark 13:2 Expository Study and Comprehensive Commentary

 

Verse:

"And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Mark 13:2, KJV)

Interpretation and Commentary

Context

In Mark 13, Jesus and His disciples are leaving the temple when one of His disciples remarks on the grandeur of the temple buildings. This prompts Jesus to prophesy the destruction of the temple, which forms the basis for the discourse that follows, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse.

Analysis

• "Seest thou these great buildings?":

  • Jesus begins by drawing the disciples' attention to the magnificence of the temple. Herod's temple was an architectural marvel, known for its massive stones and grandeur.

  • The phrase emphasizes the current state of the temple, which was not only a religious center but also a symbol of Jewish identity and pride.

• "There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.":

  • This prophecy predicts the complete destruction of the temple, which historically occurred in AD 70 when the Romans, under General Titus, sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple.

  • The imagery of "not one stone upon another" indicates total devastation. Jesus' prediction highlights the transient nature of even the most seemingly indestructible human achievements.

Theological Implications

• Fulfillment of Prophecy:

  • Jesus' accurate prophecy is a testament to His divine knowledge and authority. It serves as a confirmation of His role as a true prophet.

  • This event underscores the sovereignty of God over history and the fulfillment of divine judgment.

• Judgment and Warning:

  • The destruction of the temple serves as a warning of the judgment to come for rejecting God's messengers. It reflects a broader theme in Scripture where physical destruction symbolizes divine judgment against sin and apostasy.

Cross-References

• Matthew 24:1-2:

  • The parallel passage in Matthew provides additional context and emphasis on the certainty of the temple’s destruction.

• Luke 21:6:

  • Luke’s account corroborates the prophecy and adds the perspective of Jesus foreseeing the desolation of Jerusalem.

• 1 Kings 9:7-8:

  • This Old Testament passage records God's warning to Solomon about the potential destruction of the temple if Israel forsakes Him, demonstrating the continuity of divine warnings and judgments.

Concordance Insights

• "Buildings" (G3619 – οἰκοδομή):

  • The term underscores the physical structure and grandeur of the temple complex. It is used elsewhere to describe spiritual edification (e.g., 1 Corinthians 3:9).

• "Stone" (G3037 – λίθος):

  • Often used in Scripture to signify permanence and strength (e.g., Matthew 21:42 - Jesus as the cornerstone). The complete dismantling of the stones symbolizes the end of an era and the finality of judgment.

Application

• Historical Validation:

  • The fulfillment of this prophecy within a generation of Jesus’ ministry validates His teachings and serves as a powerful apologetic for the Christian faith.

• Spiritual Reflection:

  • Believers are reminded of the impermanence of earthly structures and institutions. It calls for a focus on the eternal kingdom of God rather than temporal achievements.

• Urgency in Evangelism:

  • The prophecy also motivates Christians to share the gospel with urgency, recognizing that divine judgment is real and impending for those who reject Christ.

By examining Mark 13:2 in its historical, theological, and practical context, we gain a deeper appreciation for Jesus’ prophetic authority and the urgency of His message. This verse not only serves as a historical prediction but also as a spiritual lesson for believers across all ages.

Muhammad Was Baptized with Much Water Just Like the Apostle Paul

 

Evidence Here

Introduction

Questions for Muslims:

1. Provide a Hadith or Quranic verse stating that Muhammad was never baptized or washed of his sins with water to prove he was not baptized.

2. If Muhammad was baptized, why do you, as a Muslim, oppose your prophet when he was washed of sins with water through baptism?

Hadith Evidence

Narrated by Aisha:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say: "O Allah, cleanse my sins with snow and cold water, and purify my heart from sins as a white garment is purified from dirt."

• Original Arabic:

  • اللهم اغسل خطاياي بالمعهد الثلج والبارد كان نقي قلبي من الخطايا كنقطة الثوب الابيض من الدناس (اللهم اعمدني (اغسل) ذنوبي. وطهر قلبي من الثلج بالبرد ، وطهر قلبي من الخطيئة مثل ثوب أبيض مطهر من النجاسة. "

• Source:

  • Sunan an-Nasa'i 333, Volume 1, Book 2, Hadith 334

This evidence suggests that Muhammad sought purification and washing of his sins, much like the Christian concept of baptism.

Further Hadith:

Narrated by Abdullah b. Abu Aufa:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say: "O Allah! Our Lord, all praise is Yours, filling the heavens and the earth and whatever You will beyond that. O Allah, cleanse my sins with snow, hail, and cold water. O Allah, cleanse my sins and errors with water as a white garment is cleansed from dirt."

• Original Arabic:

  • حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مَجْزَأَةَ بْنِ زَاهِرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي أَوْفَى، يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَاءِ وَمِلْءَ الأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدُ اللَّهُمَّ طَهِّرْنِي بِالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَالْمَاءِ الْبَارِدِ اللَّهُمَّ طَهِّرْنِي مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَالْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْوَسَخِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

• Source:

  • Sahih Muslim 476c, Book 4, Hadith 231

Conclusion

Peace of Jesus Prevail

Shalom,

Dr. Maxwell Shimba

The Israelites Were Baptized to Belong to Moses

 

The Israelites were baptized in the Red Sea to belong to Moses, while we who are saved are baptized by the Lord Jesus with the Holy Spirit to belong to God.

The baptism of the Israelites to belong to Moses is written here:
1 Corinthians 10:1-2: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea."

John the Baptist introduced the entire world to the Lord Jesus, who would baptize us with the Holy Spirit so that we may belong to God, for the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God.

Matthew 3:11: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."

Brethren, ensure you are baptized to belong to God.

To be baptized to belong to God, you must be baptized with the Holy Spirit, which is being born again.

John 3:5-6: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Brethren, ensure you are born again by being baptized by the Lord Jesus with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

God bless you abundantly.

Max Shimba Ministries Org

ALLAH CLAIMS THAT THE WORLD HAS TWO EASTS AND TWO WESTS?

 

The Shame of the Year for Muhammad and Allah

Does Allah Claim That the World Has Two Easts and Two Wests?

Is it true that the world we live in has two Easts and two Wests, or is it a lack of knowledge?

Let's start by reading the verse from the Quran that makes such a claim:
Surah Ar-Rahman, Ayah 17: "Lord of the two Easts and Lord of the two Wests."

Now, let's look at what Earth's science says about directions.

What is the East?
East is one of the four cardinal directions. Its direction is where the sun rises in the morning.
The name "East" comes from the Arabic word مشرق (mashriq), which means "the place where the sun rises."
East is usually on the right side of a map.

What is the West?
West is one of the four cardinal directions. Its direction is where the sun sets.
West is also the name of the evening prayer time for Muslims.
The name "West" comes from the Arabic word مَغْرِب (maghrib), which means "the place where the sun sets."
West is usually on the left side of a map.

What is a Compass?
A compass is a device used to determine direction. It is essential for navigation at sea or on land without visible landmarks like in a desert.
A compass has four main directions: North, East, South, and West.

Intermediate directions are mentioned as northeast/northwest and southeast/southwest (in English, Northeast NE/Northwest NW and Southeast SE/Southwest SW).
It is possible to mention more precise directions, for example, south-southwest (SSW) or west-southwest (WSW).

Surah Al-Ma'arij, Ayah 40: "But no! I swear by the Lord of all points in the East and the West that We are certainly able."

Here, Muhammad, who is the speaker of the Quran, contradicts his initial claim that there are two Easts and two Wests in Surah Ar-Rahman, Ayah 17.

Besides these four directions, there are other directions.

Observe the following compass, directions a - h are pronounced as follows:

1. North

2. North-northeast

3. Northeast

4. East-northeast

5. East

6. East-southeast

7. Southeast

8. South-southeast

9. South

10. South-southwest

11. Southwest

12. West-southwest

13. West

14. West-northwest

15. Northwest

16. North-northwest

To remember easily, imagine you are saying, "North of northeast, north of northeast, etc."

The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
When the sun rises, we say it has dawned or it is sunrise.
It is good to understand the relationship between the sun's direction, time, and the direction of the shadow. For example:
In the morning, the sun is in the East. The shadow is in the West.
In the afternoon, the sun is in the West. The shadow is in the East.
When the sun sets, it is called sunset or dusk or West.
North is the top of the compass. The compass starts from the North.
Another name for North is Shimali or Shemali, and Matlahi is another name for East.
The sun is opposite to the shadow, meaning if the sun is in the South, the shadow will be in the North.

Exercise A

a) One morning as I was heading to school, my shadow was in front of me.
In which direction was the school? __________
In which direction was my home? _______
b) One evening as I was coming back from grazing, my shadow was on my right side. In which direction was I heading?
c) Juma lives southeast of Fatuma. In which direction does Fatuma live from Juma?
d) In which direction does the sun set?

Exercise B

a) What is the direction found between South and West?
b) What is the direction found between West and East?
c) What is the direction found between North-northeast and North?
d) What is the direction found between South-southwest and West?
e) What is the direction found between North and East?

THAT'S WHY I CONTINUE TO SAY ALLAH IS NOT GOD.

Shalom,

Dr. Max Shimba, a servant of Jesus Christ, the Mighty God (Titus 2:13)

ALLAH AND MUHAMMAD DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY WINGS ANGELS HAVE

 

How many wings does an angel have?

The Quran claims that Allah created angels with up to four wings, no more than that:

"All praise is due to Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, who made the angels messengers with wings—two, three, and four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent." (Surah 35:1, Sahih International)

The Arabic phrase for "two, three, and four" is similar to what is mentioned in Surah 4:3:

"But if you fear that you will not be just, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two, or three, or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice]." (Surah 4:3, Sahih International)

No Muslim denies that this verse limits the number of wives a man can have at one time to four, provided that he can treat them justly. Considering this, it is consistent to understand Surah 35:1 in the same way—that angels do not have more than four wings.

However, by making this claim, the Quran contradicts the Holy Bible on this matter, as there are angels who indeed have six wings:

"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.' And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'" (Isaiah 6:1-7, ESV)

Furthermore, the so-called sound traditions also contradict the Quran on this point as the hadith states that Gabriel (Jibril) has six hundred wings!

Narrated Abu Ishaq-Ash-Shaibani:
I asked Zir bin Hubaish regarding the Statement of Allah: “And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer; so did (Allah) convey the Inspiration to His servant (Gabriel) and then he (Gabriel) conveyed (that to Muhammad). (53:9-10) On that, Zir said, "Ibn Mas'ud informed us that the Prophet had seen Gabriel having 600 wings." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 455)

Narrated Abdullah:
Regarding the Verse: "And he (Muhammad) certainly saw him (Gabriel) in another descent, at the Lote-tree of the utmost boundary." (53:13-14) Ibn Mas'ud reported that the Prophet saw Gabriel having 600 wings. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 380)

Additionally:

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “I saw Gabriel at the Lote-tree of the utmost boundary. He had six hundred wings, and between each two wings there was a distance of as far as the eye could see.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

According to Aisha, this was one of the times Muhammad saw Gabriel in his true form:

Narrated Masruq:
I said to Aisha, "O Mother! Did Muhammad see his Lord?" Aisha said, "What you have said makes my hair stand on end! Know that if somebody tells you one of the following three things, he is a liar: Whoever tells you that Muhammad saw his Lord, is a liar." Then Aisha recited the Verse: 'No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision. He is Subtle, and All-Aware.' (6.103) "It is not fitting for a human being that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil." (42.51) 'Aisha further said, "And whoever tells you that the Prophet knows what is going to happen tomorrow, is a liar." She then recited: "No soul can know what it will earn tomorrow." (31.34) She added: "And whoever tells you that he (the Prophet) concealed (some of Allah's orders), is a liar." Then she recited: "O Apostle! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord." (5.67) 'Aisha added. "But the Prophet saw Gabriel in his true form twice." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 378)

Narrated Aisha:
Whoever claimed that (the Prophet) Muhammad saw his Lord is committing a grave error, for he only saw Gabriel in his actual form in which he was created, covering the whole horizon. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 457)

Narrated Masruq:
I asked Aisha "What about His Statement: ‘Then he (Gabriel) approached and came closer, and was at a distance of two bow lengths or (even) nearer.' (53:8-9)" She replied, "It was Gabriel who used to come to the Prophet in the form of a man, but on this occasion, he came in his actual form and covered the whole horizon." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 458)

Finally:

Al-Tirmidhi reported:
Ibn ‘Abbas met Ka‘b [al-Ahbar] at ‘Arafa and asked him about a certain matter. Ka‘b began to proclaim Allahu Akbar! Until the mountains echoed back. Ibn ‘Abbas said: “We are Banu Hashim!” Ka‘b said: “Allah divided His vision and speech between Muhammad and Musa. Musa spoke with Him twice, and Muhammad saw Him twice.” Masruq said: “Later I went to ‘Aisha and asked her: ‘Did Muhammad see his Lord?’ She replied: ‘You have said something that makes my hair stand on end.’ I said: ‘Calm down!’ She recited the verses: 'No vision can grasp Him.' (6:103) 'It is not for a human being that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration or from behind a veil.' (42:51) Then she said: “But he saw Gabriel in his true form only twice: once at the Lote-tree of the utmost boundary and once at Jiyad in Mecca, with six hundred wings, filling the horizon.” (Islamic Teachings and Beliefs: Volume 1: Prophets in Barzakh, Hadith on Isra’ and Mir’aj, the Immense Merits of Al-Sham, the Vision of Allah, Al-Sayyid Muhammad Ibn 'Alawi al-Maliki, translated and annotated by Dr. Gibril Fouad Haddad, As-Sunna Foundation of America 1999, p.147-148)

Now, some attempt to resolve this by claiming that the text of Surah 35:1 does not mean that angels have two, three, or four wings, but rather that Allah sends groups of angels in pairs, threes, or fours. In other words, this passage refers to the number of angels sent together. This interpretation, if correct, contradicts the following verses:

"When you said to the believers, 'Is it not enough for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?' Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]." (Surah 3:124-125, Sahih International)

"[Remember] when you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, 'Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another.'" (Surah 8:9, Sahih International)

We are not aware of any passage in the Quran that speaks of an event where Allah sent angels in pairs, threes, or fours. The number is usually not specified. The only time we read about two angels together is in the story of Harut and Marut. On the other hand, the above verses mention numbers that are far greater.

Others might try to argue that the last part of the verse clarifies the meaning of the text:

"All praise is due to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two, three, and four, and increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent." (Khalifa)

It has been suggested that the final part indicates that Allah can add to the creation of the angels as He wills.

The problem with this claim is that it presupposes that the phrase indeed pertains to the previous description about the angels, as opposed to simply saying that Allah can increase His creation as He sees fit, since the text mentions Allah as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Considering this, one might assume that Allah increases His creation not by adding wings to the angels but rather in relation to the increase of humans, animals, plants, the formation of stars, and so on. This interpretation makes complete sense in light of what immediately follows:

"O mankind, remember the favor of Allah upon you. Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? There is no deity except Him, so how are you deluded? ... Allah is He who sends the winds and they stir the clouds and spread them in the sky however He wills, and He makes them fragments, so you see the rain emerge from within them. And when He causes it to fall upon whom He wills of His servants, immediately they rejoice." (Surah 35:3, 9-13, Sahih International)

Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky? He brings forth fruits of various colors with it. In the mountains, there are streaks of white and red, of varying shades, and some are raven black. Among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors as well. Only those who fear Allah among His servants have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving. (Surah 35:27-28, Sahih International)

After all, there is a difference between creation and a creature. The phrase does not say: He adds to His creature/creatures what He wills, i.e., putting more wings on them after their creation, but it means that He can add more/different creatures to His creation as He wills.

Furthermore, this interpretation overlooks the fact that the same construction is found in Surah 4:3 where no one disputes that the plain meaning of the verse is that the maximum number of wives a man can have is four. Since the same construction is used in Surah 35:1, it becomes very difficult to escape the conclusion that this reference clearly states that four wings are the maximum a single angel can have. That is unless, of course, a Muslim wants to be consistent and claim that none of these texts imply that four is the maximum number, thus suggesting that a man can have more than four wives at one time!

Moreover, even if we were to assume for the sake of argument that the last part of the sentence refers to Allah adding extra wings for the angels, this still wouldn't prove the Muslim case. It would only mean that Allah can increase the wings of the angels but not beyond four, i.e., He can make an angel with two wings have three, another with three wings have four, but no more than that since He has designed it such that the most wings an angel can have at one time is four.

Besides, it seems that the real reason why Muslims came up with this answer is because they clearly saw the conflict between this verse in the Quran and the hadith. It is very doubtful that anyone would have connected the last part of the sentence about Allah adding to His creation with Allah adding more wings to the angels if the hadith did not mention that Gabriel had six hundred wings.

It seems more likely that if there were no traditions about Gabriel having that many wings, Muslims would have no problem admitting that the maximum number of wings an angel can have is four. This is especially so since the Arabic construction is identical to that found in Surah 4:3, which clearly limits the maximum number of wives a man can have to four.

We accept that this Muslim answer is purely ad hoc, an argument supported by the opinion of the renowned Sunni scholar Ibn Kathir who wrote the following regarding Surah 35:1:

"<two, three, or four.> means, among them are those who have two wings, those who have three and those who have four. Some have more than that, as mentioned in the Hadith that states that the Messenger of Allah saw Jibril (peace be upon him) on the Night of the Isra with six hundred wings. Between each pair of wings, there was a distance like that between the east and the west. Allah says...

<He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.> As-Suddi said, 'He adds wings to them and creates them as He wills.'" (Source; emphasis ours)

Notice that Ibn Kathir says that some angels have more than four wings based on the hadith, not because of the text itself. This highlights the truly ad hoc nature of the Muslim argument.

More importantly, if Muslims still insist that their interpretation of Surah 35:1 is correct, then they exacerbate the problem. After all, the claim that Muhammad saw the true form of Gabriel directly contradicts the Quran, which clearly states that humans cannot see the true form of angels, which is why they take on human forms!

"And they say, 'Why has an angel not been sent down to him?' But if We had sent down an angel, the matter would have been decided; then they would not be reprieved. And if We had made him an angel, We would have made him [appear as] a man, and We would have covered them with that in which they cover themselves." (Surah 6:8-9, Sahih International)

The two Jalals explained why angels must take human forms:

"And had We appointed him an angel, We would assuredly have made him (as) a man, that is, We would have sent him in the form of a man, so that they would be able to see him, for no human being is capable of seeing an angel and surviving; and We would have confused them when they are [now] confused." (Tafsir al-Jalalayn; source; bold and underline emphasis ours)

Ibn Kathir writes:

"And if We had made him an angel, We would have certainly made him [appear as] a man. And We would have confounded them in what they confuse themselves."

Meaning, if We had sent an angel along with the human Messenger, or if We had sent an angel as a Messenger to mankind, he would have appeared in human form so that they could speak to him and benefit from his teachings. In this case, the angel (in human form) would have brought them the same confusion that they brought upon themselves! Allah said...

"Say: 'If there were angels walking about on the earth, We would surely have sent down to them from the heaven an angel as a Messenger.'" (17:95)

It is a mercy from Allah to His creatures that He sends messengers from among themselves so they can talk to them and benefit from their teachings. In another Ayah, Allah said...

"Indeed, Allah conferred a great favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them." (3:164)

Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said about Ayah [6:9 above]: "If an angel were sent to them, he would have come in the shape of a man because they would not be able to look at the angel because of the light." (Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) (Surat An-Nisa, Ayah 148 to the end of Surat Al-An’am), abridged by a group of scholars under the supervision of Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Houston, New York, Lahore, First Edition: January 2000], Parts 6, 7 & 8, Volume 3, p. 317-318; bold and underline emphasis ours)

Regarding this Surah, the late Muhammad Asad said:

"8 That is, 'We would have confused them about what they are now confounded.' Since it is impossible for mortal man to see angels as they really are, the hypothetical angelic bringer of a message would have had to assume the shape of a human being—and thus, the very demand for a direct 'angelic' revelation would have remained unsatisfied, and their confusion would have persisted." (Source; bold emphasis ours)

He reiterates this point in his commentary on Surah 19:17, which mentions the Spirit of God appearing to Mary as a man:

"14 As pointed out in surah 2, note 71, and surah 16, note 2, the term ruh is often used in the Qur’an to describe God’s guidance. Occasionally, however, it is used to describe the medium through which such guidance is imparted to God’s elect—namely, an angel. Since— as stated in 6:9—mortal man cannot see angels as they really are, God caused them to appear to Mary 'in the shape of a well-made human being', i.e., in a form accessible to her perception. According to Razi, the designation of an angel as ruh ('soul' or 'spirit') indicates that this category of beings is purely spiritual, without any physical element." (Source; bold emphasis ours)

This, perhaps, explains why the Quran mentions angels appearing to prophets in human forms as follows:

"And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was anguished for them and felt for them great discomfort and said, 'This is a trying day.' And his people came hastening to him, and before [this] they had been doing evil deeds. He said, 'O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you [if you marry them]. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of reason?' They said, 'You have already known that we have not concerning your daughters any claim, and indeed, you know what we want.' He said, 'If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong support.' The angels said, 'O Lot, indeed we are messengers of your Lord; [therefore] they will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night and let not any among you look back—except your wife; indeed, she will be struck by that which strikes them. Indeed, their appointment is [for] the morning. Is not the morning near?' So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay, [which were] marked from your Lord. And Allah’s punishment is not from the wrongdoers [very] far." (Surah 11:77-83, Sahih International)

But if no human can see an angel except in human form, then this means Muhammad could not have seen the true form of Gabriel. But if he did not see the true form of Gabriel, then all those traditions that claim he did must be mistaken! Thus, no matter how one tries to reconcile these contradictory claims, there will always be problems between what the Quran and the Hadith say.

Shalom,

Dr. Max Shimba for Max Shimba Ministries