Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

 

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving

 

The Qur’an does not condemn Christianity or Judaism or any other religion for that matter. The Qur’an reiterates the fact that it is the last revelation which confirms and preserves the truths revealed to all prophets in all of the previous scriptures, including Torah and Gospel.

 

While doing so, it points out some of the alterations and misinterpretations of those who claim to follow them. If you read the Bible, you will see the various prophets criticizing the Jews for their rebellion and transgressions; likewise, Jesus, peace be upon him, criticized and rebelled against the Jewish scholars and leaders for their violations, and hypocrisy.

 

We ought to treat the Qura’nic criticism in the same spirit. It challenges the followers of the Torah and Gospel to practice the pristine teachings of the scriptures and not the human-made interpretations and interpolations.

 

“And if they would but truly observe the Torah and the Gospel and all [the revelation] that has been bestowed from on high upon them by their Sustainer, they would indeed partake of all the blessings of heaven and earth.* Some of them do pursue a right course, but as for most of them -vile indeed is what they do! “ (Al-Ma’idah 5:66)

 

The explanatory note to the above verse by Muhammad Asad clarifies the point beautifully:

 

“*The expression “partake of all the blessings of heaven and earth” (lit., “eat from above them and from beneath their feet”) is an allusion to the blessing which accompanies the realization of a spiritual truth, as well as to the social happiness which is bound to follow an observance of the moral principles laid down in the genuine teachings of the Bible. It should be borne in mind that the phrase “if they would but truly observe (law annahum aqamu) the Torah and the Gospel”, etc., implies an observance of those scriptures in their genuine spirit, free of the arbitrary distortions due to that “wishful thinking” of which the Qur’an so often accuses the Jews and the Christians such as the Jewish concept of “the chosen people”, or the Christian doctrines relating to the alleged divinity of Jesus and the “vicarious redemption” of his followers.(Quran Ref: 5:66 ).”

 

In this context, let me also point out that the late Muhammad Asad was a convert to Islam from Judaism. He came from a rabbinical family of Austrian Jews and had acquired a thorough training in the Jewish tradition and scriptures before his conversion to Islam. He became convinced that the Qur’an was a corrective to the previous scriptures.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.