Paarsurrey says:
I just want to copy/paste here an article from the website of Mr. Akbarally Meherally >http://www.mostmerciful.com/substitution.htm
Akbarally Meherally says:
“QUR’AN DOES NOT REVEAL; JESUS WAS SUBSTITUTED WITH ANOTHER MAN ON THE CROSS OR BEFORE” (Revised on October 31, 1999)
A Presumptive Interpretation!
1.Recently I received from an Imam, a complimentary copy of the booklet ‘A BRIEF ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING ISLAM’. This beautifully illustrated publication is published by DARUSSALAM, Publishers and Distributors, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
On page 58 appears the under mentioned English text of a verse from the Holy Qur’an:
…They said, “We killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of God.” They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but the likeness of him was put on another man (and they killed that man)… (Qur’an, 4:157)
2. Last year I purchased a copy of ‘THE NOBLE QUR’AN’ in English Language. The cover page states “Interpretation of the meanings of The Noble Qur’an’. Inside it reads; THE NOBLE QUR’AN Translated by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. Published by DARUSSALAM, Publishers and Distributors, P. O. Box 22743, Riyadh, 11416, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Fifteenth Revised Edition. December 1996.
On page 199 appears the under mentioned English text for the above verse 4:157:
“And because of their saying (in boast). We killed Messiah ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah,” — but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of ‘Isa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man)…”
After reading of the above text or texts a reader may conclude that Allah (SWT) has Himself Revealed in His Own Words the;
“substitution of ‘Isa (Jesus) with another man”.
The wordings of the original Arabic text do not categorically speak of “substitution of ‘Isa (a.s.) with another man”. Here is the transliteration of the actual Arabic text and its literal translation as translated by other Muslim and non Muslim translators. I hope and pray that this will give the readers an opportunity to understand the “Words of Allah”.
The publishers of ‘The Noble Qur’an’ have printed the original Arabic text, side by side with the English text. The text which reads:
“but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of
‘Isa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man)”
is the translation / interpretation of the Arabic text that reads:
“wa ma qatala hu wa ma salabu hu wa lakin shubbiha lahum”
The variations appear in the translation/interpretation of the end portion of the verse which reads: “wa lakin shubbiha lahum”
wa means: And, also, but, whilst.
lakin means; But, still, nevertheless.
shubbiha means; To be made like; A likeness or similitude.
(This could refer to: A likeness or similitude (of Jesus), or
A likeness or similitude (of Killing), or
A likeness or similitude (of Crucifixion), or
A likeness or similitude (of Killing & Crucifixion)
lahum means; Was made for them.
Below are the other English translations by Muslims and non Muslim scholars for comparison:
1. Translation by Allama Abdullah Yusuf Ali:
“But they killed him not, nor crucified him,
only a likeness of that was shown to them.”
2. Translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall:
“…They slew him not nor crucified
but it appeared so unto them;”
3. Translation by Professor Arthur J. Arberry:
“…yet they did not slay him, neither crucified him,
only a likeness of that was shown to them.”
In the above English translations the translators have refrained from advocating any specific theory since Allah (SWT) has not mentioned any of the prevalent theories on the subject in this verse or anywhere else in the Qur’an. (I repeat “in the Qur’an”).
Muslim scholars have in the past advocated more than one theory which can be also regarded as an applicable interpretations of the phrase “but a likeness of that was shown to them”. As for an example, Sheikh Ahmed Deedat had written a well publicized booklet ‘Crucifixion or Cruci-fiction’ based upon the so called “Swoon Theory”.
(The word “swoon” means; to faint).
It is not my place to judge or to declare which theory is the Reality.
All I am trying to emphasize is that since Allah (SWT) has not categorically declared “Jesus was substituted with another man”, the factual translation should leave the doors open for the alternate theory or theories. The prevalent theory or theories, based upon any document or documents other than the Qur’an, can be included within the footnotes of the verse, for the knowledge of the readers. They should not form the part and parcel of The Revealed Text. In Surah Al- ‘Imran (3), verse 7, Allah (SWT) clearly reveals that no one knows “the true meanings” of the verses that are not entirely clear, except Allah.
I am sad to see that people who have an easy access to propagate the TRUTH – Revealed by Allah (swt), are propagating their own theory of SUBSTITUTION in the name of Allah (swt). I have also noticed that the original Commentary written by Abdullah Yusuf Ali on this subject has also been edited by the publishers or the editors of the revised edition.
To read more on the subject of Shaikh Deedat’s “Swoon Theory” and how it concurs with the biblical texts and the prophecies by Jesus, please click HERE (i.e.http://www.mostmerciful.com/) and read the text under the sub-heading: ‘The Final Days Of The Ministry Of Jesus’.
Allah knows the Realities…
Paarsurrey says:
I thank here Mr. Akbarally Meherally for giving me permission to copy/paste his article in this blog, for the benefit of the public.
Thanks
I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim
paarsurrey 