SURAH AL-IMRAN THE FAMILY OF IMRAN.

. TAFSIR BY AMINA ELAHI VERSES 61-70 Then whoever disputes with you concerning Isa after all this knowledge that has come to you, say O Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, come let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, and then we will pray and invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie. This was a challenge actually presented by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to a Christian delegation who had come. These verses were being recited to them, But they refused to accept this challenge which actually proved their inner guilt. Indeed this is the true narrative; there is no God but Allah. Indeed Allah is the almighty, the all wise. And if they still turn away, then indeed Allah is all aware of those who do mischief. Youve done your best. Say of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, O people of the book. This is a really beautiful ayah because it teaches us how to do dawah to the Jews and the Christians. How do we address them? O people of the book. With courtesy. Reminding them that just as you have been given a book, so have we been given a book. Come to a word that is the same between us and you Allah teaches us the wisdom of tabligh. Start by talking the mutual beliefs. Dont start by the controversial points. Start by something which you both share. That we worship none but Allah alone. Obviously they dont say we worship Isa. Many of them say we worship Allah alone. The Jews describes themselves as being monotheists. And that we associate no partners with Him. This is the important point. That we will not do shirk. We will not elevate any human being beyond his status. And that none of us shall take others as Lords besides Allah. We will not impute the authority for halal and haram to any but Allah. This was something that the Jews used to do. But if they turn away, say bear witness that we are Muslims. Were not going to compromise on our deen for your sakes. O people of the book why do you dispute about Ibrahim while the Torah and the injil were not revealed til after him. Allah says doesnt it make sense that if he came before the Torah and the Injil how then could he be a Jew or a Christian. Have you then no sense? Indeed you are those who have disputed about that of which you have knowledge. Why then do you dispute of that of which you have no knowledge. Remember Allah knows and you do not know. Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian. What was he then? A true Muslim. Upright. Unswerving. Focused on Allah. Letting nothing distracted him from him purpose. He never did shirk of nay kind. Whether following his own desires above Allah or following his fathers desires or the kings desires or his plans desires and thats why Allah loved him so much. Indeed among mankind those who have the best claim to Ibrahim, who are nearest to Ibrahim, are those who followed Ibrahim, and this Prophet and those who believed. We claim to love the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam but the only way we prove our love is when we follow his sunnah. In the same way Allah swt is saying talk isnt enough, you have to follow the Prophet to prove your true love for him. And Allah will help you in this task if you but try.

A part of the people of the book that is the Jews and the Christians, wish to lead you astray. Now that doesnt say all of them were trying to lead you astray. A party of them. We all of the efforts of the orientalists, who know more about Islam than maybe a lot of ordinary Muslims, and they used that knowledge as a weapon against Islam. But they shall not lead stray anyone except themselves and they do not realise. O people of the book, why do you disbelieve in the signs of Allah when you yourselves bear witness.