Ambiguous Verses in the Holy Quran

MOHAMMED REZA ISFAHANI

The Baha’i Viewpoint

The Baha’is claim that as per the verses below, the present day Muslim does not hold the same view about the Day of Judgment as was held by the previous day Muslims. The verses about the Day of Judgment are amongst the ambiguous verses and no one knows the fulfilment and interpretation of these verses save Allah.

For we had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on knowledge, which We explained in detail? A guide and a mercy to all who believe. Do they just wait for the final fulfilment of the event? On the day, the event is finally fulfilled those who disregarded it before will say: \"The Messengers of our Lord did indeed bring true (tidings).

1.
(Ref: Chapter of Aaraf, verse 52)

2. Nay, they charge with falsehood that whose knowledge they cannot compass, even before the elucidation thereof hath reached them: thus did those before them make charges of falsehood: but see what was the end of those who did wrong! 
(Ref: Chapter of Yunus, verse 39)

Our Response

The issue that the Muslims have had with the Baha’is for long is that they quote any verse of the Quran without any reference to the context.

In the first of the above quotes verses, after mentioning about those who forgot, the verse includes these words – “Have we no intercessors now to intercede on our behalf? Or could we be sent back (to the world)? Then should we behave differently from our behavior in the past.\"

The verse just above this says - The companions of the fire will call the companions of the garden; \"pour down to us water or anything that Allah doth provide for your sustenance.\" They will say: \"Both these things hath Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him. Such as took their religion to be mere amusement and play and were deceived by the life of the

world. That day shall We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this day of theirs, and as they were wont to reject Our signs”

My readers should note that the word fulfilment (Taweel) has been used in its literal sense – that of consequence or fulfilment of an event in the future. Which means that when one pays attention to the entire chain of verses in this regard, we realize that there is no ambiguity with the verse. Rather it is drawing our attention to awaiting the Day of Judgment. Therefore Allah (swt) has said that on that Day when people face the consequence, then those who forgot the penalty of their actions will all submit to the truth of the prophets; and will seek intercessors or desire to come back to this world so that they may perform good deeds.

It is clear that there is no mention of any kind of ambiguity in the verse. And as per their claim, if none can interpret such verse apart from Allah, then who has granted this right to the Baha’is to interpret the verses of the Quran as they feel fit?

The Baha’is have dealt with the second verse in the same fashion. This verse does not speak about coming back to life. On the contrary, while defending truth and condemning evil, Allah mentions, “This Quran is not such as can be produced by other than Allah; on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book? wherein there is no doubt from the Lord of the Worlds. Or do they say \"He forged it\"? Say: \"Bring then a Surah like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can, besides Allah, if it be ye speak the truth!”

The verses continue to place a tight slap on the face of the Baha’is. Allah says, “Nay, they charge with falsehood that whose knowledge they cannot compass, even before the elucidation thereof hath reached them: thus did those before them make charges of falsehood: but see what was the end of those who did wrong!”

Readers should note that the above verses are supporting the truthfulness of the Holy Quran and is not about the Day of Judgment. Neither does it speak about Qiyamat nor of being brought back to life. Neither does it speak about the lack of knowledge about the people of the Quran. Incidentally no tradition supports the view of the Baha’is with regard to this verse.

It is grossly incorrect to infer that the present day Muslim does not hold the view about Qiyamat as was held by Muslims of the past. All Muslims are unanimous in their acceptance of four incidences which point to the Day of Judgment.

1. The incident of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) – Chapter of Baqarah, verse 260

Behold! Abraham said: \"My Lord! show me how Thou give life to the dead. He said: \"Dost thou not then believe?\" He said: \"Yea! but to satisfy my own understanding.\" He said: \"Take four birds; tie them (cut them into pieces), then put a portion of them on every hill, and call to them; they will come to thee (flying) with speed. Then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.\"

My readers are aware of this incident. When Hazrat Ibrahim (as) followed the instructions revealed to him by his Lord, the birds responded to him and were brought back to life.

2. The second incident is that of Hazrat Uzair – Chapter of Baqarah, verse 259

Or (take) the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said: \"Oh! how shall Allah bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death?\" But Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said: \"How long didst thou tarry (thus)?\" He said: \"(perhaps) a day or part of a day.\" He said: \"Nay, thou hast tarried thus a hundred years; but look at thy food and thy drink; they show no signs of age; and look at thy donkey: and that We may make of thee a Sign unto the people Look further at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh! When this was shown clearly to him he said: \"I know that Allah hath power over all things.\"

The above incident is sufficient for the Muslims to establish that, in the above fashion, all the people will be raised back to life on the Day of Judgment.

3. Then pay attention to the following verse – Chapter of Baqarah, verse 243

Didst thou not turn by vision to those who abandoned their homes though they were thousands (in number), for fear of death? Allah said to them: \"Die.\" then He restored them to life. For Allah is full of bounty to mankind, but most of them are ungrateful.

4. In addition to the above verses, we believe in those verses which have been revealed at multiple places in the Quran concerning the incident of those of the tribe of Hazrat Musa (as) who desired to see their Lord – they were made to die – and then by the intercession of Hazrat Musa (as) were brought back to life.

The above are but few of the verses in the Quran about the Day of Judgment, which are accepted and submitted to by all Muslims – whether of this era or that of the past.

Conclusion

It is an old trick of the Baha’is to quote the verses of the Quran out of context and then misrepresent and misinterpret them to suit their purpose. Muslims need to be aware of this habit of the Baha’is and protect themselves from it. Rather than creating a doubt in our minds, we should pay attention to the meaning / translation of such verses and also refer to an exegesis (Tafseer) which can clarify the verse for us.

The verses of the Quran are sufficient proof for us that after this world, there exists another world where Allah (swt) will raise us back to life just as He granted us life in the first instance when there was nothing. The various incidents in the Quran are for the same reason so that we do not harbor any doubt in our minds in this regard.

www.bahaawareness.com