Who are Yahood & Nasara?

Who are Yahood & Nasara?

 

As per Muslims whenever Quran refers the terms Yahood, it’s referring to Jews and whenever the term Nasara is mentioned, it refers to Christians. These are misinterpretations and misunderstood terminology. In Quran, Allah does is not talking about Jews or Christians when referring to Yahood or Nasara- as all wrong translation. In fact, this is like distortion of Quranic ayahs and concepts. All these wrong translations have made Quran looks like a story telling book or some sort of a news paper, whereby Allah is referring to only two religions of Jews and Christians- what about others such as Atheists, or Hindus or Budhists. Is Quran not the Hidayah, the Kitaab for the whole of humanity? Allah is not talking about anyone else, but the people and roles all around us as Muslims. Quran is for the hidayah of the whole of humanity, for people of all races, religions, geographies, languages and cultures for all times to come until the end of the world. Quran is for Hidayah- “Hudallil Mutaqueen” for those who observe Taqwa.

 

Al-Baqarah 2:2

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبُ لَا رَيْبَۛ فِيهِۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for the MUTTAQUEEN.

 

We have translated widely wrong the word huda, yahood, Haadu, Hidayah, Nasara, Naasereen

 

HIDAYAH; HADAA (هَدَى) & HAADU (هَادُوا)

The basic meanings of this word are to make things clear and bright, to be ahead of others and to lead the way for others. Haadiya’at is that tall and high peak on an island in water that is visible and clear to everyone from afar. In Quran in the ayah 20:128 “Afalam Yahdelam (then has it not become clear and apparent) for them…” as in visible and obvious. The word therefore has broad meanings of a guidance that leads the way, by being ahead of others- leading others and something that is obvious, clear and visible. Therefore, Hidayah is something that is a guidance, a map, an instruction manual that is clear, obvious, visible and offered as a gift by Allah to lead to the desired destination which is to become a Muttaqi- the highest level of being a Muslim as in ayah 2:02 with the phrase “Hudallil Mutaqueen” (Hidayah for the Mutaqueen). The word HAADU (هَادُوا) is normally mistranslated as Yahood and interpreted as Jews in ALL of its occurrences in Quran, thereby restricting and limiting these ayahs to the Jews ONLY; these are wrong translations and interpretations. The word Haadu shares the basic characteristics and the meanings as the words Haad, Haadi, and Hidayah, which is in terms of guidance i.e., as a pole star, to be ahead of others and to lead the way for others for instance in ayah 13:7 “…for every Quom/people is a Haddin”. The same word is used for Allah as a guide through the Ahsan al Hadith, the Kitaab, in Ayah 39:23 with the phrase “…that is the Hudaa of Allah, HE Yahdi with it”. In ayah 7:156 w.r.t. Nabi Musa, the same word ‘Hudna’ is used with meanings ‘guide to you’ “And inscribe for us Hasanatun in this world and in the Akhira Hudna to YOU.” Therefore, the word Haadu and Haadi has the same meanings as the person who is a guide, a leader, conductor, pilot, barrister, counsel, preacher, lawyer etc., and thus these words refer to all such religious scholars, leaders, preachers who present themselves in front of people to lead the way for others when it comes to matters of Deen. These people and the definitions of these words, Haadu and Haadi is beautifully described in Quran in ayahs 4:46-50 through the phrase “From among those who are Haadu, they distort the Kalima (words of wisdom) from their Muwazihi (context, place, meanings) …” Is a great reflection of how the scholars distort Allah’s kalam by taking phrases and ayahs out of their context, placement and meanings, and thus create entirely opposite meanings than the divine guidance.  Similar meanings and context are in ayah 5:41 and 62:6 as well. In Ayah 4:160, Allah tells us about these Haadu who hinder, block and mislead Many (Kas’eer) people from the Sabeel of Allah.

 

NAS’EER (نَصِيرٍ), NASARA, ANS’AAR (أَنْصَارٍ) 

The word NASARA is widely misinterpreted and mistranslated as CHRISTIANS, which is wrong translation. The word Naseer is normally translated as “Helper”, but it is used in Quran in much broader meanings. Basic characteristic of the word is like water as a source of life, nourishment, and basic requirement to produce results and S’amaraat. Therefore, without the water, all efforts of farmer are rendered useless. Therefore, it’s used for anyone or anything, that is required as a source of life, a source of nourishment, the main catalyst on the basis of which one’s efforts and struggle would produce results. Therefore, when in the ayah 3:111 Allah says “They will not be Yuns’aron” the word here is not only used in terms of they will not be aided or helped, but also in the meanings of their efforts will not produce results, and they will not be protected, from the harmfull effects of their choices and will not be taken out of it. It is also used in the meanings of the source of Khair (in all its meanings of the word Khair), gift, bestowment or contribution of any kind. It is also used in the meanings of helper or assistance as in the ayah 47:7. Also used in the meanings to protect/shield and remove harmful impacts for instance in the Ayah 2:250, the word is used in the meanings of assistance, help, protection, catalyst to turn efforts & struggles into results, taking out from a difficult situation etc. In the ayah 3:160 “if Allah yans’urkum, then no one can overcome you, overpower you…”– here the word used in the meanings of victory or success, as in the ayah 3:147 where ever the phrase “…and Ans’urna us over the Kaafireen People…”  similarly used in the ayah 2:286. It is used in all of these meanings of asking for Allah’s help and assistance, for success, for victory, to produce results of one’s efforts and struggles, as protector, shield, and as a source of Khair. X-Reference – 2:250 , 2:286 , 3:81 , 3:111, 3:123 , 3:147 , 3:160  , 40:51 , 47:7 , 57:25 , 67:20.

 

IBRAHIM WAS NEITHER YAHOOD OR NASARA

Let’s look at this ayah in greater detail.

Aal-e-Imran 3:67

(67) مَا كَانَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

(67) Ibrahim was neither a Yahoodan nor a Nasara, but he was Hanifan Musliman. And he was not of the Mushrikeen.

 

The argument here as given by Allah is that Ibrahim was neither a Yahood or a Nasara but he was Hanifan…the word Hanifan was then defined further as Musliman and not of Mushrikeen. Had the words Yahood and Nasara would have referred to the followers of religions such as Jews and Christians, as is widely misunderstood by Muslims, then the word Hanifan should not have been there. We need to understand the two words Hanifan and Mulsiman and then ask ourselves if there any possibility of anyone from Jews or Christian’s to be of Hanifan or not? The answer is there is always a possibility of anyone to be a Hanifan, no matter to which religion he/she belongs to in the eyes of the world. Allah has referred to the terms such as Hanifan and Musliman in specific definitions and usages as defined in detail as follows.

HANIFAN (حَنِيفًا)

The word Hanifan means to leave the wrong path and take the right path and remain steadfast on the right path. It also has meanings of being persistent and perseverant in remaining on the right path. For instance, in the ayahs 22:30-31 Allah says “So stay away from the disgrace and disgust of idols, and stay away from falsehood. Hanifa Lil Allahe, without doing Shirk with Him. Whoever will do Shirk with Allah—it is as though he has fallen from the sky, and is snatched by the birds, or is swept away by the wind to a distant abyss.” Here the phrase حُنَفَاءَلِلَّ is defined within the ayahs itself meaning those who remain steadfast on the right path and who avoid shirk at all costs. Therefore, the avoidance of Shirk at all costs is inherent in the meanings of Hanifa. That is the meanings of a true Muslim is a hanifa Lil Allah means he/she would follow the laws of Allah as mentioned in Quran, as Allah is the only lawmaker in Deen and there cannot be anyone but Allah when it comes to laws of Deen. The word is mostly used for Ibrahim since he was surrounded by Idols and he found the Allah himself through the use of his own faculties and reasoning as described in the chapter no. 6- Surah Al-Anam and then in the ayah 6:79 says “Indeed I have turned Wajahat towards Allah who has created the skies and the earth, Hanifan, and I am not one of the Mushrikeen”. Similarly, in ayahs 2:135; 3:67, 3:95 the word is used for Ibrahim, since subsequent to the word Hanifan, the phrase is “he was not of the Mushrikeen” showing that the word Hanifan is used as an opposite to Shirk. Because of this fact, in ayah 4:125 Allah says “Who is more Husn in Deen than the one who Aslam and Wajahat towards Allah, and who is Mohsin and who follows the Millat of Ibrahim, Hanifan, Indeed to Khuzu of Allah is to Khalil(become associated with) Ibrahim”. X-Reference – 2:135 , 3:67 , 3:95 , 4:125 , 6:79 , 16:123 , 22:3 , 30:30. (حَنِيفًا;حَنِيفًا)

 

ASLAM (أَسْلِمْ) & ISLAAM (السِّلْمِ)

Muslim, the one who Aslam. The word is used in five broad meanings (1) to get pure and clean from all sorts of impurities, insufficiencies and faults; something that is devoid of any impurities, strains or contaminations- as used in ayah 2:71; (2) to be at peace, save and protected from all sorts of dangers, troubles and incidents in terms of remaining healthy and protected as in the ayah 4:90-91. Allah is described in ayah 59:23 as Salaamu, which is a combination of both these meanings (3) The word also means to remain with others in harmony, peace, care and contentment, to ensure peace, law and order for everyone and to live with peace with everyone through mutual cooperation and care. (4) Also used in meanings of submitting and obeying in complete submission and obedience, i.e., to obey, follow, and submit to the laws of Allah in perfect submission and obedience. If we combined all these meanings to define the word Islam, it’s that code of conduct- a way of life, which is given in Quran as per the laws of Deen, a complete submission and obedience of which fills the gap for an individual’s insufficiencies, correct own flaws, to make the person a perfect and pure being whereby an individual’s faculties and abilities are utilized to their maximum, protecting the person through all the troubles, lawlessness, destruction as well as pushing individual towards new heights ensuring long term success, peace, prosperity, security not just for the individual but for all members of the society. The word Aslam, denotes a combination of meanings which are at the foundations of Deen-e-Islam, being that code of conduct- a way of life, which is given in Quran as per the laws of Deen, a complete submission and obedience of which fills the gap for an individual’s insufficiencies, correct own flaws, to make the person a perfect and pure being whereby an individual’s faculties and abilities are utilized to their maximum, protecting the person through all the troubles, lawlessness, destruction as well as pushing individual towards new heights ensuring long term success, peace, prosperity, security not just for the individual but for all members of the society. Wajhu refers to turning one’s complete attention towards something, in terms of one’s main objective, course, purpose, direction or desired destination. Therefore, whenever the phrase ‘Aslam Waju to Allah” is used in Quran in terms of an all-encompassing meanings of the word Aslam, and is used in meanings of submitting, being obedient of and in alignment with Deen-e-Islam, in complete submission and obedience to Allah by turning once complete attention and focus towards Allah, keeping Allah as one’s desired destination and objective. X-Reference 2:71, 4:90-91, 6:71, 8:61, 10:25, 16:87, 19:47, 52:23, 52:38.

 

CONCLUSION

Being Nasara or Yahood, are the roles and the behaviors and have nothing to do with anyone associating themselves with any religion or calling themselves as Jews or Christians. Therefore, here Allah is not referring to Yahood and Nasara as Christian’s or Jews, as is widely misunderstood, but in terms of roles of Yahood as those who one looks up to, the preachers, scholars, etc. and Nas’ara- those all around us, who may be our helpers or protectors or facilitators etc. In the sight of Allah, it’s not what religion one associate themselves with for instance as Atheists, or Hindus or Buddhist or Jews or Christians or Muslims but in specific roles. Whoever has Emaan and does Amal-e-Swalehat is one category and all the rest are other than the other category and termed as Ummat e Wahida by Quran. If these terms are Jews and Christian’s then what about atheists or Hindus or Buddhists etc.? Is Quran only for these Jews Christians or Muslims or for the whole of mankind?  Nabiy Ibrahim is Imam of mankind in his role, conducts and behaviors. His role as Imam is nothing to do with him being in the role of a Yahood (those who are preachers or scholars etc.) neither that of a Nasara (one’s helper or protector) but as the role of Hanifan Musliman.  Therefore, in these ayahs, Allah confirms that Ibrahim was neither a Yahood nor a Nasara but he was a Hanifan Musliman, meaning he was one of those who left the wrong path through his own efforts, found and took the right path by himself and remained steadfast on the right path by being persistent and perseverant. Quran Defines the word Hanifan as someone who remain steadfast on the right path by avoid shirk at all costs. Therefore, the avoidance of Shirk at all costs is inherent in the meanings and roles of Hanifan. And also highlighted in the subsequent phrase as “He was not of the Mushrikoon” That is the meanings of a true Muslim is a hanifa Lil Allah means he/she would follow the laws of Allah as mentioned in Quran, as Allah is the only lawmaker in Deen and there cannot be anyone but Allah when it comes to laws of Deen. Dividing oneself in sects is like following the laws of someone other than Allah and therefore those from the people of the Kitaab, who call themselves, or those who associates themselves with any sects, or groups such as Sunni, Shia, Wahaby, Salafi, etc. are all doing Shirk as per the definitions of the Kitaab.

 

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