In the realm of religious teachings, prophecy serves as a conduit for divine guidance, conveyed through human messengers. Just as God’s mercy consistently prevails over His wrath, shaping the nature of His divine judgment, God’s guidance prevails over misguidance. The existence of misguidance, embodied by Satan, is a necessary counterpart to the prophetic messages, creating a test of faith for believers.
The essence of distinction lies at the heart of the cosmos – where there is no distance, nearness loses its meaning, where there is no wrong, right ceases to exist, and where there is no darkness, the perception of light fades away. These distinctions, crucial for the cosmos’s existence, find expression in the moral and spiritual realm through the paths of guidance and misguidance, represented respectively by Prophets and Satans.
One disconcerting example of misguidance perpetrated by some is the frequent misapplication of Quranic verses intended for specific Christians and Jews, expanded to encompass all members of these communities. Regrettably, such derogatory language, defining Christians and Jews as “descendants of apes and pigs,” has proliferated in religious, educational, and public discourse in the Arab world. Even prominent figures, such as Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Al-Tantawi of Al-Azhar, have used offensive rhetoric, describing Jews as “the enemies of Allah, sons of pigs and apes.”
However, it is essential to clarify that the Quran does not categorically condemn all Jews as apes and pigs. Instead, it singles out specific transgressors: “…They are those whom Allah has cast aside and on whom His wrath has fallen and of whom He has made some as apes and swine…” (Quran 5:60); “…You have surely known the end of those from amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath, in consequence of which We condemned them: Be ye like apes, despised” (Quran 2:65).
Just as in any religious community, individuals who falter in adhering to their faith’s tenets exist. The Quran addresses this universal human trait, stating: “When, instead of amending, they became more persistent in the pursuit of that which they were forbidden, We condemned them: Be ye as apes, despised” (Quran 7:166).
The Quran, in fact, emphasizes the diversity among people of the Book (Christians and Jews): “They are not all alike. Some of the People of the Book are firmly committed to the truth. They recite the Verses of Allah during the hours of night, and remain in the state of [prayer] prostration before their Lord.” (Quran 3:113 – Qadri). This underscores that generalizations about entire communities are unjust.
Labelling Christians and Jews as “descendants of apes and pigs” is a distortion of the Quran’s teachings, driven by political agendas, and should be unequivocally rejected.
Throughout history, wherever prophets have emerged, so have Satans. The Quran uses the term “Satans” to refer to both jinn and humans who oppose the prophets and propagate misguidance. To be a Satan is to act as an adversary of the prophets and embody misguidance. The Quran elucidates this concept: “We have appointed to every prophet an enemy-satans from among mankind and jinn, revealing fancy words to each other as delusion. Yet, had thy Lord willed, they would never have done it. So leave them with what they are fabricating.” (Quran 6:112).
Religious disagreements are a natural facet of human faith, but distorting the Holy Scriptures for political purposes qualifies one as a Satan, and such efforts should be unequivocally rejected. The Quran attests to this unity of purpose among believers of various faiths: “Those who believe (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians; any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Quran 2:62).
In every religious community, diversity exists. Just as the Muslim Umma contains both devout followers and those who falter in adhering to Islamic teachings, the same applies to other religious communities, including the Children of Israel. Prophet Muhammad’s admonishments were directed at a specific segment of the Children of Israel who had strayed from the path.
It is imperative to understand that the Quran does not condemn all of Israel; rather, it acknowledges the existence of diverse factions within every religious community. Those who insist on broad generalizations, failing to distinguish between “some,” “many,” and the entire community, engage in distortions that serve political purposes – a distortion that the Quran strongly condemns.
The Quran’s wisdom recognizes the human tendency to stray from the righteous path over time. As such, the Prophet Muhammad foresaw such deviations, as articulated in a Hadith: “You will surely follow in the ways of those before you, span by span and cubit by cubit, so much so that if they were to enter an iguana’s hole, you would follow after them.” When asked if this referred to the Jews and Christians, he replied, “Then, who else?” (Bukhari 3197 and Muslim 4822).
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Ultimately, true adherents of monotheistic religions who uphold their faith’s moral and religious principles will reap the benefits promised by their faith. The Quran underscores this: “If only they (all) had stood by the Torah, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is among them a party on the right course; but many of them follow a course that is evil.” (Quran 5:66).
In conclusion, it is imperative to differentiate between individuals within religious communities and avoid sweeping generalizations. Those who distort religious teachings for political purposes must be recognized as promoters of misguidance. The Quran’s message of unity, diversity, and the importance of upholding faith’s moral values transcends time and remains a guiding light for all.
