69 million page views

Response to comments by Taj

Reader comment on item: Finding Rashad Khalifa's Killer
in response to reader comment: semantics

Submitted by Junaid Durrani (United States), Jun 20, 2009 at 02:48

Taj writes:

>>It doesn't really matter what exactly Khalifa claimed since claiming to be a messenger is not much different logically than claiming to be a prophet. In Islam a "messenger" (among people) is a prophet tasked with delivering a law or a "book"...There isn't a single person mentioned as a messenger who wasn't also a prophet...

More of an affront was how Khalifa could reconcile being a messenger of God while being a rapist...lol<<

MESSENGER AND PROPHET

All Muslims agree that the Quran is the Word of God and that it is the final scripture. Any claims should be based upon and judged on the words of the Quran.

This is what the Quran states:

Muhammad was the last prophet but not the last messenger.

Muhammad was not the father of any man among you. He was a messenger of GOD and the final prophet. GOD is fully aware of all things. (33:40)

All prophets (including Muhammad) took a covenant.

Recall that we took from the prophets their covenant, including you (O Muhammad), Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary. We took from them a solemn pledge. (33:7)

Covenant – After all the prophets and scriptures, a messenger will come to confirm existing scripture.

GOD took a covenant from the prophets, saying, "I will give you the scripture and wisdom. Afterwards, a messenger will come to confirm all existing scriptures. You shall believe in him and support him." He said, "Do you agree with this, and pledge to fulfill this covenant?" They said, "We agree." He said, "You have thus borne witness, and I bear witness along with you." (3:81)

Since the time of Joseph, people have been saying, "He was the last messenger."

Joseph had come to you before that with clear revelations, but you continued to doubt his message. Then, when he died you said, "GOD will not send any other messenger after him. (He was the last messenger)!" GOD thus sends astray those who are transgressors, doubtful. (40:34)

God calls the Quran, "An Arabic Quran, without any ambiguity.." in verse 39:28.

[44:5] It is a predetermined command from us that we send messengers.

God's definition of a prophet

"GOD took a covenant from the prophets (Nabis), that I will give you a scripture and wisdom.'."

A prophet (nabi) therefore is one receives and delivers a scripture. The fact that Quran is the last scripture makes Muhammad the last prophet. This is confirmed in 33:40, where Muhammad is described as "Khaatum Al-Nabiyyeen (the last prophet)."

God's definition of a messenger

"Afterwards, a messenger will come to confirm all existing scriptures."

God defines messenger (Rasool) as one who preaches, upholds, and confirms what exists or existing scripture. He does not bring a new scripture. Every prophet is a messenger but every messenger is not a prophet.

God, the best Knower of Arabic language and grammar gives the following proofs in the Quran that every prophet is a messenger, but every messenger is not a prophet. In verses 19:51,52 God calls Moses and Ismail "Wa kana Rasoulan Nabiya" or messenger prophet. In plain english, "Moses/Ismail was a messenger who was also a prophet". This expression is chosen by God to emphasize that every prophet is a messenger, but every messenger may not be a prophet. No where in the Quran the opposite expression "prophet messenger" or "Nabiyan Rasoula" has been used. "Wakana Siddiqan Nabiya" used in verse 19:56 states that all prophets (nabi) are "Saddiq", however all "Saddiq" are not prophets. In verses 17:93,94, we find "Bashara (human) Rasula", a human who is also a messenger, but not every human is a messenger.

Muhammad is described in 33:40 as "a messenger of God". This expression ("a messenger of God") is not linguistically necessary. If it is dropped out, we still would have a perfect sentence that Muhammad was the last prophet. Obviously, our Creator, is telling us that Muhammad was "a messenger of God, and the last prophet," not the last messenger.

Please be advised that so far no human (including the revered muslim scholars) has come up with even one reason based on the Quran as to why Dr. Rashad Khalifa was not a messenger of God.

MENTION IN QURAN OF MESSENGERS AND PROPHETS

Numerous messengers are mentioned in Sura 7 and Sura 26. Hood, Saaleh and Shuhaib are referred to as brother in 7:65, 7:73 and 7:85. They are never mentioned as prophets in the Quran.

GODS ADMONISHMENT IN THE QURAN ABOUT CHARGES OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

[24:11] A gang among you produced a big lie. Do not think that it was bad for you; instead, it was good for you. Meanwhile, each one of them has earned his share of the guilt. As for the one who initiated the whole incident, he has incurred a terrible retribution.

[24:12] When you heard it, the believing men and the believing women should have had better thoughts about themselves, and should have said, "This is obviously a big lie."

[24:13] Only if they produced four witnesses (you may believe them). If they fail to produce the witnesses, then they are, according to GOD, liars.

[24:14] If it were not for GOD's grace towards you, and His mercy in this world and in the Hereafter, you would have suffered a great retribution because of this incident.

[24:15] You fabricated it with your own tongues, and the rest of you repeated it with your mouths without proof. You thought it was simple, when it was, according to GOD, gross.

[24:16] When you heard it, you should have said, "We will not repeat this. Glory be to You. This is a gross falsehood."

[24:17] GOD admonishes you that you shall never do it again, if you are believers.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (35) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Rashad Khalifa [110 words]Abdul Basit KhakwanyMar 19, 2017 07:11237719
WAS THERE A CONSPIRACY AT A HIGHEST LEVEL TO KILL DR.RASHAD KHAKLIFA PERPETRATED BY A POWERFUL GOVERNMENT? [5 words]RHUDINO CHAVEZSep 8, 2013 20:06209510
2Khalifa's KILLER acted on and was PAID for by Islam, to KILL him [161 words]AnthonMay 14, 2012 07:40195599
Name of site [10 words]AnthonApr 15, 2013 07:11195599
Islam worships God, not any prophets [80 words]MariamDec 26, 2014 10:45195599
4Great Servant of Allah [49 words]harrisFeb 19, 2012 02:14193474
4Not prophet but mesenger [8 words]Abdul SamadNov 22, 2011 04:58191101
3Statements [142 words]Mike BakerNov 5, 2011 11:34190670
7Some inaccuracies [161 words]E. Douglass Brown, Ph. D.Oct 30, 2011 21:27190515
The trial may be interesting [315 words]John C. LamoreauxJul 10, 2011 03:12187133
6Messenger not a prophet [29 words]Submitter to God AloneJun 14, 2011 07:06186324
619 this is weird [16 words]HusseinDec 25, 2010 02:55181240
3Sign [30 words]balkisSep 1, 2011 17:59181240
another 19 [41 words]AbdulDec 21, 2012 02:02181240
1Correction! [9 words]ShabbirJun 29, 2010 22:18174997
1Correction [74 words]SnowBMay 15, 2010 03:59172717
3Rashad Khalifa claimed himself as a mesenger( Rasul)--------not a Prophet (Nabi) !!!! [91 words]engrjuMar 8, 2010 23:27169871
1Rashad khaifa claimed that he was the prophet of God? any proof? [87 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
mazharJan 20, 2010 07:28167608
3You have no proof [51 words]Eddy jawedMay 21, 2011 18:20167608
4RASUL (Messenger) not NABI (Prophet) [80 words]BY A MuslimDec 16, 2009 20:55165945
2Many Muslims are intolerant [120 words]A muslim womanSep 10, 2009 01:32161338
1Not Nabi,But Messenger [21 words]Ashraf AliSep 1, 2009 09:17160918
2Our dear Ashraf needs to stick to urdu [158 words]dhimmi no moreSep 1, 2009 19:47160918
1MESSENGER but not PROPHET! RASOUL not NABI! [61 words]MahaSep 14, 2009 22:55160918
AL FUQRA [506 words]AJ WebermanJul 1, 2009 06:46158297
what ever happened to that [28 words]joeyJul 6, 2009 16:43158297
No..... [172 words]donvanJun 17, 2009 07:08157519
8Rashad Khalifa as messenger, not prophet [107 words]Junaid DurraniJun 6, 2009 23:32156916
semantics [73 words]TajJun 17, 2009 16:15156916
4Response to comments by Taj [957 words]Junaid DurraniJun 20, 2009 02:48156916
7Allah and the Arabic language and the words rasul and nabi [644 words]dhimmi no moreSep 6, 2009 08:04156916
2Junaid- i salute you! [13 words]HarrisJan 5, 2010 11:51156916
Bible errors are plentiful [27 words]MaryDec 26, 2014 11:01156916
2incorrect information [12 words]FMMay 31, 2009 00:38156420
Hmmmph. [34 words]Peter HerzJun 2, 2009 15:11156420

Comment on this item

Mark my comment as a response to Response to comments by Taj by Junaid Durrani

Email me if someone replies to my comment

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

See recent outstanding comments.

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)