Quran Addressing the People of the Books: Jews, Christians and Others

Sura-3 [Al-Imran, Medina 89 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى كَلَمَةٍ سَوَاء بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ ...

3:64. Say:

"O People of the Book!

come to common terms as between us and you:

...أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضاً أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ...

that we worship none but Allah;

that we associate no partners with Him;

that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah."

C402. In the abstract the People of the Book would agree to all three propositions. In practice they fail.

Apart from doctrinal lapses from the unity of the One True God, there is the question of a consecrated Priesthood (among the Jews it was hereditary also), as if a mere human being-Cohen, or Pope, or Priest, or Brahman, could claim superiority apart from his learning and the purity of his life, or could stand between man and Allah in some special sense.

The same remarks apply to the worship of saints. They may be pure and sincere, but no one can protect us or claim Lordship over us except Allah.

For Rabb, see note 20 to 1:2.

Abraham was a true Prophet of Allah, but he could not be called a Jew or a Christian as he lived long before the Law of Moses or the Gospel of Jesus was revealed.

...فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾

If then they turn back, say:

"Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's will)."

Asad’s Version:

3: 64

Asad Say: “O followers of earlier revelation! Come unto that tenet which we and you hold in common [note 49]: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall not ascribe divinity to aught beside Him, and that we shall not take human beings for our lords beside God [note 50]. And if they turn away, then say: “Bear witness that it is we who have surrendered ourselves unto Him.”

Yusuf Ali Say: "O people of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not from among ourselves Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back say: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's will)."

Pickthall Say: O People of the Scripture. Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partners unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).

Transliteration Qul ya_ ahlal kita_bi ta'a_lau ila_ kalimatin sawa_'im bainana_ wa bainakum alla_ na'buda illalla_ha wa la_ nusyrika bihi syai'aw wa la_ yattakhiza ba'duna_ ba'dan arba_bam min du_nilla_h(i), fa in tawallau fa qu_lusyhadu_ bi anna_ muslimu_n(a).

[ Ali’s note - 402 In the abstract the People of the Book would agree to all three propositions. In practice they fail. Apart from doctrinal lapses from the unity of the One True God, there is the question of a consecrated Priesthood (among the Jews it was hereditary also), as if a mere human being-Cohen, or Pope, or Priest, or Brahman, could claim superiority apart from his learning and the purity of his life, or could stand between man and Allah in some special sense. The same remarks apply to the worship of saints. They may be pure and sincere, but no one can protect us or claim Lordship over us except Allah. For Rabb, see i. 2. n. Abraham was a true Prophet of Allah, but he could not be called a Jew or a Christian as he lived long before the Law of Moses or the Gospel of Jesus was revealed. (3.64) ]