 |
CONGRUITIES AND INCONGRUITIES BETWEEN THE BIBLE AND THE QUR'AN |
 |
Palestine, during Jesus' prophethood, was under the domination of polytheistic Romans. This had had a detrimental effect on the faith of the Israelites who had come under the influence of the Greco-Roman culture, and generated sects that gave a wide interpretation to the established creed.
Sects
Of the sects that sprouted, the principal ones were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees had been devout Jewish people. They closely followed the Commandments of the New Testament. However, in time, they had lost their sincere loyalty to the established order. They interspersed the New Testament with their heretical views. They had supreme authority on the public by whom they were revered. The pseudo religion they had concocted served their ends in providing them with high positions and real benefits.
The Sadducees were a Jewish politico-religious party opposed to the Pharisees. They took their guidance from Scripture along and not from the rulings of the elders. They denied the Pharisaic doctrine of the resurrection of the body and of existence in Sheol. They denied the doctrine of the reality of the angels and supernatural beings. They were all wealthy people. They collaborated with the Romans from whom they expected great benefits.
Both the Pharisees and the Sadducees were pleased with the Roman domination as they got a fair deal from the established order. Jesus Christ had made the pagan culture that the Romans had introduced and the heretics his target. He called them back to the path of God. The priests whose interests were in conflict with the doctrine preached by Jesus accused him of witchcraft.
Jesus Warns the Heretics
The heretics, goaded by prevailing circumstances of the day, had gradually brought changes in the Old Testament to serve their own end. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. (Mark 7/1, 8, 13)
Jesus accused the Scribes in the presence of the people of fraud and of imposture for cheating poor old widows. Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts. Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. (Luke 20/45-47).
The corruption among the high-ranking Scribes was widespread, and divine love and justice were alien to them. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Luke 11/42) And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. (Luke 11/46)
Hostility of Scribes whose affairs had suffered economic slump
The hostilities of Scribes and Pharisees had become more and more flagrant as Jesus exposed their hypocrisy to the view of the general public. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. (21/45-46)
The Scribes had done their utmost to degrade Jesus in the sight of the general public, accusing him of being a false prophet and had been rather successful in their undertaking. However, among the Jewish population, there was a small community called the Nazarite, who were devout people and had put themselves completely at the disposal of God. On the other hand, the public, who had favorably received the Roman administration and adopted the Greco-Roman culture, felt restless in the face of the fame of Jesus as Savior, a descendent of the King David, that had, by now, was spread all over the realm. Jesus resisted against all the untoward developments with the patience of a prophet and continued to preach his message, calling people to repent and resume the path that led to God. The opposition that Jesus had met with is described as follows in the Qur'an: When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me. (Surah 43/63). But sects from among themselves fell into disagreement: then woe to the wrong-doers, from the Penalty of a Grievous Day! (Surah 43/65).
DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST