What the Gospel of Barnabas says about Muhammad (SAWS)

[RBNXHS%ROH...@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu]

In article <C0r4B...@cs.mcgill.ca> a brother
commented to my following posting in the SRI:

In <1glv6v...@life.ai.mit.edu> RBN...@ROHVM1.bitnet:

" The gospel of Barnabas mentions
" what Jesus spoke about the creation of Adam. When God gave
" Adam soul, "'Adam, having sprung up upon his feet, saw in
" the air a writing that shone like the sun, which said:
" "There is only one God, and Muhammad is the messenger of
" God."Whereupon Adam opened his mouth and said: "I thank
" Thee, O Lord my God, that thou hast deigned to create me;
" but tell me. I pray Thee, what meaneth the message of these
" words: "Muhammad is the messenger of God." Have there been
" other men before me?" 'Then said God: "Be thou welcome, O My
" servant Adam. I tell thee that thou art the first man I have
" created. And he whom thou hast seen [mentioned] is thy son,
" who shall come into the world many years hence, and shall be
" My messenger, for whom I have created all things; who shall
" give light to the world when he shall come; whose soul was
" set in a celestial splendour sixty thousand years before I
" made anything." [Barnabas, Ch. 39]

by writing:
"I once came across something like this in a (forged) Hadith.
The above implies that Humans are the most important creatures
and probably that the Prophet is the messenger to all creatures
which is a loose fit. The Prophet said in may authentic Hadiths
the he is the best of Adam's offsprings with no pride (about it)
I ask anyone to produce an evidence that the Prophet claimed
that he is the best of all creatures, or even of man and jinn. .....
....
Is Muhammad a messenger to the jinn?
.....
Supposing this story is true, why is not there any true evidence
about it?
"Saying thus: "God sent to my lord, sit thou on My right hand???"
.....
I also wonder why Barnabas was buried with something that he himself
wrote which is different than Injil, if Injil was there....? "

Comments:
========
It seems your understanding about the authenticity of the Gospel of
Barnabas is influenced by your understanding (or rather lack) of
ahadith and the Qur'an. I therefore would strongly urge you to read
the many books of ahadith before making drastic remarks (and you have
given ample examples of such in your previous two postings - written
to rebut my postings. Your remarks about Rabia Adawiya (on Sufism) are
rather insensitive and show ignorance). I shall, in addition, refer
you to a book, written by Najm al-Din Razi, Mersad al-ebad men
al-mabda' ela'l-ma'ad (tr. The path of God's bondsmen from origin to
return by Hamid Algar, Caravan Books, N.Y. (1982)), esp. its chapter
4: "Concerning the abrogation of previous religions and the sealing
of prophethood with Mohammad, upon whom be peace and blessings." I
hope it would open up a new horizon for you to explore.

As to your remarks above, whether human beings are the most important
creatures or not, let me ask why did Allah (SWT) command the angels
to bow down to our fore-father, Adam?
"And behold We (Allah) said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam" and
they bowed down: not Iblis; he refused and was haughty: he was of
those who reject faith." (Qur'an 2:34)
Has not Allah beautified the sky and all that is in the universe for
our sake? Did not our forefather, Adam (AWS), agree to uphold the
trust from Allah, while everything else declined? Are we not Allah's
vicegerent on earth? Then how about our Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)? Does
not Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)
and that is why He ordered all believers to do the same? (Qur'an 33:56) Is
there a problem with Muhammad's (SAWS) having the highest status among
the prophets and messengers of Allah? Did not Allah say in the Qur'an
that He raised the status of some in comparison with others? (2:253)
Is not the Qur'anic verse:
"Wa innaka la'ala *Khuluqin a^zeem*." (68:4)
sufficient to show the exalted standing of our prophet Muhammad (SAWS)?
Did not Allah say:
"Wa ma arsalnaka illa *rahmatal-lil-a^lameen*" ? (Qur'an 21:107)
(We (Allah) sent thee (Muhammad) not, but as a mercy for all
creatures.)
Does not the verse above show very clearly that Muhammad has been sent
to all men and creatures (other than men) who have spiritual responsi-
bility (i.e., Jinn)?

As to Muhammad's (SAWS) being sent to all mankind, the Qur'an itself
is sufficient:
"Wa maaa arsalnaka illa kafffatal-lin-nasi bashiran wa naziran"
(Qur'an 34:28)
(We (Allah) have not sent thee (Muhammad) but (as a messenger)
to all mankind, giving them glad tidings, and warnings (against
sin).)

Please, reflect on the above verses and many others I have not quoted,
from within the Qur'an. And do read books on Islamic philosophy, and
there are quite a few of them even in English. (And don't get scared
by writings of sufis on this matter.) I shall specially recommend a
book: The Meaning of Man by Shaykh Ali Jamal (you can even get it
through inter-university loan program from the University of California,
Santa Barbara).

Next, I shall briefly translate a few of the ahadith regarding the
status of Muhammad (SAWS). I shall hope that this would deter you from
making sweeping remarks on matters with which either you are unfamiliar,
or have formed a natural dislikeness to explore. Let us cooperate in
matters of dawa for Islam, esp. at a time when Islam and its people, and
its Qur'an are being savagely attacked by the evil forces. Let us try to
emulate the example of the ashab of Rasulullah and, therefore, be polite,
gentle and kind to each other, as long as we don't deviate from the
path of sunnah. With that brotherly advice, let me quote the ahadith:

1. Abu Hurayra (R) reports: "I (Muhammad (SAWS)) shall be the leader of
the children of Adam on the Resurrection Day, and the FIRST of those
who come out of the graves, and the FIRST whose intercession will be
accepted." (Muslim)
2. Anas (R) reports: "I shall come to the door of paradise on the Resur-
rection Day and open it. The guard will ask: who are you? I shall reply:
Muhammad. He will say: I have been ordered NOT to open it for ANYBODY
BEFORE you." (Muslim)
3. Anas (R) reports: "I shall be the FIRST intercessor in paradise. NO prophet
out of the prophets will be believed (in their truth) so much as I shall
be believed; and there was a prophet among the prophets who was believed
by only one man out of his people." (Muslim)
4. Jaber (R) reports: ".... and every prophet was sent specially to his
people, but I have been sent to ENTIRE mankind." - (Bukhari, and others)
(See, also, Qur'an 34:28)
5. Abu Hurayra (R) reports: "... I have been sent to the entire creation
and the prophethood came to an end with me." (Muslim) (See, Qur'an 21:107)
6. Abbas (R) reports: "... I am Muhammad, son of Abdullah, son of Abdul
Muttaleb. Allah created creations and made me the BEST of them." (Tirmizi)
7. Abu Hurayra (R) reported that the companions asked Rasullah (SAWS):
when was the prophethood guaranteed to you? He replied: While Adam (AWS)
was in the midst of life and body." (Tirmizi)
8. Abu Sayeed reports: "I shall be the LEADER of the children of Adam
on the Day of Resurrection, and there is no boast; and in my hand will
be the standard of Praise, and there is no boast; and there will be no
prophet on that Day, whether Adam or others besides him, who will not be
under my standard, and I shall be the first of those who will burst out
of the earth, and there is no boast." (Tirmizi)
9. Anas (R) reports: "I shall be the FIRST of men to come out when they
are raised up, and I shall be their LEADER when they will form deputa-
tion and I shall be their SPOKESMAN when they will remain silent, and I
shall give them good news when they will be disappointed. Honor and key
on that Day will be in my hands and I shall be the MOST HONORABLE of the
children of Adam, near my Lord. ...." (Tirmizi, Darimi)
10. Abu Hurayra (R) reports: "I shall be given a dress from the dress of
paradise. Then I shall stand by the RIGHT side of the THRONE. There will
be none among the creatures besides me who will stand in that place."
(Tirmizi)
11. Ubai bin-Kaab (R) reports: "When the Resurrection Day comes, I shall
be the LEADER of the PROPHETS and their SPOKESMAN and one who will
intercede for them without boast." (Tirmizi)
12. Irbad bin-Sariyaah (R) reports: "I have been recorded near Allah as
the SEAL of the Prophets, Adam was then mingled with his dust... I am
the answer to Abraham's prayer and Jesus's gospel (good news)..."
(Sharh'u Sunnat)
13. Ibn-Abbas (R) reports: "Allah, the Almighty, gave excellence of
Muhammad over ALL the prophets and over the dwellers of heaven... And
Allah, the Almighty, said to Muhammad: "And we have not sent thee but
for whole of mankind." So He (Allah) sent him (Muhammad) for the Jinn
and mankind." (Darimi) (See, also Qur'an 34:28)
14. Ibn-Abbas (R) reports: "I shall be the MOST HONORABLE among the
former and later generations and there is no boast." (Tirmizi, Darimi)
15: Ibn-Abbas (R) reports: "Allah revealed to Jesus commanding him: You
believe in (the prophethood) of Muhammad, and command your ummah that
they do the same. Had it not been for the sake of Muhammad, I would not
have created Adam, nor the paradise (Jannat) nor the Hell-fire (Naar)."
(al-Hakim, Zorkani)
16: Salman al-Farisi (R) reports: "Allah said to Muhammad: Had it not
been for you, I would not have created Duniya." (ibn-Asakir)

There are many other ahadith about the status of Muhammad (SAWS), which
clearly show his highest position among the creations of Allah. There is
a hadith related by Umar (R) and compiled in Baihaqi and Zorkani which
says that Adam (AWS) saw it written on the leg of the Arsh: La ilaha
illAllah Muhammadur Rasulullah; and Allah telling Adam (AWS): "Muhammad
is My (God's) MOST beloved creation. ... If there was no Muhammad, I
would not have created you." In the book "Ahadis-e-Masnavi", it reports
Muhammad (SAWS) saying: "I have a time with God which neither angel
nor (any) Prophetic messenger can attain." There is another hadith
where Muhammad (SAWS) said: "I have been granted excellence over
other prophets in six things....." (Mishkat-ul-Masabih)

To quote Najm al-Din Razi, "Even though the Prophet (Muhammad (SAWS))
was a sun for all mankind, he was nurtured by God's shadow: "I am
lodged in my Lord's presence"; he ate from the spread of "He (God)
feeds me"; and he drank from the goblet of "He gives me to drink." "
(The quoted traditions are recorded by Bukhari, Muslim, and ibn-Hanbal)

Dear brother, as you can notice the above ahadith of Rasulullah (SAWS)
clearly show that Muhammad indeed was the BEST among the prophets. As
to his ummah, the Qur'an says we are the BEST EVER raised for mankind:
"Koon-t^oom khaira ummat-linnas
t^a'mooruna bil-ma'ruf wa t^an haw-na a'nil munqar
wa t^oo meenu-na-billah ..."
And why should not we be? Did not Muhammad (SAWS) say: "We are the last
and the foremost." (Bukhari, Muslim, Nasai, Daremi) Imam Ahmad ibn-Hanbal
records a hadith which says: "The scholars (ulema) of my people are like
the prophets of the Children of Israel." Need I go on further, brother?

Is not it, therefore, quite logical that we find Allah saying:
"Truly the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam." (Qur'an 3:19)
and
"Whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it will NOT be accepted
from him, and in the hereafter he will be among the losers." (3:85)

Final remarks:
--------------
I hope the above ahadith and verses in the Qur'an will encourage you to
look at the Gospel of Barnabas (GB) with an open mind, and would deter
you from borrowing terminologies used by spiteful christian theologians.
This remark, however, does not in any way, as I have previously mentioned,
suggest that we should consider the Gospel of Barnabas to be the Injil
(Revelations of Allah to Eesa (AWS) - now lost). The Gospel of Barnabas
is definitely different than the pseudepigraphic books of the so-called
New Testament (NT). It might be a blessing in disguise that the early
church banned it, otherwise, it would have been subject to the same kind
editing, interpolations and deletions, done over the centuries on the
writings of the NT. Am I surprised that there are so many similarities
between the GB with Islam? No, it rather strengthens my belief that
Islam has been the religion of all the Prophets of God (Qur'an 3:19).
Allah surely speaks the truth when He says:
"Those unto whom We gave the Scripture recognise (this Revelation -
the Qur'an) as they recognise their sons. (Yet) Those who ruin their
own souls will not believe." (Qur'an 6:20; see also 2:146)

The gist of the message, brought by and preached or propagated by
all the prophets and messengers of Allah, had always been the same:
"Qul huaAllahu Ahad
Allahus Samad
Lam Ya-li^d wa lam You-la^d
Wa lam Ya-kul-lahu kufu-aan Ahad" (Qur'an 112)
"La ilaha illAllah" (There is no god but Allah)
"Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is One Lord" (Deut. 6:4)

Surely, they disbelieve in Allah, who believe in Trinity or Duality.
God is One. He is Unique. Neither is He begotten, nor does He beget.
There is nothing in the heavens and the earth that is comparable unto
Him.

N.B: Please, refer to my article on Malachi 3:1 and Psalms 110:1 (posted
in the SRI) for your answer to the quotation of Psalams 110:1. I shall
also recommend you to read the book "Muhammad in the Bible" by Prof.
Abdul-Ahad Dawud (formerly Rev. David Benjamin Keldani), pub. BINA,
Sarawak, Malaysia. As to your other question why Barnabas was buried with
his gospel, rather than Injil, if there was one, my answer is: I don't
know, Allah knows. Let me however make an observation: Gospels, as they
exist today (including the four in the NT) are nothing more than ahadith
about Eesa (AWS), as collected by his disciples, and others. Their diffe-
rence with our ahadith (of Muhammad (SAWS)) is that while we can trace
each and every sahih hadith to the speaker, Muhammad (SAWS), through a
trust-worthy, truthful, chain of narrators (ISNAD), the same is not
true of the christian pseudepigraphic gospels/epistles that form the
canon of the NT. There is no substitute for the Qur'an among the chris-
tians (please, note that the Speaker in the Qur'an is Allah, while in
the ahadith or in the gospels, the speaker is often the prophet, Muhammad
(SAWS) or Eesa (AWS)). As to the Injil, we, as Muslims, believe that it
was revealed to Eesa (AWS), possibly in the Suriyanna (old Syriac -
Aramaic) language, and it possibly contained information which was similar
in form to our Qur'an. Whatever happened to it, there is no doubt that
Injil simply does not exist today. Some of the messages within it possibly
are contained in the pseudepigraphic books of the NT and in the Gospel of
Barnabas (GB). Seeing the many similarities between the Qur'anic message
about the very mission of Eesa (AWS) and GB, I am inclined to think that
Gospel of Barnabas is possibly the most accurate rendition of ahadith of
Eesa (AWS), collected by Barnabas. It is also possible that several
copies of it were made by his followers during his lifetime. As such, I
don't see any problem in Barnabas's dying with a copy of his handwritten
manuscript. Allahu 'Alam.

May Allah guide us to follow the truth knowing that it is the truth,
and to shun falsehood knowing that it is falsehood.

Allahumma arenal haqqa haq'qan war-zukhna ettebah'u
wa arenal batela batelan war-zukhna ijtinabah'u.
Ameen.
---
H. Siddiqui.
============

Further readings:
---------------
"The Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gospel of Barnabas, and the New Testament"
by M.A. Yusseff (American Trust Publications)
"The Gospel of Barnabas" (editorial comments by M.A. Yusseff, ATP)