It was now the tenth year after the Migration and the Prophet (sa) spent the year in Medina. It was a happy time for the Holy family, Abraham had learned to walk and talk, and was a constant source of happiness to the entire family. Hasan and Hussain had a little sister who was named after their aunt, Lady Zaynab, and now their mother was expecting another baby. Abu Bakr's wife had passed away several years before and he had remarried. His new wife's name was the same as his daughter, Asma, and was the sister-in-law of Abbas. They too were also expecting a blessed addition to the family.

The Coming of the Christians

As in the previous year, delegations continued to arrive from all over Arabia. The day came when sixty Christians arrived from Najran. At the time of their arrival they were under the rule of the Roman Empire and were accustomed to receive handsome gifts from Heraclius in Constantinople. As usual, the Prophet's guests were made welcome and hospitality lavished upon them.

Tolerance

When they said they wished to offer their prayer the Prophet (sa) permitted them to say it in the Mosque, and they prayed in an easterly direction, towards Jerusalem.

The People of Previous Holy Books

The Prophet (sa) and the Christians discussed and compared their religions, and the Christians found that there were many things similar to their own, however, when it came to discussing the position of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, they disagreed. It was during this time that Allah sent down:

"This, We recite to you of the verses and Wise Remembrance. Truly, the likeness of Jesus with Allah, is as the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust then He said to him 'Be' and he was. The truth is from your Lord, Therefore, do not be among the doubters.

Those who dispute with you concerning him after the knowledge has come to you, say: 'Come, let us gather our sons and your sons, our womenfolk and your womenfolk, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us humbly pray, so lay the curse of Allah upon the ones who lie.' This is indeed the truthful narration. There is no god except Allah. It is Allah who is the Almighty, the Wise. If they turn away, Allah knows the evildoers.

Say: 'People of the Book, let us come to a common word between us and you that we will worship none except Allah, that we will associate none with Him, and that none of us take others as lords besides Allah.' If they turn back say: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims. People of the Book, why do you dispute about Abraham when both the Torah and the Gospel were not sent down till after him? Have you no sense? Indeed, you have disputed about that which you have knowledge. Why then dispute about that of which you have no knowledge?

Allah knows but you do not know. No, Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Nazarene. He was of pure faith, a submitter (Muslim). He was never of the idolaters. Surely, the people who are nearest to Abraham are those who follow him, and this Prophet (Muhammad), and those who believe.

Allah is the Guardian of the believers. Some of the People of the Book wish to make you go astray, but they lead none astray except themselves, though they do not sense it. People of the Book! Why do you disbelieve the verses of Allah while you are witness? People of the Book! Why do you confound truth with falsehood, and knowingly hide the truth?" (Koran 3:58-71)

After the Prophet (sa) finished his recitation he invited the Christian to sit down with him and his family. The Christians said they needed time to think and returned to their quarters. The next day when they returned, they found Ali, Lady Fatima and their two sons were with the Prophet (sa) and knew what he was about to ask them as he covered them with the cloak he was wearing.

The Christians declined to take part in invoking the curse of Allah upon those who lie, and asked for a treaty to be drawn up between them. In return for the payment of a tax, they were given the protection of the Islamic State, for not only their persons, but also their churches and wealth.

Likeness in Religions

Although the preceding verses begin with a direct challenge to the Christians, they also address the Jews. The verses also speak of religion of Prophet Abraham, of whom both religions claim to follow, as not being an idolater, rather, he was he was a man of pure faith, the worshipper of Allah, alone, the One and only Creator.

Upon taking a closer look at the religions of Judaism, Christianity and the pagan religion of the Koraysh, one notices a common thread running between them. The Koraysh worshipped and associated in Al-Lat, Al Manat and Al-Uzza with Allah. The Jews associated and worshipped Ezra, claiming he was the son of Allah.

The Christians worshipped and associated Jesus, claiming he was His son. As a point of interest, even up until today, in the Arabic Bible, Christians choose to use the word “Allah”, which is the pronoun for the Creator rather than the word “illah” which is Arabic word for God.

“The Jews say Ezra is the son of Allah, while the Christians say the Messiah is the son of Allah. Such are their assertions, by which they imitate those who disbelieved before. Allah fights them! How perverted they are! They take their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, and the Messiah, son of Mary, though they were ordered to worship but One God, there is no god except He. Exalted is He above that they associate with Him!” (Koran 9:30-31)

The prophets sent to the Jews and the Christians warned their followers not to associate anything or anyone with Allah. Therefore, the Jews and Christians are held more blameworthy than the pagan Koraysh, as the Koraysh had neither received a Book, nor yet Divine Guidance with which to follow.

The description of Prophet Muhammad (sa) was known to both Jew and Christian alike, however, the Koran records the fact that they disobediently tampered with their Holy Books thus preventing the truth from becoming known.

So it is not surprising, that the Jews, through racial pride and disobedience to Allah, rejected Prophet Muhammad (sa) on account of his not being of their race. Had the Christians been faithful to the book they attributed to Jesus, then, they would, without doubt, accepted the challenge “… then let us humbly pray, so lay curse of Allah upon the ones who lie” but they knew the truth and refused to take the litmus test.

The Jewish Tampering of the Holy Scriptures and the Christians Who Followed in Their Footsteps

Prophet Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, he was a man of pure faith, an absolute submitter to his Creator, Allah.