There are lots of clear proofs in the Quran that prophet Muhammad has delivered the Quran is a messenger of God and a seal of the prophets (33:40) which means that the Quran is the final edition of God’s scripture supported by (5:3 and 22:78), and the advent of a messenger of the covenant (3:81 and 33:7) who delivered the mathematical coding of Quran precisely defined in (74:30-37) upon fulfillment of the correlated divine prophecies and promise to send a messenger to bring people back to divine revelations upon paying appropriate attention and interpretation of its many verses (15:9 and 27:82). It has been confirmed from the Quran that both the prophet and the messenger made many mistakes in the course of delivering their messages. The mistakes made by the prophet are detailed in the Quran while there is not only mention of a messenger of the covenant in the Quran (74:11-14) but there is also a hint in it that he had made mistakes (74:15-29) that can be found in his works, statements, thoughts and practices. However, here is a snapshot of his mistakes or errors in his endeavor:
English translation of Quran by Rashad Khalifa, Ph.D.
Dr. Rashad translated the Quran to English giving its title, “Quran, The Final Testament (Authorized English Version)”, which has been claimed to be more authentic and immune to any influence of fabrications of hadith/sunnah. But there is inappropriate translation of certain verses that may be found if his translated Quran is carefully reviewed and compared with the Arabic Quran. In his translation it is found that he has escaped many Arabic words in the Arabic text, has either exaggerated or made fancy the messages in certain verses to make them sound good to be acceptable to the common people and has also overlooked basic Arabic grammar in translating many verses, even there is a difference between his two renditions of the Quran:
- Message has not exactly reflected in the translation of the verse 2:185
[2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.
Note: The message in this verse is very crucial for the believers to understand the Quran being our guidance but has been translated giving minimum attention to the Arabic text and grammar to reflect the exact message that we must glorify God through which He has guided us to appreciate Him while fasting is decreed in the month as He has inspired the Quran all at once in prophet’s soul in a night of this month, and it appears from his translated message that he had no knowledge or concern of it for using the preposition, “During” in the first part of the verse. However, the straightforward translation is given below to reflect the exact message in the verse that Quran is not only our guidance but also is a source through which we have to perfect our belief and practices to appreciate God:
[2:185] Ramadan which is a month, has been sent down in it the Quran as guidance for the people, and clear proofs of the guidance and the statute book. So whoever has witnessed the month from you, then he should fast in it, and whoever has been ill or on a journey, then the specified number from other days. God intends the ease for you; He does not intend the hardship for you, and that you may complete the specified number, and that you may glorify God through which He has guided you and that you may appreciate.
- Message has not exactly reflected in the translation of the verse 39:23
[39:23] GOD has revealed herein the best Hadith; a book that is consistent, and points out both ways (to Heaven and Hell). The skins of those who reverence their Lord cringe therefrom, then their skins and their hearts soften up for GOD’s message. Such is GOD’s guidance; He bestows it upon whoever wills (to be guided). As for those sent astray by GOD, nothing can guide them.
Note: The message in this verse is very crucial for the believers to understand that God guides them with the Quran consisting of best statements being consistent to each other that soften up their skins and hearts to His message, which is God’s guidance. However, here is the straightforward translation to reflect the appropriate message in the verse that God is a Guide and He guides with the Quran whomever He wills, but there is no guide for whoever He lets go astray:
[39:23] God has sent down a scripture of the best Hadith being consistent to each other. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (Quran), then their skins and their hearts soften up to God’s message. That is God’s guidance; He guides with it (Quran) whomever He wills, and whomever God lets go astray, then there is no guide for him.
- Insertion in the translation of the verse 2:187
[2:187] Permitted for you is sexual intercourse with your wives during the nights of fasting. …You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall fast until sunset. Sexual intercourse is prohibited if you decide to retreat to the masjid (during the last ten days of Ramadan). These are God’s laws; you shall not transgress them. God thus clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may attain salvation.
Note: There is no corresponding Arabic text of “during the last ten days of Ramadan” mentioned in the parentheses which is the reflection of tradition or hadiths in connection with the Night of Destiny to stay in the masjids during the last ten days of Ramadan. According to tradition, this night is so elusive to some that they try to stay up all nights during the last ten days of Ramadan so as not to “miss out” any chances of experiencing it. However, this night is a historical event and the exact date of this night now we know was on the 27th of Ramadan in 13 B.H (609 A.D.) when Muhammad, the soul not the body was taken to the ultimate point to place the whole Quran into his soul. However, God has not introduced any ritual around the night except the Quran being guidance for the people and the fasting in the entire month of Ramadan to appreciate Him for giving the guidance:
[2:187] Permitted for you is the approach to your wives at nights of the fasting. They are garments for you and you are garments for them. God knows that you had done to deceive yourselves, so, He has turned to you and has pardoned from you. So, now you shall have relation with them and shall seek what God has prescribed for you. You shall eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread at the dawn. Then, you shall complete the fasting till the night. And do not have relation with them, while you are secluded ones in the masjids. That is of God’s limits, so, do not approach them. Thus that God makes clear His revelations for the people so that they may be righteous.
- Addition of footnote on verse 89:2
[89:1] By the dawn.
[89:2] And the ten nights.*
*89:2 The last ten nights of Ramadan, wherein many believers retreat to the masjids (2:187).
Note: Here is no reference of staying in the masjids during the last ten days of Ramadan every year except an oath of God consisting of (1) the dawn, (2) ten nights, (3) the even and odd, (4) the night as it passes, and (5) in which there is lesson for the intelligent, even there is a mismatch of nights in (89:2) with days in (2:187). The reference of ten nights can be linked to the event of thirty nights’ appointment of Musa with God completed by adding ten to it found in (7:142) being a very significant historical event to be one of the items of God’s statements of oath mentioned below:
[89:1] By the dawn. [89:2] And the ten nights. [89:3] And the even and the odd. [89:4] And the night when it passes. [89:5] In this oath, (there is a lesson) for the one who possesses intelligence.
- Insertion in the translation of verse 3:18
[3:18] God bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute god; there is no god but He, the Almighty, Most Wise.
Note: This is the crucial verse but its translation has been made fancy even adding extra words. There is no corresponding Arabic text of “He is the absolute god” in the verse. There are two instances of “laa-ilaaha illaa huwa” and its mention in the ending phrase of the verse indicates the pattern of the statement of our faith even if it is extended to detect any corrupt form of the statement of our faith. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding it:
[3:18] God has borne witness that there is no god except He and so has done the angels (wal-malaa’ikatu) and possessors of the knowledge established with the justice (wa-uluu al-`il’mi qaa’iman bil-qis’ti); there is no god except He, the Almighty, the Wise.
- Insertion in the translation of verse 44:4
[44:3] We have sent it down in a blessed night, for we are to warn.
[44:4] In it (the scripture), every matter of wisdom is clarified.
Note: The Arabic phrase “fee haa” in the verse (44:4) does not refer to the scripture but to the blessed night being feminine form in the Arabic grammar when the whole Quran was placed into the prophet’s soul in 13 B.H (609 A.D). Dr. Rashad failed to make a logical decision even Arabic being his mother tongue. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding it:
[44:3] Indeed, we have sent down it (the scripture) in a night of blessing; indeed, we have been warners.
[44:4] In it (the blessed night), every wise matter is made clear.
- Inserting in the translation of verse 97:4
[97:4] The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by their Lord’s leave, to carry out every command.
Note: There is no corresponding Arabic of “to carry out” in the verse, which is the root cause of the annual observance of “the Night of Power” for the misinterpretation of the verse. While the angels who have been referred in the verse are the message bearing angels, i.e., those who communicate God’s message to His chosen ones and the Arabic phrase, “feehaa” refers to the night when the whole Quran was placed into the prophet’s soul in 13 B.H (609 A.D). Dr. Rashad failed to understand that there is no ritual around “a Night of the Power” but he advocated it by inserting extra word in his translation to follow the ritual introduced by tradition/hadiths. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding it to avoid the misinterpretation:
[97:4] There descends the angels and the Spirit (the Gabriel) in it (feehaa) by permission of their Lord with every command.
- Exaggerating the message in the translation of verse 17:36
[17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.
Note: The Arabic word “taqfu” in the verse (17:36) is an imperfect verb and thus, the message is not a commandment from God but a recommendation for us to be righteous to use our wisdom as given by Him and has made accountable each of that which contributes to our wisdom. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse to reflect the message in the verse:
[17:36] And do not follow that which has not for you any knowledge of it. Indeed, the hearing, and the vision, and the understanding – each of those has made accountable from it.
- Exaggerating the message in the translation of verse 54:17
[54:17] We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
Note: This verse is repeated 4 times (54:17, 54:22, 54:32 and 54:40) around the events of destruction of the disbelieving people of Noah, Huud (`Aad), Saleh (Thamud) and Lot that we may reflect to the consequences in the earth and the Hereafter of those who were destroyed in the past because of their disbelief and evil behavior, are warnings for us to make our efforts not to be like those to avoid such consequences. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse to reflect the message in the verse:
[54:17] And certainly, we have made the Quran straightforward for the warning. So, will there be of who would have admonition?
- Failing to reflect on God’s oath in the translation of verse 53:1
[53:1] As the stars fell away.*
*53:1-18 Muhammad was summoned to the highest universe to receive this Quran into his heart. The stars fell away as he traveled through them at millions of times the speed of light. Subsequently, the Quran was gradually released to his memory. Please see Appendix 28.
Note: The verse is misinterpreted as the climbing of souls to the highest level accompanied by angels is not an unusual event as it occurs every moment when our life is terminated on earth by the angels of death and the stars do not fall or move away for the travel of souls to break the established natural law. However, the very first verse starts with the Arabic conjunction, “wa” is an oath of God referring to the shooting star being a visual fact confirming that the prophet was neither astray nor was he misled nor does he speak out of his personal desire (53:1-3) while the journey of the prophet was covered in the verse (17:1), and the verses (53:4-18) exclusively cover the divine inspiration that took place at the ultimate point by God Himself. However, Dr. Rashad failed to understand that any sura starts with the conjunction “wa” meaning “By” instead of “and” is a sign to be an oath of God found at the beginning of 17 suras including this sura even though the traditional Muslim scholars did not miss it. Thus, the appropriate message in the relevant verses can be translated as follows:
[53:1] By the star when it has fallen down.
[53:2] Your friend (Muhammad) has neither been astray, nor has he erred.
[53:3] Nor does he speak from the desire.
- Exaggerating the message in the translation of the verse 53:29
[53:29] You shall disregard those who turn away from our message, and become preoccupied with this worldly life.
Note: It is a very straightforward verse being a commandment for the prophet but he has exaggerated the message in the verse including something, which is not in the Arabic text of the verse while the prophet has to follow what is visible to him. However, here is the straightforward translation based on Arabic text:
[53:29] So you (prophet) shall turn away from whoever has turned away from our reminder and he does not desire except the life of the world.
- Insertion in the translation of verse 74:31
[74:31] We appointed angels to be guardians of Hell, and we assigned their number (19) (1) to disturb the disbelievers, (2) to convince the Christians and Jews (that this is a divine scripture), (3) to strengthen the faith of the faithful, (4) to remove all traces of doubt from the hearts of Christians, Jews, as well as the believers, and (5) to expose those who harbor doubt in their hearts, and the disbelievers; they will say, “What did God mean by this allegory?” God thus sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He. This is a reminder for the people.
Note: The message along with a sign given to a messenger of the covenant is clearly defined in the sura named “The Hidden one” of the verses (74:30-37), and the verse (74:31) is very crucial to understand the message. Both it (hiya) and a reminder (dhik’raa) in the last phrase of the verse in the feminine form indicate the core message, the mathematical coding of the Quran making it different from the Quran itself, which is consistently referred as the masculine form in the Quran. Dr. Rashad distorted the message by inserting 19 in parentheses against the number of angels to an absolute number mentioned in the verse above (74:30) and translating the Arabic word, fit’natan to “disturb” instead of “warn” or “test”, which does not make any sense. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding the message in the verse:
[74:31] And we have not made guardians of the Fire except angels, and we have not made their number except a warning for those who disbelieved, that it may ascertain those who have been given the scripture (Jews and Christians) and may increase faith of those who have believed (Muslims), and may not doubt those who have been given the scripture (Jews and Christians) and the believers (Muslims). And that may say those in their hearts there is a disease (hypocrites) and the disbelievers, “What has God meant by this allegory?” Thus, God misguides whomever He wills and He guides whomever He wills. And none knows your Lord’s soldiers except He. And it (hiya) is not except a reminder (dhik’raa) for the human race.
- Distortion of the message in the beginning phrase of verse 27:82
[27:82] At the right time, we will produce for them a creature, made of earthly materials, declaring that the people are not certain about our revelations.
Note: This is one of the crucial verses for the application of the message of mathematical coding of the Quran given to the messenger of covenant to bring people back to divine revelations. But Dr. Rashad distorted the message in the verse making it fancy by translating the Arabic phrase in the verse “wa-idhaa waqa’a al-qawlu alayhim” to ‘at the right time’ to make it very general when the messenger of covenant predicted the end of the world in the year 2280 A.D. based on the hints given in the Quran, which is not too far from now while the prevailing condition may disgrace, deviation, excessive transgression. In addition, the translation has not been done according to the Arabic text in the verse. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding the message in the verse:
[27:82] And when has fulfilled the punishment upon them, we have brought forth for them a creature from the earth to speak to them that the people have been with our revelations do not ascertain.
- Mistranslation of the Arabic word, id’ribuuhunna
[4:34] The men are made responsible for the women, and God has endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners. The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement, since it is God’s commandment, and honor their husbands during their absence. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed, then you may as a last alternative) beat them. If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them. God is Most High, Supreme.
Note: Dr. Rashad’s translation claimed to be immune to the tradition/hadiths but he could not overcome the traditional mess and pollution of wife beating just like all other Muslim scholars while there is no such thing in Quran and Islam. The Arabic word, id’ribuuhunna translated to beat in the verse is a multiple-meaning word rooted from the word, daraba, and its crucial meanings are disregard, ignore, shun, discontinue any interaction, strike etc. with its numerous applications in the Quran. In addition, there is an amicable separation in the marriage wherein there should not be any use of physical violence in it. It is unfortunate that in the sura wherein the women and the orphans rights are protected God would order the husbands to beat their wives does not make any sense to an intelligent person. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding the message in the verse:
[4:34] The men are supporters of the women for what God has bestowed of them over other and for what they spend from their wealth. The righteous women are obedient being protectors in the unseen to that which God has protected. And those whom you fear their ill behavior, then you shall advise them, and shall desert them in the bed, and shall disregard them. But if they have obeyed you, then you do not seek a way against them. Indeed, God has been great High .
- Failing to reflect to the message in verse 42:51
[42:51] No human being can communicate with GOD except through inspiration, or from behind a barrier, or by sending a messenger through whom He reveals what He wills. He is the Most High, Most Wise.
Note: The verse is very crucial to understand divine methods of communication with human being but Dr. Rashad distorted the message in the verse translating in an opposite way in the beginning of the verse. However, the straightforward message in the verse is as follows:
[42:51] And it has not been for human that God would speak to him, except inspiration, or from behind a barrier, or He sends a messenger (angel) is to reveal by His permission what He wills. Indeed, He is High, Wise.
- Message in verse 6:141 is not a commandment but to pay Zakat in a timely manner
[6:141] He is the One who established gardens, trellised and untrellised, and palm trees, and crops with different tastes, and olives, and pomegranate – fruits that are similar, yet dissimilar. Eat from their fruits [if they ripen]*, and give the due alms on the day of harvest,* and do not waste anything. He does not love the wasters.
*6:141 Zakat charity is so important, the Most Merciful has restricted His mercy to those who give it (7:156). Yet, the corrupted Muslims have lost this most important commandment; they give Zakat only once a year. We see here that Zakat must be given away “on the day we receive income.” The proportion that came to us through Abraham is 2.5% of our net income.
*The statement [if they ripen] occurs in the original Arabic Quran after “their fruit” and is not included in the English translation.
Note: The message in the verse is not a commandment of paying Zakat but to make our all efforts to pay Zakat in a timely manner year round when we have any income being a trait of a righteous that can be achieved over a period of time like Salat in (23:1-2). However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding the message in the verse:
[6:141] And He is the One who established gardens, trellised and untrellised, and palm trees, and crops with different tastes, and olives, and pomegranate – fruits that are similar and not similar. You shall eat from their fruits when they ripen, and shall give its due on the day of harvest, and you do not be extravagant. Indeed, He does not love the extravagant.
- Mistranslation of the Arabic word, sawaatikum
[7:26] O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury. But the best garment is the garment of righteousness. These are some of God‘s signs, that they may take heed.
Note: The Arabic word, sawaatikum is in the verse meaning your shame not your body so that we may understand what we need to exactly cover while the rest of the clothing is our luxury to avoid the misconception around the dress code of the women. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding the message in it:
[7:26] O Children of Adam, we have given you clothing to cover your shame as well as for luxury. But the best clothing is the righteousness. That is from God’s signs so that they may take heed.
- Message in the verse 33:40 has been exaggerated in his translation being Muhammad as the final prophet reflecting the tradition but what has been revealed through him is the final edition of God’s scripture
[33:40] 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.
Note: Both Arabic text and grammar have been disreagrded including misinterpretation of the Arabic word, khaatama in his translation while khaataman means “seal” which can only apply to the document (the scripture in this case). However, the straightforward translation is given below focusing to the phrase, wa-laakin rasuula allahi wa-khaataman al-nabiyeena in the verse to avoid the misconception around us concerning Muhammad as the final prophet instead of reflecting to the message in the verse, the Quran being the final edition of God’s scripture for all the people of the world to serve as guidance being only source to perfect our belief and practices to appreciate God until the end of the world:
[33:40] Muhammad has not been a father of anyone of your men, but has been a messenger of God and a seal of the prophets, and God has done being Knower of everything.
- Order in verse 33:59 is not for lengthening garments but to dress up appropriately
[33:59] O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they shall lengthen their garments. Thus, they will be recognized (as righteous women) and avoid being insulted. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Note: The message in the verse is the recommendation for the wives and daughters of the prophet as well as the wives of the contemporary believers to dress them up appropriately with their garments so that they can be recognized who they were but there is no indication whether their dresses would expose them to be righteous in religious view to others. Thus, the appropriate message in the verse may be found in the revised translation as given below:
[33:59] O Prophet, say to your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers to cover themselves of their garments. That is more appropriate that they can be recognized but are not harmed. And God has been Forgiving, Merciful.
- Religion belongs to God in verse 3:19 but not approved by God
[3:19] The only religion approved by God is “Submission.” Ironically, those who have received the scripture are the ones who dispute this fact, despite the knowledge they have received, due to jealousy. For such rejectors of God’s revelations, God is most strict in reckoning.
Note: The Arabic word is ‘inda allahi means with God not approved by God, which has reflected as follows:
[3:19] The religion with God is Submission, and has not differed those who have been given the scripture except after what has come to them the knowledge out of jealousy between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in God’s revelations, then God is swift in the reckoning.
- Insertion in verse 3:33
[3:33] God has chosen Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Amram (as messengers) to the people.
Note: The insertion of “as messengers” in Dr. Rashad’s translation created a confusion to understand the message in the verse. There are two pieces of information in the verse: (1) God has chosen Adam and Noah and (2) He has chosen the family of Abraham and the family of Amram (Imran). What we know from the Quran that Adam is chosen as the Father of humans but he was neither a prophet nor a messenger while Noah was a prophet and he is well known because of the event of the great flood. On the other hand, a number of members from the family of Abraham and Amram were chosen as prophets and messengers while Abraham was a prophet who has been designated as the father of Islam (submission to God) but Amram was neither a prophet nor a messenger. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding it:
[3:33] God has chosen Adam and Noah, and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran over all the people.
- Insertion in verse 25:53
[25:53] He is the One who merges the two seas; one is fresh and palatable, while the other is salty and undrinkable. And He separated them with a formidable, inviolable barrier (evaporation).
Note: Dr. Rashad did not explain how evaporation serves as a barrier between two seas but modern oceanography has discovered in 1942 that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. Studies of marine characteristics revealed these separations between neighboring seas which maintained the distinctive properties of each sea with respect to density, salinity, marine life, temperature and solubility of oxygen in water. However, here is the straightforward translation of the verse for better understanding it:
[25:53] And He is the One who has merged the two seas. One is palatable and sweet while one is salty and bitter. And He made between them a barrier and an inviolable partition.
Message given to Dr. Rashad
Dr. Rashad provided many logical and physical proofs about the mathematical system of the Quran but he was unable to precisely locate the message given to him in the Quran. He indicated the Quran’s mathematical code referring to the word “Dhikr” associating with several verses: (15:6, 15:9 21:2, 26:5, 38:1, 38:8, 74:31), are not appropriate. God willing, what we know now that the sign of messengership and the message given to him are precisely coded in the verses: (74:30-37) followed by the fulfillment of God’s covenant with the prophets placed in every scripture including the Quran (3:81, 33:7) and the related prophecies and promises in the Quran (15:9, 27:82, 74:30).
Beliefs and Practices
Dr. Rashad was born in Sunni background while even being a messenger of God could not overcome the practices introduced by tradition like wife beating, annual observance of the Night of Destiny (laylatul qadr) that are reflected in his translation of the relevant verses of Quran. But what is unfortunate that the final draft of his translated Quran was completed in the Night of Destiny of 1409 A.H, and the month, day and the year => 9 + 26 + 1409 = 1444 = 19x19x3 is confirmed with the Quran’s code to present a proof to be an inspired work while the Night of Destiny is a historical event that took place in 13 B.H (609 A.D) but not an annual recurrent event except introduced by the tradition.
Statements
Dr. Rashad made certain statements which were not befitting for a messenger of God can be found in the following:
- He made an open challenge to give even a single reason why he should not be a messenger of God while he was supposed to share the message and the sign given him as a messenger of God to guide humanity that is the system that came down to us from the past as reflected in the verse (7:75).
- He failed to understand that the prophet-messenger is chosen by God not by the people while the people may accept him for their own good based on the God given sign and the message but the history indicates that most people reject the messenger.
- He was diplomat when he declared by God’s leave his messengership with his daughter while the straightforwardness is one of the traits of the righteous.
- Quran teaches us that no messenger was given any power to tell the future but he made two statements that (1) if Jesus could come back now, the Christians would stone him to indicate corruptions in Christianity, and (2) if Muhammad came back to this world, the Muslims would stone him to death as the religion they follow today has nothing to do with the Islam preached by Abraham and Muhahhad while a messenger is chosen to deliver a specific message and not to share other than what is given to him.
Principal duties
There is a list of principal duties of God’s messenger of covenant including unveil and proclaim Quran’s mathematical miracle mentioned in the appendix 2 of Dr. Rashad’s translated Quran even though there is no specific mention of how and when these duties are assigned to him. But what we know from the verses, 3:81, 15:9, 27:82, 74:30 and 74:1-6 and 74:11-29 around the messenger of covenant that he is a confirming and purifying messenger to have a pure Arabic Quran while the message (74:30-37) unveiled through him upon fufillment of God’s prophecies and promises as mentioned in 3:81, 33:7, 15:9, 27:82 and 74:30 is to be a way to purify God given practices of Islam and to explore the Quran to avoid misinterpretation of many crucial commandments in the Quran including corruptions and traditions introduced in Islam over the period of time.
Idolizing messenger of the covenant
There are people among those who believe Dr. Rashad to be a messenger of covenant and accept the message given to him idolize him through excessive focusing on his intellectual works to be divine inspiration:
- Rashad is being Idolized claiming his translated Quran and other works to be divine inspiration.
- He is being idolized claiming his translated Quran to be immune to all kinds of traditions and only reflection of true message in the Quran.
- He is being idolized assigning various attributes to his English version of Quran to give it the status of the Quran even it is not grammatical and there are many mistakes and inconsistencies in it.
- He is being idolized claiming him to be a consolidating messenger referring to (9:33, 48:29, 61:9) to make God’s religion prevail at his time over any other religions while the message is His religion is made prevail over any other religions at all times irrespective of the guidance periods.
- He is being idolized through the statement “We do want to advise the reader that the Quran, The Final Testament, (Authorized English Version) by Dr Rashad Khalifa is the only translation which portrays the truth in the Quran of absolute worship of God alone. Dr Khalifa’s translation is immune to any influence of the fabrications of hadith/sunnah.”
- He is being idolized referring to or quoting his incorrect verses in the articles of their discussion.
Conclusion
The review of the relevant verses of the Quran around the messenger of covenant indicates the principal function of the messenger assigned to him is to preach people (1) to worship God alone, (2) to follow the Quran alone, and (3) to use logic, proofs and even common sense to accept any information received from any source. He has been given the specific message supported by the sign of his messengership clearly defined in a specific set of verses of the Quran to make it distinct from the Quran to accept him as a messenger and the message given to him to address and resolve many of our questions and disputes when we are away from the Quran.
Dr. Rashad made many fruitful efforts to accomplish the God given mission and set up many examples for spreading the true Islam among the people of the world irrespective of their ethnic background based on the Quran. He established masjid at Tucson, Arizona, USA to perform Salat to avoid any corrupted practices of it, and hosted website and published newsletter to spread the true Islam. He left many videos and write ups including translation of Quran which are mostly intellectual works. It is not unusual to have errors or inconsistency in them or not to able to overcome the traditional mess in some cases even being a messenger of God. But we should accept them keeping in mind that the messenger is also a human being while the mistakes made by him may be warning for us not to idolize him or may be a test for us how we react when we fall in such a situation what we also see in case of the prophet. However, the Quran teaches us that mistakes made by His chosen one does not disqualify him to be His messenger as He wants the believers to focus on the message given to him not the person who has been chosen to deliver it.
The message given to the messenger is specific and well defined but effective to practice the God given religion in a right way for the people of the scientifically and technologically advanced community surrounded by a religion of corruptions and misconceptions. God wants everyone of us to study and explore His revelations to find the wonders given in the Quran to get closer to Him witnessing the facts derived from it as we all are individually responsible for our own soul.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (4/6/2018).