Was the Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab One of the Causes of Hiding the Original Text of the Torah?
Published in October 19, 2017
Translated by: Ahmed Fathy
Introduction:
1- The People of the Book, like the rest of human beings as per the Quranic Chapter 56, will be divided into three categories in the Hereafter on the Last Day: Forerunners and those on the Right (in Paradise) and a vast majority in Hell; see 5:66 and 3:110-115. This applies to Quran-believing people or Quranists; see 35:32, and this applies as well to all human beings on the Last Day and they will be informed of this (and of their fate) beforehand upon dying; see 56:8-11 and 56:83-96. The Quranic term (Jews) refers ONLY to a misguided group among the Israelites, and this misguiding group used to worship Osir as a son of God (this Osir is Osiris, the Pharaonic god of death; please watch our subtitled-into-English video on that topic:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kESjyXrwJ7w) and those Jews in Arabia were known for their inciting wars and aggression; see 9:30 and 5:64.
2- The pious ones among the People of the Book believed in the Quran and converted to Islam with its last version in Arabic (see 3:199, 4:162, 17:107-109, 26:197, and 28:52-55), whereas the vast majority of the People of the Book rejected the Quranic message and they were more vociferous and had more power, authority, and military prowess; in fact, they disbelieved in the Torah as well. They had the original text of the Torah in Arabia during Muhammad's lifetime. Yet, they have made some distortions and misinterpretations of the Torah. When the criminal caliphOmar Ibn Al-Khattab drove Jews out of Arabia, they settled in Iraq and the Levant and hid the original text of the Torah; it is nonexistent now. We provide some details in the points below.
Firstly: the existence of the original text of the Torah with the Israelites and their knowledge about prayers:
1- In the Quran, God has commanded the Jews of Arabia (i.e., the disobedient ones among the Israelites) to perform prayers properly within patience and to pay zakat to recommend themselves, and God has rebuked them for commanding others to be charitable while forgetting to advise themselves to do the same while they read/recite the Torah; see 2:43-45. This implies that the original text of the Torah has been with the Israelites and the disobedient ones among them used to recite it hypocritically to get a measure of authority among others; thus, those impious, disobedient hypocrites commanded people to be charitable though those reciters of the Torah did the exact opposite.
2- In contrast to disobedient Jews, we read the following about the believers among the Israelites who adhered to the Book (i.e., the Torah) and preach reform: "They were succeeded by generations who inherited the Book and chose the materials of this world, saying, "We will be forgiven." And should similar materials come their way, they would again seize them. Did they not make a covenant to uphold the Book, and to not say about God except the Truth? Did they not study its contents? But the Home of the Hereafter is better for the pious ones; will you not understand? Those who adhere to the Book, and practice prayer - We will not waste the reward of the reformers." (7:169-170).
3- Some disobedient ones among the Israelites (i.e., in the Quranic text: Jews) imposed their fabricated laws on God's legislations about forbidden food items and they thus violated the Torah; God has preached them to recite/read the Torah: "All food was permissible to the Israelites, except what Israel forbade for itself before the Torah was revealed. Say, "Bring the Torah, and read it, if you are truthful." Whoever forges lies about God after that - these are the unjust." (3:93-94). This implies clearly that Jews of Arabia at the time had the original text of the Torah (and in Arabic tongue?).
4- Some of these Jews in Arabia rejected the Torah that contains God's law and came to Muhammad to seek his judgment instead: "But why do they come to you for judgment, when they have the Torah, in which is God's Law?..." (5:43). This indicates that the original text of the Torah existed in Arabia in the 7th century A.D.
Secondly: types of distortions made to the Torah by the disobedient ones among the Israelites (i.e., Jews):
1- They changed the locations of the Torah verses: "Among the Jews are some who distort the words out of their locations..." (4:46); "...They distort the words out of their locations, and they disregarded some of what they were reminded of. You will always witness deceit from them, except for a few of them. But pardon them, and overlook. God loves the doers of good." (5:13); "...and from among the Jews listeners to lies, listeners to other people who did not come to you. They distort the words out of their places..." (5:41).
2- They twisted and distorted sounds of words of the Torah to deceive believers and to add things to it never existed inside its text: "And among them are those who twist the Book with their tongues, that you may think it from the Book, when it is not from the Book. And they say, "It is from God," when it is not from God. They tell lies and attribute them to God, knowingly." (3:78).
3- They distorted the Torah by adding phrases to its text that never existed originally; among such insertions was that Jews will get out of Hell if they enter into it on the Last Day. God refutes such a lie: "And among them are gentiles who know the Book only through hearsay, and they only speculate. So woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say, "This is from God," that they may exchange it for a little price. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn. And they say, "The Fire will not touch us except for a number of days." Say, "Have you received a promise from God-God never breaks His promise-or are you saying about God what you do not know?" Indeed, whoever commits misdeeds, and becomes besieged by his sins - these are the dwellers of the Fire, wherein they will dwell forever. As for those who believe and do righteous deeds-these are the inhabitants of Paradise, wherein they will dwell forever." (2:78-82). Sadly, the Muhammadans in their earthly, man-made, fabricated religions propagate the same myth of getting out of Hell via assumed intercessions of saints/gods.
4- Their distortions of the Torah were applied within their aggressive wars that have violated God's Torah law and covenant: "And We made a covenant with you: "You shall not shed the blood of your own, nor shall you evict your own from your homes." You agreed, and were all witnesses. But here you are, killing your own, and expelling a group of your own from their homes-conspiring against them in wrongdoing and hostility. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although it was forbidden to you. Is it that you believe in part of the Book, and disbelieve in part? What is the reward for those among you who do that but humiliation in this life? And on the Day of Resurrection, they will be assigned to the most severe torment. God is not unaware of what you do." (2:84-85). God describes those Jews of Arabia as spreaders of corruption and aggressive wars: "...Whenever they kindle the fire of war, God extinguishes it. And they strive to spread corruption on earth. God does not love the corrupters." (5:64).
Thirdly: Jews who had been concealing the Truth:
1- God made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them to show and clarify the Book (i.e., the Torah) to people and never to conceal it, but the disobedient Jews disregarded the divine command and God's covenant: "God received a pledge from those who were given the Book: "You shall proclaim it to the people, and not conceal it." But they disregarded it behind their backs, and exchanged it for a small price. What a miserable exchange they made." (3:187). Those corrupt Jews concealed the Truth of the Torah and added falsehoods to the Torah text: "And do not mix Truth with falsehood, and do not conceal the truth while you know." (2:42); "O People of the Book! Why do you confound the Truth with falsehood, and knowingly conceal the Truth?" (3:71).
2- God says the following about their concealing facts/verses of the Torah: "They do not value God as He should be valued, when they say, "God did not reveal anything to any human being." Say, "Who revealed the Book which Moses brought-a light and guidance for humanity?" You put it on scrolls, displaying them, yet concealing much. And you were taught what you did not know-neither you, nor your ancestors. Say, "God;" then leave them toying away in their speculation." (6:91).
3- The Quran clarifies many things that the Jews hid from the original text of the Torah: "O People of the Book! Our messenger has come to you, clarifying for you much of what you kept hidden of the Book, and overlooking much. A light from God has come to you, and a clear Book." (5:15).
Fourthly: the reaction of the Quran to those who had hidden the Torah and the Gospel:
1- God has commanded them to apply the sharia laws of the Torah and the Gospel: "Had they observed the Torah, and the Gospel, and what was revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed amply from above them, and from beneath their feet. Among them is a moderate community, but evil is what many of them are doing. O messenger, convey what was revealed to you from your Lord. But if you do not, then you would not have delivered His message. And God will protect you from the people. God does not guide the disbelieving people. Say, "O People of the Book! You have no basis until you uphold the Torah, and the Gospel, and what is revealed to you from your Lord." But what is revealed to you from your Lord will increase many of them in rebellion and disbelief, so do not be sorry for the disbelieving people." (5:66-68).
2- In the Quran, God has humiliated the disobedient Jews: "The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah, but then failed to uphold it, is like the donkey carrying scrolls. Miserable is the example of the people who denounce God's revelations. God does not guide the unjust people." (62:5).
Fifthly: the schemes and conspiracies of the disobedient Jews of Arabia:
1- They feigned their belief in the Quran overtly to deceive others: "Some of the People of the Book say, "Believe in what was revealed to the believers at the beginning of the day, and reject it at its end, so that they may return." And trust none except those who follow your religion." Say, "Guidance is God's guidance. If someone is given the like of what you were given, or they argue with you before your Lord, say, "All grace is in God's hand; He gives it to whomever He wills." God is Bounteous and Knowing." (3:72-73); "When they come to you, they say, "We believe," though they have entered with disbelief, and they have departed with it. But God is well aware of what they hide." (5:61).
2- God has warned early believers in Arabia against trusting any hypocritical Jew in Arabia who feigned to believe during Muhammad's lifetime: "Do you hope that they will believe in you, when some of them used to hear the Word of God, and then deliberately distort it, even after understanding it? And when they come across those who believe, they say, "We believe," but when they come together privately, they say, "Will you inform them of what God has disclosed to you, so that they might dispute with you concerning it before your Lord?" Do you not understand? Do they not know that God knows what they conceal and what they reveal?" (2:75-77).
Sixthly: reasons for scheming and conspiring and hiding the Book/Scripture:
1- The original texts of the Torah and the Gospel contain the mention of the Seal of Prophets (i.e., Muhammad), as we know from these Quranic verses about some of the People of the Book who truly believed in the Quranic message: "Those who follow the messenger, the prophet of the gentiles, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel in their possession. He directs them to righteousness, and deters them from evil, and allows for them all good things, and prohibits for them wickedness, and unloads the burdens and the shackles that are upon them. Those who believe in him, and respect him, and support him, and follow the light that came down with him-these are the successful." (7:157); "And when Jesus son of Mary said, "O Israelites, I am God's messenger to you, confirming what preceded me of the Torah, and announcing good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he showed them the miracles, they said, "This is obvious sorcery."" (61:6).
2- The original texts of the Torah and the Gospel contain the mention of Muhammad and true believers with him: "Muhammad is the messenger of God. Those with him are stern against the disbelievers, yet compassionate amongst themselves. You see them kneeling, prostrating, seeking blessings from God and approval. Their marks are on their faces from the effects of prostration. Such is their description in the Torah, and their description in the Gospel: like a plant that sprouts, becomes strong, grows thick, and rests on its stem, impressing the farmers. Through them He enrages the disbelievers. God has promised those among them who believe and do good deeds forgiveness and a great reward." (48:29).
Lastly:
1- We conclude from the above points that at the time when the Quranic verses were being revealed, many of these verses expose the disobedient ones among the Israelites (and naming them as "Jews") and other verses praise true believers among the Israelites or the People of the Book, and both groups lived in Arabia at the time among believers and polytheists.
2- As per Sunnite history books, when Omar became a caliph, he drove the Israelites out of all Arabia unjustly an aggressively and in at that stage and later eras, they were all unjustly called "Jews", though this Quranic term refers exclusively to the disobedient ones among the Israelites and NOT all of the Israelites. This crime of Omar is mentioned in Sunnite history books of historians like Al-Tabari, Ibn Al-Atheer, and Ibn Al-Jawzy. We quote the following lines from the history book titled "Al-Muntazim" by Ibn Al-Jawzy: (... In 20 A.H., the caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab drove away Jews out of Khaybar and Najran among other areas in Arabia, and many of these Jews settled in Kufa, Iraq, and other cities in the Levant, and Muslims settled in lands left by these Jews of Arabia ...)
3- This crime and grave injustice committed by Omar mark the beginning of persecuting the Israelites and preventing them from performing pilgrimage in Mecca at the Kaaba Sacred Mosque, a main ritual of the religion of Abraham. Within such atmosphere of animosity, the original text of the Torah has been hidden; we mean the Torah text containing the mention of Muhammad. When many Israelites settled in the Levant and other areas, they used and circulated the texts that have come to be known today as the Old Testament, and the original text of the Torah has been hidden and deemed now to be lost forever.
4- As per the above points in this article, we have the right to pose this pivotal question:was Omar one of the indirect causes of hiding the original text of the Torah to which the Quran refers many times and it is deemed nonexistent now?!