Bismillah . . .
The Christian missionary has come up with one of the most absurd claims imaginable; that is the use of (and) - in Arabic, (wa) - indicates partnership and equality. This is one of arguments that do fit missionary way of thinking.
However, one should sacrifice his brain to accept it.
In Arabic language, the letter (wa) - i.e., (and) - indicates either combination or succession. E.g., Zaid and Amr stood up. If I mean that they both stood up in the same time, then (Zaid and Amr) equals (Amr and Zaid), but if I mean that Zaid stood first, then I should say (Zaid and Amr), confer Ibn Faris, al-Sahibi, p. 157.
In the above exapmle, Zaid and Amr are not equal partners. Use of (and) doesn't imply it whether in English or in Arabic.
Actually one fails to find any justification for this missionary allegation except thinking malfunction.
what is even worse is their allegation that Prophet Muhammad (saws) is an equal partner to Allah which is in direct opposition to necessarily known facts of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:
“Do not over-praise me as the Christians over-praised Jesus the son of Mary. I am His slave, so say: ‘God's slave and messenger’.” Narrated by both al-Bukhari and Muslim.
If use of (wa/and) implies equality and partnership, as Christian missionaries think, then Angels are also equal partners as in 33:56 { Allah and His Angels send blessing on the Prophet } and in 89:22 { And thy Lord and His angels cometh rank upon rank }.
Not just angels are equal partners, but even all God's Books and Messengers as in 2:285 { The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of Faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His Messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His Messengers. }
And in 2:136 { Say ye: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma`il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord: we make no difference between one and another of them. } So the revelations given to Muhammad, Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, the Tribes, Moses, Jesus and all Prophets are equal partners with Allah.
Also in 2:177 { It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness - to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing. } So in addition to the Angels, the Books and the Messengers, we have the Last Day as an equal partner to Allah.
Messenger of Allah said: "The core of faith is to make Nasiha". We asked: "To whom?" He (saws) answered: "To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, Muslim leaders and their laymen". (Sahih Muslim, Book of Iman, n. 55) Are we going to suggest now that all Muslim leaders and laymen are equal partners to Allah as well?
I believe you can see now to where this silly argument drives us. As I said above; one should sacrifice his brain to accept this incoherent polemic.
If this is the case, then what is the meaning of the next saying of Qadi 'Iyad?
"The fact that mention of the Prophet is directly connected to mention of Allah also shows that obedience to the Prophet is connected to obedience to Allah and his name to Allah's name. Allah says, "Obey Allah and His Messenger" (2:32) and "Believe in Allah and His Messenger." (4:136) Allah joins them together using the conjunction wa which is the conjunction of partnership. It is not permitted to this conjunction in connection with Allah in case of anyone except the Prophet."
The meaning is that partnership here is that of obedience as understood from the context, not in divinity or worship, as Allah (swt) says: { He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah } 4:80.
Sheikh al-'Uthaimin answers a similar question related to use of wa between Allah and the Prophet:
Whatever is related to Shari'ah (Islamic Law) is expressed by wa; because any judgement that comes from the Prophet (saws) originally comes from Allah as He said: { He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah }
As for universal matters none is connected with Allah using wa because everything is subjugated to Allah's Will. If someone asked: "Will it rain tomorrow?" and was answered: "Allah and His Messenger know best", this is wrong because the Messenger (saws) has no knowledge of this.
If someone asked: "Is this permitted or prohibited?" and was answered: "Allah and His Messenger know best", this is correct because the judgement of the Messenger (saws) is the exact judgement of Allah as He (swt) said: { He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah }.
(Al-'Uthaimin, Sharh al-Arba'een al-Nawawiyyah, the first hadith)
In the same vein we understand the quotation of Qadi 'Iyad:
Hudhayfa said that the Prophet said, "None of you should say, ‘What Allah wills and (wa) so-and-so wills.’ Rather say, ‘What Allah wills.’ Then stop and say, ‘So-and-so wills.’"
Al-Khattabi said, "The Prophet has guided you to correct behaviour in putting the will of Allah before the will of others. He chose ‘then’ (thumma) which implies sequence and deference as opposed to ‘and’ (wa) which implies partnership."
Since in matters of Allah's will, none should be mentioned with Allah. These are the ethics of reverence of Allah and exalting Him above any implication of partnership.
When one of Sahaba said to the Prophet (saws): "Whatever Allah and you will", the Prophet answered: "You made me equal to Allah?! Rather say: What Allah alone wills". (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Munad, 1/214, 224, 283, 347)
So the permissibility of conjuction of Allah and His Messenger depends upon the context whether it is something related to Shari'ah in which obedience of the Messenger is equal to obedience of Allah, or it is related to Allah's Will which is exclusive to Allah and no one should be conjugated with Him as explained by sheikh al-'Uthaimin.
To be continued tomorrow insha'Allah.
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In Uhud, when the polytheists attacked the Prophet (saws), he asked, "Who will sell his life to us?" Ziyad ibn al-Sakan with five of al-Ansar got up. They kept on fighting to defend the Prophet (saws) and all were killed one after the other.....
Abu Dujanah shielded the Prophet (saws) with his body. Arrows were hurled at his back as he leaned over him, until many struck him. [Sirat Ibn Hisham]
May you be ransomed with my father and my mother and my whole life, O Messenger of Allah!
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