Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The Superiority Of the Muslims Over the Jews and Christians

Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah
“So, it is known that those who transmitted what Muhammad called to of the Religion and Shari’ah, and transmitted what he came with of signs and miracles, are greater than those who transmitted the likes of these from Musa and ‘Isa. Likewise, what he came with of these are, in and of themselves, greater than what Musa and ‘Isa came with. In fact, the one who looks with a sound mind in these times to what the Muslims have of beneficial knowledge and righteous actions, and compares that to what is with the Jews and Christians, will come to know that there is a huge, massive difference between them.
This is because that which is with the Muslims of the Tawhid of Allah, knowledge of His Names and Attributes, His Angels, Prophets, Messengers, the Hereafter, the descriptions of the Paradise and Hell, reward and punishment, promise and threat - all of these are much greater and loftier than that which is with the Jews and Christians, and this is clear to any who look into it.
And that which is with the Muslims of outer and inner acts of worship - such as the five daily prayers, the other prayers, the remembrances and supplications, etc. - are greater and loftier than that which is with the People of the Book. Such is also the case with the laws governing transactions, marriage, legal punishments - that which is with the Muslims is greater and loftier than what the Jews and Christians have.
So, the Muslims are superior to them in regards to every bit of beneficial knowledge and righteous action, and this is evident to anyone with the slightest bit of intelligence, and this does not require much effort to realize…
And every person of intellect admits this, even from the Jews and Christians. They admit that the religion of the Muslims is a true religion, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and that whoever obeys him enters Paradise. In fact, they even admit that the religion of Islam is better than their own religion, as was mentioned by the philosophers, such as Ibn Sina, etc. The philosophers of the world are agreed that there is no law better than this Law. However, those who refuse to follow it excuse themselves by saying that it is not obligatory for him to follow it, since the Messenger was sent to the unlettered Arabs in exclusion to the People of the Book, and if his religion is true, then our religion is also true, and the paths to Allah are many…”
['Majmu' al-Fatawa'; 4/104-105]