Names of Mohammad and ‘Ali (SBUT) in the Bible

Part 8

As we see Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) clearly introduces himself as Elia الیا with the Yahood (jews), and Ilia, Eelia (ایلیا) with the Nasaara (christians). So investigating biblical names such as Eli, Elie, Ely, Elia and … (as used in different versions of the bible) is quite logical …

Dr. McElwain presents a parallel between the biblical Eli and Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) from a historical perspective: “The Samaritans claim that Eli caused the rift between Samaritans and Jews by his false claim [as viewed by the Samaritans] to the priesthood. The division between Shi’ite and Sunnite Islam surrounds the claims of the figure of Imam cAli [‘Ali] (as).”

Also, as we repeatedly have mentioned before, sadly the distortions of the bible are so widespread that Infallible Prophets and Chosen Ones are misrepresented as sinners, adulterers, idolaters, drunks and …; in this manner followers of Shaitan, thru distorting the truth and presenting holy and chosen ones as sinners, firstly relax human view toward sins thus slowly but surely hope to corrupt the entire humankind, and secondly justify their own sins and mischiefs and even introduce themselves as holy too, and … . A related example of such misrepresentation, as mentioned before, is in case of the Prophet Haaroon- Aaron- (SBUH) (exodus 32, …), and his two sons (leviticus 10, …), while this very same bible strongly verifies that they were chosen by God (exodus 28, 29, …)! In addition let us not forget that, as mentioned before, the original Torah, Gospel and … were Tablets and Plates, and thus these biblical stories are mainly written by fallible individuals with different worldly intentions … . So the suggestion that the two sons of the biblical Eli- who are being presented as unrighteous in the current bible- were in fact righteous is not unbelievable; thus the possibility that the issue of the two so called unrighteous sons of the biblical Eli- which the Dr. is considering it as a contrast between the biblical Eli and Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH), whose two sons- Hasan and Hosain (SBUT)- were righteous,- may actually be a parallel between them, is quite believable too … Allah knows best …

Here it is again noteworthy to mention that when we say jews, christians and … we are talking about their scholars- who conceal their knowledge of many facts mentioned by us- and we are not talking about the regular jews, christians and …- who sadly, unknowingly follow the distortions being presented by their so called scholars- … we cordially invite sincere ones among them to rely on their love for God, Moses, Jesus and … to search for the Truth, for, it is the Truth and nothing but the Truth which shall remain …

Let us continue … In search of more facts in regard to الیا and ایلیا … in communications we have had with Mr. McElwain we found out: “There are cognates between Arabic and Hebrew where the 'ayin changes to alif, but it is rare.”

In other words, there are some- though rare- Arabic words which have Ayn while in the same cognate words in Hebrew the Ayin is changed to Aleph; this is the second possibility regarding the name of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) in bible which we should keep in mind … i.e. in the old Hebrew الیا may have simply been the Arabic عليا …

The Dr. in one of his communications introduced an interesting word in the bible:

“I might alert you to a word that I did not refer to in my writing [lecture 9], Elyon ... It comes from the same radical as ‘Ali ...”

In other words the Hebrew word Elyon with Ayin in Hebrew (علیون) is from the same root as ‘ali (علی).

He continues: “The word Elyon with 'ayin occurs 53 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. The King James English translators apply it to the Deity 30 times, and to other things or people 23 times … I shall begin to examine the texts to see how many of them may be applied to Imam Ali, upon whom be peace.” Elsewhere he also said: “I am certain that you are correct that there are many covert references to Ahlilbeyt, and especially Ali, peace be upon him, in the earlier Scriptures. My research uncovers only the most obvious of them.”

We suggested that if one or few of the cases of ‘Eliyon may be references to Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) that could be the Arabic علیٌ (‘Aliyon)- being pronounced as ‘Eliyon in Hebrew- considering that ٌ sounds as “on”.

In this regard, it is important to keep in mind that while in the current Hebrew terminology ‘Eliyon علیون (from the same root as ‘Ali) is some times applied to God, and Islamic sources such as the Tahoor Islamic Encyclopedia too, under the title Monotheism in Judaism, verify that علیون is a name used by jews for God, but in Islamic terminology the word ‘Eliyon علیون does not exist as such; thus this itself makes it more probable that the Hebrew word ‘Eliyon- when not used for God- may in fact be a cognate of Arabic علیٌ.

This is the third possibility to keep in mind in regard to the name of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) in the bible.

Here, it is also noteworthy to mention that in Qur’anic terminology there exists a word- in two forms- similar to ‘Eliyon and it is ‘Elliyyoon عِلِّيُّونَ (‘Elliyyeen عِلِّيِّينَ) and it too is from the same root as ‘Ali, but it does not refered to God rather it refers to the most high places in Heaven where the records of the Abraar (righteous …) are kept:

Qur’an 83:18 Nay! Most surely the record of the Abraar (righteous) shall be in the ‘Elliyyeen ( عِلِّيِّينَ).

Qur’an 83:19 And what has made you comprehend what ‘Elliyyoon is.

Qur’an 83:20 It is a written book (record),

Qur’an 83:21 To which bear witness al-Moqarraboon (those Nearest to Allah).

Thus according to the Majestic Qur’an, al-Moqarraboon (the nearest to Allah) are in ‘Elliyyoon and are witnessing the records of the Abraar.

Hadrat Mohammad (SAWA) has said:

‘Elliyyoon is above the seventh heaven below the ‘Arsh (Throne, Sovereignty …) of Allah; therein exists a tablet from green Zebarjad (a heavenly stone) on which the deeds of the Abraar are written.

(Tafsir Jaame’, vol. 7, p. 366; …)

Abi-Hamzah, a renowned companion, asked Imam Baaqer (SBUH): Who are al-Moqarraboon?  The Imam (SBUH) responded:

The Akram (most bounteous, gracious …)  Rasool (SAWA, the Amir al-Mo’menin (SBUH), Hadrat Fatimah (SBUH), Imams Hasan and Hosain (SBUT) and the Infallible Imams (SBUT). O abi-Hamzah! Know that Allah has created us from A’laa ‘Elliyyeen اعلی علیین (the highest ‘Elliyyeen) and the Qoloob (hearts, souls …) of our Shi’ah from the remainder of our Tinat and their bodies from other than that; thus their hearts incline toward us for they are from us. We are of the Moqarraboon and al-Saabeqoon are the Moqarraboon, and the Dhorriyyah (offspring …) of us Imams will join us …

(Tafsir Jaame’, vol. 7, p. 367; …)

Abu-Sa’eed al-Khudri said that one day that they were sitting with the Rasool of Allah (SAWA), a person asked him (SAWA) of the meaning of the verse: Have you been Arrogant, or have you been of al-‘Aaleen العالین?! (38:75) That person continued and asked: O Rasool of Allah! Who are al-‘Aaleen (the highest and most exalted creations of Allah), those who are more exalted than the angels?

When Allah SWT completed the creation of Adam (SBUH), He commanded all the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam (SBUH), and they all did so. But Eblis who was of the Jinn and was in the line of angels, did not prostrate; that is when Allah SWT addressed him and said the above statement (Qur’an 38:75); i.e. He- rebuking Eblis- said, 1) Whether Iblis was being arrogant, or 2) Whether he thought arrogantly that he was of the al-‘Aaleen, and thus did not prostrate. Verse 38:74 has already clarified that indeed Eblis was arrogant and of the disbelievers.

The person asking the question from the Prophet (SAWA) had realized that al-‘Aaleen had to be the most exalted creations of Allah, more exalted than all other creations and thus were not to be subordinate and under the authority of no other creation; therefore he wanted to know who those so exalted al-‘Aaleen are. Hadrat Mohammad (SAWA) answered:

I and ‘Ali and Fatemah and al-Hasan and al-Hosain [SBUT]; we were in the Soraadeq of the ‘Arsh (threshold of the Throne) of Allah, we glorified Allah then the angels glorified Him by our glorification (Tasbih) years before Allah created Adam, and when Allah- Undefeated and Mighty- created Adam He commanded the angels to prostrate for him, they were not commanded to prostrate but for our honor [their Lights … being placed in Adam’s generation …]. All the angels prostrated, but Eblis refused to prostrate. Allah said to him: O Iblis! What prevented you from prostrating yourself to whom I have created with my hands? Have you been arrogant? Or have you been of al-‘Aaleen?! He said: Of these five whose names are written on the Soraadeq of al-‘Arsh?! We are the gates through which Allah bestows and by us He guides those who are guided; he who loves us, Allah loves him and enters him to His Heaven, and he who has animosity against us, Allah dislikes him and enters him to His Fire; And loves us not except he whose birth is pure.

(Beshaaraat al-Shi’ah, Shaikh Sadooq; Tafsir Jaame’, vol. 6, p. 46; …)

So, Hadrat ‘Ali علی (SBUH) is one of the al-‘Aaleen العالین the closest to Allah- the closest position possible for a creation- in the Threshold (so to speak) of the Sovereignty of Allah and thus more exalted than all creations and therefore under the authority of Allah only and under the authority of no creation, created from the A’laa ‘Ellyyeen اعلی علیین the highest of ‘Elliyyeen, and he is of the Moqarraboon المقربون and present in the ‘Elliyyoon عِلِّيُّونَ above the seventh Heaven under the Sovereignty of Allah …

To be continued …