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

Part 16

Next the biblical language specialist, Dr. McElwain, looks at 1 Chronicles 28:19: “The Authorised Version has this as All (this, said David,) the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. The relevant [Hebrew] phrase is “miyyadh YHWH cAli.”

“Many translators have noticed the awkwardness of including “upon me” in the text, and have merely disregarded it, as does the American Standard Version: All this, (said David,) have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah, even all the works of this pattern. Others reinterpret it as a preposition with an eliptical object as does the Revised Standard Version All this he made clear by the writing from the hand of the LORD concerning it, all the work to be done according to the plan. In the latter cAli is translated with some imagination as “concerning it.”

“The more straightforward translation would be “The whole in writing from the hand of YHWH cAli made clear...” This could be understood as “He made clear the whole in writing by the hand of YHWH cAli.””

Thomas McElwain argues: “The interpretation “cAli made clear the whole in writing by the hand of YHWH” ignores Hebrew syntax. cAli must therefore refer to God in this text. The concrete meanings of the words should probably give way to their more abstract meanings, thus “The whole by decree from the authority of YHWH cAli made clear...” If this is an acceptable interpretation, it would provide a Hebrew precedent for the use of the word as an epithet, the exalted, as in Arabic.”

But looking carefully at this passage may lead us to another conclusion in regard to 1 Chronicles 28:19:

Firstly, let us keep in mind that as mentioned in part 14 of this writing the possibility that ‘Ali is not an epithet or name of God in Hebrew and biblical terminology is quite strong.

Secondly, Let us pay attention that the Dr. in order to examine whether it is possible for cAli in the passage “YHWH made me understand in writing by his hand cAli” to be referring to Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) introduces his new interpretation as “cAli made clear the whole in writing by the hand of YHWH” and then states that this interpretation “ignores Hebrew syntax.” He then concludes “cAli must therefore refer to God in this text …”

But it is quite possible to consider cAli as name of a person in 1 Chronicles 28:19; that is possible by using the authorized version, i.e. David said: “YHWH made me understand in writing by his hand, cAli” or even using what the Dr. said “The more straightforward translation would be “The whole in writing from the hand of YHWH cAli made clear...””, but not using the interpretation innovated by Mr. McElwain. This then implies that ‘Ali is the Hand of God.

It is noteworthy to mention that in Islamic Hadiths the Infallible Ones (SBUT) are presented as Hand, Tongue and … of Allah; i.e. Allah’s wishes are done exactly by them who are Allah-Guided and infallible and Immaculate …

As a sample Hadith in this regard, Imam Baaqer (SBUH) has asserted that the AhlulBayt (SBUT) are the Eye of Allah in His creations and the- widely outstretched in Mercy- Hand of Allah upon His servants … (al-Kaafi, vol. 1, p. 143; …)

So it can be concluded that according to 1 Chronicles 28:19 Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) as the Hand of God helped Prophet Daawood- David- (SBUH).

In addition, in parts 11 and 12 of this writing, the issue of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) as the helper of Prophets (SBUT) throughout the ages was explored … there, in regard to the fact that the bible does not consider Job a Prophet, it was stated:

“It is noteworthy to again remind that the distorted bible, having been written by regular fallible and many times malevolent people, is filled with contradictions and it has almost always presented those Chosen by God as sinners and …; Job has been no exception …” Then we presented some of those contradictions and also verses of the Majestic Qur’an which showed that Job (SBUH) was indeed an Infallible Prophet of Allah and it seems that Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) did indeed help him …

Here we add that, David too has been no exception! Bible has indeed many contradictions regarding the Prophet Dawud- David- (SBUH) too, and not only it does not present him as a Prophet of God, rather it has presented him as a sinner too …

On the one hand, for instance David is described as a man after God's own heart in 1 Samuel 13:14 … and on the other hand in 2nd Samuel chapter 11 it is stated that with David’s army in the field under the command of his general Joab, David remained in the capital and:

2nd Samuel 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

So the biblical David occupied himself by seducing Bathsheba, the wife of one of his officers, Uriah the Hittite, and she became pregnant. David then sent a letter to Joab with instructions that his reply be carried by Uriah. When Uriah arrived at the capital David detained him and made him drunk, assuming that he would take the opportunity to sleep with his wife. But Uriah did not do so while his men were sleeping in the field.

2nd Samuel 11:13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

Then the biblical David sent him back to the front with a second message instructing Joab to arrange for Uriah to die in battle:

 2nd Samuel 11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

With Uriah disposed of, David married the widow, who bore their child …

May Allah forgive us for repeating such disgusting lies …

But it is noteworthy to mention that among adherents to bible there are scholars who have rejected these biblical lies:

Thomas L. Thompson rejects the historicity of the biblical narrative, "The history of Palestine and of its peoples is very different from the Bible's narratives, whatever political claims to the contrary may be. An independent history of Judea during the Iron I and Iron II periods has little room for historicizing readings of the stories of I-II Samuel and I Kings." (Thompson TL. "A view from Copenhagen: Israel and the History of Palestine". As cited in the English Wikipedia.)

Jacob L. Wright, Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Emory University USA, has written that some popular legends about David, such as his affair with Bathsheba, are the creation of those who lived generations after him, in particular those living in the late Persian or Hellenistic period. ("The Bible and Interpretation". bibleinterp.com. As cited in the English Wikipedia.)

According to Islam Hadrat Daawud- David- (SBUH) was an Infallible Prophet of God endowed with many virtues, who also became a king. His name Dawud means beloved. He (SBUH) is mentioned many times in the Majestic Qur’an; for instance:

 Qur’an 38:17 ... and remember Our servant Dawood, the possessor of power; surely he was frequent in turning (to Allah).

Qur’an 38:18 Surely We made the mountains to sing the glory (of Allah) in unison with him at the evening and the sunrise,

Qur’an 38:19 And the birds gathered together; all joined in singing with him.

Qur’an 38:20 And We strengthened his kingdom and We gave him wisdom and a clear judgment.

Qur’an 38:26 o Dawood! Surely We have set you as a Vicegerent in the land; so judge between men with justice and do not follow desire, lest it should lead you astray from the path of Allah; (as for) those who go astray from the path of Allah, they shall surely have a severe punishment because they forgot the day of reckoning.

Qur’an 4:163 Surely We have Revealed to you as We Revealed to Nooh and Prophets after him: and We Revealed to Ibrahim and Isma’il and Ishaaq and Ya’qoob and the Asbaat, and ‘Eesa and Ayyoob and Yunos and Haaroon and Solaimaan and We gave Dawood a Zaboor (book bestowed on Dawud- SBUH-).

Qur’an 17:55 And your Lord best knows those who are in the heavens and the earth; and certainly We have bestowed more excellence upon some of the Prophets than others, and to Dawood We gave a Zaboor.

As we clearly see Hadrat Daawood (SBUH) was indeed a Chosen Prophet of Allah. In Shi’ah authentic Hadith books such as Amaali of Shaikh Sadooq and …, there are Hadiths from Imams ‘Ali, Saadeq, Reza and … (SBUT) who have strongly rejected the biblical lies regarding this Prophet of Allah and have prescribed twofold punishments for any who may present such beliefs, once for Prophethood (disparaging Prophethood, denying his Prophethood, giving the lie to a Prophet of Allah, …), and once for Islam (falsely accusing a Believer of such disgraceful and disgusting acts, …) …

We cordially invite our friends to also read “Is Selah in the Bible same as Salawat?!” in this site: kindfather.com; while reading that article let us keep in mind that bible in 1 Samuel 25:1 states that David (SBUH) indeed used to go to Paran (today’s Mecca) …

 it is also noteworthy to mention that according to ‘Allaamah Tehrani narrating from Mohaddeth Qommi, the Sahifah Sajjaadiyah of Imam Sajjaad, ‘Ali son of Hosain, (SBUT) has been given the title Zaboor of Aal of Mohammad (SBUT). From one aspect, it can be observed that in the same manner that most of the beautiful and profound supplications in Sahifah Sajjaadiyah are full of Salawaat, so was the True original Zaboor of the Prophet Daawood (SBUH), which as asserted by Imam Saadeq (SBUH)- as narrated in Hayaat al-Qoloob- was bestowed upon Dawud (SBUH) on the 18^th night of the month of Ramadan …

Here we wish to refer to a portion of one of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH)’s Sermons known as Khotbah al-Bayaan; keeping in mind that the Book bestowed upon Hadrat Daawud (SBUH)- Zaboor- was given to him in form of Pages اوراق and Tablets الواح (Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 4, vol. 9, p. 337; …), Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) has asserted that he was the one who turned and interpreted the Pages of Zaboor … (from: Khotbah al-Bayaan, Shi’ah documents: al-Dhari’ah elaa Tasaanif al-Shi’ah, ‘Allaamah Shaikh Aaqaa Bozorg Tehrani, …; sunni documents: Yanaabi’ al-Mawaddah, …)

To be continued …