The Choice: Islam and Christianity

(^2) People of lhe Boob
people who were familiar with the quotation. In the audience of
about three hundred, eleven brothers put up their hands. 1 then
requested that if any of the eleven were Hafiz-ul-Qur’an they
should put their hands down since they were expected to know
the whole verse by virtue of their memorization of the Holy Qur’an.
Three out of the eleven put down their hands. 1 asked the
remaining eight individually to complete the second half of the
verse. There was a 100% failure. I too had been in the same
boat with regard to the memorizing of this Aayah for a very
long time.
In my experience, I have not yet heard an exposition of the
second half of this verse, and have also noted that none of the
commentators of the Holy Qur’an have anything to say on it. It
is as if there is some kind of conspiracy on their part. But there
is no conspiracy. The first half of the Aayah is so versatile and
adaptable, that every expositor delivers his message on righteous
behaviour and admonitions against straying from the path, based
on this half of the verse. They appear to be content to conclude
their comments on this half of the verse and bask in the
satisfaction of a job well done.
The answer to the question, “ Why pick on the Jews and the
Christians?” is to be found in the second half of the Qur’anic
quotation above, paraphrased, —
“ But if only the People of the Book
(meaning the lews and the Christians)
if they hearkened unto this Message
(the Message of the Holy Qur’an)
it will be better for them (in other words,
it will also he better for you, 0 Muslims).
Among them (i.e. Jew^s and Christians)
are some who are a goodly people, but
the majority of them are perverted
transgressors.”
(SURA AAL-i ‘IMRAAN) Holy Qur'an 5 :1J 0