Actually this story is not so much about Abu Hurairah as it is about Paul, a Jew from Tarsus. The problem is one of judgement and a judgment of taking in all the logical aspects of the case.
This approach is a more friendly way to achieve any meaningful dialog between religions and the various groups of people that hold them. In truth, it’s up to them – those having doubts concerning religion in general or the ‘what’s it all about’ peoples – (Muslims, Christians or Jews or any other group with ‘spiritual claims’ adhering to a certain philosophy) to test themselves concerning their own legitimacy as it pertains to a universal concept as is found in the Quran (42:13) as described below.
Because Abu Hurairah transmitted around 5,000 hadiths but only spent a few years with the Prophet (pbh), around three and a half years, some have accused him of ‘making up’ material, which, Islamically by the way, is punishable by the Hell-Fire. Another aspect for research is the great possibility that a few of his so-called hadiths were forged in his name.
This would not make him guilty of misleading the people because he would have had no control of what people did in his name a century or so after his death. These things are a problem for scholars because most people do not go around reading tons of hadiths while getting involved in deep philosophical discussions.
The same of course will apply to Paul and his story which, when studied correctly, is as easily to piece together as that of Abu Hurairah’s. This story is in reply to the excellent website called, Manyprophetsonemessage.com, which, in my opinion, does a fine job of discussing many issues concerning early Christianity.
There exists a problem with Paul and Islam on several fronts which I have tried to show. In order to get at real answers, one has to go beyond conjecture and look at the facts as they would logically and historically occur.
For various reasons, this had not been done! And it is unprofessional to come to the table with a bag full of buttons and pass it off as money.
As I have stated before and now it becomes a must, START WITH THE QURAN FIRSTand then run with it in a logical, historical and factual setting NOT drummed up through religious prejudices or the inability to compartmentalize or understand. So, from the Quran we have these things to ponder over:
THE SAME RELIGION has HE established for you as that which HE enjoined on Noah-the which WE have sent by inspiration to you {O Muhammad} -and that which WE enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than {THE ONE GOD}ALLAH, hard is the (way) to which you call them. ALLAH chooses to HIMSELF those whom HE pleases, and guides to HIMSELF those who turn (to HIM). Quran (42:13)
O you who believe! Be you helpers of ALLAH: As, {for example} said Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples, “Who will be my helpers to (the work of) ALLAH?” Said the disciples, “We are ALLAH’s helpers!” then {after a certain amount of time like all religions go through} a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: But WE gave power to those who believed {from this branch of Judaism}, {as opposed or} against their enemies {one of which were the Gnostics of the two gods theory}, and they became the ones that prevailed {won out}. Quran (61:14)
If you {people} are in doubt as to what WE have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Book {Abrahamic religions} from BEFORE you {to get the assurance of the ‘general notion’ or general idea of the events*}: the truth has indeed come to you from your LORD: so be in no wise of those who doubt. Quran (10:94)
*{a general notion or idea does not necessarily mean 100% accuracy but rather a ‘in the ballpark figure’. For example, one yard is equivalent to one meter. Relatively equivalent, yes! Exactly equivalent, NO! So, when we talk about a ‘ONE GOD’ belief system in the Abrahamic religious system, we are talking about the same ENTITY that we ‘claim’ to worship.}
First let us consider the case of Abu Hurairah:
In truth, Abu Hurairah was one of the most highly respected Companions of the Prophet (pbh). We Muslims owe him so much for our identity. Therefore, we should do him justice above and beyond the call of those who are misled by various corrupt concepts and half-baked theories. However, this would take a very long time.
Fortunately, Shaikh Yasir Qadhi explains the situation extremely well in his Lives of the Sahaba part 1 and 2 concerning Abu Hurairah on YouTube and shows just where the doubt concerning Abu Hurairah originated and who generally has kept up this delusion!
Those who don’t understand Islam in their hearts are easily deluded when it comes to simple logical progressions. Either that or they have a certain type of agenda that needs be honed so that their own corrupt theories will gain support.
For example, Twelver Islam, a Shia’ branch with its base found in Iran, are opposed to Abu Hurairah for their own selfish reasons. That makes sense due to the idea of their trying to forge a new take on the religion.
Accepting Abu Hurairah for them would be harmful to their peculiar, inventive ideologies. So, this much beloved Companion of the Prophet (pbh) and his honesty is brought into question. And the story, which actually started with the Khawarajites, continues to this day!
Now let us consider the case of Paul the Jew from Tarsus:
We find out about Paul in a most basic and purest form from Luke the author of the Gospel According to Luke and the author of Acts. Luke was a companion of Paul and so Luke, himself, must come under the proverbial gun here.
We can talk about Paul from what people are discussing in the twenty-first century but that would not be as relevant as using factual material much closer to his time.
A contemporary and part-time travelling companion to Paul was Luke who basically is NOT an original Disciple but rather a type of historian and second generation valued ‘believer’ known as a ‘Presbyter’. These Presbyters in all probability acted as ‘advance men’ paving the way for Jesus (pbh) and his inner groups’ (the original chosen 12) traveling needs. These would be the helpers or the ‘70’ Luke talks about.
After these things the lord {Jesus} appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would {eventually} come {for preparation purposes}.
Then he {Jesus} said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray {to} the LORD of the harvest {our GOD} to send out laborers into HIS harvest” {so as to reawaken the hearts that have fallen asleep}. Luke (10:1-2)
So, if anyone would know about Paul with a direct-type knowledge, it would be Luke! It is surmised that Luke was an on and off companion of Paul’s from about 49 to 62 CE or about 18 months total time. This is a very critical time in Paul’s life when it concerns his preaching element, style and beliefs!
It is also drawing close to the time of absolute chaos to be visited on The Way (neo-Judaism) as well as formal Judaism in that Nero and his persecutions will begin in around 64 CE, James, Peter and Paul become executed martyrs around 66 CE or so, the Jews fight back against the pagan Romans starting in 66 CE and finally the symbol of Jewish faith and central pillar of their religion was destroyed in 70 CE by the heathenistic Romans.
Since Paul died around 64 to 66 CE, we have a good basis of that man due to Luke knowing Paul’s philosophy/religious issues of what he actually believed in or else he would have to be classified as a simple moron! Apparently, he (Luke) is not because of the quality of his writings and the strong proofs he brings about concerning Jesus’ NON-CRUCIFIXION and the eventual arrival of Prophet Muhammad (pbh) to come.
Did Luke understand these things? We don’t know for absolute certainty but he seemingly and faithfully reported them as they (the events) occurred! The emphasis as always is one being sound in faith (belief) first as opposed to future events to follow and their interpretations.
To repeat, we have no indication from Luke that Paul was a clever interloper of the ‘faith’ or that he was a diabolical presence like the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing. What we do have from this historian (Luke) is some dynamic passages in his Gospel which can be used to substantiate the idea of Jesus (pbh) NOT BEING CRUCIFIED while naming the man who actually was put on the cross!
Also, being that Luke is the author of the historical Acts, we have a passage in Acts (3: 22-24) declaring the importance of Islam to come and by way of interpretation the praise offered to that man (Muhammad) who will introduce that way to be followed as the chosen WAY!!!
Why by way of interpretation? If a person wants to achieve anything, he should work for it!!! If one wants to read the ‘records’, then read them, ponder over them, coordinate with them and immerse yourself in them in a selfless manner and not a selfish manner!!!
Luke the historian and a member of the 70 declares:
“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,
Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the worddelivered them TO US {taught us},
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus” Luke (1:1-3)
It doesn’t sound like Luke is a buffoon or anybody’s fool. In fact, according to him, he and Paul met with James (Jesus’ half-brother) whereby all the elders were in attendance.
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
On the following day Paul went in with us to {see} James, and all the elders were present. Acts (21: 17-18)
Paul then partook of a purification ritual to demonstrate that, as opposed to the vicious slandering of him by a group of wayward and spiteful Jews, he most definitely believed in and adhered to Jewish Law. However, after 12 days due to a Jewish conspiracy, he was arrested and taken to Caesarea.
These things are startling of and by themselves but there are more pieces to add to the solving of this puzzle. This comes from history!
The much maligned man MARCION and truly deserving of it becomes a key to our investigation. This buffoon was officially excommunicated in around 144 CE. So, in brief, what is his dark story?
Marcion reshaped the Gospel of Luke while claiming it was his Gospel. He also brought bribing gifts to Rome so that he could join their elite circle of ‘believers’. One of the gifts turns out to be some claimed letters of Paul which had to be reworked in order to be more legible.
Can anyone in their right mind believe that Marcion the ‘forger’ didn’t ‘touch up’ these documents?????? We don’t have any direct evidence for this but a person willing to pass off his so-called gospel as something novel does show a pattern of disturbing corruption.
What we are doing is looking for patterns here that would help guide us to the truth!
In all fairness, if we are to be honest with ourselves and adhere to the Quranic passages listed above (Quran (42:13), Quran (61:14) and Quran (10:94), we should be closer to the truth than further from it and this activity is more Islamic than just throwing out darts and hoping that one sticks!
This approach is a more friendly way to achieve any meaningful dialog between religions and the various groups of people that hold them. In truth, it’s up to them – those having doubts concerning religion in general or the ‘what’s it all about’ peoples – (Muslims, Christians or Jews or any other group with ‘spiritual claims’ adhering to a certain philosophy) to test themselves concerning their own legitimacy as it pertains to a universal concept as is found in the Quran (42:13) described above.
Choosing a certain pathway just because it gives someone a particular thrill, is not really advantageous to the proper seeker of TRUTH! It takes a lot of real intestinal fortitude to have the courage to humble oneself to take a more meaningful spiritual journey to find the real hidden treasure of the heart.
The truth appears to be that difficult concepts have been misconstrued by the so-called ‘interpreters of doctrine’** and as a result of this, the real teachings of Jesus (pbh) have been subverted by the corrupters and the corrupted for their own benefit as if they would attempt to cheat the ONE GOD.
{** O people of the Scripture! Now has come to you OUR Messenger {Muhammad}explaining to you much of that which you used to HIDE from the Scripture and PASS OVER MUCH (i.e. leaving out concepts without explaining things). Indeed, there has come to you from the ONE GOD {WHO you would claim to worship} a light and a plain BOOK (this Quran).
Wherewith ALLAH guides all those who {desire to} seek HIS Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and HE brings them out of darkness by HIS WILL to LIGHT and GUIDES them to the Straight WAY (Islamic Monotheism). Quran (5:15-16)
And even according to Paul and 2Peter chapter 3, these people are only building for themselves a home in the ‘pit of the fire’ due to their contemptible intransigence! And this is seconded quite strongly in the Quran in various passages!!!
