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and <strong>the</strong> town was called Antioch. This view is groundless because <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong>Antioch when received three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> disciples <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him)-were <strong>the</strong> first to believe in him at that very time. Thereupon, Antioch was one <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> first four towns in which <strong>the</strong>re first existed Christian Patriarchs. These fourtowns were Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria and Rome. However, <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se towns were not destroyed, whereas <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> aforementionedtown in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Qur</strong>'anic verses were totally annihilated, following <strong>the</strong> killing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ircompanion whom Allah sent to admonish <strong>the</strong>m. Allah <strong>the</strong> Almighty says: {Itwas but one Saihah (shout) and lo! They (all) were still (silent, deadand destroyed)}. (Ya-Sin, 29) There is no contradiction between <strong>the</strong> twointerpretations, if <strong>the</strong> case was that <strong>the</strong> three Messengers <strong>of</strong> Allah were sent to<strong>the</strong> earlier dwellers <strong>of</strong> Antioch and that <strong>the</strong>y were belied, <strong>the</strong> matter whichincurred complete destruction. Then, <strong>the</strong>ir land was re-inhabited and during <strong>the</strong>lifetime <strong>of</strong> Jesus (Peace be upon him) <strong>the</strong> new dwellers believed in his threemessengers.The claim that <strong>the</strong> story mentioned in <strong>the</strong> Glorious <strong>Qur</strong>'an is that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>messengers <strong>of</strong> Jesus (Peace be upon him) is very absurd and groundless.Obviously, <strong>the</strong> context shows that <strong>the</strong>y, <strong>the</strong> Messengers were sent by Allah <strong>the</strong>Almighty.Allah <strong>the</strong> Almighty says: {And put forward to <strong>the</strong>m a similitude} i.e. foryour people 0 Muhammad (Peace be upon him). {The (story <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>) dwellers<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> town, when <strong>the</strong>re came Messengers to <strong>the</strong>m. When We sent to<strong>the</strong>m two Messengers, <strong>the</strong>y belied <strong>the</strong>m both, so We reinforced <strong>the</strong>mwith a third} i.e. We supported <strong>the</strong>m with a third Messenger, {and <strong>the</strong>y said:Verily we have been sent to you as Messengers}. The people <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> townsaid that <strong>the</strong> Messengers were only human beings and <strong>the</strong>y set aside <strong>the</strong> ideathat Allah Almighty might send human beings as His Messengers to mankind.The Messengers asserted that Allah knows that <strong>the</strong>y have been sent to <strong>the</strong>m andthat if <strong>the</strong>y lie to Him, He would certainly give <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> severest <strong>of</strong> allpunishment. They added: {our duty is only to convey plainly (<strong>the</strong>Message)} i.e. what <strong>the</strong>y were sent with and that guidance and misleading arein <strong>the</strong> Hand <strong>of</strong> Allah <strong>the</strong> Almighty Alone. {They (people) said: For us, we seean evil omen from you} i.e. from what you have brought us. {If you ceasenot, we will surely stone you} with bad words and stones as well; {anda painful torment will touch you from us} i.e. <strong>the</strong>y threatened <strong>the</strong>m withafflicting humiliation (bad words) and killing (stoning to death). {They(Messengers) said: Your evil omens be with you!} i.e. <strong>the</strong>y will badlyaffect you. {(Do you call it "evil omen ") because you are admonished?}i.e. because we reminded you with guidance and invited you to it you threatenedus with killing and afflicting humiliation. {Nay, but you are a peopleMusrifun} i.e. you transgress all bounds by committing all kinds <strong>of</strong> sinful deeds,and by disobeying Allah.www.islambasics.com
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