The words of Allah are open, clear, concise and wise. But our Almighty Lord hides in His words sometimes clear judgments and sometimes meanings open to interpretation. In order to fully understand the latter, one must look with an eye of faith at the deep meanings and secrets inside these wise words.
Our Almighty Lord gives these deep meanings sometimes in similes and metaphors. For example in one verse in the Qur’an, He reveals, “Hold fast to the rope of Allah all together, and do not separate...” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 103), in another verse, “As for those who deny Our Signs and are arrogant regarding them, the Gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, and they will not enter the Garden until a camel goes through a needle’s eye. …” (Surat al-A‘raf, 40). These verses might be taken by some and interpreted literally. But in fact, both of these metaphors are very wise expression methods and they have hidden meanings which humans can dig deeper into when they think more. Our Lord, with the "rope of Allah," clearly wants people to hang tight with Allah and His path, and be persistence with it. Again our Lord, with the expression “until a camel goes through a needle’s eye,” states that those who are mentioned in the verse will not be allowed into Heaven – unless Allah wills otherwise. This is such a deep and beautiful way of expression. But in order to properly understand this, one needs to contemplate the inward meaning.
This situation, as well as the Qur’an, is also applicable with the Torah and the Gospel. For example in a passage from the Gospel, our Lord’s expression of deep wisdom that needs to be interpreted inwardly is as follows:
This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ (Matthew 13:13-15)
It is possible to give similar examples from the Torah:
“Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! … You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.”(Isaiah 42:18, 20)
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.”(Ezekiel, 12:1-2)
These expressions mentioned in the Gospel and the Torah, of course, are not physical blindness or deafness. What is emphasized here is the spiritual blindness and spiritual deafness. Even though the evidence for the existence of Allah is shown before their eyes, even though these evidences are always in front of them, people mentioned in these words simply do not appreciate Him. Allah condemns these spiritually blind and deaf people.
If this blindness and deafness are understood literally, this will certainly bring false interpretations with them. In order to escape such mistaken interpretations, it is important to be able to comtemplate the inward meaning. That is because Allah, with these deep meanings, gives people great and important messages, and conceals in them secrets that will lead people to the right path.
The inward meaning of the word “son” in the Gospel must be considered
First it should be noted that the lack of understanding the inward meaning is encountered in a variety of ways in Islam, in Judaism and also in Christianity. So this should not be considered as a matter about some Christians alone. However, here only this subject’s aspect related to Christians is described.
The ability to understand the inward meaning is important in terms of the errors some of our Christian brothers and sisters have fallen in. That is because the belief that has been held for years that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is the son of Allah (Surely Allah is beyond that) is a dangerously erroneous interpretation that occurs due to a lack of this understanding. The expression “son of Allah” in the Gospel is taken as its literal meaning without having properly thought of the deeper meaning it states.
In fact the word “son” here is an expression of spiritual closeness to Allah, love, election, and friendship. It is a quite deep expression Allah used for a servant of His whom He loved and chose.
This special expression is also a way of description used in the Torah. (Psalms 2: 7-12) Since some Christians interpret the word “son” in the Torah again literally, they cite the Torah as a reference for their false belief that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is Allah’s son (Surely Allah is beyond that). Yet the Jews know the true and deep meanings of these expressions in the Torah. They interpret these expressions and comtemplate their inward meaning and can understand that Allah has stressed His love for, protection over and closeness to His servant. Indeed, Jews oppose some Christians’ commentating on passages from the Torah literally and thus differently from their actual meanings.
Our Christian brothers and sisters must understand that with the word "son of Allah," not a physical meaning is implied (Surely Allah is beyond that), but instead a servant’s spiritual closeness to Him is emphasized. With this point of view of the inward expression, they will better realize a very different and deeper message deep inside this form of address.
The creed of trinity is the biggest harm ever given to Christianity and it is the biggest aspersion casted on Prophet Jesus (pbuh)
From Mr. Adnan Oktar’s Live Interview on TV Kayseri and Kanal 35 (January 10, 2010)
The belief that the Prophet Jesus’ (pbuh) second coming in the End Times will be over the clouds and seen everywhere originates from the lack of understanding the inward meaning
The Prophet Jesus (pbuh), with the permission of Allah, will come again in the End Times and bring peace and safety to all the nations of the earth. This is very exciting good news given also in the Qur’an. But the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) being sent back to earth during the End Times will not take place as a result of extraordinary events that all people will witness like some Christians and even some Muslims suppose it to be. The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will be sent down to earth from the Presence of Allah, and even he himself will not be aware of who he is. At first, a small group of Christians will believe in him and protect him. In the beginning he will secretly carry out his activities and then will be recognized by the entire world. All people’s belief in him and then returning to faith in Allah will take place after a certain period of time.
The Prophet Jesus’ (pbuh) arrival during the End Times is a beauty also told in the Gospel and expected by Christians. But some of our Christian brothers and sisters, because they interpret the accounts in the Gospel literally, enter false expectations. For example, some Christians believe that the Prophet Jesus’ (pbuh) coming will be over the clouds and all people will see this as a result of extraordinary events. They base this belief on the following passages from the Gospel:
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him,” … (Revelation 1:7)
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26)
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62)
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27)
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:27)
For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. (Luke: 17:24)
The metaphors about the Prophet Jesus’ (pbuh) coming are in order to emphasize the magnitude of this event. In addition his coming being visible just like the “lighting that comes from the east is visible even in the west,” in a way could be a sign of him to be seen on TV. The Prophet Jesus’ (pbuh) beautiful face’s being visible by all people could be described in this metaphor.
Also if these words are taken in the literal sense, everyone will certainly be knowledgeable of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) who will be coming over the clouds, and with this great miracle all people will no doubt have faith and there will be no more trial. However, in the Gospel, it is described that there will be a period of struggle between the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and the described antichrist. If there was actually coming down from the clouds, which would be witnessed by all and would make everyone come to faith, then without doubt there would be no environment needing the Prophet Jesus’ (pbuh) struggle. In order for the Prophet Jesus’ (pbuh) struggle with the antichrist to take place, he should not be recognized at first when he returns. Also it should be noted that since the trial on earth is continuously going on, no event could happen without reasons, in a way that would take away one’s free will. This is contrary to Allah’s justice and His law of creation. Just as no events that would take away people’s free will occurred during the time of other prophets, neither will they take place during the Prophet Jesus’ (pbuh) coming. Therefore, occurrence of such great and extraordinary events that everyone will witness at a moment, beyond the limits of the mind, is not possible within reasons. Here, in reality, it is necessary to get the inward meaning of the lyrics.
With these words, our Almighty Lord informs us that the Prophet Jesus’ (pbuh) second coming on the earth will be a great and a blessed occurrence, and everyone will know about his arrival and with his coming all people would become enlightened and righteous. Understanding of his presence on earth will of course be enlightening and exciting. For this reason, Allah compares his coming on earth as a lighting.
Conclusion
Understanding the inward meaning is an important way of realizing the deep messages that Allah offers us and an important way to think of His wisdoms. Failure to do so is a serious deficiency where people could be forced into serious errors and false beliefs. As Allah states in the Qur’an, He gives all who fear Him discrimination of right and wrong (Surat al-Anfal, 29). Therefore, all people who submit themselves to Allah and fear Him as due have the blessing to see the truth and see the deep meanings of Allah’s words and live according to his/her conscience. Our sincere Christian brothers and sisters must also evaluate those words of wisdom in the Gospel that are in agreement with the Qur’an this way. When they refer to their conscience, they will see the deep meanings there by the will of Allah.