Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (2/201)

Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-MasīhIbn Taimiya

Section: Refutation of the Christians and their claim that Allah praised them in the verse, “Among the People of the Scripture is a group that stands upright”

As for the Almighty’s words:
“Among the People of the Scripture there is a community standing firm; they recite Allah’s revelations throughout the night while prostrating”
(Al ʿImrān 3:113) (113)

“they believe in Allah and the Last Day, enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and hasten to all that is good; such are among the righteous.”
(Al ʿImrān 3:114) (114)

this passage is by no means exclusive to the Christians. It is set immediately after His words, Exalted is He:
“You are the best community ever raised for humankind: you enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah. If the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them: some of them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.”
(Al ʿImrān 3:110) (110)

“They will not harm you except for a minor annoyance; and if they fight you they will turn their backs, then they will not be helped.”
(Al ʿImrān 3:111) (111)

“Humiliation has been stamped upon them wherever they are found, unless they are bound to Allah by a covenant and bound to people by a covenant; they incurred wrath from Allah, and destitution was laid upon them. That was because they used to reject the signs of Allah and kill the prophets without right. That was because they disobeyed and habitually transgressed.”
(Al ʿImrān 3:112)

Then He said,
“They are not all alike: among the People of the Scripture is a community standing firm.”
(Al ʿImrān 3:113)

[فَصْلٌ: الرَّدُّ عَلَى النَّصَارَى فِي احْتِجَاجِهِمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَدَحَهُمْ فِي قَوْلِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ] وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُ - تَعَالَى -: {مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ} [آل عمران: ١١٣] (١١٣) {يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَأُولَئِكَ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ} [آل عمران: ١١٤] فَهَذِهِ الْآيَةُ لَا اخْتِصَاصَ فِيهَا لِلنَّصَارَى بَلْ هِيَ مَذْكُورَةٌ بَعْدَ قَوْلِهِ - تَعَالَى -: {كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ مِنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ} [آل عمران: ١١٠] (١١٠) {لَنْ يَضُرُّوكُمْ إِلَّا أَذًى وَإِنْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ يُوَلُّوكُمُ الْأَدْبَارَ ثُمَّ لَا يُنْصَرُونَ} [آل عمران: ١١١] (١١١) {ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُوا إِلَّا بِحَبْلٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَبَاءُوا بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَسْكَنَةُ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوْا وَكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ} [آل عمران: ١١٢] ثُمَّ قَالَ {لَيْسُوا سَوَاءً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ} [آل عمران: ١١٣]