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Fatwa CenterWaswasah about words in Bible
Question
Assalaamu alaykum, Shaykh. A few days ago, I sent a question and got an answer with links to similar questions that you have previously answered. However, I want to ask you to answer my question because I really suffer from big Waswasah (devilish whisperings) and your answer will help me negate such things. My question was:
Assalaamu alaykum, Shaikh. To start: I ask you if it is possible to help me as soon as possible because I am in a terrible condition because of this Waswasah. In some texts (versions) of the Christian Bible (I read it as a child), I saw that they use the terms ‘son’, ‘daughter’, and ‘children’ of God (we seek refuge in Allaah) in the metaphorical sense (in the meaning of slaves and creatures) for angels and some good people. For example: In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus said of those who believed in him, “They are like the angels. They are God’s children since they are children of the resurrection.” [Luke 20:36] And in the Book of Isaiah, God Almighty said, “Bring back My sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” [Isaiah 43:6] Is our belief concerning the above that we say that Jesus, peace be upon him, never used these terms and that Allah Almighty never used such terms, not even in metaphorical meaning (meaning that Allaah never said ‘My children’ meaning ‘My slaves and creatures’)? Do we negate this and say that these are lies from the Christians and the Jews or do we neither confirm nor deny it because we do not have any proof? I have such big Waswasah about this, if I negate it, I ask myself how I can negate something when I do not know whether Allaah Almighty used such terms or not in a metaphorical sense, but if I remain silent, I think that I am a disbeliever because I do not negate it. What is the right answer? And did I become a disbeliever because of having these thoughts? May Allaah bless you. Ameen.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
You must ignore this Waswasah (obsessive whispering) and not pay any attention to it, and you do not become a disbeliever just by having this Waswasah regardless of whether you confirmed this matter or refuted it. It is not among the fundamentals of Islam, nor is it among the beliefs that are subject to declaring someone a disbeliever.
The correct view is that we neither negate nor affirm what the Jews and the Christians have in their books (unless it contradicts our creed). We do not believe them because it is possible that what they say is part of what they distorted in their books – and Allah informed us that they distorted words from their proper usage – and we also do not deny it because it is possible that it is part of the truth which they did not distort.
It is for this reason that the Prophet said, “If the People of the Book speak to you, you should neither believe in what they say nor deny it.”
Therefore, it is better to not deny nor believe in what is in the books of the Jews and Christians.
Consequently, you should avoid thinking about these matters and instead preoccupy yourself with what benefits you in the matters of the religion and the obligations and recommended deeds that bring you closer to your Lord. You should avoid indulging in the details of what the People of the Book have at hand; you should neither assert its truthfulness nor deny it except for what the Quran has affirmed with evidence as true, so we believe in it, or false, so we deny it.
Avoid Waswasah, and do not pay any attention to it, because getting carried away with it will lead you to a great evil.
Allah knows best.
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