Disrespecting the Bible and the churches

2-10-2012 | IslamWeb

Question:

I realise that a church is a place where shirk and kufr is committed. However, I was wondering, the Christians still do worship Allah (although they associate partners with Him). So, would it be wrong to think that one should not disrespect churches, or commit evil deeds/sins in a church, otherwise one would be disrespecting Allah, Prophet Isa, peace be upon him, and Angel Jibreel, peace be upon him (even though the Christians commit kufr and shirk in there and they made false claims about Prophet Isa, peace be upon him, and Angel Jibreel, peace be upon him)? Similarly, I know that the Bible has been corrupted by the Christians, but is it correct to say that we should still treat the Bible with respect, since it may still contain something from the Tawrat and the Injeel?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Even though the Christians claim to worship Allaah, the fact remains that they describe Him with imperfect qualities, such as Him taking a wife and a son, whereas our Lord is high above what they associate to Him.

However, the Lord Whom the Muslims worship is the Lord Who is described by all perfect qualities that make Him far and above any imperfection.

As regards disobeying Allaah, this is a matter that is neither permissible in churches nor in any other place.

With regard to despising churches, then if its people are people who have covenants with the Muslims or are living in a Muslim country under Muslim rule, then this is not permissible because it is transgressing their right and not because the church should be honored itself.

Indeed, glorying these churches is not glorifying Allaah or ‘Eesa (Jesus) may Allaah exalt his mention because Allaah hates the places where the Christians associate partners with Him. Besides, ‘Eesa (Jesus) may Allaah exalt his mention will declare himself innocent of those who worship him or take him as the son of God on the Day of Judgment.

Concerning the books that they have today, then we authoritatively assert that they have been distorted and falsified. Nevertheless, these books should not be disrespected as they include some truth and some of Allaah's words. It is for this reason that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, put the Torah on a pillow when he was given it. The story narrated by Zayd Ibn Aslam from Ibn 'Umar may Allaah be pleased with them   about stoning two Jewish persons, reads: “He (the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)was given it (the Torah) and he took away the pillow from beneath him and then he put the Torah on it and then he said: “I believe in you [Torah] and in the One Who had sent you down.” [Abu Daawood]

Shaykh Abdul Mohsin Al’Abbaad said: “It means that he was informed that a man and a woman from the Jews had committed Zina (adultery), and they (the Jews) asked judgment on them. Then, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked them to bring the Torah with them and they brought it, and they had brought him a pillow to sit on, so he took away the pillow and put the Torah on it and said: “I believe in you [Torah] and in the One Who had sent you down.” This is evidence of honoring and respecting the revealed books, as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,  put it on the pillow which is a high place in order to keep it at a high place. In addition to this, these books are not free of mentioning the names of the Lord and it is an obligation to glorify His Names and Attributes. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 134055.

Allaah Knows best.

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