The Majestic Quran

when told to enter the Holy Land. The moral is: disobeying God’s messengers merits severe punishment. The second story describes the murder by Cain of his brother Abel, showing that murder is an abominable crime. The relationships of various groups in the Arabian Peninsula are surveyed, and the Christian-Muslim relationship is highlighted in particular: You will find the nearest and most affectionate to the believers are those who say, ‘We are Christians’, because among them are priests and monks who are not arrogant (82). The chapter’s central theme is the fulfilment of contracts. It explains how the Jews and Christians failed to fulfil their contracts, and gives examples of how they violated the divine laws, so they were rejected by God. The Christians are further condemned for violating their contract with God by tampering with the teachings of Prophet Jesus; their adoption of the doctrine of the Trinity in 325 ce, which gave rise to a misunderstanding of the oneness of God. “Those who say: ‘The Messiah, the son of Mary, is God’ are denying the truth” (17). Furthermore, “Those who said: ‘God is the third of three,’ have committed an act of disbelief” (73). Since the glorious Quran is a final contract of God, both the Jews and the Christians are invited to follow the Messenger r . There is an emphasis on honouring pledges and contracts, which should be taken seriously. However, the contract that humanity has with God is the most serious, belief in His oneness. These laws appear harsh and difficult to apply because they require a high level of self-discipline, and a sense of justice, impartiality and courage. Hence, a stress on their benefits and why they shouldn’t be violated. By pointing out weaknesses of the Jews and the Christians, Muslims are in a way being alerted. It is in the best interest of humanity to live by God’s laws: