Common Word between People of the Book

I quoted this verse in a forum, which generated the following exchange:
Holy Quran 3:64 Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (atleast) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will) ."

Question: "O People of the Book! Come to the common Word (Kalimah) between you and us." (Quran 3:64)
"Behold! The angels said: "O Mary! Allah gives you glad tiding of His Word(Kalimah). His name will be Jesus son of Mary, the Messiah, held in honor in this world and the hereafter and one of those nearest to Allah." (Quran3:45)
Is there any relationship between the two verses above? Can we say theKalimah (The Holy Quran or Jesus Christ) is the instrument and the means with which the One has revealed Himself to all of us? Can someone believe in the Oneness of Allah, yet deny his Word?

Answer: As you know, Arabic is a complex language where the same word can mean differently in different contexts, especially when one attempts to translate it in another language. The verse I quoted (3:64), uses the word kalimah.Now what R is referring to (3:45) is another use of the same word, and is trying to draw some sort of parallel. But the fact is that throughout theQuran, Allah has repeatedly told us that:

• When He wills something, He just says Be and it becomes (that is all is needed is just a word or Divine Will).
• Allah willed Jesus without a father, and thus he was conceived and born, and that his creation is similar to the creation of Adam. Adam was without parents, Jesus was without father.
• We are reminded that Jesus was a messenger, he came to confirm that which was already with the Jews, that is The Torah, he reconfirmed the Laws and taught their wisdom to his people(I think there is a verse in the Bible to that effect, where Jesus is reported to have said that he has come to confirm the law, not to do away with it).
• Prophet Muhammad was sent as the final messenger to mankind. He came to reconfirm the message brought by all the prophets who preceded him. As the original message was from the same creator, thus the same, he was sent to remove all the man-made changes, and restore it to its pristine beauty.
• Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad as the guidance for mankind and preserved by Allah such that no alphabet or word has been changed since it was revealed.
• 3:64 is self explanatory as the common word/terms are defined in detail
  Holy Quran 3:64 Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (atleast) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will) ."
• As Muslims, we are required to associate NO partners with Allah, thus even though we have a very high regard for Jesus and his mission, believing that he was a human is an article of faith, since we believe that the Holy Quran is the unadulterated, untampered word of Allah, and we cannot pick and choose what we believe in.
• Furthermore, in the Quran, Allah tells us that there is no confusion/doubt in it. Thus, if we are not sure about the correct interpretation of some verse/word, we put together the various verses throughout the Quran to get the larger picture, and then it usually is self-explanatory

Some verses about Jesus:

• 2:87 And verily We gave unto Moses the Scripture and We caused a train of messengers to follow after him, and We gave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), and We supported him with the Holy spirit. Is it ever so, that, when there cometh unto you a messenger (from Allah) with that which ye yourselves desire not, ye grow arrogant, and some ye disbelieve andsome ye slay?
• 2:136 Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and untoHim we have surrendered.
• 2:253 Of those messengers, some of whom We have caused to excel others, and of whom there are some unto whom Allah spake, while some of them He exalted (above others) in degree; and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) and We supported him with the holy Spirit. And if Allah had sowiled it, those who followed after them would not have fought one with anotherafter the clear proofs had come unto them. But they differed, some of them believing and some disbelieving. And if Allah had so willed it, they would not have fought one with another; but Allah doeth what He will.
• 3:45 (And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah).
• 3:59 Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is.
• 4:171 O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease!(it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from HisTranscendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in theheavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.
• 5:46 And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in the Torah, and We bestowed on him theGospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed)before it in the Torah - a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off(evil).
• 5:116 And when Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? he saith: Be glorified! It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right. If I used to say it, then Thou knewest it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy Mind. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower of Things Hidden
• 61:6 And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when he hath come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic.

http://www.searchtruth.com/ translator:Picthall


Update [June 19, 2019]
Please read Virgin Birth and Human: Body or Soul? for a better explanation of the what was given to Mary.  

Shariah Law and flogging as a form of punishment

Question: I just want the opinion of all members of the recent implementation of 'Sharia Law' in sawat. Not the forget, the infamous video of flogging a girl.

Answer: We had a brief discussion on ideal Islamic state and shariah law in our Quran class the other day. Our teacher was of the opinion (or so I understood) that there is no such thing as an ideal state, as there always will be something better than an existing state, and thus there can never be a perfect state….. so instead of dreaming of an ‘ideal Islamic state’, we should simply strive, continuously, to improve our current state.As for the Shariah Laws, his opinion was that Allah has provided us with guidance (in the Quran) for only about five things, which as humans we would probably get confused about, and not be able to formulate the correct laws based on our human faculties. The rest, which are known as Islamic Shariah Laws, were formulated much much later, for political reasons.
………………………………………………….
As for flogging, my understanding from the Quran (see below) is that Allah has indeed made it extremely difficult for anybody to accuse anybody else for adultery. To even admit the case in court you need atleast 4 witnesses, how is it possible to get 4 witnesses for such a thing? Then again, if the accusation is found to be false, the accuser is to be flogged with eighty stripes, and never again is his testimony to be accepted throughout his life! And if a person accuses his/her spouse of adultery, he/she is required to take oath 4 times that the accusation is true, and a fifth oath that if he/she is lying, may the wrath of Allah fall upon him/her.

Given the above conditions, it is indeed extremely difficult, if not impossible to launch such accusations. Also, I don’t see how except the openly promiscuous would suffer such a fate, and then again, after one or two such punishments, how many would be left in society who would dare do such a thing, especially openly? I think the hudood and zina laws as implemented in Pakistan is simply a mockery of religion, and an additional tool for the oppressors to further their oppression.

Surah Noor ayat 1-10
1 A sura which We have sent down and which We have ordained in it have We sent down Clear Signs, in order that ye may receive admonition.
2 The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.
3 Let no man guilty of adultery or fornication marry and but a woman similarly guilty, or an Unbeliever: nor let any but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thing is forbidden.
4 And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-
5 Unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct); for Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.
6 And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;
7 And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a lie.
8 But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) By Allah, that (her husband) is telling a lie;
9 And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of Allah on herself if (her accuser) is telling the truth.
10 If it were not for Allah.s grace and mercy on you, and that Allah is Oft- Returning, full of Wisdom,- (Ye would be ruined indeed).
http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=24&translator=2