Front matter
Terminology
The Glad Tidings of Ahmed, the Comforter – Chapter 1 · Adil Alsaeedi
Terminology
1. Nazara (Christians)
Before exploring the main points of this book, we need to address the following issues:
The Christians say that the word Nazara is not used in any text other than the Quran and Islamic texts. They say it does not originate in the Holy Book or the sayings of the Old Fathers.25
We argue that Christians seek to assert the opposite of what is stated in the Quran, despite its numerous incontrovertible facts. The Quran uses the term Nazara to refer to
Christians, a designation rooted in historical fact.26 This is confirmed by the Gospels, other Christian texts, and church traditions, which we will outline here briefly but sufficiently.
The Christians of the first few centuries were called Nazara. This term was not intended as an insult or disparagement, as some have claimed. Rather, it was their title and the name they used for themselves. Evidence that they were called Nazara before Islam lies in the way it was later distorted in translation to align with certain ecclesiastical perspectives.
Let us read these texts from the Holy Book:
Van Alen Van Dyck’s translation of Acts 24:5: “For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”
Other translations of the same verse, specifically The Catholic, The Arabic Standard, and the Good News, used Nazara, not Nazarenes.
But does the Greek text use the term Nazara, Christians, or Nazarenes?
Acts 24:5: ευροντες γαρ τον ανδρα τουτον λοιμον και κινουντα στασιν πασιν τοις ιουδαιοις τοις κατα την οικουμενην πρωτοστατην τε της των ναζωραιων αιρεσεως
The word ναζωραιων is Nazara.
We can consult the Codex Sinaiticus (or the Sinai Bible of the fourth century) to confirm that the word Nazara is in this ancient text and was not invented by Muslims. Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty affirms this when he says: “The word 'Nazareth,' from which the term 'Nasara' (Christians) is derived, is natzar in Hebrew.
Despite the Orthodox Christians being the first to object to the term Nazara, hymns on their official website still feature this word.27
1. Īsā (Eesaa)
They say: the Arabic word Īsā (Eesaa) is used only in your Islamic text; his real name is Yasoo.
We say: it is known that there is a difference between Muslims and Christians regarding the name of the Messiah. According to Muslims, he is Eesa, the Messiah, son of MaryP. God Almighty says in the Quran: “O Mary, indeed God gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Īsā [Jesus], the son of Mary-distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to God].”28
In Christianity, the Arabic name is Yasoo: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”29
Christians consistently censure the Quran for calling the Messiah Īsā (Eesaa), deeming the name mentioned in the Holy Book to be the right one. This belief stems from the fact that the Holy Book was written by Jesus’ apostles and disciples who saw him face to face, lived with him, and learned directly from him.
Thus, how could the Quran possibly come 500 years afterward to say that he is Īsā (Eesaa)? Did MuhammadP know the Messiah’s name better than the Messiah’s disciples?
1. The Aramaic Perspective
The Messiah spoke the Aramaic language, which is very similar to the Arabic language in a number of its words, besides some differences in pronunciation. For instance, the letter seen in Arabic is pronounced sheen in Aramaic, as in the word masheeh (maseeh in Arabic, Messiah in English).
It is noteworthy that the name Īsā (Eesaa) was very common among the Jews. For example, it is mentioned in the Book of Genesis more than once (Īsū (Eesoo). ʿThe Arameans and the Hebrews called him Īsū (Eesoo), which is equivalent to Īsā (Eesaa) in the dialects of the Arabs.
What is the Messiah's name in Aramaic?
To see how the Aramaens pronounce the Messiah’s name, let us go to this website to learn some Christian words in Aramaic: http://www.learnassyrian.com/aramaic/church/church.html
You will find that the second word on the page is the Messiah’s name in English (Jesus), and directly next to it, you will find the Aramaic pronunciation (Eeshoo).
Note that the first letter “e” replaces the Arabic letter “ayn” because the “ayn” does not exist in English. Therefore, it is pronounced as Eeshoo.
If you want further evidence, you need only to look at the word “Christmas” on the same website. You will find the corresponding Aramaic word to be “Eedaa soorraa.” Notice here that “eedaa” is pronounced the same as the Arabic word “Eed.”
The Arabic letter “seen,” as we previously said, is “sheen” in Aramaic. Correspondingly, Īsū (Eesoo) in Aramaic is the same as Īsā (Eesaa) in Arabic.
If the Messiah's real name in Arabic were Yasoo, the Aramaic name would be pronounced as Yashoo. However, the Aramaic word is Eeshoo, which is Īsū (Eesoo).
If you would like further information on this topic, you may consult the official website of learning Aramaic (both writing and pronunciation): /http://www.learnassyrian.com/Aramaic
2. The Greek Perspective
It is known that proper names in Greek are always attached to the suffix “s” that marks the nouns as proper names. For example: Hercules, Achilles, Odysseus, Hómēros, etc.
It is also known that the Greek language does not have the letter “ayn.” It is frequently replaced by the letter “j”.
That said, let us look at the Messiah’s name, which Christians worldwide take pride in: Jisoos (Jesus). It is well-known that this was originally a Greek name.
Based on the above, we now know that the letter “ayn” is pronounced as “j” in Greek, so Jisoos becomes Isoos. If we omit the final “s,” which as we have previously mentioned is a suffix that is added to nouns in Greek to mark proper names, we are left with Īsū (Eesoo) which is Īsā (Eesaa) in Arabic.
If the Messiah’s real name in Arabic was Yasoo,30 then the Greek name would be Yusoojoos. However, the Greek name, as we know, is Jisoos, which is Īsū (Eesoo).
The translator violated the rules of scientific integrity by moving the first letter (ayn) to the final position of the word, resulting in the word Yasū.
There are a large number of words whose real meaning was distorted for the sole purpose of distracting people from the truth and facts stated in the Holy Quran. Yet, how could they achieve this purpose when the truth is as plain as day?