The Qur'an as the Criterion · Using This Without Overreaching
Respect the prophets while making the point
Handle with care. Handle with care: this rule is absolute. No mockery of any prophet, in any language, in any company.
In short
- 1.We believe in all of them: no distinction between any of His messengers (Q 2:285).
- 2.Say the passage once, plainly, and move to the Qur'anic account.
- 3.If you enjoy saying it, do not say it.
The claim being examined
This entire section argues that prophets must be honoured — which is destroyed the moment you speak about one with contempt.
The Islamic position
Describe what the passage says, add peace be upon him when you name the prophet, and never let amusement into your voice.
Analysis
The argument of this section is self-refuting if delivered badly. You are claiming that the Qur'an is the criterion because it protects the honour of the prophets — so describing Lut's daughters with a smirk, or making a joke of David, hands the other person a complete answer without their having to say a word. The Islamic position is that these are our prophets too: "The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so have the believers. All of them have believed in God, His angels, His books and His messengers, [saying] we make no distinction between any of His messengers" (Q 2:285). Practically, three habits carry this. Name each prophet with the Islamic honorific — Dawud, Lut, Harun, Sulayman, Nuh, Yaqub, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, peace be upon them — so the listener hears the reverence in your speech. State the biblical passage once, briefly, without dramatising it, and then spend your time on the Qur'anic account rather than the biblical one. And check your motive: if part of you is enjoying the discomfort, stop, because the person in front of you will hear it before they hear the evidence.
From the Qur'an
لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ
We make no distinction between any of His messengers.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ
Indeed those who disbelieve in God and His messengers and wish to discriminate between God and His messengers...
From the Sunnah
The Prophet, peace be upon him, was never one to use obscene speech, nor a curser, nor abusive.
Sources
Qur'an 2:285; 4:150-152 · Sahih al-Bukhari 6035 · Qur'an 2:285
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