Names of Mohammad and ‘Ali (SBUT) in the Bible

Part 12

 

As it was mentioned before, followers of bible have always associated the name Elijah with anticipation of a loving and reverent helper who has some times appeared to help throughout the ages … now, as a ninth possibility for the name of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) in the bible, we are going to explore a sample case for Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) appearing as helper of Prophets (SBUT):

 

In the book of Job of the bible a mysterious young man is introduced … this young man seems to be some one who appears and helps Job against the three antagonists accusing God and Job; the bible calls those three as Job’s friends! …

 

It is noteworthy to again remind that the distorted bible, having been written by regular fallible and many times malevolent people, is filled with contradictions and it has almost always presented those Chosen by God as sinners and …; Job has been no exception … Job is being presented as some one accusing God … while in Islamic teachings Hadrat Ayyub- Job- (SBUH) is a Prophet of God and thus Infallible: 

 

Qur’an 4:163 Surely We have Revealed to you [Mohammad SAWA] as We Revealed to Nuh [Noah], and the Prophets after him, and We Revealed to Ibrahim [Abraham] and Isma’el [Ishmael] and Ishaaq [Isaac] and Ya’qub [Jacob] and the tribes, and ‘Eesa [Jesus] and Ayyub [Job] and Yunos [Jonah] and Haaroon [Aaron] and Sulaiman [Solomon] and We gave Dawud [David] Zaboor.

 

Prophet Ayyub (SBUH) was a very prosperous man and of exemplary virtue and piety. He suffered from a number of calamities. He lost his family, children, cattle and servants, yet he remained devoted to his Lord and prayed for His Grace and Mercy. Ayyub (SBUH) became a model of humility, patience and faith in Allah. He was restored to prosperity, with what he had before and more:

 

Qur’an 21:83 And Ayyub, when he cried to his Lord, (saying): Harm has afflicted me, and Thou art the most Merciful of the merciful.

 

Qur’an 21:84 Therefore We responded to him and took off what harm he had, and We gave him his family and the like of them with them: a Mercy from Us and a reminder to the worshippers.

 

Even in the midst of distortions of bible, still rays of truth shines; in this same book of Job, indications of Infallibility of the Prophet Job is mentioned. When God rebukes the three accusers of Job, it is said that:

 

Job 42:7 After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has...

 

Also:

 

Job 1:8 And the Lord said unto Satan, “Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who feareth God and escheweth evil?”

 

Job 2:3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity [innocence-DRB] …”

 

In the rabbinic writings too there are contradictions regarding Job:

 

… Among the Tannaim Job had his defenders, e.g., Joshua b. Hyrcanus, whose opinion was that Job worshiped God out of pure love (Soṭah l.c.). This difference of opinion existed with regard to Job's attitude at the time of his misfortune. R. Eliezer said that Job blasphemed God (the Talmudic expression being "he desired to upset the dish"), but R. Joshua considered that Job spoke harsh words against Satan only (B. B. 16a) …

 

Any how … ‘Elihu is the name of the young mysterious man in the biblical book of Job who gave fiery defense of God's righteousness and helped Job. He is not mentioned at all in the beginning of the book where the so called three friends of Job are introduced; rather he suddenly appears late in the text, Chapter 32. Then again there is no mention of him at the end of the book where the three antagonists are still mentioned:

 

“Some question the status of Elihu's interruption and didactic sermon because of his sudden appearance and disappearance from the text.” (Harley, John E. The Book of Job, Pages 28-29. (Wm. B. Eerdman Publishing Company, 1988); as cited in the English Wikipedia.)

 

“He [Elihu] is not mentioned in Job 2:11, in which Job's friends are introduced, nor is he mentioned at all in the epilogue, 42:7-10, in which God expresses anger at Job's friends …” (D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 2, p. 463). New York: Doubleday. As cited in the English Wikipedia.)

 

In the epilogue of the book of Job a speech of God is presented; Of course the undistorted version would be a Revelation from God to the Prophet Job and then Job’s narration of that Revelation. Any how … in the Word of God, The three so called friends of Job are rebuked, Job himself is commended for all that he had done and receives a double blessing. But Elihu disappears from the story. God’s silence in regard to Elihu is said to be a powerful argument for Elihu; another very powerful argument for Elihu is said to be the fact that God confirmed Elihu’s words; it is said that this shows that Elihu was an instrument of God from start to finish:

 

In The Book of Job in Medieval Jewish Philosophy by Robert Eisen Associate Professor of Religious Studies George Washington University - Published by Oxford University Press, USA, it is stated:

 

“It is Elihu who in Duran's opinion offers the correct explanation of Job's suffering … Elihu as the individual who supplies the true position on providence … In fact, as we saw in my summary of his commentary, Gersonides openly acknowledges the problem when he claims that in many respects God's speech merely reviews what Elihu has said …”

 

“Elihu is an enigma, not only because of his mysterious appearance and equally mysterious disappearance from the dialog, but because opinions vary so widely concerning which side he is on. According to one, “Elihu definitely belongs to God, and God has much to say through Elihu the prophet” (Lucas, chapter 12).” “Elihu believes it important to listen for God's inspiration to receive understanding (32:8).” “Elihu has profound things to say, indicative of the presence of the Holy Spirit.” (Commentary on the Book of Job chapter thirty-two by Wm W Wells)

 

“… his (‘Elihu’s] monologues discuss divine providence, which he insists are full of wisdom and mercy, that the righteous have their share of prosperity in this life, no less than the wicked, that God is supreme and that it becomes us to acknowledge and submit to that supremacy since "the Creator wisely rules the world he made". He draws instances of benignity from, for example, the constant wonders of creation and of the seasons. Chapters 32 through 37 of the Book of Job consist entirely of Elihu's speech to Job. He is never mentioned again after the end of this speech.” (English Wikipedia)

 

While the three accusers of Job insisted that it was impossible that the righteous should suffer and all pains were punishment for some sin, therefore actually accusing Job to be a wicked man … Elihu states that suffering of the righteous could be “to elicit greater trust and dependence on a merciful, compassionate God in the midst of adversity.” (English Wikipedia)

 

It is also noteworthy to mention that according to bible Elihu addresses Job by name (33:1), something the three so called friends of Job had not done; indicating a close relationship between Elihu and the Prophet Job.

 

Now let us look at the name Elihu; many biblical scholars claim that the name Elihu is same as Elijah:

 

Let us remember that ELIJAH is the Anglicized form of the Latin and Greek Elias, Ilias, …, which is originally the Hebrew Eliyah (Eliyahu); الیا، ایلیا ....

 

According to Webster unabridged dictionary elihu means my God is he. Or more clearly, as the word Elihu indicates, it means my God is “hu”; and “hu” is believed to be an abbreviation for Yahu; so Elihu means my God is Yahu. And as established before, Elijah (Hebrew: אֱלִיָּהוּ, Eliyahu, means my God is Yahu too.

 

According to Abarim Publications Theological Dictionary:

 

“Names that end with יה (yah) usually also exist with an ending of יהו (yahu), but for some obscure reason these yahu-variants are commonly ignored in the English speaking world (which is why we read of Zechariah and not Zechariahu, even when the Hebrew text says so). But for some other obscure reason, English translations have no problem with the name Elihu (אליהו), which is really the name Elijah (אליה) but with the dreaded yahu-ending … . This name is written as אליהו in Job 32:4 and 35:1, but as אליהוא in Job 32:2-6, 34:1, and 36:1.”

 

After exploring the possibilities in regard to “el” as the first part of the name Elihu, then Abarim Publications Theological Dictionary states:

 

“The second part of our name could be: • יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHWH, or Yahweh …”

 

Also: “For a meaning of the name Elihu, both NOBSE Study Bible Name List and BDB Theological Dictionary take the ending to be the pronoun and read He Is My God. Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) thinks the ending is a remnant of יהוה and proposes God The Lord.”

 

So from all that has been said … the possibility that Elihu in the book of Job of bible may be a name of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) is noteworthy … now let us look at a few Hadiths:

 

Hadrat Mohammad (SAWA) said to Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH):

 

O ‘Ali! Allah- the Sublime- has told me: O Mohammad! Indeed I appointed ‘Ali with the Prophets numinously, and with you apparently.

 

(al-Anwaar al-No’maaniyyah, Jazaayeri Shushtari, 1/30; …)

 

Imam Saadeq (SBUH) has said:

 

‘Ali was with the Rasool of Allah in his absence and concealment while no one knew.

 

(Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 18, p. 176; …)

 

Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) himself has said:

 

With the Prophets, I have been manifest.

 

(Elzaam al-Naaseb fi Ethbaat al-Hojjat al-Ghaayeb, Shaykh ‘Ali Yazdi Haayeri, vol. 2, pp. 159, 188, 205, 211; …)

Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) has also said:

 

I was with the Prophets secretly, and with the Rasool (Mohammad SAWA) apparently.

 

(Sharh Do’a Sabaah, vol. 2, p. 121; …)

 

He (SBUH) has also said:

 
I was the friend of the tried and afflicted Ayyub, and his healer.

 

(Mashaareq Anwaar al-Yaqeen, Shaykh Borsi, pp. 259, 296; …)

It is noteworthy to keep in mind that such Hadiths- though not repeated frequently, and many times narrated in ‘Irfani books, and sadly some times misused by adherents to what is known as ‘Irfan to ascribe, implicitly, divine identities to beings thru parables such as drops and rays for beings, and ocean and sun for God … SOBHAANALLAH- are firmly supported with the fundamental Islamic belief that the Lights of the fourteen created Infallible Ones (SBUT)- Hadrat Mohammad, Hadrat ‘Ali, the Prophet’s beloved daughter Fatimah, and the eleven Infallible Imams from them (SBUT)- were the very first and most sublime things ever created by Allah SWT … in the Worlds of Dhar … these fourteen creations have been the most obedient Servants of Allah ever created thus the Knowledge and the Religion of Allah were bestowed upon them … and then from their Lights, the Prophets, angels and other creations have been created … all Prophets have entered into the Covenant regarding the Wilayat of these fourteen … this world of earthly humans is a later phenomenon … only Allah is Azali (Preexisting; please also refer to the article: “Repudiation of Philosophical and Irfani (Mystical) Fundamentals in Imam Riza (Salaam Be Upon Him)’s Monotheistic Teachings” in this site kindfather.com)

 

(from: Qur’an 7:172, …; Tafsir Borhaan; al-Kafi, Shaykh Kolayni; ‘Elal al-Sharaaye’, Shaykh Sadooq; Bihar al-Anwar, ‘Allaamah Majlesi; Basaa’er al-Darajaat, Mohammad ibn Hasan Saffar; …)

 

Imam Saadeq (SBUH) in regard to the Ta’wil of the Verse 37:83 “ and surely from his Shi’ah is indeed Ibrahim” has said:

 

Ibrahim is from the Shi’ah of ‘Ali (SBUT).

 

Al-Forqaan fi tafsir al-Qur’an, vol. 25, p.169; …)

 

In regard to Verse:

 

Qur’an2:37 Then Adam received Words from his Lord, so He turned to him mercifully; surely He is Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.   

 

Regarding this Verse, in addition to the Shi’ah Hadiths, sunni documents also state that Hadrat Adam (SBUH) was shown the Lights of Hadrat Mohammad and the AhlulBayt (SBUT) and was taught to implore Allah in their Names to return to him; even as narrated by ibn-Abbas the Words were specifically in regard to Mohammad, ‘Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Hosain (SBUT). (from Shi’ah Tafsir Borhaan, vol. 1, p. 86; …; sunni tafsir al-Dor al-Manthur Soyooti, vol. 1, pp. 58- 61; …)

 

Many sunni documents, such as Manaaqeb Khateeb al-Khaarazmi and …, have narrated many virtues of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH); as a sample it is stated that after ‘Ali (SBUH)’s miraculous victory at Khaybar Hadrat Muhammad (SAWA) told him that if there was not a group of the Prophet’s nation saying [blasphemously] about ‘Ali (SBUH) what the Nasaara (christians) said in regard to ‘Eesa son of Maryam (SBUT), he  (SAWA) would have said some thing about ‘Ali that no Muslim would have passed ‘Ali unless would take the dust under his feet or the remainder of his wodu water, and would have sought healing by them.

In addition, We invite readers to again refer to parts 8 and 9 of this writing- in which the Allah-Bestowed sublime position of al-‘Aaleen … have been briefly mentioned- in order to try to, Allah-Willing, attain a little more understanding in regard to ‘Ali (SBUH) … while understanding these special creations is not fully possible by likes of us …

 

Allah Knows best …

 

To be continued …