Ali 'Imran 67: Abraham was not a Jew or a Christian. But he was a haneef Muslim (A righteous muslim, who knew that Allah is the One and Only God). And he was not from the ones who associate partners (with Allah).

We come to Surah Al Imran, verse 67. Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, it says. But he was one who knew Allah as One, an upright Muslim. Nor was he of the polytheists, says Allah Almighty. So ever since the earlier verses, look, what we have explained, we keep confirming verses with verses, supporting them, as we go. It's not: there it's like this, here it's like that, that one so, this one otherwise. The verses always support one another.

O People of the Book, O people, Abraham is neither a Jew nor a Christian.

When people were created in (?), in the world of souls, they were not created as: you a Jew or you a Christian, you an American, the other English, French. We've taken this part a bit broadly. They were created as human beings. These, at Allah Almighty's address, I am your Lord, fell into separation. I am your Lord. Look how beautiful. Not Am I not. Why I am? Let me open this part up a little more for you. Why? I am, says Allah Almighty, I am your Lord. In Surah Al-Waqi'ah, verse 7: all the pairs descended from one another are three classes. Three classes. O you of the right, good tidings to you.

Those of the left — what a woeful state they are in.

A third group: the group of the foremost (sâbikûn). These are the group of saints, prophets, martyrs, (?). There are very fine points here. Without going into these fine points — chemical ones at that, chemical — very fine points there are, analyses here. There are the parts of how these three sections were separated, from analysis. According to the characters of those souls, making those analyses there and separating them by their natures, those three sections, three divisions, those parts — now, (?), we won't go into those. In this situation, in this situation, opposite Allah Almighty, before Him, souls were created. Imagine millions of pawns (?), pawns.

Millions or billions of pawns. And these, battery-run, with the same signal, all at once, set all of them in motion — let there be a remote control. The moment you press the remote, at once all those pawns spring into motion — let it be set up so that such a state comes about. So Allah Almighty is opposite them, the Prophet beside Him, beside Him. When He gives them life in an instant, these three divisions suddenly see their own existence. They suddenly see their existence.

At that moment the address of Allah Almighty says: I created you. Definitely. He makes Himself known, Himself. Did I not create you?

So not that. Did I not create you? Why, did I not create? When would He need to say that? While creating those souls, inch by inch, they will know that those souls were created by their Lord, by their Owner. Then Allah Almighty will stand before those souls. That is, He will stand before those people. And when those people deny it, He will say: Did I not create you? Am I not your Lord, He will say. That is: Am I not your Lord? There is no such thing, no such thing. The souls suddenly — so many souls suddenly coming into existence and seeing themselves at that moment. How do you know, Hodja? By Allah, by Allah, I saw it.

(?), but if those worlds were not seen, these verses would not open anyway. I see myself, yes. I am there at age 33. I was created. I was created. I come into being from nothing. Suddenly I have an existence. Well then, my Lord is opposite. He says: I created you. Well, how am I to believe Him now? A human, just a human. And the Prophet — that he is His Messenger I don't know either there. He rushes toward the people, rushing forward. Yes, saying: This is our Lord. A confirmer, that is. Allah Almighty also brings His confirmer. So that people are not mistaken. You know how one person says something and another confirms it — there. Like that.

In this situation, I say: Yes, I was created. But did He really create me? Now I am thinking. So: do you not use your reason at all? The verse is here. (?), it says. If, I say, this one had not created us, would He introduce Himself to so many people saying I created you? Impossible for Him to introduce Himself so. What would He do? He would (?) or else show His own existence. He would say: I am your Lord. Not him. He would destroy him. He Himself would come out. So, I say, may He not destroy us along with him. Let us not be subjected to a torment. I am waiting. At that moment, the Prophet (peace be upon him) (?).

But I (?). I am standing opposite, on one side.

Confirm, he says, this is our Lord. At that moment I also say Allah Almighty's word. Habibi (?), it says. And at that moment a love flows toward Allah Almighty. So: I am your Lord. The verse. Whatever anyone says. Even if hundreds of thousands of people came — in Arabic, in Arabic, (?) itself. It is Elest. But the poor ones who did not see that place, Am I not, they made up. And they cling to this and carry on like that. Ah, of course, they know best themselves. Deeds depend on intentions. Does saying it bring him a sin? He did not see. He imagines it so, he goes on that way. So here, here what does it say?

People — whatever covenant they gave in (?), whatever character they have, Allah Almighty, they will prove themselves within that character. So what does Abraham say? He was neither a Christian nor a Jew. He was an upright Muslim who knew his Lord as One, and he was not of the polytheists, it says. Yes.

In the verse, Allah Almighty, because He created people close to Himself — at Allah Almighty's address, I am your Lord, they fell into separation. On the matter over which they separated, within their own natures and understandings, they separated there. They separated there. So in a verse: We divided you on earth into peoples so that you may be quickly recognized. We have told you these things before. Let us sum it up briefly. Today every person — those who are masters in their own field, those with knowledge — they get along very well among themselves. People who fit their own mindset get along very well with each other.

Those who do not fit their mindset clash and part from each other. For example, if one goes to the mosque and another, an alcoholic, goes to the tavern, it is impossible for them to get along with each other. If one gambles and one is a usurer, they too hardly get along. Because one gambles and the usurer starts squeezing out money. How do they get along? They get along by giving him money at interest. In this situation, those who fit their own way of thinking — for example, Italians can't get along with the French, the French can't get along with the English, the English with none, the Germans can't get along with any.

So that those who fit such ways of thinking can, among themselves, carry on their lives in peace — or let's not say in peace, rather, among themselves enjoy life and sustain it to the end of their days, so that this world is not poison to them, He brings them among people who fit the ideas of their own kind. And in this way people are divided on earth into peoples. Into peoples. So this is the meaning of the verse too. We divided you on earth into peoples so that you may be quickly recognized. Some American, some Italian, some this, some that. But their division on earth is not like the one before.

These are the divisions of their own ideas, their make-up. In this situation, in this situation, sir, what did we say: those who fell into separation there, those who agree among themselves, Allah Almighty, by bringing them on earth from the same people, so that they can make their lives easier within their own understanding — that is why, it says. So Abraham is neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he is an upright Muslim who knew Allah. Why does Allah Almighty say he was neither a Jew nor a Christian? Because there was neither Judaism nor Christianity. In Abraham's time. That is why he was neither a Jew nor a Christian.

Abraham was there. In (?), at Kalû Belâ, he did not fall into separation. He knew Allah as the One and the Creator. For this reason, because he was honored with the religion of Islam of Allah, who is his friend, he became the intimate friend of Allah. Abraham, from among the polytheists, from childhood opposing idols, is a prophet who knew Allah as One. That is, he is not of those like you who deny Allah, who turn away from Allah, who, seized by pride and arrogance, want to have their own words carried out — the polytheists. He is a Muslim who obeys his Lord, devotes himself to our Lord, is bound to Allah from the heart, and is on an up- right way.

A Muslim. Well, Hodja, was there Islam back then? Islam has existed since our father Adam.

What is Islam? What is Islam? Those who carry out Allah's command are Muslims. In Jesus' time, those who followed Jesus, those honored with the Gospel, until the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came, those who practiced the Christian religion are Muslims. They are Muslims.

Is there proof? Can you prove this too? Of course I can. What does Jesus say? In the verse we covered, that he would be killed — when he understood it: Who are my helpers in the way of Allah? he says. At once forty disciples say: In the way of Allah, of your Allah, that is, in your religion we are helpers, and we are Muslims. We are Muslims — Allah said it, he says. They said it. We are Muslims. What does Muslim mean? What does Muslim mean? Muslim means one who bows to Allah's commands. That is why the meaning of the verse, I gave you the name Muslim, is this. That is: those who obey Me, who listen to My command, who do not step outside My command, who believe from the heart in their Lord, the one God.

There.

Yes. Briefly, what I have said is closed to people, but people who, meaning the same, know Allah as One and recite the testimony of faith are Muslims, it says. And we open this up. Why Muslim? This is the important part anyway. Why Muslim? Yes.