ibn Harm

Category: Scripture

  • Islamophobia (3)

    Just because it is so fun to argue with bigots I present part three in the series on Islamophobia. Specifically the topic of the stronger sex is often a point of contention.

    First let us consider the bible which states: “and you (man and women) will be a test for each other.” In the context of satan tempting Eve to taste the forbidden fruit. The biblical version also has Eve tempting Adam in turn.

    The Quran on the other hand states “and you are a source of peace … for each other.” As well as “and you are garments to each other.” Lastly, the Quran or “al-Kitab” has surahs resoectively exclusively on women “suraht an-Nisa” and on the person of Maryam “surah Maryam.”

  • Interreligious studies: al-hallaj and jesus from nazareth

    Let me clarify that this blog is not a space for bad-faith argumentation and bullying. Please refrain from doing so in the comments.

    There are interesting parallels between the figure-head of the Christian faith tradition, Jesus from nazareth, and of Sufi mystic Ḥosayn b. Manṣūr Ḥallāǰ (d. 309/922). For example the utterance of both of a saying similar to “I am the truth.”

    The gospel (“injeel“) reports Jesus as saying “ego eimi he hodos he aleitha kai he zoe” which is understood as “I am the Path, the Truth and the Life.”

    Ibn mansoor hallaj was reported as saying a similar thing in 896. He reportedly stated “ana al-haqq” meaning “I am the truth.” But in the Qur’an “al-haqq” describes one of the names of God. Hallaj echoes the mystical sentiments as expressed by Jesus ibn. Maryam (peace be upon him) since John 14:6 continues: “No one comes to the father except through me.”

    The idea of intercession is not foreign to Islamic sunni tradition as well. It also has roots in the Qur’an, f.e.: “no one can intercede without His leave (permission)”1

    Relevant passages

    • John 14:6 (kjv): “Jesus saith unto him: ‘I am the way, the truth (“ἀλήθεια”),2 and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me.’”
    • Hallaj: “ana’l haqq” (“I am the Truth”)3

    1. Q: Baqarah, 255. ↩︎
    2. https://biblehub.com/john/14-6.htm#lexicon, accessed june 30th 2026. ↩︎
    3. Schimmel, Annemarie. “ANA’L-ḤAQQ.” Encyclopaedia Iranica. Published December 15, 1989. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/anal-haqq-i-am-the-truth-the-most-famous-of-the-sufi-sathiyat-ecstatic-utterances-or-paradoxes/ ↩︎