Sasa itakuwa rahisi kwetu kuchambua dai la Mkristo kuhusu Kitabu chake Kitakatifu.

It will now be easy for us to analyze a Christian's claim about his Holy Book.

Kabla ya kuchunguza matoleo mbalimbali, na tufafanue kwanza imani yetu kuhusu Vitabu vya Mungu. Tunaposema kwamba tunaamini katika Tauraat, Zaburi, Injili na Qur'an, tunamaanisha nini hasa? Tunajua tayari kwamba Qur'an Tukufu ni Neno lisilokosea la Mungu, lililoteremshwa kwa Nabii wetu Mtukufu Hazrat Muhummed Mustapha ﷺ neno kwa neno, kupitia kwa Malaika Mkuu Jibraeel (anayejulikana kwa Kiingereza kama Gabriel), na lililohifadhiwa kikamilifu na kulindwa dhidi ya kuingiliwa na binadamu kwa miaka elfu na mia nne iliyopita! 1 Hata wakosoaji wenye chuki dhidi ya Uislamu wamekiri kwa shingo upande usafi wa Qur'an Tukufu: "HUENDA HAKUNA KITABU CHOCHOTE DUNIANI AMBACHO KIMEBAKI MIAKA KUMI NA MBILI KARNE (sasa kumi na nne) KIKIWA NA MAANDISHI SAFI KAMA HAYO." — (Sir William Muir)

Before we scrutinize the various versions, let us clarify our own belief regarding the Books of God. When we say that we believe in the Tauraat, the Zaboor, the Injeel and the Qur'an, what do we really mean? We already know that the Holy Qur'an is the infallible Word of God, revealed to our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhummed Mustapha (Peace be upon him) word for word, through the agency of the Archangel Jibraeel, (known as Gabriel in English), and perfectly preserved and protected from human tampering for the past fourteen hundred years! 1 1 Even hostile critics of Islam have grudgingly vouched for the purity of the Holy Qur’ân: "THERE IS PROBABLY IN THE WORLD NO OTHER BOOK WHICH HAS REMAINED TWELVE CENTURIES (now fourteen) WITH SO PURE A TEXT." — (Sir William Muir)

Tauraat tunayoiamini sisi Waislamu si "Torati" ya Wayahudi na Wakristo, ingawa maneno hayo mawili — moja ya Kiarabu na jingine la Kiebrania — ni yale yale. Tunaamini kwamba chochote Nabii Musa, ambaye amani iwe juu yake, alichowahubiria watu wake kilikuwa ufunuo kutoka kwa Mwenyezi Mungu, lakini Musa hakuwa mwandishi wa "vitabu" hivyo vinavyohusishwa naye na Wayahudi na Wakristo.

The Tauraat we Muslims believe in is not the "Torah" of the Jews and the Christians, though the words — one Arabic, the other Hebrew — are the same. We believe that whatever the Holy Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) preached to his people, was the revelation from God Almighty, but that Moses was not the author of those "books" attributed to him by the Jews and the Christians. 2

Vivyo hivyo, tunaamini kwamba Zaburi ilikuwa ufunuo wa Mwenyezi Mungu uliopewa Nabii Daudi (Ayubu... no, Daudi) (amani iwe juu yake), lakini Zaburi zilizopo zinazohusishwa na jina lake si ufunuo huo. Wakristo wenyewe hawasisitizi kwamba Daudi ndiye mwandishi pekee wa "Zaburi zake".3

Likewise, we believe that the Zaboor was the revelation of God granted to Hazrat Dawood (David) (Peace be upon him), but that the present Psalms associated with his name are not that revelation. The Christians themselves do not insist that David is the sole author of "his" Psalms.3

1. Iwe ni Mwislamu au si Mwislamu, huna haja ya kukubali dai hili kwa imani pekee. Unaweza kuthibitisha ukweli kwamba Al-Qur'ani ni Neno la Mungu. Angalia "AL-QURAN- The Miracle of Miracles"; 2- Ushahidi zaidi utakuja baadaye - "Musa si mwandishi wa "Torati" ya Biblia." 3.. Baadaye utasoma jinsi "Brains Trust" ya Kikristo inavyokiri - "Mwandishi; hasa Daudi, ingawa kuna waandishi wengine." Vipi kuhusu Injili? INJEEL maana yake ni "Injili" au "habari njema" ambayo Yesu Kristo alihubiri wakati wa huduma yake fupi. Waandishi wa "Injili" mara nyingi wanataja kwamba Yesu alikuwa akizunguka na kuhubiri Injili (Injeel):

1. Whether Muslim or non-Muslim, you do not have lo accept this claim on faith alone. You can verify the fact that Al-Qur’ân is the Word of God. See "AL-QURAN- The Miracle of Miracles"; 2- More evidence later on — "Moses not the author of the Biblical "Torah." 3.. Later on you’ll read how Christian "Brains Trust" confess — "Author; Principally David, though there are other writers." What about the Injeel? INJEEL means the "Gospel" or "good news" which Jesus Christ preached during his short ministry. The "Gospel" writers often mention that Jesus going about and preaching the Gospel (the Injeel):

"Na Yesu alizunguka . . . akihubiri Injili . . . na kuponya kila ugonjwa miongoni mwa watu." (Mathayo 9:35)

1. "And Jesus went . . . preaching the gospel . . . and healing every disease among the people." (Matthew 9:35)

2. "... lakini yeyote atakayepoteza maisha yake kwa ajili yangu na ya Injili, huyo ndiye atakayeyaokoa."

2. "... but whosoever shall lose his fife for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35)

3. "... alihubiri Injili. . ." (Luka 20:1)

3. "... preached the gospel. . ." (Luke 20:1)

"Injili" ni neno linalotumiwa mara nyingi, lakini Injili gani aliyohubiri Yesu? Kati ya vitabu 27 vya Agano Jipya, sehemu ndogo tu vinaweza kukubaliwa kuwa maneno ya Yesu. Wakristo wanajivunia Injili kwa mujibu wa Mtakatifu Mathayo, kwa mujibu wa Mtakatifu Marko, kwa mujibu wa Mtakatifu Luka na kwa mujibu wa Mtakatifu Yohana, lakini hakuna hata Injili moja "kwa mujibu wa" (Mtakatifu) Yesu mwenyewe! Sisi kwa dhati tunaamini kwamba kila kitu alichohubiri Kristo (Amani na baraka za Mwenyezi Mungu ziwe juu yake) kilitoka kwa Mungu. Hiyo ilikuwa Injeel, habari njema na mwongozo wa Mungu kwa Wana wa Israeli. Katika uhai wake Yesu hakuwahi kuandika neno hata moja, wala hakumwagiza mtu yeyote afanye hivyo. Kinachopitishwa leo kama "INJILI" ni kazi za mikono isiyojulikana! Swali mbele yetu ni: "Je, unakubali kwamba Biblia ni Neno la Mungu?" Swali hili kwa kweli ni changamoto. Muulizaji hatafuti tu kupata mwanga. Swali limeulizwa kwa roho ya mdahalo. Tuna haki kamili ya kudai kwa namna hiyo hiyo, "Ni Biblia ipi unayoizungumzia?" tunaweza kuuliza. "Kwani, kuna Biblia MOJA tu!" ananung'unika.

The "gospel" is a frequently-used word, but what Gospel did Jesus preach? Of the 27 books of the New Testament, only a small fraction can be accepted as the words of Jesus. The Christians boast about the Gospels according to St. Matthew, according to St. Mark, according to St. Luke and according to St. John, but there is not a single Gospel "according" to (St.) Jesus himself! We sincerely believe that everything Christ (May the peace and blessings of God be upon him) preached was from God. That was the Injeel, the good news and the guidance of God for the Children of Israel. In his life-time Jesus never wrote a single word, nor did he instruct anyone to do so. What passes off as the "GOSPELS" today are the works of anonymous hands! The question before us is: "Do you accept that the Bible is God's Word?" The question is really in the form of a challenge. The questioner is not simply seeking enlightenment. The question is posed in the spirit of a debate. We have every right to demand in a similar vein — "Which Bible are you talking about?", we may ask. "Why, there is only ONE Bible!" he mutters.

Huku nikiwa nimeshikilia mkononi Biblia ya "Douay" ya Kanisa Katoliki la Kirumi, ninauliza, "Je, WEWE unaikubali Biblia HII kuwa Neno la Mungu?" Kwa sababu zao zinazojulikana vyema kwao wenyewe, Jumuiya ya Ukweli ya Kikatoliki (Catholic Truth Society) wamechapisha Toleo lao la Biblia katika umbo fupi na nene. Toleo hili lina uwiano wa ajabu ukilinganishwa na matoleo mengi yaliyopo sokoni leo. Mhoji Mkristo anastaajabu. "Biblia gani hiyo?" anauliza. "Kwani, nilidhani ulisema kuna Biblia MOJA tu!" ninamkumbusha. "N-di-yo," ananong'ona kwa kusitasita, "lakini toleo gani hilo?" "Kwani, je, hilo lingefanya tofauti yoyote?" ninauliza. Bila shaka linafanya tofauti, na mhubiri wa kitaaluma anajua kwamba linafanya. Anadanganya tu kwa madai yake ya "Biblia MOJA".

Holding the "Douay" Roman Catholic Version of the Bible aloft in my hand, I ask, "Do YOU accept THIS Bible as the Word of God?" For reasons best known to themselves, the Catholic Truth Society have published their Version of the Bible in a very short, stumpy form. This Version is a very odd proportion of the numerous Versions in the market today. The Christian questioner is taken aback. "What Bible is that?" he asks. "Why, I thought you said that there was only ONE Bible!" I remind him. "Y-e-s," he murmurs hesitantly, "but what Version is that?" "Why, would that make any difference?" I enquire. Of course it does, and the professional preacher knows that it does. He is only bluffing with his "ONE Bible" claim.

Biblia ya Kikatoliki ya Roma ilichapishwa huko Rheims mwaka 1582, kutoka Vulgate ya Kilatini ya Jerome, na kuchapishwa tena huko Douay mwaka 1609. Kwa sababu hiyo, RCV (Roman Catholic Version) ni toleo la kale zaidi ambalo bado mtu anaweza kulinunua leo. Licha ya ukale wake, ulimwengu wote wa Kiprotestanti, pamoja na "madhehebu"*, unailaani RCV kwa sababu ina "vitabu" saba vya ziada ambavyo wanavitaja kwa dharau kama "Apokrifa", yaani vya MAMLAKA YENYE SHAKA. Pamoja na onyo zito lililomo katika Ufunuo, ambacho ni kitabu cha mwisho katika RCV (kilichoitwa upya "Revelation" na Waprotestanti), ni "kimefunuliwa" kwamba:

The Roman Catholic Bible was published at Rheims in 1582, from Jerome's Latin Vulgate and reproduced at Douay in 1609. As such the RCV (Roman Catholic Version) is the oldest Version that one can still buy today. Despite its antiquity, the whole of the Protestant world, including the "cults"* condemn the RCV because it contains seven extra "books" which they contemptuously refer to as the "apocrypha" i.e. of DOUBTFUL AUTHORITY. Notwithstanding the dire warning contained in the Apocalypse, which is the last book in the RCV (renamed as "Revelation" by the Protestants), it is "revealed":

"... Ikiwa mtu yeyote ataongeza kwa mambo haya (au atayaondoa), Mungu atamwongezea mapigo yaliyoandikwa katika Kitabu hiki." (Ufunuo 22:18-19)

Sir Winston Churchill ana mambo muhimu ya kusema kuhusu Biblia ya Kiprotestanti ya Toleo Lililoidhinishwa (AV), ambayo pia inajulikana sana kama "Toleo la King James (KJV)".

Sir Winston Churchill has some pertinent things to say about the Authorised Version (AV) of the Protestant Bible, which is also widely known as the "King James Version (KJV)".

"TOLEO LA KIINGEREZA LILILOIDHINISHWA LA BIBLIA LILICHAPISHWA MWAKA 1611 KWA MAPENZI NA AMRI YA MFALME WETU KING JAMES WA KWANZA, AMBAYE JINA LAKE LINALIBEBA HADI LEO. Wakatoliki, wakiamini kama wanavyoamini kwamba Waprotestanti wameupotosha Kitabu cha Mungu, bado wanasaidia na kushirikiana na "uhalifu" huo wa Waprotestanti kwa kuwalazimisha wageni wao wa asili kununua Toleo Lililoidhinishwa (AV) la Biblia, ambalo ndilo Biblia pekee inayopatikana katika lugha zipatazo 1500 za mataifa yaliyoendelea kidogo duniani. Wakatoliki wanakamua ng'ombe, lakini kuwalisha kunaachwa kwa Waprotestanti! Idadi kubwa sana ya Wakristo — wote Wakatoliki na Waprotestanti — hutumia Toleo Lililoidhinishwa (AV) au Toleo la King James (KJV) kama linavyoitwa kwa jina jingine."

"THE AUTHORISED VERSION OF THE BIBLE WAS PUBLISHED IN 1611 BY THE WILL AND COMMAND OF HIS MAJESTY KING JAMES THE 1ST WHOSE NAME IT BEARS TILL TODAY." The Roman Catholics, believing as they do that the Protestants have mutilated the Book of God, are yet aiding and abetting the Protestant "crime" by forcing their native converts to purchase the Authorised Version (AV) of the Bible, which is the only Bible available in some 1500 languages of the lesser developed nations of the world. The Roman Catholics milk their cows, but the feeding is left to the Protestants! The overwhelming majority of Christians — both Catholics and Protestant — use the Authorised (AV) or the King James Version (KJV) as it is alternatively called.

Ilichapishwa kwa mara ya kwanza, kama Sir Winston anavyosema, mwaka 1611, kisha ikarekebishwa mwaka 1881 (RV), na sasa ikarekebishwa tena na kusasishwa kama Revised Standard Version (RSV) 1952, na sasa tena kwa marekebisho ya pili mwaka 1971 (bado RSV kwa kifupi). Hebu tuone maoni ya Ukristo kuhusu Biblia hii iliyorekebishwa zaidi, RSV:- 1. "TOLEO BORA KABISA LILILOTOLEWA KATIKA KARNI HII." — (Church of England Newspaper)

First published, as Sir Winston says, in 1611, and then revised in 1881 (RV), and now re-revised and brought up to date as the Revised Standard Version (RSV) 1952, and now again re-re-revised in 1971 (still RSV for short). Let us see what opinion Christendom has of this most revised Bible, the RSV:- 1. "THE FINEST VERSION WHICH HAS BEEN PRODUCED IN THE PRESENT CENTURY." — (Church of England Newspaper)

"TAFSIRI MPYA KABISA NA WASOMI WA HADHI YA JUU KABISA." — (Times Literary Supplement)

2. "A COMPLETELY FRESH TRANSLATION BY SCHOLARS OF THE HIGHEST EMINENCE." — (Times literary Supplement)

3. "SIFA ZILIZOPENDWA ZA TOLEO LILILOIDHINISHWA ZIKIUNGANISHWA NA USAHIHI MPYA WA TAFSIRI." — (Maisha na Kazi)

3. "THE WELL-LOVED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AUTHORISED VERSION COMBINED WITH A NEW ACCURACY OF TRANSLATION." — (Life and Work)

"NAKALA ILIYO KARIBU ZAIDI NA SAHIHI KABISA YA ASILI" — (The Times)

4. "THE MOST ACCURATE AND CLOSE RENDERING OF THE ORIGINAL" — (The Times)

Wachapishaji (Collins) wenyewe, katika maelezo yao kuhusu Biblia mwishoni mwa kazi yao, wanasema kwenye ukurasa wa 10: "BIBLIA HII (RSV), NI MATOKEO YA WASOMI THELATHINI NA WAWILI, WALIOSAIDIWA NA KAMATI YA USHAURI INAYOWAKILISHA MADHEHEBU HAMSINI YANAYOSHIRIKIANA." Kwa nini kujisifu kote huku? Ni ili kuwavutia wananchi wasio na tahadhari wanunue bidhaa yao? Ushuhuda huu wote unamshawishi mnunuzi kwamba anaunga mkono farasi sahihi, huku mnunuzi akiwa hajui kabisa kwamba anadanganywa.

The publishers (Collins) themselves, in their notes on the Bible at the end of their production, say on page 10: "THIS BIBLE (RSV), IS THE PRODUCT OF THIRTY-TWO SCHOLARS, ASSISTED BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTING FIFTY CO-OPERATING DENOMINATIONS." Why all this boasting? To make the gullible public buy their product? All these testimonies convince the purchaser that he is backing the right horse, with the purchaser little suspecting that he is being taken for a ride.

Lakini vipi kuhusu Biblia ya Toleo Lililoidhinishwa (AV), "Muuzaji Bora Zaidi Duniani"? Hawa Warekebishaji, wote wakiwa wauzaji wazuri, wana mambo mazuri sana ya kusema kuhusu kitabu hicho. Hata hivyo, aya ya sita katika ukurasa wa iii wa UTANGULIZI wa RSV inasema: "TOLEO LA KING JAMES (maelezo mbadala ya AV) LIMEITWA KWA SABABU NZURI 'KAZI TUKUFU KABISA YA NATHARI YA KIINGEREZA.' WAREKEBISHAJI WAKE MWAKA 1881 WALIONYESHA KUSTAAJABISHWA NA 'UNYENYEKEVU WAKE, HADHI YAKE, NGUVU YAKE, MIFANO YAKE MIZURI YA KUSEMA ... MUZIKI WA MIDUNDO YAKE, NA UFASAHA WA MDUNDO WAKE.' LILIINGIA, KAMA KITABU KINGINE CHOCHOTE HAKIJAWAHI KUFANYA, KATIKA KUUNDA TABIA BINAFSI NA TAASISI ZA UMMA ZA WATU WANAZUNGUMZA KIINGEREZA. TUNALIDAIWA DENI ISIYOHESABIKA." Je, msomaji mpendwa, unaweza kufikiria heshima yenye fahari zaidi kuliko hii iliyotolewa kwa "Kitabu cha Vitabu"? Mimi, siwezi. Acha Mkristo mwenye imani sasa ajitayarishe kwa pigo lisilo la huruma zaidi kutoka kwa Mawakili wake wapendwa wa Dini; kwa maana katika pumzi hiyo hiyo wanasema:

But what about the Authorised Version of the Bible (AV), the "World's Best Seller?" These Revisers, all good salesmen, have some very pretty things to say about it. However, their page iii, paragraph six of the PREFACE of the RSV reads; "THE KING JAMES VERSION (alternative description of AV) HAS WITH GOOD REASON BEEN TERMED 'THE NOBLEST MONUMENT OF ENGLISH PROSE.’ ITS REVISERS IN 1881 EXPRESSED ADMIRATION FOR 'ITS SIMPLICITY, ITS DIGNITY, ITS POWER, ITS HAPPY TURNS OF EXPRESSION ... THE MUSIC OF ITS CADENCES, AND THE FELICITIES OF ITS RHYTHM.’ IT ENTERED, AS NO OTHER BOOK HAS, INTO THE MAKING OF THE PERSONAL CHARACTER AND THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLES. WE OWE TO IT AN INCALCULABLE DEBT." Can you, dear reader, imagine a more magnificent tribute being paid to the "Book of Books" than the above? I, for one, cannot. Let the believing Christian, now steel himself for the un-kindest blow of all from his own beloved Lawyers of Religion; for in the very same breath they say:

"LAKINI TAFSIRI YA KING JAMES INA KASORO KUBWA." Na, "KWAMBA KASORO HIZI NI NYINGI NA ZINA UZITO KIASI CHA KUHITAJI MAREKEBISHO . . ." Haya yametoka moja kwa moja kwa wasomi wa Kikristo wa Kiorthodoksi wenye "hadhi ya juu kabisa". Kundi jingine la Madaktari wa Theolojia sasa linahitajika kuandaa ensaiklopidia inayoeleza chanzo cha kasoro hizo KUBWA NA ZENYE UZITO katika Maandiko yao Matakatifu, pamoja na sababu za kuziondoa.

"YET THE KING JAMES VERSION HAS GRAVE DEFECTS." And, "THAT THESE DEFECTS ARE SO MANY AND SO SERIOUS AS TO CALL FOR REVISION . . ." This is straight from the horse's mouth, i.e. the orthodox Christian scholars of "the highest eminence." Another galaxy of Doctors of Divinity are now required to produce an encyclopedia explaining the cause of those GRAVE AND SERIOUS DEFECTS in their Holy Writ and their reasons for eliminating them.

Hii ni nakala ya picha kutoka R.S.V. 1971.

This is a photographic reproduction from the R.S.V. 1971.