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f) The Wise Legislator
We read in the Qur'an that Christ permitted His followers what was forbidden under the Law of Moses. Christ did not force them to fulfil all the orders of Moses. In the Gospel, Christ made it clear that all the food which enters the stomach does not defile us; it is the thoughts that come out of our hearts that make us unclean: “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts: murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, blasphemy” (Matthew 15:19). Christ revealed a legislative revolution, for He was the divine Lawgiver and Legislator who assumed the right and authority to perfect and complete the Law. The Qur'an confirms this unique privilege of Christ, that He was not subject to the Law, but rules above it and perfects it. Moses, all the prophets, and everyone else in the Old Testament lived under the Law. They were expected to fulfil the Law. But Christ had the authority and the power to perfect and complete it. For this reason, He declares in the Qur'an:
“And (I came) confirming what is between my hands from the Torah, and to make permissible for you some of what had been forbidden to you.” (Sura Al Imran 3:50)
وَمُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْن يَدَي مِن التَّوْرَاة وَلأُحِل لَكُم بَعْض الَّذِي حُرِّم عَلَيْكُمْ (سُورَة آل عِمْرَان ٣ : ٥٠)
In the Gospel, Christ says: “You have heard that it has been said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth ...’ But I say to you: ‘Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you, and persecute you ... ’ ” (Matthew 5:38-44)