Is Ezra the Biblical Prophet the proper translation of Uzayr from the Qur'an?

Answer 1

Answer 1: Islamic Perspective

It is apparent that there is some confusion.

• Ezra is not the one referred to in Qur'an. The one referred to in Qur'an is Uzayr (not to be Ezra but Azariah), mentioned in the book of Daniel as Abednego.

• The verse (Q, 9:30) refers to those Jews; who lived in Arabia during the time of prophet Muhammad; who did or do call Uzayr son of God, rather than the overwhelming majority who revere him as a scribe. Accordingly, this verse referred to a specific group of Jews who lived in Arabia during the time of prophet Muhammad. In the Qur'an, the verses do not specify to particular groups. For example, when it speaks of the Christians worshiping Christ as the son of God, it doesn't specifically say Trinitarian Christians, instead just using the generic term Christian. Therefore, it obviously does not refer to all Christians, such as Unitarians, who call Christ a prophet rather than son of God. Refer to link below.
• Refer to the attached link, authored by Westerners, to know that in history there were a group of Jews who considered Uzayr (not to be Ezra but Azariah) as son of God.

Answer 2: Jewish and Historical Perspective

• No Jewish Sect ever even considered Azariah/Abednego to even be a prophet, let alone something as revered as the Son of God. At least Ezra, the common translation of Uzayr by Qur'an translators - Muhsin Khan, Sahih International, Pickthall, Dr. Ghali, etc. - was an important person in Judaism, but he was never called the Son of God.
• Almost all Christians were Trinitarians by 250 C.E. and has remained consistent to this day. It would have been more apropos to distinguish Christians who were not Trinitarian from the majority. The Qur'an 9:30 claim is not substantiated by any source outside of the Qur'an. Additionally, Unitarianism is a modern Christian movement and part of Protestantism (1600s-Present). Even the heretical forms of Christianity in 7th Century Arabia - Justinians, Ebionites, Nestorians - all had Trinities, but some of them were Father, Son, and Mary as opposed to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• As concerns the particular book cited, "History of Jews of Arabia", the argument is Circular Reasoning. Newby, the author, admits that there are few sources that describe Arabian Jewry so he uses the Qur'anic verses to reconstruct a form of Judaism that may have existed without using materials produced by the Jews themselves. As a result, his view of Jews in Arabia necessarily comports with the Qur'anic version because he used the Qur'an exclusively to define Arab Jewish beliefs. So, yes, the Qur'an agrees with the Qur'an, but that does not make it accurate history. Please read the Review of the book in the Related Links to see a discussion of this very issue.

Islamic Counterpoint

• It is mentioned above that Almost all Christians were Trinitarians by 250 CE which means that there are still minority of Christians who are Unitarians. The Unitarian movement, although not called "Unitarian" initially, began almost simultaneously in Poland-Lithuania and Transylvania in the mid-sixteenth century. Among the adherents were a significant number of Italians. In England the first Unitarian Church was established in 1774 on Essex Street, London, where today's British Unitarian headquarters are still located. Refer to link below.