I see your "simple" 'Koranic Arabic' answer, Bowman...
So, the Arabic word for sacrifice means the same as the English word "sacrifice"...
... yeah, no argument here on the definition of 'sacrifice'.
It seems the definition of "inhar" does not lead us to conclude that their Muhammad was a deity.
I am quite certain animal sacrifice has been around for quite some time (Old Testament). Didn't the ancient Aztecs and/or Mayans practice human sacrifice?
There is nothing about the example you gave concerning the Koran's referencing Muhammad as Lord and Sacrifice which leads me to believe that the Koran presents Muhammad as a deity or as Christ.
Here is a broader summary of this ayah, as compared to its most likely Biblical source, the Book of Revelation...
Summary of 108.2:
- Revelation chapter five details John’s encounter with Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb
- We are told that the Lamb (i.e. Jesus) was slain (sphazo), and yet He lives (Rev 5.6)
- This is Jesus’ death on the Cross and His subsequent Resurrection
- John describes that the Lamb resides in the midst of the singular thrown
- The same throne from which flows the River of Lifein Paradise
- The Lamb is worshiped as God
- Jesus is God
- The prayers of the saints go towards the Lamb (Rev 5.8)
- John tells us that the Blood of the slain Lamb (i.e. Jesus) is used as a sacrifice for all humanity (Rev 5.9, 12)
- 108.2 begins with the copulative particle “fa”, which indicates a close connection between the sentences before and after it; signifying either definite cause and effect, some internal link, or a natural sequence of events
- Thus, we are told that the information contained in 108.1 is inseparably tied to that contained in 108.2, and that 108.2 will relay the “effect” of the “cause” initiated in 108.1
- 108.1 described to us the gift in Paradise
- 108.2 describes to us exactly who the gift was from and who we should be grateful towards
- Thus, “fa” is connected to “salli”, which is used only this once in the Koran, and is rendered “so you pray”
- “Fasalli” means to offer prayer to God
- Surveying the other two Koranic locations of “salli” variants (i.e. “wasalli”, and “tusalli”) confirms that they are always in the context of “allah” and his “Messenger” (9.84, 9.103)
- As outlined in 108.1; we already understand that the “Messenger” spoken of is actually Jesus Christ
- This repeated contextual usage of “allah” with his “Messenger”, especially in these locations involving prayers, is continued evidence of the plurality in the office of deity
- “allah” is not alone
- The obvious significance in 108.2 is that this means that the “Messenger” is on the receiving end of the “prayer to God”
- 108.2 continues with whom the prayer is to go towards via “to your Lord” (lirabbika)
- Observe that 108.2 now directly calls-out the Lord (“rabb”) as singular – where just in the previous ayah it mentioned a plural deity as giving the gift – but now you are to give thanks to a singular God – even though He was just described as being plural
- 108.2 continues to further describe this singular Lord via the inseparable prefixed conjunction “wa”, which signifies concomitance, i.e. existing together at the same time
- “Wa” is prefixed to the singular noun “inhar”
- “Wainhar” is only used this once in the Koran and amazingly has the definition of “Offer sacrifice; devote ones life for the humanity”
- The singular Lord described in 108.2 is likened to a sacrifice in which ones’ life has been devoted for humanity
- The root “nahara” provides deeper insight into this sacrifice of the Lord by telling us that it applies to a beast that is slew and sacrificed by cutting the jugular vein
- Amazing as it is, 108.2 has just described the singular Lord Jesus Christ as the Sacrificial Lamb, same as foretold in the Book of Revelation
- Recapping what we have been told in 108.2:
1. The Lord is singular
2. The Lord is a sacrifice
3. The Lord was slain
4. The Lord lives
5. The Lord devoted His life for humanity
6. The Lord receives your prayers
7. The Sacrificial Lamb is worshiped