Back
to Subject-Page
Muslims' Great Respect For Jesus Christ
A Rather Unknown Phenomenon to Christians
By. Dr. Amir Parviz Parsa
INTRODUCTION
This writer believes a great majority of Christians DO NOT KNOW how
sincerely and truly the Muslims respect, admire, and adore Jesus (pbuh) The Son of Mary, as a Prophet or Messenger of God. Thus, in line with the hope of creating a better
understanding between different faiths, it is the purpose of this article to convey the internal feelings, sentiments, and beliefs of Muslims towards
Christians. If Christians were to fully realize how Muslims greatly respect Jesus, it is our belief that they would then think of Muslims as their brothers in faith,
rather than anything else.
The Writer has written his views on the points of Commonality and similarities between
Islam and Christianity. [Please see the article: A Bridge Between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, on this website]. In yet another article, he has adequately elaborated on
why he considers Islam as a religion of Kindness and Compassion, on this very website. Thus in this article, attention would be focused on essential beliefs of Islam on Jesus
(pbuh) and his followers: The Christians. One CANNOT find a truly aware & dedicated practicing Muslim who would not have a very highly respectful attitude towards
Jesus, pbuh. The writer feels he must emphasize that his objective is NOT to alienate Christians at all, with this writing. Rather he believes we are all creation of the same
God Almighty and as such we should all respect, tolerate, and protect each other as members of One and the Same humanity in general, which is created by the Lord God
Almighty. As usual, the source of most everything said here would be the Holy Quran, the Sacred Book of Muslims, and on the Bible and its various verses.
Meaning of Islam
Although the word Islam generally refers to the followers of Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) it literally means SUBMISSION to commands of God, His Do’s and Don’ts, and in this sense, followers of Muhammad (pbuh) believe that all
Prophets before him, have also submitted to God’s commandments, such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Jacob, Joseph, etc. and that they were all Muslims [Submitters to
Commands of God].
It is the belief of Muslims that God Almighty has chosen to guide humanity by sending to
them Apostles, Messengers, or Prophets, throughout history and time. Thus a good, aware, and practicing Muslim would always try to mention the name of God’s Prophets
with dignity, decency, and respect, rather than making mockery of any one of them.
Verse 64 of Surah 3 of the Quran says: [chapters are called Surahs, pronounced “Soo,rah”]
“Say: O People of the Book [Christians and Jews]: Come to common terms
as between us and you:
that we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves lords and patrons other than God.
If they then turn back, say ye: “Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to God’s will).” |
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْاْ
إِلَى كَلَمَةٍ سَوَاء بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضاً أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ فَإِن
تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ |
Thus for those who submit to God, it is sinful to worship other than God, or to associate partners to Him,
or to erect lords and patrons from among themselves to obey.
Islam is in the line of all religions whose Prophet belonged to the family of Abraham,
including Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad who willingly and happily submitted to the Commands of God, and to His prescribed Code of Moral Conduct for Eternal Prosperity.
It means liberation from all kinds of slavery and submission to any Master other than God
Almighty. It also means liberation from lusts including even the lust of clinging to this life itself. The submission invites mankind to use his God-given faculties to seek
the fullest and most meaningful understanding of the world within him [Microcosm] and the world around him [Macrocosm]. As such, Islam means not only submission to the
commands of God Almighty, which has been true of all of His apostles and messengers, but it also integrates man with God, The Creator. It is in these senses that Muslims
believe in all Prophets of God as they all submitted to His commands.
Muslim’s View of Christians:
Muslims have a mixed feeling about Christians: In their mind they generally divide the
Christians into two distinct groups:
The first Group is what they call the True Christians:
verses 113 and 114 of Surah 3 of Quran describes them as follows:
“Not all of them are alike (equal): Of the people of the Book are a portion that stand
(for the right); they rehearse the signs (verses) of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration.
They believe in God and the Last day, they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in
(all) good works: they are in the rank of THE RIGHTEOUS”. |
لَيْسُواْ سَوَاء مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ
أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ آيَاتِ اللّهِ آنَاء اللَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ
يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ
عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ َ |
The second category consist of those who consider Jesus as Son of God, or believe in Trinity, or think God
decided to come & live on planet earth to see what is going on. Verses 72 through 76 of Surah 5 of the Quran addresses these, considers them blasphemous, (unfaithful, or
Unbelievers) and believe they might end up in the Hell Fire as their eternal abode. Read, for instance, verse 74 of Surah 5 of Quran which says:
“Christ, the son of Mary, was no more than an Apostle; many were the apostles that
passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They both had to eat their (daily) food. See how God does make His signs clear to them; yet see in what ways
they are deluded away from the truth!”. |
مَّا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ
قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُ صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأْكُلاَنِ الطَّعَامَ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ الآيَاتِ ثُمَّ انظُرْ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونََ |
In the writer’s opinion, the attitude of Muslims should be based on love and
respect for the first category; toleration, coupled with respect for their lives, for the second group, as there should be no coercion or force in accepting any faith at all.
In reality, Muslims do NOT know in which of these categories the Christians would fall; as such they must be respectful to them all, and leave the judgment up to Allah (swt).
Please note that the overall impression of a majority of Christians is that Muslims treat all Christians alike which is NOT true.
Verse 30 of Surah 9 talks about some Jews and their similar mistake to some Christians:
“The Jews call Uzair a son of God, and the Christians call Christ the son of God. That is saying
from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. God’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the truth.” |
وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللّهِ وَقَالَتْ
النَّصَارَى الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللّهِ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ يُضَاهِؤُونَ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قَبْلُ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللّهُ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ |
Verse 31 of the same Surah
9 says:
“They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of God, and
(they take as their lord) Christ, the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but one God: There is no god but He. Praise and Glory to Him: (far is He) from having
the partners they associate (with Him).” |
ََاتَّخَذُواْ أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ
اللّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُواْ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُواْ إِلَـهًا وَاحِدًا لاَّ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ |
Verses 1 through 4 of the 112th
Surah of the Quran reads:
“Say: He is God, the One and Only;
God, the Eternal, the Absolute;
He begets not, nor is He begotten,
and there is none like unto Him.” |
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ |
More will be cited on proving the Unity, Oneness, and Uniqueness of God
from the Bible below.
So far we have established from a
Muslim standpoint that:
There is no god but God (Called Allah in Arabic), which is the same God for everyone, be it a Jew, Christian, or Muslim, etc.
That He has no partners, nor sons,
nor wives, nor any other one.
He begets not, nor is He begotten.
Anyone who considers Jesus, as the
son of God is an unbeliever (Kafir), according to Muslims.
Anyone who considers Uzair (in
Judaism) as son of God, is an unbeliever.
Unbelievers (who attribute sons to
God) are cursed.
Unbelievers (who associate partners
to God) are also cursed.
But among Jews and Christians there is a truly Righteous Group also.
The faith of a Muslim would not be
complete until and unless he or she believes in the Prophets sent before Muhammad, such as Abraham, Noah, Jesus, Moses.
Consider the following verses from the beginning of the second chapter of the Quran:
“This is the Book; In it is guidance sure, without doubt, to
those who fear God; Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them; and who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and
sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter. They are on (true) guidance, from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper. |
ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ والَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ
وَبِالآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ أُوْلَـئِكَ عَلَى هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ٌ |
More
on Jesus from an Islamic Viewpoint
One who reads the Holy Quran carefully would find that the two names of Moses and Jesus
are not only mentioned in the Quran, but with great respect and dignity as two of the most important of the Five greatest apostles of God (called: ULOL-AZM ).
In this section, we shall try to describe who Jesus, pbuh is, from an Islamic Standpoint.
Islam stands for the religion OF Jesus, as opposed to the religion ABOUT Jesus.
Muslims believe that Jesus (pbuh) was:
Born of a Virgin mother, Mary {Maryam in Arabic}. His mother was chaste and
untouched by any man to cause conception of Jesus, pbuh. (see verse 59 of Surah 3 of the Quran.)
The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he
was. |
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِندَ اللّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِن
تُرَابٍ ثِمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ |
Jesus did not
have a physical father, like you and I did.
The Holy Spirit
came to Mary, to give her the good news that She would have a son.
That creation of
Jesus without a father is like creation of Adam, [from soil], by God; [Please see verse 59 of Surah 3 in the Holy Quran]
That Jesus spoke
to people while he was in his cradle, and in his childhood.
He told people
that I am indeed an Apostle of God, and a Mercy to them;
God has made me
blessed where so ever I shall be.
God has enjoined
on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live.
God has made me
kind to my mother, and not overbearing or mischivous.
And that it is
NOT befitting to (The Majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory Be to Him.
Verily God is my
Lord and your Lord; therefore: Serve Him, this is a Way that is Straight.
Jesus was The
Word of God.
He performed
miracles in his life in addition to his teaching and preaching and constantly held honor in this world and in the hereafter.
His birth and his
death appear to be mysterious.
He always spoke
the truth and preached what God had revealed to him.
God’s grace is
conferred not only upon humanity, but upon all creatures.
If these are read carefully,
one would notice that Muslims do Not deny the interference and the mission of the Holy Spirit in the birth of Jesus, nor that his mother was thoroughly Chaste, sacred,
decent, and Virgin when she conceived him, and as she always was, and that not just his birth but also his death were mysterious.
Although God Almighty knew that Jesus never told his followers to worship himself or his
mother, in verse 116 of Surah 5 of Quran, there is the following reference to this:
“And Behold! God will say: O Jesus, the son of Mary! Did thou say
unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God? He (Jesus) will say: “Glory to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right to say. Had I said such a
thing, Thou would certainly have known it. Thou knows what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full All that is hidden.” |
ََوَإِذْ قَالَ اللّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ
أَأَنت قُلتَ
لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَـهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ
تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوب |
Miracles of Jesus
Muslims believe also that Jesus was given miracles, some of which are mentioned in the
Holy Quran as follows: [See verses110-111 of Surah 5]
Then will Allah say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favor to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy
spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold! thou makest out of
clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My
leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst show them the clear
Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: 'This is nothing but evident magic.' |
إِذْ قَالَ اللّهُ يَا عِيسى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ
الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلاً وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنجِيلَ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ
بِإِذْنِي فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِي وَتُبْرِئُ الأَكْمَهَ وَالأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوتَى بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
عَنكَ إِذْ جِئْتَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ |
He was strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
He did speak to the people in Childhood and in Maturity.
He was taught the Book (Torah and Gospel) and Wisdom.
That he made out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by God’s
Leave, and after breathing into it, it became a bird and flew.
He healed those who were born blind.
He cured the lepers.
He converted the dead into living individuals, all by God’s leave &
Permission.
God did restrain the Children of Israel from violence to
Jesus, pbuh. (See: Verse 110 of Chapter 5 of the Quran.)
He asked God to send a Table (set with viands) from the
heavens for his followers (disciples). And God did indeed send the Table for them.
So, do Muslims believe in miracles for Jesus, pbuh? The answer is Yes, as outlined
above. We are also told that Jesus could tell people what they had stored in their homes.
Note, therefore, that Muslims believe not only in the Prophethood of Jesus (pbuh) but
also considered him one of the very special Apostles of God, as He and Adam are the only two Prophets who had no father physically.
The rank of Jesus, then, is like that of Muhammad, Abraham, Moses, Noah, all five of whom
(with Jesus), are referred to as Revered Apostles of God (Ulol-azm in Arabic). Thus Muslims do NOT elevate Jesus (pbuh) to the rank of God, or One of Three, or a part of a
triangle to include God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Note also that the Muslims do NOT deny the role of the Holy Spirit who strengthened Jesus, according to the Holy Quran,
nor do they deny the chastity of his mother Mary.
Prophet Muhammad pbuh, is told in verse 84 of Surah 3 of the Holy Quran:
“Say: We believe in God, and in what has been revealed to us,
and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael; Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in the Books given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction
between one and another among them and to God do we bow our will (in submission).” |
قُلْ آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ
عَلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ
بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ |
Jesus (pbuh) is quoted in the Quran, verse 36, of chapter 19,
to have said:
“Verily God is my Lord, and your Lord: Him therefore serve ye: this is a Way that is
straight.” |
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ
فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ |
Unity, Oneness, and
Uniqueness of God
Muslims also believe Jesus himself never claimed to be God; On the contrary, he
specifically denies this, time and again. Indeed, to a person who came to him and said: “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” And he
said unto him: why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God: but if thou will enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Chapter 19 of the Gospel of Jesus
by Matthew, verse 16). Indeed, Muslims believe that Jesus (pbuh) like any other Prophet of God believed sincerely in the Oneness and Uniqueness of God. In Chapter 7 of the
same Gospel by Matthew, Jesus is quoted to have said:
Verse 21. “Not everyone that says unto me: Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of
heaven; but he that does the will of my father, which is in heaven. Muslims believe that the use of word Father by Jesus meant Creator; this can be easily derived
from verse 9 of chapter 23 of Matthew which reads: “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in the heaven.”
Verse 22 of Chapter 7 of Matthew: “Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord
have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?
Verse 23: “And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work inequity.” Muslims, therefore, accept Jesus as one of the great leaders of mankind, very much like Abraham, Moses, & Muhammad. Muslims thus confirm the great Blessing
of God Almighty to produce, shape, and create Jesus as a great blessing and mercy to humanity to the point that many Muslims celebrate the Birth of Jesus too. Jesus
himself said: “All things are delivered to me of my Father.” (verse27,Chapter 11 of Matthew).
Another very significant verse of the Bible is verse 23 of Chapter 14 of Matthew
which
Says: “And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain apart to
pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Thus the Unity, Oneness, and Uniqueness of God Almighty can easily be proven with the verses of the Gospel, let
alone the verses of the Quran. Again, verse 23 of Chapter 20 of Matthew says: “And he said unto them, ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism
that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not MINE to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.”. Why would
Jesus go to the Mountain to pray, if he were God, and why would he say the eventual position of some to sit on his right or left is up to his Father [The Creator]?
Reference by Muslim Preachers to Jesus in their Sermons
Not only Muslims celebrate the Birth of Jesus (pbuh) but some Muslim preachers even cite
cases from his sermons. Two examples will be given here:
First: Jesus (pbuh) passed a grave one evening and noticed that the angels of punishment
were punishing the one inside the grave. Several years later, he passed by the same grave and noticed this time that the angels of rewards were blessing the person in
the grave and that he was no longer being punished. So, Jesus asked God to reveal to him how this phenomenon was taking place. God revealed to him that when this person died,
his wife was pregnant with a child. Now that child is grown up and is given to a school which has taught him how to say: “In the Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most
Merciful” and as his son is saying that, I am shy of punishing him any more. Such is an example of God’s kindness.
Second: A Guest Speaker at the IEC of Potomac, was claiming in his sermon, that Jesus
said:
“My brother Moses said do not come close to bad deeds. I say: do NOT even THINK about
it.”
Then he used the analogy of a house just painted beautifully in white and added the bad
thought is just like smoke of a fire in the house which will leave stains/dark smoke on the walls.
Now take this second case and think about it a bit. You would recognize several facts:
The Guest Speaker did NOT have to quote Jesus, however, he chose to
do it.
His quotation was indicative of the wise words of
Jesus, and Muslim’s respect for him.
That Muslim preachers have no hesitation to use
Jesus’ name to teach their audience, If this is NOT respect, then tell me what it is?
On a more general basis, Muslim preachers quote from previous
Prophets rather regularly to substantiate what they are saying, which shows that Islam is not only NOT in denial of Judaism or Christianity, but in their support, as
many of the Bible stories are also identically mentioned in the Holy Quran, such as the Story of Joseph.
Other Relevant Notes on
Christianity
Verse 77 of Surah 5 of the Quran says:
“O People of the Book! Exceed not in your religion the bounds (of
what is proper), trespassing beyond the truth, nor follow the vein desires of people who went wrong in times gone by,- who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from
the even way.” |
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ تَغْلُواْ فِي دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ أَهْوَاء
قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ مِن قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُّواْ كَثِيراً وَضَلُّواْ عَن سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ |
And verse 79 of Surah 3 informs us of a great fact:
“It is not (possible) that a man, to whom is given a Book, and Wisdom, and the Prophetic rank
(office) should say to people: Be ye my worshippers rather than God’s.”, on the contrary (he would say): “Be ye worshippers of Him (God) who is truly The Cherisher of all:
for ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly.” |
ََمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ اللّهُ الْكِتَابَ
وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُواْ عِبَادًا لِّي مِن دُونِ اللّهِ وَلَـكِن كُونُواْ رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا
كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ |
In this regard, please see the Bible, Exodus 20, verses 1-5, Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7,
verse 21, and chapter 19, verse 16 too. The idea of Oneness, and Uniqueness of God was easily proven by quotations from the Bible, Matthew, Chapter 7, verses 19
through 23..
Two more ideas are relevant in this regard:
The first is that Muslims reject the notion of Jesus being killed on the Cross;
they think that God raised Jesus to Himself:
Verse 157 of Surah 4 of the Quran says in this regard:
“That they said (in boast) : “We killed Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, the Apostle of God”,
but they killed him not, Nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain)
knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, FOR A SURETY, THEY KILLED HIM NOT.”. |
ََوَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ
مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَـكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مَا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلاَّ
اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًا |
The second is the rejection of the notion of Trinity.
Verse 171 of Surah 4, of the Quran says in its latter part:
“So believe in God and His Apostles. Say not: ”Trinity”: desist: It will be better for you: for
God is One God: Glory be to Him; (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of affairs.” |
... فَآمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ ثَلاَثَةٌ انتَهُواْ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ إِنَّمَا
اللّهُ إِلَـهٌ وَاحِدٌ سُبْحَانَهُ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَات وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ وَكِيلاً |
Magnificent Similarities
So far one may conclude that although Muslims and most Christians do not agree:
with each other on Jesus being crucified, and on The Notion of Trinity,
THEY DO agree on many points such as:
The birth of Jesus is rather unusual, as he did not have a physical
father.
His mother, Mary, was chaste, clean, and Virgin when she conceived
him, despite rumors and accusations to the contrary.
Jesus had miracles which were enumerated above.
His mother is one of the Holiest ladies in the world.
His death was mysterious, not like a normal death, but being honored
to raise him to the Presence of God in Heaven.
He was an Apostle of God.
He did NOT teach any thing wrong.
He was strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
His disciples considered themselves as submitting to God Almighty.
And they both agree on the Table Spread also which Jesus asked from
God for his disciples.
That there are men in Christianity who have devoted themselves to
learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.
God has placed Mercy and Compassion in the hearts of many of the
followers of Jesus. (see verse 27 of Surah 57)
Then, in their wake, We followed them up with (others of) Our messengers: We sent after them Jesus the son of Mary, and bestowed on him
the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for
them: (We commanded) only the seeking for the Good Pleasure of Allah; but that they did not foster as they should have done. Yet We bestowed, on those among them who
believed, their (due) reward, but many of them are rebellious transgressors. |
ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آثَارِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَآتَيْنَاهُ
الْإِنجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ابْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَاهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاء رِضْوَانِ اللَّهِ
فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا فَآتَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ |
1.
They both believe in God, Angels, and Prophets before Christ.
2.
They both believe God as the Creator, Sustainer, Cherisher, and Protector of everything that is in the heavens and earth, or
in other galaxies.
3.
They both believe in the Day of Judgment (in Resurrection and Accountability although in different ways).
| | |