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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   go to top of page

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:   go to top of page

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 أَحَد    ٌ

    More will be cited  on proving the Unity, Oneness, and Uniqueness of God from the Bible below.

    1. 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.

    2. That He has no partners, nor sons, nor wives, nor any other one.

    3. He begets not, nor is He begotten.

    4. Anyone who considers Jesus, as the son of God is an unbeliever (Kafir), according to Muslims.

    5. Anyone who considers Uzair (in Judaism) as son of God, is an unbeliever.

    6. Unbelievers (who attribute sons to God) are cursed.

    7. Unbelievers (who associate partners to God) are also cursed.
      But among Jews and Christians there is a truly Righteous Group also.

    8. 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   go to top of page

    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
  •  

    1. Jesus did not have a physical father, like you and I did.

    2. The Holy Spirit came to Mary, to give her the good news that She would have a son.

    3. 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]

    4. That Jesus spoke to people while he was in his cradle, and in his childhood.

    5. He told people that I am indeed an Apostle of God, and a Mercy to them;

    6. God has made me blessed where so ever I shall be.

    7. God has enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live.

    8. God has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or mischivous.

    9. And that it is NOT befitting to (The Majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory Be to Him.

    10. Verily God is my Lord and your Lord; therefore: Serve Him, this is a Way that is Straight.

    11. Jesus was The Word of God.

    12. He performed miracles in his life in addition to his teaching and preaching and constantly held honor in this world and in the hereafter.

    13. His birth and his death appear to be mysterious.

    14. He always spoke the truth and preached what God had revealed to him.

    15. God’s grace is conferred not only upon humanity, but upon all creatures.

    16. 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   go to top of page

    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.

    1. He did speak to the people in Childhood and in Maturity.

    2. He was taught the Book (Torah and Gospel) and Wisdom.

    3. 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.

    4. He healed those who were born blind.

    5. He cured the lepers.

    6. He converted the dead into living individuals, all by God’s leave & Permission.

    7. God did restrain the Children of Israel  from violence to Jesus, pbuh. (See: Verse 110 of Chapter 5 of the Quran.)

    8. 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   go to top of page

    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   go to top of page

    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.

    1. His quotation was indicative of the wise words of Jesus, and Muslim’s respect for him.

    2. 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?

    3. 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   go to top of page

    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   go to top of page

    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.

    1. His mother, Mary, was chaste, clean, and Virgin when she conceived him, despite rumors and accusations to the contrary.

    2. Jesus had miracles which were enumerated above.

    3. His mother is one of the Holiest ladies in the world.

    4. 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.

    5. He did NOT teach any thing wrong.

    6. He was strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

    7. His disciples considered themselves as submitting to God Almighty.

    8. And they both agree on the Table Spread also which Jesus asked from God for his disciples.

    9. That there are men in Christianity who have devoted themselves to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.

    10. 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).

    4.      They both believe in paradise and the Hell Fire, and an eternal life to be earned, while we are here on the planet earth.

    5.      They believe in Books given to other Prophets  before Christ.

    6.      That these Books are Mercy, Guidance, and Light for humanity.

    7.      They both believe that God is so just and fair that he will not punish a nation unless he has first sent to them Books for their guidance.

    8.      All Prophets  have been righteous with good deeds, actions, and behavior [some Christians attribute sins to some Prophets  which are not approved by Muslims].

    9.      All these Prophets, after Noah, descend from Noah and Abraham.

    10.  That God is Forgiving and accepts repentance.

    11.  All of them accept the value of virtues such as salutation of others with respect, honoring contracts, respect for good behavior, etc.

    12.  Both of them recommend kindness, compassion, and mercy, not just to other human beings, but also to other creatures including animals.

    13.  Both of them highly recommending justice, truth, and respect for the rights of others and many other common values such as the love of children and God’s creation as a whole.

      

    These are truly magnificent agreements between Islam and Christianity. Among Orthodox Christians, there are some, whose beliefs about Jesus (pbuh) correspond exactly with that of Muslim views. Of significance is also the fact that no Muslim would dare to reject all Christians or all Jews, or to call them unfaithful. Consider what God Himself quotes from some Christians in verses 84 and 85 of the Holy Quran in Surah 5:

     

    “What cause can we have not to believe in God and the truth which has come to us, seeing that we long for our Lord to admit us to the company of the righteous?”

    “And for their prayer has God rewarded them with Gardens, with rivers flowing underneath their eternal home. Such is the recompense of those who do good”

    ََوَمَا لَنَا لاَ نُؤْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَمَا جَاءنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنَا رَبَّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّالِحِينَ

    فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللّهُ بِمَا قَالُواْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَذَلِكَ جَزَاء الْمُحْسِنِينَ

    Verse 86 of the same Surah 5 immediately adds:

     

    “But those who reject faith, and belie our signs they shall be companions of Hell-fire.”

    وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ

    Verse 62 of Surah 2 of the Quran deals with the rewards of good Christians, among others:

     

    “Those who believe (in the  Quran) and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures) and the Sabians, and the Christians, ─any who believe in God, and the Last day, and work righteousness shall have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.”

    إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَالَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالنَّصَارَى وَالصَّابِئِينَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحاً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

    Verse 69 of Surah 5, also repeats the same connotations in almost identical words.

     

    Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

    إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَالَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالصَّابِؤُونَ وَالنَّصَارَى مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

    Additionally, God Himself tells us in very clear formats that  there are Guidance and Light in the Torah, the Laws given to Moses, and the Gospel, given to Jesus. (See verses 44 and 46 of Surah 5 of the Quran). While Muslims believe in the Holy Spirit and Jesus, they place everyone and everything under the Domination of God Almighty as His Creation (See verse 87 of chapter 2).

     

    We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride?- Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay!

    وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِ بِالرُّسُلِ وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لاَ تَهْوَى أَنفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقاً كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقاً تَقْتُلُونَ

    Verse 13 of Surah 42 of Quran says:

     

    “The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah  and that which We have not sent by inspiration to thee, and that which we enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, Namely:  that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no division therein: to those who worship other things than God, hard is the way to which thou calls them. God chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).”

    شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ

    Some people assert that “No one shall enter paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian”, God informs us of this and adds His answer at the end of Verse 111 of Surah 2:

     

    And they say: "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." Those are their (vain) desires. Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful."

    وَقَالُواْ لَن يَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ إِلاَّ مَن كَانَ هُوداً أَوْ نَصَارَى تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ قُلْ هَاتُواْ بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

    God answers them in the following manner in Verse 112, Surah 2:

     

    Nay,-whoever submits His whole self to Allah and is a doer of good,- He will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they

    بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَلَهُ أَجْرُهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

     

    Verse 113 of Surah 2 tells us while some Christians deny the Jews and some Jews do the same about Christians, “God will judge between them in their quarrel on the Day of Judgment”

     

    The Jews say: "The Christians have naught (to stand) upon; and the Christians say: "The Jews have naught (To stand) upon." Yet they (Profess to) study the (same) Book. Like unto their word is what those say who know not; but Allah will judge between them in their quarrel on the Day of Judgment.

    وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَىَ شَيْءٍ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى لَيْسَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ فَاللّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

    Verse  116 of Surah 2  of Quran tells Muslims:

     

    “They say:  “God has gotten a son”: Glory be to Him, nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth: everything renders worship to Him.”

    وَقَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ اللّهُ وَلَدًا سُبْحَانَهُ بَل لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ

    Muslims must remember also that: 

    According to Surah 5, verse 5 of the Quran:

     

    “The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them.”

    الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلُّ لَّهُم ...

    Also, Verse 5 of Surah 5 continues:

     

    “Lawful unto you in marriage” are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book.”

    َوَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ وَلاَ مُتَّخِذِي أَخْدَانٍ

    Muslims are free to associate with Jews and Christians, and when they talk to them, they are expected to talk to them in the best manners with wisdom (verse 125 of Surah 16). At the time of early Islam, Muslims were told not to rely on Jews and Christians as their own Protectors, as the animosity between them then was great. (Verse 89 of Surah 4 & 28 of Surah 3). Muslims were even allowed to provide sanctuary for the spiritually blind (and by extension to Jews and Christians) to provide them with a chance to hear the truth (see verse 3 of Surah 80).

    Verse 199 of Chapter 3 of Quran says:

     

    “And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book, those who believe in God, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to God. They will not sell the signs of God [verses given to them in their Books for guidance] for a wretched gain! For them is reward with their Lord, and God is swift in account.”

    وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَاشِعِينَ لِلّهِ لاَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ

     

    Verse 17 of Surah 5 says:

    “In blasphemy indeed are those that say God is Christ, the son of Mary. Say: “Who then has the least power against God, if His will were to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, his mother, and all everyone, that is on the earth? For to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is in between, He creates what he pleases, for God has power over all things.”

    لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَآلُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ اللّهِ شَيْئًا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ الْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ وَمَن فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَلِلّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاء وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

    In  Verse 35 of Chapter 22 of Matthew a lawyer asks Jesus:  “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” to which Jesus answers:

    “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” This is the first and great commandment, he continued.

    Verse 24 of Chapter 7 of Matthew says:  “Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house  upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. Verse 24 continued.

    Verses 26 and 27 of the same chapter deals with those who do not submit to words of God:

    “And every one that hears these  sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house  upon the sand.

    “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

     

    A Significant feature of Islam   go to top of page

    One virtue of Islam, which is not often well-understood, is that Islam confirms other religions that have been sent by God Almighty before Muhammad, pbuh.

    Note, for instance, verse 136 of Surah 2:

     

    “Say ye: We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma'eel, Isaac, Jacob, and The Tribes, and that given to Moses, and Jesus, and that given to all Prophets  from their Lord: We make no difference between one another of them: and we bow to God in submission.”

    قُولُواْ آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ ََ

    The same concept is repeated in Surah 2, verse 285, Surah 3, verse 84, Surah 23, verse 52, verse 7 of Surah 5, and verse 40 of Surah 22, just to mention only a few such confirmations. Thus there is an Islamic Pluralism in recognition of other religions given to other Messengers by God Almighty before Prophet Muhammad was appointed as a Messenger. Rarely can you find this type of Pluralism in other religions. Verse 7 of Chapter 13 of Quran tells Muhammad, pbuh:

     

    And the Unbelievers say: "Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?" But thou art truly a warner, and to every people a guide.

    ََوَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوْلا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُنذِرٌ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ

    The same notion is repeated in 16:36 and 35:24. Verse 47 of Chapter 10 of the Quran reads:

     

    “To every people was sent an apostle: When their Apostle comes (before them), the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.”

    ََوَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ فَإِذَا جَاء رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ

    While some Jews and Christians fight each other, on their own respective contents, Islam confirms them all [those revelations that have NOT been altered by human beings]!.

     

    Conclusion   go to top of page

    Unfortunately, Muslims are perceived as being disrespectful of Christians. This misconception is far from reality and the truth. Some Christians are greatly admired in Islam. Others of them are considered not to be truly believers as they may blaspheme.

    In what was presented above, several points were discussed in detail:

    1.    The notion of the Unity, Oneness, and Uniqueness of God, the Creator was proven and is common between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

    2.      There are great similarities between Islam and Christianity as already  described.

    3.      Muslims love and respect the true Christians, and tolerate the rest of them.

    4.      Muslims have discovered that on the basis of their Quranic teaching, Christians are the closest to them, from the People of the Book.

    5.      That there is Mercy and Compassion inscribed on the hearts of many Christians by God Almighty .

    6.      That regardless of our preferences and the choices of our Spiritual Teachers, such as Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses- in which we are free-, Muslims truly believe that in the Torah (The Laws given to Moses) and the Gospel (given to Jesus) there is Guidance and Light, while Muslims also believe that their own religion is the Most Complete.

    7.      And that on the Day of Judgment God is the One passing judgment on the differences between us,

    8.      And finally that as God’s creation, we should be ultra careful to respect and tolerate each other’s life and beliefs. It is very unfair then to draw untrue & terrible  picture of Muslims by the Media, without truly knowing what the Real Islam stands for: Kindness, Peace, and Compassion, which are encouraged in Christianity too. Would life not be more beautiful for human beings on the Planet Earth, if they were to love and respect each other; or, at least to tolerate each other, despite their differences of opinions? May God bless those who adhere to the notion of respecting and tolerating others.  Amen

     

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