1543

DO MUSLIMS WORSHIP THE

SAME GOD AS CHRISTIANS?

PART 3

JESUS & MUHAMMAD

ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS

At face value, Islam appears to share common roots with both Judaism and Christianity.

Muslims believe in a single, personal Creator God.

Islam too is an Abrahamic religion and honours Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Solomon and Jesus as prophets.

Muslims also claim to accept the Old and New Testament writings and look forward to the return of Jesus (Isa) to judge the earth.

But we saw in Part 1 and 2 that the teachings of the Quran are sharply contrasted to the Bible when it comes to the status and treatment of women, infidels (i.e. non-believers) and other races (in particular Jews).

THE

COVENANT

SON

Isaac and Ishmael were brothers, both sons of Abraham. The Jews descended from Isaac while the Arabs descended from Ishmael.

Before Isaac was born, Abraham ‘suggested’ to God that he rather use the son he already had – Ishmael – to be the son of the covenant. (Gen 17: 18-21)

If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!

Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?

Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

Now while God answered Abraham’s request to bless Ishmael, he made it clear that Isaac was the son of the covenant.

And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will … greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.

Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.

Inheritance is linked to the Biblical concept of sonship. Ishmael, though loved by Abraham and being his offspring through the Egyptian maidservant Hagar, was not the promised heir. In fact we see from what transpired when Sarah observed Ishmael mocking on the day of Isaac’s weaning, that Ishmael was clearly excluded from the inheritance (Gen 21:8-13).

We are told that “the matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.” (Gen 21:11) But God says:

Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring.

What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.

Hagar and Ishmael are sent away and she runs out of water in the desert. As she is sobbing, the angel of God appears.

The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is built on Mount Moriah on the previous Temple site. This is traditionally the site where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac.

Later in Genesis we learn that as a test, Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, the son of the covenant. While some Muslims claim that Ishmael was the son that Abraham was commanded to sacrifice, actually the Quran itself is silent about this.

As the Arabs are descended from Ishmael, this may simply be a case of wishful thinking on the part of some, although even Muslims are divided on this issue.

Al-Tabari, considered to be one of the premiere Islamic historians, lists the divergent views held amongst the Muslim umma (community) in regards to this very issue: “The earliest sages of our Prophet’s nation disagree about which of Abraham’s two sons it was that he was commanded to sacrifice. Some say it was Isaac, while others say it was Ishmael … only the Quran could serve as proof that the account naming Isaac is clearly the more truthful of the two.” 1

1 answering-islam.org/ Shamoun/ sacrifice.htm

ISAAC & ISHMAEL

The OT records that Isaac was the son of sacrifice:

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:2)

The NT reaffirms this:

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son. (Hebrews 11:17)

Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? (James 2:21)

ISAAC & ISHMAEL

Some Muslims on the other hand feel that Ishmael was the one offered up by Abraham.

They believe that the Bible supports this by its declaration that Abraham offered his ‘only’ son. Ishmael was Abraham’s only son for over 13 years, which would make it impossible for Isaac to be the child of sacrifice. 1

To support this view, and without any evidence, they then claim that scribes later corrupted the original reading from Ishmael to Isaac. However Genesis clearly records the sacrifice on Mount Moriah as being chronologically after Isaac’s birth, which renders the argument invalid i.e. Abraham had two sons at the time so you couldn’t call Ishmael his only son at that point.

1 Ibid

ISAAC & ISHMAEL

The idea of Ishmael being the son of sacrifice stems from the Muslim misunderstanding of the phrase “only son”.

Q: Why is Isaac called Abraham’s only son when he already had Ishmael as a son?

A: Looking at the context of Heb 11:17-18 clearly shows that it was the son of the promise that is being referred to:

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’”

ISAAC & ISHMAEL

A careful reading of the Bible shows that the phrase is used to affirm Isaac’s unique status, a status based on the following: 1

Isaac was the only promised child of Abraham, a fact which the Quran agrees with (cf. Genesis 17:15-21; Surah 11:69-73, 37:112-113, 51:24-30). Ishmael was never a promised child. 1

Isaac was conceived miraculously to a barren mother and a very aged father, with the Quran likewise agreeing (cf. Genesis 17:15-17, 18:9-15, 21:1-7; Galatians 4:28-29; Surah 11:69-73, 51:24-30). Ishmael was conceived normally without the need of any miraculous intervention. 1

1 Ibid

ISAAC & ISHMAEL

The word monogenes (Greek) used of Isaac in Hebrews 11:17 doesn’t simply mean “only begotten.” It is derived from two Greek terms, monos (only) and genos (class, kind). It literally means “one of a kind” or “unique”. This is the same term applied to Jesus as being God’s ‘monogenes’ i.e. unique son, or son of the covenant.

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac—he who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son in sacrifice (International Standard Version)

1 According to http:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Monogenēs: Monogenēs (μονογενὴς) is a Greek word which may be used both as an adjective monogenēs pais only child, or only legitimate child, special child, and also on its own as a noun; o monogenēs “the only one”, or “the only legitimate child”.

ISAAC & ISHMAEL

The NT also teaches that Abraham initially had two sons:

Gal 4:23 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

But Isaac was the son of the covenant:

Rom 9:7-9 … On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

ISAAC & ISHMAEL

Ishmael (son of Abraham and Hagar) was blessed by God and destined to become the father of a great nation (Arabia).

Isaac (son of Abraham and Sarah) was the son of the covenant because, not only was he the father of a great nation (Israel), it was through his offspring that the Messiah and the Saviour of the world (Jesus) would come.

Now Muhammad was descended from Ishmael, but Jesus was descended from the covenant son Isaac. And so it is through Jesus that God’s covenant with man was established.

GOD’S COVENANT

Gal 4:28-29 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

Just as Ishmael persecuted the covenant son Isaac, so also today both the physical sons of Isaac (the Jews) and the spiritual “children of promise” through Jesus (the Christians) are persecuted by the sons of Ishmael (the Muslims).

PERSECUTION

JESUS & MUHAMMAD

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

We looked at this in detail in Part 2, but just a quick recap. Muhammad thought it was okay to torture an enemy, steal their treasure, behead them and take their wife. Remember just the case of the attack on a Jewish settlement called Khaybar.

After its last fort was taken by Muhammad and his men, the chief of the Jews, called Kinana ibn al-Rabi, was asked by Muhammad to reveal the location of some hidden treasure. When he refused, Muhammad ordered a man to torture Kinana, and the man “kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead.” Kinana was then beheaded, and Muhammad took his young wife Safiyya bint Huyayy. 1

1 statemaster.com/ encyclopedia/ Criticism-of-Muhammad

TREATMENT OF ENEMIES

Contrast this with Jesus:

Luke 9:51-55 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. And he said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

TREATMENT OF ENEMIES

Jesus taught us to love our enemies, pray for them and to respond to their curses with blessings (Luke 6:27-28).

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

COURTESY

Muhammad’s instruction for courtesy towards non-Muslims was as follows:

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: “Do not greet the Jews and Christians before they greet you and when you meet any one of them on the roads force him to go to the narrowest part of it.” - Sahih Muslim vol. 3 book 24 ch. 904 no. 5389, 5390

Jesus said that being courteous only to those who believe the same as you do, is something even a pagan would do. Christians have a higher calling:

Jesus said, “And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matt 5:47)

Muhammad instructs his followers to kill the polytheist pagans in Mecca unless they ‘repent’, pray and pay a compulsory charity tax (zakah). This is known as extortion today.

Sura 9:5 … kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

And what if someone leaves Islam?

Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik 36.18.15—Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam that the Messenger of Allah said, “If someone changes his religion—then strike off his head!”

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

How did Jesus treat those who wouldn’t follow him? When the rich young man asks Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life, we read (Mark 10:21) that “Jesus looked at him and loved him”.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

Mark 10:22-23 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Note that Jesus still loved the unbeliever and didn’t dispatch a hit squad to kill him because he wouldn’t repent, give money to the poor and follow him.

Mark 10:23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples…

How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

What about those who wouldn’t listen to the message preached by the disciples? (Matt 10: 14-15)

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

What about former disciples who stopped following Jesus?

John 6:66-69 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Jesus leaves the choice to follow him or not with the person. He sees it as their prerogative. When he questions the Twelve, they willingly choose to remain with him, without any compulsion or threats from Jesus.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

A forced conversion – is no conversion.

Centuries before Western Europe eventually responded with their military crusades, Muslims were conducting jihad (‘holy war’) to either have forced conversions or impose tax on non-believers. This is how Muslim ‘missionary’ evangelism was conducted:

Sura 9:29 Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.

Jizyah is a tax levied on an Islamic state’s non-Muslim subjects. Again this is just extortion at its worst, considered criminal in civilized countries.

EVANGELISM

Regarding Sura 9:29 James M. Arlandson writes:

This verse that commands battle against Christians and Jews is all about theology and belief. It says nothing explicit about a real and physical harm done to Islam. Muhammad launched his Tabuk Crusade in late AD 630 against the Byzantine Christians. He had heard a rumour that an army was mobilizing to invade Arabia, but the rumour was false, so his 30,000 jihadists returned home, but not before imposing a jizya tax on northern Christians and Jews. They had three options: (1) fight and die; (2) convert to Islam; (3) or submit and pay the second-class-citizen jizya tax for the ‘privilege’ of living under Islam. 1

1 answering-islam.org/ Authors/ Arlandson/ contrast.htm

EVANGELISM

In the ten years that he lived in Medina, he (Muhammad) either sent out or went out on seventy-four raids, skirmishes and battles. Sura 9 is his last revelation in its entirety before he dies. He commissions his followers to wage war on Jews and Christians or the People of the Book or Scripture (= Bible). 1

1 Ibid

EVANGELISM

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matt 28:19-20)

Before he ascended into heaven Jesus gave his disciples a commission to spread the gospel peacefully:

Muhammad recommends lashing and no pity for adulterers:

Sura 24:2 The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion of Allah, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.

A gruesome Hadith tells of an adulterous woman buried up to her chest and stoned to death at Muhammad’s command:

… And when he had given command over her and she was put in a hole up to her breast, he ordered the people to stone her. Khalid b. al-Walid came forward with a stone which he threw at her head, and when the blood spurted on his face he cursed her… (Muslim no. 4206)

THE ADULTERESS

Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?

If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.

In contrast note how, in front of her accusers, Jesus shows mercy and protects the adulterous woman from the stoning commanded in the Law of Moses. (John 8:3-11)

Muhammad became wealthy:

By looting caravans and Jewish settlements Muhammad amassed fabulous wealth for himself, his family, and his tribe. 1

Jesus laid aside his wealth in heaven and became poor for our sake, so that we might gain spiritual riches;

2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Matt 8:20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

1 Ali Dashti, 23 Years, p. 86-87; Encyclopedia Britannica, 15:648

WEALTHY

Muhammad said that if you commit suicide you suffer in the same way that you killed yourself (suicide bombers?):

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the Hell Fire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hell-Fire.” (Sahih Bukhari 2.446, 2.445)

But while depressed, Muhammad contemplated suicide several times being repeatedly talked out of it by Gabriel:

But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while and the Prophet became so sad as we have heard that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of high mountains … (Bukhari, 2/ 340)

SUICIDE

Some Muslims have argued that Jesus prophesied the coming of Muhammad when he spoke of the coming ‘Paraklētos’ or ‘Counselor’ in John 14 to 16.

Their argument is based on a claim that the word should actually be ‘periklutos’, which means “Praised One”, which is Ahmad in Arabic, which they see as an equivalent to Muhammad. The problem is that out of the thousands of New Testament manuscripts predating Islam not one has ‘periklutos’ – they all have ‘Paraklētos’ and ‘Paraklēton’.

In fact anyone who has actually read the New Testament knows that this was fulfilled with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

THE PARAKLĒTOS

Jesus made it clear that the Paraklētos was the Holy Spirit:

John 14:26“But the Counsellor (Paraklētos), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

If Muhammad is the Holy Spirit in the above passage this contradicts another Muslim belief that the Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel. 1

1 See http:// answering-islam.org/ Responses/ Osama/ umar_spirit2.htm

THE PARAKLĒTOS

Jesus sends the Paraklētos, but Muhammad claimed to be sent by Allah.

John 15:26 “When the Advocate (Paraklētos) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father--the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father--he will testify about me.”

The Paraklētos is promised to be with us forever, but Muhammad died in 632 AD.

John 14:16-17 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor (Paraklēton) to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth…”

THE PARAKLĒTOS

While Biblical prophets often performed miracles to establish their credentials, this confirmation never happened with Muhammad, In fact the people of Mecca questioned him about his inability to perform miracles.

Sura 13:7 And those who disbelieved say, “Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?” You are only a warner, and for every people is a guide.

Later in the Hadith tradition, Muhammad’s followers would attribute miracles to him (like supposedly splitting the moon), but the Quran contradicts their accounts. When the Meccans ask for a miracle, Allah commands Muhammad to say the following to them:

Sura 17:93 … Say, “Exalted is my Lord! Was I ever but a human messenger?”

MIRACLES

The Hadith states that Muhammad admitted that while other prophets before him were given the power to perform miracles, his only miracle was the Quran (“Divine Inspiration”). As people didn’t always believe when they saw miracles, he hoped to have more followers as a result of the Quran than any other prophet on Judgement Day.

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “There was no prophet among the prophets but was given miracles because of which people had security or had belief, but what I was given was the Divine Inspiration which Allah revealed to me. So I hope that my followers will be more than those of any other prophet on the Day of Resurrection.” - Sahih Bukhari 9:92:379

MIRACLES

The four gospels record 37 miracles of Jesus, and John closes his gospel by saying:

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25)

In part, although the healings and deliverance were always acts of compassion, Jesus performed miracles to establish his credentials.

John 10:37-38 “Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

MIRACLES

And the greatest miracle – his resurrection from the dead – established his credentials as the Son of God:

“… declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 1:4).

Jesus’ miracles stood up to hostile and independent investigation.

When his enemies interrogated the parents of the blind man that he healed, despite their fear of the authorities the parents confirmed that their son was indeed born blind (John 9).

When Jesus healed lepers, he instructed them to go to a priest to verify the healing. (Matt 8:4, Luke 17:14)

MIRACLES

And so even Jesus’ enemies acknowledged that he performed “many miraculous signs”:

John 11:47-48 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Muhammad also attributes miracles to Jesus:

Sura 3:49 And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], ‘… And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead - by permission of Allah…’

MIRACLES

While in Medina, Muhammad employed a Jewish boy as his valet who passed along Muhammad’s comb with some hair stuck in it. ‘Magic’ was worked on this hair, according to some traditions, by Labid bin Asam while, according to others, his sisters who were more skilled cast the spell… In a short time, the spell affected Muhammad. 1 2

1 answering-islam.org/ Quran/ Tafsir/ 113-114.html

2 According to Muslim tradition recounted by Syed Maududi's commentary, Muhammad said to Aisha: “My Lord has told me what I had asked of Him." Hadrat Aishah asked what it was. He replied: ‘Two men (i.e. two angels in human guise) came to me. One sat near my head and the other near my feet. The first asked: what has happened to him? The other replied: Magic has been worked on him. The first asked: who has worked it? He replied: Labid bin Asam. He asked: In what is it contained? He replied: In the comb and hair covered in the spathe of a male date-tree. He asked: where is it? He replied: under a stone at the bottom of Dhi Arwan (or Dharwan), the well of Bani Zurayq. He asked: what should be done about it? He replied: the well should be emptied and it should be taken out from under the stone. >>>>>

MAGIC & DEMONS

Gabriel came and told him to repeat the Mu’awwidhatayn (i.e. Sura 113 and 114). In Sura 114 Muhammad seeks refuge from jinns (demons): “Say, ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind…From the evil of the retreating whisperer - Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind - From among the jinn and mankind.’”

>>>>> The Holy Prophet then sent Hadrat Ali, Hadrat Ammar bin Yasir and Hadrat Zubair: They were also joined by Jubair bin Iyas az-Zurqi (two men from Bani Zurayq). Later the Holy Prophet also arrived at the well along with some Companions. The water was taken out and the spathe recovered. There they found that beside the comb and hair there was a cord with eleven knots on it and a wax image with needles pricked into it. Gabriel (peace be on him) came and told him to repeat the Mu’awwidhatayn. As he repeated verse after verse, a knot was loosened and a needle taken out every time, till on finishing the last words all the knots were loosened and all the needles removed, and he was entirely freed from the charm.’” (Compare also Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7, Book 71, Number 658)

MAGIC & DEMONS

In contrast Jesus had power over demons and they fled just when he was in their company:

Luke 4:40-41 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.

Just one of the many accounts of Jesus having authority over demons is related in Luke 4:33-36…

MAGIC & DEMONS

Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice…

Be quiet! Come out of him!

Jesus said sternly…

Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed…

What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!

SON OF GOD?

Muhammad admitted that in temper, he sometimes cursed people who didn’t deserve it.

“Allah’s Messenger … said … I am a human being and I am pleased just as a human being is displeased and I lose temper just as a human being loses temper, so for any person from amongst my Umma whom I curse and he in no way deserves it, let that, O Lord, be made a source of purification and purify and nearness to (Allah) on the Day of Resurrection.” 1

Muhammad also cursed Mu’awiya, the future caliph, because he would not stop eating and come when Muhammad sent for him. 2

1 Muslim Vol 4 Bk 30 Ch 1075 #6297 p.1373

2 Muslim Vol 4 Bk 30 Ch 1075 #6298 p.1373

MUHAMMAD’S TEMPER

Allah tells Muhammad to repent of his sins:

Sura 40:55 So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin…

Sura 47:19 So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women…

Sura 48:2 That Allah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future and complete His Favour on you, and guide you on the Straight Path…

SINLESS

In contrast, Jesus was sinless:

1 John 3:5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

1 Peter 2:21-22 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one [Jesus] who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

SINLESS

But of the most critical importance is the Muslim view of Jesus Christ in terms of his redemptive work on the cross, and his claims about his identity as the Son of God.

Muhammad was a prophet and apostle of Islam:

“… Allah said:-- ‘Muhammad is no more than an Apostle, and indeed (many) apostles have passed away before him…’” - Sahih Bukhari 5:59:733

In contrast Mark starts his gospel by saying, “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1)

And John ends his gospel by saying, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

A PROPHET

As God’s Son, Jesus was greater not only than all prophets, but even greater than the angels. Note that in the past God spoke through prophets. There is no need for a further prophet now that God has spoken through his Son.

Heb 1:1-4 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

MORE THAN A PROPHET

In Luke 1:35 the angel Gabriel announced to the virgin Mary:

So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

But Muhammad who claimed his revelations came from this same Gabriel, taught that God has no son: “… How could He have a son when He does not have a companion and He created all things? …” (Sura 6:101)

The Quran says that Allah has no son:

Sura 4:171 …The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, ‘Three’; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son.

Now the Jesus whom Muhammad called “a messenger of Allah” said:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

SON OF GOD

The Quran says that God “has not had a partner in dominion”:

Sura 25:2 He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion …

But the Bible says of Jesus (the Word):

John 1:1-2,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

SON OF GOD

Muhammad mistakenly seems to think that the Christian Trinity comprises of the Father God, Mother Mary and the Son Jesus – and the Quran has Jesus seemingly apologizing for the belief.

Sura 5:116 And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah ?’” He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.”

This strange notion about the Trinity again serves to highlight the fact that Muhammad’s only knowledge of Christianity was in fact drawn from heretical sources.

SON OF GOD

The Quran states that those who believe in the Trinity will suffer a painful punishment.

Sura 5:73 They have certainly disbelieved who say, “Allah is the third of three.” And there is no god except one God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely afflict the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.

Amongst many other Scriptures the Bible says of Jesus that all the fullness of God lives in him and he is “the image of the invisible God”.

Col 1:15-19 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… He is before all things, and in him all things hold together … For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.

SON OF GOD

The Quran says that Allah is the creator:

Sura 42:11 [He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby …

The Bible confirms that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” but adds that it is Jesus the second person of the godhead, who is the creator:

Col 1:16 For by him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

John 1:3 Through him [Jesus] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

SON OF GOD

Who do you say I am?

In Matthew 16:15-17 Jesus asked the disciples an important question?

Simon Peter answered:

You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And to that statement of Peter, Jesus replied:

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

It’s all very fine saying that Muslims believe in Jesus because they accept him as a prophet, but Jesus never claimed to be a prophet – he claimed to be God’s Son. Either he was or he wasn’t. If he wasn’t God’s Son then he was a liar, not a prophet, because his claims were untrue.

Luke 22:70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”

Those who reject Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God are in the same company as those who crucified him:

John 19:7 The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

SON OF GOD

Jesus warned the Pharisees:

“I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

Jesus said that if you do not honour the Son of God, you do not honour God the Father:

“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.” (John 5:22-23)

SON OF GOD

In the Quran Muhammad says that those who call Jesus a son of God will be destroyed by Allah:

… the Christians call the Christ a son of God. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. May Allah destroy them: how they are deluded away from the Truth! (Sura 9:30)

In the Bible Jesus says that eternal life is only offered to “whoever believes in the Son”:

John 3:36a “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life…”

SON OF GOD

And what of those who reject God’s only Son? The Bible says that they are the ones who will be condemned.

John 3:17-18 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

One cannot imagine two teachings from the Quran and the Bible that are more contradictory.

SON OF GOD

DEATH

Muhammad was poisoned by a Jewess. Some traditions say it was with mutton, others say goat. 1

Verily a woman of the Jews of Khaibar presented poisoned (meat of) goat to the apostle of Allah. Then he recognized that it was poisoned, so he sent for her and asked her, “What induced you to do what you have done?” She replied, “I thought if you are a prophet, Allah will inform you, and if you are a pretender, I shall relieve people of you.” - Ibn Sa’d, Vol. 2, p. 250

… So a Jewess presented him at Khaybar with a roasted sheep which she had poisoned. The Apostle of Allah … ate of it and the people also ate. He then said: Take away your hands (from the food), for it has informed me that it is poisoned… - Abu Dawud 39:4498

MUHAMMAD'S DEATH

Some traditions have Muhammad forgiving and sparing the woman. Most have her being killed.

The Apostle of Allah … then ordered regarding her and she was killed. He then said about the pain of which he died: I continued to feel pain from the morsel which I had eaten at Khaybar. This is the time when it has cut off my aorta. - Abu Dawud 39:4498

The Apostle of Allah sent for Zaynab Bint al-Harith and said to her: What induced you to do what you have done? She replied: You have done to my people what you have done. You have killed my father, my uncle, and my husband… The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, handed her over to the heirs of Bishr Ibn al-Bara who put her to death. - Ibn Sa’d, Vol. 2, pp. 251-252 1

MUHAMMAD'S DEATH

Muhammad forced those who tried to help him with medicine on his deathbed to be punished by taking the medicine they had given him:

…Then the Messenger of God came down [from the pulpit], entered his house and the pain came, all of it, until he was exhausted. Some of his wives, Umm Salamah, Maymunah, and some of the wives of the Muslims, among whom was Asma' b. 'Umays, gathered round him, while his uncle al-'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Mullalib was with him. They agreed to force him to take medicine. Al-'Abbas said, “Let me force him,” and [the Messenger of God] was forced. After the Messenger of God recovered he asked who had done that with him.

MUHAMMAD'S DEATH

They said that it was his uncle al-'Abbas. Pointing in the direction of Abyssinia, the Prophet said, “This is a medicine brought by women from that country.” When he asked why they had done it, al-'Abbas replied, “O Messenger of God, we were afraid that you might have pleurisy (dhat al-janb).” He replied, “That is a disease with which God would not afflict me. Let no one remain in the house until he is forced to take this medicine except my uncle.” Although Maymunah had fasted, she was forced to take it because of the Messenger of God’s oath as a retribution for what they had done [to him]. - Al-Tabari, Vol. 9, pp. 177-178

MUHAMMAD'S DEATH

All the early 1st century gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and apostles agree that Jesus died by crucifixion (i.e. nailed to a cross by the Romans). But according to Islam, Isa (Jesus) did not die on a cross.

Christians and Jews have corrupted their scriptures. (Âl 'Imran 3:74-77, 113) Although Christians believe ‘Isa died on a cross, and Jews claim they killed him, in reality he was not killed or crucified, and those who said he was crucified lied (An-Nisa’ 4:157). ‘Isa did not die, but ascended to Allah. (An-Nisa’ 4:158) On the day of Resurrection ‘Isa himself will be a witness against Jews and Christians for believing in his death. (An-Nisa’ 4:159) 1

1 “Isa, the Muslim Jesus” by Dr Mark Durie answering-islam.org/ authors/ durie/ islamic_jesus.html

THE CRUCIFIXION

This claim is without any historical support. Even secular, non-Christian and anti-Christian sources (Jewish, Roman and Greek) record the fact that Jesus was crucified.

1st century Jewish historian Josephus writes of Jesus: “He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day…” 1

Lucian Of Samosata (c. AD 125 – after AD 180), a 2nd century anti-Christian Greek satirist, alludes to Christ as: “… the man who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced this new cult to the world…” 2

1 Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3, 3 2“The Passing of Peregrinus”.

THE CRUCIFIXION

Mara Bar Serapion, a Stoic philosopher in Syria writes shortly after AD 73: “What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise King?” 1

Around AD 116 Tactitus, a Roman historian hostile to Christianity, writes: “Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus…” 2

The Talmud citations (Jewish writings from AD 100-500) which use the term ‘hanging’ when referring to Roman crucifixion state: “On the eve of Passover they hanged Yeshu (of Nazareth) … he hath practiced sorcery and beguiled and led astray Israel.”

1 In a letter to his son Serapion 2 Annals 15.44

THE CRUCIFIXION

While dying Muhammad asked Allah for forgiveness and mercy, begging him to let him “meet the companions”.

Narrated ‘Aisha: I heard the Prophet and listened to him before his death while he was leaning his back on me and saying, “O Allah! Forgive me, and bestow Your Mercy on me, and let me meet the companions.” - Bukhari 5:59:724

He also curses his enemies:

“May Allah’s Curse be on the Jews and the Christians…” - Sahih Bukhari 4:56:660

A DYING CURSE

As the sinless Son of God, Jesus had no need to ask for forgiveness. And unlike Muhammad who curses his enemies while dying, Jesus forgives his enemies even though they are taunting him. (Luke 23:34-35)

A DYING BLESSING

He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

RESURRECTION

Muhammad died on 8th June 632 AD in Medina, Saudi Arabia. According to the Hadith, Muhammad is dead just like many apostles before him:

… Abu Bakr said, “To proceed, if anyone amongst you used to worship Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but if (anyone of) you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die. Allah said:-- ‘Muhammad is no more than an Apostle, and indeed (many) apostles have passed away before him…’” - Sahih Bukhari 5:59:733

According to the Bible Jesus “was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

DEAD OR ALIVE

The Hadith records that Muhammad was against places of worship at the graves of prophets. Yet his tomb is at Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet) in Medina.

… On his death-bed Allah’s Apostle put a sheet over his-face and when he felt hot, he would remove it from his face. When in that state … he said, “May Allah’s Curse be on the Jews and the Christians for they build places of worship at the graves of their prophets.” (By that)

The Mosque of the Prophet with the Green Dome built over Muhammad’s tomb in the centre.

he intended to warn (the Muslim) from what they (i.e. Jews and Christians) had done. - Sahih Bukhari 4:56:660

This is the Garden tomb (Gordon’s Calvary) in Jerusalem where many Protestants believe Jesus’ body was laid – but the tomb is empty because Jesus Christ is alive!

Luke 24:1-6 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women … went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!

In the End Times as described by Muhammad, ‘Isa [Jesus] becomes a warrior who will return with his sword and lance. He will destroy the Christian religion and make Islam the only religion in all the world. Finally at the last Judgement he will condemn Christians to hell for believing in the crucifixion and the incarnation. 1

In stark contrast the Bible says that those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and in his resurrection will be rescued from the coming wrath when Jesus returns.

1 Thess 1:9-10 …They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

1 answering-islam.org/ authors/ durie/ islamic_jesus.html

THE RESURRECTION

The resurrection is what differentiates Jesus from other founders of religious movements. They have tombs people visit to pay homage to their remains - but Jesus has an empty tomb.

Christians don’t follow a dead hero – we serve a living Saviour.

THE RESURRECTION

A plaque at the Garden Tomb

Belief in the resurrection is crucial for salvation:

Rom 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Without the resurrection our faith is useless and futile

1 Cor 15:13-18 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

THE RESURRECTION

SALVATION

Muhammad borrowed from the apocryphal “Testament of Abraham” which taught that on Judgement Day your good deeds and bad deeds will be ‘weighed’ on a scale in order to determine whether you go to heaven or hell:

Sura 101:6-9 Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], He will be in a pleasant life. But as for one whose scales are light, His refuge will be an abyss.

The Bible says that we cannot be saved by good works:

Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…

Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

SALVATION

Jesus said we need to enter into a relationship with God:

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3)

He also said that there is no way of salvation other than believing in God’s Son:

John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

And so the Bible says of Jesus that:

“He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12)

SALVATION

FALSE

PROPHETS

Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Matt 7:15 NASB)

We saw that Muhammad calls Jesus “a messenger of Allah” (Sura 4:171).

The Quran also confirms the inspiration of the Christian Bible, both Old (Torah) and New Testament (Gospel).

Sura 3:3 He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. (See also Sura 7:157).

Sura 10:94 So if you are in doubt, [O Muhammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.

A FALSE PROPHET

Christians are told by Muhammad to judge by what they read in the gospel:

Sura 5:47 And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.

Sura 5:68 Say, “O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.” And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. So do not grieve over the disbelieving people.

A FALSE PROPHET

But the Gospels unequivocally support the Christian view of Jesus as the Son of God who died and was resurrected. You could not honestly read the NT and come to another conclusion. As a result some Muslims claim that the NT must have been corrupted by Christians.

But Muhammad also claims that it is impossible to corrupt the Scriptures:

Sur 6:114-115 [Say], “Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?” And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters. And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can alter His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

A FALSE PROPHET

We also know from the thousands of ancient manuscripts that have been found that the gospel as it was in Muhammad’s day is the same as the gospel we have today.

Just as one of many examples, this manuscript of John’s gospel (on the right) is carbon-dated to 175-225 AD and it contains these very words: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

A FALSE PROPHET

A copy of the gospel of John from 175 – 225 AD.

So Muhammad says that the Gospels are Scripture and that Christians should use them to make judgements. You are then left with two alternatives:

As the Gospels contradict Muhammad’s teachings – this means we should conclude that Muhammad is a false prophet.

But if the Gospels have been corrupted, then again we should conclude that Muhammad is a false prophet for he said the Scriptures cannot be corrupted. (In any event the forensic manuscript evidence contradicts the claim that the gospels said something different in Muhammad’s day.)

So either way you look at it, Muhammad is a false prophet.

A FALSE PROPHET

Muhammad claimed to receive his revelations from the angel Gabriel. The Bible says:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! (Gal 1:8)

And what was the message preached?

1 Cor 1:18-24 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God… but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

A FALSE GOSPEL

We are warned that even Satan pretends to be what he is not, in order to deceive people:

2 Cor 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

A FALSE GOSPEL

Islam’s Jesus is not the same as Christianity’s Jesus. He was not God’s Son, never died on the cross, was never resurrected and was just a prophet in the same fashion as Moses and Abraham.

The Jesus of the Bible proclaimed himself to be both “The Son of Man” and “The Son of God”. He commanded his apostles to proclaim his death and resurrection and to teach that he was the only way to the Father. He himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

He didn’t say, “I am A WAY”. He didn’t even say, “I am THE BEST WAY”. He said, “I am THE WAY”. He claimed to be the ONLY WAY and that “no one comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME.”

SUMMARY

https://agfbrakpan.com/ sermon-archives-on-topic/ SPIRIT%20WORLD

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