A Whisper

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

Some people are not able to find the truth because of their blind commitment to their beliefs. Their tenacious adherence is usually not based on an intellectual understanding of the teachings, but on powerful cultural and emotional influences. Because they were brought up in a particular family or society, they firmly cling to the beliefs of that group, believing that they are upholding the truth.

There are others who are convinced about the religion of Islam and are mentally ready to embrace it. However, when they come to the point when they remember the drastic change in their lives which might not please their families and communities, they tend to go back and change their minds about the decision.

Here is a whisper in their ears:
Irrespective of the amount of money, prestige, position, and power an unbeliever might have possessed in this life, he or she will never have enough to buy his or her entrance into paradise. In the hereafter, the poorest from among the inhabitants of earth, who had testified to the truth of Islam, will be far happier and more dignified than the richest person who did not accept the message of Islam.

Rejecting Allah’s message is the biggest sin that one can commit. For this reason, while the soul of an unbeliever is still in his or her body, the wise individual should quickly utilize the occasion: he or she is still alive to accept Allah’s message before it is too late. The time for repentance is limited. Once death arrives, it is no longer possible to obtain forgiveness. (Compiled from Caraballo, My Great Love for Jesus Led Me to Islam).

Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an:
{[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says: My Lord, send me back that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind. No! It is only a word he is saying…} (Qur’an 23: 99-100) (The unbelievers will ask for a ‘second chance’ when they see the angels ready to punish them, but it will be too late; they were given the time, the intellect and the guidance, but they neglected it for years till time ran out)

Religion is, without question, the most important aspect of a person’s life as it impacts whether or not a person is rightly guided; it follows, therefore, that choosing the true faith is the most important personal decision one must make; this decision needs to be based on clarity and total conviction. When it comes to matters of religion and creed, nothing must be left to chance. This is because the one who is truly guided – as opposed to the one who is not – will surely find eternal happiness in the hereafter!

Being presented with the previous proofs, whoever has a sane intellect can analyze and reason; a crossroad has been reached, in which Allah (Glorified is He) calls all people to follow the clear, straight road and avoid all the foggy, zigzag ones. The right path has now become distinct from the wrong path, as Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an:
{…The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in tâghoot and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.} (Qur’an 2: 256)

He has also specified:
{There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in tâghoot and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.} (Qur’an 2: 256)

It is my duty and responsibility, as a member of this great planet, and as the one who has submitted my free will to the law and commandments of the Supreme Being, to urge all human beings to stay away from the worship of false deities, to stop putting their faith in statues, sphinxes, figures, amulets, talismans, horseshoes, and any other objects that have been manufactured by humans or created by God. After repentance, a person should submit completely to the will of Allah, the Only God of the universe.

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This is it

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

In this book, you have been shown the right path, and Allah has given you the ability to distinguish right from wrong; He has also given you the freedom of choice as to whether or not to accept the message of Islam. If you accept His call, you will be warmly welcomed into paradise. If you reject it, you will end up with the biggest loss ever imagined: the loss of paradise and the guarantee of abiding in hellfire for all eternity. Take a moment to comprehend what eternity really means. It is a very frightening realization.

To those who have been faithful Christians, you are warmly welcome to embrace Islam because:
 Jesus asked his followers to follow Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) whenever he appeared;
 When Jesus comes back before the end of this world, he will follow Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) and abide by his teachings. Yes, since Jesus called his true followers to follow it while he was on the earth, and will follow Islam when he comes back, all faithful Christian should follow Islam as well.

To those who have been believing Jews, remember that Abraham and Moses surrendered themselves completely to their Lord, whether they called Him Elohenu, God, or Allah. All pride in ethnicity or ancestry is vain: what will matter in the end is your individual relationship with your Creator. This means total submission – Islam.

To those of other faiths or who, until now, did not feel that they had any faith at all, consider this message now, without any reluctance or hesitation, before it is too late; before death overtakes you. It can be soon. Who knows?

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A Final Call to Reason

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

A concluding suggestion: consider what everyone has in common. Come, let us reason together:
{Say: O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah. But if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].} (Qur’an 3: 64)

{People of the Scripture} is the respectful title given to the Jews and the Christians in the Noble Qur’an. Muslims are being commanded to invite them with noble and respectful words: O People of the Book, O learned people, O people who claim to be the recipients of Divine revelation of a holy scripture, let us gather onto a common platform: that we worship none but Allah, because none but Him is worthy of worship, because He is our Lord and Cherisher, our Sustainer and Evolver, worthy of all praise, prayer and devotion.

These truths are basic and an integral part of any human being’s intellect. Sort through the layers of indoctrination which hide this simple fact, and one will be able to see that deep down, every human being retains the simple and obvious concept of Allah. In essence, every human being agrees that there is only One God worthy of worship, One God who is free of partners, helpers, or anything that is ascribed to Him falsely. In essence, every human being is in agreement.

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Why Islam?

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

Every person should revert to Islam because it is the birthright of every person and the original print on every human soul when he or she was born.

Every person should revert to Islam because Allah has sealed and superseded all previous messages with Islam. Allah has mentioned to all people in the Qur’an:
{…This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion…} (Qur’an 5: 3)

Every person should revert to Islam because people in every age must worship their Lord (Allah) according to the law prescribed by Him as revealed to His Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him). The tribes of Israel, for example, were ordered to worship Allah according to the Law of Moses. When Prophet Jesus was sent to them, they were ordered to worship Allah according to what was prescribed in the Gospel. Then when Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) with the message of Islam to all people, it became incumbent on all people, the tribes of Israel and all others, to enter Islam.

After all, what could be more serious than the rejection of the religion which the Creator and Sustainer of everything has enjoined upon all people? Indeed, this is the greatest injustice committed by human beings. It is sad but true that if a person dies in this state, he or she will be punished and cast into the hellfire to live there for eternity. This concept has been emphasized hundreds of times in the Qur’an and in the statements of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him). Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an:
{And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the hereafter, will be among the losers.} (Qur’an 3: 85)

Also, Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) said:
<> (Muslim)

Note that Allah was reported to have said in the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18, “If anyone does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name, I Myself will call him to account.” (Deuteronomy 18:19)
Having proved that the prophet referred to here is Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him), this means that whoever believes in the Bible must believe in this prophet and in what this prophet says; else, he or she will be called to account for that. After the realization of who this prophet is, it follows logically that one must adhere to his teachings.

There are those who may not accept Islam because they think that becoming a Muslim means to turn one’s back on all previous prophets sent by Allah. This is a false concept because of the following:

Firstly, belief in all messengers of Allah is a pillar of Islamic faith and hence, no Muslim is a believing Muslim if he or she does not believe in Jesus, Moses or any other prophet.
Secondly, belief in the messengers is a part of what each messenger taught (that is, every prophet called his people to believe in the next prophet who comes after him and follow him whenever he appears). So, rejecting a prophet amounts to rejecting the predecessor.
Thirdly, rejecting any messenger amounts to the rejection of the One Who sent him: Allah.
Fourthly, Islam promises the followers of previous faiths great rewards if they add belief in Islam to belief in their previous faith.

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said:
<> (Bukhari)

The first reward is for believing in his or her faith before he or she knew about Islam; the second reward is for recognizing the truth and believing in Islam. Hence, the Islamic perspective on the relationship between the messengers is like the relationship between the links in a chain; rejecting one of them amounts to rejecting all of them. Therefore, becoming a Muslim means having the honour of believing in all the prophets who came before Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) and not turning one’s back on any previous prophets.

Finally, we have to accept Islam because Islam has revived the eternal divine teachings that had been either forgotten or distorted in the previous messages. Islam retains and maintains the practical teachings mentioned in the previous scriptures that are part of the birthright of all people till the end of this world.

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Islam, the Universal Religion

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

Islam is a universal message to all of humankind and for all times, until the Day of Judgement, whereas every other prophet was sent to his own people, and for a limited time period. Prophet Jesus’ mission was limited to the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’. (Matthew 15:24)

Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent for everyone: male or female, rich or poor, Arab or non- Arab, slave or freeborn. Islam can be practiced anywhere on the earth; it is not tied to locality or culture. So, if you are not from the tribes of Israel (the descendants of the twelve sons of Prophet Jacob) as in the case of Indians, Asians, Africans, indigenous peoples and Europeans, and you are a Christian, then you are following a prophet (Jesus) and a message which was not meant for you. This means you are not on the right track!

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Features of Islamic Teachings

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

Allah has made the message of Islam easy to understand and to follow. He annulled some previously prescribed rites and practices while affirming others according to His wisdom. As a result, the Islamic creed and law suit peoples’ spiritual, psychological, social and economical needs, for all of humankind and for all eras. Islamic teachings have the following unique features:

1 Rationality

One should not have to derive the truth from a series of complicated logical proofs, only to arrive at something he or she is unsure of (as is common in other religions or philosophies). When the truth is found, it should be clear and obvious. The truth is so simple that anyone is capable of seeing it, and this is the most compelling feature of Islam.

2 Perfection

Since Allah is perfect, His teachings must also be perfect and free from any contradiction or error. The Qur’an challenges its readers to find any errors in it, if they do not believe it is really from Allah:
{Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.} (Qur’an 4: 82)

Dr. Maurice Bucaille, a French Christian physician, found many scientific facts mentioned in the Qur’an that were not known by humans at the time that the verses of the Qur’an were being conveyed by Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) to those around him. Bucaille wrote, “I could not find a single error in the Qur’an.” (Bucaille, The Qur’an and Modern Science)

3 Clarity

Allah is the Most Compassionate. He therefore guides people through clear and simple revelation free of myths, superstitions and mysteries.

4 Scientific validity and accuracy

It is not surprising to find in the Qur’an and statements of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) information which has only recently been discovered by modern science. This indicates that the Qur’an is the word of Allah and that Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) is His Prophet. On the other hand, the religious views which the church presented concerning God, the Bible, and the individual’s relation to God forced people into an unfortunate choice: either science or God. Most educated people have come to the conclusion that one cannot be a scientist or an educated person and be a true Christian at the same time. Many philosophers, scientists and the majority of lay people lost hope of reconciling religion and science; thus the ideology of secularism was developed. This dichotomy would not have arisen if the original Gospel which was revealed to Jesus (blessings and peace be upon him) had not been distorted.

Islam, the pure religion, raises no contradiction whatsoever between religion and science. This is naturally obvious because both religion and true scientific knowledge are from the same source: Allah, who does not contradict Himself. (For more information on the many scientific facts that are referenced in the Qur’an, see The Qur’an and Modern Science by Dr. Maurice Bucaille and A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam, by I. A. Ibrahim, also available at http://www.islam-guide.com )

5 Prophetic fulfilment

Many of the events prophesied in the Qur’an and in the Prophet’s statements have come to pass. This is further proof that Islam is not a man-made religion, because it is unimaginable for an uneducated man who was living isolated from other civilizations to make up such prophecies.

6 Moderation

In Islam, there is no conflict between spiritual and worldly life. Rather, it provides a balance between all aspects of human life, taking into account the needs and wants of individuals and society. Therefore, secularism, materialism, monasticism and extreme asceticism are all rejected in Islam, which provides a middle way to achieve harmony and balance between the spiritual and material needs of people. This is why Allah has called the Muslim nation in the Qur’an as a: {…just community [moderate nation]…} (Qur’an 2: 143)

7 Comprehensiveness

Islamic teachings provide people with definite guidelines to follow in all aspects of life: spiritual, individual, social, moral, political, economical, and so on.

8 Uniqueness

For anyone who claimed that Islam was man-made, Allah challenges them to:
{…produce a chapter the like thereof…} (Qur’an 2: 23)
Indeed, the entire Qur’an – its language, its elegance, its miraculous nature – is unparalleled. The ancient non-Muslim Arabs tried to construct a verse yet failed, even though their language and poetry was very highly developed in that era.

Even many recent non-Muslim scholars admit that the Qur’an is one of the greatest books known to humankind. This point ultimately leads to the fact that Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) – the illiterate – was a true prophet to whom the Qur’an was revealed.

9 Justice

All of humankind descended from one man and one woman (Adam and Eve). Islam teaches that the criterion by which each human being is judged is righteousness, not the colour of one’s skin or one’s status in society. The best person in the view of Allah is the most righteous. A verse of the Glorious Qur’an reads:
{…Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you…} (Qur’an 49: 13)

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Islam’s Revival of the Basic Teachings of Jesus Introduction

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

All prophets were sent with the same message: monotheism in the worship of Allah, testifying to the supremacy of His attributes as well as the His unity of essence. However, their messages may differ in terms of legislation (Sharia), for instance, the manner of performing prayers, fasting, types of charity and so on. This depends upon each nation’s characteristics, according to Allah’s wisdom, for He knows His creatures better than they know themselves.

Every prophet revived the basic beliefs that had been distorted after the departure of the preceding prophet. Islam, being the final message, revived the basic beliefs and practices of all the preceding messages, including the message of Jesus. It elaborated them so that people would find them clear and straightforward to follow.

Following are some basic teachings which were established by Prophet Jesus and were revived in the message of Islam:

1 Revival of the creed of Allah’s Unity (of essence) – Negating the doctrine of Trinity

This fundamental teaching was taught by Jesus (peace be upon him), as quoted below, but abandoned by most Christians. It was revived by the message of Islam. All praise and thanks are for Allah for His guidance. Sixteen proofs from the Bible and rational thought regarding Allah’s Unity in His essence:

1. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:4)

2. Has not the One God made and sustained for us the spirit of life? (Malachi 2:15)

3. You may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Saviour. (Isaiah 43:10-11)

4. I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no god. Who is like Me? (Isaiah 44:6-7, RSV) (RSV: ‘Revised standard version’)

5. And there is no other god besides Me, a righteous God and a Saviour; there is none besides Me. Turn to Me and be saved…To Me every knee shall bow. (Isaiah 45: 21-23)

6. Now this is life eternal, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3) (This verse indicates very clearly the distinction between Allah as God and Jesus as a prophet).

7. Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only. (Matthew 4:10)

8. Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is One Lord. (Mark 12:29)

9. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5) (This verse indicates clearly that God has to be worshipped alone
without any mediator; also, Jesus was a human, not ‘God’)

10. I am the LORD, and there is no other god. I have not spoken in secret or kept My purpose hidden… I am the Lord, and I speak the truth; I make known what is right. (Isaiah 45:18-19, GNT)

11. An additional important proof from the Bible that God (Allah), Jesus (peace be upon him), and the Holy Spirit are each distinct in their essence: the Bible (the Old or New Testaments) does not state anywhere that Allah, Jesus (peace be upon him) or the Holy Spirit comprise one entity called God, or one of the three. It is a mere product of man-made, illogical, philosophical thinking which people have blindly inherited from their parents and grandparents through ages and generations, without any rational assessment or validation.

12. The following biblical verses contradict the creed of the Trinity in an indirect way:
 You have never heard his voice nor seen his face. (John 5:37)
 No one has ever seen him. And no one can see him. (1Timothy 6:16)
 No one can see me and stay alive. (Exodus 33:20)

13. According to these biblical verses, no one can see or hear God. Yet, God is supposed to be Jesus (peace be upon him) according to Christian belief. In such a case, these verses should make no sense, because Jesus’ family, followers, the Jews, and many other contemporaries saw and heard him during his time. This means that Jesus cannot be what these verses are talking about; they must be referring to someone else: to God (Allah), the Highest, Whom no one can see or hear. It is curious, too, that Jesus himself never mentioned the Trinity. He did not say anything regarding divine entities forming a trinity. If there was a trinity, he would have said it very clearly to his people, because prophets came to convey the truth, not to hide it.

14. The concept that Jesus (peace be upon him) held about Allah was no different from the concept that all the other previous prophets had had. All of them preached the Unity of Allah instead of the concept of ‘Trinity’. Jesus simply repeated the monotheistic, unitarian message that had been revealed to the prophets who had come before him.

15. The doctrine of Trinity is irrational because nothing that comes out of Him or is created by Him can become His equal or partner.

16. The Qur’an rejects the concept of Trinity as strongly as it rejects the idea that Allah has a son. This is because Allah has informed us He is One. This is a fundamental tenet of all the revelations. Three, by reason and by simple arithmetic, cannot be one. The Qur’an has addressed Christians on this subject:
{O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. 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. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.} (Qur’an 4: 171)

Islam revived the concept of Allah’s Unity in essence, and absolutely negated the doctrine of ‘son-ship’ and the doctrine which states that Allah is Jesus (peace be upon him). Allah has
said:
{They have certainly disbelieved who say: Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary…} (Qur’an 5: 72)
He has also said in the Holy Qur’an:
{Say: He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets, nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.} (Qur’an 112: 1-4)

2 Revival of Allah’s Supremacy in terms of His attributes and qualities

Allah has multiple and supreme attributes. He is the Most Gracious and Most Merciful. He was praised in all the revealed books and through the words of all His prophets. According to the Bible, Jesus (peace be upon him) taught that Allah is supreme in His attributes. In Matthew 19:16-17, when the man called Prophet Jesus ‘good’, saying, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Prophet Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is God.” He denied the attribution of ‘infinite goodness’ or ‘perfect goodness’ to himself, and affirmed that this attribute belongs to Allah alone.

In Isaiah (44:6-7, RSV), it has been reported that God (Allah) says, “I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no god. Who is like Me?”
Islam effectively revived this basic concept. Numerous verses in the Qur’an and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) affirm that Allah:

 Has no partners or equals.
 Is ‘invisible’ because He is over His throne, over the heavens, and no one can see Him in this life.
 Is not physically manifested or incarnated in other forms.
 Is eternal; He does not die.
 Begets not, nor is He begotten; He does not need anyone like a mother, a wife, or a son.
 Has no partners in His God-head.
 Is self-sufficient; everyone depends upon Him and needs Him; however, He neither depends upon anyone, nor does He need anything, such as food, drink, or help. For example, Allah has said in the Qur’an:

{…There is nothing like unto Him…} (Qur’an 42: 11)
{So do not assert similarities to Allah. Indeed, Allah knows and you do not know.} (Qur’an 16: 74)
{…for Allah is the highest attribute. And He is Exalted in Might, the Wise.} (Qur’an 16: 60)
This basic part of belief (that Allah deserves the bestnames and attributes) has been emphasized repeatedly in the Noble Qur’an. This is evident to the reader of the Qur’an, who finds that numerous Qur’anic verses end with a reference to a divine attribute, such as {the All-Hearing, All-Seeing}, {the Most Forgiving, the All-Compassionate}, and {the Most High, the Most Great}.

3 Revival of the doctrine of monotheism (worship of Allah alone)

As mentioned earlier, the call to the worship of Allah alone (monotheism), without any intermediary, was the message of all the prophets. Because of the persisting deviation in this doctrine, it has had to be reaffirmed by all of the prophets of Allah throughout the ages. The monotheistic message of Islam simply tells people that they should worship only Allah, and should not worship anyone or anything other than Allah, in any way, shape or form.

However, Christians now call upon (supplicate to) Jesus (and others) besides Allah. Moreover, they direct all types of worship to Jesus. Associating others with Allah is nothing but polytheism. Surprisingly, although the text of the Bible has been altered significantly, it still contains evidence that Jesus called others towards monotheism:

 In Luke 4:8, ESV, (ESV: ‘English standard version’)
the Devil asks Jesus to worship him, promising him authority and glory of all of the kingdoms of this world, “And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’”
 And there is no other god besides Me, a righteous God and a Saviour; there is none besides Me. Turn to Me and be saved…To Me every knee shall bow. (Isaiah 45:21-23)
 Turn to me now and be saved, people all over the world! I am the only God there is. (Isaiah 45:22)
 Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only. (Matthew 4:10)
 In the Bible, the true God emphatically testifies:
I am the LORD, and there is no other god. I have not spoken in secret or kept my purpose hidden…I am the Lord, and I speak the truth; I make known what is right. (Isaiah 45:18-19, GNT)

Thus, the essence of the message of Jesus was that only Allah deserves to be worshiped; the worship of anyone or anything besides Allah or along with Him is false. It is important to note that worshipping others besides God is a major alteration of Jesus’ message. The call to monotheism became distorted after his departure by later followers, beginning with Paul, who turned that pure and simple message into a complicated Trinitarian philosophy which justified the worship of Jesus, followed by the worship of Jesus’ mother, Mary, the angels and the saints. Catholics have a long list of saints to whom they turn in times of need.

Worshiping others besides Allah is irrational and in vain; this is because neither the living nor the dead can answer the prayers (supplication) of humankind. The worship of Allah should not be shared with His creation because they are people just like us; they are not the creators. They are weak creatures like us; they need food, drink, shelter, and help, and after their death (or ascension in the case of Jesus) they cannot even hear the ones who call them!

Islam effectively revived the doctrine of monotheism. For example, Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an:
{They have certainly disbelieved who say: Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary, while the Messiah has said: O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him paradise, and his abode is the fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.} (Qur’an 5: 72)
{Indeed, those you [polytheists] call upon besides Allah are servants like you…} (Qur’an 7: 194)
{…Is there a deity with Allah? High is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.} (Qur’an 27: 63)
{…Is there a deity with Allah? Say: Produce your proof, if you should be truthful.} (Qur’an 27: 64)
{And I did not create the jinn and humankind except to worship Me.} (Qur’an 51: 56)

Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him)
said:
<> (An authentic hadith narrated by at-Tirmidhi and Abu Dâwood)

Consequently, if a person claims to be a Muslim and prays to a prophet, saint, statue, or anything else, then he or she has stepped out of the bounds of Islam.
Thus, according to these affirmations, all other supposed gods and deities whom people worship and call upon, like Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Brahma, Shiva, Krishna, or Buddha are neither gods, nor are they manifestations of the one true God (Allah). Even if someone were to worship Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him), the same punishment mentioned above would apply to him.

4 Revival of the creed of Jesus’ human attributes and prophethood, negating divinity and ‘son-ship’

11 proofs from the Bible of Jesus’ human attributes and prophethood

There are many verses in the New Testament which affirm Jesus’ prophethood and contradict the divinity attributed to him.

1. Now this is life eternal, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.81 (John 17:3)
2. In Matthew 21:11, the people of his time are recorded as referring to Jesus as a prophet, “And the crowds said: this is the prophet Jesus of Nazareth of Galilee.”
3. In Mark, 6:4, it is stated that Jesus referred to himself as a Prophet, “And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.’”
4. In the previous verses, Jesus is referred to as having been sent as a messenger. In Matthew 10:40, Jesus was purported to have said, “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and He that receiveth him that sent me.”
5. In John 5:30, it is narrated that Jesus also said: I can do nothing on my own authority, as I hear I judge; and my judgement is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of Him who sent me.
6. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5) (This verse indicates clearly that God should be worshipped alone
without any mediator and that Jesus (peace be upon him) is a man and
not God).
7. Jesus was also reported in the Gospel, according to Matthew 19:16, HNV, (HNV: ‘Hebrew names version’) to have been referred to as ‘the teacher’, which is the role of all the prophets, “Behold, one came and said to him, ‘Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’”
8. In Matthew 19:17, Jesus responded to the one who addressed him as “good teacher”, saying, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God.” Jesus here rejects being called ‘good’, and states that only God is truly good; he clearly implies that he is not God. Also, Jesus here rejects being called ‘perfectly good’, because perfection belongs only to God (Allah).
9. Even in some of the writings of Paul, which the Church has taken to be sacred, Jesus is referred to as a man, distinct and different from God (Allah). In 1 Timothy, 2:5, Paul writes, “For there is one God and one mediator (All the prophets are mediators between God and people in the sense that they are His messengers, who deliver His message) between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
10. In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus stated: Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the [way of] the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them, for I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
11. Also in Matthew 5:19, Jesus Christ was reported to have insisted on strict obedience to the commandments of Allah, which is the role of any prophet: Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

No evidence for the divinity of Jesus (peace be upon him) in the Bible

It should be noted that nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus actually call himself ‘God’ or the ‘Son of God’ or one of three. If this was the case then it would have been mentioned very clearly in the Bible at least once; this is because Jesus – like all other prophets – was sent to enlighten his people about the truth and clear up doubts, not to confuse them further.

Today, there are many modern scholars in Christianity who hold that Jesus Christ was not ‘God’.
In 1977, a group of seven biblical scholars, including leading Anglican theologians and other New Testament scholars, published a book called The Myth of God Incarnate, which caused great uproar in the General Synod of the Church of England. In the preface, the editor, John Hick, wrote the following:

The writers of this book are convinced that another major theological development is called for in this last part of the twentieth century. The need arises from growing knowledge of Christian origins, and involves a recognition that Jesus was (as he is presented in Act 2.21) ‘a man approved by God’ for a special role within the divine purpose, and that the later conception of him as God incarnate, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity living a human life, is a mythological or poetic way of expressing his significance for us. (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 61.)

It should be noted that the concept of Jesus’ humanness is not only held by the Muslims; it is also held by the Jews and other early sects of Christianity such as the Ebionites (Nazarenes), the Cerinthians, the Basilidians, and the Goths.

They, too, maintained that Jesus was a beloved Prophet of God, and they have not elevated him from his rightful status. Even today, there are churches in Asia and Africa along with the Unitarian church and Jehovah’s Witnesses who do not worship Jesus as God. It is important to stress here that this is not enough to free them on the Day of Judgement unless they accept Islam, Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him), and the last revelation from Allah.

The truth about ‘son-ship’ (Compiled from Caraballo, My Great Love for Jesus Led Me to
Islam.)

In the Bible, the expression of ‘son’ has been used to refer to many of the earlier prophets. Israel, for example, was called the ‘Son of God’ in one of the books of Moses, “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, even My first born.” (Exodus 4:22)

Also, in the Psalms, the same title was given to David, “I will declare the decree: the Lord had said unto me, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee.” (Psalms 2:7)
Likewise, in I Chronicles, 22:10, Solomon was called the Son of God, “He shall build a house for My name: and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father and I will establish the throne of his Kingdom over Israel forever.”
From the above statements and many others in the Bible, it has been established that the word ‘son’ refers to ‘nearness to God in love’. This is ascertained when we see Jesus himself saying that every man who did the will of the Father in heaven was a Son of God.

Jesus was reported to have said in the following verses:
“Love your enemies… that ye may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45)
“Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Hence, what made a man worthy of being called the ‘Son of God’ was a devout life and kind, merciful behaviour.

The Bible proves that Jesus actually rejected being called ‘Son of God’:
And demons also came out of many, crying, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. (Luke 4:41) (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 50)

Therefore, in view of the above, there is no justification to regard Jesus as the Son of God in an exclusive and unique meaning. When Jesus used the phrase ‘Son of God’, it meant exactly the same as it meant when it was used for Adam, Israel, David and Solomon (peace be upon them), that is, the nearest in love to God.

The humanness and prophethood of Jesus (peace be upon him) is affirmed in many verses of the Qur’an to correct the grave mistake of elevating him to the status of God (Allah) or to ascribe him as the Son of God (Allah).

In the Qur’an, Allah has denied having a son in nine different chapters: 2: 116, 10: 68, 11: 117, 18: 4, 19: 77, 19: 88, 19: 91-92, 21: 26, 25: 2, 39: 4, and 72: 3. As an example, He says:
{And they say: The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son. You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation that they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant. He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting. And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone.} (Qur’an 19: 88-95)

Allah has also mentioned:
{The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We
make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded.} (Qur’an 5: 75)
Clearly, the idea that Jesus was God or that he was the son of God is textually weak and logically impossible.

Important notes
1. In none of Christian or Muslim scriptures, Mary claimed that she was a mother of God, or that her son was a God. As mentioned in the Qur’an, she was a pious, virtuous woman.

2. As a precautionary measure, there are many verses in the Qur’an which also confirm Prophet Muhammad’s human attributes, in order to prevent his followers from elevating him to a divine or semi-divine status, as happened in the case of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him).
For example, in chapter 18, Allah instructs Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) to inform the following to all those who hear his message:
{Say: I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord – let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.} (Qur’an 18: 110)

5 Revival of the doctrine of Jesus’ ascension (negating crucifixion)

Some of the changes made to Prophet Jesus’ message after his ascension are so fundamental that they strike at the very root of Christianity. For example, the only two references to the ascension of Jesus that were found in the Gospels of Mark and Luke in the King James Version were removed from the Revised Standard Version, edited in 1952. Before the removal of these passages, the relevant verses read as follows:

“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19, KJV)
“And it came to pass; while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up to heaven.” (Luke 24:51, KJV)
The relevant verse in the Gospel of Mark was removed, along with a number of other verses that immediately preceded and succeeded it, sixteen verses in total.

In the 1952 Revised Standard Version, Luke 24:51 read, “While he blessed them, he parted from them.” The words ‘carried up to heaven’ had been removed. (The verses Mark 16:9-20, as well as the words ‘carried up to heaven’ in Luke 24:51, were restored in 1971, and they are found in Islam revived the creed of Jesus’ ascension.

The Qur’an confirms the earliest scriptures that inform us that Allah raised him when his enemies attempted to crucify him. He replaced him with another person who resembled him, and in reality, it was this other person who was crucified. To this day, Christians believe that Jesus himself was the one who was killed.

Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an:
{And [for] their saying: Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah. And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.} (Qur’an 4: 157-158) today’s Revised Standard Version. (Editor)

6 Revival of the prohibition of augury (Augury has many meanings, some of which are prognostication, prophecy, and divination. Of course, prophecy is a gift that Allah gave to the prophets alone)

Knowledge of what is going to happen in the future is a unique attribute of Allah alone. No one knows what will happen in the near or distant future except Him. Using augury and witchcraft is prohibited in the revealed scriptures because the one who does it tries to raises him or herself to the level of Allah in terms of assuming one of His divine attributes.

Forecasting the weather is not considered as part of augury and witchcraft; this is because weather forecasters depend upon physical measures and mathematical calculations. This is unlike augury and witchcraft, where a person claims that he or she knows what is going to happen in the future, just like Allah. Indeed, He alone is All-Knowing. Jesus prohibited augury and witchcraft. In Leviticus 19:26, “you shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not
practice augury or witchcraft.”

Islam revived this doctrine, which says that Allah alone knows the future. Allah has mentioned: {…The unseen is only for Allah [to administer]…} (Qur’an 10: 20)

He has also clarified:
{Say: None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.} (Qur’an 27: 65)

Based on this, Islam strictly prohibits consulting fortunetellers, clairvoyants, and the like. Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) said:
<> (Bukhari and Abu Dâwood)

7 Revival of the prohibition of witchcraft

Referring to the Old Testament quotation above (Leviticus 19:26), witchcraft is prohibited in the teachings of Moses (peace be upon him), Jesus (peace be upon him), and all the prophets. The reason behind it is that sorcerers and practitioners of the occult seek satanic assistance to do their magic, which is against the teachings of all the prophets. Islam revived the prohibition of witchcraft.
<> (Bukhari and Muslim)

Revival of the prohibition of harmful practices
Without doubt, the doctrinal teachings about the nature of Allah and Jesus were revived by the religion of Islam. At the same time, some of the prohibitions related to practices harmful to the individual and/or to society, which Jesus and the earlier prophets had taught people, were revived as well.

8 Revival of the prohibition of taking interest

Upholding the law, Prophet Jesus opposed giving or taking of interest because the texts of the Old Testament expressly forbade interest. It is recorded in Deuteronomy 23:19 that:
You shall not lend upon interest to your brother, interest on money, interest upon victuals, interest on anything that is lent for interest. (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 93).

Islam revived the teaching of Jesus regarding the prohibition of interest: {O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.} (Qur’an 2: 278)

There is great wisdom in the prohibition of interest. Firstly, the one who earns income through interest does so without working for it; in contrast, Islam strongly encourages one to work for one’s living. Secondly, the one who borrows does so due to a lack of financial resources; however, the debt (because of interest) creates an even greater burden as the borrower must repay the principle coupled with hefty interest charges. Thirdly, a system based on interest can lead to inflation, recession and even a complete collapse of financial markets, as we are witnessing in our time. Many nations in both the developed and developing world have become enslaved by the system of usury and interest.

It is undisputed that the 2008-2009 world economic downturn (and possible collapse of many world economies), which started in the United States and spread to Europe and Asia, was caused directly by excessive lending in amounts several times over the actual worth of the assets in loans; this spread the interest charges over many resold loans, resulting in an exaggerated and unrealistic inflation of the value of the actual money lent. This false representation of reality meant that it would be impossible for most debtors to pay back such loans.

God, the Almighty, forbade usury in three places in the Qur’an (2: 275-278; 3: 130; and 4: 161). {Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say: Trade is [just] like interest. But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah. But whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury] – those are the companions of the fire; they will abide eternally therein.} (Qur’an 2: 275)

In Islam, the distinction between legitimate (allowed) practices versus the forbidden ones is very clear. Islam permits loans and the borrowing of money, but without interest charges. In fact, it is highly encouraged in the Qur’an to forgive a debt in order to remove the hardship from the one who has borrowed, especially if he or she is in financial difficulties; Allah has promised a great reward for the one who is able to make this sacrifice.

Muslims who abide by these rules consequently never suffer negative repercussions. However, when human beings do disobey God Almighty they are engulfed by disastrous results. These may come in the form of health threats, financial collapse, break-up of the social fabric, and much more. So it is clear that Islam warns people about many serious ailments afflicting our societies in this day and age; it is equally clear that these ailments are recognized by the world community as harmful. This is a powerful sign that Islam is the true religion and that Allah (Hallowed is He) is the true God, the One only Divine Lord and saviour.

9 Revival of the prohibition of consuming pork

Jesus did not eat pork. He followed the laws of Moses and he did not eat pork at all.
Leviticus 11:7-8 says:
And the swine, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch, they are unclean to you. (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 83)

Nevertheless, most Christians today eat pork. Islam revived the prohibition of consuming the meat of the pig. In the Qur’an, Allah has mentioned:
{He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} (Qur’an 2: 173)

10 Revival of the prohibition of consuming blood

Jesus also did not eat anything containing blood, nor did he consume blood itself. God (Allah) is recorded as having instructed Prophet Moses in the Torah, Deuteronomy 12:16, “Only you shall not eat the blood, you shall pour it upon the earth like water,” and in Leviticus 19:26, “You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not practice augury or witchcraft.” (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 84).

This prohibition has been revived in many verses of the Qur’an, one of which mentions:
{Say: I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine – for indeed, it is impure…}93 (Qur’an 6: 145) ([Qur’an 2: 173][mentioned earlier] prohibits the meat of the pig [pork, ham, et cetera] as well as the blood of any animal that is lawful to eat. Blood must be drained from the slaughtered animal before preparing the meat for food.

11 Revival of the prohibition of alcoholic drinks

Jesus abstained from alcoholic drinks according to the instructions recorded in Numbers 6:1-4:
And the Lord said to Moses, say to the people of Israel, when either a man or a woman makes a
special vow, the vow of the Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, he shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is a product of the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins.(Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 85-86).

Islam revived the prohibition of intoxicants irrevocably. In the Qur’an, Allah has mentioned:
{O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it
that you may be successful.} (Qur’an 5: 90)

17.12 Revival of the prohibition of adultery

The Bible has addressed adultery in Matthew 5:27-30, NIV, where it is said:
You have heard that it was said: Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Islam revived the prohibition of adultery by considering fornication to be amongst the strictly forbidden acts. Allah, the Most High, has mentioned in the Qur’an:
{And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty.} (Qur’an 25: 68)

Allah has also mentioned:
{And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.} (Qur’an 17: 32)

As a precaution from adultery and fornication, all acts which might lead to it are also prohibited. Islam has, thus, strictly forbidden men from being alone with non-mahram women,95 mixing with them freely, or even shaking hands with them. At the same time, it encourages men and women to dress modestly and to speak with a firm, business-like voice that is not enticing, when dealing with men. At this point, one may inquire about the wisdom behind the prohibition of adultery. The answer is that intimate relationshipsoutside the sacred bond of marriage lead to numerous harmful effects. Some of these include diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and children who are looked down upon in society and considered to be without a lineage. Moreover, pre-marital and extra-marital relationships are destructive to the family system, which is so precious in Islam.

Revival of various beneficial practices

Along with the doctrinal teachings about the nature of Allah and Jesus that were revived by the religion of Islam, some of the detailed practices pertaining to everyday life which Jesus and the earlier prophets had taught by example were revived as 95 mahram: Women with whom marriage is not permitted, for example, one’s sister or one’s mother. Non-mahram women are those with whom marriage is permitted. Well. To continue our list, following are a few examples of those teachings.

13 Revival of ablution before prayer

The significance of ablution is evident when we recall that it is a form of preparation for prayer, whereby worshippers cleanse themselves before they stand before Allah, the Creator. Jesus used to wash his limbs before performing the prayer, according to the teachings of the Old Testament. Moses and Aaron have been recorded as doing the same in Exodus 40:30- 32, RSV:
And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet…as the LORD commanded Moses.(Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 86-87)

Islam revived ablution

Islam revived ablution for prayer in the Qur’an, which has instructed:
{O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles…} (Qur’an 5: 6)
Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) taught his followers (by his statements and his example) that ablution includes washing the hands, rinsing the mouth, washing the face, washing the arms, wiping the head, and finally washing the feet.

14 Revival of performing prayers physically

Jesus performed his prayers physically, not just through supplication. In Mark 14:32, it is stated, “And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he [Jesus] said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I pray,’” and in Luke 5:16, “But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.”
Islam revived prayers as a main act of worship. Allah has instructed believers to perform prayers in numerous Qur’anic verses, for example:
{And establish prayer and give zakâh and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].} (Qur’an 2: 43)

Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) taught his followers (through words and actions) that performing prayers includes standing up, bowing down and prostrating. Interestingly, the manner of performing prayer in Islam is more in line with what Jesus taught than with what Christians do today. According to Isaiah (45:23, RSV), God is reported to have said: “To Me every knee shall bow.”

Jesus is described in the Gospels as prostrating during prayer. The method of prostration in prayer followed by Jesus was not of his own making. It was the mode of prayer of the prophets before him. In the Old Testament, Genesis 17:3, Prophet Abraham is recorded to have fallen on his face in prayer; in Numbers 16:22 and 20:6, both Moses and Aaron are recorded to have fallen on their faces in worship; in Joshua 5:14 & 7:6, Joshua fell on his face to the earth in worship; in I Kings 18:42, Elijah bowed down on the ground and put his face between his knees. This was the way of the prophets (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 87-88).
“Christians today kneel down, clasping their hands, in a posture which cannot be ascribed to Jesus or others.” (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 87)
In many of his statements, Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) taught his followers the manner of prayer, including bowing down and prostrating to Allah.

15 Revival of compulsory charity (zakâh)

Jesus (peace be upon him) confirmed the institution of compulsory charity known as ‘the tithe (tenth)’, which was required from the annual harvest. “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed, which comes forth from the field year by year.” (Deuteronomy 14:22) (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 91).

The Qur’an is a revival of Jesus’ teachings. It teaches Muslims to pay charity at the time of harvest. Allah has mentioned:
{And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakâh] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.} (Qur’an 6: 141)
(The due is one-tenth if the field is naturally irrigated and onetwentieth if it is artificially irrigated. This obligatory charity is levied on other material resources, like trade and livestock, as well).

The system of charity is well-organized; it provides different rates for cash, precious metals, various trade goods, agricultural products and cattle.(For example, the amount of zakâh for cash after one year has passed on it (intact) is 2.5%)
The purpose of charity is very well-defined; it is to provide social support to the needy people in the community and not to provide comfortable living for priests. (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 92)
The categories of those who are eligible to receive such charity have also been clearly defined in the Qur’an; see chapter 9, verse 60.

In Islam, although the zakâh is obligatory, voluntary charity is highly promoted and encouraged. Often, Muslims voluntarily give far more from their wealth than the obligatory minimum amount. They do so because charity that is based on sincere intentions promises great rewards for the donor from Allah. In the history of Islam, there are many accounts of people who gave their entire wealth to the poor, seeking Allah’s pleasure through this remarkable act of charity.

16 Revival of fasting

According to the Gospels, Jesus fasted for forty days. Matthew 4:2 says: And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. (See also Matthew 6:16 & 17:21).
This was in accordance with the practice of the earlier prophets. Moses is also recorded in Exodus 34:28 to have fasted. It says: And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights, he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 92)

The Qur’an is a revival of many of the teachings of Jesus and Moses.

It teaches the believers to fast during the month of Ramadan. Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an that fasting is enjoined on the Muslims as it was enjoined on previous nations.
{O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.} (Qur’an 2: 183)
In addition, Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) affirmed that Prophet David used to fast regularly; he said:
<> (Bukhari and Muslim)
This refers to voluntary fasting, not the obligatory fasting prescribed during the month of Ramadan.

17 Revival of greeting with the supplication of peace

According to Dr. Bilal Philips, Jesus greeted his followers by saying, “Peace be with you.” This greeting was the same as that mentioned in the books of the Old Testament. In 1st Samuel 25:6, Prophet David instructed emissaries whom he sent to Nabal, “And thus you shall salute him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.’” (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 90).

Islam is a religion of peace and respect for others. It revived this noble moral teaching. The Qur’an instructs all those who enter homes to give the greetings of peace; Allah has instructed the believers to greet each other with peace as well. Consider the following verse:
{And when those come to you who believe in Our verses, say: Peace be upon you….} (Qur’an 6: 54) (As mentioned in Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 90-91).

Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) also taught his followers to say this greeting whenever they met each other. The greeting of peace extends even to the heavens as the angels will greet those who enter paradise with the same greeting of peace.

18 Revival of veiling (hijab) for women

The women around Jesus veiled themselves according to the practice of women around the earlier prophets. Their garments were loose and covered their bodies completely, and they wore scarves which covered their hair. In Genesis 24:64-65: And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel, and said to the servant: who is the man yonder, walking in the field to meet us? The servant said: It is my master. So she took her veil and covered herself. (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 88)

Islam encourages decency. Muslim women are instructed to cover their bodies and wear veils that cover their heads and chests. Allah has mentioned:
{And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment…} (Qur’an 24: 31)

The wisdom behind veiling is explained in chapter 33, verse 59, where the Qur’an states that it protects women from possible social harm. (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 89-90)
In addition, veiling discourages males from approaching females with dishonourable intentions. In today’s society, disregard for the hijab has led to the objectification of women, whereby they are used as commodities from which to acquire pleasure and then discarded without a second thought. It is no surprise then that many companies use women as advertising props to entice customers into purchasing their products. The fact remains that even in the eyes of those who use women as objects, only those who keep themselves veiled and hidden from the public eye are regarded as modest.

19 Revival of polygyny

There is no record of Prophet Jesus opposing polygyny. There are a number of examples of polygamous marriages among the prophets recorded in the Old Testament. Prophet Abraham had two wives, according to Genesis 16:3, RSV:
So after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the
Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife.

So did Prophet David (peace be upon him), according to the first book of Samuel 27:3, “…and David with his two wives, Ahin’o-am of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow.”
In 1 Kings 11:3, Solomon is said to have, “…had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines.”
According to 2nd Chronicles 11:21, Solomon’s son, Rehobo’am, had a number of wives. The Old Testament even specified laws regarding the division of inheritance in polygamous circumstances, which indicates that the practice was a normal one in society. (See Deuteronomy 21:15-16) (Source: Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 94).

Islam revived this practice of the earlier prophets, but imposed stringent restrictions on polygyny. It permits marriage to up to four women with strict conditions stipulating justice and equal treatment among one’s wives as the basic condition for polygyny. In the Qur’an, Allah has stated:
{…marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses…} (Qur’an 4: 3)
The only restriction on polygamy (polygyny) recorded in earlier scriptural teaching was the ban on taking a wife’s sister as a rival wife in Leviticus 18:18. This law is applied in Islam as well, as is stated in (Qur’an 4: 23). (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 95)

20 Revival of circumcision

Jesus was circumcised. According to Luke 2:21: And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. According to the Old Testament, Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), who was himself neither a Jew nor a Christian, was the first to be circumcised.

In Genesis 17:9-12, RSV, it is written: And God said to Abraham: As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised.

However, today most Christians are not circumcised because of a rationale introduced by Paul, who claimed that circumcision was the circumcision of the heart. In his letter to the Romans 2:29, he wrote, “He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spirited and not literal.” In his letter to the Galatians 5:2, he wrote, “Now I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.” This was Paul’s false interpretation.

Jesus was not circumcised in the heart nor did he say anything about circumcision
of the heart, he kept the “everlasting covenant” and was circumcised in the flesh.” (Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 81-82)
Islam revives circumcision. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) said:
<> (Recorded by Bukhari, Muslim and others)

Conclusion

To conclude, Islam revived the faith of the prophets, which is based upon the belief in one God (Allah). Along with belief, they revived many rules and practices related to morality, justice, and pure living. Hence, the Islamic way of life is much closer to the way of the life of Jesus and the previous prophets (peace be upon them all) than that of any other group of people who claim to be their followers.

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The Facts about ‘The Original Sin; 20 Arguments Regarding the Doctrine of the ‘Original Sin’

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

Background

According to the explanation of this doctrine, Adam sinned when he disobeyed Allah and ate from the forbidden tree. According to the Christian theology, the following eight doctrines branch off the ‘Original Sin’ principle:

1. All Adam’s descendants inherit his sin, which means that all human beings are born with this Original Sin on their account.
2. For God’s justice to be achieved, a price must be paid as a penalty for every sin that has been committed, in order for that sin to be wiped out and the individual to be forgiven.
3. The only way to wipe out sin is to shed blood, and according to Paul, “without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
4. However, this blood must be perfect, sinless, and incorruptible.
74 Compiled from Caraballo, My Great Love for Jesus Led Me to Islam.
5. Christians believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) alone could pay the infinite price of sin; this is because they believe that his blood is perfect, sinless, and incorruptible, and he is the alleged son of God, the infinite God.
6. Christian theology says that Jesus shed his holy sinless blood, suffered indescribable agony, and died to pay for the sins of people. This concept is known in Christian theology as ‘atonement’.
7. Christians believe that nobody can be saved (attain salvation) unless he or she accepts Jesus Christ as his or her redeemer. In other words, salvation is restricted to those who believe that Jesus was willingly crucified, killed on the cross, and shed his blood as a price of that sin. Acceptance of this doctrine is the only way to attain ‘salvation’.
8. Otherwise, everyone is condemned to suffer eternally in hell because of his or her sinful nature and originally inherited sin from the father of humankind, Prophet Adam.

The doctrine of the Original Sin can be divided into six distinct parts:
1) The factuality of the existence of the Original Sin.
2) Humanity’s inheritance of the Original Sin.
3) Belief that God’s justice requires a penalty of blood which must be paid against that sin.
4) Belief that Jesus has paid the price for the sins of all humankind by sacrificing his blood and ‘dying on the cross’.
5) The rationality of ‘God’s sacrifice’ dogma.
6) Salvation from sin (original and newly attained) is only possible for those who believe in his vicarious sacrifice.

Analysis

Arguments against the six parts of the dogma of the ‘Original Sin’ are as follows:

Argument against the first part: the factuality of the Original Sin

1. There is no conflict between the Qur’anic verses and the Christian theology with reference to the fact that Adam committed a sin when he ate from the forbidden tree. However, Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an that Prophet Adam repented after that and submitted himself completely to his Lord; consequently, he was forgiven by Allah for the sin he had committed. This is a tenet of Islamic belief and has been mentioned in three different chapters in the Qur’an (2: 37, 7: 24 and 20: 122). Based on Adam’s 171 repentance and Allah’s acceptance of his repentance, the sin of Adam was not inherited by his children. Hence, it did not require the suffering and death of Jesus Christ (or of anyone else) in order to be forgiven.

Argument against the second part: ‘All human beings inherited Adam’s sin’

2. The doctrine of the inherited sin has no support from the words of Jesus.

3. Indeed, Jesus himself regarded children as innocent and pure, not born in sin. This is clear from his reported saying:
Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for such is the Kingdom of God. Verily, I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. (Mark 10:14-15)

4. The doctrine of the inherited sin implies that all people after Adam and before Jesus were born with the Original Sin and died with the Original Sin on their account; hence, all of them will be cast into hellfire because they did not even know of this dogma, and thus could not profess it!

5. The doctrine of the inherited sin has no support in the words of the prophets who had come either before him or after him. If it was required by God, then they would have told their people about it and taught them to believe in it; this is because all prophets were sent to guide people towards the way of paradise and ward them away from sins and hellfire.

6. All the prophets taught that every human being is accountable for his or her own sins, and hence children will not be punished for the sins of their fathers. Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an:
“That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.” (Qur’an 53: 38)

He has also said:
“Every soul, for what it has earned, will be retained.” (Qur’an 74: 38)

7. Sin, as it is said, are not inherited; they are something which a person acquires for oneself by doing what one should not do or refraining from what one should do. Rationally considered, it would be the height of injustice to condemn the entire human race for a sin committed thousands of years ago by the first parents. Sin is a willful transgression of the law of Allah. The responsibility or blame for it must lie only on the person committing it, and not on his or her descendants. It is the height of misanthropy to even consider such a thing. How unreasonable and hard-hearted a person can become by believing that every baby is sinful at birth!

8. Saying that the Original Sin, committed by our father, Adam (peace be upon him), was inherited through humanity goes against the attribute of mercy which Allah attributes to Himself. With this, the creed of the inheritance of the Original Sin has no room whatsoever in Islamic teachings.

Argument against the third part: ‘Blood penalty’

The third part of the Original Sin doctrine says that God’s justice requires that a price must be paid for the sins of humankind (original and otherwise) and that if God were to pardon (forgive) a sinner without punishment, it would be a denial of His justice. The response to that has two points:

9. This view reflects complete ignorance of two of Allah’s attributes, namely mercy and forgiveness. To elaborate, if Allah finds some real good in you and sees that you are sincerely repentant, having a real urge to conquer the evil within you, then Almighty Allah will forgive your failings and sins, out of His loving mercy and forgiveness.

10. The God we worship (Allah) is the Most Strong and Most Rich; no one can harm Him. Consequently, if He prescribes a law and demands obedience, then it is not for His own benefit to abide by it; it is for the benefit of humankind. If we disobey Him, we are the losers, not Allah. If He punishes a person before death for his or her faults and sins, it is not for His own satisfaction or compensation, but in order to check evil and purify/reform the sinner, out of His mercy. Bearing these facts in mind, claiming that Allah’s justice requires a price to be paid for
the sins of others is not valid.

Argument against the fourth part of the ‘Original Sin’: Jesus (peace be upon him) was sacrificed for humanity.

The fourth part of the Original Sin doctrine says that Jesus (peace be upon him) paid the penalty for all the sins (the Original Sins and any others) by sacrificing his blood on the cross of Calvary. The response to this proposition has ten points:

11. The Christian concept of salvation has no support in the words of Jesus (peace be upon him). It is not historically correct to say that Jesus (peace be upon him) had come to die willingly and deliberately for the sins of all humanity. In reality, the present form of the Bible testifies that he did not wish to die on the cross. (See Mark 14:36)

12. Indeed, the Bible points to the fact that God (Allah), not Jesus (peace be upon him), is the ultimate saviour: You may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Saviour. (Isaiah 43:10-11)

13. To punish a man who is not guilty for the sins of others is the height of injustice, harshness and lack of mercy, which cannot be attributed to the Almighty.

14. Rationally, we cannot accept that the suffering and death of one man can wipe out the sins of others. It is similar to a father, for example, removing one of his good teeth to relieve the pain of his child’s bad tooth. Hence, the idea of crucifixion is false and illogical.

15. Jesus (like all the other prophets) was sent to convey a message and to be an example for his followers during his time on the earth. He was not sent to deliberately die for them on the cross or offer his blood to absolve their sins.

16. Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an that He is the Most Merciful and Most Compassionate; He forgives the sinner no matter how many and how evil are the sins, once he or she repents. He may even forgive the sinner who does not repent, according to His will, mercy and favour.

17. The concept of atonement is false because it indirectly encourages people to sin, since their sins will be wiped out through someone else once they believe in him! Further, if someone died for another person’s sins, what is the point of adhering to good and forbidding evil?

Argument against the fifth part: the ‘sacrifice’ of Jesus (peace be upon him)

18. Christian doctrine states that Jesus (peace be upon him) was crucified by the administration of the Roman governor of Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate, with the cooperation of certain Jewish leaders. (Harrington, ‘Who Killed Jesus?’)However, the Qur’an has explained that Jesus did not die; rather, Allah raised him when they attempted to kill him. Allah replaced him with another person who resembled him, and it was this other person who was killed. To this day, the Christians believe that Jesus himself was the one who was killed on the cross. Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an: “And [for] their saying: Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah. And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Qur’an 4: 157-158)

19. Here is another proof that Jesus was not killed and is still alive. In the Islamic teachings, there is clear evidence indicating the second coming of Jesus before the final hour; this is an additional and final miracle for Jesus. He will return not as God, as the Christians believe, but as Jesus, Allah’s messenger and slave, as he has always been. The purpose of his coming will be to correct the misconceptions surrounding his message and mission. According to a statement of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him), he will stay for forty years, and these will be the happiest years of life on this earth. During that time, those who had misconceptions about him will correct their understanding and believe in him as a messenger, not as the son of God (Allah). It was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said:
“By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, it will not be long before the son of Mary descends amongst you, a just judge and ruler. He will break the cross, kill the swine and abolish the tribute paid by Jews and Christians. Money will be so plentiful that no one will accept it. At that time, a single prostration will be better than this world and everything in it.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) then said: Read if you wish (the following verse of the Qur’an): {And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in Jesus before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection he will be against them a witness.} (Qur’an 4: 159)>> (Bukhari)
This ends the answer of the fifth part of the doctrine.

Argument against the sixth part: Salvation only possible via belief in Christ’s vicarious ‘sacrifice’

20. The Bible itself contradicts the notion of the ‘Original Sin’. In this regard, the Bible says about the dispute concerning the Original Sin: The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. (I Corinthians 3:8)
Original Sin and atonement from an Islamic perspective

Islam declares that:
 People cannot transfer their responsibilities to saviours or saints. Each person’s redemption and salvation depends upon his or her own deeds.
 Forgiveness of sins (salvation) can only be attained through repentance to Allah and sincere and persistent efforts to fight off evil and do good. Allah forgives the faults and sins of those in whom He sees real goodness and those who have turned away from their sins and reformed themselves – without punishing them or any other person on their behalf.

In numerous verses in the Qur’an and statements of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him), it is mentioned that those who repent are granted forgiveness from sins; furthermore, their sins are replaced with an equivalent reward, and:
{…And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.} (Qur’an 2: 112)
In many verses of the Noble Qur’an, Allah Almighty calls on people to repent sincerely.
{[O Muhammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful and that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment.} (Qur’an 15: 49-50)
Here, Allah is inviting the sinners to repent; regardless of the magnitude of their sins, He will forgive them. At the same time, He is warning those who do not repent: no punishment can be compared to His punishment.

He has also said:
{Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.} (Qur’an 39: 53-54)
See how beautifully, soundly and logically, the book of Allah, the Qur’an, addresses the issue of sinning and atonement.

It must be noted that Islam confirms that the Islamic approach to the subject was revealed in all the divine messages, including the message of Jesus Christ. May peace and blessings be upon
him and all the prophets!

Conclusion
By maintaining the concept of the Original Sin, the entire notion of justice in Christian theology becomes flawed. Having analyzed the six tenets of this doctrine and the arguments against them, the structure of the whole principle of ‘Original Sin and atonement’ is proven to be false. This is because it has no support either in the revealed sources or in logic; rather, its support lies only in the ideology of the Christian Church.

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Spiritual – Islamic moral conduct

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

Concerning spiritual purity, the Qur’an instructs that the soul should be straightened and corrected and that the heart should be purified from spite, malice, jealousy, pride and inequity. It calls for integrity of heart and love, affection and humility towards people. It instructs that the tongue should be purified from lying, backbiting, slander, and insult. It should then be replaced with truthfulness and softness in speech. Islam encourages unity, so much so that a Muslim is encouraged to give as many excuses as he or she could for suspected bad behaviour or speech on the part of his or her fellow Muslims.

Also, the wealth, property, and life of a Muslim are held sacred: this means that no one else has the right to interfere with these without the Muslim’s express permission. The enormity of sins such as slander and backbiting is emphasized in many verses of the Qur’an, and a chapter of the Qur’an (chapter 104) is dedicated to this very subject.

We should restrain our eyes from looking at that to which they are not entitled (such as the private parts of others), and we should keep our ears from listening to loose and immoral talk,
including lewd lyrics. The Qur’an praises and encourages knowledge and criticizes ignorance, saying that it leads to destruction. It commands people to action and dynamism while prohibiting wasteful talk and laziness.

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Hygiene – Islamic moral conduct

Whom Should We Worship?
Authorship: Majed S. Al-Rassi
Short Link: http://IslamHouse.com/431561

Islam also enjoins both physical and spiritual cleanliness. It encourages that we keep our bodies clean, along with our clothes and our shoes. Islam has guided Muslims for their wellbeing, down to the minute details. For example, a Muslim is encouraged to wash thoroughly after using the toilet, clean the teeth often (especially with the siwâk, or toothbrush), and shower after sexual relations.

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