“O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Isa, 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)
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The name of God and the name of Jesus are distinctly different.
“The victor I will make into a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never leave it again. On him, I will inscribe the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, as well as my new name.” (Revelation 3:12)
Prima Qur’an Comment:
From the above text it can be seen that ‘the name of my God‘ AND ‘my new name‘ are distinctly different.
This becomes obvious from the fact that Jesus is a common name, like John, James, or Peter. The above text of Revelation3:12 was taken from a ‘Red Lettered‘ New Testament, where the words of Jesus are in red.
JESUS IS NOT THE NAME OF GOD…
Many times, our Christians tell us that Jesus is the name of God. It is a name ‘above every name’. After all, how can a person have a personal relationship with God if you don’t know the name of God? I guess that sounds reasonable.
However, what most Christians are not aware of is the fact that the Hebrew language does not have a ‘J‘. So, if the Jews spoke Hebrew, you know they didn’t pronounce Jesus with a ‘J‘.
The other point that is not realized so readily by our Christian sisters and brothers is that Jesus is really quite an ordinary name. It has no power in and of itself. It was a very common name then and it’s still a common name.
In fact, seeing that Spanish is ranked as the number 3 language in the world, Jesus, pronounced ‘Hey Zeus,‘ is a very common name among men in the Latin American community.
So, this is a rather uneventful name. It would be the equivalent of calling someone Chaz, or Lester or Herbert in English.
Feel free to go to Google Translate and listen to how the name ‘Jesus’ is pronounced.
Go to Google Translate and just listen to the name “Jesus” as it is pronounced in Spanish and Greek.
Go to Google Translate and just listen to the name “Jesus” as it is pronounced in Spanish and Greek.
Even more revealing is the fact that Jesus is a ‘bastardized’ (apologies for the terminology) Latin version of the name Yehoshua in Hebrew, or in other words, Joshua.
The name Yeshua appears 29 times in the Tanach.
Yehoshua (Joshua) of Nun is called Yeshua in Nechemyah (Nehemiah) 8:17. Yeshua is the name of the Cohain HaGadol (the high priest) in the time of Zerubavel in Ezra 3:2. It is the name of a Levite under King Hizkiyah (Hezekiah) in 2 Chronicles 31:15. There is even a city called Yeshua in the negev of Yehudah in Nechemyah11:26.
Yeshua is also a shortened version of the word Yehoshua, much like Bill is for William.
Before anyone gets angry with us using the word ‘bastardized’ in relationship to Jesus (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), one must realize that the word ‘bastardized’ means—to modify, especially by introducing discordant or disparate elements.
After all, you take a very common name, Joshua, which means — ‘God is my salvation’ and turn it into this Latin that sounds a lot like a former Greek god ‘Zeus’.
Remember when the evangelist screams out in the name of ‘Jeeeee zuuus’. Or the Spanish speaker yells out on stage, “In the name of ‘Hey Zeus’.” Jesus /Zeus.
Hey Zeus. Hail Zeus.
HEY ZEUS! HAIL ZEUS!
In the Qur’an the son of Mary is called ‘Isa‘ or ‘Esau‘.
Recall that Hebrew was a dead language for a long time. It was only when Eliezer Ben Yehuda used the Arabic language to help revive Hebrew that it became a vibrant language again.
“One prominent pioneer was Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the famed Jewish lexicographer widely hailed as the reviver of modern Hebrew, and whose revivalist legacy rested on a genuine recognition of the essential role of Arabic in the rebirth and resurrection of modern Hebrew.“
It is quite possible that some Christians may find it strange to use the name ‘Esau‘ or ‘Isa‘ in place of ‘Jesus‘ as there is a passage in the Bible that says that ‘God hates Esau‘.
“The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated.” (Malachi 1:1-3)
God hates Jesus but loves Jacob?
Imagine if in place of the word ‘Esau’ you had the word ‘Joshua’. You would have a very interesting passage in the Bible of God saying, “But Jesus, I hate.”
Let’s continue with Eliezer Ben Yehuda.
Since Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic are all based upon the same Semitic vowel system, Eliezer used the Arabic language.
A language that was still living and had wide currency to decipher the pronunciation and understanding of the Hebrew language.
“Jesus” was a common name back in the day. In Acts 13:6 there was a magician named Bar Jesus.
“When they had travelled through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a magician named Bar-Jesus who was a Jewish false prophet.”
In Colossians 4:11 there was a contemporary of Paul called Jesus-Justus
“And Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these alone are my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.”
Another interesting example of two people called “Jesus” side by side in the following text:
So, when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” (Matthew 27:17).
So, the people had the choice to have Jesus ‘son of the father‘ or Jesus ‘called Messiah‘ killed.
So, the name “Jesus” was a common name, like John, James or Mary.
This doesn’t sound like a ‘Name Above All Names’ to me. It sounds rather common and uneventful.
Do Christians Feel Power in The Name of Joshua?
We are whether we can call upon the name of Joshua and be saved? It is, however, the same as “Jesus”. Why should only the ‘bastardized‘ form of the Latin version of ‘Yehoshua‘ be the only name for salvation?
In other words, is the Christian mission only done in English? No it is not!
So, if there are Jews, wouldn’t they be screaming out ‘Yehoshua‘ in the congregation?
That being the case, why couldn’t they scream out ‘Joshua‘ as it is the Anglicized form?
Joshua Christ?
Imagine using terms like Joshua Christ! Imagine Christian missionaries asking people to accept faith in Joshua? Imagine Benny Hinn jumping up and down and healing people in the name of Joshua! Or imagine John Hagee being slain in the spirit of Joshua Christ!
What about the name Immanuel?
Immanuel is also a common Jewish name which means ‘God is with us‘.
Maher-shalal-hash-baz was called Immanuel in Isaiah 8:8
“It shall pass into Judah and flood it all throughout up to the neck it shall reach; It shall spread its wings the full width of your land, Immanuel!”
So, for Christians to say, “Hey look, there is a prophecy that says he will be called Immanuel, We can tell them that Maher-shalal-hash-baz was also called Immanuel.”
In Matthew 1:23 we read: “Behold, the virgin shall be with a child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us“.”
That this is an example of a failed prophecy plain pure and simple. It’s amazing the lengths that Christian apologists will go through to make this all add up.
In the end, I think that the position of Islam and the Qur’an is very clear. ‘Isa is an Arabized form of the word ‘Esau’. He was born of a virgin named Mariam (Mary).
There is much to be said about the fact that Christians use a name like Jesus (a common name like John, James, or Mary) when describing the ineffable name of the creator.
Maybe there is a way out of this. Maybe, after all, The Creator is not a person, much less person(s).
Since, after all, the words ‘person’ and ‘personality’ come from the Greek word ‘persona’ which means ‘a mask’. Think about it! Tri-Theist Christians believe in a God that is One Being that wears three masks.
In the end, “Jesus” is just a common name, like Chuck, or Daryl or Lester.
We sincerely hope people will read the Qur’an and learn as much as they can about Islam. We hope that Allah Most High opens the breasts and hearts of humanity and that Allah Most Merciful guides us all to what he loves.
“And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.” (Qur’an 5:83)
“For the truth stands out clearly from falsehood.” (Qur’an 2:256)
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Let us see which of you reading this are quick-witted to spot the problem. Given what we know about human reproduction, what is the obvious error in sending brother after brother to impregnate a woman that fails to get pregnant?
Source: (Matthew 22:23-32)
“If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.” (Deuteronomy 25:5)
“Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.”But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.” (Genesis 38:8-10)
“That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” (Matthew 22:23-28)
You can replace the seven brothers with ten brothers or even 25 brothers if you like.
At what point does one realize that these men are not firing blanks but that this woman is infertile!
The woman has some type of medical condition that is preventing her from getting pregnant. Now if someone wants to raise an objection, stating that in Genesis 38:8-10 Onan was spilling his semen on the ground (coitus interruptus) and that perhaps all the brothers were doing that, it doesn’t help the case either.
Did not have the foresight to realize that people would do this, evading their responsibility?
If the story of Onan was known, the men would realize that God would strike them dead. Thus, the ever looming wrath of God.
Surely the women are not so gullible as to not know whether a man is ejaculating in them or not.
This law was before modern medicine in which we know that both a man and a woman may have issues of fertility. Given the low esteem that women are generally afforded in the Bible, it is not at all surprising to see the power of pro-creation as something that man is responsible for.
If Jesus was God, he would be aware that both men and women have a part to play in human reproduction.
In the majority Christian view, Jesus shares the essence (being) of the Father and the Holy Spirit, which means that He (Jesus) gave those laws to Moses, proving further that he cannot be God and that the sacred text of the Jews and Christians are not free from egregious errors.
Another point to take note of:
The text has Jesus (as) say:
“Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” (Matthew 22:29-30)
It looks like Jesus is in error for not knowing the scriptures!
However, the scriptures say:
“And it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” (Genesis 6:1-2)
Jesus claims people will not marry nor be given in marriage being like the angels. Yet the angels themselves took human women as wives.
Now, watch out for the curve ball they (some Christians will throw you) because they will say, “Oh, the text says,” Sons of God” not angels. But angels are the sons of God.
You can see where they are used interchangeably here:
“One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.” (Job 1:6 New International Version)
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.” (Job 1:6 King James Version)
Lastly, if they persist that sons of God refer to men, then this shows you it is an appellation referring to mortal human beings without any divine connotation.
The Bible’s treatment of fertility is anthropologically conditioned and not scientifically precise.
From a modern scientific perspective, if multiple brothers fail to impregnate the same woman, it is statistically improbable that all men are infertile (assuming they are fertile with other women). The most logical conclusion is that the woman has a fertility issue. This highlights an ancient misunderstanding of reproduction, where infertility was often attributed solely to the woman. However, the levirate law implicitly places the burden on the man’s lineage to continue, ignoring potential female factors.
“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.”(Qur’an 3:44)
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“This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guide for the righteous. Those who believe in the unseen, and perform the prayers, and give from what We have provided for them. And those who believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, and are certain of the Hereafter.” (Qur’an 2:3-4)
The Qur’an is a book of which there is no doubt. It is for those who believe in the unseen. It is for those who are certain in the life to come. It is for those who believe in what was revealed before the Blessed Prophet (saw).
Those who are skeptical of those points will quite naturally arrive at different conclusions. So that is of no consequence for the believer.
“As for those who persist in disbelief, it is the same whether you warn them or not—they will never believe. Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and their sight is covered. They will suffer a tremendous punishment.” (Qur’an 2:6-7)
Now, historians and orientalists cannot speak of the supra natural as these are matters of belief. They are beyond their point of historical investigation. However, we are always thrilled when we find historians and Orientalists corroborating the testimony of narratives in the Qur’an by finding manuscripts or parchments of information that, though not ad verbatim, closely mimic what Allah (swt) has revealed before. This is the understanding of the believer.
Do we find some information from various cultures that preceded the coming of the Blessed Prophet (saw) that seems to corroborate the beliefs of Islam? Yes! That is not scary! That is exciting!
Recall what Allah (swt) himself informed us of:
“We surely sent a messenger to every community, saying, “Worship Allah and shun false gods.” But some of them were guided by Allah, while others were destined to stray. So travel throughout the land and see the fate of the deniers!” (Qur’an 16:36)
Remember we are not responsible for the conclusions or perceptions of others.
If we look at the above graph. We can see that in block B the apparent (the dhahir) is that there are parchments, manuscripts, scrolls, oral traditions, inscriptions etc. that come before the Qur’an. However, when we look at block B, the haqiqah (the reality) is that Allah’s knowledge of what really happened precedes the information in B.Because of that reality, what is in C (The Qur’an) actually precedes the information in B. This is precisely why this hobbyhorse of orientalist and those who use the historical critical method is of absolutely no consequence for the believing Muslim.
We Muslims have been the first critics of our own sources. The clash of historical narratives between the Ibadi, Sunni and Shi’a is proof positive of this. The grading of the ahadith and the mention of variants in the transmission of the Qur’an have not come from people who lost faith, agnostics or atheists. They came from us, as believers. Subhan’Allah!
These other Johnny Come Lately types, HCM, etc., welcome to the party!
History and Miracles.
We don’t believe that miracles are historical. This does not mean that we do not believe that miracles did not happen. We just don’t believe that history can capture them.
Case in point. An Indian king, Cheraman Perumal, was reported to have seen the moon split. History can report such data, but it does not necessarily confirm nor interpret the data.
This particular entry is directed towards Christians. It is rather shameful that they have taken the approach that they have in these matters. Given that they too claim to believe in the unseen. They claim to believe in a Creator that can narrate past events that present people were not privy to.
“Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.”But she pointed to the babe. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?” He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me revelation and made me a prophet; And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I will be and has enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; (He) has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”! Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute.”(Qur’an 19:27-34)
“When Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission, and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, “This is not but obvious magic.”(Qur’an 5:110)
“And a messenger to the Children of Israel, who will say, ‘Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead – by permission of Allah. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.” (Qur’an 3:49)
Prima Qur’an comments:
In this article, we will give a response to those Christians who use as a polemic against Muslims the claim that the Qur’an contains apocryphal material in it and therefore cannot be a revelation from Allah (swt).
Now, of course, they will claim that there are more than the three verses of the Qur’an we quoted above as being from apocryphal material. However, we have chosen to focus on these three, as they are most often used by Christian polemicists in debates with Muslims.
Now, personally, we find this particular line of Christian attack against Islam amusing. However, they have to eventually come up with something, right?
Now let’s look at and listen carefully to what these Christians are actually disputing with us about.
*Note*
They are not raising the issue of “healing the blind.“
They are not raising issues against “curing people affected by leprosy.”
They are not raising issues against “give life to the dead.”
They are not disputing these points because they are miracles attributed to Christ Jesus that they find in their accepted canonical text. We will come to the term canonical in a moment.
What they are disputing is:
Jesus speaking as an infant
Jesus creating birds out of clay
Why do they dispute about these miracles?
Because they are not in what they accept to be their canonical text.
So what do the terms apocryphal and canonical mean?
Canonical in relation to Christian scriptures means:
“A biblical canon or canon of scripture is a set of texts (or “books”) which a particular religious community regards as authoritative scripture. … Believers consider canonical books as inspired by God or as expressive of the authoritative history of the relationship between God and his people.”
Apocryphal in relation to Christian scriptures means:
“Biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture; or writings or reports not considered genuine.”
So, if a Christian were to come to us and say that these statements in the Qur’an are found in apocryphal sources, the first thing you have to keep in mind that what they are actually saying isthat it is apocryphal according to their particular sect of Christianity!
The reason that is important is as follows: As we write this to you on 11/4/2024, Christendom has still not settled the issue of what is and is not apocryphal for the whole of Christianity.
Glaring examples are the following:
Depending on how you want to word it, you could say that the Protestants have 7 fewer books in their version of the Old Testament. Or you could say that the Roman Catholics have 7 extra books in their Old Testament that they accept to be inspired and not apocryphal.
Yet the Orthodox Church has additional Old Testament texts (or if you want to be neutral, the Protestants and Catholics have less). The same can be said for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
The same goes for the New Testament.
What is canonical is an issue that is still not settled among them.
The Chaldean Syrian Church does not accept the following as canon:
In fact, many Protestant Christians have declared Mark 16:8-20, & John 7:53–8:11 to not be canonical.
You have to wonder about the Protestant Christian theologians like John Calvin, Martin Luther, and others who most likely held such passages to be canonical. Yet there are Christians who do not agree with the idea that such passages are non-canonical. These Christians very much believe that Mark 16:8-20, &John 7:53–8:11 are inspired scripture.
So what is the point that is being made?
The point is that when a Christian says to us that those verses in the Qur’an are allegedly taken from apocryphal sources, it is important to understand that:
That though it may be apocryphal for that particular Christian, we can’t say for certain that it was apocryphal for the other Christians.
To keep in mind that what is and is not apocryphal has been and continues to be an internal dispute among Christians.
If the Christian is to counter by saying, “Can you name for me any Christian denomination today that accepts such and such text as canonical?”
The answer to that is: “No we can’t.” Many Christian sects and denominations over time have long perished. Most often the information we do have about them comes from their opponents.
What is also interesting, and we hope Muslims reading this bear in mind, is that no Christian committed to a consistent world view in which the supra-natural happens can tell us that:
Jesus did not speak as an infant.
Jesus did not create birds out of clay.
This assertion is also supported by the text they accept as canon. Namely, the following:
“And Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book: But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).
Prima Qur’an comments:
Now this writer, apparently inspired by Allah, felt that it was necessary to inform his readers that Jesus did many other miracles that are not contained within this book.
“There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)
Prima Qur’an comments: Though we can all agree this statement is hyperbole, yet it is obvious that the writer knew that there was much more information about Jesus that could be shared.
Now, a possible Christian objection to our understanding of John 20:30-31 is that ‘the many other miracles that are not present in this book‘ could only be a reference to the miracles listed in Matthew, Mark, Luke that are not in the Gospel according to John.
The response to this is that it is simply an assumption.
It could be that:
It could be a reference only to the miracles present in Matthew, Mark, Luke that are not in the Gospel, according to John.
It could be a reference to miracles that are not present in any of those Gospel accounts.
It could be a reference to miracles present in Matthew, Mark, Luke as well as those not present in any Gospel accounts.
Christians could well ask: “Why wouldn’t these accounts of Jesus speaking as an infant or making birds out of clay make it into any of the Four Gospels commonly accepted among all of Christendom?”
Well, we have a clue about that from a text we have already mentioned.
“And Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).
Prima Qura’n comments: This Gospel writer is telling us that he is informed about other miracles, but the seven particular miracles that he has selected is so that we may believe that Jesus is:
The Christ
The Son of God
Having eternal life through his name.
So, in the example of this Gospel writer, we have the reasons plainly stated why some miracles were chosen over others. Whereas for the other Gospels it’s hard to discern why they may have left out certain miracles.
For example, John’s Gospel includes the story of Lazarus rising from the dead. I’m puzzled why such an awesome event is not recorded by the other Gospels. Or Jesus turning water into wine is only included in the Gospel, according to John.
Equally puzzling is the following awesome account, which is not recorded by any ancient documents outside of Matthew itself.
“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God’” (Matthew. 27:51-54).
There are no extra-biblical sources that mention this awesome event. Surely witnessing such an event would have been worthy of mention somewhere. In fact, this particular text created controversy even among conservative Christians when New Testament scholar and associate professor of theology Michael Licona raised questions about this text.
You can read about where Christians have done some damage control concerning this at the following:
So, again, going back to the Christian inquiry into why some awesome and miraculous events are recorded by some sources and not others, we can only surmise as to the motives behind this.
Why is it Jesus speaking as an infant is recorded in some sources and not others?
Why is Jesus making birds out of clay recorded in some sources and not others?
Why is it that the Gospel of Mark is now considered not to have a resurrection narrative, but other sources have it?
Why is it that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead from some sources and not others?
Why is it that Jesus turned water into wine from some sources and not others?
Why is that only the Gospel of Matthew has this narrative about the mass resurrections of people appearing to many in the city?
Another interesting point to note is that, in the case of the Christian tradition that many of us will encounter today, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants of many types, we have 30 years of the life of Christ Jesus that is completely missing altogether!
“Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli.” (Luke 3:23)
So imagine all the people who needed to be healed, those who needed salvation, and what does the current Christian canon tell us about the early life of Jesus? Its silence about the early life of Jesus is awkward, to say the least.
It is honestly both shocking and disappointing that Christians would use these types of arguments against the Qur’an. It absolutely reeks of atheism, smacks of radical skepticism, and is stepped in a worldview bereft of the supra-natural.
For us, as Muslims, we are informed about what happened concerning Jesus through divine revelation. As Allah (swt) says to the Blessed Messenger (saw):
“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.” (Qur’an 3:44)
Also, notice that when the Christians make their particular claim about the Qur’an, they more often than not do put up the sources which they claim the Qur’an takes the following from:
Speaking as an infant.
Creating birds out of clay.
We also find it interesting that Muslims don’t ask them for their sources.
The Christian polemicist usually has two sources in mind for this:
Those sources are: The Infancy Gospel of Thomas & The Proevangelian of James
“This little child Jesus when he was five years old was playing at the ford of a brook: and he gathered together the waters that flowed there into pools, and made them straightway clean, and commanded them by his word alone. 2 And having made soft clay, he fashioned thereof twelve sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when he did these things (or made them). And there were also many other little children playing with him.
“And a certain Jew when he saw what Jesus did, playing upon the Sabbath day, departed straightway and told his father Joseph: Lo, your child is at the brook, and he has taken clay and fashioned twelve little birds and has polluted the Sabbath day. 4 And Joseph came to the place and saw: and cried out to him, saying: Why are you doing these things on the Sabbath, which it is not lawful to do? But Jesus clapped his hands together and cried out to the sparrows and said to them: Go! and the sparrows took their flight and went away chirping. 5 And when the Jews saw it they were amazed, and departed and told their chief men that which they had seen Jesus do.”
Source: (Infancy Gospel of Thomas Chapter 2:1-5)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
This narrative speaks about Jesus creating 12 birds. The emphasis on the number 12 is there twice. This must relate to the 12 disciples. Whereas in the Qur’an we find no mention of this.
“Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah.” (Qur’an 3:49)
There is no mention of Jesus doing this act on the Sabbath Day. There is no mention of Jesus creating 12 birds. It is interesting to note that the Qur’andoes not name the number of Jesus’ disciples. Christians have not addressed this.
It would be interesting to know where the writer(s) of the ‘Infancy Gospel of Thomas’ got their information from. The earliest possible date of authorship is 80 A. D to 250 A. D. This is also roughly the time that the date of authorship is ascribed to ‘The Epistle to Titus‘, which is considered canonical by Christians today. These scholars date the epistle from the 80 A. D up to the end of the 250 A. D.
Source: (Raymond E Brown An Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Anchor Bible, p. 662)
“And when Jesus was five years old, there fell a great rain upon the earth, and the boy Jesus walked up and down through it. And there was a terrible rain, and He collected it into a fish-pond, and ordered it by His word to become clear. And immediately it became so. Again He took of the clay which was of that fish-pond, and made of it to the number of twelve sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when Jesus did this among the boys of the Jews. And the boys of the Jews went away and said to Joseph His father: Behold, thy son was playing along with us, and he took clay and made sparrows, which it was not lawful to do on the Sabbath; and he has broken it. And Joseph went away to the boy Jesus, and said to Him: Why have you done this, which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath? And Jesus opened His hands, and ordered the sparrows, saying: Go up into the air and fly; nobody shall kill you. And they flew, and began to cry out, and praise God Almighty. And the Jews seeing what had happened, wondered, and went away and told the miracles which Jesus had done.”
Source: (Infancy Gospel of James Chapter 4)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
This story is very similar to the one in the ‘Infancy Gospel of Thomas’. What becomes apparent is that both of these sources are relying upon some oral tradition–one in which does not have a chain of transmission.
Now here is what is interesting about the Protoevangelion Jacobi or Infancy Gospel of James. One of the Christian polemicists that used this type of attack upon the Qur’anwas himself put in a difficult position in relation to this text.
@19:20 Erhman asks: “What other documents are found in P72 as this is a document that resonates with you?”
James responds, “There are some non-canonical documents in P72 …
Erhman replies, “Right, so I am just wondering about you resonating with this document”. Do you think that the scribe thought what he was copying was scripture?“
James, “Well, I don’t think you can simply jump to the conclusion that, because scribes included books in a single codex that they believed that everything within that codex was necessarily scripture.” There are sorts of works that were considered to be beneficial to people that were included in codices that were not necessarily canonical.”
Erhman, “Yeah, I just think that it was odd that that particular manuscript was one that you resonated with because it’s the earliest attestation that we have of the protoevangelium jacobi.” (The Infancy Gospel of James) ..
Prima Qur’an Comments:
In other words, you can’t know for certain if the scribe who was copying this text (obviously from an even earlier source) was transcribing what he thought was divine writing! Especially in light of the fact that it is in the same genre of manuscripts that are generally described as “the most significant” papyrus of the New Testament to be discovered so far.
“Now, when the Lord Jesus had completed seven years from His birth, on a certain day He was occupied with boys of His own age. For they were playing among clay, from which they were making images of asses, oxen, birds, and other animals; and each one boasting of his skill, was praising his own work. Then the Lord Jesus said to the boys: The images that I have made I will order to walk. The boys asked Him whether then he was the son of the Creator, and the Lord Jesus made them walk. And they immediately began to leap; and then, when He had given them leave, they again stood still. And He had made figures of birds and sparrows, which flew when He told them to fly, and stood still when He told them to stand, and ate and drank when He handed them food and drink. After the boys had gone away and told this to their parents, their fathers said to them: My sons, take care not to keep company with him again, for he is a wizard: flee from him, therefore, and avoid him, and do not play with him again after this.”
Source: (The Arabic Infancy Gospel of Jesus)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
This text has Jesus not only making birdsbut apparently donkeys, oxen, and other (undisclosed) animals out of clay. There is an inquiry about him being the son of the Creator. There is no mention of the sabbath or any mention of the animals being of any number.
It’s thought that this Gospel has its origins in Syriac sources in the 5th or 6th century.
“We find what follows in the book of Joseph the high priest, who lived in the time of Christ. Some say that he is Caiaphas. He has said that Jesus spoke, and, indeed, when he was lying in His cradle, said to Mary His mother: “I am Jesus, the Son of God, the Logos, whom you have brought forth, as the Angel Gabriel announced to you; and my Father has sent me for the salvation of the world.”
Source: (The Arabic Infancy Gospel of Jesus).
Prima Qur’an Comments:
There is no mention of Mary carrying Jesus as a baby. There is no mention of the people asking Mary where this baby came from. This text has Jesus addressing his mother, the Qur’an has him addressing the people. The text above is filled with Christian doctrine: Jesus is the Son of God, he has a ‘Father’ and he was sent for the salvation of the world.
None of this is found in the account of the Qur’an.
Conclusion:
The attacks that Christian polemicists have leveled towards the Qur’anare the kind one would expect from radical skepticism, and a worldview bereft of the supra-natural.
We can see that these sources the Christians point to have important details and radically different theological statements that we do not find at all within the Qur’an.
More telling is that Christians do not even quote these sources, or give the details of the accounts. Many of the people they speak to will not go and double-check the sources for themselves.
The fact that some Christians find these sources apocryphal is of no concern to us as Muslims. We as Muslims do not rely upon them or accept them as revelation either. Our acceptance of what is stated in the Qur’an comes from our faith in it as divine revelation and in what Allah (swt) himself has stated:
“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.” (Qur’an 3:44)
Just as our faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Word of Allah, and the Son of Mary are not dependent upon any book of the New Testament (even if the whole of Christendom) accepts it as canonical.
Christians themselves cannot totally rule out the possibility of Jesus having spoken as an infant or having given life to the clay birds based upon the following evidence:
“And Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).
As well as the fact that the Gospel writers themselves have admitted to leaving out particular miracles that did not suit their desired goals.
“The truth is from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.”(Qur’an 2:147)
“And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.” (Qur’an 5:83)
May Allah (swt) guide the truth seekers!
If you enjoyed this article you may enjoy the following:
“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 impale (ṣalabūhu) him; (وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِنْ شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ)but it was made to appear to them so. Those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no certain knowledge of it, but only follow conjecture. For certainly, they did not kill him.” (Qur’an 4:157)
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This is a recent e-mail sent to Todd Lawson an Emeritus Professor of Islamic thought at the University of Toronto.
I sent this inquiry as I am genuinely curious as to why he or anyone for that matter think that the Qur’an 4:157 seem to be interacting with anything that the Romans have done, or that the text is talking about a historical event known as the “Crucifixion” or that the Qur’an is denying/or affirming anything about a Cross at all.
Greetings Professor Lawson
I hope this email finds you in the best of health.
I had read your book “The Crucifixion and the Qur’an: A Study in the HIstory of Muslim Thought.”
It was certainly an interesting read.
You have noted how extraneous material has influenced the Sunni Tafsir tradition and popular interpretation of Qur’an 4:157.
So to this point I am curious as to why you think the Qur’an engaged with an historical event popularly known as “The Crucifixion” at all?
The reason I ask this is because when one looks at the immediate text of the Qur’an 4:157 there does not seem to be any mention of Romans or Roman involvement at all.
I am deeply interested why your good self or anyone would feel that the Qur’an 4:157 engages with an historical event popularly known as “The Crucifixion” at all. I believe that a reading of the text without extraneous material tells us that the text is interacting with certain Jews who were making certain claims about Jesus.
When we read Qur’an 4:155 for example:
“They have incurred Allah’s wrath for their breaking the covenant, and their rejection of the signs of Allah and for slaying Prophets without right, and for saying: ‘Our hearts are wrapped up in covers-even though in fact Allah has sealed their hearts because of their unbelief, so that they scarcely believe.”
I believe we both concur that it would seem out of place for that text to address the Romans of the time of Jesus.
Furthermore the Qur’an 4:157 has a double denial in the text. They did not kill him nor did they (salabu). The initial denial is general and it can easily accommodate any understanding of a possible demise of Jesus.
It is immensely curious to follow up a general denial that can accommodate any particular understanding of any possible demise of Jesus with a particular denial immediately after.
Is it not more sensible in keeping with the immediate text and surrounding text to see this as the Qur’an interacting with particular claims made by Jews about Jesus? Rather these claims are based upon any historical event, document or even oral transmissions in certain circles that the Qur’an would be familiar with?
Given that this seems to be the very obvious case, how do you propose somehow Romans, and a “Crucifixion” is posited upon the text of Qur’an 4:157?
It is peculiar because Jews do not crucify people in their law. It is not a part of the Torah nor of the Talmud of which I am sure you are aware.
They do have laws about killing people and then impailing them. They do have assertions about those impaled being cursed by God.
Equally curious is the idea that (salabu) would translate to a Latin Cross, or the Tau Cross.
Given that the Qur’an in (7:124); 20:71; & 26:49) all describe cutting off the hands and the feet and given what we know about supporting the body weight on an ecclesiastical “Cross” it is it not presumptuous of us to assume Latin Cross, Tau etc?
The two noun forms in Qur’an 86:7 & Qur’an 4:23 which relate to the loins and the lumbus region seem to forcefully argue with a type of punishment that would involve impalement rather than anything to do with being tied to a patibulum and affixed to a crux or stake and than having nails driven in ones hands and feet.
When we look at the text of Qur’an 5:33 on page 31 of your book you state:
“the criminal was killed by a separate means before their corpse was publicly displayed on a pike or cross.”
This does not seem to correlate to what Christians have in mind when they invoke the “Crucifixion” of Jesus. They seem to think this is a death on a cross and not a death prior to a cross.
I also felt that pike was more appropriate than cross given what we know about the Islamic legal schools. None of the legal schools, Ibadi, Zaydi, Zahiri, Shafi’i, Imami, Maliki, Hanafi or Hanbali make it a requirement to put someone on a patibulum and affix that patibulum to a crux or stake and than proceed to drive nails in the hands and feet.
Much more can be said. Again I believe my initial inquiry is that if we do a plain reading of Qur’an 4:157 or even invoke the immediate context where are we drawing upon the idea that this is interacting with something the Romans are said to have done to Jesus?
Thank you for your time.
Have a blessed weekend ahead.
If you would like to read more on this subject I invite you to read the following:
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” (Qur’an 42:11)
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You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” (Exodus 20:4)
So rather than making an image of God, the command goes far beyond that. Christians should not make idols of anything.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” (Deuteronomy 5:8)
The irony is that this text has been a source of controversy among Christians as if God did not provide clarity for them. So they say, well God says do not make an idol. So their argument goes like this: “We can make the likeness of living created beings, but we just cannot worship them, and thus they are not idols.”
From left to right: Credit to Mart Production and Varan Nm. All photos taken from pexels.com
When it comes to the Bible, both the TNCH and the New Testament are replete with Anthropomorphic descriptions of God.
This is by no means an exhaustive list.
God rides upon a cherubim (usually depicted in art as a naked baby angel)
“He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.” (Psalm 18:10)
God’s thigh and his self promotional tattoo?!
“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:16)
How anyone writes created words on the uncreated God merits pensive reflection.
Not only this but usually human females get tattoos in provocative places to draw attention to their assets.
Who has time to focus on a thigh tattoo when there are flashing dazzling lights shooting out from the groin area!
The God of the Bible has loins.
“”And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.” (Ezekiel 1:27)
God’s feet?
“And saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.” (Exodus 24:10)
The nostrils of God?
“Smoke went up from his nostrils..” (Psalms 18:8)
God has one ear (not more).
“Give EAR, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name.” (Daniel 9:18) An Ear, not ears..
Or God has ears (plural)
“In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.” (2 Samuel 22:7)
The God of the Bible has a shadow.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)
How a God that is supposed to be light has a shadow is certainly a mystery!
The God of the Bible whistles?
“At that time the Lord will whistle for the Egyptians.” (Isaiah 7:18)
The God of the Bible gets jealous?
“For I the Lord your God am a jealous God.” (Daniel 5:9)
The God of the Bible smears poo poo (dung) on people’s faces.
“Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.” (Malachi 2:3)
The God of the Bible emits a sound and walks.
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)
The God of the Bible breaths.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)
God has thoughts and people have thoughts.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8)
So do we deny that God has thoughts because people have thoughts or are his thoughts not like our thoughts?
Do we affirm without asking how or is the how known?
The backside of God?!!
“And I will take away mine hand, and you shall see my backside: but my face shall not be seen.” (Exodus 33:23)
God only needs one digit (a single finger to write)
“And when He (God) had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.” (Exodus 31:18)
God has an unknowable number of fingers.
“When I consider you heavens, the work of your fingers, The moon and the stars, which you have ordained.” (Psalm 8:3)
The God of the Bible has hands (plural).
“The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” (Psalm 95:5)
“So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them.” (Ecclesiastes 9:1 )
The God of the Bible has a right hand and Jesus is sitting next to it.
“He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3)
The God of the Bible has a right hand and Jesus is standing next to it.
“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55-56)
*NOTE* NO WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY GOD HAS A LEFT HAND!
Now obviously, I do not follow Salafiyya/Athari creed. However, those Christians who think they have landed some points against them have erred tremendously.
All that Daniel Haqiqatjou, Mohamed Hijab, Uthman Ibn Faruq, The Muslim Lantern (Chainless Slave) Muhammed Ali, Jake The Muslim Metaphysician, Farid Al Bahraini, or Bassam Zawadi-all that they have to do is ask the following to the Christians.
Does the Bible assert hands for God? Answer: Yes.
Does the Bible assert a right hand for God? Answer: Yes.
Does the Bible assert a left hand for God? Answer: No.
If the Bible does not assert a left hand for God how can you NOT assert that both his hands are right?
Game over! Those Christians would be cooked.
For the Bible says:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
God of the Bible finds the aroma of charred dead animal flesh soothing and sweet.
The God of the Bible smells (Not what the Rock is cooking but still…)
“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma.” (Genesis 8:20-21)
Other translations say: ‘a sweet savour’. “And the Lord smelled a sweet savour”.
God of the Bible repents from his own evil.
“And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” (Exodus 32:14)
Like this God was thinking of doing something so nasty and cruel to humans and than thought , “Naah that’s a bit too much!”
God of the Bible regrets that he creates his own creation.
“The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” (Genesis 6:6)
God of the Bible can cancel out his own knowledge.
“For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)
The God of the Bible has wings and feathers.
“He shall cover you with Hisfeathers, and under His wings you will trust” (Psalm 91:4).
The God of the Bible mounts, swoops and spreads out his wings.
“Behold, He will mount up and swoop like an eagle and spread out His wings against Bozrah; and the hearts of the mighty men of Edom in that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor.” (Jeremiah 49:22)
God of the Bible sends delusions on people so they believe what is false.
“For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11)
The God of the Bible shaves people’s head, legs, and removes the beard.
“In that day the Lord will shave with a razor, hired from regions beyond the Euphrates (that is, with the king of Assyria), the head and the hair of the legs; and it will also remove the beard.” (Isaiah 7:20)
Some Christian commentators make matters worse by saying this is a full hair removal; for total purity as mentioned in the following text:
“The one to be cleansed shall then wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe in water and be clean. Now afterward, he may enter the camp, but he shall stay outside his tent for seven days.” (Leviticus 14:8)
Thus, and we seek refuge in Allah, the Bible is claiming that God will shave all the hair off (pubic hair, you name it!)
The Bible says God is a man of war.
“The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.” (Exodus 15:3)
The God of the Bible sends an evil spirit upon Saul.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. ” (1 Samuel 18:10)
The biggest incident of Saul disobeying God in the Bible is because he did not completely genocide everything and he spared some animals.
Which according to the Bible, God inspires Samuel to inform Saul is just as bad as worshipping idols! So this evil spirit that comes from God comes upon Saul and Saul is agitated knowing that God is going to supplant him with David.
Christians claim that God does not want people to be gay. However; this evil spirit inspires Saul to tell David to collect 100 penis skins for him! Does it get more gay?!
By the way think about this narrative. Do you really think that David went around and methodically cut a perfect circle around every man’s Penis and collected a bunch of foreskins in a bag? No! It means he cut off 200 penises put them in some bags and threw them down in the kings court like ‘Yo! Here’s the Penis skins you wanted!’ -which by the way the evil spirit the Bible God sent to Saul inspired him to tell David to do! Does it get more gay than this?!
Speaking of Gay. Unicorns and Rainbows Oh my!
The God of the Bible has strength comparable to a unicorn.
“God brought them out of Egypt; he has as it were the strength of an unicorn.” (Numbers 23:22)
The God of the Bible relies upon a rainbow in order to remember.
“Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” (Genesis 9:14-15)
God of the Bible feels sorry that the man he appointed to kill babies saved some animals.
Read the following from (1 Samuel 15:3-26)
One day, Samuel told Saul:
The Lord told me to choose you to be king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord: “When the Israelites were on their way out of Egypt, the nation of Amalek attacked them. I am the Lord All-Powerful, and now I am going to make Amalek pay! “Go and attack the Amalekites! Destroy them and all their possessions. Don’t have any pity. Kill their men, women, children, and even their babies. Slaughter their cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.” Saul sent messengers who told every town and village to send men to join the army at Telaim. There were 210,000 troops in all, and 10,000 of these were from Judah. Saul organized them,then led them to a valley near one of the towns in Amalek, where they got ready to make a surprise attack. Some Kenites lived nearby, and Saul told them, “Your people were kind to our nation when we left Egypt, and I don’t want you to get killed when I wipe out the Amalekites. So stay away from them.” The Kenites left,and Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, which is just east of Egypt. Every Amalekite was killed except King Agag.Saul and his army let Agag live, and they also spared the best sheep and cattle. They didn’t want to destroy anything of value, so they only killed the animals that were worthless or weak. The Lord told Samuel, “Saul has stopped obeying me, and I’m sorry that I made him king.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out in prayer to the Lord all night. Early the next morning he went to talk with Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to Carmel, where he had a monument built so everyone would remember his victory. Then he left for Gilgal.” Samuel finally caught up with Saul, and Saul told him, “I hope the Lord will bless you! I have done what the Lord told me.” “Then why,” Samuel asked, “do I hear sheep and cattle?”“The army took them from the Amalekites,” Saul explained. “They kept the best sheep and cattle, so they could sacrifice them to the Lord your God. But we destroyed everything else.” “Stop!” Samuel said. “Let me tell you what the Lord told me last night.” “All right,” Saul answered. Samuel continued, “You may not think you’re very important, but the Lord chose you to be king, and you are in charge of the tribes of Israel. When the Lord sent you on this mission, he told you to wipe out those worthless Amalekites. Why didn’t you listen to the Lord? Why did you keep the animals and make him angry?” “But I did listen to the Lord!” Saul answered. “He sent me on a mission, and I went. I captured King Agag and destroyed his nation. All the animals were going to be destroyed anyway. That’s why the army brought the best sheep and cattle to Gilgal as sacrifices to the Lord your God.” “Tell me,” Samuel said. “Does the Lord really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn’t want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him. Rebelling against God or disobeying him because you are proud is just as bad as worshiping idols or asking them for advice. You refused to do what God told you, so God has decided that you can no longer be king.”“I have sinned,” Saul admitted. “I disobeyed both you and the Lord. I was afraid of the army, and I listened to them instead. Please forgive me and come back with me so I can worship the Lord.” “No!” Samuel replied, “You disobeyed the Lord, and I won’t go back with you. Now the Lord has said that you can’t be king of Israel any longer.”
God of the Bible is the creator of evil.
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)
The God of the Bible hates.
“”I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob ‘s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” (Malachi 1:2-3)
(So the God of the Bible is a God of Love and Hate)
(A God of Love, that Hates or A God of Hate that Loves)
The God of the Bible jeers and pokes fun at his creation.
“He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” (Psalm 2:4)
The God of the Bible laughs.
“but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.” (Psalm 37:13)
The God of the Bible rages. (Maybe not Rage Against The Machine, but …..)
“The LORD is a jealous and vengeful God; the LORD is vengeful and strong in wrath. The LORD is vengeful against his foes; he rages against his enemies.” (Nahum 1:2)
The God of the Bible has a mouth.
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
The God of the Bible is meticulous in how his food should be prepared.
“Command the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be careful to present My offering, My food for My offerings by fire, of a soothing aroma to Me, at their appointed time.” (Numbers 28:2)
The God of the Bible has knowledge which is impeded by distance.
“But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.” (Genesis 11:5)
The God of the Bible is affected by a certain type of wine which cheers him up.
“And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheers up God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?” (Judges 9:13)
The God of the Bible did not stop Jephthah from burning his small daughter if God gave him victory over his enemies.
“Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon. When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.” “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised, now that the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. But grant me this one request,” she said. “Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.” “You may go,” He said. And he let her go for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. After the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin. (Judges 11:29-39)
Prima Qur’an Comments: Now there is major major copium from Christians and Jews regarding this.
Copium # 1. They try and put a spin that the sacrifice is to dedicate his daughter to the Lord as a virgin (meaning temple service) and Jephthah bemoaned that due this he would never have any descendants.
Response: and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering & After the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed The emphasis on her being a virgin is so she would be an unblemished sacrificed.
2. Copium #2. God commands against sacrificing Children in the Bible.
Response. No, no he doesn’t!
“You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God; I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 18:21)
“I will also set My face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given some of his offspring to Molech, so as to defile My sanctuary and to profane My holy name.” (Leviticus 20:3)
“You shall not behave thus toward the Lord your God, for every abominable act which the Lord hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.” (Deuteronomy 12:31)
As well as the related practice of passing the children through the fire and not consuming them by the fire:
“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer.” (Deuteronomy 18:10)
“You shall also say to the sons of Israel: ‘Any man from the sons of Israel or from the aliens sojourning in Israel who gives any of his offspring to Molech, shall surely be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him with stones.” (Leviticus 20:2)
Offering your children up as a burnt offering is not against the Torah teachings of the Jews. Nor was it something unacceptable to God. The offence in question was offering them up to Molech and NOT THE GOD OF ISRAEL!
“For I the Lord your God am a jealous God.” (Daniel 5:9)
There is no issue with offering up children as a holocaust (burnt offering) to God. The issue is doing it to false Gods. Because the God of the Bible is jealous.
Did we forget?
“After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)
The Bible likens God to a groomer that watches a baby grow up develop breast, “body hair” waiting until she was mature enough for “love” and marry her.
“And I helped you to thrive like a plant in the field. You grew up and became a beautiful jewel. Your breasts became full, and your body hair grew, but you were still naked. And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.” (Ezekiel 16:7-8)
This passage is basically stating that God married “Israel” and it likens God to a man marrying a very young girl. Notice that no one officiates God’s marriage of course. It is just that God wraps his cloak around her and….”Surprise! You’re my wife!”
However, latter we find out that God gets cheated on. That the ‘wife’ of God became like a prostitute.
“‘But you trusted in your beauty and capitalized on your fame by becoming a prostitute. You offered your sexual favors to every man who passed by so that your beauty became his. You took some of your clothing and made for yourself decorated high places; you engaged in prostitution on them.” (Ezekiel 16:15-16)
Prima Qur’an: I always wondered why many Christian and Jewish men had a very unhealthy relationship and attitude towards women. When The Creator of Heaven and Earth gets cheated on then who is the average man compared to God?
Even some Christian polemist who got cheated on may feel a kindred spirit with God.
Many Christians who were sexually violated as youth have read the above passages with a great deal of discomfort. May Allah (swt) guide them and console them.
Granted we as Muslims are understanding concerning metaphor, allegories and rhetorical devices in literature. The Qur’an itself deploys metaphor, allegory and an array of rhetorical and literary devices.
Yet, some of these passages and text in the Bible are quite concerning.
May Allah (swt) guide the Jews and Christians to the truth.
“My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” (Qur’an 20:114)
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This post is to congratulate the graduates of the Istiqama community in Libya and to ask for Allah (swt) to continue to send his blessings down upon the people of Nafusa for their warmth, hospitality and continued guidance and beacon of light for the Ummah.
Those brothers who came from different regions and countries in the region to dedicate themselves to this path and to the deen of Allah (swt). May Allah (swt) bless them!
Brothers from all over the great continent of Africa, from Libya, Tunisia, Sudan, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana they come to learn and pass on what they learn to those in their homelands.
Children are often mentored by their peers, and helped along by children a few years older than them as a way of encouragement and to let those children see themselves in those who inspire them.
Youth attentively listen to lessons.
There are award ceremonies in which ijaza certificates are given by the Shyookh. The students are honoured with gifts and other accolades for being the future bearers of knowledge and light.
Time for brotherhood and being in the company of the people of knowledge.
May Allah (swt) continue to bless this school and bless its teachers and bless its students. May Allah (swt) grant them strong conviction and resolute faith. May Allah (swt) fortify them from all evil and may Allah (swt) continue to bless and assist them to be beacons of light for all of North, West Africa and beyond!
“This is a favor from my Lord by which He wants to test whether I am grateful or ungrateful.” (Qur’an 27:40)
A person has only two choices: either to be grateful or to be ungrateful. Now the question is If he is ungrateful, do we say that he has committed shirk (associating partners with Allah)?
So when one reads the books of the Ibadi scholars and luminaries of the past and they come across the statement that such and such was declared to be a kafir one needs to read this with the correct lenses.
First point. For the vast majority of Muslims they follow schools that have defined kafir meaning to expel them from the millat of Islam. In other words to expel them from Islam altogether. This is simply not the case with t he Ibadi. We use the word kufr as Allah (swt) used it in the Qur’an to describe those who are ungrateful.
Excommunicating other Muslims is not something the Ibadi school is known for. Many may get this impression when our scholars have addressed someone as being a kafir. That is because they come from a framework in which kafir is understood to mean execommunicated or outside the fold of Islam. This is absolutely not true for the Ibadi school. That is because the word kafir literally means ingratitude or to be ungrateful.
Second point. Not every act of kufr is shirk. However, every act of shirk is kufr.
Third point. Kufr does not necessitate a permanent condition. If someone became a kafir by something they did deserving of Bara’ah (shunning/ostracization) that same person can repent, reform and be deserving of Wilayah (friendship/protection/solidarity).
Fourth point. There are different types of Kufr according to Sunni, Imami and Zaydi perspectives.
Kufr al-Amal
Kufr al-Inkar
Kufr al-Juhud
Kufr al-Nifaq
Kufr bi’l-l’rad / Kufr al-Irad
Kufr al-Ni’mah
Kufr al-‘Inad
Kufr al-Takdhib
WHAT IS A MUSLIM AND HOW IS THE WORD MUSLIM DEFINED?
Muslim =one who submits to Allah. Now ask yourself. Does this mean submit to Allah 50% of the time? Does it mean to submit to Allah 99% of the time?
“Yes, whoever submits his whole self in Islam to Allah while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve (Qur’an 2:112)
“So who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.” (Qur’an 4:125)
“So whoever submits his whole self to Allah while he is a doer of good, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold. And to Allah will be the outcome of all matters. (Qur’an 31:22)
WHAT IS IBADAH (DEVOTION)?
In Arabic ‘Abd carries the meaning of both slave and devotee.
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship (liya ‘buduni) Me.” (Qur’an 51:56)
“Lo! My slaves (‘ibadi) – over them you have no authority. And sufficient is your Lord as Disposer of affairs.” (Qur’an 17:65)
“And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Slave (‘abdina) [Muhammed], then produce a Surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah , if you should be truthful.” (Qur’an 2:23)
Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan has made it a point to drive home the concept of what a slave in Islam actually means. A slave to Allah (swt) is something that we all hope to strive for. May we die as obedient slaves to Allah (swt).
WHAT IS KUFR AND HOW IS THE WORD DEFINED?
“And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us and then We withdraw it from him, indeed, he is despairing and ungrateful (kafarun)(Qur’an 11:9)
“Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful (kafuran)“ (Qur’an 17:27)
It is important to understand here that Satan knows the truth. He knows the unseen. Being chief of the Jinn he knows allot. He even made du’a to Allah (swt) not to punish him immediately!
“He said, “My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.” (Qur’an 15:36)
Satan also made the following pledge.
“Then I will surely come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right and from their left, and then You will not find most of them (shakirina) grateful.” (Qur’an 7:17)
“Indeed, Allah defends those who have believed. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone treacherous and ungrateful (kafurin)” (Qur’an 22:38)
“Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful (shakiran) or be he ungrateful (kafuran).” (Qur’an 76:3)
“And We had certainly given Luqman wisdom [and said], “Be grateful (ush’kur) to Allah.” And whoever is grateful (yashkur) is grateful (yashkuru) for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful (kafara) [His favor] – then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.” (Qur’an 31:12)
“Certainly they are ungrateful (KAFARA)who say: Surely, Allah– He is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say: Who then could control anything as against Allah when He wished to destroy the Messiah son of Mary and his mother and all those on the earth? And Allah’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them; He creates what He pleases; and Allah has power over all things,” (Qur’an 5:17)
“O my sons! Go you and enquire about Yusuf (Joseph) and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who are ungrateful (l-kakiruna) .”
“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful (shakartum), I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you are ungrateful (kafartum), indeed, My punishment is severe. (Qur’an 14:7)
“And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: “Now I repent;” nor of those who die while they are ungrateful (kuffarun). For them, We have prepared a painful torment.” (Qur’an 4:18)
“It is the duty of all men towards Allah to come to the House a pilgrim, if he is able to make his way there. As for the (kafara) ungrateful, Allah is All-sufficient nor needs any being.” (Qur’an 3:97)
We can see from the above text that kufr is of two types.
Kufr Ni’mah
Ni’mah means: favour, ease, blessings, grace.
Kufr Ni’mah is not the ingratitude of disbelief, but the ingratitude of not recognizing Allah’s blessings, grace, and favour, by going against his commands, prohibitions, guidance.
Kufr Shirk.
Shirk/Mushrik means: To give worship to something other than Allah, along with Allah.
Kufr Shirk is the ingratitude of not recognizing and acknowledging who Allah (swt) is. As well as not directing one’s devotion to Allah (swt) and Allah (swt) alone.
So for us kufr is ingratitude. Rather than disbelief.
“Say: O ungrateful (l-kafiruna) ones! I will not be a devoted slave (a’budu) to what you are a devoted slave (ta’buduna) to. Neither are you devoted slave (‘abiduna) to Him whom I am devoted slave (a’budu) to. Nor will I be devoted slave (‘abidun) to that which you base your (‘abadttum) devoted slavery. Nor are you going to be devoted slave (‘abiduna) to Him who I am devoted slave (a’budu) to. To you is your way of life (worldview),and to me, my way of life (worldview). (Qur’an 109:1-6)
WHAT IS EMAAN? (BELIEF)
“Indeed, those who believed (amanu) and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammed] – those [among them] who believed (amanu) in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness – will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (Qur’an 2:62)
“And when it is said to them: Believe (aminu) as the people believe (amana) they say: Shall we believe (anu’minu) as the fools believe (amana)? Now surely they are the fools, but they do not know.” (Qur’an 2:13)
“These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you in truth. Then in what statement after Allah and His verses will they (yu’minuna) believe“? (Qur’an 45:6)
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is a branch of faith.”
So even an agnostic or an atheist who removes an obstacle on a path they have some faith.
Remember, Iblis himself was a devoted Muslim until…
“So when We said to the angels: Prostrate to Adam they did prostrate, but Iblis (did it not). He refused and he was proud, and he was one of the ungrateful (l-kafirina).” (Qur’an 2:33)
At this moment, this one act of defiance, made Iblis go from being a devoted slave (‘abdina) to being in a state of Kufr Ni’mah.
Heaven is not a place for the ungrateful!
“Get down from here! Here is no place for your arrogance, Get out! You are the lowest of creatures!” (Qur’an 7:13)
“Like the Shaitan when he says to man: be (uk’fur) ungrateful, but when man is (kafara) ungrateful, he says: I am surely clear of you; surely I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” (Qur’an 59:16)
Iblis is not said to be a disbeliever in Allah (swt) nor in his last day. Yet, this one sin (kufr niama), this one act of transgression was enough to bar him from paradise and to have him to burn in hellfire forever. There is absolutely no indication anywhere that Iblis will repent.
“He said, “My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.” (Qur’an 15:36)
Allah! There is no god but He. The Most Merciful, The Most Gracious! Can you imagine! Iblis wants respite, not to make repentance, not to turn from his waves, not to show himself a devoted slave of Allah (swt) but a persistent and continuous rebel until the very end!
Look at how Merciful Allah (swt) is to humanity! We have been given chance after chance to make tawbah, to repent, to amend, to reform, to turn towards Allah (swt) as devoted slaves.
The Hadith Evidences.
Brothers and sisters there is no verse in the Qur’an anywhere that believers will enter the hellfire. This is a trap and false belief that clashes with stronger evidence.
Hadith such as the following:
Narrated ‘Ubada:
The Prophet (saw) said, “If anyone testifies that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners, and that Muhammed is His Slave and His Apostle, and that Jesus is Allah’s Slave and His Apostle and His Word which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit created by Him, and that Paradise is true, and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise with the deeds which he had done even if those deeds were few.” (Junada, the sub-narrator said, ” ‘Ubada added, ‘Such a person can enter Paradise through any of its eight gates he likes.”)
‘Itban bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) said in his long Hadith cited in the Chapter entitled ‘Hope’ reported:
When the Prophet (saw) stood up to offer As-Salat (the prayer) he asked, “Where is Malik bin Ad-Dukhshum?” A man replied: “He is a hypocrite. He does not love Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet (saw) said, “Do not say that. Do you not know that he said: La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah),’ seeking His Pleasure. Allah has made the fire of Hell unlawful for him who affirms that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.”
Prima Qur’an Comment: It is becoming readily apparent that those hadith need to be taken contextually. First of all the hadith about Allah (swt) making hellfire unlawful for those who say “la ilaha illallah seeking His Pleasure” cannot simply mean just saying the testimony of faith. This is obvious as it is attached to “seeking his Pleasure.”
This goes directly against the following verse:
“Do people think once they say, “We believe,” that they will be left without being put to the test?” (Qur’an 29:2)
“So of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: “Now I repent;” norof those who die while they are ungrateful. For them We have prepared a painful torment”. (Qur’an 4:18)
This idea that Muslims can just do what ever they wish and say the testimony of faith and they will be absolutely fine has no basis in the Qur’an. It is a dangerous belief. Not only this but how many times have we seen kufr ni’mah become kufr shirk? Virtually every apostate I have ever encountered was involved in some major sin and then they slipped away into darkness. When in reality the problem was sin to begin with.
When the believer commits sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents and gives up that sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. But if (the sin) increases, (the black spot) increases. That is the Ran that Allah mentions in His Book: “Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.” (Qur’an 83:14)
It is well known that the companions certainly did fight among each other and killed each other. So the question is; Was their kufr an act of Kufr Ash-Shirk or Kufr An Ni’mah?
It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah b. Mas’ud that the Messenger of Allah (saw) observed:
Abusing a Muslim is an outrage and fighting against him is (kufr)unbelief. Zubaid said: I asked Abu Wa’il: Did you hear it from Abdullah narrating if from the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him)? He replied: Yes. But there is mention of the talk between Zubaid and Abu Wa’il in the hadith narrated by Shu’ba.
It is well known that the companions certainly did fight among each other and killed each other. So the question is; Was their kufr an act of Kufr Ash-Shirk or Kufr An Ni’mah?
“Abu Hurairah narrated that : the Prophet (saw) said: “Whoever engages in sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman, or a woman in her anus, consults a soothsayer, then he has disbelieved (kafar) in what was revealed to Muhammed.”
The one who did intercourse with a menstruating woman, or in her anus are those acts of kufr ash-shirk or kufr an-ni’mah ?
By the way, There is commentary in Arabic on the above hadith. That if intercourse with a woman was considered disbelieve than expiation would not have been ordered for it. However, this is not true. Expiation depends on the type and manner of sin. So there is something strange in the commentary.
It is narrated on the authority of Jarir that he heard (the Holy Prophet) saying, The slave who fled from his master committed an act of infidelity as long as he would not return to him.
Another hadith evidence that supports our position. I will show you where those who call themselves ‘Salafi’ try to fool those who are not familiar with the Arabic. Then I will show you were the majority Sunni position comes clean and basically their view is in alignment with us.
Narrated Abu Dhar:
The Prophet (saw) said,
“A man who knowingly claims to be the father of someone other than himself has committed an act of disbelief. And whoever claims to be the father of a people when he is not one of them, let him take his place in hellfire.”
However, notice how the above link renders the Arabic text as:
Narrated Abu Dhar:
The Prophet (saw) said, “If somebody claims to be the son of any other than his real father knowingly, he but disbelieves in Allah, and if somebody claims to belong to some folk to whom he does not belong, let such a person take his place in the (Hell) Fire.”
Notice that ‘he but disbelieves in Allah’ to the English reader gives the indication that this person is on the same level of an Atheist.
We all know those who disbelieve in Allah are bound for hell. So knew information is being presented. So we know that ‘he but disbelieves in Allah’ is not a rendering of the Arabic text. The new information being presented is: “if somebody claims to be the son of any other than his real father knowingly..”
Now notice the interesting observation the followers of majority Sunni Islam make here:
However, the scholars explain that the term kufr in this hadith has two interpretations.
“The first interpretation applies to someone who considers such an act permissible. The second interpretation is that it refers to ingratitude for blessings and kindness, as well as violating the rights of Allah (Most High) and the rights of his father. However, the intended meaning is not disbelief that takes one out of the fold of Islam. This is similar to when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) mentioned “disbelief” concerning women and then explained it as their ingratitude for kindness and their ingratitude toward their husbands.” [Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim]
Now notice something dear readers. Context is important. The above hadith that promise someone paradise is dependent upon all the other text (Qur’an and Sunnah) that put terms and conditions.
The same is true for the above hadith about affirming that the one who makes such a statement would take his place in hellfire. This too is dependent upon all other text (Qur’an and Sunnah) that mention the acceptance of those who sincerely repent.
‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that:
The Prophet (saw) said, “Allah accepts a slave’s repentance as long as the latter is not on his death bed (that is, before the soul of the dying person reaches the throat)”.
And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: “Now I repent;” nor of those who die while they are ungrateful disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment. (Qur’an 4:18)
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
The Prophet (saw) said, “When (a person) an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse, then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it; and when somebody steals, then he is not a believer at the time he is stealing .”
The Prophet (saw) said, “An adulterer, at the time he is committing illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer; and a person, at the time of drinking an alcoholic drink is not a believer; and a thief, at the time of stealing, is not a believer.” Ibn Shihab said: `Abdul Malik bin Abi Bakr bin `Abdur-Rahman bin Al- Harith bin Hisham told me that Abu Bakr used to narrate that narration to him on the authority of Abu Huraira. He used to add that Abu Bakr used to mention, besides the above cases, “And he who robs (takes illegally something by force) while the people are looking at him, is not a believer at the time he is robbing (taking).
All the above acts: Fornication, Adultery, Stealing, Drinking, none of these acts are committing shirk. Yet, the people who do such are not to be described as believers at the time of doing such actions.
Narrated ‘Ikrima from Ibn ‘Abbas:
Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, “When a slave (of Allah) commits illegal sexual intercourse, he is not a believer at the time of committing it; and if he steals, he is not a believer at the time of stealing; and if he drinks an alcoholic drink, when he is not a believer at the time of drinking it; and he is not a believer when he commits a murder,” ‘Ikrima said: I asked Ibn Abbas, “How is faith taken away from him?” He said, Like this,” by clasping his hands and then separating them, and added, “But if he repents, faith returns to him like this, by clasping his hands again.
Taking the life without right is not committing shirk. Yet, the people who do such are not to be described as believers at the time of doing such actions.
Not every act of Kufr is Shirk.
However, every act of Shirk is Kufr.
May Allah (swt) continue to bless us and guide us and keep us on the straight path. May Allah (swt) cause us all to die as devoted slaves, as Muslims.
Please also see the following:
” And when your Lord made it known: If you are (shakartum)grateful, I would certainly give to you more, and if you are (kafartum) ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe.” (Qur’an 14:7)
“This is a favor from my Lord by which He wants to test whether I am grateful (a-ashkuru) or ungrateful (akfuru).” (Qur’an 27:40)
“Truly, those who were ungrateful (kafaru), and they died and they were ones who are ungrateful (kuffarun), those, on them is a curse of Allah, and the angels and humanity, one and all.” (Qur’an 2:161)
” And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers (l-kāfirūna).” (Qur’an 5:44)
While the immediate context is a reference to the Jews it would be a strange thing to say that Jews who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are kafir while Muslims get a free pass.
“Those to whom we gave the Book know it as they know their children, but a group of them knowingly hide the truth”- Qur’an 2:146
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“And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.”(Qur’an 5:83)
Pope John Paul Kissing the Qur’an.
“In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind.” -POPE PAUL VI
“You are the best nation that ever existed among humanity. You command people to good and prohibit them from evil, and you believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book accepted the faith (Islam), it would certainly have been better for them. Some of them have faith, but most of them are evil doers.” (Qur’an 3:110)
In the future all such articles concerning Christianity will go under the heading Jews and Christians here:
First and foremost any Muslim engaging with Christians should understand that those whom identify as Christians have a wide range of different beliefs. We have seen too often Muslims engage with Christians and assume their beliefs. This is akin to a Christian thinking that an Ayatollah from Iran or a Shaykh from Saudi Arabia speaks on behalf of all Muslims.
For example even our dear brother Paul Williams (whom we consider to be one of the more read Muslims on Christianity and Christian theology in general, made a post on his X (Twitter) timeline that show cases a massive blunder in regard to what is called: ‘Christianity.’
That being said: Blogging Theology is still the best YouTube channel in English that one will find in my opinion.
For example the Eastern Orthodox Christians do not believe that we bear the sin of Adam rather we bear the consequences of that sin. It is a nuanced position.
Another massive and influential Protestant denomination, the Church of Christ (called Campbellites) by their opponents do not hold that infants are sinless and incapable of making free will decisions to sin.
There are key but major doctrinal differences between Eastern Orthodox and Church of Christ (Campbellites) on this matter as well. With Eastern Orthodox believing original sin corrupts human nature this leads to a deposition towards sin. Whereas the Church of Christ (called Campbellites) They reject original sin altogether, believing that each individual is responsible for their own sins. Adam’s sin affects himself and not future generations.
So brother Paul’s statement paints a very broad brush of Christianity, one which we as Muslims would not want done with us.
Not all Christians believe in a Trinity, and those that do have greatly different takes on it, some viewing others as heretical. They do not all agree on the nature of Christ Jesus, rather or not he has one nature, two natures, they do not even agree on a set number of New Testament books. They have New Testament canons that range from 22 books, 27 books and even 35 books!
“And with those who say, We are Christians (nasara), We made a covenant, but they neglected a portion of what they were reminded of, therefore We excited among them enmity and hatred to the day of resurrection; and Allah will inform them of what they did.” (Qur’an 5:14)
The above verse acknowledges that there are whole factions under the umbrella terminology ‘Nasara’ . That these factions clash with one another. Therefore, it is foolhardy to think that the term ‘Nasara’ is a blanket term to refer to all those who call themselves Christians. It can refer to those who were faithful before the breaking of the covenant as well as those who came after.
Some Christians object to certain verses of the Qur’an saying: This is not what we believe. They seem to have forgotten that one person’s orthodoxy is another person’s heterodoxy. This is what the Qur’an acknowledges. There can only be hatred and enmity between those who have sharp and irreconcilable differences among them.
We hope that the students and researchers of comparative religion find the following articles helpful!
GENESIS CHAPTER 3 SEPARATES ISLAM AND CHRISTIAINITY
Christian Dominionism: The Violent take it by force.
Subordinationism.
Gregory Palamas and his errors on Islam.
May Allah (swt) guide the sincere Christians to Islam. May Allah (swt) guide them so that they may find peace in this life and the life to come. May Allah (swt) guide the sincere Christians to Islam and save them from the punishment of the hellfire.
“And let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 24:22)
“Who spend In the cause of Allah during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good.” (Qur’an 3:134)
“And We have not created the heavens and earth and that between them except in truth. And indeed, the Hour is coming; so forgive with gracious forgiveness.”(Qur’an 15:85)
“O you who have believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 64:14)
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First let us address a misunderstanding that people have in general with the Muslim view in regard to Allah forgiving sins.
“Those who, upon committing an evil deed or wronging themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins—and who forgives sins except Allah?—and they do not knowingly persist in wrongdoing?” (Qur’an 3:125)
All sins are sins, ultimately sins against Allah. Rather, they are major or minor. One needs to beseech Allah for forgiveness. That being said, there are three types of relational sins.
Sins against yourself. You did injustice to your own self.
And whoever does evil or acts unjustly to his soul, then asks forgiveness of Allah, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.” (Qur’an 4:110)
Coupled with this is the psychological torture a sinner puts on themselves thinking that their sins are greater than Allah’s mercy. That Allah (swt) will not forgive them. This is what is meant by forgiving yourself. Allah (swt) says:
“He said, “And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?” (Qur’an 15:56)
“”O my sons! go and enquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah’s Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah’s Soothing Mercy, except those who ungrateful disbelievers.” (Qur’an 12:87)
“Say, “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53)
2. Sins against another party.
“And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives up his right as charity, it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the wrongdoers.” (Qur’an 5:45)
So, depending upon the nature of the offense, one can simply forgive the offending party. However, the offender still needs to seek forgiveness from Allah. Another example could be that someone stole an apple from our orchard and we caught the thief. We can settle it with the thief. That they return the apple, that they agree to pay for it. That they exchange for another item. That they work to pay for it. Yet that offender still needs to ask Allah (swt) for forgiveness. For other offenses, different measures may be taken. This is to ensure a stable, just and cohesive society that is not overwhelmed by crimes and injustice.
3. Sins against Allah.
This is self-explanatory. Yet, in all these above cases. Sinning against myself, another party (person or group), in all cases one still needs to seek forgiveness from Allah (swt).
Jesus forgiving sins makes him God?
It would be appropriate for a Christian to prove to us that Allah (swt) alone pardons, and overlooks sins.
“Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
Christians tell us that Jesus must be God because he ‘forgave sins’ and that ‘only God’ can forgive sins.
The text that immediately comes to mind is the following:
“But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?”(Mark 2:7)
“And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Luke 5:21)
We find it very peculiar that Christians would take the statement of the people who accused Jesus of wrongdoing and then agree with them!
Basically, the Christian logic is that these people were right. However, Jesus was entitled to do such since he is God.
Prima Qur’an comments:
Now here is some food for thought. Notice that the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason with themselves. Notice that there was absolutely no appeal to proofs and evidence.
Christians argue that the scribes and Pharisees are right based upon their reasoning.
Muslims argue that the scribes and Pharisees are wrong based upon their reason.
So then this would raise an obvious question: Are there any scriptures that the scribes or Pharisees might appeal to that say that God alone forgives sins or do they simply use their own reason?
We have noted that when Christians try to prove that Jesus is God based upon his ability to forgive sins, they always appeal to Mark 2:7 and Luke 5:21
We have also found it very interesting that they tend to stay away from Matthew chapter 9.
Why don’t they use Matthew chapter 9 verse 8 to prove Jesus forgiving sins makes him divine?
Well, because Matthew chapter 9 verse 8 does not help their case.
In fact, it’s’ a proof text that can be argued effectively against that claim!
“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven you.”
And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, “This man blasphemes.”
And Jesus knowing how they were reasoning said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? What is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, (then said he to the sick of the palsy,) ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go into your house’.”
And he arose and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto MEN.” (Matthew 9:2-8)
*Note* Men plural. Not just a man.
Protestants have suspected that earlier Christians had tampered with the text. So they too have begun to tamper with the text. Notice the various translations of this text into English. Only the New International Version is being blatantly deceptive.
But there is something else of importance. You see, all believers do believe that Allah can cause us to be stricken with various ailments and illnesses. This can cause us to be humble, to turn us to the Creator, among other things.
However, apparently there was an understanding among certain of the Jews (if this text were to be believed) that if a person was born with an ailment, handicap or illness that either they or their parents did some sin that warranted this.
“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:1-3)
Now let us go back and compare/contrast these three accounts.
“But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, ”Why does this man speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:6-7)
“And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Luke 5:21)
“When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.” (Matthew 9:8)
Prima Qur’an comments:
Mark has it that the Scribes were reasoning that only God can forgive sins.
Luke has it that the Scribes and Pharisees were reasoning that only God can forgive sins.
Matthew does not tell us what the scribes or Pharisees were reasoning at all. Rather, Matthew records the reaction of the crowd who praised God for giving such authority to men (plural).
Is there a contradiction? Not necessarily. Two transmitters record the reaction of Jesus’ opponents. One transmitter records the reaction of the crowd (which could or could not contain Scribes/Pharisees).
For Protestant Christians will ignorantly quote the citations of Mark and Luke as proof of the divinity of Christ Jesus.
Latin Roman Catholics, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox should know better. In this situation, the citation of Matthew 9:8 helps to establish authority for men to forgive sins.
We would like to bring the following text to your attention:
“Whosoever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins you retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23)
No one is making an argument that these men are divine because they have the ability to forgive and retain sins. The above text, which supports Sacerdotalism, has to be one of the most disliked texts in the entire New Testament by Protestant Christians.
The Most Famous Prayer in Christianity.
“This, then, is how you should pray: ” ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debtsas we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
“He said to them, “When you pray, say: ” ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ” (Luke 11:2-4)
1) Forgive us our debts aswe also have forgiven our debtors.
The Greek word there for ‘as‘ is ‘hosper‘ which means: ‘just as‘ and ‘exactly like‘.
2) Forgive us our sins aswe forgive those who sinned against us.
Jesus himself taught his followers to ask God to pardon their debts to him exactly like they pardon the debts of others to them. No one is asked to sacrifice their children or animals. Simply to pardon people for their offenses.
So the only way any of us, including Jesus, are ‘divine‘ in that sense would be like the saying,
“To err is human, to forgive, divine.” ― Alexander Pople, An Essay on Criticism
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him.” (Acts 10:38)
A very powerful example of forgiveness. Forgiveness can be a powerful transformative act for the human soul.
A Muslim man forgives the man who killed his son in a brutal murder. May Allah (swt) grant him paradise and may Allah (swt) open the heart of the other man to the message of Islam.
Muslim woman forgives the man who killed her son in a brutal murder. May Allah (swt) grant her paradise and may Allah (swt) open the heart of the other man to the message of Islam.
It is these conservative Muslim Americans that are transforming their neighborhoods, communities and societies for the better.
“When they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.”(Qur’an 5:83)
“Their malice for each other is intense: you think they are united, yet their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people with no understanding.” (Qur’an 59:14)
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“And from those who say, “We are Christians” We took their covenant; but they forgot a portion of that of which they were reminded. So We caused among them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection. And Allah is going to inform them about what they used to do.” (Qur’an 5:14)
We know via the doctrine of kasb that this is what the Christians brought on themselves.
“I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. I have come so that ‘a son will be against his father, a daughter will be against her mother, a daughter-in-law will be against her mother-in-law. A person’s enemies will be members of his own family.” (Matthew 10:34-39)
“Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” (Luke 12:51)
According to Christians, Christ Jesus did not teach the highest love as laying your life down for your enemy.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
However, there is a greater love than this. That you lay down your life for your enemies. Anyone would, in the given circumstances, lay down their lives for their friends.
Christianity is extremely carnal. It is very much of the flesh and not of the transformation of the spirit and the heart. Islam teaches that we must have a complete transformation of the spirit, the mind, the body and the heart.
Allah (swt) tells us in the Qur’an. If you do not come to Allah (swt) with a sound heart. Forget about it!
“The day when neither wealth nor sons will avail anyone. Only the one who will come to Allah with a sound heart.” (Qur’an 26:89)
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher Christians will bash each other up because they did not agree on the moving of a chair.
Sometimes a brawl will break out because one monk or priest will brush or move his broom just a little too much for the other’s liking.
In 1776, by order of the Sultan, the Muslims forced the 6 bickering Christian groups to sign a document to try and work out their differences over control over the sanctuaries of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. That document was ratified by the following groups: the Latin Catholic Church, The Greek Orthodox Church, The Armenian Apostolic Church, The Syrian Orthodox Church, The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Prior to this, Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub had entrusted the Keys to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to a Muslim family. The other Muslim family would then take the key and open the Church. This shared responsibility was a demonstration to Christians about what cooperation might look like.
Here is a Protestant Christian, Rick Wiles, who speaks about this.
Recently, while in Singapore, the Latin Roman Catholic Pope made the following statement:
“Every religion is a way to arrive at God. There are different languages to arrive at God but God is God for all. But my God is more important than your god, is that true? There is only 1 God & each of has a language to arrive at God. Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, they are different paths.”
We say Latin Roman Catholic Pope rather than ‘The Pope’ because to call him ‘The Pope’ means we have taken a side in the intra-Christian schisms over who actually is ‘The Pope’. So he (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) is one of two claimants. The other claimant is Wagih Sobhi Baki Soliman, known as Pope Tawadros II of the Orthodox Coptic Church.
However, his (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) comment already agitated those in the sedevacantist movement. Sedevacantist believe that The Latin Roman Catholic Pope has actually been vacant for a while. So statements made by Jorge Mario Bergoglio did not help matters.
On a side note, there is a renewed curiosity in the Latin Roman Catholic Church, the Various Orthodox Churches and others among Protestant Christians in the West. As the Latin Roman Catholic Church already has a dominant presence in the West, it is the one that has the most to gain from Christians falling out with Protestantism. Yet in recent years a new kid on the block has shown up in the form of the various Eastern Orthodox churches.
It also seems to be a matter of who gets their message out first, as various Eastern Orthodox Churches have now come in with the claim of being ‘The One True Church’. Protestants, Westerners and Christians in general are not aware of the many competing claims as to the One True Church. True, as in it has an authentic historical pedigree and true, as in it has been guided by the Holy Spirit to teach the one true doctrine.
There is a type of predatory behavior among Eastern Orthodox Christians that take advantage of Protestant layman and their general ignorance of history.
For example, most Protestant layman do not know that the Oriental Orthodox Christians consider themselves to be the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church founded by Christ Jesus, in his Great Commission, and its bishops and the successors of Christ’s apostles.
They would gladly challenge the Eastern Orthodox Christians on their claim, any time, anywhere, any place.
The Assyrian Church of the East can also readily contest the claims of the Eastern Orthodox or anyone else for that matter. They claim lineage and pedigree going back to St. Thomas the Apostle.
The Assyrian Church of the East is not to be confused with the Chaldean Catholic Church — which is in communion with the Latin Roman Catholic Church also can be a claimant to the one true Church of Christ Jesus. In their view, Cyril of Alexandria was a bullied Nestorius. That Nestorius was misrepresented at a council that he wasn’t even present. The Churches of the East refuse to anathematize Nestorius and have traditionally maintained he wasn’t Nestorian.
At least not ‘Nestorian’ as was painted by rivals of the Church.
The issue with other Christians is that they call Mary: Theotokos (mother of God) where as the Assyrian Church of the East maintains that Mary is to be called: Christotokos (mother of Christ).
What is ironic is that older Christian sects, like the Latin Roman Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox Christians would challenge Protestants on the fact that it was church councils that decided the biblical canon. The irony, though, is that when these very churches get into disputes with one another, they go back to their respective biblical canons to quote source text. The other irony is that if you ask who or what gives the Church its authority and where you get that information from, they would also ultimately have to reference their biblical canons. It becomes a type of circular reasoning.
On that note, we would like to take the time to thank the Protestant Christians on behalf of all other Christians for being responsible for mass printing, mass distributing and mass translating the Bible….while the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church and Latin Roman Catholic were ya know…..doing…stuff…..sorta.
In fact, if it was not for the work of the Protestant Christians, the other churches would be quoting their respective scholars, bishops, patriarchs, and councils. Now, they (Non-Protestants) can open up text to argue their points with Protestants.
Isn’t history filled with irony?
Christians put plants in each other’s camps to cause destruction and strife?
Yohannan Sulaqa took the name Shimun(Shamoun) and he was seen as a plant by the Latin Roman Catholic Church to split the Assyrian Church of the East and weaken it.
The British-educated Patriarch Shimun (Shamoun) XXI Eshai, traveled through Europe before moving to Chicago in 1940 to join the growing Assyrian diaspora community there. He was assassinated by a fellow Christian by the name of David Malek Ismail.
Interestingly, one of the rumors on the internet is that another Shimun(Sam Shamoun) is, of all things, a Muslim plant to cause strife and discord among the Christian community!
We had already discussed this individual in our article here:
He (Shimun) was masterful in his attacks upon Protestant Christianity. First luring in his audience by going after what are considered by most Protestants to be fringe groups: One-ness Christians, Jehovah’s’ Witnesses,etc. Then many Protestants noted his (Shimun/Shamoun) slow descent into the Latin Roman Catholic Church.
For the following videos we want to give credit to the following YouTube account to which the videos were uploaded:https://x.com/Farid_0v
Warning: There is very and we do mean, very filthy language! As is known: There Is No Hate, Quite Like Christian Love
Here is this guy, Shamoun (Shimun), who used to watch this other Anti-Muslim Christian make mistakes and flawed arguments but would keep this from the Christians! He only now brings it up because of the mutual hatred in their hearts for each other!
Look at the deception, dear Christian truth seekers! We know that you people are fed up with lies and many of you are sincere! There is an emptiness in your heart and a longing for the truth!
@0:36 “There’s a video on YouTube Muslim exposed him they made 100 mistakes, CP does” -Coptic Baldwin Sam Shamoun: “Say it again?” “100 mistakes CP does in Arabic.” -Coptic Baldwin Sam Shamoun: “And you know Arabic! You’ve seen it right?” “yeah yeah!” -Coptic Baldwin Sam Shamoun: “But you didn’t want to say anything out of love for the brethren right?”
Prima Qur’an comments: So Christians have no moral obligation to tell the truth? Is it ok to let other Christians deceive and lie to fellow Christians as long as it makes Islam look bad?
This is as much an admission about Hassamo (Shimun) and his moral ineptitude as it is this guy who goes by the moniker CP. If it was for the sake of not calling out another Christian in front of others, why not take him to the side and discuss privately? Why let this go on and on and for how long?!
However, when Christians have a rift with one another, then is it no longer fine for Christians to deceive other Christians in regard to their competency in the Arabic language, among other matters?! WoW!
Now Hassamo (Shimun) claims those that follow this CP guy are not mentally stable and even says he himself is not mentally stable!
Here is Hassamo (Shimun) exposing this CP guy for not being able to adequately answer a basic fundamental question on the Biblical canon!
Watch as two Christians filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit absolutely tear into each other.
Recently there was a debate held between a Muslim: Mohamed Hijab of the United Kingdom and a Christian: William Lane Craig of the United States.
The Muslim: Mohamed Hijab won that particular debate handedly. After the debate, there was something akin to a CNN or Fox News “Spin Room” session that we see after Presidential Debates. This debate review served as a sort of ‘damage control’. What was truly shocking is that the Christian side, as a guest, was someone who had no background in Christian or Islamic theology or no formal training whatsoever. In fact, that person is a self-identified Atheist!
Which again goes to show you. It is no longer about saving souls for Jesus as it is about attacking Islam.
For those many sincere Christians out there struggling, groping in the darkness and looking for answers, do not be duped by the very people who would be fine with lying to you and fine with others lying to you. May Allah (swt) guide the sincere among you.
“Their malice for each other is intense: you think they are united, yet their hearts are divided. That is because they are a people with no understanding.” (Qur’an 59:14)
Prima Quran 