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Shaykh `Abdul Rahman `Abdul Khaliq
Originally published by IANA
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My brothers and sisters everywhere! With this essay, I am not singling
out the adherents of Islam - to which I ascribe - but rather I am
writing this essay to every man and woman throughout the whole world.
I ask Allah that He facilitates tat this essay reaches every ear,
falls under the sight of every eye, and is understood by every
heart...
Muhammad the son of `Abdullah is Allah's Prophet and the Final
Messenger Sent by Allah to the Inhabitants of Earth.
My brothers and sisters everywhere! You should know that the
Messenger, Muhammad the son of `Abdullah (may Allah's blessings and
peace be upon him) is Allah's Messenger in reality and truth. The
evidences that show his veracity are abundant. None but an infidel,
who out of arrogance alone, could deny these signs.
Among these proofs:
1. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) was raised
illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained like that till his
death. Among all his people, he was known as being truthful and
trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he had no prior knowledge of
Religion or any previously sent Message. He remained like that for his
first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad with the Koran
that we now have between our hands. This Koran mentioned most of the
accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these
events in the greatest detail as if he witnessed them. These accounts
came precisely as they were found in the Torah sent down to Moses and
in the Gospel sent down to Jesus. Neither the Jews or Christians were
able to belie him regarding anything that he said.
2. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) also
foretold of everything that would occur to him and his community after
him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the tyrannical kingdoms of
Chosroes [the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of Persia] and
Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam throughout the
earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad foretold, as if he
was reading the future from an open book.
3. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) also brought
an Arabic Koran that is the peak of eloquence and clarity. The Koran
challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs of his time, who initially
belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like the Koran. The
eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this Koran.
Indeed, till our day, none has ever dared to claim that he has been
able to compose words that equal-or even approach-the order, grace,
beauty, and splendor of this Glorious Koran.
4. The life history of this Noble Prophet was a perfect example of
being upright, merciful, compassionate, truthful, brave, generous,
distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all worldly matters,
while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter. Moreover, in
all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of
Allah.
5. Allah instilled great love for Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and
peace be upon him) in the hearts of all who believed in and met him.
This love reached such a degree that any of his companions would
willingly sacrifice his (or her) self, mother or father for him.
Till today, those who believe in Muhammad honor and love him. Anyone
of those who believe in him would ransom his own family and wealth to
see him, even if but once.
6. All of history has not preserved the biography of any person in the
manner it has preserved the life of Muhammad, who is the most
influential human in history.
Nor has the entire earth known of anyone whom every morning and
evening, and many times thereafter throughout the day, is thought of
by those who believe in him. Upon remembering Muhammad, the believers
in him will greet him and ask Allah to bless him. They do such with
full hearts and true love for him.
7. Nor has there every been a man on earth whom is still followed in
all his doings by those who believe in him.
Those who believe in Muhammad, sleep in the manner he slept; purify
themselves (through ablution and ritual washing) in the manner he
purified himself; and adhere to his practice in the way they eat,
drink, and clothe themselves.
Indeed in all aspects of their lives, the believers in Muhammad adhere
to the teachings he spread among them and the path that he traveled
upon during his life.
During every generation, from his day till our time, the believers in
this Noble Prophet have fully adhered to his teachings. With some,
this has reached the degree that they desire to follow and adhere to
the Prophet's way in his personal matters regarding which Allah has
not sought of them to adhere to in worship. For example, some will
only eat those specific foods or only wear those specific garments
that the Messenger liked.
Let alone all that, all those who believe in Muhammad repeat those
praises of Allah, special prayers, and invocations that he would say
during each of his actions during day and night, like: what he would
say when he greeted people, upon entering and leaving the house,
entering and leaving the mosque, entering and leaving the bathroom,
going to sleep and awaking from sleep, observing the new crescent,
observing the new fruit on trees, eating, drinking, dressing, riding,
traveling and returning from travel, etc.
Let alone all that, all those who believe in Muhammad fully perform-
even to the minute detail-every act of worship-like prayer, fasting,
charity, and pilgrimage-as this Noble Messenger (may Allah's blessings
and peace be upon him) taught and as he himself performed.
All of this allows those who believe in him, to live their lives in
all aspects with this Noble Messenger as their example, as if he was
standing before them, for them to follow in all their doings.
8. There has never been nor will there ever be a man anywhere upon
this earth who has received such love, respect, honor, and obedience
in all matters-small and large alike-as has this Noble Prophet.
9. Since his day, in every region of the earth and during every
period, this Noble Prophet has been followed by individuals from all
races, colors and peoples. Many of those who followed him were
previously Christians, Jews, pagans, idolaters, or without any
religion. Among those who chose to follow him, were those who were
known for their sound judgment, wisdom, reflection, and foresight.
They chose to follow this Noble Prophet after they witnessed the signs
of his truthfulness and the evidences of his miracles. They did not
choose to follow Muhammad out of compulsion or coercion or because
they had adopted the ways of their fathers and mothers.
Indeed many of the followers of this Prophet (may Allah's blessings
peace be upon him), chose to follow him during the time when Islam was
weak, when there were few Muslims, and when there was severe
persecution of his followers on earth. Most people who have followed
this Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) have done
so not to acquire some material benefits. Indeed many of his followers
have suffered the greatest forms of harm and persecution as a result
of following this Prophet. Despite all this harm and persecution, this
did not turn them back from his religion.
My brethren! All of this clearly indicates to anyone possessing any
sense, that this Prophet was truly and really Allah's messenger and
that he was not just a man who claimed prophethood or spoke about
Allah without knowledge.
10. With all this, Muhammad came with a great religion in its credal
and legal make-up.
Muhammad described Allah with qualities of complete perfection, and at
the same time in a manner that is free of ascribing to Him any
imperfection. Neither the philosophers or the wise could ever describe
Allah like such. Indeed it is impossible to imagine that any human
mind could conceive of an existing being that possesses such complete
ability, knowledge, and greatness; Who has subdued the creation; Who
has encompassed everything in the universe, small or large; and Who
possesses such perfect mercy.
Nor is it in the ability of any human being to place a perfect law
based upon justice, equality, mercy and objectivity for all human
activity on earth like the laws that Muhammad brought for all spheres
of human activity - like buying and selling, marriage and divorce,
renting, testimony, custody, and all other contracts that are
necessary to uphold life and civilization on earth.
11. It is impossible that any person conceive wisdom,, morals, good
manners, nobleness of characters as what this honorable Prophet (may
Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) brought.
In a full and complete manner, Muhammad spread a teaching regarding
character and manners toward one' parents, relatives, fiends, family,
humanity, animals, plants and inanimate objects. It is impossible for
the human mind alone to grasp all of that teaching or come with a
similar teaching.
All of that unequivocally indicates that this Messenger did not bring
an) of this religion from his own accord, but that it was rather a
teaching and inspiration that he received from the One Who created the
earth and the high heavens above and created this universe in its
miraculous architecture and perfection.
12. The legal and credal make-up of the religion that the Messenger,
Muhammad, (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) brought
resembles the engineering of the heavens and the earth. All of that
indicates that He who created the heavens and the earth is the One Who
sent down this great law and upright religion.
The degree of inimitability of the Divine law that was sent down upon
Muhammad is to the same degree of inimitability of the Divine creation
of the heavens and earth. For just as humanity cannot create this
universe, in the same manner humanity cannot bring forth a law like
Allah's law that He sent down upon His servant and messenger Muhammad
(may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him).
JESUS in the QURAN
The Islamic view of Jesus lies between two extremes. The Jews , who
rejected Jesus as a Prophet of God, called him an impostor. The
Christians, on the other hand, considered him to be the son of God and
worship him as such. Islam considers Jesus to be one of the great
prophets of God and respects him as much as Ibrahim (Abraham), Moses,
and Mohammed. (Peace Be Upon Them) This is conformity with the Islamic
view of the oneness of God, the oneness of Divine guidance, and the
complementary role of the subsequent mission of God's messengers.
The essence of Islam - willing submission to the will of God - was
revealed to Adam, who was passed it on to his children. All following
revelations to Noah, Ibrahim, Moses, Jesus, and finally Mohammed
(Peace Be Upon Them) were conformity with that message, with some
elaboration to define the revelation between man and God, man and man,
man and instructions. Thus, any contradictions among revealed
religions is viewed by Islam as a man-made element introduced into
these religions. The position of Jesus in the three major religions -
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - should not be an exception.
Although the Quran does not present a detailed life-story of Jesus, it
highlights the important aspects of his birth, his mission, his
ascension to heaven, and passes judgements on the Christian beliefs
concerning him. The Quranic account of Jesus starts with the
conception of his mother, Mary, whose mother, the wife of Imran, vowed
to dedicate her child to the service of God in the temple. When Mary
became a woman, the Holy Spirit (the Archangel Gabriel) appeared to
her as a man bringing her news of a son. We read the following
dialogue in the Quran between Mary and the Angel:
"When the angel said, "Mary, god gives you a good tidings of a Word
from Him whose name is messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, -high honoured
shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God. He
shall speak to men in the cradle, and of age, and righteous he shall
be, "lord" said Mary "How shall I have a son, seeing no mortal has
touched me? "Even so, he said "God creates what He will".
When he decrees a thing He but say to it, "Be", and it is. (Al-Imran
3:45-47)
In a chapter (Surah) entitled "Maryam" (Mary), the Quran tells us how
Mary gave birth to her son, and how the Jesus accused her when she
brought the child home:
"Then she brought the child to her folk, carrying him, and they said,
"Mary, you have surely committed a monstrous thing. Sister of Aaron,
your father was not a wicked man, nor your mother a woman unchaste.
Mary pointed to the child; but they said, 'Hoe shall we speak to one
who still in the cradle, a little child. And he said, 'Lo, I am God's
servant, God has given me the Book and made me a Prophet Blessed He
has made me ,wherever/may be; and hi has enjoined me to prayer, and to
give the alms so long as I live, and likewise to cherish my mother; He
has not made me arrogant and wicked. Peace be upon me, the day I was
born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised up a live. "Maryam
19:29-33)
in the same chapter, following the above quotation, God assures
Mohammed (PBUH) and through him the whole world, that what is told
above is the TRUTH about Jesus (PBUH), although Christians might not
accept it. Jesus is NOT the son of God: He was obviously enough, the
son of Mary. The verses continue: "That is Jesus, son of Mary, in word
of truth, concerning which they are doubting. It is not for God to
take a son unto Him. Glory be to Him, He nut says to it, 'Be, and it
is. (Maryam 19:34-35)
After this strong statement about the nature of Jesus, God directed
Mohammed (PBUH) to call the Christians to worship the one God: "Surely
God is my God, and your God, so surely serve him. This is the straight
path". (Maryam 19:36)
The rejection of the very idea of God having a son is restated later
in the same chapter with even stronger words: "And they say, The All-
merciful has taken unto Himself a son. You have indeed advanced
something hideous. As if the skies are about to burst, the earth to
split asunder and its mountain to fall down in the utter ruin for that
they have attributed to the All-merciful a son; and behaves not the
All-merciful to take a son. None there in the heavens and earth but
comes to the All-merciful as a servant" (Maryam 19:88-93)
The Quran recognizes the fact that Jesus had no human father, but this
does not make him the son of God, or God himself. By this criterion,
Adam would have been more entitled more entitled to be the son of God,
because he had neither a father nor a mother, so the Quran draws
attention to the miraculous creation of both in the following verses;
" truly the likeness of Jesus, in God's sight is as Adam's likeness;
He created him of dust, then He said upon him, 'Be' and hi was. (Al-
Imran 3:59)
The Quran rejects the concept of Trinity God the Father, God the son,
God the Holy Spirit - as strongly as it rejects the concept of Jesus
as the son of God. This is because GOD IS ONE. Three cannot be one.
The Quran addresses Christians in the following verses from the Surrah
entitled "An-Nisaa" (The Women)
People of the Book, do not go beyond the bounds in your religion, and
say nought as to God but the Truth. The messiah, Jesus, son of Mary,
was only the messenger of God, and his word (Fulfilment of his word
(Fulfilment of His command, through the word "Be", for the creation of
Jesus) that he committed to Mary, and a spirit originating from Him
(was given life by God). So believe in God and His Messengers, and say
not 'Three'. Refrain, better is for you. God is only one God. Glory be
to him-that He should have a son! To Him belongs all that is in the
Heavens and in the Earth; God suffices for a guardian.
The Messiah will not disdain to be a servant of God, neither the
Angels who are close to Him. Whosoever disdains to serve Him and walks
proud, He will assuredly muster them to Him, all of them.
As for the believers, who do deeds of righteousness, we will pay them
their rewards in full, and He will give them more, of His bounty; as
for them who disdain and walks proud, then He will punish with a
severe punishment, and they shall not find for them, apart from God, a
friend or helper." (An-Nissa 4:171-173)
The denial of Jesus's divinity (and. For the matter, of Mary's
divinity) is presented in the Quran in the form of a dialogue, at the
Day of Judgement, between the Almighty Jesus. All the Messengers and
their nations will gather before God and He will ask the Messengers
how they were received by their people and what they said to them.
Among those who will be questioned is Jesus:
"And when God said, 'O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say unto men, "Take
me and my mother as gods, apart from God"? He said, 'To you be glory!
It is not mine to say what I have no right to. If I indeed said it,
you would have known it, knowing what is within my heart, though I do
not know your knowledge; you know the things unseen. I only said to
them what you did commands me: "Serve God, my God and your God." (Al-
Maida 5-116)
Given that the Quran denies the Trinity and the son ship of Jesus,
what, according to the Quran, was the real mission of Jesus? The
answer is that Jesus was a link in a long chain of Prophets and
Messengers sent by God to various nations and societies whenever they
needed guidance or deviated from his teachings of Moses and other
Messengers. As he was miraculously supported by numerous miracles to
prove that he was a Messengers from God. However, the majority of the
Jews rejected his ministry.
In another verse of the Quran, Jesus confirmed the validity of the
Torah which was revealed to Moses, and also conveyed he glad tidings
of a final Messenger who follow him: "And when Jesus son of Mary said,
'Children of Israel, I am indeed the Messenger to you, confirming the
Torah that is before me, and giving good tiding of a Messenger who
shall be the praised one."(As-Saff 61:6)
Note that "praised one" is a translation of "Ahmad" - The Prophet
Mohammed's name. Careful study of the New Testament shows that Jesus
refers to the same Prophet in John 14:16-17: "And I will give you
another Counsellor (ThProphet Mohammed). To be with you for ever, even
the Spirit of Truth."
The usual explanation of this Prophecy is that the counsellor referred
to is the Holy Spirit, but this explanation is excluded by a previous
verse in John: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your
advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counsellor will
not come to you."
The characteristics of this counsellor, as can be derived from the
prophecy, are that he will stay forever with the believers, he will
glorify Jesus; and he will speak that he hears form God. All four
characteristics apply to the Prophet Mohammed. He came six centuries
after Jesus. He came six centuries after Jesus. He came with a
universal and everlasting message, fulfilling the prophecy that the
counsellor will stay forever with the faithful. He glorified Jesus as
a great Prophet. The Quran attributes to Jesus miracles not mentioned
in the Bible's Old and New Testaments, as well as specific verses in
the Quran show how the Prophet Mohammad is rejected by Jews and
Christians out of prejudice and misunderstanding, rather that
carefully study the Bible.
It is a sad fact of history that not many are following the "straight
path" to which people were called by Jesus. He was only followed by a
few disciples inspired by God to support him. The non-believers
plotted - as they would against Mohammed, six centuries later - to
kill Jesus. But God had better plan for him and his followers, as the
Quran tells us:
"And when Jesus perceived their unbelief, he said 'Who will be my
helpers in the cause of God? The apostles said, 'we are Gods helpers.
We believe in God; so bear witness of our submission God, we believe
in that you have sent down, and we follow the Messenger. Inscribe us
therefore with those who bear witness. 'And they devised, and God
devised, and God devised, and God is the best of divisors. When God
said, 'Jesus, I will take you to Me and will raise you to Me, and I
will purify you (of the falsehoods) of those who do not believe. I
will make your followers above the unbelievers till the Resurrection
Day."(Al-Imran 3:52-55)
As the above verses indicate, Jesus was taken and raised to heaven. He
was not crucified. It was certainly the plan of the enemies of Jesus
to put him to death on the cross, but God saved him and someone else
was crucified:
"And for their unbelief, and their uttering against Mary a grave false
charge, and for their saying, 'We killed the messiah, Jesus son of
Mary, the Messiah of God"…yet they did not slay him, neither crucified
him, only a likeness of that was shown to them. Those who are at
variance concerning him are surely in doubt the following of
conjecture; and they did not kill him of certainty…no indeed; God
raised him up to Him; God is Almighty, Allwise. There is not one of
the people of the book but will assuredly believe him before his
death, and on the Resurrection Day he will be a witness against
them." (An-Nissa 4:156-159)
The Quran does not explain who was the person crucified instead of
Jesus, nor elaborate on the Second Coming of Jesus. However,
explanators of the Quran have always interpreted the last verse of the
above quotation to mean that Jesus will believe in him before he dies.
This understanding is supported by authentic sayings (Hadith) of the
Prophet Mohammed may the peace and blessings of Allah him and upon all
His Messengers.