Bible About Muhammad Essay, Research Paper
Chapter One : Christian Muslim Responses Debate on TV At the end of the debate -
"Christianity and Islam" – which appeared on the SABC-TV program
"Cross Questions" on Sunday 5th June 1983, the Chairman, Mr. Bill
Chalmers commented: "I think it can be said from this discussion that there
is, at present, somewhat more accommodation on the Islamic side for the founder
of Christianity than there is on the Christian side for the founder of Islam.
What the significance of that is, we leave it to you, the viewer, to determine,
but I do think you will agree that it is a good thing that we are talking
together." "Bill" as he is popularly addressed, without any
formalities, on all his programs, by all his panelists, is extremely charming
and stupendous in his humility. He is a picture of what the Holy Quran portrays
of a good Christian: "…And nearest among them in love to the believers
wilt thou find those who say: ‘We are Christians’: because among these are men
devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world. And they are not
arrogant." (The Holy Quran 5:82) Jesus – His Status Were the Muslims on the
panel trying to placate the viewers out policy, deceit or diplomacy? Nothing of
the kind! They were only articulating what God Almighty had commanded them to
say in the Holy Quran. As Muslims, they had no choice. They had said in so many
words: "We Muslims believe, that Jesus was one of the mightiest messengers
of God that he was the Christ, that he was born miraculously without any male
intervention (which many modern-day Christians do not believe today), that he
gave life to the dead by God’s permission and that he healed those born blind
and the lepers by god’s permission. In fact, no Muslim is a Muslim if he or she
does not believe in Jesus!" Pleasant Surprise Over 90% of the people who
witnessed this debate must have been pleasantly, but skeptically, surprised.
They might have not believed their ears. They must have surmised that the
Muslims were playing to the gallery – that they were trying to curry favor with
their fellow Christian countrymen; that if the Muslims would say a few good
words about Jesus, then in reciprocation the Christians might say a few good
words about Muhammed (may the peace and the blessings of God be upon all His
righteous servants, Moses, Jesus, Muhammed…etc.); that I scratch your back and
you scratch my back – which would be a sham or hypocrisy. Hate Cultivated We
cannot blame the Christians for their skepticism. They have been so learned for
centuries. They were trained to think the worst of the man Muhammed, salla Allah
u alihi wa sallam, and his religion. How aptly did Thomas Carlyle say about his
Christian brethren over a hundred and fifty years ago: "The lies which
well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammed) are disgraceful to
ourselves only." We Muslims are partly responsible for this. We have not
done anything substantial to remove the cobwebs. Ocean of Christianity South
Africa is an ocean of Christianity. If Libya boasts the highest percentage of
Muslims on the continent of Africa, then the Republic of South Africa would also
be entitled to boast the highest percentage of Christians. In this ocean of
Christianity the R.S.A. – the Muslims are barely 2% of the total population. We
are a voteless minority – numerically, we count for nothing; politically, we
count for nothing; and economically, one white man, as Oppenheimer, could buy
out the whole lot of us, lock, stock and barrel. So if we had feigned to
appease, we might be excused. But no! We must proclaim our Master’s Will; we
must declare the Truth, whether we liked it or not. In the words of Jesus:
"Seek ye the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32).
Chapter Two : Jesus in the Quran Christians Unaware The Christian does not know
that the true spirit of charity which the Muslim displays, always, towards Jesus
and his mother Mary spring from the fountainhead of his faith – the Holy Quran.
He does not know that the Muslim does not take the holy name of Jesus, in his
own language, without saying Eesa, alaihi assalam ("Jesus, peace be upon
him") The Christian does not know that in the Holy Quran Jesus is mentioned
twenty five times. For example: "We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear
signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit" (The Holy Quran 2:87)
"O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be
Christ Jesus, the son of Mary…" (3:45) "…Christ Jesus the son of
Mary was (no more than) an apostle of god…" (4:171) "…And in their
foot steps we sent Jesus the son of Mary…" (5:46) "And Zakariya and
John, and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the righteous." (6:85) Jesus
- His Titles Though Jesus is mentioned by name in twenty-five places in the Holy
Quran, he is also addressed with respect as: Ibn Maryam, meaning "The son
of Mary"; and as the Maseeh (in Hebrew it is the Messiah), which is
translated as "Christ". He is also known as Abdullah, "The
servant of Allah"; and as Rasul u Allah, the messenger of Allah. He is
spoken of as "The Word of God", as "The Spirit of God", as a
"Sign of God", and numerous other epithets of honor spread over
fifteen different chapters. The Holy Quran honors this mighty messenger of God,
and the Muslims have not fallen short over the past fourteen hundred years in
doing the same. There is not a single disparaging remark in the entire Quran to
which even the most jaundiced among the Christians can take exception. Eesa
Latinised to "Jesus" The Holy Quran refers to Jesus as Eesa, and this
name is used more times than any other title, because this was his
"Christian" name. Actually, his proper name was Eesa (Arabic), or Esau
(Hebrew); classical Yeheshua, which the Christian nations of the West latinised
as Jesus. Neither the "J" nor the second "s" in the name
Jesus is to be found in the original tongue – they are not found in the Semitic
languages. The word is very simply "E S A U" a very common Jewish
name, used more than sixty times in the very first booklet alone of the Bible,
in the part called "Genesis". There was at least one "Jesus"
sitting on the "bench" at the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin.
Josephus the Jewish historian mentions some twenty five Jesus’ in his "Book
of Antiquities". The New Testament speaks of "Bar-Jesus" a
magician and a sorcerer, a false prophet (Acts 13:6); and also
"Jesus-Justus" a Christian missionary, a contemporary of Paul
(Colossians 4:11). These are distinct from Jesus the son of Mary. Transforming
"Esau" to (J)esu(s) – Jesus – makes it unique. This unique (?) name
has gone out of currency among the Jews and the Christians from the 2nd century
after Christ. Among the Jews, because it came to be a name of ill – repute, the
name of one who blasphemed in Jewry; and among the Christians because it came to
be the proper name of their God. The Muslim will not hesitate to name his son
Eesa because it is an honored name, the name of a righteous servant of the Lord.
Chapter Three : Mother And Son Mary Honored The birth of Jesus Christ is
described in two places of the Quran – chapter 3 and chapter 19. Reading from
the beginning of his birth, we come across the story of Mary, and the esteemed
position which she occupies in the House of Islam, before the actual
annunciation of the birth of Jesus is given: "’Behold’! the angels said: ‘O
Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee, and chosen thee above the women of
all nations" (3:42) "Chosen thee above the women of all nations."
Such an honor is not to be found given to Mary even in the Christian Bible! The
verse continues: "O Mary! Worship thy Lord devoutly: prostrate thyself, and
bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down." (3:43) Divine Revelation
What is the source of this beautiful and sublime recitation which, in its
original Arabic, moves men to ecstasy and tears? verse 44 below explains:
"This is part of the tidings, of the things unseen, which We reveal unto
thee (O Muhammad!) by inspiration: Thou wast not with them when they cast lots
with arrows, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary: nor
wast thou with them when they disputed (the point)." (3:44) Mary’s Birth
The story is that the maternal grandmother of Jesus, Hannah, had hitherto been
barren. She poured out her heart to God: If only God will grant her a child, she
would surely dedicate such a child for the service of God in the temple. God
granted her prayer and Mary was born. Hannah was disappointed. She was yearning
for a son, but instead she delivered a daughter; and in no way is the female
like the male, for what she had in mind. What was she to do? She had made a vow
to God. She waited for Mary to be big enough to fend for herself. When the time
came, Hannah took her darling daughter to the temple, to hand over for temple
services. Every priest wanted to be the god-father of this child. They cast lots
with arrows for her – like the tossing of the coin – head or tail? eventually
she fell to the lot of Zakariya, but not without a dispute. The Source of His
Message This was the story. But where did Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa
sallam, get this knowledge from? He was an Ummi, Arabic for
"unlettered". He did not low how to read or write. He is made by God
Almighty to answer this very question in the verse above, by saying that it was
all by divine inspiration. "No!", says the controversialist.
"This is Muhammed’s own concoction. He copied his revelations from the Jews
and Christians. He plagiarized it. He forged it." Knowing full-well, and
believing as we do, that the whole Quran is the veritable Word of God, we will
nevertheless agree, for the sake of argument, with the enemies of Muhammed,
salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, for a moment, that he wrote it. We can now expect
some cooperation from the unbelievers. Ask him: "Have you any qualms in
agreeing that Muhammed was an Arab?" Only an ignorant will hesitate to
agree. In that case there is no sense in pursuing any discussion. Cut short the
talk. Close the book! With the man of reason, we proceed. "That this Arab,
in the first instance, was addressing other Arabs. He was not talking to Indian
Muslims, Chinese Muslims, or Nigerian Muslims. He was addressing his own people,
the Arabs. Whether they agreed with him or not, he told them in the most sublime
form, words that were seared into the hearts and minds of his listeners that
Mary the mother of Jesus, a Jewess, was chosen above the women of all nations.
Not his own mother, nor his wife nor his daughter, nor any other Arab woman, but
a Jewess! Can one explain this? Because to everyone his own mother or wife, or
daughters would come before other women. Why would the prophet of Islam honor a
woman from his opposition! and a Jewess at that! belonging to a race which had
been looking down upon his people for three thousand years? Just as they still
look down upon their Arab brethren today." Sarah and Hagar The Jews learn,
from the Bible, that their father, Abraham, had two wives Sarah and Hagar. They
say that they are the children of Abraham through Sarah his legitimate wife;
that their Arab brethren have descended through Hagar, a "bondwoman",
and that as such, the Arabs are an inferior breed. Will anyone please explain
the anomaly as to why Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, if he is the
author, chose this Jewess for such high honor? The answer is simple, he had no
choice he had no right to speak of his own desire. "It is no less than an
inspiration sent down to him." (53:4) The Chapter of Maryam There is a
Chapter in the Holy Quran, named Surat u Maryam "Chapter Mary", named
in honor of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him; again, such an honor is not to be found given to Mary in the Christian
Bible. Out of the 66 books of the Protestants and 73 of the Roman Catholics, not
one is named after Mary or her son. You will find books named after Matthew,
Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul and two score more obscure names, but not a single
one is that of Mary! If Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, was the author
of the Holy Quran, then he would not have failed to include in it with Mary, the
mother of Jesus, his own mother Aamina, his dear wife Khadija, or his beloved
daughter Fatima. But No! No! This can never be. The Quran is not his handiwork!.
Chapter Four : The Good News " ‘Behold!’ the angels said: ‘O Mary! Allah
giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him: his name will be Jesus, the son of
Mary; held in honor in this world and the hereafter; and (of the company of)
those nearest to Allah." (3:45) "Nearest to God," not physically
nor geographically, but spiritually. Compare this with "And (Jesus) sat on
the right hand of God." (Mark 16:19). The bulk of Christendom has
misunderstood this verse as well as many others in the Bible. They imagine the
Father (God) sitting on a throne, a glorified chair, and His Son, Jesus, sitting
on His right hand side. Can you conjure up the picture? If you do, you have
strayed from the true knowledge of God. He is no old Father Christmas. He is
beyond the imagination of the mind of man. He exists. He is real, but He is not
like anything we can think of, or imagine. In eastern languages "right
hand" meant a place of honor, which the Holy Quran more fittingly describes
as "In the company of those nearest to Allah." The above verse
confirms that Jesus is the Christ. and that he is the Word which God bestowed
upon Mary. Again, the Christian reads into these words, a meaning which they do
not carry. They equate the word "Christ" with the idea of a
god-incarnate; and the "Word" of God to be God. "Christ" Not
a Name The word "Christ" is derived from the Hebrew word Messiah,
Arabic Maseeh. Root word masaha, meaning "to rub", "to
massage", "to anoint". Priests and kings were anointed when being
consecrated to their offices. But in its translated Grecian form,
"Christ" seems unique: befitting Jesus only. Christians like to
translate names into their own language; like Cephas to "Peter" ,
Messiah to "Christ". How do they do that? Very easily. Messiah in
Hebrew means "Anointed". The Greek word for anointed is Christos. Just
lop off the ‘os’ from Christos, and you are left with "Christ"; a
unique name! Christos means "Anointed", and anointed means appointed
in its religious connotation. Jesus, peace and blessing be upon him, was
appointed (anointed) at his baptism by John the Baptist, as God’s Messenger.
Every prophet of God is so anointed or appointed. The Holy Bible is replete with
the "anointed" ones. In the original Hebrew, he was made a Messiah.
Let us keep to the English translation "anointed." Not only were
prophets and priests and kings anointed (Christos-ed), but horns, and cherubs
and lamp-posts also. "I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar
…" (Genesis 31:13) "If the priest that is anointed do sin …"
(Leviticus 4:3) "And Moses… anointed the tabernacle and all things that
was therein…" (Leviticus 8:100) "..the Lord shall…exalt the horn
of his anointed" (I Samuel 2:10) "Thus saith the Lord to his anointed
to Cyrus…" (Isaiah 45:1) "Thou art the anointed cherub…"
(Ezekiel 28:14) There are an hundred more such references in the Holy Bible.
Every time you come across the word "anointed" in your Bible, you can
take it that that word would be christos in the Greek translations, and if you
take the same liberty with the word that the Christians have done, you will have
Christ Cherub, Christ Cyrus, Christ Priest and Christ Pillar, …etc. Some
Titles Exclusive Although, every prophet of God is an anointed one of God, a
Messiah, the title Maseeh or Messiah, or its translation "Christ" is