“They said: “O our People!
We have heard a Book revealed after Moses,
confirming what came before it: it guides (men)
to the Truth and to the Straight Path.”
[Verse 30 Surah Al Ahqaf].
Wa Ba’d:
Muslims throughout the world are astounded and dumb-founded when they read notable scholars, western politicians, and most painful of all, clergy, a Cardinal and a hateful deranged wannabe Qur’an burning pastor portraying Islam and Muslims as the avowed enemies of Nabee Esa (Jesus Christ) Alayhis Salaam. Misinformed Christians will be left flabbergasted when they learn that believing in Jesus Christ and his mother Mariam (Mary) Alayhim Salaam are articles of faith in Islam. It is therefore necessary for every Muslim to accord with the Truth, to speak the Truth, and to defend the Truth in every way possible.
Even though there are doctrinal differences, between Muslims and Christians, Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam is addressed twenty-five times as Esa, eleven times as “Al-Massih” (Messiah) and twenty three times as “Esabnu Mariam” throughout various chapters in the Holy Qur’an. Bibi Mariam Alayhis Salaam is mentioned by name thirty-four times in 31 verses; twice as the “one who guarded her chastity” In verse 12 of Surahtul Al Tahrim, she is addressed as “Qanitah” which implies that not only was she constant in prayer and invocation but she personifies prayer and contemplation in Islam. In verse 75 of Surahtul Al Ma’idah she is referred to as“Siddiqah” which means “she who confirms the Truth and who has Faith” and “she who believes sincerely and completely.”
She is also called “Sajidah” and “Raki’ah” which means “she who bows down and prostrates to Almighty Allah Rabbul Ala’meen in worship.”The Holy Qur’an commands her: “O Mariam! Bow down in prayer with those men who bow down.” She is also addressed as “Tahirah” “she who was purified” and also as “Mustafia” she who was chosen and as “Sa’imah” which means “she who fasts”. While bowing in Ruku and prostrating in Sujood, a Muslim praises and glorifies Almighty Allah and it is said that the Ruku and Sujood has been derived from Bibi Mariam Alayhis Salaam’s practice. An entire chapter of the Holy Qur’an is named after her.
The Christian world will be dumbstruck to learn that she is mentioned more by name in the Holy Qur’an than in the entire New Testament. The Holy Qur’an confirms that no other woman was given more attention for Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala chose her alongside Asiya bint Muzahim, (the wife of Fir’awn – Surahtul At-Tahrim verse 11) as an exemplar for all righteous women. Islam totally rejects the doctrine of the crucifixion of Nabe Esa (Jesus Christ) Alayhis Salaam and also the foundations of the doctrine. This rejection is based on the authority of Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala Who confirms that Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam was not crucified. It was the intention of his enemies to put him to death on the cross but Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala saved him from their plot as revealed in verse 157 of Surahtul An-Nisa:
“That they said (in boast):
“We killed Esa the Son of Mariam the Messenger of Allah;
But they killed him not, nor crucified him.
Only a likeness of that was shown to them.
Those who defer therein are full of doubts with no (certain)
knowledge, but only conjecture to follow for a surety they killed him not.”
Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala informs us in verse 158 of Surahtul An Nisa:
“Nay, Almighty Allah raised him up unto Himself;
And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.”
The Islamic view of Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam lies between two extremes. The Jews rejected him as a prophet, they called him an imposter, persecuted him as a liar and boast that they crucified him on the cross. The Christians on the other hand worship him, as the only begotten Son of Almighty God and they worship him as such. The Orthodox Christian Churches make it a cardinal point of their doctrine that he was crucified on a Friday (which later became Good Friday) and he died on the cross so that their sins can be forgiven.
This is necessary for the Christian theological doctrine of blood sacrifice and vicarious atonement for sins, which is totally rejected by Islam. The findings of historical criticism are confirmed by the Most Holy and Glorious Qur’an, according to which Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam was a prophet in the Judaic tradition who did not teach any new creed. The Most Holy Qur’an also regards the doctrines of his ‘Sonship and divinity’ as ideas borrowed from pagan beliefs of pre-Christian times and confirms this to us in verse 30 of Surahtul At-Taubah:
The Christians say:
“ The Messiah is the son of Allah.
That is only an utterance of their mouths, (wherein)
they imitate the unbelievers before them….”
Taking men for gods or sons of Almighty God was not a new thing. All ancient mythologies have myths and fables of that kind. There was less excuse for such blasphemies after our Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam had clearly explained our true relation to Almighty Allah than in the times of primitive ignorance and pagan superstition. Revelation, as represented by the teachings of Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam, is just one among the many elements that make up the Christian theological tradition. It is not Jesus Christ Alayhis Salaam who defines ‘Christianity’ but ‘Christianity’ that defines Jesus – Alayhis Salaam.
Islam does not divorce reason from faith and reason from revelation. It was this union of intellect and faith that resulted in the great achievements of Islamic culture in all the various spheres. In the Christian world, that which defined faith was not the teachings of Jesus Christ – Alayhis Salaam, but man-made theology with its incomprehensible doctrines of Trinity, divinity, and Atonement, which grew out of the mythological representations and cultic concepts derived from man-made religion and beliefs came about by the inclusion of older primitive myths and pagan superstitions and beliefs.
The belief in Almighty Allah begetting a son is not a question merely of words or of speculative thought. Islam considers it a stupendous blasphemy against Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala. It is destructive of all moral and spiritual order, and is condemned in the strongest possible terms as we learn from verses 88 & 89 in Surahtul Mariam: They say:
“That Almighty Allah has betaken a son!”.
“Indeed you have put forth a monstrous thing.”
Begetting a son is a physical act depending upon the needs of men’s animal nature. Almighty Allah is independent of all needs, and in Islam, it is derogatory to attribute such an act on Him. The Holy Qur’an confirms that Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam had no human father and that he was conceived immaculately. However, this does not make him the ‘begotten son of Almighty God as the Christians claim. By this criterion Nabee Adam Alayhis Salaam would have been more entitled to be the son of God because he had neither father nor mother. The Most Holy Qur’an draws attention to the miraculous creation of both of them in verse 59 of Surahtul Al-I-Imran:
“The similitude of Nabee Esa (Jesus) before Almighty Allah
is that of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him:
“Be” and he was.”
As far as our physical bodies are concerned they are mere dust. In Almighty Allah’s sight, Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam was as dust just as Nabee Adam Alayhis Salaam was of humanity. The greatness of Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam arose from the Divine Command “Qun faya Qun” “Be”: for after that he was more than just dust – he was a great prophet and teacher. Both Bibi Mariam and Nabee Esa Alayhim Salaam were human beings highly honoured by Islam, and the fact that Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam was born without a father does not, according to Islamic doctrine make him, as the Christians believe,“the only begotten son of Almighty God.”
Up to the time of Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam, three different kinds of creation had been experienced, in each the Power, the Knowledge, and the Wisdom of Almighty Allah Tabaraqa Wata’ala was clearly demonstrated. First, there was a human being created without the physical interference or presence of any known human father or mother, and that was Nabee Adam Alayhis Salaam. Secondly, there was a human being created without the physical existence or the precedence of any known mother or female ancestor, and that was Ma Hawa (Eve) Alayhis Salaam.
Thirdly, there were millions of people who were created through the normal intimacy of mothers and fathers. Curious and inquiring minds might have pondered on the possibility of the fourth kind of creation, namely, the creation of a human being without the physical interference of any human father. This possibility seems to have translated into reality by Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala in the creation of Nabee Esa (Jesus Christ) Alayhis Salaam, perhaps, complete the four possible kinds of creation, and to illustrate the Power of Almighty Allah Subhanahoo Wata’ala the Creator and Sustainer in every possible shape and form.
It should be pointed out that this hypothetical interpretation of the four types of creation of the birth of Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam is my personal views and is not based on the authority of the Most Holy and Noble Qur’an or the Sunnah. Whether this hypothesis about the four kinds of creation is valid or not, it does not in any way effect a Muslim’s belief in the Truth of the Most Holy and Noble Qur’an and its statement about the birth of Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam being the miraculous Will and Work of Almighty Allah Rabbul Ala’meen. At any rate, the whole point is worth mentioning.
There is ground for closer relations between Muslims and Christians because, essentially, Muslims believe the same things about Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam as did his earliest followers. It is indeed with great regret that it is only the unfortunate encrustation of old distorted pagan mythology that divides them. According to popular Muslim belief the greatness of Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam and the distinction of his role does not emanate from the Christian belief that he was cold-bloodedly crucified on the cross because of his teachings and to atone for the sins of mankind.
If this popular Christian belief is valid, one might be tempted to say that his sacrifice on the cross for atonement was in vain because sin has not been eliminated. The Most Holy and Glorious Qur’an confirm in the clearest terms that Nabee Esa Alayhis Salaam (Jesus) was a true servant and messenger of Almighty Allah. Muslims hold him in the highest reverence and believe that he was miraculously born of a virgin. He was endowed with the power to perform many miracles and was sent to preach the true worship of Almighty Allah Tabaraqa Wata’ala and to announce the coming of Nabee Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Rahmatul Liel Ala’meen Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam.
Beloved People of Imaan! There is another sort of defence that is much more profound and sweeping than defence of one’s homeland, and this is defence of the Truth, the sole object of the Holy Faith of Islam. This Divine method exists to promulgate the Truth and reality; thus, our Faith is known as the Religion of Truth, meaning a religion that belongs to the Truth, contains nothing but the Truth, and has no other object than the Truth.
And Almighty Allah knows best.
All Praise belongs to Almighty Allah, for His Majesty and His Beauty.
The Truth is from Allah. The mistakes are mine and I stand to be corrected.
Baarak Allaahu Feekum wa-sal-Allaahu wa-Sallam ‘alaa
Nabiyyina Muhammad sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam.
Was Salamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.
Abdul Hamid Lachporia
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my Khutbah’s for propagational purposes without my prior consen
