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Islamic Center of Athens, 13 Stewart Street, Athens, Ohio 45701 - (740) 594-3890 No Link Islamic Center of Athens, 13 Stewart Street, Athens, Ohio 45701 - (740) 594-3890 No. 8...............................................................................................................................February 2005 A Monthly Educational Newsletter from an Islamic Perspective Scratch the surface, you’ll find the differences Although at the surface, Islam and Christianity may look similar, or even seem almost the same; if we dig a little deeper we will that are not mentioned in the Bible. One of them, also found find significant differences in major points of faith. in the Apocrypha, is mentioned in the previous verse “… and For example, there is a huge difference between the way Islam when you made out of the clay a figure like that of a bird, and Christianity view the idea of monotheism. While Islam is by My Permission, and you breathed into it, and it became a strict in defining monotheism as the absolute Oneness of God and bird by My Permission...”; and the other one is “Jesus son of immateriality of God, in Christianity you’ll find that the Trinity is Mary, said: “O God, our Lord! Send us from the heaven considered a form of monotheism. a table spread (with food) that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a festival and a sign from Another example would be the way Islam and Christianity view You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers.” Qur’an 5:114, Qur’an is not talking about one of the miracles performed by Jesus (peace be upon him). Christians, for example, consider the miracle of birth of Jesus to be a sign of Jesus’ miraculous banquets, but it’s talking about a table full being God or son of God, while Qur’an finds it strange that people of food God sent down based on the request of the disciples would reach such a conclusion; even more, the Qur’an considers and many people ate from it. the truth about the Status of Jesus to be simple and clear. For example, the Qur’an compares the birth of Jesus to the origin of Also, the Qur’an doesn’t recognize the Gospels we have Adam: “Verily, the likeness of Jesus before God is the likeness today as the original Gospels, but considers the real Gospel to of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: be a revelation from God to Jesus (peace be upon him), and not a book written by John, Matthew, Mark or Luke, “Be!” - and he was.” Qur’an 3:59 The Qur’an considers Jesus’ miraculous birth to be a sign from “… We sent Jesus son of Mary confirming the Torah God; when Mary asked the angel how could she have a son while that had come before him, and We gave him the Gospel she never had a relationship with any man: “He said: “So (it will in which was guidance and light and confirmation of be), your Lord said: ‘That is easy for Me (God): And (We the Torah that had come before it, a guidance and an wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from admonition for the pious” Qur’an 5:46. This must be the Gospel Jesus (peace be up him) was talking about when he sent Us (God), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by God)” Qur’an 19:21 out his disciples: “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation””. Mark 16:15, so Qur’an considers the Gospel to be a revelation from God Looking at the miracles Jesus (peace be upon him) performed, the Qur’an emphasizes that his miracles and all the miracles to people through Jesus; which did contain believing in the performed by the other prophets of God are done by the oneness of God, laws, wisdom, etc. While the Gospels of permission of God, “(Remember) when God will say (on the Matthews, John, Luke and Mark are viewed by Muslims as Day of Resurrection). “O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My the recording of teachings of Jesus besides his biography, Favor to you and to your mother when I supported you with regardless of their accuracy. Gabriel so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you writing, wisdom, the Torah One major difference between the two faiths is in the way and the Gospel; and when you made out of the clay a figure Islam and Christianity view the prophets of God. If you like that of a bird, by My Permission, and you breathed into look in the Bible, it’s easy to notice that some prophets are it, and it became a bird by My Permission, and you healed accused of committing major sins. For example, Prophet those born blind, and the lepers by My Permission, and Solomon is accused of worshiping idols “For Solomon went when you brought forth the dead by My Permission; and after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after when I restrained the Children of Israel from you (when they Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. Solomon resolved to kill you) as you came unto them with clear proofs, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not and the disbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable evident magic“ Qur’an 5:110, as you can see God kept repeating this phrase “by My Permission”. Interestingly enough, the Qur’an idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon” mentions all the miracles performed by Jesus (peace be upon him) in this place and other places of the Qur’an, including two miracles 1 King 11:5-7, Lot was accused of committing incest “So they MSA Link Page 1 made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn be like saying that God misled people. went in and lay with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. On the following Starting from Adam, the Qur’an says: “And indeed We day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and last night with my father; let us make him drink wine We found on his part no firm will-power” 20:115. About tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, that we may Abraham it says: “And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) preserve our family through our father.” Genesis 19:33-34. Abraham. Verily he was a man of truth, a Prophet” Also, the story about Jacob prevailing over God “He said, 19:41, about Moses it says: “And mention in the Book “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you (this Qur’an) Moses. Verily he was chosen and he was have striven with God and with men and have prevailed” a Messenger (and) a Prophet” 19:51, about Ishmael it Genesis 32:28; as well as other examples. says: “And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) Ishmael. Verily he was true to what he promised, and he was a From the Islamic point of view, this doesn’t make any sense. Messenger, (and) a Prophet” 19:54, about Enoch it says: It all goes back to the different views about the reason of “And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) Enoch. Verily he creation. Islam doesn’t recognize the idea that this life is a was a man of truth, (and) a Prophet.” 19:56. It continues result of Adam’s ‘sin’, Muslims believe that this life exists to say in the same chapter : “Those were they unto whom because of God’s will regardless of what prophet Adam God bestowed His Grace from among the Prophets, of did. The reason for creation is: “And (remember) when the offspring of Adam, and of those whom We carried your Lord said to the angels: “Verily, I am going to place (in the ship) with Noah, and of the offspring of Abraham (mankind) generations after generations on earth.” and Israel, and from among those whom We guided Qur’an 2:30. And so, Man was chosen to live on this earth and and chose. When the Verses of the Most Gracious (God) construct it according to God’s will. To do so, Man must were recited unto them, they fell down prostrate and know what God’s will is, and must be guided to what is weeping” 19:58. good and what is not. Definitely God was not to let Man to conceive the truth by himself and so He sent prophets to all About Lot, the Qur’an says: “And (remember) Lot, We nations. Those prophets had two main missions. The first gave him Judgment and (religious) knowledge, and mission is to let people know the One and Only God, as Jesus We saved him from the town (folk) who practiced said: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the abominations. Verily, they were a people given to only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” John evil, and were rebellious. And We admitted him to 17:3: they have to believe in the one true God, and believe Our Mercy; truly, he was of the righteous” 21:74-75.
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