God Is One in the Holy Trinity

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Counterfeit Trinity...... 8 GOD IS ONE IN 5.3 The Attitude of Islam...... 9 THE HOLY 6 The Shining of Grace...... 9 6.1 The Proof of the Spirit...... 9 TRINITY 6.2 Groping in Darkness...... 10 6.3 Philosophy...... 10 6.4 Christianity...... 11 6.5 Islam...... 11 Archpriest Zachariah Butrus 6.6 The Grace of Revelation...... 11 6.7 Overwhelming Compassion...... 13 1 Introduction...... 2 6.8 The Light of Faith...... 13 2 The All-Encompassing Unity of God in The Holy Trinity...... 3 6.9 The Greatest Proof...... 15 2.1 The Unity of God in Christianity..3 6.10 The Experience of the Saint Musa al-Aswad...... 15 2.2 The Holy Trinity in Christianity...3 6.11 The Experience of Jibran...... 16 2.3 The Necessity of the Trinity in the Unity...... 4 7 Summary...... 17 3 The Testimony of the Qur'an for The 8 Quiz...... 17 Unity of The Holy Trinity...... 4 3.1 The Qur'anic Testimony of Christian Monotheism...... 4 3.2 The Qur'anic Testimony of the Christian Holy Trinity...... 5 3.3 The Qur'anic Testimony that Christ is the Word of God...... 5 3.4 The Qur'anic Testimony of the Holy Spirit...... 6 4 The Names of the Holy Trinity...... 6 4.1 The Father...... 6 4.2 The Son...... 7 4.3 The Holy Spirit...... 8 5 The Counterfeit Trinity...... 8 5.1 The Trinity of the Maryamiyya Sect...... 8 5.2 The Christian Attitude towards this

began to declare that He is one in His unique Trinity. He uncovered for us this great secret which was concealed from mankind in their state of perceptual and spiritual weakness. When the Lord gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to us, He revealed His own life and His divine status to us as the apostle Paul said, "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God." (I Corinthians 2:10) The doctrine is still a secret, unknown to carnal men. They resist it because of their lack of perception of the facts of true faith and the concealed secret of God. With the Lord's grace I wrote this book to simplify and clarify what was impossible to understand and difficult to perceive. The 1. Introduction book is written so that anyone who reads it can believe in this divine secret and know Difficult facts are given to an infant in a that this belief does not contradict the simplified and generalised way. As this intellect, but it satisfies it. He will see that infant matures and his perception becomes even the books of those who fight against complete, he is dissatisfied with simplified this belief, because of lack of knowledge, and summarised information. He clearly testify to this creed. endeavours to search for accuracy and details in matters, for his intellect is ready As I offer this book to you as a and prepared to absorb them. clarification of our most holy belief, I raise my heart to the Lord to make it a source of This is also the case with mankind. When blessing for many people, and I pray that it mankind was in infancy, the Lord gave will open for them the gate of true belief. them a simplified and generalised picture Then they can enjoy the love of God the of Himself to the extent that they could Father, and the blessing of the only Son, perceive. That is why the apostle Paul said, and the fellowship and the gift of the Holy "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as Spirit; the holy Trinity of the only God to to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as whom belongs the everlasting glory. to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to Amen. drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you Archpriest Zachariah Butrus are not able." (I Corinthians 3:1-2). Misr-Al-Djadida When the perfect time had come and the "Be ready always to give an answer to intelligence of believers grew, the Lord every man that asketh you a reason for the

hope that is in you with meekness and these beliefs for generations saying, fear." I Peter 3:15 "Truly we believe in one God... Creator of heavens and earth, and the visible and invisible." Hence, my dear 2. The All-Encompassing Unity of friend you perceive that we Christians God in The Holy Trinity believe in one God and not three gods. We shall clarify the meaning of the 2.1. The Unity of God in Christianity Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the discussion about the holy Trinity of We Christians believe in one God who has Christianity. no partner. He is infinite, filling the heavens and the earth. He is the creator of all, Eternal, and Everlasting. His kingdom 2.2. The Holy Trinity in Christianity is without end. The doctrine of the holy Trinity in no way This creed is very clear in the holy Gospel. means the existence of three gods as some The Christian canon of belief is what people wrongly imagine. The meaning of follows: this doctrine is - God is one... 1. The Lord Jesus Himself taught this Existing in Himself, so He declared Himself as belief when a Jew came to ask Him the Father about the greatest commandment. He answered him, "Hear, O Israel; the Speaking His word, so He declared Himself as Lord our God is one Lord; and you the Son, the Word, shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and Alive in His spirit, so He declared Himself as with all your mind, and with all your the Holy Spirit. strength." (Mark 12:29-30) This is the first commandment. If this It should not be understood from these commandment had been written in the names that there is a bodily relationship as language of the Qur'an, it would have in human terms, but rather it has a spiritual been "God, our God, is the only meaning. (unique) God, the everlasting God." These names are not established or 2. The apostle Paul clarified this saying, invented by man, but they are the words of "Is God just for the Jews and not for divine inspiration in the Holy Book, as you Gentiles as well? Yes, for Gentiles also will see from the following references: because God is one." (Romans 1. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, 3:29-30). "Go therefore and make disciples of all 3. And the apostle James expressed the nations, baptising them in the name of same belief saying, "You believe that the Father and the Son and the Holy God is one. You do well." (James Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) Monotheism 2:19) is clear in His words, "baptising them 4. The Christian creed was taken from in the name." He did not say "baptising these texts along with others in the them in the names of the Father, the Bible. The Church has been avowing Son and the Holy Spirit."

2. The apostle John very clearly confirms with the people of the Book except in this understanding: "Those who testify what is better... and say we believed in in heaven are three, the Father, the what was sent down to us and to you, Word, and the Holy Spirit and these and our God and your God is the same, three are one." (I John 5:8) is one." Thus, the Qur'an testifies that we Christians, "people of the Book", When comparing the two verses, you find worship one God. the names of the holy Trinity; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is the 2. Sura Al Imran 3:113-114: "Among the holy Trinity in the only God in whom we people of the Book is a nation which believe. recites the verses of God during the night, and they worship God and believe in Him and in the Day of 2.3. The Necessity of the Trinity in Judgement, and they hasten charity." the Unity This reference clearly asserts that In summary, the necessity of the Trinity in Christians, "people of the Book", the unity is clear from the above references believe in one God; they recite His and discussion. book which was in their hands in Muhammad's days, and they worship The one God, creator of all living things, must the one God in their services and have a personal existence Himself. prayers. 3. Sura al-Ma'ida 5:82: "For sure you will The one God, who created man with the ability find the bitterest enemies of those who to speak, must Himself also speak the word. believe (Muslims) are the Jews and those who do not believe in our God. The one God, who created life in every living And you will find the closest friends to being, must Himself be alive in the spirit. believers to be those who said, 'We are Therefore, it is certain that a holy Trinity Nazarenes,' as among them there are should be in the only God as we have pastors and monks and they are not already clarified. This is our true belief; proud." It is clear that Nazarenes are God is one in the Trinity and not three no polytheists, since polytheists and gods. Jews are the bitter enemies of Muslims, but Nazarenes are their closest friends. 3. The Testimony of the Qur'an 4. Sura Al Imran 3: "As God said, O for The Unity of The Holy Trinity Jesus, I'll make you die, and I'll raise you up to me, and I'll purify you from 3.1. The Qur'anic Testimony of the infidels, and I'll make those who Christian Monotheism followed you higher than the infidels until the Day of Judgement." Hence, it The Qur'an testifies that Christians are is clear to you that the followers of monotheistic and not infidels. The Christ, or Christians, are not infidels. following are examples of this testimony: On the contrary, God distinguished 1. Sura al-Ankabut 29:46: "Do no argue Christians from infidels and raised

them above infidels. 2. Sura Al Imran 3:139: "...God proclaims to you Yahya (John the The testimony of the Qur'an concerning Baptist) supporting a word from Christians has proved with certainty that God..." The Iman Abu al-Su`ud they worship the one God and are no commented on the phrase "supporting polytheists. a word from God", that is Isa, may He be blessed, by saying, "...it was said 3.2. The Qur'anic Testimony of the that he (John the Baptist) was the first Christian Holy Trinity to believe in Him (Jesus) and to support His being the Word of God Perhaps you are amazed, my dear friend, and a Spirit from Him." Al Sadi said, that the Qur'an mentions the Trinity of the "The mother of Yahya (John) meeting one God exactly as Christians believe in it. the mother of Isa (Jesus) asked, 'Mary, We have already seen that the Trinity of have you felt my pregnancy?' Mary Christianity is the nature of God. His answered, 'I too am pregnant.' She Word, and His Spirit. This is the same (John's mother) then said, 'I find that Trinity that the Qur'an mentions, "But what is in my belly worships what is in Jesus Christ, son of Mary is the messenger your belly.' From here the above of God and His word and spirit of Him utterance of God 'supporting a word that He gave to Mary." (Sura al-Nisa from God' comes clear." (Abu al-Su`ud 4:171) In this verse it is clear that God has Muhammad Ibn Muhammad : al-Ahmadi's Commentary, page 233). a personality - "messenger of God" 3. Sura Al Imran 3:45: "the angels said to Mary, 'Allah proclaims to you a word a word - "and His word" from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary." The English a spirit - "and a spirit from Him" translation uses the relative pronoun whose in referring to a masculine This testimony of the Qur'an for the creed personal pronoun in the Arabic of the Trinity is what we Christians original. This indicates the fact that a proclaim and no more. It does not word here does not mean a simple proclaim polytheism, but rather it word of language but a person. You proclaims that there is no God but Him. also find this clarified in the saying of one of the Muslim scholars (Al Shaikh 3.3. The Qur'anic Testimony that Muhyi al-Din al-Arabic), who said, "The word is God in theophany... and Christ is the Word of God it is the one divine person and not any The Qur'an testifies very clearly that Christ other." (in his book "Fusus al-Hukm", is the Word of God. The following part II, p. 35). He also said that the Qur'anic references are examples: word is the divine person (page 13). Isn't that exactly what was said about 1. Sura al-Nisa 4:171: "Jesus Christ, the the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of John? son of Mary, is God's messenger and "In the beginning was the Word, and His word." the Word was with God, and the Word

was God... And the Word became Some ignorant people object to these flesh." (John 1:1,14) In the Arabic names for they think it means procreation translation of this verse, we again find and sexual relationship. God forbid this (in conformity with the Greek original) understanding! Therefore, we shall clarify the same usage of the term word with the intention of these names. the pronouns referring to it. Word refers to a person. This is clear from John's specifications, "The Word was 4.1. The Father God" and "Word became flesh." To Christians the meaning of the word Father does not mean an actual physical 3.4. The Qur'anic Testimony of the father. First, it has a metaphorical Holy Spirit meaning. God is the source and the creator of all creatures. So He is called the Father Many verses of the Qur'an mention that of all creatures, especially the intelligent the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and ones. As the prophet Moses said, "Is He that He supported the Lord Jesus with it. not your father and your possessor. He This becomes clear from the following: made you and brought you up." Sura al-Ma'ida 5:110: "Allah said to Jesus, (Deuteronomy 32:6), or as Isaiah the 'Jesus, son of Mary, remember the favour I prophet said, "O Lord, Thou art our had bestowed on you and your mother, Father." (Isaiah 64:8). In the New how I strengthened you with the Holy Testament the apostle Paul declared, "Yet Spirit, so that you preached to men in your for us there is but one God, the Father, cradle and in the prime of manhood.'" from whom are all things, and we exist for Him." (I Corinthians 8:6). The word father The theological scholar Al-Shaikh in this context is stated in much the same Muhammad al- Hariri al-Bayyumi says, way as used in the Arabic "Father of "The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Allah blessing" (Abu al-Khair Abdu al-Barakat) (Kitab al-Ruh wa Maiyyyatuha, p.53)" and "Father of God" (Abu al-Fadi), and others. These should not be understood in From all that preceded, my friend, the terms of a procreator or actual parentage testimony of the Qur'an and the but rather metaphorically. theologians of Islam for the creed of the Trinity in whom we Christians believe Secondly, there is the legal meaning. In the becomes clear. case of adoption, the word father does not mean that he gave birth to the adopted son; 4. The Names of the Holy Trinity rather he accepted him as a son and granted him all legal rights. He considers We learned from the previous discussion himself responsible and obligated to him that Christianity believes in one God, who as a real father. The apostle Paul speaks is in a Trinity. God's person, His Word, about this, "You have received a spirit of and His Spirit. This Trinity has other adoption as sons by which we cry out, names; the Father (God's person), the Son 'Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15) and in (Word of God), and the Holy Spirit (Spirit Galatians 4:4, he uses the term "to obtain of God). adoption." So God's fatherhood in our

adoption is based on divine legal rights. does not mean that Christ came by means of intermarriage. Son is not intended to Thirdly, there is the essential meaning. mean a physical relationship or birth by This is the meaning which can only be procreation. We only say Christ is the Son applied to God's Trinity. May He be of God to mean that Christ came from exalted! As a word bursts from the mouth, God. He is related to no physical father so the son emanated from the Father before He is related to God. The word son as used all ages. Jesus who is the Son became flesh in common language, in the Qur'an, and in through the blessed Mary because He was prophetic conversation does not indicate from the very beginning a spirit from God physical breeding. the Spirit. It is stated in John's Gospel, "And we beheld His glory, the glory as of Son in Common Language the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) Jesus viewed In many linguistic expressions, the word God as His Father, in this unique, essential son is not used to indicate physical meaning which cannot be applied to any generation. For example, we say that one else. "Neither does anyone know the students are sons of knowledge; citizens Father except the Son, and anyone to are sons of the homeland; an Egyptian is a whom the Son wills to reveal Him." son of the Nile; and an Arabic is a son of (Matthew 11:27) the desert. Lastly, there is the spiritual meaning. After Son as Used in the Qur'an God had poured His Holy Spirit into the The word son is occasionally used in the hearts of all believers through His Son, Qur'an when it does not mean physical they were born again, a spiritual birth. generation. This you can observe in the They were converted by this friendly, following references: divine Spirit. These believers "were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, Sura al-Baqara 2:214: "Whatever you nor of the will of man but of God." (John bestow in charity must go to your parents 1:13) Jesus Christ taught us to say, "Our and to your kinsfolk, to the orphan and to Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy the poor man and to the stranger." name." It is not the right of any man to call Interpreters say that stranger (Ibn al-Sabil) himself a son of God and call God his indicates the traveller. Al Iman al-Nasafi Father unless he obtains legal adoption. and Shaikh Hasanayn Makhluf said, "He The anointing of the Holy Spirit reveals to was called a stranger (Ibn al-Sabil), for us the secret of the name of God the permanently sticking to the road." Father. We do not believe in the Son in Muslim Tradition fatherhood of God in a physical sense; but in purity of holiness, we believe in the In the Muslim tradition originating from birth of Christ and the descent and God (Hadith Kudsi), it is stated, "the rich indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers. are my agents and the poor are members of my family (my sons)." Do we understand 4.2. The Son by this that God married a wife and gave birth to children who are the poor?! Surely When we say Christ is the Son of God, this not!

Therefore, the term son of God does not The Father is the title of the essential Fatherhood mean procreation in human terms, but of God. rather, this expression was intended to attribute or relate Christ to God, and not The Son is the title of the incarnated Word of infidelity or partnership with God! For God. sonship originates in the spiritual fatherhood of God. God is the Father and The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God Himself. Christ is the Son, only in a special, unique meaning which does no apply to any other. 5. The Counterfeit Trinity 4.3. The Holy Spirit 5.1. The Trinity of the Maryamiyya As previously discussed, the Holy Spirit is Sect God's Spirit and is mentioned in the Qur'an in many places. Before Islam in the fifth century A.D. a heretical doctrine appeared. (A heretical Sura Yusuf 12:87: "Do not despair of doctrine is an untrue and strange teaching Allah's spirit; none but unbelievers despair of an infidel or a heretic.) The adherents of of Allah's spirit." this doctrine were heathens who embraced Sura al-Baqara 2:87 and 253: "We gave Christianity. As pagans they worshipped Jesus the son of Mary veritable sins and the planet Venus and said that it was "the strengthened Him with the Holy Spirit." queen of heaven". After embracing Christianity they tried to associate what Al Imam al-Nasafi said, "By the Holy they had worshipped with Christian Spirit is meant, the sanctified spirit...or the doctrine. They considered Mary as "queen name of God the greatest." of heaven" or "goddess of heaven" instead of Venus. Consequently, they called Sura al-Ma'ida 5:110: "Jesus, son of Mary themselves Mariamists. They came to remember the favour I have bestowed on believe that there are three gods: God, you and on your mother; how I have Mary, and Christ. strengthened you with the Holy Spirit." Al Sayyid Abdul Karim al-Djabali said 5.2. The Christian Attitude towards about the Holy Spirit that He is not this Counterfeit Trinity created, and what is not created is eternal and the eternal is God alone. The Christian Church fought against this heresy as soon as it appeared, opposed Also Al-Shaikh Muhammad al-Harira their teaching, and deprived them of the al-Bayyumi said, "The Holy Spirit is the communion of faith and excommunicated Spirit of God and the Spirit of God is not all their followers. By the end of the created." seventh century A.D. this doctrine was This is the holy Trinity in one God in blotted out, and its adherents had whom we believe, and this is the secret of disappeared completely. The Church naming it as the Father, the Son, and the confirmed its most holy belief that the Holy Spirit. blessed Mary is a human being and not a

goddess. The Church continued to affirm the existence of three gods! that God is one, with only one essence, speaking the Word, and alive in Spirit. The You can see clearly from this discussion Word of God dwelt in the body of the Lord that Islam did not fight the belief of Christ, "Great is the secret of godliness, Christianity that God is one. He has one that God appeared in the flesh." (I Timothy nature, speaking the Word, alive in the 3:16) Spirit, as the Qur'an says, "Jesus the son of Mary is the messenger of God and His word...and a Spirit from Him." (Sura 5.3. The Attitude of Islam al-Nisa 4:171) But Islam fights another When Islam appeared in the seventh trinity, the trinity of the Mariamist century A.D., it also found some adherents doctrine. They fight those who consider of this Mariamist doctrine and their trinity the blessed Mary a goddess who gave birth (not the Trinity of Christianity). This is to Christ by means of procreation after clear from the following verses: God had married her. Sura al-Ma'ida 5:116: "Then Allah will Christianity abhorred and fought against say, 'Jesus, son of Mary, did you ever say this concept excommunicated its to mankind, 'Worship me and my mother adherents. As for the principle belief of as gods beside Allah?'" It is clear that the Christianity, it is the belief in one God in a objection here is intended to be against the Trinity: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Mariamists who proclaimed that Mary is a Spirit. goddess, and that is what Christianity also denies. 6. The Shining of Grace Sura al-An`am 6:110: "Lord, creator of the heavens and the earth, how does he have a 6.1. The Proof of the Spirit son when he did not have a wife?!" Dear reader, the discussion thus far has Likewise, this verse objects to the presented intellectual and logical evidence Mariamist teaching that Mary is a goddess, in considering the truth of the Trinity and that she became God's wife, and that monotheism in Christian belief. through her He gave birth to a child. In other words, human wisdom has been Sura al-Ikhlas 112: "God is one. God is the basis of discussion. However, the eternal. He did not give birth nor was He apostle Paul shows us that faith is not by born, nor has He an equal." This is the human wisdom, but rather by the proof answer to the Mariamist doctrine which and power of the Spirit. He says, "And my purported that, "there are three gods - the message and my preaching were not in Father, the mother and the son, and that persuasive words of wisdom, but in this son came by procreation." demonstration of the Spirit and of power, Sura al-Ma'ida 5:73: "Unbelievers are that your faith should not rest on the those that say, 'Allah is one of three.' There wisdom of men, but on the power of God." is but one God." This confirms what was (I Corinthians 2:4,5) So pardon me, my said and denies what Mariamists purport - dear friend, for resorting to human wisdom and let me talk to you about the proof of

spirit and power. high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Hell, what can you know?" The proof of the spirit is in the heart and (Job 11:7-8) not in the intellect. "For with the heart man believes, resulting in salvation." (Romans How then can a finite mind perceive the 10:10) Heart faith is the result of grace infinite God? The wise man said, "You shining into the heart of man disclosing to search for the Lord who controls all, but him the secret of faith, the love of God, you will never understand the secret of His and His wonderful work for him. This wisdom, because you will never know the made Him take the form of man and walk depth of man's heart. You do not know his the road of Calvary, carrying the cross of thoughts, so how do you search for God shame to redeem sinners like me. Do who made all these things and how can know, dear brother, that the Lord is ready you know His mind and perceive His to shine into your heart in order to reveal thoughts?" The words of the apostle Paul to you to His glory, for He loves you confirm, "O the depth of the riches both of personally despite your sins, your evils, the wisdom and knowledge of God! How and your blasphemy against Him. He is unsearchable are His judgements and prepared to pardon, forgive and forget unfathomable His ways! For who has your sins. Just come to Him in repentance known the mind of the Lord, or who and submission. Surrender your heart and became His counsellor?" (Romans life to Him. You can be completely sure 11:33-34) If some people do not consider that He will not refuse you. He said in His this fact, they will stray from faith and will true promise, "And the one who comes to be lost in the gloomy darkness. Here are me I will certainly not cast out." (John some examples from the areas of 6:37) Come to Him now and throw your Philosophy, Christianity, and Islam. sin in front of Him, and He will cleanse you from every sin. "And the blood of 6.3. Philosophy Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:7) Pray to Him, "O Lord, remove Philosophy relies on thought and deals the darkness of my heart; light my path, with abstracts, and so we find show me Your way; protect me from the contradictions and differences among the evil one, so that he will not trouble me." efforts of philosophers down through the centuries. Among philosophers there are Next, I shall present, my dear friend, some believers and unbelievers. The English spiritual facts which I hope God will use to philosopher Carlyle (1795-1881) is an save your soul and be a blessing to your example of man groping in the darkness of life. Amen. human thought. At one time Carlyle was a believer. Then he read the philosophy of 6.2. Groping in Darkness Hume and other sceptics. He was convinced of their opinions and his faith There is no doubt that reliance on mere disappeared. Yet while he was still intellect to perceive the facts of faith is devoted to searching and scrutinising, he impossible. Divine inspiration says, "Can read Schiller, Goethe, and Fichte and was you discover the depths of God? Can you dissuaded by their opinions; he changed discover the limits of the Almighty? It is

his attitude and came back to faith. The Druzes consider "Al Hakim bin Amr Returning to faith, Carlyle became certain Allah al- Fatimi" to be a god. of this everlasting fact, which he approved after his long search and study: "The Mind Does not all this show that the mind is in is no longer the source of true knowledge, need of the light of grace and the light of rather the heart has become that source." faith?

6.4. Christianity 6.6. The Grace of Revelation Many heretics, people who abandon the No man is able by his power, his intellect, Christian faith, wanted to subject the facts or his wisdom to come to know God. This of faith to intellectual standards. They problem is in need of divine declaration so threw themselves into a perilous situation. that in the darkness of his thought, man Such men were Arius, Macedonius, and can know the secret which is concealed Nestorius. Arius did not accept the from limited human minds. Some possibility of the appearance of God in a philosophers knew the importance of this human body. He denied the deity of grace and called it the theory of Christ. Then the patriarchs of the Church enlightenment. A philosopher once said, and its bishops from all parts of the world "It is only possible to know God thanks to held a meeting and debated this subject in the light of God. God is the hidden accordance with the teachings of the Holy teacher. He is the true light that enlightens Bible. They condemned and exiled Arius. every man in this world." They rejected his teachings as The Holy Bible speaks about these two contradictory to the faith. subjects, the inability of man and the necessity of revelation. 6.5. Islam The Bible describes the inability of human Many different sects appeared in Islam intellect to perceive divine matters in the with different beliefs. book of Job, "It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst For example, Al Khawaridj. Al Shia and al thou know? The measure thereof is longer Nusayriyya consider Ali Ibn Abi Talib to than the earth, and broader than the sea." be a god. (Job 11: 8-9) Job also said, "Search for the Al Djabriyyah, al Mutazzila and al Lord, controller of all, and you do not Kadariyya denied the qualities of God. perceive the secret of His wisdom...Then how do you search for God and know His The al Ashaira al Matridiyya, al Zaidiyya, mind and perceive His thoughts." The al Imamiyya, and al Ismailiyya, say the apostle Paul said, "Oh the depth of the world has two directors. The first is God riches both of wisdom and knowledge of and the second is the soul, and they allow God For who has known the mind of the unlawful matters. Lord, or who became His counsellor?" (Romans 11:33-34) Hence, it is indeed Al Bahaiyya consider their leader, Baha clear that man is unable to know the Allah, a god. matters pertaining to God.

We are in need of the grace of revelation those who mature; a wisdom, however, not or "the light of God" to reveal to us the of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, secret of His wisdom, as was said in the who are passing way; but we speak God's Bible, "And that He would show you the wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, secrets of wisdom." (Job 11:6) which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the My dear friend, God is prepared to declare rulers of this age has understood; for if Himself to you. You can see this fact in they had understood it, they would not the Lord's prayer, "I praise Thee, O Father, have crucified the Lord of glory; but just Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst as it is written,'Things which eye has not hide these things from the wise and seen and ear has not heard, and which have intelligent and didst reveal them to babes." not entered the heart of man, all that God (Matthew 11:25) Perhaps you perceive has prepared for those who love Him.' For from this prayer that the light of grace is to us God revealed them through the declared to simple people who are referred Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, to as "babes". Those who want to even the depths of God. For who among understand those secrets by reasoning and men knows the thoughts of man except the wisdom will not obtain understanding. spirit of man, which is in him? Even so the God the Father declared the secret of faith thoughts of God no one knows except the to the apostle Peter. Peter said, "Thou are Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the Christ the Son of the living God," and the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, from God, that we might know the things Simon Barjonas, because flesh and blood freely given to us by God, which things we did not reveal this to you, but my Father also speak, not in words taught by human who is in heaven." (Matthew 16:16-17) wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, My brother, Jesus Christ Himself, is combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual prepared to reveal His nature to you and to words. But a natural man does not accept reveal the secret of faith. He says, "And no the things of the Spirit of God; for they are one knows who the Son is except the foolishness to him, and he cannot Father, and who the Father is except the understand them, because they are Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to spiritually appraised. But he who is reveal Him." (Luke 10:22) The Son kindly spiritual appraises all things, yet he revealed His secret to the apostle Paul. himself is appraised by no man. For who Paul said, "For I neither received it from has known the mind of the Lord, that he man, nor was I taught it, but I received it should instruct Him? But we have the through a revelation of Jesus Christ." mind of Christ." (I Corinthians 1:6-16) (Galatians 1:12) These verses clarify to you an extremely The Holy Spirit with its full grace is now important and essential point. It is working in the world revealing the way of necessary to change the natural man to a faith to every man, so that he can enjoy the spiritual man so that he can accept and fellowship of grace and know the Lord know the affairs pertaining to God. Ask well. This is what the apostle Paul clarified the Lord to convert you and reveal Himself saying, "Yet we do speak wisdom among to you, and He will surely respond because

He wants all men to be saved and to come O divine love! What a privilege we were unto the knowledge of the truth. given and what dignity we were granted, and by what affection you attracted us. 6.7. Overwhelming Compassion Brother, you will not know God but through love. Worship is not mere A well-known philosopher said, "Man is teachings, beliefs, theories or religious unable by his natural power to attain the duties; but rather, it is extreme love at its nature of God, but God is He that attracts highest degree. God is not a "picture" of a man to Himself and raises him to a being made or imagined by human minds. brilliancy that no mind can perceive." In He cannot be defined by religious men and fact, no one can come to God unless He intellectually analysed by theories of attracts him. As the Lord Christ, may He philosophers and theologians in terms of be glorified, said, "No man comes to Me their opinions and understandings. But as unless the Father attracts him." When the the apostle said, "God is love and the one bride of Solomon knew the secret she who abides in love abides in God, and God cried, "Draw me after you, and we will run abides in him." (1 John 4:16) after you." (Song of Solomon 1:4) The Lord draws us to Himself by His love and Has your heart been bound by the love of His affection. When the human soul God? My dear friend, do not be remembers the fullness of God's love for encumbered with theories and debates, but it, it becomes fascinated by His love; the it is enough to do as St. Augustine said, apostle John says, "We love Him because "Love and do whatever you wish, because He first loved us." (I John 4:29) God is love."

Are you not aware of what God's love has 6.8. The Light of Faith done for you? The apostle Paul says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, When grace shines in the heart of man, he in that while we were yet sinners, Christ becomes enlightened by the light of faith. died for us." (Romans 5:8) Love caused It is impossible for man to attain true faith Him to take a human body and walk on the without the light of grace, as the Bible road to Calvary, carrying the cross, to pay clarifies in Isaiah 60:1-3, "Arise, shine; for my debt and yours. The punishment of sin your light has come, and the glory of the that we deserve is death. With a wonderful Lord has risen upon you. For behold, secret, Christ enters the frightening grave darkness will cover the earth, and deep and extinguishes the blazing fire, and darkness the peoples; But the Lord will opens for us the door of hope and the way rise upon you, and His glory will appear of glory. When he smashed the power of upon you. And nations will come to your death and the chains of sins by His light, and kings to the brightness of your resurrection, He went away bearing a rising." marvellous love to prepare a place for us in his kingdom which He was pleased to The apostle Paul said, "For God, who said, give us. (Luke 12:32) The Lover will soon 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the come to take us, "That where I am, there One who has shone in our hearts to give you may be also." (John 14:2-3) the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (II Corinthians

4:6)" sanctified by faith in Me.'" (Acts 26:9-18) Grace has shone in the life of many people Thus grace shone and Saul was including Saul of Tarsus and Shaikh enlightened by the light of faith, and later Mikhail Mansur. he became the apostle Paul, philosopher of Christianity. Saul of Tarsus was a fanatic Jew. He persecuted Christians and dragged them to Grace also shone in Shaikh Mikhail jails, and talked about himself saying, "I Mansur's life. Here is a summary of what had to do many things hostile to the name his brother, Shaikh Kamil Mansur, wrote of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what about him. Mikhail son of Mansur, was I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up born in the city of Suhadj in March 1871. many of the saints in prisons, having He received lessons in religion from the received authority from the chief priests, religious leaders. After these teachings, he but also when they were being put to death spent his nights in deep search for divine I cast my vote against them. And as I secrets. punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and In 1893 he had the idea to discuss the being furiously enraged at them, I kept Christian religion, and asked permission pursuing them even to foreign cities. from his professor to argue or debate with While thus enraged as I was journeying to Christians; but he did not approve, for fear Damascus with the authority and that his student might become arrogant and commission of the chief priests, at midday, proud. Nevertheless, he began debating O King, I saw on the way a light from and arguing with men of religion, and the heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all debates were frequently lengthy and vain. around me and those who were journeying One day someone said to him, "Everyone with me. And when we had all fallen to the should ask his God for guidance, and I ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the advise you to ask God to lead you to Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you truth." But he mocked at these words persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick saying to him, "Do I doubt my faith? God against the goads.' And I said, 'Who are forbid! But having left him, he thought of Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am what that man had asked him to do,'I Jesus whom you are persecuting. But arise, advise you to seek guidance from God for and stand on your feet; for this purpose I truth.'" The grace of the Holy Spirit began have appeared to you, to appoint you a to work in his heart. The stage of doubt minister and a witness not only to the grew to the degree that it seemed that he things which you have seen, but also to the was afflicted with a mental disease. He things in which I will appear to you; appeared pale, and he devoted himself to delivering you from the Jewish people and reading the Holy Book, searching for from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending divine right...After a period of time, signs you; to open their eyes so that they may of pleasure and delight appeared on his turn from darkness to light and from the face because the light of the Redeemer dominion of Satan to God, in order that overcame him and the sun of righteousness they may receive forgiveness of sins and enlightened his soul. an inheritance among those who have been

Christ gloriously appeared to him with his faith said, "Lo, I have found you and superior love, supreme principles, and the perceived you. O! how great is my fortune beauty of His teachings. He learned that and how lucky I am! I was looking for He alone is the way, the truth, and the life, You in outer matters! But that searching and that man is sinful, ignorant, and was in vain, for I found you in my soul, in enslaved, and can only be saved by Christ. my heart! And here I am grasping You and My memory has forgotten many things. seeing You." However, I have not and will not forget the great joy that filled his heart, the glorious The believer is he who sees the Lord and is happiness that radiated from his face, and clothed with the Lord in his life which He the tears that drenched his clothes because completely converted. He changed him of tremendous joy, when I first asked him from a lustful man, a slave of sin, into a for a Gospel. It is true to say that at the spiritual, holy-loving man. The believer beginning, I was ashamed of him, and sees the Lord in his heart now cleansed sometimes I asked people to pray for him, from the filth of sin; "Blessed are the pure so that he might change and return. in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew Sometimes I looked for the intelligent and 5:8) After the work of grace, faith is no famous in education in order to lead them longer an intellectual faith believing in to him to bring him back. At other times, I invisible matters, lacking evidence and resorted to some wicked people to threaten proofs, but a faith of experience, that him. But I found out that he was firm like changes the wolf into a lamb; this is the a high mountain in Jesus Christ, finding greatest evidence and proof for the truth of every torture bearable in His love. I faith. thoroughly considered what the secret was. I knew very well that he had no worldly 6.10. The Experience of the Saint purpose. His loyalty to Christianity was Musa al-Aswad clear to me; and so, I found myself impelled to request the Gospel from him, Saint Musa al-Aswad was a savage killer and so he met me with that joy. We thank and a heathen leader of a bandit gang. God because he was a cause for guiding Grace began to shine into his heart. So he many sinners, the first of whom is me, to went to a wise, old believer and said to the glory of the Redeemer. him, "I have heard that you are the righteous worshipper of God; that is why I felt and came to you, so that the God who 6.9. The Greatest Proof saved you will save me. Tell me and When man is drawn by the power of grace inform me about God." The saint asked to the fold of faith, he is no longer in need him, "What was your God?" He answered, of an evidence or a logical proof to "I do not know any God except the sun, for confirm the truths of faith, rather the when I looked at it, I found out that it testimony is now in his heart, for he enlightened the world with its light; the realises that God lives within him and has moon and the stars as well, which have changed him. He no longer searches for strange secrets; also the sea and its God outside himself. Augustine, the power...But all these did not satisfy my well-known philosopher, having accepted soul, and I knew that there is another God

greater than all these whom I do not know. evading his task. So he followed him, and I said, 'O Lord! who is living in heaven, saw him entering a place in which the guide of all creation, lead me to You now, branches made a small hut. and let me know what satisfies You.' Therefore, I came to you, so that you Jibran slyly hid behind a tree in order to inform me, and ask God for me so that He discover the secret of this hut. Behold, he may not have wrath on me for my evil saw Michael lighting a little candle. Then deeds." he knelt on his knees, and Jibran heard him speaking in a low voice. Then he saw him The old saint started preaching the words taking out a small book from his pocket of God to him, and talked to him about and reading it. After he finished reading, judgement, salvation, and God's love for Jibran was raising his face upwards, and sinners. The work of grace was perfected he noticed tears flowing from his eyes and in his heart, and the Lord shone in his his voice choked with crying. Having heart, and the tears of repentance came finished, he extinguished the candle and down, and his face beamed with the light went back to school. Jibran followed him of faith. Musa, the savage, became a saint, at a distance. one of the greatest men of faith. When Michael entered the school, Jibran Who changed this wolf into a lamb? followed him and grasped his shoulders Indeed it is the marvellous work of grace. and asked him, "Where were you?" The Who made him understand faith? God answer was, "I was worshipping my penetrated his life and the touch of His Lord." He said to him, "You are a liar. I Almighty hand changed him completely. saw you and followed you from the minute you jumped over the wall until you entered 6.11. The Experience of Jibran the hut and began to sing and read in a small book, and you cried. These are the Jibran grew up in a fanatic religious family symptoms of madness." Michael answered and his father was in charge of teaching quickly, "I am not mad, and I was not him the origins of religion. As soon as the singing, but I was chanting to the Lord. father died, the young man threw away the What I read was the Gospel. Afterwards I restrictions of this background and sank prayed to my Lord to forgive my sins and into crime. To solve this problem his help me in my life." Jibran said, "Can I see family put him in a boarding school. In the Gospel?" He gave it to him, but Jibran that school there was a student called had learned from his father that he who Michael, who suffered under Jibran's touches the Gospel of the Nazarenes, his teasing. When the day of a school hand inevitably will be paralysed or he celebration arrived, Jibran, wanting to will become insane. But the scene that really trouble Michael thought of making Jibran had witnessed had attracted him to him carry all the necessary chairs. He learn the secret of this devotion which made the school administration issue an impels a man to enter the woods and order for that. He went to look for worship. He grasped the Gospel with the Michael, and he saw him jumping over the tips of his fingers, bearing in mind that if school wall and enter a forest near the he felt paralysis, he would throw it and school. He assumed that Michael was escape danger. But he did not feel

anything of what he was told, and he took the Lord God, and a faithful witness to the the Gospel and asked Michael's permission Lord who loved and redeemed us by His to read it. Jibran was alone all night blood. reading the Gospel, but he could not understand anything. 7. Summary At dawn he went to Michael and woke him Perhaps you have perceived, dearly up and asked him about what he did not beloved brother, the meaning of the Trinity understand. Michael began to explain, but for us Christians. Perhaps you have Jibran still could not understand. so become certain that we do not worship Michael closed the book and told him, 'I three gods. God forbid! We believe only in will tell you in brief, the contents of the one God, existing in Himself, speaking by Gospel : His Word and living by His Spirit. His Word dwelt in the blessed Mary and took The first truth is - Man is a sinner. You and I are sinners, too. from her a human body, who is the Lord Christ, who lived on our earth, and completed our salvation. The second truth is - The punishment for our sins is an everlasting torture in hell. My beloved brother, I pray to the Lord to make His light shine in your heart, to The third truth is - Because of His love, God declare to you this miraculous secret, sent Christ to redeem us from the punishment of because the matters of God are only sin, and so He was crucified instead of us. perceived by the Spirit of God. Would that you would ask Him, first to convert you, The fourth truth is - If you believe this and repent of your sins, the Lord will accept you and and qualify you to accept the work of save you from the everlasting fire of hell...' grace in your life, so that you become a son of God, and a member of this godly These words were simple, but anointed nature. Then by the Spirit you will receive with grace and were said from experience. what the mind is unable to perceive. God Right then the hand of God worked in protect you and be with you! Jibran's heart and there was a miracle. The face of the young man brightened, and he 8. Quiz said, "I believe," and they both prayed. Events and experiences continued in the Dear Reader, if you have read this book life of the ill-mannered Jibran and changed you will be able to answer the following him to a gentle-hearted, blessed servant in questions. Please copy and paste the the Lord's vineyard. He became a cause of following questions into the contact form blessing for many souls of believers and and write your answer below each others. question . Explain how Christians have the right This is the miraculous work of grace and 1. to say: God is one. the greatest proof of the truth of our holy faith. I desire that God would work in you, 2. Why doesn't the Fatherhood of God dear reader, so that you become a son of mean procreation, but rather spiritual fatherhood?

3. How does the Qur'an testify to the P.O. BOX 66 divine unity of god in the Christian faith? CH-8486 Rikon 4. Explain the Qur'anic texts that indicate Switzerland the truth of the three in one God. www.the-good-way.com/en/contact/ 5. What does the name of the Father mean in the Christian understanding? 6. What does the saying "God has a son" mean? 7. Who is the Holy Spirit in the Christian belief? 8. What kind of trinity does the Qur'an and the Bible reject? 9. How do you know that man's mind is unable to perceive spontaneously all secrets? 10.What helps us to perceive the nature of God? 11.Why does God reveal Himself to man? 12.Why is it necessary for God to become man? 13.How did God reveal Himself to Sheikh Mansur? 14.How does a believer reach assurance in his faith in God and His work in us? 15.Discuss what you think is the most important experience of Saint Musa al-Aswad. 16.List the four important truths of jibran's experience. 17.Write your own opinion about the all-encompassing unity of God in His holy Trinity. Please use our Email-Form to contact us. If you do not want to use email, mail your response to: The Good Way