S rii7® . i y \ c ' Ml Ml Ml Ml Ml Ml Ml Ml Ml IM Ml !! Ml * ! . if DIALOGUE BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY N Discussion of Religious Dogma between Intellectuals from the Two Religions Translated by: The Institute of Islamic and r _ 1 Arabic Sciences in America (I IASA) Revised by: Abo Karim El-Marakshy 1 i : www.islamic-invitation.com Muslim-Christian Dialogue DIALOGUE BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY Discussion of Religious Dogma between Intellectuals from the Two Religions Translated by The Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America (IIASA) Revised by: Abo Karim El-Marakshy Researcher in Comparative Religions In 1980, between the 1st and 7th of December, a dialogue was held in Khartoum, Sudan, between Muslim scholars and Christian priests. Over several sessions, this distinguished group of theologians discussed topics that go to the heart of the Islamic and Christian faiths, including Monotheism, Trinity, the Qur'an, and the Bible. At the climax of this dialogue, Pastor James Bakheet Sulayman, President of the Christian Mission and head of the Christian delegation, declares that he, along with the rest of the Christian priests, have decided to embrace Islam. www.islamic-invitation.com 1 Muslim-Christian Dialogue This book is translated and published by Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America (IIASA) affiliated with Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Copyright © 1999 by IIASA 8500 Hilltop Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22031 United States of America Tel: (703) 6414890 Fax: (703) 6414899 Copyrights reserved. No part of this publication may be printed or produced, stored in a retrieval, electronic, or mechanical system, or published in any means, now known or hereafter invented, including copying and recording, without the prior permission of IIASA. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dialogue between Islam and Christianity: discussion of religious dogma between intellectuals from the two religions / translated by the Institute Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-10: 1569230366 ISBN-13: 978-1569230367 1. Islam-Relations-Christianity. 2. Christianity and other religions-Islam. I. Institute of Islamic & Arabic Sciences in America. P172.D537 2000 7.2'83—dc21 99-462198 www.islamic-invitation.com 2 Muslim-Christian Dialogue Table of Contents PREFACE NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER FOREWORD WHY THIS CONFERENCE WAS HELD DANGER OF THE INTELLECTUAL ASSAULT [ON MUSLIMS] A Convert's Advice to His People Returning to the Truth: an Excellent Virtue OPENING STATEMENTS SHAYKH TAHIR AHMAD TALIBI RELIGIOUS ATTACHÉ, EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA, KHARTOUM SHAYKH 'AWADULLAH SALIH PRESIDENT, ORGANIZATION OF THE REVIVAL OF ISLAMIC ACTIVITY IN THE SUDAN PRELIMINARY REMARKS DR. MUHAMMAD JAMIL GHAZI STATEMENT OF THE CLERGY: MESSRS. JAMES BAKHEIT AND TEEKHA RAMADAN Mr. James Bakheet: Mr. Teekha Ramadan: QUESTIONS FORWARDED BY THE CHRISTIAN SIDE Mr. James Bakheet: FINAL INTRODUCTORY WORD DR. MUHAMMAD JAMIL GHAZI THE FIRST SESSION PROF. AHMAD ABDUL-WAHHAB DISCUSSION OF THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT The Legitimacy of the Gospels /. The Gospel of Mark The Gospel of Mark: Its Problems //. The Gospel of Matthew The Gospel of Matthew: Its Problems ///. The Gospel of Luke A Scholar's Statement Regarding the Writings of Luke: The Gospel of Luke: Its Problems IV. The Gospel of John 3 Muslim-Christian Dialogue The Gospel of John: Its Problems A LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT The Problem of Numerous Discrepancies Differences between Matthew and Luke Concerning Jesus' Genealogy Discrepancy in the Gospels Regarding the Names of the Apostles Discrepancies between Matthew and Mark Regarding the Story of the Purging of the Temple and the Fig Tree Dr. Ghazi: 2. The Problem of Unfulfilled Prophecies A. Prophecy: The World Will End in the First Century C.E. B. Prophecy: Judas, the Traitor, Will Join Jesus in the Hereafter C. Prophecy: Jesus' Body Will Be Buried in the Earth for Three Days and Three Nights: THE CRUCIFIXION THE ISSUE OF THE CRUCIFIXION 1. Rubbing Jesus' Body with Scent 2. Preparations for the Last Supper 3. The Time of the Last Supper and its Effect on the Issue of the Crucifixion: 4. The Last Supper and the Disciple Who Betrayed Jesus SECOND SESSION Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi Mr. James Bakheet Shaykh Ahmad Talibi, the Saudi Religious Attaché Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi Mr. Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi Mr. Khalil: Dr. Ghazi: Mr. Khalil: Dr. Ghazi: Brig. General Ahmad 5. Jesus' Sufferings 6. The Arrest Where Is the Doubting of the Disciples? 7. The Trial 8. The Crucifixion Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi: Some Comments on the Events of the Crucifixion The End of Judas Iscariot Jesus' Prophecies about His Suffering Jesus' Prophecy about his Deliverance 4 Muslim-Christian Dialogue TRUE SALVATION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CRUCIFIXION AFTERWORD BY DR. MUHAMMAD JAMIL GHAZI The Conclusion on the Issue of Crucifixion: THE THIRD SESSION THE RESURRECTION AND THE APPEARANCE THE RESURRECTION The Women's Visit to the Tomb Discrepancies among the Gospels Regarding the Stories of the Visit THE APPEARANCE The Gospel of Mark Says Nothing The Narrations of the Other Gospels Some Observations about the Narrations of the Gospels The Disciples' Misgivings concerning the Narratives of Jesus' Resurrection and his subsequent appearance Mr. Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad: PAUL Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi: Mr. Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad: Brigadier General Ahmad Abdul-Wahhab THE RELIGION OF JESUS WAS ISLAMIC MONOTHEISM A WORD TO THE MISSIONARIES THE FOURTH SESSION INTRODUCTION Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi Mr. Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad THE BIRTH OF JESUS The "Son of God" THE MESSIAH, A PROPHET OF ALLAH Bringing the Dead to Life THE MESSIAH, A MESSENGER OF ALLAH Fatherhood and Sonhood in the New Testament Jesus Preached Monotheism THE HOLY SPIRIT THE MIRACLES OF JESUS JESUS FACING THE PRIESTS FORGIVENESS OF SINS JESUS' ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SABBATH Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi Brig. Gen. Ahmad Abdul-Wahhab THE FIFTH SESSION Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi Mr. Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad 5 Muslim-Christian Dialogue OLD TESTAMENT PREDICTIONS OF THE FINAL MESSENGER The Mountains of Paran Some of Paul's Alterations Habakkuk's Prophecy The Prophecy of David Prophet Daniel's Explication of Nebuchadnezzar's Dream THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH Madinah Makkah Brig. Gen. Ahmad Abdul-Wahhab Mr. Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad JESUS' PROPHECIES The Helper The Spirit of Truth THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS AFTERWORD Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi Professor Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CHURCH The Council of Constantinople The Deification of Mary Birth of the Egyptian Orthodox Church Allah Forgives Sins Birth of the Maronite Church Sanctification of Images Birth of the Roman (Greek) Orthodox Church The Pope and the Right of Forgiveness Paul and His Bodily Sins The Appearance of Martin Luther THE SIXTH SESSION Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi CHRIST AS A GOD The Crucifixion and Vicarious Atonement Racial Discrimination THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BIBLE AND ITS AUTHENTICITY ALLAH'S ATTRIBUTES IN THE BIBLE DISTORTED AND FOOLISH IMAGES OF ALLAH'S PROPHETS AND MESSENGERS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT Abraham Lot How They Address Allah ISLAM 6 Muslim-Christian Dialogue Islam Was the Religion of All the Prophets Noah Brought the Message of Islam Abraham Brought the Message of Islam Jacob Brought the Message of Islam Lot Brought the Message of Islam Joseph Brought the Message of Islam Moses Brought the Message of Islam Islam Was the Religion of the People of Moses (i.e., the Children of Israel) Islam Was the Religion of the Sorcerers Who [Repented and then] Believed in Moses: Islam Is the Religion of the Prophets of the Children of Israel Solomon Brought the Message of Islam Islam Was the Religion of Jesus and His Disciples Islam Is the Religion of the Rightly-Guided Jinns Islam Is the Religion of the People of The Book Islam Is the religion of Muhammad, the Final Prophet (May Allah's Peace and Blessings Be upon Him): THE FINAL PROPHET THE MISSION OF CHRIST, A SPECIFIC MISSION THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE MESSAGE OF MUHAMMAD The Truthful, The Trustworthy Physical Miracles JIHAD IN ISLAM WAR IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES The Documents Speak Out Christians Under Fire of Persecution The Balance of Power Shifts The Language of Documents and Numbers Christian Persecution of the Jews POLYGAMY AND ITS WISDOM The Wisdom of Polygamy Europe and Polygamy In the Muslim East The Messenger's Many Wives The Mothers of the Believers Their Responsibility for Disseminating Good A LOOK AT THE HOLY BOOK Gideon David Solomon ABROGATION A. Divorce 7 Muslim-Christian Dialogue B. Prohibitions C. The Sabbath D. Circumcision Abrogation of the Laws of the Old Testament The Qur'an and the Scriptures of the Past The Qur'an Attests To The Truth The Qur'an Preserves the Truth of Previous Scriptures Previous Scriptures Support The Qur'an The Disciples ALCOHOL SWINE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE QUR'AN AND THE BIBLE Confused Dreams ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING HOW JESUS WAS SAVED (AND NOT CRUCIFIED) Jesus Prepares His Disciples to be Filled with the Holy Spirit on Thursday THE WORD OF ALLAH A Passage from the Gospel of John THE PAGANS AND THE MASJID AL-HARAM CONCLUSION The Wisdom of the Noble Qur'an The Wisdom of the Eminent Hadith The Building of a Muslim Personality FINAL SESSION CONCLUDING REMARKS A Word from Mr. James Bakheet Sulayman, Representing the Christian Side A Word from Shaykh Tahir Ahmad Talibi, Religious Attaché of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia (Khartoum) A Word from Rear Admiral Ibrahim Ahmad ‘Umar, Secretary General, Organization for the Revival of Islamic Activity in Sudan A Word from Shaykh Muhammad Hashim Al-Hadiyyah, President, Association of Supporters of the Prophetic Way (Sudan) Concluding Comments by Professor Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad, on Behalf of His Colleagues REFERENCES Muslim References Non-Muslim References 8 Muslim-Christian Dialogue Preface All praise is due to Allah1 (Glorious and Exalted Is He) Who sent ,with the guidance of Islam3 to all mankind 2(ﷺ) His Prophet Muhammad though it may be to the dismay of the unbelievers.