. ~.., l WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY ? By Muhammad Taql Usmanl Translated by Muhammad Shoaib Omar DARUL ISHAAT URDU BAZAR, KARACHI-1 .(PAKISTAN) ··- .. ' . ~ :"'~ I ~ lI~l I~ Author's Note I~ I~ This work constituted a detailed Introduction to the Publisher well known treatise on Christianity lzharul Haqq which D.ARUL- ISHAAT I~ was written by Maulana Rahmatullah Kalranawi in Ara­ URDU BAZAR KARACIU PAKISTAN. ble and edited and translated by me Into Urdu. During TEl; 2631861 I~ the course of my work (of translating and editing), I I~ studied the Christian religion in its original sources. The conclusions of my study constituted the said introduc­ tion which was later published separately under the title "What is Christianity" Edition 1 1995 This work has been translated Into Arabic: and has met with wide acceptance. For sometime, the need was.feltfor an English translation, and my learned brother Muhammad Sholb Omar undertook the task. I~ I have read the text, and have found that the I~ translation reflects the ability and competence of the DISTRIBUfORS.: I~ translator. He has exercised due care and shown dili­ Bait-uJ.Qurao Urdu Bazar Karacbi-1 gence. May Allah give him the best reward and grant IdaraTulMa'arif, Darul Uloon) Koraqf.Karacbi-14 him tawtlq to undertake similar academic works. MaktabaDarul Uloom Korangl Karacbi-14 IdaraTul Qurao 437/d, G.E, LasbeUaKaracbi-5 I sincerely hope that this work will assist the English Idara-e-IsJamiat 190Aoqr KaH Lahore. reader to properly understand Christianity. ~ I ~ I ~ Also available at: ' MUHAMMAD TAQI USMANI Siddiqui Trust Al-Manzar Appartments Durban -- 13 April 1987. t Lasbella Karachi-5. ~- ~~... ~~--~~~.. CONTENTS PART I I ntrodttction to the Author The Doctrines of Christianity Definition of Christianity ............•....•.•............•....•............••.•• 9 The Conception of God in Christianity ................................... 10 MAULANA MUHAMMAD TAQI USMANI The Doctrine of Trinity ............................................................ 10 Unity in Three ......................................................................... 11 The Author is: Father ................................................................: .................... 13 Son ......................................................................................... 13 + A brilliant and leading Muslim Jurists and schclar; Holy Spirit ............................................................................... 14 The Unity· of Three and One ................................................... 14 Proof of Trinity by means of the example of the mind ............ 19 + Author of a number of outstanding works on Islamic Law and Second·Example .................................................................... 22 Islam gener The Christian Teaching Relating to Jesus Christ ............. 25 Incarnation .............................................................................25 + Judge of the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court Those who Deny the Divinity of Christ ................................... 28 of Pakistan Paulician Sect ....................................................................... 30 The Nestorian Sect ................................................................ 30 + Member of the Islamic Fiqah Academy (Jeddah), a body Jacobite Church ..................................................................._. .31 consisting of lead Muslim Jurists representing Muslim The Final Interpretation .......................................................... 32 States;; The Crucifixion ....................................................................... 33 The Holy Cross , ..................................................................... 34 + Professor of Hadith and Vice-Rector of the Islamic Institute, Resurrection ........................................................................... 34 Darui-Uioom Karach. The Atonement ....................................................................... 35 Deniers of Redemption .......................................................... 42 + Distinguished in the application of Islamic Law to new Worship and Rites •.••..•..................•.................•.................... 45 situations and problem · Mass .......................................................•............................... 45 + Religious adviser to various Islamic banks and interested ~=~~~:;·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: bodies. PART II A Resume of the History of Christianity History of the Israelites: An Overview •••••••••••.••........•.....•.. 53 Coming of Jesus ................................................................... .. 55 Resume of History of Christianity ........................................... 56 Age of Persecution ................................................................. 57 Constantine the Great ................., .......................................... 57 What is Christianity 7 From Constantine to Gregory .................................................. 68 The Dark Ages 0 . .................... : .. 0 ...................... : ...................... 59 The Middle Ages ..... 0 ............................................................... 60 The Great Schism ............. 0 ........................ 0 ............................ 60 Religious Wars ........... 0 ................ 0 ................................. 0 .... 0 .... 62 Corruption of Papacy .. ............................. o..... oo ............... o....... 62 Attempts in the Name of Reform ........................ ,.................... 63 Era of Reform and Protestantism ............................................ 64 Renaissance .. 0 0 0 0 ... 0 .. 0 ..... 0 0 0 0 0. 0 0 0 0 .... 0 0 ... 0. 0. 0 0 .. 0 ••• 0 ....... 0 .. 0 0 0 0 ..... 0 0 0 0 0. 64 The Era of Modernism ............................................................ 65 THE DOCTRINES Movement of Revivalism ......................................................... 66 PART Ill OF The Real Founder of Christianity Who is the Founder of Christianity? ................................... 69 Introduction to Paul ... .. ... o.o ........ ............. o..... o............ o......... o... 69 CHRISTIANITY ·Jesus and Paul ....................................................................... 71 Trinity and-Incarnation ................... 0 ................... o.................... 72 The Disciples' View of Jesus ................................................... 76 The Stoatus of Gospel of John ................................................. 78 Conclusions ....................... 0 ................. 0 .. 0 ............................. 85 The Doctrine of Redemption ................................................... 87 The Order to Act on the Torah ................................................ 91 Last Supper ...................... 0. 0 ...................... 0 ............................. 93 The Order of Circumcision ...................................................... 93 Historical Evidence ............................................................... 0 0 94 Journey to Arabia ........................... "0 ...................................... 94 The Conduct of the Disciples towards Paul ............................ 97 Paul and Barnabas ......... o....................... ................................ 97 Council of Jerusalem ............................................................ 102 The Letter Named Galatians ................................................. 107 Conclusions ................., ........................................................ 110 After Separation .................................................................... 112 Gospel of Barnabs·o .........................................: ..................... 112 Paul and Peter ...................................................................... 113 Letters of Peter ..................................................................... 11 5 James and Paul .................................................................... 117 John and Paul .............................. - ....................................... 11 8 Other Disciples .................................... '!' ............................... 119 Conclusions ........ 0 ... 0 ....... ......... ........... o... o•... 0 ............ 0 ........ 120 Opponents of Paul ... ~ ............................................................ 121 Recent Times ..............................................................., ........ 124 What is Christianity 9 CHAPTER 1 DEFINITION OF CHRISTIANITY The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines Chhstianity as follows: "The Religion that traces its origin to Jesus of Nazareth, whom it affirms to be the chosen one (Christ) of God". This definition of Christianity is very brief. Alfred A. Garvie has amplified this definition. In the article on Christianity in the Encyclopaedia Of Religion and Ethics, he writes as follows: "We may define Christianity as the ethical, historical, universal, monotheistic, redemptive religion, in which the relation of God and man is mediated by the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ". He thereafter. explains each part of the definition in detail. According him "Ethical". religion means that religion which prayers and offerings are not made to obtain earthl}o{ boons (such as food, health, safety, etc.) but, above all, itS, sole object is to attain spiritual perfection and the pleasure. of God. By "Historical" religion, he means that religion in which the pivot