Conversion
A Muslim:-
Real conversion to Islam requires one
to cut off all loyalties to other ideologies/states/nations/tribes etc. that
are above ones loyalty to Islam. Otherwise they would still be worshiping other
than Allah. That is the meaning of 'La' in the Kalima.
Comment:-
Though I agree with most of the
article on this subject by this Muslim, I find the above problematic.
We are required to surrender to
Allah which means that our primary loyalty is to Allah (rather than Islam) and
other loyalties can exist, but must be subordinate to this. The loyalty to the
Islamic community or even the Prophet or any other aspect of Islam is justified
only when it is, and because it is part of loyalty to Allah. This loyalty
involves loyalty to Truth, Goodness and Justice and other attributes of Allah.
This is certainly difficult, but
we are required to strive towards this and that is the Straight Way. People are at different
positions on the Straight Way.
Those who do not strive cannot be regarded as Muslim, but we cannot always
judge whether they do or not from the outside. However, those who do not have
those values will not strive and many who profess those values verbally do
contradict it in their behaviour and even in many of their expressed opinions.
Another Muslim:-
There is such a thing as being
<Muslim> in truth, but not being recognized as such by a given community.
Likewise, there is such a thing as being <Kaafir> in truth, while
nevertheless being taken for <Muslim> in a particular community.
There is such a thing as being
<Muslim> in truth while not professing Islam. Likewise, there is such a
thing as being <Kaafir> in truth while manipulating Muslim communities on
the false premise of one's self-identification as a "Muslim."
Comment:-
Yes, I am sure Allah will judge
with justice according to the reality of a person's state and not what he
claims or even erroneously believes. This may well mean that those who say or
even think that they are Muslim may not have "surrendered" at all,
while others who verbally deny being Muslim or even think so because they misunderstand
the meaning or application of terms may in reality be in greater
"surrender" than those who denounce them. In fact, people are various
combinations of Muslim and Kaafir and differ from each other according to the
proportion of each. Only the Messengers are wholly Muslim and Satan I wholly
Kaafir.
There appear to be three meanings
to the notion of "conversion".
(1) A person may have a numerous
separate units of data in his mind. Then he has "penny dropping"
experience, a sudden insight, where suddenly ideas in the mind re-organise
themselves and he understands what he previously did not. Most students have
this experience.
(2) A person may changes his mind
so that he changes his acceptance from one system to another. This may also be
the result of sudden insights caused by "significant illuminating
experiences", inner or outer.
(3) In religion, conversion means
a change of mind that involves repentance from one's former state of mind such
that there is a "turning", a mental re-orientation. The ordinary
sequence of events is that the environment E, provides stimuli S which cause
reactions R in us. These produce certain feelings or emotions F, which produce
thoughts T. We become conscious C of these thoughts and these produce our world
view W. In other words it is the world which we ourselves have created which
forms and drives us.
The sequence of events is
E-S-R-F-T-C-W
This sequence has to be reversed.
We must accept Allah as the ultimate reality and cultivate an awareness of His
presence. This should inform our thoughts that should affect our feelings, and
the feelings should lead to actions, which then transform the environment.
The sequence now becomes
W-C-T-F-R-S-E. Man becomes a vicegerent, an agent of Allah.
"Say: Truly, Allah leads
whom He will astray, but guides unto Him those who turn in repentance. Those
who believe and whose hearts have rest in remembering Allah. Verily, in
remembering Allah do hearts find rest (comfort, satisfaction,
fulfilment)." 13:27-28
True conversion to Islam is described
by the following verses:-
"Whoever will not judge by
what Allah has revealed, these are the disbelievers." 5:44
"Whoever judges not by
what Allah has revealed, these are the wrong-doers (the unjust)." 5:45
"Then let the people of
the gospel judge by that which is revealed therein, for whoever will not judge
by what Allah has revealed, these are the evil doers." 5:47
"And unto you (Muhammad)
have We revealed the Book in truth, verifying what was before it, and
preserving it. Judge then between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow
not their lusts (prejudices, fantasies), turning away from what is given to you
of the truth. For each of you have We appointed a Law and a traced out Path.
Had Allah pleased He would have made you one nation, but that He may try you by
that which He has given you. Therefore, vie with one another in virtue. Unto
Allah will you all return, and He will then inform you concerning that wherein
you dispute." 5:48
"Wherefore judge you
between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their lusts
(prejudices, fantasies, superstitions); but beware lest they mislead you from
part of what Allah has revealed to you ; and if they turn back, then know that
Allah wishes to smite them for some sins of theirs. Verily, many men are rebellious
(evil doers). Is it the judgment of the Time of Ignorance (i.e. before the
Revelation) for which they crave? But who is better than Allah as judge for
people who are certain?" 5:49-50
"Verily, We have revealed to
you the Book in truth that you may judge between men by what Allah has shown
you; so plead not for (or be used as an advocate by) the treacherous; But seek
Allah's pardon: Verily, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And contend (argue) not
for those who defraud themselves; for Allah loves not him who is a fraudulent
sinner." 4:105-107
"Shall I seek for Judge
other than Allah, when it is He who has sent down to you this Book in detail?
Those to whom We gave the Book know that it is sent down from your Lord, in truth.
So, be not you of those who doubt." 6:115
It is necessary for us to realise
that our opinions are most likely the result of conditioning or the accident of
the limited experiences and knowledge we have and all kinds of unconscious
habits and fixations. We have to seek knowledge and understanding through a
discipline given to us and from the guidance of those who have superior
knowledge. A Muslim is responsible for his own salvation, but he also has the
obligation to help others on the way.
"But most of them follow
naught but conjecture (suspicion, fancy, guesswork, speculation); verily,
conjecture can by no means take the place of (or avail against) truth. Verily,
Allah is Aware of what they do." 10:37
But people will be at different
positions on the Straight Way.
Essentially, a Muslim is one who strives along the way and is not judged by the
position he is on or by comparison with others. What counts is the sincerity of
people. When differences exist then the following verses apply:-
"Revile (or abuse) not
those who call on other than Allah, for then they may abuse Allah openly in
their ignorance. Thus We make seemly to every nation their deeds. But unto
their Lord is their return, and He will inform them of the truth of what they
used to do." 6:109
"Unto Allah will you all
return, and He will then inform you concerning that wherein you dispute."
5:48, Also see 6:60, 6:160, 6:165, 9:94 etc.
One can judge others only from
outer signs and then the instructions of the Quran must be followed about how
people manifesting those signs should be treated.
Question:-
There
are many resemblances between Islam and Christianity and the Quran acknowledges
that Jesus was a genuine Messenger of Allah. Yet there are also certain
differences. Why? There is no baptism or sacrament in Islam. Why not?
Answer:-
It has
been pointed out that Messengers were sent when the times changed and the old
dispensation of religion brought by a previous Messenger became eroded,
misunderstood, adulterated and corrupted. The doctrines in Christianity that
differ from those of Islam, such as the Divinity of Jesus, The Trinity of God
and Vicarious Atonement, cannot be found in the teachings of Jesus. The new
dispensation that came with the Prophet Muhammad did several things:-
(1) It
confirmed the teachings of the previous Messengers, thereby universalising
religion.
(2) It
discriminated between the truth in those teachings and the corruptions that had
arisen.
(3) It
reformulated the doctrines to be better understood by the people to whom they
were given.
(4) It
introduced a new set of practices for the new age.
(5) It
completed religion - According to the Prophet: Religion was like a house made
of bricks. The Prophet Muhammad added the last brick to complete the house.
Note that the last brick does not constitute the whole house, but the whole
house is Islam.
(6)
Whereas previous religions were designed for particular people in particular
times and places, Islam was for the whole world until the Day of Resurrection.
The world was rapidly become one owing to the development of transport,
communication and trade and Islam itself was a stimulus to this.
(7) A
distinction was made between what is inspired or revealed from Allah and what a
person thinks through the efforts of his ordinary mind. It is distinction
between a higher, more objective receptive consciousness and a lower mundane
active mind that deals with the ordinary concerns of life. We are required to
cultivate this higher consciousness.
(8) We
are required to judge by the Quran, which is a revelation, but it is guidance.
This means that it is (a) not a compulsion, (b) not rigid but flexible, and (c)
it must be applied consciously and intelligently. The Quran tends to have
general principles and the particular statements can be regarded as examples.
Human beings have limitations which must be recognised if improvement is to be
striven for. But these limitations also lead them astray. Allah is forgiving as
long as man repents and sincerely strives.
It is the striving that counts.
(9) We are
required to seek knowledge that is beneficial for spiritual development. This
implies that it is an on going effort, a way rather than a destination, and
accidentally acquired opinions, habits of thought, prejudices, fantasies, and
conclusions based on conditioning, impulse and partial knowledge are set aside.
Religion, these days, tends to be criticised and rejected by people who have
little or no knowledge of it.
(10) It
is necessary to understand that because all the genuine religions are Islam,
then the essence or spirit of the teaching must be distinguished from the
particular formulations and practices. Islam means "Surrender to
Allah" and that is what is important. All other things are means to that
end and are judged according to how efficiently they fulfil that need. This
applies not only to the formulation, institutions and practices but also to how
they are applied by each person.
As for
Baptism that symbolises renewal or spiritual rebirth - the sinner is immersed
in water and re-emerges purified. It represents conversion. The ritual itself
provides an experience that has or should have a profound psychological effect.
Water represents that from which life emerges.
According
to the Quran:-
"Say: We believe in Allah, and what has
been revealed to us, and what has been revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and
Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was brought to Moses and Jesus, and
what was brought unto the Prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction
between any one of them, and unto Him have we surrendered. If they believe in
that in which you believe, then are on the right path; but if they turn back,
then are they only in a schism, and Allah will suffice you against them, for He
both Hearer and Knower. (We take our) dye or colour) of Allah! And who is
better than Allah at dyeing? And we are worshippers of Him. Say: Do you dispute
with us concerning Allah, and He is our Lord and your Lord? You have your works
and we have ours, and unto Him alone are we sincerely loyal." 2:136-139
In other
words "Our religion is the baptism of Allah".
In
Christianity Jesus is the Word of God and this is confirmed also in the Quran
(3:45, 4:171), but in Islam the Quran is the Word of God. In the sacrament of
the bread and the wine, Christians are required to take into themselves Jesus
symbolically. This seems to be a preparation for the future when Muslims are
required to take in the Quran literally - not, of course, the book made of
paper and ink, but the teaching to which the word "Quran" and the phrase
"Word of God" refers. This means that it should become part of his
psyche, the source of his thought, motive and behaviour. The Word of God is the
creative force by which the Universe was created. The words themselves are only
the means, the vehicle, by which this is to be introduced into man to revivify
him.
"O you who believe! Respond unto Allah
and His Messenger when He calls you to that which quickens you; and know that
Allah comes in between a man and his own heart; and that He it is unto Whom you
shall be gathered." 8:24
God,
Allah is Timeless and Eternal, being self-existent and our spirit is derived
from Him. Therefore, when we realise and identify with our spirit, and we
surrender to it, then we also become Eternal.
Critic:-
You assert
that Jesus did not teach (1) his Divinity (2) the Trinity and (3) his Vicarious
Atonement. This is not true though
widely believed by Muslims. I consequently submitted a brief article showing
where, in the New Testament, these Christian doctrines are explicitly taught or
implied.
Comment:-
You say
Christian doctrines are implied! "Implied" means that you are putting
your own interpretations on things, and these arise from what the Church
teaches. I am telling you what Jesus says explicitly and I can see what is
implied by other saying from what is compatible with what Jesus says and with
what the Quran says. Jesus is a Messenger of Islam and what he says is relevant
to Islam, but not what others say.
(1) Re:
The divinity of Jesus, we read:-
"And this is Eternal Life that they
might know THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent."
John 17:3
"While I was with them in the world I
kept them in THY NAME..." John 17:12
"He that hears my word and believes on
Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come unto condemnation,
but is passed from death into life." John 5:24
Note
that it is not belief in Jesus but in the Father that leads to salvation.
"Ye worship ye know not what: WE KNOW
WHAT WE WORSHIP: FOR SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS. But THE HOUR cometh, and now is,
when the TRUE WORSHIPPERS SHALL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: for
the FATHER SEEKETH SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM." John 4:22-24
"And he said unto him, Why callest thou
me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments." Mt 19:17
Jesus
did not do or speak of himself but what God instructed. Look up John 6:38,
57, 7:16, 8:28, 10:37-38, 12:49
Therefore,
if you wish to be a good follower of Jesus you have to "Surrender to
God".
"FOR MY FATHER IS GREATER THAN I."
John 14:28, so the idea that he was equal with God as the Trinity doctrine says
is false.
(2) Re:
Trinity, The following verses show that there is no Trinity and the Father is
the only God:- John 1:18, 5:37, 6:29,46, 13:16 15:1-2, 4:28 17:3, 20:17, Romans 15:6, 1Corinthians
1:3, 3:22-23, 8:5-6, 11:3, 12:4-6, 2Corinthians 1:2-3, 11:31, 13:14, Ephesians
1:2-3, 17 6:23, 4:4-6, Galatians
4:4-6 Philippians 1:2, 4:19-20 Colossians 1:2-3, 1Thessalonians 1:1 2Thessalonians
1:1-2 1John 4:12, 2John 1:3
1Timothy 1:2, 17, 2:5, 6:15-16, Titus 1:4 Philemon 1:3 James 2:19 Jude 1:1 1 Peter 1:2-3.
Even
Paul did not believe in Trinity:-
"For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" 1 Tim 2:5
"There is actually to us one God the
Father,...and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ" 1 Cor 8:6
"One God and Father of all, who is over
all and through all and in all" Eph 4:6
Thus
John 1:1 should be "...Word was God's" [Theos=God, Theou=God's]
(3) Re:
Vicarious Atonement: Jesus says:-
"Not every one that says unto me Lord,
Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but He THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY
FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. Many will say to me in that Day: Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy
name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW
YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY." Matthew 7:21-23
Also, "Now we know that God hears not
sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God and does His will, him He
hears." John 9:31
Salvation
is by obeying the Father, God. So we interpret the sacrifice of Jesus (saw) as
follows:-
He like
other Messengers, including Mohammad (saw), devoted their lives to the service
of God and man to bring them the teaching of salvation, and they were willing
to undergo persecution and hardship.
But it is not their sacrifice that saves, but the teaching, the Word of
God.
The
evidence from your own Scriptures is overwhelming that the doctrines many
Christians (not all) believe are false. It is not difficult for an unprejudiced
mind to see that Islam rectifies these misunderstandings. This is why fair and
knowledgeable Christians convert to Islam. This will continue.
Critic:-
Jesus did
many miracles which show that he had divine powers. Or do you not believe that
he did miracles? Why would people record these if they did not happen?
Comment:-
People
in the past were less rational and regarded many things miraculous the causes
of which they did not know, but for which modern knowledge can find
explanations. There were in fact many miracle workers in those days. Even today
many people do and want to believe in wonders and miracles. However, it is not
just the miracles themselves that were impressive but also their psychological,
social and political meaning. These related back to the Old Testament stories
and prophecies. Jesus was seen as similar to other Prophets such as Moses,
Joshua, who brought the Israelites (now under Roman domination) out of
servitude in Egypt
to the Promised land and Elijah and Isaiah, and the promised Messiah. The
spiritual children of God were to be liberated from subjection to Satan. But
there is no need to disbelieve the miracles. There are certainly people that
can do extra-ordinary things. The Spirit of God is in man and God works through
those in whom it is active. His disciples did not understand Jesus (John
16:12-13) and thought he was God ignoring his own statements that he was sent
by God and could not do anything himself. People still believe this because
they have not understood their religion. Jesus was a man in surrender to God,
an agent for God, His representative on earth, one through whom God worked. As
the Quran says, he was a spirit and word from God. As such he could not be
crucified.
Critic:-
Years
ago I wrestled with which was right, Islam or Christianity. You can see my brief testimony on
www.christo-islamica.com. I have
settled on Christianity. To be honest with you, I'm glad I settled on
Christianity which has Jesus as it's figurehead. Jesus is amazing. As a role model, he takes my breath away
for his self-less-ness. I wish I could be like him in that respect but I have
to admit I struggle.
If I were
Muslim, I would be slightly embarrassed about certain things Muhammad did.
Comment:-
It
depends on how you interpret things. People followed Muhammad just as they did
Jesus. They did not see anything wrong with him. Obviously they were not and
are not embarrassed about what Muhammad is supposed by you to have done. He was
also completely self-less, owning nothing but devoting his life to God and
mankind. Like Jesus he was in submission to God, a Muslim.
Lesser
men can hardly judge those whom God chooses. It seems rather arrogant of you to
judge them. It is a strange fact that critics reject the Hadith as unreliable
when it comes to a history of the Prophet, but when it comes to criticising him
they are quick to accept dubious reports! There are many who choose Islam
because of the teaching rather than personalities.
There
are also things which Jesus did which some people think are embarrassing - e.g.
cursing a fig tree because it gave no fruit, causing swine to drown themselves,
upsetting the tables of the merchants at the Temple, and insulting the Pharisees.
On the
other hand as a role model, Jesus was said to be unmarried and could not be a
model for most people, especially if he is regarded as a god. Muhammad was a
regarded by many as perfect role model, but more:- He was seen as a
Businessman, Family man, Statesman, Diplomat, General, Administrator, Judge, as
well as an Orator, Spiritual Teacher, Prophet and Saint. There have been many
great men but each specialising in one of these departments of life, but none
who combined all these roles. He was regarded as the greatest man that ever
lived in a book entitled "The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential
Persons in History".
You
judge things according to what you know and understand, but Prophets and Messengers
see things within a greater objective context. See Quran 18:61-83. But Jesus
predicted someone like him would come after him and lead people to the greater
truth than what his followers were able to understand. John 14:16-17, 15:26,
16:12-14). That was fulfilled in Muhammad.
Critic:-
Islam
seems to be deficient in that it does not appear to have a concept of the Holy
Spirit. I find the usual Islamic treatment of the spirit strange. As I
understand the literature, many Muslims consider the "entity" called
the Holy Spirit as equivalent to the angel Gabriel.
Comment:-
No, The
Holy Spirit is not Gabriel, though Gabriel is said to be a creature made of
Spirit, as are other Arch angels while angels are made of light and jinn of
fire, humans of earth. The Spirit is put into man. This cannot possibly apply
to Gabriel - he is not in man. Jesus was also called a spirit from God.
The
Quran says:-
"They will ask you about the Spirit.
Say: The Spirit is by the command of my Lord, and you are given but a little knowledge thereof." 17:85
"And she (Mary) took a veil (to screen
herself) from them; and We sent unto her Our Angel (or spirit); and he assumed
for her the semblance of a perfect man." 19:17
"So when I have fashioned it, and
breathed into it of My Spirit, then fall you down before him, prostrating
yourselves before him (in obeisance)." 15:29
"Then He fashioned him (man) and
breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the faculties of hearing, and
sight and heart; little is it that you give thanks." 32:9
"So when I have fashioned him in due
proportions and breathed into him of My spirit, then fall down making obeisance
unto him." 38:73
"And (remember) her who guarded her
chastity, and We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and We made her and her son a
sign unto the worlds (or all peoples, or all creatures)." 21:91
Critic:-
I
believe one must look for the real Islamic equivalent of the Holy Spirit among
the Sufis.
Comment:-
To know
Islam, one must study the Quran rather than go by what some Muslims or Sufis
say.
Critic:-
So far
as I know non-Sufi Islam has no word for, and no place for, a situation where a
worshipper is, so to speak, suddenly filled with God. But the God that fills
the worshipper cannot be the actual entity God. It is rather the
"spirit" of God. If the matter is mentioned in the Quran I have
missed it.
Comment:-
"He sends down the angels with the
Spirit at His command upon whom He will of His servants, saying: Give warning
that there is no God but Me; therefore, fear (do your duty to) Me." 16:2
"The Exalter of Ranks, Lord of the
Throne: He casts the Spirit by His
command upon whom He wills of His servants, that he may warn (men) of the Day
of Meeting." 40:15
"O you who believe! Respond unto Allah and
His Messenger when He calls you to that which quickens you; and know that Allah
comes in between a man and his own heart; and that He it is unto Whom you shall
be gathered." 8:24
Critic:-
But the
Quran says nothing about the Holy Spirit in the sense the word is used among
Christians. The quotes you gave show Allah speaking to mankind. Well and good,
But that is not what "the Holy Spirit" means. Have you ever visited a
Pentecostal Christian Church? Have you ever heard of the Azusa Street revival? Have you ever seen
people speaking in tongues? Do you know what a Holy Roller is? If you knew what
a Pentecostal Christian is, you would know that these things are not what the
Quran describes. But no real Sufi would be surprised at a Pentecostal service.
Christianity lost track of Pentecostal religion sometime in the first Christian
century and did not regain it until the twentieth. Islam, it appears, was
founded without much help from the Sufis. It was Ghazzali's great contribution
to reconcile the Sufis with mainline Islam. But I must confess that I know very
little about the Sufis.
Comment:-
Are you
saying that the Spirit in the Quran is not the same as the Holy Spirit in the
teachings of Jesus? I would say that the Spirit in the Quran is probably not
what some Christians think it is.
Sufism
has existed since the time of the Prophet and is a branch of Islam that
separated for some time from the Orthodox branch based on the Shariah. I know
about the Pentecostal practice and I know about some Sufi practices of the same
kind. Those who take part in these are Muslims. The condition is known as
"being drunk with the Spirit". So it applies to some Muslims as it
applies to some Christians. Why are you differentiating between Muslims and
Sufis but not between Christians and Pentecostals?
As far
as I understand it this “speaking in tongues” is mentioned in Acts
2:4-17. But here it says that this was prophesied by the prophet Joel. (Joel
2:28-30) and it is about the Last Days. There were all kinds of nationalities
present, and "every man heard them speak in his own language".
This is
certainly not the case in these Pentecostal gatherings which seem to me to be a
type of self-induced hypnotic hysteria. But I might be wrong and I do not
dismiss every case as spurious. Jesus did not teach this nor does the Quran.
As far
as I understand it the Quran disapproves of drunkenness when coming to prayer
and this refers to all kinds of drunkenness.
Critic:-
If you
cannot appreciate mysticism I can do little to help you. But you might loosen
up enough to realize that some people do feel mystic. The episode about the
Pentecost is merely the most spectacular. The real source of knowledge about
these matters is Paul's letters and, as I mentioned, especially the later
chapters of First Corinthians.
Comment:-
You are
jumping to conclusions instead of understanding what was being said! What makes
you think that I do not know mysticism and that I may not be a Sufi?
But then
any one can call himself a Sufi and the word Sufi now-a-days covers people of a
range of qualities including charlatans, pretenders and hypocrites. To
distinguish between them requires some knowledge and discernment. There are
Sufis and Sufis as there are Muslims and Muslims. As is said: Everything that
glitters is not gold. In fact it is more likely to be hidden.
There is
a difference between real religious experiences and spurious ones. You need to
understand the difference between the experience of the real and
pseudo-experiences, imitation, hysterics, self-induced hallucinations and
hypnotic states. It is also necessary to understand the difference between real
conversion and pretence, self-deception, wishful thinking, rationalisation,
misinterpretation and errors in judgement.
Critic:-
One of
the factors that prevents conversion to Islam is that Muhammad is presented as
a paedophile who married Aisha when she was 6 years old and consummated his
marriage when she was 9 years old. This and his polygamy show an inferior moral
character.
Comment:-
Apart
from the fact that none of the people who followed him at the time thought that
there was anything wrong with his actions, the report which critics like to
base their objection on is unreliable. It has been perversely selected as part
of a smear campaign. That report is one of two contradictory versions that came
through Hisham bin Arwah, the grandson of Asma, Aisha’s sister.
Scholarship shows that Aisha was probably 16 when she was engaged to the
Prophet and 19 when she came to live with him.
The
facts are:- AbuBakr had four children before the beginning of the revelation,
including Asma and Aisha, who was 10 years younger. She was betrothed to the
Prophet 2 years after the death of Khadijah his first wife, a year before the
Hijra. She joined the Prophet 1-2 years after the Hijra, or 2-4 years after her
betrothal. She was widowed in the 11th year of the Hijra and died in
the 50th year. Asma, her older sister died at the age of 100 in 73rd
year. She was 77 when Aisha died. As Asma was 10 years older, Aisha must then
have been 67 when she died. This makes her 17 in the year of the Hijra, 16 when
she was betrothed and 19 or 20 when she entered the Prophets household.
Critic:-
A
doctrine that prevents conversion to Christianity is the virgin birth of Jesus.
But this is also affirmed in the Quran. Consider this: The Quran calls Jesus
the "Son of Mary" but also says:
"How can He [Allah] have a son when He
hath no consort?" (6:101).
If
that's a valid argument, then, how did Mary have a son without a
"consort"?
Comment:-
Are you
saying that Allah has a consort? Perhaps you think Mary was His wife? And we
are back to the Trinity as Father, Mother and Son (Osiris, Isis and Horus). Is
Mary the “Mother of god” for you?
Can you
not see that the denial that Allah has a consort is a denial that He is a human
being and the denial of the literal interpretation of the phrase "Sons of
God" This phrase is defined as "those who are led by the Spirit or
Word of God." in the NT (Romans 8:14, John 1:12-14, 10:33-38.
As for
the birth of Jesus, the Quran states:-
"Verily the likeness of Jesus with Allah
is as the likeness of Adam. He created him from earth, then He said to him: BE!
And he was." 3:59
Compare
this with:-
"(Allah) Who made good everything that He
has created, and He began the creation of man from dust. Then He made his
progeny of an extract, of a fluid held in low esteem. Then He fashioned him and
breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the faculties of hearing, and
sight and heart; little is it that you give thanks." 32:7-9
"And she (Mary) took a veil (to screen
herself) from them; and We sent unto her Our Angel (or spirit); and he assumed
for her the semblance of a perfect man. Said she: Verily, I take refuge in the
Merciful One from you, if you are god-fearing. Said he: I am only a messenger
of your Lord to bestow on you a pure son." 19:17-19
There is
no difference in birth. The condition of Jesus refers to his spiritual nature.
"O you people of the Book! Do not commit
excesses in your religion, nor say against Allah anything save the truth. The
Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but the messenger of Allah and His Word,
which He cast into Mary and a Spirit from Him;..." 4:171
Muhammad 'Ali (English rendering of the
Quran, Fifth Edition (1963), p.142, footnote 422.) writes quoting IJ
(Jåmi al-Bayån fi Tafsir al-Qur'ån by Imåm Abu Ja'far
Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari.):-
"[Jesus
was] what the Prophet described him to be in his controversy with the Najran
deputation when he said to them: Do you not know that Jesus was conceived by a
woman in the manner in which all women conceive? Then she was delivered of him as women
are delivered of their children?
Then he was fed as children are fed. Then he ate food and drank water
and answered the call of nature (as all mortals do)? The deputation replied to all these
questions in the affirmative, on which the Prophet said: Then how can your
claim (that he was God or Son of God) be true? (IJ) The Prophet's clear argument, which even
the Christian deputation could not question, settles the matter that Jesus was
conceived in the ordinary manner and that Mary became a wife and mother in the
ordinary way."
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