Messengers
Question:-
The Quran requires belief in all the Prophets
and Messengers of God:-
"Verily, those who disbelieve in
Allah and His Messengers and desire to make a distinction between Allah and His
messengers, and say: We believe in some and disbelieve in others, and desire to
take a midway course between the two, these are the disbelievers, and We have
prepared for disbelievers shameful woe!" 4:150-151
How can one explain the apparent
contradiction between this and
"Verily, whether it be of those who
believe, or those who are Jews or Christians or Sabaeans, whoever believes in
Allah and the Last Day and acts aright, they have their reward with their Lord,
and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve." 2:62
"They are not all alike. Of the
people of the Book there is an upright community, reciting the revelations of
Allah throughout the night, falling prostrate (in Surrender). They believe in
Allah, and in the last day, and bid intelligent (or right) conduct, and forbid
what is stupid (or wrong), and vie with one another in good works; these are
among the righteous. What good they do, surely Allah will not deny its merit,
for Allah is Aware of those who fear (or repel) evil." 3:113-115
Comment:-
You say apparent contradiction. Apparent to
whom? I cannot see any.
It is the Messengers from Allah who tell us
about Allah, the Day of judgement and righteous deeds (2:62). That is their message.
They represent Allah on earth. To reject the Messenger is to reject Allah and
His message. So we are required neither to separate the Messenger from Allah
nor the Messengers from each other.
4:150-151 is the message to Muslims. Others
are invited to note that the message of Muhammad (saw) is the same as that of
previous Messengers.
Perhaps you think that the contradiction
exists because 2:62 does not mention belief in Messengers as a requirement for
salvation, while 4:150-151 does. But 2:62 does speak about belief in Allah and
righteous actions as a requirement and 4:150 can be taken as part of these.
Critic:-
What I don't understand is that Ayats 2:62,
3:113-114 and 5:69 present a very favourable picture of some non-Muslim People
of the Book, by saying that there are some Jews and Christians who will be
saved just as Muslims. But this is contradicted by 4:150-151, which would by
definition exclude Jews and Christians, who are precisely the ones who believe
in some prophets but disbelieve in Muhammad.
Comment:-
Before the advent of Muhammad (saw), there
was no requirement that they should believe in Mohammad though most religions
look forward to the coming of another major Prophet or the return of a Prophet.
This is understood as the return of a particular
Prophet but probably means Prophet in general as all Prophets having been sent
by God with the same message are not to be distinguished from each other.
Jesus, for instance speaks of the return of the "Son of Man" not
"Jesus" (Matthew 24:30-31). The Old Testament speaks of the coming of
a "Prophet like Moses" (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18)
It is necessary to understand that it is the
message that makes the Messenger or Prophet and it is that which has to be understood.
Accepting or rejecting the message is accepting or rejecting the Messenger. It
is affirmed that the message of Muhammad (saw) is the same as those of past
Prophets, though formulated differently. In so far as this message is meant for
the new age, those who reject it in the new age cannot benefit from it.
Critic:-
How should these verses be reconciled with
the following, which suggests individuals should be completely free to choose
what to believe?
"There is no compulsion in religion.
Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in God has
grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And God hears and
knows all things." Quran 2:256
Comment:-
People are free to believe what they like and
do what they like but that may carry them to hell or heaven.
The verse mentions truth and falsehood. We
are required to seek the truth and act accordingly and avoid errors. People are
rewarded or punished according to their actions. It is correct actions based on
correct motives based on correct knowledge that leads to self-fulfilment.
Critic:-
The Quran tells us:-
"Those who believe (in the Quran),
and those who are Jews and the Christians and the Sabaeans,- any who believe in
Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with
their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." 2:62
Is belief in God enough if men have not found
their way of light to live in good conscience towards God by faith alone rather
than in law?
Comment:-
"Faith alone rather than law" is
not taught anywhere, not by Jesus nor even by Paul.
"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
"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
"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without works is dead?" James 2:20
"Be not deceived: God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his
flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall
of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians 6:7-8
Critic:-
In my opinion the Quran asks Muslims to
follow their own conscience. Does it not say that Muslims are responsible for
their own souls (5:105, 10:109 and 17:15)?
I am still enough of a Protestant Christian
to believe that, in matters concerning God, we are all equal and no man's (or
woman's) opinion is any more authoritative than any other man's (or woman's).
Another Critic:-
Then, sir, you are not a Christian. Remember:
Thou shalt not enter heaven except through Christ - that is, Christ the Son of
God, not Jesus the minor prophet of the Quran. By the same token, no true
Muslim would say that Christianity is the 'equal' of Islam.
Comment:-
The gist of the Quran is that man has fallen
from perfection and does not function as he should. Consciousness, conscience
and will, the spiritual faculties are dormant. What people call conscience is
more likely to be social conditioning, prejudice, or rationalisation of
self-interest. Messengers were sent by God with a discipline by which this can
be rectified and humanity can improve.
Whereas Muslims are certainly responsible for
their own salvation, this responsibility includes seeking knowledge,
self-knowledge and doing good works which also requires knowledge of what is
good. They are required to avoid opinions based on speculation, guesswork,
prejudice, fantasy, bias and conditioning.
As for the idea that salvation is only
through Jesus, here we see intolerance based on misunderstandings.
(1) Jesus is not a minor Prophet in Islam.
(2) The phrase "son of God" is used
symbolically in the Bible to refer to those who are led by the Word or Spirit of
God. See John 1:12-13, John 10:33-35, Romans 8:14, Psalms 82:6
(3) You are referring to:-
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,
the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John
14:6
But does this imply that belief in him or
belief and practice of his teachings would lead to God? Muslims also believe
that Jesus was sent by God, but he was sent to deliver a message from God and
that is also what Jesus believed of himself.
If your interpretation of the verse is right,
how do you account for the following verses:-
"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
"And Jesus said unto him, Why do you
call me good? None is good, save one, that is, God." Luke 18:19
"And they shall come from the east,
and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down
in the kingdom of
God. And, behold, there
are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last."
Luke 13:29-30
"And whosoever shall speak a word
against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemes
against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven." Luke 12:10
"I can of mine own self do nothing:
as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will,
but the will of the Father which hath sent me." John 5:30
"For I came down from heaven, not to
do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." John 6:38 See also
7:16
"I have yet many things to say unto
you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to
come." John 16:12-13
Critic:-
For Islam Jesus is a lesser prophet than
Mohammed.
Comment:-
Where did you read this?
The Messengers were sent by God with various
missions. We follow the Prophet Muhammad (saw) because he is the last of the
Prophets who rectified the misinterpretations and corruptions that affected
previous dispensations of religion, clarified the concept of God, adapted
religion for the new era in human evolution that it introduced, completed and
universalised the message.
Critic:-
The Quran states:-
"How can He [Allah] have a son when
He hath no consort?" (6:101).
It states he does not have a consort. It
implies (or argues on those grounds) that he does not have a Son.
Comment:-
It is denying the literal interpretation of
"Son of God"
Critic:-
Not at all. Instead, it *assumes* a literal
interpretation of "Son of God".
Comment:-
Yes, it is assuming the literal
interpretation of those who believe it. I know very well that many Christians
do believe Jesus is literally the son of God. They have not understood what
their scripture is telling them that the phrase means those "led by the
spirit or word of God", i.e. those in Surrender to God. It has the same
significance as the word "Muslim". Because of the misunderstanding
the concept has been changed to "slave of Allah"
Critic:-
I still think 6:101 is weak. Arguing Allah
cannot have a Son because He has no consort doesn't make sense given Jesus'
birth from Mary who had no husband (or equivalent). If Jesus' birth was
"miraculous" then how much more should Allah be able to have a Son
without a consort - if He so chose.
Comment:-
I just do not think you, or Christians in
general, have understood the concept of Allah. Read the whole of the verse
6:101. It reads:-
"He is the Originator of the heavens
and the earth... How can He have children when He has no wife? He created all
things and He is the All-Knower of everything."
Allah is the fundamental, original,
self-existing, all pervading Reality, the source of all other things, the
Absolute, not one in a relativity. He creates and does not beget. He is not
something "A" which acts on something "B" to create
something "C", these others being external to Him. It is impossible
that that can be a human being. He does not have a son that is like Him.
But His spirit is in man where it is dormant
to various extents (asleep or even absent) except in the case of Messengers or
Saints, where it is active to various degrees. They act as agents or
representatives of Allah. They may be regarded as "God-with-us", but
they are not Allah.
When speaking of Jesus, he is understood as a
Word and Spirit from Allah. His birth refers to this and not to his physical
birth. (Born of the Spirit). Physically he was not different from other people
- See Quran 3:59
The word "Allah" refers to what
Jesus calls "Father in Heaven" only and not to a Trinity. The Spirit
and Word of Allah are not separately gods, though they come from Allah. We see
the Quran as the Word of God, but do not think it is God.
Critic:-
Is Muhammad a Prophet or Messenger like
Jesus? It would be interesting to examine the evidence for this. Did Jesus bear
arms? Are there records of him raising armies? Are there records of him
verbally attacking the enemies of his nation? Did Jesus exhort his followers to
kill their enemies? Did he command his followers to kill those who criticised
his teaching? Did he participate in the killing of his enemies? I believe the
record shows the answers to be no, no, no, no, no, and no.
Let's try that one with Muhammad. I believe
the record shows the answers to be yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.
Comment:-
The question is: How does Muhammad and Jesus
compare with other Prophets of the Old Testament? Joshua for instance did bear
arms, fought battles and killed under instruction from God ( Joshua 6:21-27.
Moses slaughtered many Israelites who had begun to worship the Golden Calf
(Exodus 32:2428). Christians think that Jesus fulfils the following Prophecy in
the Old Testament:-
"I will raise them up a Prophet from
among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his
mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."
Deuteronomy 18:18
This resembles the prediction by Jesus:-
"I have yet many things to say unto
you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to
come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto
you." John 16:12-14
This cannot refer to Jesus (saw), but both
fit Muhammad (saw). One could say that it applies to all Messengers of God in
general though their particular missions were different.
As you should know, from a reading of the Old
Testament and from the Book of Revelations in the New Testament, that God sends
various Messengers with different missions depending on the conditions of the
time.
Jesus (saw) lived when the Jews were under
the domination of a powerful Roman Empire
which brutally crushed all military uprisings against them. His mission was
therefore a more subtle one of doctrines and attitudes. Never the less he did
say:-
"Think not that I am come to send
peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34
"Then said he unto them, But now, he
that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no
sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36
There were two parts to the mission of Muhammad
(saw).
The first part was to teach in Mecca where he was
persecuted. In this respect his mission was exactly like that of Jesus.
But Jesus (saw) then disappeared saying he
had other sheep to visit. John 10:16. He was presumed to have been crucified,
killed and resurrected and then taken up to heaven. In fact, Christians expect
Jesus to return in order to fulfil the second part of his mission, though what
he said was that the "Son of Man" would return (Matthew 24:29-32, a
phrase that refers to Messengers in general. This would happen when the world
was in spiritual darkness.
Muhammad (saw) also disappeared from Mecca and arrived in Medina.
This can be seen as being equivalent to and symbolised by the disappearance of
Jesus. Note that the sign of the times was Jonah who was in the belly of the
Whale for 3 Days:-
"And when the people were gathered
thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign;
and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as
Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this
generation." 11:29-30
This applied to Jesus (saw) but also to
Muhammad (saw) who hid in a cave after escaping Mecca.
The second part of the Mission of Muhammad
(saw) was in Medina where he was attempting to
establish the Kingdom
of Heaven on earth, just
as the Lords Prayer taught by Jesus looks forward to and to which some of the
prophecies in the Book of Revelations apply. It is possible as some people
think that the Horseman on the white horse "out of whose mouth goes a
sharp sword" (Rev 19:11-15) applies to him. Other verses that may apply
are Revelations chapter 11 and 12.
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