After I posted my interest in having Muslims consider the possibility that Muhammad was not a Prophet of God and the Quran not a book from God, a reader responded, "If you wouldn't mind, providing your readers the courtesy of describing why you - as a Lutheran, no? - believe Jesus is the Son of God and the Bible is the Word of God would be most appreciated."
It is common for Muslims to respond with a question to a question. Ask a Muslim about Muhammad, and he'll ask you about Moses. Raise a question about amputated hands flying in the Quran, and she will inquire about stones hurled in Leviticus.
But this was different. It was an honest question that deserves a serious answer. What do I believe, and why?
Before I get into it, let me present a few alibis. First of all I'm a Lutheran because, as I describe here, I made a spur-of-the-moment turn off the highway last year. The label of the church that attracted me was merely incidental (and what Martin Luther wrote about the Jews in his later years was, in my opinion, indicative of a person who had become mentally unstable).
Secondly, have you noticed how much easier it is for people to talk about what they don't believe than what they do? People proudly describe themselves as agnostics, or doubters, or atheists. Ask them what they do believe, rather than proclaiming what they don't, and you get an glazed stare.
One more thing. In religion, as in politics, it is imperative to define the terms you are talking about. What does the reader mean when she uses the terms "word of God" and "son of God"? If she is thinking Islamically, she means that God dictated words to Biblical writers who wrote them down as Muhammad recited verbatim the messages given him from Allah via Gabriel. She also means that a human, Jesus, somehow became God and Christians call this man-god the son of God.
Back to what I believe about the Bible and Jesus. I believe the Bible is a unique book that conveys two powerful messages: the presence and the purpose of God. God is present with us, and our lives have purpose. We are not alone, and the things we do as well as what happens to us is not meaningless.
Tell me about Noah's drunkenness, Lot's incest, Moses' murder, David's adultery, Samson cavorting with prostitutes, Joshua's plundering, Ezra forcing men to divorce their wives because they did not belong to the right tribe - and these were the good guys! - and my response is, "Yes, that's who people are and what people do. And the incredible message of the Bible is that God uses people like this to accomplish his purposes." People who, in spite of their weaknesses, want to live close to him. People like Martin Luther, and you and me.
So what do I believe about Jesus? Well, I do believe that for the only time in history a young virgin became pregnant without the input of male sperm. God himself impregnated her, and just as my sons carry characteristics of me Jesus carried the supernatural characteristics of his father. God expressed himself uniquely in human form (which is quite different than a man becoming God, and is also quite different than describing someone such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, or Nelson Mandela as being godlike).
I also think that Jesus died and physically came back from the dead, and that somehow his death means that my shortcomings, sins, and failures are forgiven. The most important moment of my week is when the pastor says every Sunday morning, "You are forgiven of all your sins."
Why can't God just forgive sins? Why did he require the blood of a human sacrifice? I don't know, but I believe there was a necessary link between the death of Jesus and the pardon of my trespasses.
I believe one more thing. I think the Golden Rule is really important, but it is a lot harder to do consistently than people imagine and we often get it wrong. It's not just to treat other people the way you want them to treat you, it is to treat them as they want to be treated. When my housekeeper cleans my house, the Golden Rule is not for me to treat her the way I want her to treat me. I want her to clean thoroughly and not steal my valuables, but that's not the point. What is important is that I treat her with the respect and honor that she deserves as a human being, including not trying to get as much from her for as little money as possible.
Well, there you are. In a nutshell, that's what I believe.
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28 comments:
Amen and amen. Great synopsis of the Christian faith!
Just tell me when did you ask a muslim and he replied on you by a question !!
You asked last time, why muslims don’t say that you are infidels “KUFFAR”, I answered you immediately you ARE INFIDELS and YOU will go to HELL with no doubt, of course if you died on your belief by denying ALLAH’s message and fighting his prophet Muhammad and his followers the muslims..
So, tell me which question that you want a muslim to answer you for ??
After reading “Azzazil” the story of a Coptic Monk in 4th century, I discovered something important that:
Christianity as religion and Christians since long time, almost 17 centuries ago were lost already far away, that they were fighting in their main religion principles, they fought severely just to determine the main pillars of their belief, they couldn’t agree..
We even can challenge you all, to agree on one statement like we “Muslims” have, that says:
“There is no God except ALLAH and Mohammad is his messenger”..
This 11 words and letters only, I am pretty sure that all 2 billion Christians in the World with all their groups they can’t agree on such principle statement for Christianity, and if they meet to discuss it, they will fight again and ban each others and new religious groups will pop out, and churches will be burned and priests will poisoned or exiled !!!
And you are trying to challenge Al-Qaradawi and mix the honey with your poison to mislead others from following Islam. What a pity,.
What a poor man…
You religion was changed in 3 centuries period that you lost how it was before, and with all your misleading and war against muslims for 14 centuries, you couldn’t change a word not even a letter in Muslims belief nor in Allah’s book of course ….
Truly, as Allah said:
Lo! those who disbelieve spend their wealth in order that they may debar (men) from the way of Allah. They will spend it, then it will become an anguish for them, then they will be conquered. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto hell [8:36]
Amen..
Ya Abdallah,
Once I asked a Muslim named Mansour some questions that made him unhappy. After our conversation another friend said to me, "Why are you asking Mansour these questions? Why don't you just let him be a happy Muslim?
Well, Habibi, I am more than happy to let you continue to be a happy Muslim!
Dear Abdallah Muslim,
The Statement of Faith that most 2 billion Christians believe is the Nicene Creed. Sorry to disappoint you. Since we watch Sunnis and Shias kill each other in droves (men, women and children) every day over differences in your creeds alleged unity over the your one theological statement rings pretty hollow to us.
I would note that you seem to delight in the thought of the rest of us going to hell. I feel sorry for you that you are so deceived and have rejected the true Gospel of Jesus and embraced hatred.
Dear Cyril,
1st - I understand from your talk that if I asked any Christian on the street what is the Nicene Creed, he will know the answer?
Honestly my friend, I doubt!!
Let’s start by quotable, Please quotable write down the Nicene Creed but DON’T CHEAT and search it from internet, write it immediately from your mind and let’s see …
2nd - Although we are different, but fortunately we all agree on Shahada: “There is no God except ALLAH and Muhammad is his messenger”
And Yes, they are fighting together but I wonder who is standing behind it, so they don’t focus on liberating their country and he keep stealing quietly their Oil, I wonder who might be (don’t be offended, there are so much thieves there)..
But hopefully the situation is improving, we pray for that…
3rd - My friend, nobody knows who will rest in hell or heaven except ALLAH, he is the ultimate Judge, I answered only on the belief and on Quotable question that we may be afraid or shy to answer them directly, I told him NO we are not afraid nor shy, and as they are infidel in our religion we are also infidels in their religion !! so what …
4th - About Hatred, believe we never hate Christians, especially the Arabs among them, we were all Christians before being Muslims, but part of us didn’t accept Islam, even till now I know many families who part of them Muslims and others Christians with the same family name and live in the same villages for centuries, we only feel pity and sad for them..
Jesus (PBUH) said that a prophet will come after him, and Muhammad (PBUH) is the only prophet in history who came and said that I am messenger in God, he appraised Jesus and his mother, and clarified all the truth about them and all other prophets that came before him..
He left us a book, that is the only authentic holy book in history, that never changed and all its miracles and prophecies are being discovered day after day..
He show us the right way and right worship and right morals, and changed us all from killing each others, and burying our children, drunks and rapist, ignorant people, to leaders of the worlds in few years..
But still Christians among us decided to close their eyes..
If they came on the day of Judgment and see the first thing that all prophets are gathered to the Right of God and Muhammad is standing beside Jesus and he is the nearest one to him, as he said.
How they can justify it? what they can say to God for not following him ?
Unfortunately, on that day they are not allowed to see God, not to justify, nor to apologize, they will ask for another chance, the angles will answer them you already took your chance and being asked very few things and you refused, then they throw them in Hell !!
Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? (103)
"Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds! (104)
"They are those who deny the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and the Meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). So their works are in vain, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall assign not weight for them. (105)
"That shall be their recompense, Hell; because they disbelieved and took My Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and My Messengers by way of jest and mockery. (106)
• قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالا
• الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا
• أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا
• ذَلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَرُسُلِي هُزُوًا
Ya habibi YA Quotable..
Please, Make me sad now and let’s be happy together tomorrow..
I remember one of the first Muslims scholars being asked: when you will be happy?
He replied: After I have my first step in Paradise..
So, till then we have enough time, so ask me please..
--------------------------------------------------------
Sorry, I have the following only in Arabic from a book called “The Hell”:
عن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال :( يؤتي بجهنم يومئذ لها سبعون ألف زمام ، مع كل زمام سبعون ألف ملك يجرونها )
لو تركت على أهل المحشرعباد الله ..
لو تركت النار على أهل المحشر عباد الله لأتت على برهم وفاجرهم ..
فلا إله إلا الله ..
كيف سيكون حالي وحالك إذا اشتد الفرق، وسال العرق ؟؟!!
كيف سيكون حال وحالك { إِذَا دُكَّتِ الْأَرْضُ دَكّاً دَكّاً ، وَجَاء رَبُّكَ وَالْمَلَكُ صَفّاً صَفّاً ، وَجِيءَ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِجَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَذَكَّرُ الْإِنسَانُ وَأَنَّى لَهُ الذِّكْرَى } ؟؟!!
أي والله ..لن ينفع الندم ، ولن تنفع الذكرى..
سيندم العصاة على ما سلف من المعاصي والذنوب ..
بل وسيندم أهل الطاعات ويتمنون أن لو زادوا في الأعمال الصالحة والقربات ..
سيؤتى بجهنم .. وسيندم كل جبار عنيد ..
فإذا جاءت بأمر الله تبارك وتعالى جاءت بالهول الأكبر ، والفرغ الأعظم..
سيخرج من نَفَسِهَا وهج شديد..
ويُسمع من جوفها دوي سلاسل وحديد ..
ويسمع الخلائق الشهيق ، ويرون الحريق ..
فإذا نظرت في أهل المعاصي ثارت ، وفارت ، وتفلتت من الملائكة الذين يسحبونها تنادي وتقول غاضبة لغضب ربها :
لأنتقمنَّ اليوم ممن خلقته وعبد سواك ..
لأنتقمنَّ اليوم ممن أكل رزقك وعصاك ..
لأنتقمنَّ اليوم ممن أسبغت عليه نعمك ونساك ..
ستزفر زفرة فتصيح الخلائق بأعلى صوتها :
يالله ..
تزفر زفرة فتصيح الخلائق بأعلى صوتها :
يالله ..
ثم تزفر زفرة ثانية فتجثو الأمم على ركبها ..
ثم تزفر ثالثة فتتساقط الخلائق على وجوهها ..
ثم تتابع المشاهد والأهوال في ذلك المنظر ، وفي ذلك اليوم العظيم ..فيفر الناس إلى آدم ، وإلى نوح ، وإبراهيم ، وموسى ، وعيسى ، وكلهم ينادي : نفسي نفسي لا أسألك غيرها .. نفسي نفسي لا أسألك غيرها ..
….
I enjoy reading your blog, but your characterization of atheists, agnostics and doubters having glazed stares when questioned about what they believe is specious. I can't speak for all doubters, but the overwhelming majority of those I know will tell you they believe in the Golden Rule as well.
Stephen,
Forgive me for doing what writers and bloggers often tend to do - use a little creative liberty and exaggeration to get their point across.
I guess I was thinking of some people I've met who are very critical of what they describe as fundamentalist, literalist Christians and what they believe. But when I ask them what they believe in return, the response is, "Well, I'm an agnostic." And I'm thinking - but that doesn't really tell me what you do believe.
Fair enough.
I think Marcus Aurelius probably presented our positio best when he wrote:
"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by.
If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them.
If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones."
You forthrightly outline what you do believe -- amen -- but not really why you believe it. Nor do I challenge you, but only note, that the person who posed the original question -- “Why?” -- might understandably not be satisfied. A book that more directly addresses her question is Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis.
Odd, b.t.w., that your modest and middle-of-the-road post should have elicited the closest you’ve come to a flame-war in the Comments Column; whereas some much more chin-out essays have elicited only peaceable murmurs.
Thanks for sharing this! I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this topic. :)
Didn't Jesus always answer questions with questions?
When you say that God impregnated Mary... I know what you mean to say (I hope at least), but maybe you could make the wording more delicate, especially given what Muslims think we mean when we say that Jesus is God's Son.
Since I am the reader who posed the initial inquiry, I'd like to thank you for a thoughtful response. Though I am not a Muslim it is true that my husband is. But to clarify, I place more value on maintaining objectivity than I do on his or your individual religious beliefs, and your response now provides some sense of balance to an area it was seriously lacking.
If I might humbly impart some borrowed wisdom from Shawnee Chief Tecumsa who 200 years ago seemed lightyears ahead of the polarization us modern "civilized" folk seem so infested with:
"Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When your time comes to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home."
You see, I think what Tecumseh was trying to say is that, opinions are like @ssholes... :p
Gee, whodathunkit? Personally, I often feel like the luckiest live-and-let-live Libertarian in the world. It's aWeSoMe after you allow yourself to stop giving a shit which side of the bread the neighbors are buttering. That way, instead of being all pissed off that they're not buttering the same side of bread YOU do, maybe one day they'll invite you over and you can safely appreciate the bread they may have offered MORE and BECAUSE it's not buttered on your same-old-lame-old side -- safe in the knowledge your own bread and butter are on standby over in your own sandbox next door, of course.
But ya, I mean aside from the scathingly rude remarks sliding intentionally out of your brain regarding the Islamic religion you apparently disdain, you make Lutheranism sound really nice... lol..
So no hard feelings, truly. I really do enjoy your blog. I think you're a nice writer and I like to keep abreast of different perspectives. And from where I'm sitting, you, sir, have most definitely got that going on in spades.
Oops, I forgot to check the comment follow-up button.
Hey, did you ever figure out how to set up a subscription email when you post something new?
Something has been troubling me about this post since yesterday, one point in particular from your blog.
Quote, "Tell me about Noah's drunkenness, Lot's incest, Moses' murder, David's adultery, Samson cavorting with prostitutes, Joshua's plundering, Ezra forcing men to divorce their wives because they did not belong to the right tribe - and these were the good guys! - and my response is, "Yes, that's who people are and what people do. And the incredible message of the Bible is that God uses people like this to accomplish his purposes." People who, in spite of their weaknesses, want to live close to him. People like Martin Luther, and you and me."
Q: How do you reconcile the fact that God may in fact use people like those, but not people like Muhammad? I have read and reread with great interest your Impossible Task thread. It would seem to me plenty of scholars might come up with a similar list about any of the prophets you speak of, including Jesus, that's all.
Dear My Friend Quotable,
It seems there is an attack on your blog from Atheists, I tried not to interfere but you know how much I love you so I couldn’t stay calm, so allow your muslim friend to reply a little bit..
My friend Stephan,
Your argument is missing an important piece of information:
If there is no God, we will return to dust, nothing will happen, I agree with you..
If there is a God, you said: but unjust then there is no need to worship them..
You forget to say, if there is a God, means really there is a heaven and hell and since the God is created you and all what around you, and during all your life you didn’t thank him once, and didn’t follow any of his commandment, therefore if he is Just he must send you to hell, and if he is unjust (god forgive me) he will send to hell anyway, so in both cases you will go to hell.
The problem that you don’t know what is really hell will be, I will post one of my articles soon, called: “The way to Hell !!” just to know what you will be expecting there..
---------------------------------
So, to make it easy for you to understand it, I will compare to you the muslims belief with Atheist belief.
Muslims worship God “The Creator of heavens and Earth, Life and Death, Hell and Paradise”, so whoever will resurrect us again, he will be our Creator, we called him “ALLAH” which means in Aramia language (Jesus language) and Arabic: “THE GOD = AL – ELLAH”.
So, if he doesn’t exit, we die, become dust, nothing happen, nothing to lose.
If he does exit, he will resurrect us again, forgive us, send us to heaven, so we win.
Muslims (nothing, or Win)
Atheist (nothing, or lose).
Like someone ask you to choose a battle of poison or credit card.
you may take the poison and don’t die and maybe you die immediately.
And you may take the credit card and get millions of dollars, and you may find nothing.
Muslim is someone who chooses the credit card.
Atheist is someone who chooses the poison.
Can you imagine, when I was debating on Atheist Forum, I got 30 replies arguing that maybe poison is not deadly and some may take it and still alive !!!
I told them that a normal human being doesn’t bit on his life for losing only or gain nothing. But you can bit for wining or lose nothing, but wish they understand..
John
You think that Muslims do care about you do or whatever you believe, ALLAH already explained your religion and all other pagan religions in Quran:
They (Jews, Christians and pagans) say: "Allâh has begotten a son (children)." Glory is to Him! He is Rich (Free of all needs). His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. No warrant you have for this. Do you say against Allâh what you know not. (68)
Say: "Verily, those who invent a lie against Allâh will never be successful" - (69)
(A brief) enjoyment in this world! - and then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve [in Allâh, belie His Messengers, deny and challenge His Ayât (proofs, signs, verses, etc.)]. (70) [Jonah]
Aemish,
If you are going to die and you know there may be a hell waiting for you, a hell that its coolest level is to wear a shoes from embers that your brain will boil from their heat, or locked in a metal coffin and thrown in hell that fire is surrounding you everywhere and can’t get out, that your skin is burned till it fall all, then it’s created again to keep tasting the pain, Allah says in Quran:
Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment. Allah is ever Mighty, Wise. [4:56]
These two opponents (believers and disbelievers) dispute with each other about their Lord; then as for those who disbelieved, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. (19)
With it will melt (or vanish away) what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins. (20)
And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them). (21)
Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and (it will be) said to them: "Taste the torment of burning!" (22) [Al-Hajj]
So tell me which song you wish to hear before you die…
Aemish,
All what is said above about Prophets and lie, those who wrote such things in the Old Testament were wicked and liars, and all prophets were the best of human kind in their time, and they were very respected and good believers, their souls appeared like a shining stars because of their perfection.
These lies prove that Bible was corrupted and because of that we debate with them asking them to follow the last revelation from God and stop your arrogance.
Therefore woe be unto those who write the Scripture with their hands and then say, "This is from Allah," that they may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe unto them for that their hands have written, and woe unto them for that they earn thereby. [2:79]
---------
Please read the true story about them from Chapter of Prophets in Quran, I will paste to you part of the chapter below, and about Prophet Muhammad, he is the best and if you can read his story with open mind, you will regret everyday pass in your life without knowing this great man, please read my post: Why Muhammad? http://debatewithmuslim.blogspot.com/
Chapter or Prophets:
[Ibrâhim (Abraham)] said: "Do you then worship besides Allâh, things that can neither profit you, nor harm you? (66)
"Fie upon you, and upon that which you worship besides Allâh! Have you then no sense?" (67)
They said: "Burn him and help your âlihah (gods), if you will be doing." (68)
We (Allâh) said: "O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibrâhim (Abraham)!" (69)
And they wanted to harm him, but We made them the worst losers. (70)
And We rescued him and Lut (Lot) to the land which We have blessed for the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinn). (71)
And We bestowed upon him Ishâq (Isaac), and (a grandson) Ya'qûb (Jacob). Each one We made righteous. (72)
And We made them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We revealed them the doing of good deeds, performing Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and the giving of Zakât and of Us (Alone) they were the worshippers. (73)
And (remember) Lut (Lot), We gave him Hukm (right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) and (religious) knowledge, and We saved him from the town (folk) who practised Al-Khabâ'ith (evil, wicked and filthy deeds). Verily, they were a people given to evil, and were Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient, to Allâh). (74)
And We admitted him to Our Mercy, truly, he was of the righteous. (75)
continued..
And (remember) Nûh (Noah), when he cried (to Us) aforetime. We answered to his invocation and saved him and his family from great distress. (76)
We helped him against people who denied Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). Verily, they were a people given to evil. So We drowned them all. (77)
And (remember) Dawûd (David) and Sulaimân (Solomon), when they gave judgement in the case of the field in which the sheep of certain people had pastured at night, and We were witness to their judgement. (78)
And We made Sulaimân (Solomon) to understand (the case), and to each of them We gave Hukm (right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains and the birds to glorify Our Praises along with Dawûd (David), And it was We Who were the doers (of all these things), (79)
And We taught him the making of metal coats of mail (for battles), to protect you in your fighting. Are you then grateful? (80)
And to Sulaimân (Solomon) (We subjected) the wind strongly raging, running by his command towards the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are the All-Knower (81) And of the Shayâtin (devils from the jinn) were some who dived for him, and did other work besides that; and it was We Who guarded them. (82)
And (remember) Ayyûb (Job), when he cried to his Lord: "Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy." (83)
So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost), and the like thereof along with them as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all who worship Us. (84)
And (remember) Isma'îl (Ishmael), and Idris (Enoch) and Dhul-Kifl (Isaiah), all were from among As-Sâbirun (the patient). (85)
And We admitted them to Our Mercy. Verily, they were of the righteous (86)
And (remember) Dhun-Nûn (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (i.e. the calamites which had befallen him)! But he cried through the darkness (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allâh)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers." (87)
So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allâh, abstain from evil and work righteousness) (88)
And (remember) Zakariyya (Zachariah), when he cried to his Lord: "O My Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the Best of the inheritors." (89)
So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya (John), and cured his wife (to bear a child) for him. Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us. (90)
And she who guarded her chastity [Virgin Maryam (Mary)], We breathed into (the sleeves of) her (shirt or garment) [through Our Rûh Jibril (Gabriel)][], and We made her and her son ['Īsā (Jesus)] a sign for Al-'Alamin (the mankind and jinn). (91)
Abdallah Muslim, I have a tear in my eye. For I believe I have heard them all.
Abdallah,
If I erroneously implied that I think Muslims in any way care to know what Christians actually believe about the Incarnation (or anything) rather than the innaccurate statements in the Quran, then I apologize. I know that you don'y care, and I know because I have yet to see a Muslum make any attempt to actually understand Christian beliefs.
I don't know why you don't. If I wanted to discuss the errors of Islamic theology, I would do so based on what Muslims actually believe. I would appreciate it if Muslims would ever actually respond to Christian doctrines and not their own strawman that appears in the Quran.
I'm not afraid to learn what you actually believe.
My point was really more that the author should be careful in representing Christian belief so that Muslims have no ground for affirming their errors. Not that Muslims have any interest in being corrected.
Love in Christ,
John Lollard
I am still reading, Abdallah, hang on... just letting you know I am still here
LOL.. The hypocrisy of other readers has literally stunned me speechless. Somebody should alert my husband. He.. might actually reward you financially..
And dayum! Just when I thought I had something interesting to say! :D
Thank goodness for http://fukitol.com/ :p
Abdallah Muslim,
First, my comments were not an attack on this blog by any means. They were respectful points of view.
Second, the hell myth is pagan concept that Jews and Christians co-opted in the 2nd or 3rd century B.C., and Islam co-opted it from them.
Lastly, if you choose to believe in a god who is so petty, revengeful and infantile that he would condemn people to perpetual burning simply because they didn't believe in him, I genuinely feel sad for you.
Dear my friend Stephen,
Don’t worry, I was joking with my friend quotable, we are friends and debating since last year, so nothing personal.
About Hell it’s real and was created before our universe, and there is a scientific proof that it exists and we feel it too, I will paste it soon on my blog.
http://debatewithatheist.blogspot.com/
About our God, if he gave you all what is around you to serve you, and what you have physically in your body and prosperity in your life, and you refused even to confess that there is a God for all of this, then it’s you who is unjust and he will treat you in the same way too in the afterlife.
Look around you, are they creatures or creators??
If there are all creators, then there is no problem, we are all GODs !!! (God forgive me)
But, if there are all creatures, then there is must be a creator for them, because :
Creator -- > creates -- > Creatures
So, if there are creatures then there must be a creator for them and this is the One, The GOD (ALLAH).
You must note that God doesn’t want from you and from any other in his creation anything at all, it’s for your sake only, even if you didn’t pray or didn’t do anything to worship, just your confession that there is a GOD it will save you one day.
The proof is the Hadith that talks about the people who will live centuries after Jesus second return to Earth, where all become muslims but centuries after his death, ALLAH will raise the Quran back and remove it from all books, so when people open it, they will find it empty (may be deleted as all will become electronic books), so they’ll forget what is Islam, and just remember that their grand grand grand fathers used to say “There is no God except ALLAH”, then after centuries they will remember only saying “ALLAH, ALLAH”, no praying, no fasting, no hajj, nothing...
One of the companions asked but what it will be useful for them saying only this, the Prophet said: “what did you say??, It will save them from HELL !!”
But for your case, if you kept ignoring that ALLAH exist and turned your back, so when you return back to him, you will be ignored too and raised as blind and be forgotten too, as written in Quran:
He (Allâh) said:"Get you down (Adam and Eve from the Paradise to the earth), both of you, together, some of you are an enemy to some others. Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance he shall neither go astray, nor shall be distressed. (123)
"But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur'ân nor acts on its teachings) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection." (124)
He will say:"O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)." (125)
(Allâh) will say: "Like this, Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came unto you, but you disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell-fire, away from Allâh's Mercy)." (126)
continued..
And read the following “Kudsi Hadith” (means ALLAH talk by Prophet Muhammad’s words) will explain to you What God wants from you:
Abu Dharr reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said:
“My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me and unlawful for you, so do not commit oppression against one another.
My servants, all of you are liable to err except one whom I guide on the right path, so seek right guidance from Me so that I should direct you to the right path.
O My servants, all of you are hungry (needy) except one whom I feed, so beg food from Me, so that I may give that to you.
O My servants, all of you are naked (need clothes, i.e. money) except one whom I provide garments, so beg clothes from Me, so that I should clothe you.
O My servants, you commit error night and day and I am there to pardon your sins, so beg pardon from Me so that I should grant you pardon.
O My servants, you can neither do Me any harm nor can you do Me any good.
O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and even the whole of human race of yours, and that of Jinn even, become (equal in) God-conscious like the heart of a single person amongst you, nothing would add to My Power.
O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of the Jinn too in unison become the most wicked (all beating) like the heart of a single person, it would cause no loss to My Power.
O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of jinn also all stand in one plain ground and you ask Me and I confer upon every person what he asks for, it would not, in any way, cause any loss to Me (even less) than that which is caused to the ocean by dipping the needle in it.
My servants, these are your deeds that I shall reward you for them, so he who deeds of yours which I am recording finds good should praise Allah and he who does not find that should not blame anyone but his ownself.”
Sa'id said that when Abu Idris Khaulini narrated this hadith he knelt upon his knees.
(Book #032, Hadith #6246)
- عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فيما روى عن الله تبارك وتعالى أنه قال " يا عبادي ! إني حرمت الظلم على نفسي وجعلته بينكم محرما . فلا تظالموا . يا عبادي ! كلكم ضال إلا من هديته . فاستهدوني أهدكم . يا عبادي ! كلكم جائع إلا من أطعمته . فاستطعموني أطعمكم . يا عبادي ! كلكم عار إلا من كسوته . فاستكسوني أكسكم . يا عبادي ! إنكم تخطئون بالليل والنهار ، وأنا أغفر الذنوب جميعا . فاستغفروني أغفر لكم . يا عبادي ! إنكم لن تبلغوا ضري فتضروني . ولن تبلغوا نفعي فتنفعوني . يا عبادي ! لو أن أولكم وآخركم وإنسكم وجنكم . كانوا على أتقى قلب رجل واحد منكم . ما زاد ذلك في ملكي شيئا . يا عبادي ! لو أن أولكم وآخركم . وإنسكم وجنكم . كانوا على أفجر قلب رجل واحد . ما نقص ذلك من ملكي شيئا . يا عبادي ! لو أن أولكم وآخركم . وإنسكم وجنكم . قاموا في صعيد واحد فسألوني . فأعطيت كل إنسان مسألته . ما نقص ذلك مما عندي إلا كما ينقص المخيط إذا أدخل البحر . يا عبادي ! إنما هي أعمالكم أحصيها لكم . ثم أوفيكم إياها . فمن وجد خيرا فليحمد الله . ومن وجد غير ذلك فلا يلومن إلا نفسه "
الراوي: أبو ذر الغفاري المحدث: مسلم - المصدر: صحيح مسلم
>> What is important is that I treat her with the respect and honor that she deserves as a human being, including not trying to get as much from her for as little money as possible.
Well, there you are. In a nutshell, that's what I believe.<<
Some beautiful things bear repeating. This, in a nutshell, is why I love this blog.
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