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A Discussion on the Christian Beliefs (Part Five)
Z: In fact, heavenly religions complement one another. Many of our Egyptian forefathers who were originally Copts embraced Islam when they felt such a strong connection between Islam and Christianity and realized that Islam will add much to them. Islam really provides me with many answers regarding the creed of Trinity which I find inconsistent and unreasonable at all. X: Islam also teaches us that our minds are limited and we have no way to imagine how Allah looks like, since nothing is like unto Him. Almighty Allah says:
He also says:
Then, other verses tell us in clear words:
Z: Actually, sometimes I repeat some Qur’anic verses that give me a feeling of tranquility and help me at difficult times, like the verse that reads:
X: Such verses direct your heart and mind to the signs of Allah that are manifest everywhere in the universe. There is another verse that Muslims are used to repeat as it gives them a feeling of serenity:
Z: It was Paul who called to deify of Jesus. Being Paul’s student, Luke recorded that Jesus came down from the heavens and was embodied within Mary. There are many other inconsistent words and additions that could be found in other Gospels but they all proved false and unauthentic. Such additions show that those people who added them to the book of Allah were really vile and wicked. They tried to attract idolaters to Christianity and so added such things. Some parts of the Bible show that Jesus is the word of God and then we find some other parts saying that he is God himself. I cannot accept that the creator of earth and heaven be merely a word. X: The Qur'an tell us that Jesus was created upon the word of God meaning upon his command ‘Be and it is’. This is clearly elaborated in the verses:
Z: I really feel confused when I read the first paragraph in John since it stirs a great deal of ambiguity. I do not know who is the author of such words? What makes the whole thing more complex is the fact that I cannot imagine that this great universe is a mere word and its Creator is a word too. Such sophisticated philosophical discourse-place our minds in nowhere and make us fall preys to Satan. X: The Qur'an describes the process of the creation of the universe in clear words as it says:
This shows that Almighty Allah created this universe out of nothingness and filled it with stars and planets, oceans and mountains. This has nothing to do with the so called big bang or the so called chance. The verses of the Qur'an go on to tell us that the One Who created the universe in this way is able to resurrect it again when it is completely destroyed. Almighty Allah says:
In this way, we should look upon the universe as a living proof to the existence of Allah and His supreme power. Z: Such words remind man that the Day of Judgment is a truth and the Creator can cause it to happen. X: Yes, you can read something like this in the verses that read: “Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and (in) the difference of night and day are tokens (of His sovereignty) for men of understanding. Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say):
Pure nature would take man directly to believe in Allah, the Creator of the universe and the Owner of the Day of Judgment. Z: I was always asking myself; who is stronger; God or Satan? According to my priest, God disguised himself in the clothes of Jesus so as to deceive Satan and come safely to earth. Was God afraid of Satan? X: I believe that the response to such heresy is found in the Qur'an. The verses of the Qur'an tell us that Almighty Allah is the Creator of jinn and men. Of course, the devil is one of the jinn but his worship raised him to the rank of being an associate of the Angels. When Almighty Allah commanded the Angels to prostrate them-selves before Adam, they obeyed but the Satan revolted. There, he was driven out of Paradise. Incited by his hatred for Adam and his offspring, the Satan pledged to try his best to mislead men. Yet, he has no power or might in front of the power of faith and strong connection with the Most-Powerful. The Qur'an relates this as follows: “And We created you, then fashioned you, then told the angels: Fall ye prostrate before Adam! And they fell prostrate, all save Iblis, who was not of those who make prostration. He said: What hindered thee that thou didst not fall prostrate when I bade thee? (Iblis) said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire while him Thou didst create of mud. He said: Then go down hence! It is not for thee to show pride here, so go forth!
Z: Yes, this is the truth. Allah is the only sovereign of this universe and to Him everything belongs. When Adam sinned, Almighty Allah would forgive him without any problem. It is really unreasonable to believe that Allah would let His son i.e. Jesus be humiliated and tortured in that way. Which one of the two sins is bigger; Adam eating from the forbidden fruit or God’s son being humiliated and it passes unnoticed. X: I believe that a true Christian should try to save his mind from all these fake creeds and get to the pure religion of Allah. I find a big confusion when I think about the cross for example. Z: I asked the local priest of my village about the significance of the Cross and has it been mentioned anywhere in the Gospel? Has it ever been referred to as a source honor and respect? The man cried in my face that I should repent to God from such thoughts and never ask such questions again. I said unto myself, what is the benefit of our minds then if we crippled them and stopped thinking? We all know that the Cross has been used as a Christian symbol as of 325 AC during the Neicheia meeting. However, it has been before by Pharaohs in a little bit modified form that is the key of life. That is why you can see it engraved on the walls of their temples and Holt places. These drawings date back to thousands of years before the birth of Jesus, for such people believed such life keys would be the means through which their dead people could come back to life. Later on, Christians took that symbol and actually, this meeting of Neicheia witnessed the killing of so many pure and true Christians who refused that symbol and refused to believe in trinity. All such things place a lot of concerns regarding this symbol. X: I believe that the best words describing the greatness of Allah and His might and power are those in Surat Yunus that read:
Z: As a cultured Christian, I refuse mysterious and ambiguous things ; I like to have everything clear before my eyes. That is why I am trying to inquire about the truthfulness of these creeds, something which has also been done by Dr. Nazmy Luqa who was a Christian defending Islam and the Prophet and then embraced Islam and died a Muslim.
X: Do you know that Jesus came to call people to worship the one true God? The Qur'an tells us:
All Prophets called people to this creed of monotheism. I wish we all go back to this great an pure creed. Z: I share the same wish indeed with you, hope all hearts are united and love dominating all people. While still being Christian with this mentality, I find a good chance to talk to my people and help them understand the truth. X: I believe that one of the main reasons why Islam was able to overwhelm the hearts and stand strongly in face of materialism is its being a kin to man’s pure nature, since we are all the creation of Allah and Allah chooses Islam for us. That is why Allah says:
Islam also establishes the fact that there is no compulsion in religion since the truth has been manifest and clear and anyone shall choose for himself the destiny he goes. Z: I believe that because of the pure nature inside me I was able to deny all human additions to the Gospel. When I travel abroad and tell people that though I am a Christian, I love the Qur'an and believe in it, they become very surprised and ask so many questions. In this way, I gain new supporters. In fact, I believe that the only way to turn those cultured atheists into true belief is to purify the Christian creed from what corrupts it. Many Europeans have read about Islam and they believe that Jesus was a human being, they reject trinity, deny original sin and confession and all that stuff. However, driven by their arrogance and pride, they tend to reject Islam. In addition, they have an incomplete understanding of Islam which also leads them to reject it. X: This is simply what the Qur'an describes as it says:
I believe that what keeps a Christian from accepting us is his feeling that we do not accept the Cross. Z: A christian who does not have good mentality that enables him to think deeply, will find himself an easy prey to fake ideas and worn out thoughts that has been forged by insincere autocratic clergymen. There are many priests who tell their followers that swearing by the Cross is better than swearing by the name of God. They want those followers to cancel their minds and accept whatever is said to them. X: It is really a great thing that in Islam we do not have such a thing. In Islam we have nothing like a Pope whom we should follow without thinking. In Islam, every Muslim is responsible for himself and those under his protection like his family and children. In fact, blind following of priest or religious leaders is really dangerous. It will be a representation of the case about which we are told on the verse that reads:
Z: Some churches succeeded in dominating the minds of simple people and started a system of their own in leading those people in a way that has nothing to do with the religion itself. People are led astray by them and they know nothing. X: However, some Christians believe that the Cross is not merely to cross pieces; rather, it is a symbol of salvation since they relate the saying of Jesus:
Z: True, they claim that Jesus death and crucifixion is what Christianity is all about. However, a deep thorough reading of the Bible will show that most verses mention nothing about the Cross. Even the saying of Jesus you have just quoted, it refers to the fact that whoever wants to follow the steps of Jesus should start a struggle and care nothing about his life. Jesus calls upon us to fight for the Sake of God but never surrender to our Captors. If we are not to take it this way, then we are destroying human intellect and calling people to destruction. We cannot let our captors devour us while we are remaining silent. X: This is exactly what the Qur'an tells us when saying:
Such priests believe in their hearts that the idea of Jesus sonhood of God and his death on the Cross are both fake and false. However, they tend to keep them to please people, something which is extremely dangerous. They think that by keeping this creed valid in the hearts of people, they will be kept in their places. However, they are fooling themselves:
Z: I have asked my local priest many times if they have found any change in the life of human beings after the so-called crucifixion of Jesus and the same answer came from his mouth all the time that everyone has a limit for his knowledge and I should not know everything. He even went to warn me that I will get the curses of Jesus if I kept asking questions like these. As far as I understand, the world is the same sinful world and people are the same. Jesus, as witnessed by Paul, was crying on the Cross that God should help him get out of these pains. Then, the salvation was not death; rather, he wanted to get rid of the pains just like any other human being. Also Mark tell us that Jesus went to the heaven and sat on the right side of God. How can he be God and then sitting beside God? All this tells us that Jesus was never God and that he was not put on the Cross, it was some else. In fact, the oldest Christian sects like Serathians, Crebocratains and Baslidians confirmed that Jesus himself was never crucified; rather, it was one of his disciples. This is also reported in the Gospel of Barnabas, which was banned later by the Roman emperor, Qustantein. X: Do not agree that, as a true Christian, it is better for you to accept the Qur’anic version of the whole story? Do not agree with me that the Qur’anic account is far way better and more accurate. In fact, all the sayings that have been traced to Jesus are a point of difference among Gospels. We read in the Qur'an:
Z: Yes, of course. I even believe that God has put the facial features of on Judas and thus the Romans took him instead of Jesus. This means that Jesus was taken up to the heavens and was never killed. This betraying disciple showed remorse for betraying his master and teacher i.e. Jesus and started crying saying: “Eli Eli, why have Thou forsaken me!” This way is different from that of Jesus who used to call God saying:
X: I feel for you that by denying crucifixion you will not be admitted to Heavens as priests say. Z: This makes me feel sick! I really hate these words that are repeated by our religious leaders. They say that if you are a Christian and you have been baptized, then you are saved from the Fire. What are the merits of good deeds then? Is it sufficient for me to be baptized and then I can do whatever I want? Am I guaranteed Paradise when I am baptized? Then why should I be generous and kind with people? Where is Divine justice then? Such words are really frustrating as they incite people to be bad to each other. In fact, many vile Christians use this to justify their committing of evil deeds. Human self tends to be bad all the time as Paul says. Since you tell people that a priest will be able to forgive their sins in return of a handful of money and that they will be blessed if they drink some wine claimed to have turned into the blood of Jesus, then why should people be good? X: Islam tells us that people’s hearts and their nature is originally pure and that sin is what corrupts it. The concept of sin in Islam is very unique since it represents a violation of Allah’s law and deviation from His code. However, on the individual level and the communal one, the door is always open to return and the process of return itself constitutes a sign of honor for man, since it is the return to the pure nature. Almighty Allah defines the main criteria for honor; that piety, as it says:
Therefore, good conduct and fearing Almighty Allah are the best ways to get Paradise. Love, kindness, generosity and nearness to God are the real riches and treasures; whoever lacks such things, will be lacking everything even if he posses heaps of money. When Islam came to humanity, the Prophet purified the minds and the hearts of people from superstition and taught people how to be good to themselves and their fellow brothers and sisters in humanity, how to be peaceful to the world around and how to fear none but their Creator and how to spread all over the world carrying this guidance and light to people. That is why Almighty Allah says:
Z: In fact, such accusations that are forged about Islam will never benefit Christianity; rather, they will damage Christianity itself. X: I get very surprised when I ask a Christian university student, “Who is Jesus Christ?” and he does not have a definite answer. When I ask those students if they believe that Jesus was crucified, they say that they just know that he is salvation. Also, they when I recite to them the Qur’anic verse that reads:
I stir many questions in his mind. How come that Jesus, who is claimed to be god himself, be betrayed by one of his followers, humiliated at the hands of some riff-raff and shed tears. How come that god eats, drinks and urinates. How come that he is breast fed and is walking in front of people? God shall be far remote from these things and we should glorify Him as He says in the Qur'an:
Z: They have no way but to accept what those priests tell them so as not make their families angry and make themselves subject to curses. What really puzzles my mind is the fact that many of those priests here in Egypt who insist on their fake creeds even after reading the Qur'an. They read day and night the words of Jesus that we should search for the truth. Yet, they think they are protecting Christianity while they are protecting their own interests. They keep saying that Allah has a son while He, Glory be to Him, is far from such superstitions. X: Yes, Allah is above the laws to which human beings are subject. We read in the Qur'an:
Almighty Allah also says:
Z: I always ask many good priests this question: Why do not Christian believe that God has forgiven Adam since he left Paradise as He forgives all sinners who turn to Him in repentance? Why do not we accept the fact that God cannot be the father of anyone since He is unlike anyone and no one is like him? If they believe in such things they will save their followers. Why do not they accept that Jesus was a Prophet like all other Prophets? Why do not they tell their followers that they are accounted for their deeds in front of God and it is Him who will reckon and reward or punish them. When we call God our father, it may mean that He is our Lord and not our real father. Why do not they say that Jesus was the same to God i.e. not a real son; rather, a Prophet and chosen messenger? X: Your words remind me of the verse that reads:
Your logical thinking copes with mine since I also believe that deeds are the criteria that decides the destiny of man and not his being baptized or admitted into a religion. the Qur'an explains this concept saying:
Paradise is not gained by mere wishes, it is gained by hard work and agony. Z: When I was young, I used to read about Jesus. Based on his description, I used to think of him as being a kind father, a big priest who comes to this world to teach people and needs their help in his mission. X: As a Muslim, I believe that this universe is governed by a system that is known only to Allah, the Creator and functions in a way known to Him only. This is mentioned in the verses:
That is why the Qur'an guides us to what makes our hearts shake and feel fear of Allah. We read:
You can get such a feeling of tranquility and serenity when you look at the faces of Muslims praying in their mosques. You will feel that they have tranquility inside and wish only for the pleasure of Allah. In the mosque there are no statutes like those found in a church, no pictures or nothing of the sort. There are no hymns, no hallelujahs; the only thing you will hear is the Qur'an that fills each heart with might and faith. Prayer can be conducted by an Imam, any learned Muslim who can also give a Friday sermon to teach his fellow Muslims. Z: In a church, women wear full makeup to come and sit beside men according to a certain order. They even go to the church only to attend marriages, celebrations and other things. They listen to the sermon while listening to music at the same time. You go into a church and you will see many semi naked statutes claimed to be the statutes of Angels. What makes me feel sad is that some Christian priests here in Egypt insist on their stance and reject the truth; they have either to let people search for the truth or guide them to it. X: This goes in consistence with the Qur’anic verse that reads:
Such religious leaders should tell the truth and beware of what their followers may say on the Day of Judgment: “And those who disbelieve will say:
They should not be like Pharaoh who led his people astray. Here I would like to ask you one question, do most of educated Christians think in the same way of yours? Z: I am sure that most of them believe in what I believe in, even though they cannot speak such ideas out. You must have heard about the American writer, Sir Michael Heart who wrote a book entitled: “100 Eternal Celebrity” and chose Muhammad to top of his list. He confessed that Islam played a vital role in guiding humanity since it has liberated their minds from doubts and false ideas. Muhammad, being the greatest religious, political leader and reformist even known in history deserves to be number one in that list. It was him who taught people practically how to be perfect in everything. He was the best example to follow in all spheres of life. One of his students, being `Umar ibn Al-Khattab ruled the Muslim state with justice and equality and taught people that they are born free and not enslaved by anyone in this world. Therefore, no obedience is due to a creature if it involves disobeying the Creator. Many priests here in Egypt accept the Prophet and believe that he was really a great person. X: Yes, I know many of them who believe that they need to believe in Islam for their Christianity to be valid since Islam is the final religion and the Qur'an is the final version. It is because of the alteration of the Holy Books that people started difference and disputation. Almighty Allah says:
Z: I believe that many religious leaders call people to love God and they feel the responsibility of guiding people which is placed on their shoulders. Such priests cite the Qur'an in their sermons and refer to it all the time and their students follow their example in this regard. Other priests and fathers are blinded by their love for this worldly life and want to get money and would do anything for this. This may think that Islam will rip them off of their wealth and might. X: I think they have fallen a prey to superstition and are enslaved by Jinn as the Qur'an says:
Z: I am quite sure that whoever thinks deeply and with objectivity would reach the truth. I have attended so many good Christians on their death bed and they would pronounce the testification of faith (the pronouncement signaling conversion to Islam) before they die. Some of them even asked to be buried in Muslim graves. X: Does not this bring you closer to Islam and farer from Christianity? Z: Who told you that being close to Islam will mean my being far from Christianity? Muhammad was foretold by Jesus and was named by him in John: 16: 14 as it says:
X: Such is a clear indication that Muhammad came with the truth and he does not speak out of his mind; rather, he tells us whatever is revealed unto him. Almighty Allah says:
Z: Jesus is also reported as saying:
It is Muhammad who brought a book that shows what is right and what is wrong and warn people against the punishment of the Hereafter. X: The Qur'an also told us that Jesus gave glad tidings of the coming of Muhammad and gave him the name Praised One. We read in the Qur'an:
Z: It is because of this that I really believe that when I read the Qur'an and believe in Muhammad, I am not far from the teachings of Jesus; rather, I am putting them into application. In its early days, Christianity called people to a monotheistic belief. Only in 325 AC, Nicheiah Assembly fabricated the idea that Jesus is God and started putting Trinity into practice. In 383 AC, Emperor Theodosius threatened anyone who does not believe in trinity that he will be punished. In 496 AC, a decree damning the Gospel of Barnabas was issues by Gilasius. Later Emperor Qustentein burned all bibles that included the pure creed of monotheism and included the prophecy of the coming of Muhammad. X: The Torah also contains some statements that the true religion will come from the Arabian Peninsula. We read this in Gensis (25: 13) and also in Deuteronomy (18: 18) “I shall raise unto them a Prophet from amongst their brethren like unto thee and place my words in his mouth.” We can see that there are many common things between Muhammad and Moses; each of them has a father and a mother, each of them performed miracles, each brought a new law and each of them led his followers in a migration. Jesus was unlike them in the sense that he was born without a father, he did not bring a new law and he did not migrate from his place to another country. Z: Jesus told the Children of Israel that Prophethood will move to another people after they have killed John the Baptist (Yahya) and concocted many conspiracies against Jesus himself. He used to cite the Psalms to support what he says. X: In Isaiah 42, we read:
All these biblical descriptions are not far from what we read in the Qur'an when it says:
At that moment they had to stop to eat something as the train broke down
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