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Introdu tion People generally agree that a man called Jesus Christ (pbuh) did exist, but not all are in agreement that his teachings are found in one form of interpretation today. The very existence of different churches and in particular the different Bible versions are in themselves proof that Jesus s (pbuh) message has been moved a!ay from its original form of interpretation. The "uestion no! remains# $here is this message and !ith !hom is it preserved and by !hom is it practised upon today% <imately, !hat counts is !ho best practises on the Bible. 'n fact, bible readers today tend to overloo( these practices !ithin the Bible. 't is these very practices of Jesus (pbuh) !hich ought to have formed the most important part of the Christian faith today.
There is not a single place in the Bible !here Jesus (pbuh) said, )' am *od) or )$orship me). *od in the +oly Bible refers to the same %ne and only Creator !ho alone has the right to be !orshipped. In the &ew Testament Matthew '(!) ,--$orship the .ord thy *od, and him only shalt thou serve/. Mark !*(*+ Jesus (pbuh) said, ,+ear, 0 'srael# The .ord our *od is one *od/
In the %ld Testament Isaiah ''(, ,' am the first and ' am the last, besides 1e there is no god/. Isaiah '-(*!.*/ ,2nd there is no other god besides 1e, a righteous *od and a saviour, there is none besides 1e. turn to me and be saved-To 1e every (nee shall bo!.
Comment The concept of *od as is plainly stated in the above verses of the Bible is the true and real description of *od, as !as preached by Jesus, 1oses and others (peace be upon them) in their first commandments. 3uch a plain description of *od is not found in most of Christianity today. The trinity concept of *od, ho!ever, defeats the plain description of *od, !hich furthers *od4s description to a second and a third element, thus brea(ing the uni"ueness nature of the plain %ne and %nly *od. 5rom the above Biblical verses it is "uite clear that *od is 0ne and only. Therefore, no heavenly body nor creation can be *od since *od is %ne and Alone. Therefore one should ponder# $hat has happened to the plain belief in 067 *08 today% $hy is it not adhered to today% 2nd !ho believes in it today% Trinity% 1ore "uestions than ans!ers 9
'f *od !as part of the trinity, then !hy +e did not claim it so in the 0ld Testament% 8id Jesus (pbuh) ever ma(e a statement that he is second of the trinity% .i(e!ise, did the +oly *host ever proclaim this statement% 'f trinity form part of the fundamental teachings of faith, then !hy is there no mention of this !ord trinity else!here in the Bible% 'f trinity is a belief that is so much emphasi:ed upon, !hy then did this belief not appear before the time of Jesus (pbuh). 'f Jesus Christ (pbuh) had died for the sins of the people, then !ho died for the sins of those !ho lived before the time of Jesus (pbuh)% The Bible contains 06.; 067 verse about trinity and !hy !as this verse removed from the text of the 6'<= and the >3<? Bibles%
0on of $od The !ord @son of *od4 in the Bible cannot mean the real son of *od, as the term is also used in the Bible for 2dam, 8avid, 7phraim and others (peace be upon them). 1eremiah /!(+ ,-and 7phraim is my ,5irst Born/ 2uke /(/3 ,!hich !as the son of 7nos, !hich !as the son of 3eth, !hich !as the son of 2dam, !hich !as the son of *od./ 4omans 3(!' ,5or as many as led by the 3pirit of *od, they are the sons of god./ 5salms *(6 ,Thou (0 8avid) art my son, this day have ' (*od) begotten thee/.
Comment The term @son of *od4 !as actually an error of interpretation from the *ree( translation. The translators may have not meant it literally as understood today, but rather @close servant of *od4. 'f the !ord ,son of god4 really implied the real son of *od, then 8avid (pbuh) too !ould have been rightfully deserving of being called the begotten son of *od. Besides, he !ould also have been !ell (no!n by all as the real begotten son of *od4. 3imilarly, the term ,Children of *od/ in the Bible !as also used by others such as John, as is proven in the follo!ing verse# <erse =A# ,$e (no! that !e are the children of *od-/. <erse ?B# ,$e (no! also that the 3on of *od has come-/ and has given us understanding/. 1ohn -(!+. *) The term @5ather4 in the Bible !as also @figurative expression4 used by Jesus (pbuh) in regard to +is respect and closeness to *od as it is used for the 5ather in the children4s prayer in the follo!ing !ords, ,0ur 5ather !ho art in +eaven-.4
7inal omment on the %ne and %nly $od 'n any event, there is not a single place in the entire Bible !here Jesus (pbuh) said, )' am *od) or )$orship me). 'f such a belief !as a fundamental of Christianity, it !ould have been clearly mentioned and emphasi:ed in the Bible. *od in the Bible refers to the same %&8 and %&29 Creator !ho alone has the right to be !orshipped.
Therefore one should ponder# $hat has happened to the plain belief in 0ne *od today% $hy is it not adhered to today% And who belie:es in it today%
instead it !as done purely for the !orship of the %ne $od. (8avid fell on his face in prayer) ! 0amuel *)('! ,8avid arose out of a place to!ards the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bo!ed himself three times-./. 7urther referen es of #rostration in #rayer in the Bible(. 6umbers =D#E 6umbers =D#?? Joshua F#D 'saiah EG#?H Comment The manner of prostration done by all the Prophets by putting the face bet!een the Inees clearly sho!s the true !ay of prostration as sho!n by Prophet 1uhammad (pbuh). Comment 3ome Christians today (neel do!n, clasping their hands, in a posture that cannot be ascribed to Jesus (pbuh). The method of prostration performed by Jesus (pbuh), that of resting the face on the ground, !as the mode of prayer of all the prophets before him (pbuh). Therefore one should ponder# $hat has happened to this practice of prostration in !orship% $hy is it not practiced today% ;ho has maintained this #ra ti e today%
Charity ommanded to Moses =#buh" >euteromy !-(!! ,-.Therefore ' command thee (1oses), saying, open thine hand !ide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land/. >euteromy !'(** ,;ou shall tithe all the yield of your seed, !hich comes fort from the field year by year/.
Comment @Tithe4 is a tenth of the annual produce of land or labour, !hich is fixed and is to be given to the poor yearly. (>efer to 0xford 8ictionary)
1esus =#buh" ad:ises harity Mathew ,(/.' Jesus (pbuh) said, ,But !hen thou doest alms, let not thy left hand (no! !hat the right hand doeth, That thine alms may be in secret, and thy father !hich seeth in secret +imself shall re!ard thy openly/. Therefore one should ponder# $hat has happened to this practice of Charity% $hy is it not practised today% And who has maintained this #ra ti e today%
7urther referen es of fasting in the Bible( 2ct =H#?JH 7xodus HE#?K 1atthe! D#=DJ=K
Therefore one should ponder# $hat has happened to this practice of fasting% $hy is it not practised today% And who has maintained this #ra ti e today?
$hat has happened to this practice of !ashing before prayer% $hy is it not practised today% 2nd who has maintained this #ra ti e today?
Comment There is no ambiguity about circumcision in the above verses, @circumcision in the flash of your fores(in4 is very clear out. Jesus4s (pbuh) circumcision on the eight day, as "uoted at the beginning, !as a fulfilment of this command given to 2braham (pbuh) forever. Therefore the true inheritors of Jesus and 2braham (pbut) can truly be identified through circumcision. Auestion $ho then dared to abolish the la! of circumcision% Answer Today, most Christians are not circumcised because of Paul4s misinterpretation. +e claimed that circumcision !as the circumcision of the heart. To be circumcised ho!ever, !as to be part of Jesus4s (pbuh) !ay. Proof of the misinterpreted statement by Paul in the Bible is as follo!s# 4omans *(*+ Paul in his letter to the >omans !rote# ,+e is a Je! !ho is one in!ardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal/. $alatians -(* 'n his letter to the *alatians, Paul !rote# ,6o! ', Paul say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ !ill be of no advantage to you/. Comment Jesus (pbuh) !as neither circumcised by the heart nor did he say anything about the circumcision of the heart, he (ept the @everlasting covenant4 and !as circumcised by the flesh. Therefore one should ponder# $hat has happened to this practice of circumcision% $hy is it not practised today% And who has maintained this #ra ti e today?
unclean to you/. >euteronomy !'(!3 ,2nd the s!ine, because it divideth the hoof, yet che!eth not the cud, it is unclean to you# ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass/. Therefore one should ponder# $hat has happened to this practise of abstaining from por(% $hy is it not practised today% And who has maintained this #ra ti e today
5rohibited in the &ew Testament B" .u(e =#=G ,5or he shall be great in the sight of the .ord, and shall drin( neither !ine nor strong drin(/ Comment 't is not possible for li"uor to be prohibited and permitted at the same time9 The only remaining alternative is, the subCect about the @reasons due to variances4 in the Bible. These variances have unfortunately come about as a result of misinterpretation of the scriptures by the scribes especially during the period of translation from *ree( into other languages. 1ore convincing examples of these variances in the Bible are sho!n on the follo!ing pages, both from the 0ld Testament as !ell as from the 6e! Testament. 2gain, you may analy:e and Cudge for yourself the contradictions sho!n# 2naly:e bet!een 2 L B 0ld Testament A"'' Chronicles HD#A ,Jehoiachin !as eight years old !hen he began to reign,-../ B"'' Iings ?E#K ,Jehoiachin !as eighteen years old !hen he began to reign,-../ 6e! Testament A"1atthe! =B#=B ,8on4t even carry a duffle bag !ith extra clothes and shoes or even a !al(ing stic(-/ B"1ar( D#K ,+e told them to ta(e nothing !ith them, except their !al(ing stic(s-../ +ere are more examples of further variations in the Bible (listed here are Cust four examples there are hundreds such examples in the Bible) '' 3amuels ?E#=H ontradi ts ' Chronicles ?=#== 6umbers E#H ontradi ts 6umbers K#?E 1ar( =D#? ontradi ts John ?B#= .u(e ?H#?D ontradi ts John =A#=D Comment 2nyone !ho tries reconciling bet!een the statements concerning Jehoiachin being eight or eighteen !hen beginning to reign !ould fail considerably. Thus it should follo! that, as in the numbers @eight4 and @eighteen4, there had been an error in either one of the t!o gospels, similarly the chances of errors existing in !ords such as @do4 and @do not4 in the Bible are highly possible as in the case of alcohol as !ell. .i(e!ise @!ith4 a !al(ing stic( or @!ithout4. 0ne may argue that !hat maCor difference does one or t!o letters ma(e to the Bible. ' say, it reverses the command of *od into the opposite, for example @8o not4 commit theft becomes @8o4 commit theft. Therefore this can be established beyond reasonable doubt that !ine J an intoxicant M is not to be ta(en.
But, unfortunately, the Christian scriptures have been literally corrupted !ith numerous contradictions. $ho !ould ta(e the prohibition seriously if Jesus (pbuh) himself has turned !ater into !ine, allo!ing his follo!ers to enCoy it% 2egalization of Al ohol 1ore "uestions than ans!ers9 The miracle of turning !ater into !ine, it is only found in the *ospel of John, !hich consistently contradicts the other three gospels. This gospel !as opposed as @heretical4 in the early church, !hile the other three *ospels !ere referred to as the 3ynoptic *ospels because the text contained a similar treatment Jesus4s early life. (The 6e! 7ncyclopaedia Britannica <ol. G pg. HFA) 'f the turning of !ater into !ine had any authenticity, then !hy did .u(e and Paul, the so called follo!ers of Jesus (pbuh) prohibit the drin(ing of !ine% The *ospels of John can never be given preference over .u(e and >omans since it had only been !ritten in KG 2.8 according to Christian scholars, !hereas .u(e and >omans !ere !ritten in FB 2.8 and GD 2.8, both approximately ?B to HB years before the *ospel of John !as !ritten% Therefore one should ponder# $hat has happened to the practice of abstaining from alcohol% $hy is it not practised today% And who has maintained this #ra ti e today?
5aul himself riti izes women un:eiling their hair ! Corinthians !!(Paul !rote in his first boo( to the Corinthians ==#G ,But any !oman !ho prays or prophesieth !ith her head unveiled dishonours her head it is the same as if her head !as shaven./ Corinthians !!(, ,5or a !omen !ill not veil herself, then she should cutJoff her hair, but if it is disgraceful for a !oman to be shorn or shaven, let she !ear her veil/. Therefore one should ponder# $hat has happened to this practice of covering their modesty% $hy is it not practised today% And who has maintained this #ra ti e today?
5olygamy refuted by Bible 0 holar 2ccording to 5ather 7ugene +illman in his boo( @Polygamy >econsidered4 clarifies, 6o!here in the 6e! Testament is there any explicit commandment that marriage should be monogamous/. +e further stressed the fact that the Church in >ome banned polygamy in order to conform to *recoJ>oman culture, !hich prescribed only one !ife but did not oppose prostitution. 'n fact it allo!ed the immoral practice instead. Therefore one should ponder# $hat had happened to the practice of polygamy% $hy is it not practised today% And who has maintained this #ra ti e today?
&ow let us look around us< and see< who in the world today u#holds the tea hings of the Bible? ;e ha:e the answer
The faith !hich upholds the teachings of the Bible
IslamC
1uslims claim to follo! the teachings of Jesus (pbuh) as !ell as the divine prophets before him. .et us ponder over their claim. $e have already discussed the subCects of Jesus4s (pbuh) practises !hich !e !ill no! compare !ith the claims of the 1uslims. Thus, the Nur4an agrees to the aforesaid Biblical practises, !hich are as follo!s# !" 0neness of *od in the Nur 4an Cha#ter *!( Derse *- *od says#/there is no *od but ', so !orship me/. *" Prostration of !orship in the Nur 4an Cha#ter '3( Derse *+ *od says# ,;ou see them bo!ing and falling do!n prostrate (in prayer) see(ing bounty from *od and +is good pleasure. Their mar( (of prostration) is on their faces (forehead) from the traces of prostration/. /" Compulsory charity in the Nur 4an Cha#ter *( Derse *!- *od says# ,They as( you (0 1uhammad) !hat they should spend. 3ay# !hatever ;ou spend of good must be for parents and (indred and orphans and the poor and the !ayfares, and !hatever ;ou do of good deeds, Truly, *od (no!s it !ell./
'" 5asting in the Nur 4an Cha#ter *( Derse 3/ *od says# ,0 you !ho believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it !as prescribed for those before you, in order that you may become pious/. -" 2blution in the Nur 4an Cha#ter -( Derse , *od says# ,0 you !ho believe, !hen you intend to pray, !ash your faces and forearms up to the elbo!s, !ipe your heads and !ash your feet up to the an(les/. ," Circumcision in the +adeeth Book of Bukhari, Prophet 1uhammad (pbuh) has said# ,There are five practices !hich constitute the prophetic !ay, circumcision, shaving pubic hair and underarm hair, clipping fingernails and toe nails, and trimming the moustache. 6" Prohibition of por( in the Nur 4an Cha#ter -( Derse / $od says# ,5orbidden to you (for food) are dead animals, blood, the flesh of s!ine, and that on !hich *od4s name has not been mentioned !hile slaughtering-/. 3" Prohibition of alcohol in the Nur 4an Cha#ter -( Derse +) *od says# ,0 you !ho believe, intoxicants, gambling, sacrificial altars, and divination are an abomination of 3atan4s handi!or(, so avoid them in order to be successful/. +" 5emales covering their hair in the Nur 4an Cha#ter *'( Derse /! *od says# ,Tell the believing !omen to lo!er their ga:e and protect their private parts and not to expose their adornment, except only !hat normally sho!s and to dra! their head scarves over their bosoms-./. !)" *reetings in the Nur 4an Cha#ter ,( Derse -' *od says# ,$hen those !ho believe in my signs come to you, greet them# Peace be upon you/. (2sJ3alaamu alai(um) !!" Prohibition of interest in the Nur 4an Cha#ter *( Derse *63 *od says# ,0 you !ho believe, fear *od and give up !hat interest remains due to you, if you are really believers/. !*" Polygamy in the Nur 4an Cha#ter '( Derse / *od says# ,1ary of the !omen that please you, t!o, three, or four. But if you fear that you !ill not be able to deal Custly, then (marry only) one-./.
A. ;ho is 1esus in relation to Moses and Muhammad =#but" A. Jesus (pbuh) preached the very same message of 1oses (pbuh). +e !as the prophesised prophet of the 0ld Testament, and !ith his coming, the follo!ers of 1oses (pbuh) !ere re"uired to follo! him. Jesus (pbuh) also gave his follo!ers the glad tidings of another messenger to come after him !ho shall be called 1uhammad (pbuh). The follo!ers of each prophet !ere all expected to follo! the prophesised prophets of their scriptures because each prophet claimed to have come to fulfil the la! of the former prophets and not to abolish them (1atthe! G#=FJ=K) A. >o Muslims belie:e in the $os#el of 1esus =#buh"? A. ;es, all 1uslims believe in the *ospel revealed to Jesus (pbuh), if they don4t, then they are not 1uslims. The gospel perspective according to 1atthe!, 1ar(, .u(e and John are not exact replica of the original *ospel of Jesus. (Ino!n as the 'nCeel). There are ho!ever passages from the present gospels !hich reflects the teachings of the *ospels of Jesus (pbuh). +o!ever, 1uslims accept those passages !hich the Nuran confirms. .i(e!ise, 1uslims also believe in the original 0ld testament given to 1oses !hich they refer to as the Torah. A. ;hat does GIslamF mean? A. 'slam means @submission @ to the %&8 E %&29 *od, The Creator. 3ubmission is the translation of the !ord @'slam4 in 2rabic. The !ord 'slam also means @peace4. 'n short, 'slam means, ac"uiring peace by submitting yourself to the !ill of 0ne *od. A. >o Muslims worshi# Muhammad =#buh" ? A. 6o, 1uslims !orship *od alone $ho is the Creator, and that 1uhammad (pbuh) is none other than Cust a prophet of *od !ho preached to man(ind the !orship of one *od. A. >id Muhammad =#buh" ome to #rea h a new religion? 2. .i(e Jesus (pbuh) did not come to preach a ne! religion, 1uhammad (pbuh) too did not come to preach a ne! religion. 'nstead, he came to revive the message Jesus (pbuh), !hich !as tampered !ith and changed by those after Jesus (pbuh). Thus it is therefore more than necessary for the people to follo! the guidance of 'slam preached by 1uhammad (pbuh), if they !ish to (eep close to *od and +is Prophet, Jesus (pbuh). A. ;ho is Allah? A. 2llah is the name of the same %ne and %nly *od.
A. ;hat is the most fundamental tea hing of Islam? A. The most fundamental teaching of 'slam is monotheism i.e. to believe in %ne *od !ho alone deserve to be !orshipped. A. ;hat is the AurFan? A. The Nur4an is the !ord of *od revealed to 1uhammad (pbuh), !hich is the only authentic scripture in its original 2rabic and not a letter has been added or deleted from, for over =EBB years. A. A ording to Islam whi h is the way to sal:ation?
A. 2ccording to 'slam the only !ay to salvation is#J 5irstly to belie:e in the one and only *od, and that Jesus !as a prophet of *od, and 1uhammad being the last Prophet of *od. 3econdly, it is to #erform good deeds, !hich is to offer a @selfJsacrifice4 to *od by striving to perform good deeds for the pleasure of *od. The self sacrifice of performing good deeds includes giving of charity, fasting, praying, ta(ing care of orphans etc. 2ny good action, though they may be a performance of rituals are all under the category of self sacrifice because it is a struggle of personal self. 'f !e have !ronged in our life being unable to establish good deeds in totality, then the re"uirement for salvation is offering a sacrifice to *od for sinning. This is the repenting to +im sincerely and as(ing +im for forgiveness, as !ell as having sincere regret from the core of our hearts over the sins !e have committed.
Con lusion
2fter reading this boo(let, you may be in a fair position to deduce that it is 'slam that has retained and upheld the practices of Jesus (pbuh). ;ou may have even understood that 'slam has not come as a ne! religion, rather as the self same religion of monotheism preached by Jesus (pbuh), and all previous prophets (pbut) before him. 7mbracing 'slam is not a "uestion of !hether to choose bet!een 1uhammad and Jesus (pbut), but rather to gain proximity to the !ay of Jesus (pbuh), as illustrated by 1uhammad (pbuh), !ho came as a saviour to retain the real message of Jesus (pbuh). ' pray to *od that +e ma(es this publication a means of forgiveness for my shortcomings, as !ell as a source of guidance for the !orld to be able to recogni:e the truth. ' therefore invite every person to read the +oly Nur4an !hich is #J J The !ord of *od (in its literal sense, because it !as revealed from *od !ord for !ord, letter for letter in the !ay that *od !anted it to be) (&nli(e !hen Christians say @!ord of *od4 in its figurative sense).
. 5ree from contradictions. . The Nur4an ans!ers the "uestions concerning the realities of life, the +ereafter, the concept of *od. . The only boo( !hich is preserved by being memori:ed in its entirety by thousands of people throughout the !orld from the time it !as revealed. 't is even memori:ed by children. . 'ts translations are free from deletions, additions, alterations of verses. J Compatible to science. . Preserved in its original language, 2rabic !ithout even the slightest change in it. . 'nvites all to the common religion of monotheism !hich existed in every generation. 5or all your Nuestions or Correspondence 7J12'. mailOislaminfo.org.:a 1.. 2n!ar + Bismilla