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Islamic Objection
The following quotations are red:
I have inquired into some of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity; the examination has led me to the conclusion that the dogmas of the Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus, the Divine-Sonship, the Original Sin and Atonement are neither rational nor in conformity with the teachings of Jesus. These dogmas came into being and were due to pagan influences. They show that Christianity has departed considerably from the religion of Jesus. (The Myth of the Cross, )
The Christian reply: Obviously, ones presuppositions are always the root of how such things are interpreted. Someone who has never known Christ as his personal Saviour, cannot rightly judge who Christ or His church is. The Holy Bible teaches that sin mares all notions and affairs of man. It teaches that sin first started in Lucifer, Satan, the evil one. It teaches that Satan once was a highly placed angelic being. We are therefore not fighting spiritually against flesh and blood but against the dark powers of this world after they succeeded to bring sin to Adam and Eve. Islam seems not to recognize what the besetting problems in this world are and that they too are in the need of the Saviour. Jesus Christ, who has overcome every temptation which we encounter. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.
Only one without sin can defeat the cause of sin and `Mohammed' was not such a person, ye, we believe, he was not a real person at all.
Islamic Objection
This mysterious disappearance of Jesus could certainly be put to an advantageous purpose.
Moreover, it was commonly known that Jesus was born of a virgin mother though many were skeptical about it. Paul turned all these ideas to his own advantage and concocted the theory of sonship. (ibid, )
"Paul was the great Coryphaeus, and first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus."
(Thomas Jefferson, The Great Thoughts by George Sildes, Ballantine Books, New York, 1985, p.208)
Here is what the Quran says about Jesus, the Christos being the Messias, "And remember how the angels spoke, `O, Maria, Allah has chosen you und purified you und blessed you among all wives of all tribes . . . And how the angels spoke: `Allah gives you a happy message through his Word from him: his name shall be the Messias, Jesus (Issa?), Son of Maria, worshipped in this and the other world . . ." Sure 3, 43.46. Al Imran)
However, here comes the difficulty. The Quran says, Christ did not die. The Bible says unequivocally, Christ did die. Which is right? If the Quran is right, why would Allah lift up Jesus to himself into heaven, when he was not dead? The Quran reads: "Jesus has a place of honor near him." Sure 4, 159. Al Nisa.
The Christian reply:
Obviously, non-believers are hardly qualified to comment fairly on these topics.
Those who have difficulties with the virgin birth of Christ and why Paul does not mention it, what could be the reason?
The reason is simply that he whole heartedly agreed with the accounts of the birth in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Romans 1:3 an 4:12 should be read in that light. Paul simply does not repeat what has already been established since he was not of that generation and accepted that on faith and revelation.
Islamic Objection
"Where possible he (Paul) avoids quoting the teaching of Jesus, in fact even mentioning it. If we had to rely on Paul, we should not know that Jesus taught in parables, had delivered the sermon on the mount, and had taught His disciples the 'Our Father.' Even where they are specially relevant, Paul passes over the words of the Lord."
(Albert Schweitzer, The Mysticism of Paul the Apostle, p. 171)
The Christian reply:
See above some examples that Paul did quote Jesus but that he did not write books of the type to reiterate all that Jesus said and how he said it, but Paul had to deal with problems among believers and churches. Quite a different work then Jesus did.
Islamic Objection
"What kind of authority can there be for an 'apostle' who, unlike the other apostles, had never been prepared for the apostolic office in Jesus' own school but had only later dared to claim the apostolic office on the basis on his own authority? The only question comes to be how the apostle Paul appears in his Epistles to be so indifferent to the historical facts of the life of Jesus....He bears himself but little like a disciple who has received the doctrines and the principles which he preaches from the Master whose name he bears." (Ferdinand Christian Baur, Church History of the First Three Centuries)
The Christian reply:
Same thing applies. An unbeliever is not qualified to comment fairly on these subjects. Paul was called by Jesus himself in his ministry on the road to Damascus.
Islamic Objection
"Paul, not Jesus, was the founder of Christianity as a new religion which developed away from both normal Judaism and the Nazarene variety of Judaism."
(Hyam Maccoby, Paul: The Mythmaker and the Invention of Chrisianity, p. 16)
The Christian reply:
Paul did his work under the guidance of the Spirit of God Almighty.
Islamic Objection
"No sooner had Jesus knocked over the dragon of superstition than Paul boldly set it on its legs again in the name of Jesus." (George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950)
The Christian reply:
A rather simplistic viewpoint out of the heart of a crank. We can hardly take authors seriously whose working method is based on humanistic, evolutionistic philosophy.
Please read our replies to > The Council of Europe, Doc. 11297, The dangers of creationism in education, Report, Committee on Culture, Science and Education Rapporteur: Mr Guy LENGAGNE, France, Socialist Group by clicking here.
Islamic Objection
"Paul did not desire to know Christ. Paul shows us with what complete indifference the earthly life of Jesus was regarded.... What is the significance for our faith and for our religious life, the fact that the Gospel of Paul is different from the Gospel of Jesus?
The attitude which Paul himself takes up towards the Gospel of Jesus is that he does not repeat it in the words of Jesus, and does not appeal to its authority.... The fateful thing is that the Greek, the Catholic, and the Protestant theologies all contain the Gospel of Paul in a form which does not continue the Gospel of Jesus, but displaces it."
(The Quest for the Historical Jesus, Albert Schweitzer,)
The Christian reply: To understand the Apostle Paul let us listen to what he has to say:
The Book of Acts, from chapter 20 verse17 onward:
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
20:18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20:20 [And] how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Note: Paul is saying here that for the law abiding Jews as well as for the lawless gentiles, repentance and the walk in faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Note : "bound in the spirit" refers to the irresistible prompting of the Spirit of God to follow what one has to do and is based on Matthew 16:21: "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." And is also based on Luke 24:26: "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?"
20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I [am] pure from the blood of all [men].
20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
20:33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
20:35 I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.*
20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
20:37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
20:38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more.**) And they accompanied him unto the ship.
*) This saying is not recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John and illustrates that Jesus spoke more words than we commonly find recorded in the gospels just cited. These words survived in the memory of those who knew Jesus and shows how intimately Paul was acquainted with everything pertaining to Jesus, the Lord of his entire life and for whose cause he died while Paul's critics merely died a critic's death.
**) This concluding remark indicates that after his good bye speech, Paul, experiencing similar emotions as Jesus, said a good-bye prayer, just like Jesus did according to John chapter 17.
Islamic Objection
"There is not one word of Pauline Christianity in the characteristic utterances of Jesus.... There has really never been a more monstrous imposition perpetrated than the imposition of Paul's soul upon the soul of Jesus.... It is now easy to understand how the Christianity of Jesus... was suppressed by the police and the Church, while Paulinism overran the whole western civilized world, which was at that time the Roman Empire, and was adopted by it as its official faith." (George Bernard Shaw, Androcles and the Lion)
The Christian reply: But we read in John 14:27:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ brought new meaning to the idea of "peace" and opened wide doors for a new experience and relationship between humans and God, and among humans themselves too.
Paul also echoed the words of Jesus found in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." in his epistel to the church in Ephesus, saying: "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.", Colossians 1:20 and also in Romans 5:8-9, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
From this we see harmony between the message of Jesus and Paul. It teaches that quoting the exact words of someone is not necessarily revealing a closer kinship than understanding the deeper meaning of the words. The critics who attempt to pitch Paul against Jesus are quite wrong in doing so. They don't know enough of the Holy Bible. To save space please consider the following list of scriptures which present the words of Jesus and where they are echoed by Paul:
01)
The Jews received the oracles of God first, John 1:11; 8:31 - Acts 1:8; 3:26; Ephesians 1:11-13.;
02) to love all people, Matthew 22:37-39 - Ephesians 1:15-16.;
03) there is nothing impossible for God, Luke 1:37 - 2.Corinthians 5:17; 1.Thessalonians 4:16.;
04) having access to Jesus himself who is "the door", John 10:9 - Ephesians 3:12.;
05) Jesus commissioning the ministers of his church - Matthew 25:24-30, a task also taken on by Paul, Ephesians 4:12; Or compare these scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20 with Paul's missionary journeys, or Luke 10:1-3 with Philippians 2:19,25.;
06) Darkness stands for the old life, light for the new, John 8:12 - Ephesians 5:8.;
07) How evil can be reproved without opening our mouth, John 3:20 - Ephesians 5:13.;
08) Christian submission was taught by Jesus and Paul, Luke 9:23 - Acts 5:29; Ephesians 5:21.;
09) Christian based human relationships as taught by Christ and echoed by Paul, Matthew 10:29-31 - Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 3:6; 5:21.;
10) What is our role in the battle against Satan and sin? Are we to be passive, or is there a battle we must endure?, Matthew 16:24; Luke 13:24 - Acts 14:22; 2.Timothy 2:3; Philippians 4:1;.
11) As long as we remain in Christ, he is our assurance, John 6:37-39 - Romans 8:31-39;.
12) God is revealed through his son Jesus and the Written Word, John 1:1-3,14; 5:39; 17:17 - Romans 15:4.;
13) Telling how God equips us to overcome the assaults of Satan, Matthew 4:4; (also Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalms 119:9,11) - Hebrews 4:12;.
14) What the Holy Spirit does, John 3:3-8; 16:13 - Ephesians 1:13,14; 1:17-23;.
15) What Jesus and Paul says about the importance of prayer, Mark 13:33; 7:7; Luke 11:9 - 1.Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 6:18-20; 1.Thessalonians 5:17;.
16) the permanency of the relationship between Jesus and the believers, John 15:4 - Ephesians 6:21-24 ("to know", "in sincerety").;
Islamic Objection
"Paul abolished the Law, which was followed and preached by Jesus (pbuh), and corrupted the whole religion, giving it a new form. The main ambition behind all this was, in his own words, "to win a larger number" of followers; the followers of a new religion "the Pauline Christianity".
(Dr. Roshan Enam, Follow Jesus or Follow Paul, p. 69)
The Christian reply:
Dr. Enam also does not know the Bible. Many things were understood by the people Paul spoke to without each time explaining the particulars. These particulars we have to study for to understand the real meaning of what Paul is saying. Dr. Enam has obviously not done that.
Islamic Objection
"From the time Jesus left earth to the second half of the Second century, there was a struggle between two factions. One was what one might call Pauline Christianity and the other Judeo Christianity. It was only very slowly that the first supplanted the second, and Pauline Christianity triumphed over Judeo Christianity".
(Dr. Maurice Bucaille, The Bible, The Quran, and Science, p. 67)
The Christian reply:
But that triumph was not one like in a sports event. It is just God's truth which triumphed.
Islamic Objection
Thus, quite soon after Jesus's disappearance from earth, there was a definite and widening divergence between the followers of Jesus and the Pauline Church, which was later to become known as the Roman Catholic Church. Differences between the two were not only evident in life-style and belief, but were also clearly delineated geographically. As the Pauline Church grew more established, it became increasingly hostile to the followers of Jesus. It aligned itself more and more with the rulers of the Roman Empire, and the persecution which to begin with had been directed at all who called themselves Christians, now began to fall mainly on those who affirmed the Divine Unity. Attempts began to be made to change their beliefs and forcefully to remove those who refused to do so, together with the books they used. (Muhammad Ataur-Raheem, Jesus, Prophet of Islam)
The Christian reply:
There was never a true Pauline church. He had trouble enough to keep in line those he baptized. It was always Christ's church as long as they remained true to Him in doctrines. As soon as members start on the path of disbelief, things change and they become estranged from God.
Islamic Objection
Naturally, those who deviated from the teaching of Jesus were prepared to change the Scriptures too, and even introduce false writings in order to support their opinions. (ibid)
The Christian reply:
Ok, with that.
Islamic Objection
The Ebionites were stigmatized by the Church as heretics who failed to understand that Jesus was a divine person and asserted instead that he was a human being who came to inaugurate a new earthly age, as prophesied by the Jewish prophets of the Holy Bible.
The Christian reply:
Ok, with that.
Islamic Objection
Moreover, the Ebionites refused to accept the Church doctrine, derived from Paul, that Jesus abolished or abrogated the Torah, the Jewish law.
The Christian reply:
Correction: Paul did not teach that all of the Torah was abolished, except those parts relating to the temple services, the sacrifices of animals and all those things relating to that for Christ, the true `lamb' had been slain and fulfilled the ceremonial laws so that they were no longer needed. But the Ten Commandment Law, is eternal and always to be kept. These two types of laws were distinguished by the fact that the Ten Commandments Law was written by the finger of God on tablets made of hard stone and stored inside, underneath the lid of the arch of the covenant, while the ceremonial and civil laws were written by Moses with ink on parchment and stored in a pocket attached to the outside of the arch of the covenant indicating that both were important, but the laws of Moses were not of equal duration compared to the Law of God.
Islamic Objection
Instead, the Ebionites observed the Jewish law and regarded themselves as Jews. The Ebionites were not heretics, as the Church asserted, nor 're-Judaizers', as modern scholars call them, but the authentic successors of the immediate disciples and followers of Jesus, whose views and doctrines they faithfully transmitted, believing correctly that they were derived from Jesus himself.
The Christian reply:
This view is not correct, for it does show their ignorance of the meaning of the sanctuary services.
Islamic Objection
They were the same group that had earlier been called the Nazarenes, who were led by James and Peter, who had known Jesus during his lifetime, and were in a far better position to know his aims than Paul, who met Jesus only in dreams and visions. Thus the opinion held by the Ebionites about Paul is of extraordinary interest and deserves respectful consideration, instead of dismissal as 'scurrilous' propaganda -- the reaction of Christian scholars from ancient to modern times.
(Hyam Maccoby, The Myth Maker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity)
The Christian reply:
Well, this author is obviously only partially informed.
Islamic Objection
"Let the reader contrast the true Christian standard with that of Paul and he will see the terrible betrayal of all that the Master taught.... For the surest way to betray a great Teacher is to misrepresent his message.... That is what Paul and his followers did, and because the Church has followed Paul in his error it has failed lamentably to redeem the world.... The teachings given by the blessed Master Christ, which the disciples John and Peter and James, the brother of the Master, tried in vain to defend and preserve intact were as utterly opposed to the Pauline Gospel as the light is opposed to the darkness." (Rev. V.A. Holmes-Gore: Christ or Paul?)
The Christian reply:
This assessment, again, is quite wrong as our list of quotes above shows.
Islamic Objection
"More and more people are now aware that the Christianity they know has little to do with the original teaching of Jesus. During the last two centuries the research of the historians has left little room for faith in the Christian "mysteries", but the proven fact that the Christ of the established Church has almost nothing to do with the Jesus of history does not in itself help Christians towards the Truth. The present dilemma of the Christians is illustrated by what the Church historians of this present century write". (Muhammad Ataur- Rahim, Jesus, Prophet of Islam, 1992 edition, p. 13)
The Christian reply:
This assessment may fit the nominal Christian churches, not the remnant Christian church as it will be revealed.
Islamic Conclusion:
The "Christians" are commanded to follow the Old Testament, the observance of the Torah (Matthew 5:17-20)
The Holy Quran rebukes them for not following the true Gospel of Jesus and discarding the Torah, the Law of Moses which Jesus cherished, and Christians reject!
The Christian reply:
Do Muslims truly follow the Torah? Christians do not see them do so or else they do not know it very well and want to use only those parts they like.
Islamic Objection
Say: "O People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord." It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow thou not over (these) people without Faith. (The Holy Quran, 5:68)
Doctrines in the Quran
The Christian reply:
The Muslim faith fails or neglects to emphasize God's love and equality of men and women. Christians know that the Quran is a contradictory book. Study the following points:
- In Surah 41, when you do the math, it indicates that Allah created the world in eight days.
- In other places, it says in four days (Q 41:9, 10, 12) and
- in others in six days (Q. 7:54; 10:3; 11:7; 25:59; 32:4; 50:38; 57:4).
- The Quran does not have chronological order. It jumps from one issue to another.
- 85% of it is from oral Christian and Jewish traditions and other religions and philosophies. Therefore, it does not really have a sound doctrine on creation or any other subject.
- The Quran shows Mohammed himself did not know whether he would go to heaven or to hell, Q. 46:9;
- but this book says that Jesus was perfect and holy and that he is living in heaven, Q. 19:16-33.
Islamic Objection
From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the day of judgment. And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done. (5:14)
The Christian reply:
We read words like `they' and `them' when they should read `we' and `us', `I' and `you', for we have all fallen short of the requirements of God. One of the great evils among the nations and tribes in this world, is the idea that one takes vengeance. We must recognize that the Almighty says, "To me belongs vengeance, and recompense ... the Lord shall judge his people ..." Deut. 32:25-26.
Muslims, your actions speak louder then your words. You are as much in need of a Saviour from sin as all people are. Without repenting none will see God as friend, but as judge of his actions.
Islamic Objection
Did Jesus command Christians to convert people and ready them for baptism?
The Christian reply:
God's prophet Isaiah wrote, "Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." Isaiah 6:10. Similarly, James, the brother of Jesus wrote,
"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5:19,20. The apostle Paul wrote, "And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren." Acts 15:3.
Jesus said,
"When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:6-8.
Jesus Christ emphasized for his disciples to be witnesses of what the Saviour did for humanity. When people hear that Christ died for the sins of the whole world already, that will grip their heart and they want to confess and repent of their sins and follow Christ and be saved.
Christ served mankind in that He taught not new doctrines but explained Scripture so they would understand their meaning in a Christ centered way, Mt. 4:4; Lk. 5:39. He did not so much attack error as He presented truth instead, (Mt. 5; 6; 7). He shunned dissension and spoke truth in love. He broke down barriers in society, systems of caste and separation and helped, healed (Mk. 3:8; Lk. 6:17-19) and preached return unto God's intention for mankind. The Bible teaches that we teach the Word of God in truth and only the hearers, after such an opportunity, decide whom they want to follow. - Islam, however, is often tempted to force the conscience of people, a method forbidden by God. The Bible teaches do violence to no man (Lk. 3:14), any religion which forces the conscience is an abomination to God who alone is to control our conscience.
Islamic Objection
Say: "O people of the Book! exceed not in your religion the bounds (of what is proper), trespassing beyond the truth, nor follow the vain desires of people who went wrong in times gone by,- who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the even way. (5:77)
Christianity is the religion of Paul, not Jesus.
The Christian reply:
As long as you know your own sins, do not point your finger at us - remember one finger pointed toward someone else leaves three pointing back to you.
Notes & References
[0100] In Islam the sin of `sherk' is the unpardonable sin. It has to do with worshipping someone who, in the mind of Muslims, is not God. The Biblical equivalent to that is idolatry, worshipping someone who does not deserve being worshipped, for only Almighty God deserves being worshipped. In the mind of Muslims, Christians commit the sin of `sherk' when they worship Jesus Christ. We must point out that this interpretation/ view is a dangerous misunderstanding of what divine revelation has given mankind in His Word. We would like to state briefly that God is above all human philosophy. The issue is which is God's revealed Word. We endeavor to provide some answers to these questions.
[0200] See Peoples of the Earth - The Indian Subcontinent, 1973, p. 54-57. The Parsees of Bombay. The Parsees of Persian ancestry, a minority in India, are said to wield unproportional influence in the economy and political life of their region, speak the Gujarat language, do not intermarry and are Zoroastrians by faith.
[1000] What are some of the parallels between Muhammed and Jesus? Here are some:
01) Mohammed was just the Arabic reflection of Moses, and not a C6th AD individual at all. Mohammed especially resembles Moses in:
a) the latter's visit to Mount Horeb (Jebel El Lawz) with its cave atop, its Burning Bush, and angel (Exodus 3:1-2), equating to Mohammed's "Mountain of Light" (Jabal-an-Nur), and 'cave of research' (`Ghar-i-Hira'), and angel Gabriel.
b) at the very same age of forty (Acts 7:23-29), and
c) there receiving a divine revelation, leading to his
d) becoming a prophet of God and a Lawgiver.
02) The mission of Mohammed, perfectly reminiscent of that of Moses, was to restore the worship of the One True God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, as taught by Prophet Ibrahim [Abraham] and all Prophets of God, and complete the laws of moral, ethical, legal, and social conduct and all other matters of significance for the humanity at large.
03) The Burning Bush incident occurred while Moses
(a) was living in exile (Exodus 2:15)
(b) amongst the Midianite tribe of Jethro, in the Paran desert.
(c) Moses had married Jethro's daughter, Zipporah (v. 21).
04) Likewise Mohammed
(a) experienced exile;
(b) to Medina, a name which may easily have become confused with the similar sounding, Midian, and
(c) he had only the one wife at the time, Khadija. Also
(d) Moses, like Mohammed, was terrified by what God had commanded of him, protesting that he was "slow of speech and slow of tongue" (Exodus 4:10). To which God replied: "Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go, and I will be your mouth and teach you what you are to speak' (vv. 11-12).
05) This very episode has come distorted into the Koran as Mohammed's being terrified by what God was asking of him, protesting that he was not learned. To which God supposedly replied that he had 'created man from a clot of congealed blood, and had taught man the use of the pen, and that which he knew not, and that man does not speak ought of his own desire but by inspiration sent down to him'.
06) Mohammed is, I suggest, basically Moses particularly in that period of Moses' life after his flight from Egypt when he dwelt amongst the Midianites as a shepherd and family man in the Paran desert region.
07) Mohammed resembles Moses as a Lawgiver and as an army commander (e.g. Exodus 17:9-10).
08) Mohammed also resembles Moses in his childhood in the fact that, after his infancy, he was raised by a foster-parent (Exodus 2:10). And there is the inevitable weaning legend [42]: "All biographers state that the infant prophet sucked only one breast of his foster-mother, leaving the other for the sustenance of his foster-brother".
09) In the Quran we even find a kind of Islamic version of the Exodus. Compare the following account of the Qoreish persecution and subsequent pursuit of the fleeing Moslems with the persecution and later pursuit of the fleeing Israelites by Pharaoh (Exodus 1 & 4:5-7) [42]:
"When the persecution became unbearable for most Muslims, the Prophet advised them in the fifth year of his mission (615 CE) to emigrate to Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) where Ashabah (Negus, a Christian) was the ruler. Eighty people, not counting the small children, emigrated in small groups to avoid detection. No sooner had they left the Arabian coastline [substitute Egyptian borders], the leaders of Quraish discovered their flight. They decided to not leave these Muslims in peace, and immediately sent two of their envoys to Negus to bring all of them back."
10) That the Koran of Islam is basically just the Arabic version of the Hebrew Bible with all its same famous patriarchs and leading characters is apparent from what the Moslems themselves admit. For example [42]:
"The Qur'an also mentions four previously revealed Scriptures: Suhoof (Pages) of Ibrahim (Abraham), Taurat ('Torah') as revealed to Prophet Moses, Zuboor ('Psalms') as revealed to Prophet David, and Injeel ('Evangel') as revealed to Prophet Jesus (pbuh). Islam requires belief in all prophets and revealed scriptures (original, non-corrupted) as part of the Articles of Faith." [Zahoor, A. & Haq, Z., "Biography of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)", (http://cyberistan.org/islamic/muhammad.html), last modified on July 16, 1998.]
Exactly how the Arabs later crystallized out of all of this a C6th AD 'Mohammed' - separate from Moses - still needs to be determined.
Mohammed cannot be confined just to the person of Moses. He is what I shall call a 'Pseudo-Biblical Composite' [PBC]. Definition: A PBC will be a fictional, invented character who represents 2 or more real biblical personages, Old and/or New Testament - including Pseudepigrapha - and for whom a biography (dates, family, etc.) has been created.
11) Socrates as Jesus:
Despite the conventional dating, I believe that the similarities between Jesus and Socrates are so striking that I must conclude – based on the pattern that begins to emerge that Socrates is just the Greco-Roman version of Jesus Christ, a C1st AD Jew. 'Their' Greco-Roman names, largely ignoring the changeable vowels, are stunningly similar, especially when Socrates is given his full name of Isocrates. Thus:
[I] SOK Ra T e S
Ie S OuChRisTu S
And 'their' trials and deaths have often also been compared. There is something anomalous about the callous slaying of Socrates at that particular era of Greek 'history', when conditions would not really seem to have favoured it. Glover calls it "almost unintelligible" [89]. Thomas has written an entire book on The Trial[91], in which he seems to be at a loss to account for many things, not least of which was why poor old Socrates was martyred, and why they waited until he was 70 years of age to do this.
I think that our PBC theory alone explains in full the trial and death of Socrates. It is a mix of the`Passion and Death of Jesus Christ' and the death of the aged Maccabean hero, Eleazer (2 Maccabees 6:18-31).
12) The Maccabean Eleazar has the Socrates-like aspects of being,
(i) during Greek rule (as the Macedonian Greeks were ruling Palestine in Maccabean times);
(ii) "advanced in age";
(iii) a witness to "the young". Socrates was actually accused of 'corrupting youth'.
(iv) Socrates' death by swallowing (viz. the 'hemlock') may be an echo of Eleazer's refusal to swallow the pig's flesh.
(v) Eleazer's acquaintances of long-standing begged him to feign compliance by substituting meat of his own, to save himself. Likewise, Crito begged Socrates to escape, even to using bribery if necessary (Apologia, Scene II); but
(vi) Eleazer refused to do this out of honour, and instead faced death with courage; as did Socrates.
13) Folklore has sensed the similarity between the demise of Socrates and the end of the earthly life of Jesus, and thus has Socrates warning Pontius Pilate's wife, Claudia Procula, to save Jesus:
"… in her premonitory dream Socrates appeared to Pilate's wife and urged her to intercede on behalf of Jesus" [Thomas, G., The Trial (Bantam Press, NY, 1987), 175.] (See also Matthew 27:19).
14) Jesus-like likenesses attributed to Mohammed (though not necessarily practiced by 'him') are the following:
A) - The Islamic prophet led a life of simplicity and poverty.
B) - Mohammed had great compassion and love. He served the widows and orphans, the poor, sick, aged and homeless.
C) - When the prophet saw a blind woman stumbling in the street in Mecca, he led her gently home and thereafter took meals to her daily.
D) - One day, he saw a woman with a heavy load on her head. At once he relieved her of her burden and carried it on his own head to her house.
E) - Islam bears marked similarity to the Semitic religion of Judaism. It emphasizes the principle of brotherhood and equality of man, and is based on austere, simple living.
F) - The main injunctions of Islam are fasting, prayer, pilgrimage, charity and firm belief in the oneness of God and His prophets (particularly Mohammed).
G) - Mohammed was a lover of peace and non-vioolence. Selflessness and service to suffering humanity are the watchwords of Islam.
H) - When Mohammed was in Mecca once, a poor shepherd from the hills came to worship in the mosque. He worshipped in his own simple way, performing the necessary ablution, kissing the stone and bowing before the sacred spot. Tears flowed from his eyes as he prayed: 'O adorable Lord of love, show me Thy face. Let me be thy servant. Let me mend Thy shoes, apply oil to Thy hair, wash Thy soiled clothes and bring Thee daily the milk of my goat. Let me kiss Thy hand and shampoo Thy sacred Feet. Let me sweep Thy room'.
Such simple words of the honest and straightforward shepherd offended the priests who stood near him. They said to him,'What blasphemy is this? There is no need of such gifts for the omnipotent Lord'. But Mohammed defended the poor shepherd whose simple prayer, he said, entered directly into the ears of Allah more clearly than those of the priests, as it was uttered from his heart with intense love, faith, sincerity and reverence. He added: 'Make room for God's poor lover near me. Let no one be ashamed to have his company. He is humble, pure and exalted soul'. This story has surely been taken from Jesus' parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), with the 'shampooing of the sacred Feet' being from Mary Magdalene's anointing of Jesus' feet with her ointment (7:36-39). In both stories, the suppliant is ridiculed by the Pharisee.
I) - Mohammed passed through a period of extreme depression and gloom. He received no more revelations and finally determined to throw himself down from high mountains. This reminds one of Satan's tempting of Jesus on "a very high mountain" and also asking him to throw himself down from (Matthew 4:5, 8). Likewise, Gabriel supposedly took the prophet to the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem where he ascended into heaven. (Cf. John 24:50-51).
Mohammed being in Jerusalem seems to be as fictional as is that other Islamic legend that Abraham was responsible for the Kaaba at Mecca. Fictional also is the Moslem claim to accept all of the Scriptures, including the Gospels. In Jesus, Islam finds its greatest contradiction.
[1010] In the second century A.D. extreme Judaizing Christians became known as `Ebionites'. Williston Walker, A History of the Christian Church, N.Y., 1959, p. 35. To them, Jesus was the son of Joseph and Mary, who so completely fulfilled the Jewish law that God chose him to be the Messiah. According to the Ebionites then, God is not almighty at all but just like another person. Ebionites failed the primary test for what a fully converted Christian believes, that Jesus Christ is divine, he is God and was born in the flesh, 1.John 4:2.
[2000] Please be reminded what the Apostle Peter said about the writings of Paul. Peter, of course, was one of the original 12 disciples of Christ. "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." 2 Peter 3:15,16. One does not see anything here where Peter says he disagrees with Paul's teaching of the Gospel. He condemns those who twist Paul's writings, as they do the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
"And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain." Galatians 2:2. It appears that Paul checked his teaching out with the brethren, probably the other twelve, to be sure that he was teaching in harmony with them.
[3000] Is God real? Does God exist? A more philosophical answer, not found in the Holy Bible in these words, is this: "He is the only Being existent in this world the reason for whose existence is in Himself, every other existing entity finds a reason for their existence outside of themselves in that sense He alone is perfect, His very existence is uncaused. He just exists." Rawi Zacharias.; Romans 1:18-20; Acts 14:17.
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Jacob > Joseph > Jesus
Creator God, loves man and woman whom He made in His image. By faith people can feel secure in God. Fearing God in the Christian faith means respecting and obeying Him. It is our part to dwell in His Word, through which He testifies to us. The essence of Christian life is Jesus Christ in us, being obedient to Him. Jesus Christ is God verily.
Muhammed, if one would for a moment say he lived, he too was a sinner and also would need Jesus if he wanted to be saved. And like Jesus, the greatest of all God's prophets, Mohammed is said to have ascended into heaven from Jerusalem, the latter event which never happened but is just said by eager Muslim writers to have happened. According to the Quran, there is no savior who died on the cross. In Islam each believer must bear the consequences of their deeds on their own shoulders. There is no recognition of sin. This puts Muslims in great peril not to be prepared for the advent of the Savior from sin when he comes again. They will not be prepared. They can't see the signs of His coming.
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