Melihat Allah

TENTANG MELIHAT ALLAH :
SAMPAI PADA TINGKATAN MELIHAT PERWUJUDAN ESENSI TUHAN

Penglihatan terhadap (Diri) Allah terdiri dari dua macam : satu adalah melihat perwujudan Sifat-sifat Keindahan Kesempuranaan Allah secara langsung di Akhirat. Yang kedua adalah melihat perwujudan Sifat-sifat Ilahi yang dipantulkan diatas cermin yang bersih pada hati yang suci, dalam hidup ini, didunia ini. Dalam kasusu semacam ini, penglihatan muncul sebagai perwujudan cahaya yang memancar dari Keindahan Sempurna Allah dan terlihat oleh mata esensi hati.

Allah menggambarkan penglihatan batin oleh mata hati : "Hatinya tidak mendustakan apa yang telah dilihatnya." (Q.S An Najm:11)

Tentang melihat perwujudan keIlahian melalui suatu perantara, Rasulullah saw bersabda,
"Orang beriman adalah cermin dari orang beriman."

Apa yang dimaksud dengan beriman yang pertama, cermin didalam kalimat ini, adalah hati yang suci dari orang beriman, sementara "beriman" yang kedua (Siapa) Yang melihat pantulan-Nya di dalam cermin itu adalah Allah Yang Maha Tinggi. Siapa pun sampai pada tingkat melihat perwujudan Sifat sifat Allah di dunia tentu akan melihat Esensi Allah di akhirat tanpa bentuk atau wujud.
Hakikat dari hal ini telah ditegaskan oleh banyak kekasih dan para pecinta Allah. Hadrat Umar r.a berkata : " Hatiku melihat Tuhanku dengan cahaya Tuhanku." "Aku tidak akan memohon kepada Allah kecuali kalau aku melihat-Nya"
Mereka pasti telah melihat perwujudan dari Sifat-sifat Illahiah. Allah memberi contoh paling indah tentang perwujudan Sifat-sifat Nya.

Arti dari lubang (ceruk) adalah hati orang Mukmin yang bertaqwa. Pelita menyinari ceruk hati adalah esensi dari hati, sedangkan cahaya yang dipancarkannya adalah rahasia Ilahiah, jiwa penguasa. Kaca adalah transparan dan tidak menyimpan cahaya di dalamnya, tetapi melindunginya dan menyediakannya untuk disebar, sehingga disamakan dengan sebuah bintang.

Tentang RUH

TERBUKANYA TABIR MISTERI KEGAIBAN RUH DALAM JASAD, AWAL PERJUMPAAN DENGAN KEBENARAN TUHAN

I. JASAD PERWUJUDAN KEGAIBAN RUH YANG NYATA

Pembedahan masalah Ruh sudah sejak alam dilakukan oleh manusia dengan memakai banyak pendekatan seperti agama, ilmu pengetahuan, psikologi, paranormal dan lain sebagainya.

Ilmu manusia tidak dapat meliputi ilmu NYA (Ilmu Allah)
(Q.S 27:82)

Dimensi Ruh tidak dapat dicapai dengan bentuk pendekatan lain , kecuali hanya dengan pendekatan dimesi ke Illahian.

Dan Kutiupkan Ruh Ku dalam dirinya
(Q.S 38:72)

Pemahaman yang kami dapatkan dari Q.S 38:72 diatas, Ruh yang ditiupkan ke jasad manusia adalah pada hakekatnya Ruhullah yang dengan ketentuanNya dan kekuasaanNya, Ruh yang ditiupkan itu adalah terbatas sifat sifatnya dan tidak sama dengan Ruhullah yang Maha Tidak Terbats sifat sifatNya. Keterbatasan sifat sifat Ruhullah yang terdapat didalam diri inilah yang disebut Kodrat untuk setiap manusia.
Tuhan mengutus Ruh kepada jasad agar senantiasa Ruh dapat dipertemukan dengan Kebenaran Tuhan didalam jasad dan pertemuan ini akan menjadi kenaikan tingkat Ruh itu sendiri dialam ghaib.
Pada hakekatnya jasmani (jasad lahir) dalah perwujudan sementara dari pengembaraan Ruh (jasad bathin) didunia nyata ini.

"Mereka menanyakan kepadamu masalah ruh, jawablah Ruh adalah masalahKu tapi sedikit saja yang diberikan kepadamu" (Q.S 17:85)

Pemahan yang kami dapatkan dari ayat tersebut diatas hanya sedikit dari manusia yang diberikan rahasia tabir Ruh oleh Tuhan dan mereka termasuk manusia manusia pilihan.

"Ia pilih untuk RahmatNya siapa yang IA kehendaki. Dan Allah mempunyai karunia yang berkelimpahan" (Q.S 3:74)

Semoga kalau ridho Allah diturunkan kepada kita, maka kita termasuk manusia pilihan yang akan dibukakanNya misi Ruh sesungguhnya didunia fana ini. Pada gilirannya dengan disingkapNya tabir misteri Ruh maka terbuka jalan untuk bertemu dengan Kebenaran Tuhan dalam diri.
Tanda tanda yang nyata dari tingkatan Ruh yang tinggi dan mewujud sebagai manusia terpilih, akan terlihat mereka selalu beramal soleh terhadap manusia serta lingkungan dan selalu menciptakn suatu kehidupan yang adil, makmur dan bahagia dunia dan akherat serta mengajak manusia kejalan yang lurus untuk bertemu dengan Kebenaran Tuhan.

II. RASUL WUJUD NYATA KE-NABIAN (MALAIKAT)

"Maka Allah mengutus para Nabi (Malaikat) sebagai pengemban berita baik dan peringatan " (Q.S 2:213)

Menurut pemahaman kami ayat tersebut diatas, bahwa yang diutus Tuhan dari kerajaanNya (Lauful Mahfudz) kepada umat disebut oleh Tuhan sebagai Nabi. Nabi itu sendiri identik dengan pengemban berita baik dan peringatan bagi sipenerima/umat. Nabi tiada diutus Tuhan kepada setiap manusia melainkan hanya kepada manusia terpilih yang sudah dipilih Allah.
Manusia yang terpilih jasadnya ditunjuk sebagai tempat kedatangan para Nabi. Manusia terpilih dan kepada jasad ini diutusNya para Nabi disebut Tuhan debagai RasulNya (manusia)

"Dan ketika Allah mengambil perjanjian para Nabi, " Apa saja yang Ku berikan kepadamu berupa kitab dan hikmat." Kemudian datang kepadamu seorang Rasul." (Q.S 3:81)

Tuhan mengutus UtusanNya (malaikat) hanya kepada Rasul (manusia) dan menurut pemahaman kami rasul adalah wahana wujud sementara dari Nabi (utusan Tuhan) didunia nyata. Nabi / Malaikat adalah bersifat langgeng dialam ghaib.

III. RASUL UNTUK UMAT

"Dan bersama mereka, Dia turunkan kitab dengan kebenaran" (Q.S 2:213)

Didalam diri pribadi Rasul terpilih tersimpan rangkuman Firman FirmanNya. Rangkuman Firman Tuhan terkandung didalam diri pribadi para Rasul disebut Dia adalah Al-Kitab.
Al-Kitab yang terkandung didalam diri Rasul disampaikan kepada para sahabat yang dihadirkan saat itu. Kemudian ucapan ucapan rasul tersebur disalin oleh para sahabat. Salinan salinan uicapan Rasul inilah disebut sebagai Al Mus-haf (salinan ucapan Rasul akan Al Kitab).
Diantara para Rasul dipilih lagi oleh Tuhan beberapa Rasul yang ditugaskan membawa umatnya kehadapan Tuhan. Rasul ini meninggalkan Al Mus-haf sebagai pegangan bagi para pengikutnya. Al Mus-haf yang dikenal oelh umat (manusia) adalah Taurat, Zabur, Injil dan Al Quran. Disamping itu terdapat juga suhuf suhuf dari Ibrahim maupun Musa yang juga berfungsi sebagai Al-Mushaf.
Rasul yang meninggalkan Al Mus-haf untuk umat termasuk Rasul Rasul untuk umatnya.

IV. DIRI PRIBADINYA UMAT PERTAMA RASUL

"Kami tidak membedakan salah seorang Rasul RasulNya." (Q.S 2:285)

Pada hakekatnya rasul itu adalah manusia biasa (Q.S 25:20), oleh karena itu Tuhan tidak akan membedakan diri pribadi antara satu Rasul dengan Rasul yang lainnya. Pada dimensi Keilahian, Nabi yang diutus membawa FirmanNya adalah UtusanNya dan tiada dibedakan antara mereka.
Kami diberi pemahaman dari Firman diatas bahwa Rasul Allah itu banyak, akan tetapi yang dikenal oleh kita sekarang ada 25 rasul, karena Al-Kitab yang terkandung dalam diri Muhammad (Al Quran) hanya
menyebutkan nama nama mereka.
Ke 25 Rasul diutus Allah kepada umat yang berbeda kerena perbedaan waktu dan tempat. Rasul diutus kepada umatnya masing masing. Rasul yang ditentukan Allah untuk suatu umat adalah Rasul bagi umatnya.
Karena Allah mengutus banyak Rasul, maka akan terdapat rasul -Rasul yang tidak diutus untuk umatnya, melainkan Rasul diutus untuk dirinya Pribadi. Dlam hal ini diri pribadi Rasul juga berlaku sebagai Umatnya pertama.
Sebagai kesimpulan pemahaman kami adalah Kebenaran akan adanya tuhan akan diberitahukan oleh Tuhan kepada diri Pribadi manusia melalui Utusan UtusanNya (malaikat), tanpa membedakan manusia itu menurut suku, ras, bangsa dan lain sebagainya dan ada rasul untuk umat yang banyak dan terdapat Rasul untuk umat dirinya sendiri.

V. KEBENARAN ADALAH TUHAN

"Rasul beriman kepada apa saja yang diturunkan kepadanya dari Tuhannya". (Q.S 2:285)

Bagi para Rasul kedatangan kedatangan Utusan Tuhan (Nabi) kepada diri Pribadi mereka adalah merupakan suatu Kebenaran Tuhan bagi Pribadi Rasul tersebut.
Jadi hakekat yang dapat kami pahami disini adalah : Kedatangan Utusan Tuhan (Nabi) kepada para Rasul adalah merupakan hakekat Kebenaran adanya Allah bagi Pribadi para Rasul.

Dari hasil pemahaman diatas diberitahukan kepada kami bahwa Rasul itu adalah manusia pilihan Tuhan, kepada mereka itu dibukakan misteri ghaib Tuhan dan pada gilirannya mereka diberikan suatu tingkat kesadaran (consiousness) oleh Tuhan bahwa Kebenaran akan adanya Tuhan dapat diyakini dengan tingkat keyakinan yang nyata (Haqul Yakin).

"Kebenaran adalah dari Tuhanmu". (Q.S 3:60)

Menurut pemahaman kami dari Firman diatas, Tuhan itu Esa dan tidak dipersamakan dengan ciptaanNya. Karena itu apapun bersama Dia adalah Dia. Kebenaran itu bersama dia maka Kebenaran dari Tuhan adalah Tuhan.

VI. UMAT YANG SATU

"Manusia adalah umat yang satu." (Q.S 2:213)

Kutipan Firman Tuhan diatas diberikan pemahan kepada kami bahwa pada dimensi ke Ilahian manusia itu adalah satu dan disebut sebagai umat. Satu umat disini dilihat dari hakekat manusia sendiri, bahwa terciptanya manusia pada saat Ruh telah ditiupkan kedalam jasad yang semula dalam keadaan mati. Jasad dibentuk dari unsur unsur tanah, air, api dan angin.

"Ialah yang menciptakan manusia dari unsur tanah". (Q.S 6:2)

Hakekat kelahiran manusia didunia dikelompokan menurut ras, suku, bangsa, adalah agar manusi dapat saling mengenal satu sama lain.

"Sesungguhnya kami ciptakan manusia itu ber suku suku / berbangsa bangsa semata mata untuk kenel mengenal satu sama lainnya. Yang paling mulia adalah yang paling taqwa." (Q.S 49:13)

Diperkenalkan kita satu sama lain antar suku bangsa oleh Tuhan agar dapat melihat Kebesaran Tuhan yang ada pada diri mereka, dan sebagai sarana bagi kita untuk meningkatkan keimanan kepada Tuhan. Ilmu manusia adalah penyebab terjadinya perpecahan antar umat (bangsa dan agama).

"Tatkala datang pertolongan Allah dan kemenangan
Dan engkau melihat manusia masuk karena jaminan dalam Agama Allah dengan Sunatullah,
Maka sucikanlah dengan memuji Tuhan dikau dan mohonkanlah perlindungan". (Q.S 110:1-3)

Menurut pemahaman yang diberikan dari Firman diatas, suatu saat yang telah ditentukanNYa akan diciptakanNya suatu persatuan Umat manusia tanpa dibedakan atas suku/bangsa, agama/kepercayaan. Kepada Umat tersebut telah dibukakan hakekat Kebenaran Tuhan Yang Esa. Kebenaran Tuhan yang dibukakan kepada diri masing masing umat inilah nantinya yang akan menyatukan Umat.

"Tuhan kami , Kaulah yang akan menghimpun manusia menjelang hari yang tiada diragukan adanya". (Q.S 3:9)

Setelah manusia manusia menyatukan diri dengan Tuahn, maka Tuhan akan menyatukan mereka. Dan pada akhirnya Tuhan dengan kekuasaanNya akan menyatukan dan mempersatukan manusia.

"Bagi setiap umat ada Rasul, maka apabila datang Rasul mereka, antara mereka diberikan keputusan seadil adilnya." (Q.S 10:47)

Keputusan Allah yang memberitahukan melalui Al Quran berlaku sepanjang masa/zaman. Adapun kehadiran umat dibatasi oleh zaman nya. Sedangkan Firman Tuhan akan terus menerus turun. Sedangkan Firman Firman Tuhan akan terus menerus diturunkanNya.
Hanya melalui pertemuan dengan Rasul dizamannya manusia dapat dituntun kejalan perjumpaan dengan Kebenaran Tuahn, karena rahasia Allah yang ghaib hanya dibukakan kepada RasulNya.
Berbahagialah dan bersyukurlah barangsiapa yang sudah dipilih Allah untuk dibukakan diri Pribadinya akan Kebenaran Tuhan. Kalau sudah diridhoi oleh Allah maka akan diperjalankannya untuk bertemu dengan Rasul dizamanya. Melalui perjumpaan Rasul dizamanya, akan dibukakan misteri kegaiban ruh dalam diri Pribadi dan akan diberikan pengetahuan mengenai Kuasa Tuhan. Dengan suatu tingkat kesadaran tinggi ini diri Pribadi akan selalu dibimbing oleh petunjukNya. Manusia pada tingkat ini akan menjadi wakil Tuhan didunia untuk mewujudkan semua kehendak Tuhan.

By Hadrian Nataprawira & Sutan Taswin,MBA

Sunnah Rasul

Main Ideas from Sunnah Rasulullah
And now let us acquaint ourselves with some hadiths — statements of
prophet Muhammad and of God through him, which are recorded in the books of the Holy Tradition of Islam — Sunna (cited from Condition of Faith. Hadiths,Tumen, 1991):

Good education is the best legacy, which can be handed down to children.
Speak always the truth, even if it is not profitable for you.
Share that, which you know, with others and teach them.
Him, who pitied no one, no one will pity.
Be not a burden for people.
Do not sit down between two sitting people without first asking their
permission.
Be economical and do not bring yourselves to destitution.
Do not do things, which then make you conscience-stricken.
The riches consist not in quantity of goods, but in the breadth of the
soul.
The knowledge is a treasure, the key to which is inquiry.
Step aside from a fool.
Avoid intoxicating drinks…
Calmness is a gain; confusion is a loss.
Do not be hurry in taking decisions and provide for consequences.
Do not judge anyone from assumptions or if you have doubts.
Exhort every one not to do evil.
If you have to punish the guilty never strike him in the face.
He who wakes up lately closes for himself the door to prosperity.
Any bribe is a sin and an odious source of income.
He who has flared up should break off immediately.
An inhospitable person is an inferior person.
Repay to those who made good to you.
It is a virtuous deed — to forgive the one who offended you, to give
to the one who refused to give to you, to stretch a hand of peace to the
one who quarrels with you.
O man! If you are not satisfied with the small, the great can satisfy
you neither.
Do good deeds without creating buzz.
Do not wish death to yourself or to others.
The one who does not thank people will thank Allah neither.
Everything created by Allah is fine, though people do not always understand
it.
Allah created diseases, but He also created medicines for them.
Allah is generous and likes generous people.
For everything there is a way. The way to paradise is opened by
knowledge.
Do not be lazy to go for knowledge even to distant China, because
gaining knowledge is the main duty of a Muslim.
Panhandling is an indecent occupation.
Begin a meal with remembering about Allah and be not choosy with
food.
Gates to well-being are under lock. The key to it is work.
To divine and to believe the words of diviners, foretellers, and sorcerers
is meanness.
A bad person is characterized by the following features: he lies in
conversation, does not keep his promises, and, feeling impunity, does
base deeds.
Pay to a worker for his work before his sweat dried up.
He who is mild, behaves well, and does not harm others will never be
touched by the fires of hell.
An hour spent for gaining useful knowledge is more pleasing to Allah
than a whole night spent for praying.
In any time try to be pure…
Specially for men:
Be kind to women…
A noble one is kind to women; a low one is guileful to them.
Respect women…
If you are called by the father and the mother at the same time, come
first to the mother.

IS THE BIBLE GODS WORD?

IS THE BIBLE GODS WORD?

CHAPTER ONE

WHAT THEY SAY CHRISTIANS CONFESS

Dr. W. Graham Scroggie of the MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE, Chicago, one of the most prestigious Christian Evangelical Mission in the world, answering the question — "Is the Bible the Word of God?" (also the title of his book), under the heading: IT IS HUMAN, YET DIVINE. He says on page 17:

"Yes, the Bible is human, though some, out of zeal which is not according to knowledge, 1 have denied this. Those books2 have passed through the minds of men, are written in the language of men, were penned by the hands of men, and bear in their style the characteristics of men." (Emphasis added).

Another erudite Christian scholar, Kenneth Cragg, the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, says on page 277 of his book, "The Call of the Minaret":

"Not so the New Testament3 . . . There is condensation and editing; 4 there is choice, reproduction and witness. The Gospels have come through the mind of the Church behind the authors. They represent experience and history." 5

If words have any meaning, do we need to add another word of comment to prove our case? No! But the professional propagandists, after letting the cat out of the bag, still have the face to try to make their readers believe that they have proved beyond the shadow of any doubt that the Bible is the "irrefragable 6 Word of God." Their semantic gymnastics — equivocating, and playing with words — is amazing!

1. Out of ignorance.

2. The Bible is not Just a Book. It is a selection and compilation of many books.

3. As opposed to the Qur’an.

4. Another word for Interpolating.

5. Emphasis are mine.

6. Indisputable.

Both these Doctors of Religion are telling us in the clearest language humanly possible that the Bible is the handiwork of man, all the while pretending that the are proving to the contrary. An old Arab saying goes: "IF SUCH ARE THE PRIESTS, GOD BLESS THE CONGREGATION."

With this sort of drive, the hot-gospeller and the Bible-thumper is "inspired" to harry the "heathen." 1 A theological student — a not-yet-qualified young evangelist — from the University of Witwatersrand, became a frequent visitor to the Newtown Mosque in Johannesburg, with the "noble" thought of "witnessing"2 to the members of its congregation. When I was introduced to him, (and having learnt his purpose), I invited him to lunch at my brother’s residence — a stone’s-throw from the Mosque. While discussing the authenticity of the Bible over the dinner table and sensing his stubborn dogmatism, I put out a feeler: "Your Professor Geyser, (The Head of the Department of Theology) does not believe the Bible to be the Word of God." Without the slightest surprise he answered, "I know." Now I personally had no knowledge of the Professor’s conviction about the Bible. I had only assumed so from a controversy which raged around him about the "Divinity of Christ." 3 He had taken issue with the orthodox believers on this point some years ago. I continued further, saying, "Your lecturer does not believe the Bible as being God’s Word." The young evangelist, responded again, "I know" but he continued this time-with the words, "but I believe that it is the Word of God!" There is no real remedy for such people. Even Jesus bewailed this sickness:

"… seeing they see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." (Matthew 13:13)

Al-Qur’an, the Holy Book of God, also condemns this mulish mentality:

These pages are now addressed to those sincerely humble souls, who are genuinely interested in seeking the Light of God, and who wish to be guided by it. As for the other, with a sickness in their souls, the facts presented herein can only increase the disease of their hearts.

1. See "How Lost are the Heathen?" by the same MOODY PRESS of Dr. Scroggie.

2. When the Christian talks of "witnessing" he means propagating, proselytizng, converting.

3. This subject is dealt extensively in the book — "CHRIST IN ISLAM"

CHAPTER TWO

THE MUSLIMS’ STANDPOINT

PRESUMPTUOUS CHRISTIANS

Whether Catholic, Protestant or a "Cultist," of the thousand -and - one - sects - and - denominations-of-Christianity, never will you find a missionary who will not, prima facie, presuppose that his potential convert accepts his "Holy Bible" as the book of final authority on every religious opinion? The only answer the prospective proselyte has is to quote verses from the Bible which are contradictory to the missionary’s or debate their interpretations.

THE DOGGED QUESTION

When the Muslim proves his point from the Christian’s own Holy Scripture, and when the professional priest, parson or predikant cannot refute the arguments — the inevitable Christian evasion is — "DO YOU ACCEPT THE BIBLE AS GOD’S WORD? On the face of it, the question seems to be an easy one, but a simple "Yes" or "No" cannot be given as an answer. You see, one has first to explain one’s position. But the Christian will not give one the opportunity. He gets impatient. "Answer — ‘Yes or No!’ " he insists. The Jews did the same to Jesus two thousand years ago, except that surprisingly he was not strait-jacketed, as is the fashion today!

The reader will readily agree that things are not always either BLACK or WHITE. Between these two extremes there are various shades of GREY. If you say "Yes" to his question, then it would mean that you are prepared to swallow everything HOOK, LINE and SINKER, from Genesis to Revelation from his Bible. If you respond with a "No" he quickly unhooks himself from the facts you have presented, and rallies support from his co-religionists in the audience with; "You see, this man does not believe in the Bible! What right has he to expound his case from our Book?" With this hydra-like somersault he rests content that he has safely evaded the issue. What is the Muballigh1to do? He has to explain his position vis-a-vis the Bible, as he ought to do.

1. MUBALLIGH: The Propagator of Islam

THREE GRADES OF EVIDENCE

We Muslims have no hesitation in acknowledging that in the Bible, there are three different kinds of witnessing recognizable without any need of specialized training. These are:

1. You will be able to recognize in the Bible what may be described as "The Word of God."

2. You will also be able to discern what can be described as the "Words of a Prophet of God."

3. And you will most readily observe that the bulk of the Bible is the records of eye witnessess or ear witnesses, or people writing from hearsay. As such they are the "Words of a Historian"

You do not have to hunt for examples of these different types of evidences in the Bible. The following quotations will make the position crystal clear:

The FIRST Type:

(a) I will raise them up a prophet . . . and I will put my words in … and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." (Deuteronomy 18:18)

(b) I even, I am the Lord, and beside me there is no saviour." (Isaiah 43:11)

(c) "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the end of the earth: for I am God, and there is non else." (Isaiah 45:22)

Note the first person pronoun singular (highlighted in green) in the above references, and without any difficulty you will agree that the statements seem to have the sound of being GOD’S WORD.

The SECOND Type:

(a) "Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani? . . ." (Matthew 27:46)

(b) "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord:" (Mark 12:29)

(c) "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God." (Mark 10:18).

Even a child will be able to affirm that: Jesus "cried" Jesus "answered" and Jesus "said" are the words of the one to whom they are attributed, i.e. the WORDS OF A PROPHET OF GOD.

The THIRD Type:

"And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he, (JESUS) came, if haply he (JESUS) might find anything thereon: and when he (JESUS) came to it, (Jesus) found nothing but leaves . . ." (Mark 11:13)

The bulk of the Bible is a witnessing of this THIRD kind. These are the words of a third person. Note the underlined pronouns. They are not the Words of God or of His prophet, but the WORDS OF A HISTORIAN.

For the Muslim it is quite easy to distinguish the above types of evidence, because he also has them in his own faith. But of the followers of the different religions, he is the most fortunate in this that his various records are contained in separate Books!

ONE: The first kind — THE WORD OF GOD — is found in a Book called The Holy Qur’an.

TWO: The second kind — THE WORDS OF THE PROPHET OF GOD, (Muhummed, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) are recorded in the Books of Tradition called The Hadith.

THREE: Evidence of the third kind abounds in different volume of Islamic history, written by some of high integrity and learning, and others of lesser trustworthiness, but the Muslim advisedly keeps his Books in separate volumes!

The Muslim keeps the above three types of evidence Jealously apart, in their proper gradations of authority. He never equates them. On the other hand, the "Holy Bible" contains a motley type of literature, which composes the embarrassing kind, the sordid, and the obscene — all under the same cover — A Christian is forced to concede equal spiritual import and authority to all, and is thus unfortunate in this regard.

CHAPTER THREE

THE MULTIPLE BIBLE VERSIONS

It will now be easy for us to analyze a Christian’s claim about his Holy Book.

SEPARATING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF

Before we scrutinize the various versions, let us clarify our own belief regarding the Books of God. When we say that we believe in the Tauraat, the Zaboor, the Injeel and the Qur’an, what do we really mean? We already know that the Holy Qur’an is the infallible Word of God, revealed to our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhummed Mustapha (Peace be upon him) word for word, through the agency of the Archangel Jibraeel, (known as Gabriel in English), and perfectly preserved and protected from human tampering for the past fourteen hundred years! 1 Even hostile critics of Islam have grudgingly vouched for the purity of the Holy Qur’an: "THERE IS PROBABLY IN THE WORLD NO OTHER BOOK WHICH HAS REMAINED TWELVE CENTURIES (now fourteen) WITH SO PURE A TEXT." — (Sir William Muir)

The Tauraat we Muslims believe in is not the "Torah" of the Jews and the Christians, though the words — one Arabic, the other Hebrew — are the same. We believe that whatever the Holy Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) preached to his people, was the revelation from God Almighty, but that Moses was not the author of those "books" attributed to him by the Jews and the Christians. 2

Likewise, we believe that the Zaboor was the revelation of God granted to Hazrat Dawood (David) (Peace be upon him), but that the present Psalms associated with his name are not that revelation. The Christians themselves do not insist that David is the sole author of "his" Psalms.3

1. Whether Muslim or non-Muslim, you do not have lo accept this claim on faith alone. You can verify the fact that Al-Qur’an is the Word of God. See "AL-QURAN- The Miracle of Miracles";

2- More evidence later on — "Moses not the author of the Biblical "Torah."

3.. Later on you’ll read how Christian "Brains Trust" confess — "Author; Principally David, though there are other writers."

What about the Injeel? INJEEL means the "Gospel" or "good news" which Jesus Christ preached during his short ministry. The "Gospel" writers often mention that Jesus going about and preaching the Gospel (the Injeel):

1. "And Jesus went . . . preaching the gospel . . . and healing every disease among the people." (Matthew 9:35)

2. "… but whosoever shall lose his fife for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35)

3. "… preached the gospel. . ." (Luke 20:1)

The "gospel" is a frequently-used word, but what Gospel did Jesus preach? Of the 27 books of the New Testament, only a small fraction can be accepted as the words of Jesus. The Christians boast about the Gospels according to St. Matthew, according to St. Mark, according to St. Luke and according to St. John, but there is not a single Gospel "according" to (St.) Jesus himself! We sincerely believe that everything Christ (May the peace and blessings of God be upon him) preached was from God. That was the Injeel, the good news and the guidance of God for the Children of Israel. In his life-time Jesus never wrote a single word, nor did he instruct anyone to do so. What passes off as the "GOSPELS" today are the works of anonymous hands!

The question before us is: "Do you accept that the Bible is God’s Word?" The question is really in the form of a challenge. The questioner is not simply seeking enlightenment. The question is posed in the spirit of a debate. We have every right to demand in a similar vein — "Which Bible are you talking about?", we may ask. "Why, there is only ONE Bible!" he mutters.

THE CATHOLIC BIBLE

Holding the "Douay" Roman Catholic Version of the Bible aloft in my hand, I ask, "Do YOU accept THIS Bible as the Word of God?" For reasons best known to themselves, the Catholic Truth Society have published their Version of the Bible in a very short, stumpy form. This Version is a very odd proportion of the numerous Versions in the market today. The Christian questioner is taken aback. "What Bible is that?" he asks. "Why, I thought you said that there was only ONE Bible!" I remind him. "Y-e-s," he murmurs hesitantly, "but what Version is that?" "Why, would that make any difference?" I enquire. Of course it does, and the professional preacher knows that it does. He is only bluffing with his "ONE Bible" claim.

The Roman Catholic Bible was published at Rheims in 1582, from Jerome’s Latin Vulgate and reproduced at Douay in 1609. As such the RCV (Roman Catholic Version) is the oldest Version that one can still buy today. Despite its antiquity, the whole of the Protestant world, including the "cults"* condemn the RCV because it contains seven extra "books" which they contemptuously refer to as the "apocrypha" i.e. of DOUBTFUL AUTHORITY. Notwithstanding the dire warning contained in the Apocalypse, which is the last book in the RCV (renamed as "Revelation" by the Protestants), it is "revealed":

". . . If any man shall add to these things (or delete) God shall add unto him the plagues written in this Book."
(Revelation 22:18-19)

But who cares! They do not really believe! The Protestants have bravely expunged seven whole books from their Book of God! The outcasts are:

The Book of Judith
The Book of Tobias
The Book of Baruch
The Buck of Esther, etc.

* This disparaging title is given by the orthodox to Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Seventh Day Adventists and a thousand other sects and denominations with whom they do not see eye to eye.

THE PROTESTANT BIBLE

Sir Winston Churchill has some pertinent things to say about the Authorised Version (AV) of the Protestant Bible, which is also widely known as the "King James Version (KJV)".

"THE AUTHORISED VERSION OF THE BIBLE WAS PUBLISHED IN 1611 BY THE WILL AND COMMAND OF HIS MAJESTY KING JAMES THE 1ST WHOSE NAME IT BEARS TILL TODAY."

The Roman Catholics, believing as they do that the Protestants have mutilated the Book of God, are yet aiding and abetting the Protestant "crime" by forcing their native converts to purchase the Authorised Version (AV) of the Bible, which is the only Bible available in some 1500 languages of the lesser developed nations of the world. The Roman Catholics milk their cows, but the feeding is left to the Protestants! The overwhelming majority of Christians — both Catholics and Protestant — use the Authorised (AV) or the King James Version (KJV) as it is alternatively called.

GLOWING TRIBUTES

First published, as Sir Winston says, in 1611, and then revised in 1881 (RV), and now re-revised and brought up to date as the Revised Standard Version (RSV) 1952, and now again re-re-revised in 1971 (still RSV for short). Let us see what opinion Christendom has of this most revised Bible, the RSV:-

1. "THE FINEST VERSION WHICH HAS BEEN PRODUCED IN THE PRESENT CENTURY." — (Church of England Newspaper)

2. "A COMPLETELY FRESH TRANSLATION BY SCHOLARS OF THE HIGHEST EMINENCE." — (Times literary Supplement)

3. "THE WELL-LOVED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AUTHORISED VERSION COMBINED WITH A NEW ACCURACY OF TRANSLATION." — (Life and Work)

4. "THE MOST ACCURATE AND CLOSE RENDERING OF THE ORIGINAL" — (The Times)

The publishers (Collins) themselves, in their notes on the Bible at the end of their production, say on page 10: "THIS BIBLE (RSV), IS THE PRODUCT OF THIRTY-TWO SCHOLARS, ASSISTED BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTING FIFTY CO-OPERATING DENOMINATIONS." Why all this boasting? To make the gullible public buy their product? All these testimonies convince the purchaser that he is backing the right horse, with the purchaser little suspecting that he is being taken for a ride.

"THE WORLD’S BEST SELLER"

But what about the Authorised Version of the Bible (AV), the "World’s Best Seller?" These Revisers, all good salesmen, have some very pretty things to say about it. However, their page iii, paragraph six of the PREFACE of the RSV reads;

"THE KING JAMES VERSION (alternative description of AV) HAS WITH GOOD REASON BEEN TERMED ‘THE NOBLEST MONUMENT OF ENGLISH PROSE.’ ITS REVISERS IN 1881 EXPRESSED ADMIRATION FOR ‘ITS SIMPLICITY, ITS DIGNITY, ITS POWER, ITS HAPPY TURNS OF EXPRESSION … THE MUSIC OF ITS CADENCES, AND THE FELICITIES OF ITS RHYTHM.’ IT ENTERED, AS NO OTHER BOOK HAS, INTO THE MAKING OF THE PERSONAL CHARACTER AND THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLES. WE OWE TO IT AN INCALCULABLE DEBT."

Can you, dear reader, imagine a more magnificent tribute being paid to the "Book of Books" than the above? I, for one, cannot. Let the believing Christian, now steel himself for the un-kindest blow of all from his own beloved Lawyers of Religion; for in the very same breath they say:

"YET THE KING JAMES VERSION HAS GRAVE DEFECTS." And, "THAT THESE DEFECTS ARE SO MANY AND SO SERIOUS AS TO CALL FOR REVISION . . ." This is straight from the horse’s mouth, i.e. the orthodox Christian scholars of "the highest eminence." Another galaxy of Doctors of Divinity are now required to produce an encyclopaedia explaining the cause of those GRAVE AND SERIOUS DEFECTS in their Holy Writ and their reasons for eliminating them.

Divine All Religion

We all want to make it through life with some degree of success, some sense that we did it right. And if others think they know a way for life to be satisfying, even meaningful, it’s at least worth
checking out.
What about the world’s major religions? Is there anything we can find there that would give our lives greater stability and value?

The following is an opportunity to look into the major world faith systems…Hinduism, New Age, Buddhism, Islam, and the teachings of Jesus Christ.* Included is a brief description of each, its distinguishing characteristics, and what a person cangain from each.

The author then presents for your consideration the ways in which Jesus’ teaching differs from the world’s religions.
*Each of these systems has sects with differing beliefs. The description given here focuses on the heart of that system.

Hinduism

Most Hindus worship infinite representations of ultimate oneness (Brahman) through a multitude of gods and goddesses, over 300,000 of them. These various manifestations of gods and goddesses become incarnate within idols, temples,gurus, rivers, animals, etc.
Hindus see their position in this present life as based on their actions in a previous life. If their
behavior before was evil, they might experience tremendous hardships in this life. A Hindu’s goal is to become free from the law of karma…to be free from continuous reincarnations.

There are three possible ways to end this cycle of karma:
1. Be lovingly devoted to any of the Hindu gods or goddesses;
2. Grow in knowledge through meditation of Brahman oneness)…to realize that circumstances in life are not real, that selfhood is an illusion and only Brahman is real;
3.Be dedicated to various religious ceremonies and rites.

In Hinduism, a person has the freedom to choose how towork toward spiritual perfection. Hinduism also has a possible explanation for the suffering and evil in the world. According to Hinduism, the suffering anyone experiences, whether it is sickness or starvation or a disaster, is due that person because of their own evil actions, usually from a previous lifetime. Only the soul matters which will one day be free of the cycle of rebirths and be at rest.

New Age
New Age promotes the development of the person’s own power or divinity. When referring to God, a follower of New Age is not talking about a transcendent, personal God who created the universe, but is referring to a higher consciousness within themselves.

A person in New Age would see themselves as God, the cosmos, the universe. In fact, everything that the person sees, hears, feels or imagines is to be considered divine.
Highly eclectic, New Age presents itself as a collection of ancient spiritual traditions. It acknowledges many gods and goddesses, as in Hinduism. The Earth is viewed as the source of all spirituality, and has its own intelligence, emotions and deity. But superseding all is self. Self is the originator, controller and God of all. There is no reality outside of what the person determines.
New Age teaches a wide array of eastern mysticism and spiritual, metaphysical and psychic techniques, such as breathing exercises, chanting, drumming, meditating …to develop an altered consciousness and one’s own divinity. Anything negative a person experiences (failures,sadness, anger, selfishness, hurt) is considered an illusion. Believing themselves to be completely sovereign over their life, nothing about their life is wrong, negative or painful.Eventually a person develops spiritually to the degree that there is no objective, external reality. A person, becoming a
god, creates their own reality.

Buddhism
Buddhists do not worship any gods or God. People outside of Buddhism often think that Buddhists worship the Buddha. However, the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) never claimed to be divine, but rather he is viewed by Buddhists as having attained what they are also striving to attain,infinite manifestations of god we are God no gods or God Connecting with the Divine which is spiritual enlightenment and, with it, freedom from the continuous cycle of life and death. Most Buddhists believe a person has countless rebirths, which inevitably include suffering. A Buddhist seeks to end these rebirths. Buddhists believe it is a person’s cravings, aversion and delusion that cause these rebirths. Therefore, the goal of a Buddhist is to purify one’s heart and to let go of all yearnings toward sensual desires and the attachment to oneself.
Buddhists follow a list of religious principles and very dedicated meditation. When a Buddhist meditates it is not the same as praying or focusing on a god, it is more of a self-discipline. Through practiced meditation a person may reach Nirvana — “the blowing out” of the flame of desire. Buddhism provides something that is true of most world religions: disciplines, values and directives that a person may want to live by.

Islam
Muslims believe there is the one almighty God, named Allah, who is infinitely superior to and transcendent from humankind. Allah is viewed as the creator of the universe and the source of all good and all evil. Everything that happens is Allah’s will. He is a powerful and strict judge,
who will be merciful toward followers depending on the sufficiency of their life’s good works and religious devotion. A follower’s relationship with Allah is as a servant to Allah.
Though a Muslim honors several prophets, Muhammad is considered the last prophet and his words and lifestyle are that person’s authority.

To be a Muslim, one has to follow five religious duties:
1. Repeat a creed about Allah and Muhammad;
2. Recite certain prayers in Arabic five times a day;
3. Give to the needy;
4. One month each year, fast from food, drink, sex
and smoking from sunrise to sunset;
5. Pilgrimage once in one’s lifetime to worship at a shrine in Mecca.

At death —based on one’s faithfulness to these duties a Muslim hopes to enter Paradise, a place of sensual pleasure. If not,they will be eternally punished in hell.
For many people, Islam matches their expectations about religion and deity. Islam teaches that there is one supreme God, who is worshiped through good deeds and disciplined religious rituals. After death a person is rewarded or punished according to their religious devotion.

Jesus Christ
Christians believe in a loving God who has revealed himself and can be personally known in this life. With Jesus an infinite & personal God one transcendent God Christ, the person’s focus is not
on religious rituals or performing good works, but on enjoying a relationship with
God and growing to know him better. Faith in Jesus Christ himself, not just in his teachings, is how the Christian experiences joy and a meaningful life. In his life on Earth, Jesus did not
identify himself as a prophet pointing to God or as a teacher of enlightenment.
Rather, Jesus claimed to be God in human form. He performed miracles, forgave people of their sin and said that anyone who believed in him would have eternal life. He made statements like, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”1
Christians regard the Bible as God’s written message to humankind. In addition to its being an historical record of Jesus’ life and miracles, the Bible reveals God’s personality, his love and truth, and how one can have a relationship with him. Whatever circumstances a Christian is dealing with in
their life, they can confidently turn to a wise and powerful God who genuinely loves them. They believe that God answers prayer and that life takes on meaning as they live to honor him. is there a difference?

In looking at these major belief systems and their views of God, we find tremendous diversity:
• Hindus believe in 300,000 gods.
• Buddhists say there is no deity.
• New Age followers believe they are God.
• Muslims believe in a powerful but detached God.
• Christians believe in a God who is loving and approachable.

Are all religions worshiping the same God? Let’s consider that. New Age teaches that everyone should come to center on a cosmic consciousness, but it would require Islam to give up their God, Hinduism to give up their numerous gods, and Buddhism to establish that there is a God.
The world’s major religions (Hinduism, New Age, Buddhism, Islam, following Jesus Christ) are each quite unique. And of these one affirms that there is a personal, loving God who can be known, now in this life. Jesus Christ spoke of a God who welcomes us into a relationship with him and comes along side us as a comforter, counselor and powerful God who loves us.
In Hinduism a person is on their own trying to gain release from karma. In New Age a person is working at their own divinity. In Buddhism it is an individual quest at being free from desire. And in Islam, the individual follows 2 religious laws for the sake of paradise after death. In Jesus’
teaching, you see a personal relationship with a personal God — a relationship that carries over into
the next life.

CAN A PERSON CONNECT WITH GOD IN THIS LIFE?

The answer is yes. Not only can you connect with God, you also can know that you are fully accepted and loved by God. Many religions place an individual on their own, striving for spiritual perfection. Buddha, for example, never claimed sinlessness. Muhammad also admitted that he was in need of forgiveness. “No matter how wise, no matter how gifted, no matter how influential other prophets, gurus, and teachers might be, they had the presence of mind to know that they
were imperfect just like the rest of us.”2 Jesus Christ, however, never alluded to any personal sin. Instead, Jesus forgave people of their sin and he wants to forgive us of our sin also.
We all are aware of our faults, the areas of our lives that may cause others to think less of us, areas that we ourselves wish were not there…maybe it’s an addiction, a bad temper, impurity, hateful remarks.
God loves us but hates sin, and he has said that the consequence for sin is separation from knowing him. But God provided a way for us to be forgiven and know him. Jesus, the Son of God, God in human form, took all of our sin on himself, suffered on a cross, and willingly died in our place.

The Bible says, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us.”3
God is offering us complete forgiveness because of Jesus’ death for us.
This means forgiveness for all our sins…past, present and future. Jesus paid for them all. God, who created the universe, loves us and wants to be in a relationship with us. “This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”4Through Christ, God offers us real freedom from our sin and guilt. He does not leave a person’s failures on their shoulders, with a dim hope of becoming a better person tomorrow. In Jesus Christ, God reached toward humanity, providing a way for us to know him.
“For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”5

God wants us to know him. We were created by God to live in relationship with him. Jesus said, “He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty…and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”6 Jesus called people not only to follow his teachings, but to follow him. He said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life.”7 In claiming to be the truth, Christ goes beyond mere prophets and teachers who simply said they were speaking the truth.

Jesus identified himself as equal to God, and even gave proof. Jesus said that he would be crucified on a cross and that three days after his death, he would come back to life. He didn’t say he would reincarnate someday into a future life. (Who would know if he actually did it?) He said three days after being buried he would show himself alive to those who saw his
crucifixion. On that third day, Jesus’ tomb was found empty and many people testified that they saw him alive again. He now offers eternal life to us. it’s a two-way relationship. Many religions focus on a person’s spiritual efforts.

With Jesus Christ it’s a two-way interaction between you and God. He welcomes us to go to him. “The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.”9 You can communicate with God, who will answer your prayer, give you greater peace and joy, provide direction, show you his love, and transform your life. Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.”10 It will not mean that life will become perfect and free of problems.
But it means that in the midst of life, you can relate to God who is willing to be involved in your life and faithful in his love.
This is not a commitment to a method of self-improvement like the Eight Fold Path or the Five
Pillars, or meditation, or good works or even the Ten Commandments. These seem clear, well-defined, easy-to -follow paths for spirituality. But they become a burdensome striving for perfection, and connection with God is still distant. Our hope is not in following laws or
standards, but in knowing a Savior who fully accepts us because of our faith in him and his sacrifice for us. We don’t earn our place in heaven by religious efforts or good deeds. Heaven is a free gift to us, when we begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. Would you like to be totally forgiven and personally come to know God’s love for you?

G O D.

as simple as sincerely asking God for his forgiveness said, “Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and will come into him.”11 Would like to begin a loves you? You can do so right now, if it is your invite you to enter my heart right now. Thank you my life as you said you would.”The Bible tells us that “as many as received him, to If you sincerely asked God to come into your life, you like you have just met God and he wants to help you decisions confront you. The book called “John” in the relationship with God.Perhaps you might want to tell someone else about .In the world’s religions a person has a relationship person canhave a relationship with the loving and
you in this life now. He doesn’t just point you to a experience joy, and to have confidence in his love in Father has given us, that we should be called children

Syurga & Neraka

Surga dan Neraka ada dimana ?

Membakar Syurga dan Memadamkan Neraka dengan Air harus diartikan secara "mendalam". Pada hakekatnya Syurga dan Neraka sudah ada saat ini juga dalam kehidupan kita ini. Sesungguhnya Syurga dan Neraka adalah apa yang kita "rasakan" dalam hati kita. Jika kita selalu merasa resah akibat menipu atau membunuh, ya itulah Neraka…perasaan resah yang menusuk nusuk hati kita. Jika jika kita merasa tenteram dan damai maka sesungguhnya kita berada dalam "syurga" karena itulah yang kita alami…perasaan tenang,damai.
keduanya syurga dan neraka adalah ciptaan-Nya. Jadi jika berharap syurga semata, maka kita telah menyembah selain kepada NYA…sang pencipta syurga itu. Itulah "berhala" yang disembah oleh sebagian besar manusia entah itu yang beragama Islam atau tidak. Beribadah karena berharap sesuatu dan tidak ikhlas semata kepada Allah.

Jika ingin "masuk" syurga, maka beribadahlah secara ikhlas hanya kepada-NYA dan tidak mensekutukan segala sesuatu selain NYA.

Itulah Syahdan, yang ingin membakar Syurga dan memadamkan Neraka, menghilangkan segala pengharapan selain kepada NYA. Hakekatnya, beribadah lah kita dengan ikhlas tanpa meminta imbalan syurga karena ibadah dengan meminta imbalan yang pasti anda mendapat "neraka" sebagai gantinya…perasaan "resah" yang tidak menentu karena tidak melihat syurga sesungguhnya.

Jesus In Islam

BY THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST BENEFICENT, THE MOST MERCIFUL
Jesus in Islam
Most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day there are signs for those who understand. (3:190)

Where Islam and Christianity Agree Concerning Jesus, Son of Mary
It is an essential part of Islam’s teachings to believe in all of Allah’s prophets and Messengers, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Moses, David, and the many other Prophets that Allah sent down to different communities at different times.

Islam also advocates the holiness of Jesus, son of Mary.
A Muslim’s faith is not complete until he or she reveres Jesus and believes in his holiness, and that he lived in this world as a pure person free of any sin. Allah’s book, the glorious Qur’an, declaresWhen the angels said: “O Mary! Surely God gives thee good news of a word from Him whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, Son of Mary, worthy of regard in this world and the hereafter, and of those who are highly accepted by God.” [3:45]
Islam also declares the holiness of Mary, the mother of Jesus. No Muslim can doubt the decency and purity of Mary. She, according to the Qur’an, was among the noblest and most virtuous noble women of all time:

“And when the angels said: ‘O Mary! Certainly God has chosen thee and made thee pure and has preferred thee above the women of all nations. ‘O Mary! Be obedient to thy Lord, prostrate thyself and bow with those who bow (in worship).” [3:42-43]

Islam also declares that Jesus was miraculously born from a virgin mother with no father. From the Holy Qur’an: And make mention of Mary in the Scripture, when she withdrew from her people to an Eastern place, And chose seclusion from them. Then We sent unto
her Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art Allah-fearing.’ He said: “Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son. She said: ‘How can I have a son, and no mortal has yet touched me, nor have I been unchaste?’ He said: ‘So (it will be). Thy Lord says: “It is easy for Me; and that We may make him a sign to men and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter decreed. Then she conceived him; and withdrew with him to a remote place. And the throes of childbirth drove her to the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: ‘Oh, would that I had died before this, and had been a thing quite forgotten. So a voice came to her from beneath her: ‘Grieve not, surely thy Lord has provided a stream beneath thee. And shake towards thee the trunk of the palm-tree, it will drop on thee fresh ripe dates. So eat and drink and be pleased.” [19:16-26]

The Holy Qur’an attributes to Jesus many of the miracles mentioned in the Gospel: … and He (Allah) will make him (Jesus) a messenger to the children of Israel (saying): “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord that I fashion for you, out of clay, the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s permission. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead by Allah’s permission. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store in your houses. ‘Lo! Verily this is a sign unto you, if ye are to be believers.”
[3:40]

The Holy Qur’an also ascribes to Jesus a miracle that is not recorded in the gospels: Jesus spoke clearly while he was in the cradle:
Then she came to her people with him, carrying him. They said: ‘O Mary, thou hast indeed brought a strange thing. O sister of Aaron, thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother an unchaste woman.’ But she pointed to him. They said: ‘How should we speak to a one who is a child in the cradle?’ He said: ‘I am indeed a servant of God. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet; and He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and purity so long as I live. And to be kind to my mother; and He has not made me insolent, un-blessed. And Peace be on me the day I was born, and the day
I die, and the day I am raised to life (in the Hereafter). [19:27-33]

Where Islam and Christianity Differ

Islam is uncompromising in its Monotheism. Although Islam accepts the holiness of Jesus, it categorically rejects his divinity. God is only One, and there is no God but He, the Almighty, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent, the Infinite in life, knowledge, and power. Muslims believe that he is worthy of reverence and great respect, but that he was not
God, nor was he united with God. Jesus is not ever-living. He was born less than 2000 years ago, and according to the gospels, he died after a very short life. He is not almighty because he was a subject of persecution. Jesus could not
be the Creator of the world because the world is over four billion years old, while Jesus was born less than two thousand years ago. The Gospels show that Jesus considered himself only as a servant of God [Matthew 12:18, Acts 3:13,4:27] and prostrated himself humbly before Him on many occasions.

Neither could Jesus have been the son of God. Allah has no need for a son nor is it befitting of his exalted nature to attribute a child to him. Bodily parenthood is inconceivable for Allah because He is not physical. Spiritual parenthood is similarly inconceivable because He is the
Creator of every spiritual and material being. The Holy Qur’an is clear on this point: And (they) impute falsely, without knowledge, sons and daughters unto Him. Glorified be He and high exalted above (all) that they ascribe (unto Him). The Originator of the heavens and the Earth! How can He have a child when there is no consort for Him, when He created all things and is Aware of all things? Such is God, your Lord. There is no God save Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He taketh care of all things. [6:100-102]

Islam also rejects the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross: And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so, and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise. [4:157- 158]

The Holy Qur’an clearly states that Jesus was not crucified, but that it was made to “appear so unto them.” This claim is supported by evidence from the gospels themselves. Thegospels state that Jesus did not remain long on the cross. It was the custom of the Romans to break the legs of the crucified, yet Jesus’ legs were not broken. Moreover, he was taken down hastily, as the Jews were preparing to Criterion for Truth In light of the wisdom of Islam that has just been
presented, take some time to consider the following:

• Are the teachings of your belief system rationally tenable?
• Is your belief system universally applicable?
• Does your belief system enhance your progress towards spiritual perfection?
• Who is the creator of your belief system? Is he a creation or is he the Creator?
• Has your belief system been corrupted by superstitions, myths, or man-made philosophies?
• Does your belief system concur with the discoveries of modern science?
• Could a human being have invented your belief system?

At a Glance celebrate Passover and did not want him to remain on the cross on the day of the Sabbath. The gospels also state that after Jesus was assumed tobe dead, a man struck at his body with a lance, causingblood to gush out from his body; Yet, it is known that blood does not flow from a dead body. This indicates that Jesus was still alive. The gospels go on to state that a heavy stone was laid over Jesus’ tomb, but that by Sunday, the stone had been removed and that Jesus’ body was found missing. It is easy to conclude that some of his disciples removed the stone and rescued him. The removal of the stone indicates human, not divine activity. Were Jesus miraculously resurrected, there would have been no need for removal of the stone. God, for Whom all things are easy, would have been able to raise him from the grave and keep the stone where it was. In addition, the gospels also state that Jesus appeared several times to his disciples after the event of crucifixion.These appearances took place in secrecy, away from the public. Were Jesus miraculously resurrected, and had attained “eternal life,” he would have had no need to hide from his enemies. The notion that Jesus was crucified leads to all sorts of
absurdities. If Jesus was God, could he not protect himself from the people? How could God die? If Jesus was God, why did he cry out to the Almighty “Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani” while on the cross? Who was Jesus calling out to?

An Appeal to Reason O People of the Scripture!

Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not “Three.” Desist, it is better for you - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient for a Protector. [4:171-2]

Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. [2:136]
Jesus in Islam