Friday, January 30, 2009

Muhammad PBUH Is the Paraclete

To the sincere seekers of Truth it is obvious that Muhammad (pbuh) is the promised Paraclete or Comforter, alternatively called Helper, Advocate, Counsellor, etc of the prophecies of Jesus (pbuh) in the Gospel of St. John. There are millions of Christians who are hungry for this simple straight-forward Message. But alas, we can only weep with Jesus (pbuh) for our utter ineptitude —

The harvest truly is plenteous, but the workers are few.

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 9: 57

LANGUAGE OF JESUS (PBUH)

In the Holy Qur'an God Almighty puts the name "Ahmed" which is another name for Muhammad (pbuh) in the mouth of Jesus (pbuh). The Christian controversialist, Bible-thumper, Hot-Gospeller flippantly scoffs at the suggestion. The Christian missionary does not deny that Jesus (pbuh) did make a prophecy about someone coming after him. But "Ahmed" to him seems too far-fetched.

The most commonly accepted name by Christendom is "Comforter" It does not really matter Comforter or any other equivalent term will do. We will settle for Comforter as used in the most popular Bible Translation the "King James Version."

Ask your adversary, your disputant whether Jesus (pbuh) spoke the English language? "Most definitely not!" any Christian will say. If you are sharing this with an Arab Christian then you can ask him whether his "lord" used the word "MOOUZZI?" Surely not, because Arabic was not his language. Did Jesus (pbuh) prophesy "uMthokozisi?" (Comforter in Zulu) or "Trooster" from the Afrikaans Bible? The answer again is a definite NO!"

The Christians are rightfully boasting that they now have translated the complete Bible into hundreds of different languages, and the New Testament (in which this prophecy abounds) into more than two thousand different languages and dialects. So the Christian genius has invented more than 2000 different names in 2000 different languages for this one candidate — Comforter!

PNEUMA: GHOST OR SPIRIT?

The Church fathers had developed a sickness by translating names of people, for which they had no right to do. For example like Esau to Jesus, Messiah to Christ, Cephas to Peter and so on.

The closest one can ever get to the original utterance of Jesus (pbuh) in the Christian Scriptures is the Greek word "Para-cletos" which also has to be rejected because the Master did not speak Greek! But let's not be difficult for the purpose of this discussion and accept the Greek word Paracletos and its English equivalent Comforter.

Ask any learned Christian man as to who the Comforter is? You will unmistakingly hear - "The Comforter is the HOLY GHOST!" from John 14: 26. This sentence is only part of verse twenty six. We will deal with the verse fully in due course. But first we must educate the Christian mind with regards to this misnomer — "Holy Ghost." "Pneuma" is the Greek root word for SPIRIT. There is no separate word for GHOST in the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, and the Christians now boast 24,000 different manuscripts in their possession of which no two are identical!

The editors of the KJV (The King James Version) alternatively called AV (The Authorised Version) and the DOUAY (The Roman Catholic Version) of the Bibles gave preference to the word "GHOST' instead of the word SPIRIT when translating "pneuma"

The revisers of the RSV (Revised Standard Version) the most up-to-date version of the Bible, are going back, as claimed, to the Most Ancient manuscripts. These revisers, described as "thirty-two scholars of the highest eminence, backed by fifty co-operating denominations" who courageously re-placed the shady word "ghost" with the word "spirit" Hence from now on you will read in all modem translations — "The Comforter which is the Holy SPIRIT"! However, the Christian crusaders and the televangelists stubbornly cling to the spooky ("ghost"-ly) past They will not opt for the Newer Versions. It's better fishing with the old bait - the KJV and the RCV (Roman Catholic Version).

With the new change in spirit, the verse under scrutiny will read:

But the Comforter, Which is The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (Emphasis added).

(HOLY BIBLE) John 14: 26

You do not have to be a Bible scholar of any calibre to sense that the expression "which is the Holy Spirit" is actually an interpolation. It ought to be in parenthesis, in brackets, like my words which have been interpolated in the quotation, i.e. "(emphasis added)." Although the editors of the RSV have expunged dozens of interpolations from their boasted Revised Standard Version, they have retained this jarring phrase which contradicts other explicit predictions of Jesus (pbuh) on the subject of the Comforter itself.

"HOLY SPIRIT" IS HOLY PROPHET

(i) It may be noted that no Biblical scholar of any standing has ever equated the "paracletos" of John in the original Greek with the Holy Ghost. Now we can say with one breath that if the Comforter is the "Holy Spirit" then that Holy Spirit is the Holy Prophet!

As Muslims we acknowledge that every true prophet of God is Holy and without sin. But whenever the expression "The Holy Prophet" is used among Muslims it is universally accepted as referring to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). So even if we accept the above incongruous saying — "the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit," as Gospel truth, even then this prophecy will fit Muhammad (pbuh) like a glove, without any stretching of its meaning.

The same John, who is supposed to have authored the Gospel bearing his name, also penned three more Epistles which are also part of the Christian Bible. Amazingly he has used the same terminology of "Holy Spirit" for "Holy Prophet."

Beloved, believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits whether they

are of God; because many false Prophets are gone out into the World.

(HOLY BIBLE) 1 John 4: 1

You can observe that the word spirit is used here synonymously with a prophet. A true spirit is a true prophet, and a false spirit is a false prophet But for the so-called "born-again" Christians who see only with eyes of emotion, I recommend that they lay their hands on C.I. Scofield's Authorized King lames Version of the Bible who with an Editorial Committee of 9 D.D.’s adding their notes and comments. When they come to the First word "spirit" in the above verse they should give a notation to compare it with Matthew 7: 15 which confirms that false prophets are false spirits. So according to St. John the Holy Spirit is the Holy Prophet, and the Holy Prophet is Muhummed (pbuh) the Messenger of God.

A VALID TEST

But St. John does not leave us in the air, guessing the true from the false. He gives us an acid test for recognising the true Prophet, he says —

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.

(HOLY BIBLE) 1 John 4: 2

According to John's own interpretation in verse one above the word "spirit" is synonymous with the word prophet So verse two "Spirit of God" would mean Prophet of God and "Every spirit" would stand for every Prophet You have a right to know as to what the Holy Prophet Muhummed (pbuh) says about "Jesus Christ."

Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) is spoken by name no less than 25 times in the Holy Qur'an. He is honoured as —

Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, the son of Mary)

An-nabi (The Prophet)

As-saaliheen (The Righteous)

Kalimatu'Llah (Word of God)

Ruhu-Llah (Spirit of God)

Masih-uLlah (Christ of God)

Behold the angels said: "O Mary! God giveth thee Glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held In honour in this world and The Hereafter and of (the Company of) those nearest to God-
(SURA al-i-'imran) Holy Qur'an 3:45

MUHAMMAD(PBUH) IS THE "OTHER"


(ii) The Comforter in John 14: 26 can never be the "Holy Ghost" because Jesus (pbuh) had already explained—


And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you Another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.

(HOLY BIBLE) John 14: 16

The emphasis here is on the word "ANOTHER," an other, a different one, an additional one, but of the same kind, yet distinctly different from the first. Who is then the first Comforter? The Christian world is unanimous that in this case the speaker himself — Jesus Christ (pbuh) is the first Comforter; then the other, the one to follow must be of like nature, subject to the same conditions of hunger, thirst, fatigue, sorrow and death.

But this promised Comforter was to "abide with you for EVER!" No one lives for even Jesus (pbuh) was mortal so must the coming Comforter also be mortal. No son of man can ever be immortal!

Every soul shall have a taste of death.

(SURAAL-I-IMRAN) Holy Qur'an 5:185

ALIVE IN THEIR TEACHINGS

The soul does not really die, but when it separates from the body at the time of the death of the body, the soul will get a taste of death. But our Comforter was to "ABIDE" continue, endure for ever. All Comforters abide with us for ever. Moses is here with us today in his teachings. Jesus is here with us today in his teachings and Muhammad also is here with us in his teachings today. (May the peace and blessings of God be upon them all). This is not my novel idea trying to justify the preposterous. I say this with conviction and on the authority of Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself.

In Luke, chapter sixteen, Jesus (pbuh) tells us the story of the "Rich Man, Poor Man.' At death both find themselves at opposite ends — one in Heaven and the other in Hell. The rich man (Dives) simmering in Hell cries to Father Abraham to send the beggar (Lazarus) to assuage his thirst. But when every plea fails, he, as a last favour, requests that Father Abraham send the beggar back to earth to warn his living brothers against their impending doom if they heeded not the warnings of God.

But Abraham said, "If they (those still alive on earth) won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even though someone rises from the dead. " (to warn them)

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 16: 31

Jesus (pbuh) uttered the above fact centuries after the demise of the prophets of Israel like Jeremiah, Hosea, Zechariah, etc and over thirteen hundred years after Moses (pbuh). The Pharisees at the time of Jesus (pbuh) and we today can still listen to "MOSES AND THE PROPHETS," for they are still alive, and with us here today in their teachings.

'YOU' OF THE TIME

If it is said that the Comforter was promised to the immediate disciples of Jesus (pbuh) and not to a people six hundred years later:

and he (God) shall give You another Comforter, that he may abide with You for ever.

(HOLY BIBLE) John 14:16

Surprisingly, the Christian sees no difficulty in justifying the fulfilment of prophecies "since the world began," and after over a millennium when Peter in his second sermon to the Jews, reminds them:

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord Your God raise up unto You of Your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear In all things what-soever he shall say unto You.

(HOLY BIBLE) Acts 3: 22

All these "YE, YOU and YOURS" are from the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 18, when Moses (pbuh) addressed his people and not the Jews at the time of Peter, thirteen hundred years later. The Gospel writers have put the same compromising words in the mouth of their Master which are begging for fulfilment for two thousand years. I think just one example will suffice:

But when they persecute You in this city, flee Ye into another: for verily (most assuredly) I (Jesus) say unto You, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the son of man (Jesus) be come.

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 10: 25


SCANNING THE CLOUDS

These early followers of the Messiah, forever ran, forlornly fleeing persecution. They ran from one city to another in Israel, scanning every dark cloud for the descent of Jesus (pbuh) in his second coming. The missionaries see no anomaly in their millennium of unfulfilled prophecies. God Almighty did not keep them waiting for even a quarter of the time for the advent of the "paracletos," — the Comforter or Ahmed which is another name for the Praised One. Let them show gratitude to God by accepting this Last and Final Messenger of God — Muhammad(pbuh)!

ADVENT OF COMFORTER CONDITIONAL

(iii) The Comforter is definitely not the "Holy Ghost" because the coming of the Comforter was conditional whereas that of the Holy Ghost was not as we observe in the prophecy —

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go for If I Go Not Away, The Comforter Will Not Come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

(HOLY BIBLE) John 16: 7

"lf I don't go he won't come, but if I go, I will send him." There are numerous instances in the Holy Bible about the coming andgoing of the HOLY GHOST, before the birth and departure of the Messiah. Do yourself a favour, please verify these references in your Bible -

B.C. BEFORE CHRIST'S BIRTH:

1. ... and he (John the Baptist) shall be
filled with the Holy Ghost,
even from his mother's womb.

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 1: 15

2. ... and Elizabeth was filled
with the Holy Ghost.

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 1: 41

3. And his father Zacharias was
filled with the Holy Ghost.

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 1:67

A.C. AFTER CHRIST'S BIRTH:

4. ... and the Holy Ghost was upon him (Simeon).
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 2:26

5. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily
shape like a dove upon him (Jesus).

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 3:22

From the above quotations, before and after the birth of Jesus (pbuh), one cannot help admiring St. Luke who appears to be a specialist on the Holy Ghost We may well ask the Christians, after the descent of the "dove", with whose help did Jesus (pbuh) perform his many miracles if not with the help of the Holy Ghost? Let the Master himself tell us. When accused by his own people, the Jews, that he was working in league with Beelzebub (the chief of the devils) to work his miracles, Jesus (pbuh) rhetorically questions them, "How can Satan cast out Satan?" The Jews imputed that this spirit of holiness - the Spirit of God - which was helping him, was devilish. This was treason of the highest order. So he gives them a dire warning:

... but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, it shall never be forgiven
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 12:31

This "Holy Ghost" is non other than what Matthew himself has described in three verses before quoting the Master:

But if I (Jesus) cast out devils by the Spirit OF God, then the kingdom of God is come upon you.
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 12:28

Compare the same statement by another Gospel writer

But if I (Jesus) by the Finger Of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 3:22

You do not have to be a Bible scholar to understand that the expressions (a) "Finger of God" (b) "Spirit of God" and (c) "Holy Ghost" are all synonymous phrases. So the Holy Ghost was helping Jesus (pbuh) in his ministry. The Holy Ghost was also helping his disciples on their missions of preaching and healing. If there is still any doubt in your minds about the workings of the Holy Ghost then please read:

EMPTY PROMISE

...as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you (the disciples of Jesus),
And when he had said this, be breathed on them, and saith unto them,
Receive Ye The Holy Ghost

(HOLY BIBLE) John 20: 21 –22

This was surely no empty promise. The disciples must have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. So if the "Holy Ghost" was with (1) John the Baptist, (2) Elizabeth. (3) Zacharias. (4) Simeon. (5) Jesus and (6) the Disciples of Jesus; then all this makes nonsense of the saying that "if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you." Therefore the Comforter is not the Holy Ghost?

The verse under discussion is John 16: 7.


DISCIPLES NOT FIT

We now come to the four most comprehensive and decisive verses in John. chapter sixteen to solve the enigma of the Successor to Christ. For Jesus (pbuh) did truly say:

I have yet Many Things to say unto you, but Ye Cannot Bear Them Now.


(HOLY BIBLE) John 16: 12

We will later tie up the phrase "many things" from the above verse with "guide you into all truth" from the verse that follows, when discussing it. For now. let us discuss the phrase — "YE CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW"
The truth of this statement "ye cannot bear them now" is repeated monotonously throughout the pages of the New Testament:


And he (Jesus) saith unto them (the disciples). Why are ye fearful, O Ye Of Little Faith?
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 8. 26

AND (JESUS) said unto him (Peter) O Thou of Little Faith...
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 14:31

... he (Jesus) said unto them (the disciples), O Ye Of Little Faith, why reason among yourselves ...
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 16: 8

And he (Jesus) said unto them (his disciples). Where Is Your Faith?

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 8: 25

We must bear in mind that this is not the indictment of Jesus (pbuh) on the indecisiveness of the Jews, but on his very own elect. He stoops down to the level of little children to make things plain to his disciples but he is compelled to burst out in frustration

And Jesus said, Are Ye Even Yet Without Understanding?

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 15:16

And when he was provoked to breaking point, he rails against his chosen ones —

' ... O Faithless And Perverse Generation, how long shall I
be with you, how long shall I bear with you?

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 9: 41

OWN FAMILY THOUGHT HIM MAD

If Jesus (pbuh) would have been a Japanese instead of a Jew. he would happily have committed that honourable "harakiri" (suicide). Sadly, he was the most unfortunate of God’s Messengers. His family disbelieved him For neither did his (]esus’) brethren believe in him (John 7: 5). In fact they went to the extent of wanting to apprehend him. believing that he was mad.

And when his relatives heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him (Jesus); for they said, he is beside himself.
(HOLY BIBLE) Mark 3. 21

Who were these friends and relatives of Jesus (pbuh) which had concern for his sanity? Let Rev. J.R. Dummelow. M.A. in his One Volume Bible Commentary tell us. On page 726 he says —

"FROM V.31" (just 10 verses following the above quotation) "THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN HIS MOTHER AND BRETHREN… HIS FAMILY SAID ‘HE IS BESIDE HIMSELF,’" (meaning that he is not right in his head); "THE SCRIBES SAID, ‘HE IS POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL HIMSELF.’ IT IS NOT, HOW EVER, IMPLIED AT ALL THAT HIS FAMILY WAS IN SYMPATHY WITH THE SCRIBES" (the learned men of the Jews). "THEIR APPREHENSION BEING SIMPLY THAT HIS MIND WAS UNSETTLED. AND THAT HE NEEDED TO BE PUT UNDER RESTRAINT."

JESUS - REJECTED BY HIS NATION

That was the verdict of the close relations of Jesus (pbuh). What then was the response of his own nation, the Jews, after all his beautiful preachings and mighty miracle workings? His disciple puts it very mildly:

He came unto his own (the Jews) and his own received him (Jesus) not.

(HOLY BIBLE) John 1:11

Actually "his own" mocked him. scorned him and vehemently rejected him. To the extent of making an attempt to crucify him.' Despite two thousand years of Christian persecutions and pogroms, and now their overweening love and infatuation for them, so as to salve their own conscience, the Jews as a people and as a whole can never accept Jesus as their Saviour, their Deliverer, their God, simply because of their one sound judgement —

"THAT NO JEW CAN EVER ACCEPT ANOTHER JEW AS A GOD!"

It is only in Islam that the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims can find accommodation — all believing in Jesus Christ (pbuh) for what he really was — one of the mightiest Messengers of God; and not as God or His son!

DISCIPLES DESERTED HIM

What was the response of the chosen twelve; of his own "mother and bretheren!" (Mark 3: 34), as he called them? I will allow Professor Momerie to describe it in his own inimitable words—

"HIS IMMEDIATE DISCIPLES, WERE ALWAYS MISUNDERSTANDING HIM AND HIS WORK: WANTING HIM TO CALL DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN; WANTING HIM TO DECLARE HIMSELF KING OF THE JEWS; WANTING TO SIT ON HIS RIGHT HAND AND ON HIS LEFT HAND IN HIS KINGDOM; WANTING HIM TO SHOW THEM THE FATHER. TO MAKE GOD VISIBLE TO THEIR BODILY EYES;

WANTING HIM TO DO. AND WANTING TO DO THEMSELVES. ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH HIS GREAT PLAN. THIS WAS HOW THEY TREATED HIM UNTIL THE END. (and) WHEN THAT CAME. THEY ALL FORSOOK HIM. AND FLED."

Quoted from Sayed Amir All in his "The Spirit of Islam" page 31.

It was most unfortunate that Jesus Christ (pbuh) had no real choice in selecting his disciples. They let him down as no other group of devotees had ever let down their prophet before. It was no fault of the Master. He bewailed his plight: "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh (clay) is weak" (Matthew 26: 41). Truly, this is not the clay out of which a new Adam could be made. He passes on that responsibility to his Successor, whom he calls here — "The Spirit of Truth," ie the Prophet of Truth, the Prophet of Righteousness!

"SPIRIT" AND "PROPHET" SYNONYMOUS

Howbeit when he, the Spirit Of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth

(Holy Bible) John 16:13

It has already been established that. Biblically, the word "Spirit" is used synonymously for "Prophet," by the same author in 1 John 4: 1 (as seen earlier).

Hence the "Spirit of Truth" would be the Prophet of Truth. A prophet in whom Truth is personified. He had walked through life so honourably and industriously that he had won for himself even from his pagan fellow countrymen the noble designation of as-Saadiq (the Truthful One) and al-Amin, "the Honest," "the Upright." "the Trustworthy;" the Man of Faith who never broke his word. His life, his personality, his teachings are the veritable proof of Muhammad (pbuh) being the embodiment of Truth (al-Amin) — the Spirit of Truth!



Thursday, January 29, 2009

IN THE WORDS OF THE MASTER

JUST ONE FULL PROPHECY

A COMMON TRAIT

Just a cursory glance, a rapid reading, a hurried look at the previous verse will satisfy the Muslim that Jesus Christ (pbuh) did indeed prophesy the advent of Muhammad (pbuh), the Messenger of God. The Muslim is puzzled at the stubbornness, vanity and tunnel vision of the Christian which prevents him from seeing his own inner light and listening to his conscience so as not to recognise the obvious.

The Christian in turn is puzzled at the hard-hearted obstinacy of the Jews, a nation endowed with such creative genius, which, despite a thousand and one prophecies in their own Bible (the Old Testament) regarding the coming of the "Messiah," are totally incapable of recognising their lord and "saviour." Are they both somewhat blind?

No! Neither the Jews nor the Christians are necessarily impervious to truth. The trouble is that we all pick up our prejudices from childhood. The American call it being "programmed"

Simply reading the verses or listening to lectures and getting that smug satisfaction of being in the know will not help spreading the truth. This is the age of the "EVERYMAN." The age of the professionals is over. It is the duty of every Muslim — man, woman or child to get involved. Each according to his or her capacity. Memorize the above verse with its meaning as well as the quotations preceding and those that follow so that you may feel equipped to share our Deen with non-Muslims. There are no short-cuts to Da'wah (propagation)!

PRODUCE YOUR PROOF!

Perhaps this is not the first time you are reading or might have heard about the prophecies in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures regarding the advent of the last and final Messenger of God — Muhummed (pbuh) the Mercy unto all mankind. And perhaps you have at times made some half-hearted and skimpy efforts at suggesting that our Nabi-e-Kareem was prophesised in the Holy Bible. But when proof was demanded, you simply not able to, because you had not done any home work Remember, there is no substitute for hard work. I believe what I say and I practise what I preach. Insha-Allah!

"Do you know that before Jesus Christ departed from this world, he told his disciples," and I started to quote, now in meticulous Arabic, a verse from the Arabic Bible, (see next page), which I had memorized for opportunities just like this particular one.
THE TRANSLATION

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

(HOLY BIBLE) John 16:7

"AL-MOOUZZI" THE COMFORTER

The word "Comforter" above is "al-Moouzzi" in Arabic.Who is the "al-Moouzzi" of this prophecy?We are told in the Holy Qur'an that Jesus Christ (pbuh) had told his disciples —


Ahmed is another name for Muhammad, and Muhammad is Moouzzi!

BIBLICAL CONFIRMATION

Remember, that in the sixth century of the Christian Era, when Muhammad (pbuh) was chanting God's words which was systematically "put into his mouth," ' the Arabic Bible had not yet been translated. He could never have known that he was fulfilling and confirming the utterances of his predecessor Jesus (pbuh) to the letter.


ONLY FOR THE ISRAELITES



JESUS FOR JEWS ONLY

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying,
Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles,
and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go ye rather unto The Lost Sheep Of The House Of Israel.

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 10:5-6

NOT FOR DOGS

And behold a woman of Canaan 1 came ... and cried unto him saying, have mercy on me ... my daughter is seriously possessed with a devil.

But he answered her not a word.

And his disciples came and begged him, saying. Send her away: for she crieth after us.

But he answered and said, I am Not Sent But Unto The Lost Sheep Of The House Of Israel.

But she came and knelt before him, saying. Lord, help me.

But he answered her and said, It is Not Fair To Take The Children's Bread And Cast It To The Dogs. 2

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 15:22-26

1. Mark 7.26 says that the woman was a Greek.

2. Meaning non-Jews.

It goes to the credit of this Jewish prophet, that he practised what he preached. In his lifetime he never converted a single Gentile (non-Jew). And of his hand-picked elect (his twelve disciples), he made sure that they belonged to his tribe so that his other prophecy might Find fulfilment: "when the son of man (Jesus pbuh referring to himself) shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye (the disciples) also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19: 28).

NO NEW RELIGION

The Messiah was no mealy-mouthed Messenger among the Jews. Like his predecessors Amos and Ezekiel or Isaiah and Jeremiah, he was trenchant in his condemnation of Jewish formalism and hypocrisies. His novel approach and militant preaching had created certain misgivings amongst the religious hierarchy. The Scribes and the Pharisees came to him again and again to test him as to his bona fides (His Genuineness).

To allay their suspicions that he had brought no new fangled religion, and that his was the confirmation of all the teachings that had gone before him. He says —

Think not that I am come to destroy the law (Hebrew - Torah), or the prophets: I am come not to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you. Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law (Torah), till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

HOLY BIBLE Matthew 5: 17-19

Compare this phrase "CONFIRMING THE LAW (WHICH CAME) BEFORE ME" - these seven words at the beginning of this section with the three verses of Matthew above, and you will not fail to note that there is no wordiness in the Qur'anic diction. It conveys God's Message concisely, with clarity and precision.

"THE FATHER1 OF TRUTH CHOOSES HIS OWN PROPHETS, AND HE SPEAKS TO THEM IN A VOICE STRONGER THAN THE VOICE OF THUNDERY

Sayed Amir Ali in "The Spirit of Islam. "

1. FATHER: The use of the word "Father" in relation to God was cut out from Islam owing to the perversion of the idea among Christians.

The Qur'an had come to Confirm, Correct and Complete Divine Revelation, or whatever was left of it in unworthy hands.


THE GOOD NEWS


"Ahmed", or "Muhammad", the Praised one, is almost a translation of the Greek word Periclytos. In the present Gospel of John 14:16, 15:26, and 16:7, the word "Comforter" in the English version for the Greek word "Paracletos", which means "Advocate", "one called to the help of another, a kind friend", rather than "Comforter". Our doctors contend that Paracletos is a corrupt reading for Periclytos and that in the original saying of Jesus there was a prophecy of our holy Prophet Ahmed by name. Even if we read Paraclete, it would imply to the Holy Prophet, who is "a Mercy for all creatures" (H.Q. 21:107) and "most kind and merciful to the Believers" (H.Q. 9:128) See also note 416 to H.Q. 3:81.


Thus concludes (Ayat) verse 6 of (Sura) chapter 61 under discussion. "The Prophet of Islam was foretold in many ways; and when he came he showed forth many Clear Signs, for his whole life from beginning to end was one vast miracle. He fought and won against odds. Without learning from men he taught the highest wisdom. He melted hearts that were hard, and he strengthened hearts that were tender and required support. In all his sayings and doings men of discernment could see the working of God's hand;" yet the sceptics called it SORCERY — jugglery — magic!

FORGER AND JUGGLER! NO, NO! THIS GREAT FIERY HEART, SEETHING, SIMMERING LIKE A GREAT FURNACE OF THOUGHTS, WAS NOT A JUGGLER'S.
Thomas Carlyle, page 88 in his book -"Heroes and Hero-worship"


And they called his miraculous fulfilment of prophecy magic, Jugglery, enchantment — that which became the most solid fact of human history — Islam!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Final Messenger


MULTI-FACETED SUCCESSION

Successions are of many kinds like the birthright of the "first-born" as in Jewish law. Or the ascending of the eldest son or daughter to the kingly throne. Or by election, to select a candidate by the vote of the majority. Or Theologically, an appointment by Divine Decree of God's chosen Messengers. Like the call of Abraham, Moses, Jesus or Muhammad (May the Peace and Blessings of God be upon them all) who were appointed or "anointed" in consecration to their office.

Muhammad 's (pbuh) succession to Jesus Christ (pbuh) is multifaceted.

1. Chronologically, in history as a sequence of event in time.

2. By being Chosen by God.

3. In the fulfilment of the prophecies of his predecessors, and but not in the least...

4. By bringing the Guidance of God to perfection ' "For he will Guide you into all Truth." said. Jesus Christ

HISTORICALLY

The Holy Prophet Moses preceded Jesus Christ (pbuh) by some 1300 years and Muhammad(pbuh) succeeded to that high office vacated by Jesus some six centuries later.

It was the 12 of Rabi I., in the year of the Elephant, or the 29th of August 570 of the Christian Era that Muhammad the Praiseworthy, to whom all praise is due, was born in the sacred city of Makkah in pagan Arabia. His people the Quraish remembered the year of his birth as the "Era of the Elephant", because just two months before the birth of the child Abrahah al-Ashram, the Abyssinian viceroy of Yemen had attacked the sacred sanctuary at Makkah at the head of his troops riding a huge African elephant. A terrifying sight never to be erased from their memory and a still more shocking end to the invasion — the miraculous destruction of Abraha and his army as recorded in Sura Fil or the Elephant —

Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the Companions of the Elephant?

Did He not make their treacherous plan go astray?

And He sent against them flights of Birds,

Striking them with stones of baked clay.

Then did He make them like an empty field of stalks and straw,(of which the corn) has been eaten up

(SURA FIL) Holy Quran 105:1-5


GOD'S OWN STANDARDS


God Almighty chooses His Own Messengers, He uses His Own Standards although we may not always understand the wisdom of it. Paul cries the anomaly -

For the Jews require a sign (miracles to convince) and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

(HOLY BIBLE) I Corinthians 1: 22

But worldly wise as Paul was, he found that his wisdom was "a stumbling-block" to the Jews and "foolishness" to the Greeks.

God chose Moses (pbuh) a man who was a fugitive from justice and a stutterer. The Holy Bible calls him a man with "uncircumcised lips." (Exodus 6: 12).

Despite his difficulties when commissioned to confront Pharaoh, the greatest tyrant of the age, Moses (pbuh) cries out to the God of Mercy —

(Moses) said: "O my Lord! expand for me my breast;"

Make my task easy for me;

"And remove the impediment from my speech,

"So that they may understand what I have to say:

"And give me a Minister from my family,

"Aaron, my brother; "Add to my strength through him, "And make him share my task:

"That we may celebrate Thy praise without stint,

"And remember Thee without stint:

'For Thou art He that (ever) regardeth us. (God) said: "Granted is thy prayer, 0h Moses!"

(SURA TA'HA) Holy Qur'an 20:25-56


WHY "SUPPOSED"?

Then comes Jesus (pbuh) who was chosen by God. According to Christian teachings, he was a carpenter and the son of a carpenter, with a dubious genealogy as recorded in the Gospels —

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph...

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 3: 25

Acknowledged today by a thousand million Muslims that Jesus Christ (pbuh) was born miraculously — without any male intervention; the followers of Christ created two separate genealogies for a man who had no genealogy. Between the Gospels of Matthew and Luke they give this mighty Messenger of God sixty-six fathers and grandfathers. And of these two separate lists only one name is common to these two lists and that is of Joseph the Carpenter, who does not Fit in anywhere because, as Luke records above, he was only the "SUPPOSED" father of Jesus.

EVEN BISHOPS DOUBT

In a "SHOCK SURVEY OF ANGLICAN BISHOPS" in June 1984 it was revealed that 31 of their 39 Bishops thought that "Christ's miracles, the virgin birth and the resurrection might not have happened exactly as described in the Bible."

In deference to the Bishops of the Church of England (the "Anglicans") the Church of Scotland most respectfully omitted any reference to the "Virgin Birth" from its most recent publication "A STATEMENT OF FAITH." The topic of the miraculous conception of Jesus (pbuh) is getting increasingly hotter for Western Christianity to handle as you see here:




AND GOD CHOSE JESUS (PBUH)


Jesus Christ (pbuh) though spiritually rich in wisdom, light and truth; philosophised light-heartedly about the beggars of the world, when he said:

There came unto him (Jesus) a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head...

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold For much, and given to the poor.

... he (Jesus) said unto them ... For ye have the poor always with you, but (poor) me ye have not always.

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 26: 7-11

But when destitution stared him in the face. When poverty, penury and need touched his own dear self; he cried pathetically:

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the son of man (referring to himself) hath not where to lay his head.

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 8: 20 also repeated in Luke 9: 58

And yet God chose him (Jesus pbuh): Unique and inscrutable are Thy ways O Lord!


M-U-S-T-A-F-A THE CHOSEN ONE

It is He Who sent amongst the unlettered a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, — although they had been, before, in manifest error;-

(SURA JUMUA) Holy Qur'an 62: 2

Amazing as it may seem, I am not amazed anymore! For this is His way — He chooses an Ummi non-literate Prophet for an Ummi illiterate nation.

"A POOR SHEPHERD PEOPLE, ROAMING UNNOTICED IN ITS DESERTS SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD: A HERO-PROPHET WAS SENT DOWN TO THEM WITH A WORD THEY COULD BELIEVE: SEE, THE UNNOTICED BECOMES WORLD-NOTABLE, THE SMALL HAS GROWN WORLD-GREAT; WITHIN ONE CENTURY AFTERWARDS, ARABIA IS AT GRENADA (Spain) ON THIS HAND, AT DELHI (India) ON THAT; -GLANCING IN VALOUR AND SPLENDOUR AND THE LIGHT OF GENIUS, ARABIA SHINES THROUGH LONG AGES OVER A GREAT SECTION OF THE WORLD. BELIEF IS GREAT, LIFE-GIVING. THE HISTORY OF A NATION BECOMES FRUITFUL, SOUL ELEVATING, GREAT, SO SOON AS IT BELIEVES. THESE ARABS, THE MAN MAHOMET, AND THAT ONE CENTURY, -IS IT NOT AS IF A SPARK HAD FALLEN, ONE SPARK, ON A WORLD OF WHAT SEEMED BLACK UNNOTICEABLE SAND; BUT LO, THE SAND PROVES EXPLOSIVE POWDER, BLAZES HEAVEN HIGH FROM DELHI TO GRENADA! I SAID, THE GREAT MAN WAS ALWAYS AS LIGHTNING OUT OF HEAVEN; THE REST OF MEN WAITED FOR HIM LIKE FUEL, AND THEN THEY TOO WOULD FLAME."

Thus concluded the speech of Thomas Carlyle, one of the greatest thinkers of the past century. It was Friday, the 8th of May 1840. His theme — "The Hero as Prophet" His audience: were Anglicans — English Christians.


THE CHOSEN PEOPLE

God chooses His Messengers and God chooses His People, In the realm of the Spirit no nation was as favoured as the Jews and yet Moses (pbuh) is made to bewail against his own people —

Ye have been rebellious against the Lord from the day I knew you.

(HOLY BIBLE) Deutronomy 9: 24

In this last will and testament of Moses (pbuh) the Israelites frustrate their "meek and gentle" Messenger who is forced to rail against their continual stubborn resistance and arrogant attitudes to God's guidance —

For I knew thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the lord; and how much more after my death?

(HOLY BIBLE) Deutronomy 51:27

Alas how true! I am not going to philosophise on God's choice. But in the very next chapter the fire of God's anger is kindled to a blaze and He decries the Jews -

They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they (the Jews) have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are Not A People; I will provoke them to anger with a Foolish Nation.

(HOLY BIBLE) Deutronomy 32:21

JEWS SUBSTITUTED

Anyone with a modicum of Scriptural knowledge will be able i guess who in the eyes of these arrogant, racist Jews is "not-a people" — a non-entity and "a foolish nation" if not the Ishmaelite cousins — the Arabs who in the words of Thomas Carlyle have been "ROAMING UNNOTICED IN ITS DESERT SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD."!?

THE ARABS. Alexander the Great passed them by: the Persian. passed them by; the Egyptians passed them by; and the Roman; passed them by. It would have been an absolute liability for any nation to conquer and colonise them. But the Creator did not pass them by. He picked them up from the depths of darkness and transformed them into torch-bearers of light and learning to the world. "I will move them "I will move them (the Jews) to Jealousy"

This jealousy is a cultivated sickness. Remember, Sarah and Hagar the two wives of Abraham (pbuh) — the Friend of God. The jealousy of Sarah was bequeathed to her children and on to nations and tribes yet unborn.

Not so long ago I read a book on the discovery of medicine written by a Jewish medical man. I can unfortunately not remember the name of the author and failed to retrace the book. However, the wordings of the tribute paid by this Jewish author to his Semetic (Arab) cousins have made an indelible impression on my mind. And I quote from memory:


"GOATHERDS AND CAMEL DRIVERS SITTING ON THE THRONE OF THE CAESARS"


Full of spite, venom and sarcasm, but how true! This is what God did and always does. He honours whom He wills. This is what He does to show His Mighty Hand (Power)?




IT IS SURELY ONE OF THE GREATEST MIRACLES OF HISTORY THAT FROM THE BACKWATER OF ARABIA THERE SHOULD HAVE EXPLODED A GROUP OF MEN, COMPANIONS OF A PROPHET, WHO WITHIN THE SPACE OF A FEW BRIEF DECADES WERE ABLE TO CREATE A MAGNIFICENT CIVILISATION EXTENDING FROM THE PYRENEES TO THE GATES OF CHINA

THE LAST WARNING

The foregoing is the exact fulfilment of Jesus Christ's (pbuh), (the last of the great Jewish prophets) own prediction of the displacement of the Jewish race in the spiritual guidance of man. In the words of the Master himself —

Therefore I say unto you (Jews), The Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you (Jews), and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 21: 45