Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: ham@gator.cacs.usl.edu (Hameed Ahmed Mohammed) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Christianity and Islam - towards a better understanding (I) Message-ID: Date: 14 Jun 91 03:37:55 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: The Center for Advanced Computer Studies, USL Lines: 112 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In the name of God, most Gracious, most Merciful ------------------------------------------------ The controversy about the personality of Jesus Christ (on whom be Peace) is the major difference between Islam and Christianity. This difference keeps the followers of the two religions apart. Muslims look at Jesus (on whom be Peace) as a great Prophet of God and love and respect him as they love and respect Abraham, Moses amd Muhammed(Peace be on them). The differences focussing on the personality of Jesus(on whom be Peace) have overshadowed the many similarities between Christianity and Islam. Some examples are the moral system and the emphasis on humane principles. They have even over- shadowed the beliefs that Mislims associate with Jesus(on whom be Peace) such as the Virgin Birth of Jesus(on whom be Peace), being able to speak in the cradle, performing miracles, and the second coming of Jesus Christ(Peace be on him). The Islamic view of Jesus(PBUH) lies between two extremes. The Jews, who rejected Jesus(PBUH) as a Prophet of God, called him am imposter. The Christianson the other hand , considered him to be the son of God and worship him as such.Islam consideres Jesus(PBUH) as one of the great prophets of God and respects him as much as Abraham. Moses, and Muhammed(PBUT). This is in conformity with the Islamic point of view of the oneness of God, the oneness of Divine guidance and the complimentary role of the subsequent messages of God's messengers. The essence of Islam,which is the willing submission to the Will of God,was revealed to Adam who passed it on to his children. All following revelations to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally Muhammed were in conformity with that messagein addition to some elaboration to define the relation between man and God, man and man, man and his environment, and to live according to God's instructions. Thus, any contradiction among revealed religions is viewed by Islam as a man- made element introduced into these religions. The position of Jesus(PBUH) in the three major religions:Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, should not be an exception. The Quran says: O People of the Book, come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but God; that we associate not aught with Him; and do not some of us take others as Lords, apart from God. And if they turn their backs, say:"Bear witness that we are Muslims(one submitting to God). (3:64) ...And thou wilt find those who say "Surely we are Christians." to be nearest to them(the Muslims) in affection ...(5:85(82)) It is with an aim to find a common ground between these two great religions that I intend to present to the gentle reader what Islam says about Jesus(PBUH).I very sincerely hope that this will help promote better understanding among the Christians and the Muslims. Mary ---- The Quranic account of Jesus(PBUH) starts with the conception of his mother,MaryThe wife of Imran, Mary's mother, vowed to dedicate her child to the service of God in the temple , Zacharia, who took charge of Mary, used to find food with Mary. When he asked her how she got it she answered that is was from God. The Quranic verses read: When the wife of Imran said,"Lord, I have vowed to you , in dedicatiom,what is within my womb. Please accept it from me, you are the Hearer and Knower". And when she gave birth to her she said,"Lord, I have given birth to her, a female...And I have named her Mary and commend her to You with her seed, to protect them from the accursed Satan." Her Lord received the child with gracious favour, and by His goodness she grew up comely, Zacharia taking charge of her. Whenever Zacharia went to her in the santuary he found her provisioned."Mary",he said,"how comes this to you ?"From God",she answered. Truly God provisions for whomsoever He will without reckoning. (3:35-37) Glad tidings and Jesus's birth. ------------------------------- The Quran states that God chose Mary, purified her and raised her above all other women of the world(3:42,43). When Mary became a woman, the Holy Spirit (the Archangel Gabriel) appeared to her as a man bringing her the news of a son. We read the following dialogue in the Quran between Mary and the angels: When the angels said,"Mary, God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him whose name is Messiah Jesus, son of Mary ; high honoured shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God. He shall speak to men in the cradle, and of age, and righteous he shall be."Lord",said Mary,"how shall I have a son seeing no mortal has touched me?" "Even so" he said, "God creates what He will." When He decrees a thing He does but say to it , "Be", and it is". (3:45-7) Mary concieved the child miraculously and retired to a distant place where she awaited her delivery. The Quran in a chapter entitled "Mary" tells us how Mary felt and what the Jews told her when she brought the child. She conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place. And the birthpangs surprised her by the trunk of the palm-tree. She said,"would I had died before this, and become a thing forgotten". The one from below her called to her,"Do not grieve; see, your Lord has set below you a rivulet and shake toward you the palmtrunk, and there shall come tumbling upon you dates fresh and ripe. Eat therefore, and drink, and be comforted ; and if you should see any mortal, say, "I have vowed to the All-Merciful a fast, and today I will not speak to any man." Then she brought the child to her folk carrying him; and they said,"Mary, you have surely committed a monstrous thing. Sister of Aaron, your father was not a wicked man, nor your mother unchaste." Mary pointed to the child; but they said,"How shall we speak to one who is still in the cradle, a child?" He said, " Lo, I am God's servent; God has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. Blessed He has made me, wherever I may be; and He has enjoined me to pray, and to give the alms, so long as I live, and likewise to cherish my mother; He has not made me arrogant and wicked. Peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised up alive." (19:22-23) Note: I intend to continue the article in subsequent parts. ----