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Islam within Judaism and Christianity, A Voice From The Past
Shedding Light on the unity between the Torah, Gospel and Quran Scriptures
By Ahmed Shendy Yousef AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2014 Ahmed Shendy Yousef
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4918-0996-9
CHAPTER 1
Mohammed, The Last Messenger of God
Mohammed was sent to all mankind. He is the last divine messenger to our world. He is the prophet of all mankind, "We have sent you (O Mohammed)as a Messenger to mankind, ..." (An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #79).
Mohammed's kindness has reached and enriched every man and every soul those who seek guidance. "And We have sent you (O Mohammed not but as a mercy for the mankind, jinn(souls) and all that exists". (Al-Anbiya, Chapter #21, Verse #107) "There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful" Holy Quran(9):128
Before, the time of Mohammed the last messenger, our world was in chaos, suffering great deal of injustice and corruption on all levels. Moralities were destroyed and only hand full of isolated Christians and Jews who were able to maintain good contact with their lord. It was the time for the last chance as Jesus promised that God would send the comforter "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". (John 14.15,16).
Jesus' promise has been fulfilled. Mohammed was sent to our world as the Counselor or Helper (John 14:26), it was the world last chance to hear the truth directly from the heaven, bringing back what it was hidden and what it was intentionally erased, changed, forgotten or neglected of God's passages throughout the Torah and the Gospel.
People, especially the helpless, turned to Mohammed the savior "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgments" (John 16:8).
Islamic teachings were meant to eliminate sins, call for righteousness, prosecute the violators, and rectify justice among all human regardless of their races, colors or beliefs. In only 100 years, Islam was the second largest religion after Christianity, only because the world was already prepared to accept it, the Islamic messages did not meet difficulties to be understood as the divine messages came for the wellbeing of all humanity.
Mohammad was protected by Christians;
The first of those offered Mohammed the protection, so he can carry on his divine messages to the world, they were Christian monks. One of them was the cousin of Mohammed's wife. He was a Christian scholar named Waraqa bin Nawfal. He was the first to realize that Mohammed is the comforter, counselor, paraclete or the helper that they are being waiting for. Mohammed was so disturbed by the visitation of strange looking creature who kept asking Mohammed to read, and Mohammed kept telling him back that he is illiterate can not read. "And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, read this, I pray thee: And he saith, I am not learned". Isaiah 29:12.
Mohammed was so exhausted from his fear that he may be entering into mental illness, or he is harmed by alien. Waraqa bin Nawfal asked Mohammed to calm down, and he congratulated him by telling him the good news that God has chose him as he chosen Moses and Jesus before him to become another divine messenger. He reassured him that what he was seeing was the angel Gabriel (Holy Ghost) that being descending upon Moses and Jesus to teach them God's commands.
There was another protector who recognized Mohammed as the coming Counselor to the world. He was a monk named Bahirah, who was being known by the name Georges. He was studying to become an astronaut, and he knew about specific signs in the stars that if it appeared, then the Paraclete (Greek name means the trustworthy who was Jesus spoke about in Gospel John chapter 14, 15, 16) was born. The "trustworthy" was Mohammed's nick name since he was teenager. Till today, Muslims call their Prophet 'Al Amin' which means 'trustworthy'.
When the stars indicated that the Prophet was born, scholar Bahirah kept traveling around looking for him everywhere. One day, while Bahirah was searching for the present of the Prophet in Syria, he found a walking child. He noted as the child walks, a cloud is moving above him, to keep him shadowed. Bahirah came as close as he can, watched him more, then he called him and asked him to remove his shirt. When the child removed his shirt, Bahirah saw what he has been looking for ... a birthmark called the ring of prophets. It is a birth marks that most of the prophets to be born with. Then Bahirah called upon the child's companion and asked him about his relation to this child. The man answered, "I am his Dad!" The Monk told him, "This is not a true; this child at that age should already lost his Dad and his Mom!" Mohammed's uncle, Abu Talib was shocked, and he asked the Monk about his identity. The Monk told Abu Talib 'This child is becoming the master of all humans. God will use him to narrate His messages to the world". Abu Talib asked; 'How do you know that'? The Monk replied; 'When you appeared from the direction of Aqabah, I noticed the stones and the trees prostrated themselves before him, which they never do that except for a Prophet'. Bahirah continued; 'I can also recognize him by the seal of Prophethood which is below his shoulder, like an image of apple. 'We found the sign of his prophecy and the period of his existence in our books'. Buhirah said. The Monk also asked Abu Talib to send the boy back to Makkah (Mohammed birth place in Saudi Arabia). The Monk advised Mohammed's uncle not to take him to Syria for fear of the Romans and Jews. Abu Talib obeyed and sent Mohammed back to Makkah with some of his men servants. Abu Talib did a good job keeping his conversation with the Monk secret, protecting the life of his nephew.
"Strongest among men in enmity to believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; And nearest among them in love to believers wilt thou find those who say. 'We are Christians; Because amongst these are Men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant". Holy Quran 5:82.
Another of many devoted Christians who played a key protector in spread of Islam was the king of Abyssinia (Ethiopia). The series of persecutions started late in the fourth year of Prophet hood. The persecution by the Pagans became so intense that converted Muslims were being tortured to death for entering into Islam. These traps of death continued until God revealed this verse upon Mohammed, asking Muslims to immigrate out of Makkah; "Good is for those who do good in this world, and God's earth is spacious. Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning" Holy Quran 39:10.
Mohammed (PBUH) knew about a pious Christian named Ashamah, who held the title of Negus king of Abyssinia (Ethiopia). He had been known as a fair ruler who would not wrong any of his subordinates, so Mohammed found the quality of this king as an opportunity to use him for the protection of his followers; Therefore, Mohammed asked them to seek asylum there in Abyssinia. A group of twelve men and four women left for Abyssinia. Among the emigrants was that most wealthy individual in Makkah and the closest friend to Mohammed, 'Uthman bin Affan' and his wife Ruqaiyah, the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). The Prophet Mohammed commented about those immigrants "They are the first people to migrate in the cause of God after Ibrahim and Lot". (Zal-Ma' ad 1/24).
The immigrants enjoyed generous welcoming and great hospitality by Negus the scholar and Christian king of Abyssinia. After they explained to him about the message of Islam, he drew a fine line on the ground and said; 'The difference between Christianity and Islam is as thin as the size of this line'.
The polytheists pagans of Makkah sent few men to the king of Abyssinia, asking him to return those Muslims who are been hosted by him. The king called for a court hearing to decide about the issue. The king summoned the Muslims to the court and asked them to explain the teaching of their religion. Jafar bin Abi Talib stood up and addressed the court by the following words.
"O king! We were an ignorant people. We worshipped idols and ate the meat of dead carcasses. We were accustomed to lewd behavior, to severing the ties of kinship, neglecting our neighbors, and the strong among us consumed the weak. This is how we were. But then, God sent a Messenger to us. We were aware of his lineage, his truthfulness that he was trustworthy, and chaste. He began inviting us to God that we single Him out and that we worship him. So, we felt that Mohammed's message introduced the religion of our forefathers that we had been previously following. We felt the worship of stones and idols of all others besides God was not appreciated by God. Mohammed also commanded us to speak the truth, fulfill trusts, nurture the ties of kinship, be kind to our neighbor, and to refrain from spilling blood unlawfully. He forbids us from lewd behavior, from obscene speech, from consuming the orphan's wealth, and from slandering chaste women. He commanded that we worship God alone without associating anything with Him. He commanded us to perform the prayers, give charity, and fast ... so he listed the Islamic injunctions". Jafar bin Talib continued; "So we trusted him and believed in him, and followed the religion of God that he delivered. We began to worship God alone. We would not associate anything with Him, and we began prohibiting what He made unlawful for us, as well as allowing what He had made lawful for us. For this our people rose as enemies against us, punishing us, torturing us to get us to leave our religion and return to worshipping idols instead of worshipping God. They expected us to consider all of the filthy things lawful as we previously did. So when they overpowered us, oppressed us and restricted us, and when they came between us and our religion, then we came to your land. We chose you over others besides you, desiring to be your neighbor, and hoping that you O king will not wrong us".
The Negus said; "Is there any of this with you that he (Mohammed) told you to be from God?"
Jafar said: 'Yes'. "Then recite some of it for me" the Negus said. Jafar then began to recite the opening verses of Chapter Mary (19) from the Holy Quran. The verse narrated the story of John and Jesus' miraculous birth, all way to the verse that spoke about how Mary was fed miraculously by God when she concealed her self, so not to be watched giving a birth to Jesus. Thereupon the king, along with the bishops of his kingdom, was moved to tears that rolled down to their cheeks and even wet their beards. Here the Negus exclaimed "It seems as if these words and those which were revealed to Jesus are rays of the light which have radiated from the same source". Then the king looked back to the Pagans and said into them, "I am afraid; I cannot give you back these refugees. They are free to live and worship in my kingdom as they please".
The Pagans refused to leave, and they asked Negus to ask the Muslims what they think about Jesus. Jafar stood up again and replied: "We speak about Jesus as we have been taught by our Prophet that Jesus is the servant of God, His messenger and His Word breathed into virgin Mary". The king remarked that they believed the same. Then turning to the frowning members of the delegation and to his bishops who got angry! The Negus said to them "You may be fret and fume as you like but Jesus was nothing more than what Jafar has said about him".
He then assured the Muslims of full protection. This was a turning point in Islamic history, as from this moment, immigration widened, and Muslims began to build their nation outside the skirt of their original home.
The early Christians in Islamic history played important role in protecting the Prophet and his followers, giving the Islam chance to grow. "... And nearest among them in love to believers wilt thou find those who say. 'We are Christians; Because amongst these are Men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant". Holy Quran 5:82.
The bible witnesses Mohammed as the cousin of Jesus and Moses, he is the descendent of Ishmael the oldest brother for Isaac and both are the children of Abraham. "Reiterates God's promise after the birth of Ishmael and before the birth of Isaac" Genesis 17: 4. "Speaks of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants before any child was born him" Genesis 12:2-3. "Isaac is specially blessed but Ishmael was also specially blessed and promised by God to become 'a great nation'" Genesis 21: 13, 18. And it became 'The Muslims Nation'.
Mohammed came from the same tree family of all Prophets, from Ishmael, Ibrahim, and way up to Sam the son of Noah and from Noah up to the Prophet Akhnukh (Enoch) who known by Muslims as Prophet Idris, peace be upon them all. Their missions of prophecies were similar to the beginning of Adam to the end of Mohammed.
After Jesus, the last Israelite messenger and prophet, it was the time for God's promise to bless Ishmael and his descendants, to be fulfilled by the prophecy of Mohammed. Mr. Safir Al Rahman in his noble 'The Sealed Nectar" Quoted "The Prophet Mohammed was in his youth a combination of the best social attributes. He was an exemplary man of weighty mind and faultless insight. He was favored with intelligence. He enjoyed nature originality of thought and accurate choice of the means leading to accurate goals. His long silence helped favorably in his habit of meditation and deep investigation into the truth. His vivid mind and pure nature were helpfully instrumental in assimilating and comprehending ways of life and people. He shunned superstitious practices, but took an active part in constructive and useful dealings; otherwise, he would have taken a route to his self-adopted seclusion. He kept himself aloof from drinking wine, or eating meat slaughtered on stone altars, or attending idolatrous festivals. He held the idols in extreme aversion and disgust. He could never tolerate someone swearing by Idols.
God's guidance and care, no doubt, detached him from all repulsive or evil practices".
Mohammed is the only prophet that his life story is in great match with Moses life story. Moses spoke about Mohammed, and Jesus did as well. "Moses spoke of the prophet to be sent by God who is from among the Israelite's brethren a prophet like unto Moses". Deuteronomy 18:18.
Deuteronomy 33:1-2 combines references to Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. It tells that "God revelation coming from Sinai". This is in reference to Moses. Then it says "Rising from Seir" village of Sa'ir near Jerusalem reference to Jesus. "and shining forth from Paran". According to Genesis 21:21, the wilderness of Paran was the place where Ishmael settled (i.e Arabia, especially Mecca). In the Bible Psalms 84:4-6 Mecca is given the name Ba'ca "The pilgrims passing through the valley of Ba'ca." This is the same name God used when referring to the city in the Holy Quran "The first house of God for worship appointed for men was that at Ba'ca; full of blessing and guidance for all kinds of beings". Chapter 3: 96.
In Habakkuk 3:3 speaks of "God's help coming from Te'man" (an Oasis North of Medina (city in Saudi Arabia) according to J. Hasting's dictionary of the bible), and "the holy one (coming) from Paran." There is no holy figure who immigrated from Ba'ca, which is located north to the city of the immigration called Medina (Te'man), except Mohammed who was asked by the Lord to make this immigration in order to survive the persecution committed against him and his followers.
Isaiah 21:13-17 vividly predicted this incident as well, in addition to battle of Badr in which Mohammed and his followers described as ill-armed faithful people who miraculously defeated the 'mighty' men of Ke'dar (which they are called in Islamic history by men of Kuraysh tribe). The men of Ke'dar sought to destroy the message of Islam, and its prophet and followers. However, they were defeated by small few men with basic weapons, as just it was described by the bible and also has been mentioned in holy Quran as well. From this story, one can see that we cannot win only by our advanced weapons, but we win only by the good faith and well of God.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Islam within Judaism and Christianity, A Voice From The Past by Ahmed Shendy Yousef. Copyright © 2014 Ahmed Shendy Yousef. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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