| This is my attempt to refute Ali Sina�s bogus article called �Did Jesus Escape Crucifixion�. http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/crucifixion.htm Ali Sina stated in his opening paragraph the fact that so many Christians, with Biblical proof, believed that Jesus was crucified, whereas the Quran goes against such facts. Now Ali Sina makes a crucial mistake in his analysis of what the Scripture is trying to portray in it�s narration of the Crucifixion story. He quotes a distorted verse, filled with editing to prove the fact that Muslims believe that Jesus was replaced on the cross by another man, based on the Scripture�s narration. Let�s look at a clean verse. And their saying: �We have killed the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of God!� They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them as if they had. Those who dispute are in doubt of him, they have no knowledge except to follow conjecture; they did not kill him for a certainty. For God raised him to Himself; and God is Noble, Wise. (4:157-158) First of all, no where in the Arabic will you see the verses mentioned above saying Jesus was raised to God in �body and soul�. Secondly if Ali Sina had basic knowledge of the Scripture he would know that no soul will return to God, or be raised to him till the Hereafter where all will be judged. One wonders what kind of story Ali Sina was reading. As I see it this is what the verses are saying. It was a circulating story about the Jews killing Jesus the son of Mary. It was made to seem as if such a thing did happen though (the story being broadcast) and so the people believed in it. How could it be made to seem this way? Well it was a rumour, and we all know people can easily take to rumours as truth instead of conjecture. So this conjecture was being spoken among the people and after some time the people actually believed in such nonsense. They were made to believe that the crucifixion was true. The verse then points out how Jesus was not killed, or crucified, and nowhere does it say that Jesus was �replaced� as our gullible Dr. Ali Sina tries to point out. Ali Sina said that verses 4:157-158 were talking about heaven being a geographic place and God having a physical body. He says heaven must be physical because where else would Jesus� body go if it were not spiritual, but physical. I�d like to know where it is implied in those verses that God has a physical body and where it is said in the verses that Jesus� physical body was raised to heaven. Was there even talk of heaven/paradise in these verses or is Ali Sina, like our traditional Muslim friends making things up? In an age where reason seems to be gradually declining among the populace where does Ali Sina get the implication that God has a physical throne? In the Scripture the throne of God is metaphorical and implies authority. Dr. Sina, there is no talk of God raising Jesus� physical body to a heaven, nor of Jesus being replaced on the cross by another man. You too are made to believe in this crucifixion story, which is said/spoken amongst the people. You�re a perfect modern day example of the point the Scripture is pointing out about the people in verses 4:157-158, who were made to believe that Jesus was crucified at the words of others. You then go on to talk about Nestorian Christians influencing this verse which you believe said �Jesus was replaced�. Your argument holds no ground as you have already wrongly interpreted the verse in question. Just as you claimed that Muhammad knew the New Testament only by second hand sources, I can likely claim that you know the Scripture by second hand sources and influences which are easily refuted by the Scripture itself. Ali Sina also makes a mistake so crucial it is laughable, but I will respect the man because we are all free to have an opinion on what we know. He said that the Quran confuses Mary with Miriam because verses 19:27-28 calls Mary the sister of Aaron. Then she came to her people carrying him. They said: �O Mary, you have come with something totally unexpected! O sister of Aaron, your father was not a bad man, and your mother was never unchaste!� (19:27-28 ) Dr. Sina, is it not possible for Mary, the mother of Jesus and daughter of Imran (66:12), to have a brother named Aaron? Can�t two Aaron�s exist in two different times? I know of an Aaron and I myself am a Joseph, not to mention my father is a Joseph as well. You are letting Biblical knowledge confuse you and it is pointless to compare the Bible to the Quran to try and correct it. It is not the Quran that is mistaken Dr. Sina, it is you who are mistaken. Take care. Joe Home |