JESUS  & MUHAMMAD 
(peace be upon them) 
 

GOD'S FAVORS UPON THE PROPHET ABRAHAM 

To understand the Creator's Master Plan for mankind, is beyond our imagination. However, we can examine the blueprints of that Master Plan for the period of our history that has already passed away. Unfolding the events that have transpired centuries ago, we can discover some interesting facts. It was God's Master Plan that kept apart Ishmael and Isaac, the two sons of Abraham, and created two separate branches. The "Great Nation" that God had promised to make through Ishmael (Gen. 21:13/18), who had settled in the wilderness of Paran (the deserts of Arabia) (Gen. 21:21), has become the fastest growing Religion today. God revealed to Isaiah His Plan for creating a Religion with a New Scripture, to destroy the idolatry in Arabia. 
 
One day in c.1919 B.C.E., a man who had been known to his tribe for the last 99 years by the name of Abram, “father of exaltation”, was asked by the Creator to change his name to Abraham, “father of multitude”, (peace be upon him). None could have imagined what the Supreme Designer had planned for an old man, who had only one son at that age. The Almighty God alone knew that this wandering nomad would become the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A triune of religions that would encompass more than half the population of  world, by the turn of the twentieth century. We do not know how high these population figures will rise, by the turn of the coming century. Will the three children of Abraham (Jews, Christians and Muslims), be united under one Banner and one Principle, before that date? A Principle that was established by the patriarch himself, at the risk of his own life. A Principle that expects the ‘Children of Abraham’ to submit to “One God and Him Alone”.  

God makes separate promises to Abraham for his two wives:  

Abraham's wife Hagar receives the following favor:  

And also of the son of the bondsman, I will make a nation also, because he {is} thy seed.    Gen. 21:13

Abraham's wife Sarah receives the following favor:  

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be {a mother} of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Gen. 17:16

God makes one significantly important promise to Abraham: 

This portentous favor bestowed upon Abraham and his One Son, happens to be the key that unlocks the mystery of God's Master Plan. This eternal Divine Blessing for all the nations of the earth was through a seed of the son of Abraham, who had accompanied his father and passed God's test of Supreme Sacrifice. The event thus become a pivotal part of the human history for Jews, Christians and Muslims. The details of this exceptional Blessing were recorded in the Bible as under: 

And said, By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only {son}: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which {is} upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My Voice. 
Gen. 22:16/18 


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ISHMAEL OR ISAAC? (Peace be upon them) 

When God decided to test the faith of Abraham, He said; 

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only {son} _________, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of .  Gen. 22:2

We will now examine what the Bible and the Qur'an have to say on this controversial subject. After the sacrificial offering the Bible records; 

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only {son} from me.   Gen. 22:12  
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only {son},   Gen. 22:16

     And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's 
     name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.   Gen. 16:15  

Christian scholars going to their second line of defense say: Ishmael, the Son of a bondwoman, was called Abraham's Son at the time of his birth - but that was only for the time being. Ishmael lost the status of being the Son of Abraham the day Isaac was born to Abraham's wife Sarah the freewoman.  

To read more on the subject of the gap that has been deliberately widened by apostle Paul, between the descendants of bondwomand and freewoman, by misquoting a crucial text of the Scripture, please click  AN EPISTLE BY PAUL. 

In their rebuttal, the Muslim scholars say: the Bible nowhere records losing the acquired status. In fact, the biblical text quoted below, proves that in the sight of God the Creator, Ishmael was the Son of Abraham even after the death of his father. 

And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him (Abraham) in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which {is} before Mamre.     Gen. 25:9

The obvious question is, what are the reasons that in spite of these overwhelming evidences the name of Isaac appears in the blank space above? The descendants of Ishmael and Isaac (Arabs and Jews) have fought battles in the arenas of politics and religions since the day of a serious domestic quarrel in the house of Abraham. This Domestic Dispute led Sarah driving away Hagar and her son Ishmael. 

Tribal pride and deep rooted hatred for the enemy can make a person go to any lengths. In the history of mankind, false pride and jealousy have been the roots of many evils and untold sufferings. The Jewish scribes wrote the Book of Genesis. It is very probable that they would not have liked the idea that this singular honor of being offered for the Supreme Sacrifice go to the progenitor of their enemy - Ishmael - rather than their own patriarch - Isaac. The unyielding pride of Jewish priests made Jesus call them stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart. The Encyclopedia Judaica, volume 9, under the heading “Ishmael”, records: 

It is related that a renowned traditionalist of Jewish origin from Qurayza tribe, and another Jewish scholar who converted to Islam, told Caliph Omar Ibn `Abd al-Azizi (717-20) that the Jews were well informed that Ismail (Ishmael) was the one who was bound (for sacrifice), but they conceal this out of jealousy.

A question is often asked: Does the name of Ishmael appear in the Quranic narration as the one that was offered for the Supreme Sacrifice? The answer is: No. The name of Ishmael does not appear in the text. However, the Quranic narration gives the sequence of events that happened before and after the sacrificial offering. These chronological events very precisely testify that Isaac was born after the event.  

Abraham pleads for a Son: 

"O my Lord! grant me a righteous (son)!" So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. Then when (the son) reached (the age of) serious work with him he said: "O my son! I see in a vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! do as thou art commanded: thou will find me if Allah so wills, one practicing Patience and Constancy!" So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah) and He had laid Him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice).          Qur'an 37:100/103.

We called out to him "O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: and We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: "Peace and salutation to Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.  Qur'an 37:104/110.

For he was one of Our believing Servants. And We gave him the good news of Isaac, a prophet, one of the Righteous. We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right and (some) that obviously do wrong to their own souls.  
                                   Qur'an 37:111/113.

PAUL POSTULATES "LIBERTY FROM THE LAW" USING THE EVENT OF THE SUPREME SACRIFICE 

We saw in the earlier chapter that it was the tribal rivalry between the Jews and the Arabs that probably motivated the writers of the Book of Genesis to conceal the facts. Now let us examine what has motivated Christians to insist that Isaac was the one who accompanied his father for the Supreme Sacrifice. 

Apostle Paul, who degenerated the Jesus-advocated monotheism by introducing an heretical concept that Jesus was God, but had emptied himself taking the form of a Bond-servant (Philippians 2:5/8), associated the event of the Supreme Sacrifice with the event of Christ's Crucifixion.  
This is what he wrote in his Epistle (letter) to the Galatians: 

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is Christ. What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on Law, it is no longer based on promise; but God had granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. Galatians 3:16-19 

2. The belief that the Law was “added” by God, as a temporary stop-gap measure, does not concur with the text of the Law. There is no indication in the Old Testament the Law will be abolished, abrogated or annulled at a future date. The rationale that Jews and Gentiles both can get acquittal by placing their “faith in Christ Jesus”, and not by the “works of the Law” (Gal. 2:16), is known as the “Pauline Justification”. 

3. Jesus, as if  foretold by God of the “Pauline Justification”,  refuted the theory in advance by saying: Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”                Matthew 5:17-19 

Long before the birth of Ishmael, God had disclosed to his mother that his son will live "to the east of all his brothers". God had also foretold that her son's hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him. Gen. 16:12. The mocking of Isaac was just a ploy to implement His Master Plan. The important question is why did God separate the two branches of Abraham and not let them grow together? 

Looking back at the history, we find that the Christ-taught “True Monotheism” took a 180 degree turn, during the fourth century and the “Distorted Monotheism” was firmly established by a Royal Decree. It became necessary to teach all over again the noble principle established by the patriarch Abraham, through a Messenger from among the kinsmen of this separated branch, that had not been influenced by the historical events and their consequences. 

Professor Jacob M. Myers, a contributor to Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, writes in his book, Invitation to The Old Testament, Doubleday & Co. Inc., New York (1966), pg. 26: 

Archaeological discoveries help us to fill in the details of the biblical narrative and to explain many other wise obscure references and strange customs that were commonplace in Abraham's world and time.... A Nuzi marriage contract provides that a childless wife may take a woman of the country and marry her to her husband to obtain progeny. But she may not drive out the offspring even if she later has children of her own. The child born of the handmaid has the same status as the one born to the wife. That is why, when Sarah wanted to drive out Hagar and Ishmael, it was quite objectionable to Abraham - because of the legal custom of the region from which he came, he was reluctant to do so. It required a special divine dispensation to act contrary to that custom. “And God said to Abraham, ‘Do not be disturbed over the lad and your handmaid. Listen to Sarah and do everything she tells you....” Gen. 21:12-13

When the prophecies made by the prophet Isaiah are recorded in the New Testament by the Gospel writers, as being fulfilled in Christ, the skeptics have questioned: Were the prophecies of the Old Testament fulfilled by history, or was the history of Christ written to fulfill the prophecies? That question does not arise in the case of various prophecies that speak of the coming the prophet Muhammad in Arabia.  

In the Bible there is only one character that is named Kedar, the son of Ishmael. The Land where Kedarites had settled is called Arabia. In Isaiah chapter 42, the first seven verses prophecy the coming of Jesus. The prophecy for the coming of a new prophet in Arabia with a new scripture, begins with verse number eight. The text reads: 

I {am} the Lord: that {is} my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and the new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. `Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth'. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voices, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare His praise in the inlands."             Isaiah 42:8-12.

"The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies." Verse 13.

"I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself, now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once." Verse 14.

"And I will bring the blind by a way they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things I will do unto them, and not forsake them." Verse 16.

"It is He Who has sent amongst the unlettered, a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His signs, to purify them, and to instruct them in the Book and Wisdom, although they had been, before, in manifest error."    Holy Qur'an  62:2 

"They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images; they say to the molten images, `Ye are our gods.'" Isaiah 42 : 17.

Anyone who has read the Message of the Qur'an can tell you, it is a blessing for anyone and everyone that reads and understands it. The people who have joined Islam would not have, were it not for the Qur'an, revealed to prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).  

  Verily in this (Qur'an) is a Message for people who 
  would truly worship Allah. We sent thee not,  
            but as a Mercy for all creatures..   Qur'an 21:106-107. 

Unfortunately, the original Message of Jesus Christ has been overshadowed by the teachings of those who claimed a direct designation from Jesus himself or, centuries later became the Vicars of Jesus. Al-Hamdulillah (praise be to Allah), no one has attempted to override or preclude the Message of the Qur'an. The Message of this Final Testament -the Qur'an- is eternal. 

One Christian scholar, after reading this article wrote to me; "...the Muslim faith is a continuation of Christianity - or perhaps a different interpretation of the will of God revealed to the Prophet and suited to the people and conditions of Western Arabia at the time." To this I would say: the true Disciples of Jesus were Muslims. The Holy Qur'an confirms that these Disciples were the Believers in Allah. To Allah ("The Only True God" of John 17:3), they bowed and to Him did they bear witness that they were Muslims. (see Qur'an 3:52 and 5:111{5:114}). A Muslim is one who submits to the Will of Allah. (Qur'an 12:101). 

One bright and sunny Sunday morning I stationed myself under the shade of a tree, on a path leading from a car park to a church. It was a recently renovated, very modern-looking Protestant Church in Burnaby, B.C., Canada, with a sizable attendance. My object was to conduct a survey and obtain answers from the churchgoers personally. I had a short questionnaire in my hand with a few simple questions. The answers to these questions would tell me what are the beliefs of the churchgoers today, about their "Lord", Jesus. Here is what I found. To my questions: Was Jesus the beloved Son of God? The Son of Virgin Mary? The Prophesied Messiah? The God's Christ? The Saviour? An Intercessor between Man and God?, almost every one quickly concurred and said He was. To my questions: Was Jesus, God the Son? God the Incarnate? Son of Man? The Second Person of the Trinity? The Prophet of God? The Holy Servant of God?, people took time to answer. Many said: Yes, he was. Some said; No, he was not, some were not sure. There were only a few who said: Yes, to each and every question. 
Such confusion as to: Who Lord Jesus was? is not only among the average Churchgoer, but also among Christian scholars. One day I asked a question on a Bible-study Net where the Bible scholars exchange views in the cyber space. My question was: The Eternal God is Eternally Holy. Jesus was made Holy by God. Hence, how can one claim Jesus was God, from the beginning? A scholar replied: Jesus was not made Holy. He was Anointed by God, meaning he was consecrated by God. There is major difference between making Holy and Anointing. The learned scholar added, if Jesus was made Holy, then that would be a big blow to the Divinity of Jesus. I replied: here is what Jesus himself has said, and quoted; "Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world...." John 10:36. I also explained; the word "sanctified" comes from the Latin word 'sanctus' meaning, "holy". Hence , the word "sanctified" means, "made holy". The argument went further and the Greek word used in the text was to be examined. I pointed out that Strong's Concordance with the Greek Dictionary confirms the Greek word used is 'hagiazo', which comes from the word "hagioz", and the meaning is "to make holy"; "sanctify". The scholar finally replied: Jesus was sanctified, but the question is whether this sanctification was a "cleansing" or a "setting apart"?  

The point I am making is, there are several verses in the Bible which directly and explicitly deny the "co-equality" and "co-eternity" of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The defenses that are put forward by the clergy and the scholars sound hollow to open-minded Christians, who desire to question the validity of the Doctrine of Trinity. The Doctrine as taught by the Church has no endorsement in the Bible. On the other hand, the Doctrine of Unity has far more support in the Old Testament and the New Testament.  

Majority of these confused Christians begin with the changing of churches,  jumping from one denomination to another and finally venture to look outside of their realm. They find the concept of Muslims for their prophet Muhammad to be uniform. He was a messenger of God, and a servant of God. He never claimed to be a "Saviour" or the propitiation for mankind's inherited or committed sins. Man is not born with an inherited sin committed by Adam or Eve. Every one is personally answerable for one's deeds.  

After reading the Qur'an they find Islam's concept of Allah (lit. "the God") to be much simpler and lucid. There is no god but Allah. He has no associate or partner. He is eternally Self-sufficient and Supreme. The recently conducted professional surveys in the West indicate: Christianity plummeting at an alarming rate and Islam the fastest growing religion. It is suggested that by the turn of this century the number of practicing Muslims will surpass that of the practicing Christians. The Scriptures say; "My servants, the righteous, shall inherit the earth." Qur'an 21:105 and Psalms 37:29. 

After reading the biblical prophecies, these bewildered Christians discover that Jesus Christ did speak of the coming of another "male" salvific  figure like "himself". Jesus admitted: he was a  Prophet like Moses (John 5:46). Apostle John acknowledged: Jesus was a Paraclete {Comforter, Advocate} (1 John 2:1). Concerning the coming of "another Paraclete", after the  departure of Jesus and "into the age", apostle John writes: he (Paraclete - the Spirit of Truth) shall glorify Jesus, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own initiative, but whatever he hears, he will disclose to you what is to come. (John 16:13/14) 

Please note, the pronoun repeatedly used  by the apostle is "he" and not  "it". The entity called "Spirit of Truth" which takes the pronoun "he" was with the passing of the time confused with the "Holy Spirit" which takes the pronoun "it".