Islam2

4. Islam is the religion of the prophets in the Bible

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The ways of worship did not change among the prophets of God, including prophet Jesus(PBUH) and prophet Muhammed (PBUH). Lets look at some biblical references and Islamic teachings to compare.

4.1 The prophets worshipped one God.

There is no doubt the prophets in the Old Testament worshipped one God because Jesus had not yet been born. So lets look at the New Testament at Jesus himself.

    John 17: 3 (KJV)
            "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
             and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

Jesus is clearly stating there is only one God, and he is separating himself from the only true God. He makes the distiction between himself and God by saying he was sent from God. Jesus did not ask for people to worship him. Christians have no right to worship Jesus as God, since Jesus himself says there is only one true God, and he wasn't it.

4.2 The prophets purified themselves.

A clear instruction is given by God in Exodus 30:17-21 and 40:31-32 to Moses(PBUH). A laver of brass, filled with water, was to be positioned between the tabernacle of the congregation and the alter.They were to "wash their hands and feet" before they aproached the alter.

This applies to all the prophets, verse 21 says,
    "So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed, throughout the generations."

Furthermore, in the New Testament, Paul in Acts 21:26, purified himself before entering the temple.
More references include Isaiah 1:16 and 52:11.

4.3 The prophets would remove their shoes and face a certain direction.

The prophets used to face a certain direction when praying. When Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) came, he changed the direction towards the Kabba (an alter originally built by Abraham).

In Psalms 138:2 David said, "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name..."

The prophets would also remove their shoes on holy ground, just as muslims remove shoes before entering the mosque or prayer area.

In Exodus 3:5 and Acts 7:33, God commanded Moses to remove his shoes because he was on holy ground.
In Joshua 5:15, a man instructed Joshua to remove his shoes because he was on holy ground.

4.4 The prophets recited words from scripture and bowed in submission.

Genesis 17:3, Abraham fell on his face before the Lord
Genesis 24:52, Abraham's servant "...worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth."
Exodus 34:8, "Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped."
Exodus 4:31, the elders "bowed their heads and worshipped."
Numbers 20:6, Moses and Aaron "fell upon their faces"
Joshua 5:14, Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped
Daniel 6:10, Daniel kneeled and prayed
II Chronicles 7:3, children of Israel "bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon pavement"
Nehemiah 8:4-6 Ezra stood upon a pulpit, opened the book in the sight of all the people, and when he opened it the people stood up: "And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And the people answered after him Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground."
More Old Testament verses: I Chron 29:20, II Chron 20:18, Ezra 10:1 Job !:20, Ezekiel 43:3

Even Jesus in the New Testament prayed in this manner.
Matthew 26:39, Jesus "fell on his face, and prayed"
Mark 14: 35, Jesus "fell on the ground, and prayed"
Revelation 19:4, elders and beasts "fell down and worshipped God"

As Islam makes a distiction with prayer and supplication, so does the Bible.
Acts 1:14, "These all continues with one accord in prayer and supplication"
Daniel 9:3, Daniel "set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication"

The prophet Muhammad taught Muslims to pray by standing, bowing, and placing our faces to the ground, just as the Biblical prophets. Praying would include recitaion of the prayer and separate supplication.

4.5 The prophets prayed many times per day.

Daniel 6:10, Daniel prayed 3 times per day
Psalms 119:164, King David prayed 7 times per day
Matther 26: 39-44, Jesus prayed 3 times

The prophet Muhammed would pray 5 or more times per day.