My Testimony Of Faith

Posted on by ashsalman0

WP_20131207_011
My name is Ash Salman. I was born and bought up in Manchester. I was born into a Muslim family of six brothers and no sisters. My parents are practicing Muslims and I was brought up along with my brothers to know and follow the principles of Islam. I hardly ever prayed however occasionally attended Friday (Jamah) prayers and fasted during Ramadan every year. My father and mother encouraged me to memorize many chapters of the Qur’an without even understanding the language as tradition dictates since Quran was revealed in Arabic it must be read in the Holy language.

I started going to the Mosque when I was very small with my brothers. My dad was keen to take me with him, especially on Fridays for the congregational prayers. I also went to Islamic classes every day with my younger brothers during the school holidays as well as weekday after school. I still remember the Imam (Quranic teacher) tapping us on the head with his long stick and striking us hard on our back with his hands and elbow. One of the many punishments where I was forced into the ‘Hen position’ for a lengthy time before being punched on the back and slapped in the face and being hit with a bamboo stick on my hands & bottom for not learning the Quranic lines and not remembering my physical prayers along with verses from the Quran.

Every Muslim hopes to go to paradise. That was my dream too. But how could I get there? My parents taught me that the way to paradise is to work hard and to live as a good Muslim by adhering to the 5 daily prayers which are to be read on time along with the 5 daily pillars of Islam which combines :

Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith.
Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day.
Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy.
Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan.
Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca.

As a Muslim we were taught and believed that there was an angel (Farishta) on each side of me. The angel on the right recorded all my good works. The one on the left recorded all my bad works. On the Day of Judgment, my works would be weighed in a balance. My hope was that my good works would outweigh my bad ones. For that to happen I had to pray a lot in the manner as tradition dictates from standing, bowing and prostrating, fast, help the poor and so on.

They must do their best and wait for the Day of Judgment. Even if their good works outweigh their bad works, it will still be up to Allah to choose whether to let them into paradise.

You have heard Muslim’s in Islam always say the word “Inshaallah“, meaning God willing. In Islam you never have assurance you will ever go to heaven as it all goes back to Allah Willing (Inshaallah).

Paradise in Islam is a place where every man will have many beautiful women to serve him. Wine will no longer be forbidden. There will be a nice river…You can understand why I longed for paradise!

I tried hard to be a good Muslim; I never had peace of mind. In fact I was always afraid of death. To be honest, I had no idea where I would end up. We were taught to fear Allah and obey Muhammad and those who are in Authority.

I had always believed that the universe has a divine Creator. Allah was that Creator. I believed that Allah was all-powerful, all-knowing and present everywhere. But I also believed that he was unapproachable, incomprehensible, and that we should not even attempt to describe Allah with human language. I believed that Allah revealed himself in the pages of the Qur’an, and to a certain extent through creation. But Allah was hidden, inaccessible. He could never be known in a personal way.

Islam (Submission) was being taught as being the one supreme religion and every believer must submit to Allah and his Prophet Mohammad as part of the testimony of faith (Shahadah).

God of the Bible is one being but in three person. Christian’s believe in oneness of God through Jesus Christ and through him they submit to God the father, the Son (Ibn-Allah) & the Holy Spirit (Ruhu-Alqadoos).

A Christian is someone who believes that Jesus died for his or her sins. He believes that he can be saved through what Jesus did on the cross. A Christian trusts Jesus and receives Him as Savior and Lord. Jesus is respected by Islam as a great prophet, but only a great prophet. He is called the Messiah. I believed in His virgin birth and in His miracles, but to say that He died on the cross was a blasphemous idea. I believed that someone else took Jesus’ place on the cross, while He was taken up to heaven. I also believed that the Qur’an, are revelations from Allah.

However, Christians and Jews are accused of distorting and falsifying their Scriptures. Consequently we all Muslim’s do not believe that the Bible as it is today is a true revelation from God even thou we have not read the Bible. These are the basic core teachings within Islam that makes Muslim’s hard to integrate into society. Many Muslims are led by indoctrination along with respect and honor towards their fore-fathers rather than reading the Quran in a language they can comprehend and understand.

My Story and my Journey :
Me and my wife lived a western life and never really cared about our faith in Islam nor where we religiously practicing it to the level of how it is practiced within Islamic nations. We did the norm as many Muslims do is participate in every Friday (Jummah) prayers, Fasting during Ramadan, Celebrating Eid and longing to do Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca & Medina). We lived to enjoy and invest in this life with good MORALS and ETHICS. My wife always dressed modestly without the need of wearing Hijab (Head Scalf), or any loose clothing’s.

My turning point came when in 2007 my wife’s father sadly passed away in America. As i remember It was an emotional day being on the hospital ward in a room alongside with all family members and seeing my Wife’s father lying on his bed and unable to speak. He was slowly drifting away from us all. It was a shocking experience for me to see someone dying in front of me.

More shocking to me was the nurse came in to speak to my Wife’s Brothers and ask for permission to allow to give the father Morphine so he could die peacefully without occurring further unrest and unease has we all could see he was in great pain. The Brothers and the rest of the family refused to allow to give their father the medication due to their Islamic beliefs that it will be considered as suicide and that is Haram in the eye of Allah and Mohammad teachings.

The life I lived has a Muslim came under question within my heart. God is love and how can he see us suffer like this. This led me to believe their is no respect for Human Life and I started to question the teachings of Islam within myself.

After the burial of my Father in Law, I remember my Mother in Law speaking to my Wife and strongly with authority telling her that :

“Your father never prayed his 5 daily prayers, he will abide in the hell fire and it is your duty to follow Islam to the latter and pray extra prayer to get your father out of hell fire into heaven and bring up your little son in an religious environment.

It is written by Mohammad :
“What led you into Hell-Fire? They will say; ‘We were not of those who prayed;’ (Quran, 74:42-43)“
This became the starting point of changes in my life with my wife as her fear in Allah grew stronger day by day.

In 2011 my wife took me to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage to Mecca. It did not want to go but I went along as an religious obligation towards my wife in being her Mehram (Guardian). As I was unaware how this journey is going to change my life. This was the beginning of a new life and transformation in seeking true knowledge.

I saw and it came abundantly clear that females must cover up from head to toe and they must not mingle freely with males. At the same time, no non-Muslim places of worship are allowed and Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and others, must not pray openly or speak openly about their faith. I did not see nor feel God’s love but saw fear in people’s eyes has they went about performing their oppressed rituals.
At the Ka’bah i was shocked to see people pushing, shoving and fighting to get to touch and kiss the black stone. The story behind it is that Prophet Mohammad touched and kissed and many blind followers are doing the same without understanding the history behind it. It was a upsetting scene to watch but i continued to follow the rituals for the sake of my wife, mother-in-law & sister-in-law.

I saw followers by the Ka’bah chanting openly and crying for forgiveness. I saw followers pushing, shoving & fighting to touch and kiss the black stone without showing any respect to the women and children’s. I saw followers praying at Prophet Mohammad’s grave.

At this stage i had many questions within my heart and mind and here is where the journey begins in seeking further knowledge.

On my return back I had many questions. I wanted to be free from this burden as it was killing me from inside. I have been married for 10 years and in the last 3 years I have seen my wife go through many changes as she was being groomed by a religious convert to Islam from the Markfield Academy . She became a different person and began to put religious restrictions on herself. She began to adhere to her 5 daily prayers which came with imposed timings. She began wearing the “Hijab” as she was told by religious scholars to guard her modesty by not revealing her hair.

My wife was told by religious scholars that not covering your hair is like being naked.

Slowly many Islamic restrictions crept up in my life that burdened me and eventually led me being colonized within my own home where we once lived in peace and harmony with the love of God around us.

I remember once I came home and started cleaning around the house as my wife being heavily indulged in her religious duties that superseded my life with her. I found a bag full of Quran’s under my bed, I decided to leave it there but curiosity led me to believe my wife was preaching (Dawah) the Quran to non Muslims, I further discovered a box full of pamphlets saying :

“The corruption of the Bible”
“Muhammad mentioned in the Bible”
“Jesus vs Mohammad”

I have not read the Bible but I am a moderate open minded thinker and this was upsetting as my wife was preaching this message. I challenged her and simply asked her “Have you read the Bible“; the answer was “No“. I asked my wife “why are you preaching (Islamic Dawah) in spreading the corruption of the Bible even though you have no knowledge of what the Bible contains“.

Unfortunately I did not get my answer but I knew as Islam traditions dictates these teachings and many sheep’s will follow the path of corruption without seeking any knowledge from the Bible.

Da’wah is recognized by the majority of scholars as being obligatory upon every Muslim.

“And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.” [Quran, 3: 104]

All Muslims Sins forgiven:
“If a person embraces (converts to) Islam sincerely, then Allah shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the settlement of accounts: the reward of his good deeds will be ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed, and an evil deed will be recorded as it is unless Allah forgives it.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.1, Hadith No. 40A).

Here we read the Quran verse that mentions the corruption of the bible:
“Can ye (o ye men of Faith) entertain the hope that they will believe in you?- Seeing that a party of them heard the Word of Allah, and perverted it knowingly after they understood it… Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:”This is from Allah,” to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby“. (Quran 2:75,79)

“There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (As they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, “That is from Allah,” but it is not from Allah: It is they who tell a lie against Allah, and (well) they know it!” (Quran 3:78)

I have a Jewish sister in law who fears this oppression as she was approached by my wife and said “Day of judgment is near, here is the Quran, believe in Mohammed and become a Muslim now or you will abide by in the hell fire”.

These are the true moments of my life that gave me the passion in finding out the truth. I took out a year to study the Quranic & Hadith scriptures but in a language I can understand and comprehend and judge for myself. This was an attempt to save my marriage and maybe I can guide or inspire my wife to be open minded and free her mind rather than following a tradition of psychological oppression that has led many Muslim’s astray.

I began to read the Quran in English as my Wife questioned me in what I am doing. As she was aware I was studying the Quran whilst making my notes on my Blog, she was disturbed by this and try to sway me away from reading the Quran in a language other than Arabic as it is deemed Haram and no blessing from Allah will be received since the words are not uttered in its original holy language Arabic.

It seemed like Allah only understands Arabic hence why Muslims only pray in Arabic. I continued to read the Quran in English translation by Marmaduke Pickthall who was a famous British Islamic scholar.

During my reading of the Quran and making my notes, i raised many questions with Markfield Academy Scholars in relation to Mohammad and why is the Quran holding Jesus Christ in honor & alive in the heavens with Allah and giving him special powers that only Allah the creator has and no other prophet of god has ever done or given the power of Allah. Further to this Quran makes multiple references to the Taurat (Bible – Old Testament) & the Injeel (Gospel – New Testament) and tells Muslims to judge by what was revealed before the Quran.

My spirit was touched as I was determined to know what Jesus relationship with Allah is. I raised many questions coming from the Quran referring to Jesus.

“Who is Jesus”
“Is Jesus the son of God”
“God created Jesus through the word
“Jesus is the spirt of God” (Kallimullah)
“Jesus is the spirit from God” (Kalimatin)
“Why is Jesus the chosen one”
“Why is Jesus to be honored and glorified” not only in this world but in the hereafter
“Why is Jesus without any sin and protected against Satan”
“Jesus is able to forgive Sins.
“Why is Jesus the Messiah to come”
“Why is Jesus mentioned of his second coming”

These questions are coming from the Quran and i need to find the answers. Upon my finding the Quran does not explain nor elaborates. I showed great desire to learn more about this exalted prophet as the Quran has no beginning and an end and falls short of continuity within it chapters. Quran is a very ambiguous and had no collection of accounts about Jesus life apart from the miracle birth of Jesus and the last supper meal but never completes the whole accounts.

Upon completing reading and fully understanding the Quran along with the saying of the Prophet Mohammad’s Hadith’s, i moved onto studying the Holy Bible. Studying or reading the Bible or even touching it began to cause issues within my Islamic marriage with my wife and with the Markfield Islamic Academy. They all felt i was deviating away from Islam rather than raising professional questions and try to eliminate my misunderstanding of Islam.

One day my wife saw me reading a book and it was referring to the Bible. She questioned me “why am I reading the Bible” ‘ are you not aware it is haraam to the Bible“. My response was “I need to find answers about Jesus“, Quran falls short of explanation and is very ambitious.

My wife decided to approach Markfield Islamic Academy and speak to the learned scholars and imams and get me enrolled as she felt I was deviating away from Islam. The Scholars and Imams there accepted me into there institution. I was more than happy to attend and open to learning more and more about Islam and the confusion around the Bible.

I attended Markfield Islamic Academy and humbled myself and came across as an uneducated follower of Islam. I kept my knowledge to myself as I did not wanted to offend anyone and when the time is right I will speak and hoping to make a difference.

As I was growing in this inspired wisdom coming from the Bible and getting to know the real Jesus, the Bible has all the answers and the continuity of the passages or chapters flow with great understanding of Jesus and his holy relationship with God. Where the Quran falls short of Glory in explaining the complete accounts, whereas the Bible comes to life with full accounts and explanation.

I was amazed in what i was reading and going back and forth between the Quran & Bible it was evidently clear to me the Bible had all the answers to where the Quran fell short. The Quran was slowly converting me in believing in the Bible following Jesus Christ.

I was judged by my wife and the Islamic scholars of deviating away from Islam. I even enrolled myself in an Islamic academy has I thought I was getting all confused and getting all crazy.

I questioned many Islamic scholars and I put them to shame has they never were able to answer my questions.

Question 1:
In the Quran, Allah created the universe through the word, through the word.
Is the word is creator or creation?
Quran say’s Jesus is word of God. If the word of God is creator which means Jesus is Creator.

Question 2:
Do you believe Mohammad was sinless. Islamic Scholar relies “Yes, all the prophets of Allah where sinless”.

I interjected and asked the Islamic Scholar to show me evidence from the Quran. There was no evidence in the Quran to make reference to Mohammad or any other prophet of Allah being of sinless nature. However i uttered, there is one man of God that is clearly referenced in the Quran who was created from God’s pure holy spirit and was made sinless, a man of God who knew no sin. This man of God is not a mere prophet of God but much more. In the Quran it clearly states Jesus was created without Sin.

Christian around the world pray to Jesus and ask for forgiveness of their sins, because he is God and is able to forgive sins as he bears no sins.

I further interjected to the Islamic Scholar by making reference from the Quran that Mohammad along with all the prophets and all mankind are all desendants of Adam & Eve. We are all effected by the orginal sin and are born in sin. It is clear within the Quran Allah is asking Mohammad and his followers to ask for forgiveness for their sin.

At this stage the Islamic Scholar forhead frowns upon me and is taken back with my Quranic references.

Question 3:

Final question landed me into being banished from the Islamic academy.

At this stage i was surrounded by Islamic Scholars, i had to be careful with my questioning since i felt  intimidated. I uttered whilst keeping eye contact with the Islamic scholars “Where i Mohammad right now“. Islamic Scholars failed to answer my question as they waited for me to enlighten them.

I interjected by saying “I know where is Mohammad as i have been to Saudia Arabia to Makkah & Medina on the Islamic Haj – Pilgrimage. As you all know Mohammad is dead and buried in the Mosque in Medina and all the islamic followers pray on his grave as part of traditional rituals.

I further ask the Islamic Scholars “Where is Jesus“. Nobody answers me and waited for my answer. I uttered “Quran and Bible makes reference Jesus is alive and is with God in the heavens siting by his throne on the right side. Quran testifies Jesus is the messiah and will return to earth to judge on judgement day.

Looking at the Islamic Scholars i uttered with sheer delight “All of you have a choice, follow Mohammad to his grave with your sins which we know is below us a place called Hell, or you follow the man of God Jesus who came from the heavens and returned back to the heavens and is alive and is with God in the heaven. Lift up your hands and ask for forgiveness to a living God.

At this point i have asked to leave the Islamic academy as other Islamic students where being influenced by my words and knowledge.

I have come to peace with myself knowing it is the power of the people that is so strong that a common Muslim will not want to fall out of his inner circle of following traditions beliefs & rituals even though the truth comes to them.

My Wife was told by the Islamic scholars the night before she left the family home on the 3rd May 2013 with my 6 yrs old son, was to do a special prayer that night and ask “Allah” to show her sign in a form of a color. If she is to see a white color in her dreams, that is a warning sign and she should leave her husband as I am seen as an Infidel. He will drag you and your child to the hell fire.

This indoctrinated prayer is called “Ishtakara“. Ishtakhara is a special prayer asking for supplication from Allah. Upon my wife completing this special prayer and seeing the warning sign, she left the family home with my son who was 6 yrs old at the time.

My intentions was not to hurt anyone but purely to engage and seek knowledge. I was badly hurt by my wife’s decision to destroy our marriage over these indifferences. As my desire to see my son grew i went down to Markfield Islamic Academy as a broken man and spoke to the Imam there to please bring back my Wife and Son. Imam threw a condition which was i should stop seeking knowledge from the Bible and totally stop reading the Bible and come back to the folds of Islam.

As i was in an emotional and desperate state of mind i gave in and promised that “i will stop or seize all studying of the Bible and come back the folds of Islam“, “please do bring my Wife & Son back to the family home”.

After the Imam listened to me he called my Wife over the phone and told her the news about my promise to coming back to the folds of Islam. The Wife did not believe me and said “he will return back to the Bible as he knows too much“. At this point i begged with the Imam and to my Wife but nobody was listening. After a while I regathered my emotions and heading out of the Islamic Academy i said to the Imam “i will knock on this nations court doors and apply for my right to see my son and we will see what does your Allah do about it”.

In the Bible i read verses like “there is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).

It told me that I could never be good enough to go to heaven. Left to myself, I am without hope, because I am a sinner. But it also told me that there was someone who was sinless. He never did anything wrong at all. He alone was pleasing to God in every way.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, (2 Corinthians 5:21)

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin, (1 John 3:5)

Jesus Christ, as a perfect man. He lived the life that I should have lived. He died the death which I deserve. He died in my place because that was the only way for me to escape God’s anger and judgment. He bore the wrath of God so that I won’t have to. For the first time I could see the sure way to heaven. There was something else that amazed me: The Bible says that we can know God personally through Jesus Christ. That was a completely new thought to me. I could have a personal relationship with God!

The God of the Bible is a living God I worship and in whom I now place all my confidence who is holy, just, trustworthy, faithful, honest and gracious. I believe in a God who is love; an approachable God who can be known personally. He has revealed Himself in the Bible and in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no moment more joyful than when you first know that you have been saved. I remember how I was beforehand, and I know how I am now, and I see that I am a different person. I have peace deep in my soul now.

I had been hearing the Gospel and studying the Bible for over a year before I gave my life to Jesus Christ. Although I was convinced that the message was true, I was afraid to submit to it. People said that I should pray. But I didn’t really know who I should pray to! Was it possible for me to pray to any God other than Allah?!

I pray to God in a manner of ease whether it’s standing, sitting, lying, walking, bowing or even prostrating. I have an unconditional relationship with God and free to pray without the need of any physical rituals that i once performed within Islam in the mosques or even at home.

To this day I continue to fight for the right for my son to see his loving father. We are slowly making progress and during my journey in seeking contact I have grown strong in faith and feel blessed by God with great patience and given great success in my working career as I fight for contact towards my son. I know my son will go through the process of indoctrination like I did. I will put all my trust in Jesus Christ and grow in faith and will shine my spirit onto my little boy.

One night I prayed a little prayer, saying, ‘Jesus, if you are the true God, help me to give my life to you. Take away the obstacles in my heart. Allah, if you are the true God, please forgive me for my doubts. If you are the true God, I will serve you with more zeal than ever before.’ The next day I woke up with the assurance that Jesus had heard my prayer.

I gave my life to Jesus and got confirmed and baptized at Christ Church in Coalville.

A Muslim who becomes a Christian is seen as an apostate, a traitor who deserves punishment. For a Muslim family, it’s a real shame when one family member becomes a Christian. They also thought that becoming a Christian would make me forget my parents, my family and my culture. They thought I would start getting drunk and live an immoral lifestyle.

They did not know what the Bible teaches. They thought that every European is a Christian, so they also thought that the immorality in Western countries is caused by Christianity! There is widespread confusion about the West and Christianity. The Holy Bible is actually against all forms of evil and impurity.

Every time someone marries, makes a friend, hugs a child, or attends church, he is demonstrating the fact that we are made in the likeness of God.

A word of encouragement for those who are in the same situation?

Perhaps you are convinced that the message of the Bible is true, but you have not yet given your life to Christ. Maybe you fear the consequences that could follow your conversion. Perhaps you fear the reaction of your friends and family. Remember one serious thing: On the Day of Judgment, when Christ will be the Judge, you will face Him alone. Your family and friends will not be there.

What will you say to Him?
The Lord is knocking at the door of your heart now.
Will you let Him in?

During my journey I have created articles explaining where the Quran acknowledges and honors Jesus Christ has the Messiah and is the Word of God and is alive with God in the Heavens.

BIBLE : Let us make man in our image, in our likeness

Posted on by ashsalman0

Question: “What does it mean that humanity is made in the image of God?”

Answer: On the last day of creation, God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

Thus, He finished His work with a “personal touch.

” God formed man from the dust and gave him life by sharing His own breath (Genesis 2:7).

 

Do Muslims believe in man being created in the image of God?

Do Muslims believe in man being created in the image of God?

Do you believe that man is created in the image of God?

Muslims do not believe man is created in the image of God’s essence. God does not physically look like human beings or have the inherent limitations of humanity. He does not have arms and legs as we do, nor is He of flesh and blood. The Qur’an reveals that God is not like any of His creatures in essence. [QUR’AN, 112:1–4]

When god created man in it’s own image, the bible means that man is similar to god in the sense that we have the same characteristics  as he does. Such as Love, compassion.

Muslims do not believe man is created in the image of God’s essence. God does not physically look like human beings or have the inherent limitations of humanity. He does not have arms and legs as we do, nor is He of flesh and blood.

Accordingly, man is unique among all God’s creations, having both a material body and an immaterial soul/spirit.

Having the “image” or “likeness” of God means, in the simplest terms, that we were made to resemble God.

Adam did not resemble God in the sense of God’s having flesh and blood. Scripture says that “God is spirit” Ruh Al Qadoos (John 4:24) and therefore exists without a body. However, Adam’s body did mirror the life of God insofar as it was created in perfect health and was not subject to death.

The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man. It sets man apart from the animal world, fits him for the dominion God intended him to have over the earth (Genesis 1:28), and enables him to commune with his Maker. It is a likeness mentally, morally, and socially.

Mentally, man was created as a rational, volitional agent. In other words, man can reason and man can choose. This is a reflection of God’s intellect and freedom. Anytime someone invents a machine, writes a book, paints a landscape, enjoys a symphony, calculates a sum, or names a pet, he or she is proclaiming the fact that we are made in God’s image.

Morally, man was created in righteousness and perfect innocence, a reflection of God’s holiness. God saw all He had made (mankind included) and called it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Our conscience or “moral compass” is a vestige of that original state. Whenever someone writes a law, recoils from evil, praises good behavior, or feels guilty, he is confirming the fact that we are made in God’s own image.

Socially, man was created for fellowship. This reflects God’s triune nature and His love. In Eden, man’s primary relationship was with God (Genesis 3:8 implies fellowship with God), and God made the first woman because “it is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

Every time someone marries, makes a friend, hugs a child, or attends church, he is demonstrating the fact that we are made in the likeness of God.

Part of being made in God’s image is that Adam had the capacity to make free choices. Although he was given a righteous nature, Adam made an evil choice to rebel against his Creator. In so doing, Adam marred the image of God within himself, and he passed that damaged likeness on to all his descendants (Romans 5:12).

Today, we still bear the image of God (James 3:9), but we also bear the scars of sin. Mentally, morally, socially, and physically, we show the effects of sin.

The good news is that when God redeems an individual, He begins to restore the original image of God, creating a “new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).

That redemption is only available by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior from the sin that separates us from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Through Christ, we are made new creations in the likeness of God (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What exactly DOES Quran & Bible say about alcohol ?

Posted on by ashsalman0

I am proud to be a Moderate British Muslim Christian who follows Jesus Christ.
Drinking a refreshing drink “Magnus” Pear Cider.

 

This is the most generally misconceived notion that is held by majority of the Muslim and non-Muslim population in the world. Let me address this subject and then open the forum for any intelligent discussion.

I am no scholar in Islamic history, Islamic law, Islamic jurisprudence and above all an expert in exegesis of holy scripture but can present you with facts and information that you can use to make your own determination on this subject.

The five Ayat (chapters) of the Quran that most directly address the consumption of alcohol are as follows:

1. They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: “In them is great sin (dhanb), and some profit, for men; but the sin (dhanb) is greater than the profit.” (Quran : Al-Baqara; 2:219)

2. And from the fruit of the date palm and the vine, ye get out wholesome drink and food: behold, in this also is a sign for those who are wise. (Quran : An-Nahl; 16:67)

3. O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say…. (Quran : An-Nisa; 4:43)

4. O ye who believe! Intoxicants (alkhamri) and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination, Of Satan’s handiwork: Eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosper. (Quran : Al Maeda; 5:90)

5. Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of God, and from prayer: Will ye not then refrain? (antummuntahoon). (Quran : Al-Maeda; 5:91)

Quran does not use the word “prohibition” in the context of alcohol (khMr) anytime, anywhere. KhMr is the arabic term used for anything that causes intoxication.

In other words, alcohol has not been categorized as “haram” in the Quran.

Only three things have been categorized as “haram“.

These are :

(a) animals that die of any basis other than being sacrificed and eat upon mentioning
in the name of Allah
(b) blood of animals
(c) flesh of pigs.

What occurs after the life of the Mohammad only has Fiqah (full comprehension) and its consequential effects as its context. Islamic history just as the rest of human history is a matter of who wanted what as they dictated frameworks of social control through evolutionary constructs or lack thereof.

If Quran is your reference, then this is what the Quran states. Everything that happens after the life of Mohammad only has Islamic history and Fiqah (full comprehension) as its context. Anything that happens outside the realm of the Quran has no bearing in the context of exegesis.

For those who understand Urdu and Arabic, the word for refrain used in the Quran is “ijtinab. And for those who are more fluent in spoken Hindi or Urdu vernacular, the word for refrain is “PrHaez“.

Just as a left handed glove does not become a right handed one by any and all forms of Euclidean motion, neither does “ijtinab” become “haram“, “prohibited” or “forbidden” by any cognitively developed exegesis.

I read the writings of “religious scholars” who suggest that certain ayat (passages) of the Quran are or have been “abrogated” in favor of others since the Quran was revealed over a significant time period.

If the Quran is divine text then each and every word revealed from Allah is to be treated with equal respect and understood with cognitively and analytically formulated exegesis. The Quran is not a constitutional framework where clauses and amendments are abrogated to suit the wants of some or to force the interpretation and explanation to fit the needs of others.

We have Scholars coming out of our ear holes an still sects, factions and varying opinions within Islam – something is not quite right.

Sin (dhanb) and Crime are two different matters. Sin is between you and the divine.

No mortal may punish another for sin. Let the divine deal with it when that time cometh.

Crime is what you commit through acts which are repugnant to just and equitable laws for all members of so society. Sin should not be conflated with crime.

“They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: “In them is great sin (dhanb) , and some profit, for men; but the sin (dhanb is greater than the profit.” (Quran : Al-Baqara; 2:219)

Still the Quran nowhere says that alcohol is haram.

We are to teach our children what God has taught us…That :

– Alcohol has benefits but it also has harmful effects (2:219).
– People can make a lawful trade from alcohol (16:67).
– If a person is intoxicated, he/she should never approach Salat (Prayer) whether it be spiritual or physical (4:43).
– The devil will attempt to utilize our consumption of alcohol in a negative way, so be extra careful from this potential weakness (5:90-91).
– In paradise we will also have alcohol, but without the negative side-effects/risks (47:15).

!
!

Let see what the Bible has to say about Drunkenness : 

Although moderate use of alcohol is approved in the Bible, drunkenness is strongly opposed in both the Old and New Testaments:

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. (Old Testament, Proverbs 20:1)

Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them! Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD, Nor do they consider the work of His hands. (Old Testament, Isaiah 5:11-12)

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. (New Testament, Luke 21:34)

Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. (New Testament, Romans 13:13)

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. (New Testament, Ephesians 5:18)

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (New Testament, Galatians 5:19-21)

Christian churches approve of moderate and responsible use of alcoholic beverages. Islamic Mosque need to be inspired by this and by their Holy Scriptures, there is always good & bad in all walks of society, let not judge the people with moderate values and let’s all integrate into society without these psychological oppressed beliefs that refashions many Islamic Muslims  in a man made inventions of HALAL (Permissible) & HARAAM (Impermissible).

Does the Qur’an deny the death of Jesus?

Posted on by ashsalman0

QURAN Confirms JESUS DIED and RAISED to HEAVEN

 

For Muslim Christians or just Christians the Qur’an is not from God and therefore not authoritative, so strictly speaking what it claims would change nothing.  However, Muslims claim it is from God and that it denies the death of Jesus.  I would like to ask them whether that is necessarily the case.


Quran : 4:157-158

Ninety percent of the time, my Muslim friends will immediately quote, “They killed him not, they crucified him not, but it was likened unto them [orit appeared into them]. They killed him not knowingly, but God raised him and God is the most merciful of merciful.” (Qur’an, Surah 4:157-158).

In their minds, this verse says that God would never have allowed a great prophet like Jesus to be crucified by His enemies.

 

But does this verse really say that Jesus did not die?

Is that how most Muslim scholars themselves interpret it? What does, “They killed him not knowingly,” mean? The fact of the matter is that there are different contradicting interpretations of this verse amongst Muslim scholars.

 

There are various ways of interpreting Surah 4:157-158. One of them would be to remember the Jews’ attitude toward Christ. When Jesus was taken to the Roman governor, they did not believe He was the Messiah. They wanted to get rid of Him. By saying, “They killed him not knowingly,” the Qur’an simply states that they killed Jesus without knowing He was the Messiah.

 

Another possible way to interpret the passage (Surah 4:157-158) is that the unbelieving Jews intended by the crucifixion of Jesus to shame Him in the eyes of the world. The death He would suffer would then destroy and invalidate His mission in the eyes of the world. However, the Jews failed to accomplish their goal. In fact, by the crucifixion, Jesus was glorified when God raised Him up to be with Him. He became the key figure of human history.

Throughout the years countless people have turned to Jesus Christ. Jews, Arabs, Asians, Europeans and people from all other nationalities and classes of society have experienced the life changing power of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

 

Conclusion? It is not possible – despite what people usually think – to reach a definite conclusion based on this single and ambiguous verse. Muslim scholars are unsure about the end of the life of Jesus on earth. They disagree about whether He died or was raised alive to heaven without dying. Any conclusion from Surah 4:157-158 asserting that Jesus did not die involves speculation and theory. In fact, there are other verses in the Qur’an which say Jesus was killed.

 

This is the first reference from Jesus that he will die.

 

Quran : Surah Maryam 19:33 

In this verse, Jesus is reported to say: “Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)!” (Qur’an, Surah Maryam 19:33).

Quran: (3:55) Lo! God said: O Jesus! Verily, I shall cause thee to die (mutawaffeeka), and shall exalt thee (rafiu-ka) unto Me and cleanse thee of (the presence of) those who are bent on denying the truth; [….].

 

Let us continue:

Quran: (5:117) Nothing did I tell them beyond what Thou didst bid me (to say): ‘Worship God, (who is) my Sustainer as well as your sustainer.’ And I bore witness to what they did as long as I dwelt in their midst; but since Thou has caused me to die (tawaffaita-ni) , Thou alone hast been their keeper.
Interpretation of the word ‘wafat‘: The key word here is “wafat” .

The most correct meaning of “wafat” is death, or take away soul.  If soul is taken away from a person, it is nothing but death. The problem arises with regards to this verse, when Muslims refuse to interpret the meaning of “wafat” as death.

 

Irony is that all scholars who translated the Holy Quran do agree “wafat“ means death.

 

Each and every scholar translated the word “wafat” as death in at least 20 different instances in their translations.  However, in this particular verse, they interpreted the meaning as ‘take away‘ and insinuate physical ascension.

Here are some of the verses in the Holy Quran where Allah used the word “wafat“.

The verses are 2:234, 2:240, 3:193, 4:15, 4:97, 6:61, 7:37, 7:126, 8:50, 10:46, 10:104, 12:101, 13:40,
16:28, 16:32, 16:70, 39:42, 40:67, 40:77, 47:27 etc.

You can look up these verses online, here is the link : http://quran.com/. Just type the verse under the search tab. If you want to take a look at the Arabic text in English, on the left side of page, click on under Language “English” then highlight “Transliteration”. You will see the word used “Wafat“

In  each of the instances, all these scholars translated the word “wafat” as death, or a word very close to death but none of them used a word to mean take away in alive condition.

We have Jesus speaking of his death in the cradle saying: “So peace is on me the day that I will die,” Quran: Maryam 19:33 And we have God telling Jesus: “I will cause thee to die and raise thee to Myself” Quran: al-Imran 3:55 And in last verse we have Jesus saying: “when Thou didst cause me to die” Quran: al-Ma`idah 5:117.

We see clearly from Quran that Jesus died and rise up to life and took up to heaven.

 Muslim scholars, who believe that Jesus did not die, find themselves in a dilemma at verses like this one. Many of them attempt to respond by saying that this is a future event. Jesus will come back to this world some day to do many great and wonderful things, and then He will die.

However, we read almost an identical passage in Quran: Surah Maryam 19:15 about Yahya (John the Baptist):

“So Peace on him [Yahya] (John the Baptist) the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)!”


Bible : Matthew 14,10–12 :

10 So John was beheaded in the prison,11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.

Muslims recognize the fact that Yahya (John the Baptist) died and was buried.

I don’t know of any Muslim who would shift the death of Yahya (John the Baptist) to the future! All know that Yahya (John the Baptist) died. Therefore, following the plain meaning of the parallel verse, no one should shift the death of Jesus to the future. In fact there isn’t a single verse in the Qur’an showing that Jesus will return to die.

Yahya (John the Baptist) who died; the parallel statement clearly shows that Jesus also died.

 

Quran: Surah Al-Imran 3:55 and Surah Al-Maida 5:116-117

Another Qur’anic passage that speaks of the death of Jesus is Surah Al-Imran 3:55:

“Behold! Allah said: ‘O Jesus! I will take thee to Me [Arabic: mutawaffeeka, meaning ‘I will cause you to die’] and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection.’”

 

Still another is:“I (Son of Mary) was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up [Arabic: tawaffaitani, meaning, ‘caused me to die’] Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Maida 5: 117).

 

These Qur’anic texts show that Christ died, even though they do not discuss how His death took place. Were the Biblical and other historic records of Jesus’ crucifixion untrue, we would expect the Qur’an to have many verses stating that Jesus did not die on the cross.

The truth is that, in more than 6,000 Qur’anic verses, there is not a single one that clearly refutes Jesus’ crucifixion.

 

Although Arabic is not my mother language and though I have read the Qur’an many times, I am not an expert in the interpretation of the Qur’an. However, I have tried to show that not all Muslim scholars deny the death of Jesus (as you may think)! The Qur’an contains very little material about what actually happened.

There are quite a few question marks over the real meaning of the above verses. So, there is extensive contradiction and confusion in what Muslim scholars have to say about the death of Christ.

Some have denied the death completely, and explained it as sleeping or death from having lusts; others have accepted the death but differed in their understanding of its duration: three hours, seven hours or three days!

Further more many Muslim’s are not aware of the verses below coming from the Quran that honors Jesus above all and is glorified by God as we must believe in him and we are told Jesus second coming on the day of judgement where he will take back his kingdom. 

“And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them;- ” Quran 4:159

“And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.” Quran 43:61

, Luke 21:27, NIV. “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Bible, Hebrews 9:28, “So also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and He will come again, but not to deal again with our sins. This time He will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for Him.”

Therefore, if you are to know the truth, you need to be open-minded and look somewhere else – at extra-Qur’anic evidence.

That is precisely the reason for this website!

 

 

The Sinlessness of Jesus

Posted on by ashsalman0

As a Muslim, you know Allah, but do you know Isa, Jesus Christ, whom God sent?

The Quran urges you to read about Isa in the Quran and in the Bible (Sura 5:46; 10:94-95). The purpose of this article is to demonstrate to our Muslim’s brother & sisters just how close the teachings about Jesus actually are in both the Quran and the Bible.

The Quran teaches that Jesus is unlike any other prophet. It may be surprising to Muslims, but we believe that we can further show that the Quran actually confirms who Christians say that Jesus is!

The Sinlessness of Jesus

According to the Bible, Jesus is the only person who ever lived who was entirely without sin. The book charges all men, from Adam onwards, as being under the power of sin (Romans 3:9), and as having sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (Romans 3:9)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)

Only Jesus is excepted. Numerous passages record the sinlessness of Jesus including 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5, etc.

“Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; (1 Peter 2:22)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, (2 Corinthians 5:21)

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins,
and in Him there is no sin, (1 John 3:5)

The Quran too declares that Jesus was without sin. When the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared to Mary to announce her conception of Jesus, he said:

I am only a messenger of your Lord, to announce to you a (ghulaaman-zakiyyan) faultless son (Surah 19:19).

The words used in Arabic to describe him are ghulaaman-zakiyyan, “a most-holy boy.” The word zakiyya, meaning “blameless,” appears only twice in the Quran.

The other occasion is in the story about Moses in which he met a young man who is described as being innocent. But in this case, the word was only referring to the young man’s innocence of any crime deserving of death (al-Kahf 18:74) , but in Jesus’ case, the angel was describing his whole personality and character before he was even born. “Faultless” or “blameless” clearly means without sin.

So the Quran confirms the biblical teaching that Jesus was the only sinless person who ever lived as the Quran nowhere describes anyone else in this way. On the contrary, the Quran acknowledges the sins of the other prophets and specifically refers to the sins of Adam (Sura 7:23), Abraham (26:82), Moses (28:16), Johan (37:142), and Muhammad (47:19, 48:2).

Sins of Adam (Sura 7:23)
They said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.”

Abraham (26:82)
And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense.”

Moses (28:16)
He said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Johan (37:142)
Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy

Muhammad (47:19, 48:2)
So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place.

That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path.

In the case of Muhammad the Quran expressly commands him to ask forgiveness (wastaghfir) of his sins (dhanbika). The words used are employed throughout the Quran in the same context and there can be no doubt about their meaning, despite the subtle attempts of many Muslim commentators to reduce them to less imposing terms (such as to ask for “protection” from his “shortcomings”).

“One of Mohammad’s followers asked him if he could carry his sin for him. Mohammad admitted that he could not for the reason that he had his own sin (dhanb) to carry. At the same time, Mohammad confessed that Jesus alone of those born on earth was exclusively born without being touched by the devil. Who then, can bear your sin, if not the sinless sin-bearer who came to die for you, that you need never die?”

The Hadith also records that Jesus was sinless. Muhammad himself believed this! Mary and her Son (Jesus) were the only ones whom Satan was unable to touch.

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (saw) as saying: The satan touches every son of Adam on the day when his mother gives birth to him with the exception of Mary and her son (Jesus). Sahih Muslim (Vol 4, pg 1261)

Abu Huraira said, “I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘There is none born among the off-spring of Adam, but Satan touches it. A child therefore, cries loudly at the time of birth because of the touch of Satan, EXCEPT MARY AND HER CHILD.” Then Abu Huraira recited: “And I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from the outcast Satan” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 641; see also Volume 4, Book 54, Number 506)

The Quran confirms the Above :

Remember when a women of Imran said, ‘My Lord, I have vowed to Thee what is in my womb to be dedicated to Thy service. So do Thou accept it of me; Verily Thou alone art All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’ But when she was delivered of it, she said, ‘My Lord, I am delivered of a female,’ – and ALLAH knew best of what she was delivered and the male she desired to have was not like the female she was delivered of – ‘and I have named her Mary, and I commit her and her offspring to Thy protection from Satan, the rejected.’ Quran Sura: 3:35-36.

Why is Jesus sinless? As we look in detail at the Quran further in this article, we can see that the only reasonable explanation is that he is the Son of God. Jesus taught that he and the Father are one (John 10:30), and he will, therefore, always do the will of the Father. If he did anything independently of the Father, he would no longer be one with him. One who is always doing the absolute will of his Father cannot be sinful—because, as the Son of God, he too is absolutely holy and always does what is pleasing to the Father (John 8:29).

Was Jesus the Word & Spirit of God

Posted on by ashsalman0

Though Jesus is mentioned by name in twenty-five places in the Quran he is also addressed with respect as:”ibne Maryam” – son of Mary;as messiah – translated as Christ; “abd-ullah” servant of Allah; “rasul -ullah” – messenger of Allah.

He is spoken of as “the word of god“, as “the spirit of god“, as a “sign of god“, the Quran honours this mighty messenger of god, and the Muslims have not fallen short over the past fourteen hundred years in doing the same. There is not a single disparaging remark in the entire Quran to which even the most jaundiced among the Christians can take exception.

Let see what the Quran has to say :

KallamaAllahu – Directly spoke to Allah
Roohi alqudusi – Holy Spirit 

Those messengers – some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree (darajatin). And We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Holy Spirit (Roohi alqudusi). Quran 2:253

If Jesus was spoken in Quran as “The Word of God” and as “The Spirit of God” then there is no need for further discussion or any need for asking any questions because these two statements make Jesus automatically God.

Because no man can get this title of “Word of God” and “Spirit of God.”

These are titles of God and calling an ordinary man “Word of God” and “Spirit of God amounts to blasphemy. When we look in the Bible we see that Jesus was called the “Word of God” in Bible too.

Word of God means very words of God that was spoken by God. 

In the Quran, we see that Jesus was spoken as “His Word” and “a Spirit proceeding from Him.” As we read further:

Quran : An-Nisa (Women), Sura 4:171

Christ Jesus (almaseehu eesa) the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and His Word (kalimatin), which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His messengers.

“When the angels said, ‘Mary, Allah gives you good tidings of a Word from Him (kalimatin) whose name will be the Messiah, (almaseehu) Jesus, ‘eesa, Son of Mary; highly honored (wajeehanfee) in this world and the next, and of those brought near to Allah” (Quran : Al ‘Imran 3:45).

Let take a look at what the Bible say’s :

As it was explained to Mary by the angel, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God – Ibin-Allah” (Bible : Luke 1:35).

The above verse from the Quran Al ‘Imran 3:45 confirms what is said in the Bible verse above : Luke 1:35.

“almaseehu” – al meaning “Incomparable and unique, the one and only”.

What is a Messiah? A Messiah is always known as “a Saviour… a liberator and a deliverer.”

God had promised to send one (Messiah) to pay the debt of sin for all mankind. This means their is no need for rituals and animal sacrifice in order to pay for ones sins as this was a common practice at the time of Jesus and Muslim’s about continue to sacrifice animals on the day of Qurbani leading to Eid festivals.

The Messiah!… God’s gift to sinful man… The Saviour… The Liberator… Our Redeemer, (Pure Holy Spirit, al-Ruh al-Quds – Sinless).

The Arabic word ibin, however, is the word used for son throughout the Arabic translation of the Bible in reference to Jesus‘ relationship with God. Ibin-Allah (Son of God) indicates a strong spiritual relationship between Jesus and God, a spiritual sonship in which Jesus was submissive and obedient to God as His Heavenly Father.

Jesus is called here, “His Word (kalimatin)“ and the Bible says the same thing :

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 He was in the beginning with God :

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
(John 1:4)

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.(John 1:1-4)

In Arabic Jesus is called, “Kalamat Ullah,” the Word of God. He came out from God and came into the world as a human being. God in His sovereignty chose to reveal Himself to us through His Word – His Word, who became one of us and lived among us. In comparing Jesus Christ with the Adam, the Bible tells us,

“The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.”
(1 Corinthians 15:47)

“Verily, the likeness of ‘Eesa (Jesus) before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then he said unto him, Be! And he is” (Qur’an 3:59)

Once again it is said of Jesus that he was created by God purely through the expression “Be” but this time it is said that “the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam“, implying that both were made by the single word of God “Be” in the same way. If Jesus is called the Word of God “Kalamat Ullah,” purely as a result of the manner of his conception, then Adam too must be the Word of God for according to the Qur’an they were both created in the same manner.

Now a real difficulty arises because Adam is not called the Word of God in the Qur’an. Nor are the angels, nor is any other creature so called in the Qur’an.

Jesus alone is called the Word of God – Kalamat Ullah. Hallelujah.

If you read the whole Bible you can see that Holy Spirit (Roohi alqudusi) is the Spirit of God.

Let’s look further what the Quran say’s :

Quran : Al-Ma’idah (The Table Spread), Sura 5:110

Then will Allah (God) say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favor to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit (roohi alqudusi), so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. And behold! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.’

According to the Qur’an only God can order living things to come into existence; “mere man can’t even produce a fly, Yet here is credited to him the creation of a bird.

The Bible further tells us that all things came into being through him (John 1:3).

The Qur’an also states that only God can bring the dead to life :

Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register.
(Quran : 36:12), Surah 36 Ya-Sin: 12).

The above verse begins with “Lo! We“, Who is We : Allah (God) & Jesus.

Let ‘s see what the Bible has to say :

In the beginning was the Word [this title describes Jesus],
and the Word [Jesus] was with God [the Father and the Holy Spirit],
and the Word [Jesus] was God [having the same substance as the Father and the Holy Spirit].
He[Jesus] was with God [the Father and the Holy Spirit] in the beginning [when eternity began].
Through him [Jesus] all things were made [Jesus is the Creator of all life and substance];
without him nothing was made that has been made. . . .
The Word [Jesus] became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We [Peter, James and John] have seen his glory [on the Mount of Transfiguration], the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3, 14)

Above it states that Jesus had the power to do this, and the Bible records specifically that Jesus called Lazarus from the grave when he had been dead four days (John 11:43,44).

Jesus demonstrated on earth the eternal attributes and characteristics which God Himself displays. He exercised divine authority, knew the future as well as the inner thoughts of men’s hearts, lived a sinless life, remained changeless in His love, justice and righteousness, and performed miracles by the power of His own will. As He revealed the very nature of God through His life, Jesus explained,

“I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me . . .
He who has seen Me has seen the Father . . .
no one comes to the Father, but through me” (John 14:11, 9,6).

This verse also says that, God has a Spirit… So the fact is, if God has a spirit and God has a Word then, He is a triune God.

And Quran says that, “Jesus is the sign of God“. And the Bible says the same thing.

Isaiah the prophet prophesied more than 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ (almaseehu eesa) that God will give a sign as we read in Isaiah 7:14,

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Immanuel literally means “God is with us.” This is significant because Jesus is God in flesh:

Isaiah also declared, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace,” (Bible : Isaiah 9:6).

The Bible makes it very clear that these titles are reserved for the Son of God (Ibin-Allah).

These verses clearly says that Jesus is the King of kings, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and there is no end of His government and peace. Jesus came from the lineage of David and as prophesied He is going to establish His kingdom forever when He will return. He is going to judge and rule justly. These are the qualities of God that was manifested in and through Jesus. Once again it proves that Jesus is the very God who came down in the form of a man to redeem us.

 

 

 

The Trinity in the Qur’an

Posted on by ashsalman0

 God, Jesus and Mary: The Trinity?

To all Muslim’s, open you minds and let’s think logical about the following verses from the Quran and read the Bible in order to understand what is the Trinity and what is the true essence of relationship between God & Jesus. I shall provide you verses coming from the Quran so you can further investigate for yourselves and please try to understand the Trinity before making any claims and dismissing it totally.

The word Trinity is not in the Bible. The concept clearly is. It begins at the beginning, when God said, “let us make man in OUR image” – Genesis 1:26, Our? Yes. God the Father, God the Son, God the holy spirit. This is woven throughout the entire Bible.


The Qur’an has its own version of the Christian Trinity:

And when Allah will say: O Jesus, son of Mary, didst thou say to men, Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah? He will say: Glory be to Thee! it was not for me to say what I had no right to (say). If I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy mind. Surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen – Qur’an 5:116

We read within the above verse : Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah, this is a concept of a Trinity involving Jesus & Mary.

Note how this strange verse does not mention the Trinity, but has Allah asking Jesus whether he told the people to take him and Mary for gods beside Allah. To which, Jesus replied ‘no, I did not; if I did you would have known about it anyway‘.

Why did Allah ask Jesus something he already knew Jesus did not do?
Quran Say’s : (and God knows all that you do openly, and all that you would conceal
– Quran – 5:99)

Did Allah ask simply for the fun of it?
Or was he testing him?

If this was a test, why perform it at all, when one already knows the result? The circularity of this verse and its lack of logic is apparent.

A plausible explanation of Muhammad’s need to reconcile the Christian Trinity with Islam’s monotheism is given below.

As the readers may already know, a cursory reading of the Islamic scripture shows that the Quran distorted or was grossly mistaken about the beliefs of Jews and Christians.

For example, the Quran believes the Christians of holding certain theological and christological beliefs that do not correspond to the facts. The Quran erroneously assumes and condemns Christians for believing in three gods consisting of the Father, Mary his wife, and Jesus their offspring.

Thus, the Quran erroneously assumes that the implication of Christian beliefs is that God acquired a son through procreation, that God and Mary had sexual relations in order to have Jesus their Son (God forbid such horrendous blasphemy!).

 

The concept of Trinity is formed by God the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit.

1. Allah
2. Ibin-Allah (Son of God)
3. The Holy Spirit, al-Ruh al-Quds

These 3 are all attributes of God. Jesus is the Holy Spirit from God,
given the name “Son of God” of the most high.

Let see what the Quran say’s about

“When the angels said, ‘Mary, Allah gives you good tidings of a Word from Him (kalimatin) whose name will be the Messiah, (almaseehu) Jesus, ‘Isa, Son of Mary; highly honored in this world and the next, and of those brought near to Allah” (Al ‘Imran 3:45).

“almaseehu” – al meaning “Incomparable and unique, the one and only”.
What is a Messiah? A Messiah is always known as “a Saviour… a liberator and a deliverer.”
God had promised to send one (Messiah) to pay the debt of sin for all mankind.

The Messiah!… God’s gift to sinful man… The Saviour… The Liberator… Our Redeemer, (Pure Holy Spirit, al-Ruh al-Quds – Sinless).

 

Why do Christian attribute to Jesus the title SON OF GOD!!!.
Follow this link to find out :

“Why Do Christians Call Jesus the ‘Son of God’?”

 

I hope we are understanding the concept behind the Trinity.

The following verses in the Qur’an say about Mary(P) being the part of Trinity.

The possible Qur’anic references to the doctrine of “Trinity” are verses 4:171, 5:73

“Do not say anything about God except the truth: the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was nothing more than a messenger of God, His word, directed to Mary, a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers and do not speak of a ‘Trinity‘—stop, that is better for you—God is only one God, He is far above having a son” — Qur’an, sura 4 (An-Nisa), ayat 171[2]

Those who say, “God is the Messiah, son of Mary,” have defied God. The Messiah himself said; “Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord.” If anyone associates others with God, God will forbid him from the Garden, and Hell will be his home. No one will help such evildoers. Those people who say that God is the third of three are defying [the truth]: there is only One God“ — Qur’an, sura 5 (Al-Ma’ida), ayat 72-75

Furthermore, verses 19:88-93, 23:91, and 112:1-4 are relevant to the doctrine of “Trinity“:

They say: “(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten a son!” Indeed ye have put forth a thing most monstrous!  — Qur’an, sura 19 (Maryam (sura)), ayat 88-93

No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with Him: (if there were many gods), behold, each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others! Glory to Allah! (He is free) from the (sort of) things they attribute to Him! — Qur’an, sura 23 (Al-Mumenoon), ayat 91

The Famous Surah said in the beginning of ever prayer the Muslim’s carry out as a testimony of the oneness of God :

Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him — Qur’an, sura 112 (Al-Ikhlas), ayat 1-4,

In reality, Christians believe only in one God who is in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They do not believe that Mary is a part of the Trinity.

One of the main arguments of the Qur’an against the concept of God having a son is expressed in this passage:

How could He have a son when He does not have a companion (Wife) and He created all things? Quran 6:101

Qur’an claims that it is impossible for Allah to have a son without having a consort and — this is certainly implied — having sex with this consort to produce the son. The Qur’an expects this question, How could He have a son when He has no consort?.

Muhammad misunderstood’ the true concept of Trinity, i.e, which says the Father (God – Allah), the Son (Jesus – Esa) and the Holy Spirit (al-Ruh al-Quds) – constitute the trinitarian godhead. Muhammad heard certain Christians make that there are three Gods, that is to say God the Father, Mary, and Jesus. It is perfectly plain from these verses that Muhammad really did believe that the Bible inculcated belief in three separate Divine persons, Jesus and Mary being two of them.

The Bible do not interpret this word in the way the Qur’an suggests Christians do. Christian followers would be shocked and dismayed to know that the Qur’an
mis-represents their faith as it does. I certainly was when I first read the Qur’an.

As Muhammad failed to understand what “Son of God” signified, so today, many Muslims continue to misunderstand. As Muslims believe that the Quran is eternal, uncreated, and is the Word of God found in physical book form, they should be able to understand that Jesus is eternal, uncreated, and is the Living Word of God in physical living form.

“There is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all one, the glory equal, and the majesty co-eternal…. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Ghost is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God.”

Muslim scholars are quick to say that there are Churches or Catholics who worship Mary, Jesus earthly mother.
Mary is not worshiped but held high in honor. Let take a look what the Quran has to say about it :

“When the angels said, ‘Mary, Allah has chosen you, and purified you; he has chosen you above all women in the worlds”. (Al ‘Imran 3:42-43).

We read “he has chosen you above all women in the worlds” – Mary is one of the most honored figures in Christianity and she is viewed as one of the most righteous women to have lived.

In Islam the above verse about Mary is ignored and Mohammed and his wife’s are held in honor, (1st Wife Khathija, Last Wife Aisha). This show’s Muslim’s about show great ignorance in their own teachings.

The Bible clearly speaks of: God the Son, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. But emphasizes that there is only ONE God.

Let’s see what the Bible has to say about Mary :

Luke 1:28:
“Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women!”


Let see what the Bible has to say about the oneness of God :

 

John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

Matthew 28:19 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Deuteronomy 6:4 – Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD:

Isaiah 9:6 – For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 45:5 “I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God.“

1Cor. 8:4 – There is no God but one.

John 10:30 – Jesus said: “I and the Father are one.”

 

John 14:9 “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her [Mary], “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.”

 

Was Jesus a son of God
Was Jesus the Exalted Prophet

 

 

“Why Do Christians Call Jesus the ‘Son of God’?”

Posted on by ashsalman0

It may come as a surprise to the Muslim friend of a Christian to find out that both are offended by the same idea: that Jesus would be considered to be the physical son of God.

Since the time of Muhammad, Muslims have misunderstood this term Son of God to mean that Jesus was God’s Son through physical sonship, as a result of a physical relationship between God and Mary.

Although such an idea is as repugnant and blasphemous to Christians as it is to Muslims, nevertheless it has persisted in the minds of Muslims throughout the centuries.

It appears that this deep misunderstanding occurred throughout the confusion of two different terms for the word son. In Arabic, the word walad means “a physical boy born as a result of the marriage of a man and a woman.”

Of course, if this term is wrongly applied to the conception and birth of Jesus, it gives a totally false impression of physical sonship. However, it should be obvious that the sovereign God would have no physical relationship with a human being.

The Arabic word ibin, however, is the word used for son throughout the Arabic translation of the Bible in reference to Jesus‘ relationship with God. Ibin-Allah (Son of God) indicates a strong spiritual relationship between Jesus and God, a spiritual sonship in which Jesus was submissive and obedient to God as His Heavenly Father.

It is important to understand that through this careful definition of sonship that Christians agree with the statements in the Qu’ran that God has no partners (a physical wife or physical son). Rather, Jesus was the Son of God in the sense that the Qur’an refers to Him as the Word of God (Kalamat Ullah) and the Spirit of God – (The Holy Spirit, al-Ruh al-Quds).

— in the sense of a spiritual relationship. Son of God (Ibin-Allah) is a title reflecting this relationship.

In Arabic Jesus is called, “Kalamat Ullah,” the Word of God. He came out from God and came into the world as a human being. God in His sovereignty chose to reveal Himself to us through His Word – His Word, who became one of us and lived among us. In comparing Jesus Christ with the Adam, the Bible tells us,

“The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:47)

“Verily, the likeness of ‘Eesa (Jesus) before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust…” (Qur’an 3:59)

The term “Son of God” does not mean that God had intercourse with Mary, or created sons for Himself, but that Jesus, as God, is the image of God, made manifest to men.

Let’s take a look at the Quran verses regarding Jesus the son of God :

Wonderful Originator of the heavens and the earth; how can He have a son when He has no consort (Wife)? He created all things, and He hath full knowledge of all things. — Qur’an 6:101

He (exalted be the glory of our Lord!) has taken no wife, nor has He begotten any children. The Blaspheming One among us has uttered a wanton falsehood against God, although we had supposed no man or jinee could tell of Him what is untrue.
— Qur’an 72:3

 The famous Surah “IKLAS“, read in all prayer as a testimony to the oneness of God :

[Qur’an 112:1-4]
[1] Say: Allah, the One and Only;  
[2] Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; 
[3] He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; 
[4] And there is none comparable unto Him.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”— John 3:16

[Jesus Christ] was … the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

The Bible do not interpret this word in the way the Qur’an suggests Christians do. Christian followers  would be shocked and dismayed to know that the Quran mis-represents their faith as it does. I certainly was when I first read the Qur’an.

As Muhammad failed to understand what “Son of God” signified, so today, many Muslims continue to misunderstand. As Muslims believe that the Quran is eternal, uncreated, and is the Word of God found in physical book form, they should be able to understand that Jesus is eternal, uncreated, and is the Living Word of God in physical living form.

In reference to the virgin Mary, the Qur’an states, “And she who was chaste, therefore We breathed into her of Our Spirit and made her and her son a sign for all peoples” (Quran : 91:21, Surah 21, Al-Anbiya, The Prophets: 91).

 At the same time, the Qur’an acknowledges that Jesus was born through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, not through any human agency:

“And Mary, daughter of ‘Imran, whose body was chaste, therefore We breathed there in something of Our Spirit and made her and her son a sign for all peoples”
(Quran : 91:21, Surah 21, Al-Anbiya, The Prophets: 91), (Quran : 66:12, Surah 66, Al-Tahrim, Banning: 12).

Thus, in a spiritual sense, one who is born with God’s Spirit should be called God’s Son  (Ibin-Allah).

 The unique birth of Jesus Christ, prophesied hundreds of years before, is one of the greatest supernatural events recorded in the Bible. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah foretold this miracle in Isaiah 7:14. This was 700 years before the birth of Jesus.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Immanuel literally means “God is with us.” This is significant because Jesus is God in flesh:

Isaiah also declared, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace,” (Bible : Isaiah 9:6).

The Bible makes it very clear that these titles are reserved for the Son of God  (Ibin-Allah).

The Bible states that this conception took place through the power of God Himself, not through any human or physical agency.

As it was explained to Mary by the angel, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God” (Bible : Luke 1:35).

Representative of those many passages is His response to some of the religious critics of His day:

“Do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God‘? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me,
and I in the Father” (John 10:36-38).

Throughout the Qur’an, Jesus is given the title Son of Mary, indicating His human connection, while in the gospels of the New Testament the term Son of man is used for this purpose.

The prophet Muhammad plainly indicates that Jesus was much more than an ordinary prophet, giving Him a unique position wherever He is mentioned throughout the Qur’an. Not only does the Qur’an indicate that His conception and birth were miraculous, but it also states that He performed many miracles:

“When Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My favour unto thee and unto thy mother; how I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit, so that thou speakest unto mankind in the cradle as in maturity; and how I taught thee the Scripture and Wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and how thou didst shape of clay as it were the likeness of a bird by My permission, and didst blow upon it, and it was a bird by My permission, and thou did heal him who was born blind and the leper by My permission; and how thou didst raise the dead by My permission; and how I restrained the Children of Israel from [harming] these when thou camest unto them with clear proofs, and those of them who disbelieved exclaimed” (Quran : 5:110), Surah 5, Al-Ma’idah, The Table Spread: 110).

According to the Qur’an only God can order living things to come into existence; “mere man can’t even produce a fly, Yet here is credited to him the creation of a bird.

The Bible further tells us that all things came into being through him (John 1:3).

The Qur’an also states that only God can bring the dead to life :


Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register.
(Quran : 36:12), Surah 36 Ya-Sin: 12).

Above it states that Jesus had the power to do this, and the Bible records specifically that Jesus called Lazarus from the grave when he had been dead four days (John 11:43,44).

Jesus demonstrated on earth the eternal attributes and characteristics which God Himself displays. He exercised divine authority, knew the future as well as the inner thoughts of men’s hearts, lived a sinless life, remained changeless in His love, justice and righteousness, and performed miracles by the power of His own will. As He revealed the very nature of God through His life, Jesus explained,

“I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me . . .
He who has seen Me has seen the Father . . .
no one comes to the Father, but through me” (John 14:11, 9,6).

Allah has given you a free will. YOU must make a choice. You cannot be neutral.

To all Muslim’s, Open your minds and read the Bible as Muslim’s about judge and say “Bible is fabricated and corrupted” without even reading the Bible. These are the Mosques in Britain & America continue to spread false corrupted beliefs without fully understanding the relationship between God – Allah with Jesus Christ.

(“Son of God” does not mean that God had physical relations with Mary, but rather that God willed it supernaturally that Mary would become the earthly mother of Jesus even as a virgin. See Quran Surah 3:47-48)

She said, “My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?” [The angel] said, “Such is Allah ; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.

Conclusion :

Jesus is shown to have qualities and titles that no one else has such as being the only person called God’s Word and honored in this world and the hereafter.

Behold! the angels said: “O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God. (Quran 3:45-51).

Many religions will spread in the world, and there will be many sects. Then two nations will emerge, Britain & America, whose religion will be Christianity, and they will attain supremacy in every field. So when you see that the Christian faith and Christian governments have spread throughout the world, know that the time of the promise is near.

 

We Muslims should be appalled by the sale of halal meat by stealth

Posted on by ashsalman0

When I walk into a restaurant, I’m usually a hungry customer. It shouldn’t be important to the waiter what my religion is. 

I could be a Muslim, a Christian or a Jedi warrior. Whatever my beliefs, I have a right to enjoy my meal without any hidden agendas.

Pizza Express, one of Britain’s favourite food institutions, admitted this week that all the chicken it serves has been killed according to traditional halal methods. The blood was drained from the bird and prayers were recited during the slaughter.

Halal1

Now it turns out that the meat in many supermarkets is also halal — though there is no recognizable label to indicate this fact to consumers.

This is covert religious extremism and creeping Islamic fundamentalism making its way into Britain by the back door. It is completely wrong that the food sensitivities of Britain’s Muslims — who amount to just 4.8 per cent of the population — should take precedence over the other 95 per cent.

Halal meat should never be forced on customers without their knowing, surreptitiously and using clandestine methods. It’s unfair to everyone, non-Muslims and Muslims alike. It’s deception on a grand scale for the former, while it could fuel bitter resentment against the latter.

Of course I understand that many of my fellow Muslims, who are moderates not militants, will feel strongly that they wish to eat meat that has been killed by customary halal methods — and they have a perfect right to do so.

Halal2

But many misconceptions need to be clarified, because I am certain that most people don’t understand where these rules about food came from, and who benefits from them.

First of all, if you’ve just tucked into a chicken pizza without knowing it was halal meat, it hasn’t done you any physical harm. But it hasn’t done you any spiritual good, either. Muslims don’t believe that religious observance can be used as a holy shortcut or a ticket to paradise.

Furthermore, the idea that Muslims cannot eat non-halal food — food that is suitable for Christians — is completely wrong, and it has no theological basis in the Koran, the supreme text of Islam.

I’m a dedicated Muslim, a devout religionist, an imam and intellectual scholar of Islam, but I eat whatever food is placed before me, with the obvious exception of pork. If you’re kind enough to invite me to your home, I would eat whatever meat you chose to serve: turkey, lamb, chicken, beef … anything except pork.

This is perfectly permissible in Islam, and the crucial thing is that it doesn’t have to be halal meat. No one wants an imam to be quoting chapter and verse of the Koran over the turkey sandwiches, but it is important that everyone understands how clearcut the teaching is.

Chapter five, verse five of the Koran states: ‘This day all good things are made lawful for you. The food of the People of the Book [meaning the Jews and the Christians] is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them …’

There are no ifs and buts about that. The Koran does expect us to be thankful for our food, however.

I teach in Oxford, and when I go to dining halls in the university, I eat what is available. I must say, I’m partial to a slice of steak.

At the point of consumption, before I put the food in my mouth, I give thanks, with a brief prayer that Muslims have been saying for more than 1,400 years.

I say: ‘In the name of God, the most Merciful, the most Gracious.’ Christian readers will recognize what I’m doing — it’s very similar to the concept of saying grace.

The Koran says we cannot eat slaughtered meat unless the name of God exclusively has been pronounced over it, not any other deity or idol.

So, it does not really matter if, when that cow or lamb was slaughtered, the abattoir workers were saying prayers or playing heavy rock music at full blast on their radios. The individual prayer just prior to actual consumption makes the meat fit — halal — to eat.

But if the Koran does not insist on what have become the customary halal methods, why are they now so prevalent in Britain? One reason is that religious zealots and theological ideologues are deliberately promoting confusion about halal to sow discord and resentment.

Halal3

‘Permitted’: Halal foods are those that Muslims are allowed to eat or drink under Islamic Shari’ah

Three of the main fundamentalist Muslim sects — the Wahhabi fanatics in Saudi Arabia, the Salafi extremists of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and the Deobandi zealots from India-Pakistan — are foisting their fabricated notions about it down our collective throats.

Muslim fundamentalist insistence on halal meat does not come from the Koran itself — it derives from a secondary and often suspect source, called the Hadith.

The Hadith consists of the reputed sayings of the Prophet Mohammad, only compiled some 300 years after his death, and it is replete with gross contradictions and anti-Koranic statements.

We all know about Chinese whispers, and how anything can be unintentionally distorted as it goes from mouth to mouth through the generations. It’s inevitable that when words are transcribed into writing 300 years later, all kinds of differences, deviations and embellishments arise.

It is the Hadith that insists that animals must be drained of blood while still alive, and the Hadith that suggests an animal cannot be stunned before slaughter. (The Hadith is also the source used by fundamentalists to justify the stoning of criminals and the use of full face veils for women.)

BY contrast, the Koran — which Muslims believe is the unadulterated word of God — says we should be considerate of all of God’s creation. Any technology to alleviate an animal’s pain or needless suffering should naturally be used.

The Koran certainly says pork and carrion meat, such as road kill, cannot be eaten.

Blood is another prohibited food. That’s why it’s an oxymoron to talk about a halal haggis or a halal black pudding. And there is a Koranic commandment that the animal must be drained of blood — although nothing to say that this should be done while the poor beast is still living.


Halal4    

If you think about it, these rules were entirely practical health safeguards in the 7th century when the holy book was written. But the extremists’ insistence that animals today should be killed in exactly the way that they were back then isn’t just cruel and bizarre, it is grotesquely hypocritical.

They don’t use 7th-century technology themselves in their own lives. Fundamentalists are happy to cook their meat in a microwave and enjoy the comforts of modern life in the UK.

It will be hard but not impossible to reverse the current trend for halal meat, because it has become a huge, multi-billion pound business both here and abroad. From the slaughterers to the distributors to the butchers, everyone right along the food chain is exploiting the ignorance of the customer, both Muslim and non-Muslim.

In my hometown, Oxford, you can go to the local supermarket and pay perhaps £5.50 a kilo for lamb. But go to the halal shop and it’s £6.50 or £7 a kilo — even though, as we now know, the supermarket meat is probably halal too. That’s a big mark-up.

As a British Muslim — and I underline the word ‘British’ — I want to see full transparency when I go to the supermarket. I want to know the true provenance of the food I buy, and it’s essential that businesses start labelling food better and accurately.

It is high time the white, liberal, Guardian-reading classes stopped behaving like apologists and woke up. There is a fundamentalist Trojan horse in our midst, and we must take corrective action.

Antiquated customs like the insistence exclusively on the Hadith version of halal meat only serve to entrench that fundamentalism. They should be rooted out and consigned to the dustbin of history. They have no place in a modern British society, where Muslims wish to be fully integrated and part of the UK mainstream.