Holier Than Thou

What relation does Islam have with Christianity?

There is no substantial relation between Islam and Christianity. Although both faiths claim their origins from the montheistic belief in the God of the Old Testament, neither are compatible. Islam traces its roots to Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn son of his servant Hagar (Genesis 16:3-4). God's covenant was promised through the Jewish lineage of Abraham's second son, Isaac (Genesis 17:19-21, 21:12). According to Galations 4:21-31, God's inheritance is through Isaac, not Ishmael (also Genesis 21:10). Jesus was a descendant of Isaac through the lineage of Judah (Matthew 1:1-16, Luke 3:23-37, Romans 9:5), who said in John 4:22 that salvation comes from the Jews (Hebrew yehudi, member of the tribe or kingdom of Judah). Muhammad, who appeared about six centuries after Jesus, claimed to be a descendant of Ishmael. According to Galations 4:29-30, the descendants of Ishmael serve to persecute those born of the Spirit and will never share in the inheritance of Isaac (also Genesis 21:10). Regardless, Muslims believe that they are those whom Jesus spoke about in Matthew 21:43, to whom he would give the kingdom of God after supposedly taking it away from the Jews. Although Islam recognizes Jesus as a prophet of God who performed miracles, it denies that Jesus was the Son of God or the Savior of the world, nor does it accept that he was God incarnate. The Qur'an regards Christians as infidels, belief in the Trinity as false, polytheistic religion, and that Muslims will ultimately sit in judgement over Christians.

Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year." When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him. (Genesis 17:19-22)

History

Islam was founded in the seventh century A.D. (circa A.D. 570-632), by a camel driver from Mecca named Muhammad ("the one who is praised") during a time when Arabs in the Middle East had no fundamental religion or defined countries. Muhammad was influenced by a religious group called the Hanifs ("penitents"), who practiced asceticism, meditation, and consecration of life in preparation for the Day of Judgment, and who themselves were influenced by Judaism, Christianity, and the Essenes of Arabia. Their primary teaching was salvation through "islam," or submission to the will of one god, Al-Ilah, the far and distant God and ruler of the lesser gods. (The two words Islam and Muslim are forms of the Arabic word salama, "to submit." Islam, therefore, means "submission," while a Muslim is "one who submits.") According to tradition, during a time of fasting and meditation, Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel in a vision brought on by a seizure, later to be revisited several times over the course of his life, and told to restore his people to the true Semitic religion of Abraham. Muhammad preached strict adherance and unconditional obedience to Allah, along with threats of vengeance from Allah to those who did not accept him as Allah's prophet, which initially brought few converts and much persecution among tribes that traditionally believed in many lesser gods. In A.D. 622, Muhammad and a small group of close followers called Muslims ("those who submit") made an exodus to the town of Medinah, where Islam was embraced and Muhammad quickly became both a religious leader and a ruler of a theocratic kingdom to be spread peacefully if possible, but by the sword if necessary. (This is known as the year of Hegira - migration - the beginning of the Muhammadan era in the Muslim calendar.) Although Muhammad had united local Arabs under Islam, after his death a series of wars broke out due to a lack of clear and accepted leadership. These wars also spread throughout other Arab regions in the process of forcefully converting others to Islam, which became known as jihads, or holy wars.

After the death of Muhammad, Islam was forcefully spread throughout the Arabian world by a succession of Caliphs (Khalifat rasul Allah, "Successor of the Messenger of Allah) and, by the early eighth century, had covered much of the Middle East, Asia, Asia Minor, and was encroaching Europe as Christianity's primary foe. By the Middle Ages, the Muslims had taken control of much of the Byzantine Empire, comprising Eastern Christendom, and, in the ninth century, attacked Rome. The Crusades, the four largest of which began in the eleventh century and lasted through the thirteenth century (1095-1291), were a series of military expeditions by Western Christian armies in an attempt to win back lost territory and free the Holy Land of Jerusalem from Muslim control. Ultimately, the Muslim forces held out and dominated the countries of the Middle East after the Crusades and throughout the Mongolian invasion of the thirteenth century. Today, Islam as a major religion comprises about 1/5 of the world's population, dominating over fifty countries, including the following: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, Jordan, Sudan, Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Malaya, and Albania. Islam is also continuing to expand rapidly in China, India, Central Asia, the Pacific islands, and Africa. Only about 20% of the Muslim population is in the Middle East and Africa. Islam is the second largest religion in Europe.

Beliefs

There is no god but Allah, who has no associates, no parents, and no children. This is known as the Tawhid (or Tawheed), the Divine Unity or Oneness of Allah. Allah, who created man from clots of blood, is the one God and is all-seeing, all-hearing, all-speaking, all-knowing, all-willing, and all-powerful. Although omnipresent, he is far and reaching from mankind. The only guarantee of salvation in the Qur'an is the knowledge, and affirmation, that there is no divinity but Allah. Those whom Allah loves are those who believe in the principles of Muhammad, Allah's last and greatest prophet, and who fight for his cause. The worldwide community of Islamic believers consists of all those who, regardless of race, submit solely to Allah, reverence His Prophet Muhammad, believe that the Qur'an is the literal word of Allah, believe in angels as the servants of Allah who reveal his will, and believe in the Day of Judgment: After death, man continues to exist in an intermediate state until the Day of Reckoning, where all will be resurrected either to eternal fire and damnation or eternal paradise and bliss. To become a Muslim, one must recite with conviction, La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah, ( There is no true god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God"), undergo a ceremonial washing as a symbol of the washing away of sins and false beliefs, and submit to the teachings of Muhammad. Five times a day, the brotherhood of believers is called to worship Allah together, facing toward the holy land of Mecca in modern day Saudi Arabia. Islam is not merely a religion, it's also a culture -- one primarily defined by seventh century Arabia, with little personal freedom, even fewer civil rights, and no religious freedom. The ash-shari'ah, or Islamic Law, is the sum of the duties of man which are required by Allah. Taken from the Qur'an, the shari'ah makes up both religious and civil law for many Islamic countries.

The basic tenets of the Islamic faith are summed up in the Five Pillars:

Shahada, which is the daily recital of the creed, "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."
Salat, or prescribed prayer and worship, after ritual washing, five times daily facing towards Mecca (and in a mosque on Fridays). Prayers are recited at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night.
Siyam, the complete abstinence from food, drink, and sexual activity from dawn to dusk during the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, Ramadan, during which Muhammed received the first of his revelations from Allah.
Zakat, or almsgiving to the needy (generally about 2-1/2 percent of annual income and possessions).
Hadj, which is at least one pilgrimage to Mecca (or Makkah) to worship at its religious center, the Ka'aba, a black building traditionally believed to have been built by Abraham and Ishmael, now housed in the center of the Haram mosque.

There are various factions in Islam (Muhammad is believed to have said that Islam would be divided into 73 sects, only one of which would survive and unite the Muslim world). The two primary sects of Islam are the Sunnites and the Shiites. Sunnites, who constitute about 65% of the Muslim population, hold the Qur'an and Sunnah ("Way of the Prophet") to be the primary authority of Islam, although they also recognize the authority of the Ijma, or concensus of the Muslim community, through the teachings and practices of its political and religious leaders (caliphs), beginning with Muhammad's father-in-law, abu-Bakr. Shiites and the individual Shiite sects, which constitute about 10% of the Islamic population (mostly concentrated in Iran), claim as spiritual leader Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali ibn-abi-Talib (since he had no sons), and his ancestral line of successors (imams) as divinely guided and the only authority for the interpretation of Muslim law. The last of the imams, Mohammad, disappeared late in the ninth century and is believed by Shiites to reappear one day as a divinely guided leader (Mahdi) who will purge Islam of its Sunnite distortions. Other prominant Islamic sects include the mystical and poetic Sufis, the fundamentalist Wahhabis, the literalist Kharijites, the apologetic Ahmdiyans, and the Ibadites of Oman. Bahaism is an offshoot of Islam that became popular in Europe and America in the mid-ninteenth century.

Literature

Qur'an (or Koran): Muhammad's teachings, which were originally transferred orally by himself, his immediate companions, and their second generation successors, were eventually recorded in the Qur'an (Arabic Al-Qur'an, "reading" or "recital"), consisting of 114 chapters (surahs) of revelations, each beginning "In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful." To the orthodox Muslim, the Qur'an is more than just divinely inspired, it is itself divine, uncreated, the voice of Allah, and the supreme authority of Islam. The Qur'an -- the last revealed word of Allah -- as a printed book is held to be only a replica of an eternal, heavenly original. The fact that it was originally composed in Arabic lends to the reason the Arabic dialect has remained undivided. The first official, written copy was the codex of Medina, under Caliph Uthman between A.D. 644-56. An authorized version was compiled in the tenth century in Baghdad. English translations were begun in the ninteenth century. Although Islamic theology believes that it is untranslatable, Islamic law does not prohibit translation of the Qur'an into other languages, however, only the use of the original Arabic is allowed for liturgical purposes. Along with revelation, the Qur'an also contains devotional regulations, rules for worship, enactments for everyday living, and laws of family and society.

Sunnah ("Way of the Prophet") are the collected sayings and practices of Muhammad by initial followers indicating the path (sunna) of his righteous living and considered the second most important source of Islamic doctrine. Hadiths are the traditions originally taught by Muhammad to the first generation of Muslims, many of which are contained in the Sunnah, written as narrations and compiled for the purpose of educating the Islamic masses. Although Muhammad originally discouraged the written recordings of his own words, hadiths were later written and compiled as a means of officially documenting the authentic traditions of Muhammad, as opposed to those that were being circulated which were not his. Hadiths are often passed on orally and taught by recitation. Some of the more popular collections include the Sahih by Al-Bakhair in the ninth century and The Forty-Two Traditions of An-Nawawi.

Taurat: Muslims also hold the Taurat (Torah or Pentateuch) and the Psalms of David to be divinely inspired scripture. The Torah (Hebrew, "law" or "teaching") consists of the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), in which are found the Law and are generally attributed to the writings of Moses (Arabic Musa). Although part of the gospel of Jesus and some of his prophetic sayings are regarded by Muslims as revelation, his disciples are considered to have been mistaken about his persona as the Messiah. The remainder of the Old and New Testaments are considered falsified scripture belonging to the corrupt and misguided religions of Judaism and Christianity.

"Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? 'Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son.' Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman." (Galations 4:28-31)

What does the Bible say about Muhammad and Islam?

For proof that the Bible has been corrupted, Muslims point to Jeremiah 8:8, "How can you say, 'We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD,' when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?" Muslims therefore accept from the Bible only what agrees completely with the teachings of Islam, while rejecting the parts that don't. The Apostle Paul considered all Scripture God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus, when rebuking the Pharisees, accused them of not knowing the Scriptures (Matthew 22:29), however, he is never once recorded as denying the validity of the Scriptures. On the contrary, the Scriptures testify about Jesus Christ (John 5:39, Acts 18:24-28, Romans 1:2-3, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4), who himself was the fulfillment of the Scriptures (Luke 24:25-32, 44-47). Peter warned that people would distort the meaning of Paul's writings, as they do the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15-16). The following biblical prophecies are used to support the rise of the Muslim nation:

Deuteronomy 18:18, "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him." Muslims believe that Muhammad was more like Moses than Jesus, however, Moses said that the prophet would come from their brothers, which couldn't have been a reference to Ishmael's descendants. This is a re-iteration of Deuteronomy 18:15, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers," of which Stephen referenced in Acts 7:37 regarding Jesus. Therefore, it is likely that "brothers" was a reference to the descendants of Isaac, since these verses are addressed to the Israelites, who were at the time made up of the twelve tribes of Jacob's sons, of which Jesus was a descendant of Judah (Matthew 1:2, Luke 3:33).

Deuteronomy 33:2, "The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shown forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes." Mt. Paran is considered present day Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Muhammad's home town from which he was forced to flee due to initial hostility to Islam. He later returned with his followers (about 10,000) from nearby Madina and converted Mecca. This verse is supposedly referenced in Jude 14-15.

Isaiah 29:11-12, "For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say to him, 'Read this, please,' he will answer, 'I can't; it is sealed.' Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, 'Read this, please,' he will answer, 'I don't know how to read.' " According to Islamic tradition, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and commanded him to read from a scroll, to which he replied that he was unlearned. Again the angel commanded him to read and once more Muhammad replied that he didn't know how to read, to which the angel put the words into his mouth. From then on, Muhammad received the messages of Allah from revelation. According to the Qur'an, this is what the angel told him: "Read in the name of your Lord Who created. He created man from a clot. Read and your Lord is Most Honorable, Who taught (to write) with the pen, taught man what he knew not. Nay! man is most surely inordinate, because he sees himself free from want. Surely to your Lord is the return. Have you seen him who forbids a servant when he prays? Have you considered if he were on the right way, or enjoined guarding (against evil)? Have you considered if he gives the lie to the truth and turns (his) back? Does he not know that Allah does see? Nay! If he desist not, We would certainly smite his forehead, a lying, sinful forehead. Then let him summon his council, We too would summon the braves of the army. Nay! obey him not, and make obeisance and draw nigh (to Allah)" (Surah 96). Unfortunately, if the vision of Isaiah is the one described in the previous verses and chapters of Isaiah prior to verses 29:11-12, then it has nothing to do with what was attributed to the scroll presented to Muhammad.

Isaiah 42:1-4, "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit upon him and he will bring justice to the nations..." Muslims view this as a prophecy of Muhammad, whereas Christians view this as a prophecy about Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17, 12:17-21). Muslims further point out Isaiah 42:8, "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols," as proof that Jesus could not have been God. Jesus himself said that he did not accept praise from men (John 5:41), nor did he seek glory for himself (John 9:50), although he did say that his Second Coming would be in the Father's glory (Matthew 16:27, 24:30, 25:31, Mark 8:38, 13:26, Luke 9:26, 21:27), the glory he entered after his resurrection from the dead (Luke 24:26), which shown forth while he was a man (John 1:14, 2:11, 11:4), which he had from the Father before the world began (John 17:1-5, 24), and of which Isaiah foresaw (John 12:41). In John 8:54, Jesus says, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me." It is this glory that he also shares with those who believe (John 17:22, Romans 8:17, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, Colossians 1:27, 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, 2 Timothy 2:10, 1 Peter 1:7, 5:1, 10). God did not give his glory to Jesus, rather, it is through Christ that God is glorified (Romans 16:27, Jude 25) and praised (1 Peter 4:11).

Isaiah 42:11-17, "Let the desert and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands. The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies. For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, 'You are our gods,' will be turned back in utter shame." According to Genesis 25:13 and 1 Chronicles 1:29, Kedar was the second son of Ishmael, the descendants of whom were Arabian merchants (Ezekiel 27:21). According to Psalm 120:5-7, they hated peace and, according to Jeremiah 2:10-11, worshiped idols. Along with Israel, they were destroyed by the Babylonians (Jeremiah 49:28-32). Various passages throughout Isaiah chapters 43-54 are also used to support the coming of Muhammad, particularly 48:6-9 ("...From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you...") and verses that warn of Israel's potential destruction, such as 43:28.

Matthew 21:43-44, "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." While Muslims consider this passage as a prophecy of the Muslims and Muhammad, respectively, Christians see it as the conversion of the Gentiles and Jesus, respectively (1 Peter 2:4-8). Although Muhammad converted the Gentiles of his day to Islam, the apostles Peter and Paul were converting them to Christianity nearly 600 years prior (Acts 11:18, 13:46-47, 14:27, 15:7, 18:6, 22:21, 28:28, Romans 11:13, 15:15-19, Galations 1:16, 2:2, 7-9). As Paul reveals in Romans 11:11-24, the kingdom was not completely taken away from Israel, rather, the Gentiles were grafted into it. "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and shareres together in the promise in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 3:6). Muslims also point out the seeming contradiction of Matthew 21:43-44 with Isaiah 54:10, " 'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Going back to Isaiah 51:6 ("the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and it inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail."), it can be seen that the covenant of peace is salvation through the word of God, as revealed in the new covenant of Christ in remembrance of the old covenant (Luke 1:72, Acts 3:24-26, Romans 11:25-27), who himself said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35). Even the old covenant was a promise of the new covenant (Isaiah 45:17). Paul explained this covenant with the Jews concisely in Romans 11:28-29 when he wrote, "As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." According to 2 Corinthians 3:14-16, the old covenent now serves as a veil over the hearts of the Jews, which "has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away." In Galations 3:15-25, Paul further expounds on the relation between the old and new covenants by basically saying that they are both reconciled and fulfilled in Christ, now to be made available not just to the Jews, but to all who believe in Christ. This new covenant, according to Hebrews 8:6, is superior to the old and founded on better promises, thus making it obsolete and soon to disappear (Hebrews 8:13).

John 16:5-14, "...Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you... I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth..." Muslims claim the Counselor to be Muhammad. The reason for this is that the Greek word for Counselor, parakletos, is similar to the Greek word used for Muhammad, Paraklytos, which means "comforter." Counselor and Comforter are often used interchangeably in different Bible translations (also in John 14:16, 26). Christians understand the Counselor to be the Holy Spirit, which is confirmed in these passages. The Greek word used for Spirit is pneuma, which, according to Luke 24:39, does not have flesh and bones, which Muhammad had. The Spirit was breathed on the apostles before Christ's ascension (John 20:22) and at Pentecost (Acts 2:4), nearly 600 years before the appearance of Muhammad.

There is also a prophecy in the Gospel of Barnabas (chapter 55) that references Muhammad by name as a prophet of God. Originally attributed to Barnabas, Paul's travelling companion, this gospel was believed to have been first accepted by the Churches of Alexandria in the first and second centuries, but condemned by the Council of Nicea in C.E. 325, due to its denial of Jesus as the Son of God. Iranaeus (A.D. 130-200) supposedly referenced the Gospel of Barnabas often in defense of monotheism and in opposition to the teachings of the Apostle Paul in regards to the deity of Christ.

"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1:16-19)

What does the Qur'an say about Jesus and Christianity?

Muslims believe that the apostles of Jesus injected their own ideas into the gospels and epistles of the New Testament, which were supposedly influenced by Greek and Roman paganism. These include the Christian claims that God had a Son, Jesus, who was one with God and who died and was resurrected. Here are some of the scriptures from the Qur'an regarding Jesus and Christianity. These were taken from the M. H. Shakir translation, published by the Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc. The Arabic name for Jesus is Isa, Abraham is Ibrahim, Ishmael is Ismail, Isaac is Ishaq, Jacob is Yaqoub, Moses is Musa, Mary is Maryam, Ezra is Uzair, Gospel is Injeel, Torah is Taurat, Muhammad is Ahmed, and God is Allah. Surah is a division of the Qur'an, similar to the chapter and verse references of the modern Bible. The Torah in the Qur'an is referred to as the Book. Although the New Testament scripture that follows each may be considered false to Muslim believers, Christians may want to be aware of the passages from the Qur'an which oppose basic Christian doctrine as taught by Christ's apostles.

"Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which had been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqoub and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Musa and Isa, and (in) that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit." (Surah 2:136) This says that Muslim prophets taken from the Old Testament stand on equal ground with Jesus and that they believe what was revealed to these prophets, including Jesus. Of the 28 prophets listed in the Qur'an, Islam claims the following biblical individuals as Muslim: Adam, Enoch, Methesulah, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon, Zechariah, John the Baptist, and Jesus. According to John 17:6-19, what was revealed to Jesus was revealed to his disciples: "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them... I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world." According to Matthew 16:16-19, it was Jesus' apostles to whom he gave the keys of heaven to build his church on earth.

"And when Allah said: O Isa, I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me and purify you of those who disbelieve and make those who follow you above those who disbelieve to the day of resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, so I will decide between you concerning that in which you differed." (Surah 3:55) This passage denies the resurrection of Christ. As predicted in Matthew 27:62-64, Muslims claim that Jesus' disciples took his body from the tomb in order to deceive everyone into falsely thinking that Jesus had risen from the dead. They believe that Allah spared Jesus from death on the cross at the hands of men and raised his spirit to heaven before his death (some Muslims even believe it was Judas Iscariot's body that was crucified). It was this kind of denial about his death and resurrection to which Jesus harshly rebuked his own disciples (Matthew 16:21-23). On many occasions Jesus warned his disciples about this event: "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." (Mark 9:31)

"Surely the likeness of Isa is with Allah as the likeness of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him, Be, and he was. (This is) the truth from your Lord, so be not of the disputers. But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come... let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars. Most surely this is the true explanation, and there is no god but Allah; and most surely Allah--He is the Mighty, the Wise." (Surah 3:59-62) According to Muslim belief, Jesus was not God incarnate. Jesus was a man just as Adam was a man, created alike from dust. According to Romans 5:14, Adam was a pattern for Jesus. This is further explained in 1 Corithians 15:45-49, where Paul says that the first man Adam was a living being, but the last Adam, Jesus, was a life-giving spirit. "The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven." We who are of the likeness of Adam and believe in Jesus will also become like he is (also Romans 8:29).

"Say: We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqoub and the tribes, and what was given to Musa and Isa and to the prophets from their Lord; we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit. And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall one of the losers." (Surah 3:84-85) Islam teaches that Jesus was just another prophet of Allah, a man called by Allah just like those before him. Christianity is a distinct religion from Islam, upholding Jesus as more than just a prophet of God, but as the sinless high priest (Hebrews 4:14-16), the redeemer of mankind from the curse of the Law (Galations 3:10-14), the revealer of the secrets of God (Matthew 11:25, Mark 4:11, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16), the minister of reconciliation between God and man (2 Corinthians 5:16-21), the living bread that gives eternal life (John 6:47-58), Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5), the image of God (John 12:45, 14:8-11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Hebrews 1:3), the only way to the Father (John 14:6), the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13), the name above all names (Philippians 2:9-11), the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), and the Savior of the world (John 4:42, 1 John 4:14), just to name a few.

"And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise. And there is not one of the followers of the Book but most certainly believes in this before his death, and on the day of resurrection he (Isa) shall be a witness against them." (Surah 4:157-159) Like the claims of many of the gnostic gospels of the first and second century, the Qur'an teaches that Jesus didn't really die on the cross, but was taken up to heaven by God in spirit before his physical body was crucified. Supposedly, Jesus himself will testify at the Last Judgment against those who consider him to be their personal savior. Traditional Christian doctrine, however, holds that it was absolutely necessary for Jesus to die on the cross. As Philippians 2:6-11 attests of Christ Jesus: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

"O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector." (Surah 4:171) This denies the existence of the Trinity -- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three distinct persons of the one true God. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says that the Lord is the Spirit. Galations 4:6 identifies this same Spirit as of the Son. It is this Spirit who descended from the Father to the Son at his baptism (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22). Jesus said that he and the Father were one (John 10:30). John 1:1 says that the Word was God, which became flesh (John 1:14), and who was Jesus (Revelation 19:13). It is scriptural passages such as these which unite the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit into one and the same person.

"Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely, Allah -- He is the Messiah, son of Marium." (Surah 5:17) Christians accept Jesus as the Messiah of God (Hebrew Moshiach, "Anointed One"), which in Greek is the Christ (Greek Christos, "Anointed One") -- if they didn't, they wouldn't be called Christians. "Christ" is used over 500 times in the New Testament in relation to Jesus. Not only was Jesus the Anointed One, but he claimed to be God by attributing his unspeakable name ("I Am") of Exodus 3:14 to himself (Mark 14:62-63, Luke 22:70, John 8:58, John 18:4-6).

"O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people." (Surah 5:51) Jesus said, "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." (Luke 10:16)

"Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah, He is the Messiah, son of Marium; and the Messiah said: O Children of Israel! serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Surely whoever associates (others) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden to him the garden, and his abode is the fire; and there shall be no helpers for the unjust. Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah is the third (person) of the three; and there is no god but the one God, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful chastisement shall befall those among them who disbelieve." (Surah 5:72-73) Muslims do not believe in the Christian Trinity. To them, Allah stands alone, far apart from any man or spirit being. Christians believe, for the most part, that the God of the Old and New Testaments (plural, Elohim) is comprised of three distinct personages -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This belief to Muslims is blasphemy and those who share in it will go to hell.

"And had they believed in Allah and the prophet and what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them for friends, but most of them are transgressors. Certainly you will find the most violent of people in enmity for those who believe (to be) the Jews and those who are polytheists, and you will certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who believe (to be) those who say: We are Christians; this is because there are priests and monks among them and because they do not behave proudly. And when they hear what has been revealed to the apostle you will see their eyes overflowing with tears on account of the truth that they recognize; they say: Our Lord! we believe, so write us down with the witnesses (of truth). And what (reason) have we that we should not believe in Allah and in the truth that has come to us, while we earnestly desire that our Lord should cause us to enter with the good people? Therefore Allah rewarded them on account of what they said, with gardens in which rivers flow to abide in them; and this is the reward of those who do good (to others). And (as for) those who disbelieve and reject Our communications, these are the companions of the flame." (Surah 5:81-86) Those who turn from their belief in Jesus as Lord and convert to Islam will enter eternal paradise with the Muslims. Jesus said of his followers, "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me" (Luke 10:16). He also said, "The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him" (John 3:35-36).

"The Messiah, son of Marium is but an apostle; apostles before him have indeed passed away; and his mother was a truthful woman; they both used to eat food. See how We make the communications clear to them, then behold, how they are turned away." (Surah 5:75) "And when Allah will say: O Isa son of Marium! did you say to men, Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah he will say: Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should 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 do not know what is in Thy mind, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things." (Surah 5:116) This is in opposition to both Jesus as God and Mary as the Mother of God. By the time of Muhammad, the Catholic doctrine of Mary as the Queen of Heaven was relatively established. While most Christians believe Jesus to be the Son of God and born of the virgin Mary, not all believe in the veneration of Mary as the Mother of God.

"Wonderful Originator of the heavens and the earth! How could He have a son when He has no consort, and He (Himself) created everything, and He is the Knower of all things." (Surah 6:101) The answer to this is in Luke 10:22, "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

"Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and his Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection. And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away! They have taken their doctors of law and their monks for lords besides Allah, and (also) the Messiah son of Marium and they were enjoined that they should serve one God only, there is no god but He; far from His glory be what they set up (with Him)." (Surah 9:29-31) In other words, fight the Jews and Christians until they have been converted to Islam. Jews reverence their teachers of the law and Christians reverence their saints, but none should be reverenced but Allah. Christians have made Jesus out to be the Son of God and therefore one with God and worshiped as a single deity, however, it was Jesus himself who said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30) and "the Father is in me, and I in the Father" (John 10:38), to which the Jews tried to kill him for claiming to be God (John 10:31-39). When ordered by the Jewish high priest, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God," Jesus plainly replied, "Yes, it is as you say" (Matthew 26:63-64).

"They say: Allah has taken a son (to Himself)! Glory be to Him: He is the Self-sufficient: His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; you have no authority for this; do you say against Allah what you do not know?" (Surah 10:68) Although Muslims count John the Baptist among their prophets, it was he who testified that Jesus was the Son of God. "Then John gave this testimony: 'I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.' " (John 1:32-34)

"And say: (All) praise is due to Allah, Who has not taken a son and Who has not a partner in the kingdom, and Who has not a helper to save Him from disgrace; and proclaim His greatness magnifying (Him)." (Surah 17:111) The Apostle John says according to his vision in Revelation 5:11-14, "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!' The four living creatures said, 'Amen,' and the elders fell down and worshiped."

"What! do then those who disbelieve think that they can take My servants to be guardians besides Me? Surely We have prepared hell for the entertainment of the unbelievers." (Surah 18:102) Contrary to this, Jesus asked God that he would protect those who believe in him by the power of his own name (John 17:11-15). 1 Corinthians 4:15 says that we have 10,000 guardians in Christ.

"Such is Isa, son of Marium; (this is) the saying of truth about which they dispute. It beseems not Allah that He should take to Himself a son, glory to be Him; when He has decreed a matter He only says to it "Be," and it is." (Surah 19:34-35) "And they say: The Beneficent God has taken (to Himself) a son. Certainly you have made an abominable assertion. The heavens may almost be rent thereat, and the earth cleave asunder, and the mountains fall down in pieces, That they ascribe a son to the Beneficent God. And it is not worthy of the Beneficent God that He should take (to Himself) a son." (Surah 19:88-92) Since Muslims assert that Allah had no son, then this either means that the God of the New Testament is not Allah of the Qur'an, or that the Christian faith is a hoax, since it rests on the belief that Jesus was the Son of God. Since this belief is also the foundation of all of the New Testament scriptures, then it also stands to reason that either Jesus' disciples were wrong in their understanding of who he was (which would then void all New Testament scripture) or that Jesus ultimately failed as a prophet of God. Although Muslims accept Jesus as a prophet of Allah, they still have to rely on New Testament scriptures which recorded his prophecies. It is these scriptures which claim that Jesus taught that he was the Son of God, of which Muslims pick and choose small bits and pieces to support prophecies of Muhammad, while regarding the majority as erroneous. The Apostle John said that anyone who denied the Father and the Son was a liar and the antichrist (1 John 2:22-23) and that "everyone who loves the father loves his child as well" (1 John 5:1).

"Never did Allah take to Himself a son, and never was there with him any (other) god -- in that case would each god have certainly taken away what he created, and some of them would certainly have overpowered others; glory be to Allah above what they describe!" (Surah 23:91) According to Matthew 3:16-17, at the baptism of Jesus heaven was opened, the Spirit descended upon him, and a voice spoke from heaven and said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Both Matthew 17:5 and Luke 9:35 record the event of the transfiguration, where God again said to more than one witness, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

"He, Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and Who did not take to Himself a son, and Who has no associate in the kingdom, and Who created everything, then ordained for it a measure. And they have taken besides Him gods, who do not create anything while they are themselves created, and they control not for themselves any harm or profit, and they control not death nor life, nor raising (the dead) to life." (Surah 25:2-3) This states that not only does God not have a son, but he alone created everything. Contrary to this is John 1:1-3, which reveals that Jesus, the Word, is one with God and was with God in the beginning and that "through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." It also claims that Jesus has no claim to the resurrection. According to John 11:25-26, Jesus told Martha regarding the death of Lazarus, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." According to the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:4, Christ Jesus "was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead." Jesus is "the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy" (Colossians 1:18). It is Christ Jesus "who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10). Paul also wrote that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

"And do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit." (Surah 29:46) Basically, do not dispute with those who believe in the Bible, primarily Jews and Christians. Although Allah is the God of the Old and New Testaments, he is not the God which the Jews and Christians worship.

"If Allah desire to take a son to Himself, He will surely choose those He pleases from what He has created. Glory be to Him: He is Allah, the One, the Subduer (of all)." (Surah 39:4) In other words, Jesus was not begotten, as John 3:16 says. If God wanted a son, he would simply have chosen someone from among the inhabitants of the world. This is in contradiction to John 3:18, which warns that those who do not believe in God's only begotten Son stand condemned. In John 3:31-36, John the Baptist explains that Jesus came from heaven and is above all, and furthermore: "He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." In contrast to Jesus, Muhammad was just a man, of which the passage above also says, "the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth."

"And when a description of the son of Marium is given, lo! your people raise a clamor thereat. And they say: Are our gods better, or is he? They do not set it forth to you save by way of disputation; nay, they are a contentious people. He was naught but a servant on whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the children of Israel. And if We please, We could make among you angels to be successors in the land." (Surah 43:57-60) This is another passage which again asserts that Jesus was not the Son of God. The last sentence could be understood in one of two ways -- either that angels could have sufficed as saviors for mankind, or simply that angels could be sent to replace the human race. Hebrews 1:4-14 explains that Jesus is above all angels -- who would not be suitable for the calling -- and ends by stating, "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" As for the concept of angels succeeding mankind on earth, this was already attempted in Noah's days, according to Genesis 6:1-4.

"And when Isa son of Marium said: O children of Israel! surely I am the apostle of Allah to you, verifying that which is before me of the Taurat and giving the good news of an Apostle who will come after me, his name being Ahmad, but when he came to them with clear arguments they said: This is clear magic." (Surah 61:6) Here, Jesus is portrayed as an apostle, prophesying of the coming of Muhammad, his successor. Muslims look to John 14:26 as proof from the New Testament, however, Christians consider the promised "Counselor" to be the Holy Spirit (also John 15:26 and 16:7-10). Muslims consider all references to the Holy Spirit (or Paraclete) to actually be of Muhammad, such as John 16:12-15, where the Spirit of truth is seen as Muhammad (al-amin, one of his titles as "trustworthy") revealing the truths contained in the Qur'an which Jesus' disciples could not bear. Since Muhammad was a visible man, however, then it stands to reason that he could not have been the invisible Spirit (John 14:17), nor could he have been God, because the "Lord is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:17), since this would violate many of the passages of the Qur'an listed above.

The angel added, "I will so increase your descendands that they will be too numerous to count." The angel of the LORD also said to her: "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward [or to the east of] all his brothers." (Genesis 16:10-12)

Is the god of the Qur'an (Allah) the same god as the god of the Bible (Elohim)?

The Muslim view is that Allah (al-ilah "the God") is the Arabic name for the God of the Bible and that Muslims, Jews, and Christians worship the same Supreme Being -- albeit Jews and Christians do not worship God appropriately. The Arabic name for God Allah, Aramaic name for God Alaaha, Mesopotamian name for God Ilu, and Hebrew name for God Elohim all originate from the same Semitic word El, meaning "God." This single, Supreme Being has the same eternal qualities in both the Bible and the Qur'an. Traces of ancient Arabian tradition reveal a monotheistic religion. Although Islam may have arisen out of a polytheistic environment, Allah was still seen as the all-powerful Creator, Lord of the Ka'aba (Baitu'llah, "House of Allah"), and the One True God of Abraham and Isaac. Any pagan attributes given to Allah by earlier Arabic tradition were misguided and have been rightfully eradicated. Allah is above all and none other deserves worship but him, unlike the polytheistic view of Jesus being worshiped by Christians as God.

Christian scholars who disagree that Allah is the same God as Elohim have often attempted to unveil the origins of Allah in ancient pagan religions. In pagan pre-Islamic Arabia, religion was basically polytheistic, with several hundred lesser gods all under one supreme god, Allah, the moon god, who was married to the sun goddess with whom he had three demigod daughters. Muhammad's clan worshiped this supreme moon god, who was represented by a black stone that was supposedly sent from heaven (possibly a piece of meteorite), and kept in the pagan religious temple in Mecca, the Ka'aba, along with hundreds of other stones representing the other gods. Once converted to Islam, Muhammad also converted the Ka'aba to an Islamic religious center and cast out all but the black stone, which remains to this day -- a remnant of the pagan view of Allah. (The crescent moon of the Meccan Allah also remains a Muslim symbol.) Regardless, the Qur'an claims that the sun and the moon are not to be worshiped, but only Allah, who created them (Surah 41:37). On this debate, it should also be mentioned that some have attempted to associate the Meccan Allah with the Babylonian, Assyrian, and Caananite god Baal (Aliyan, "I Prevail"), however, the similarities of each are rather bleak. For starters, Baal was a sun god, while the Meccan Allah was a moon god. Human sacrifice by fire was a common practice of Baal worship, whereas this was never practiced in conjunction with Allah. Baal was seen as a more powerful, conquering god than the other pagan gods of Chaldea, while Allah remained throughout Arabian paganism the god who ruled all other gods.

Whether or not one can be convinced that Allah is one and the same with the biblical Yahweh ("I Am" of Exodus 3:14), if Muslims believe this, then that's what matters to them. The fact remains that there are three different religious systems all claiming to worship the same God and each claims the right path. From the outside, it would seem that all paths lead to the same God, however, according to the orthodox teachings based on the holy scriptures of each faith, only one is the true path and all others lead to eternal damnation. The Old Testament teaches that there is one true God (referenced by different titles, such as Elohim, Adonai, and Yawheh) and that the Israelites are his chosen people, through whom comes salvation to the rest of the world. The New Testament teaches that Christ is the Son of the God of the Old Testament and that he is the only Savior of the world. The Qur'an teaches that Allah is the God of the Old Testament (at least the first five books), but that both Jews and Christians have perverted the scriptures and reverence God erroneously. It teaches that Jesus, as a prophet in a succession of prophets, was not the Savior of the world, not the Son of God, and that he was not resurrected from the dead. From within each faith, then, comes adherence to only one path, believed to be the only way to God. Regarding this, the Qur'an plainly states, "Say: O unbelievers! I do not serve that which you serve, nor do you serve Him Whom I serve: Nor am I going to serve that which you serve, Nor are you going to serve Him Whom I serve: You shall have your religion and I shall have my religion" (Surah 109). Because Christianity is derived from Judaism, Islam treats both with the same condemnation. To the Muslim, Islam is a return to pure and untainted devotion to Allah, of which the Jews and Christians are the primary source of corruption.

On this topic, it should be pointed out that the love of Allah is partial and conditional. He does not love the unbeliever (Qur'an 30:45), he does not love the sinful (Qur'an 4:107), he does not love the unfaithful (Qur'an 22:38), nor does he love those who transgress (Qur'an 7:55), whom he sends away (Qur'an 14:27). Unapproachable by sinful man, Allah accepts only those who purify themselves by their own will and effort -- and even then at Allah's own whim. In contrast to this, 1 John 4:7-21 teaches that God is love and loved us before we ever loved him. "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10). It is only through Jesus that God's love is complete. God earnestly seeks those who have wandered away and rejoices when they have been found (Matthew 18:10-14, Luke 15:1-7). It is not of our own efforts that we earn grace and mercy from God, but through acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ (Galations 3:1-14). "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." (Galations 3:14)

"But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Corinthians 15:12-19)

For more online information about Islam, visit the following websites. The acronym PBUH means "peace be upon him," a term of respect used each time the name of a Muslim prophet is mentioned.

Al-Islam.org

"Welcome to Al-Islam.org. We invite you to begin a journey of clicks to explore this site thoroughly. We hope that this journey is a source of education and enlightenment. If you are not a Muslim, then let this site serve as a means of introducing Islam to you, and provide you with options for exploring the beauty of this religion further. If you are a Muslim, then let this site serve as a repository for advancing your knowledge about Islam further."

AnsweringIslam

"A Christian-Muslim Dialog -- We want that Muslims come to faith because they become convinced of the truth of the Gospel through the soundness of the material we present, and we want our Christian brothers and sisters to develop their convictions about their own faith and about Islam for the same reasons: Because it is true. The sad thing is, not everything that evangelical Christians write about Islam is true (not even everything they write about the Bible and the Christian faith). We would not doubt their Christian faith, but we cannot agree with their statements about Islam. We cannot recommend their writings just because they are Evangelicals, and to remain consistent we do not want others to believe us, just because we wear that label. The same holds for the question of academic qualifications. Some of our authors are teaching Theology, Religious Studies or even Islamic Studies at Universities. But there are too many professors of Islamic Studies who spread false information about Islam, while some self-taught laymen have a much deeper understanding. Evaluate the quality of our writings for yourself, and do not fall into the fallacy of appeal to authority."

A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam

"This Islamic guide is for non-Muslims who would like to understand Islam, Muslims (Moslems), and the Holy Quran (Koran). It is rich in information, references, bibliography, and illustrations. It has been reviewed and edited by many professors and well-educated people. It is brief and simple to read, yet contains much scientific knowledge. It contains the whole book, A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam, and more."

E-International Relations: Strange Alliance

"The undeclared strategic alliance between the radical left and radical Islam has become so conspicuous that it demands a comprehensive dissection and analysis. This growing strategic and ideological affinity between the radical left in the West and radical Islamic organizations and regimes that have wrapped themselves up in anti-imperialism flag has not only trivialized the left's vociferous commitment to democracy, social justice, and anti-oppression but has also turned the radical left into the "frontier guards" for fundamentalist and militant Islamic organizations and regimes. This strange symbiosis between these diametrically opposing movements not only contributes to the greater strangulation and stifling of democratic aspirations in Islamic societies but is also geared to embolden radical Islamists to foster illiberal values in the West."

International Crisis Group

"This report examines today's jihadist landscape. Why have these groups become so powerful? What do they want, and how are they pursuing it? How do they win support and control territory when their ideology has appeared, at least until recently, to have little natural constituency? How do they shape the conflicts they fight in and prospects for ending them? What threat do they pose elsewhere? How should the world respond? It draws from and extends findings from Crisis Group's extensive body of work on the severest crises in which such movements are prominent, focusing in particular on the Middle East, given the pace of change there, but including West Africa, the Sahel, the Caucasus, North Africa, the Horn of Africa and Central and South Asia."

Islam101.com

"Islam 101 is an educational site on Islam, its way of life, civilization and culture. It includes an introductory course on Islam and presents Islamic views on contemporary issues."

IslamiCity: What is Islam?

"We believe in and strive for the nobility of consciousness, truthfulness of expression and goodness of action. We believe that peace blossoms through love and justice and in times where "me" becomes "we" and "mine" transforms to "ours". We believe that true faith inspires a deep reverence for life, love for the living, care for the environment, and an unwavering commitment to social justice. We believe that all creation is part of God's (Allah's) family while the best of people are those best to God's (Allah's) universal family. We are on a mission to empower, nurture, protect, and promote values that affirm human dignity, human rights and the integrity of creation while making the world healthier, peaceful, and more beautiful."

IslamOnline.net

"Welcome to your site, Islam Online, which was created for you and is enriched by your presence and becomes more effective the more you visit. In this site, we strive to provide you with all the information you need about Islam and its civilizations, the universe and its changes, current affairs and their analyses, and general information and services that one cannot do without in the 21st century. This site aims to present a unified and lively Islam that keeps up with modern times in all areas. Our motto is: credibility and distinction. Our goal is for this site to be worthy of your trust. To reach our goal, a committee of the major scholars throughout the Islamic world, headed by Dr. Yusuf Qardawi, was formed. Its role is to ensure that nothing on this site violates the fixed principles of Islamic law (Shar'ia). The committee includes experts in politics, economics, the media, sociology, technology, the arts, and other fields, all of whom are committed to participate in the Islamic Renaissance in all fields and at all levels. The Internet has opened in the opportunities for communication, and we pledge to use them to achieve the highest levels of integrity and precision in content and in creative professionalism in design. We will work for the credibility of the site's contents, information, and ideas and gain the distinction that will make it attractive and acceptable."

Nation of Islam

"During the Honorable Elijah Muhammad's initial 44 years, he suffered persecution and rejection from the very people among whom he was appointed as a Servant of God. He was rejected and despised by the 10 percent leaders of America and the world because he revealed a Greater Truth and Wisdom that would end the old world of Satan's rule and dominion. He was not self-taught or self-made but ONE MIGHTY IN POWER had taught him what he knew not. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad had never received any more than a fourth grade education, yet his heart was true in what he saw and he saw the greatest of the Signs of his Lord. The more converts that he made in the cities, in the by-ways, and in the highways of this land, along with receiving honor and fame abroad, the powerful leaders and rulers of this world grew in opposition. As the baby Nation of Islam came to birth in America, the world rulers were shaken in their foundation to learn of this miraculous achievement, and are today frustrated in plans to prevent our survival. The theme of the Holy Qur'an and Bible that most clearly defines this struggle is revealed in the history of Pharaoh's opposition to Moses and Aaron in the delivery of Israel in bondage in Egypt. The Nation of Islam was founded on the basis of peace and as an answer to a prayer of Abraham to deliver his people who would be found in servitude slavery in the Western Hemisphere in this day and time... In spite of the controversy and clamor surrounding the Nation of Islam and it's Divine Leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan, we are forging ahead in the Spirit of Almighty God, Allah, to unite with all of humanity in the Oneness of God, where all people of goodwill of every Race and of every Nation may participate in the Universal Expression of the Principles of Peace and the Brotherhood of man. This is the Beautiful Community of the Nation of Islam that is coming to birth in America on this Farthest Western Horizon in fulfillment of the Prophecy that God would meet with Muhammad for a second time and reveal to His servant What He Revealed. Thus the world is witnessing the Sun of Islam arising in the West. Praise the Holy Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful."

Pew Research Center: Muslims and Islam

"Muslims are the fastest-growing religious group in the world. The growth and regional migration of Muslims, combined with the ongoing impact of the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) and other extremist groups that commit acts of violence in the name of Islam, have brought Muslims and the Islamic faith to the forefront of the political debate in many countries. Yet many facts about Muslims are not well known in some of these places, and most Americans – who live in a country with a relatively small Muslim population – have said they know little or nothing about Islam. Here are answers to some key questions about Muslims, compiled from several Pew Research Center reports published in recent years."

Prophet Muhammad

"Welcome to www.muhammad.net - an educational website on the biography, mission and the message of Muhammad (peace be on him), the last prophet of Islam. Islam is the religion, the way of life of Muslims of the world. There are over one billion Muslims spread across the globe in all nationalities, languages and ethnic backgrounds. Islam was the religion of the first couple, Adam and Eve. It was also the religion of messengers of God like Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. The essence of their message was the same: Believe and obey the One true God and obey His messengers. Jesus (peace be on him) was the second-last prophet of God. He foretold the coming of the last Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). While the mission of the earlier messengers was generally limited to their own communities, prophet Muhammad's message and mission is universal and timeless till the end of this world... Muslims are those who declare that there is no deity except Allah (arabic for God) and that Muhammad is His messenger. They submit fully in obedience to Allah and mould their lives according to the teachings of the Holy Quran and prophet Muhammad."

Rand Corp: Moderate and Radical Islam

"One of the components of this study is relevant to a question that I was asked to address, which is how radical Islam differs from moderate or mainstream Islam. Frankly, one of the problems that we have found in the discourse about Islam is that the terms "radical" or "moderate" are often used in a subjective and imprecise way, without going through a process of critically examining what these terms mean. In some cases, the term radical or militant is defined in terms of support for terrorism or other forms of violence. Wenbelieve that this is too narrow a focus, that there is, in fact, a much larger universe of fundamentalist or Salafi groups who may not themselves practice violence, but that propagate an ideology that creates the conditions for violence and that is subversive of the values of democratic societies."

The Strategist: What's the connection between Islam and extremism?

"The issue of whether the religion of Islam is a faith that endorses extremism, and more specifically violent extremism, or is used and abused by extremist groups for notional objectives, is an important one. This query continues to be a recurrent theme at different levels in world politics. In a new book, Extremist Islam: recognition and responses in Southeast Asia, counterterrorism expert Kumar Ramakrishna urges authorities to pay more attention to the persistent danger of violent Salafism in the region. The debate about Islam and extremism has become more potent in the decades following the advent of the Islamic government of Iran in 1979, the jihadist resistance to the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, and al-Qaeda's 11 September 2001 terror attacks on the United States."

Understanding Islam

"This site epitomizes a movement. A movement to reform intellectual stagnation. This is an attempt to go back to the original sources of Islam -- the Qur'an and the Sunnah, in a time when blind acquiescence is in vogue. A movement to harmonize the sectarian disharmony. This is an attempt to ascribe to the term Muslim in letter and spirit in a time when sectarian cacophony is the order of the day. A movement to elucidate the word of God only. This is an attempt to separate the sacred from the profane, in a time when human interpretations have become Divine words incarnate. In our pages you will find us working towards these objectives by explaining Islam from various aspects and by responding to criticisms and queries. This in fact is an academic effort targeted towards understanding of Islam and any abusive or emotional attitude in its response will not be a deterrent. At "Understanding Islam", all our effort are directed toward clearing the path of truth -- as we see it -- from all intellectual hindrances, for the seeking mind. We sincerely hope that our efforts shall not only help in removing doubts regarding Islam from the modern mind, but shall also help in bringing our readers close to their Creator and help them in cleansing their hearts, minds and souls for the sole purpose of achieving the everlasting bliss in the life hereafter."

What is Islam?

"Islam is the largest and fastest growing faith in the world. The word "Islam" is an Arabic word that means "peace, purity, submission and obedience to the will of Almighty God". The word Islam comes from the Arabic root word "sa-la-ma", which means peace. So, the complete meaning of "Islam" is attaining a state of peace by submitting oneself to the Will of Almighty God (Allah or The One); and by definition, one who does this is called a "Muslim" (which also comes from the root word sa-la-ma), meaning someone who has submitted to the Will of Almighty God (a believer). MUC does not promote a sect or school of thought; both are personal preferences and not a community policy. The affairs of Muslims should be handled through consultation, discipline and organization."

"Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east... After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi... Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers." (Genesis 25:5-6, 11, 17-18)

Reference sources: A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam (http://www.islam-guide.com/); "Fast Facts on False Religions" by Ron Carlson and Ed Decker, ©1994 by Harvest House Publishers, pp 99-115; Gospel of Barnabas (http://www.barnabas.net/); Islam: The Origins of "ALLAH" by Mohd Elfie Nieshaem Juferi (http://www.sharif.org.uk/allah.htm); "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Walter Martin ©1965, 1977, 1985, chapter 16, Islam: The Message of Muhammed, published by Beathany House Publishers; The Qur'an, translated by M.H. Shakir, 11th U.S. Edition, 1999, published by Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc.; The True Religion of GOD Almighty (http://www.aol40.com/ac.htm); Understanding Islam (http://www.understanding-islam.com/); "World Bible" by The Viking Press, ©1944, edited by Robert O. Ballou, pp 437-450.