Chapter One: Jesus, son of Mary
Though Islam was founded upon the *Laws of *Moses and the writings of the prophets of the Torah/Old Testament, Muslims refuse to read it because they believe it has been altered. In this chapter, I give the Muslim reader irrefutable evidence from the *Koran,[1] Islam’s most reliable source, that Muhammad accused the Jewish people of inventing new doctrines and concealing the truth, but not of altering the Torah. ‘Muhammad replied “but you have invented new doctrines, and you deny that which is therein…you conceal what you have been commanded to show to mankind.’”
I will quote from the Koran, Sunnan, and Ahadith, nine ‘special favors’ given to Jesus, son of Mary, by Allah, that set Jesus, the son of Mary above all other prophets, and proceed to gradually show the reason for such great a disparity.
I ask why Jesus was the only prophet to be born holy. Was his virgin birth necessary in order to achieve the great miracles that he performed? If that were the case, why was Moses (whose birth was just like any other human birth) not hindered from accomplishing miracles just as fascinating as those performed by Jesus?
It is obvious, then, that being born holy and righteous was not a prerequisite for performing miracles. So, what was the reason and purpose for Jesus to be born holy, righteous and remain so all the days of his life?
[1] Reminder: A word preceded by an asterisk means its explanation may be found in the Glossary, pages 5 -10.
Chapter Four - Atonement according to the Qur'an.
*Muhammad’s message on atonement was based on the Laws of Moses - sin requires a predetermined punishment. " …By Allah, if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand."[1]
I find and quote several references by *Muhammad that resemble a tenet of the Christian faith, ‘Inherent Sin.’ “The Prophet said, “None is killed unjustly, but the first son of Adam will have a part of its burden.” Sufyan said, “A part of its blood because he was the first to establish the tradition of murdering.’[2]
“Satan runs in the body of Adam’s son (i.e. man) as his blood circulates in it.”[3]
*Muhammad presents several ways to atone for an individual’s sin. His followers seem confused by new iterations and keep pressing him for clarification. “What have you [4]heard from Allah’s Apostle regarding An-Najwa (atonement)?” I will quote six attempts by the prophet of Islam to settle the issue of atonement. His final answer makes it practically impossible to atone for sin: ‘…narrated from the Prophet who said “Allah has written for Adam’s son his share of adultery which he commits inevitably. The adultery of the eyes is the sight (to gaze at a forbidden thing), the adultery of the tongue is the talk, and the inner self wishes and desires and the private parts testify all this or deny it.”[5]
*Muhammad’s view on atonement and justification begin to take a turn towards the end of his tenure. Something must have transpired to prompt him to begin a search for an intercessor: “Allah's Apostle said, ‘You are Adam, the father of mankind…so please intercede for us with our Lord so that He may relieve us.' Adam will say, to them, 'I am not fit for that,’ and then he will mention to them his mistake which he has committed,'[6] implying that the intercessor *Muhammad was searching for had to be without sin.
[1] Volume 4, Book 56, Number 681: Narrated ‘Ayesha’
[2] Volume 9, Book 92, Number 423 Narrated ‘Abdullah
[3] Volume 8, Book73, Number 238
[4] Volume 9, Book 93, Number 605: Narrated Safwan Ibn Muhriz
[5] Volume 8, Book 74, Number 260: Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas
[6] Narrated Anas: Volume 9, Book 93, Number 607
Chapter Summary
222 pages, 11 chapters - price to be determined by publisher.
(English)
Chapter Two: *Muhammad, the prophet of Islam
Chapter Two: *Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. *Muhammad became increasingly disturbed by the idolatry and moral decay of the people of Mecca. At about the age of forty he began proclaiming monotheism, based on the Laws of Moses and the prophets of the Old Testament. [Quran 2:136] Say ye: “We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma’il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in obedience).”
I mention his birthplace, tribe, wife, children, nurse-mother, etc. to better acquaint him to the non-Muslim reader. I mention his confrontation early in his ministry with his followers as well as his detractors who insisted that he produce a supernatural ‘sign’ (as in a miracle). *He claimed to be a prophet foretold in the Torah: “God’s messenger {Muhammad} said to him, “I adjure you, Jew, by God who sent down the Torah to Moses, do you find in the Torah any description of me, or anything about my coming forth?”[1]
The Jews rejected his claim of being foretold and insisted that he was one of them; a follower of the religion of Abraham and Moses, which resulted in the founding of Islam.
[1] Al Hadith Baihaqi transmitted it in Dala’il al-Nubuwa
Chapter Five - The Dead Sea Scrolls:
In 1947, a young Palestinian shepherd searching for a stray goat at Qumran, a village by the shore of the Dead Sea in the Judean desert, entered a long untouched cave and found jars filled with over 18,000 ancient scrolls. Among them were copies of all the books of the Old Testament, except for the book of Ezra of which only a few paragraphs were found.
Included were fifteen copies of the book of Isaiah dating from 100BC to 25BC, which, when compared to current versions of the Old Testament were practically word-for-word translations. Incidentally, the books of Isaiah are among the best preserved; whether by chance or Providence, they contain most of the prophecies that foretell the coming of a suffering messiah.
Chapter Three - Has the Torah been altered?
Though Islam was founded upon the *Laws of *Moses (Torah), and the ‘writings of the prophets’[1] (which comprise all thirty-nine books of the Old Testament), Muslims refuse to read it because they believe it has been altered. I give the Muslim reader irrefutable evidence from the *Quran, Islam’s most reliable source, that *Muhammad accused the Jewish people of inventing new doctrines and concealing the truth, but not of altering the Torah. ‘Muhammad replied[2] “but you have invented new doctrines, and you deny that which is therein…you conceal what you have been commanded to show to mankind.’” I will go searching for the oldest and most reliable copy of the Torah. I will find it at Qumran, located at the shore of the Dead Sea in the Judean desert in the West Bank, where a young Palestinian Arab was tending his sheep. In search of a lost sheep he entered a cave where he found scrolls hid in jars that turned out to be over two thousand years old.
I encounter prophecy for the first time. I am fascinated by it and decide to explore its accuracy. It becomes apparent to me that my roots in Islam make it difficult for me to accept the Torah. I find it easier and more comfortable to only ‘accept’ and quote verses from the Torah that can be substantiated by the Dead Sea Scrolls.
I search for a prophecy that could be confirmed by secular means. I find it in the book of Isaiah. The DSS (Dead Sea Scrolls) include several copies of the entire book of Isaiah, where the prophet foretells the coming of a king whom he calls ‘Cyrus,’ and the role he plays in rebuilding the Temple at Jerusalem. Herodotus, the Greek historian, confirms the Biblical account. I come across a peculiar verse in the Book of Isaiah that foretells a virgin birth of a child: “Therefore the Lord will give you a sign; The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him [3]Immanuel.
[1] Quran 2:136
[2] Volume 4, Book 55, Number 652: Narrated Abu Huraira (Complete referenced quote found on page 88)
[3] God is with us