Jesus TEST

SOURCE: THE DEEN SHOW

CHRISTIANS – CAN YOU PASS ‘THE JESUS TEST’?

Who Really Follows Jesus? Take the Test & see

This “Test” was designed by former Christian and now Muslim chaplain, Yusuf Estes from Texas.

He asks us to take the test and find out once and for all —

Christians Claim – Jesus is “Son of God”

Muslims Say – Jesus is a “Prophet of God”

But the Real Question is –

“Who Really Follows Jesus?”

Test Your Knowledge of Jesus’ Teachings & Consider these 14 Interesting Questions:

An Introduction to the Message of the Prophets of The “Lost” and “Last” Testaments

1). Did Jesus teach eternal life was conditioned on obeying the commandments?

Yes ___ No __

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, “Master what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the Law? How do you read?” And he answered saying, “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him. You have answered right; do this, and you shall live.”

Luke 10: 25-28

God has only created us to worship Him (without partners).

Read Last Testament (Quran) Chapter 51, verse 56; chapter 4, verse 48; chapter 112, all verses

2). Did Jesus teach his followers to serve no other god, except Almighty God, and worship Him without any partners?

Yes ___ No ___

And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is,

“Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall worship Him with all your strength and all your might and all your soul and all your heart.”

Mark 12:29

He also replied to the devil who was trying to tempt him:

“Get thee behind me, Satan; for it is written, Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall you serve.”

Matthew 4:10

Read from the Last Testament (Quran) 4:48

God tells us that He never forgives anyone making partners in worship with Him, but anything less than this, He forgives whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Him in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.

3). Did Jesus order us to obey all the commandments?

Yes ___ No ___

According to the New Testament in Matthew, he did.

“Think not that I came to destroy the Law and the Prophets. I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily, I say unto you that until Heaven and earth pass away not a jot or one tittle shall no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled.”

Matthew 5:17-18

“And behold one came and said to him, Good teacher, what good things shall I do that I may have eternal life? So he said, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, this God. But if you want to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments.”

Matthew 19:16-17

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7:12

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:36-40

While ordering us to obey the “Law” it becomes obvious that he ordered his followers to obey the commandments of Almighty God.

4.) Did Jesus forbid bowing down to statues?

Yes ___ No ___

By insisting on following the “Law” (Old Testament), Jesus did in fact endorse the message that Moses had brought down to the children of Israel from Almighty God;

“Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them.”

5.) Did Jesus forbid anyone to worship him?

Yes ___ No ___

“But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Matthew 15:9

And in prophesying the Last Days, he clearly taught the same message:

“But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: For the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.”

John 4:23-24

6.) Did Jesus openly deny divinity (said he was not God)?

Yes___ No ___

“The Father is greater than I.” – John 14:28

7.) Did Jesus deny that he had the power of God to do his miracles?

Yes ___ No ___

“I do nothing of myself” – John 8:28

“Men of Israel listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you know.”

Acts 2:22

8.) Did Jesus deny any partners (Trinity) with Almighty God?

Yes ___ No ___

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

John 8:42

Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

John 8:54

…and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

John 20:17

9.) Did Jesus forbid the Christmas tree?

Yes ___ No ___

“Thus says the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.”

Jeremiah 10:2-4

10.) Did Jesus teach that males should be circumcised?

Yes ___ No ___

Genesis 17:10-11 says he did. “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every man child among you shall be circumcised. Any you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between me and you.”

John the Baptist was circumcised (Luke 1:59) as was Jesus himself (Luke 2:21)

11.) Did Jesus forbid eating pork?

Yes ___ No ___

“And swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he chews not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall you not eat, and their carcass shall you not touch, they are unclean to you.”

Leviticus 11:7-8 And Exodus 20:4-5

12.) Was Jesus a prophet?

Yes ___ No ___

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.

Luke 24:19

The woman said unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

John 4:19

They say unto the blind man again, What do you say of him, that he has opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

John 9:17

13.) Did Jesus predict the coming of another prophet, like unto him?

Yes ___ No ___

Consider from the Bible, things that are most compatible with Islam, for instance the teaching of John 16:7-8

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

John 16:7-8

14.) What does the “Last Testament” (Quran) say on these same subjects. Does it agree?

Yes ___ No ___

… Jesus, the son of Mary, said, “O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Almighty God to you – confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.”

Surah As-Saff 61 verse 6

OK. You took the test – What is the Answer?

Who Really Follows Jesus?

________

Any good is from Allah the mistakes were from myself. May Allah guide all of us to His Truth, ameen.

BONUS QUESTION - THE SWORD

The word "Sword" appears in the Bible over 200 times, many in the New Testament. 

Salam alaykum – Yusuf Estes

National Muslim Chaplain

Articles and Answers are from: Yusuf Estes, National Muslim chaplain. He is an American born, former Christian, and as a student of many excellent scholars, he only offers assistance to provide accurate authentic information in easy English to questions about Islam Muslims.

Copy and paste:

14 August 2022 > 17 Muharam 1444H: 8.39 pm

Why Science Cant Explain God

SUMBER: MY MASJID NET

Let me explain the problem science has with God. At an educational institution: Professing to be wise, they became fools...

The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Muslim, aren't you, son?"

"Yes, sir."

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

The professor grins knowingly and considers for a moment.

"Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help them? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"Why not say that? You would help a sick and maimed person if you could in fact most of us would if we could...God doesn't."

[No answer]

"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Muslim who died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. How is this God good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

[No answer]

The elderly man is sympathetic. "No, you can't, can you?"

He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

In philosophy, you have to go easy with the new ones. Let's start again, young fella." "Is God good?"

"Er... Yes."

"Is Satan good?"

"No."

"Where does Satan come from?" The student falters.

"From... God..."

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?" The elderly man runs his bony fingers through his thinning hair and turns to the smirking, student audience.

"I think we're going to have a lot of fun this semester, ladies and gentlemen."

He turns back to the Muslim. "Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? Did God make everything?"

"Yes."

"Who created evil?"

[No answer]

"Is there sickness in this world? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All the terrible things - do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"Who created them? "

[No answer]

The professor suddenly shouts at his student. "WHO CREATED THEM? TELL ME, PLEASE!"

The professor closes in for the kill and climbs into the Muslim's face. In a still small voice, "God created all evil, didn't He, son?"

[No answer]

The student tries to hold the steady, experienced gaze and fails. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace the front of the classroom like an aging panther.The class is mesmerised.

"Tell me," he continues, "How is it that this God is good if He created all evil throughout all time?" The professor swishes his arms around to encompass the wickedness of the world.

"All the hatred, the brutality, all the pain, all the torture, all the death and ugliness and all the suffering created by this good God is all over the world, isn't it, young man?"

[No answer]

"Don't you see it all over the place? Huh?"

Pause.

"Don't you?"

The professor leans into the student's face again and whispers, Is God good?"

[No answer]

"Do you believe in God, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks.

"Yes, professor. I do." The old man shakes his head sadly.

"Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you.

You have never seen God, Have you?"

"No, sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your God?"

"No, sir. I have not."

"Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God or smelt your God... in fact, do you have any sensory perception of your God whatsoever?"

[No answer]

"Answer me, please."

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"You're AFRAID... you haven't?"

"No, sir."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"... yes..."

"That takes FAITH!" The professor smiles sagely at the underling. 

According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son? Where is your God now?"

[The student doesn't answer]

"Sit down, please." The Muslim sits... Defeated.

Another Muslim raises his hand. "Professor, may I address the class?"

The professor turns and smiles. "Ah, another Muslim in the vanguard! Come, come, young man. Speak some proper wisdom to the gathering."

The Muslim looks around the room. "Some interesting points you are making, sir. Now I've got a question for you."

"Is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"Is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No, sir, there isn't."

The professor's grin freezes. The room suddenly goes very cold.

The second Muslim continues, "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat but we don't have anything called 'cold'.

We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold, otherwise we would be able to go colder than 458. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold."

"Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence. A pin drops somewhere in the classroom.

"Is there such a thing as darkness, professor?"

"That's a dumb question, son. What is night if it isn't darkness? What are you getting at...?"

"So you say there is such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes..."

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something, it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, Darkness isn't. 

If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker and give me a jar of it.

Can you... give me a jar of darker darkness, Professor?"

Despite himself, the professor smiles at the young effrontery before him. This will indeed be a good semester.

"Would you mind telling us what your point is, young man?"

"Yes, professor.. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must be in error..."

"The professor goes toxic. "Flawed...? How dare you...!"

"Sir, may I explain what I mean?"

The class is all ears.

"Explain... oh, explain..." The professor makes an admirable effort to regain control. Suddenly he is affability itself. He waves his hand to silence the class, for the student to continue.

"You are working on the premise of duality," the Muslim explains.That for example there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.

Sir, science cannot even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism but has never seen, much less fully understood them. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

"Death is not the opposite of life, merely the absence of it." 

The young man holds up a newspaper he takes from the desk of a neighbour who has been reading it.

"Here is one of the most disgusting tabloids this country hosts, professor.

Is there such a thing as immorality?"

"Of course there is, now look..."

"Wrong again, sir. You see, immorality is merely the absence of morality.

Is there such thing as injustice? No." Injustice is the absence of justice. Is there such a thing as evil?"

The Muslim pauses.

"Isn't evil the absence of good?"

The professor's face has turned an alarming colour. He is so angry he is temporarily speechless.

The Muslim continues. "If there is evil in the world, professor, and we all agree there is, then God, if he exists, must be accomplishing a work through the agency of evil. What is that work, God is accomplishing?

Islam tells us it is to see if each one of us will, choose good over evil."

The professor bridles. "As a philosophical scientist, I don't vie this matter as having anything to do with any choice; as a realist, I absolutely do not recognize the concept of God or any other theological factor as being part of the world equation because God is not observable."

"I would have thought that the absence of God's moral code in this world is probably one of the most observable phenomena going," the Muslim replies.

"Newspapers make billions of dollars reporting it every week! Tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor makes a sucking sound with his teeth and gives his student a silent, stony stare..

"Professor. Since no-one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? 

Are you now not a scientist, but a priest?"

"I will overlook your impudence in the light of our philosophical discussion.

Now, have you quite finished?" the professor hisses.

"So you don't accept God's moral code to do what is righteous?"

"I believe in what is - that's science!"

"Ahh! SCIENCE!" the student's face splits into a grin.

"Sir, you rightly state that science is the study of observed phenomena. Science too is a premise which is flawed..."

"SCIENCE IS FLAWED..?" the professor splutters. The class is in uproar.

The Muslim remains standing until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, may I give you an example of what I mean?"

The professor wisely keeps silent. The Muslim looks around the room.

"Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen air, oxygen, molecules, atoms, the professor's brain?"

The class breaks out in laughter. The Muslim points towards his elderly, crumbling tutor.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain... felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain?"

No one appears to have done so.

The Muslim shakes his head sadly, "It appears no-one here has had any sensory perception of the professor's brain whatsoever. Well, according to the rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science, I DECLARE that the professor has no brain!"

The Muslim sits... Because that is what a chair is for!!!

MORAL of the story (my comment):

We Muslims should be very knowledgable in many fields so that we can easily debate over our religion confidently. If you have knowledge nobody can look down on you. But this doesn't mean that you seek knowledge for fame or to show off. Knowledge comes from Allah, He gives you knowledge for a purpose. Therefore, seek knowledge for Allah, go deep into it, and always relate your knowledge with our religion. Remember, KNOWLEDGE IS POWERFUL!!

"Aslih nafsak wad'u ghairak"

With regards,

Suryani Mohamad. 

Copy and paste: 22/11/2020 @ 7 Rabiulakhir 1442H: 11.23 pm

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ISLAM?

"It (Islam) replaced monkishness by manliness. It gives hope to the slave, brotherhood to mankind, and recognition of the fundamental facts of human nature."

- Canon Taylor in "The Preaching of Islam" pg 71-72. Oct 7, 1887

"History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated."

- De Lacy O'Leary : "Islam at the Crossroad", London 1923, pg 8

"Sense of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I read in the Qur'an I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole world."

- Sarojini Naidu lectures on "The Ideal of Islam" Madras, 1918 pg 167

"But Islam has a still further service to render to the cause of humanity. It stands after all nearer to the real East than Europe does, and it possesses a magnificent tradition of inter-racial understanding and cooperation. No other society has such a record of success uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity, and of endeavours so many and so various races of mankind . . . Islam has still the power to reconcile apparently irreconcilable elements of race and tradition. If ever the opposition of the great societies of East and West is to be replaced by cooperation, the mediation of Islam is an indispensable condition. In its hands lies very largely the solution of the problem with which Europe is faced in its relation with East. If they unite, the hope of a peaceful issue is immeasurably enhanced. But if Europe, by rejecting the cooperation of Islam, throws it into the arms of its rivals, the issue can only be disastrous for both."

- H.A.R Gibb in "Whither Islam" , London 1932 pg 379

"If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam."

“I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity."

"I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”

- George Bernard Shaw in "The Genuine Islam", Vol. 1 No. 81936

"The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue."

- A.J. Toynbee in "Civilization on Trial" , New York 1948 pg. 205

"The rise of Islam is perhaps the most amazing event in human history. Springing from a land and a people like previously negligible, Islam spread within a century over half the earth, shattering great empires, overthrowing long established religions, remoulding the souls of races, and building up a whole new world - world of Islam.

"The closer we examine this development the more extraordinary does it appear. The other great religions won their way slowly, by painful struggle and finally triumphed with the aid of powerful monarchs converted to the new faith. Christianity had its Constantine, Buddhism its Asoka, and Zoroastrianism its Cyrus, each lending to his chosen cult the mighty force of secular authority. Not so Islam. Arising in a desert land sparsely inhabited by a nomad race previously undistinguished in human annals, Islam sallied forth on its great adventure with the slenderest human backing and against the heaviest material odds. Yet Islam triumphed with seemingly miraculous ease, and a couple of generations saw the Fiery Crescent borne victorious from the Pyrenees to the Himalayas and from the desert of Central Asia to the deserts of Central Africa."

- A.M.L Stoddard quoted in "Islam - The Religion of All Prophets", Begum Bawani Waqf, Karachi , Pakistan, pg. 56

"Islam is a religion that is essentially rationalistic in the widest sense of this term considered etymologically and historically. The definition of rationalism as a system that bases religious beliefs on principles furnished by the reason applies to it exactly . . . It cannot be denied that many doctrines and systems of theology and also many superstitions, from the worship of saints to the use of rosaries and amulets, have become grafted on the main trunk of Muslim creed. But in spite of the rich developments, in every sense of the term, of the teachings of the Prophet, the Quran has invariable kept its place as the fundamental starting point, and the dogma of unity of God has always been proclaimed therein with a grandeur, a majesty, an invariable purity and with a note of sure conviction, which it is hard to find surpassed outside the pale of Islam. This fidelity to the fundamental dogma of the religion, the elemental simplicity of the formula in which it is enunciated, the proof that it gains from the fervid conviction of the missionaries who propagate it, are so many causes to explain the success of Muhammadan missionary efforts. A creed so precise, so stripped of all theological complexities and consequently so accessible to the ordinary understanding might be expected to possess and does indeed possess a marvelous power of winning its way into the consciences of men."

- Edward Montet  in "La Propagande Chretienne et ses Adversaries Musulmans," Paris, 1890; Quoted by T.W. Arnold in THE PREACHING OF ISLAM, London, 1913, pp. 413-414.

"I am not a Muslim in the usual sense, though I hope I am a "Muslim" as "one surrendered to God," but I believe that embedded in the Quran and other expressions of the Islamic vision are vast stores of divine truth from which I and other occidentals have still much to learn, and 'Islam is certainly a strong contender for the supplying of the basic framework of the one religion of the future.'"

--W. Montgomery Watt, ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY TODAY, London, 1983, p. ix.

"Europe was darkened at sunset, Cordova shone with public lamps; Europe was dirty, Cordova built a thousand baths; Europe was covered with vermin, Cordova changed its undergarments daily; Europe lay in mud, Cordova’s streets were paved; Europe’s palaces had smoke-holes in the ceiling, Cordova’s arabesques were exquisite; Europe’s nobility could not sign its name, Cordova’s children went to school; Europe’s monks could not read the baptismal service, Cordova’s teachers created a library of Alexandrian dimensions."
- Victor Robinson in "The Story of Medicine" 

"It will suffice here to evoke a few glorious names without contemporary equivalents in the West: Jabir ibn Haiyan, al-Kindi, al-Khwarizmi, al-Fargani, al-Razi, Thabit ibn Qurra, al-Battani, Hunain ibn Ishaq, al-Farabi, Ibrahim ibn Sinan, al-Masudi, al-Tabari, Abul Wafa, 'Ali ibn Abbas, Abul Qasim, Ibn al-Jazzar, al-Biruni, Ibn Sina, Ibn Yunus, al-Kashi, Ibn al-Haitham, 'Ali Ibn 'Isa al-Ghazali, al-zarqab, Omar Khayyam. A magnificent array of names which it would not be difficult to extend. If anyone tells you that the Middle Ages were scientifically sterile, just quote these men to him, all of whom flourished within a short period, 750 to 1100 A.D."

- George Sarton in "Introduction to the History of Science"

"It was under the influence of the Arab and Moor revival of culture and not in the 15th century that a real renaissance took place. Spain, not Italy, was the cradle of the rebirth of Europe….. Science was the most momentous contribution of Arab civilization to the modern world, but its fruits were slow in ripening. Not until long after Moorish culture had sunk back into darkness did the giant, which it had given birth to, the rise in his might. It was not science only which brought Europe back to life. Other and manifold influence from the civilization of Islam communicated its first glow to European Life."
- Robert Briffault in "The Making of Humanity".

"Within a brief span of mortal life, Muhammad called forth of unpromising material, a nation, never welded before; in a country that was hitherto but a geographical expression he established a religion which in vast areas suppressed Christianity and Judaism, and laid the basis of an empire that was soon to embrace within its far flung boundaries the fairest provinces the then civilized world."

- Philip K. Hitti  in "History of the Arabs"

"The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only."

"A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be earnest. He was to kindle the world, the world’s Maker had ordered so."

- Thomas Carlyle in "Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History",1840

"The picture of Muslim Soldier advancing with the sword in one hand and the Qur'an in the other is quite false."

- A.S. Tritton in "Islam". 1951

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the secular and religious level. ...It is probable that the relative influence of Muhammad on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul on Christianity. ...It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history."

- Michael H.Hart in "The 100 Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History." New York, 1978.

Phillip Hitti in 'Short History of the Arabs.'

"During all the first part of the Middle Ages, no other people made as important a contribution to human progress as did the Arabs, if we take this term to mean all those whose mother-tongue was Arabic, and not merely those living in the Arabian peninsula. For centuries, Arabic was the language of learning, culture and intellectual progress for the whole of the civilized world with the exception of the Far East. From the IXth to the XIIth century there were more philosophical, medical, historical, religiuos, astronomical and geographical works written in Arabic than in any other human tongue."

Napolean Bonaparte as Quoted in Christian Cherfils, 'Bonaparte et Islam,' Pedone Ed., Paris, France, 1914, pp. 105, 125.

Original References: "Correspondance de Napoléon Ier Tome V pièce n° 4287 du 17/07/1799; profession de foi, voir aussi pièce n° 3148. Also, Journal inédit de Ste Hélène, de 1815 à 1818" du Gal Baron Gourgaud -2 tomes- Ed. Flammarion.

"Moses has revealed the existence of God to his nation. Jesus Christ to the Roman world, Muhammad to the old continent...

"Arabia was idolatrous when, six centuries after Jesus, Muhammad introduced the worship of the God of Abraham, of Ishmael, of Moses, and Jesus. The Ariyans and some other sects had disturbed the tranquility of the east by agitating the question of the nature of the Father, the son, and the Holy Ghost. Muhammad declared that there was none but one God who had no father, no son and that the trinity imported the idea of idolatry...

"I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able to unite all the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of Qur'an which alone are true and which alone can lead men to happiness."

[Note: Some Muslim historians have suggested that Asad bin Al Furat, the commander of Muslim forces in Sicily [see 827 CE in Muslim History], is the progenitor of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). Asad's descendants were known as 'Banu Furat'; for other such names see 1031 CE. One of Napoleon's brother-in-law was Joachim Murat.]

"In the last three years, I became interested in the Qur'an... From my studies and what I have learned throughout this conference, I believe that everything that has been recorded in the Qur'an fourteen hundred years ago must be the truth, that can be proved by the scientific means.

Since the Prophet Muhammad could neither read nor write, Muhammad must be a messenger who relayed this truth which was revealed to him as an enlightenment by the one who is eligible creator. This creator must be God, or Allah.

I think this is the time to say La ilaha illa Allah, there is no god to worship except Allah (God), Muhammad rasoolu Allah, Muhammad is Messenger of Allah...

The most precious thing I have gained from coming to this conference is La ilaha illa Allah, and to have become Muslim."

Tejatat Tejasen - Faculty of Medicine, University of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

"Thinking where Muhammad came from... I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years with very complicated and advanced technological methods that this is the case."

"Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics 1400 years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind for instance that the earth and the heavens had the same origin, or many others of the questions that we have discussed here...

If you combine all these and you combine all these statements that are being made in the Qur'an in terms that relate to the earth and the formation of the earth and science in general, you can basically say that statements made there in many ways are true, they can now be confirmed by scientific methods, and in a way, you can say that the Qur'an is a simple science text book for the simple man. And that many of the statements made in there at that time could not be proven, but that modern scientific methods are now in a position to prove what Muhammad said 1400 years ago."

Alfred Kroner - Department of Geoscience, University of Mainz, Germany

"For the past three years, I have worked with the Embryology Committee of King cAbdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, helping them to interpret the many statements in the Qur'an and Sunnah referring to human reproduction and prenatal development. At first I was astonished by the accuracy of the statements that were recorded in the 7th century AD, before the science of embryology was established. Although I was aware of the glorious history of Muslim scientists in the 10th century AD, and some of their contributions to Medicine, I knew nothing about the religious facts and beliefs contained in the Qur'an and Sunnah."

"It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur'an about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, or Allah, because most of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God, or Allah."

Prof. Keith L.Moore – Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Toronto.

"I have to say I did not really have any choice in the matter. Allah subhanau wata'ala had His eyes on me, and that was it from that moment on … He led me down a path from where there was no turning back from, because the more I got to know about Islam, about Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, [the more] it became obvious to me that this is where I wanted to belong and it is what I wanted to be."

(Marilyn Mornington is a District Judge in England, an international lecturer, and writer on family law including domestic violence.

“Islam is the only religion in the world that follows a book directly from God.”

“The Holy Quran is still in the same format and style as it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from Almighty Allah.”

“I was well-known in India for my atheist theology and later I came to realize that religion is the only way out for human beings both in the world as well as in the hereafter.”

(Dr. Periyadarshan – well known Indian Psychotherapist and former Atheist. Embraced Islam in 2010.)

Reference :

http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/quote1.html#hitti

17 June 2020 / 26 Syawal 1441H: 10.27 pm

Islam 101 - Lesson 6 (Part 3) : REVELATION - QURAN & SCIENCE

By Sister Mary

The Quran contains various statements and descriptions about “natural” phenomena which were recorded over 1400 years ago, at a time when little was known about them. Since then, advancement in science and technology has allowed man to uncover the mysteries behind them and the findings have proven consistent with the statements in the Quran. Not only has the Quran withstood the test of time, it has humbled many into accepting it to be word of God in the absence of any other plausible explanation.

THE QURAN ON HUMAN EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT

Dr. E. Marshall Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Thomas Jefferson University said: “The Quran describes not only the development of external form, but emphasizes also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasizing major events recognized by contemporary science... As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I knew today and describing things, I could not describe the things which were described. I see no evidence for the fact to refute the concept that this individual, Muhammad, had to be developing this information from some place. So I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write.”

Professor Emeritus Keith L. Moore, one of the world’s most prominent scientists in the fields of anatomy and embryology said: “It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Quran about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God.” To a question of whether he believed that the Quran is the word of God, he replied: “I find no difficulty in accepting this.”

THE QURAN ON THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE

“Have not those who disbelieved known that the heavens and the earth were one connected entity, then We separated them?...” (Quran, 21:30) Dr. Alfred Kroner, one of the world’s renowned geologists, said: “Thinking where Muhammad came from… I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this is the case… Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin.”

THE QURAN ON IRON

"We sent down Iron with its great inherent strength and its many benefits for humankind" (Quran 57:25). God uses the words ‘sent down’ for Iron. It is clear from the verse that Iron is not an earthly material, but was sent down for the benefit of humanity. It was only in early 20th century that science caught up. "When the supernova explodes, it shoots out carbon, oxygen, and iron atoms all over the Universe, and eventually gravity sucks these atoms into new planets like Earth. All of the iron on Earth was originally inside stars." http://quatr.us/chemistry/atoms/iron.htm

THE QURAN ON MOUNTAINS

Some 1400 years ago, the Quran said this of mountains: “Have We not made the earth as a bed, and the mountains as pegs?” (Quran, 78:6-7) Modern earth sciences have proven that mountains have deep roots under the surface of the ground which can reach several times their elevations above the surface of the ground. So the most suitable word to describe mountains on the basis of this information is the word ‘peg,’ since most of a properly set peg is hidden under the surface of the ground. The theory of mountains having deep roots was introduced only in the latter half of the 19th century. Mountains also play an important role in stabilizing the crust of the earth. They hinder the shaking of the earth. “And He has set firm mountains in the earth so that it would not shake with you...”(Quran, 16:15) Likewise, the modern theory of plate tectonics holds that mountains work as stabilizers for the earth. This knowledge about the role of mountains as stabilizers for the earth has just begun to be understood in the framework of plate tectonics since the late 1960’s.

THE QURAN ON SEAS AND RIVERS

Modern science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier that divides them so that each has its own temperature, salinity, and density. An example of this is when the Mediterranean sea water enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill. Although there are large waves, strong currents, and tides in these seas, they do not mix or transgress this barrier. This phenomenon was mentioned in the Quran. “He has set free the two seas meeting together. There is a barrier between them. They do not transgress.” (Quran, 55:19-20)

THE QURAN ON DEEP SEAS AND INTERNAL WAVES

“...in a deep sea. It is covered by waves, above which are waves, above which are clouds....” (24:40).

These “waves above which are waves” have been recently discovered to be internal waves which “occur on density interfaces between layers of different densities.” The internal waves cover the deep waters of seas and oceans because the deep waters have a higher density than the waters above them. Internal waves act like surface waves. They can also break, just like surface waves. Internal waves cannot be seen by the human eye, but they can be detected by studying temperature or salinity changes at a given location.

All this from an illiterate man (peace be upon him) who lived his entire life in the desert!

FURTHER READING

As it’s simply not possible to condense this topic into a 3-minute lesson, I’ve merely extracted and summarised some instances of recent scientific discoveries confirming the revelations in the Quran to be accurate. I strongly recommend you read this full text for a more detailed description (complete with diagrams) http://www.islam-guide.com/frm-ch1-1-h.htm

[Islam 101 is specially brought to you by sister Mary, Vice President of MRM]

Resource : From Facebook

27 June 2016 (22 Ramadhan 1437H)

Islam 101 : Lesson 6 (Part 2) : REVELATION

by Sister Mary

THE QURAN

Muslims believe the Quran to be the word of God, revealed more than 1400 years ago through Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The scene is Makkah, Arabia. Muhammad (peace be upon him), illiterate and orphaned in early childhood, was a merchant well-known for his honesty which earned him the nicknames “Al Amin” meaning "faithful, trustworthy" and "Al Sadiq" meaning "truthful". At age 40, he received the first of many revelations from God which were to be revealed to him over a period of 23 years, collectively known as the Quran. The content, style and depth of the Quran were so unique and astounding, the Arabs who prided themselves on their amazing literary talents, were left dumbfounded and perplexed as to how and from where Muhammad (peace be upon him) could have produced it.

Commenting on the Quran, Harry Gaylord Dorman said: “Its miraculous quality resides partly in its style, so perfect, and so lofty that neither men nor jinn could produce a single chapter to compare with its briefest chapter, and partly in its content of teachings, prophecies of the future, and amazingly accurate information such as the illiterate Muhammad (peace be upon him) could never have gathered of his own accord.”

PRESERVATION AND AUTHENTICITY

How do we know that the Quran hasn’t been altered (intentionally or otherwise) and that what we have today remains as it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) 1400 years ago?

Furthermore, as the Quran was sent down as the FINAL testament, it would be imperative for it to be preserved and withstand the test of time. To this end, Allah promises us that He will preserve and protect it “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.” [15:9] How has this preservation been achieved?

The Quran has been transmitted both verbally and in writing by numerous persons in an unbroken and verified chain starting from the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to this very day. It was preserved in numerous different ways even during the Prophet’s lifetime: he had the text committed to writing by scribes, many of his companions learned, and memorized the Quran in its entirety by heart (their memorization strengthened by their daily recitation during prayers) and a considerable number of literate companions kept private records of the text. The first Caliph Abu Bakar collected all written records of the Quran and collated them in book form and in the era of the 3rd Caliph Uthman, many copies were prepared and distributed and became the standard manuscripts of the Quran which form the basis of subsequent copies found today in any regular mosque, bookstore & Muslim household (or smartphone!).

The Quran stands out as the only religious scripture in the world that can be readily found all over the world in its ORIGINAL LANGUAGE and FORM, completely unchanged & with only ONE VERSION. For instance, every word of the Quran on my bedside table and phone application matches that of this ancient copy recently discovered (http://www.aljazeera.com/…/world-oldest-quran-manuscripts-u… ) as well as many other copies that are on display in major museums. And any attempt to change even a single word of it can be immediately detected by the millions today who have memorized it.

The Quran isn’t some archaic document of which only a handful of copies still exist, written in a language that is almost lost, accessible to only a select few. It is well alive, revealed and preserved in a language that is still used & understood by millions, and memorized & recited daily in almost every corner of the world.

INFALLIBILITY OF THE QURAN

Any book that claims to be from God must be able to pass the “litmus test” - it must be PERFECT and free from error since its author God is perfect and infallible. As if to challenge its reader to show otherwise, immediately after the opening chapter, the Quran boldly declares itself to be free of error: “This is the Book about which there is NO DOUBT, a guidance for those conscious of Allah” [2:1]. This then, sets the stage and tone for the incredible content that is to follow.

Dr Gary Miller asserted that “Calling the Quran amazing is not something done only by Muslims who have an appreciation for the book, and who are pleased with it. It has been labelled amazing even by non Muslims as well. In fact, even people who hate Islam very much have still called it amazing. One thing which surprises non Muslims who are examining the book very closely is that the Quran does not appear to them to be what they expected. What they assume is that they have an old book which came fourteen centuries ago from the Arabian desert, and they expect that the book should look something like an old book from the desert. And they find out that it does not resemble what they expected at all.”

What, then, is so amazing about it? In the coming lessons, we will discuss the miraculous nature of the Quran from a scientific, historical and linguistic perspective.

[Islam 101 is specially brought to you by sister Mary, Vice President of MRM]

Sources:

1. Islam the Misunderstood Religion, Dr Danial Zainal Abidin

2. Towards Understanding Islam, Harry Gaylord Dorman

3. The Amazing Quran, Gary Miller

Further reading:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4hidx_fTcM

Resource : Facebook 

20.6.2016

Islam 101 - Lesson 6 (Part 1) : REVELATION

By Sister Mary

Some of us have no trouble accepting that God exists, or are open to the possibility that He does. But some of us have difficulty venturing beyond that and reject organized religion because of the notion that religion is man-made. And then there are those of us who have been automatically following a particular faith because we were born into it but have not considered if we are upon the Truth. So how do we know if a particular faith we have chosen is in fact from God and not the product of humans?

This question is one that is crucial to be asked because:-

- If the teachings of a particular religion are the product of humans, then (notwithstanding that it may be attractive, intelligent or otherwise appealing) it will not bring us towards fulfilling the purpose that God has set for us because it is not from Him but merely from His creations, formulated based on their limited human capacity and to serve their personal purpose.

- The time and effort that we spend living by these man-made rules and principles would be wasted because we would have ultimately been barking up the wrong tree. 

- If we have conviction that the teachings we are following are from God, our motivation for adherence to the teachings will be to please God and not blind-following without understanding or aimless/empty practices done for the sake of pleasing other people. (How many of us perform certain rituals but have absolutely no idea why it’s done or where it came from?)

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PATH

Let’s assume that several paths lie ahead of us, one of which will lead us to our dream destination. The other paths will take us elsewhere, to places we don’t want to go. And once we reach the destination, there’s no turning back. Some paths may be laden with beautiful gardens along the way, and others may take us through thorny bushes, while some may have a mix of both. Clearly, it would be pointless to choose the path with beautiful gardens if the destination is ultimately wrong, no matter how much fun we have along the way. On the other hand, the path that leads us to our dream destination will be worth taking even if we have to endure some thorny bushes along the way. Ultimately, it’s the destination that matters and our choice should be made based on what gets us to our dream destination and not based on which path looks more attractive, interesting or convenient.

How then, do we determine if the religion we are following is from God and that it’s the right path that will lead us to the right destination?

THE MAP - SCRIPTURES

Muslims believe that the purpose of life and the map that leads to the right path have been communicated by God to humans throughout human history, beginning from the very first human being that ever lived, Adam. These communications were in the form of revelations made to selected human beings chosen by God, known as Prophets and Messengers. Prophets and Messengers will be discussed in the following lessons, insyaaAllah.

Unlike what many non Muslims may think, Muslims do not believe the Quran to be the only scripture revealed by God. They believe that it is the last and final scripture revealed to mankind, after which there will be no more divine revelations from God, but they also believe in other scriptures sent down by Allah. In fact, belief in all scriptures sent down by God is compulsory for a Muslim.

Muslims uphold and respect the following scriptures: 

(i) The Quran itself, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

(ii) The Gospel (Injeel in Arabic) revealed to Prophet Jesus

(iii) The Torah (Tawrah in Arabic) revealed to the Prophet Moses.

(iv) The Psalms (Zaboor in Arabic) of David.

(v) The Scrolls (Suhuf in Arabic) of Moses and Abraham.

as they were originally revealed. Islam affirms that God revealed the Quran as a witness over the previous scriptures and as a confirmation of them, because He says in the Quran:

"And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (the Quran) in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it and trustworthy in highness and a witness over it (the collection of old scriptures)…" (Quran 5:48)

THE QURAN

Muslims believe that the Quran is the word of God revealed to all of mankind as a guidance for them (the map that shows the right path) and that it represents the final communication from God and that the Quran doesn’t denounce, but supercedes, all previous scriptures. A Muslim’s life is dedicated to upholding and implementing the FINAL revelation, the Quran.

How do Muslims know that the Quran is a revelation from God and not man-made? Look out for the next lesson where we will explore the divine origin of the Quran.

[Islam 101 is specially brought to you by sister Mary, Vice President of MRM]

10.6.2016