Being brought up a Christian with my uncles being Ministers, it is so important to me to be able to answer questions that Christians may have. During my childhood I believed in One God but was told differently by those around me(my family), even though it was expected that I believe in the way that my whole family believed and be a Christian, I could not. Because at this young age I saw through there belief and felt that it was very wrong to put a partner with God and that God was One and that Allah was the only One worthy of worship. Thus I became a Muslim.
A Muslim sister of mine sent me a group of questions to answer for a Christian and i thought that it may benefit others when Christian may ask you some of the following questions. Through my experience in dawah to the Christians the questions over the years have been somewhat the same.
Question 1: Do Muslims believe that anyone who submits to God is essentially Muslim, whether they call themselves that or not? Example, would a Christian or a Jew who does not read the Qur’an but who submits to God be considered Muslim
There is a difference between believing in God and submitting to God.
Our God and your God is one
( Qur’aan 29:46 )
In the Qur’aanAllah informs us to remind the Christians and Jews that ‘our God and your God is one,’ with God being The Creator of the universe, The Most Glorious, The Most High. This is an aspect which brings Muslims, Christians and Jews together in dialogue.
Say, ‘O people of the book! Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.’
(Qur’aan3:64 )
However once this dialogue is opened, then there is an important difference which needs to be immediately discussed and resolved. Allah instructs us to say to the Christians and Jews that we ‘come to a word that is just between us and you.’ Allah explains this just word by saying ‘that we worship none but Allah and that we associate no partners with Him and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.’ So the just word and the common term and the essential step that will bring together our hearts and unify our ranks is that we all worship God alone without associating partners with Him of any kind. We pray to Him; seek forgiveness from Him; seek refuge in Him; sacrifice for Him; direct all acts of worship to Him while believing He is One without any partners of nay kind.
Say, ‘Allah is Unique. Allah The Eternal. He neither begets nor was begotten. And there is none comparable to Him.’
(Qur’aan 112:1-4 )
Associating partners with God breaks down the belief of pure monotheism. Some Jewish sects believe Ezra is the son of God. The Christians believe Jesus is the son of God with some sects believing Jesus to be God. This belief is a departure from pure monotheism for God is One, Unique, Absolute and Eternal. He is alone without parents, lineage, ancestral trace or genealogy. He is alone without any sons, daughters, children or grandchildren. He is alone without any peers of any kind. This is pure monotheism, the religion of Abraham and the call to Islam. Once one affirms faith in pure monotheism and follows up this belief by the act and state of worshipping God alone then that person has made a declaration of submission. So Jews and Christians may believe in God but they do not believe in His Pure Oneness nor do they direct all acts of worship to God alone. Hence they have not submitted to Him.
Question 2: How do Muslims accept the Qur’an, the Torah, and the Bible all at once when they have distinct differences? Believing the Torah means believing the Old Testament with all the stories of Noah, King David, the Tabernacle, etc, and it also has all the prophesies that point toward the coming of a Messiah. Believing in the Bible means accepting the Old AND New Testaments, which includes the idea of God as a Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the doctrine that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived, was crucified, and rose into Heaven after 3 days. It is not possible to believe the Bible and ignore what is written about God and Jesus, unless you count all the books that the disciples wrote as false. The Dead Sea scrolls prove that the disciples actually wrote the books when they say they did, which means that they were eyewitness accounts. Today we do not disregard eyewitness accounts, so why disregard the disciples? One could argue that it is more reasonable to believe multiple people that have stories which line up and who actually witnessed what they testify than it is to believe a man who has a vision from God. The Dead Sea scrolls also reveal that the versions of the Bible that we read today (although people have changed the dialect to make it more ‘modern’) still carry the same message and teachings in the Bible when it was first written.
There is a difference between accepting the original scriptures and accepting the current scriptures.
Say, ‘We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you.’ (Qur’aan29:46 )
Allah has instructed us to say to the Christians and Jews that ‘we believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you.’ This is an aspect which brings us together in dialogue as ‘people of the book.’ We believe in the Torah given to Moses, the Injeel given to Jesus and the Qur’aan given to Muhammad.
So woe to those who write the scripture with their own hands, then say, ‘this is from Allah.’
(Qur’aan2:79 )
However once we affirm this belief we clarify it with the belief that the previous scriptures have been changed, with truth mixed with falsehood. For this reason we only attest to and affirm faith in the original unadulterated Torah and Injeel in their original languages and original exact texts. So the current day Old and New Testaments contains truth from the original scriptures as well as falsehood which has been introduced. To clarify the truth Allah sent the Qur’aan as subsequent scripture but this time He did not entrust it to the people. Rather He Himself kept it preserved in its original language and verses. Through the Qur’aan the truths within the original Torah and Injeel once again became known and manifest.
Example 1:
And we gave Jesus, the son of Mary clear signs and supported him with the Holy Spirit (Ruh Al Qudus)
(Quran 2:87 )
Say not Three! Cease! It is better for you. For Allah is One God, glory is to Him above having a son. To him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.
(Qur’aan4:171 )
We believe that the Holy Spirit (Ruh Al Qudus) was sent to Jesus but we reject the idea of a trinity. The Holy Spirit is a name and attribute of Angel Gabriel who brought revelation to Jesus just like he brought revelation to Moses and Muhammad. As for the trinity itself then God is One and neither Gabriel the Holy Spirit nor Jesus the son of Mary is a part of Him in any way or form.
Example 2:
And to Solomon (We subjected) the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed.
(Qur’aan21:81 )
It was not Solomon who disbelieved but the devils who disbelieved, teaching people magic… (Qur’aan2:102 )
We believe Solomon was given certain miracles such as the ability to direct and ride upon the winds but we reject that he was a sorcerer as the Jews claim. Allah clarifies that the devils were the ones who circulated this rumor and they were the ones who taught Magic, while Solomon was a righteous Prophet who displayed miracles not by sorcery but by the leave of God as signs given to him.
Example 3:
And will make him a messenger to the children of Israel (saying), ‘I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, a figure like that of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by Allah’s Leave; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah’s Leave. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Surely therein is a sign for you, if you believe.’
(Quran 3:49 )
Verily, the likeness of Jesus before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, the said to him: “Be!” and he was.
(Qur’aan 3:59 )
Similarly we believe in Mary, the virgin birth, and the miracles given to Jesus including his healing of the lepers and the blind by the leave of his Lord. But we reject all suggestions that he was anything other than a Prophet and Messenger of God who ate, drank, slept and walked on the earth. The virgin birth was nothing more than a sign and decree from God just like the creation of Adam without a father or mother.
Through reading the Qur’aan everything becomes clear for the Qur’aan confirms the truth within the previous original scriptures while correcting the falsehood which has made its way into them. As Muslims we believe in all original scriptures, believing previous scriptures have been changed while the Qur’aan has been kept preserved in its original language and unchanged text, confirming the truths of old.
As for original accounts by the disciples or companions of the Prophets, then such accounts must be verified by checking the original language of the texts together with the unbroken chain of narration. We cannot simply assume that Jesus said this or Muhammad said that or one of their companions said something unless we have (1) the original text which has always been present from the start and (2) the original chain of narration. If the scholar Bukhaari collected a narration and attributed it to the Prophet then we need to know the (1) exact unbroken chain of narration such as Bukhaari-Bin Yusuf—Maalik—Zuhri—Anas—Prophet Muhammad; and (2) the biography and peer review of each narrator and (3) the original Arabic text collected by Bukhaari over 1000 years ago. Similarly, this is required for all statements from disciples and companions and so forth. Only through this vigorous science does Islam recognize historical accounts. Otherwise the reports cannot be accurately verified.
Question 3: Do Muslims believe in a coming Messiah?
And because of their saying, ‘We killed Messiah son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.’ But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared as that to them and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not. But Allah raised him up unto himself. And Allah is The All Powerful, The All Wise.
(Qur’aan 4:156-158 )
Muslims believe in the second coming of Jesus son of Mary, the Messiah who never died. The Jews claimed that they crucified him but Allah refutes their claim in the Qur’aan. Instead Allah raised him to the heavens while another person was crucified in his place. Thus Allah gave Jesus miracles from his entrance to his departure from the Earth. However his departure was not one of death. Rather he departed in body and soul until a time when he will descend. Prophet Muhammad described the events related to his second coming in numerous narrations. A few examples are given below:
Text 1: Decent of Jesus as a sign before the Day of Judgment
And He shall be a known sign for the hour
(Qur’aan 43:61 )
Text 2: Decent of Jesus in Damascus
Prophet Muhammad said, ‘Allah will send The Messiah, son of Mary down. He will descend close to the white minaret to the east of Damascus. He will be wearing garments lightly coloured with saffron and his hands will be placed on the wings of two angels. Whenever he lowers his head droplets fall. Whenever he raises his head, precious stones that look like pearls fall.’ (Saheeh of Muslim)
Text 3: The appearance of Jesus
Prophet Muhammad said, ‘The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but there religion is one. I, more than any of mankind, have more right to Jesus son of Mary, for there was no prophet between him and I. He will descend, and if you see him, know him. He is a well-built man, the color between red and white. He will descend while wearing two long, light yellow garments. His head appears to be dripping water, even though no moisture touched it.
(Musnad of Ahmad)
Text 4: Jesus will lead the Muslims
Muhammad said, ‘Jesus son of Mary will descend and lead the Muslims in prayer.’
(Saheeh of Muslim)
Text 5: Jesus will kill the False Messiah who will be followed by the Jews
Prophet Muhammad said, ‘No disbeliever can survive Jesus’s breath, which reaches the distance of his sight. He will pursue the False Messiah and will follow him to the doors of Ludd (in Israel today) where he will kill him.’
(Saheeh of Muslim)
Text 6: The Christians will accept Islam at the time of Jesus
And there is none of the people of the book, but must believe in him, before his death.
(Qur’aan 4:159 )
Text 7: Jesus will supplicate for God to destroy Gog and Magog
Prophet Muhammad said, ‘Then Allah will raise Gog and Magog, and they will swiftly swarm from every mound. Their front forces will reach the Sea of Galilee and will drink all its water. The last of their forces will say as they pass by the lake, “this lake once had water!” Meanwhile, Jesus Allah’s Prophet will be cornered along with his companions until the head of a bull will be more precious to them than a hundred dinar to you today. Jesus, the Prophet of Allah and his companions will invoke Allah for help and Allah will send a worm into the necks of Gog and Magog. The morning will come and they will all be dead as if it was the death of one soul. Afterwards Jesus the Prophet of Allah will come down with his companions to the low ground. They will find that no space of a hand span on the earth was free of their fat and rotten corpses. Jesus the Prophet of Allah and his companions will seek Allah in supplication. Allah will send birds as large as the necks of camels. They will carry them and will throw them wherever Allah wills.’
(Saheeh of Muslim)
Text 8: Jesus will rule according to the Qur’aan-the final revelation
Allah’s Messenger said, ‘How will you be when the son of Mary descends amongst you and he will judge people by the Law of the Qur’aan and not by the law of Gospel.’
(Saheeh of Bukaari)
Text 9: Jesus will perform the pilgrimages of Hajj and Umrah
Allah’s Messenger said, ‘By Him in Whose Hand is my life, son of Mary would certainly pronounce Talbiya for Hajj or for Umra or for both. In the valley of Rauha
(Saheeh of Muslim)
Text 10: Jesus will be buried by the Muslims
Prophet Muhammad said, ‘Jesus will remain for forty years and then will die, and Muslims will offer the funeral prayer for him.’ (Musnad of Ahmad, Sunan of Abu Dawood)
Question 4: In response to one of my previous questions, you mentioned that “when all babies are born, they are born on a ‘fitrah’ or “natural inclination”. This means they are born sinless and pure, and they are born Muslims, submitting to the will of God Almighty, their Creator.” How is it that not all adults are Muslim if we all start out that way?
All children are born on the Fitrah but not necessarily raised and maintained upon the Fitrah.
The Prophet said that Allah said, ‘I created My servants upon pure monotheism but the devils came to them and deviated them from their religion.’
(Saheeh of Muslim)
Although all children are born upon the Fitrah the devils try their best to lure them away from the Fitrah as they grow older. This is the main goal of Lucifer.
The Prophet said, ‘No child is born except in the state of Fitrah then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Zoroastrain.’
(Saheeh of Muslim)
In addition, as the children grow older they are raised upon the religion of their parents and thus deviate from the Fitrah accordingly. For this reason God sent messengers who called mankind back to the Fitrah wherein God alone would be worshipped.
Question 5: What is the Muslim view of creation?
Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were Ratqan (united as a single piece), then We ripped them apart?
(Qur’aan21:30 )
Allah informs us about some details of creation in the Qur’aan. He mentions how the universe was created from a single solitary structure which He ripped apart in a mighty explosion, giving rise to the heavens and Earth thereafter. We know from the Qur’aan that the heavens and the Earth were created in 6 days- over 6 periods of time. We also know that the primitive heaven after the explosion was in a state of smoke and from it seven separate heavens were constructed with the nearest heaven being the heaven of stars above.
Are you more difficult to create or is the heaven that He constructed? He raised its height, and has perfected it. Its night He covers and its forenoon He brings out. And after that He spread the earth, and brought forth there from its water and its pasture.
(Qur’aan 79:27-32 )
In addition we know that God first created darkness and then brought forth light. Thereafter He spread the Earth creating the various continents and bringing forth the earths’ water and its vegetation. This sequence of sunlight-water-vegetation has been highlighted.
And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?
(Qur’aan21:30 )
As for living objects, then Allah informs us they were all created form water in addition to substances specific to them, such as light for the Angels, fire for the Jinn and earth for Animals and Mankind. Allah also mentions the story of Adam in several places of the Qur’aan describing how he was honoured, given knowledge and how he subsequently fell to the earth after disobeying his Lord. He was sent to the Earth along with his wife Eve and the Jinn Ibless (Lucifer) who became known as Satan. Rich details have been provided in several chapters of the Qur’aan and various narrations by Prophet Muhammad.
Sister Kamillah