[Redbook6:160-163][19890722:1004]{A
Prophet of Islam}[22nd July 1989]
19890722.1004
‘Jesus,
A Prophet of Islam’* [is] a book which did not deserve (and would
not have required) the one to two days I spent on it, had I not taken
the trouble to check every reference to historical figures in
Christianity: an enjoyable learning process. I started off
well-disposed towards the book, as I prefer integration to
disintegration; but my reactions were unexpected. The technique of
the book (and I have some across this also in non-Islamic – eg New
Age – attacks on Christianity[)]** – is broadly so: –
(1)
Western critical analysis of the Gospels has thrown doubt on the
accuracy of the Gospels as a record of Jesus’ life and teachings;
therefore the Gospels are wholly untrue (except where the author
quotes them).
(2)
Jesus was a Jewish man who observed rigidly the Jewish law and
expected everyone else to do the same. Paul corrupted his teaching
and status. Early Church Fathers who tried to remain with Jesus
actual life, nature and teaching were savagely persecuted, tortured
and killed (This is the period where the grossest historical
inaccuracies occur, for example relating personal conflicts between
Church Fathers who by a wide margin were not alive at the same time;
blaming the Pauline/Catholic Church for persecutions of Christians
which were in fact the work of pagan emperors; and attributing to
heretics or schismatics ‘heresies’ other than those they actually
held – basically, all conflicts are considered to be
Pauline/Catholic Trinitarians against non-Pauline early Unitarians).
(3)
The Quran, as the revealed Word of God; and the Hadith, as being
reliably traced back to the Prophet Muhammed; and the legends of
Jesus acquired from conquered and converted Christian populations (eg
in North Africa) – all offer an accurate record of the life, nature
and teachings of Jesus (despite being recorded, for the most part,
500-600 years later than the Gospels).
(4)
The basic message of these sources is that Jesus was one – a great
one – in a long line of Prophets, 124,000 of them {(}culminating
for all time in Muhammed{)}, whose message was all the same (ie the
same as the Quran, but less so). Jesus himself was a Jewish man
whose message that Jews should rigidly observe the law was for his
own time and place only. He was an ascetic, born of a virgin but not
the Son of God in any sense (so far as I can see from the extracts
given: the Quran is slightly ambiguous about this, cf 4:171-3*** with
21:26-30**** in ur-Rahim’s translation), miracle worker but
surprisingly short on teaching (and that, mostly comments on
situations), and not crucified: someone else, probably Judas
according to the author (a muddle at Gethsamane) was crucified in his
stead; therefore, of course, he was not resurrected etc..
*Muhammed
Ata Ur-Rahim, ‘Jesus, A Prophet of Islam’, MWH london Publishers,
1977, 1983.
**[cf?
[Redbook3:167][19870411:1909](THE
AVOIDANCE OF SUPERSTITIOUS ERROR*)[11th April 1987]&f]
***[4:171.
O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion, and do
not say about God except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of
Mary, is the Messenger of God, and His Word that He conveyed to Mary,
and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and do
not say, “Three.” Refrain—it is better for you. God is only one
God. Glory be to Him—that He should have a son. To Him belongs
everything in the heavens and the earth, and God is a sufficient
Protector. 172. The Messiah does not disdain to be a servant of God,
nor do the favored angels. Whoever disdains His worship, and is too
arrogant—He will round them up to Himself altogether. 173. But as
for those who believe and do good works, He will pay them their wages
in full, and will increase His grace for them. But as for those who
disdain and are too proud, He will punish them with an agonizing
punishment. And they will find for themselves, apart from God, no
lord and no saviour.]#
****[21:26.
And they say, “The Most Merciful has taken to himself a son.” Be
He glorified; they are but honored servants. 27. They never speak
before He has spoken, and they only act on His command. 28. He knows
what is before them, and what is behind them; and they do not
intercede except for him whom He approves; and they tremble in awe of
Him. 29. And whoever of them says, “I am a god besides Him,” We
will reward him with Hell. Thus We reward the wrongdoers. 30. Do the
disbelievers not see that the heavens and the earth were one mass,
and We tore them apart? And We made from water every living thing.
Will they not believe?]#
[continues]
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