The True Message of Jesus Christ
IN THE QURAN AND BIBLE
Contents
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3
2. An answered Supplication of Virgin Mary's Mother ...................................................................... 4
Qur'an 3: 33-37 ............................................................................................................................... 4
3. The Status of Virgin Mary and the Glad Tidings .............................................................................. 5
Qur'an 3:42-47 ................................................................................................................................ 5
4. The Miraculous Conception and Birth of Jesus ............................................................................... 6
Qur'an 19:16-35 .............................................................................................................................. 6
5. The Prophethood of Jesus and his Miracles .................................................................................... 8
Qur'an 5:75-76 ................................................................................................................................ 8
Qur'an 3:48-50 ................................................................................................................................ 8
Qur'an 5:112-115 ............................................................................................................................ 9
Qur'an3:52-53 ................................................................................................................................. 9
Qur'an 61:14 .................................................................................................................................. 10
6. The Plot against Jesus and God’s Protection ................................................................................. 10
Qur'an 3: 54-59 ............................................................................................................................. 10
7. The Refutation of the Killing and Crucifixion of Jesus................................................................... 11
Qur'an 4:157-159 .......................................................................................................................... 11
8. Monotheism - The Core of the Message of Jesus ......................................................................... 12
Qur'an 3:51 .................................................................................................................................... 12
Qur'an 9:31 .................................................................................................................................... 12
Qur'an 5:116-118 .......................................................................................................................... 12
Qur'an 4:171-173 .......................................................................................................................... 13
9. The Prophecy of Prophet Muhammad by Jesus ............................................................................ 14
Qur'an 61:6 .................................................................................................................................... 14
10. Explanatory Notes ........................................................................................................................ 15
11. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 19
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1. Introduction
This book is a brief summary in which I wish to clarify the origin of Christianity and its present-day reality. It is to lead the Christians to know the roots of their beliefs (to believe in One God and unifying Him in worship). In this summary, I have made an effort to cite the Qur'anic verses which mention the story of Jesus Christ and his mother, and to give the evidence from the current texts of the Torah and the Gospel to illustrate to the Christian readers The True Message of Jesus Christ using their own sources.
This book helps all freethinkers, open-minded and the seekers of the truth to know that what was sent by the Creator (Allah)1 to all nations with all messengers throughout the history was one unique message i.e. Pure Monotheism. Prophet Jesus was also one of those pious messengers who endeavored to guide their people to the truth, but many people followed their desires and thus went far from the prophetic teachings.
I pray to God that this book will be beneficial and a source of guidance and blessing, in this life and in the hereafter.
1The Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Middle East use the word "Allah" to refer to God, which refers to The Only True God. The word Allah was mentioned in the earlier version of the Old Testament 89 times. (Refer to Genesis 2:4, Book of Daniel 6:20 Hebrew and Arabic Bible)
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2. An answered Supplication of Virgin Mary's Mother
Qur'an23: 33-37
- God chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above all the worlds.
- Offspring, one of the other, and God is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
- Remember when the wife of Imran said: "O my Lord! I have pledged to You the child that is in my womb, to be dedicated for Your service (free from all worldly work, to serve in Your Place of Worship), so accept this from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing."
- Then when she delivered her child (Mary), she said: "O my Lord! I have delivered a female child," - and God was All-knowing of what she had delivered - and the male is not like the female." And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge with You (God) for her and for her offspring from Satan the outcast."
2The Qur'an is the last holy book sent by God, but not the only book, as Muslims believe in all the earlier revelations of God (the scriptures of Abraham, the book of David, the Torah, the Gospel,etc.). Muslims believe that the original message in all the sacred books is Pure Monotheism (unifying God in worship). Unlike the Divine scriptures that preceded, the Qur'an has not been kept in the hands of any particular group or clergymen of Muslims which would lead to the misinterpretation or alteration of it. On the contrary, the Qur'an has always been within the reach of all Muslims who recite it in their daily prayers, and they refer to it for all their concerns. Muslims read and recite the same Qur'anic text that was read and recited during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. Not a single letter has been added or removed from the Qur'an. God the almighty challenged the Arabs and the non-Arabs to bring forth a book similar to the one He revealed, even though the Arabs at that time were masters of eloquence and rhetoric, they were unable to meet the challenge, and they realized that the Qur'an could not be from any other than God, the Lord of the universe.
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- So, her Lord (God) accepted her (Mary) with goodly acceptance. He made her grow in an upright manner and put her under the care of Zachariah. Every time he entered the place of worship to visit her, he found her with sustenance. He said: "O Mary! From where have you got this?" She said: "This is from God." Verily, God provides sustenance to whom He wills, without measure."
3. The Status of Virgin Mary and the Glad Tidings
Qur'an 3:42-47
- And [mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed God has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.
- O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer]."
- That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.
- Remember when the Angels said: "O Mary! Verily God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him ‘Be!’ - And he was! (i.e. Jesus son of Mary). His name will be the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, held in honor in this world and in the hereafter, and he will be one of those who are near to God."
- "He (Jesus) will speak to the people in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous."
- She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me." He said: "So it will be, for God creates what He
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wills. When He decrees something, He just says to it: ‘Be!’ and it is! "
4. The Miraculous Conception and Birth of Jesus
Qur'an 19:16-35
- And mention in the Book (The Qur'an), the story of Mary, when she withdrew to be in seclusion from her family to a place facing eastwards.
- She placed a screen to conceal herself from them; then We3 sent Our spirit to her (Angel Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man, in all respects.
- She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent God from you, if you do fear God."
- The Angel said: "I am only a Messenger from your Lord, to give you the glad tidings of a righteous son."
- She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?"
- He said: " ‘So it will be’, your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me: We shall make him a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (God), and it is a matter already decreed by (Allah).' "
3The reference of God to Himself as WE or US in many verses of the Qur'an denotes Grandeur and Power in Arabic. In the English language this is known as the royal WE, where a plural pronoun is used to refer to a single person holding a high office, such as a monarch. For the avoidance of doubt, the Qur’an has consistently reminded us of the SINGULAR pronoun in reference to God, when called upon by His servants.
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- So, she conceived him, and she withdrew to a far place (i.e. Bethlehem Valley, about 4-6 miles from Jerusalem).
- And the pains of childbirth urged her to the trunk of a date-palm tree. She said: "Would that I had died before this and had long been forgotten."
- Then a voice called her from below, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a stream at your feet.
- And shake the trunk of the date-palm towards you; it will let fall fresh, ripe dates for you.
- So, eat and drink and be glad, and if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed to God the Most Merciful to abstain from conversation, so I will not talk to any human being this day.'"
- Then she brought him (the baby Jesus) to her people, carrying him. They said: "O Mary! Indeed, this is a monstrous thing that you have committed.
- O sister of Aaron! Your father was not an immoral man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman."
- Then she pointed towards the baby. The people said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
- Whereupon the baby spoke: "Verily! I am a servant of God, He has granted me the Scripture and He has made me a Prophet.
- And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and has commanded me to pray and to give alms as long as I live.
- And made me dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, or unblessed.
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- And peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised up alive!"
- This is Jesus, son of Mary. It is a statement of truth, concerning that which they doubt or dispute.
- It befits not the Majesty of God that He begets a son for He is far above this. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate with Him. When He decrees a thing, He only says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is.
5. The Prophethood of Jesus and his Miracles
Qur'an 5:75-76
- The Messiah Jesus son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother Mary was a Supporter of Truth (i.e. she believed in the words of God and His Books). They both used to eat food as any human being would, while God does not eat. Look how We make the signs clear to them, and yet they are deluded from the truth.
- Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "How do you worship besides God something which has no power either to harm or to benefit you? While it is God Who is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing."
Qur'an3:48-50
- And He (God) will teach Jesus the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel.
- 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 the shape of a bird and breathe into it, and it becomes a real bird by God's permission; and I will heal
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who was born blind and the leper, and I will bring the dead back to life by God's permission. And I will inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe.
- And I have come confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. So fear God and obey me. "
Qur'an 5:112-115
- Remember when the disciples said: "O Jesus son of Mary! Can your Lord send down to us a table spread with food from heaven?" Jesus said: "Fear God, if you are indeed believers."
- They said: "We wish to eat thereof and let our hearts be stronger in faith, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses."
- Jesus, son of Mary, said: "O God, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a feast and a sign from You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of Sustainers."
- God said:" Indeed I will send it down unto you, but if any of you after that disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as I have not inflicted on anyone among all (beings)."
Qur'an3:52-53
- Then when Jesus came to know of their disbelief, he asked: "Who will be my helpers in God's Cause?" The disciples said: "We are the helpers of God; we believe in God, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we submit to God)."
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- "Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger (Jesus); so, write us down among those who bear witness (to the truth that none has the right to be worshipped but God)."
Qur'an 61:14
- O you who believe! Be you helpers in the Cause of God as Jesus, son of Mary, asked the disciples: "Who are my helpers in the Cause of God?" The disciples said: "We are God's helpers" (i.e. we will strive in His Cause!). Then a group of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved. So, We gave power to those who believed against their enemies, and they became prevalent.
6. The Plot against Jesus and God’s Protection
Qur'an 3:54-59
- And they (disbelievers) plotted to kill Jesus, and God planned too. And God is the Best of the Planners.
- Remember when God said: "O Jesus! I will take you and raise you up to Myself and clear you [of the false allegation that Jesus is God's son] and free you from those who disbelieve. And I will make those who follow you (monotheists)superior to those who disbelieve till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return to Me and I will judge between you in the matters in which you used to dispute."
- "As to those who disbelieve, I will punish them with a severe torment in this world and in the hereafter, and they will have no helpers.
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- And as for those who believe and do righteous deeds, God will pay them their reward in full. And God does not like the polytheists and wrong-doers."
- This is what We recite to you (O Muhammad) of the Verses and the Wise Reminder (i.e. the Qur'an).
- Verily, the likeness of Jesus to God is like that of Adam. He created him from dust, then He said to him: ‘Be!’ - And he was.
7. The Refutation of the Killing and Crucifixion of Jesus
Qur'an 4:157-159
- And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of God," but they killed him not, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared so because of his resemblance to a man they mistook for Jesus. Those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no certain knowledge; they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely, they killed him not (i.e. Jesus, son of Mary).
- Rather God raised him (Jesus) up unto Himself. And God is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise.
- And there is none of the people of the Scriptures (the Gospel and the Torah) but must believe in him (Jesus, son of Mary, as only a human Messenger of God) before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection, Jesus will be a witness against them.
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8. Monotheism - The Core of the Message of Jesus
Qur'an 3:51
- Truly! God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him Alone. This is the straight path.
Qur'an 9:31
- They took their rabbis and their monks as their lords besides God (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires) and they also took as their Lord the Messiah, son of Mary. And they were commanded (in the Torah and the Gospel) to worship none but One God. None has the right to be worshipped but Him. Praise and Glory be to Him, far above is He from having the partners they associate with Him.
Qur'an 5:116-118
- And remember when God will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O Jesus! Did you say to the people: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides God?’" He will say: "Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right to say. Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is within myself and I do not know what is within Yours. Truly You, only You, are the All-Knowing of all that is hidden and unseen.
- Never did I say to them aught except what You (God) did command me to say: 'Worship God my Lord and your Lord.' And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things.
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- If You punish them, they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise."
Qur'an 4:171-173
- O People of the Scripture, do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of God aught but the truth. The Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger of God and His Word, ‘Be!’ which He bestowed on Mary and a spirit created by Him; so, believe in God and His Messengers. Say not: ‘Three (trinity)!’ Cease! It is better for you. For God is the only One God, Glory be to Him. Far Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belong all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth and sufficient is God as the Disposer of Affairs.
- The Messiah will never disdain to be a servant of God, nor will the Angels who are near to God. And whosoever rejects His worship and is arrogant, God will gather them together unto Himself.
- As for those who believed in the Oneness of God and did righteous deeds, He will give them their due rewards, and more, out of His Bounty. But as for those who refused His worship and were proud, He will punish them with a painful torment. And they will not find for themselves besides God any Protector or Helper.
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9. The Prophecy of Prophet Muhammad by Jesus
Qur'an 61:6
- And remember when Jesus (son of Mary) said: "O Children of Israel, surely, I am God's Messenger unto you, confirming what came before me of the Torah, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger who will come after me. His name will be ‘Ahmad’". And when he came to them with clear proofs, they said: "This is obvious magic."
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10. Explanatory Notes
▪The story of Jesus Christ began with the supplication of the mother of Mary to her Lord to give her a child, so she can raise him up to serve God.
▪The guardianship of Mary was granted to Prophet Zachariah, Mary's maternal uncle, after they disputed as to who should take charge of her. They considered this guardianship to be a religious duty because Mary's mother had dedicated her to serve in the House of God.
▪Zachariah was known for his knowledge and piety, so he raised her up on strong faith and submission to God.
▪One of the special favors that God bestowed upon Mary because of her piety was giving her miraculous sustenance which no one had at that time.
▪When the Angel Gabriel came to her in the form of a man with the glad tidings, she sought refuge in God from him. This was a proof of her modesty and chastity.
▪When she became pregnant with the infant Jesus, she surrendered herself to God and went far away from her people.
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▪God's care and protection was bestowed on Mary by preparing for her a safe place for her delivery, near a date-palm tree, to provide her with good nourishment.
▪When Mary was unjustly accused of committing fornication, God commanded her to stay silent and to let the baby Jesus speak. The baby spoke with the permission of God and that proved his mother’s innocence and chastity.
▪The baby confirmed his Prophethood, his submission to God, his servitude to God, and his status as a Human Messenger:
➢ “As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God,...” (John 8:40) ➢ "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations."(Matthew 12:18) ➢ "Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’” (Mark 6:4) ➢ "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. " (Acts 3:13)
▪ Monotheism was the main point of the message of Jesus.
▪Jesus confirmed that there is only One God and He has no partners, nor a wife, and neither a son. Jesus invited people to worship God alone.
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"[Jesus said], ‘And indeed, God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.’" (Qur'an19:36)
▪Miracles were performed by Jesus by the permission of God to prove his Prophethood. (As mentioned in page 8)
▪Jesus came to confirm the message of Moses and to correct all the falsehoods and innovations that were made to the original message. (As mentioned in page 9)
▪When God saved Jesus from the crucifixion and raised him up, He promised him that all who believed in his message will remain superior to those who disbelieved until the Day of Judgment. (As mentioned in page 10)
▪The believer can understand that if God can create Adam from dust, without male and female parents, he can easily create Jesus without a male parent.
“Indeed, the example of Jesus to God is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, ‘Be’, and he was.” (Qur’an 3:59)
▪Jesus was not killed nor crucified, but God raised him up. (As mentioned in page 11)
▪Jesus did not call upon anyone to worship him, but he called his people to worship God alone, his Lord and the Lord of all. “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Mathew 4:10)
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▪The Qur'an honors and defends Jesus and his mother from profanity and obscenity. It calls upon us to pray to the Creator (God) alone just as Jesus and his mother did; it does not ask us to pray to them (as they were mere creatures of God).
▪Jesus preached pure monotheism as seen in many verses in the Bible:
➢ "The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’" (Mark12:29)
➢ "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only True God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John17:3)
▪The prophecy of Prophet Muhammad was part of the message of Jesus: "Jesus said: ‘And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Paraclete), that he may be with you forever, the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.’” (John 14:16) 4
4According to Christianity, the Paraclete or Comforter mentioned by Jesus in this verse is the Holy Spirit – the third person of the Trinity. However, Muslims believe this Prophecy is about Prophet Muhammad.https://intellectinislam.com/2019/03/22/jesus-gave-the-glad-tidings-of-the-coming-of-muhammad/
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11. Conclusion
▪ The message of Jesus was the message of all the prophets (Pure Monotheism). The Creator sent the same message to prophets of all the nations. The similarities between religions come from God and the differences arose from mankind.
▪ The message of God has to be one message for all His creatures. It should be simple and easy to understand. It should also be based on a direct connection with God.
▪ Islam, which means total submission to the Creator and the worship of Him alone without any intermediary, was the religion of all the prophets throughout the history of mankind. It is the right of the Creator to be worshipped alone.
▪ At the beginning of the creation of mankind, a covenant was made between God and humans. God gathered all human beings together and made them testify to His Oneness and Unity. Therefore, there exists at the heart of each man’s consciousness, an acknowledgement of the Existence and Oneness of God, his Creator. The sun, birds, and all creatures of God naturally submit to Him (a literal translation of the word Islam is Submission).
"And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware."5 (Qur’an: 7:172)
▪ The differences among religions relate to the intermediaries and not to the Creator. If everyone worships the Creator God alone without
5 This event took place at the time of the creation of Adam. Apart from the prostration of the angels before Adam and the proclamation that man would be God's vicegerent on earth, all the future progeny of Adam were gathered, and were endowed with both existence and consciousness in order to bear witness to God's Lordship.
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partners or intermediaries, we would all be united. This is the key to bringing harmony and unity to the world.
"O People of the Scripture (Jews, Christians), come to common terms between us and you, that we worship none other than God, and do not associate with Him anybody else and do not take one another as lords instead of God." (Qur'an3:64)
▪ God is Self-Sufficient, it does not befit His Majesty to take a son or wife, or to beget or to be begotten, and there is no similitude to Him.
▪ The term ‘Son of God’ was not used literally, because in the Bible, God refers to many of His chosen servants as ‘sons’. The Hebrews believed that God is One, and that He has neither wife nor son in any literal sense, so the term ‘Son of God’ meant servant of God. Some of the followers of Jesus who came from a Greek or Roman background misused this term. In their heritage the term ‘Son of God’ signified an incarnation of a god or someone born out of a physical union between a male and a female goddess.
▪ God is Perfect; He has no need to die for us. He gives life and death, so He did not die nor was He resurrected. He saved His Prophet Jesus and protected him as He helps and protects His chosen believers.
▪ God is Most Merciful to His creatures, more than a mother is to her children, so He forgives them whenever they sincerely repent to Him.
▪ The lesson which God gives to all humanity when He accepted Adam's repentance for eating the forbidden fruit is the first instance of forgiveness of God to humanity. There is no issue of the original sin. Every soul bears the burden of its own sin. This shows the merciful nature of God.
▪ Forgiveness does not negate justice, nor does justice preclude forgiveness.
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▪ People are born free of sins; it is only after they reach the age of puberty or maturity that they are held accountable for their sins.
▪ There is no superiority of one race over another. God tests each individual on the basis of their piety and righteousness and this reflects the manifestation of the names and attributes of God (The Most Just, The Most Wise, etc.).
"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Indeed, God is Knowing and Acquainted." (Qur'an 49:13)
▪ One of the greatest attributes of God is ‘The All-Wise’; He does not create anything in vain, exalted be He! He creates things for reasons that reflect His Great Wisdom.
"And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play." (Qur'an 21:16)
▪ Humans cannot be blamed for sins they did not commit, nor can they gain salvation for not attempting to be good. One's life is a test and each soul is responsible for its own actions.
"Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents, each will die for his own sin." (Deuteronomy 24:16)
" And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to God is the [final] destination. "(Qur'an35:18)
▪ This life is not our final destination. God has not created human beings just to eat, drink, and reproduce. If that were the case, animals would be considered better than humans, as they also eat,
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drink, and reproduce, but they are not accountable for their actions. God honored human beings and favored them above many of His creatures.
"And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference. " (Qur'an 17:70) ▪ The wise human being is the one who plans for life after death. "Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion."(Qur'an 3:185)
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I bear witness that there is no god but one God (Allah), that He has no partner or son, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His final messenger. I bear witness that Jesus Christ is His servant and His messenger.
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