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- "[Whereby] the soul that sins, it will die. The son will not bear the iniquity of the father, neither will the father bear the iniquity of the son, the righteousness of the righteous will be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon him." (Ezekiel 18:20)
The lesson for humanity when God accepted Adam's repentance for eating the forbidden fruit is to seek the forgiveness of God. There is no issue of original sin. Every soul bears the burden of its own sin. This shows the merciful nature and justice of God. Forgiveness does not negate justice, nor does justice preclude forgiveness.
Human sacrifice is not needed
- "For [God said,] ‘I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.’ But they, like men, have transgressed the covenant; they have dealt treacherously against Me there."(Hosea 6:6 – 7)
- "[For] You have had no pleasure in burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin."(Hebrews 10:6)
- "[And thus, Jesus said] ‘If you had known what [this] means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless.’"(Matthew 12:7)
- "Thus, the Lord of hosts says, (the God of Israel); ‘Put your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I did not speak to your fathers, nor command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But I commanded them this thing,’ saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people, and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well to you.' But they did not listen, nor incline their ear, but they walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward" (Jeremiah 7:21 – 24)
- "O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of God is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about God by the Deceiver." (Qur'an 31:33)
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- "God wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation."(Qur’an 4:27)
God promised to save his prophets and the believers
- "…, And We ransomed him (Abraham) with a great sacrifice."(Qur’an 37:107)
- "[And thus] We will save Our messengers and those who have believed. Thus, it is an obligation upon Us that We save the believers."(Qur’an 10:103)
- "[For] He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us."(Luke 1:70 – 71)
God informed Jesus that one of his disciples will betray him
"When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, surely you don’t mean me, Lord? Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born. Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?’ Jesus answered, ‘You have said so.’" (Mathew 26:20-25)
Jesus was sad, he did not want to die, and he confirmed that he will not die
- "[So] do not forsake me, O Lord, O my God, do not be far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation."(Psalms 38:21 – 22)
- "[It reads,] I will not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord [God]. The Lord [God] has chastened me sore, but He has not given me over to death. Open the gates of righteousness to me, I will go into them, [and] I will praise the Lord [God]. This gate of the Lord [God], into
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which the righteous will enter. I will praise You [O God], for You have heard me, and have become my salvation. The stone [which] the builders refused has become the head of the corner. This is the Lord [God's] doing; it [is] marvelous in our eyes." (Psalms 118:17-23)
Jesus: praying to God for salvation
- "[When he] went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him."(Mark 14:35)
- "[Thus,] in You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion." (Psalms 71:1)
- "But I will hope continually, and will still praise You more and more. My mouth will show forth Your righteousness [and] Your salvation all the day; for I do not know the numbers [thereof]."(Psalms 71:14 – 15)
- "Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape, incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my strong habitation, whereto I may continually resort, You have given commandment to save me; for You [are] my Rock and my Fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man."(Psalms 71:2 – 4)
The enemies’ plan and God’s plan
- "Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, let us break their chains and throw off their shackles. The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. I will proclaim the Lord’s decree."(Pslams 2:1-7)
- "[For] the transgressors will be destroyed together, the end of the wicked will be cut off." (Psalms 37:38)
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- "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings." (Psalms 40:1 – 2)
- "[And thus these] disbelievers planned, but God planned. And God is the best of planners."(Qur'an 3:54)
- "So never think that God will fail in His promise to His messengers. Indeed, God is Almighty and Owner of Retribution." (Qur'an 14:47)
The Lord saved Jesus from death
- "[And thus] when [Jesus] had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him who was able to save him from death - [he] was heard in that which he feared." (Hebrews 5:7)
- "They say: ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of God.’ And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain." (Qur'an4:157)
- "[So] let us see if his words are true; and let us prove what will happen in the end of him. For if the just man is the son of God, He will help him, and deliver him from the hand of his enemies."(Wisdom of Solomon 2:17-18)
- "[Mention] when God said, ‘O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to God alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.’ "(Qur'an 3:55)
- "[So] this poor man cried, and the Lord heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles. [For] the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord [is] good, blessed [is] the man [who] trusts in Him." (Psalms 34:6-8)
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- "This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles."(Psalms 34:6)
- "He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken."(Psalms 34:20)
The Lord kept him alive
- "[It reads] blessed [is] he who considers the poor, the Lord will deliver him in a time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; [and] he will be blessed upon the earth, and You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies."(Psalms 41:1-2)
- "[For] God raised [Jesus] to Himself. And ever is God Almighty and Most Wise." (4:158, Qur'an)
Jesus thanked his Lord
"Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’ So, they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.’"(John 11:40:41)
The betrayer regretted and suffered the consequences of his sin
Although many Christians believe that the words below were uttered by Jesus, Muslims believe that they were uttered by the traitor who betrayed him.
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? My God, I cry out during the day, but you do not answer, and during the night my prayers do not let up. You are holy; you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted in you and you rescued them. To you they cried out, and they were saved; in you they trusted and they were not disappointed. But I am a worm, not a man; people insult me and despise me. All who see me taunt me; they mock me and shake their heads. They say, "Commit yourself to the Lord! Let the Lord rescue him! Let the Lord deliver him, for he delights in him." Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts. I have been dependent on you since birth; from the time
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I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God. Do not remain far away from me, for trouble is near and I have no one to help me. "(Psalms 22:1-11)
God is the only Savior
- " [For God said,] ‘I, [even] I, [am] the Lord; and beside Me [there is] no savior.’" (Isaiah 43:11)
- "[Thus,] unquestionably, for God is the pure religion. And those who take saviors besides Him [say], ‘We only serve them that they may bring us nearer to God in position.’ Indeed, God will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Indeed, God does not guide he who is a liar and [confirmed] disbeliever.’" (Qur'an 39:3)
Beside God there is no other God
- "[For God said] ‘I [am] the Lord, and [there are] none else, [there is] no god beside Me, I girded you, though you have not known Me.’" (Isaiah 45:5)
- "[For] they serve other than God that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with God.’ Say, ‘Do you inform God of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?’ Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him." (Qur'an10:18)
Jesus confirmed his humanity and his servitude to God
- "O Lord, truly I [am] Your servant; I [am] Your servant, [and] the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds." (Psalms 116:16)
- "Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"(John 20:17)
- "[Jesus] said, ‘Indeed, I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet.’" (Qur'an 19:29-30)
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We read also:
Jesus referred to himself as son of man
- "So, Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own.’ " (John 8:28)
- "For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. " (Luke 19:10)
Also, Jesus referred to himself as a prophet
- "Yet today, tomorrow and the next day I must be on my way because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem. " (Luke 13:33)
- "This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. " (Matthew 21:11)
Jesus referred to himself as man
- "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. Abraham did not do such things. " (John 8:40)
- "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 yourselves know. " (Acts 2:22)
- "This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. " (Acts 2:23)
- "For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31)
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- "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. " (1 Timothy 2:5)
- "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man (Adam) how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! " (Romans 5:15)
The Greek word for "man" in these verses is "anthropos". The Greek word "anthropos" means a human being, whether male or female, generically, to include all human individuals, to distinguish man from beings of a different race or order.
Anthropos is used to describe Adam, the first man. In the same verse (Romans 5:15) it is used to describe Jesus Christ. If words mean anything, one must believe that Jesus Christ was a flesh and blood human being just like Adam.
On the other hand, Scripture says "God is not a man."
- "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man. " (Numbers 23:19)
- "God is not a human being, that he should lie, or a mortal. " (Numbers 23:19 RSV)
- "For I am God, and not man- the Holy One among you. " (Hosea 11:9)
Because of Jesus miraculous birth people want to believe he is son of God (begotten). By that logic then Adam and Eve (who came from no father or mother) should also be full children of God.
The believer understands 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)
The law of Moses should be fulfilled
- "And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him
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the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous." (Qur’an 5:46)
- "[So Jesus] said to them, ‘These [are] the words which I spoke to you, while I was with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and [in] the Prophets, and [in] the Psalms, concerning me.’"(Luke 24:44)
Jesus will condemn his people
- "[For Jesus said] ‘Many will say to me in that Day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name, we have cast out devils? And in your name [O Lord Jesus] done many wonderful works?' And then I will profess to them, 'I never knew you, depart from me, you who work iniquity.'" (Matthew 7:22 – 23)
- " [So, beware the Day] when God will say, ‘O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, Take me and my mother as gods besides God?' He will say, ‘Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. I said not to them except what You commanded me - to serve God, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.’" (Qur'an 5:116-117)
- "And He will say, ‘Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, which ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you, and be your protection. See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me, I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal, neither are there any that can deliver out of My hand.’" (Deuteronomy 32:37 39)
- "[So, warn of] the Day when He will say, ‘Call My ‘partners’ whom you claimed,’ and they will invoke them, but they will not respond to them. And We will put between them [a valley of] destruction. And the criminals will see the Fire and will be certain that they are to fall
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therein. And they will not find from it a way elsewhere." (Qur'an 18:52-53)
Monotheism was the core message of Jesus
- "The most important one, answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.’" (Mark 12:29)
- "Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’"(Mathew 4:10)
- " [Jesus said], ‘And indeed, God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.’" (Qur'an 19:36)
Prophet Muhammad reminded the world of the message of Jesus
- "(Jesus Said): ‘Truly! God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him Alone. This is the straight path.’" (Qur'an 3:51)
- "Say, I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So, whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord – let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."(Qur’an 18:110)
In the history of the religions which preceded Christianity, some heroes were regarded as gods. What was believed about Krishna by the Hindus, Buddha by Buddhists, Bacchus by the Greeks, Baal by the Babylonians, and Adonis by the Syrians was adopted by the Christians with respect to Jesus.
Islam frees its followers from such superstitions. It rejects the doctrine of the incarnation and of God’s embodiment in any of His creatures.
Islam emphatically states that:
- neither Jesus nor any other human being can be God.
- One's life is a test and each soul is responsible for its own actions.
- 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.
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You ask and Jesus answers
"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." (Qur’an 19:35)
Jesus is not the son of God?
"Jesus said: ‘., I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John: 20:17)
Virgin Mary is not the only person who was told that the Holy Spirit will come to her
The mother of Prophet John according to the Bible was filled with the Holy Spirit.
"But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.’" (Luke 1:13-15)
We read:
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
We also read:
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." (Acts 10:44)
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Is Jesus the only person who was called ‘the son of God’?
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.
- Jacob is God's son and firstborn.
"Israel is my son, even my firstborn." (Exodus 4:22)
- Solomon is God's son.
"He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son" (2 Samuel 7:13-14)
- "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14)
- "Ye are the children of the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 14:1)
- "Adam is the son of God, Adam, which was the son of God." (Luke 3:38)
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.
Muslims believe as well that Jesus is ‘the Word of God’, but this description does not mean that Jesus is the son of God in a literal sense but a symbolical one, means that he spoke the word of God. Also, when prophets were to speak God's revelation to others, they would say "hear the word of the Lord." (Jeremiah 7:2, Hosea 4:1)
we read:
"But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10:19-20)
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Was Jesus called Immanuel?
"Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
The prophecy states that his name will be ‘Immanuel’, which means (God with us), but it does not say that he will be Immanuel. Mary never called her child ‘Immanuel’ as required by the prophecy. According to the Bible, she named him Jesus following instructions by the angel of God. "but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a son; and he called His name Jesus." (Matthew 1:25) Jesus was never called ‘Immanuel’, and if we assume that this name was meant to be for Jesus, this still does not make him God because according to the Bible, several people were in God’s company. Therefore, Immanuel’s interpretation as ‘God with us’ does not mean that God’s company is exclusive to Jesus only. God is with His prophets and righteous servants every time and everywhere. Here we can see other names linked with God (in the Hebrew forms of El or Yah) belonging to other people. For example:
- Samuel means: the name of God.
- Elihu means: he is my God himself.
- Isaiah means: the salvation of the Lord.
- Adbeel means: the miracle of God.
- Uriel means: light of God.
- Elijah means: God the Lord, the strong Lord.
The angel informed Mary that ‘the Lord is with you’ before conceiving Jesus, that is to say Mary was in God’s company before conceiving and giving birth to Jesus.
"The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’" (Luke 1:28)
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God was with His Prophet Joseph.
"Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him." (Acts 7:9) The birth and naming of the child Immanuel when read in context, was a sign for king Ahaz and his people, who were about to be invaded by two rival kingdoms, that God will be with them and give them victory. The name ‘God is with us’, means that God will support us. The meaning of the name is understandable since the child’s name was supposed to indicate to King Ahaz that God was on his side. "Again, the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.’ But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.’ Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste." (Isaiah 7:10-16) The promise was fulfilled by God, and they were given the victory. "The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death." (2 Kings 16:9) In actual Hebrew (Isaiah 7:14) does not say a virgin would give birth but that a young woman would conceive. The Hebrew word (almah), used in (Isaiah 7:14) means young woman, not a virgin. The Hebrew word for virgin is(b’tulah). The Revised Standard Version Bible is one of the few Christian Bibles that used the translation ‘young woman’ instead of replacing it with the word ‘virgin.’ Symbolic names are frequently used by Hebrews in the Bible. Many names cannot be taken literally.
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- "In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord Our Righteous Savior.'" - Jacob was called a piece of land ‘Face of God.’ (Genesis 32:30) - "Moses built an altar and called it ‘the Lord is my Banner’" (Exodus 17:15) - Bithiah, a daughter of Pharaoh, her name means ‘daughter of Jehovah.’ - Eliab, his name means ‘My God (is my) father?’ - "So Abraham called that place The Lord will provide. And to this day it is said, On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." (Genesis 22:14)
Jesus confirmed his prophethood, his submission to God, his servitude to God, and his status as a human messenger
- "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) - "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." (Qur’an 19:30-31)
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Is Jesus the light of the world?
The disciples were described as the light of the world
"Jesus said: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’" (Matthew 5:13-16)
The disciples were described as the children of the light
"You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
Jesus is the light of the world
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said: ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’" (John 8:12)
Therefore, when Jesus described himself as the light of the word, it was not a literal description but a symbolical one, and this description can be applied on others.
God the almighty alone is the only literal light of the world. God is the true source of light to His creatures including Jesus himself.
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth." (1 John 1:5-6)
"The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)
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Jesus and God are not one?
"Jesus said: ‘I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name–the name you gave me–so that they may be one as we are one.’" (John 17:11)
Jesus explains the meaning of his oneness with God
" ‘My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’ Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’ ‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods?’ If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came–and the Scripture cannot be broken– what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s son?’ Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.’ Again, they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. " (John 10:29-39)
We can understand here that the meaning of his oneness with God, that Jesus did miracles with the permission of God, such as some acts which supposed to be done only by God. Many Messengers performed miracles, including Noah, Moses and other Biblical prophets such as Ezekiel, Elijah and many others, and these miracles only took place by the permission of God, so as to demonstrate the authenticity of the Prophet.Jesus also indicated that just as Jews were called (gods) as the word of God came to them, he was also called ‘the son of God’ because the word of God came to him.
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God, Jesus and the disciples were described as one
"Jesus said: ‘That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.’" (John 17:21-23)
It is very clear that it was not a literal description but a symbolical one.
"Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf." (1Corinthians 10:17)
Here we read:
"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:4-5)
A married couple were described as one
"And said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’" (Matthew 19:5)
This is an indication for showing how close a man and a woman become after marriage. Therefore, the oneness of Jesus and God does not mean that Jesus is God or even the son of God but it is an allegory used for showing how Jesus is close and attached to God as a prophet and messenger of God.
We can notice that meaning as well in the words of Jesus in his description to the relation between God the almighty and his believers, (God, Jesus and the disciples are one), this is a symbolic usage to show how the disciples are close to God and Jesus. It is an analogy referring to God’s company, assistance and protection. God is One and symbolically referred to Him as ‘the Father’ and that Jesus is Just a teacher. It's a way of saying God is the Creator, Sustainer and Supreme master of all.
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- "One God and Father of all." (Ephesians 4:6)
- "But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ." (Matthew 23:8-10)
The oneness of God was the core of the message of Jesus
" And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one." (Zechariah 14:9) Jesus disapproved anyone worshipping him
"And in vain they worship me." (Matthew 15:9)
Is Jesus like Jonah? The name Jesus was given to Mary for her coming son. It was only after his baptism at the hands of John the Baptist that he - Jesus - claimed to be the Christ. "When eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb." (Luke 2:21) Christ is not a name. It is a title. It is a translation of the Hebrew Word Messiah, meaning "anointed." The Greek word for "anointed" is Christos from which we get the word Christ. Priests and kings were "anointed" when being consecrated to their office. The Bible confers this title even on a heathen king Cyrus. "This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut. " (Isaiah 45:1) The Jews wanted a proof that he was the Christ.
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"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.’" (Matthew 12:38) Jesus answered: "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. "(Matthew 12:39-40) God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the Ninevites. "But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands." (Jonah 3:8) But Jonah was hesitant to go as a warner unto the Ninevites, so he went to Joppa instead of Nineveh, and takes a boat to run away from the Lord's command. While he was in the boat, there was a terrible storm. According to the superstition of the sailors at that time, the storm was an indication to the existence of a person who ran away from his Master's command. Then the sailors said to each other: ".,come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity. They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. " (Jonah 1:7) Jonah voluntary said: " ‘Pick me up and throw me into the sea,’ he replied, ‘and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.’" (Jonah 1:12)
Jesus unlike Jonah • Jonah voluntary offered himself to be thrown into the sea. • Jesus cried while taking him to the Cross. When Jonah was thrown in the sea, was Jonah alive. A fish swallowed Jonah while he was still alive.
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"Jonah prayed unto the Lord his god out of the fish's belly." (Jonah 2:1) For three days and three nights Prophet Jonah was alive till the fish throw him out to the seashore. Jesus prophesied about himself saying: "As Jonah was, so shall the son of man be." If Jonah was alive for three days and three nights, then Jesus also had to have been alive in the tomb according to this prophecy! But in Christianity is based on the death of Jesus for humanity. Jonah alive, Jesus dead! Very unlike Jonah! Jesus said "like Jonah" not unlike Jonah. if this is true then according to his own test Jesus is not the true messiah of the Jews. According to the Bible the Jews were in a hurry to eliminate Jesus. Hence the midnight trial, and then sending him to Pilate in the morning; from Pilate to Herod and then back again to Pilate. They were afraid of the general public as Jesus was their hero. Therefore, as much as they were in a hurry to hang him on the cross, they were in equal hurry to bring him down from the cross before sunset on Friday because of the Sabbath. The Sabbath starts at about 6 p.m. on Friday. According to the Bible the victim of crucifixion was an "accursed of God" and was not to be permitted to remain hanging on the Sabbath day. "you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. " (Deuteronomy 21:23) The body was taken from the cross, and was given the Jewish burial-bath. "He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds." (John 19:39) Then the body was placed into the grave before night-fall.
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Jesus is supposed to be in the grave on the night of Friday. till Sunday morning when he supposed to be out. Jesus was unlike Jonah, who was alive in the belly of the fish, which is the exact opposite of what was claimed that happened to Jesus, who was dead for the same period of time as Jonah was alive. In addition, the time factor, three days and three nights. As according to the Bible that it was "before sunrise" on Sunday morning (the first day of the week), that Mary Magdalene went to the grave of Jesus and found it empty. Sunday morning subtracting 3 days and 3 nights, Jesus had to die on Wednesday not Friday to fulfill this prophecy. So, we can easily reject this prophecy and consider it as an addition to the Bible. Where is the Book of Jesus?
Muslims believe that God the almighty (Allah) sent Jesus Christ to the children of Israel as a human messenger to confirm the message of Prophet Moses and to give the good tidings of the coming Prophet Muhammad. For Muslims Prophet Jesus was the expected Messiah, whom was prophesied in the Torah – the Book of Moses. Jesus came to the world from a single woman without any male intervention, which was a miracle from the Creator to the children of Israel. Jesus Christ according to the faith of Muslims was sent from God with a revelation delivered to him through Angel Gabriel in his own language –Aramaic. The book of Jesus -The Gospel- throughout history suffered severe changes till it disappeared and was replaced with the New Testament by some of the followers of Jesus. The New Testament is multiple books that were written by some of the disciples of Jesus and some others who never met Jesus like saint Paul. Christens today don’t believe that Jesus received any revelation from God and they considered the New Testament their holy book, and they believe that it was inspired to some Jesus’s disciples by God.
Burton Mack: "At least some Christian communities saw Jesus as a teacher of wisdom, a man who tried to teach others how to live. For them, Jesus was not divine, but fully human. These first followers of Jesus differed from other Christians
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whose ritual and practice was centered on the death and the resurrection of Jesus. They did not emerge as the "winners" of history; perhaps because the maintaining the faith required the existence of a story that included not only the life of Jesus but also his Passion." 28 What is the Q Source? In 1945 a chance discovery in Egypt provided surprisingly an answer to these questions. Two brothers were looking for fertilizer at the base of cliffs in the Egyptian region of Nag Hammadi, where the Nile bends on its way from Chenoboskeia to Pabau. In their way, one of them (Muhammad Ali) hit a hard object concealed under the ground. It seemed to be a huge earthen jar closed with a shallow red dish. He broke it and found twelve books bound in gazelle leather. These books would prove one of the most important archaeological findings of the twentieth century, and one of the reasons for their importance is the valuable evidence they provide for the existence of the sayings collection known as Q. Q is the designation for a gospel that no longer exists, but many think it must have existed at one time. In fact, even though no copy of this gospel has survived independently, some nineteenth-century scholars found fragments of such an early Christian composition embedded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. By putting these two gospels beside the book of Mark, scholars realized that when Matthew and Luke were telling the story about Jesus, for the most part they both followed the order and often even the wording of Mark. however, into this common narrative outline, Matthew and Luke each insert extra sayings and teachings of Jesus. And although Matthew and Luke did not put these sayings in the same order, nevertheless they each repeated many of the same sayings, sometimes word for word. Since for other reasons it seems unlikely that either Matthew or Luke could have copied from one another, how can this sort of agreement be explained? The answer appears to be that Matthew and Luke each had two sources in common: The Gospel 28 A Myth of Innocence: Mark and Christian Origins. Published: 12 August 2015.
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of Mark and another gospel, which is the lost collection of sayings that are known as Q. Q stands for "Quelle," the German word for source. Although no actual copy of Q has ever been found, many scholars are convinced that such a document once circulated in early Christian communities. Since it was difficult to get excited about something that did not exist, Q remained a hypothesis that lingered on the edges of scholarly research. The manuscripts, known as the Nag Hammadi library29, contained a complete manuscript of the Gospel of Thomas. A fragment of this gospel, written in Greek had been found earlier at Oxyrynchos in Egypt. But it was only a fragment. The text found at Nag Hammadi, although complete, was written in Coptic, which was the form of the Egyptian language in use during later Roman imperial times. On the basis of this text, however, scholars were able to reconstruct the Gospel of Thomas in Greek, which was the original language of its composition. By this means, they were able to compare its contents with those of writings found in the New Testament. The Gospel of Thomas is very different from the gospels that have become part of the New Testament. It contains no narrative material, nor is there any story of the birth, the life, or the death of Jesus. It consists only of sayings, 114 in all, each preceded by the phrase (And Jesus said). The collected sayings of the Gospel of Thomas are designated by its author as "the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke." Some of the sayings from the Gospel of Thomas are very much like those found in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. For New Testament scholars, one of the most interesting things about this gospel is that its author (Didymos Judas Thomas) appears to have used sayings from the same collection used by Matthew and Luke. But for this author and his community, the meaning of these sayings was clearly very different. The Gospel of Thomas, therefore, provided exciting new evidence for the existence of an earlier collection of sayings used by a variety of Christian communities. 29 Also known as the "Chenoboskion Manuscripts" and the "Gnostic Gospels"
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In 1989, a team of researchers led by James M. Robinson of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity in Claremont, CA, began a most unlikely task: the "reconstruction" of the Gospel of Q. Robinson and his team are accomplishing this by a highly detailed literary analysis of Matthew, Luke, and Thomas. Their painstaking work goes "verse by verse, word by word, case ending by case ending." After nearly ten years of work, the results of their efforts are soon to be published as the Critical Edition of Q. The "recovery" of the Q gospel has stimulated a debate about the nature early Christian communities, and by extension, the origins of Christianity itself.
The document he was discussing is a reconstructed Greek text (with an immense scholarly apparatus) of "Q," as Biblical scholars have named a hypothetical first-century work composed mostly of sayings of Jesus.
According to the history, 74 books appeared after the departure of Jesus, 70 books were excluded and considered as Apocrypha by the earlier church Fathers, and 4 only were included in the New Testament.
Most of the books were excluded spoke about the humanity of Jesus Christ, the unity of the Creator and the salvation of Jesus from the crucifixion.
The answer to the question which often repeated from the christens to Muslims about the missing Gospel of Jesus, i.e. where is the book of Jesus? Is: bring us back the 70 books and we will show you the book.
Jesus gave the glad tidings of the coming of Muhammad
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So, they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be the successful. " (Qur’an 7:157)
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Up until the birth of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), the Israelites were awaiting a Prophet and the Christ to come. "When John the Baptist came, they asked him if he was Christ and he said, ‘I am not the Christ.’ They asked him if he was Elijah, and he said, ‘I am not.’ Then, they asked him, ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’" (John 1:19-21) The Israelites were still awaiting the Prophet prophesied in Deuteronomy. "I will raise up for them a Prophet like you (like Moses) from among their brothers, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him." (Deuteronomy 18:18) From this verse, it is clearly understood that it refers to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Moses and Muhammad both brought new covenants to the people of the time. Jesus did not bring any new covenant, but he came to affirm and testify existing laws brought by Moses as he (Jesus) himself says: "Think not that I am come to destroy the laws, or the Prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. " (Mathews 5:17) – Moses and Muhammad both had natural birth. – Both Moses and Muhammad died natural death. – Both Moses and Muhammad finally attained leadership and authority over their society. The verse says "from among their brothers." Ishmael and Isaac are sons of the same father, Prophet Abraham; so, they are brothers. Therefore, the children of one are "brothers" to the children of the other. The children of Jacob (son of Isaac) are Jews and the children of Ishmael -who are Arabs- are their "brothers". The Bible affirms that the prophecy will be to a Prophet from Arabs not from the Israelites. "There has never been another Prophet in Israel like Moses, …." (Deuteronomy 34:10)
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The verse goes on: "and I will put my words into his mouth." Not even one Qur’anic verse is a word of Muhammad. They are words which he heard through Angel Gabriel and repeated word for word. None of them are his words. He merely repeated what "was put into his mouth." "Then the book will be given to the one who is illiterate, saying, "Please read this." And he will say, "I cannot read."" (Isaiah 29:12) As known by every one that Prophet Muhammad was unlettered and when he was asked by Angel Gabriel to read, he said: I cannot read. After the denial of the last Israelite Prophet (Jesus), the time came for God’s promise to make Ishmael a great nation to be fulfilled, as mentioned earlier. " And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. " (Genesis 17:20) Jesus confirms the shifting of the religious leadership to the Arabs. "Jesus said: ‘Therefore I tell you that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you (Israelites) and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’" (Matthew 21:43) And Jesus confirms as well the prophecy of Prophet Muhammad. "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) According 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. There has always been a controversy regarding the word "Paraclete" in the Bible. It was argued that the "Paraklytos" in the Greek Bible was originally "Periklytos" and it was changed during the translation from Syriac to Greek. In Greek the word "Paraclete" has two meanings:
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– A comforter, advocate, helper: Paraklytos (παρακλητος), as believed by Christians. This is based on a pronunciation which includes the "a" vowel sound. – Muhammad or Ahmad (The praised one): Periklytos (Περικλητος), as believed by Muslims. This pronunciation is without using the "a" vowel sound. In addition to the fact that the second meaning has more evidence to support it, the meaning of both applies to Prophet Muhammad. Some evidences are mentioned below: 1- It has been proven that the Syriac language did not contain vowels until the fifth century. It consisted of consonants only and vowels were introduced after the fifth century through a system of dots above or below the letters to indicate the vowel sounds. To pronounce the sound "a" specifically a dot was placed above and below the letter. This was transliterated as a or ă (called ܐ݂ܵ ܚ
݂ܵ
ܬ ܦ, Pṯāḥā in Syriac language). We can conclude that the Syriac pronunciation did not include the "a" sound and that the addition of an ‘a’ was a translation error (to accommodate Greek language requirements or to hide the truth of the prophecy of Prophet Muhammad). Thus, this word, Paraclete, points to the second meaning, i.e. Ahmad or Muhammad (The praised one). 2- The literal translation of the word comforter in the Greek language is "Parakalon" or "Parygorytys." These two words are both used in different positions in the Bible with different meanings. Therefore "Periklytos" must have a unique meaning. 3- In addition, the "s" at the end of the word is usually denotes the Proper name of a single masculine person, not an adjective in the Greek language. 4- By analyzing the Qur’an and Bible verses the reference to the prophecy of Muhammad can be further supported. "And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, ‘O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of 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.’ But when he came to them with clear evidences,’ they said: ‘This is obvious magic.’" (Qur’an 61:6)
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Who is the Paraclete?
The Paraclete is a man
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false Prophets are gone out into the world." (1John 4:1) The word "spirit" can be applied on human beings. According to history, many earlier Christians understood that the "Paraclete" is a man and not a spirit. Many men before Prophet Muhammad claimed that they were the expected "Paraclete." The king of Abyssinia, Negus, in the pre-Islamic era, was a Christian waiting for the arrival of the "Paraclete."
The Paraclete speaks what he hears
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things ever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come." (John 16:13) In fact, this is a description of a Prophet, not of God. A Prophet speaks what he hears from God. This is proof that the verses are not referring to the third person in the Trinity (as believed by Christians), but rather to Prophet that shall be sent from God. (And he shall declare unto you the things that are to come), as did Prophet Muhammad. The victory of the Romans after they were vanquished by the Persians is an example. This was mentioned in the Qur’an. "The Byzantines have been defeated, in the lowest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome. Within three to nine years. To God belongs the command before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice. In the victory of. He gives victory to whom He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful." (Qur’an 30: 2-5) This verse talks about the defeat of the Byzantines by the Persians at the Battle of Antioch. Muslims were promised that the defeat of the Byzantines will be reversed into victory "in a few years’ time, the Byzantines were Christians and considered as followers of a divine religion so their victory was important to Muslims. The Persians were considered duelists as their religion was Zoroastrianism. The battle took place in the area around the Dead Sea, (located in the Jordan Rift Valley, which
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was the closest place that the Romans occupied to the Arabian Peninsula. The fact most interesting which has been discovered recently, through satellites and the modern-day technology, is that the area around the Dead Sea has the lowest altitude on Earth. This is a true miracle of the Qur’an because no-one could have known or foreseen such a fact in the 7th century due to the fact that satellites and modern-day technology were not available at the time. The only possible explanation is that Prophet Muhammad had truly received divine revelation from God, The Creator and Originator of the universe. Around seven years after the revelation of the Qur’anic verse, a decisive battle between The Byzantine Empire and the Persian Empire took place and the Persians army was defeated by the Byzantines this time surprisingly. Therefore, the victory of the Romans promised by God in the Qur’an miraculously came true.
The Paraclete convicts the world
"And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (John 16:8) The Qur’an convicted the Jews because they didn’t believe in Jesus Christ as a Prophet sent from God and convicted the Christians because they considered Jesus as God and adopted the concept of the Trinity as a faith: which is a sin as well, as Jesus never claimed to be God or a begotten son of God. When Jesus referred to himself as son of God in the Bible, he made it clear that he is not a begotten son, but that figuratively we are all children of God. "I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God." (John 20:17) According to the Bible in Acts (the Pentecost), when the Holy Spirit descended to the disciples, he made the disciples speak many languages, but did not convict the world or preach about Jesus. If the intended meaning of this verse is that the Holy Spirit would convince the disbelievers, there would have been no need for missionaries to preach Christianity and defend it since the Holy Spirit already did this job.
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The Paraclete comes after the departure of Jesus
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter (Paraclete), will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7) This cannot be a reference to the Holy Spirit (Angel Gabriel according to Muslims) as he was already present. The Holy Spirit came to Mary (Luke 1:35) and Simon (Luke 2:25) as well as other incidents according to the Bible. However, Muhammad wasn’t present, thus the verse makes sense as the coming of Muhammad was after Jesus went away.
The Paraclete guides to the truth
"But the Comforter (Paraclete), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you." (John 14:26) This applies to Prophet Muhammad as he taught his followers what to believe, what to do and what not to do through what God revealed to him. Prophet Muhammad taught his followers the Qur’an. He also reminded them of the pure faith (belief in one God and unifying Him in worship), as preached by Jesus Christ.
The Paraclete glorifies Jesus
"He will glorify me,.." (John 16:14) Muhammad respected and glorified Jesus Christ: 1- Prophet Muhammad said: "I am most worthy of Jesus son of Mary among of mankind in the world, and in the next life. They said: ‘O Messenger of God, how that?’ He replied: ‘Prophets are brothers in faith, having different mothers, their religion is one and there is no Prophet between us (between Jesus Christ and me).’" 2- The name of Jesus Christ is mentioned more than the name of Prophet Muhammad in the Qur’an (25 times vs. 4). 3- The mother of Jesus Christ, Mary, has been elevated over all women according to the Qur’an.
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4- The Virgin Mary is the only lady mentioned by name in the Qur’an. 5- The Qur’an has a full chapter called after the Virgin Mary. "You cannot bear it now." Jesus told his disciples that they cannot bear the truth now. Prophet Muhammad brought the truth about Jesus Christ and God. He was given the Qur’an which is preserved from any change by God till the Day of Judgment; a testament to the truth forever.
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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 and Moses are His servants and His messengers.
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