Do I think that its fair to consider good works like unto "filthy rags"? Yes sir I sure do. According to the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 64:6), I think it would be fair since one of the biggest mistakes in humanity is to deny the truths handed to Gods ambassadors (prophets)
unless you believe that Isaiah is a false prophet?
When a person accepts Christ as their Savior, there is a "change of heart", i.e., there is geniune repentance and thus they turn away from their sins. Furthermore they are a "new creation" in God and their old sin nature has passed on, they now live according to the spirit and not the flesh. As a result their faith will "naturally" produce good works
however good works in and by itself cannot save the person since it is "SIN" which separates man from God.
and I believe that only through the shedding of Christs blood can we obtain forgiveness from God an receive Eternal Life.
Do you wonder how the God of Islam is supposedly the same God of Christianity and at the same time their doctrinal views clash? How can God allow confliction between His truth, can God author confusion or has one side been misled?
Also, I can't imagine how God would have a son. How can an "Absolute Holy and Pure God" (to use your words) have a son? Doesn't this affect His Purity, Holiness and Majesty? If priests can't marry and therefore have children (because maybe it affects their purity), why do Christians attribute a son to God, the Creator and Sustainer of all mankind?
I'm not threatining you, I simply made suggestions and you can either reject it or not. Secondly I never said I knew what you believed but common sense told me that you found Christianity to be a joke. You can call it superstition and I call it truth and I'm not going to waste my time with someone who only makes derrogatory remarks. And as for your latin phrase, seems hypocritcal to someone who mocks the Christian religion. I only spoke on behalf of what Christ taught, and if you find this pathetic then you find the teachings of Christ pathetic, in other words you are not attacking me verbally, but Christ. I didn't know what your latin phrase meant unto I researched it and found a link which explains it:
latin phrase
Take Care!
I asked you for your opinion, not what the Bible says about it.
So the efforts you make on this forum are "filthy rags". For me, I give them their importance (I don't consider them as "filthy rags"). That's why I am responding to your posts.
When Christianity considers the deeds of a person as "filthy rags", it does not encourage her/him to enjoin Good and forbid Evil.
Since he is not mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an nor in the authentic tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), I can't say that Isaiah is a prophet.
We believe there were thousands of Prophets since Adam (peace be upon him). By name, 25 are mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an. Isaiah may be a Prophet, yet he is not amongst those 25.
You said: "As a result their faith will "Naturally" produce good works". Yet, a great deal of Christians do bad deeds even after accepting the Christ as their savior.
Christianity considers human beings are sinners because Adam and Eve made an original sin.
On the other hand, Islam teaches that human beings are born pure and sinless. No one is responsible for or can take the responsibility of the sins of others.
So, which (Christianity or Islam) is more just and fair? ...
With all my due respect, I disagree. Sincere and true repentance is the key to obtain forgiveness from God, most Gracious, most Merciful. "O ye who believe! Turn to Allah (God) with sincere repentance" [Glorious Qur'an 66:8]
Definitely, one side has been misled.
I believe that the Gospels we have today are not exactly the Injeel revealed to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). Today's Bible may contain the word of God, but it also contains words of Prophets, historians as well as many scientific errors.
A relevant question would then emerge: "How could God let his words be changed or make any errors"? I already answered it here:
http://www.able2know.com/forums/a2k-post1492556.html#1492556
I'll also quote from your own Bible:
Matthew 15:24 "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel"
Matthew 10:5-6 "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Acts 11:19 "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only."
Also, I can't imagine how God would have a son. How can an "Absolute Holy and Pure God" (to use your words) have a son? Doesn't this affect His Purity, Holiness and Majesty? If priests can't marry and therefore have children (because maybe it affects their purity), why do Christians attribute a son to God, the Creator and Sustainer of all mankind?
Actually I have researched the so called errors in the bible and I have condluded there are no scientific errors.
and someone who claims to be a Christian who makes the "habit" of doing bad deeds is according to the scriptures a false convert and a self-professed Christian.
Human beings are born with a "sin nature", and a sin nature orginates from sin, a sin that is innate in all of us and thus needs to be cleansed.
However there are many non-religious people who with their conscience decide to repent or to turn away from doing evil or wrong which is considered sin. Does this give them the right to enter heaven?
Actually I have researched the so called errors in the bible and I have condluded there are no scientific errors.
I'm not sure what your implying, but Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of Israel and His disciples from then were to take it to the world:
"Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
I'm not sure what your implying
which has a different meaning that what Allah himself understood it to be.
The words "only begotten" (mono genes) means "one of a kind" and uncreated as compared to the many sons of God, He is the one and only Son of God who is of the same essence as His Father.
So someone who believes in the Christ as savior and yet makes many bad deeds will not enter Heaven?
Secondly, what is the limit, the threshold of bad deeds that makes a Christian a false convert?
I believe, as I said before, that people are born pure and sinless.
For example: observe a new born baby: you will find purity instead of sin, innocence instead of guilt. Can we imagine that this baby holds a "sin nature"?
When our fathers Adam and Eve made a sin, we were not yet born. Why do you hold the whole humanity responsible for that sin? I think it's unjust.
Yes. If a person makes a truthful repentance, if she/he regrets what she/he was doing (sins) before repentance, then yes, by God's Will, they will be awarded Paradise. Remember that God (Allah) is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
This is hardly a scientific statement. So, how can you convince me that there are no scientific errors in the Bible?
Basically, the thread is not "Christianity Q&A". However, would you mind helping me understand the following verses from the Bible:
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lays hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:17-18
Now, scientifically, drinking deadly poison kills or dangerously hurts. How can then a Christian believer not be harmed at all?
I am convinced your are a true Christian believer, can you then pass the test mentioned in the above verses (Mark 16:17-18)?
On the one hand, if we suppose that Mark 16:15 is an integral part of the Bible, then how can we reconcile it with Matthew 10:5-6 mentioned above and also with Matthew 1:21 : "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." ?
On the other hand, is really Mark 16:15 part of the Bible? Why do the newer translations not have Mark 16:9-20?
But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed. (Mark 7:27-30)
No my friend. Your (and my) Creator Allah (which is the Arabic word for God) correctly understands all what is in the Heavens and the Earth, He is the All-Knowing, He knows all what happened, what happens and what will happen. "Should He not know,- He that created? and He is the One that understands the finest mysteries (and) is well-acquainted (with them)." [Glorious Qur'an 67:14]
God says: "And there is none like unto Him." [Glorious Qur'an 112:4]
and: "There is nothing whatever like unto Him" [Glorious Qur'an 42:11]
I look forward to reading your comments.
Peace be on those who follow the guidance.
And Allah (God) knows best.
Not all Christians are immune to deadly poison, since not all gifts are distributed to all Christians but to believers in general. Furthermore, to deliberately drink poison may not be Gods will and can be a form of tempting God and can result in death.
Jesus said that a tree is known by the "fruit" that it bears. Everyone who is born of God through faith in Christ is a new creature according to the scriptures and are given a new nature. If anyone truly believes that Christ is their Savior will keep His commandments and instruction. In all honesty it is up to God to judge the heart of a person, however when a person makes a habit of sinning it demonstrates no change from within and their deeds "fruits" are examples that their heart remains in an unregenerate state.
If anyone truly believes that Christ is their Savior will keep His commandments and instruction.
It is not I who hold all of humanity responsible and it is not I who considers it fair or unjust, but rather the scriptures.
When sin was passed down from Adam, this is called "imputed sin", which means to ascribe to or reckon. The imputation of sin occured originally when the sin of Adam was charged to the account of every person. The imputation of sin is not arbitrarily charging people with their sins for which they are not naturally responsible, but reckoning to them the guilt they deserve. Imputation of sin is charged to all because we are connected with Adam's race.
When God imputes the righteousness of Christ to the account of the believer, He makes the person's record as good (or as perfect) as Jesus Christ's. Imputed righteousness is the only remedy for imputed sin.
Furthermore I don't believe that God is going to send a baby to hell, since the bible speaks of an age of accountability.
Jesus said that He is the only way to God, and that came to die on the cross for the sins of the world, this was His primary purpose here on earth.
Not all Christians are immune to deadly poison, since not all gifts are distributed to all Christians but to believers in general. Furthermore, to deliberately drink poison may not be Gods will and can be a form of tempting God and can result in death.
You are correct, Jesus was sent for the House of Israel only, however His disciples were part of the House of Israel, and Jesus' command to them was to preach the Gospel to "all the world". What happens when the Jews reject Jesus' message?
Quote:
But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed. (Mark 7:27-30)
The dogs are the Gentiles and since the chidren (Israel) reject the message (bread) Jesus, the dogs (gentiles) then receive the bread (message).
is really Mark 16:15 part of the Bible? Why do the newer translations not have Mark 16:9-20?
I have muslim friends, and they all agree that the word "begotten" in the Quran is similar to having a son through creation or procreation. This is not what the scriptures teach. What does the word begotten mean to you according to what the Quran teaches?
I agree that there is none Like God, however the God of Christianity is unique also as I wil explain. There is no religion that teaches that there is One God manifested in three eternal persons, this is indigenous to Christianity alone. Tritheism is three gods and this is found in paganism, the God of Christianity is One God in three uncreated Eternal Persons who are of one substance and essence and in absolute Unity.
I appreciate your reply here. However, it does not answer my two questions: 1) Will a person who believes in the Christ as savior and yet makes many bad deeds enter Heaven or Hell? 2) What is the limit or threshold that defines the "habit of sinning"?
Is a person reaches the stage of true belief in Christ, will she/he become a perfect person? Is the "new nature" an immunity against sins?
I think a person cannot annihilate his/her intelligence and follow blindly the scriptures. God almighty gave us a brain and a heart to be used so that we can reach the truth.
I truly respect your belief on this. Yet I reiterate my point of view: I think it is unjust to ascribe or impute a sin to people who never made it.
Islam clearly states that no one is accountable of the sins of the others: "No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. " [Glorious Qur"an 39:7]
While sin is imputed (as you believe) to the whole of humanity, why is righteousness ascribed only to the account of the believer (not the whole of humanity)? Isn't this also very unjust?
According to your belief, when Jesus (peace be upon him) died on the cross, was he in a human form or in a divine one (God)?
My view on this is:
1) If he was in a human state, then it is hardly conceivable that a man could carry all the sins of the world.
2) If he was in God state, then God does not die.
In both cases, I (and many many others) have difficulties to understand the situation...
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)
I totally agree with Steve's comments on this. "Not all Christians are immune to deadly poison" means some are immune, which is unscientific.
Can you give me the name (with proof) of a devout Christian who successfully passed the deadly poison test?
I appreciate your explanations here, even if I disagree with you.
In think Matthew 1:21 is quite clear that Jesus will save his people (Children of Israel) not all of the world.
Moreover, you did not refer to my question:
My objection was about the word "understood" you used when describing Allah (God), because He is the All-Knowing.
If Jesus (peace be upon him) is not created, why do "the scriptures" consider him as son of God?
As to what "begotten" means in the Glorious Qur'an from my limited knowledge, it depends on the verse. For example: "He begetteth not, nor is He begotten" [Glorious Qur'an 112:3] means having a son/daughter through creation/procreation. But, in the Chapter of Mary: "They say: "((Allah)) Most Gracious has begotten a son!"" [Glorious Qur'an 19:88] refers to what the Christians believe in.
Micah 5:2 - But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Although I respect what you wrote, I find it strange for a central belief in Christianity (I mean the Trinity) to be so difficult to understand (three gods in one). By the way, many Christians do not totally comprehend the concept of Trinity.
In Islam, it is quite easy: There is One and a Unique God:
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
And there is none like unto Him.
[Glorious Qur'an Chapter 112]
the scriptures clearly teaches and by experience that someone who truly 'believes" in Christ also believes in His teachings and will strictly adhere to them. It is also clear that anyone who makes many bad deeds may not believe in Christ but is a false convert.
Secondly a habit of sinning is when the persons life is ruled by sin rather than the spirit, i.e., sin dominates over their life rather than living according to the commandments of God.
This new nature is not an immunity against sins because the scriptures teaches us that the flesh wages war against the soul. However the sin nature will not dominate over the spirit birthed nature of the born again believer.
Apply that concept to the Quran also and see if it seems correct! God indeed gave us a brain and a heart, however man is prone to rebellion and in his freedom and understanding often believes that that there are many paths to God, or that there is NO GOD! How many religions believe that they have found the truth and that their truth is "the truth". In other words according to your comment, those who fail to reach the truth obviously weren't using their brains. People use their brains, however it is when their hearts are closed and their minds are opened, we must open our minds and our hearts.
The Old Testament and even Moses believed in animal sacrifices for the atonement of sin, this system of animal sacrifice was handed down directly from God Himself to Moses, do you deny this?
and it is inevitable that man will sin in his lifetime
Sin is imputed to all of humanity because we are all of Adams race, however not all are born of God. The righteousness is ascribed to those who are born of God, as I stated before "in" Adam all die, and all those "in Christ will be made alive and made righteous. An unbeliever is one who is not "in" Christ and thus remains in Adam and his sin remains.
Jesus was still God "the Son" (God is triune) in the human state, retaining the attributes of God, but taking a human nature in order to have a ministry among men. However He still possessed a divine nature and only a divine, sinless person who is also God incarnate can atone for the sins of the World. Secondly Go cannot die and I agree with this, however God is also a spirit and when Jesus died on the cross, His body Died and not His Spirit.
How many people have been miraculously healed, which defies science. Jesus is not telling Christians to deliberately and willfully drink deadly poison, that passage is referring to those who mistakenly drink deadly poison, not purposely and out of stupidity drinking poison to put God to the test. I have heard of Christians who have "mistakenly" ingested deadly poison and have not been killed, however since I don't personally know them or personally know of any Christian who have mistakenly ingested poison, I can't give you any names.
Furthermore there is a reason why Christians should not base their doctrine on this belief as I will explain later.
In light of uncertainty attached to verses 9-20, it may be advised to take care in basing doctrine upon them (especially v.v. 16-18)
The scriptures never uses "a" son of God, but "the" Son of God and the "only begotten" Son of God as to the many created sons of God (angels). The Old Testament even makes reference to the Eternal Son of God
Since a person who makes too many bad deeds is a false convert, then according to your belief doing good deeds is as important as believing in Christ. There are many people who make good deeds and yet do not accept him as Savior. Will they go to Hell even if they are "good people"?
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:12-16)
Islam offers a person who has the habit of sinning the opportunity to repent:
"Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Glorious Qur'an 39:53]
Why would a war between the flesh and the soul be necessary since, according to your belief, the Christ carried the sins of the world? In other words, why would a Christian be concerned about his sins since the Christ carried them?
In Islam, no one carries the sins of the other, everyone is responsible only for himself/herself and will be judged according to his/her deeds and belief.
We definitely agree that the use of both the brain and the heart is fundamental to reach the truth. Therefore, if we find a contradiction in a religious book, we can't justify it by using our heart. A person saying that:"I feel that a verse is correct even if it contradicts established facts, logic and science" would hardly find a place in this era where science and technology are mostly important.
Since it is not mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an nor in the authentic sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of God be upon him), I do not believe in it.
This is your belief and I respect it.
Islam on the other hand, makes no initial difference between human beings. Those who are the most righteous are the best in the sight of God: "Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you"[Glorious Qur'an 49:13]
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. (Romans 3:21-25)
As I said before, I (and many others including Christians) have major difficulties in understanding the concept of Trinity. Does your sentence mean that on the cross, Jesus (peace be upon him) was simultaneously God, Human and Spirit?
Islam, on the hand, is the religion of Tawheed which means the clear Unity of God, the pure Monotheism. "Say: "What has come to me by inspiration is that your Allah is One Allah. will ye therefore bow to His Will (in Islam)?""[Glorious Qur'an 21:108]
Matthew 19:5 - And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
It's always hard to go beyond established science and convince people that nothing happens if a Christian drinks poison, would it be intentional or unintentional. Mark 16:17-18 state that the poison is "deadly", which scientifically and without doubt harms any creature and humans in particular.
Mark 16:16-18 are either word of God or not word of God. If you say there is uncertainty attached to those verses, then this put doubts on the integrity of the whole Bible.
I believe that attributing sons to God almighty is incompatible with His Majesty, I believe God almighty is far from any imperfection.
One may wonder why are priests not allowed to marry and therefore to have sons?
"Say: "O People of the Book (Jews and Christians)! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah."" [Glorious Qur'an 3:64]
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 8:54; 10:17)
The scriptures clearly state that God gave His one and only Son, that whosoever "believes" in Him should not perish.
However Christ is not an ordinary man, He was sinless, He was divine, and more than that He was God.
The bible also tells us that All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
According to Muhammad there are no errors, that would mean that if ONE error is found, that would disprove the entire book.
Here are 10!
Wich ONLY answer did they give?
- "Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!" [7:82], [27:56]
- "Bring us the Wrath of Allah if thou tellest the truth." [29:29]
Allah isn't sure who gets salvation
- Salvation is for Jews, Christians, and Sabaeans [5:69]
- Salavation is Only for Muslims [3:85]
Allah's clock ain't working
- Allah's day is a 1000 years [32:5]
- Allah's day is 50.000 years [70:4]
Some angels missing
- Many angels appeared to marry [3:42], [3:45]
- Only one angel appeared to marry [19:17]
What's a man really made of?
- A blood clot [96:1-2]
- water [21:30], [24:45], [25:54]
- clay [15:26]
- dust [3:59], [30:20], [35:11]
- or nothing? [19:67]
Where does the evil in our lifes come from?
- Satan? [38:41]
- Ourselves?[4:79]
- Allah? [4:78]
Angels cannot disobey Allah
- All are commanded [16:49-50]
- Not all are commanded [2:34]
Death repentance is a impossible possibility
- Pharaoh repented at the site of death and was saved [10:90-92]
- Alltough noone can be saved this way [4:18]
Who gets the blame for disbelief
- the disbeliever [6:12]
- Allah [10:100]
Persecute unbelievers? or forgive them?
- Persecute the unbelievers [9:29]
- Forgive the unbelievers [45:14]
there are not contradictions in the bible
I notice that you often use the term "Glorious Quran", is this expression found in the book itself? Or is it used by Muslims to "exalt" the status of the Quran?
An example of one teaching which is not found in the Quran and is the MOST VITAL in all of Christianity, is that unless you are cleansed by the Blood of Christ and believe that He rose from the dead, you will be condemned.
So if the Quran isn't true, then the author of the Quran has deceived all believers of the book into condemnation.
It seems that you doubt the power of God
That is not true, since that passage is singled out by Scholars as a passage that we should not base our doctrine upon.
Let me ask you a question, if you are a Father to your Son, do you consider yourself more or less equal than He is? Do you consider a woman less equal than man?
One may wonder why are priests not allowed to marry and therefore to have sons?
According to your belief, which I respect, why did God gave His ''one and only son" 2005 years ago and not before that? I mean, what appears more logical is that God would give His ''one and only Son" at the beginning of humanity.
In Islam, Jesus (peace be upon him) is one of the mightiest Messengers of God almighty, he is not the son of God (God forbid).
Jesus (peace be upon him) is far from being God:
"And behold! Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah.?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden.
"Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, 'worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things." [Glorious Qur'an 5:116-117]
The word of God cannot be profitable for reproof or correction. God does not make mistakes. If reproof or correction are applied to the Scriptures, then the integrity and the authenticity of the whole Bible will be questioned.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
Your (and my) Sustainer God (Allah), revealed to His last and final Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Noble Qur'an: "Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other Than Allah, they would surely have found therein Much discrepancy." [Glorious Qur'an 4:82]
This is called a falsification test: if you find one error, the entire book is wrong. But, in 1400 years, not a single error has been found, and as long as you are logical, you will not find any.
By the way, this falsification test lead Dr. Gary Miller to revert to Islam. Here is the story:
Dr. Garry Miller
Sure? Personally, I have hundreds of misconceptions (I don't say contradictions) about the Bible. Would you mind removing this one for example:
(II Kings 8:26) Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign.
(II Chronicles 22:2) Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign.
In Maths, 22 is not equal to 42...
Both. In the Glorious Qur'an, many expressions are used to show its importance: the Glorious, the Noble, the Book, the Furqan (which differentiates good from evil), the Wise... On the other hand, we believe as Muslims the Glorious Qur'an is The Word of God, so we give it a supreme importance.
I truly respect your belief, yet I believe it is wrong. Why? because the Glorious Qur'an tells us clearly that Jesus (peace be upon him) never died on the cross: "That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not" [Glorious Qur'an 4:157]
So I have ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT that Jesus (peace be upon him) never died on the cross.
This is a baseless statement since the Glorious Qur'an is 100% true.
Oh my friend! this is the last thing I would permit myself to do. As Muslim, we believe that Allah (God) Has the ability to do everything, He is the All-Powerful.
What I wanted to say is, for a book to claim it is the word of God, it has to stand the test of time. I mean, if you apply that book to any era, it should still be valid. And today, we are in the era of logic, technology and science...
Not basing the doctrine on a passage that is supposedly the word of God means Christians understand better than their Creator what is right and what is wrong for them (God forbid).
In Islam, every LETTER of the Holy Qur'an is important.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2,3)
Not a very good example. God almighty who has the most perfect of attributes cannot be compared to humans (like me) who are slaves, servants of their Lord.
Matthew 23:12 - And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:13-15)
