Why Do Priests & Preachers Enter ISLAM?


BY Yusuf Estes


Many people ask me how a preacher or priest in Christianity can ever go to Islam, especially considering all the negative things that we hear about Islam and Muslims everyday. Some people are simply curious, while others take a profound exception to my "conversion" to Islam. Some have asked how I could have turned my back on Jesus, or if I truly understood the Holy Ghost and some even questioned whether or not I considered myself as "born again" or had ever really been saved at all. These are good questions to which I will offer answers to at the end of this writing. I would like to thank everyone for their interest and offer my humble story, God Willing.


One very nice Christian gentleman asked me in email why and how I left Christianity for Islam. This is more or less a copy of the letter I sent to him.


<b>Introduction
</b>


My name is Yusuf Estes now, but in years past my friends used to call me Skip. I have preached Christianity and worked in the entertainment and music industry since I was a boy in the 1950's. My father and I have established music stores, TV and radio programs and outdoor entertainment for fun (and profit). I was a music minister and even used a pony ride and entertained the children as "Skippy the Clown."


Once, I have served as Delegate to the United Nations Peace Conference for Religious Leaders. Now I am a retired former Muslim Chaplain for United States Bureau of Prisons, Washington, DC. and I join alongside many American Muslims, working with Muslim student and youth organizations as well as schools for Muslim children. As such, I travel around the entire world lecturing and sharing the message of the Christ of the Quran in Islam. We hold dialogs and discussion groups with all faiths and enjoy the opportunity to work alongside rabbis, ministers, preachers and priests everywhere. Some of our work is in the institutional area, military, universities and prisons. Primarily our goal is to educate and communicate the correct message of Islam and who the Muslims really are. Although Islam has grown now to nearly tie Christianity as the largest of religions on earth, we see many of those who claim Islam as Muslims, that do not correctly understand nor properly represent the message of "Peace, Surrender and Obedience to God" [Arabic = 'Islam']


Dear me, I am afraid that I got a bit ahead of myself. I was trying to give a bit of background of our work perhaps to see if it would in anyway benefit those who may being going through what I experienced while trying to resolve some of the issues of Christianity.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<b>How It Happened
</b>


This may seem quite strange, while we perhaps may share a few different perspectives and concepts of God, Jesus, prophethood, sin and salvation. But you see, at one time I was in the same boat as many folks are today. Really, I was. Let me explain.


<b>Born A Strong Christian
</b>


I was born into a very strong Christian family in the Midwest. Our family and their ancestors not only built the churches and schools across this land, but actually were the same ones who came here in the first place. While I was still in elementary we relocated in Houston, Texas in 1949 (I'm old). We attended church regularly and I was baptized at the age of 12 in Pasadena, Texas. As a teenager, I wanted to visit other churches to learn more of their teachings and beliefs. The Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Charismatic movements, Nazarene, Church of Christ, Church of God, Church of God in Christ, Full Gospel, Agape, Catholic, Presbyterian and many more. I developed quite a thirst for the "Gospel" or as we say; "Good News." My research into religion did not stop with Christianity. Not at all. Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Metaphysics, native American beliefs were all a part of my studies. Just about the only one that I did not look into seriously was "Islam". Why? Good question.


<b>Music Minister </b>


Anyway, I became very interested in different types of music, especially Gospel and Classical. Because my whole family was religious and musical it followed that I too would begin my studies in both areas. All this set me for the logical position of Music Minister in many of the churches that I became affiliated with over the years. I started teaching keyboard instruments in 1960 and by 1963 owned my own studios in Laurel, Maryland, called "Estes Music Studios."


<b>Business Projects In Texas, Oklahoma and Florida</b>


Over the next 30 years my father and I worked together in many business projects. We had entertainment programs, shows and attractions. We opened piano and organ stores all the way from Texas and Oklahoma to Florida. We had earned millions of dollars during those years, but could not find the peace of mind that can only come through knowing the truth and finding the real plan of salvation. I'm sure you have asked yourself the question; "Why did God create me?" or "What is it that God wants me to do?" or "Exactly who is God, anyway?" "Why do we believe in 'original sin?" and "Why would the sons of Adam be forced to accept his 'sins' and then as a result be punished forever." But if you asked anyone these questions, they would probably tell you that you have to believe without asking, or that it is a 'mystery' and you shouldn't ask - "Just have faith, brother."


<b>Trinity Concept</b>


Strangely enough, the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible. And it has been a concern for religious scholars as early as 200 years after Jesus was raised up by Almighty God. I would ask preachers or ministers to give me some sort of an idea how 'one' could figure out to become 'three' or how God Himself, Who can do anything He Wills to do, cannot just forgive people's sins, but rather and had to become a man, come down on earth, be a human, and then take on the sins of all people; keeping in mind that all along He is still God of the whole universe and does as He Wills to do, both in and outside of the universe as we know it. They never seemed to be able to come up with anything other than opinions or strange analogies.


<b>Father - Ordained Non-Denominational Minister</b>


My father was very active in supporting church work, especially church school programs. He became and ordained minister in the 1970s. He and his wife (my stepmother) knew many of the TV evangelists and preachers and even visited Oral Roberts and helped in the building of the "Prayer Tower" in Tulsa, OK. They also were strong supporters of Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Fae Bakker, Jerry Fallwell, John Haggi and the biggest enemy to Islam in America, Pat Robertson.


<b>Distributing "Praise" Tapes for Jesus</b>


During the early 1980's my Dad and his wife worked together and were most active in recording "Praise" tapes and distributing them for free to people in retirement homes, hospitals and homes for the elderly. We were really "winning souls to the Lord - for Jesus" day after day.


<b>Met A Man From Egypt</b>



It was early in 1991 when my father began doing business with a man from Egypt and told me that he wanted me to meet him. This idea appealed to me when I thought about the idea of having an international flavor. You know, the pyramids, sphinx, Nile River and all that.


<b>He Was A "Moslem
"</b>


Hijackers; Kidnappers; Bombers, Terrorists - and who knows what else?


Then my father mentioned that this man was a 'Moslem.' First, I hated the idea of meeting an "infidel, hijacker, kidnapper, bomber, terrorist, non-believer." Any normal person would be repulsed at the idea. I couldn't believe my ears. A 'Moslem?' No way! I reminded my dad of the various different things that we had heard about these people.


Lies Against Muslims & Islam - They Told Us, Muslims:


They don't even believe in God



They worship a black box in the desert.


And They kiss the ground five times a day.


No Way! I Did Not Want to Meet Him!


I did not want to meet this 'Moslem' man. No way! My father insisted that I meet him and reassured me that he was a very nice person. This was too much for me. Especially since the evangelists that we used to travel around with all hated Muslims and Islam very much. They even said things that were not true to make people afraid of Islam. So, why would I want anything to do with these people?


<b>Idea -"Change Him To Christian
"</b>


Then an idea came to me, "We can change this man to Christian." So, I gave in and agreed to the meeting. But on my terms.


<b>Met Him With A Bible, Cross and Cap with "Jesus Is Lord!" on it. </b>


I agreed to meet him on a Sunday after church so we would be all prayed up and in good standing with the Lord. I would be carrying my Bible under my arm as usual. I would have my big shiny cross dangling and I would have on my cap which says: "Jesus is Lord" right across the front. My wife and two young daughters came along and we were ready for our first encounter with the 'Moslems.'


<b>Where Is He?</b>


When I came into the shop and asked my father where the 'Moslem' was, he pointed and said: "He's right over there."


I was confused. That couldn't be the Moslem. No way.


<b>Turban & Beard?</b>


I'm looking for a huge man with flowing robes, a big turban on his head, a beard half way down his shirt and eyebrows that go all the way across his forehead with a sword or a bomb under his coat.


No Turban - No Beard - [No Hair at All!]


This man had no beard. In fact, he didn't even have any hair on his head at all. He was nearly bald. Best of all, he was very pleasant with a warm welcome and handshake. This didn't make sense. I thought they are terrorists and bombers. What is this all about?


<b>He Needs Jesus</b>


Never mind. I'll get right to work on this guy. He needs to be 'saved' in the 'Name of Jesus' and me and the Lord are going to do it.


<b>Introduction & Interrogation</b>


After a quick introduction, I asked him: "Do you believe in God?"


He said: "Yes." - (Good!)


Then I said: "Do you believe in Adam and Eve?"


He said: "Yes." - (Very Good!)


I said: "What about Abraham? You believe in him and how he tried to sacrifice his son for God?"


He said: "Yes." - (Even better!)


Then I asked: "What about Moses?" "Ten Commandments?" "Parting the Red Sea?"


Again he said: "Yes." - (Better still!)


Then: "What about the other prophets, David, Solomon and John the Baptist?"


He said: "Yes." - (Great!)


I asked: "Do you believe in the Bible?"


Again, he said: "Yes." - (OK!)


So, now it was time for the big question:


"Do you believe in Jesus? That he was the Messiah (Christ) of God?"


Again the said: "Yes." - (Fantastic!)


Well now - "This was going to be easier than I had thought."


He was just about ready to be baptized only he didn't know it.


And I was just the one to do it, too.


<b>Shocking Knowledge - Muslims Believe in the Bible</b>?



One day in the Spring of 1991, I came to know that the Muslims believed in the Bible. I was shocked. How could this be? But that's not all, they believe in Jesus as:


* A true messenger of God;


* Prophet of God;


* Miracle birth without human intervention;


* He was the 'Christ' or Messiah as predicted in the Bible;


* He is with God now and most important;


* He will be coming back in the Last Days to lead the believers against the 'Antichrist.'


After "winning souls to the Lord for Jesus" day after day, this would be a big achievement for me, to catch one of these 'Moslems' and 'convert' him to Christianity.


<b>Cup of Tea - Discuss Beliefs
</b>


I asked him if he liked tea and he said he did. So off we went to a little shop in the mall to sit and talk about my favorite subject: Beliefs. While we sat in that little coffee shop for hours talking (I did most of the talking) I came to know that he was very nice, quiet and even a bit shy. He listened attentively to every word that I had to say and did not interrupt even one time. I liked this man's way and thought that he had definite potential to become a good Christian. - Little did I know the course of events about to unravel in front of my eyes.


<b>Agreed to Do Business</b>


First of all, I agreed with my father that we should do business with this man and even encouraged the idea of him traveling along with me on my business trips across the northern part of Texas. Day after day we would ride together and discuss various issues pertaining to different beliefs that people have. And along the way, I could of course interject some of my favorite radio programs of worship and praise to help bring the message to this poor individual. We talked about the concept of God; the meaning of life; the purpose of creation; the prophets and their mission and how God reveals His Will to mankind. We also shared a lot of personal experiences and ideas as well.


<b>Moved to Our Home</b>


One day I came to know that my friend Mohamed was going to move out of the home he have been sharing with a friend of his and was going to be living in the mosque for a time. I went to my dad and asked him if we could invite Mohamed to come out to our big home in the country and stay there with us. After all, he could share some of the work and some expenses and he would be right there when we were ready to go to out traveling around. My father agreed and Mohamed moved in.


<b>Continued Ministry & Preaching</b>


Of course I still would find time to visit my fellow preachers and evangelists around the state of Texas. One of them lived on the Texas -- Mexico border and another lived near lived Oklahoma border. One preacher liked to a huge wooden cross that was bigger than a car. He would carry it over his shoulder and drag the bottom on the ground and go down the road or freeway hauling these two beams formed in the shape of a cross. People would stop their cars and come over to him and ask him what was going on and he would give them pamphlets and booklets on Christianity.


<b>Preacher Has Heart Attack</b>


One day my friend with the cross had a heart attack and had to go to the Veterans Hospital where he stayed for quite a long while. I used to visit him in the hospital several times a week and I would take Mohamed with me with the hopes that we could all share together in the subject of beliefs and religions. My friend was not very impressed and it was obvious that he did not want to know anything about Islam. Then one day a man who was sharing the room with my friend came rolling into the room in his wheelchair. I went to him and asked him his name and he said that it didn't matter and when I asked him where he was from he said he was from the planet Jupiter. I thought about what he said and then began to wonder if I was in the cardiac ward or the mental ward.


<b>Man in Wheelchair - Needed the Lord</b>


I knew the man was lonely and depressed and needed someone in his life. So, I began to 'witness' to him about the Lord. I read to him out of the book of Jonah in the Old Testament. I shared the story of the prophet Jonah who had been sent by the Lord to call his people to the correct way. Jonah had left his people and escaped by boat to leave his city and head out to sea. A storm came up and the ship almost capsized and the people on board threw Jonah over the side of the ship. A whale came up to the surface and grabbed Jonah, swallowed him and then went down to the bottom of the sea, where he stayed for 3 days and 3 nights. Yet because of God's Mercy, He caused the whale to rise to the surface and then spit Jonah out to return back home safely to his city of Nineveh. And the idea was that we can't really run away from our problems because we always know what we have done. And what is more, God also always knows what we have done.


<b>Catholic Priest</b>


After sharing this story with the man in the wheel chair, he looked up and me and apologized. He told me he was sorry for his rude behavior and that he had experienced some real serious problems recently. Then he said that he wanted to confess something to me. And I said that I was not a Catholic priest and I don't handle confessions. He replied back to me that he knew that. In fact, he said: "I am a Catholic priest."


I was shocked. Here I had been trying to preach Christianity to a priest. What in the world was happening here?


<b>Priest in Latin America</b>


The priest began to share his story of being a missionary for the church for over 12 years to south and Central America and Mexico and even in New York's 'Hell's Kitchen.' When he was released from the hospital he needed a place to go to recover and rather than let him go to stay with a Catholic family, I told my dad that we should invite him to come out and live with us in the country along with our families and Mohamed. It was agreed by all that he would so, he moved out right away.


<b>Priests Must Study ISLAM? - YES
!</b>


During the trip out to our home, I talked with the priest about some of the concepts of beliefs in Islam and to my surprise he agreed and then shared even more about this with me. I was shocked when he told me that Catholic priests actually study Islam and some even carry doctors degrees in this subject. This was all very enlightening to me. But there was still a lot more to come.


<b>Different Versions of the Bible</b>



After settling in, we all began to gather around the kitchen table after dinner every night to discuss religion. My father would bring his King James Version of the Bible, I would bring out my Revised Standard Version of the Bible, my wife had another version of the Bible (maybe something like Jimmy Swaggart's 'Good News For Modern Man." The priest of course, had the Catholic Bible which has 7 more books in it that the Protestant Bible. So we spent more time talking about which Bible was the right one or the most correct one, than we did trying to convince Mohamed about becoming a Christian.


<b>Quran Has Only ONE Version - In Arabic - And Still Exists
</b>


At one point I recall asking him about the Quran and how many versions of it there were in the last 1,400 years. He told me that there was only ONE QURAN. And that it had never been changed. Yet he let me know that the Quran had been memorized by hundreds of thousands of people, in it's entirety and were scattered about the earth in many different countries. Over the centuries since the Quran was revealed millions have memorized it completely and have taught it to others who have memorized it completely, from cover to cover, letter perfect without mistakes. Today, over 9 million Muslims have memorized the entire Quran from cover to cover.


<b>How Could This Be?</b>


This did not seem possible to me. After all, the original languages of the Bible have all been dead languages for centuries and the documents themselves have been lost in their originals for hundreds and thousands of years. So, how could it be that something like this could be so easy to preserve and to recite from cover to cover.


<b>Priest Goes to the Mosque</b>


Anyway, one day the priest asked the Mohamed if he might accompany him to the mosque to see what it was like there. They came back talking about their experience there and we could not wait to ask the priest what it was like and what all types of ceremonies they performed. He said they didn't really 'do' anything. They just came and prayed and left. I said: "They left? Without any speeches or singing?" He said that was right.


<b>Priest Enters Islam</b>!



A few more days went by and the Catholic priest asked Mohamed if he might join him again for a trip to the mosque which they did. But this time it was different. They did not come back for a very long time. It became dark and we worried that something might have happened to them. Finally they arrived and when they came in the door I immediately recognized Mohamed, but who was this alongside of him? Someone wearing a white robe and a white cap. Hold on a minute! It was the priest. I said to him: "Pete? -- Did you become a 'Moslem?'


He said that he had entered into Islam that very day. THE PRIEST BECAME A MUSLIM!! What next? (You'll see).


<b>My Wife Announces Her Islam!</b>


So, I went upstairs to think things over a bit and began to talk to my wife about the whole subject. She then told me that she too was going to enter into Islam, because she knew it was the truth.


Shocked!



I was really shocked now. I went downstairs and woke up Mohamed and asked him to come outside with me for a discussion. We walked and talked that whole night through.


<b>Truth Had Come!</b>


By the time he was ready to pray Fajr (the morning prayer of the Muslims) I knew that the truth had come at last and now it was up to me to do my part. I went out back behind my father's house and found an old piece of plywood lying under an overhang and right there I put my head down on the ground facing the direction that the Muslims pray five times a day.


Guide Me! O God! Guide Me!


Now then in that position, with my body stretched out on the plywood and my head on the ground, I asked: "O God. If you are there, guide me, guide me."


<b>Sign Inside of Me</b>


And then after a while I raised up my head and I noticed something. No, I didn't see birds or angels coming out of the sky nor did I hear voices or music, nor did I see bright lights and flashes. What I did notice was a change inside of me. I was aware now more than ever before that it was time for me to stop any lying and doing anything sneaky. It was time that I really work at being an honest and upright man. I knew now what I had to do.


<b>Wash Away the "OLD"</b>


So I went upstairs and took a shower with the distinct idea that I was 'washing' away the sinful old person that I had become over the years. And I was now coming into a new, fresh life. A life based on truth and proof.


- <b>And Become New!</b>


Around 11:00 A.M. that morning, I stood before two witnesses, one the ex-priest, formerly known as Father Peter Jacob's, and the other Mohamed Abel Rehman and announced my 'shahadah' (open testimony to the Oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad, peace be upon him).


"I bear witness, there is no deity to worship, except Almighty Allah, alone and He has no partners and I bear witness that Mohammad is His messenger and servant."


<b>My Wife Was Next</b>


A few minutes later, my wife follow along and gave the same testimony. But hers was in front of 3 witnesses (me being the third).


<b>Then My Father</b>


My father was a bit more reserved on the subject and waited a few more months before he made his shahadah (public testimony). But he did finally commit to Islam and began offering prayers right along with me and the other Muslims in the local masjid (mosque).


<b>Children Too!</b>


The children were taken out of the Christian school and placed in Muslim schools. And now ten years later, they are memorizing much of the Quran and the teachings of Islam.


<b>Father's Wife (Stepmother) Next</b>


My father's wife finally acknowledged, before she died, that Jesus could not be a son of God and that he must have been a mighty prophet of God, but not God. She passed away within a few months of this statement at age 86. May Allah accept her statement of faith, ameen.


<b>Houseful of New Muslims - What's Next?</b>


Now stop and think. A whole entire household of people from varying backgrounds and ethnic groups coming together in truth to learn how to know and worship the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Think. A Catholic priest; a minister of music and preacher of the Gospel; an ordained minister and builder of Christian schools; and the children, even a great-grandmother - they all come into Islam!


<b>His Mercy and Guidance</b>


Only by His Mercy were we all guided to see the real truth of Islam, by removing the coverings over our ears and the blinders on our eyes, no longer having seals over our hearts - He was Guiding us now.


<b>Amazing Story - Family and Friends Entering Islam - From One Man</b>


If I were to stop right here, I'm sure that you would have to admit that at least, this is an amazing story, right? After all, three religious leaders of three separate denominations all going into one very opposite belief at the same time and then soon after the rest of the household.


More? - Yes! Baptist Seminary Student Reads Quran - Accepts Islam



But that is not all. There is more! The same year, while I was in Grand Prairie, Texas (near Dallas) I met a Baptist seminary student from Tennessee named Joe, who also came to Islam after reading the Holy Quran while in BAPTIST SEMINARY COLLEGE!


More? Yes. Catholic Priest Loves Islam - But Needs His Job!



There are others as well. I recall the case of the Catholic priest in a college town who talked about the good things in Islam so much that I was forced to ask him why he didn't enter Islam. He replied: "What? And loose my job?" - His name is Father John and we still pray for Allah to Guide Him.


Another Catholic Priest Makes Shahadah



The very next year I met a former Catholic priest who had been a missionary for 8 years in Africa. He learned about Islam while he was there and entered into Islam. He then changed his name to Omar and moved to Dallas Texas.


Any more? Again - Yes! Orthodox Arch Bishop leaves church for Islam



Two years later, while in San Antonio, Texas I was introduced to a former Arch Bishop of the Orthodox Church of Russia who learned about Islam and gave up his position to enter Islam.


Daughter of Hindu Pundit (Religious Leader) - Accepts Islam - Helping thousands to Islam



I met a woman in New York who wanted to make our CDs about "What Is Islam?" After giving her permission several years ago, I have learned she has produced and distributed over 600 thousand of these to the non-Muslims in America. May Allah reward her and keep her strong in her efforts, ameen.


Hundreds - Thousands - Still Coming



And since my own entrance into Islam and becoming a chaplain to the Muslims throughout the country and around the world, I have encountered many more individuals who were leaders, teachers and scholars in other religions who learned about Islam and entered into it. They came from Hindus, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Greek and Russian Orthodox, Coptic Christians from Egypt, non-denominational churches and even scientists who had been atheists.


Why? Good question.



The combination always seems to be the same; people are sincerely seeking the truth and are willing to put their different prejudices and biases out of their minds and begin to ask God for His Guidance in their lives


<b>9 Steps to Purify the Heart</b>



May I suggest to the seeker of truth do the following NINE STEPS to purification of the heart?


1: Clean - your mind, your heart & soul - remove all prejudices & biases.



2: Thank God - for what you have - every moment of every day.


3:Read - a good translation of the meaning of the Holy Quran in a language that they can :understand best. (http://islamtomorrow.com/downloads/noblequran.exe)


4:Reflect on the meanings & consider the bounties of your Lord.


5:Seek - Forgiveness From God & Learn to Forgive others.


6:Ask - in your heart for Guidance from Above.


7:Open - your heart and mind.


8:Continue - to do this up for a few months. And be regular in it.


9:Avoid - the poison of evil while your heart is opening for the "rebirth of your soul." Remember: Clean; Thank; Read; Reflect - then: "Seek, and ye shall find. Ask, and it shall be given thee. Knock, and it shall be opened." Then: Continue & Avoid


The rest is between you and the Almighty Lord of the Universe. If you truly love Him, then He already Knows it and He will deal with each of us according to our hearts.

Here is another strange incident which recently occurred in the Islamic world:


Somali Islamists kill 2 at World Cup broadcast


Some excerpts from the story:

Quote:Radical Islamic militia fighters in central Somalia shot and killed two people at the screening of a banned World Cup soccer broadcast while dispersing the crowd of teenagers watching it, an independent radio station reported Wednesday.
The Islamic fighters, who have banned such entertainment, opened fire after the teenagers defied their orders to leave the cinema that was screening the Germany-Italy match, Shabelle Radio reported. It said the dead were a girl and the cinema owner.


Islamic fighters who wrested control of the Somali capital from warlords in June forbade movies and television entertainment in line with their strict interpretation of Islam.

Salam


I wonder how he's doing? anybody keep in touch with him? :)


I heard he was going through a bit of a change :unsure:

Salaam All


hey everyone, i heard this very freaky story today and just had to share it with you guys


Anyways, so all the guys were just hanging out at work today and we were chatting... the topic was the punishment of the grave. So one of my coworkers decided to tell us of a funeral that he attended


<b></b>


Prior to the funeral


He said that they went to the cemetery prior to the funeral where they where the grave digger dug the grave. He went down inside the hole for some reason. There in the hole was this black snake coming out of the hole.. a small snake probably a foot long. so he came out of the grave and called his friend when he went to investigate it the snake was gone.... they looked on to see where it went but couldnt find it


<b>At the funeral</b>


Now at the funeral when the body was placed into the grave they realised that they forgot to turn the head. now when they looked into the grave... there it was.... the black snake again....


this time coiled up and laying on the guy's chest... FREAKKYY


now no one wanted to go into the grave because of this... but eventually the deceased's bro decided to jump into the grave and do the task lo and behold when he entered the grave the snake was gone... OMG


Everyone assumed that the snake jus slithered away and the brother fixed the deceased's position and left the grave...


as he got out of the grave and stood over it and looked down.. and you wont believe


There was the snake again but this time not only was the snake coiled on his chest but the cotton covering his head was open and his tongue was sticking right out....


OMG>>


now this actually happened to my friend...


freaky isnt it


salaams


naseeha

Bismillah:


"Did your Muhammad raise the dead or cause the blind to see????" this is a very common question asked by Non Muslims to prove that Muhammad was not true Prophet. Some Christians believe that since Jesus peace be upon him raised the dead, cured the blind, healed leprosy, and fed thousands with few loafs of bread, then this makes him <b>the Creator of the Universe</b>. It is important to know that <b>Jesus' miracles were not unique in the Bible.</b> <b> Others too did the same and similar miracles
.</b>


Also, it is important to know that <b>no Prophet could perform any type of Miracle without the Permission and Will of Allah Almighty:</b>


"It is not fitting for a man that God should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a <b>messenger to reveal, with God's permission, what God wills</b>: for He is Most High, Most Wise. (Quran, 42:51)"


Anyway, Let us look at the following verses from the Bible that refute the uniqueness of Jesus' Miracles:


<b>Bringing the dead back to life: </b>


"Then he cried out to the LORD , <b>"O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" </b> Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD , "O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!" <b>The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him,</b> and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!" ( 1 Kings 17:20-23)"


"But the child's mother said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So he got up and followed her. Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy's face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, "The boy has not awakened." When Elisha reached the house,<b> there was the boy lying dead on his couch.</b> He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD. Then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out upon him, the boy's body grew warm. Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out upon him once more. <b>The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. </b> Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite." And he did. When she came, he said, "Take your son." (2 Kings 4:30-36)"


<b>Jesus' dead body never caused for any dead to come back to life, but Elisha's did:
</b>


"Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. <b>When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. </b> Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. (2 Kings 13:20-22)"


<b>Creating life:
</b>


Jesus only restored life, but never actually created one from scratch. Moses, however, did create a live snake from a wooden stick:


"Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied. The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground <b>and it became a snake</b>, and he ran from it. Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. ( Exodus 4:2-4)"


<b>Curing the blind:
</b>


"When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O LORD , open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, <b>Elisha prayed to the LORD , "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.</b> Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria. After they entered the city, <b>Elisha said, "LORD , open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked,</b> and there they were, inside Samaria. When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?" "Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill men you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master." So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory. Some time later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria. (2 Kings 6:15-24)"


<b>Healing leprosy:
</b>


"Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, <b>and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy</b>. (2 Kings 5:10-14)"


<b>Feeding hundreds with few loafs of bread:
</b>


"A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God <b>twenty loaves of barley bread </b> baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. "Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said. <b> "How can I set this before a hundred men?"</b> his servant asked. But Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: <b>'They will eat and have some left over.</b>' " Then he set it before them,<b> and they ate and had some left over</b>, according to the word of the LORD. (2 Kings 4:42-44)"


So as you can clearly see from the above verses, <b>Jesus' Miracles were not unique</b>. Therefore<b>, they can never be used to prove that he is the Creator of the Universe.
</b>


Salam


Wael.

Bismillah:




For those who say that Prophet Muhamamd did not perform any miracle.




--------------------------------------------------




Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 13, Number 55:




Narrated Anas bin Malik:




Once in the lifetime of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) the people were afflicted with drought (famine). While the Prophet was delivering the Khutba on a Friday, a Bedouin stood up and said, "O, Allah's Apostle! Our possessions are being destroyed and the children are hungry; Please invoke Allah (for rain)". So the Prophet raised his hands. At that time there was not a trace of cloud in the sky. By Him in Whose Hands my soul is as soon as he lowered his hands, clouds gathered like mountains, and before he got down from the pulpit, I saw the rain falling on the beard of the Prophet. It rained that day, the next day, the third day, the fourth day till the next Friday. The same Bedouin or another man stood up and said, "O Allah's Apostle! The houses have collapsed, our possessions and livestock have been drowned; Please invoke Allah (to protect us)". So the Prophet I raised both his hands and said, "O Allah! Round about us and not on us". So, in whatever direction he pointed with his hands, the clouds dispersed and cleared away, and Medina's (sky) became clear as a hole in between the clouds. The valley of Qanat remained flooded, for one month, none came from outside but talked about the abundant rain.




From ‘Ibn Kathirs The Life of the Prophet Muhammad, Al-sira Al-Nabawiyya, volume 2’ :




<b>HOW THE PROPHET (SAAS) REPLACED QATADA’S EYE: </b>




Al-Bayhaqi stated, in the Dalail (The Signs), “Abu Sad al-Malini informed us quoting Abu Ahmed b. Adi, quoting Abu Yala, quoting Yahya al-Himmant, quoting Abd al-Aziz b. Sulayman b. al-Ghasil, from Asim b. Umar b. Qatada, from his father, from his grandfather Qatada b. al-Numan, that his eye was wounded at Badr and that its pupil came down on his cheekbone. They were about to slice it off, but asked the Messenger of God (SAAS) who said they should not do this. He then said a prayer for him, covering his cheek with his palm. And later you could not tell which of his eyes had been struck!”




According to one account, this became the better eye.




An account came down to us from the Commander of the Believers, Umar b. Abd al- Aziz that when he was told this account by Asim b. Umar b. Qatada, he also recited:




“I am the son of him on whose cheek his eye descended,




which was replaced so well by the hand of the Chosen-One.”




Upon hearing this, Umar b. Abd al-Aziz, God bless him, quoted very appropriately the verse of Umayya b. Abd al-Salt of Ibn Dhu Yazin,




“These fine qualities are not like two bowls with milk




merely whitening the water that soon becomes urine.” (Pg 298)




<b>Concerning the Splitting of the Moon in the time of the Prophet (PBUH)</b>




God did provide the Messenger of God (SAAS) with a sign to prove the veracity of the guidance and religion of truth he brought, and that was at the time of his pointing (to the moon).




God Almighty spoke the following in his noble book, “The hour has drawn near and the moon has split asunder. And if they see a sign they turn away, saying, ‘Just more trickery!’ They call it deceit and follow their fancies, while all things are pre-determined.” (surat al-Qamar, LIV, v.1-3)




Muslims are agreed that this did occur in the time of the Messenger of God (SAAS), traditions with complete lines of transmissions, through numerous paths, provide decisive proof for those who examine it and comprehend it.




…….That is related from Anas b. Malik, Jubayr b. Mutim, Hudhayfa, Abd Allah b. Abbas, Abd Allah b. Umar, and Abd Allah b. Masud, God be pleased with all.




Regarding the hadith of Anas, Imam Ahmad stated, “Abd al-Raziq related to us that Mamar related to him, from Qatada, from Anas b. Malik, who said, ‘ The people of Mecca asked the prophet (SAAS) for a sign, And so the moon over Mecca was split twice. And he spoke the words, “ The house has drawn near and the moon has split asunder”” (surat al-Qamar, LIV, v-1)




And Muslim related this, from Muhammad b. Rafi from from Abd al-Razzaq.




This is one of the texts known as the mursalat al-sahaba. And it is plain that he received it from a large mass of the Companions, or from the Prophet (SAAS), or from everyone.




Both al-Bukhari and Muslim related this hadith on a path through Shayban. In his line of transmission al-Bukhari added Said b. Abu Urba. Muslim added Shuba to his. All three (sic) of them drew from Qatada, from Anas. The tradition states that the people of Mecca asked the Messenger of God (SAAS) to show them a sign, He showed them the moon in two parts, so that they could see Mt. Hira between them both.




……. The Hafiz Abu Nuaym stated, “Sulayman b. Ahmad related to us, quoting Bakr b. Suhayl, quoting Abd al-Ghani b. Said, quoting Musa b. Abd al-Rahman, from Ibn Jurayj, from Ata, from Ibn Abbas- also, it came from Muqatil, from al- Dahhak, from Ibn Abbas- with reference to God’s words, ‘The hour has drawn near and the moon has been split asunder’, as follows, ‘The polytheists gathered around the Messenger of God (SAAS); they included al-Walid b. al-Mughira, Abu Jahl b. Hisham, al-As b. Wail, al-As b. Hisham, al-Aswad b. Abd Yaghuth, al-Aswad b. Muttalib b. Asad b. Abd al-Uzza, Zama b. al-Aswad and al-Nadr b. al-Harith, along with many other such men.




“They said to the Prophet (SAAS), “If you are telling the truth, then split the moon for us into two parts, one half over Mt. Abu Qubays, the other over Mt. Quayquan. The Prophet (SAAS) asked them, “If I did so, would you believe?” “Yes, we would,” they replied. It was a night of full moon, and so he asked God the Almighty and Glorious to grant him what they requested. That evening the moon did have one half removed and placed over Mt. Abu Abu Qubays, the other being above Mt. Quayquan, while the Messenger of God (SAAS) called out, “O Abu Salama b. Abd al-Asad, and al-Aqram b. al-Aqram, be a witness (to this event).”




…..The Hafiz Abu al-Qasim al- Tabarni said, “Ahmad b. al-Amr al-Razzaz related to us, quoting Muhammad b. Yahya al-Qital, quoting Muhammad b. Bakr quoting Ibn Jurayj quoting Amr b. Dinar, from Ikrima, from Ibn Abbas, who said, ‘ In the time of the Messenger of God (SAAS), the moon was eclipsed and people said, “The moon is bewitched!” And so the words were revealed, “The hour has drawn near and the moon has split asunder. And if they see a sign they turn away saying, “Just more trickery!”’”(surat al-Qamar, LIV, v. 1-3).




This has a fine chain of authorities; it states that the moon was eclipsed that night; perhaps its splitting occurred on the night of its eclipse and this is why what happened to it was hidden from most of the earths inhabitants. However, this was in fact witnessed in parts of the world. It is said that in some parts of India that became a point dating, and that a building was constructed that night which was dated by the night the moon was split. (Pg 76-79)




<b>A Miraculous event: </b>




<b>Concerning the isra, the night journey, </b> of the Messenger of God (PBUH) from Mecca to Jerusalem, his ascent from there to heaven and the signs he saw there.




We will give here the gist of the words of Ibn Ishaq, God bless him. Having recounted the earlier sections, he went on, “Then the Messenger of God (SAAS) was taken by night from the masjid-al haram to the masjid al-aqsa, the latter being the holy temple of Aelia. By then Islam had spread in Mecca into Quraysh and all the Arab tribes.”




He continued, “Concerning the night journey of the Messenger of God (SAAS), I learned what follows from a hadith that came down from Ibn Musud, Abu Said, Aisha, Muawiya, Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib, God bless them all, and al-Hasan b. Abu al-Hasan, Ibn Hisham al-Zuhri, Qatada and other scholars. Individually that combines in this account.




“The night journey of the Messenger of God (SAAS) was filled with trials and tribulations and (instances) of God’s power and authority; it provides a lesson for men of intelligence, a guidance, a mercy and an affirmation for those with faith and belief. It was certainly an act of God.




“He carried him on his journey as and how He wished, to show him those of His signs He desired. He thus surveyed some of the Might of God, His will, power and authority by which he accomplishes His purposes.




“Abd Allah b. Masud would say, as I have been informed, the Messenger of God (SAAS), was brought al-Buraq, that being the name of a mount on which previous prophets were carried; its stride was such that it could place its hooves as far as it could see. He was borne away on it.




“His companion (Gabriel) then took him off to see signs between heaven and earth. Eventually he reached Jerusalem, where he found Abraham, Moses and Jesus, in a company of prophets assembled for him. He led them in prayer. “Then he was brought three vessels, containing milk, wine and water. He said that he drank the vessel of milk and was told by Gabriel, ‘You have been given guidance, and so has your nation.’”




…..Ibn Ishaq related, quoting Umm Hani as his source, that she said, “It was from nowhere but my home that the Messenger of God (SAAS) made his night journey. He slept that night after having made the final evening prayer. When it was just before dawn he woke up and when it was morning we prayed together and he said, ‘O Umm Hani, last evening I prayed with you in this valley, then I went to Jerusalem and prayed there. And now here I am having said the morning prayer with you, as you see.’




“He then arose to leave, but I took hold of the hem of his cloak and said, ‘O Messenger of God, do not make that statement to the people; they will surely disbelieve you and do you harm.’




“But he replied, ‘By God, I will certainly tell it to them!’ And he did tell them and they did disbelieve.”




Ibn Ishaq went on (and the Prophet (SAAS) told the sceptical, tr.) “And the proof of this is that I passed by the caravan of such-and-such a tribe in such-and-such a valley, and the sound of (al-buraq) startled them and so one of their camels ran away. I led them to it, being then on my way to al-Sham. Then I continued on until I reached Dajanan, where I passed a caravan of such-and-such tribe. I found the people asleep. They had a vessel with water in it that they had covered it with something. I took off the cover and drank the water and replaced its cover. And the proof of this is that their caravan is now making its way down from the pass at al-Tanim al-Bayda. Leading it is an ash-coloured camel on which are two sacks, one of which is black, the other black and white.




“On hearing this, people hurried to the pass. The first camel, which was as he described to them, was insufficient proof for them, so they asked about the vessel and the camel, and those in the caravan did tell them just as the Prophet (SAAS) had recounted.”




Yunus b. bukayr related, from Asbat, from Ismail al-Suddi, that the sun had almost set before that caravan arrived and so he prayed to God, Almighty and Glorious is He, who slowed it down until they came, just as he had described it to them.




He stated, “And the sun was never slowed down for anyone except on that day for him, and also for Yusha (Joshua) b. Nun.




Al-Bayhaqi related this account. ( Pg 62-64)




So as we can see, the prophet Muhammad <b>performed several miracles</b>, and also went through a miraculous event when he was taken from Mecca to Jerusalem, where he saw all the other prophets and was taken into heaven.




<b>So the claim that the prophet Muhammad had no miracles is a lie. </b>




Salam




Wael.




 


<iframe data-embedcontent="" frameborder="0" src="<___base_url___>/topic/3875-you-want-to-know-about-mohamed-salla-allah-alyhee-wa-sallam/?do=embed"></iframe>


 

The Sunni terrorists are making increasingly bizarre demands in Iraq. As the following article shows, they have now declared that it is a crime punishable by death to eat falafel, or to use ice:


Pack up or die, street vendors told


The "logic" they are using is as follows:


(1) there is no record in the Koran of Mohammad eating falafal. Therefore, it is a crime punishable by death to eat it.


(2) there is no record in the Koran of Mohammad using ice. Therefore, it is a crime punishable by death to use ice.


Kind of hard to argue with that logic, isn't it?


Some excerpts from the above article:

Quote:In a bizarre example of Iraq's creeping "Talibanisation", militants visited falafel vendors a fortnight ago, telling them to pack up their stalls by today or be killed. The ultimatum seemed so odd that, at first, most laughed it off - until two of them were shot dead as they plied their trade.
"They came telling us, 'You have 14 days to end this job' and I asked them what was the problem," said Abu Zeinab, 32, who was packing up his stall for good yesterday in the suburb of al Dora, a hardline Sunni neighbourhood.


"I said I was just feeding the people, but they said there were no falafels in Mohammed the prophet's time, so we shouldn't have them either. I felt like telling them there were no Kalashnikovs in Mohammed's time either, but I wanted to keep my life."

Quote:Another group of traders to have felt the Islamists' unexpected wrath is Baghdad's ice merchants, who sell large chunks of ice for storing food and chilling drinks. In a city facing constant power cuts and summer temperatures of up to 50C (122F), the service they provide is little short of essential.
Yet in recent weeks, they too have fallen foul of the claim that their product was not a feature of life during Mohammed's time.


Akram al Zidawi, 19, an ice seller from al Dora, thought the threats were too ludicrous to be true - until it was too late. "Two weeks ago he came back home saying that he had been threatened by the terrorists," said his brother Gassan, 32.


"My mother begged him to quit the job, but he laughed, he thought it was impossible they would kill him. But they came back two days later and shot him dead, along with three other ice sellers nearby."

I've come to understand that Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet of Allah just as Mohammed was a prophet of Allah.


If both are prophets ordained by Allah then they would carry the same message would they not?


Let us examine some of the differences in the message Jesus carried vs. the message Mohammed carried.


These are commonly addressed by those don't believe in the truth of Mohammed. I wanted to ask them here to get your opinions.


<b>Jesus in bold </b> and Mohammed in Red.



1) <b>Jesus lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21).</b>


Allah himself refers to Muhammad as sinful (Sura 40:55, 48:1-2
).


2) <b>Held a high view of marriage and hated divorce - as God the Father does (Matthew 19:7-8).</b>


Muhammad commanded his adopted son to divorce his wife so that she would become his (Sura 33:36-38)



3) <b>Jesus told his followers to get ready, because unbelievers would flog them, arrest them, and put them on trial (Matthew 10:16-19)</b>


Muhammad told his followers to fight (militarily) hard against unbelievers.



"Kill the Mushrikun (unbelievers) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush..." Sura 9:5. Also see Sura 9:29.


4) <b>Jesus's last message to his followers about himself and his mission:</b>


Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47


Muhammad's last speech to his followers on Mt Arafat:



....."I descended by Allah with the sword in my hand, and my wealth will come from the shadow of my sword. And the one who will disagree with me will be humiliated and persecuted."


5) <b>Jesus told his disciples not to ask for money, and not to carry money with them. (Matthew 10:8-9, Luke 10:7)</b>


Muhammad instructed his followers on how to divide booty they seized from unbelievers.



6) <b>Jesus said to his followers that if anyone will not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. (Matthew 10:14-15, 23)</b>


Muhammad ordered Muslims to attack any city that rejected Islam.



And the question of miracles mentioned on the previous thread.


The life of Jesus on earth abounded with astounding miracles. The Qur'an itself declares in Sura 5:110 that Jesus performed miracles. And the Qur'an itself admits twice that Muhammad said he could do no miracles (Suras 13:7 and Sura 17:90-94 ). Jesus made the deaf hear, the lame walk, the blind see, the dumb speak. He multiplied 5 loaves of bread to feed 5000 people, and he cured lepers and many other diseased people, and raised the dead with his word only. One woman was cured by just touching Jesus' garment. Jesus walked on water, caste out demon spirits, raised his own self from the dead, and finally rose to heaven in front of many witnesses.


Mohammed didn't do any miracles such as this (if I am wrong show me where he did do miracles). You said that the Quran is the miracle. Then why wouldn't other ancient religious writings be a miracle? The New Testament, in it's entirety which is older than the Quran isn't that a miracle too?


Mohammed faught battles, killed people, married mulitple times, took bounties and pillaged unbelievers.


Why are the very lives of the two prophets so departed from one another?

I came across this video... very striking and pretty good reminder take a look all





<div><iframe width="459" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5-KYVK2nOiU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>

Hope you guys like it


Salaams

Bismillah


as salam alykom dearest sons and daughters


This is an excellent video performed by Mashary


http://saaid.net/video/ellaSalati.htm


Insh a Allah I will translate it later.