Tears Of Finding The Truth,

[NaSra]

Asalamalaykum


The following story occurred on the Internet through one of the chat programs (Freetel) in January 1999. It is a real dialogue between a Christian and a Muslim. The story centers on Derek's realization of today's Christianity and his subsequent conversion to lslam. This Christian-Muslim dialogue has been edited for readability and for the clarity of its message.


ABDULLAH: Hello there! How are you man?


DEREK: Hello! Well, how are you?


ABDULLAH: I'm fine and you?


DEREK: I'm fine thanks.


ABDULLAH: Where are you from?


DEREK: I'm from L.A. (Los Angeles).


ABDULLAH: The land of Hollywood!


DEREK: Well that's right. Have you ever been to L.A.?


ABDULLAH: No, never. Why are you calling yourself the Black Magic?


DEREK: It's just a nickname, man!


ABDULLAH: I see.


DEREK: Where are you from? Are you an Arab?


ABDULLAH: Yes, I am from Saudi Arabia but I'm in Qatar now. What is your name?


DEREK: My name is Derek. What's your name?


ABDULLAH: My name is Abdullah.


DEREK: What does Abdullah mean?


ABDULLAH: Abdullah means the servant of Allah and it is the function of each individual on the face of the earth to serve llah according to what Allah wants from us. By the way, Allah is the proper name of God.


DEREK: How do we know what God or Allah wants from us?


ABDULLAH: All of this is outlined in the Qur'an and the Sunnah (Ways of Prophet Muhammad; his sayings, actions and aprovals). These are the two major sources of guidance in lslam. Could you please tell me more about yourself? How ol are you?


DEREK: I am 19 years old, black and very uch interested in knowing more about lslam. First of all, what should a person do or believe in to become a Muslim?


ABDULLAH: Very easy, you just say that there is no god worthy of worshi but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger, and you become Muslim,


DEREK: You mean Muhammad is his apostle? But a a Christian or non-Muslim, this sentence is not enough to make it clear to me.


ABDULLAH: Ok Allah sent Muhammad a His last Prophet and Messenger and revealed the Qur'an to him as the final revelation to mankind. Allah said that He perected His religion and called it lslam (see Qur'an 5:3). Islam means peaceful submission to the Will of Allah.


DEREK: I see.


ABDULLAH: Yes, and unfortunately most Christians don't know or they deny that the coming of Prophet Muhammad is foretold in their scriptures (See Deuternomy 18:18; 21: 21; Psalms 1 18:22-23; Isiah 42:1-13; Habakuk 3:3-4; Matthew 21:42-43; John 14:12-17,15:26,27; 1:5-16). Muslim theologians have stated that the person who is described by Jesus to come after him (in the above verses) is Mhammed (peace be upon him).


DEREK: OK Fine, but why was there a need for another prophet after Jesus and another revelation after the Bible?


ABDULLAH: All of the Prophets came to teach their peoples the Oneness of God. In the case of Jesus, he was only sent as a Messenger to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (see Matt. 15:24). What happened was that all of these prophets were not well received by the majority of the people. For instance, they started tampering with the teachings of Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them (see Qur'an 2:79). That is why Allah sent Muhammad with the last Message, (i.e., the Qur'an), to bring all of mankind back to the belief in and worship of One God, without partners or intermediaries.


DEREK: Is the Qur'an similar to the Bible? I mean, what is it composed of?


ABDULLAH: The Qur'an came as the last code emphasizing the same pure monotheistic teachings of Jesus peace be upon him, defending all the previous pure teachings of monotheistic beliefs and clarifying who Jesus was and who his mother was, showing that they were no more than great people.


DEREK: OK then, how-can we be sure that the Qur'an has remained the same since the time of Prophet Muhammad?


ABDULLAH: Allah Himself has guaranteed that He would guard the Qur'an from corruption (see Qur'an 15:9). Hence, the real and pure words of Allah are found in the Qur'an, which was revealed in Arabic, the language of Mohammed's people. Since then, not an iota has changed. This is unlike what has happened in the other religions. For example, if you look at the Bible, you find a lot of versions; the name Bible itself is indicative of those changes because Bible means a collection of books from different writers.


DEREK: But didn't God call it the Bible?


ABDULLAH: God calls the Scripture revealed to Jesus "Injeel" in the Qur'an for which the closest name in the Bible would be the word Gospel. The Bible was written may years after the time of Jesus in a language that was alien to Jesus; it was Latin Vulgate, a language that he never spoke. Isn't this strange? Interestingly, most of what was written in the New Testament was authored by Paul, who, according to James, the brother of Jesus in the Bible, had a polluted mind because he changed and contradicted most of the teachings of Jesus.


DEREK: I think you know more about Christianity than the Pope does.


ABDULLAH: You are wrong by saying that I know more than the Pope. I have simply investigated the Bible with an inquiring mind, which is something that all Christians should do.


DEREK: Is there any English version of the Holy Qur'an?


ABDULLAH: There are many translations of the meanings of the Qur'an.


The Qur'an was revealed in Arabic which means that the words of Allah are in Arabic. The translations are the words of human beings relating to the meanings of the Qur'an to the non-Arabic speaking masses.


DEREK: How does the Qur'an define God to mankind or how does the Muslim perceive God?


ABDULLAH: GOD is the One and Only True GOD, and the Creator of all. He does not beget nor is He begotten. He is unlike His creation in every respect. He is the All-knowing, The Powerful, The Merciful, The Irresistible, and The King of kings.


DEREK: But it is somehow difficult for me to perceive God as being the same as His creatures.


ABDULLAH: You are absolutely right to have difficulty perceiving this because human beings have a limited capacity. This is why Allah sent revelations to His Prophets and Messengers to tell us who He is. So if you want to know who God is, just read the Qur'an.


DEREK: Christians believe that Jesus was sent for the salvation of all mankind. If this is not true, then the foundation of Christianity is faulty. Right? What do you think?


ABDULLAH: That's correct. The Christians of today are following what Paul taught and also tend to follow what the priests tell them to do instead of following what Jesus said.


DEREK: Kindly explain the concept of salvation through the crucifixion of Jesus.


ABDULLAH: In Christianity, the Doctrine of Original Sin is the reason that there is a need for salvation through Jesus' crucifixion. However, this doctrine was invented by Paul and it is strongly negated in the Old Testament (see Ezekial 18:20, Jeremiah 31:30, Deut. 24:16). This doctrine is an attempt to escape the responsibility of righteousness with the belief that punishment is given to someone else to release us from our burden of sins (see Ephesians 1:7, Romans 4:25, 10:9, Corinthians 15:21) In the Qur'an, every soul is responsible for its own deeds, good or bad (see 74:38,41:46, 3:25, 6:154).


DEREK: What about the crucifixion itself?


ABDULLAH: The Bible says Jesus cried out in a loud voice beseeching God for help on the cross: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46) Does that sound like Jesus to you?


DEREK: No, then what about Jesus' appearance to his disciples after the crucifixion?


ABDULLAH: Jesus didn't die on the cross nor was he resurrected. If he were resurrected, then he would have come to his disciples in a spiritual body. As shown in Luke 24:36-43, he met them with his physical body after the event of his alleged crucifixion. In the Qur'an, it says that Jesus was not crucified, but it was someone else who was made to look like him (see 4:157,158).


DEREK: How did the story of the crucifixion of Jesus get into the Bible then?


ABDULLAH: Once again, Paul was responsible (see Timothy 2:8 and Romans 5:10).


DEREK: Well, I, very deep in my heart, believe that God can never look like his creation nor does he do what they do. What I believe is that God is the perfect one who is very much different from everything we see or touch. In other words, I think the writer can never look like his book.


ABDULLAH: You are right. There is nothing comparable to Allah (see Qur'an 112:4). The prophets came with a very clear message to worship God alone, without any partners or intercessors.


However, Paul took pagan beliefs and practices from the Romans and mixed them with the teachings of Jesus. Consequently, Paul was mostly responsible for elevating Jesus to the status of Son of God (see Acts 9:20) and God.


DEREK: Yes. Now I remember. The first Commandment is, " Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is One Lord."


ABDULLAH: You're right. That's in Mark 12:29. Moreover, the Qur'an confirms that God is One: "Say He is Allah, the One and Only (God)." (Qur'an 112:1)


DEREK: What you are saying makes perfect sense. This is just incredible! You mean that for almost 2000 years what the Christians have been following is wrong?


ABDULLAH: Yes, especially their misunderstanding of who Jesus was.


DEREK: Oh my God! I've been deceived! Really, I feel religiously raped. I have been fooled simply because I followed blindly the religion that I was born with and didn't take care to investigate it thoroughly. But still inside me there is something holding me back from accepting lslam, even though lslam is clearly the True Religion.


ABDULLAH: Your last comment shows that you are a Muslim not a Christian and if you really love God and His Messenger Jesus, you will follow lslam and Prophet Muhammad. Break this barrier inside you and come back to the way of your ancestors. You are now free because you are looking for the Truth and our great prophet Jesus told us that we should look for the Truth and the Truth will set us free. So, you will be a free man as soon as you accept It. Be strong enough to accept lslam as the Truth, without any hesitation on your part and you will taste real freedom and real happiness that you have never tasted before.


DEREK: Frankly, I am concerned about the negative way lslam and Muslims are shown in the media. In the West, there is a stigma attached to being a Muslim and I'm not sure I'm ready to live with that stigma.


ABDULLAH: This is why I have chosen to tell people about the right picture of lslam.


DEREK: Then, what is the right picture of lslam?


ABDULLAH: The right picture of lslam is conveyed in the Qur’an, which is exemplified by Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. The reality is that it is not fair to judge a religion by the actions of its followers alone because there are good and bad followers in every religion. The correct thing to do is to judge a religion by its documented revelation from God and the prophet who brought that revelation.


DEREK: I see. I agree with you, but I'm still concerned about the reaction of my family and friends if they know that I am a Muslim.


ABDULLAH: On Judgement Day, no one will be able to help you, not even your father, mother or any of your friends (see Qur'an 31:33). So, if you believe that lslam is the True religion, you should embrace it and live your life to please the One Who created you. Be an illuminating torch for them. Do not delay your coming to lslam. If you die before becoming a Muslim, then it's too late (see Qur'an 2:132, 3:102, 3:85). So grab this opportunity now. You can only remedy this pain inside you by becoming a Muslim and being able in the future, God willing, to come and perform pilgrimage (Hajj).


DEREK: You are very wise man, I want to say that when I sometimes see on the satellite, especially in the season of Hajj, people of different colors and different races sitting side by side and praying to God, I feel pain deep inside my heart and I feel something urging me to talk with someone to know more about that great religion that can gather all the races in the same place. Thanks to you, I have found that person. So please help me become a Muslim!


ABDULLAH: Brother let us take it step by step. First, enter lslam by saying: I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT Allah. AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS SERVANT AND MESSENGER. I BEAR WITNESS THAT JESUS IS HIS PROPHET AND MESSENGER. Let us say this again, I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT Allah AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS SERVANT AND MESSENGER. I BEAR WITNESS THAT JESUS IS HIS PROPHET AND MESSENGERS. I BEAR WITNESS THAT JESUS IS HIS PROPHET AND MESSENGER.


DEREK: I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT Allah. I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS SERVANT AND LAST MESSENGER. I BEAR WITNESS THAT EISA IS HIS SERVANT AND MESSENGER.


ABDULLAH: By the way, Jesus' name is not Jesus. It is a latinized name. His real name is Eisa. Now you will say the same thing in Arabic, the language of the Qur'an. I will transliterate for you. ASH'HADU AN LA'ILAHA ILLA Allah WAASH'HADU ANNA MUHAMMMADAN RASOOLULLAH WA ASH'HADU ANNA EISA ABDULLAHI WA RASOOLUHU.


DEREK: ASHADU AN LA ILAHA ILLALLAH WA ASHADU ANNA MUHAMMADAN RASULULLAH WA ASHADU ANNA EISA ABDULLAH1 WA RASOOLUHU.


ABDULLAH: Brother, say Allah is the greatest because you are a Muslim now. You are not a Christian anymore. Your are in the House of lslam. If I were with you, I would hug you as my brother in lslam. How do you feel now? A burden has been removed from you and you feel like you are so light, isn't this right?


DEREK: If you were with me now, you would have seen my tears reaching my neck. You are a great brother. I feel that I have just come to life, This is exactly how I feel from now. I don't have to listen the silly words of the priests in the church, who knowingly or unknowingly lead people astray. I hope to be a good servant of Allah.


ABDULLAH: You know what came out of you was disbelief and it was replaced by belief. You are so clean now, because when someone embraces Islam sincerely, Allah forgives all of his past sins. So, go to the Islamic center that has Muslims from all over the world and announce your lslam there, and continue to learn more about lslam from them. In addition, find a book on prayer in lslam and practice it. This is essential. Now after you are through with me, you must take a shower to purify yourself from previous wrong beliefs. Remember to stay away from bad company and be with righteous Muslim people. Also, beware of those so-called Muslims who call to nationalistic ideas or racial thoughts, which are rejected in lslam. I love you as a brother in lslam and I hope one day I will see you and hear your voice.


DEREK: I will for sure do what you have asked. And tomorrow I will go to the Islamic center. Thank you for showing me the Truth. I will do my best to meet people who know about lslam for sure. May God help you guide more and more people to the true word of God. There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Apostle... Well it is as difficult for me as it is for you to leave you.


ABDULLAH: Well brother, you will not leave me for a long time. I will soon be with you through my supplications. God willing. Pray for me, brother.


DEREK: Well, I thank you, I love you although I do not know you yet. But it is enough for me to remember that one day, a very dear man has picked me up from the mud of life. Please teach me another Islamic word in Arabic so as to make use of it in the Islamic center.


ABDULLAH: Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu and Astaghfirullah.


DEREK: What do they mean?


ABDULLAH: May the Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you. This is used as a greeting to all Muslims. The last word means, Allah forgive me. Well, I have to leave you now but be sure it will not be for long.


DEREK: Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu and Astaghfirullah for being astray from the Truth all those years. May God bless you. You have occupied a great place in my heart and I will never forget you. Bye and talk to you later. Your brother in lslam, Derek, but I will call myself Eisa from now on.


ABDULLAH: OK Eisa. I will leave you some final words of inspiration. Certainly, the ultimate goal of every individual is to be in Paradise forever. This reward of Paradise is too great to not have a price. That price is true faith, which is proven obedience to Allah and following the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). THIS IS THE ROAD TO PARADISE. Let's stay in touch! Assalamu Alaikum!


DEREK: O.K. Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu.

[Peace in Ireland]

HAHAHAHAHA! Dude, that is by far the worst attempt to pass off a completely fake conversation as a genuine event. First of all, no one from the U.S. talks like that. "Why, I did not realize that Christianity is wrong in every way. But now that you've shown me the light, I can fully embrace Islam! Salaaaaaaaaaaam Aleikum!"


Seriously, I'm all for people becoming interested in other religions, but that looks like such a chop-job to me. If you wish to partake in critical religious discourse, please yield using lible and coercion as your means of expression.


Even giving you the benefit of the doubt (which, by the way, is a HUGE benefit) and pretending that little skit was the real deal, there is something else alarming about that post. Does Islam want to become populated by simpletons? I mean, if someone can be convined of something with such little data (i.e., no actually copy of the Qu'ran to fact check, no fellow muslims to discuss with, no time to THINK about any of it, etc.) odds are they will be tricked out of Islam the same way they were tricked into it. If that guy is real (which he isn't) I bet I can convince him that eating eight pounds of butter for every meal is healthy. Here's how my conversation goes:


Butterman1600: Hello there dude.


Mikey: Hi. Who are you?


Butterman1600: My name is Butterman. How are you?


Mikey: I am fine.


Butterman1600: Hey, you know what you should do? Eat butter for every meal!!!


Mikey: But that's not healthy, is it? Doesn't butter contain loads of saturated fat and cholesterol?


Butterman1600: No.


Mikey: WOW! I didn't realize that!


Butterman1600: In fact, butter is full of nutritious things such as: vitamins, minerals, fiber, cancer medication, and steroids!


Mikey: Get out!


Butterman1600: It's true. According to the FDA "Butter is awesome and you should eat it fo'shizzle."


Mikey: You know, I thought I knew about good health. But now that you've told me that butter is good for you, I realize that I was a moron! You even quoted the FDA, even thought I don't know what that means, whether to trust them, or if that quote even actually came from them. And you can't argue with un-checkable quotes now can you?


Butterman1600: Absolutely not Mikey.


Mikey: My good man, I bid thee farewell as I must consume large quantities of butter now.


Butterman1600: May butter bless your soul every waking moment.


Mikey: Ditto Butterman.... ditto.


P.S. Derrek, if you are reading this, I have to warn you: DO NOT EAT 8 LBS OF BUTTER A DAY. In fact, don't eat any butter. Butter is REALLY REALLY BAD FOR YOU. www.fda.gov for more information on being healthy (which does not include eating a pant-load of butter everyday.)

[Saeed]

HAHAHAHAHA nice comeback Peace In Ireland! That conversation was soooooo made up! Abdullah must really know his stuff when referring during a chat session the whole Qura'n and the Bible! He must be an amazing scholar!


I never knew of a scholar who would waste his time chatting on the internet rather than preaching....

[Hazams]

Man, what a bunch of disingenuous rubbish. Conversations don't get much more artificial than that

[lifutushi]

Assalamualaikum....


though i'm a Muslim...but i'm so sorry Intuition....that conversation seemed so fake to me.... it's like something that would never happen in a conventional chat room...


but why not we start a REAL and not so fake RIGHT HERE, in this very forum? let it be an open debate... everyone with open minded... i'll start with my post, and whoever think that i'm wrong, you're warmly to counter back.... academically of course....


Bible Prophecies About The Advent Of Muhammad


Abraham is widely regarded as the Patriarch of monotheism and the common father of the Jews, Christians and Muslims. Through His second son, Isaac, came all Israelite prophets including such towering figures as Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus, may peace and blessings be upon them all. The advent of these great prophets was in partial fulfillment of God's promises to bless the nations of earth through the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 1 2:2-3). Such a fulfillment is wholeheartedly accepted by Muslims whose faith considers the belief of these prophets, an article of faith.


BLESSINGS OF ISHMAEL AND ISAAC


Was the first born son of Abraham (Ishmael) and his descendants included in God's covenant and promise? A few verses from the Bible may help shed some light on this question:


1. Genesis 12:2-3 speaks of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants before any child was born to him.


2. Genesis 17:4 reiterates God's promise after the birth of Ishmael and before the birth of Isaac.


3. In Genesis, ch. 21 . Isaac is specifically blessed but Ishmael was also specifically blessed and promised by God to become "a great nation" especially in Genesis 21:13, 18.


4. According to Deuteronomy 21:15-17 the traditional rights and privileges of the first-born son are not to be affected by the social status of his mother (being a "free" woman such as Sarah, Isaac's mother, or a "Bondwoman" such as Hagar, Ishmael's mother). This is only consistent with the moral and humanitarian principles of all revealed faiths.


5. The full legitimacy of Ishmael as Abraham's son and "seed" and the full legitimacy of his mother, Hagar, as Abraham's wife are clearly stated in Genesis 21:13 and 16:3.


After Jesus, the last Israelite messenger and prophet, it was time that God's promise to bless Ishmael and his descendants be fulfilled. Less than 600 years after Jesus, came the last messenger of God, Muhammad (peace be upon him), from the progeny of Abraham through Ishmael. God's blessing of both of the main branches of Abraham's family tree was now fulfilled. But are there additional corroborating evidence that the Bible did in fact foretell the advent of prophet Muhammad (pbuh)?


MUHAMMAD: The Prophet Like Unto Moses


Long time after Abraham, God's promise to send the long-awaited Messenger was repeated this time in Moses' words. In Deuteronomy 18:18 , Moses spoke of the prophet to be sent by God who is:


1. From among the Israelite's "brethren", a reference to their Ishmaelite cousins as Ishmael was the other son of Abraham who was explicitly promised to become a "great nation".


2. A prophet like unto Moses. There were hardly any two prophets who were so much alike as Moses and Muhammad (peace be upon them both). Both were given a comprehensive law code of life, both encountered their enemies and were victors in miraculous ways, both were accepted as prophets/statesmen and both migrated following conspiracies to assassinate them. Analogies between Moses and Jesus overlooks not only the above similarities but other crucial ones as well (e.g. the natural birth, family life and death of Moses and Muhammad but not of Jesus, who was regarded by His followers as the Son of God and not exclusively a messenger of God, as Moses and Muhammad were, and as Muslims believe Jesus was).


THE AWAITED PROPHET WAS TO COME FROM ARABIA


Deuteronomy 33:1-2 combines references to Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. It speaks of God (i.e. God's revelation) coming from Sinai, rising from Seir (probably the village of Sa'ir near Jerusalem) and shining forth from Paran. According to Genesis 21:21 , the wilderness of Paran was the place where Ishmael settled (i.e. Arabia, specifically Mecca).


Indeed the King James version of the Bible mentions the pilgrims passing through the valley of Ba'ca (another name of Mecca) in Psalms 84:4-6 .


Isaiah 42:1-13 speaks of the beloved of God. His elect and messenger who will bring down a law to be awaited in the isles and who "shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment on earth." Verse 11 connects that awaited one with the descendants of Ke'dar. Who is Ke'dar? According to Genesis 25:13 , Ke'dar was the second son of Ishmael, the ancestor of prophet Muhammad (pbuh).


MUHAMMAD'S MIGRATION FROM MECCA TO MEDINA: PROPHESISED IN THE BIBLE?


Habakkuk 3:3 speaks of God (God's help) coming from Te'man (an Oasis North of Medina according to J. Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible), and the holy one (coming) from Paran. That holy one who under persecution migrated from Paran (Mecca) to be received enthusiastically in Medina was none but prophet Muhammad (pbuh).


Indeed the incident of the migration of the prophet and his persecuted followers is vividly described in Isaiah 21:13-17 . That section foretold as well about the battle of Badr in which the few ill-armed faithful miraculously defeated the "mighty" men of Ke'dar, who sought to destroy Islam and intimidate their own folks who turned to Islam.


THE QUR'AN (KORAN) FORETOLD IN THE BIBLE?


For twenty-three years, God's words (the Qur'an) were truly put into Muhammad's (pbuh) mouth. He was not the “11th author” of the Qur'an, the Qur’an was dictated to Muhammad (pbuh) by Angel Gabriel, who asked him to simply repeat the words of the Qur'an as he heard them. These words were then committed to memory and to writing by those who hear them during Muhammad's lifetime and under his supervision.


Was it a coincidence that the prophet "like unto Moses" from the "brethren" of the Israelites (i.e. from the Ishmaelites) was also described as one in whose mouth God will put his words and that he will speak in the name of God., ( Deuteronomy 18:18-20 ). Was it also a coincidence the "Paraclete" that Jesus foretold to come after Him was described as one who "shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak (John 16:13).


Was it another coincidence that Isaiah ties between the messenger connected with Ke'dar and a new song (a scripture in a new language) to be sang unto the Lord (Isaiah 42:10-11 ). More explicitly, prophesies Isaiah "For with stammering lips, and another tongue, will he speak to this people" (Isaiah 28:11 ). This latter 'verse correctly describes the "stammering lips" of Prophet Muhammad reflecting the state of tension and concentration he went through at the time of revelation. Another related point is that the Qur'an was revealed in piece-meals over a span of twenty-three years. It is interesting to compare this with Isaiah 28:10 which speaks of the same thing.


THAT PROPHET-PARACLETE-MUHAMMAD


Up to the time of Jesus (peace be upon him), the Israelites were still awaiting for that prophet like unto Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:18 . When John the Baptist came, they asked him if he was Christ and he said "no". They asked him if he was Elias and he said "no". Then, in apparent reference to Deuteronomy 18:18 , they asked him "Art thou that Prophet" and he answered, "no". ( John 1: 1 9-2 1).


In the Gospel according to John ( Chapters 14, 15, 16 ) Jesus spoke of the "Paraclete" or comforter who will come after him, who will be sent by Father as another Paraclete, who will teach new things which the contemporaries of Jesus could not bear. While the Paraclete is described as the spirit of truth, (whose meaning resemble Muhammad's famous title Al-Amin, the trustworthy), he is identified in one verse as the Holy Ghost ( John 14:26 ). Such a designation is however inconsistent with the profile of that Paraclete. In the words of the Dictionary of the Bible , (Ed. J. Mackenzie) "These items, it must be admitted do not give an entirely coherent picture."


Indeed history tells us that many early Christians understood the Paraclete to be a man and not a spirit. This might explain the followings who responded to some who claimed, without meeting the criteria stipulated by Jesus, to be the awaited "Paraciete".


It was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was the Paraclete, Comforter, helper, admonisher sent by God after Jesus. He testified of Jesus, taught new things, which could not be borne at Jesus' time, he spoke what he heard (revelation), he dwells with the believers (through his well-preserved teachings). Such teachings will remain forever because he was the last messenger of God, t he only Universal Messenger to unite the whole of humanity under God and on the path of PRESERVED truth. He told of many things to come which "came to pass" in the minutest detail meeting, the criterion given by Moses to distinguish between the true prophet and the false prophets (Deuteronomy 18:22 ). He did reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment ( John 16:8-11 ).


WAS THE SHIFT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP PROPHESIED?


Following the rejection of the last Israelite prophet, Jesus, it was about time that God's promise to make Ishmael a great nation be fulfilled (Genesis 21:13, 18 ).


In Matthew 21:19-21, Jesus spoke of the fruitless fig tree (A Biblical symbol of prophetic heritage) to be cleared after being given a last chance of three years (the duration of Jesus' ministry) to give fruit. In a later verse in the same chapter, Jesus said: "Therefore, say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof" (Matthew 21:43). That nation of Ishmael's descendants (the rejected stone in Matthew 21:42) which was victorious against all super-powers of its time, as prophesied by Jesus: "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Matthew 21:44).


OUT OF CONTEXT COINCIDENCE?


Is it possible that the numerous prophecies cited here are all individually and combined out of context misinterpretations? Is the opposite true, that such infrequently studied verses fit together consistently and clearly point to the advent of the man who changed the course of human history, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)? Is it reasonable to conclude that all these prophecies, appearing in different books of the Bible and spoken by various prophets at different times were all coincidence? If this is so, here is another strange " coincidence"!


One of the signs of the prophet to come from Paran (Mecca) is that he will come with "ten thousands of saints" (Deuteronomy 33:2 KJV). That was the number of faithful who accompanied Prophet Muhammad to Paran (Mecca) in his victorious, bloodless return to his birthplace to destroy the remaining symbols of idolatry in the Ka'bah.


God says as quoted by Moses: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy, 18:19)


JESUS WAS A PROPHET AND ALSO A PARACLETE


A Christian who has studied the Bible would be proud to admit that the prophecy made by prophet Moses for the coming of "a Prophet like me" (Deut. 18:15), undoubtedly refers to the coming of Jesus Christ, since Jesus himself had acknowledged before Jews; "Moses wrote of me." (see John 5:46). These learned Christians have no problem in admitting the fact that Jesus was "a prophet like his predecessor Moses".


In his Epistle quoted below, apostle John records that Jesus was "a Paraclete".


"My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have a Paraclete with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John. 2:1


John has also recorded in his Gospel 14:16, quoted below, that Jesus (after his departure) will pray to the God, and the God will give us "another Paraclete". This opens up a way for a future date male Prophet to be "a Paraclete", as well. To say: only a "Spirit" can be a Paraclete and not a male individual, would be to deny: "Jesus was a Prophet and a Paraclete".


"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you into the age (to come)." John 14:16


Note: We often read the above verse ending as; "for ever". The fact of the matter is; "into the age" is the literal translation of the original Greek phrase; 'eis ton aiona'.


In the next verse, i.e. 14:17, John records, "another Paraclete" is the "Spirit of Truth" (not the Holy Spirit). WHAT WILL "HE" DO?


Jesus Christ did indicate that the Paraclete will do certain things in his time. Let us examine if "he", Prophet Muhammad, did those things.


1. "But when he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative, but whatever he hears, he will speak..." Jn. 16:13


Note: The Qur'an is a compilation of the "Divine Revelations" that were received by Prophet Muhammad, over a period of 23 years, through the archangel Gabriel. The Prophet used to recite whatever he used to hear. His companions used to write down whatever he recited. The Qur'an does not contain the writings or teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as often mentioned by some misinformed authors.


2. "He shall glorify me." John 16:14


Note: The Qur'an glorifies the birth of Jesus through Virgin Mary. It confirms; Jesus was a Messiah, a Messenger of God, the Spirit from God, the Word of God and the Righteous Prophet.


3. "He shall take mine and shall disclose it to you." Jn. 16:14


Note: Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did declare himself a Messenger/Prophet of God like Abraham, Moses and Jesus.


4. "He will teach you all things." John 14:26


Note: The Qur'an teaches a way of life. It guides mankind, how to live a pious life socially, politically and spiritually.


5. "He will bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John. 14:26


Note: The Qur'an speaks about the teachings of Jesus and even quotes him.


6. "He will bear witness of me" John 15:26


Note: The Qur'an attests the miracles performed by Jesus the Messiah. It also mentions one astonishing miracle performed by Jesus that the Gospel writers have not recorded (V:110). The Qur'an acknowledges that these miracles and signs were performed with the leave of Allah, by His righteous Servant and Messiah, Jesus. The same is also attested in the Book of Acts 2:22; 3:13 (NASB).


A MALE SALVIFIC FIGURE LIKE JESUS


The passage quoted below from the world renowned and distinguished Anchor Bible confirms that the original concept among the noted Christian scholars and populace, for the Paraclete was for a male salvific figure, but that concept was later confused with the "Holy Spirit".


"The word parakletos is peculiar in the NT to the Johnannine literature. In 1 John ii 1 Jesus is a parakletos (not a title), serving as a heavenly intercessor with the Father. ...Christian tradition has identified this figure (Paraclete) as the Holy Spirit, but scholars like Spitta, Delafosse, Windisch, Sasse, Butlmann and Betz have doubted whether this identification is true to the original picture and have suggested that the Paraclete was once an independent salvific figure, later confused with the Holy Spirit." (Page 1135)


THE NEGATION OF "HOLY SPIRIT"


The concept that the Paraclete (comforter, advocate) is the "Holy Spirit" is unequivocally negated by the following verse:


"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Paraclete shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7


This verse clearly indicates that the coming of the Paraclete was subject to the departure of Jesus. His departure from this world was a *pre-condition* for the arrival of the Paraclete.


We know that the "Holy Spirit" was already present during and before the ministry of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was in existence since the day of the Creation and was hovering upon the surface of the earth (Gen. 1:2). It was also present with the prophets of the Old Testament. No Bible believing Christian can deny that the "Holy Spirit" was present at River Jordan when Christ was Baptized by John the Baptist. Since there is no more than ONE "Holy Spirit", Jesus would not have made his own departure a *pre-condition* for its arrival.


"HE" NOT "IT"


"When the Paraclete comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness of me." John 15:26


This verse further clears the confusion, if there is any. Here the Paraclete is called the "Spirit of Truth" and not the "Holy Spirit". These are two separate terms and two independent entities. The first entity takes the pronoun "he" being a male figure. Whereas, the second one takes the pronoun "it". The Greek word 'pneu'ma' (spirit) is of neutral gender and takes the pronoun "it". Whereas, in almost all the verses referring to Paraclete quoted below, the pronoun used is "he".


"But the Paraclete, the Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 14:26


Notes:


1. In the older MSS, Codex Syriacus discovered in 1812 on Mount Sinai by Mrs. Agnes S. Lewis (and Mrs. Bensley), the text of John 14:26 reads; "Paraclete, the Spirit"; and not "Paraclete, the Holy Spirit". "The Spirit" is a reference to "the Spirit of Truth" as in 15:26.


2. In 1 John 4:6, the terms "the spirit of truth" and "the spirit of error" are used for the human beings.


3. History records that prophet Muhammad was known for his Truth and Honesty, long before he received the Divine Revelations.


A PROPHET IN THE LAND OF KEDAR


Prophet Isaiah is considered to be one of the major prophets of the Old Testament. In the Book of Isaiah there are several prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. In chapter 42, Isaiah begins with a prophecy for the coming of prophet Jesus. After verse number nine, God declares through Isaiah, the "new things" that are to "spring forth" in the


Land of Kedar.


In the Bible there is only one personality called Kedar. He was the grandson of prophet Abraham, through his son Ishmael (see Gen. 25:13). Kedar's descendants had settled in Paran (Syno-Arabian dessert). In the Rabbinic literature Arabia is called the "Land of Kedar". Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was a descendant of Kedar.


God declares through Prophet Isaiah:


"Behold, the former things are come to pass, and the new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. `Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth'. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voices, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare His praise in the inlands." Isaiah Chapter 42, Verses 9-12.


God did reveal in the Land of Kedar, through prophet Muhammad (pbuh)- a direct descendant of Kedar, a "New Song" - The Qur'an (Koran). This happens to be the only Scripture to be revealed in the language of the Kedarites. The verses of the Qur'an are recited like a poem. Nearly 1.2 billion Muslims, residing all over the world, recite this "new song" and Glorify Allah, in their daily prayers, five times in a day. The initial Revelation came to prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in a cave of Mount Hira near the city of Mecca. There are several mountains near Mecca. During the annual Islamic Pilgrimage called "Hajj", Muslims from all over the world, assemble in Mecca and shout Glory to the Lord from the top of Mount Arafat. The pilgrims continuously give Glory to Allah on their ways, to and from Mecca.


THE LORD SHALL GO AS "A MIGHTY MAN OF WAR"


"The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies." Isaiah 42:13


In the Old Testament, the God often speaks "I" will do this, or "I" have done this; whereas, He has chosen human beings to do these jobs on His behalf. (see 2 Samuel 12:7-12).


Prophet Muhammad did go forth as "a mighty man of war" against the Pagan Arabs, the enemies of The Lord. He did stir up jealousy among the most influential and dominating Pagan tribe in Arabia. With a war cry and roar of "Allahu Akbar" ("The God is the Greatest"), the Prophet of Islam did prevail upon the enemies of Lord - the idolaters. No doubt, the Islam was spread with a "war cry", but that was not a cry of a man seeking the personal power. It was a cry of the Lord, who no longer wanted to hold HIS PEACE against HIS ENEMIES. After the victory, Allah bestowed HIS FAVOR upon mankind and gave the Message of "TRUE PEACE" - The Islam. Once a person whole heartedly submit himself or herself to Allah (become a Muslim), the "True Peace" from Allah is bound to enter his or her body, mind and soul. The relationship of that individual with Allah is now direct, having no Church or Papal Authority acting as a vicar or an intermediary.


"I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself, now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once." Verse 14.


The prophets that came before Muhammad had all tried with peaceful missions. But, the concept of sharing God's Glory continued to surface again and again, in one way or other. It was with the war cry, through the descendants of Kedar (Arabs), these sinful practices were destroyed and devoured, inside and outside of Arabia. The spread of Islam was swift, wide spread and at once.


ISLAM TURNS THE DARKNESS INTO LIGHT


"And I will bring the blind by a way they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things I will do unto them, and not forsake them." Isaiah Chapter 42, Verse 16.


It is an undeniable fact that before the advent of Islam, the pagan Arabs were like the blinds. Their religious and social concepts were crooked. The revelation of this "new song" brought them out of that darkness. Earlier, God had not sent any prophet to these people. By sending Muhammad, God fulfilled His above promise and also the following promise to Abraham;


"And *also* of the son of the bondwoman I will make a nation, because he is thy seed." Genesis 21:13.


Please note the word "also" in above promise. The nations of Judaism and Christianity came out from the descendants of Abraham and Sarah. The nation of Islam came out from the descendants of Abraham and Hagar. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are three children of Abraham by God's Covenants with Abraham.


"They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images; they say to the molten images, 'Ye are our gods.'" Isaiah 42 Verse 17.


History records that Prophet Muhammad did put the pagan idolaters to great shame when he demolished before them, their 365 idols that were installed in Ka'bah (Mecca), the most respected place of pilgrimage in the whole of Arabia. Today, Ka'bah is the Grand Mosque of Islam. Muslims from all over the world face towards Ka'bah while reciting their daily ritual prayers.


if you think that i'm wrong, you are invited to prove it.....

[NaSra]

P.S. Derrek, if you are reading this, I have to warn you: DO NOT EAT 8 LBS OF BUTTER A DAY. In fact, don't eat any butter. Butter is REALLY REALLY BAD FOR YOU. www.fda.gov for more information on being healthy (which does not include eating a pant-load of butter everyday.)

Salam


I don't see why it's Necessary for you people to mock this. I personally don't believe this to be fake, but you know what to each their own, Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. And what more was there to be expected from two like Hazam and PII anyway


I found this inspiring and mashaAllah very truthful, anybody who is in their right mind and who has the least Sufficient intellect and whom Allah guides would do the exact same thing what Derek did, many blessings to Derek and may Allah keep him steadfast in his faith always ameen, With Allah's will and guidence everything is possible.


When I posted that article, I did it for Allah's sake and because it moved me so deeply I thought to share it with my brothers and sisters in islam, and I get hahaha, how silly.


Lifutushi, no need to be sorry Akhee, I can give you a source if you want, and I don't think that its really wise to say <b>never </b> Brother. Leave the never to Allah everything is in hands.


Al Huwaylat Multi-language Library


P.O. BOX 10528


jUBAIL Indutrial City 31961


Allah knows best.


oh and is it now a some sort of a fashion to mock islam and muslims and at the same time to have Islamic names? Sorry but that does not look good together

[lifutushi]

Assalamualaykum....


ok....but as it seemed, it cannot convinced them....


so why don't we try to make a REAL discussion here....


because for me, we don't have to be a SCHOLAR to explain the basis of our religion....

[islam_enlightment]

Peace in Ireland, as for ur american speech is useless in ur point to prove intuition false, because why would an american talk slang to an arab muslim? Remember your speech is between two Americans concerned about there health. I dont think that Derek would say: Wassup, my homeboy...... or yo man, i was down with my buddy then i saw the shiet man....... Intuition's story is true, u failed to prove the story wrong

[Peace in Ireland]

I'm not tryint to say that the faux conversation didn't have artistic or abstract merit; only that it was entirely fake. I'm not sure what paradigm you think in, but I'm one to assume that you have to provide FACTS to prove something TRUE as opposed to proving that it ISN'T NOT TRUE. There is no evidence to show that that conversation was real, and most muslims who responded seem to agree with me. I'm all for religious discourse, but I refuse to let lying slide by in any circumstance.


Further, I agree with whoever said that we should start some REAL conversations around here. Given, the former conversation was a phoney, we should use it as a launching pad to start a REAL discussion. Who wants to start it?

[lifutushi]

i will start....


from http://www.it-is-truth.org/CreationOfMan.shtml

Qur'aanic Description Of The Internal & External Appearance Of Fetus


We present to you Dr. Marshall Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. There for 22 years he was Professor of Anatomy, the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy, and the Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute. He was also the President of the Teratology Society. He has authored more than 200 publications. We first met with Professor Johnson at the 7th Saudi Medical Conference, where a special committee was formed to investigate scientific signs in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah.


When we met together with the committee, Professor Johnson asked us what our committee was doing. We told him that the subject of our study was the relationship between what the Qur'aan and Sunnah contained 1400 years ago and what modern scientists tell us. He asked: "Like what?" We said: For example, modern science tells us that the human prenatal development goes through several stages whereas the Qur'aan mentioned these stages to us 1400 years ago.


Professor Johnson was appalled when he heard this. He expressed his feeling by simply saying: No no, no! What kind of talk is that?


We understood the effect of such statements upon him. We knew he was one of the foremost scientists in the United States. He knew, of course, that after the discovery of the microscope in the 16th century, physicians throughout the 17th century believed that a human beings origin began entirely in the males semen, specifically in the males sperm. This picture (not shown) was the evidence used by scientists in the 17th century, and partly in the 18th century, to support their belief that the human being was created wholly from the male sperm, but after the discovery of the ovum was larger than the sperm of the male. In this way they ignored the role of the man in the 18th century, just as they had ignored that of the woman in the 17th century.


It was not until the middle of the 19th century when the scientists began to discover that the human embryonic development took place in several successive stages. It was for this reason when Professor Johnson was told that this information has been in the Qur'aan for 1400 years that he stood up and shouted: No, No! So we in turn handed him a copy of the Qur'aan and showed him the following verse which he read in the English translation:


What is the matter with you, that you are not conscious of Allahs Majesty. Seeing that it is He who has created you in diverse stages? (Qur'aan 71:13-14).


Then we showed him this verse: He creates you in the wombs of your mother, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. (Qur'aan 39:6).


At this, Professor Johnson sat down and said: "But this could be explained in three possibilities. The first is that it can be mere coincidence."


So we collected more than 25 texts and presented them to him. Then we asked him: Is it possible that these texts are coincidence? Moreover, the Glorious Qur'aan has given each of these stages a name: the first being the nutfah, or the drop of water, the second being the alaqah, a leech-like substance, the third being the mudghah, or a chewed-like lump, the fourth being bones, and then the clothing of the bones with flesh. Can all this be a coincidence? He flatly said: "No."


Then we asked him: Then what remains? He said: "The other possibility is that Muhammad  had hold [of a] powerful microscope."


We said: "You know that this sort of minute and specialized knowledge, which has been contained in the Qur'aan, can only be obtained by very powerful microscopes. And anyone possessing such powerful microscopes must also possess very high technology, which must be reflected in his daily living, his house, his food, his control and management of war and quest for peaceetc. And you know that technological advancement is a process of cumulative inheritance, passed in and proved upon from one generation to the other."


Fig. 6.1


Professor Johnson laughed and said: "In fact I saw the first microscope invented in the world. It does not magnify more than 10 times and does not even show a clear picture."


The Prophet Muhammad  (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam), never had possession of scientific equipment or microscopes. The only thing that remains for us to say that he was a Messenger from Allah. After this, Professor Johnson began to take interest in the study of scientific signs in the Qur'aan, concentrating in some of his research on the stages of embryonic development. While Dr. Moore and others discussed the external fetal appearance, Professor Johnson concentrated his presentation on the Qur'aans detailed descriptions of the internal as well as external of the fetus.


Fig. 6.2


Professor Johnson: In summary, the Qur'aan describes not only the development of external form, but emphasizes also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasizing major events recognized by contemporary sciences.


For example, this drawing of the mudghah [Fig. 6.3], or the chewed-like structure, is one of the things that Professor Johnson used as evidence.


Fig. 6.3


This picture of the mudghah shows the external appearance of the embryo with its curved structure, and with visible protuberances and grooves resembling teeth-marks, we notice the swallows and the grooves, we also notice the curved surface, all which give the embryo its distinctive features while the embryo at this stage is only one centimeter in length.


If we were to make an incision in the embryo and dissect the internal organs, we would find that most of them are already formed, as it is apparent here. You can also see from this picture that some of the cells have already formed, while others are not yet completely formed.


How then would we describe this embryo? What do we say? Could we say it is the complete creation? Then we are describing the part which is already created, and if we say it is an incomplete creation, then we are describing the part which is not yet created, the question would be: Is it a complete creation or is it an incomplete creation? There is no better description of that stage of embryologenesis than the Qur'aanic description which says: mudghah (chewed-like structure) partly formed and partly unformed (Qur'aan 22:5).


Fig. 6.4


Here is Professor Marshall Johnson giving the conclusion of his research: "As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Qur'aan. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I knew today in describing things, I could not describe the things which were described. I see no evidence for the refutation of the concept that this individual, Muhammad , had to be developing this information from some place. So I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that Divine Intervention was involved in what he was able to write. 3


Fig. 6.5


Yes, it is the Revelation. The only way left to mankind is to follow the example of those great scientists, acknowledging that Allah has revealed to Muhammad  (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam), a Book from Allahs knowledge. Allah has further promised that mankind will, over time, come to discover the signs which prove that the Qur'aan is truly a Book revealed by Allah.


Allah, may He be Exalted and Glorified, said in the Quraan:


And you shall certainly know the truth of it (all) after a while. (Quraan, 38:88)


Allah also said:


For every prophecy is a limit of time, and soon shall you know it. (Quraan 6:67)


And said:


Soon will we show them our signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the truth. Is it not enough that your Lord does witness all things. (Quraan 41:53)