Introduction
In today's blog, we will observe the Biblical and Quranic Accounts of Abraham (PBUH) and Moses (PBUH), shed emphasis on the myths enveloping the name of God Almighty in the Quran as well and expound on the pilgrimage and sacred stone in Islam.
Muslim Christian Discussion
5- What does the Quran say about Abraham and Moses (PBUT)?
We first take a look at Exodus 6:16-20 (The Bible): "And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gherson, Kohath, and Merari. And the sons of Kohath: Amran. Amran took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife, and she bore him Aaron and Moses."
Hence, Moses (PBUH) was not a Jew because he was not descended from Judah but a Levite. Moses was the law-giver (Torah is the law) to the children of Israel. When it comes to Abraham (PBUH), the evidence can be extracted from the following verses of the Quran:
"O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you dispute about Abraham, while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense?" (Holy Quran; 3:65)
"Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim (worshiper of none but Allah alone) and he joined none in worship with Allah." (Holy Quran 3:67)
"Or say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve sons of Jacob were Jews or Christians? Say (O Muhammad), 'Do you know better or does Allah (know better)? And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Allah? And Allah is not unaware of what you do." (Holy Quran; 2:140)
Of course, they were not Jews or Christians as the name Jews came after Judah, and the name Christians came long after Jesus (PBUH) had left.
6- How sure are Muslims about the authenticity of the Quran?
One can explain the Bible and correct the Jewish and Christian prejudice in the context of the Quran. It is the last revealed book that has never been corrupted or adulterated. Its contents have been guaranteed by God Almighty (Allah) in the following verses:
"This is the scripture whereof there is no doubt." (Holy Quran; 2:2)
"No doubt We have sent down the Quran and surely We will guard it." (Holy Quran; 15:9)
The latter is a challenge to mankind. It is a clear fact that more than 1400 years have passed and not a single word of the Quran has been changed although disbelievers tried their utmost to change it, they failed miserably in their efforts. On the contrary, all other holy books (Torah, Psalms, Gospels, etc) have been adulterated in the form of additions, deletions, or alterations from the original.
7- It feels strange to hear the name 'Allah'. Why don't Muslims say 'God' if they speak English?
Yes, indeed, the name Allah seems to be strange to non-Muslims but this name has been used by all Prophets since Adam until Muhammad (PBUT). It is a contraction of the two Arabic words 'Al-Illah', i.e., The God. By dropping the letter 'I' one will find the word 'Allah'.
According to its position in the Arabic language, it can have the form 'Allaha' which is close to the Hebrew name of the Creator, that is, Eloha. But the Jews are incorrectly using the plural form 'Elohim' which denotes more than one God. The word 'Allaha' sounds closer to the Aramaic word for God used by Jesus, namely Allaha (see Encyclopaedia Brittanica 1980 under Allah and Elohim).
So while the name of Allah is strange to non-Muslims, it is not strange to all Prophets from Adam to Muhammad (PBUT), as they propagated in principle the same religion 'Islam', that is, total submission to God Almighty, and the word 'Allah' denotes the personal name of the Supreme Being. It is not subject to plurality or gender, so there is no such thing as Allahs, or male or female Allah, as there is Gods or Goddess. It is confusing to use the word 'God' as many English-speaking Christians still consider Jesus (PBUH) as God. Even the word 'Creator' is confusing, as many Christians still maintain that Jesus (PBUH) had created the world.
8- Did Islam invent a new style of worship of God Almighty?
Not only the name Allah is strange, but also the way Muslims worship Allah with ablution, bowing, kneeling, prostration, and fasting is strange to non-Muslims, but not strange to all Prophets. Muslim women perform their prayers with their heads covered. While ablution (washing of face, arms, feet, and moistening of the hair) prior to worship is abandoned by modern Christians, it is still required by Muslims and the previous Prophets as seen in the following passages of the Bible:
"And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat; when they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the Lord commanded Moses". (Exodus 40:31-32; The Bible)
Although Paul made many changes in Jesus' teaching, he was still faithful with respect to ablution as seen in the verse here: "Then Paul took the men and the next day, purifying himself with them, entered into the temple." (Acts:21-26; The Bible)
"But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is evil as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman prays unto God uncovered?" (1st Corinthian 11:5.6&13; The Bible)
"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker." (Psalm 95:6; The Bible)
"And Joshua fell on his face to the Earth, and did worship." (Joshua 5:14; The Bible)
"And Elijah went on top of the Camel, and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face to between his knees." (1 Kings 18:42; The Bible)
"And they (Moses and Aaron) fell upon their faces, and the glory of the Lord appeared upon them" (Numbers 20:6; The Bible)
"And Abraham fell upon his face and God talked with him." (Genesis 17:3; The Bible)
"And he (God) said [to Moses]: 'draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground'." (Exodus 3:5 & Acts 7:33; The Bible)
9- Why is the Pilgrimage to Mecca one of the pillars of Islam when we (Christians) have never read about it or the sacred stone in the Bible?
A Christian will shiver in hearing that a Pilgrimage or Hajj as is now done by Muslims by circumambulating around the sacred stone Kaaba in Mecca, had been performed by many Prophets, even by Israelite Prophets. It has been mentioned clearly several times but overlooked by Bible readers. Let us examine the following Biblical verses:
"Jacob on his way to Padan-aram saw a vision and built the next morning a pillar of stone which he called Beth-El, that is, House of the Lord" (Genesis 28:18-19; The Bible)
Years later, the same Prophet Jacob was ordered by Allah to go to Beth-el (Genesis 35:4,14,15: The Bible). Jacob removed all the prior Gods prior to going there. Later also Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) removed all the idols around the sacred stone Kaaba in Mecca.
Another pillar was built by Jacob and his father-in-law Laban. "And Jacob took a stone and set it up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren; 'Gather stones'; and they took stones, and made a heap, and they did eat there upon the heap. And Laban called it 'Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it 'Galeed'...And Mizpeh; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee." (Genesis 31:45-49; The Bible)
"Jephthah and Ammon had a war against each other. Jephthah swore to the Lord in Mizpeh of Gilead to sacrifice his only daughter if he won. He did win and burnt his daughter there alive as an offering to the Lord". (Judges 11:29-39; The Bible)
"Four hundred thousand swordsmen from the eleven tribes of Israel swore before the Lord in Mizpeh to exterminate the tribes of Benjamin." (Judges 20 and 21; The Bible)
"The children of Israel under Samuel swore in Mizpeh to destroy their idols if they won against the Philistines." (1 Samuel 7; The Bible)
"The whole nation of Israel assembled in Mizpeh when Samuel was appointed King of Israel." (1 Samuel 10; The Bible)
It is obvious now that there is no Mizpeh left in this world except the oldest one in the Holy City of Mecca built by Abraham (PBUH) and his son, Ishmael (PBUH), from whom later Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) arose. therefore, Musims really are the followers of all the Prophets.
10- If there is no compulsion in religion, why are Muslims calling other people to accept their beliefs?
As Christians ask the Jews to accept Jesus (PBUH) as the Messiah, we Muslims ask the Christians as well as Jews and all mankind to accept Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the Seal of All Prophets who once said: "Convey my message, even one ayah (verse of the Holy Quran)"
Also, Isaiah mentioned in 21:13 (The Bible): "The Burden upon Arabia", which means the responsibility of the Muslim Arabs, and of course of all Muslims now, to spread Islam. It says: "And he saw a chariot of with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed." (Isaiah 21:7; The Bible)
The chariot of asses turned out to be Jesus (PBUH) who entered Jerusalem (John 12:14 & Matthew 21:5; the Bible) Who then was the chariot of camels? It could be none other than Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who came about six hundred years after the advent of Messiah. If this is not accepted, then this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled.
Just as Christians marvel as to how Jews miss Jesus (PBUH), similarly we Muslims wonder how Jews and Christians miss Muhammad (PBUH) even though the Jews do generally acknowledge him as a Providential force and a Noahidic Messenger who paved the way for the arrival of the Messiah. To quote the Father of Orientalism, Ignac Goldziher, Islam is the only religion that a person of philosophical intent could gravitate to.
Conclusion
In the upcoming blog, we will comprehensively examine flaws, omissions, errors, and contradictions in the Bible itself. That is all for now. Please stay tuned for the next blog. May God Almighty bless you always. Assalamalaikum!
Very informative and interesting