Saturday, October 6, 2018

The Origins of Christianity from an Islamic Perspective

According to Muslim scholars, the word "Nazarenes" is a better word to describe present day Christians. The word "Christianity" implies that there is an adherence to the teachings of Jesus Christ in the beliefs and practices of the people. This is not true. Muslim scholars discouraged the use of the word "Christianity" to describe the distorted teachings of Jesus (AS). They also discouraged the use of the term "Christians" to describe the followers of this distorted teaching of Jesus (AS)..We call Christians, "Nasara" or Nazarenes and their religion we call the religion of the Nazarenes.

Nazarene puts the religion into the right context because it was intended to be local. Nazarene localizes it to Nazreth, the town of its origin. Only Islam is the global religion for all mankind. The Prophet (SWAS) said:  “Every prophet used to be sent to his own local people and I was sent to the whole mankind”. In the Quran, Prophet Jesus (AS) is reported to have said: “And I have come as a messenger to the Children of Israel”.

Jesus (AS) was sent to complete the message of Musa (AS) by calling the Bani Israel to return to the pure monotheism, righteousness, love and compassion. His message was resisted strongly by the Jews. It was revealed by Allah to Jesus son of Mary after people of Israel went astray from the teachings of Musa (AS) and divided into so many sects. 

Jesus (AS) was born to his mother Mary who was a daughter of Imran – a great man in the Bani Israel. Before Mary's mother became pregnant vowed to devote her  newborn baby to serve Allah in the masjid. When she realized that the baby was a girl she was somewhat disappointed. Nevertheless, Prophet Zackaria (AS) who was married to the sister of Mary’s mother, adopted and took care of her in the masjid. Mary was a good worshiper of Allah. Allah describes the prayer of Mary – a prayer that included ruku, sujood and standing position like we have in Islamic prayer. It was also a congregational prayer.

“O Mary, submit to your lord, and prostrate and bow among those who bow”

Mary became pregnant without a husband. This became a great test to the people. It was a cause of the people who lacked belief in Allah’s miracle to grow astray. The first group accused Mary of sin. These are the Jews. The other group thought that Jesus was the son of Allah. These are the Christians.

Jesus (AS) was born in Bethlehem in Palestine. Allah made him speak in the cradle to testify of the purity of his mother of the accusations. Allah gave him miracles to proof his prophet-hood. He made a clay bird and after blowing into it it became alive. He was able to cure illnesses and raise the dead. Also he was able to tell people what they were eating and saving in their homes. Another miracle was the descending of a table came from heaven to be a feast for him and his disciples.

Jews did not tolerate his teachings of pure tauheed and corrections in their practices. They reached the Roman King of Palestine – Balatis and encouraged him to issue an order that Jesus (AS) should be killed. Jesus (AS) and his disciples when into hiding. One of the disciples told on him. When the people reached Jesus (AS) and his disciples, Allah raised Jesus to the heavens and made the one who told on him to look like Jesus (AS). The Romans mistook him for Jesus (AS) and crucified him instead.

We believe that Jesus (AS) will come back before the day of Resurrection to follow the Islamic teaching, to kill the pig and break the cross and die a normal death. He selected a number of disciples and 70 messengers who he taught and sent them to neighboring villages to spread the message of Truth.

A Study of Jewish Groups from Muslim Sources

The Orthodox Jews are a rigid traditionalist sect which believes in following the tenets of medieval Judaism to the letter. They can often be distinguished by their beards, vintage black European suits, shawls, robes and clannish nature. They often live in tight-knit communities with a leader who commands near-total obedience. Their women cover their hair out of religious obligation.

The Conservative Jews have a tendency to be mid-way between orthodoxy and liberalism. They accept the importance of the Law and accept Rabbinic authority, but they are less strict in its application. Rituals are important to them but can be modified.

Reformed Jews have developed as a result of the concepts of modernism and post-modernism movements in recent Western cultures. They are influenced by liberalism and are open to accept new ideas. The importance of rituals is down-played. They do not emphasize the "Return to Israel" and the re-institution of the old Jewish Law. This form of Judaism is popular among secularized Jews. Reformed Jews acknowledge ways and lifestyles that are not accepted by Orthodox and Conservative Jews due to relativism. Women can be rabbis in Reformed Judaism. Not so in other groups.

Two separate movements in Judaism arose in Europe that promote a mystical type of Judaism. The first arose in Muslim Spain in the 13th century called Kabbalah. It teaches that union with God can occur with meditation and contemplation. The second called Hasidim arose in Eastern Europe in the 18th century. It holds that enthusiastic prayer results in communion with God. Both these tendencies are alive and well in today's Jews.

There is a group of Jews that the other Jews do not accept. They are called Jews for Jesus. They acknowledge Jesus and his divinity. Other Jews believe that this is a Christian group made in order to destroy Judaism from within. Mainstream Jews do not accept the coming of the Messiah in the form of Jesus. The utmost that they can acknowledge of that Jesus was a great man – neither was he a prophet nor divine according to them.

Zionism is a political, racist, discriminatory, extremist ans fascist movement started in the modern times to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. It is named after Mount Zion in Jerusalem where it is reported that Dawud (AS) built his palace after he moved from Hebron in 11th century BC. Thus Zion represents the Kingdom of David. Theodore Hertzel was the founder of Zionism. He was a journalist who was originally from Hungary. He was born in 1860 and graduated from Austria in Law. The main goal of Zionism was to lead Jews to control the world beginning with the control of Palestine. Hertzel attempted to negotiate with Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid over Palestine but failed. He established the First Zionist Congress 1897. According to Zionism all Jews of the world are members of one citizenship – Israeli. They believe that the Jews are a pure race that must lead and control other races. Their main source of planning and strategy is the Protocols of the Leaders of the Zion. Terrorism is the most important means that they used to achieve their goals.

The Zionist formed an organization called B'nai Brith. Membership to this organization is limited to Jews. It has spread throughout the world. In 1865 it worked hard to have a presence in Palestine. In 1888, they had built the first temple in Palestine. In 1894, they established the first village in Palestine near Jerusalem called Motzah. This became the nucleus of the Jewish state afterwards. The most important personality in this organization was Sigmund Freud. He joined in 1895 and was a regular member. In 1913, this organization started Anti-Defamation League to stand up to the defamation of the Jewish people. The apparent goals is to help the world, non-profit hospitals, human rights, etc. It provides resistance and prevention of antisemitism. It organizes cultural and religious exchange between Jewish students through Hillel Foundation. Its real objectives are to bring Israelis and Jewish students together, establish a Jewish state in Palestine, financially support the migration to Israel and provide all necessary support to Israel from all part of the world. They were instrumental in the declaration that the Jews were not responsible for the blood of Jesus to avoid conflict with Christians. They believe that the utmost loyalty of Jews is to Israel, regardless where they live. 

The Jews have also formed secret societies like the Free Masons, Rotary Club and Lions all over the world. Secrecy is the first principle in these organizations. They remove all distinction of religion of their members. Apparently, their loyalty is to humanity. They are very dangerous and effective in their operation. The recruit the most influential people in politics and social life to be their members. Not all members are treated the same. Only those who have proven their loyalty and have reached a high level are informed of the organizations' real objectives. One of their objectives is to control the resources of the world. International Islamic organizations have warned the Muslims about joinning such organizations.

Traditional Muslim literature also mention other Jewish groups in history.

There was a group called the Farisioon. They were like the present day Orthodox Jews although there might be a difference in the doctrine and practices from the past and now. Their rabbis believed in celibacy and they continued their practices through adoption. They believed in resurrection, in the angels and in the hereafter.

Another group was known as As Sadaqiyoon which means the truthful. It was a form of calling them with what they are not. They denied resurrection, accounting, heaven and hell, Talmud, angels and the Messiah.

A group was called Al Mutassiboon, i.e. the strict. They were close to the orthodox group but were characterized by intolerance. In 1AD,  they started a revolution in which they killed large number of Romans and all who cooperated with them. They were called blood thirsty or murderers.

A group were called Al Kataba, i.e. the writers. They learned the Jewish tradition through writing and copying. They used preaching to spread their ideology. They were called the wise and the masters. A person from them was called the father. They became the richest group of the Jewish people.

A group was called Al Qaraoon, i.e. the reciters. They are a minority in the Jews. They appeared as a result of the diminishing of the Orthodox group. They only accept the Old Testament as Jewish Scripture. They give themselves the freedom to interpret the Torah.

A group was called As Samirioon, i.e. Connected to As Samiri (the person who started calf worship). They were made up of people who entered into Judaism from other than Bani Israel. They lived in the mountains. They accepted the prophet-hood of Musa, Haroon and Joshua but no one after them. They accepted the prophet-hood of someone named Alfan who lived 100 years before Jesus.

A group was called As Sabaiyya, based on Abdullah Ibn Sabaa who appeared at the time of Caliph Uthman. He claimed to be Muslim. He started political dissent among the Muslims. He was a narrator of false hadiths. He was the leader of political turmoils and dissent in Islam.

Jews of downama (downama means "return "in Turkish) is a group of Jews organized by a Jewish person name Mordacain. He was originally from Spain and lived in Turkey from 1626-1675. He established an organization in 1648, and claimed to be Messiah of the Bani Israel. When he became a danger to society he was apprehended by the Ottoman government. Muslim scholars debated with him and they declared him as a heretic. When he was about to be executed he claimed to be a Muslim and named himself Mohammad Effendi. He instructed his followers to publicly adopt Islam but secretly stay Jew. He requested the government to allow him to preach to the Jews. He was granted this request and he used this to denounce Islam. After 10 years the government realized he was a liar and exiled him to Albania where he died.

These Jews believe Mordacai was a Messiah for Bani Israel, his body was taken up in heavens and came back in the form of an angel who dresses in robe and turban. They do not offer prayers, they do fast, the do not wash from sexual impurity. Occasionally they appear in some Islamic festivities. They are not allowed to marry Muslims. They have more then 20 festivals in the year. They have their own attire. They do not initiate greeting others by themselves. They are very strong and widespread in Turkey. They have control over the media, economics and politics. They helped in the demolition of Islamic Caliphate and secularization of Turkey.