CHRISTIANITY - The Facts

Tithing

2005-07-23T18:38:00.000+08:00

by Md. Ghounem

Here is another point where Truth stands Clear from error. In Islam, between 2 to 5 % of your income goes directly to the poor, which can include a relative. It has been calculated that 3% of the wheat in the world would feed all the starving people. This system of the Believer to hand the 3% directly to the poor is the solution. Also another benefit from giving the money directly to the poor as prescribed in Islam, you can connect with the people in need. You can enjoy and share in their happiness when you help them.

In Christianity, 10% of your entire Income, goes to the so-called 'non-profit' organization called the Church. This is named "Tithing" and the Church claims that the Bible backs up this 10% donation, even though Jesus taught also to give your money to the poor.

"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven" (Matthew 19:21)

Paul continually changed the words of Jesus, instead of giving money to the poor as Jesus taught, Paul wrote in the Gospel; "In the same way the Lord has given orders that those who preach the Gospel should be supported by those who accept it." ( I Corinthians 9:13-14)

This is a false claim by Paul, no where in the Bible does Jesus or God command to give money to those who preach the Gospel, though unfortunately the church obeys Paul more than Jesus or God.

The difference between the Church and Islamic charity is that large amounts of money are left with individuals in Christianity, therefore opening the opportunity for corruption.

As we see recently, the Christian Rev. Henry Lyons, President of the National Christian Baptist Convention, USA, was convicted of racketeering and grand theft on charges of swindling millions of dollars from Christian companies seeking to do business with his followers.

This is of course a extreme case but what is common among Christian Churches while absent among Islamic Mosques is that the Ministers in Christianity take a salary for themselves which averages over $30,000 a year.

While in Islam, the Ministers consider preaching the words of Allah, a reward in itself.

Marrriage & Human Nature

2004-04-17T12:00:00.000+08:00

by Md. Ghounem

It is human's natural inclination to procreate, to be attracted to the opposite gender, to get married. Islam agrees with a human's nature. Islam is well known as the natural religion. Islam agrees with your body, mind and soul.

On the other hand, in Christianity, the unnatural act of staying unmarried is commended in the Gospel.

Here we will compare what the Qur'an and the modern Gospel teach about marriage:

Paul in the Bible Commends Celibacy:

1 Cor 7:1b "It is good for a man not to touch a woman. "

1 Cor 7:7-8 "Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am."

1 Cor 7:27b "Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. "

1 Cor 7:28b "Those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this." (also) 1 Tim 4:1-3

The Qur'an teaches:

" Marry those among you who are single, or the virtuous ones among yourselves, male or female: if they are in poverty, Allah will give them means out of His grace: for Allah encompasseth all, and he knoweth all things." {Qur'an translation 24:32}

"This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good)." {Qur'an translation 5:5}

In fact, there are Hadeeths which further strongly encourage marriage in Islam.

In conclusion, the very holy people in the Christian religion such as Priests and Nuns, unnaturally do not marry [there are exceptions - I have seen homosexual married priests, the statement is meant in general]. While the very holy people in Islam naturally marry.

Islam agrees with how God made you.

The Bible - Can These be the Words of God?

2004-04-15T15:14:00.000+08:00

Verses from Compilation by Donald Morgan.

Can these be the words of God? If they can't be the words of God, then is it not safe for us to conclude the Bible is not entirely the work of God because it has been altered by man?

You decide:

MT 5:18-19 The OT law is to remain in effect until heaven and earth pass away.

GE 1:28 Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over all living things. (Note: God appears to be totally unconcerned with population control or ecology.)

GE 3:16, CO 11:3-9, EP 5:22-24, CN 3:18, TS 2:5, PE 3:1-6 The husband is to rule over his wife. Wives are to be subject to their husbands even when the husband is disobedient to God. Man is the image and glory of God, while woman is the glory of man. Man was not created for woman but woman for man.

GE 3:16 Women should suffer pain during childbirth. (Note: This verse was used by the Church to oppose the use of anesthesia during childbirth.)

GE 15:18 Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and part of Iraq belong to the Jews only.

GE 17:10 "This is my covenant, ...every male among you shall be circumcised." (Note: God seems to have an obsession with this--the words circumcise, circumcised, circumcising, circumcision, uncircumcised, uncircumcision, foreskin, and foreskins appear 157 times in the KJV. Although the KJV correctly translates the oldest Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, versions since the KJV attempt to soften this apparent obsession by creatively translating these words in a different fashion wherever possible.)

GE 17:14 A child/man be punished by having his "soul cut off from his people" if his parents fail to have him circumcised when he was an infant of 8 days old.

GE 38:8-10 A man who refuses to impregnate his widowed sister-in-law is "wicked in the LORD's sight" and so is put to death.

EX 20:8-11, 31:15-17, 34:21, 35:1-3 No work of any kind is to be done on the Sabbath, not even lighting of a fire. This commandment is permanent. Death is required for infractions. (Note: This would require even that essential services, such as hospitals, police departments, etc., shut down on the Sabbath.)

EX 21:7-11 A father can sell a daughter into slavery to pay a debt. A daughter sold into slavery is not released at the end of six years as is an ordinary male slave.

EX 21:12 Whoever strikes a man so that he dies is to be put to death--except that, in some cases, God will appoint a place to which the offender may flee instead.

EX 21:15 Whoever strikes his father or mother is to be put to death. (As opposed to Islam where a man ia ccountable to God for a misdeed such as this.)

EX 21:16 Whoever steals a man is to be put to death. (Note: This is in spite of the fact that a father can sell his daughter into slavery; see EX 21:7-11.)

EX 21:17, LE 20:9, DT 21:18-21 A child who curses his parent(s) is to be put to death. A stubborn and/or rebellious child is to be put to death.

EX 21:20-21 A slave owner is to be punished if he strikes his slave and the slave dies shortly thereafter. If the slave lives a day or to and then dies, the slave owner is not to be punished. A slave is the same as money to his owner.

EX 21:23-25, LE 24:17-21, DT 19:21 An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, etc.

EX 21:28-32 When an ox gores a man to death, the ox must be stoned. If the ox has gored a man previously, the animal's owner must also be put to death; in the case of the goring of a slave, the only requirement is that the owner of the ox must pay thirty shekels to the owner of the slave.

EX 22:16-17 An unbetrothed virgin is required to marry her seducer.

LE 12:2 A woman who has a child, especially a female child, is unclean and purification rites are required.

LE 15:19 A woman who is menstruating is unclean. Anyone who touches her is unclean.

LE 15:20 Anything which a woman who is menstruating sits on or lies on is unclean.

LE 15:21 Anyone who touches the bed of a woman who is menstruating must wash his clothes and bathe, and is unclean until evening.

LE 15:22 Anyone who touches anything which was sat upon by a woman who is menstruating must wash his clothes and bathe, and is unclean until evening.

LE 15:28 After her flow stops, a woman who was menstruating must count off seven days before she is considered clean again. On the eighth day, she must present two birds to the priest for an atonement for having had a menstrual discharge.

LE 20:15-16 If a person engages in sex with an animal, both the animal and the person must be put to death. (What fault is it of the innocent animal?)

LE 21:9 If a priest's daughter becomes a prostitute, she is to be burnt with fire.

LE 21:14 A priest (or descendant of Aaron) must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, a woman who has been defiled, or a harlot, but only a virgin.

LE 25:44-46, DT 15:17, EP 6:5, CN 3:22, TS 2:9, PE 2:18 Slavery is an everlasting institution. Slaves are to obey their masters in everything.

LE 27:3-7 Males are more valuable than females.

LE 27:29 Human sacrifice is condoned.

NU 3:10 An unauthorized person who acts as a priest must be put to death.

NU 31:18, 35, JG 21:12 Young virgins are considered a spoil of war and can be taken for the use of the victors.

DT 15:1-3 Every seven years, a brother (meaning a fellow Israelite) should be released from his debt. Only a foreigner should be required, again, to honor his debt.

DT 22:6-7 If you want to live a long time, you must not take a mother bird from her young, but you may take the young from the mother.

DT 22:13-21 A bride in whom "the tokens of virginity" are not found is to be put to death. (Note: The bridegroom who falsely accuses his bride gets off with a fine.)

DT 22:23-24 A betrothed virgin who is seduced in the city is to be put to death unless she cries for help.

DT 22:28-29 A virgin who is raped must marry her rapist (if they are "found").

DT 23:2 A bastard--and his offspring to the tenth generation--are to be punished for his illegitimacy and cannot enter a congregation of the Lord.

DT 25:5-10 A man has an obligation to produce a child for his widowed sister-in-law.

1KI 5:13, 9:3, 15 Forced labor is apparently sanctioned inasmuch as the Lord consecrated the house that Solomon built for the Lord using forced labor.

PR 13:24, 22:15, 23:13 Children are to be disciplined with the rod-- if beaten with a rod, they will not die. (Note: Many Christian parents have inadvertently beaten a child to death following this precept.)

HO 4:14 The sins of female prostitutes and adulterers can be excused when the men themselves set a bad example.

MT 23:9 Do not call any man on earth "father."

MT 19:12, RO 8:13 Men should consider castration, thereby making themselves eunuches, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. If you live after the flesh, you shall die, but if you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. (Note: During the dark and middle ages, saints castrated themselves by the thousands in order to become more godly. Even now, the practice continues in some sects.)

MK 10:2-12, LK 16:18 Divorce is wrong, and to remarry is to commit adultery.

MK 10:29, LK 18:29 A man who leaves his house, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will receive special rewards.

LK 14:26 One cannot be a disciple of Jesus unless he hates his mother, father, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life.

LK 14:33 "... any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

RO 13:1-4, PE 2:13-14 Be subject to every human institution. All authorities (laws and governments) are from God. (Note: This would include those of a Nazi Germany, yet believers seldom follow this injunction. Even Jesus and his Disciples violated this principle.)

1CO 7:1-38 Men and widows should not marry. Although it is well for a man to remain chaste, the temptation to immorality is a valid reason to marry; a man should marry if he cannot control himself. Yet, a man who is already married should live as if he were not. He that is unmarried is concerned about how he can please the Lord while he that is married is concerned about pleasing his spouse. It is better to remain single so as to attend to the Lord without distraction.

1CO 14:34-35 Women are to be silent in church. If they have any questions, they are to ask their husbands at home. It is a shame for women to speak in church.

2TH 3:10 Anyone who doesn't work should not be allowed to eat. (So much for charity)

1TI 2:11-12 Women are to learn in silence (from men) in all submissiveness.

1TI 2:12 Women are not permitted to teach or have authority over men.

1 JN 1:9-11 Do not allow anyone into your house who is not a fellow believer.

Islamic Beliefs and Practices - Glimpses in the Bible

2004-04-11T11:55:00.000+08:00

EXAMPLES OF PURE MONOTHEISM

1. The first of the ten commandments: Exodus (20:2-4):
“I am the Lord thy God,... Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I am the Lord thy God.”

2. Deuteronomy (4:39)
“Know therefore this day, and consider this in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”

3. Isaiah (43:10-11)
“…and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I even I, am the Lord; and beside me is no saviour.”

4. 1 Kings (8:60)
“that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else.”

5. Isaiah (45:21-23)
“…have I not the Lord? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none else beside me. Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return. That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

What does this verse convey to us? It tells us the life eternal, i.e., salvation, depends on the following two things:

a) 'to know the only true God': Here the word 'know' does not mean passive knowledge; it is something more than this.
It implies:
- to know that He is the only one worthy of worship, or He is the only deity,
- to know that He is the only Saviour and Redeemer, and
- to accept Him to be the only one worthy of worship, and to reject all others who are worshipped. Mere knowing is of no use. Satan was also knowing God, but he was cursed and rejected because he refused to obey God.

(b) 'to know Jesus Christ as the Messenger of God': It implies that his teachings only should be followed.

The verse John (17:3) can be paraphrased exactly as the present Islamic creed:
“There is no deity except the one true God, and Jesus Christ is the Messenger of God”

ISLAMIC PRAYERS/WORSHIP

Muslims pray and worship God in a similar way as did the earlier prophets of God. The glimpses of this fact that we find in the Bible are as follows:

(A) Bowing and prostrating on the ground:

1. Jesus: “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed” Matthew (26:39)

2. Moses: “And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.” Exodus (34:8)

3. Moses and Aaron (pbut): “And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces:” Numbers(20:6)

4. Abraham: "And Abraham fell on his face:" Genesis (17.3)

5. Abraham's servant: “when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth." Genesis (24:52)

6. Joshua : “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship.” Joshua (5:14)

7. Ezra and the people: “and they bowed their head,. and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” Nehemiah (8:6)

(B) Praying from dawn to evening :

as mentioned in Psalms (113:3) “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised.”

(C) Offering the prayers at specified times of day, as did Peter and John, the disciples of Jesus:

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer. being the ninth hour (3 pm).” Acts (3:1)

This was equivalent of the Muslims' afternoon (Asr) prayer.

(D) Supplicating, with hands raised:

(i) Solomon: “he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.” 1 Kings (8:54)

(ii) Ezra and the people: “and Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God.” And all of the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands.” Nehemiah (8:6)

(E) Making ablution before offering prayers:

“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 came near unto the altar, they washed; as the Lord commanded Moses.” Exodus ( 40:31-32)

(F) Taking off shoes while entering the mosque, as God commanded Moses:

“And he said, draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Exodus (3:5)

(G) Calling the temple of God “the house of prayer”

["Masjid" in Arabic], as Jesus did: Matthew (21:13):

“and said unto them, it is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer.”

(H) Following the lunar calendar:

“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah (66:23)

(I) Fasting is a form of worship in Islam.

It is obligatory for a Muslim to keep fast for a whole month in a year (called Ramadan). Jesus himself fasted for forty days Matthew (4:2). About those who fast, Jesus said, Matthew (5:6)

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”

His teaching on fasting was Islamic, Matthew (6:16-18):

“when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites of sad countenance:..” etc.

(J) Charity is another obligatory act of worship in Islam

Called 'Zakah' (Biblical term: 'tithe'). The laws concerning this are mentioned in Leviticus (27:30-33). Jesus stressed the spirit behind charity (almsgiving), which is exactly the teaching of Islam: Matthew (6:1-4)

“Take heed ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”

Some ISLAMIC ETIQUETTES, as seen in the Bible:

1. Muslims greet each other by saying "Assalam Alaikum", which means 'Peace be upon you'. This was the practice of Jesus as we see in John (20:19, 21:26). Luke (24:36):

“...came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”

In fact, Jesus instructed his disciples, when he was sending them on the mission, that they should say this when they entered a house. This is an Islamic teaching. Matthew (10:12)

“And when you come into a house, salute it.” (the T. E. Version of the Bible writes 'say Peace be with you' in place of ‘salute it’).

2. Muslims frequently use the phrase "Insha Allah", which means 'God willing' or 'if God wills'. We find this instruction in the Bible. James (4:14-15):

“whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life; it is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

Some ISLAMIC OBSERVANCES, as seen in the Bible:

1. Muslims do not eat pork.

The Bible prohibits eating pork.

“And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clove-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.” Leviticus (11:7-8), (also Deut., 14:8)

2. Muslims keep away from whoredom and wine.

The Bible gives the reason.

“Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.” Hosea (4:11)
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty:” Proverbs (20:1; 23:20-21).

3. Muslims do not take usury (interest on money).

The Bible commands thus:

“If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.” Exodus (22:25)

4. Muslims are circumcised.

Jesus himself was circumcised (Luke 2:21), and so were Abraham and all the Israelite prophets. We wonder how many of these practices are observed by Christians today. Who can then be called true Christians- the Muslims, or those who call themselves Christians?

Thus, it is clear that what Muslims do is not something new or strange, but is Biblical. It is also clear that Islam was the religion of all the Prophets and Messengers of God. It was very much the religion of Jesus .

Not only this, the continuity of the Abrahamic faith till Muhammed is also seen in the Bible, as we find prophecies, both in the Old and the New Testaments, about the coming of Prophet Muhammed. This matter is a topic by itself and needs a full and separate discussion.

(For details please refer to "Mohammed in the Bible" by Dr. Jamal Badawi.)

Death Sentences in The Bible

2004-04-10T11:35:00.000+08:00

Verses from Compilation by Donald Morgan

Christian missionaries are selective in their belief in the Bible. While the misconception that Islam instructs regular Muslims to put all apostates to death (which is absolutely untrue) is widely used to deter people from Islam, missionaries ignore the following verses taken from the Bible. It is true that God, heavily frowns upon apostacy in the Quran but it is always a case between God and the apostate - not for us Muslims to judge, nowhere is the layman Muslim told to take God's judgement into our own hands. On the contrary, the horror of these verses from the Bible make the Quran's alleged cruelty and Prophet Muhammad's alleged sword, look very pale in comparison.

This is a list of death sentence criteria in the Bible - check if you're on it.

GE 38:8-10 A man who refuses to impregnate his widowed sister-in-law is put to death.

EX 21:12 Whoever strikes a man so that he dies is to be put to death--except that, in some cases, God will appoint a place to which the offender may flee instead.

EX 21:15 Whoever strikes his father or mother is to be put to death.

EX 21:16 Whoever steals a man is to be put to death. (Note: This is in spite of the fact that a father can sell his daughter into slavery; see EX 21:7-11.)

EX 21:17, LE 20:9, DT 21:18-21 A child who curses his parent(s) is to be put to death. A stubborn and/or rebellious child is to be put to death.

EX 22:18, DT 18:10 A witch or sorcerer is to be put to death.

EX 22:20 Anyone who sacrifices to other gods must be destroyed.

LE 20:10-12, DT 22:22 Adulterers (in some cases) must be put to death.

LE 20:13 Practicing male homosexuals are to be put to death. (Note: Female homosexuality is not considered in the OT though it NT. See RO 1:26-32.)

LE 20:14 If a man has sexual relations with both his wife and his mother-in-law, all three of them must be put to death.

LE 20:15-16 If a person engages in sex with an animal, both the animal and the person must be put to death.

LE 20:27 A medium or wizard is to be put to death.

LE 21:9 If a priest's daughter becomes a prostitute, she is to be burnt with fire.

LE 24:16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death.

NU 3:10 An unauthorized person who acts as a priest must be put to death.

DT 13:2-5 Anyone who causes someone to turn to another god must be put to death.

DT 13:6-10 A man is required to slay his friends and members of his own family who are guilty of worshipping another god.

DT 17:12 A man who shows contempt for a judge or priest must be put to death.

DT 18:20-22, EZ 14:9 If a prophet's words do not come true, he is a false prophet and must be put to death. This is true even if he has been deceived by God himself.

DT 22:23-24 A betrothed virgin who is seduced in the city is to be put to death unless she cries for help.

MK 10:2-12, LK 16:18 Divorce is wrong, and to remarry is to commit adultery. (LE 20:10-12, DT 22:22 in turn say, adulterers are to be put to death)

RO 1:26-27, 32 Men and women who commit unnatural sexual acts deserve to die.

TS 1:10-11 There are many who must be silenced.

The Bible Says - DO NOT EAT PORK !

2004-03-31T21:38:00.000+08:00

Both the Bible and the Qur’an prohibit the eating of pork. Muslims are aware of this prohibition and observe it strictly. However, most readers of the Bible say they do not know where they can find this in the Bible.

In the book of Leviticus, chapter 11, v. 7, it is recorded that God declares the pig to be unclean for believers. Then, in verse 8, God says: “You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.” This command is repeated in Deuteronomy 14:7-8. Then, in Isaiah 65:2-4, and 66:17, God issues a stern warning against those who eat pork.

Some people are aware of this prohibition from God, but they say that they can eat pork because St. Paul said that all food is clean in his letter to the Romans 14:20. St. Paul said this because he believed (as he wrote in his letter to the Ephesians 2:14-15) that Jesus had abolished the Law with all its commandments and regulations. He seems, however, to have misunderstood what he heard about Jesus. In the Gospel According to Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus is reported to have said quite the contrary, as follows: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law . . . ."

Jesus then went on in that passage (in verse 19) to denounce anyone who would break the smallest commandment and teach others likewise. He also praised his true followers who will practice and teach even the smallest commandment. One of the commandments, as we have seen, is to stay away from pork.

This is why the true followers of Jesus, holding on to his teachings, did not let unclean food such as pork enter their mouths, so that Peter, the chief disciple, can say, “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean” (Acts of the Apostles, ch. 10, v. 14)

Five chapters later in the Acts of the Apostles, 15:29, we find that the original disciples still differentiate between clean and unclean foods, and this time Paul is in agreement with them. Six chapters later, in ch. 21, v. 25, their decision to impose food regulations on believers is mentioned without regret, and this time Paul is challenged to prove that he is in agreement with them; and he demonstrated his full agreement with them.

What remains, then, is that Jesus, on whom be peace, upheld the prohibition against pork. His disciples also upheld it, and so must all his followers. Those who fail to uphold it need to be informed and reminded of this rule from God. This is one reason why God sent His final messenger, on whom be peace. God says:

“O people of the Scripture ! Now has Our Messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which you used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. Now has come unto you light from Allah and a plain Scripture.” (The Meaning of the Glorious Qur’an 5:15)

How Jesus and Other Biblical Prophets PRAYED

2004-03-30T21:35:00.000+08:00

Islam is not a new religion. Literally meaning “submission to the Will of God”, Islam is the only religion which is not named after a people, a place, or an individual. It is the religion of all of the prophets including Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all), to name a few.

The Muslim practice of standing, bowing, kneeling, and prostrating in worship is not foreign to past traditions. While many Christians and Jews find images of Muslims in prayer to be peaceful or even awe-inspiring, some find the Muslim method of prayer to be odd.

When Muslims pray, they do so in a manner taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Last Prophet sent by God and the only prophet sent to all of humanity. His words, his actions, and the events of which he approved or disapproved have all been preserved in numerous volumes, called Ahadith. It is important to note that these volumes are kept separate from the revealed word of God, the Qur’an.

The point, here, is that after having received the command from God to pray, Muslims look to the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to learn how to pray. Were Christians and Jews to look to the examples of the prophets (peace be upon them all) given in the Torah and the Gospel, then they would find themselves praying like Muslims.

Here’s proof...

Genesis 17:1-4 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Deuteronomy 5:6-9 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 Thou shalt have none other gods before Me. 8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them nor serve them...

The very fact that God is instructing people not to “bow down” to idols, means that bowing is a valid form of worship.

Psalm 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Note that both bowing and kneeling are mentioned in Psalm 95:6, the very order in which Muslims perform them.

Deuteronomy 9:24-25 Ye have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you. 25 Thus I fell down before the Lord forty days and forty nights, as I fell down the first; because the Lord had said He would destroy you.

Revelations 7:11-12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Joshua 7:6-7 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. 7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast Thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!

Numbers 16:20-22And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with the all of the congregation?

Numbers 20:6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.

Thus far, we have read that Moses, Joshua, Aaron, and Abraham (peace be upon them all) worshipped the One True God through prostration and bowing. The angels did the same. And in Matthew 26:39 Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) also puts his face to the ground in humility before God.

Matthew 26:36-39 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gesthemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be very sorrowful and heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou Wilt.

We must realize that human beings chosen by God to bring God’s message are the best of human beings. To not follow their lead is illogical and arrogant. Bow down and prostrate to God and ask for guidance. It is God, alone, who can guide us.

And be steadfast in prayer;
Practice regular charity;
And bow down your heads
With those who bow down.
Holy Qur'an 2:45

Many first reactions to this information is that it is interesting, but not significant or important.

"Wow, I never realized that Jesus (peace be upon him) prayed with his face on the ground, as Muslims do. That's interesting, but who cares? The important part of prayer comes from the heart, not the act of bowing."

In one sense this is true.

An important part of prayer is what comes from the heart......but that's not all.

Islam (submission to God) is a way of life in all respects. As such, it does not divorce the physical act of submission from the submission of the heart. When Muslims pray, they do so in a manner taught by the prophets (peace be upon all of them). Prayer is an act of mind, body, and soul. Submission takes place in all of these realms.