Prepared by: Abo Karim El Marakshy

Extracted from: DIALOGUE BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY Islam Is the Religion of All the Prophets Islam is the religion of Allah. There is no other true religion. Allah, Most Glorified, Most Exalted, has promised to make it victorious, powerful, and to master all other religions. But what is this religion of Islam? Are there any other religions competing with it in their relationship with Allah? Truly, Allah, Most Glorified, Most Exalted, did not send different religions to people. He sent only one single religion, through His prophetsIslam. Allah, Most Exalted, says, "The religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will)." 1 It is this one religion that all the messengers and prophets of Allah brought. Noah Brought the Message of Islam Allah, Most Exalted, says: Relate to them the story of Noah. Behold! He said lo his people: "My people, if it be hard on your (mind) that I should stay (with you) and commemorate the Signs of Allah, yet I put my trust in Allah. Get you then an agreement about your plan and among your partners, so your plan be not to you dark and dubious. Then, pass your sentence on me, and give no respite. But if you turn back, (consider): No reward have I asked of you: my reward is only due from Allah, and I have been commanded to be of those who submit to Allah's Will (in Islam)."2 Abraham Brought the Message of Islam Allah, Most Exalted, says; And remember Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer): "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For You are the All-Hearing, the All-knowing. Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to Your (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Your (Will); and show us our place for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in Mercy); for You are the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

1 2

Qur'an 3:19. Qur'an 10:71-72.

"Our Lord! Send among them a messenger of their own, who shall rehearse Your Signs to them and instruct them in scripture and wisdom, and sanctify them: For You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise." And who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with folly? Him We chose and rendered pure in this world: And he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the Righteous. Behold! his Lord said to him: "Bow {your will to Me):" He said: "I bow (my will) to the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe." And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; "My sons! God has chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the state of (submission to Allah)."3 Jacob Brought the Message of Islam Allah, Most Exalted, says: Were you witnesses when Death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: "What will you worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship your God and the God of your fathers, of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, the one (True) God: To Him we bow (in Islam.)"4 Lot Brought the Message of Islam Allah, Most Exalted, says: (Abraham) said: "And what, O Messengers, is your errand (now)?" They said, "We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin to bring on them, (a shower of) stones of clay (brimstone), marked as from your Lord for those who trespass beyond bounds. Then We evacuated those of the Believers who were there, but We found not there any just (Muslim) persons except in one house."5 Joseph Brought the Message of Islam Allah, Most Exalted, says: "My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me some power, and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams and events. Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Protector in this world and in
3 4

Qur'an 2:127-132. Qur'an 2:133. 5 Qur'an 51:31-36.

the Hereafter. Take my soul (at death) as one submitting to Your will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous."6 Moses Brought the Message of Islam Allah, Most Exalted, says: Moses said: "My people! If you do (really) believe in Allah, then in Him put your trust if you submit (your will to His)." 7 Islam Was the Religion of the People of Moses (i.e., the Children of Israel) Allah, Most Exalted, says: We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: "I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam)."8 Islam Was the Religion of the Sorcerers who [Repented and then] Believed in Moses: Allah, Most Exalted, says: But the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration, saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron." Said Pharaoh: "Believe you in Him before I give you permission? Surely this is a trick which you have planned in the city to drive out its people: but soon shall you know (the consequences). Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross." They said: "For us, we are but sent back unto our Lord: but you wreak your vengeance on us simply because we believed in the Signs of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our unto You as Muslims (who bow So Your Will)!"9

6 7

Qur'an 12:101. Qur'an 10:84. 8 Qur'an 10:90. 9 Qur'an 7:120-126.

Islam Bs the Religion of the Prophets of the Children of Israel Allah, Most Exalted, says: It was We Who revealed the Law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's will, by the rabbis."10 Solomon Brought the Message of Islam Allah, Most Exalted, says It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): "In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful: Be no! arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion)."11 Then Allah, Most Exalted, says (about the Queen of Sheba): He said (to his own men): "Chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"12 In another place, Allah, Most Exalted, says: So when she arrived, she was asked, "Is this your throne?" She said, "It was just like this; and knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to Allah (in Islam)."13 Finally, Allah, Most Exalted, says: She said: "My Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul: I do (now) submit (in Islam), with Solomon, to the Lord of the Worlds." 14 Islam Was the Religion of Jesus and His Disciples Allah, Most Exalted, says: When Jesus found unbelief on their part he said, "Who will be my helpers in (the work of) Allah?'" Said the disciples, "We are Allah's helpers: We believe in Allah, and do you bear witness that we are Muslims."15 Also, Allah, Most Exalted, says: And behold! I inspired the disciples to have faith in Me and My messengers: They said, "We have faith, and do you bear witness that we bow to Allah as Muslims."
10 11

Qur'an 5:44. Qur'an 27:30-31. 12 Qur'an 27:38. 13 Qur'an 27:42. 14 Qur'an 27:44. 15 Qur'an 3:52.

Islam Is the Religion of the Rightly-Guided Jinns Allah, Most Exalted says: Among us are some that submit their wills (to Allah), and some that swerve from justice. Now those who submit their willsthey have sought out (the path) of right conduct. But those who swerve, they are (but) fuel for Hellfire...16 Islam Is the Religion of the People of the Book That is, those who were dedicated to the truth before Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): Allah, Most Exalted, says: Those to whom We sent the Book before this, they do believe in this (revelation): And when it is recited to them, they say: "We believe therein, for it is the Truth from our Lord: indeed we have been Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will) from before this."17 Islam Is the Religion of Muhammad, the Final Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): Allah, Most Exalted, says: The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): Nor did the People of the Book dissent there from except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account. So if they dispute with you, say: "I have submitted my whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the People of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do you (also) submit yourselves?" If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, your duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants.18 Also, Allah, Most Exalted, says: Say: I have been forbidden to invoke those whom you invoke besides Allah, seeing that the Clear Signs have come to me from my Lord;
16 17

Qur'an 72:14-15. Qur'an 28:52-53. 18 Qur'an 3:19-20.

and I have been commanded to bow (in Islam) to the Lord of the Worlds.19 In another place, Allah, Most Exalted, says: This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." 20 In fact, the Glorious Qur'an states clearly that Islam is the religion of everyone in the heavens and on earth. Allah, Most Exalted, says: Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah, while all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will (accepted Islam), and to Him shall they all be brought back?21 It is for this religion, Islam, that the Prophet sent his representatives and letters to all the kings and religious leaders around him at that time. He requested them to witness [hat he and his companions were following Islam. Allah, Most exalted, says: Say: People of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, lords and patrons other than Allah. If then they turn back, say; Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will).22

The Final Prophet

Allah, Most Glorified, Most Exalted, wanted His religion to be perfect, and His blessings to be complete, so He sent Prophet Muhammad as me final prophet. Moreover, He made the Law brought by the Prophet general and universal in time and place. Allah, Most Glorified, Most Exalted, wanted the mission of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to be global, perfect and final. He supported Islam for it to spread and to be eternal. In the history of the final message of Islam, there are some points which all students and researchers should take note of. One of these points is the accuracy in recording the Prophet's biography and teachings. The extreme care taken to record accurately every detail regarding what the Prophet said and did has no parallel in the history of mankind. Never, for any other prophet or even any other personality up to this day, has as much literature been available. Those who claim to follow
19 20

Qur'an 40:66. Qur'an 5:3. 21 Qur'an 3:33. 22 Qur'an 3:64.

Moses and Jesus have very little authentic information concerning the details of their lives or the revelations they brought. To this day, not a single complete authentic document exists telling us clearly about Jesus' life, even though he was the final prophet from the Israelites. What we have in hand today is something that gives us mere glimpses of only the last fifty days in Jesus' life. A priest, Dr. Charles Anderson Scott, says in his article in the Encyclopedia Britannica: Frankly, one should forgo any attempts to write a hook on the biography of Jesus. In reality, no real material or information exists that could help us to accomplish this task. The number of days for which some information exists does not exceed fifty.23 What the priest has stated, and the Encyclopedia Britannica has published, conflicts with popular understanding in the Christian world until very recently. The general notion in the Christian world used to be that the books of the New Testament contained information about the last three years of Jesus' life. That is what Christian scholars agree upon even today. Yet this completely contrasts with what narrators tell us about the life of Prophet Muhammad. They have furnished us with a comprehensive and reliable record about all facts and details of his life. His companions recorded his life from the beginning to the end. They documented everything with the utmost care and precision in the books of the Sunnah,24 the maghazi,25 and the siyar.26 There are many books which narrate the life of Prophet Muhammad. Some of these books concentrate on his biography in detail; others provide details of his missions to invite other leaders to faith, his scouting missions, the etiquette that he practiced during his battles, and how he dealt with those hostile to his mission once he conquered them. Another category of books are known as the Books of Guidance, such as Provisions for the Journey to the Hereafter form the Guidance of the Best of Mankind. Such books shed light on the lifestyle and guidance of the Prophet, in his worship, his rituals, his marriages, his treatment of relatives and his behavior with people in general. Books known as shama'il focus specifically on his moral and physical character, i.e., his mental, spiritual and physical attributes. Still other books,
23 24

Encyclopedia Britannica, 14th ed. vol. 13, p. 171. i.e., books documenting the Prophet's sayings, actions, tacit approvals, and his physical appearance and character. 25 i.e., books documenting information concerning the battles the Prophet participated in. 26 i.e., books documenting the Prophet's biography (sirah).

known as books of khasa 'is, deal with the unique qualities of Prophet Muhammad, in other words, particulars that nobody else shares with him. Then, there are the books of adhkar and works of the Day and night. These books show us how the prophet would remember his Lord, glorify Him, and pray to Him under all conditions and concerning even the most trivial things. Finally, there are the major works of Hadith known as Sihah, Sunan and Masanid.27 I daresay that the most authenticated Christian books do not reach even the fourth or perhaps the third level of authenticity. 28 All this information about the prophet documented in various ways in addition to what the Qur'an narrates about the Prophet's life, behavior and morals. 'A'isha29 (may Allah be pleased with her) was once asked about the conduct of the prophet. She responded with her famous words, "His conduct was the Qur'an." In conclusion, the prophet's life, and the extraordinary care taken preserve a record of all his statements, actions and affirmations, are undeniable indications he indeed was the final prophet and Messenger of Allah.

www.islamic-invitation.com

27

i.e., documentary records of the Prophet's sayings, actions, tacit approvals, and a description of his physical and moral attributes. 28 Muslim scholars apply the science of authenticating narrations by evaluating narrations, especially those related by the Prophet, according to a list of rigorous criteria that scrutinized the credibility of the text of the narration as well as the narrator(s). accordingly, they apply diffeent degrees of authenticity. Needless to say, no Christian document, particularly the Bible, received such intense scrutiny. 29 The favority wife of the Prophet.