Answering Islam - A Christian-Muslim dialog

The True Confession of Faith Pt. 2

Sam Shamoun

We proceed from where we previously left off.


Honoring the Son

We saw earlier in the first part of the rebuttal how the prophet Daniel prophesied that the nations would worship one like a Son of man, with Christ claiming to be that Son of man according to the inspired Christian Scriptures.

Therefore, by making himself out to be that same Son of man spoken of by Daniel, Christ was basically stating that he is the divine, eternal King whom all the nations were required to worship in the same way that God the Father is to be worshiped, a point which he explicitly makes elsewhere:

”For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, EVEN AS they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” John 5:22-23

Note that Christ doesn’t say that the Father demands everyone to honor the Son as they honor a prophet, or one’s parents etc., but that they are to give him the same honor that is given to the Father himself!

This explains why we find repeated examples of Christ receiving worship from individuals all throughout his earthly life, such as the wise men that came to visit the young Christ child,

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him… When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11

The blind man whom Christ miraculously healed,

“The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.” John 9:30-38

The leper whom Christ cleansed,

“When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." Matthew 8:1-4

As well as from his disciples after seeing him walk on water and sovereignly control the winds and waves,

“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33

Amazingly, these are functions which the OT ascribes to Yahweh alone!

“Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.” Job 9:8

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.” Psalm 107:23-30

This further explains Christ’s insistence that his followers must love him unconditionally, more than anyone and anything, including their own lives:

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL’S, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:34-37

“He that loveth father or mother MORE THAN ME is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter MORE THAN ME is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life FOR MY SAKE shall find it.” Matthew 10:37-39

This kind of love can only be rendered to God, and yet this is what Jesus demanded for himself!

We thus have Christ demanding and receiving the same worship God receives in recognition of his being the unique Son of God and divine Son of man, contrary to Abualrub’s assertion.

 

Jalal’s Dilemma

This poses serious problems for Abualrub since the Quran denies that Allah would ever allow any prophet to be worshiped as lord instead of the Muslim deity:

It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allah has given the Book and Al-Hukma (the knowledge and understanding of the laws of religion, etc.) and Prophethood to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allah's." On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbaniyun (learned men of religion who practise what they know and also preach others), because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it." Nor would he order you to take angels and Prophets for lords (gods). Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to Allah's Will? (Tafsir At-Tabari). S. 3:79-80 Hilali-Khan

The Islamic scripture even denies that Jesus is the Son of Allah:

And the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the disbelievers of old. Allah's Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth! S. 9:30 Hilali-Khan

The Quran further teaches that Allah is the heir of all things who has no partner in his dominion over the heavens and the earth, 

And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His Bounty (Wealth) think that it is good for them (and so they do not pay the obligatory Zakat). Nay, it will be worse for them; the things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Well Acquainted with all that you do. S. 3:180 Hilali-Khan

And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah has power over all things. S. 3:189 Hilali-Khan

Verily! We will inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon. And to Us they all shall be returned, S. 19:40 Hilali-Khan

He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Who has begotten no son (children or offspring) and for Whom there is no partner in the dominion. He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements. S. 25:2 Hilali-Khan – cf. Q. 15:23; 17:111; 19:80; 21:89

Amazingly, right after his resurrection the Lord Jesus proclaimed that he is the One who possesses absolute and total sovereignty over the entire creation!

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18

Therefore, the very Scriptures which Abualrub quoted to prove that Jesus recited the Kalimah have come back to haunt him since according to these very same writings Jesus is included within the divine identity of the one Lord of Israel, being the unique beloved Son of God and divine Son of man who shall be worshiped by all the nations that he sovereignly reigns over.

And since Muhammad denied all of this he therefore stands condemned as an antichrist according to the God-breathed revelation:

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” 1 John 2:22-23

So much for Abualrub’s appeal to the Holy Bible to vindicate the false teachings of his false prophet!

All scriptural quotations taken from the Authorized King James Version (AV) of the Holy Bible.