Answering Islam - A Christian-Muslim dialog

Another Taqiyyist Bites the Dust Pt. 4

Sam Shamoun

We continue our discussion.

 

BROWN

“If Christianity is the religion of Jesus Christ, where are the Old Testament laws and strict monotheism of the Rabbi Jesus’ Orthodox Judaism? Why does Christianity teach that Jesus is the son of God when Jesus called himself the ‘son of Man’ eighty-eight times, and not once the ‘son of God?’”

 

RESPONSE

In the first place, the Old Testament laws have been perfectly fulfilled and consummated in the life and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as the following articles show:

Biblical Consummation Versus Abrogation Pt. 1, Pt. 2

Moreover, a better question to ask is where are these laws in Muhammad’s teachings when he abrogated or contradicted many of them in both the Quran and his Sunna? For the details please see the following article and rebuttals:

Muhammad and the Mosaic Law

Jewish and Christian Converts to Islam: Some Questions for Muslims to Ponder 

Is there an Islamic Demand for Obedience to the OT Laws?

Secondly, the reason why Christianity teaches that Christ is God’s Son is because this is what Jesus himself taught.

For instance, Christ proclaimed that he is the unique Son to whom the Father has entrusted all things and who alone knows the Father in the same way that the Father knows him, and is therefore the only One who can perfectly reveal God to man:

“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Luke 10:22 – cf. Matthew 11:27

Jesus further testified that he is the Son who is one with the Father in being able to grant all believers eternal life and to prevent any of them from ever perishing. This assertion led the Jews to accuse Jesus of blasphemy since they realized that Christ was basically claiming to be God:    

“‘My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’ The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?’ The Jews answered Him, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Has it not been written in your Law, “I said, you are gods”? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, “I am the Son of God? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.’ Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.” John 10:27-39

Jesus also distinguished himself from all the prophets whom he identified as servants of God, in contrast to Christ who happens to be the beloved Son and Heir of God:

“And He began to speak to them in parables: ‘A man planted a vineyard and put a wall around it, and dug a vat under the wine press and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, in order to receive some of the produce of the vineyard from the vine-growers. They took him, and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another slave, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and that one they killed; and so with many others, beating some and killing others. He had one more to send, a beloved son; he sent him last of all to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But those vine-growers said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!” They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others.’” Mark 12:1-9

That the servants in the parable represent the prophets is brought out more clearly by the following OT texts:

“Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them.” Jeremiah 7:25

“And you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, ‘If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened;’” Jeremiah 26:4-5 – cf. 29:19; 44:4

Hence, whereas the prophets are God’s servants, Jesus, on the other hand, is much more and greater than they are since he is God’s beloved Son and Heir.

In fact, on two separate occasions God himself proclaimed that Jesus is his beloved Son whom he always delights in and is well pleased with. And on the second of those occasions, Jesus was transfigured before the sight of his followers so as to give them a glimpse of his true inner, abiding glory: 

“And he was preaching, and saying, ‘After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.’” Mark 1:7-11

“Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!’” Mark 9:2-7

Moreover, not only did the Father bear witness to his Son, he also sovereignly moved Peter to confess that Jesus is his Son:

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’” Matthew 16:13-17

Now as far as the phrase “Son of Man” is concerned, Brown mistakenly assumes that this somehow proves that Jesus was nothing more than a man, when the reality is that this happens to be a title that Christ used to establish his unique divine identity. Note, for instance, the following example:   

“The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, ‘Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?’ But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ And Jesus said, ‘I AM; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?’ And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.” Mark 14:60-64

Christ not only affirms that he is God’s Son, he also identifies himself as David’s Lord who sits enthroned in heaven alongside God,

“The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’” Psalm 110:1

“The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19

And further claims to be the Son of Man whom the prophet Daniel spoke of, the One who rules forever and whom all the nations must worship in the same way that they worship God: 

“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed… Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’” Daniel 7:13-14, 27

On another occasion, Jesus proclaimed that as the Son of Man he possesses the divine authority to forgive sins:

“When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, ‘Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”; or to say, “Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.’ And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’” Mark 2:1-12

Christ is depicted as possessing the very knowledge and of being able to do the very works which the OT ascribe to Yahweh alone:

“Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” Psalm 44:21

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;” Psalm 103:2-4 – cf. 1 Kings 8:39, 46-50; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Isaiah 43:25; Daniel 9:9; Micah 7:18-19

Even the Quran testifies that God alone forgives sins and knows what a person is thinking to or within himself/herself:

And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring God to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins, – and who can forgive sins except God? – and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done. S. 3:135 Y. Ali

Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of God: for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” S. 39:53 Y. Ali

Or do they say, 'He has forged against God a lie?' But if God wills, He will set a seal on thy heart; and God blots out falsehood and verifies the truth by His words; He knows the thoughts within the breasts. S. 42:24 Arberry

Hence, instead of being a title which relegates Jesus to mere human status, the phrase “Son of Man” is actually one of the clearest testimonies to his absolute and essential Deity, since it affirms that Christ is God who became man for our redemption.  

 

BROWN

“Why does Christianity endorse confession to priests and prayers to saints, Mary and Jesus when Jesus taught his followers, ‘In this manner, therefore, pray: “Our Father …”’ (Matthew 6:9)?”

 

RESPONSE

Here is what Christ and Muhammad actually taught concerning prayers and invocations.

 

Jesus

The Lord Jesus not only accepted worship,

“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’” Matthew 14:25-33

“Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said,What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.’ For He said to him, ‘Come out of the man, unclean spirit!’ Then He asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he answered, saying, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many.’ Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, ‘Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.’ And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.” Mark 5:1-13 NKJV

(As a sidenote, here is a demoniac whom no one was able to control or tame, and which no shackles or chains were able to bind, trembling with terror at the sight of the Lord Jesus, who was able to subdue and cast out all of these evil spirits just by the power of his word!)

And told his followers that God himself demands that all must honor the Son in the same way that they honor the Father,

“For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son EVEN AS they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:22-23

He even went as far as to instruct his disciples to ask him directly in prayer, guaranteeing them that he would personally answer all of their requests:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ASK IN MY NAME, that WILL I DO, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ASK ME anything IN MY NAME, I WILL DO IT.” John 14:12-14

Jesus explains that once he returns to the Father the disciples could then pray to him and he would respond by personally answering all their prayers. Now the only way that Christ could answer the disciples’ requests, and do whatever they asked him for, is if he were/is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent, which are divine qualities that God alone possesses.

Thus, by demanding to receive the worship that the Father receives, and by claiming to have the ability to personally answer all the prayers which are offered directly to him in his name, Jesus was basically claiming to be God in the flesh. There is simply no way around this fact.

 

Muhammad

Brown conveniently doesn’t tell his readers that both he and his fellow Muslims pray to Muhammad every time they perform their five daily prayers. This is based on Muhammad’s own instructions, who demanded that his followers address him whenever they perform their compulsory prayers:

Narrated Shaqiq bin Salama:
'Abdullah said, "Whenever we prayed behind the Prophet we used to recite (in sitting) 'Peace be on Gabriel, Michael, peace be on so and so. Once Allah's Apostle looked back at us and said, 'Allah Himself is As-Salam (Peace), and if anyone of you prays then he should say, At-Tahiyatu lil-lahi wassalawatu wat-taiyibatu. As-Salamu 'ALAIKA aiyuha-n-Nabiyu wa rahmatu-l-lahi wa barakatuhu. As-Salam alaina wa ala ibadil-lah is-salihin. (All the compliments, prayers and good things are due to Allah: peace be on YOU, O Prophet and Allah's mercy and blessings be on you. Peace be on us and on the true pious slaves of Allah). (If you say that, it will be for all the slaves in the heaven and the earth). Ash-hadu an la-ilaha illa-l-lahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasuluhu. (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I also testify that Muhammad is His slave and His Apostle)." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 12, Number 794)

Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah used to teach us tashahhud just as he used to teach us a Sura of the Qur'an, and he would say: All services rendered by words, acts of worship, and all good things are due to Allah. Peace be upon YOU, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah's upright servants. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. In the narration of Ibn Rumb (the words are): "As he would teach us the Qur'an." (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 0798)

Muhammad also told one of his followers to invoke both himself and Allah, since that would insure that his request would be granted:

3578. ‘Uthman bin Hunaif narrated that a blind man came to the Prophet and said to him: “Supplicate to Allah to heal me.” He said: “If you wish, I will supplicate for you, and if you wish, you can be patient, for that is better for you.” He said: “Then supplicate to him.” He said: “So he ordered him to perform Wudu’ and to make his Wudu’ complete, and to supplicate with this supplication: ‘O Allah, I ask You and turn towards You by Your Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of Mercy. Indeed, I have turned to my Lord, BY MEANS OF YOU, concerning this need of mine, so that it can be resolved, So Allah so accept HIS INTERCESSION for me (Allahumma Inni As’aluka WA MUHAMMADIN Nabi-Ir-Rahmati Tawajjahtu Bika Ila Rabbi Fi Hajati Hadhihi Lituqda Li, Allahumma Fashaffi‘hu Fiya).’” (SAHIH) 

[He said]: This Hadith is Hasan SAHIH Gharib, we do not know of it except through this route, as a narration of Abu Ja‘far, and he is someone other than Al-Khatmi, [and Uthman bin Hunaif is the brother of Sahl bin Hunaif] (English Translation of Jami‘ At-Tirmidhi: Compiled by Imam Hafiz Abu ‘Eisa Mohammad Ibn ‘Eisa At-Tirmidhi, translated by Abu Khaliyl (USA), ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, First Edition: November 2007], Volume 6, From Hadith No. 3291 to 3956, Various Narrations On The Chapters Of Supplications, Chapter 118, p. 283; capital and underline emphasis ours)

And here is another version of this same report: 

1385. It was narrated from ‘Uthman bin Hunaif that a blind man came to the Prophet and said to him: “Pray to Allah to heal me.” He said: “If you wish to store your reward for the Hereafter, that is better, or if you wish, I will supplicate for you.” He said: “Supplicate.” He said: “So he told him to perform ablution and do it well, and to pray two Rak’ah, and to say this supplication: “Allahumma inni as’aluka wa atawajjahu ilaika BI-MUHAMMADIN NABIYYIR-RAHMA.YA MUHAMMADU inni qad tawajjahtu bika ila rabbi fi hajati hadhihi Lituqda. Allahumma fashaffi‘hu fiya (O Allah, I ask of You and I turn my face towards You BY VIRTUE OF THE INTERCESSION OF MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET OF MERCY. O MUHAMMAD, I have turned to my Lord BY VIRTUE OF YOUR INTERCESSION concerning this need of mine, so that it may be met. O Allah, accept HIS INTERCESSION concerning me)”. (SAHIH) (English Translation of Sunan Ibn Majah: Compiled by Imam Muhammad Bin Yazeed Ibn Majah Al-Qazwini, Ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair 'Ali Za'i, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Canada), final review by Abu Khaliyl (USA) [Darussalam Publications and Distributors, First Edition: June 2007], Volume 2,  From Hadith no. 803 to 1782, 5. The Chapters Of Establishing The Prayer And The Sunnah Regarding Them, Chapter 189. What Was Narrated Concerning Prayer At Times Of Need, pp. 329-330; capital and underline emphasis ours)

Suffice it to say, such invocations are in direct conflict with the assertion that Islam is a strict monotheistic religion since Muslims are not only talking to a dead man, they are also praying to him in the same way that they pray to their god!

As such, Brown and his fellow Muslims are guilty of worshiping a creature along with their supposed creator.

Brown either didn’t mention this because he is ignorant of these traditions and prayers, which seems unlikely seeing that he prays daily, or chose to withhold such information from his audience since he knew the embarrassment these practices cause for his assertion that Islam is a strict monotheistic faith. 

We are not through yet since we have one final part to go.