Women of Islam - Arise!

WOMEN OF ISLAM – ARISE! Do you find yourself living in an environment of loveless repression?  Do you want to escape the cage of religious and cultural oppression, where shame and honour revolve around your sexuality – which is then used to keep you in bondage in body and soul?  Do you want to live a life of fear; of not being good enough in this world to warrant paradise in the next – destined for the eternal fires of hell?
In the Injils, (Jesus) Isa proclaimed, “If you continue in my Word, you truly are My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(John 8:31,32)
Women of Islam, do you feel that you are in a dark place from which there seems no escape – where oppression seems to envelope you like a shroud?  Jesus (Isa) said, “I am the light of the world.  The one following me will in no way walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”(John 8:12)  Isa wants to lift the burden of anger, bitterness, rejection and hate in your life and replace it with His all encompassing love.  In the Gospels (Injils) He said, “Come unto Me all those labouring and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yolk upon you and learn from Me, because I am meek and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:28,29)  You may ask yourself, “Why should I know what the followers of Isa believe about living a righteous life?” Because Muhammad recommends it:
In the Qur’an (Surah 10:94), Allah decrees:

“If thou were in doubt
As to what we have revealed
Unto thee, then ask those (the People of the Book)
Who have been reading
The Book before thee.”

Muhammad also preached that Allah had previously revealed Himself through the Torah (Taurah) and the Gospels (Injils).  Surah 5:44 states: “There is guidance, there is light in the Torah which we have revealed.  By the prophets who surrendered themselves to Allah judged the Jews, and so did the rabbis and divines:  they gave judgement according to Allah’s scriptures which had been committed to their keeping and to which they themselves were witnesses.” and; “after those prophets, We sent forth Jesus (Isa), the son of Mary, confirming the Torah already revealed; and gave him the Gospel (Good News) in which there is guidance and light, confirming that which was revealed before it in the Torah – a guide and an admonition to the righteous.  Therefore, let the followers of the Gospel judge in accordance with what Allah has revealed therein.” (Surah 5:45)
What then does the Qur’an say of Jesus of Nazareth – proclaimed as Messiah (anointed one) by his followers?
JESUS HAD A MIRACULOUS BIRTH.

Surah 19:20,21 says: “She (Maryam or Mary) said, ‘When shall I have a boy and no mortal has yet touched me, nor have I been unchaste? ‘He said: Even so your Lord says: It is easy to Me and that we may make him a sign to men and a mercy from us, and it is a matter which has been decreed.”
JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH (anointed one)

“The angels said to Mary:  Allah bids you rejoice in a Word from Him.  His name is the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary.  He shall be noble in this world and the next and be favoured of Allah.”(Surah 3:45)
JESUS LED A SINLESS LIFE.(i.e. A pure life in God’s eyes)

According to the Qur’an, “He (the holy angel of God) said to Mary: I am only a messenger of your Lord:  That I will give you a pure (mutma’inaah) son.” (Surah 19:19)
This is confirmed by the Christian Gospel when Jesus said of himself, “Who of you reproves me concerning sin?” (John 8:46).  Also in the Gospels we read, “...but we have one (Isa) who has been tempted in every way just as we are – yet was without sin.  Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace (unmerited love and favour) to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:15,16).
The Qur’an says Muhammad was a sinner.  Surah 48:1,2 proclaims, “We have given you a glorious victory so that Allah may forgive your past and future sins, and perfect His goodness in you.” In the Hadith, Al Bukhari says that the prophet Muhammad used to ask for forgiveness of his sins seventy times per day.  In Hadith 13 Chapter 002, we read, “Guidance from the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) Hadrat Abu Hurairah reported:  I heard the Messenger of Allah saying, ‘By Allah I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day’.
Related by Bukhari quoted from Rydad-us-Saliheen (Ch2, Hadith 13).  See also Bukhari Volume 1, Book 2 – as well as Abu Dawud Volume 1, Hadith 1511.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: “We counted that the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) would say a hundred times during a meeting: “My Lord, forgive me and pardon me; Thou art the Pardoning and Forgiving one.”
JESUS PERFORMED MIRACLES.

Both the Qur’an and Gospels are in agreement regarding the miracles performed by Jesus (Isa).  In Sirah 43:64, the Qur’an states: “And when Jesus worked his miracles, he said, ‘I have come to give you wisdom and to make it plain to you some of the things which you differ.’” Surah 3:49 declares some of these miracles.  “By God’s leave I shall give sight to the blind man, heal the leper, and raise the dead to life.”
Similarly the Gospels relate how Jesus performed many miracles.  He healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, restored those infirm or paralytic, returned sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, cast out demons and raised individuals from the dead.
The prophet Muhammad, when asked to perform miracles replied that he was no more than a human apostle (Surah 17:93) and that the Qur’an was his miracle.



JESUS (ISA) WAS FULL OF LOVE AND COMPASSION TOWARDS ALL MANKIND.

In the introduction to the publication, “The Book of Hadith – selected by Charles le Gai Eaton from Robson’s Translation of MISHKAT AL – MASABIH” (published 2008), we read, “Guided by the Qur’anic vision of the precedence of the Divine Mercy, I recalled, too, the famous incident reported in the Gospels in which the Pharisees, in an attempt to discredit Jesus, brought a woman charged with adultery before him.  Being the epitome of a rigidly legalistic mentality, they reminded Jesus that adultery was punishable by stoning under Mosaic Law and challenged him to judge the woman so that they might then accuse him of disobeying the Law.  Jesus thought for a moment and then replied, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.  “The people crowded around him were so touched by their own consciences that they departed.  When Jesus found himself alone with the woman, he asked her who her accusers were.  She replied, “No man, Lord.” Jesus then said, “Neither do I condemn thee:  go and sin no more.” (John 8:7)
In Ahadith, a similar incident occurred with a different result.  “A Jew and Jewess were brought to Allah’s Apostle on a charge of committing illegal sexual intercourse.  Muhammad asked of the Jews, ‘What is your legal punishment in the Book (Torah)?’ The divine verse of Rajam (stoning to death) was eventually shown.  So Allah’s Apostle ordered that the two sinners be stoned to death and so they were stoned.”  Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 809

JESUS (ISA) WAS RESURRECTED

Surah 19:33,34 states, “I was blessed on the day I was born and blessed I shall be on the day of my death; and may peace be upon me on the day when I shall be raised to life. (resurrected) Such was Jesus the son of Mary.”
Surah 3:55 of the Qur’an details this event.  “Allah said, ‘Jesus, I am about to cause you to die and lift you up to Me.  I shall take you away from the unbelievers and exalt your followers above them till the day of resurrection.”
In the Injils, Jesus (Isa) proclaimed, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.  The one believing in me though he die, he shall live.(eternally).”
Muhammad died in his wife Aisha’s home in Medina and his dead body was covered by dirt and brickwork.  The place of his burial was decided by his saying (as related by Abu Bakr). “Allah does not cause a prophet to die but in the place where he is to be buried.”



JESUS (ISA) COULD FORGIVE SIN

In the Gospels (Injil), Luke (a disciple of Jesus) related a story involving his Master and a paralysed man.  And, behold, men carrying on a cot a man who was paralysed.  And they sought to bring him in, and to lay (him) before Him.  And not finding a way through the crowd, going up on the housetop, they let him down through the tiles with the cot, into the midst, in front of Jesus.  And seeing their faith, He said to him, ‘Man, your sins have been remitted to you.’ And the religious leaders began to reason, saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who is able to remit sins except God alone?  But knowing their thoughts, answering Jesus said to them, ‘Why do you reason in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say Your sins have been remitted to you, or to say Rise up and walk?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to remit sins, He said to the one who had been paralysed, ‘I say to you, Rise up and take your cot and go to your house.  And rising up at once before them taking up that on which he had been lying, he went to his house glorifying God.  And amazement seized all, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, we saw wonderful things today.” (Injil of Isa, Luke 5:18-26)
JESUS PROCLAIMED A NEW COMMANDMENT OF LOVE

In the Gospel of John 13:34 Jesus preached, “I give a new commandment to you, that you should love one another: according as I loved you, you should love (agape) one another.” The Gospels were originally written in Greek, and, in that language there were three words describing three distinctly different types of love.  Eros (fleshly or erotic love), storgé (friendship or brotherly love), and phelial (family love).  But Jesus presented a new word for a new sort of love -  Agapé (God given love).   As God pours this love into our hearts through Isa we can love all men – including our enemies.
The Injils include the following verses: -

• God Almighty is love (agapé) and the one abiding in love abides in God and God in him. (1 John 4:16).
• If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar.  For the one not loving his brother, whom he has seen, how is he able to love God whom he has not seen. (1John 4:20)
• There is no fear in love, but perfect (agape) love casts out fear, because fear has punishment; and the one fearing has not been perfected in love.  We loved him (God) because He first loved us. (1 John 4:18,19)
• You have heard that it was said: “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy; but I say to you, Love your enemies; bless those cursing you, do well to those hating you and pray for those abusing and persecuting you so that you may become sons of your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:43,44)
• The one loving has fulfilled the Law (Torah). ...It is summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”(Romans 13:8-10)
• Husbands, love (agape) your wives even as Christ also loved the church (called out believers) and gave Himself up on its behalf.  So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies (he loving his wife loves himself). (Ephesians 5:25-28)

But What About Men From Times Past, Calling Themselves Christian, Who Slaughtered Hundreds Of Thousands Of Men And Women During The Crusades, Or Who Tortured And Killed Multitudes Of Men And Women During The Inquisition?
The answer is that NOT ALL who claim to be ‘Christian’ (such as those above) are, in fact, true followers of Jesus.  True followers of Christ are marked by God’s love.  There are millions of individuals in mainstream churches throughout the world who claim to be Christian, but have never made a true individual commitment to Jesus.  In Surah 5:82 of the Qur’an, Allah revealed to Muhammad the following truth:
“You will find that the most implacable of men in their enmity to the faithful are the Jews and the pagans, and that the nearest in affection to them are those who say: ‘We are Christians.’”
ISA’S REVOLUTIONARY ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN

In the Injils, it is proclaimed, “Then Peter began to speak, ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism, but to every nation the one fearing Him and working righteousness is acceptable to Him.” (Acts 10:33, 34) Thus every woman has a special place in God’s heart – as much as every man.  In the Gospels again we read, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is no slave nor freeman, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ.”(Injil of Isa – Galatians 3:26-28)
Also “And I will be a Father (Baba) to you and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.” Injils – 2 Cor 6:18)
Both the Qur’an and the Sunnah paint a bleaker picture of God’s attitude towards women and what’s permissible to Muslim men.  Surah 4:34 of the Qur’an reads:
“Good women are obedient.......  As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.  Then if they obey you, take no further action against them.”  Umar b. al-Kattab reported the prophet as saying, “A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife.” Hadith Vol 2. No 2142
Most Islamic law comes from the Sunnah (Biography of Muhammad (Sira) plus the Ahadith) and not from the Qur’an.  Thus, it is the Sunnah which guides most Muslim men, both in thought and action.  Many Surah are derogatory (or demeaning) towards women.

• Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri: The prophet said: “Isn’t the witness of a woman equal to half that of a man?” The woman said “Yes.” He said, “This is because of the deficiency of a woman’s mind.” Sahih al-Bukhari Vol 3, Book 48, Number 826.
• “Muhammed’s favourite young wife Aisha says that once, he (Muhammad) struck me on the chest which caused me pain.” Muslim Vol.2, No.2127
• In Sahih Bukhari, Chapter 2 (The Book of Belief) No 29 we read, “Ibn Abbas said, “The messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘I was shown the Fire (of Hell) and most of its inhabitants were women who were practising kufr (ingratitude).’ He was asked, ‘Did they practise disbelief in Allah?’ He replied, ‘They were ungrateful to their husbands and ungrateful for charity received.  Even if you were always good to one of them and then she saw something (else) from you, she would say, “I have never had anything good from you at all.”

Early in 2002, the religious police (mutaween) in Mecca prevented firefighters and paramedics from rescuing scores of teenage girls trapped in a burning building.  Why?  Because the girls were not wearing the traditional head covering (abaya) – that Qur’anic law requires – while trying to escape the inferno.  Fourteen girls died in the fire; fifty were injured.  A Civil Defence officer told the Arabic language newspaper, al-Eqtisadiah, that he saw three members of the religious police, “beating young girls to prevent them from leaving the school because they were not wearing the abaya.”
In Iran, after the National elections, thousands of young men and women were beaten up and brutalized by the Basij (militia working for the religious establishment) when they stood up for truth when it became obvious the election result was not a true indication of how people had voted.  These sorts of outcomes occur in societies moved and motivated by rigid laws, rules and regulations (which crush the soul and spirit of people) instead of ones centered round justice, mercy and equality.
In the Torah, God had it written: “And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”(Mich 6.8)
So Who Is This Lord And Does He Have A Name?
In the Torah of the Israelites, God almighty revealed Himself to Moses (in the burning bush) as Yahweh, meaning, “I AM.” When sent back to Egypt, Moses was told to tell Pharaoh that “I AM” had sent him.  (Ex 3:14).  In relation to the use of Yahweh(YHWH), God said, “This is My Name forever, and this is My memorial from generation to generation.”(Exodus 3:15)
In the Gospels, Jesus proclaimed His Deity by appropriating this title to Himself, when, in John 8:57,58 the Word relates, “Then the Jews said to Him (Isa) ‘You do not have fifty years, and you have seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you – Before Moses came into being, I AM!’ Because of this the Jews took up stones that they may throw them on Him, but Jesus was hidden and went forth out of the temple.”
John 8:28 reads, “Then Jesus said to them, When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM.” And “For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24
In many other places throughout the Gospels, the same message (of the divinity of Isa) is expounded.  Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Christ dwells all the fullness of God in bodily form.” And Phil 2:6 says, “Jesus Christ, who, in the form of God subsisting, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”
Who is the Alpha and Omega?  Chapter 41, Verse 4 of the Torah says that it is God Almighty. “I Yahweh am the First and the Last; I am He.” Similarly, in Isaiah 44:6, the Lord had it written:  “So says Yahweh...I am the First and I am the last; there is no God except Me.”
In the Gospels Jesus appropriated this title to Himself.  In his revelation to John on the island of Patmos, Jesus said, “I am the First and the Last, and the Living One; and I  became dead; and behold, I am living forever and ever  Amen.  And I have the keys to Hell and of death. (Rev 1:17,18).  He also said, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last.” (Rev 1:11)
Thus the Scriptures reveal Jesus as God incarnate.( i.e. God manifested as a man).The Gospels present God Almighty as ONE (Tawhid).  “For even if there are ‘so called gods’
.....but to us there is ONE GOD, the Father, in whom are all things.”(Gospels-1 Cor.8:6)
Nevertheless, God has chosen to reveal Himself to mankind through two manifestations of Himself: Jesus (the Son), and the Holy Spirit.(God’s indwelling presence in every born of the Spirit believer.)This is sometimes called the Trinity. The Gospels do not say that there are three different “Gods” making up the Godhead-but three persons in the ONE GOD. The Holy Spirit(called by the personal pronoun “He”) is called a Person, because He has the attributes of a person, (that is: intellect, sensibility and will) even though He is Spirit. (Gospels – 2 Cor.3:17) Before going to heaven, Jesus preached, “Going then, disciple all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Injils – Matthew 28:19)
An analogy to the three Persons of God being ONE could be taken from our own star. Our
Sun, which warms the planet is like God the Father.  The light that reaches earth is of the sun, yet is separate from the sun.(This is like Jesus – often called the Light of the World.)
The heat rays that reach earth are separate from the sun and the light-yet are from the sun and are part of the sun.(This is like the Holy Spirit – our Comforter)Yet the three are one.
So What Do The Injils Mean When They Declare Jesus To Be The Son Of God?

Imams teach that the usage of this term relates to a physical relationship between God, the Father and God the ‘Mother’(Mary) which resulted in God the Son (Jesus).  This concept is as repulsive to Christians as it is to Muslims.  This so called ‘trinity’ has never been found in the Injils of Jesus and was an invention of a heretical sect (called the Choloridians) who had contact with Muhammad during his time in Mecca.
The use of the term ‘Son of God’ relates back to the Psalms of David (Zabur), and speaks prophetically of the coming of Jesus.  In Surah 4:163, Muhammad relates in the Qur’an, “We have revealed our will to you and we revealed it to Noah and to the prophets who come after him, as we revealed it to Abraham....and David to whom we gave the Psalms.  Psalm 2:7 declares:
“I will declare concerning the statute of Yahweh.  He said to Me, You are My Son.  Today I have begotten You”.”
While Psalm 2:12 says:
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Oh the blessings of all those who flee to Him for refuge.”
Women of Islam, the Zabur (Ch.30:4) will speak to you if you read it with an open heart.  It says, “Who has gone up to heaven, and come down?  Who has gathered the wind in His fists?  Who has bound the waters in His garments?  Who has made all the ends of the earth to rise?  What is His Name and what is His Son’s name?  Surely you know.”
These prophetic attributes of Sonship are revealed when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River at the start of His ministry; when the Lord Almighty spoke from heaven the words:  “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I have found delight.” (Injil- Matt 3:17)  Later, Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain where they saw Him talking to Moses and Elijah – “and a cloud overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My Son, the Beloved; hear Him. (Gospels – Mark 9:7)  The term ‘Son of God’ is not used in the literal, physical or biological sense.  In the Bible, this term  relating to Jesus is used by Yahweh Himself to describe a most intimate relationship between Himself and His Word – Jesus.  The Gospel of John reads:  “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. (Injil – John 1:1) Also, “the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.  And We beheld His glory, glory as of an only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”(John1:14)
Thus Jesus could say:  “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8) and “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30).  The Jewish religious leaders took Jesus to the Roman Governor (Pontius Pilate), and called on him to crucify Jesus.  Pilate retorted that he found no crime in Him.  In the Gospel of John 19:7, we read, “Then the Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to our Law he ought to die because he made himself Son of God!”  Thus we realize that Jesus was condemned to death because He proclaimed Himself the Son of God.  In the Gospel we read:  “Therefore, then, he (Pilate) delivered Him up to them, (the Jews) that He might be crucified.  And they took Jesus and led Him away.  And He went out bearing His cross, to the place of the Skull (Golgotha) where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, on this side and on that side, and Jesus in the middle. (John 19:16-18)
How Do We Know That This Is Truth?  That Jesus Was Crucified?
Most Imams say that the gospels have been corrupted over the centuries and that the Qur’an’s assertion that the Injils are God’s Word no longer applies.  This is in spite of the fact that nowhere in the Qur’an is there even a suggestion that the Gospels have been altered or corrupted.  The word “tahif” is never used with reference to the Christian Gospels.  The gospels used in the time of Muhammad are the very same Gospels used today.  Archaeology has provided proof for the reliability of the Injils as asserted by the Qur’an (Surah 5:44,45) and the Christian Bible. (2 Tim. 3:16)
An extant copy of the Gospel of John (which proclaims the divinity of Christ throughout) was discovered at Jabal Abu Mana, near Dishna (Egypt) 1956.  Known as Papyrus 66, it is a near complete codex of the Gospel of John and is virtually identical to the same Gospel found all over Europe and the Middle East at that time.  Written around AD 200, it is the same Gospel in existence both in Muhammad’s era and our own.
Archaeology has also provided extant writing verifying the death of Jesus on the cross, including:-

• “A History of the Jewish War – 170BC to 73 AD” – and “Antiquities” - both by the Jewish historian Josephus.
• “A History of Rome Under the Emperors” by the Roman historian Tacitus (Book XV, Ch 44)
• A report (AD 112) by a Roman Governor named Pliny the Younger to the Emperor Trajan (Book X of his Epistles)
• “A Defence of Christianity” by Justin Martyr (150 AD)
• In the “Jerusalem Talmud” traditions of the Elders (AD 300), Jewish writers speak derisively of ‘Jesus of Nazareth, a transgressor in Israel’, and ‘He was hanged on Passover Eve for heresy and misleading the people.’ The use of the term Ha-Taluy (“The Hanged One”) obviously refers to the manner of His death.

All of the above works mentions Jesus’ death on the cross and the amazing growth in the church (group of believers) in the decades following.
Why Does The Qur’an Deny Christ’s Deity And His Death On The Cross?
Muhammad was deceived by Shaitan (Satan).  The first deception occurred early in the history of the Qur’an.  The Meccans in Muhammad’s time not only believed in al-ilah (or Allah, meaning “the deity”) who was most often worshipped as the Moon God and represented by the crescent moon, but also his three daughters – al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manet.  Muhammad’s tribe, the Quraysh, were especially fond of these three goddesses.  According to early biographical and historical accounts of Muhammad’s life, such as the writings of Ibn Ishag, at-Tabari, Al-Wakiki and Ibn Sa’d), the prophet longed for better relations and reconciliation with his community.  Then he was given the Qur’anic verses:
“Have you thought upon al-Lat and al-Uzza
And on Manet, the third, the other?
These are the exulted cranes (intermediaries)
Whose intercession is to be desired.”(Surah 53:19-22)
The three cranes whose intercession was sought was, of course, the three goddesses.  The same accounts tell us, that after this revelation was given at the Kaaba by Muhammad, his followers and the pagan Meccans prostrated themselves.  Most in his community then accepted Islam.
Much later, when the prophet had consolidated his power, he rejected the worship of the three deities by saying that verses 21 and 22 had been given to him by Shaitan (Satan) and that Allah had abrogated these verses by substituting the ones that now occur in the Qur’an.  Thus, it now reads:
“Have you thought upon al-Lat and al-Uzza
And on Manet, the third, the other –
Are you to have the sons, and He the daughters?
This is indeed an unfair distinction!
They are but names which you and your fathers have invented
Allah vests no authority in them” (Surah 53:7-11)
In Surah 22:52, 53 Allah then comforted Muhammad with the words:
“Never sent we a messenger or a prophet before thee but when he recited (the message) Satan proposed (opposition) in respect of that which he recited thereof.  But Allah abrogates (cancels our and replaces) that which Satan proposed. Then Allah established His revelations.  Allah is Knower, Wise, that He may make that which the devil proposeth a temptation for those in whose hearts is a disease and those whose hearts are hardened – Lo, the evil doers are in open schism.”
The Islamic scholar Tariq Ali, in his book, “The Clash of Fundamentalisms – Crusades, Jihads and Modernity” states on page 26, “It was  the prophet-as-politician who understood the necessity of delaying the final breach with polytheism until he and his companions were less isolated.  In tactical terms it made sense not to alienate the worshippers of the three female goddesses prematurely.  Hence the hesitations and ambiguities that marked the first decade of the few faith”.
So regarding the question of the acceptability of including the verses relating to the three goddesses into the original Qur’anic material - was it from Satan (Shaitan) or from Muhammad himself in an effort to consolidate his power?
By contrast, God Almighty states that the Word of God given to man in both the Torah and the Gospels (in the original languages of Hebrew and Greek) were not only God-inspired but God-breathed (Theopneustos).  In the Gospels (2Tim 3:16) we read, “All scripture is God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and training in righteousness.”
Jesus said, “I am The Way (Siraat-e-mustaqeem), the Truth, and the Life:  no-one comes to the Father but by Me. (Injil of John 14:6)  Jesus is presented in scripture as One Person with two natures: human and divine.  Although Jesus’ divine nature was omniscient (all knowing), His human nature was not.  He set aside the glory He had with God from the beginning, to humble Himself and operate out of His human nature (With all of its limitations).  Isa lived a sinless life as a perfect man fulfilling the Law; was crucified as a criminal (although He was innocent); and thus became a willing sacrifice to cover man’s sin and so fulfill heaven’s righteous demand for justice.
Where Does The Idea Of A Sacrifice For Sins Come From?
The idea of a sacrifice for sins comes from God (Yahweh) Himself.  When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they sinned.  Because of their sin they were separated from God.  Since then, all of Adams descendants have been ruled over by sin.  Romans 3:23 in the Gospels reads, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, and “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
Not only that, sin permeates our whole being, so that even our ‘good deeds’ are worthless to God.  Our life could be compared to a glass of water into which a tiny amount of black ink is dropped.  Because of the slight movement of the water particles, the ink will gradually work throughout the entire water in the glass.  Sin does the same thing in our soul and spirit.  Isaiah laments in the Torah, “But we are all unclean, and all our righteousness (good deeds) are as menstruous cloth”. (Isaiah 64:6)
Even after Adam and succeeding generations went their own way God yearned to establish a special relationship with mankind.  In time He sent Moses to deliver the Ten Commandments to the people – His standard for righteousness – but mankind failed to obey the Law.  Therefore, God provided another way of reconciling a sinful people to Himself.  He initiated a system of sacrifice.
The system began as a personal test of the prophet Abraham – who was called on to sacrifice his son as a test of his whole hearted allegiance towards God. (Gen 22:1-14)  This was a type or shadow of the Eternal Father sacrificing His Son Jesus as related in the Gospels.  God established special days for sacrifice such as Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies (once per year) to spread the blood of an innocent animal on the mercy seat.
Why Was Blood Necessary?
In the Torah (Leviticus 17:11) we read, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar, to atone for your souls; for it is the blood which makes atonement for the soul”.  John the Baptist, when seeing Jesus coming towards him said, “Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (Gospel of John 1:29)
In the Torah, there were conditions for a sacrifice to be acceptable to God, being:

1. A perfect spotless animal. (Lev 1:3 & 22:21)
2. Confession of one’s own sins. (Lev 5:5)
3. Repentance and restitution (Lev 6:4-7)
4. Belief (Lev 1:4)
5. Sacrificing in the place especially appointed by God (Lev 1:11)

If these conditions were not met, then the sacrifice was unacceptable to God.
Mankind broke the conditions of sacrifice and, therefore, the sacrificial system became unacceptable to the Lord. (Yahweh).  Because mankind could not keep the Law or the sacrificial system, finally Jesus came.
Jesus Was God’s Acceptable Sacrifice.

In the Gospel, the Word declares:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever (including me) believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  (John 3: 16,17)  The Bible says that each person is made up of three parts: a body with which we relate to the world around us through our senses; a soul (our mind, our will, our emotions) and our spirit (that part of us which communes with God.)  God says that our spirit is alienated and separated from Him by sin and that we need a re-birth in our spirits.  It’s like our spirits are a room in complete darkness and we need someone to throw the switch and turn on the light.  Jesus said, “I have come as a light to the world, that everyone who believes in Me shall not remain in the darkness. (Gospel of John 12:46)
When we repent (are sorry for and turn away from our sins) and invite Jesus into our hearts as Lord (Yahweh) and Saviour, the light comes on and we appropriate the righteousness of Christ to ourselves.  The Injils state, “By grace (God’s unmerited love and favour) you are saved through faith (in Christ) and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God, NOT BY WORKS, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8, 9)
There is nothing we can do – good works, pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), Fasting (Saum), Almsgiving (Zakat), Witnessing to God (Shahada), sacrifices, prayers (salat), rituals, jihad – that will save us from hell and direct us to heaven.  ONLY JESUS! Jesus’ name in Hebrew/Aramaic is “Yehosua” which means “Yahweh saves or rescues.”  He fulfilled over 300 prophecies from the Torah relating to the coming Messiah.  The odds of anyone fulfilling just 20 of these would be about 300 trillion to 1.
Some prophecies from the Torah concerning Isa include:

• His virgin birth.  (Isaiah 7:14)
• His birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
• Filled with the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 42:1)
• Open blind eyes and deliver captives. (Isaiah 42: 6,7)
• No form that we should desire Him, despised of men, oppressed and afflicted, poured out His soul to death, bore the sin of many. (Isaiah 53:1-12)
• The spirit of the Lord Yahweh upon Him to preach the Gospel (Injil) to the meek- and bind up the broken hearted.  (Isaiah 61:1)
• They shall look on the One they have pierced (Zech 12:10)
• Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12)
• His resurrection from the dead. (Zabur 14:10)

None Can Assure Salvation To Heaven Except Jesus!

• The last Rightly Guided Caliph said, “I swear to Allah that I do not feel safe from Allah’s cunning (deceit) even if one of my feet is already in Paradise.” Khalid Muhammad Khalid – “Successors to the Prophets”
• In Sahih Muslim Vol 1, Hadith 398 we read, ‘Abu Huraia “the Messenger of Allah called his tribe.  So they gathered and he gave them the general warning (about going to hell).  Then he said, ‘Oh Fatima, rescue yourself from the Fire, for I have no power (to protect you) from Allah in anything.’

In contrast, Jesus is presented in the Gospels as the Saviour of the world.

• “Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ OUR SAVIOUR”.  (Gospels – Titus 1:4)
• “and we know that this one is truly the SAVIOUR of the world, the Christ. (Gospel of John 4:42)
• “looking for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great God and SAVIOUR Jesus Christ.  (Titus 2:13)

The word SALVATION is mentioned 112 times in the Torah, 44 times in the Gospels but only once in the Qur’an and that in relation to an individual who perished in the Flood.
Through Jesus Christ We Have A Sure Salvation!

• Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one believing in Me has eternal life.” (Gospel of John 6:47)
• Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the Life.  The one believing in Me, though he die, he shall live.” (eternally) (John 11:25)
• “and Peter said, “There is salvation in no other one, for neither is there any other name under Heaven having been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
• “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is everlasting life in Jesus our Lord.”(Yahweh), (Romans 6:23)
• “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery again to FEAR but you received a Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16)

(The children of God in this context is used of those who are representative of God’s power and authority.)- and of individuals in whom the Holy Spirit dwells.
In the Torah, god (Yahweh) declares, “For a child is born; to us a Son is given; and the government is on His shoulder, and His name is called Wonderful, counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. “(Isaiah 9:6)  This is Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
Is This Not SHIRK! –The Ascribing of the Characteristics of the Lord Almighty To Another Beside Himself?

Not at all! The Gospels proclaim the Oneness of Yahweh. (Tawhid).  The Lord Almighty is one (wahid) and unique (ahad).
In the Gospels, James wrote:
“You believe that God is one.  You do well; even the demons believe and shudder.”(1 James 2:19) and, “For God is ONE, and also there is one Mediator of God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 2:5).  One GOD – 3 persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In Phillipiaans 2:6 of the Injil we read;
“Jesus Christ, who subsisting in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God (Yahweh) but emptied Himself (of His glory) taking the form of a servant  - and humbled Himself, having become obedient to death, even the death of a cross, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and earthly ones.... and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father.: (Phillipians 2:6-11)
Are Not All The Christian Countries Corrupt, Decadent, Obscene And Immoral?
In her book, “The Caged Virgin” Ayaan Hirsi Ali wrote: “I was taught that Islam set us apart from the rest of the world, the world of non-Muslims. We Muslims were chosen by God.  The others, the kaffirs, the unbelievers, are antisocial, impure, barbaric, not circumcised, immoral, unscrupulous and above all obscene; they have no respect for women, their girls and women are whores, many of the men are homosexual; men and women have sex without being married.  The unfaithful are cursed, and god will punish them most atrociously in the hereafter.”
One Muslim in Great Britain observed:
“...the great majority of the Christian people in the U.K. would accept the philosophy of safe sex....This is a country that encourages promiscuity.  The great majority of those who speak on behalf of Christianity today have gone back to paganism in their religious life, their morality and their lifestyle.”
Another Muslim, when commenting on Western society in general wrote: “I am now convinced that they have literally transformed themselves into animals.  They have transformed their society into a Satanic and animal like culture....Their laws that permit a lifestyle that suits their lust is a major cause...they indulge in free sex, nudity, homosexuality, lesbianism and the like.”
One must remember that all Western societies are secular ( with separation of institutionalized churches and the State) and are only nominally “Christian” in nature.  The number of committed, spiritually reborn, disciples of Christ in the majority of these countries would be small indeed.  Jesus spoke of this in the Gospels when He said :
“Go in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many are those who go through it.  For narrow is the gate and constricted is the way that leads into life(eternal) and few there are that find it.  (Matthew 7:13,14)
According to the Gospels, the following are sinful -  and, as such are anti-Christian :
Fornication,  Adultery,  Promiscuity,  Co-habitation (when unmarried)
Murder,  Drunkenness,  Homosexuality and Lesbianism  etc.
The scriptures below (from the Injils) speak for themselves:

• “Because of this, God gave them up to dishonourable passions, for even their females changed the natural use to that contrary to nature.  And likewise, the males also forsaking the natural use of the female burned in their lust towards one another, males with males working out shamefulness.  And even if they did not think fir to have god in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do the things not right; having been filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, iniquity, covetousness, malice, murder, evil habits, (becoming) slanderers, God-haters, insolent, proud ...that those practicing such things are worthy of (eternal) death. (Romans 1;26-32)
• Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in carousings and drunkenness, not in co-habitation (living together) and lustful acts.” (Romans 13:13)
• “I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with fornicators” (sex outside of marriage) (Injils – 1 Cor 5:9)
• “Do you not know that unjust ones will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Do not be led astray, neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor abusers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous ones, nor drunkards shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And some of you were these things, but you were washed (by the blood of Jesus), sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and in the Spirit of our God”(1 Cor 6:9-11)
• “But I say, Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  Now the lusts of the flesh are revealed, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness...drunkenness, wild parties and things like these...that the one practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ...But the ones belonging to Christ crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.” Galatians 5:16-21,24)
• “In the end times, there will be mockers following ungodliness according to their lusts.  These are the ones setting themselves apart, animal-like ones – not having the Spirit.”(Jude 18,19)

It follows that any TV programs, movies, books, magazines, songs or lifestyles that promote any of these things will be avoided by disciples of Christ at any cost.  2 Peter1:5-7 reads, “..filling in your faith with virtue; and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control and self-control with patience and patience with godliness, and godliness with brotherly love and brotherly love with God’s love. (agape)” In addition, “For the rest, brothers whatever is true, whatever honourable, whatever is right, whatever pure, whatever lovely, whatever of good report, if of any virtue, and if of any praise – think on these things.: (Phil 4:8)  For Jesus said that “the fruit (of righteousness) produced in our lives by the Holy Spirit is: love, joy peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  But the ones belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. (Gal 5:22-24)
What does Jesus expect of women who commit their life to him?

• Pursue (God’s agape) love and seek eagerly the spiritual things, and that you may prophesy. (1 Cor 14:1)  In the previous chapter (Ch13:4-8) Isa says, through the apostle Paul, “Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious, love is not vain, is not puffed up; does not behave indecently, does not pursue its own things, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil.  Love never fails!”
• Jesus expects his daughters in Christ to be holy, chaste, gentle, loving, prayerful, hospitable, sensible and temperate.
• He expects her to give deference to her husband. “Let each man love his wife as himself, and the wife, that she give deference to the husband. (Eph 5:33)
• “But let not fornication and all uncleanness, or greediness, be named among you, as is unfitting for Jesus’disciples – or baseness, and foolish talking or coarse joking – but rather thanksgiving.”(Ephesians 5:3)
• To watch and pray. (1 Thess 5:17)
• Not to follow “the World’ or its ways. “Love not  the World nor anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him, because all that which is in the world:  the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world.” (Gospels – 1 John2:15,16)
• To dress, talk and act in a modest manner.                                                                    #However, all of these things are not done in our own strength. It is the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit which gives us the strength to do His will in our lives.

As one zealous, conscientious Muslim once put it, “I longed to please Allah but with all that effort I did not experience the presence of God in my life one single time! Not even once!”
Christianity begins with an experience!  The moment we accept Christ our eternity is secured.  We pass from a life following rules and regulations to a RELATIONSHIP with God Almighty.  This process is called, “being born again by Yahweh’s Holy Spirit”.  A Pharisee came to Jesus (in the night) to find out how to inherit eternal life.  Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth; unless a man is ‘born again’ (in his spirit), he cannot see the kingdom of God.”(Gospel of John 3:3) He also said that the moment one is ‘born anew’ the LOVE (agape) of Yahweh dwells within that person.
WOMEN OF ISLAM ! Isa loves you.  Isa died for your sins so that His blood would wash you clean.
WOMEN OF ISLAM!  The Lord wants to envelope you in His Love and lift you up.  He says, “Behold, today is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2)  Be saved today!Be forgiven of your sins today! Be filled with His love today -  be filled with His Holy Spirit today!
WOMEN OF ISLAM !  Pray the prayer below with all your heart and you will experience the LOVE OF GOD flowing through your innermost being:
“Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Isa.  I believe Isa loves me; And that He bore the shame of the cross for my sins and to honour His Father.  Lord, Isa suffered FOR ME, He was whipped FOR ME, He bled FOR ME and He was crucified for MY SINS.  Lord, I repent (turn away from my sin) and ask that the blood of Isa would wash me clean.  I accept Isa as my SAVIOUR and my LORD.  Holy Spirit, I receive you into my spirit right now as God’s seal on my life and to be my comforter, teacher and guide.  I thank you Lord that I am now Your child.  Amen.
Having prayed this prayer as a total commitment to the Lord, give Him thanks that you are now saved (from Hell and destined for heaven), redeemed from the curse of the Law, filled with His love for all men, indwelt by the Holy Spirit – and that you now have your name written in God’s Book of Life.
Although your eternity is now assured, your present well-being may be in danger; for although the Qur’an states, “There shall be no compulsion in religion.” (Surah 2:256), most Imams regard this verse as being abrogated (cancelled out) by other verses in the Qur’an and Ahadith. Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 52: 260 & 84:57) reads, “If anyone leaves his religion (Islam), then kill him.” Also, Abdullah (B. Mas’ud) reported Allah’s messenger as saying, “It is not permissible to take the life of another Muslim...except in 3 cases:  The married adulterer, the murderer (life for a life), and the one who deserts his Din, (Islam), abandoning the community.” (Hadith Ch 6 Book 016, 4152)
If you have to leave your family for any reason, remember that Jesus (Isa) said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you, never!”(Hebrews 13:5)  The Lord encourages you to “Be strong and fear not, for the Lord your God is with you.” (Isaiah 35:4)  If you are persecuted for your faith in one place then flee to another.  Have FAITH in Jesus and yourself.  If you leave home (perhaps out of necessity), seek out ‘born again’ Spirit filled Christians – called Pentecostals – e.g. Assembly of God churches – who will help you, guide you, protect you and give you loving support in Christ (spiritually, emotionally and financially).               May Jesus bless your comings and goings.Amen.
THEO PHILUS