Questions from a Christian to Muslims

Greetings! I am currently in college studying the Bible and its history, and in so dong, have become interested in not only learning about Chrisitanity, but also it's fellow descendants from Abraham, that is Judaism and Islam. Living in Kentucky, it is hard for me to find an imam close by to ask these questions of. "The closest mosque is, i believe, a little over an hour away). At any rate, I was hoping to be able to ask questions here and get answers from everyday Muslims about their religion, namely:

1: Is there some way for me to refer to prophets without appending pbth or other honorifics, without being offensive to you?

2: I am not sure I understand the Islamic view toward the Gospel. If it was not distorted, as you believe, then would Muslims view it as scripture?

God bless you.

prophet bible

asked Feb 27 '12 at 19:32 CuriousScholar 4●1●4

edited Feb 27 '12 at 19:36

21 Answers

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Hi CuriousScholar-- thanks for your question.

It is not obligatory, even for a Muslim, to always say "peace be upon him" after the names of the prophets. It is just a courtesy, a good piece of etiquette. So it is not expected of you. If God guides you and blesses you with His grace so that you are enabled to pray and send peace on the souls of the great prophets Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, etc., so be it. But no Muslim is going to fault you for not doing it.

As for your second question, the Qur'an states that the "Injil" (or "gospel") was a Revelation from God. But which "gospel"? Was it talking about the Gospel of Mary Magdalene? The Gospel of Thomas? The Gospel of Judas? The Gospel of Mark? Which one? Fortunately, the Qur'an not only mentions "the Gospel" but also defines it. In Qur'an 5:46, God states: "We gave him {Jesus} the Gospel".

According to the above definition, the Qur'an cannot be talking about the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Judas, the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, or, for that matter, the four gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke & John. This is because God did not reveal any of these books to Jesus. Jesus never read any of these books.

So according to the Qur'an, "the Gospel" is some type of a message-- whether actually a physical book or not-- that Jesus preached under the direction instruction or inspiration of God. Both Muslims and Christians can agree that such a gospel does not exist, at least not anymore. Nonetheless, in so far as the present day four canonical gospels in the NT must contain some aspects of Jesus' original teachings, we still respect it and might even occasionally refer to it as "the Gospel", while understanding that it is not exactly synonymous with "the Gospel" that the Qur'an is talking about. There is some overlap, to be sure, but the two are not identical.

Now as for the couple of Christians that are raising their objections-- let me boil this down for you:

If you read Mark 1:14 and other similar passages in your four canonical gospels, you will see that it says things like "Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the gospel."strong text Now obviously, this "gospel" that Jesus was preaching was not a copy of the Gospel of Mark that he was carrying under his arm. No. This "gospel" that Jesus was preaching was a pure message from God. That is the "Gospel" that Muslims claim to believe in, 100%, not 75% or 50%. That "gospel" that Jesus is preaching in Galilee-- that is the gospel that I believe in.

As for the second Christian objection-- "How can you believe in a Scripture if it is tampered?" Easy. Do you believe in EVERYTHING that Jesus said? The answer will be yes. But do you have a complete record or transcript of everything that he ever said, everything that he preached? No. Do you believe in everything that Jesus wrote? The answer is yes. But do you have a transcript of anything that Jesus wrote? No.

The closest thing you have to anything Jesus wrote is the report in John 8:6, in which it says that Jesus stooped down and wrote something in the ground using his finger (in order to dispel the angry mob). But what did he write down? I've been asking Christians this question for years, and no one has a precise answer, only conjecture. And yet, if we were able to time-travel and take a peek at what Jesus wrote in the ground, we as Muslims and Christians would undoubtedly believe in it. We would consider it to be the Truth.

So to summarize-- that short message that Jesus wrote in the ground with his blessed finger comes much closer to the Qur'anic definition of "the Gospel" than anything we find in the New Testament today. Nonetheless, there is an overlap, because at least some of the things that are reported in the four canonical gospels might be accurate representations of what Jesus said and did. Reports that are multiply attested to in the synoptic gospels, for example, are more likely to be true or accurate as compared to solitary reports/narratives found only in the Gospel of John.

Muslims are not really saying anything that liberal theologians and liberal biblical scholars are not saying. Islam in a sense foresaw the conclusions of modern-day liberal scholars like Bart Ehrman and others.

I hope this has been of some help to you.

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answered Feb 28 '12 at 07:49 AnwarX 116●2

Thank you for your time to write out this detailed of an answer to me. You have, in fact, helped me a great deal with recognizing what the differences are between what Christians recognize s the Gospel and what Muslims recognize as Gospel.

God bless you.

(Feb 28 '12 at 08:43) CuriousScholar

God bless you and lead you on the strait path.

(Feb 28 '12 at 10:41) Al Ummat ♦

Hey AnwarX, i having receiving email that you have posted answers to me about you Muslims respecting Bible... And what I must tell you is that i am my self a Muslim A Muslim since i was born.. Thanks

(Feb 28 '12 at 21:34) zm14

1	I suppose you don't have to do so since you are not a Muslim, but then I am not one either. But never was accused for not putting those after Mohammed's name.
link answered Feb 27 '12 at 19:37 jenny_ ♦ 81●10

0	All the same, I would rather try to be respectful if I could.
link answered Feb 27 '12 at 19:50 CuriousScholar 4●1●4

1	Assalamualaykum.. to those who are learning Islam, go to Huda Online academy. they offer helpful courses for free. I just recently converted from Christian to Muslim and this online academy really helps great. ALLAHU AKBAR.. http://forum.islam.com/questions/879/questions-from-a-christian-to-muslims
link answered Feb 27 '12 at 20:33 Jannah H 3●2

0	Thank you for taking time to answer. I guess I read the wrong information, as I thought that Muslims do not recognize the Gospel as it stands today as Scripture. God bless you
link answered Feb 27 '12 at 20:35 CuriousScholar 4●1●4

Peace,

I am very pleased that you have asked these wonderful questions and for your concern of our feelings therefore, I will answer your questions and will start with how to not to offend us and in the Qur'an God says,

[The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination] [2 v285] therefore, you can not disrespect Allah His Angels His Books and His Messengers as we do not make any distinctions between as they were all prophets from Allah and you should use respectful words but there is no harm if you mentioned them by their names.

As for your second question I want you to contemplate these verses as they will tell you why we believe what we believe about other scriptures that been distorted and the reason why they have been distorted by men, so Allah says,

[Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path][sura 2]

{Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit. If Allah had willed, those [generations] succeeding them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, and some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. And if Allah had willed, they would not have fought each other, but Allah does what He intends] [sura 2 v253]

I hope this will give you an idea hopefully.

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answered Feb 27 '12 at 20:44 caabi ♦ 320●3

0	Thank you for your answers! I have yet to get a chance to study the quran, due to school obligations and my own religious obligations, and I greatly appreciate your help in finding specific passages which speak about such matters. I certainly hope to never offend anyone, and instead simply learn about my fellows. God bless you
link answered Feb 27 '12 at 20:49 CuriousScholar 4●1●4

For all Muslims, it is only respectful if they attach PBUH after the names of all the prophets including Jesus in whom all Muslims are obligated to also honor as one of the mightiest messenger of Allah. No muslim is a muslim if he or she does not believe in Jesus.
Yes, muslims believe in all the old scriptures before the Quran but only the originals if they still exist. The reason being that many of these Holy Books with the exception of the Quran have been "interpolated" as admitted by, in the case of the Bible, the Christians scholars of the Bible themselves. The Quran on the other hand has been in its original form since its revelation more than 1400 years ago. Millions of muslims today can memorize the Book from cover to cover. Any attempt to corrupt the verses is futile. Click on this link and spend time to listen to this ex-Christian minister:http://forum.davidicke.com/showthread.php?t=190067

link

answered Feb 27 '12 at 20:53 nashiko 25●1●4

0	How can you say you believe in all the scriptures the moment you claim they have been altered???? Isn't this why you have the Qoran? Because Mohammed came to correct those mistakes you claim to be found in the Bible and the Torah???
link answered Feb 28 '12 at 06:40 jenny_ ♦ 81●10 where are those original scriptures then? (Feb 28 '12 at 10:46) jenny_ ♦ but if they are missing how do we know? (Feb 29 '12 at 04:28) jenny_ ♦

for the people who doubt the authenticity of the Quran and to the Question why we say that the scriptures have been conjugated should read both they themselves vill find bundles of mistakes in the scriptures and not one in the glorious Quran many might not get enough time to do so i vil help you with a brief over view" http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?255253-Dr-Zakir-Naik-Vs-Dr-William-Cambell" any who really intends to find out the truth about authenticity should view this and those who just want to argue with out any knowledge vil not watch this its my guess but anyways allah knows the best and he says in the glorious Quran" And do not trust except those who follow your religion." Say, "Indeed, the [true] guidance is the guidance of Allah . [Do you fear] lest someone be given [knowledge] like you were given or that they would [thereby] argue with you before your Lord?" Say, "Indeed, [all] bounty is in the hand of Allah - He grants it to whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Wise." 3:73 "And do not believe but in him who follows your religion. Say: Surely the (true) guidance is the guidance of Allah-- that one may be given (by Him) the like of what you were given; or they would contend with you by an argument before your Lord. Say: Surely grace is in the hand of Allah, He gives it to whom He pleases; and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing. " 3:73

link

answered Feb 28 '12 at 15:35 s_a_razvi 166●5

edited Feb 28 '12 at 15:37

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Asked: Feb 27 '12 at 19:32

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Last updated: Mar 23 '12 at 23:42

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