From: mmdh@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (Mazen Mokhtar)
Subject: Re: Al-Baqarah #143
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 21:43:24 GMT

In article <1993Jan7.204933.3363@trl.oz.au> a.Faris@trl.oz.au  writes:

>I recall an article written by Dr. Siddiqui while arguing with a Mr. Watson
>about who is the true Messiah. Dr. Siddiqui was saying the Jewish scribes had
>modified the writing to make it look like the Messiah would come from the
>house of David rather than from the house of Ismail and he is Muhammad.

  I cannot remember the article to which you refer, but I assure you that the
Messiah is Jesus, May God's blessing and peace be upon him. Perhapse Dr.
Siddiqui was refering to the coming of a Messenger, rather than the Messiah,
in which case he would be correct. (Although Jesus (PBUH) is also a Messenger.)

>|>   Muhammad (PBUH) is the final Messenger of God, sent to all of humanity
>|> with the message of guidance and truth. His message confirms and completes
>|> the messages sent before him at the hands of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus
>|> and other Messengers, may God's blessing and peace be upon them all. He and
>|> all other Messengers of God taught that there is God is one, so worship Him,
>|> obey Him and join no object, animal or human in worship.

>I do not dispute what you say. However, do you beleive that the Bible has been
>modified by the scribes as Dr. Siddiqui claims?.

  Yes, I do and in a major way. I also believe that the entire Injeel, the
book sent to Jesus (PBUH) has been lost. None of the books of the NT speak
with God in the first person, or even with Jesus in the first person. They
are all accounts or letters which refer to Jesus and his message.

>Also, what if a person does not worship God, does not worship any man or
>animal, say an agnostic. How does Islam deal with that?.

  Depending what you mean by agnostic, he could be a Kafir (rejector) or
simply Daal (lost, unguided.)

>I think the concepts above are very good, powerful, and make lots of sense.
>I would like to ask you though; According to Judaism, mankind has inhereted
>sin through Adam and Eve. Christianity teaches that Jesus came and was
>sacraficed for mankinds sins. Islam say that mankind cannot be responsible
>for the sin of others. How does Islam deal with the apparent change of mind
>on Gods part?

  There is no change in mind. The concept of original sin is unjust, and is
a fabrication. How can I be guilty of my father's disobedience? Especially
if my father was forgiven. The concept of redemption is also unjust. How can
one person be punished for another person's sin? Would any fair court in
the world punish me instead of a criminal if I volunteer? Would this absolve
the criminal in any way? Finally, there is nothing in the NT which implies
that Jesus taught that he is to be sacrificed for the sins of others.

  Allah is Merciful. He forgives whom He wills when He wills, but He is not 
unjust. If one person is forgiven and another is not, it is not by accident,
or by favour, it is by the intentions and the hearts of these people.

  The difficulty I find is that redemption does not cover those who came
before Jesus (PBUH), so it appears that righteousness was the path to
paradise before Jesus (PBUH). Why the fundamental change?

> Some how it appears that from Judaism to Islam, God has changed
>his mind after sacraficing his own son. This is not a sarcastic question Mazen.

  No problem, I didn't take offense. God never changes His mind, but people
do. God has no son, no partner and no kin. He is one, not a trinity. Islam
rejects the idea that God sacrificed His son as a great insult against
God. The idea of God in human form is appealing to many. The idea of redemption
without hard work is appealing to even more people. It is the duty of the
righteous to work hard, to strive to be good, to reflect, to reason and to
seek Guidance.


Mazen Mokhtar
Newsgroups: soc.culture.arabic,talk.politics.mideast