From: tnap1@isuevax.iastate.edu (ABDUR RAHMAN)
Subject: Jesus_in_Islam( was RE: After life)
Reply-To: tnap1@isuevax.iastate.edu
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 21:34:03 GMT


The following are quotes from the Qur`an and then a short explaination about
the true nature of Jesus Christ. I have taken these quotes from the Yusef
Ali translation of the Qur`an.

 ******	The Jews call `Uzair a son of God, and the Christians call Christ the
Son of God. That is a saying from their mouth; (In this) They but imitate what
the Unbelievers of old used to say. God's curse be on them: how they are
deluded away from the Truth.
	They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in
derogation of God, and (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; Yet
they were commanded to worship but One God: There is no god but He. Praise and
glory to Him: (Far is He) from having the partners they associate (with him).
	Fain would they extinguish God's Light with their mouths, but God will
not allow but that His Light should be perfected, even though the Unbelievers
may detest (it).
	It is He who hath sent His Apostle(Muhammad) with Guidance and the
Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may
detest (it).
			Chapter 9 verses 30-33

Uzair is Ezra in the Bible, the Jews said he was a son of God this prase is
used in several parts of the Bible, Ex. Job 38:7,Genesis 6:2. As far as taking
the priest as their lords this refers to the people doing things, which God had
forbidden them, because the priest said it was `ok'.
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******	And behold! God will say: " O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say
unto men, `Worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God'? " He will
say: "Glory to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right(to say). Had I said
such a thing, Thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my
heart, though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is
hidden.
	"Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say,
to wit,`Worship God, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them
Whilst I dewlt amongst them; when thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher
over them, and Thou are a witness to all things."
	"If Thou dost punish them they are Thy sertvants: if Thou dost forgive
them, Thou art the Exalted in power, The Wise."
	God will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from
their truth: theirs are Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,_their eternal
home: God well-pleased with them, and they with God: That is the great
Salvation, (the fulfilment of all desires).
			
                        Chapter 5 verses 116-119

This is a conversation which is to take place on the day of Judgement that is
why it say `God will say'.
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*******	And (the unbelievers) Plotted and planned, and God too planned, and the
best of planners is God.
	Behold ! God said : "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself
and clear thee(of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who
follow thee superior to those who reject faith, To the Day of Ressurection: 
Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters
wherein ye dispute.
	"As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony
in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.
	"As to those who believe and work righteousness, God will pay them (in
full) their reward; but God loveth not those who do wrong.
	" This is what we rehearse unto thee of the Signs and the Message of
Wisdom."
	The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him
from dust, then said to him :"BE": and he was.
	The Truth (comes) from God alone; so be not of those who doubt.
		
			Chapter 3 verses 54-60

This explain how even though Jesus was born to a virgin mother God is not his
father. But just like God created Adam likewise for Jesus thus he is the `Word
of God' because God said Be and Jesus was.
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******	That they said (in boast), " We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary,
The Apostle of God";- But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was
made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with
no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they
killed him not:-
	Nay, God raised him up Unto Himself: and God is Exalted in Power,Wise;-
	And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him
before his death; and on the Day of Judgement he will be a witness against
them;-
			Cahpter 4 verses 157-159

The` they ' that is referred to are the Jews. People of the Book are the Jews
and the Christians the `Book' being the Bible with the Gospel also.
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******	O mankind ! the Apostle (Muhammad) hath come to you with truth from
God: believe in him: it is best for you. But if ye reject Faith, to God belong
all things in the heavens and on eart: and God is All-knowing, All-wise.
	O People of the Book! commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of
God aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an
Apostle of God, and His Word, Which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit
proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His Apostles. Say not "Trinity":
desist: it will be better for you: for God is One God: Glory be to Him: (far
Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and
on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of affairs.
	Christ disdaineth not to serve and worship God, nor do the angels,
those nearest (to God): Those who disdain His worship are arrogant,- He
willgather them unto Himself to (answer).

Here there is a clear rejection of the Trinity and we see Jesus referred to as
the Word of God, since he was create by God's word, namely`Be'.
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I think this explains our point of view on Crist very well. The Qur`an doesn't
say exactly who changed what Jesus taught or when. But it was revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad from about 610 A.D. to 633 A.D. so all of the beliefs it
denounces were prevalent in Christianity by that time.

	Sicerly,
	Abdur Rahman