Sunday, June 2, 2024

IS THERE A SABBATH IN THE NEW COVENANT?


The Bible says that in these last days, there will be perilous times.


Some will depart from the faith, listening to deceitful spirits and teachings that go against the truth [2 Timothy 3:1; 1 Timothy 4:1]. In these days we live in, we are surrounded by "DISCIPLES OF MOSES" [John 8:28-29], who, by emphasizing the worship of Saturday and keeping the Sabbath, teach that all who worship on Sunday are lost, and they bear the mark of the beast "666".


They teach that abandoning the Sabbath and worshiping on Sunday was established by Constantine together with the Catholic Church.


It is important then, as disciples of Jesus, to learn all about this matter so that we can earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints [Jude 1:3].


We will divide this subject into five parts:-


(1). INTRODUCTION TO THE SABBATH.

(2). THE ABOLISHMENT OF THE SABBATH.

(3). THE SABBATH, A SHADOW OF JESUS CHRIST.

(4). REASONS WHY CHRISTIANS WORSHIP ON SUNDAY.

(5). KEEPING A DAY IS NOT A WAY OF SALVATION.


*1) INTRODUCTION TO THE SABBATH*


*1. THE MEANING OF THE WORD SABBATH.*


The word "Sabbath" comes from the Hebrew word "SHABBATH," which means REST or CEASING FROM WORK.


This rest is not necessarily on the seventh day. In some instances, people were commanded to have a Sabbath on the first day and the eighth day [Leviticus 23:39], and they also had a Sabbath on the seventh day of every week [Exodus 20:8-11].


There was also a Sabbath of a whole year for the land. It was not allowed to farm the land in that year; the land was supposed to rest [Leviticus 25:2-5]. Anyone who claims today that they are keeping the law by observing the Sabbath must not farm or harvest every seventh year, otherwise, they have failed in all [James 2:10].


*2. THE BEGINNING OF THE COMMAND TO KEEP THE SABBATH AND ITS PURPOSE*


The first command for people to keep the Sabbath was given by God to the Israelites, through Moses, in the OLD COVENANT. This command was not given to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others before Moses [Deuteronomy 5:1-3,12-14].


*This command was also for the NATION of Israel only!* Not for other nations that were not given the law [Romans 2:14; Deuteronomy 4:7-10]. THE ISRAELITES were commanded to keep the Sabbath for the following purposes:-


(a). To remember how they were slaves in the land of Egypt and how the LORD God brought them out of slavery and gave them REST from the labor of slavery [Deuteronomy 5:15].


(b). To be a SIGN of their covenant with God, the old covenant [Exodus 31:12-13,16-17; Ezekiel 20:20]. *This covenant is referred to as "ETERNAL" not in the sense that it is endless*. Not everywhere in the Bible where "ETERNAL" is used does it mean without end.


ETERNAL COVENANT here means a covenant of a very long time to come. [Examples: A house to be confirmed "forever" [Leviticus 25:29-30]; A person to be a servant of someone "forever" [Deuteronomy 15:12-17]; Leprosy to be "forever" [2 Kings 5:25-27].


*3. THE ACCOMPANYING SERVICE OF DEATH FOR NOT KEEPING THE SABBATH.*


The command to keep the Sabbath was a strict one. Anyone who did not keep the Sabbath was given the service of death, THEY WERE KILLED [Exodus 31:14-15, 35:2-3]. Even a mother who tried to gather firewood to cook for her children on the Sabbath was stoned to death [Numbers 15:32-36].


A person was not allowed to walk a mile on the Sabbath. The "Sabbath day's journey" allowed so that one is not counted as having worked was just under a mile, like the distance from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives [Acts 1:12].


Even carrying a mattress was breaking the law of keeping the Sabbath [John 5:8-10].


Even healing on the Sabbath was breaking the law of keeping the Sabbath [Luke 13:14].


It was a service of punishment, a service of death! [2 Corinthians 3:7-9].


*The disciples of Moses today,* who claim to keep the Sabbath, should not go to the hospital on the Sabbath, nor seek healing in any way on the Sabbath, and among them, anyone who does not keep the Sabbath should be killed! Why don't they do these things?


*(2) THE CESSATION OF THE SABBATH.*


Man was not created for the Sabbath, but for God who is the LORD of the Sabbath or the founder of the Sabbath. God, who brought the command to keep the Sabbath, also has the right to end it or remove that command, and no one has the right to blame Him [Mark 2:27-28].


Early in prophecy, before the coming of Jesus Christ, it was predicted that God would end the Sabbath [Hosea 2:11]. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law by ending the Sabbath.


Our chief leader of salvation, Jesus Christ, openly opposed every Jewish idea of keeping the Sabbath. He came to end the Sabbath by breaking it.


If Jesus is our Lord, then we too should be at the forefront of following Him as an example and breaking the Sabbath [Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:6-11; 13:10-16; 14:1-6; John 5:8,18; 9:13-16]. Jesus Christ, nailed the accusation of not keeping the Sabbath to the cross, abolished it, let it no longer exist! [Colossians 2:13-14].


*Keeping days, months, times, and years is a return to WEAK AND IMPERFECT TEACHINGS [Galatians 4:9-11].*


We should no longer be judged by ANYONE because of the SABBATH! [Colossians 2:13-16]. To get a good translation of the word "Sabbath" in that passage, read the King James Version Bible, which mentions "SABBATH DAYS" (Colossians 2:16) "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days." So, let no one judge us concerning Sabbath days.


The fourth commandment of the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments is not in the New Covenant, neither Jesus nor the apostles commanded us to keep the Sabbath [Matthew 19:16-19; Acts 15:1-29]. Like the time before Moses, we, as descendants of Abraham by faith, were not commanded to keep the Sabbath as Ibrahimu was not commanded!


The New Commandment has become instead of the Old Covenant, which was deficient, which had a service of punishment or death. *That service has been repealed [2 Corinthians 3:6-11; Hebrews 8:6-9,13].*


*(3) THE SABBATH, A SHADOW OF JESUS CHRIST.*


The Sabbath was a shadow of things to come [Colossians 2:16-17].


The Sabbath was only a shadow of REST that humans troubled and overwhelmed with burdens would find by going to Jesus Christ [Matthew 11:28]. After coming himself as REST, Jesus Christ; we no longer need to keep the shadow. If we hold on to Jesus Christ, HE will also give us an ETERNAL SABBATH in heaven [Hebrews 4:8-11]. This Sabbath is not on Saturday because those who will diligently enter that rest and stay away from disobeying Jesus will enter [Hebrews 4:1-11; Revelation 14:13]


*(4) REASONS FOR CHRISTIANS TO WORSHIP ON SUNDAY*


There is no scripture in the New Testament that records a gathering of Christians on the Sabbath to worship God.


The word "Sabbath" appears 60 times in the New Testament. Fifty times in these, it is used BEFORE the New Covenant itself was made with the blood of Jesus. Of the remaining ten times, six (6) mention Paul preaching to JEWS in NON-CHRISTIAN gatherings on their Jewish sabbaths [Acts 13:14, 42, 44; 17:1,2;18:4]. Twice, the word describes the law of Moses being read by the Jews in the synagogues [Acts 13:27; 15:21]; Once it tells us how we should not be judged concerning the Sabbath [Colossians 2:16]; The remaining one mentions the Sabbath day's journey [Acts 1:12].


SUNDAY, which is the first day of the week, THE LORD'S DAY, when He conquered death and rose again [Revelation 1:10], We set apart specially to worship the Lord because: -


( a ). It is the feast of the first fruits of the harvest, which was done in the Old Covenant, on the SECOND DAY after the Sabbath; It is a prophecy of Christ who is their FIRST FRUITS who have fallen asleep [Leviticus 23:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20].


( b ). It is the victorious day of our Lord Jesus who rose from the dead, and revealed himself to his disciples after the resurrection of Jesus [John 20:1,19,26 Romans 10:9].


( c ). The day the Holy Spirit, the Chief Observer of all of God's work in the church, came, was the day of Pentecost, which is Sunday, the second day after the Sabbath [Acts 2:1].


( d ) The day of Pentecost Sunday is the first day when the first church began preaching and 3,000 people were saved and the first church service began [Acts 2].


( e ). The Christians of the first church gathered on Sunday [Acts 20:6-12; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2].


*These reasons clearly also show that the worship of Sunday was not initiated by King Constantine or the Catholic Church.*


There is no scripture that says anyone who worships on Sunday has the mark of the beast 666. That is a fabrication. The Bible gives us the freedom to choose the day to honor the Lord [Romans 14:5-6]. It is also important to note that every day is a day to learn the Word [Acts 17:11; 2:46].


*(5) KEEPING DAYS IS NOT A WAY TO BE SAVED*


Keeping any day, even Sunday, is not a way to be saved. We are saved by believing that Jesus is the LORD and SAVIOR and not by keeping any day [Romans 10:9-10,13].


There are many blessings for anyone who shares this message on Facebook, Twitter, etc., with relatives, friends, and acquaintances so that they too can have the opportunity to read this message and be blessed as you have been. The blessings of God will be with you.


Shalom


Dr. Max Shimba for Max Shimba Ministries Org

ALLAH CUT MUHAMMAD'S MAIN ARTERY

SO ALLAH DID NOT LOVE THE LATE MUHAMMAD


**Who killed Muhammad?**


This question has many answers as he had many enemies, including pagans, Jews, and even Christians due to his conquests, killing people, raping their wives, and enslaving their women. Indeed, Muhammad had many enemies.


- **How was he killed?** There are many possible ways: some could have used poison, others a knife, a club, or pushing him off a cliff, etc.


- **What is interesting is that the Quran tells us how Allah would have killed Muhammad.**


**Quran 69:44-46**


44. And if he (Muhammad) had forged a false saying concerning us,


45. We surely would have seized him by his right hand,


46. Then We would certainly have cut off his life artery (Aorta).


Let's see some interpretations of this verse as translated by various scholars.


**Quran 69:44-46**  

- If he (Muhammad) had forged a false saying concerning us, We would surely have seized him by his right hand (or with power and might), and then certainly should have cut off his life artery (Aorta). (Hilal-Khan)


And if (Muhammad) had invented lies against Us, We would certainly have seized him by the right hand, then We would certainly have cut off his life artery. (Pickthall)


Had he invented lies concerning Us, we would have seized him by the right hand and severed his heart's vein. (Dawood)


If he had fabricated against Us, some of the sayings, We should certainly have seized him by the right hand, then We would certainly have cut off his Aorta. (Shakir)


- **All these interpretations mean the same thing.**


Therefore, according to the Quran, if Muhammad had fabricated revelations, Allah would have killed him by cutting his life artery (Aorta).


**Now let's see what the Hadith says about Muhammad being poisoned by a Jewish woman.**


**Sahih Al-Bukhari 2617**  

A Jewess brought a poisoned (cooked) sheep for the prophet who ate from it. She was brought to the Prophet and was asked, "Shall we kill her?" He said, "No". Anas added: "I continued to see the effect of the poison on the palate of Allah's Messenger."


Translation:  

A Jewish woman brought poisoned cooked meat to the Prophet, who ate from it. She was brought to the Prophet and questioned, "Shall we kill her?" The Prophet said, "No". Anas added, "I continued to see the effect of the poison on the palate of Allah's Messenger."


**Sahih Muslim 5430**  

A Jewess came to Allah's Messenger with poisoned mutton, and he took of what had been brought to him. (When the effect of this poison was felt by him), he called for her and asked her about that, whereupon she said: "I had determined to kill you." Thereupon he said: "Allah will never give you the power to do it."


Translation:  

A Jewish woman came to Allah's Messenger with poisoned mutton, and he took what was brought to him. (When he felt the effect of this poison), he called for her and asked her, whereupon she said: "I had determined to kill you." Thereupon he said: "Allah will never give you the power to do it."


**You see? Muhammad confidently tells the woman that Allah will not allow her to kill him, but unfortunately, the poison killed him. Why did the woman want to kill Muhammad?**


**The answer to this question is found in the Hadith of Ibn Sa'd, Volume 2, pp. 251-252**


The Apostle of Allah sent for Zaynab bint Al-Harith and said to her: "What induced you to do what you have done?" She replied: "You have done to my people what you have done. You have killed my father, my uncle, and my husband, so I said to myself, if you are a prophet, the foreleg will inform you; and others have said: if you are a king, we will get rid of you."


The Prophet of God sent for Zaynab bint Al-Harith and said to her, "What made you do what you did?" She replied, "You have done to my people what you have done. You killed my father, my uncle, and my husband, so I said to myself, if you are a prophet, the foreleg will inform you; and others have said, if you are a king, we will get rid of you."


**Ibn Sa'd, Volume 2, pp. 251-252**


So you see, the woman killed Muhammad because he had killed her family. However, Zaynab was not alone in this; she had a partner in the plot.


**Sahih Al-Bukhari 4428**  

The Prophet in his ailment in which he died, used to say, "O Aisha! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaibar, and at this time, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison."


Translation:  

The Prophet, in his ailment in which he died, used to say, "O Aisha! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaibar, and at this time, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison."


**Sunan Abu Dawud 4498**  

A Jewess presented (Muhammad) at Khaibar with a roasted sheep which she had poisoned. The Apostle of Allah ate of it, and the people also ate. He then said: "Lift your hands (from eating), for it has informed me that it is poisoned." Bishr al-Bara b. Ma'rur al-Ansari died. So he (the Prophet) sent for the Jewess (and said to her): "What motivated you to do the work you have done?" She said: "If you were a prophet, it would not harm you; but if you were a king, I would rid the people of you." The Apostle of Allah then ordered regarding her, and she was killed. He then said about the pain of which he died: "I continued to feel pain from the morsel which I had eaten at Khaibar. This is the time when it has cut off my aorta."


Translation:  

A Jewish woman presented poisoned roasted sheep to Muhammad at Khaibar. The Apostle of Allah ate from it, and the people also ate. He then said: "Lift your hands (from eating), for it has informed me that it is poisoned." Bishr al-Bara b. Ma'rur al-Ansari died. So he (the Prophet) sent for the Jewess and asked her, "What motivated you to do the work you have done?" She said: "If you were a prophet, it would not harm you; but if you were a king, I would rid the people of you." The Apostle of Allah then ordered her to be killed. He then said about the pain from which he died: "I continued to feel pain from the morsel I had eaten at Khaibar. This is the time when it has cut off my aorta."


**You start to get the picture here. Did anyone in the Quran say they would cut Muhammad's main artery?**


**Quran 69:44-46**


44. And if he (Muhammad) had forged a false saying concerning us,


45. We surely would have seized him by his right hand,


46. Then We would certainly have cut off his life artery (Aorta).


**You see? You can connect the dots here.**


We have also seen one of Muhammad's companions, Bishr b. Al-Bara b. Ma'rur al-Ansar, dying after eating the poison.


But before he died, he told Muhammad that as soon as he put the piece of meat in his mouth, he felt the poison, but he continued to eat because he saw the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad, eating.


**Ibn Sa'd, Volume 2, pp. 252-252**  

The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, took the foreleg, a piece of which he put into his mouth. Bishr ibn al-Bara took another bone and put it into his mouth. When the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, ate one morsel of it, Bishr ate his, and other people also ate from it. Then the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, said: "Hold back your hands! Because this foreleg; and according to another version, the shoulder of the goat, has informed me that it is poisoned." Thereupon Bishr said: "By Him who hath made you great! I discovered it from the morsel I took. Nothing prevented me from emitting it out, but the idea that I did not like to make your food unappetizing. When you had eaten what was in your mouth, I did not like to save my life after yours, and I also thought you would not have eaten it if there was something wrong." Bishr did not rise from his seat but his color changed to that of Taylsan (a green cloth).


The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, took the foreleg, a piece of which he put into his mouth. Bishr ibn al-Bara took another bone and put it into his mouth. When the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, ate one morsel of it, Bishr ate his, and other people also ate from it. Then the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, said: "Hold back your hands! Because this fore


leg; and according to another version, the shoulder of the goat, has informed me that it is poisoned." Thereupon Bishr said: "By Him who hath made you great! I discovered it from the morsel I took. Nothing prevented me from emitting it out, but the idea that I did not like to make your food unappetizing. When you had eaten what was in your mouth, I did not like to save my life after yours, and I also thought you would not have eaten it if there was something wrong." Bishr did not rise from his seat but his color changed to that of Taylsan (a green cloth).


**Ibn Sa'd, Volume 2, pp. 251-252**


So Bishr died because he trusted Muhammad, believing him to be a prophet and thinking he would detect the poison.


Muhammad explained his pain to Bishr's mother.


**Sahih Abu Dawud 4449**  

Umm Bishr said to the Prophet during the illness of which he died: "What do you think about your illness, Apostle of Allah? I do not think about the illness of my son except the poisoned sheep of which he had eaten with you at Khaibar." The Prophet said: "And I do not think about my illness except that. This is the time when it has cut off my aorta."


Translation:  

Umm Bishr said to the Prophet during the illness of which he died: "What do you think about your illness, Apostle of Allah? I do not think about the illness of my son except the poisoned sheep of which he had eaten with you at Khaibar." The Prophet said: "And I do not think about my illness except that. This is the time when it has cut off my aorta."


**At-Tabari, Volume 8, p. 124**  

The messenger of God said during the illness from which he died—the mother of Bishr b. Al-Bara had come to visit him—"Umm Bishr, at this very moment I feel my aorta being severed because of the food I ate with your son at Khaibar."


The messenger of God said during the illness from which he died—the mother of Bishr b. Al-Bara had come to visit him—"Umm Bishr, at this very moment I feel my aorta being severed because of the food I ate with your son at Khaibar."


**At-Tabari, Volume 8, p. 124**


According to his wife Aisha, Muhammad was in severe pain before his death.


**Sunan Ibn Majah 1622**  

Aisha said: "I never saw anyone suffer more pain than the messenger of Allah."


Translation:  

Aisha said: "I never saw anyone suffer more pain than the Messenger of Allah."


**Sunan Ibn Majah 1622**


**Sahih Al-Bukhari 2588**  

Aisha said: "When the Prophet became sick and his condition became serious, he requested his wives to allow him to be treated in my house, and they allowed him. He came out leaning on two men while his feet were dragging on the ground."


Translation:  

Aisha said: "When the Prophet became sick and his condition became serious, he requested his wives to allow him to be treated in my house, and they allowed him. He came out leaning on two men while his feet were dragging on the ground."


**Sahih Al-Bukhari 2588**


Now, since the Quran says that if Muhammad had been a false prophet, Allah would cut his main artery, and Muhammad admitted that his main artery (Aorta) was cut, we can conclude that Muhammad was not a true prophet.


You might also wonder about Muhammad's judgment in accepting food from someone whose relatives he had killed.


If Muhammad did not have the common sense to avoid food from someone whose family members he had killed, can he be trusted in anything he says?


Moreover, Zaynab tested Muhammad, believing that if he was a true prophet, he would not die from the poison, but if he was a false prophet, he would die. Muhammad failed this test.


Additionally, Muhammad's friend Bishr tasted the meat and realized it was poisoned but continued to eat because he saw Muhammad eating and trusted him.


Lastly, when the Jews tried to kill Jesus, Allah intervened and saved him.


**Quran 4:157-158**


157. And for saying, "We killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." But they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.


158. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.


It's remarkable that Allah saved Jesus from the Jews but allowed Muhammad to be killed by a single Jewish woman.


In conclusion, Muhammad wanted to die as a martyr in battle but died from poison given by a woman.


**Sahih Bukhari 2797**


"By Him in Whose Hands my life is! I would love to be martyred in Allah's cause and then be resurrected and then be martyred, and then be resurrected again and then be martyred, and then be resurrected again and then be martyred."


Translation:  

"By Him in Whose Hands my life is! I would love to be martyred in Allah's cause and then be resurrected and then be martyred, and then be resurrected again and then be martyred, and then be resurrected again and then be martyred."


**Sahih Bukhari 2797**


Unfortunately, Muhammad died from poison given by a woman.


Remember, Muhammad received revelations from Allah whenever he needed them, whether it was meeting Aisha, marrying four wives, or marrying his adopted son's wife. Allah always fulfilled Muhammad's desires.


Here, I am laying the foundation by looking at the surrounding details in the Quran. Later, I will start revealing the hidden teachings within the Quran. This journey will be long and requires great patience.


I am not engaging in religious debates but trying to show you how Muhammad died and who killed him.


Unlike what your religious leaders tell you to control your thoughts, this is about freeing your mind if you receive it with an open heart.


Shaloom


Dr. Max Shimba for Max Shimba Ministries Org

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, WAS SHE AARON AND MOSES' SISTER?

*THIS IS A GREAT TRAGEDY FOR MUSLIMS**


**Contradictions in the Quran:**


Mary, Aaron and Moses' sister, and the daughter of Amram, who lived 1600 years before the birth of Jesus in the Bible, is claimed to be the mother of Isa in the Quran. Are these claims true?


In several Surahs, the Quran confuses Mary, the mother of Isa [Miriam in Hebrew], with Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses, and the daughter of Amram, who lived about 1600 years earlier.


Finally, she (Mary) brought him (the baby) to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary! Indeed, you have brought a thing unprecedented. O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste."

-- Surah 19:27-28

And Mary, daughter of Imran...

-- Surah 66:12


I understand what Muslims claim to be the solution to this problem. Yusuf Ali, for example, writes in his footnote 2481, explaining the above verse: “Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the first in the line of Israelite priests. 'Sisters of Aaron' or 'daughters of Imran (who was the father of Aaron).'”


This is a misconception. Only Aaron was made a priest of the Lord and indeed the first High Priest. Only Aaron's descendants became priests. Neither Moses nor their sister Miriam are ever understood to be in the "priestly line." Amram is certainly not a priest. If Mary's lineage as part of the priestly family was to be emphasized, she must be called the daughter of Aaron since all the priests of Israel are descendants of Aaron, while his siblings are not counted among the priestly line.


I acknowledge that the terms "father," "daughter," and "sister" can sometimes be used loosely to indicate a general family relationship. Therefore, we must carefully read each mention to see what it means. The Quran makes it clear that the specific, physical meaning of daughter and (therefore) sister is intended in this matter, as I will show below. Even if there was no concern about the issue of "priesthood" and a broader family relationship was viewed, why does the Quran not say "daughter of Aaron," who is more famous? Although the term "sister" can be used more broadly than a sister in a close family, isn't it standard usage even in Islam that "brothers and sisters" live in nearly the same generation (like cousins) while "father and daughter" indicate a generational difference between the two? Why call her the sister of the famous Aaron (1400 years older than Mary) instead of the daughter of `Imran (Biblically Amram), whose only mention is in genealogical tables in Exodus 6 and 1 Chronicles 23? This seems clear that the two Miriams were indeed confused. But attempts to harmonize seem not very logical.


The above points are only some of the "smaller questions." The larger problem is that the Quran clearly does not speak of a broad genealogical relationship as we see in the following verse.


Remember! The wife of Imran said: "O my Lord! I dedicate to You what is in my womb for Your service... When she delivered, she said: "O my Lord! I have delivered a female child!" "... And I have named her Mary..."

-- Surah 3:35-36


Muslims are generally very precise about who is the wife of whom, and it is certainly not allowed that anyone can just make love to a woman because she is "more his sister." If Mary is a female child from the womb of the wife of `Imran, then she is directly the daughter of Imran and there is no doubt that the theory of a "distant lineage" is contradicted by the Quran itself.


Yusuf Ali in his footnote 375 to Surah 3:35 even goes further by concocting (?) a second Imran by claiming that “by tradition, Mary's mother was called Hanna... and her father was called Imran,” to somehow save the Quran from this conflict. But the same tradition that names Mary's mother as Hanna also names her father as Joachim. Why does Yusuf Ali accept one part of this tradition (e.g., in the Proto-Evangelion of James the Less) and reject another?


Yusuf Ali provides no reference for this "tradition" he refers to. Until I see any reference for this, there is no reason to accept this theory. To my current knowledge, there was no such tradition preceding Muhammad. Some Islamic commentators may have created something later to explain this very issue, but a late theory/"tradition" is not very reliable.


And a final question:

Is there any other instance in the Quran where someone is repeatedly called the daughter [son] or sister [brother] of people who are more distant relatives?


Even if there were one such name in the lineage that was so strong that everyone is referred to in relation to that one person, it is doubly unlikely that anyone would be called in relation to two distant relatives instead of "father" and "brother," and never mentioned in relation to their actual parents or siblings. If this is the only instance, then the explanations of Muslims become more difficult since emergency explanations, i.e., explanations that have no purpose other than to explain this one problem but are not used elsewhere, are not very reliable. It appears like a makeshift argument in this case. And the fact that Aaron is the son of Imran and this is a direct and correct genealogical relationship also shows that all others are understood as daughter and sister in the usual, everyday meaning.


Thomas Patrick Hughes in his book "A Dictionary of Islam," page 328, writes on this issue that "it certainly is the cause of some perplexity for commentators. Al-Baidawi says she was called `sister of Aaron' because she was of the tribe of Levi; but Husein says that the Aaron mentioned in the verse is not the same person as the brother of Moses."


As usual, conflicting explanations are evidence that there is indeed a problem in the Quran and no clear and satisfactory solution is found.


Note: Moses and Aaron are called "Moses ibn `Imran" and "Aaron ibn `Imran" in the Hadith, just as Mary is called "Maryam ibnat `Imran" in Surah 66:12.


Shalom,


Dr. Max Shimba for Max Shimba Ministries

A BOOK FULL OF CONTRADICTIONS, WITHOUT DIRECTION OR LOGICAL FLOW

When we quote a verse with contradictions, hatred, or exposing the lies of Muslims in the Qur'an, Muslims vehemently deny it, claiming that the verse is incomplete unless we read the verse preceding or following it. 


So let's look at these verses written in the sequence of numbers 191, 192, 193, 194, and 195 to see if they indeed build a logical argument. You will be surprised by the Qur'an, which is claimed to be a good guide for Muslims.


**NOTE:** My explanations are in brackets (…).


**QUR’AN: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:191-195:**


**191. And kill them wherever you overtake them, and expel them from wherever they have expelled you; for fitnah (persecution) is worse than killing. And do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.**


(…if persecution is worse than killing, why then should you kill them? Sometimes it says not to fight them at the Sacred Mosque, and other times to fight them there. Which one is it? Is it the Muslims who retaliate or Allah?)


**192. But if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.**


(…who is being forgiven here, the disbelievers or the Muslims because both have sinned by fighting)


**193. Fight them until there is no more fitnah, and the religion is entirely for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors.**


(…but did not Allah say in verse 192 that He is forgiving? How then does He command to fight them (the disbelievers)?)


**194. [Fighting in] the sacred month is for [aggression committed in] the sacred month, and for [all] violations is legal retribution. So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.**


(…so attacking someone who attacks you is fearing God? SERIOUSLY????)


**195. And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.**


(…but did not Allah say in verses 191, 193, and 194 to fight them and kill them? How then does He command you not to destroy them with your own hands?)


**EVALUATION:**

The Qur'an is a book full of contradictions, fitnah, hatred, and permission to kill non-Muslims. Its verses lack logical flow. Each verse stands on its own and does not relate to the preceding or following verse. 

In one verse, Allah commands his followers to strike non-Muslims, while in another, he commands them to forgive. Which one should be followed?

Allah is like a bat, chameleon, double-tongued, and centipede—the evidence is in his writings and the behavior of his followers.


Shalom


Dr. Max Shimba for Max Shimba Ministries Org

ALLAH MAKES A BIG SCIENTIFIC AND GEOGRAPHICAL MISTAKE ABOUT THE SETTING OF THE SUN


Dear reader,


**Zul-Qarnain and the Setting of the Sun in Surah 18:85-86**

Is it true that the sun sets in a spring of muddy or dark water, or is there an error in the Quran, or is there another explanation? First, let's look at the clear meaning of Surah 18:85-86, and then we will look at some Muslim explanations and responses to this issue.


**A Little Astronomy**


It may not be widely known that the Abbasid Muslim rulers, Arabs, and Persians made significant advancements in astronomy, naming many stars, and even correcting some of Ptolemy’s astronomical tables. However, the sun is many times larger than the entire Earth, and the Earth orbits around the sun. The sun does not set in a muddy spring.


**Who is Zul-Qarnain?**

We have no evidence that Muhammad ever told anyone who Zul-Qarnain actually was. Muslims have four different views.


- **Alexander the Great (of Macedonia)**: This is the view held by most Muslims. Zul-Qarnain means "the man with two horns." There is a fabricated legend that Alexander the Great was a god and had two ram's horns growing from the sides of his head. Despite the fact that this wasn't true (and it would be problematic to find a helmet that could fit), this legend was known, and many Muslims think that Allah mentioned Alexander in Surah 18 by this name.

- **Cyrus I of Persia**: This is another view. His kingdom was essentially a dual kingdom of the Medes and Persians, but there is no evidence that the two horns refer to him.

- **A king of Yemen** who wore a helmet with two ram’s horns, is another view held by some Muslims.

- **An unknown person**: This is the fourth view. However, it doesn’t seem very helpful to give an explanation about someone whom the speaker has never heard of.


Conclusion: It doesn’t matter who Zul-Qarnain was. If he discovered that the sun sets in a spring of muddy water, and it doesn’t set in a spring of muddy water, then this is false regardless of who Muhammad was talking about.


**Surah 18 Thoughts and Responses**


**Idea 1: The sun sets in a spring of muddy water!**

For early Muslims, the Quran taught that this actually happens. The early Muslim historian al-Tabari, volume 1, page 234, shows this. Another example is “[Dhu al-Qarnaiyn] saw the setting of the sun in its resting place in a black, muddy spring.” According to al-Tabari volume 5, pages 173-174, Dhu Qarnain [Zul Qarnain] is also found in al-Tabari volume 1, page 371.


Another related thing is that the Earth sits on a large fish according to al-Tabari volume 1, page 220 (839-923 CE).


**Idea 2: The sun appeared to Alexander to set in the lake of Ithaca in Macedonia**


This idea assumes that Zul-Qarnain was Alexander, and that Alexander was a good Muslim. This idea does not fit with the fact that Alexander had a temple built for himself. Additionally, Alexander went to conquer lands northwest of Ithaca, which is modern Albania.


Even worse for this idea, Greeks had settlements hundreds of miles west of Ithaca, including in Spain, Sicily, etc., for at least five hundred years before Alexander. Why would a very intelligent Greek think the sun set in a lake in Macedonia when Greek ships were sailing far west of Alexander’s country? Furthermore, Tertullian in "A Treatise on the Soul" chapter 49, page 227, says that Aristotle, who lived at the same time, mentions a hero from the island of Sardinia far west of Macedonia but about the same latitude.


**Idea 3: The “spring of muddy water” is the Atlantic Ocean**


The Atlantic Ocean is not muddy and not black; it is blue-green. Also, it is not a spring but an ocean. The sun does not set in the ocean. More importantly, Alexander, Cyrus I of Persia, and the kings of Yemen never went to the Atlantic Ocean, and Surah 18:85-86 says Zul Qarnain saw or witnessed this.


Any one of these four reasons is enough to dismiss this idea, so why do some Muslims propose this? This shows the lengths they go to in order to show that Surah 18:1-2 is not false. If the Allah of Islam thought this idea was true in the Quran, and Allah knew this idea was false, then this would be a lie. If the Allah of Islam did not know this fact, they would not have the knowledge and certainly not the power to know everything. If these verses did not come from the Allah of Islam, then the Quran would have an obvious error, as it attributes this falsehood to Allah when it was not so. Of course, if the Allah of Islam does not really exist, and the true God is not the author of the Quran, then the Allah of Islam did not lie because he does not exist.


**Idea 4: The “spring of muddy water” is where Cyrus I looked at the Black Sea**


Even if Cyrus I went to the eastern shore of the Black Sea, how would the sun appear to set in the Black Sea if he had already passed the eastern shore heading south and east? We have no evidence that Cyrus ever traveled to the region that includes modern Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, etc., east of the Black Sea.


A Muslim would have a slightly weaker argument if they said Cyrus saw the sun rising from the Black Sea, as he passed through to Greece, but the Quran talks about the sun setting. However, the Black Sea is not a spring, and everyone from the Egyptians to those far north knew the sun did not set in the Black Sea.


**Idea 5: The “spring of muddy water” is where Cyrus I looked at the Aegean Sea**


But the Persians knew very well the Athenians, Spartans (original Greeks), and other Greeks. The Persians would know that the Greeks were not on the other side of the sun.


**Idea 6: The “spring of muddy water” is where a king looked at the Red Sea**


Yemenis (Sabaeans/Shebans) were always aware of the Abyssinians (Ethiopians) across the river. If they thought the sun set in the Red Sea, then the Abyssinians would be the people on the other side where the sun was.


**Idea 7: The “spring of muddy water” is a metaphor**


If this was not real but a metaphor for something else, then the Quran failed to explain that it was not real, and the idea would be misleading. Furthermore, no one can say for certain what this metaphor referred to.


There is nothing in the Quran that indicates this was not real, and most early Muslims took it as literal truth. Considering that they knew the actual meaning of this from Muhammad’s followers, they were misled by Surah 18.


**Idea 8: Muhammad was recounting a dream**


This idea does not identify who Zul-Qarnain was. If Muhammad was recounting a dream, the sun could set wherever he wanted it to. Even if it is not clear who this mythical figure saw something totally false, and people believed it to be true, how would that teach us to believe the truth?


However, if someone said they saw someone named ‘Ali doing some amazing things, and millions of people believed in him for many centuries, how could that person be a liar if they forgot to tell people that "it was just my dream, and I did not see Ali doing this with my eyes"?


**Conclusion**


Regardless of who Zul-Qarnain was, the Quran presents this as truth that the sun sets in a spring of muddy water. Even people 1,000 years before Muhammad knew the sun did not set in Spain. This idea was not a metaphor because no early Muslim took it as such or provided an alternative meaning as a metaphor, and all early Muslims believed the Quran was not meant to deceive.


**List of Quranic Commentaries**


1. Arberry, Arthur J. The Koran Interpreted. Macmillian Publishing Co., Inc. 1955.

2. Dawood, N.J. The Koran. Penguin Books. 1956-1999.

3. Malik, Farooq-i-Azam. English Translation of the Meaning of AL-QUR’AN: The Guidance for Mankind. The Institute of Islamic Knowledge. 1997

4. Pickthall, Mohammed Marmaduke. The Meaning of the Glorious Koran. Dar al-Islamiyya (Kuwait) (no date given)

5. Rodwell, J.M. The Koran. First Edition. Ivy Books, Published by Ballantine Books. 1993.

6. Shakir, M.H. The Qur’an. Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an, Inc. 12th U.S. Edition 2001.

7. Sher Ali, Maulawi. The Holy Qur’an. Islam International Publications Limited (Ahmadiyya) 1997

8. Yusuf ‘Ali, Abdullah. The Holy Qur-an: English translation of the meanings and Commentary. King Fahd Holy Qur-an Printing Complex. (Al Madina Saudi Arabia) 1410 A.D.


**Other Reference Books**


- Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 1958.

- The History of al-Tabari: An Annotated Translation. Ehsan Yar-Shater, General Editor. State University of New York Press 1989-


God bless you all.


I


 am Dr. Max Shimba, a servant of Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior. **Titus 2:13**


For Max Shimba Ministries Org,

MAX SHIMBA MINISTRIES ORG ©2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.

March 22, 2016

THE HOLY TRINITY ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE AND THE QURAN


**THE HOLY TRINITY ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE**


First of all, it should be understood that Almighty God is very exalted, and we, as His creatures, find it difficult to comprehend Him as we wish. God is omnipotent; we cannot limit Him by saying He can do this and that He cannot do that. We cannot fully comprehend God until He fits into our understanding; we cannot know His limits and boundaries. The day a human being can fully understand God, He will cease to be God.


What we can understand is how He has revealed Himself to us through His Holy Scriptures. It would be strange to start denying how God wants us to understand Him through His Word. Therefore, it is my intention to present the Scriptures as God wants us to understand Him.


The Bible teaches that God is One but in Three Eternal Personalities.


In the Book of Genesis 1:1-3, we read:

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."


We can say there is 1. God and 2. His Spirit. Then the scriptures continue to say:


"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Genesis 1:3).


So, we see that according to these scriptures, there is God, His Spirit, and His Word.


These are living Personalities, each independently functioning according to God's will.


There is ample evidence in the Scriptures showing that these Persons of God have been active throughout human history.


For example, in Genesis 6:3, we read:

"Then the LORD said, 'My Spirit will not contend with humans forever…'." So, the Spirit of God can contend.


Isaiah 44:3:

“…I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring….”


The Spirit of God, as a living Person, can be grieved or offended by humans.


Matthew 12:31:

"And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven."


Ephesians 4:30:

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."


The Holy Spirit preached the gospel in the Old Testament through the prophets.


The prophets spoke the Word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.


1 Peter 1:11:

"They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven…."


2 Peter 1:21:

"For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."


In Romans 8:26, we see that:

“…the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”


All these attributes of the Spirit tell us that the Holy Spirit of God is the living Person of God's operation. In other words, the Holy Spirit is God Himself.


Jesus Himself said:

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).


Who is the Word of God in the Bible?


The Holy Scriptures (the Bible) tell us that God created the heavens and the earth by His Word. When you read Genesis 1:4-31, you will find that God spoke the Word of creation, and it came into being. Psalm 33:6 says:

"By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth."


When we carefully examine the scriptures, we discover that the Word of God is alive and powerful (read Hebrews 4:12) and has the power to give life. In this sense, we can conclude that, just as the Spirit of God is a living Personality, so is the Word of God.


As we saw, the act of creation was carried out by the Word of God, the second Person of the Godhead. Throughout the Bible, there is evidence of this cooperation between God, His Word, and His Spirit in creation. The Word Himself says in Proverbs 8:22-30 about His participation in the work of creation:


"The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be…then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence."


The Bible is very clear that this Word who created the heavens and the earth is also God. This is because you cannot separate God from His Word and say God is God and His Word is not God but something different. God and His Word are One. We read in John 1:1-3 that:


"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."


Throughout the Bible, we see the Word actively working and being given the attribute of a living Personality of God.


Now the time comes to fulfill another great work of redeeming fallen humanity. As always in God's work, the principal actor is “His Word.” So, God sent His Word to complete the work of redemption.


The Word became flesh to accomplish human redemption.


God's principle regarding redemption is that:

"Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22).


Thus, we see that:

“…since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).


Therefore, to redeem humanity:

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).


This act of the Word agreeing to become flesh is what led to Him being called the "Son of God." As we saw in the above scripture, it is not in a physical sense as humans procreate. God Himself declared after the Word became flesh that:

“You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.” (Hebrews 1:5).


"And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased'" (Matthew 3:17).


By the Word becoming flesh, we then have the title of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This is due to the fact that the act of the Word becoming flesh does not strip Him of His divinity. What we can see here is that the Word of God took on flesh, leading to a union of the Word (God) and flesh (Man). In Jesus, there is the fullness of God in His divinity and the fullness of humanity in His human body. The Word (Jesus) Himself says:

"...sacrifices and offerings you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God.'" (Hebrews 10:5-7).


We see that the Word was given a body, took on humanity, and we saw Him with all the attributes of humanity. But by His nature:

“…being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:6-7).


In this union, He was born of a woman, and the angel told Mary, who was to bear the Son, that:

"You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High (that is, God)…The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:31-32, 35).


Later, the angel Gabriel told Joseph, Mary's fiancé, the same words he told Mary:

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).


What confuses many is when the Word became flesh and appeared in the form of a human. In that form, Jesus had all the human needs, such as hunger, thirst, sleep, circumcision on the eighth day, tears, fatigue, etc., like any other human being.


We need to understand that Jesus came to show us how to live a victorious life against sin by relying on God as human beings. The scriptures testify that He was tempted as we are tempted, yet without sin. He had no blemish throughout His life. The Holy Scriptures say:

"But we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15).


"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth" (1 Peter 2:22).


In His human state, He relied on God for everything. This is why you will see that He prayed to God the Father, and you will also see that He made statements like:

"...do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father


. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'" (John 20:17).


In the state of divinity that was within Him (the Word of God), He said statements such as:

"I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).


"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).


"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves" (John 14:11).


How was the Father in Jesus? By the Word that took on the human body; the Word of God was in the flesh, and the flesh was in the Word of God. That is Jesus.


In this state, it is not surprising to call Jesus God, and indeed, He is not only God but:

"...Christ Jesus, our great God and Savior" (Titus 2:13).


Thus, the concept of the Holy Trinity (one God in three Persons) is very evident within the Holy Scriptures, and there is no need for much argument, except to deny the scriptures. As I said earlier, we humans should not dictate to God how He should be and how He should not be. What we can do is to receive by faith how He has revealed Himself to us and what He has shown us. The scriptures say:

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever..." (Deuteronomy 29:29).


Up to this point, we have seen in the Bible that God is One but has revealed Himself to us in three Persons of His operation. In the Old Testament, these Persons are God, His Word, and His Spirit, and in the New Testament, after the Word became flesh, these Persons take on the title of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Now let us turn to the Noble Quran and see if, 600 years later, God would change His revelations and teach otherwise.


**THE HOLY TRINITY ACCORDING TO THE NOBLE QURAN**


Since in examining the Holy Trinity in the Bible, we started from the beginning during creation, we must follow the same approach for this subject.


The Holy Spirit according to the Noble Quran.


Just as in the Bible, the Noble Quran agrees that God created the heavens and the earth in six days.

"It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days—and His Throne was upon the water—that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you were to say, 'You are indeed to be raised up after death,' those who disbelieve would surely say, 'This is not but obvious magic'" (Surah 11:7, HUD).


Abdalla Farsy, a Swahili commentator of the Quran, explains in his commentary on this verse:

“And saying that the heavens and the earth were created in six days, God knows Himself, what exactly those six days are according to His own calculation. And that Throne of God we do not know nor do we know about the WATER upon which the Throne was” (Abdalla Farsy, Tafsiri ya Quran Tukufu, Surah 11:7).


It appears that the interpreters of the Quran fail to understand these words about God's creation. But they should not struggle; what they need to do is follow the advice given within the Noble Quran itself. In Surah 10:94, we read:

"So if you are in doubt about what We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you (the Jews and the Christians)" (Surah 10:94).


To understand those days of creation and how the Throne of God was upon the water at that time of creation, one needs to read the Bible as we saw earlier. The Bible states that the days consist of "evening and morning," making up a day (read Genesis 1). Morning and evening can only occur within a 24-hour period. Thus, those six days are days of 24 hours each. The Bible also says:

"For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy" (Exodus 20:11).


"Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work" (Genesis 2:1-2).


The Quran also agrees with the Bible that God was upon the water during creation. According to the Bible, it was the Spirit of God that was hovering over the surface of the waters (Genesis 1:2).


Many verses in the Quran show that the Spirit of God is sent from God to strengthen His servants (Prophets), for example:

"He sends down the angels with the Spirit by His command upon whom He wills of His servants, (saying), 'Warn that there is no deity except Me; so fear Me'" (Surah 16:2, An-Nahl).


"Exalted above (all) degrees, (He is) the Possessor of the Throne. He places the Spirit of His command upon whom He wills of His servants to warn of the Day of Meeting" (Surah 40:15, Al-Mu'min).


Many Quranic commentators like Abdalla Farsy interpret the word “spirit” (rooh) used in these verses of the Quran to mean Revelation or Message or Prophethood that God gives to His prophets. This verse of Surah 40:15 in Abdalla Farsy's commentary reads:

"He is the Exalted in ranks, the Possessor of the Throne. He sends down the Revelation of His command upon whom He wills of His servants to warn of the Day of Meeting" (Abdalla Farsy, Tafsiri ya Quran Tukufu, Surah 40:15).


Here, the Arabic word "rooh" (spirit) is interpreted as "wahyi" (revelation). Perhaps to avoid the direct understanding that God sends His Holy Spirit to the prophets and messengers to give the warning messages. However, this still agrees with the concept we saw in the Bible that prophets delivered their messages under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.


"For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).


Jesus Himself, after becoming flesh (in His humanity), both the Bible and the Quran testify that He was strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit to perform many miracles.

"And We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Spirit. But is it (not) that every time a messenger came to you (Israelites) with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party (of messengers) you denied and another party you killed" (Surah 2:87, Al-Baqara).


"When Allah will say, 'O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay (what was) like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from (killing) you when you came to them with clear proofs, and those who disbelieved among them said, 'This is nothing but obvious magic'" (Surah 5:110, Al-Ma'ida).


These words are also found in the Bible, that Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free" (Luke 4:18).


The lack of detailed explanations about the Holy Spirit and His work in the Quran does not mean that there is no Person of God called the Holy Spirit. This absence might be because the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself was revealed to:

"And they ask you, (O Muhammad), about the Spirit. Say, 'The Spirit is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind has not been given of knowledge except a little'" (Surah 17:85, Al-Israa).


According to this verse, Allah (SWT) says that Muhammad was given only a little knowledge about the matters concerning the Holy Spirit. However, even this little knowledge, when read in the light of the Holy Bible, we can see the consistent chain of teaching about the Holy Spirit.


After seeing the presence of the Holy Spirit from God within the Noble Quran, let us now look at the "Word of God" and His work within the Quran.


**The Word from Almighty God according to the Noble Quran**


In the Bible, we saw that the Word of God created the heavens and the earth. Is there any difference in the Quran? No, we read in Surah 2:117:

"The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is" (Surah 2:117, Al-Baqara).


These words completely align with


 the words in the Holy Bible that:

"By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth ... For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm" (Psalm 33:6,9).


Thus, we see that both the Bible and the Quran agree that the heavens and the earth were created by the Word of God. In the Bible, we saw that this Word became flesh and lived among us. Can we find evidence in the Quran that the Word became flesh?


**The Word that became flesh according to the Noble Quran**


In Surah 3:45, we read:

"(Remember) when the angels said, 'O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near (to Allah)."


In this verse, we are told that Prophet Jesus (Isa) is a Word from God, and He has honor in this world and the Hereafter. As He Himself said in Matthew 28:19, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."


Throughout the Quran, Prophet Jesus (Isa) is described as the Word from God.


Why then do Muslims deny the divinity of Jesus or the Holy Trinity, despite the abundant evidence within the Quran?


To be truthful, there are no scriptures within the Quran that directly deny that Jesus or Prophet Isa is not God, or that reject the concept of the Holy Trinity, i.e., One God in three Persons (note that when the Quran says that God is One, it does not mean denying the Holy Trinity. The Bible also teaches that God is One, but this oneness is in three Persons as we saw in this study).


Many explanations within the Quranic interpretations that deny the divinity of Jesus are enhanced by the explanations or teachings of the interpreters of the Quran. It is evident that these explanations by the interpreters contradict the Quran itself.


Here, I will provide an example of a verse within the Quran that is often used to deny the divinity of Jesus or the Holy Trinity. I will present four (4) Swahili translations of this verse to show how Islamic scholars struggle to conceal the divinity of Jesus. The verse is Surah 4:171.


Translation by Aliy Muhsin Barwaani (Sunni):

"O People of the Scripture! Do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a Messenger of Allah and His Word which He directed to Mary and a soul (created at a command) from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, 'Three'; desist—it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs."


The Holy Quran (Along with Translation and Commentary in Swahili) (Ahmadiyya):

(O here it is made verse 172)

"O People of the Scripture! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a Messenger of Allah and His Word which He directed to Mary and a soul (created at a command) from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, 'Three'; desist—it is better for you: for Allah is only one God. Far exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth. And Allah is sufficient as a Disposer of affairs."


Translation by Ali bin Jumaa bin Mayunga (Shia):

"O People of the Scripture! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a Messenger of Allah and His Word which He directed to Mary and a soul (created at a command) from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, 'Three'; desist—it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is only one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and Allah is sufficient as a Disposer of affairs."


Translation by Abdallah Farsy (Sunni):

"O People of the Scripture! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a Messenger of Allah and (a creature created by) His command (of Allah) which He directed to Mary, and a soul (created at a command) from Him (Allah like any other soul). So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, 'Three'; desist (from that belief); it will be better for you. For Allah is only one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and Allah is sufficient as a Disposer of affairs."


**Analysis of These Translations:**


I have brought this verse in different translations of the Quran to illustrate the intended meaning of this verse. When you carefully read the translation by Sheikh Balwaniy, you will find that this verse informs us of three attributes of Prophet Jesus (Isa), namely:

1. Prophet Jesus is a Messenger of Allah (meaning he was sent by God).

2. Prophet Jesus is the Word from Allah directed to Mary.

3. Prophet Jesus is a soul from Allah.


The attribute of being sent by God the Father.

The attribute that Jesus is the Word from God the Father.

The attribute that Jesus is the Spirit of God.


These three attributes of Jesus are not denied by the Holy Bible as follows:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:16-17).


"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).


"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).


It is impossible to separate God from His Spirit and His Word. If God is Spirit, then it is correct to say that the Word is also Spirit.


All three translations of the Quran I presented here—Sheikh Balwaniy, Ahmadiyya, and Mayunga—agree in the explanation of this verse. These three translators have translated word for word from Arabic in this Surah 4:171. Now let's also examine the translation of Sheikh Abdallah Farsy.


"O People of the Scripture! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a Messenger of Allah and (a creature created by) His command (of Allah) which He directed to Mary, and a soul (created at a command) from Him (Allah like any other soul). So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, 'Three'; desist (from that belief); it will be better for you. For Allah is only one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and Allah is sufficient as a Disposer of affairs."


At first glance, when you analyze this translation, you will find that Sheikh Abdallah Farsy plays a word game. All the words he placed in parentheses ( ) are his additions to guide the reader to understand what he wants it to be. You will find that this translation is intentionally made to protect the Islamic belief that Allah is one, He neither begets nor is He begotten.


"(Saying: 'He is Allah, [who is] One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent')" (Surah 112:1-4, Al-Ikhlas).


This Surah is the most important Surah in the Quran for Muslims. It seems that from childhood, they are required to memorize this Surah. The first pillar in Islam is the Shahada, which is to testify that "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger."

It seems that the entire Islamic system is built on denying the concept of the Holy Trinity.


Unfortunately, Muslims oppose this without having a thorough understanding of this concept of the Holy Trinity. Sometimes they have created a belief that does not even exist among Christians themselves and implanted it in their followers, making Christians appear as they are not, i.e., that Christians believe in three gods.


As we have seen in this study, this belief is entirely contrary to Christianity; Christians do not believe in three gods, and this teaching is not from the Bible, but Christians believe in one God who exists in Three Living Persons, and this is what we call the HOLY TRINITY.


Let's return to the translation of Abdallah Farsy. Let's look at these words he placed in parentheses ( ).


"The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a Messenger of Allah and (a creature created by) His command (of Allah) which He directed to Mary."


Abdallah Farsy here is creating his own sentence by mixing the words of the Noble Quran to call them the Words of Allah. These words mean something completely different from the words of the Quran, which are:

"The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a Messenger of Allah


 and His Word which He directed to Mary, and a soul from Him."


He continues to add his words to distort the translation by saying:

"And a soul from Him (Allah like any other soul)."


Abdallah Farsy wants us to understand here that there are other souls that have come from Allah, so it is not surprising for Prophet Isa. In other words, this Sheikh wants to teach us that God has a “store” or warehouse of human souls which He releases and implants in humans. These words he placed in parentheses are not in the Arabic language in that verse, which is why you will find that the Sheikhs who translated word for word did not include those words.


As in the Bible, the word itself, the Holy Trinity, does not appear in the entire Quran, but by carefully examining the Bible and the Quran, we can see that this concept of the Holy Trinity is a teaching of the Holy Books. Both books agree that there is One Unique God who has no partner in all His works, and He exists in Three Living Persons of His operation: God, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit of God. When it came time to redeem humanity, the Word became flesh, and thus we receive the titles of these Three Persons of God, namely, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.


Shalom,


Dr. Max Shimba

Muhammad was a False Prophet and Not from Allah

Muhammad S.A.W, the Prophet of Islam, has never been, is not, and will never be a True Prophet and Messenger of Allah**


I have read on the community forums blog and seen Muslims persuading others to believe that Muhammad is among the prophets and messengers of the living God, which is not true. Follow along...


**KNOW THE FALSE PROPHETS**

By Teacher Daniel Mwankemwa


**INTRODUCTION:**

The issue of identifying false prophets has been a significant challenge for many people because these false prophets come claiming, "We have been sent by Allah to deliver His message, and thus people must accept, believe, and follow it." When a prophet comes in this manner and meets people who cannot discern prophets and messengers based on God's Word, that is when deception occurs, and various groups of false beliefs emerge.


Here in Tanzania, when you read the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, Article 19 (i-iii), you will find explanations that a follower of any religion has the freedom to change their initial religion and join another religion they deem suitable for them. However, despite that freedom, not every religion (path) is suitable; some lead to eternal death.

Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." (See also Proverbs 16:25).


Among the individuals called prophets and messengers is a man named Muhammad s.a.w ibn Abdullah, ibn Abdu Muttalib, who is a prophet and messenger in the Islamic religion.


You, the reader of this lesson, might wonder how we, who are not Muslims but Christians, begin to question the matters of Muhammad s.a.w, the prophet of Muslims. The answer is that the Quran, used by Muslims, mentions us Christians 62 times, urging us to accept, believe, and eventually follow Muhammad's message, claiming that he is the final prophet and messenger even to us Christians, sent by God.


We read this in the Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), 2:62:

"Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans - those [among them] who believed in Allah (as Muhammad says now) and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve."


For us as Christians, although we are mentioned in this verse, a question arises about Muhammad's prophethood and messengership: "WHAT DID ALLAH FORGET IN HIS COMPLETE WORK OF REDEEMING HUMANITY FROM SIN THAT HE HAD TO SEND MUHAMMAD S.A.W?"


**What is a prophet?**

A prophet is a person officially chosen by divine criteria to deliver God's message to people. In other words, a prophet is a spokesperson for God's mysteries.

A prophet is a person who is a mouthpiece of God. He stands between God and humans, with the duty of delivering God's message to people. When a prophet is a spokesperson for God, he is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and his message is without error. The prophet restrains his own will, self, and thoughts when delivering God's prophetic message. Sometimes God Himself puts His words in their mouths (Deut 18:18, Jer 1:9). A prophet is a servant of God (Zech 1:6) and a messenger of God (2 Chron 36:15). Their prophecies are divided into three categories: prophecies concerning the fate of Israel, prophecies related to the coming of the Messiah, and eschatological prophecies (prophecies about future events). Therefore, the Law and the Prophets relate to the Pentateuch, i.e., Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The prophets are all other books besides the Pentateuch.


The book of the prophet Amos 3:7 "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." The word prophet originates from the Hebrew language and means seer. 1 Sam 9:9 "Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire of God, they would say, 'Come, let us go to the seer,' because the prophet of today used to be called a seer."

This verse shows that true prophets of God must have their revelation or message originating from Allah Himself (the Holy Spirit), or dreams from Him, or visions from Him (Num 12:6), or through holy angels (Dan 8:15-21). Otherwise, they are false prophets.


**Warning from Lord Jesus:**

When Lord Jesus was here on earth, He warned us about recognizing false prophets and messengers before Muhammad was born (he was born in 570 AD), before Islam was established by Muhammad in 610 AD, and before the existence of a book called the Quran. We read these warnings from Lord Jesus in:


Matthew 7:15-16 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them."


Matthew 24:11-13 "And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."


The apostles of Lord Jesus emphasized and reinforced Jesus' warning about recognizing false prophets and apostles.

1 John 4:1-3, 15 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God."


These criteria given by the Holy Bible to identify false prophets and messengers are very important for us to examine in the lives of those who call themselves prophets or messengers.


**A true prophet receives revelation through the Holy Spirit:**

2 Peter 1:20-21 "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."


1 Peter 1:10-11 "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow."


Revelation 19:10 "At this, I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.'"


Thus, the prophets spoke within them being led by the Spirit of Christ Himself, even before He came to the world in the flesh. Is Muhammad s.a.w among them for us to believe his message?


**Muhammad did not know how to read or write**

Quran 7:157

"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet (who can neither read nor write) whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel..."


Another evidence can be found in the book "Life of Prophet Muhammad" page 8 written by Sheikh Abdallah Saleh Al-Farsy. We read as follows in the learning segment:


“There was no reading or writing in the Hijaz region, so the Prophet grew up like other Quraysh without knowing how to read or write. Their education was to learn matters concerning their Bedouin life, such as wars, composing poems to boast their bravery, and giving speeches that could stir people to fight without thinking.”


Thus, Muhammad in his life did not know how to read or write, and that is how he lived his entire life.


**Did Jesus know how to read and write?** Luke 4:16-17. Muslims claim in John 7:14 that people in Jerusalem were surprised by Jesus's knowledge, wondering how He learned without studying. The truth is that Jerusalem was not where Jesus grew up. He grew up in Nazareth, where people knew He could read, which is why He was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah to read.


**How Muhammad (S.A.W) Received His Prophethood and Revelation**


The revelation Muhammad received as the prophet of Muslims is very different from all the prophets before him mentioned in the Holy Bible. The difference is that all the prophets and apostles mentioned in the Holy Bible, written by various authors numbering about 40 over a long period, nearly 1500 years, have a unified revelation (it has conformity). The prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament. This is because the source of the revelation is one, the Holy Spirit.


But for Muhammad s.a.w, the source of his revelation and eventually his prophethood is very controversial, and even followers of that religion do not know the exact truth.


Let's briefly examine this controversy.


When Muhammad s.a.w reached the age of 38, he moved from his home to caves near the city of Mecca. When he reached 40, one day, he encountered a being that Muslims today call the Angel Jibril.


The revelation Muhammad received came with the sound of bells, a red face, and


 sweating. In Bukhari, Hadith 2, Volume 1, Al-Lu’lu Book 3, Page 874 Hadith 1505:

“Hadith of Aisha r.a mother of the believers, said that Al Harith ibn Hisham r.a asked the Prophet of Allah s.a.w, 'O Messenger of Allah, how does the revelation come to you?' The Prophet of Allah s.a.w replied, 'Sometimes it comes like the ringing of a bell, and this is the hardest on me. When it leaves, I have understood what it said. Other times, the angel comes to me in the form of a man, and he speaks to me, and I grasp what he says.' Aisha r.a said, 'And indeed, I saw it coming upon him on a very cold day, and when it left, his forehead was dripping with sweat.'”


Quran 53:2-6 Suratul Najm (The Star) "Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred, nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed, taught to him by one intense in strength - one of soundness."


Muslims claim that this Angel Jibril is the same as the Holy Spirit who revealed the Quran to Muhammad. When we read the explanation of Surah 2:87 in the Quran, it says:

"For Muslims, the Holy Spirit is Angel Jibril, not the one Christians claim as part of the Trinity."


One thing I want you to know is that all Muslims were not given knowledge about the Spirit. This includes their prophet Muhammad. We read this in Quran 3:7:

"He is the one who sent down to you the Book; in it, there are definite verses (clear in meaning) that are the essence of the Book, and others are allegorical. As for those in whose hearts is deviation, they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation. And no one knows its interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, 'We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord.' And no one will be reminded except those of understanding."


Quran 17:85 Suratul Ban Israil (The Children of Israel):

"And they ask you about the soul. Say, 'The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And you have not been given of knowledge except a little.'"


Thus, in Islam, they lack the knowledge of the Spirit according to the Quran. This is why they often focus more on external matters than spiritual ones, such as washing and rinsing the nose with water, believing they have expelled Satan who was in the nose. In the book "Al-Lu'lu' wal-Marjan," Volume 1, Hadith 183, Page 96, it reads:

"Narrated by Abu Huraira (r.a), the Prophet (s.a.w) said, 'When one of you wakes up from sleep, let him wash his nose by sniffing water and blowing it out three times because Satan spends the night in the upper part of his nose.' (Bukhari, Hadith No. 516, Volume 4)"


Having understood how Muslims lack the knowledge of the Spirit, we now question who this angel called Jibril is. Is he an angel of the true God YEHOVA?


The Holy Bible explains about angels who rebelled in heaven and were cast down. 1 Peter 2:4 "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;"


These teachings of the Bible show that there is a group of angels that rebelled and were cast out and are now awaiting judgment. This group today is called Satan, Jinn, or unclean spirits.


But when we read the Quran, a book that came much later in the 7th century (610 AD), after the Bible, we get different information about angels.


Quran 32:13 Suratul As-Sajdah (Prostration):

"If We had willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word from Me will come into effect [that] 'I will surely fill Hell with jinn and men all together.'"


The explanation of this verse in the Quran reads:

"If Allah had willed, He would have created humans like angels who cannot do evil, their nature being to do only good; therefore, they would not be rewarded for their good deeds because they do them effortlessly. But humans are created capable of both, and their joy is more in doing evil."


This verse and its explanation state that all angels of Muhammad's Allah are good; none has sinned, and among those angels, one appeared to Muhammad and gave him prophethood and the revelation of the Quran. Now let’s examine the cave where Muhammad was when he received his prophethood. We will be guided by Islamic religious books.


In the book "Life of Prophet Muhammad" page 16-17 written by Sheikh Abdullah Saleh Al-Farsy, we read as follows:

"Then one day - in the month of Ramadan on the 17th, Monday in the year of his 40th ½ age - the Prophet saw a person standing before him without seeing where he came from. The person said to him, 'Read.' The Prophet replied, 'I do not know how to read for I have not learned to read.' The person came and held him, squeezed him, and said again, 'Read,' and the Prophet gave the same answer. For the third time, the person said, 'Read - Iqraa Bismi Rabbik.' He recited that part of Surah 96 to him. Then the Prophet read it as it was recited to him. This was the first Surah to be revealed in the Quran, although it was not placed at the beginning.


Suddenly, that person (the Angel) disappeared from his sight - he could not see where he went. And the Prophet returned home, fear had gripped him. When he reached home, Lady Khadija thought he had a fever, covered him with clothes, and sat in front of him listening to him groan. When the fever subsided, he explained everything that had happened to Lady Khadija, and she comforted him, assuring him that nothing bad would happen to him. Immediately, she went to her relative - Mr. Waraqa bin Naufal - and gave him the full story. He instructed her to bring Muhammad to him. And the Prophet went and told him the whole story. Mr. Waraqa told him, 'That is Jibril who came to Prophet Musa and Prophet Isa. So be glad that you are the Prophet of this nation, and I wish I were alive to see you standing to reform your people; InshaAllah, I will be your right hand.' They returned home, and all the fear left him."


**He was played with by Satan in the cave:**

In the book titled "Great Prophets and Their Wives" written by Sheikh Abdullah Saleh Al-Farsy, page 12, we read:

"Then the Prophet was frightened and returned to his wife, told her the story, and immediately got a high fever, asking to be covered with clothes. Suddenly he began shaking and groaning, saying, 'I fear that Satan has played with me and driven me mad and deceived me.' Lady Khadija immediately replied, 'Stop that; it will not happen. You cannot be played with by demons. Satan cannot play with a person of your character. You take good care of your relatives, carry the burdens of even those who are not yours, and show people your good qualities that no one else has. You do this and that. Be glad, my brother. Calm your heart, by Allah! I see that you have become a prophet."


In this incident that happened to Muhammad while in the cave, Muslims worldwide say that this is where Muhammad s.a.w received revelation and was given prophethood. But when you reflect on that message, you see that even he did not know what had happened to him in the cave. That is why we read that when he reached home, his wife, Lady Khadija, covered him with clothes thinking he had a fever. Muhammad told his wife what had happened, saying it was "Satan," not mentioning any angel as Muslims want us to believe today. Because if it were an angel as we read in the Bible, he would not have hesitated to identify himself to Muhammad. This is the first point.


**The second point** is that we see a man named Waraqah ibn Naufal, the cousin of Muhammad's wife Lady Khadija. He tells Muhammad that the being that appeared to him was Angel Jibril. He then says, "Be glad that you are the Prophet of this nation!" Was he present in the cave when Muhammad was approached by an unknown being?


**The third point** is that even his wife, Lady Khadija, tells her husband about this prophethood. Was she in the cave? If not, who told her that it was Angel Jibril, given that Muhammad himself, who encountered the being, said he was approached by Satan? Reflect on this.


In the book titled "Tafsir Al-Kashif," by Muhammad Jawad Mughniyyah, page 74, paragraph 7, it reads:

"There is no way to know Iblis, Satan, and Jinn except through revelation (revelation)."


Quran Suratul Sad 38:69 Muhammad is quoted saying:

"I had no knowledge of the exalted assembly of angels..."


Because Muhammad s.a.w did not know angels, he says when you see a donkey bray, it has seen Satan. In the book "The Truthful Trustworthy," Volume 3


-4, Hadith 789, page 38, "The Prophet (s.a.w) said, 'If a donkey brays, it has seen Satan.'"


This matter is different from how the Holy Bible explains about donkeys. God can even use a donkey to speak to humans to inform them of His message. In the book of Numbers 22:22-31, we read about Balaam and how God used a donkey to tell Balaam not to continue his journey after the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing before them with a drawn sword blocking their way. The donkey spoke to Balaam in verse 30-31:

"The donkey said to Balaam, 'Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?' 'No,' he said. Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown."


It appears that in this incident with Balaam, God opened his eyes to see the angel. But for Muhammad, what he sees is Satan. That is why he says when a donkey brays, it has seen Satan.


Therefore, if Muhammad's revelation begins with Satan as explained in the authentic Islamic books, according to the explanation in the book "Tafsir Al-Kashif," it shows that Muhammad's revelation, prophethood, and even apostleship have a significant flaw compared to the message of the prophets and apostles mentioned in the Holy Bible.


In the Bible, Satan is mentioned as being able to disguise himself as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 "For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."


When Muhammad was in Medina, he was asked by the Jews if his revelation came from the true God, by being asked to provide the characteristics of prophets. In response, Muhammad said:

"The Truthful Trustworthy," Volume 3-4, Page 63, Hadith No. 880:

"The Prophet (s.a.w) said, 'There are four qualities of the prophets: modesty, using perfume, marrying (wives), and using the tooth-stick.'"


These are not divine characteristics for a prophet and apostle but merely human ones.


**Prophets and various people in the Bible did not feel shame.**

Read Isaiah 50:7 "Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame."

Psalm 34:5 "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

Psalm 119:46 "I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame."

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

1 Peter 4:16 "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."


Moreover, we see that Muhammad was bewitched. Being bewitched is the state of being affected by dark powers, i.e., witchcraft. Can a prophet or messenger of the true God be bewitched?


In Quran Suratul Ban-Israel, 17:47 "We know very well why they listen when they listen to you, and when they conspire in secret, when the wrongdoers say, 'You follow none but a bewitched man.'"

Also, in Suratul Falaq, 113:1-5 "Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn, from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of those who blow on knots (those who practice witchcraft), and from the evil of an envier when he envies.'"


We read this incident in its explanation in the Quran, 8th edition, page 977, explaining Surahs 113-114:

"The impact of witchcraft on the Prophet (s.a.w). The second question that arises regarding these two surahs is that according to the hadith, witchcraft was performed against the Prophet (s.a.w) and he became ill, and to remove the impact of witchcraft, Jibril (a.s) came and gave him instructions to recite these two surahs. Many researchers, past and present, have opposed this matter, saying that if these hadith are accepted, then the entire system of sharia will be questionable because if the Prophet (s.a.w) could be affected by witchcraft and indeed showed its effects according to these hadith, then we cannot deny or dispute to what extent the enemies were able to make the Prophet (s.a.w) say and do things under the influence of witchcraft, and in his teachings, how much came from Allah and how much resulted from the impact of witchcraft on him. Not only that, but they also say these hadith contradict the Quran, as stated in the Quran, that the false claim of the disbelievers was that the Prophet (s.a.w) was bewitched, and he was affected by witchcraft: 'When the wrongdoers say, 'You follow none but a bewitched man.'' (17:47), but these hadith affirm the claims of the disbelievers that he was indeed affected and guided by witchcraft...According to the hadith narrated by Bukhari, Muslim, Nasai, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, 'Abdur Razzaq, Humaid, Baihaqi, Tabarani, Ibn Sa'd, Ibn Marduyah, Ibn Abi Shaibah, Hakim, Abd bin Humaid, and other Muhaddithin from Aisha (r.a), Zaid bin Arqam, Ibn 'Abbas through numerous chains of narration, it shows that the matter itself has reached the state of complete continuity, except that each hadith is a complete report."


This is another substantial evidence showing that Muhammad's prophethood has issues. If Muslims themselves, according to these hadith, do not know how many of Muhammad's statements came from Allah and how many were influenced by sorcerers, can his revelation and prophethood be from the true God? Reflect on this!


**In the Holy Bible, there is no bewitchment of God's people.**

Numbers 23:23 "There is no divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'See what God has done!'"


According to the Holy Bible, true prophets and messengers of God come from the nation of Israel.

The book of Ezekiel 13:9 "My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD."


Also, according to the Quran, prophets and messengers must come from Jacob, who is the son of Isaac, who is the son of Abraham.

Quran Suratul Al-Ankabut (The Spider), 29:27 "And We gave [to him] Isaac and Jacob, and We placed in his descendants prophethood and [revelation of] the Book, and We gave him his reward in this world, and indeed, he is in the Hereafter among the righteous."


This verse continues to emphasize that prophethood and the Book come through the descendants of Jacob. Unfortunately, Muhammad ibn Abdullah does not come from that lineage or even from Ishmael as Muslims claim. Because Ishmael is a Hebrew like his father, Abraham, who is also a Hebrew (Genesis 14:13), and Muhammad is an Arab from the Quraysh tribe. Recognizing this, we see Muhammad warning others to stay away from his tribe.


**Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 1, Hadith No. 801, and Al-Lu'lu Book 3, Page 1089, Hadith No. 1846:**

"The hadith of Abu Huraira (r.a) states, 'The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) said, 'This Quraysh tribe will destroy people.' They asked, 'What do you advise us?' He said, 'I advise people to separate from it.'"


**Dipping a fly in a drink**

Bukhari Volume 4 Hadith 537: "Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said: If a house fly falls into the drink of any one of you, he should dip it (in the drink) because one of its wings has a disease, and the other has the cure for the disease."


The Apostles of Jesus in the Holy Bible warned us about such filth. In 2 Corinthians 7:1:

"Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."


Among the teachings of Muhammad is that there are ten things that complete Islam, and we read about them in the book "The Truthful Trustworthy," written by Sheikh Said Moosa Al-Kindy of Muscat, Volume 3-4, Page 63, Hadith No. 880:

"The Prophet (s.a.w) said, 'There are ten things that complete Islam: trimming the mustache, letting the beard grow (not shaving it), using the tooth-stick, cleaning inside the nose with water, cutting the nails, washing the hands between the fingers, pl


ucking (or shaving) the armpit hair, shaving the pubic hair, and conserving water. The tenth one, the narrator of the hadith said, I forgot, but he said it must be 'circumcision.'"


**According to the Bible, prophets and messengers are confirmed through miracles.**

Exodus 14:21 "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land."


Acts 19:11-12 "God did extraordinary miracles through Paul so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left them." See also Acts 16:16-18, 20:7-12, and Acts 13:6-12.


The Quran also confirms that prophets and messengers must perform miracles.

Quran 40:78 Suratul Al-Mumin (The Believer):

"And We certainly sent messengers before you. Among them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those [whose stories] We have not related to you. And it was not for any messenger to bring a sign except by permission of Allah."


**Muhammad was not given any miracle to confirm his claims of prophethood and messengership.**

Quran 29:50 Suratul Al-Ankabut (The Spider):

"And they say, 'Why are not signs sent down to him from his Lord?' Say, 'The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner.'"


In the Quran, there is a verse that we should all reflect on together. In Suratul An-Nisaa (Women), 4:79, "Whatever of good reaches you is from Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you is from yourself. And We have sent you to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allah as a witness."


This verse shows that Muhammad, the prophet of Muslims, was sent to people as a messenger, with Allah being just a witness. A witness is never the doer but merely the observer of the deed. Our question is, who are the people who sent Muhammad to the people? Because we saw earlier that after Muhammad left the cave, his wife Lady Khadija told him about the prophethood, and Mr. Waraqah ibn Naufal said to Muhammad, "So be glad that you are the prophet of this nation" before the Quran. Are these not the ones referred to as "We have sent you" mentioned in the verse above? Reflect on this!


Muslims claim that Muhammad was sent by their Allah, who is the King of Kings. But when we read the Holy Bible in Revelation 17:14, "They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers."


In Revelation 19:11-16, "I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice, He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh, He has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords."


Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. But when we read the authentic Islamic hadith, they explain that the greatest enemy of Allah (s.w) the God whom Muslims worship is the one called the King of Kings.

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith No. 225, Al-Lu’lu wal-Marjan, Volume 3, Hadith No. 1385:

"The hadith of Abu Huraira (r.a) states, 'The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) said, 'The most disgraceful and wicked name before Allah is a person calling himself Malikul-Amlak (King of Kings).'"


Therefore, the revelation Muhammad received, which he wants us Christians to believe, did not come from the God we believe in, Jesus Christ. Instead, according to the authentic Islamic books, it originated from being played with by Satan. Therefore, to us, he becomes a false prophet and messenger.


The Holy Bible has warned us to test the apostles and prophets. In Revelation 2:1-2, "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false."


According to these verses, Muhammad s.a.w does not deserve to be called a prophet and messenger of the true God, but he falls into the category of false prophets and apostles. He is not suitable for us.


Contact us for questions, comments, or to seek advice: maxshimbaministries@gmail.com



Shalom,


Max Shimba, a servant of Jesus Christ, the Almighty God. Titus 2:13

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