Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall. Proverbs (16:18)
The so-called ‘argument’ as to Paul’s ‘role’ in Christianity should now be settled and settled truly and fairly from the Quran and other related historical settings and evidences that agree with the Quran. This is especially true when we consider Paul as what has been called in these writings the ‘perfect foil’ for historical references – 2Peter (3: 15-17).
Now we, with the benefit of all the words put out on this website by this author on this topic together with the following 3 Quranic verses, should have a better feeling about the truth of this much maligned and, frankly seen at first glance, only a minor topic.
HE it is WHO has sent down to you the Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, SEEKING DISCORD, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: “We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our LORD:” and NO ONE will grasp the Message EXCEPT men of understanding. Q (3: 7)
BEFORE YOU a community asked such {type of dangerous} questions, then on that account they became disbelievers. Q (5: 102)
The Religion before ALLAH is Islam (submission to HIS WILL): Nor did the people of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, {only} AFTER KNOWLEDGE HAD COME TO THEM. But if any {one} should deny the SIGNS of ALLAH, {note} ALLAH is swift in calling to account. Q (3: 19)
So that story, hopefully, can be put to bed! They say that the knowledge of such things is scattered all over the place. Tell them that if it is true guidance you are seeking, it will be found in the Quran (for those who understand) and the ‘approved’ sayings of the Prophet (pbh).
Some benefits can be provided by these writings about Paul especially in interfaith dialog. The reasons for this is that the Christian ‘hero’ does not become a vilified-in-your-face villain but one who is misconstrued and misunderstood. This also brings about an attempt for the Christian at understanding the New Testament in a better way as to cross-referencing various ‘troublesome’ verses (contents) to bring them into a ‘oneness of accord’. It is very essential to have a ‘oneness of accord’ if people want to have a ‘common ground’ to stand on.
For example, the notion of rose from the dead and the crucifixion of the flesh ideas have different meanings for different people. Furthermore, there would hopefully occur a greater appreciation for the Quran and the religion of Islam as prophesied by Jesus (pbh) as well as other notable prophets. This is an important point to make in reference to the first tier (native Arabic speakers who should automatically know this by being brought up under an ‘Arabic’ understanding and the second tier featuring the so-called ‘reverts’ or those whose culture and language are ‘new’ to the ‘Islamic experience’.
In an interesting side note, some may have noticed that in original Christianity or Jewishness of the belief in the prophethood of Jesus the Christ (pbh) there occurred by consent a first tier (Jews who had knowledge of the Mosaic practices who took Jesus as the real Messiah and other converts who were not Jews and who did not have this knowledge (Gentiles or the second tier). Moreover, the intuitive searcher gets to see the harmonized ONE GOD FOR ALL concept and a better coordination of the truer meaning of the ‘Spirit of truth’ as to what that entails.
Then of course, it is up to the ‘student of religion’ or seeker of truth to place his or her own value on what is called ISLAM such that the acceptance-toleration point becomes that much stronger when one is self-convinced of the matter – one way or the other.
Those ‘for whom the bell tolls’ seemingly will become more attuned to follow that which is more acceptable to their CREATOR LORD. Yet they will have a choice as to rejecting ‘common sense’ and go their own way unhindered by insults or threats but rather hang themselves by their own petard (as a witness against themselves) in their blissful ignorance with no acceptable excuse to offer for one’s refusal to come to the REALITY WHICH IS THE ONE GOD.
The standard of judgement is that Muhammad (pbh) judges this Ummah (peoples of that faith) and this Ummah judges the other Ummahs as to the unity of truth of what is to be followed. So it behooves this Ummah to ‘bring forth’ the ‘correctness of the Deen’ as to the universal behavior patterns found in the broad discussion of not just a religion but a way of life as a belief system!
WE have made you a just nation {so} that you will be witnesses over mankind and Muhammad will be a witness over you… Q (2:143)
As for the ‘invisible’ records talked about in my last two articles, it is common sense to depend upon the Quran and the Prophet’s Sunnah as the only REAL dependable source of correct and guiding knowledge. The reasons for this are many but one can say that the ‘channel’ for correctness or the correct interpretation of such hidden records is NOT guaranteed to be accurate.
With a true prophet, and Prophet Muhammad (pbh) was the LAST TRUE Prophet sent by the Creator LORD, one is guaranteed 100% accuracy as that line of inquiry is brought down and guarded by Gabriel the Angel of Revelation. Whereas ‘other’ existential avenues can and often are ‘touched’ by the ‘jinn’ or Satans, thereby giving only partial truths mixed with lies.
So, if one is to base one’s faith (the person’s bedrock for life or purpose of existence) on anything, one should base it on that which was sent down as a provable and concrete guidance for mankind.
…And ALLAH would never cause your faith to be lost {if you are of the truthful}. Truly, ALLAH is full of Kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind. Q (2: 143)
Moreover, one should keep in mind the 3 Quranic passages used near the beginning of this article. That is to see how dangerous misconceptions based on ‘vague’ interpretations can be as they might wreak havoc with one’s true faith and bring a believer into disrepute and one who is rejected.
Another major reason to avoid any possible confusion is that Islam is ‘GOD ORIENTED’ which means the true emphasis is on HIM and HIS BEING the SELF-SUFFICENT, THE SELF-SUBSTAINING – ALLAH – AL-SAMAD, and the ALL-POWERFULL, DOMINENT – AL-QAHHAR. Hence other things become only secondary.
Naturally, this might not go down well with the ‘new agers’ of the new age philosophy peoples who find the ‘razzle-dazzle’ of often times ‘bizarre’ ideas too tempting to let go of. The basic problem here with these new agers is that their information lacks a common thread for testing going back thousands of years and which shows variations on interpretations and that the so-called ‘higher interpretations’ or ‘higher knowledge’ they claim to get may vary extremely between different sets of people.
There are lot of examples to be given but we can take just one. Blessed be the poor* for they are the ones to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven (New Testament). Very few people actually like being poor and find it a real ‘testing ground’ for their souls or if one prefers, faith. A lot of pain and hardships happens to people who are not on top of the situation they face.
For example, the Palestinian people face a tremendous block of moral, physical, mental and spiritual blockade. One must undergo various heart wrenching trials at times to prove one’s actual worth.
ALLAH alludes to the idea that one should not think that one can just walk into a room and snap his or her fingers and have all that one wants just as those from the other nations had to go through trials of hardship IF they wanted to achieve Paradise.
The Prophet (pbh) declared, “If the unbeliever does a good deed, he is compensated in this world; as for the BELIEVER, ALLAH saves HIS divine compensation for him in the HEREAFTER but grants him rewards for his obedience in this world. (Muslim)
This is because HE is the AL-MUQSIT or the EQUITABLE with Perfect Fairness.
So if ALLAH decides to afflict a person with misfortune {as a test}, the faithful servant takes it as a blessing in disguise. As the Prophet (pbh) declared, “Any Muslim harmed by a thorn or anything above it will be forgiven his bad deeds and his sins will be shed like the leaves from a tree.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
*If we think of a poor person as someone who has no arsenal in his repertoire to defend himself such that he ‘humbly takes it in’, we could imagine a person poor in strutting and prideful ability but actually rich in patience and acceptance that ALLAH is the SOVERIGN KING and that we are wholly and completely depended upon HIM – for all things.
So, it is the shedding of the ‘ego’ and the attainment of the ‘Mantel of Faith’ that makes the man poor BUT RICH BEYOND BELIEF for the purposes of the ‘Hereafter’. And this is an example of understanding the meaning behind the words – ‘Blessed be the poor for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven’.
Actions do speak louder than words and honesty, if it is shallow, no matter how smart and successful the man is, will not be a comfort for the beholder on the Last Day of Judgment when REALITY takes center stage. Neither money, a great brain or a successful career will be a protection against the Fire for it is truly what is in the secret reaches of the heart that will determine man’s fate in part as ALLAH WILLS.
The man we can study concerning this was Heraclius Augustus who was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 610 to 641 AC. He was known for his organizational prowess and intuitive abilities. He was especially good at organizing departmental things and he is the one who helped institute Greek as the official language of the Eastern Roman Empire. Due to his ‘interests’ in future predictions and so-called religious ‘insights’, he could be held up as an example to the new age groups.
In a sound and clear hadith concerning this man, Heraclius encountered some Arab folk who were then enemies of Prophet Muhammad (pbh). His keen insight allowed him to ‘squeeze’ the truth out of one of Prophet Muhammad’s then enemies as he was interested in the dynamics of the possibility of another prophet being sent to mankind after the lifting up of Jesus (pbh).
He is recorded as saying to the Arab (Abu Sufyan ibn Harb) after the interview had just concluded, “If what you have said is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet and I knew that he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you; and if I could reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.”
It sounds like this ‘Caesar’ was really serious. Here is a man who has quite a kingdom on his hands and a lot of wealth under his feet. So will he be true to himself or will the call of worldly goodies corrupt his soul?
A little time later, he had a small revolt on his hands due to the letter which came from the Prophet inviting him to Islam and which could have been overcome with minimal courage but he chose a different path. The path he chose was the path of temporal, worldly glory that in fact belies his own ‘straight off-the-cuff words’.
Anyway, we know by studying him that he was connected to scholarly individuals from Rome who had the ‘knowledge’ that a NEW PROPHET would be sent to the world after the Resurrection of Jesus (pbh). It wasn’t magic or wishful thinking that provided the answers concerning the next prophet after Jesus. Nor does it take a genius to figure out the ‘logic’ behind the message of what Jesus (pbh) left mankind. Simply put, it was the actual studying of these records but then cheating on their message which actually occurred.
But here is the rub! Even though one’s mind can lock on to the core of the problem and the correct answer is achieved, it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that nobody can advance to a position that has been denied them by the ONE GOD. This shows that the ONE GOD is NOT ONLY 100% IN CONTROL BUT ALSO HE IS THE ONE WHO MUST BE WORSHIPED AND THE ONE WHO MUST BE APPROACHED – even if the person is a king or a clown.
This may cause philosophical debates on the ‘Free Will of mankind’ but it shouldn’t due to the fact that whatever occurred before hand (in whatever fashion or style it occurred) the penalty must be incurred if the individual doesn’t feel remorse or change his ways, but will in the future ‘incline’ to the disposition that got him into that predicament in the first place – and this ‘future’ activity is known beforehand by GOD. Why forgive a person who ‘rejoices in and feels comfort in disreputable errors’? In other words, if the heart goes astray, why force it to get back on course IF THAT HEART REFUSES UNDER IT’S OWN FREE WILL THE ‘CALL’.
So, it is ‘what a man’s hands have passed on before him’ (Quran) and ‘that GOD will not be mocked for whatever a man sows, he shall reap’ (New Testament). Therefore, it is a ‘repercussion’ which is based on the actions done in the free will mode.
Whoever has {the mark of salvation found in the heart} will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does NOT have {this mark}, even what he has will be taken away from him {and his deeds will be turned to dust rendering them null and void} Matthew (13: 12)
The thoughtful man or woman who likes detective stories may want to understand what brought about Heraclius’ notion of the positive belief that Prophet Muhammad (pbh) was the real deal. The only tools we have to figure this out are history, logic and of course the Quran.
The Christian religion has kept quite a historical record of its latent ‘birth’ going back to nearly 115 AC. Before that the history of the so-called church is very iffy. However, thanks to fairly good record keeping especially after 140-145 AC, most but not all events of note have been recorded.
The great church historian who literally dug somewhat accurately through the damages of time was Irenaeus. He is the one who helped to keep lots of information from being lost especially about radically different ‘early Christian beliefs’ but his knowledge on other important aspects was somewhat spotty.
It is not a far-fetched idea that ‘Christian’ thinkers with the available manuscripts and a knowledge of history would be able to figure things out concerning a prophet to be given after Jesus (pbh). First, the Christian faith was rocked by a man called Montanus. In around 135 or so AC before the complete New Testament was put in place, he claimed to be the Spirit of truth as to fulfilling prophecy found in the Gospel of John.
He almost got away with it too! Many Christians throughout the Empire were beginning to follow his notions and believing in his claims. Even the Pope was caught off guard and was being swayed that this was indeed the Spirit of truth sent to redeem the TRUTH.
To make a long story short, the powers that be were not going to permit this to happen and so the rightful idea that a Spirit of truth was going to be a man and the man was going to be a prophet was conveniently and very slightly altered by those in charge of the records. However, when one looks at the Old Testament, New Testament and the Quran, man is indeed called a spirit that happens to take on or become flesh as related in my previous articles (All in the Family and Lies, Lies and More Lies).
Secondly, The Acts of the New Testament declares quite emphatically that one from the Semitic line, but who will not be a Jew, would come with the doctrine that had to be followed – Acts (3: 22-23)
Combine this with certain passages in the Gospel of John 16: (7-15), for example, which openly and forthrightly declares what his job will entail and the logical man or woman can only come to one poignant conclusion even if his only language was Greek. That conclusion is that an Arab will inherit prophethood and bring the TRUTH out into the open, although the Gospel of John nor the Acts do not mention which Arab country will produce that mighty soul. So, by carefully studying the following, it should be easy to comprehend the logic used by those who should have known.
For Moses truly said to the fathers, “A Prophet shall the LORD your GOD raise up unto you {from} your brethren, like unto me; him shall you hear in ALL THINGS whatsoever he shall say to you {from his reception of REVELATION and his discourses on behavior – social/religious etc., his Sunnah)}.
And it shall come to pass {as a judgment on the peoples in this kingdom belonging to the Messiah} that every soul {raised up}, which will NOT HEAR {NOT OBEY THE RULES LAID DOWN BY THAT PROPHET under the Guidance of GOD}, SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE.” Acts (3: 22-23)
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I do not leave, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I {he} will {be} sent to you.
And when he comes, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of sin, because they do not really believe in me;
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father {GOD}, and you will see me no more {in this capacity};
Of judgment, because the prince {future leader} of this world is {has been} judged {completed his sojourn – mission}.
I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.
However when he, the Spirit of truth, will come, he will guide you into {all that is truth}: for he shall not speak of {by his authority} himself; but whatsoever he shall hear {as in Revelation}, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come {the future}.
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine {mantel of prophethood}, and shall show it unto you.
All things that the Father {has given me} are mine: therefore I said that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. John 16 (7:15)
That is the answer all right but NOW we have a problem. The problem is WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE and WILLFUL THINKING. So in stages, we can solve this puzzle.
- People who don’t like change and want to protect their positions will lie and cover up the facts especially if they are in control of the records (members of any religion or cult). They do this for several reasons. One reason is that they want to maintain their status as top dogs, that is, they want to remain in power with what that entails.
- Secondly, they hope they can take the ALL-KNOWING, THE ALL-AWARE by stealth and a form of ‘greasy’ subservience will suffice for their protection on the Last Day, if, of course, they even truly believe in the Last Day. Finally, even though they ‘covered up’ the material, they believe at least they will have a spokesperson who will plead for their ‘crimes’ and make it all go away. As if the Christ will support perjury! But Jesus (pbh), even in their own Holy Book the New Testament, has declared otherwise!**
- When one looks at Heraclius’ words, they sound pretty but his ultimate actions were in the reverse. Why? Well, he was smart enough to put two and two together (“If what you have said is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet and I KNEW that he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you (unlettered Arabs of Arabia but from the cultured Arabs of Syria); and if I could reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet”). See # 1 for the answer.
- The Quran talks about these people who like to play ‘games’ with their Sanctified Scriptures for various reasons one of which is to keep the status quo. This is as one who hurls an abusive insult to the AL-‘ALEEM (The ALL-KNOWING, The OMNICIENT and the AL-KHABEER or the ALL-AWARE. But most refuse to submit.
And from those who call themselves Christians, WE took their covenant but they have abandoned a good part of the Message {through various methods} that was sent to them. So WE planted among them enmity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection and ALLAH will inform them of what they used to do. Q (5: 14) **Did they forget that Jesus (pbh) in their own scriptures (Gospel of Matthew) has told them to ‘get away from me, you who work evil?’ And it truly is evil to cover up the truth especially when one is ‘out for personal, worldly gain’ or just doesn’t want to ‘fess up’ to reality.
Truly, it is a hard thing to change one’s life style or get out from one’s ‘comfort zone’. It takes some effort in doing so and ‘society’ in general is not geared to bend over backwards to help the ‘believer’.
So the above detective story has deep, dark roots showing worldly corruption via manipulation of the Sacred Texts directly or indirectly (verbally) in order to ‘keep the status quo’ or for certain material gains. Really! As if the ONE GOD doesn’t notice!!! How incredibly weak is that belief!
The present state of the world is filled with a lot of angst, tragedy and confusion. It is not a matter of ‘if’ things will collapse but ‘when’ will they collapse. So far we seem to be in a holding pattern while sinking gradually into self-destruction. And that what was promised, by Prophet Muhammad (pbh) the Spirit of truth, is looming on the horizon. This is a necessary tragedy that will not go away but there are some good thoughts to come away from this sickness of morass.
Because life continues after death in some form or other (man is spirit after all), only on the Last Day of Judgment does man awake in full to realize his ‘fate’ or true position. So the rigors of life are not over until it is really over. And on this planet or sphere of influence things are not often as they seem.
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas reported: One day I was riding a camel behind the Prophet (pbh) when he said, “Young man I will teach you some words. Be mindful of ALLAH and HE will protect you. Be mindful of ALLAH and you will find HIM before you. If you ask {for anything} ask of ALLAH; if you need help, seek help of ALLAH. Know that if all the world were to gather together to give you the benefit of anything, it would {only} be something that ALLAH had already prescribed {preordained} for you, and that if they gathered together to harm you with anything, this would only be as ALLAH ordained. The pens have been lifted and the pages are dry.” (Tirmidhi)
Indeed! The pens have been lifted but that does not mean one has to be fatalistic. Even though there is an increasing aura of a lack of political awareness and social and moral insights in today’s world, a free man can still turn to his LORD for sustenance and awareness towards acceptable (by HIM) behavior.
As with the hadith above, and in knowing that ‘physically’ our lives will not go on forever in its present state, turning to the ONE WHO IS THE TRUTH IN EARNEST APPLICATION OF WHAT WAS GIVEN BY THAT SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS THE ONLY LOGICAL WAY TO GO. And it is not quantity that brings the reward but EARNEST QUALITY that proves to be enduring.
Such is the COMMADING POWER and ABILITY of GOD WHO is THE MOST GREAT – ALLAH THE (AL- KABEER.)
Prophet Muhammad (pbh) said: ALLAH said: I am as MY servant thinks of ME. I am with him when he mentions ME. If he mentions ME to himself, I mention him to MYSELF; and if he mentions ME in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly greater than it. If he draws near to ME a hand’s length, I draw near to him an arm’s length. And if he comes to ME walking, I go to him running. (Bukhari)
Do you think that you could enter Paradise without having suffered like those (believers) who passed away before you? Misfortune and hardship befell them, and so shaken were they that the Apostle, and the believers with him, would exclaim, “When will ALLAH’S aid come?” Oh, verily, ALLAH’S aid is {always} near! Q (2: 140)
If a wound has touched you, be sure a similar wound has touched others. Such days (of varying fortunes) WE give to men and men by turns: that ALLAH may know those that believe, and that HE may take to HIMSELF from your ranks Martyr-witnesses (to Truth). And ALLAH does not love those that do wrong. Q (3: 140)
