Use of the symbols {} is done for explanation and clarity purposes only.
“It doesn’t matter how you got there; it matters what you do when you get there,”
Every religion has had an evil antagonist attached to it that eventually causes the unity of its future followers to become fragmented. With Islam this evil being was
‘Abdullah ibn Saba, nicknamed ibn Al-Sawda (the black).
He was a Yemini Jew who pretended to convert to Islam and whose ‘tricks’ and hypocrisy caused major problems amongst the growing Islamic community continuing right up to the present day! Refer to the writing entitled, ‘The Problem with Shi’ahism’ for a detailed discussion on this wretched, evil plotter.
If every religion has had this problem, then who is the chief candidate for the devil in human form for the Christian Religion? It would have to be a man who could successfully, even beyond his death, affect the original teachings of Jesus (pbh) and try to kill it like a slow poison.
The chief candidate for this ‘Christian’ horror show is a man called Marcion. And the way he accomplished his dastardly feat was both clever and simplistic. Decades before this evil shadow came upon the scene there stood upon the preaching stage a man who strove hard to bring others (especially non-Jews towards the end of his career) to the truth in Jesus (pbh).
His name was Paul of Tarsus and he brought some controversy with his style of preaching.
Paul was part Gnostic, fully Jewish and loyal to the propagation and dissemination of a wave of thinking concerning the ‘new realities’ facing mankind. However, in some of his thinking, which required breaking out of the ‘old mold’ but still understanding the Old Testament’s purpose and laws, some eventual problems would arise.
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 2 Thessalonians (2:15) and;
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ {what he taught}. Colossians (2:8) and;
Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. Ephesians (2:20)
Some eventual problems would arise, however, for many of the Jews in his day enjoyed studying the life more than their scriptures and could not be persuaded that their Messiah had already entered the world. And some of these problems occurred due to spiritualism or Gnostic teachings that seemed too ethereal for the general population.
2Peter 3(15-18) – written by Peter’s secretary
Bear in mind that our lord’s patience {as he practiced in his life} means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the {type of} wisdom that GOD gave him.
He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other {Old Testament} Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, {so} be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.
Paul himself realized this when he made it known:
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking PERVERSE THINGS, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. Acts (20:29-31)
We know that the writer of Acts which is a fair historical document, was written by one of Paul’s traveling companions and an obvious devotee of his. And this same man was probably the author of The Gospel of Luke which is one of the best documents found in the New Testament showing, when studied with earnest uprightness, the most damning affirmation AGAINST THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (pbh).
We also know that for over 4 decades (Paul was executed in around 66 AC) the true and trustworthy real followers of Jesus (pbh) (any remaining original Disciples or second generation followers (the Presbyters) or even third generation (initiates) had no major complaints against Paul of Tarsus. Their extant writings found in the New Testament, for example, do not condemn him.
The Jews, however, or strictly Jewish sects did have some reservations from minor to major complaints. The Jews, or the anti-Jesus crew, hated Paul as a traitor to their faith for the good reason that he represented a Jew who ‘loved’ Jesus (pbh). Some of the Jewish/Christian-types did have some reservations but this was mostly expressed decades long after Paul died.
Was Jesus (pbh) given any authority to elevate a change to Judaism in the first place? If he was just a Nabi-type prophet, the answer would be NO!
However, he was a Rasul-type of prophet with a New but clearer Testament which agreed in principle with the Old Testament and gave more of a relief to those who were to profess the ‘new faith’ as they were to be rewarded.
(I {Jesus} have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear ALLAH, and obey me. Quran (3:50)
Marcion who was born in 85 AC, to put it frankly, wanted to be an illustrious member of the newly forming and developing sect which is now known as Christianity. To muscle his way in on the groundbreaking floor of Christian development, he presented several things for his ‘acceptable membership’ such as:
- Presenting the ‘church’ his own Gospel which seemed like a deformed Gospel of Luke.
- Presenting several of Paul’s (lost) Letters that admittedly were in rough shape but which he kindly refurbished them (to his liking no doubt!!!).
- Arguing with high Gnostic prestidigitation that there were actually TWO GODS: The bad evil God of the Jews and the Great and Wonderful God of the Christians!
- Bringing an offering of a large sum of money to ingratiate himself with the top officials in this religious group.
- Making the first so-called Christian Canon (books to include in the ‘New’ Testament) opposing the Jewish influence (laws and dictates) thus forcing Christendom to come up with a real New Testament (Canon) later on.
Marcion didn’t make much headway with his so-called peers because he tried to muscle in on an already established group of philosophers. He was finally excommunicated (kicked out of the Church) in 144 AC as a person too radical and too disruptive to the Church. After all, he believed that all the ‘original’ Disciples were false and only Paul was to be believed!
HOWEVER, THE DYE WAS CAST!!! ONE COULD GET RID OF THE CLOWN IN FRONT OF THEM BUT STILL SOME OF HIS IDEAS SEEMED SWEET TO THE EAR!!!
We are not Jews in Christ! We are separate and superior! And they had some of the (‘doctored’) letters of Paul which would give them a so-called ‘new insight’ into the magical realm of ‘GOD’s so-called SON’! It wasn’t going to happen overnight but it most definitely was going to happen.
Well the damage was done and the philosophy of the so-called ‘superior religion’ could proceed with more and more folly throughout the ages. The folly throughout the ages became like a little snowball that one rolls down a long and steep incline. It starts off small and slow and then it picks up speed and at the same time it grows in size! Here, we are talking about a philosophy or Creed of belief.
To understand the ‘folly throughout the ages’ bit, one can download the book called, Jesus Man Messenger Messiah by Abu Zakariya. Although this book paints Paul in a bad light, one should remember that the only perfect work on the face of the Earth is the Arabic Quran (Zephaniah 3: 9-10) and Quran 41 (40-42):
Without a doubt it {The Quran} is (announced) in the {previous} revealed Books of {the} former peoples. Q (26: 196)
Zephaniah 3: 9-10 (New International Version)
Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people {Gentiles}, will bring ME offerings.
Zephaniah 3: 9-10 (21st Century King James Version)
For then will I return to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve HIM with one accord.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia MY suppliants–even the daughter of MY dispersed–shall bring MINE offering.
Verily, those who turn away from our Signs/Revelations are not hidden from US. Is he who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what you will. Verily, HE is ALL-SEER of what you do.
Verily, those who disbelieved in the Reminder when it came to them (shall receive the punishment). And verily, it is an honorable well-fortified respected BOOK (because it is ALLAH’s SPEECH, and HE has protected it from {lasting} corruption).
Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it, {for} it is sent down by the ALL-WISE, WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE! Quran (41:40-42)
In every religion there has been people who try to alter the truth as it has been presented for one reason or the other. One such piece of nonsense is an obvious ‘false hadith’ found in Nasa’i which has been used to show how Jesus (pbh) was not crucified which of course he wasn’t!
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, “Just before Allah raised `Isa to the heavens, `Isa went to his companions, who were twelve inside the house. When he arrived, his hair was dripping water and he said, `There are those among you who will disbelieve in me twelve times after he had believed in me.’ He then asked, `Who volunteers that his image appear as mine, and be killed in my place. He will be with me (in Paradise)’. One of the youngest ones among them volunteered and `Isa asked him to sit down. `Isa again asked for a volunteer, and the young man kept volunteering and `Isa asking him to sit down. Then the young man volunteered again and `Isa said, `You will be that man,’ and the resemblance of `Isa was cast over that man while `Isa ascended to heaven from a hole in the house. When the Jews came looking for `Isa, they found that young man and crucified him. Some of `Isa’s followers disbelieved in him twelve times after they had believed in him. They then divided into three groups. One group, Al-Ya`qubiyyah (Jacobites), said, `Allah remained with us as long as He willed and then ascended to heaven.’ Another group, An-Nasturiyyah (Nestorians), said, `The son of Allah was with us as long as he willed and Allah took him to heaven.’ Another group, Muslims, said, `The servant and Messenger of Allah remained with us as long as Allah willed, and Allah then took him to Him.’ The two disbelieving groups cooperated against the Muslim group and they killed them. Ever since that happened, Islam was then veiled until Allah sent Muhammad.” This statement has a (supposed) authentic chain of narration leading to Ibn `Abbas, and An-Nasa’i narrated it through Abu Kurayb who reported it from Abu Mu`awiyah.
The following is NOT part of the above hadith and is very probable as it does not contradict the original occurrences:
‘Many among the Salaf stated that `Isa {Jesus} asked if someone (at some time) would volunteer for his appearance to be cast over him, and that he will be killed instead of `Isa, for which he would be his companion in Paradise’.
This so-called hadith happens to contradict the Gospel of Luke and the Glorious Quran in that the Disciples were very much afraid when Jesus (pbh) appeared in the room in their midst after his supposed crucifixion. This is so because they had been warned by some of the ‘70’ who witnessed the ‘crucifixion’ that Jesus (pbh) was actually killed!
Therefore, the Gospel of Luke and the Quran give the strongest impression that the Disciples were REALLY TERRIFIED WHEN JESUS APPEARED SUDDENLY BEFORE THEM (the occasion for the REAL Last Supper). As a result of this unexpected and highly improbable appearance (according to their knowledge), they challenged Jesus (pbh) to prove that he was NOT A SPIRIT BUT A REAL, BREATHING HUMAN BEING WHO IN SOME STRANGE FASHION HAD ESCAPED SURE DEATH!!!
While they were telling these things, he himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.
And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
See my hands and my feet, that I am he {your master teacher}. Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see me having.” Luke (36-39)
Remember when (the Disciples) said: “O Jesus, son of Mary can your LORD send down to us a table spread (with food) from heaven” {to be secure in the knowledge that you are telling us the truth behind this event}. Jesus said {while feeling the amazement and possible disbelief in his physical presence}: “FEAR ALLAH, IF YOU ARE INDEED BELIEVERS.”
They said: “We wish {but} to eat thereof and TO SATISFY OUR HEARTS {AS TO YOUR REAL PRESENCE} AND TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE INDEED TOLD US THE TRUTH AND THAT WE OURSELVES WILL BE {FAITHFUL} WITNESSES {to this event}.” Quran (5:112-113)
The Disciples were witnesses to many miracles by Jesus (pbh) so they were NOT talking about some run-of-the-mill miracle. Most of them were positive that he died because it was MADE TO APPEAR TO ALL THAT HE WAS BEING CRUCIFIED!!!
The Disciples forgot (easily to do when under extreme pressure) their own Jewish scriptures about ‘this man’ NOT BEING HURT BY HIS DETRACTORS as found below:
How can one being with their ‘beloved master’ for several years and learning from him be flighty and weak as to forget their own loyalty to their master?
The above false hadith has the Disciples in the know that Jesus (pbh) was going to be spared the pangs of crucifixion and that there would be one who would take his place! Hence, their actions as recorded in the Gospel of Luke and in the Quran don’t make any sense at all if they were actually in on the ‘PLAN’!!!
According to the Old Testament prophecy about Jesus (pbh) which agrees with the Quran:
No evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent {you will be born sinless and STAY sinless}.
For HE {GOD} will give HIS angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways {lest you should slip}.
On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Because he {MY faithful servant} cleaves to ME in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him {keep him safe}, because he knows MY NAME {he is faithful in bowing down his will to MY WILL}.
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will RESCUE HIM AND HONOR HIM. Psalm 90 (10-15)
O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount MY favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold! You make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by MY leave, and you breathe into it and it becomes a bird by MY leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers, by MY leave. And behold! You bring forth the dead by MY leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) you when you did show them the clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.’ Quran (5:110)
Further evidence for this comes from the idea that the Quran has NOT missed anything! And that is truly a miracle for such a small BOOK that is Eternal through the Ages full of knowledge and concise!!!
As to other Holy Books not only do we have ALLAH’s assurance that there are 3 basic ways that people have changed their Holy Works but we also have the guarantee from ALLAH that these Books still have enough of the truth in them such that ‘careful’ people who follow these works, (these works also tell the people to go to Muhammad (pbh)), will get to Paradise.
Those who believe (in the Quran) and those who follow {in earnest and NOT for show but in TRUTH} the {still extant} Jewish (scriptures) and the {still extant} Christian {scriptures} and the Sabians {and} ANY who believe in ALLAH and the Last Day and work righteousness shall have their reward with their LORD {and} on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Q (2: 62)
Therefore, people must be able to find the truth within side their current pages and overcome minor but SIGNIFICANT CHANGES! This would negate the idea that those people of the past had a totally different and hidden Bible.
As was said before in the writing ‘The Simplicity of Islam as to Being the Religion of Logical Truth’, there are basically 3 ways that the former scriptures have been occasionally manipulated:
- Through forgeries (changing vowels/consonants – key letters) in words or
- Through subtracting or adding words not found in the original) or
- Through mistaken concepts (dogma) taught and fostered by a corrupt priest-class/leadership and followed by a careless people who are happy in general in that particular concept laid down by the corrupters, for example as is found in Q (2:79) found below.
These three instances of corruption have been mentioned in the Quran!!! Part number 3 can be exemplified by the notion of the concept of trinity which is NOT found in either the Old Testament or the New Testament but has been propagated through church philosophy and proclaimed to be a part of religious belief/truth by many Christians.
Then Woe to those who write the BOOK with their own hands {and include false assumptions as meanings for the text}, and then say; “This is from GOD,” {so that they may} traffic with it for a miserable price! – Woe to them for what their hands do write and for the gain they make thereby. Quran (2:79)
The same religion has HE established for you as that which HE enjoined on Noah-the {same} which WE have sent by inspiration to you-and that {the same} which WE enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than ALLAH, hard is the (way) to which you call them. ALLAH chooses to HIMSELF those whom HE pleases, and guides to HIMSELF those who turn (to HIM). Quran (42:13)
O ye who believe! Be you helpers (in the cause) of ALLAH: As said Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples: “Who will be my helpers (in the cause of) ALLAH?” The Disciples said: “We are ALLAH’s helpers!” Then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: But WE gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed. Quran (61:14)
And with all the evil and folly going around during the formative years of Christian development (110 – 350 AC), it is a miracle that knowledgeable people can still pick up the Monotheistic flavor of truth in this much studied and maligned book called the New Testament.
Now we can turn to Isaiah Chapter 53:
If there is anything one can learn from the un-harmonious belief between the Abrahamic religions, it can be found in the 53rd Chapter of Isaiah verses 1-12.
The ego-centric Jews claim that it is about the ‘Nation of Israel’ and some claim it is about their own Messiah. That kind of cuts off the other two religious entities (Christianity and Islam) from participation.
The Christians using a combination of haphazard literal and metaphorical interpretation like unto a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, claim that these verses are only about Jesus the son of Mary (pbh). For them, it doesn’t matter about Hebraic words* and their meanings. The only thing that counts is that if one can jam a square peg into a round hole, then no matter how messy it gets, it still counts because they said so!
The Muslims when pressed on this issue act much like a deer caught in the headlights. They can’t say what is going on (unlike Isaiah’s Chapter 42) so they have been left with stating what is not going on which is a way to get on the road through negativism.
Before anyone gives an interpretation of Isaiah Chapter 53, which is fair game because a person is free to issue forth his opinion, it should be stated that there are often two things happening within side this 53rd Chapter: ethereal knowledge and basic knowledge.
That means that this chapter needs a lot of study and coordination between various scriptures in order to get a proper handle on it! True scripture is harmonious with its sister records. For example, no matter the language, all true scripture declares that GOD is ONE without partners!
Caution is needed however because, for example, an architect can present in his mind the picture of an ephemeral building before it gets built. BUT UNLESS IT GETS BUILT PHYSICALLY, IT IS ONLY A DREAM AND NOT A TOUCHABLE REALITY.
The same idea occurs with a master chef. He has the idea of the finished product but unless he has the ingredients, he can’t produce the goods!
So, in this case we have various stages of development with each stage being real but the practical and touchable ones are the ones that are actually readily visible to our senses. Such is the case with this very difficult chapter which is multi-layered between the practical and the mystical levels.
Here, now is the very mysterious 53rd Chapter of Isaiah (pbh):
Isaiah Chapter 53 verses 1-12
Who has believed our {brotherhood of prophets} report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
For he {this soul/man} shall grow up {in stages} before HIM {our GOD} as a tender {compliant} plant {totally obedient to GOD’s WILL}, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we {the worldly peoples} see him, There is no beauty that we should desire him {this gentle-man of poverty and not excess}.
He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief {for doing GOD’s WILL in all things requires a great degree of submission and hardships}. And we hid, as it were, our faces from him {for we were worldly and enjoyed it}; he was despised, and we did not esteem him {as to being of great worth}.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows {laid on him as a test so he could be that SIGN}; yet we esteemed him {thought him} stricken, Smitten by GOD, and afflicted {because of his sorrows and labors}.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our {eventual} peace was upon him {as a test for his Messiahship to come}, and by his stripes we are healed {he was put to the test and succeeded to be that one whom we would call Messiah}.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all {as a test for his endurance}.
He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not His mouth {and welcomed to be put in prison like a man forgotten, to get away from some designing and deceitful women, where, in spite of being innocent of any wrong doing, he learned from his LORD the interpretation of dreams which is a perfect description of Joseph (Yusef) (pbh). Jesus, however, in the Gospel of John (18:28-38) does participate in speech and therefore did open his mouth}.
He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare his generation?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of MY people {the people of true Faith} he was stricken.
And they made his grave with the wicked {who is this man that we should love him that dwells amongst the poor} but with the rich at his {FINAL} death {when he returns he will live several decades and be buried along with Muhammad (pbh)}, because he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth {and for this he shall be buried next to the illustrious Prophet (pbh) of whose religion he will exalt}.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; HE has put him to grief {through the passage of time/ mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls ‘like a woman in travail’}. When YOU make {made} his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed*, HE shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand {by following GOD’s WILL in upholding the righteousness of that which The Prophet (pbh) brought in the glorious paradise on Earth}.
He shall see the labor of his soul, and be satisfied. By his knowledge MY Righteous Servant shall justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great {on HIGH}, and he {in turn} shall divide the spoil with the strong {the remaining believers on Earth}, because he poured out his soul {in obedience to ALLAH} unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession {as a holy priest after the order of Melchizedeck} for the transgressors.
Our job now is to analyze this chapter (see explanations put inside with the use of {}) and provide insight so that others may analyze or seek out their own pathway or answers.
*{The Hebrew word used for offspring (his seed), “zera” means that a progeny will be produced from the union of semen and a woman’s egg by the lexicon of the Hebrew language. And Chapter 53 was written in the Hebraic Language.
So, the basic meaning will be that children or a child will be produced by biological means and, of course, that Jesus will be married. That is the basic issue here and we don’t make things up just to ‘fit’ our own corrupt desires to the text!!!}
The more ethereal issue (layer upon layer) would be the ‘Believers’ to be his company and still more ethereal would be that this adam or our adam of this age will have the Believers under his wing as they are brought into the fold of AL-Islam. Meaning that each stage is built upon the other – stage by stage!!! Or oneness upon oneness! And as Jesus (pbh) is recorded as saying:
“These things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have {finally} overcome the world” {and will take my rightful place (reward) as ALLAH has chosen by HIS WILL.} John (16: 33)
Jesus (pbh) as we know him lived for only 33 years before being raised up. His work may seem small to our eyes and his reward may seem overly great but that is most definitely NOT THE CASE!
Islamically, concerning his return and length of life, death and possible marriage we have, for example, the following hadiths:
Abdullah b. Salam said the description of Moses is written in the Torah and also that Jesus son of Mary will be buried along with him (Muhammad). Abu Maudud said that a place for a grave has remained in the house (where Muhammad is buried). (Tirmidhi)
Abu Huraira narrated that Prophet Mohammad (pbh) said: “There is no prophet between me and him (Jesus (pbh). He shall descend {like such and such} so, recognize him when you see him. He is a man of medium height, (his complexion) is between reddish and white; he will be (dressed) in two yellowish garments; his head looks as if it is dripping water even though it is not wet. He will fight people (those who choose not to believe) in the cause (for the sake) of Islam, will break the Cross and kill the swine (pig) and abolish Jizya (tax on Christians and Jews); and ALLAH will put an end to all religious sects except Islam during his (Jesus’) lifetime. He (Jesus) will kill the Antichrist (Dajjal) and he will stay on Earth for 40 years. Then, he will die and the Muslims will perform the funeral prayer for him.” (Abu Dawud and Musnad Ahmad).
Abdullah bin Amr narrated that ALLAH’s Messenger (pbh) said that the Messiah will die after completing the duration he was destined to pass in the World and that Muslims will offer his funeral prayers and bury him next to the grave of the Prophet (Muhammad). (Mishkat, p. 480)
When ‘Isa returns to the Earth, he will marry, have a son, live for about 40 years and die. He will be buried beside me. (Tirmidhi, Mawahib). For general information, Tirmidhi’s books of hadith have been categorized as fifth amongst the six most authentic books of hadith in Sunni Islam.
