Truth About Islam and Jesus

John Ankerberg, Caner Emir

Description

Christians are often surprised when they hear Muslims say, "We believe in Jesus too, and we hold Him in great esteem." But what do they really mean? Are the Muslim Jesus and the Christian Jesus the same person?Immersed in the Islamic worldview as the son of a devout muezzin--mosque leader--Emir Caner helps readers untangle two very different belief systems. He and John Ankerberg take on the tough questions:What role does Jesus have in Islam?What does the Qu'ran say about Him? What does it not say?Why are Muslims repulsed by the idea that Jesus is the Son of God, fully God and fully man?What do Muslims have in mind when they acknowledge Jesus as virgin-born?How can Christians discuss these belief differences without insulting Muslim friends and acquaintances?A concise, authoritative guide for informed Muslim-Christian interaction.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Comparative religion

Informations

• Publié par: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
• Date de parution: 01 août 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780736936637
• Langue: English

Extrait

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Except in section 7: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
In section 7: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Verses marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible , 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ( www.Lockman.org )
All emphasis (italics) in Scripture verses has been added by the authors.
Cover by Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota
Cover photo Yagil Henkin / Images of Israel / Alamy
THE TRUTH ABOUT ISLAM AND JESUS Copyright 2009 by John Ankerberg and Emir Caner Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ankerberg, John, 1945-
The truth about Islam and Jesus / John Ankerberg, Emir Caner.
p. cm.-(The truth about Islam series)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-7369-2502-0 (pbk.)
1. Jesus Christ-Islamic interpretations. 2. Christianity and other religions-Islam. 3. Islam-Relations-Christianity. 4. Missions to Muslims. I Caner, Emir Fethi. II. Title.
BP172.A54 2009
261.2 7 dc22
2009018449
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Contents
A Guide to Arabic Terms and Abbreviations
Section One
A Common Word, a Cheap Knockoff, or a New Cult?: The Jesus of Islam
1. Is the Jesus of Islam the genuine article?
2. Where did the Islamic Jesus come from?
Section Two
The Life of Christ: Was Jesus a Muslim?
3. Does Islam affirm Jesus virgin birth?
4. How does Islam describe the childhood of Christ?
5. According to Islam, why did Jesus perform miracles?
6. According to Islam, what was Jesus assignment?
7. Does Islam deny the death of Christ?
8. According to Islam, did Jesus ascend to heaven?
Section Three
The Nature of Christ
9. Is the Trinity an unreasonable doctrine?
10. Did Jesus ever claim to be God?
11. Was Jesus created?
12. How can Jesus, a human being like me, pay for my sin?
13. Why are the deity of Christ and the Trinity so important?
Section Four
The Gospel of Christ: Is God All-loving?
14. Is God all-loving?
15. Is salvation in Islam tied to a person s view of God?
16. Can a person be saved in Islam?
17. How does a person s view of salvation influence everyday life?
18. Where is the gospel of Christ found?
19. Is Muhammad actually part of the gospel?
Section Five
The Judgment of Christ
20. Does the Qur an teach that Jesus is coming back?
21. What role will Jesus play in the Day of Judgment?
22. How does the Islamic Judgment Day compare to Judgment Day in the Bible?
23. How do Christianity and Islam differ in their description of hell?
24. How does heaven differ between Christianity and Islam?
Section Six
The Family and Friends of Christ
25. How does friendship in Islam contrast with friendship in Christianity?
26. How is John the Baptist described in the Qur an?
27. How is Mary described in the Qur an?
28. How are the disciples described in the Qur an?
29. What will it take for Muslims to become Christians?
Section Seven
Knowing Christ
30. What does Jesus offer to Muslims who desire eternal life?
Additional Resources on Islam
Notes
About the Authors
A Guide to Arabic Terms and Abbreviations
Although many of the Arabic words used in this book are described in their context, a few foundational terms are noted here to help explain what you may encounter in these pages. The version of the Qur an used in this book, unless otherwise indicated, is the translation of Yusuf Ali, * considered one of the most authoritative among English-speaking Muslims.
Bukhari : Named after its compiler, Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari, this Hadith (collection of reports about Muhammad) is the most respected compilation within the Sunna , the body of practice and custom based on Muhammad s words and deeds.
Caliph (also calif ): The title of Islamic leaders after Muhammad s death. Among the Shiites, caliphs have been replaced by imams .
Dawud : One of the six collections of the words and deeds of Muhammad (the Sunna ), this collection of traditions, or reports ( ahadith ), focuses on law.
Five Pillars : The five foundational spiritual practices in Islam required of all Muslims in order to enter Paradise.
Hadith : Story or report : a collection of sayings and examples of Muhammad; highest Islamic authority after the Qur an.
Hajj : One of the five pillars of Islam. It commands all Muslims able to do so to visit the Muslim holy site in Mecca at least once during their lifetime.
Hijra (English, hegira ): Literally, departure : the flight of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca in AD 622.
Imam : A Muslim holy leader, usually in charge of a local mosque. In Shiite Islam, a supreme spiritual guide who is a direct descendant of Ali, and thus Muhammad.
Jihad : An Arabic term for resistance, interpreted as a spiritual struggle or as an external struggle (violence and war).
Kafir (plural, kuffar ): An infidel; a disbeliever in Allah.
Mecca : Islam s most holy site, which all able Muslims must visit at least once during their lifetime.
Mosque : A building in which Muslims hold prayers and worship activities.
Mujahid (plural, mujahidin ): A holy warrior; one who fights for Islam.
Muslim : One of the most respected ( sahih ) compilations of the words and deeds of Muhammad (the Sunna ), this collection, named for its compiler, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, contains about 4,000 traditions ( ahadith ).
Qur an : The holy book of Muslims, said to contain, word for word, the instruction Allah gave to Muhammad, the founder of Islam.
Shia : Literally, faction. Shiite has come to mean a follower of Ali -one who believes the caliph Ali was the true successor to Muhammad.
Sunni : People of the Way. Followers of Abu Bakr and Umar, the first two caliphs, as successors to Muhammad.
Sura (sometimes surah ): The name used for each section of the Qur an; equivalent to chapters in reference to the Bible.
Umma : The Islamic community; the community of believers in Allah.
* Abdullah Yusuf Ali, tr., The Holy Quran . Quotations marked MGQ are from Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Quran .
Section One
A Common Word, a Cheap Knockoff, or a New Cult?: The Jesus of Islam
The greatest joys of traveling are found in meeting new people, experiencing new cultures, and tasting unique and exquisite food. Travel also fosters a healthy and challenging exchange of ideas. Interactions are often up close and personal, where belief meets practice and facts require substance. We soon realize that the world contains a vast array of opinions-and a vast array of adherents ready to vociferously defend their worldview, for it is indeed their life. The passing down of these belief systems-tradition, that is-forms the most powerful of all philosophical frameworks. Tradition is passed down not only from person to person, but from generation to generation, century by century.
Throughout the world there is no better place for interaction than the local marketplace. At these crossroads outsiders observe, knowingly or unknowingly, the traditions of a society-its politics, religion, and culture. If you pay full price for an item, for example, you have been robbed-of money and of the experience. In fact, locals enjoy their interactions with foreigners nearly as much as they enjoy the profits they make. Their goods represent their life as well as their livelihood. ( Handmade has far more to do with the people than their product.)
However, these same marketplaces also have items common to any major store in a developed nation-but much less expensive. The buyer may come across brand-name shoes or designer jeans and be stunned to see the incredibly low price. Even looking with a critical eye, a na ve purchaser will still buy in the hope he s received a fantastic bargain.
But his enthusiasm for the item diminishes as swiftly as he purchased it. It s found wanting and becomes a great disappointment. The label was only a camouflage for a product that couldn t even endure the flight home or the first spin in the washing machine. As the purchaser really knew all along, the label was an obvious counterfeit.
1
Is the Jesus of Islam the genuine article?
Although the buyer in the marketplace had every opportunity to see that the product he purchased was counterfeit, his hopes were falsely based on a label that looked identical to the original. Maybe there were other similarities-a seemingly identical logo, style, or feel. Perhaps a promotional tag promised the same value or guaranteed similar quality. Perhaps the item even stated that it came from the same location as the genuine article. The greater the similarities between the two, the greater the possibility of deception. But the eventual result was not only poorer, it was inadequate and unfulfilling. Ultimately, hopes were dashed and reality set in.
The figure of the Jesus of Islam ( Isa in Arabic) pawns itself off in the same fashion, with one major exception-it promises that it is the original and the Jesus of Christianity is the fraud