Saturday, May 12, 2012

Does Christmas have Biblical Evidence?


Does Christmas have Biblical Evidence?

First a fact is that Christmas (Jesus Birth date) is different in different world regions: 

1) Middle East ( مشرق وسطى ) (Being the Actual Birthplace of Jesus) - Yunani Coptics & Syrian Orthodox - 6th January 
2) Eastern Europe - ( Armenian Orthodox Christians - 19th January)
3) Catholics and Protestants - (US,Western Europe, India etc..) 25th December

Ponder upon the following analysis of Christmas, Christmas tree, Santa Claus, and the Truth will become clearer and clearer.

Does Christmas have Biblical Evidence?
The word 'Christmas' does not exist in the Bible. The Bible has closed lips on the entire feast of Christmas, with one exception, the decoration of a tree

CHRISTMAS TREE :

Christmas tree is usually bought and brought in Christian homes. Adorned with ornaments and glittering with tinsel, it stands by the window. The stores are crammed with shoppers hunting for presents and the little ones anxiously waiting for Santa Busy with Christmas fever, wonder did you ever, did the Bible or Jesus made any injunction on Christmas ever?

The Bible itself criticizes the decoration of the (Christmas) trees:
"The customs of the people are worthless, they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel, they adore it with silver and gold, they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter" (Jeremiah 10-3,4).

European Pre-Christian pagans superstitiously believed that the green trees had special protective powers. In fact the use of the Christmas tree began only in the 17th century in Strasbourg, France and from there it spread to Germany, Britain and then to the U.S. "Tree worship was a common feature of religion among the Teutonic and Scandinavian peoples of northern Europe before their conversion to Christianity…German settlers brought the Christmas
tree custom to the American colonies in the 17th century. By the 19th century its use was quite widespread". (Compton's Encyclopedia, 1998 Edition)




MYTH OF CHRISTMAS
Since earliest times the inhabitants of the Northern countries have observed that there is a period during the year when the days begin to lengthen and the cold begins to strengthen.  This event is the Winter Solstice, the turning point when winter having reached its zenith, has also reached the point when it must decline again towards spring.  Thus, December 21st is the shortest day of the year.
It was on or about December 21st that the Ancient Greeks celebrated the Bacchanalia or festivities to honour Bacchus the god of wine.  In Ancient Rome the Saturnalia of festivals in honour of Saturn, the god of time, began on December 17th and continued for seven days.  Both festivals ended in drunkenness, obscenity and disorder.  The Druids observed this season in their great roofless temples at Stonehenge and Avebury in England.  Torches were lit and strange pagan ceremonies were enacted in honour of the Sun god and to cut the Mysterious Mistletoe to which they gave god-like powers.  Even the Ancient Egyptians celebrated this mid-winter in honour of Horus, the son of Isis, born at the close of December.
The Ancient Germanic tribes celebrated the pagan feast of the 12 Night from Dec. 25th to Jan. 6th.  The conflicts between the active forces of nature were represented as battles between the gods and plants.  The winter was the Ice-Giant, cruel and unruly, and darkness and death followed him.  The Sun god and the South Wind were symbols of light and life.  At last Thor, the god of the Thunderstorm riding on the wings of the air hurled his thunderbolt at the winter castle and demolished it.
In Scandinavian countries, great fires were kindled to defy the Frost King.  The followers of Mithra, throughout the Northern countries, called this period sol invictus representing the time of the victory of light over darkness.  Mithra, for them, was not only the Sun god, but the Mediator between mankind and the Supreme Being.  His birthday was celebrated on the 25th of December.  Sunday, the seventh day of the week (for seven was his number) was consecrated to him, and known as the Lord’s Day long before the Christian Era.
The roots of the Christmas observance, therefore, go deeply into the folklore of the early pagan traditions.  What we may read of Christmas in ancient days finds its flower in the past  and present customs of Western Civilization.  We should clearly understand one important fact.  Christmas is not the actual date of the birth of Jesus (p.b.u.h), but a compromise with paganism.  The Gospels say nothing about the seasons of the year when Jesus was born.  On the other hand, they do tell us that shepherds were guarding their flocks in the open air.  Hence, many of the early leaders of the Church considered it most likely that the nativity took place either in the late summer of early Fall.
This and countless facts point to the conclusion that Christmas (Dec. 25th) actually has nothing to do with Jesus (p.b.u.h.) and Mary (p.b.u.h.), the humble of servants of Allah who abstained from the world and submitted entirely to their lord. Christmas has actually incorporated into itself all the pagan festivals; Greek, Roman, Druid, German, Scandinavian, etc., and given them new meaning.  The wild revels of the Bacchanalia, the Saturnalia, and the Twelve Nights survive in a milder form in the merriment that marks the season of Christmas today.
“Christmas gifts themselves remind us of the presents that were exchanged in Rome during Saturnalia.  In Rome, it might be added, the presence usually took the form of wax tapers (candles) and dolls – the latter being in turn a survival of human sacrifices once offered to Saturn.  It is a queer thought that in our Christmas presents we are preserving under another form one of the most savage customs of our barbarian ancestors!  The shouts of ‘Bona Saturnalia’, which the Roman people exchanged among themselves are the precursors of ‘Merry Christmas!’ The decorations and illuminations of our Christians churches recall the temples of Saturn, radiant with burning taper and resplendent with garlands”


Was Jesus born on Dec. 25?
Neither the date 25th Dec. nor any other date on Jesus' birth is mentioned in the Bible. It was not until the year 530 C.E. that a monk, Dionysus Exigus, fixed the date of Jesus' birth on Dec. 25th. . "He wrongly dated the birth of Christ according to the Roman system (i.e., 754 years after the founding of Rome) as Dec. 25, 753". (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1998 ed.) This date was
chosen in keeping with the holidays already indoctrinated into pagans beliefs.

Roman pagans celebrated Dec. 25th as the birth of their 'god' of light, Mithra.
"In the 2nd century A..D., it (Mithraism) was more general in the
Roman Empire than Christianity, to which it bore many similarities"
(The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, 1995 ed.)

Other pagan 'gods' born on Dec. 25th are: Hercules the son of Zeus (Greeks);

Bacchus, 'god' of wine (Romans); Adonis, 'god' of Greeks, and 'god' Freyr of Greek-Roman pagans.
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Was Isa (Jesus) Son of Maryam (peace be upon him) born in winter season? 

Around 2 billion Christians on earth commemorate Christmas on 25th, December as the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him).
In the Bible we find the following verse:

LUKE 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

It was the time shepards tending flocks outside. But in winter's cold weather shepards do not leave their flocks outside. So it must be a warm weather.


Furthermore, in the chapter of Maryam, in the Qur'an we find the following verses:

وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُ‌طَبًا جَنِيًّا

And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates (Surah Maryam 19:25)

The Quran confirms that Maryam (peace be on her) gave birth at the time dates become ripe. Dates become ripe in at height of heat. So Jesus (Peace be upon him) was not born in winter season. If you meet any horticulturist he will tell you that the Dates always fall in mid-summers.

Another important point in the below verse 7:172 :

Quran verse 7:172 “When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): "Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?"- They said: "Yea! We do testify!" (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "Of this we were never mindful" 

is that Isa (Jesus) Son of Maryam PBUH was not from the loin of Adam (PBUH). All other mankind is from the loin of Adam (PBUH). Jesus infact did not exist 2046 years ago and was infact born by the order of Allah (The one and only God) by Allah's word saying "Kun Fayakun" (Be and he was) at the point of  zero BC so to say i.e. 2046 years ago (2013+33 years life period of Jesus son of Mary PBUH already spent). Further it was not until the year 530 C.E. that a monk, Dionysus Exigus, fixed the date of Jesus' birth on Dec. 25th. . "He wrongly dated the birth of Christ according to the Roman system (i.e., 754 years after the founding of Rome) as Dec. 25, 753". (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1998 ed.) So not only the day and month was not known to the ones deciding the dates but also the year of birth was obviously Ambiguous so they started the new gregorian calendar with the so-called 1 AD to avoid people questioning the year itself. The truth is Jesus was born of a virgin i.e. Mary (Maryam PBUH) which is indeed a miracle birth without a father just like Adam. This similarity of Jesus with Adam (PBUT) is mentioned in the Glorious Quran as follows which is also a literaray miracle of the Glorious Quran:

Quran Surah Al Imran 3:59. The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was. 
60. The Truth (comes) from Allah alone; so be not of those who doubt. 

http://neurotherapy-of-christian-brain.blogspot.ae/2012/05/does-christmas-have-biblical-evidence.html
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What about Santa Claus?
If aliens descended on earth during the Christmas season, they would undoubtedly believe Christmas as being Santa's birthday. The words 'Santa Claus', appear nowhere in the Bible.
However, Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) was a real person, a bishop, who was born 300 years after Jesus. According to legend, he was extremely kind and set out at night to bring presents to the needy. After his death on 6th of Dec., school boys in Europe began celebrating a feast day each year.
Queen Victoria later changed the celebration date from Dec. 6th to Dec. 24th eve.

SANTA CLAUS
Today, when Christmas is mentioned, most people immediately think of Santa Claus. The image of Jesus, the son of Mary ((Peace be upon them) is secondary and sometimes lost in the merriment and materialism. The prices in the market place go up and we find that people are spending thousands in order to buy gifts for their friends and neighbours. Most Christians fall into debt that can last for the greater part of the year.
The problem that comes during the Christmas season for Muslims and non-Christians is that there are a number of contradictory symbols. Some of these symbols reveal an animistic religious base but others appear to be monotheistic. At the top of all of them is Santa Claus. One might then ask ‘What do pagan festivals have to do with the innocent, loveable Santa Claus?’
“Actually, in every one of these festivals, the leading figure was an old man with a large, white beard.  In the Bacchanalia, the chief god was not actually the young Bacchus, but the aged, cheery and decidedly disreputable Silenus, the chief of the Satyrs (Half man, half animal figures of Greek mythology) and the god of drunkards.  In the Saturnalia, it was Saturn, a dignified and venerable old gentleman, the god of Time.  In the Germanic feasts it was Thor, a person of patriarchal aspect, and a warrior to boot.” So, although the main figure of the Christian festival was supposed to be Jesus, the child-god born to an innocent woman, the pagan ways of the past were too strong in the hearts of the Christians to be easily dismissed.  The earlier gods were replaced by Saint Nicholas, an austere Christian Bishop who was born in Turkey in the 4th Century A.D., and became the patron Saint of children throughout the Western World.  The name Saint Nicholas has now been abbreviated to Santa Claus and even his image has changed, but one fact remains crystal clear; this merry, mystical figure that flies through the air in a reindeer-drawn sleigh is the re-incarnation of a pagan deity that is very much alive today in the minds of men.
WHY DOES SANTA COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY?
“The early Germans considered the Norse Hertha or Bertha, the goddess of domesticity and the home.  During the winter solstice, houses were decked with Fir and Evergreens to welcome her coming.  When the family and the serfs gathered to dine, a great alter of flat stones was erected and here a fire of Fir bough was laid.  Hertha descended through the smoke, guiding those who were wise in Saga to foretell the fortunes of those persons at the feast.  We learn from this story of Hertha and the reason why Santa Claus comes down the chimney instead of in at the door.”






Did Jesus or his Companions Celebrate Christmas?
If Jesus meant his followers to celebrate Christmas, he would have practiced it himself and enjoined it on his followers. There is no mention in the entire Bible that any of his followers ever celebrated Jesus' birthday like Christians do today.
"The church did not observe a festival for the celebration of the event of Christmas until the 4th century" (Grolier's Encyclopedia)
Thus we see that neither the Bible nor Jesus and his companions say anything about the celebration of Christmas which currently involves fanfare, commercialization, and extravagent spending, devoid of any spiritual relevance.
We'll now analyze the real person of Jesus (peace be upon him), in the light of the Bible and Islam.

What did Jesus Say about Himself?
In many places in the Bible, Jesus, referring to himself as a Prophet said:
"A Prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house" (Matthew 13:57),

"Nevertheless I must walk today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a Prophet persists out of Jerusalem".
(Luke 13:33).


THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE YULE LOG
In just about all times and continents, we find records of the worship, at some former period, of a tree as a divine object.  The Pagan Scandinavians called their greatest and most famous tree (the Ash tree) Yggdrasil.  Nobody had ever seen it, but everybody believed in it.  It was supposed to have been so big that it had three roots, one in heaven, one in hell, and one on earth.  According to Scandinavian mythology, when the roots of Yggdrasil are eaten through, the tree will fall over and the end of all things will have arrived.  The Anglo-Saxon Druids adopted this mythology and during Christmas period chose Yule log which they blessed an proclaimed that it should be ever burning.  This custom has survived and the Yule log is burnt throughout England.  The origin if he sacred tree may have been developed in Ancient Egypt and other older societies.”  Egypt had one in the palm, which puts forth a shoot every month.  From Egypt the custom reached Rome, where it was added to the other ceremonies of the Saturnalia.  But as palm trees do not grow in Italy, other trees were used in its stead.  A small fir tree, or the crest of a large one was found to be the most suitable because it is shaped like a cone or pyramid.  This was decorated with twelve burning tapers lit in honour of the god of Time.  At the very tip of the pyramid blazed the representation of a radiant sun placed there in honour of Apollo, the sun-god to whom the three last days of December were dedicated.”
HOLLY
“Some people believe that the word “Holly” is a form of the word “Holy” because of the association of these evergreens with Christmas.  This is not the true derivation, however.  Holly is merely a variation of Holin, Hollin, or Holm.  The name Holme is now used for a kind of oak.  This tree was admired by the Druids who believed that its evergreen leaves attested to the fact that the sun never deserted it. It was therefore, sacred.  It was also believed to be hateful to witches and is therefore, placed on doors and windows to keep out the evil spirits.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MgfRc2Ta88

Easter or Ishtar: Origin of Easter: 
After King of Babylon Nemrod died, his wife (who was also his mother) named Semiramis, became known as "Ishtar" pronounced "Easter". Ishtar created her own a religion. She said that her deceased husband Nemrod wason the sun & is now called "Baal". (in Arabic "Baal" is another term for husband). She set herself as moon goddess of fertility after claiming that she got miraculously pregnant from the sun's rays (from Baal). 
Her supernaturally conceived son loved Rabbits which later became sacred just like the eggs. Easter also claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant egg & she hatched from it. Further Description of Easter or Ishtar is in the photograph

Jeremiah 7:18 (KJV)
18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.




New Year (Gregorian Calendar) The New year in the gregorian calendar as well as this calender itself is wrong infact . After BC (Birth of Jesus son of Mary) without any zero year it starts with AD (After Death) Nauzubillah it totally skips the period of Jesus life and even it is a mockery of Jesus pbuh as if he never existed. Infact Isa (Jesus son of Mary lived in his first coming for 33 years and then was raised up alive without any resurrection. Quran also confirms that he was raised up alive. This agreement of Quran and Bible is detailed and simplified here http://neurotherapy-of-christian-brain.blogspot.ae/2012/05/jesus-crucifiction-or-release-or.html  Jesus son of Mary will come again as a sign of the hour (the day of judgement). He will return in the east near Damascus. He will come down near a white minaret with each hand on a wing of an angel. His head will be bowed down to Allah and from it will fall beads of sweat, dripping as though they were pearls or diamonds. He will descend upon Palestine heading for Beit Al-Maqdis during the time of iqama for the prayer of Fajr or Asr. The imam will have immediately recognized his presence and will ask him to lead the prayer. Isa alayhe salam will decline stating that the iqama was for the Muslims, and they are to lead one another.
This implies that he has not returned with a new message, but rather as a follower of the message of Prophet Muhammad salla allahu alayhe wasalam, since all prophets came with the message of Islam.

After the prayer, Isa alayhe salam orders the door of Beit Al-Maqdis be opened and that is when they see Dajjal with 70,000 Jewish soldiers. Dajjal will melt as salt dissolves in water, at the sight of Isa – his fear of Isa alayhe salam will be so great! This will be Isa’s first task to eliminate the Dajjal, who will attempt to run, but Isa alayhe salam along with the help of the Muslims will strike him down at Bab Al-Lid (door). He will end the evil reign of the Dajjal. Another important task Isa alayhe salam will carry out upon his arrival will be to break the cross. This action will illustrate the incorrect belief that it has come to signify. He will then continue to slaughter all the pigs of the world, since it was revealed in the Bible to abstain from eating pork. However, since this revelation was tampered with, people continued in their consumption of this unclean animal. This action will illustrate the incorrect detailed belief of the Christians after their tamper. Lastly, we will also call people to tawheed, or the oneness of Allah. It is described in one hadith that Isa alayhe salam will live on earth for 40 years, while another states he will live for seven. This has been a cause of confusion, though the matter is relatively simple, meaning that his life on earth will total 40 years (his ascension at the age of 33 plus the seven upon his return). He will die at the age of 40 and the Muslims will perform janazah prayer upon him, and according to scholars he will be buried in Medina next to the prophet Muhammad salla allahu alayhe wasalam.

During the seven years, Islamic rule will have been established as the supreme religion. Peace and tranquility will have been spread on the earth and iman (faith) will have been instilled in the hearts of mankind. Allah reveals to Isa alayhe salam during this time that there are people called Gog and Magog will attack mankind. At that point in time, they established their dominance on earth and will then wish to reign what is in the skies. As they spread their rule, they will eat all crops and drink an equivalent of an ocean. They destroy pillage and ravage all that comes in their path. It is said that as the first of them pass by a body of water, the last of them will say there once was water here. Their mischief and oppression was limitless and Allah ordered Isa alayhe salam and his followers to seek refuge in the mountain of Al-Tur. There they plead with Allah and made dua for Him to destroy them. The oppressor is always destroyed by the most
innocuous means to illustrate the insignificance of their existence. Therefore Allah brought about their destruction through worms in their neck which killed each one.
After Gog and Magog are killed, Isa alayhe salam and his followers leave Al-Tur and find the earth full of their rotting corpses. Their smell and the froth that will come from their mouths will be so potent that it will corrupt the world and make it unlivable. Again Isa alayhe salam and his believers will make dua to Allah to remove their bodies. Allah will answer their prayers and will send birds with long necks like
those of a camel to do away with their bodies. The stench of the bodies will still be prevalent so Allah will send wind and rain which will leave the earth clean and pure. Allah then will order the earth to bring forth its blessings and all evil will be eliminated and the inhabitants of the earth will reside in peace.
17 Finally, Isa alayhe salam will perform Hajj, travel to Madina, and will pass away there. The Muslims pray upon him, and he will be buried next to the Prophet Muhammad salla allahu alayhe wasalam and Abu Bakr. Soon after all the good people of the earth will die by
a breeze, leaving only the evil ones behind who will hear the final trumpet. The evil will reach a point where there will be open lewdness and rampant transgression. This will indicate the end of time and the beginning of the judgment.
The final days will be trying times for all. The return of Isa alayhe salam will be a blessing for the righteous and an eradication of all evil and wrong doers. Allah’s supreme plan for mankind and his messenger’s (Isa) role on earth will be fulfilled.
The story of Isa alayhe salam is one that brings hope and comfort for believers during the most dire times in the history of the world. All things will perish before the Dayof Judgment and all things destined will have been accomplished. So the role of Isa alayhe salam is one of the most critical one’s in Allah’s plan. 
May He strengthen the hearts of the believers and have mercy on them during those desperate times. May He hold our hearts steadfast to the religion of truth and not allow them to digress (stray) from it. He alone we ask, He alone we seek for our strength, and He alone we ask to accept our doings. Allahumma Ameen. Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he
has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned.
“Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us; our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula and give us victory over the disbelieving people.” (Surat Al-Baqara: 286) whoever Seek the truth the truth shall free him.


CONCLUSION
This is only a glimpse at the incredible amount of distortion and paganism that has been incorporated into the Christmas doctrine and disseminated throughout the world in the name of love, giving, and the purity of the Virgin Mary and Jesus (Peace be upon them). Somewhere along the line when the Christians were being tortured and killed in Roman coliseums, somebody made the decision to make it easy for the northern people to accept these teachings. So what comes about is an adaptation and a change so that you actually have the Christmas ceremony which once represented Pagan images of nature, images based upon the worship of the sun, or the worship of the created things, now in the monotheistic religion.
It is interesting to note that as late as 1647, Britain’s Puritan Parliament had Christmas ceremony banned as pagan. St. Nicholas appeared in early European folklore as another character, sometimes known as Beowulf , or Nick or Nikker. He was said to be a demon or the evil spirit of the north. Descriptions of him show him when humanoid as an aged creature with a flowing white beard. By The 16th century, the term had become more specific, the Chrisitianized:”Old Nick” or even “St. Nicholas” meant the devil proper. In the Bible, Isaiah 14:13, the devil’s throne was in the north. Satan presided over the winter’s darkness. So the character representing evil for the northern Christians was transferred into the figure of Santa Claus. He was often covered with red fur or driven in a sleigh by winged snakes.
If Santa Claus now is flying all over the world giving gifts to children what happened to the labour of their mother and the father?  Why is Santa Claus coming down the chimney? That is because there was a belief in ancient Scandinavia that a goddess of flames would come into the home.  And so this confusion now is all put together on the Christmas occasion and people have forgotten about Isa (p.b.u.h).
In the Islamic understanding, Isa or Jesus (p.b.u.h), the son of Mary (p.b.u.h)was a very humble person who possessed only one or two changes of clothing. He used to walk bare foot most of the time. He renounced the life of materialism and wanted people to move away from focussing on gold and silver. He encouraged the Children of Israel to have spirituality and to remember the Creator.  According to most Christian and Muslim theologians, the actual birth of Jesus the son of Mary (p.b.u.h) was in the summer.  In a Qur’anic chapter called Maryam ( Quran 19:16-40), there is a detailed discourse on Mary (p.b.u.h).  She is depicted as a very pious individual who spent most of her life fasting.  When the angel Gabriel told her that she would have a son, she couldn’t believe it. He informed her that it would happen by the power of God who would breath his spirit into her she would become pregnant; and she did.  She went out of the city to a remote area.  In the Quran, 19:24-25, Allah (swt) sent the angel to tell her that water will come under her and then to shake the palm tree and rutuban janniyya, the ripe dates, will fall down from the tree.  The Arabs knew that the ripe dates come in the summer time. Even the Christians agreed with this because, according to their traditions, the shepherds were putting their flocks outside.  And in the area of Bethlehem and Nazarath this could only be done in the warm weather.
Therefore, it is basically agreed upon that Jesus (p.b.u.h.) was a humble, simple, non- materialistic person who was born in the summer.  What is happening now is a cleverly contrived mixture that is moving more towards the celebration of immorality and materialism than piety and God-consciousness.
Allah has revealed in the Blessed Qur’an , Surah An-Nisaa (157-9), the following verses:
…And because of their sayings: We killed the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, Allah’s messenger, but they killed him not nor crucified him. It appeared so to them. And lo, those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture. They killed him not for certain. But Allah took him unto Himself.  And Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.  There is not one of the People of the Book but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.
In Surah Al Ma’idah is the following:
The Messiah, son of Maryam is but an Apostle; Apostles before him have Indeed passed away. And his mother was a truthful woman. They both used to eat food.  See how We make the communications clear to them, then behold, how they are turned away. Say: Do you serve besides Allah that which does not control for you any harm, or any profit? And Allah is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.


Say: O followers of the Book! Be not unduly immoderate in your religion, and do not follow the low desire of people who went astray before and led many astray and went astray from the right path.

Jesus Received God's Revelation
Similarly, Jesus Christ too, as a Prophet, received revelations from God: "But now you seek to kill me, a man that had told you the truth, which I heard of God" (John 8:40)

Jesus Prayed to his God
"And when he (Jesus) had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray" (Matthew 14:23)
Obvious question: If Jesus was God, who was he praying to?
(also see Mathew 26:39, Luke 6:12)

Jesus put himself Equal to other Humans
Jesus put himself equal to other humans in the eyes of God.
"My father and your father, my God and your God" (John 20:17)
God does not have a God, But Jesus had a God! Moreover, the gospel writers referred to Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) as the 'son of man' about 85 times in the Gospels, and never once did he explicitly called himself 'God', or 'God the Son', or 'The Begotton Son of God'.

Jesus Preached God's Oneness
Jesus Christ, as a true Prophet of God, taught monotheism. When asked, 'What is the first of all commandments', Jesus replied: "...The first of all the Commandments is, Hear O Israel; the Lord our God is One Lord" (Mark 12:29)
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent" (John 17:3)

Prophets of God
God, by his mercy, sent numerous Prophets throughout history to all nations as guides and role models. Some of the prophets were Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus and the Last Prophet Muhammad (peace be on all of them). They all came with the same basic message, which is the Oneness of God, without any partners, sons or daughters.
This Oneness of God in its complete essence, preached by all prophets, was later distorted by some segments of humanity and naming these 'distortions' as 'religions', they left the worship of one true God and replaced it with worshiping humans, cows and fire. To purify humanity, God sent His last Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a guide for all mankind and through him revealed in His last Messge, The Quran:
"They have adopted their scholars and monks as lords besides God and (also) Christ, the son of Mary, although they have been ordered to serve only God alone. There is no god but Him. Glory be to Him ! He is beyond what they associate (with Him)...." (Quran 9:31)

This utmost obedience and worship to one God, in its truest sense forms the basis of Islam. The entire Quran has been committed to memory by millions of Muslims around the world and preserved by God Himself from any interpolations, unlike previous scriptures, to provide guidance for all ages.

What Does Islam Teach?
Islam calls humanity to the service of the One, Omnipotent Creator ('Allah' in Arabic). Islam teaches the oneness of mankind in the eyes of God regardless of superficial differences such as race & nationality. In Islam there is no superiority of whites over blacks or vice versa. Anything that disrupts society's harmony and deviates humans from worshiping one true God is disliked in
Islam. Thus Islam recognizes the evils of alcohol, drugs, premarital sex, gambling etc. and advises humans to stay sway from these Satan's handiwork. Islam further provides detailed instruction about a person's relationship with God, with his family and the society. Thus no aspect of a person's life is outside of the guidance provided by God.

Born Sinless!
Islam teaches that every child is born sinless with a pure heart and an inner instinct to realize the oneness of God. It is the parents or the environment that deviates this child to associate partners with God (in the form of multiple gods) or to reject God altogether.

No Mediator
There is no mediator between God and man. There is no need of one, for God, the All knowing, can listen and answer our sincere prayers regardless of our state and place.
Salvation comes through submitting to the pure belief in One God and following His guidance as revealed in the Quran, and not through the vicarious sacrifice (murder) of an innocent human being. Thus Islam is a rational religion based on justice and self accountability, and not on unjust and mysterious doctrines formulated by humans. Islam provides solutions to all the ills plaguing humanity. An example of Islam's stand on racial justice is provided below.

Islam Dispels Racism
One person's superiority over another is not based on his race, economic status or nationality but on his God-Consciousness and purity of character.
God proclaims in the Quran:
" O mankind ! We have created you from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other and not that you may despise each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous..." (49:13).

Likewise Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) proclaimed:
"No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a
non-Arab have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay".

After studying Islam, Malcolm X, became a true Muslim. He remarks:
"...America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one
religion that erases from its society the race problem..."
The Quran was revealed in the Arabic language, but translations of its meaning are available in English and other languages for non-Arabs. Likewise Islam is not restricted to people of the east or Arabs, it is a universal religion revealed for all of mankind.
We invite all sincere humans to study Islam with an unbiased mind. Don't blindly follow the whims and paganistic influences of the environment around us. God bestowed upon us this superb mind to seek and live the truth; for we all will be accountable on the Day of Judgment for our beliefs and deeds. Don't delay your salvation.

Welcome to Islam!


Suggested Readings
1. The Holy Quran, tr. Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
2. Muhammad Haykal, Life of Muhammed.
3. Abul Ala Maududi, Towards Understanding Islam.
4. M. Ataur Rahim, Jesus: A Prophet of Islam.
5. Maurice Bucaille, The Bible, the Quran and Science.
Sabeel Ahmed November 1997.
6. http://hakimquick.com/the-myth-of-christmas/ 

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