The Sunday News
MY colleague spoke passionately this week that he had never realised let alone know that in a Mosque there is no chair. The Muslims pray five times in this place facing Mecca and each time they bow hitting their foreheads in obeisance as they make the Salah. Incredible to say the least.
This year from the sighting of the new moon on Wednesday 17 June they began a fast that celebrated the reception of the Noble Qur’an by the Prophet Muhammad (the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him).
This fast ended on Friday the 17th of July with the ushering in of a celebratory Eid al Fatr feast. I missed the invitations from the many Muslim friends in town to a meal of lamb stew! I am still available.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Islam uses a lunar calendar — that is, each month begins with the sighting of the new moon. Because the lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar used elsewhere, Islamic holidays “move” each year. For more than a billion Muslims around the world Ramadan is a “month of blessing” marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. Ramadan focuses on self-sacrifice and devotion to Allah.
I have and will always keep my tradition of dedicating some time to the Muslims on this column especially during Ramadan. I will from the onset disclaim that I am not a Muslim but I am a devout follower and a teacher of Jesus the Christ referred to as Isa al-Masih.
As people of the Islamic community become more educated and are able to read for themselves the religious scriptures of other monotheistic faiths, they are beginning to realise that not everything in their traditions regarding Isa Al-Masih is accurate.
They are discovering for themselves that even according to the Noble Qur’an, Isa Al-Masih is far more than just an ordinary prophet. Jesus was not just a messenger of Allah.
The Noble Qur’an does of itself articulate that he is Allah’s Word and a Spirit from Allah (Surat-un Nisa, 4:171); that he is a pure son born of a virgin (Surat-u Maryam, 19:19,20); that he had the power to open blind eyes, heal leprosy, raise the dead, and even create (Surat-u Ali Imran, 3:49); and that he was raised up to Allah Himself (Surat-u Ali Imran, 3:55).
This is written in the Noble Qur’an not just a tradition as we read that he is the Sign of the Hour (Surat-ul Zukhruf, 43:61), that his mother is the only woman in the Qur’an mentioned by name (Surat-u Maryam, 19:16) and that he is in the nearest company to Allah where he is honoured in the hereafter as he was on earth (Surat-u Ali Imran, 3:45). All these things cause people to be attracted to him! And like all of us, they want to know if they have a right to embrace his splendour, or if that privilege is open only to the members of the Christian community.
First of all, it is extremely critical to know that Isa Al-Masih is not merely a national prophet as some would have us believe. Instead, he is a universal messenger whom Allah sent down to the world as His Word. Indeed he is a Sign unto humankind and a mercy from Him who is the Merciful One, the Compassionate One (Surat-u Maryam, 19:21).
Allah’s mercy is for all people and so Isa, the Word of Allah, is to be made available for everyone! That is why Isa Al-Masih said to his close companions:
All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).
. . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
The injil or the good news about Isa Al-Masih descending upon humankind as Allah’s mercy was to be proclaimed openly to people of all communities. This injil or the Gospel was to be made available to everyone. We see this even reflected in the Noble Qur’an:
And remember Allah took a covenant from the People of the Book (Christians), to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it (Surat-u Ali Imran 3:187).
It is clear that Allah does not limit His mercy to any particular nation or religious community. It is extended to all those who reach out in faith and obedience. Allah’s desire is to bless everyone. This was clearly revealed in his promise to the patriach Abraham (Ibrahim) of the ancient past. Allah said to him:
Through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed (Genesis 22:18).
No doubt this is what the Qur’an refers to when it admonishes the reader to remember the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub).
And commemorate our servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, possessors of power and vision. Verily we did choose them for a special (purpose)-proclaiming the message of the hereafter. They were in our sight truly of the company of the elect and the good (Surat-us Sad, 38:45-47).
The Gospel bears clear witness that the offspring of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob through whom the whole world is to be blessed is the Anointed One, Isa Al-Masih, son of Mary! And so Isa Al-Masih is for everyone. His power and blessings are for those who reach up to him in faith and follow him wholeheartedly. But you may still wonder whether a Muslim can follow him!
At this point, notice how the Qur’an describes the followers of Isa Al-Masih:
When Jesus found unbelief on their part, he said, “Who will be my helpers to (the work of) God?” Said the disciples: “We are Allah’s helpers; we believe in Allah, and do thou bear witness that we are muslims. Our Lord! We believe in what Thou hast revealed and we follow the messenger (Isa). Then write us down among those who bear witness” (Surat-u Ali Imran, 3:52,53).
This verse clearly reveals that the followers of Isa Al-Masih were indeed muslims! Here we need to remind ourselves of the literal meaning of the word muslim. A muslim is a person who finds peace by surrendering to the will of Allah, the Almighty One. Words, words, words they make us see a lot of different things. Someone said the same of the term “Adventists” and “Catholics” these are just words we have taken to identify with certain truths and doctrines. Let us leave that for another day!
In line with this discussion, some people believe that the community of followers of Al-Masih came to an end when the one whom they regard as the last and final prophet appeared. However, the community of Isa’s followers continues to flourish worldwide and will prevail to the end of time. This idea is reflected by the Qur’an: Behold! Allah said: “O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme. I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith to the Day of Resurrection” (Surat-u Ali Imran, 3:55).
Isa Al-Masih is still alive today, in the very presence of Allah, the Almighty One. And because he still lives, he continues to protect his people and intercede on their behalf. As more and more Muslim people come to see the light of the Holy Scriptures, they will realise that, yes indeed, if they embrace the mission of Isa Al-Masih, then they too can embrace the right to become his followers and partake of his wonderful blessings.
What I have taken the liberty to describe above is what one can call a faith within another faith. Muslims who worship and believe in Jesus Christ the Saviour are there but at times cannot be as open about it because of location. Those that have left Islam completely still find it difficult to be open and they are seen as the Mus-Chris. As Ramadan ends let us recognise the diversity of the faiths. So till next week, Shalom!
