Jesus -- A Prophet Of God -- A Short Article To Clarify Issues Surrounding Jesus

Jesus is a figure who is loved and revered by billions of people around in world, yet there is much confusion surrounding this personality. Muslims and Christians both hold Jesus in high regard but view him in very different ways.
This Article aims to clarify the issues surrounding Jesus and the differences in the belief of Muslims and Christians. Some Important questions like:

• Was Jesus God, or was he sent by God?
• Who was the real historical Jesus? 

would be answered below.

Jesus- As God? 
Some Christians claim that "Jesus is God" or part of a trinity - that he is the incarnation of God on earth, and that God took on a human form. However according to Bible, Jesus was born, he ate, slept, prayed and had limited knowledge- all attributes making him a human and not befitting God.
God has attributes of perfection whereas Man is the opposite. How can anything be two complete opposites occur simultaneously.
Islam teaches that God is always perfect. To believe that God became a man is to claim that God is or was (at some point in time), imperfect. Those who believe that Jesus was God should ask themselves how is it possible for god to be a weak helpless child, who needs food and sleep etc, The answer is a Sure No.
Again one may ask ; '" If God can do anything, why can't he become a man? " The answer to this query is that by definition, God does not do ungodly acts, God does not do anything that would make Him, something other than God. if God became man and took on human attributes, he would, necessarily, no longer be God.
Some ambiguous verses of the Bible can be applied erroneously to show that Jesus is in some way divine, but if we look at the clear direct verses of the Bible, we see again and again that Jesus is being referred to as an extraordinary human being and nothing more. The Bible contains many verses in which Jesus speaks and behaves as if God is a separate being to himself
For example:

Jesus fell on his face and prayed (Matthew 26:39)

If Jesus was god , then would a god fall on his face and pray? and who would he be praying to?

The Bible calls Jesus a Prophet (Matthew 21:10-11), so how could Jesus be God and be God's prophet at the same time?

Jesus said: I am going to Father, because the Father is greater than me. (John 14:28)

Jesus said: I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)

If Jesus was God, then why would he say "to my God and your God" and who was he ascending to?

If Jesus was God , he would have clearly told people to worship him, and there would be clear verses in the Bible stating this, yet he did the opposite and disapproved anyone worshiping him.

 And in vain they worship me (Matthew 15:9)

Son Of God ?
Some Christians claim that Jesus is the son of God. What does this actually mean?Surely God is far removed from having a physical and literal son. Humans have human children, Cats have kittens, What does it mean for God to have a child?
Rather than being taken literally, we find the term " Son of God" is symbolically used in the earliest biblical languages for a 'righteous person' and has been used for David, Solomon and Israel, and not exclusively for Jesus.
In fact, anyone who is righteous is referred to as God's son.

Mary- Mother Of Jesus (Mariam Peace be Upon her) Mentioned In The Holy Quran

Mariam or Mary -mother of Jesus (pbuh) is one of the most respected woman for Muslims and she is the only woman mentioned by name in the Holy Quran. Indeed there is a full chapter after her name, Surah Mariam the chapter 19 of the Holy Quran. Allah has mentioned her at numerous occasions in Holy Quran and also where ever Prophet Essa or Jesus has been mentioned, he is mentioned as Essa Ibn Mariam (Jesus - the son of Mary)

The Birth Of Mariam (Mary):
A description of her birth in a noble and righteous family is described as follows in the Holy Quran:

Allah did chose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran above all people. Offsprings one of the other; and Allah hears and knows all things. Behold! When the wife of Imran said: O my Lord! I do dedicate unto You what is in my wombfor Your special service, so accept this of me, for You hear and know all things. When she was delivered, she said:O my Lord! Behold! I delivered a female child, And Allah knew best what she brought forth- and the male is not like a female. i have named her Maray, and I seek refuge with You(for Your protection) for her and her offspring, from devil (shatan) the rejected. (Surah Al-Imran Chapter 3 verses 33-36)

Her Acceptance By Allah As A Righteous Woman And Servant Of God:
The word Mary or Mariam means maid servant of God. Although Mariam's mother vowed to giver her unborn child for the service of God hoping it to be a male child, still when she delivered a female she was accepted by God as mentioned in the following verses;

The Holy Qur'an - Buy Online

The Holy Qur'an (also known as The Koran) is the sacred book of Islam. It is the word of God whose truth was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel over a period of 23 years. As it was revealed, so it was committed to memory by his companions, though written copies were also made by literate believers during the lifetime of the Prophet. 
 Muslims believe that the truths of The Holy Qur'an are fully and authentically revealed only in the original classical Arabic. However, as the influence of Islam grows and spreads to the modern world, it is recognized that translation is an important element in introducing and explaining Islam to a wider audience. This translation, by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, is considered to be the most faithful rendering available in English.

Celebrating Christmas....???

Millions of people around the world celebrate 25th December as Christmas. If you ask them why do they celebrate this day you will get an answer like it was the day when Jesus was born, or that they celebrate it because they have seen it being a festival since they were young and that because everyone celebrates it.

A few question regarding Christmas are :

1. Was Jesus Really born On 25th of December?
2. Where in the Bible does it say to celebrate Christmas?
3. Did Paul, the apostles and the early church of the New testament celebrate Christmas?
4. What is the truth behind putting up a Christmas tree?
5.Why do most people celebrate Christmas?

 Let us discuss shortly about all theses question one by one.

1. Was Jesus Really Born on 25th Of December?
There is no clear proof that Jesus was born on 25th of December. This date was just chosen some long time ago and instead it coincides with the pagans festival held in the winter. The truth is that Jesus was not even born in winter season. The proof is from the Bible where it mentions about the time when the Christ baby was born in the Gospel Of Luke chapter 2 verse 8:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by the night. 

This could never have occurred in the month of December. it was an ancient custom at that time to send out sheep to the fields and desserts about the pass over in early spring and bring them home at the commencement of first rain. Late Decembers are usually very cold and no shepherd could keep their fragile flock in the open fields at that time so it is not possible that Jesus could have born in the month of December. The exact date of Jesus's birth is entirely unknown and if God really wanted us to celebrate this day it would have not been kept hidden.

2. Where in the Bible does it say to celebrate Christmas?
No where in the Bible does it say to celebrate Christmas. It is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible to celebrate this day not their is any proof that Jesus himself celebrated his Birthday. The origin of Christmas has nothing to do with the Bible. If this day really honors the birth of Jesus one should think that why did Jesus never taught his apostles to keep Christmas? And why not his closest followers and the early church celebrate Christmas?
The true origin of Christmas in fact comes from an ancient pagan festival. The pagans celebrated 25th December as a birthday of an ancient sun god mithras.
The Bible clearly mentions not to invent or add anything other then that which is taught and so if Christmas is adopted a way to honor Jesus it is not according to the teachings of bible. It mentions in the Book of Deuteronomy chapter 12 verse 28 :

"Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it."

Prophet Jesus (PBUH) & His Message - Lecture By Sheikh Yusuf Estes

Drinking Alcohol- Prohibited By Islam, Bible and Medical Science

What Islam Says?
Alcohol or Drinking has been prohibited in Islam and it is very clear by the verse of the Holy Quran from Chapter 5 verse 90:

 O ye you believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows are abomination of shatan's handiwork. Eschew such abomination, that you may prosper. Shatan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, through intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from remembrance of Allah , and from prayer, will you not then abstain.

Drinking alcohol and consumption of intoxicants is harmful to the human body and leads to dullness and cloudiness of the normal sense and judgement. Islam has a total prohibition for drinking alcohol and not only drinking alcohol is prohibited dealing with alcohol either directly or indirectly is also completely prohibited in Islam.
According to A hadith the sayings of prophet Mohammad (pbuh) in Sunan ibn Majah Volume 3 Book of Intoxicants chapter 30 Hadith number 3371 Is is mentioned:

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said, God's curse falls on ten group of people who deal with alcohol, the one who distills it, the one for whom it is distilled, the one who drinks it, the one who transports it, the one to who it has been brought, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who utilizes money from it, the one who buys it and the one who buys it for someone else. 

When first the message of Islam was delivered at that time use of alcohol was very common and it was readily available . Also like nowadays people used to think that alcohol has some beneficial effects too and so it is ok to consume it. But it is very clear that the harmful effects are far more that the benefits.
It is mentioned in the Holy Quran chapter 2 verse 219:

They ask you concerning alcohol and gambling, Say, In them is a great sin, and some benefits for men , but the sin is far grater than the benefits.

Also during the early days people were told not to drink alcohol when praying and in mosque but later this was ruled for all times. The holy Quran mentions in chapter 4 verse 43:

O you who believe! Approach not the prayers with a mind befogged, until you an understand all what you say.

Prohibition of Using Alcohol In Bible:
Not only the Holy Quran the last revelation by God prohibits drinking alcohol the Holy Bible also prohibits its consumption. It is because our creator God does not want us the human beings to use anything that is harmful for our body and mind.

Alcohol and Pork prohibited in the Qur'an and the Bible

Islam in Church - Yusuf Estes

Hijab in Christianity and Islam

Alcohol and Pork Prohibited Both In Qur'an and the Bible

Similarities between Islam, Christianity and Judaism - Dr. Zakir Naik

Quran vs Bible - Yusuf Estes debate - Christianity VS Islam

Jesus In Islam

There are different beliefs about jesus among people of different faith. Many believe that he is god or son of god. The islamic position regarding jesus comes form Quran . The quran says in chapter 19 verse 30 that jesus said
" I am a servant of God. HE has granted me scripture, made me a prophet "

Muslims believe that Jesus was a human being appointed by God as His messenger. His birth was extraordinary and miraculous without any male intervention. But God chose Jesus to deliver the same unified message that past prophets had brought to humanity. that is to worship the One God and to lead a morally upright life in order to attain salvation in the eternal life after death.

Mary - The mother of Prophet Jesus
Mary was a righteous woman whose mother had dedicated her to God's service even before she was born. As a child she lived a remarkable life marked by piety. The quran mentions her by the name Mariam and there is a chapter in quran named Surah mariam Chapter 19. It is described in Quran That Mary one day when she withdrew herself from her people in seclusion the angel Gabriel visited her in the form of man. Fearful of stranger she prayed for protection. He comforted her , declaring that God sent him to announce the glad tidings of a faultless son. She asked how this was possible since no man has ever touched her. The angel replied which is explained in mentioned in Quran as:
"This is how God creates what He wills:when he has ordained something, He only says Be, and it is"
(Chapter 3 verse 47)
When she felt the baby within her she left her place fearing people what they would do or say when they heard the news. But angel Gabriel reassured her of God's blessings and once the baby Prophet Jesus mentioned as Essa in quran was born she returned to her community where people began to accuse her for being unchaste . As already instructed by God she pointed towards the child who spoke as an infant and is mentioned in Quran as:
"I am a servant of God. He has granted me scripture; made me a prophet;made me blessed where ever i may be. he commanded me to pray and to give alms as long as I live"
( chapter 19 verse 30-31)

Miracles Given To Jesus
Jesus was a prophet and messenger of God. He never claimed dignity.