Tauhid.net
Christianity from the perspective of Islam
Book and online series
Viewing things from a distance might make them appear quite different! Likewise Christianity, when seen from the viewpoint of Islam.
This book invites to reflection. It offers new perspectives and inspiration for those who are not holding rigid to a dogma, but who give priority to the truth!
Available as paperback on amazon. (108 pages, 4.27 Euro.)
For Download as pdf please click on cover.
Or read it online below
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Preface
There were times I itinerated through the world without money, passport and baggage, just with a bible, trusting in the words of Jesus: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
Thousands of kilometres I covered, seeking God‘s guidance, like described in my book ‘Hidaya’. My search for truth was not a pure study of books, but faith which had to prove itself hard in practice. It was a journey of five years, in which I tried to discover the truth in the Bible and to live it, and at the same time to correct my acquired prejudices about Islam.
For those who do not know: One is not a Muslim if one does not believe in the Bible and Jesus. My turn to Islam was not really a turning away from Christianity and the truths contained in it. Rather, it was a correction of the distortions that had sneaked into Christianity over the centuries. The Qur'an says:
Then We caused Our messengers to follow in their footsteps; and We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow, and gave him the Gospel, and placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. But monasticism they invented - We ordained it not for them - only seeking Allah's pleasure, and they observed it not with right observance. So We give those of them who believe their reward, but many of them are evil-livers. [Al-Hadid 27]
Basically, my belief has not changed very much since I had previously never prayed to Jesus, but always directly to God. Jesus had prayed to God. Why should I pray to Jesus then? Before, I prayed to the One God, and do it still today. Before, I tried to abide by the Ten Commandments, and do it still today. Before, I believed in the prophets Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and Solomon, and do it still today.
Currently, both on Islamic and Christian side, the other religion is badmouthed and an objective discussion hardly takes place. Emotions are stirred and a clash of cultures is summoned. It is made believed, Christianity and Islam would have been always in conflict. But this is only partly correct.
Islam sees itself as the same faith that Abraham already had preached. The similarities between the two religions outweigh their differences by far. Islam sees itself even as the continuation of the original Christianity which was preached by James, the Just. Islam even says that if one truly follows the Gospel, it would lead one to Islam. This experience I made myself.
And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was [revealed] before him in the Torah, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was [revealed] before it in the Torah - a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off [evil].
Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are evillivers. And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. [Al-Maidah 49-51]
It is Islam, which keeps the commandments of Moses, which are in the Bible, and not the (Pauline) Christianity that originated from this very Bible. By contrast, (Pauline) Christianity practices today things, which have no origin in the Bible in any way, such as Christmas. It follows rites that were never ordained by God, and prohibits and allows things quite contrary to the Holy Book, on which it is allegedly based.
However, there exist in the Bible itself enough traces of the original Christianity. And if one looks from the view point of Islam, they are not difficult to discover.
This book wants to make an appropriate contribution, and illuminate Christianity from the perspective of Islam. God has not made it difficult to discover the truth, if one is willing to look for it and also willing to face the consequences, which could be caused by an expanded insight (which is usually the main reason why uncomfortable truths gets rejected).
It is incumbent for people like me who know both religions and cultures, are at home and have relatives and friends in both, to build bridges and to share their experiences and acquired views. In turn, it is the responsibility of their former brothers and sisters in faith, to take benefit from their experiences and knowledge and to reflect on their (inherited) views.
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Next chapter:
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What does the Koran say about Jesus? Isa Ibn Maryam, known in the New Testament as Jesus, is regarded as a messenger of God and al-Masih (the Messiah) in Islam, which was sent to lead the Children of Israel (Bani Isra'il) with a new scripture, al-Injil (the gospel). Faith in Jesus is required in Islam... |
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Index What does the Koran say about Jesus? What became of God's commandments? |
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