ISLAMIC JESUS INTRODUCTION

Transcription

1 ISLAMIC JESUS M. Ragheb 12/14/2018 INTRODUCTION The missionaries embedding themselves as interpreters and support staff and following the tracks of the soldiers in the new age, forcefully implementing democracy according to God s will to the Islamic nations, are elated when Moslems, without much preaching to them, easily accept the Old Testament (Torah), the New Testament (Gospel) and Jesus Christ as a Savior. After all, these preachers have dedicated their lives to wrestle those Moslems from the worship of Allah (Arabic for God) which they have been induced to believe into the false and simplistic notion that He is not the same universal supreme deity of Judeo-Christianity but some idol represented by the moon as a crescent. They then become perplexed about how hard it becomes to convince them to finally close the deal and switch their religion from Islam to Christianity. Figure 1. Interior of Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.

2 Figure 2. Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci glorifying Jesus Christ was purchased for $450 million by Abu Dhabi Ministry of Culture and Tourism for display at the Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum. The reason could be thought of that Moslems consider themselves as already believing in the Christian as well as the Jewish faiths as offshoots of the Abrahamic faith, albeit with different interpretations that are reminiscent of early Christianity yet unaffected by the introduced pagan and idolatrous traditions of the Roman Empire and Northern Europe. The Islamic faith has always considered Jesus Christ to be one of the greatest of messengers and prophets attributing to him wonderful miracles such as healing of the sick and the lepers, and resuscitating the dead. It also venerates most of the prophets mentioned by Christianity such as Abraham and Moses. This constitutes a common ground that should bring together the three faiths rather than leading them into confrontation. A collection of references to Jesus Christ in the Quran that sheds light at how Moslems esteem and hold Jesus in high regards, even though from a different perspective and frame of reference, is presented. When Islam spread in its earlier days, members of the Christian and Jewish tribes in the Arabic peninsula gradually adopted the new religion. As Islam spread beyond the Arabic peninsula to other parts of the world, the Moslems came into contact with other Christian communities. Christians were given the alternatives of accepting Islam or paying a tribute or tax in the same way that the Moslems themselves were required to pay a voluntary charity or Sadaquat to the poor as well as an obligatory charity or Zakat. The Zakat is a yearly redistribution of wealth amounting to one fourth of the tenth or 2.5 percent of a person s capital, assets or wealth. Notice that the Zakat is a tax on the existing capital not just the earnings. Thus it is a wealth evening-out and redistribution tool, bridging the gap between rich and poor. It is similar to the concept of the jubilee in the Bible, yet a gradual one. While many individuals and whole tribes adopted Islam, many others retained their Christian or Jewish religion. They were generally given fair treatment, and many of them were employed in Government offices. From its beginning, the Moslem community interacted with three groups in its midst: the Christian communities, the Jewish

3 communities, and converts from Christianity and Judaism to Islam. This early interaction governed by acceptance and tolerance still defines modern day interactions in most Islamic countries. The contemporary crusades are creating a chasm and dismantling this tradition of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. ISLAMIC UNIVERSAL VIEW OF FAITH When the prophet Mohammed established the Islamic faith in the Arabic peninsula, he insisted that he was not proclaiming a new religion, but that Islam was a continuation of the previous messages proclaimed before him, in order, by Abraham, Moses and Jesus. He believed that all the prophets who preceded him had brought to humanity the same message from their Creator. From time to time God sent prophets and had revealed His will in sacred books. Men were rebellious or strayed away from the right path. It was necessary for God to guide them back to the right path by sending them a new prophet. Figure 3. Pilgrims from across the globe gather at The Honored Sanctuary, Al Haram Al Sharif in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The prophet Mohammed believed that there was not any gradual development in the knowledge of God. He held that the knowledge of the true religion was primordial given to man s intellect from the beginning of time. God needed to send prophets with fresh revelations whenever men strayed away from the truth and were required to be steered back to it. The Islamic faith holds the universal view that prophets like Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed had been assigned the same task. None of them was preferred by God from the others. God might authorize one to end or modify certain practices which had been followed by the followers of a predecessor. In essential matters of faith, they were all engaged in the same task of proclaiming the unity of God and the summoning of men to glorify Him alone, and refrain from all forms of idolatry. ISLAMIC PERCEPTION OF JESUS

4 Islam venerates Jesus Christ, and his story permeates the different chapters of its book: the Quran. Islam does, however, diverge from Christianity in the belief in the Trinity and the deity of Jesus, even though the Holy Spirit is expressly considered as the intermediary for the Immaculate Conception of Jesus by Mary. In Islam, Jesus is considered as a messenger from God and a prophet, even though He is accorded special dignity and respect. The story of the Virgin Birth is related in the Quran. It happens in the Islamic version under the shadows of a palm tree rather than in a manger like in the Christian version. The Quran proclaims Jesus as God's Word and a spirit from Him. It declares Him as: "Eminent in this world and the next, and one of those who approach God's presence." It attributes to Jesus wonderful miracles such as healing the sick and reviving the dead. However, Islam considers Jesus as a prophet and understands the Sonship doctrine in a carnal sense. The Islamic faith insists on the spiritual nature of God and argues that if God were a Father, then He would have also been born to a father and would also be a grandfather and an uncle, and so on. Islam considers that the birth of Jesus to be as unique as that of Adam and Eve which had neither father nor mother. An account of Jesus as presented in the Quran is advanced to document the Islamic perception of Jesus Christ. The relevant passages from the Quran are presented based on an English translation of the Quran that is sanctioned by Islamic scholars from Saudi Arabia, who endeavored to preserve the authenticity of the translation from the Arabic language of the Quran. THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION Except for the three years of his ministry, the birth of Jesus, the greater part of his private life and the end of it on Earth, are involved in mystery. There are many versions among the early Christians and among the Islamic theologians about these unknown aspects of his ministry. For instance there are discussions about whether or not Jesus was married to one of his disciples: Mary Magdalene, which should not have affected his ministry anyway. The Orthodox Christian Churches have a cardinal point in their doctrine that his life was taken on the cross and that he died and was buried, that on the third day he was resurrected and rose in the body with his wounds intact, and walked about and conversed, and ate with his disciples and was afterwards taken up bodily to heaven. This is necessary for the theological doctrine of blood sacrifice and vicarious atonement for sins, which is not shared by the Islamic faith. Some early Christian sects did not believe that Christ was killed on the cross. The Basilidans believed that someone else was substituted for him. The Docetae held that Christ never had a real physical or natural body, but only an apparent or phantom body, and that his crucifixion was only apparent. The Marcionite Gospel in AD 138 denied that Jesus was born, and merely said that he appeared in human form. The Gospel of Saint Barnabas, also designated as the Islamic Gospel, supported the theory of substitution of Jesus on the Cross, which the Islamic faith adheres to. The Islamic faith considers that such disputations and conjectures on this matter are vain. The Quranic teaching and general Moslem view is that Christ was not crucified nor

5 killed, notwithstanding apparent circumstances, and that his stay on Earth ended by his being raised up to Heaven to reside by God s side. Literally, in the Chapter or Surat 4: Al Nissaa (The Women), verses 157 to 159: 157. That they said (in boast), We killed Christ Jesus The son of Mary, The Messenger of God ;- But they killed him not, nor crucified him, Only a likeness of that Was shown to them. And those who differ Therein are full of doubts, With no (certain) knowledge. But only conjecture to follow, For of a surety They killed him not: Nay, God raised him up Unto Himself: and God Is Exalted in Power, Wise 159. And there is none Of the People of the Book But must believe in Him Before his death; And on the Day of Judgement He will be a witness Against them;- The Islamic view is that Jesus did not die the usual human death, but still lives in the body in Heaven after God raised him up to Himself. Some Shiite Islamic scholars advance the interpretation that Jesus will appear before the Final Day, after the coming of the Mahdi, or the Gifted when the world will be purified of sin and unbelief. There will be a final death before the final resurrection, but all will have believed before the final death. Other interpreters advance the opinion that the emphatic form: must believe denotes more an issue of duty rather than fact. JESUS CHRIST MENTIONS IN PASSAGES OF THE QURAN In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Surat 2: Al-Baqarah (The Heifer) 87. We gave Moses the Book And followed him up

6 With a succession of Messengers; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him With the Holy Spirit. It is That whenever there comes to you A Messenger with what ye Yourselves desire not, ye are Puffed up with pride? 253. Those Messengers We endowed with gifts, Some above others: To some of them God spoke; Others He raised To degrees (of honor); To Jesus the son of Mary We gave Clear (Signs), And strengthened him With the Holy Spirit. If God had so willed, Succeeding generations Would not have fought Among each other, after Clear (Signs) had come to them But they (chose) to wrangle Some believing and others Rejecting. If God had so willed, They would not have fought Each other, but God Does what He wills. Surat 3: Aal Imran (The family of Imran) 42. Behold! The angels said: O Mary! God hath chosen thee And purified thee-chosen thee Above the women of all nations. 43. O Mary! worship The Lord devoutly: Prostrate thyself, And bow down (in prayer) With those who bow down. 44. This is part of the tidings Of the things unseen, Which We reveal unto thee (O Prophet!) by inspiration:

7 Thou wast not with them When they cast lots With pens, as to which Of them should be charged With the care of Mary: Nor was thou with them When they disputed (the point). 45. Behold! The angels said: O Mary! God giveth thee Glad tidings of a Word From Him: his name Will be Christ Jesus, The son of Mary, held in honor In this world and the Hereafter And of (the company of) those Nearest to God; 46. He shall speak to the people In childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) Of the righteous. 47. She said: O my Lord! How shall I have a son When no man hath touched me? He said: Even so; God createth What He willeth: When He has decreed A matter, He but saith To it, Be, and it is! 48. And God will teach him The Book and Wisdom, The Torah and the Gospel (Al Injeel), 49. And (appoint him) A messenger to the Children Of Israel, (with this message): I have come to you, With assign from your Lord, In that I make for you Out of clay, as it were, The figure of a bird, And breathe into it, And it becomes a bird By God s leave: And I heal those Born blind, and the lepers, And I bring the dead into life

8 By God s Leave; And I declare to you What ye eat, and what ye stirs In your houses. Surely Therein is a Sign for you If ye did believe. 50. (I have come to you), To attest to the Torah Which was before me. And to make lawful To you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you With a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, And obey me. 51. It is God Who is my Lord And your Lord; Then worship Him. This is a Way That is straight. 52. When Jesus found Unbelief on their part He said: Who will be My helpers to (the work Of) God? Said the Disciples; We are God s helpers We believe in God, And do thou bear witness That we are Moslems. 53. Our Lord! We believe In what Thou hast revealed, And we follow the Messenger; Then write us down Among those who bear witness. 54. And (the unbelievers) Plotted and planned, And God too planned, And the best of planners Is God. 55. Behold! God said: O Jesus! I will take thee

9 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: Then shall ye all Return unto me, And I will judge Between you of the matters Wherein you dispute. 56. As to those who reject faith, I will punish them With severe chastisement In this world and in the Hereafter Not will they have Anyone to help. 57. As to those who believe And work righteousness, God will pay them (in full) Their reward; But God loveth not Those who do wrong. 58. This is what we rehearse Onto thee of the Signs And the Message Of Wisdom. 59. The similitude of Jesus Before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, Then said to him: Be : And he was. 60. The Truth (comes) From thy Lord alone; So be not of those Who doubt 61. If any one disputes In this matter with thee, Now after (full) knowledge

10 Hath come to thee, Say: Come! Let us Gather together,- Our sons and your sons, Our women and your women, Ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray. And invoke the curse Of God on those who lie! 62. This is the true account: There is no god Except God; And God-He is indeed The Exalted in Power The Wise. 63. But if they turn back, God hath full knowledge Of those who do mischief. Surat 4: Al Nisaa (The Women) 156. That they rejected Faith; That they uttered against Mary A grave false charge; 157. That they said (in boast), We killed Christ Jesus The son of Mary, The Messenger of God ;- But they killed him not, Nor crucified him, Only a likeness of that Was shown to them. And those who differ Therein are full of doubts, With no (certain) knowledge. But only conjecture to follow, For of surety They killed him not: Nay, God raised him up Unto Himself: and God Is Exalted in Power, Wise;-

11 159. And there is none Of the People of the Book But must believe in Him Before his death; And on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness Against them; O People of the Book! Omit no excesses In your religion: nor say Of God aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary Was (no more than) A Messenger of God, And His Word, Which He bestowed on Mary, And a Spirit proceeding From Him: so believe In God and His Messengers. Say not Three : desist; It will be better for you; For God is One God; Glory be to Him: (Far Exalted is He) above Having a son. To Him Belong all things in the heavens And on earth. And enough Is God as a Disposer of affairs Christ disdaineth not To serve and worship God, Not do the angels, those Nearest (to God): Those who disdain His worship and are arrogant, He will gather them all Together unto Himself To (answer). Surat 5: Al-Maeda (The Table Spread) 17. They disbelieved indeed Those that say That God is Christ The son of Mary

12 Say: Who then Hath the least power Against God, if His Will Were to destroy Christ The son of Mary, his mother, And all-every one That is on the earth? For to God belongeth The dominion of the heavens And the earth, and all That is between. He createth What He pleases. For God Hath power over all things. 46. And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son Of Mary, confirming The Torah that had come Before him: We sent him The Gospel: therein Was guidance and light. And confirmation of the Torah That had come before him: A guidance and an admonition To those who fear God. 47. Let the people of the Gospel Judge by what God hath revealed Therein. If any do fail To judge by What God hath revealed, They are Those who rebel. 72. Certainly they disbelieve who say: God is Christ the son Of Mary. But said Christ: O Children of Israel! Worship God, my Lord And your Lord. Whoever Joins other gods with God,- God will forbid him The Garden, and the Fire Will be his abode. There will For the wrong-doers Be no one to help.

13 73. They disbelieve who say: God is one of three (In a Trinity) for there is No god except One God. If they desist not From their word (of blasphemy), Verily a grievous chastisement Will befall the disbelievers. Among them. 74. Why turn they not to God And seek His forgiveness? For God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. 75. Christ the son of Mary Was no more than A Messenger; many were The Messengers that passed away Before him. His mother Was a woman of truth. They had both to eat Their (daily) food. See how God doth make His Signs clear to them; Yet see in what ways They are deluded Away from the truth! 78. Curses were pronounced On those among the Children Of Israel who rejected Faith, By the tongue of David And of Jesus the son of Mary; Because they disobeyed And persisted in Excesses Then will God say: O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favor To thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee With the Holy Spirit. So that thou didst speak To the people in childhood

14 And in old age. Behold! I taught thee The Book and Wisdom, The Torah and the Gospel. And behold! Thou makest Out of clay, as it were, The figure of a bird, By My leave. And thou breathest into it, And it becomes a bird By My leave. And thou healest those Born blind, and the lepers, By My leave. And behold! Thou Bringest forth the dead By My leave. And behold! I did Restrain the Children of Israel From (violence to) thee When thou didst show them The Clear Signs, And the unbelievers among them Said: This is nothing But evident magic And behold! I inspired The Disciples to have faith In Me and Mine Messenger: They said. We have faith, And do thou bear witness That we bow to God As Moslems Behold! The Disciples said: O Jesus the son of Mary! Can thy Lord send down to us A Table set (with viands) From heaven? said Jesus: Fear God, if ye have faith 113. They said: We only wish To eat thereof and satisfy Our hearts, and to know That thou has indeed Told us the truth; and

15 That we ourselves may be Witnesses to the miracle Said Jesus the son of Mary: O God our Lord! Send us from heaven A Table set (with viands), That there may be for us- For the first and the last of us- And a sign from Thee; And provide for our sustenance, For Thou art the best Sustainer (of our needs) God said: I will Send it down unto you: But if any of you After that resisteth faith, I will punish him With a chastisement such As I have not inflicted On any one among All the peoples And behold! God will say: O Jesus son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, Take me and my mother For two gods besides God? He will say: Glory to Thee! Never could I say What I had no right (To say). Had I said Such a thing, Thou wouldst Indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is In my heart, though I Know not what is In Thine. For Thou Knowest in full All that is hidden Never said I to them Aught except what Thou Didst command me To say, to wit, Worship

16 God, my Lord and your Lord : And I was a witness Over them whilst I dwelt Amongst them; when thou Didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher Over them, and Thou Art a witness to all things If Thou dost punish them, They are Thy servants: If Thou dost forgive them, Thou art the Exalted in power, The Wise God will say; This is A day on which The truthful will profit From their truth: theirs Are Gardens, with rivers Flowing beneath,-their eternal Home: God well-pleased With them, and they with God: That is the mighty Triumph (The fulfillment of all desires} To God doth belong the dominion Of the heavens and the earth, And all that is therein, And it is He who hath power Over all things. Surat 6: Al-Anaam (The Cattle)) 83. That was Our argument Which We gave to Abraham (To use) against his people: We raise whom We will, Degree after degree: For Thy Lord is full Of wisdom and knowledge. 84. We gave him Isaac And Jacob: (all three) We guided: And before him,

17 We guided Noah, And among his progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron: Thus do We reward Those who do good: 85. And Zakariah (Zechariah) (Elijah) and John, And Jesus and Elias: All in the ranks Of the Righteous: 86. And Ismail (Ishmael) and Elisha, And Jonas, and Lot: And to all We gave Favour above the nations: 87. (To them) and to their fathers, And progeny and brethren: We chose them, And We guided them To a straight Way. 88. This is the Guidance Of God; He giveth That guidance to whom He pleaseth, of His servants If they were to join Other gods with Him, All that they did Would be vain for them. 89. These were the men To whom We gave The Book, and Judgement, And Prophethood: if these (Their descendents) reject them, Behold! We shall entrust Their charge to new People Who reject them not. 90. Those were the (prophets) Who received God s guidance. Follow the guidance they received; Say: No reward for this Do I ask of you:

18 This is but A Reminder to the nations. Surat 9: Al-Tauba (The Repentance) 30. The Jews call Uzair (Ezra) a son Of God, and the Christians Call Christ the Son of God. That is a saying from their mouth; (In this) they but imitate What the unbelievers of old Used to say. God s curse Be on them: how they are deluded Away from the Truth. 31. They take their priests And their authorities to be Their lords beside God. And (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; Yet they were commanded To worship but One God: There is no god but He. Praise and Glory to Him: (Far is He) from having The partners they associate (With Him). 32. Fain would they extinguish God s Light with their mouths, But God will not allow But that His Light should be Perfected, even though the Unbelievers May detest (it). Surat 19: Maryam (Mary) 16. Relate in the book (The story of) Mary, When she withdrew From her family To a place in the East. 17. She placed a screen (To screen herself) from them: Then We sent to her

19 Our angel, and he appeared Before her as a man In all respects. 18. She said: I seek refuge From thee to (God) Most Gracious: (come not near) If thou dost fear God. 19. He said: Nay, I am only A messenger from thy Lord (To announce) to thee The gift of a pure son. 20. She said: How shall I Have a son, seeing that No man has touched me, And I am not unchaste? 21. He said: So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, That is Easy for Me: and (We Wish) to appoint him As a Sign unto men And Mercy from Us : It is a matter (So) decreed. 22. So she conceived him, And she retired with him To a remote place. 23. And the pains of childbirth Drove her to the trunk Of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): Ah! Would that I had Died before this! Would that I had been a thing Forgotten. 24. But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): Grieve not! for thy Lord Hath provided a rivulet Beneath thee;

20 25. And shake toward thyself The trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall Fresh ripe dates upon thee. 26. So eat and drink And cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see Any man, say, I have Vowed a fast to (God) Most Gracious, and this day Will I enter into no talk With any human being 27. At length she brought The (babe) to her people Carrying him (in her arms), They said: O Mary! Truly a strange thing Has thou brought! 28. O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not A man of evil, nor thy Mother a woman unchaste! 29. But she pointed to the babe. They said: How can we Talk to one who is A child in a cradle? 30. He said: I am indeed A servant of God: He hath given me Revelation and made me A prophet: 31. And He hath made me Blessed wheresoever I be, And hath enjoined on me Prayer and zakat (charity) as long As I live; 32. (He hath made me) kind To my mother, and not

21 Overbearing or unblest; 33. So peace is on me The day I was born, The day that I die, And the day that I Shall be raised up To life (again)! 34. Such (was) Jesus the son Of Mary: (it is) a statement Of truth, about which They (vainly) dispute. 35. It is not befitting To (the majesty of) God That he should beget A son. Glory be to Him! When He determines A matter, He only says To it, Be, and it is. 36. Verily God is my Lord And your Lord: Him Therefore serve ye: this is A Way that is straight. Surat 21: Al Anbiaa (The Prophets) 91. And (remember) her who Guarded her chastity: We breathed into her From Our spirit, and We Made her and her son A sign for all peoples. Surat 23: Al Muminuum (The Believers) 50. And We made The son of Mary And his mother As a Sign: We gave to them both Shelter on high ground, Affording rest and security And finished with springs.

22 Surat 33: Al Ahzab (The Confederations) 7. And remember We took from the Prophets their Covenant: And from thee: From Noah, Abraham, Moses, And Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them A solemn Covenant: 8. That (God) may question The Truthful About their truthfulness And He has prepared For the Unbelievers A grievous Chastisement. Surat 42: Al Shura (The Consultation) 13. The same religion has He Established for you as that Which He enjoined on Noah- The which We have sent By inspiration to thee- And that which We enjoined On Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain Steadfast in Religion, and make No division therein: To those who worship Other things than God, Hard is the (way) To which thou callest them. God chooses to Himself Those whom He pleases, And guides to Himself Those who turn (to Him). Surat 43: Al Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments) 57. When (Jesus) the son Of Mary is held up As an example, behold Thy people raise a clamor Thereat (in ridicule)!

23 58. And they say, Are Our gods best, or he? This they set forth To thee, only by way Of disputation: yea, they Are a contentious people. 59. He was no more than A servant: We granted Our favor to him, And We made him An example to the Children Of Israel. 60. And if it were Our Will, We could make angels From amongst you, succeeding Each other on the earth. 61. And (Jesus) shall be A Sign (for the coming Of) the Hour (Of Judgment): Therefore have no doubt About the (Hour), but Follow ye Me: this Is a Straight Way. 62. Let not Satan Hider you: for he is To you an enemy avowed. 63. When Jesus came With Clear Signs, he said: Now have I come To you with Wisdom, And in order to make Clear to you some Of the (points) on which Ye dispute: Therefore fear God And obey me. 64. For God, He is my Lord And your Lord: so worship Ye Him: this is A Straight Way.

24 65. But sects from among Themselves fell into disagreement: Then woe to the wrong-doers, From the Chastisement Of a Grievous Day! Surat 57: Al Hadid (The Iron) 26. And We sent Noah And Abraham, and established In their line Prophethood And Revelation: and some of them Were on right guidance, But many of them, Became rebellious transgressors. 27. Then, in their wake, We followed them up With (others of) Our messengers: We sent after them Jesus the son of Mary, And bestowed on him The Gospel; and We ordained In the hearts of those Who followed him Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism Which they invested For themselves, We did not Prescribe for them: (We commanded) only The seeking for the Good Pleasure of God; but that They did not foster As they should have done. Yet We bestowed, on those Among them who believed, Their (due) reward, but Many of them are Rebellious transgressors. Surat 61: Al-Saff (The Battle Array) 6. And remember, Jesus, The son of Mary, said: O children of Israel!

25 I am the messenger of God (Sent) to you, confirming The Taurat (Torah) (which came) Before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a messenger To come after me, Whose name shall be Ahmad. But when he came to them With Clear Signs, They said, This is Evident sorcery! 14. O ye who believe! Be ye helpers of God: As said Jesus the son of Mary To the Disciples, Who will be My helpers to (the work Of) God? Said the Disciples, We are God s helpers! Then a portion of the Children Of Israel believed, and A portion disbelieved: But We gave power To those who believed Against their enemies, And they became The ones that prevailed. ISLAM S VIEW ON REMNANTS OF PAGAN PRACTICES VALENTINE S DAY Valentine s Day is big business in the USA. In 2012 it added $17.6 billion to its economic activity; second only to Christmas. It is the most promoted holiday after Christmas and Easter. Young adults aged spend the most on Valentine s day, expressing love by sending a greeting card, flowers or boxes of candy and chocolate. Men spend twice as much as females on those gifts. DISCUSSION Original Christianity is all but gone in the USA. The new religion, designated as Judeo-Christianity has replaced it, which is of course completely different. It is ironic since Judaism rejects Jesus Christ. There are actually more similarities between Moslems and Christians because they believe Christ was one among many prophets. Eastern Orthodoxy is today one of the last bastions of Christianity. It split from the Catholic Church during the great schism. They can coexist with Moslems and Jews with

26 similar traditions and thoughts. Patriarchs for instance are allowed to marry and traditions are kept. The Eastern Orthodoxy is not willing to become apocalyptic, unlike American churches. REFERENCES 1. Rev. James Robson, M. A., Christ in Islam, Lecturer in Arabic, Glascow University, London, John Murray, The Holy Quran, Revised and edited by the presidency of Islamic researches, Iftaa, call and guidance, Saudi Arabia.