GroshLink

Below are some notes I took from a very articulate presentation on Prophet Muhammed in the Context of the Abrahamic Traditions given by Shaker Elsayed, Imam, Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center, Falls Church, Virginia. I have been greatly encouraged by the opportunity for further dialogue which has opened up with CMU's Muslim Student Association (MSA), in particular this evening some of our students will participate in a conversation on Similarities between Islam and Christianity. Please pray for an upcoming on-campus training event in which we will host David Hunter, an associate with WEC International, on the topic Church, Hear God's Message to You Through Islam.

Note: My response to the presentation was to share a Christian understanding of God based on John 14. More on that later as I have time.

The Imam began by affirming the common ground shared by the People of the Book, who bow down to God (Al Imran:64) and asserting All prophets are chosen by Allah, whether Arab, Christian, Jew, Muslim. They are sent by Allah to people. All prophets are humans. They don't prophesy on their own. They speak and do the Will of Allah. They are the best morally and intellectually. Divine miracles support their mission. Every prophet states clearly that what he receives is not of his own, but from God for the well-being of mankind. They confirm what was revealed before them and guide to what may be revealed after them (continued)

He briefly overviewed the lineage of Noah's son Shem through the lines of Abraham which split into the lines of Ishmael and Isaac. This was followed by a flashback to Adam and Eve, who were asserted to have settled in Mecca and to have built the ka'ba, the first house of worship on earth after descent from paradise. About 40 years later, Adam built the Farthest Mosque in Jerusalem

After that brief history, the focus returned to Abraham who settled with his wife Hagar and their infant Ishmael in Mecca, next to the Ka'ba. After some travels, Abraham returned to Mecca years later and, with Ishmael rebuilt the Ka'ba. The key to the presentation was that Abraham was married to both Sarah and Hagar. AND as such both sons received blessing and circumcision (Genesis 17:18-20). Islam is submission of man to the will of God and that is what we find in Genesis 18, "For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

At this point a number of texts were quoted including Isaiah 21:13-15, 22 (desert tribes), Matt 7:15-16, 22-23 (warnings against false prophets), John 16:12-14 (the Spirit of Truth is Muhammed)

As faith, righteousness, and the grace of Allah are necessary, a high value is placed on the role of the prophetic mission which guides people to salvation. Prophets confirm each other's message, clarify each other's message, clarify divine expectations from man, provide guidance for the individual, the family, and the society, clarify the righteous choices and path, establish role models for mankind

The speaker then elaborated on a number the Prophet Muhammed's touchstone teachings including Fight Not (Al Mumtahana 8, 9), Our Lord and Your Lord is One . . . (Al Anakaboot:46), Repel With What is Better (Fussilat:34, The Believers:96), Believe in All Prophets (Al Imran:84), Patience and Resolve (Al Imran:186).

During the Question and Answer time the speaker attempted to demonstrate how the Koran emphasizes freedom of religion, Islam as a reform movement w/regard to moral and ethical statements, the hierarchial nature of prophetic teaching in which the Koran has the precise words of the Prophet Muhammed (in contrast what was lost in Jesus’ teaching, note: the speaker preferred the red letter words over all others in the Bible.

My first reactions were Jesus' warnings regarding false prophets should be taken seriously. In particular as He claims to be the Son of God and the Son of Man. One who claims to the contrary must do more than argue that the texts were corrupted and another Prophet brought clarity. Secondly, the Spirit of Truth in John 14 is unseen and thereby cannot be the Prophet Muhammed as claimed by the speaker. Thirdly, Genesis 17:21 was conveniently left out of the texts used from Genesis 17, my covenant I will establish with Isac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year not to mention Genesis 21 and 22 which do assert that the covenant will go through the line of Isaac. Fourthly, how important it is the perspective which one brings to the red letter words. When I pressed him, he was even willing to selectively use the epistles. But toward a much different end. May God grant us grace as we seek deeper conversation regarding the One who is the way, the truth, and life and not just one of the prophets who shows us the path to God, but the One through whom the Father can be known. As one prepares for Holy Week, pray for those who celebrate the message of a cross-less Christ, Who is Jesus