The
Qur’an exhorts the Muslims:
“Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom
and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the best way. Lo! Thy Lord is
best aware of him who strays from His way, and He is best aware of those who go
aright.”[Quran 16:125]
This book has been written as the result
of dialogues I had with Christian clergy as well as laity. The discussions were
polite, pleasant, friendly, and constructive without the slightest intention of
hurting the religious feeling of any Christian. It is provocative, and a
challenge to Christianity. It is indispensable for those looking for the truth
and those studying Comparative Religion.
As religion is a contentious issue, it
would perhaps be appropriate to ask people of all faiths to put aside their
dogmatic beliefs and consider this book with an open mind, without prejudice.
An earnest appeal is made to Muslims to
buy extra copies, and to gift them to non-muslim friends, colleagues and
neighbours, so that they can also benefit from this “Dialogue”. This injunction
is in the Qur’an: chapter 103 that we have to “exhort towards the
truth!”
I pray that God, Most Gracious, accepts
this humble effort, to make our Christian brethren to at least study the
Qur’an after reading this book. To accept or reject the message of
Islam is an individual decision, as is stated in the QUR’AN time and
again ie: “There is no compulsion in religion.” & “Then
whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve.”
Individually
we will have to stand before the SOVEREIGN LORD on the Day of Judgment to
answer for our own belief and deeds.
Anybody
interested in comparative religion will find in this book many surprises that
challenge what many once believed to be absolute truths.
As
a result of his study of Christianity, and the Bible over a four-year period,
Dr. Baagil, a dedicated Muslim, learned not only that Christians differ in
their basic beliefs (Trinity, Divinity of Jesus, etc.), but they are also not
aware that Church doctrine contradicts the Bible numerous times and
that the Bible even contradicts itself! His conversations with Christian
clergy and laity during this period of study have provided the impetus
for this publication “Christian-Muslim Dialogue”.
The
reader will be surprised to learn that in the Bible, Jesus (pbuh) never claimed
to be God, that Jesus never died on the cross; that the miracles performed by
Jesus were also performed by many other prophets, and even by disbelievers; and
that Jesus himself prophesied the advent of the Prophet Muhammed (pbut). All of
this plus much more is detailed from clear concise passages of Bible scripture.
The questions that obviously must be raised after witnessing such clear
contradictions are:
Is the Bible God’s Word as it stands today?
The effort here by Dr. Baagil is to ask the intelligent followers
of Jesus (pbuh) to start looking into the authenticity of the Bible as it is
printed today, and to read this booklet with an open mind. The intention in
writing this book is to point out the false charges, misrepresentations and
outright lies against God and His Prophets. These are grave sins and a mockery
to God as well as to the pure chosen souls, (the Prophets of God) which is a
most odious thing.
We
are living at a time when Science and Technology reign supreme, and the human
mind has been freed from the shackles of superstition and unscientific beliefs.
The worshipping of idols (graven images) has also largely been abandoned and
eradicated throughout the world. The realization has dawned on the intelligent
people of the world that idol worship cannot benefit or harm in the least. The
goal is to eradicate the worshipping of idols and false gods as every Prophet
taught the worship of ONE TRUE GOD alone. Even in the Hindu scriptures it
clearly states the following: “There is no image of HIM! HE is
bodiless and pure!” (Yujurved. Chapter: 32-3. & 40:8). Further in the
Upanishads chapter 6:2:1 & Chapter 4:19 it clearly states: “There is no
likeness of HIM, & HE is ONE only, without a second.” The responsibility
now rests on the Hindu Pundits to preach this truth to their flocks, and to
inform them that idol worship is forbidden in their own religious Scriptures.
The Pundits will be held responsible if they fail in this duty and did not
convey the message.
MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN
DIALOGUE also makes clear the Islamic viewpoint in these matters, and shows how
the Qur’an, revealed to the Prophet Muhammed some 600 years after Jesus, (pbut)
corrects the errors that crept (knowingly
or unknowingly) into the message that Jesus brought. This book
should prove to be a very valuable asset to both Muslims and Christians,
particularly given the interest in dialogues between the two faiths. God
willing, this book will be an effective tool for Muslims in our efforts to
invite Christians to study Islam. Conversely, Christians should
become more aware of what in fact the Bible states and what Jesus (pbuh) himself
actually taught. As the Qur’an has been translated into English and many other
languages today, there is no excuse for anyone to say that they cannot
understand the message of the Qur’an. The readers will find that some
information is repeated in this book and we ask for their indulgence in advance
for this. There are two reasons: Firstly in any conversation there is bound to
be repetitions and secondly it is to stress the importance of certain
significant facts.
May
Allah reward Dr. Baagil for his efforts to dispel disbelief and to convey the
message of Jesus and Muhammed (pbut) as they taught it. May Allah’s peace be
upon us all! Ameen.
Muhammed
A. Nubee. & Ahmed Y. Moosa.
September
2005.
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