What is the purpose of Muslim and Christian friendship? If we both believe in an eternity of paradise for true believers and an eternity of punishment for unbelievers, then isn’t each of our perspectives on this issue one of the most important things we seek to communicate with each other? I welcome Muslims to respond. I hope others don’t mind if I share my own convictions. But I do welcome dialogue on the matter. Might we even ask God together if He would clarify right now these questions so that all those who seek Him would find Him?
God, right now we ask for clarity, Your clarity on who You are and what You have done for us, humanity. Would you open our eyes to see as You see. May we know You and may we find favor with You. May You receive us as those who are faithful and righteous in Your eyes. Ameen!
Prophet Adam and Eve/Hawa
From my understanding of the Torat, Zabbur, and Injeel, God’s plan begins almost as soon as His creation is complete. After Adam (as) and Eve listen to Satan’s lies and turn from God, they are covered in shame. Only God is able to cover their shame even as they try to cover it themselves with leaves. But God provides them with Garments of Righteousness. These Garments cover them adequately and they are restored.
Prophet Noah/Nuh
Prophet Noah/Nuh (as) lives during a time of great wickedness on the earth. God gives Noah (as) a sign, the Ark. Noah (as) builds it, then he and his family enter it and are saved from the flood. Except of course for Noah’s (as) son who tries to save himself by climbing a mountain. In the end, only God’s provision saves, not Man’s attempt to save himself.
Prophet Abraham/Ibrahim
Prophet Abraham (as) is about to sacrifice his son in obedience to God when God stops him and provides a ram as a substitute, this ram or goat is called a Momentous Sacrifice in the Qur’an. Again, God provides salvation, not Man.
Prophet Moses/Musa
Prophet Moses (as) is given a series of Signs to show Pharaoh that he needs to listen to God and let the Jews leave for the land God is leading them to. It’s only upon Moses (as) showing Pharaoh the final sign, called the Great Sign, that Pharaoh finally agrees to let them go. This Sign was that each Jewish family was to sacrifice an unblemished lamb or goat and spread its blood on their doorposts, then that night an Angel (farishta) of God was to come and slay all firstborn sons of those who did not have the Sign on their doorposts. All of the Egyptians’ firstborn sons were slain, including the Pharaoh’s. This is the Great Sign that leads Pharaoh to finally capitulate and let the Jews leave.
Prophet Jonah/Yunus
Prophet Jonah (as) at first did not obey God’s command to go to Assyria and preach to them to repent from their evil ways. So, God sends a whale that swallows Jonah (as). Jonah (as) is in this whale for 3 days and 3 nights before he repents and God then sends him on his way to Assyria.
Prophet Jesus/Isa (as)
Prophet Jonah (as) is referred to by Prophet Jesus (as) in the Injeel. Some Jews who don’t believe in Jesus (as) come to him and ask him for a Sign. Jesus (as) says that he will only give them the Sign of Jonah (as). What does he mean?
Did you know that Jesus’ title in arabic is al-Masih? Does anyone know what Masih means? It means annointed or smeared. In Jewish understanding, the king is to be anointed with oil as a sign of God’s favor and choice. Jesus (as) was suppose to be the last of the Jewish kings, but what happens? In a Jewish plot, he is framed, and then the Romans, not the Jews crucify him. Remember, that if it was the Jews that had done it they would have stoned Jesus. Stoning was the Jewish form of capital punishment in these days. Crucifixion was a Roman form of capital punishment.
After Jesus’ death, he was placed in the belly of the tomb for 3 days and 3 nights before raising from the dead where he appeared to many of his disciples/hawariyun, then God took him up until the Day of Judgment when he will return as king and bring the world unto submission to God.
Jesus (as) is also called a Sign in the Qur’an. It is my conviction that this is God’s provision for humanity to find favor with Him. Jesus (as) lived a sinless life and it is his righteousness not our own which God sees if we receive by faith God’s provision of salvation. On Judgment Day, God will see Jesus’ righteousness on my life, not my own because I’ve received God’s provision for me. This means I don’t have to work for God’s love, He gives it because of my faith in Him and His provision of Jesus (as) as the ultimate Qurban.
This provision doesn’t mean I am allowed to continue to do wrong. Absolutely not. Actually, because salvation is given by faith instead of through works (sawab), I am inwardly compelled to live righteously because of God’s love and favor that He has given me. It’s almost too unbelievable to be true! But it is. And once a person accepts this provision, something happens in the heart and mind. God actually gives us His mind and His heart so that it actually takes work and effort to do wrong. There is power and experience to live rightly in the world today. I am now ruled by a higher power than fear of punishment, I’m now ruled by a loving relationship between God and myself. This is offered to Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, you name it!
Posted by najashi 
