TAQLEED THE BLIND FAITH (THE FOUR IMAMS) BY ZAKIR NAIK 

Praise be to Allaah. 

Firstly: 

The followers of the madhhabs are not all the same. Some of them are mujtahids within their madhhab, and some are followers (muqallids) who do not go against their madhhabs in any regard. 

Al-Buwayti, al-Muzani, al-Nawawi and Ibn Hajr were followers of Imam al-Shaafa’i, but they were also mujtahids in their own right and differed with their imam when they had evidence. Similarly Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr was a Maaliki but he differed with Maalik if the correct view was held by someone else. The same may be said of the Hanafi imams such as Abu Yoosuf and Muhammad al-Shaybaani, and the Hanbali imams such as Ibn Qudaamah, Ibn Muflih and others.

The fact that a student studied with a madhhab does not mean that he cannot go beyond it if he finds sound evidence elsewhere; the only one who stubbornly clings to a particular madhhab (regardless of the evidence) is one who lacking in religious commitment and intellect, or he is doing that because of partisan attachment to his madhhab.

The advice of the leading imams is that students should acquire knowledge from where they acquired it, and they should ignore the words of their imams if they go against the hadeeth of the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

Abu Haneefah said: “This is my opinion, but if there comes someone whose opinion is better than mine, then accept that.” Maalik said: “I am only human, I may be right or I may be wrong, so measure my words by the Qur’aan and Sunnah.” Al-Shaafa’i said: “If the hadeeth is saheeh, then ignore my words. If you see well established evidence, then this is my view.” Imam Ahmad said: “Do not follow me blindly, and do not follow Maalik or al-Shaafa’i or al-Thawri blindly. Learn as we have learned.” And he said, “Do not follow men blindly with regard to your religion, for they can never be safe from error.”

No one has the right to follow an imam blindly and never accept anything but his worlds. Rather what he must do is accept that which is in accordance with the truth, whether it is from his imam or anyone else.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:

No one has to blindly follow any particular man in all that he enjoins or forbids or recommends, apart from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Muslims should always refer their questions to the Muslim scholars, following this one sometimes and that one sometimes. If the follower decides to follow the view of an imam with regard to a particular matter which he thinks is better for his religious commitment or is more correct etc, that is permissible according to the majority of Muslim scholars, and neither Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafa’i or Ahmad said that this was forbidden.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 23/382.

Shaykh Sulaymaan ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Rather what the believer must do, if the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) have reached him and he understands them with regard to any matter, is to act in accordance with them, no matter who he may be disagreeing with. This is what our Lord and our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) have enjoined upon us, and all the scholars are unanimously agreed on that, apart from the ignorant blind followers and the hard-hearted. Such people are not scholars.

Tayseer al-‘Azeez al-Hameed, p. 546

Based on this, there is nothing wrong with a Muslim being a follower of a certain madhhab, but if it becomes clear to him that the truth (concerning a given matter) is different from the view of his madhhab, then he must follow the truth

KALKI AVATAR(Final messenger):MOHAMMED(PBUH).

‘He(Kalki Avatar) will born in the house of “Vishnuyas” . A Noble Bhramin , in the village of ‘Sambala” in the house of chief of sambala , He will be called Kalki’
[Bhagwath purana Khand 12 , Adhya 2, Shloka 18-20]


Kalki he will bron in “kalyuga”(days of Ignorance ) When king behave like robbers. This “Kalki”
As a saver and He will bring them darkness to Light , He will be born in the house of ‘Vishnuyas’.
[Bhagwath purana Khand 1, Adhya 3, Shloka 23-25]


Bhagwath Purana gives 8 Special characteristic or Quality to this Kalki purana:
1) Wisdom
2) Self-control
3) Valour
4) Reveal knowledge
5) Respectable Lineage
6) Measured Speech
7) Gratefulness
8) Utmost charity


KALKI PURANA


It’s Mentions in Kalki purana :

“He will be antim Rushi or Avatar”
[Kalki purana Ch 2 Mantra 4]


“Four companion will help him to spread his religion”
[Kalki purana Ch 2 Mantra 5]


“He will help by the Angles in the battles field”
[Kalki purana Ch 2 Mantra 7]


“He Will born in the womb of ‘Sumathi’”
[Kalki purana Ch 2 Mantra 11]


“He will born first half month of “Madahu”
[Kalki purana Ch 2 Mantra 15]



Commentary:

1) Parent Names:
Father Name “Vishnuyas”: If Translate into English which means: “Worshiper of God”
Translate into Arabic which means “Abdullah”


Mother Name “Sumathi”: If Translate into English which means: “Peace”
Translate into Arabic which means “Amina”


Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) Father Name is “Abdullah” and Mother Name Is “Amina”



2) He will born in the Village of “Sambala”
Sanskrit word Translate into English Means “The place of “Peace and Serenity”
Makah Known as “Darul-Amman” “The place of peace and serenity”



3) He will born in the house of “chief” of “sambala”:
Mohammed(pbuh) was born in “ Kurish Family” He belong to “Kurish Family”
“Kurish Were Chief of Makah”




4) He will born in “Kal yug”
When prophet Mohammed(pbuh) Was born its knowns as a ‘yumul Jahiliya”
Days of ignorance


5) He will be “Antim Rushi”
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things”
[Al-Qur’an ch 33 Verse 40]
Almighty God Clearly mentioned that Mohammed (pbuh) He is the seal of the prophet (The last and final messenger of Allah)


6) He Will help by the Four Companion
Referring To : 1) Abu Bakar, 2) Umar 3) Osman 4) Ali “Rasee Allaahutalana”
Later they became guider of Islam






7) He Will help by the Angles in the Battle field :
Referring To: Remember ye implored the assistance of your Lord, and He answered you: "I will assist you with a thousand of the angels, ranks on ranks."
[Al-Qur’an Ch 8 Verse 9]

It mentioned “Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear Allah; thus May ye show your gratitude.”
[Al-Qur’an ch 3 Verse 123]

8) He will be born first half month of Madhv on the 12th date:
And Mohammed(pbuh) Was born 12th date of “Rabi-a-wal” Mont and which exactly same of Hindu Calendar.

Endowed with eight special qualities

Kalki Avatar will be endowed with eight special qualities. These qualities are wisdom, respectable lineage, self-control, revealed knowledge, valour, measured speech, utmost charity and gratitude. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had all these eight special qualities.
a) Wisdom – He was very wise. It is no wonder that several people approached him for guidance, even before he claimed to be a prophet.

b) Respectable lineage – He belonged to the noble tribe of Quraysh who were the caretakers of the sacred Kaaba.

c) Self-control – He was the best example of self-control. From history, we learn that his enemies on many occasions tried to instigate him. However, he was always patient and responded wisely.

d) Revealed knowledge – Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received the last and final revelation of God, which is the Glorious Qur’an through Archangel Gabriel.

e) Valour – Muhammad (pbuh) possessed great physical strength and courage. He took active part in the battles against his enemies and most of such battles were fought in self-defence against aggression by the other party.

f) Measured speech – Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) spoke with emphasis and deliberation that people could not forget what he said. In his intercourse with others he would sit silent among his companions for long time but when he spoke his speech was eloquent and full of meaning and advise.

g) Utmost charity – Muhammad (pbuh) was very charitable and never disappointed anyone who asked for help even in situations when he himself was in financial difficulties. Many poor people lived only on his generosity.

h) Gratefulness – Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was known for his gratefulness He showed immense gratitude to the Ansaars i.e. the helpers from the city of Madeenah.

10. Teacher of the World.

The Kalki Avatar will be the saviour of the world i.e. he will guide and teach the world. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not only guide and save the Arabs but the whole humankind. The Qur’an mentions:

We have not sent thee
But as a universal Messenger
To men, giving them
Glad tidings, and warning them
(Against sin), but most men
Understand not.
(Al Qur’an 34:28)




11. Shiva will present a steed to Kalki avatar.
It is prophesied that Shiva will present an extraordinary steed to the Kalki Avatar. Muhammad (pbuh) received a steed from Almighty God, which was known as ‘Buraq’ and whose speed transcended.

12. He will ride a horse and carry a sword.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received a heavenly steed from Almighty God called ‘Buraq’ on which he made his heavenly journey known as ‘Miraaj’ or the ‘Ascension to the heavens’.
Moreover, we also learn from the history of the Prophet that he himself took part in battles, most of which were fought in self-defence, and on many such occasions, he rode a horse and carried a sword in his hand.

13. He will subdue the wicked
It is mentioned that Kalki Avatar will subdue the wicked. It was prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who purified (transformed) bandits and miscreants and established them on the path of truth. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came at a time, which was known as ‘Yaumul-Jahiliyah’, which means the “age or era of ignorance”. People indulged in various types of vices. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) brought them from darkness to light.

14. He will overpower the Devil with four companions

It is prophesied that Kalki Avatar, with four of his companions, will disarm Kali i.e. the devil. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), with his four most trusted companions, fought against the mischief and the evil of the devil. These four companions were Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all). These four companions later became the first four Khalifas and spread the religion of Islam. In Islamic parlance these four are referred to as ‘the rightly guided Caliphs’.

15. He will be assisted by angels.
The Kalki Avatar will be assisted by angels in the battlefield. In the battle of Badr, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was assisted by angels who descended from the heavens. This is also mentioned in the Qur’an in:
Surah Ale- Imran chapter 3 verse 123-125
Surah Al- Anfal chapter 8 verses 8 & 9.
ALKI AVTAR, A FLYING HORSE FROM GOD


* He will receive a flying horse from God, which will be faster than lightning. Riding it he will go around earth and seven skies" (Bhagwat Puran Khand 12, Adhay 2, Shloka19-20)

This prediction is about Kalki Avtar also match with the Incidence of "MIRAJ"


For reference see Holy Quran (Ch 17.Verse 1) and for detail Hadith s of prophet Muhammad (PBUH) regarding Incidence of Miraj. According to these references Prophet Muhammad traveled the seven skies and there he met with previous Prophets, and for this God gave him a horse name BARQ which mean lightning and word Miraj mean height and ladder. Please study life history of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for details.



“Glory be to Him, Who transported His Servant one night from the Masjid-i-Haram to the distant Temple, whose surroundings We have blessed, so that we might show him some of Our Sings: the fact alone is All-Hearing and All-Seeing.”
[Al-Qur’an Ch 17 Verse 1]

*1 The event referred to in this verse is known "Mi`raj" and "Isra"'. According to authentic traditions, this took place a year before Hijrah. In the traditional and biographical literature, its details have been related by a large number (25) of the Companions. Anas bin Malik, Malik bin Sa`asa`ah, Abuzar Ghifari, and Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with them all) have related details of the event. Besides them, `Umar, `Ali, `Abdullah bin Mas`ud…(Allah be pleased with them) have also related some parts of this event.

In this verse, the Qur'an mentions only a part of the Journey, i.e., from Masjid-i-Haram to the Temple at Jerusalem. The object of this journey as stated here was that Allah willed to show His aervant some of His signs. The Qur'an does not give any details other than this but we find further details in the traditions, which are to this effect:


One night the Angel Jibril transported the Holy Prophet on al-Buraq from Masjid-i-Haram to Masjid-i-Aqsa (the Temple). There the Holy Prophet offered his prayers along with the other Prophets. Then he took him towards the higher spheres, where he met some of the great Prophets in different spheres. At last he reached the Highest Place in the Heavens, and was received in audience by Allah. It was there that besides other important instructions five daily Prayers were prescribed. Then he returned to the Temple and from there came back to Masjid-iHaram. During this Journey, according to many traditions, Paradise and Hell were shown to him. We also learn from authentic traditions that on the following day when he mentioned this event, the disbelievers of Makkah scoffed at him, and some of the Muslims also were skeptical about this.

The above additional details based on the traditions cannot be said to be against the Qur'an, for these are additions to the details given in the Qur'an; therefore, the details related in the traditions cannot be. Rejected on the plea that they are against the Qur'an. Nevertheless, if one rejects any part of those details which are given in the traditions, one cannot be declared a renegade. On the other hand, if one rejects the details given in the Qur'an, one does become a renegade.

There are different versions of this Journey. Some say that this happened in a dream, while others are of the opinion that the Holy Prophet was fully awake and went on the Journey with his own physical body; some others say that it was merely a mystic vision which was shown to him. The opening words of this verse: "Glory be to Him, who transported His Servant” however, clearly show that it was a super-natural event which was brought about by the unlimited power of Allah. It is quite obvious that if the event had been merely a mystic vision, it would not have been introduced by the words which imply that the Being Who brought about this event is free from each and every kind of weakness and defect. Again the words "transported His servant one night" also show that this was not a dream or a vision but a physical journey in which Allah arranged that the Holy Prophet should make observation of His Signs with his physical eyes. Therefore, one is bound to admit that this was not a mere spiritual experience but a physical journey and visual observation which Allah arranged for His Prophet.

It is strange that some people are of the opinion that this extraordinary journey could not be possible, but now when man with his limited-very limited power has been able to reach the moon; it is absurd to deny that Allah with His limitless powers could enable His Messenger to make this journey in the extraordinary short time it took.

Above all, the question whether a thing is possible or not, can arise only in the `case of human beings whose powers are after all limited, but such questions cannot be raised where the AlI-Powerful Allah is concerned. Only such a person who does not believe that Allah is able to do everything can raise objections against this wonderful Journey about which Allah Himself says that He transported His Servant one night from Masjid-i-Haram to Masjid-i-Aqsa. Likewise all the objections raised against the various details which are given in the traditions are frivolous, except two, which are plausible:


First, if we accept these details, then we shall have to admit drat Allah is confined to a certain place: otherwise there was no need that His Servant should be transported for this purpose to a certain place. Secondly, according to traditions, the Holy Prophet was enabled to observe Paradise and Hell where he saw some people suffering from torment. The objection is: why should sane people be awarded punishments or rewards before the Final Judgment after Resurrection?

As regards the first objection, it is true that Allah is Infinite by Himself, but in dealing with His creation, He employs those means which suit His imperfect creation not because of any limitation of His, but because of the limitations of His creation. For instance, when He speaks to any of His creature, He adopts the same limited mode of conversation as the addressee can understand, though He has limitless modes of speech. Likewise, when He desires to show some of the wonderful Signs of His Kingdom to a servant. He transports him to the place where the' Signs are to be shown. It is obvious that the servant cannot see at one and the same time the whole of the universe as Allah does, for Allah has no need to go to any place at all for this purpose but the servant has. The same applies to the appearance of the servant before the Creator. Though Allah is not confined to any locality, it is necessary for the servant to go to the place where His manifestations have been concentrated for his observation because it is not possible for the servant with his limited powers to go in His Presence in His Infinite Capacity.

As regards the second objection, it is based on the lack of understanding the thing: many of the Signs which were shown to the Holy Prophet were symbolical. For instance, a small hole from which a fat ox came out but could not go back into it, represented mischief personified. In the same way the adulterers were shown as if they had fresh meat before them but instead of that they were eating rotten flesh. Similarly punishments for evil deeds shown to him were only symbolic observations of the punishments in the Hereafter so that he might see in advance the things which would take place in the Hereafter.

In regard to the Mi `raj it should be kept in view that aII the Prophets were enabled by Allah to see His Signs in the heavens and the earth according to their ranks. And for this purpose all the material curtains were lifted so that they could see with their naked eyes the unseen realities, to which they were required to invite the people.

This was done so that the Prophets could say with full conviction what they had seen with their own eyes. For this experience would distinguish there from a philosopher who bases all his theories on guess-work and cannot say that he bears witness to what he claims. In contrast to philosophers, Prophets could say that they bore witness to the things which they presented because they had seen them with their own eyes.

Allahamdulilah(praise be to Allah, God) All these prophecy of Kalki Avtaar fit to no one but the last and final messenger of Allah “ Mohammed(pbuh)”

Now if you Analysis the Verse of Bhagwath Geeta Ch 4 Verse 7-8. In the light of Vedas
“I come “ here means the not God itself but the “messenger” God will send the messenger.

Concept of God in Christianity

New Testament

Jesus Christ Never Claimed Divinity

One may ask, if both Muslims and Christians love and respect Jesus (pbuh), where exactly is the parting of ways? The major difference between Islam and Christianity is the Christians’ insistence on the supposed divinity of Christ (pbuh). A study of the Christian scriptures reveals that Jesus (pbuh) never claimed divinity. In fact there is not a single unequivocal statement in the entire Bible where Jesus (pbuh) himself says, "I am God" or where he says, "worship me". In fact the Bible contains statements attributed to Jesus (pbuh) in which he preached quite the contrary. The following statements in the Bible are attributed to Jesus Christ:


"My Father is greater than I." [The Bible, John 14:28]

"My Father is greater than all." [The Bible, John 10:29]

"…I cast out devils by the Spirit of God…." [The Bible, Mathew 12:28]

"…I with the finger of God cast out devils…." [The Bible, Luke 11:20]

"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." [The Bible, John 5:30]


The Mission of Jesus Christ (pbuh) – to Fulfill the Law

Jesus (pbuh) never claimed divinity for himself. He clearly announced the nature of his mission. Jesus (pbuh) was sent by God to confirm the previous Judaic law. This is clearly evident in the following statements attributed to Jesus (pbuh) in the Gospel of Mathew:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." [The Bible, Mathew 5:17-20]


God Sent Jesus' (pbuh)

The Bible mentions the prophetic nature of Jesus (pbuh) mission in the following verses:


"… and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me." [The Bible, John 14:24]


"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." [The Bible, John 17:3]


Jesus Refuted even the Remotest Suggestion of his Divinity

Consider the following incident mentioned in the Bible:

"And behold, one came and said unto him, ‘Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?’

And he said unto him, ‘Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’ "
[The Bible, Mathew 19:16-17]

Jesus (pbuh) did not say that to have the eternal life of paradise, man should believe in him as Almighty God or worship him as God, or believe that Jesus (pbuh) would die for his sins. On the contrary he said that the path to salvation was through keeping the commandments. It is indeed striking to note the difference between the words of Jesus Christ (pbuh) and the Christian dogma of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus (pbuh).


Jesus (pbuh) of Nazareth – a Man Approved of God

The following statement from the Bible supports the Islamic belief that Jesus (pbuh) was a prophet of God.

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know." [The Bible, Acts 2:22]


The First Commandment is that God is One

The Bible does not support the Christian belief in trinity at all. One of the scribes once asked Jesus (pbuh) as to which was the first commandment of all, to which Jesus (pbuh) merely repeated what Moses (pbuh) had said earlier:

"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adonai Ikhad."

This is a Hebrew quotation, which means:

"Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord." [The Bible, Mark 12:29]

It is striking that the basic teachings of the Church such as Trinity and vicarious atonement find no mention in the Bible. In fact, various verses of the Bible point to Jesus’ (pbuh) actual mission, which was to fulfill the law revealed to Prophet Moses (pbuh). Indeed Jesus (pbuh) rejected any suggestions that attributed divinity to him, and explained his miracles as the power of the One True God.

Jesus (pbuh) thus reiterated the message of monotheism that was given by all earlier prophets of Almighty God.

NOTE: All quotations of the Bible are taken from the King James Version.

Old Testament

God is One

The following verse from the book of Deuteronomy contains an exhortation from Moses (pbuh):

"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adna Ikhad".
It is a Hebrew quotation which means:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord"
[The Bible, Deuteronomy 6:4]


Oneness of God in the Book of Isaiah

The following verses are from the Book of Isaiah:


"I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour."
[The Bible, Isaiah 43:11]


"I am Lord, and there is none else, there is no God besides me."
[The Bible, Isaiah 45:5]


"I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me."
[The Bible, Isaiah 46:9]


Old Testament condemns idol worship


Old Testament condemns idol worship in the following verses:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:"

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."
[The Bible, Exodus 20:3-5]


A similar message is repeated in the book of Deuteronomy:

"Thou shalt have none other gods before me."

"Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that in the earth beneath, or that is in the water beneath the earth."

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."
[The Bible, Deuteronomy 5:7-9]

CONCEPT OF GOD IN OTHER RELIGIONS SCRIPTURES CHRISTIANITY, JUDISM, HINDUISM, SIKHISM, ZOROASTRIANISM

CONCEPT OF GOD IN CHRISTIANITY

Bible (New Testament)

Jesus Christ Never Claimed Divinity

One may ask, if both Muslims and Christians love and respect Jesus (pbuh), where exactly is the parting of ways? The major difference between Islam and Christianity is the Christians’ insistence on the supposed divinity of Christ (pbuh). A study of the Christian scriptures reveals that Jesus (pbuh) never claimed divinity. In fact there is not a single unequivocal statement in the entire Bible where Jesus (pbuh) himself says, "I am God" or where he says, "Worship me". In fact the Bible contains statements attributed to Jesus (pbuh) in which he preached quite the contrary. The following statements in the Bible are attributed to Jesus Christ:


"My Father is greater than I."
[The Bible, John 14:28]

"My Father is greater than all."
[The Bible, John 10:29]

"…I cast out devils by the Spirit of God…."
[The Bible, Mathew 12:28]

"…I with the finger of God cast out devils…."
[The Bible, Luke 11:20]

"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
[The Bible, John 5:30]






THE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST (PBUH) – TO FULFILL THE LAW

Jesus (pbuh) never claimed divinity for himself. He clearly announced the nature of his mission. Jesus (pbuh) was sent by God to confirm the previous Judaic law. This is clearly evident in the following statements attributed to Jesus (pbuh) in the Gospel of Mathew:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
[The Bible, Mathew 5:17-20]


GOD SENT JESUS' (PBUH)

The Bible mentions the prophetic nature of Jesus (pbuh) mission in the following verses:


"…and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me."
[The Bible, John 14:24]


"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent."
[The Bible, John 17:3]


Jesus Refuted even the Remotest Suggestion of his Divinity. Consider the following incident mentioned in the Bible:

"And behold, one came and said unto him, ‘Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?’

And he said unto him, ‘Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’ "
[The Bible, Mathew 19:16-17]

Jesus (pbuh) did not say that to have the eternal life of paradise, man should believe in him as Almighty God or worship him as God, or believe that Jesus (pbuh) would die for his sins. On the contrary he said that the path to salvation was through keeping the commandments. It is indeed striking to note the difference between the words of Jesus Christ (pbuh) and the Christian dogma of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus (pbuh).

Jesus (pbuh) of Nazareth – a Man Approved of God

The following statement from the Bible supports the Islamic belief that Jesus (pbuh) was a prophet of God.
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know." [The Bible, Acts 2:22]

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IS THAT GOD IS ONE

The Bible does not support the Christian belief in trinity at all. One of the scribes once asked Jesus (pbuh) as to which was the first commandment of all, to which Jesus (pbuh) merely repeated what Moses (pbuh) had said earlier:

"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adonai Ikhad."

This is a Hebrew quotation, which means:

"Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord." [The Bible, Mark 12:29]

It is striking that the basic teachings of the Church such as Trinity and vicarious atonement find no mention in the Bible. In fact, various verses of the Bible point to Jesus’ (pbuh) actual mission, which was to fulfill the law revealed to Prophet Moses (pbuh). Indeed Jesus (pbuh) rejected any suggestions that attributed divinity to him, and explained his miracles as the power of the One True God.

Jesus (pbuh) thus reiterated the message of monotheism that was given by all earlier prophets of Almighty God.

NOTE: All quotations of the Bible are taken from the King James Version.


CONCEPT OF GOD JUDISM
Bible Old Testament:

God is One

The following verse from the book of Deuteronomy contains an exhortation from Moses (pbuh):

"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adna Ikhad".
It is a Hebrew quotation which means:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord"
[The Bible, Deuteronomy 6:4]


Oneness of God in the Book of Isaiah

The following verses are from the Book of Isaiah:

"I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour."
[The Bible, Isaiah 43:11]

"I am Lord, and there is none else, there is no God besides me."
[The Bible, Isaiah 45:5]

"I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me."
[The Bible, Isaiah 46:9]


OLD TESTAMENT CONDEMNS IDOL WORSHIP


Old Testament condemns idol worship in the following verses:
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:""Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."
[The Bible, Exodus 20:3-5]


A similar message is repeated in the book of Deuteronomy:



"Thou shalt have none other gods before me.Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that in the earth beneath, or that is in the water beneath the earth."
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."
[The Bible, Deuteronomy 5:7-9]


CONCEPT OF GOD IN HINDUISM

1. Common concept of God in Hinduism according to the common Hindu:

2. If you ask a common Hindu that how many Gods he believe in, some may say three some may say thirty three, some may say a thousand while some may say thirty three crore i.e. 330 millions. But if you ask this question to a Hindu learned man who is well Versed with the Hindu scriptures, he will
reply that the Hindu should actually believe and worship only one God.

3. Difference between Islam and Hinduism is ‘s’
(Everything is ‘God’s’ - everything is ‘God’):
The major difference between the Hindu and the Muslim is that the common Hindu believes in philosophy of Pantheism i.e. everything is God, the tree is God, the sun is God, the moon is God, the snake is God, the monkey is God, the human being is God.
The Muslims believe that everything is God’s. God with and apostrophe ‘s’. Everything belongs to God, the tree belongs to God, the sun belongs to God, the moon belongs to God, monkey belongs to God, the human being belongs to God.
Thus the major difference between the Hindus and the Muslims is the apostrophe ‘s’. The Hindu says everything is God. The Muslim says everything is God’s, God with an apostrophe ‘s’. If we can solve the difference of the apostrophe ‘s’, the Hindus and the Muslims will be united.
The Holy Qur’an says, “Come to common terms as between us and you”, which is the first term? “That we worship none but Allah”, so lets come to common terms by analyzing the scripture of the Hindus and the Muslim.
4) the most popular amongst all the Hindu scriptures is the Bhagwad Geeta.
“Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires worship demigods” that is “Those who are materialistic, they worship demigods” i.e. besides the true God.
[Bhagwad Geeta Ch 7 Verse 20]
According to the interpretation given by “Swami Dhrupadha” means ‘they worship false god, Idols worship.
I am undetermined, invisible to sense organs, the one who has unthinkable shape, the one who is beyond the weaknesses, the constant and the one who spread everywhere
[Bhagwad Geeta Ch 12 Verse: 3-4]

“I am All-Knowing, Ancient, the Lord of the worlds, so microscopic than atom, the origin of the Universe, the one who has unthinkable shape, the self-shining”
[Bhagwad Geeta Ch 8 Verse: 9-10]


5) Upanishad

Upanishad are also one of the sacred scriptures of the Hindus.


(i) Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter 6, Section 2, Verse 1
It is mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad, Prapathaka(Chapter) 6, Khanda(Section)2,

Shloka(Verse) “Ekam evaditiyam”, “He is one only without a second”.
The principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan, page 447 and 448(sacred books of the east Volume 1 the Upanishads, part I, page 93)

(ii) Svetasvatara Upanishad, Chapter 6, Verse 9
It is mentioned in the Svetasvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya(Chapter) 6, Shloka(Verse) 9,

“Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah”
“Of him there is neither parents nor lord”. Further says;

“na tasya kascit patir asti loke, na cesita naiva ca tasya lingam, na karanam karanadhipadhipo na casya kascij janita na cadhipah”.

“Of him there is no master in the world, no ruler, nor is there any mark of him. He is the cause, the lord of the lords of the sense organs; of him there is neither progenitor nor lord”.
(The principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 745 and in sacred books of the east Volume 15, the Upanishads, part II, page 263)
(iii) In Svetasvatara Upanishad, Chapter 4, Verse 19
It is mentioned in Svetasvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya(Chapter) 4, Shloka(Verse) 19,

“Na tasya pratima asti”
“There is no likeness of him”.
“nainam urdhvam na tiryancam na madhye na parijagrabhat na tasya pratima asti yasya nama mahad yasah” “There is no likeness of him whose name is great glory”.

(The principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 736 & 737 and in sacred books of the east Volume 15, the Upanishad, part II, page 253)

(iV) In Svetasvatara Upanishad, Chapter 4, Verse 20
It is mentioned in Svetasvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya(Chapter) 4, Shloka(Verse) 20,
“na samdrse tishati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam”
“his form cannot be seen, no one sees him with the eye”
“nasamdrse tishati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam. Hrda hrdistham manasa ya enam, evam vidur amrtas te bhavanti”
“His form is not to be seen; no one sees him with the eye. Those who through heart and mind know him as abiding in the heart become immortal”.
(The principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 737 & in sacred books of the east Volume 15, the Upanishad part II, page 253)
Vedas are the most sacred amongst all the Hindu scriptures, there are principally 4 ,
i) Rigved,
ii) Yajurved,
iii) Samved
iV) and Atharvaved.

“na tasya pratima asti” “There is no image of Him”
It further says as “He is unborn, He deserves our worship”
“There is no image of him whose glory verily is great. He sustains within himself all luminous objects like the sun etc. may he not harm me, this is my prayer. As he is unborn, he deserves our worship”.
[Yajurveda, Chapter 32, Verse 3]
(The Yajurveda by Devi Chand M.A. page 377)
It is mentioned in Yajurved,
“He is body less and pure”
“He hath attained unto the bright, bodiless, woundless, sinewless, the pure which evil hath not pierced. Far-sighted wise, encompassing, he self existent hath prescribed aims as propriety demands unto the everlasting years”
[Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 8]
(Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph I.H. Griffith page 538)
“Andhatma pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste”
“They enter darkness, those who worship natural things” For e.g. air, water, fire etc.


It further continues and says,
“They sink deeper in darkness those who worship Sambhuti i.e. created things”, For example table, chair, idol etc.
“Deep into shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti’s worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti are intent”
[Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 9]
(Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T.H. Griffith page 538)

ii) Atharvaveda
It is mentioned in Atharvaveda,
“Dev maha osi”
“God is verily great” its further says ;
“Verily, surya, thou art great; truly, aditya, thou art great. As thou art great indeed thy greatness is admired: yea, verily, great art thou, O God”
[Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn (Chapter) 58, Verse 3]
(Atharvaveda Samhiti Volume 2, William Dwight Whitney page 910)
The most oldest and sacred amongst all the Vedas is Rigveda.

It is mentioned in Rigveda:
“Sages (learned Priest) call one God by many names”

“They have styled (Him, God or the sun) indra (the resplendent), mitra (the surveyor), varuna (the venerable), agni (the adorable), and he is the celestial, well-winged garutmat (the great), for learned priests call one by many names as they speak of the adorable as yama (ordainer) and matarisvan (cosmic breath)”
[It is mentioned in Rigveda Book no.1, Hymn no.164 Verse 46]

It is mentioned in Rigveda,
“Ya eka ittamushtuhi”
“Praize Him who is the matchless and alone.”
[It is mentioned in Rigveda, Book No VI, Hymn 45, Verse 16]
(Hymns of Rigveda by Ralph T.H. Griffith page 648)

It is mentioned in Rigveda,
“Ma Chidanyadia Shansata”
“Do not worship anybody but Him, the divine one Praise Him alone”



“Ma cid anyad vi sansata sakhayo ma rishanyata in dram it stota vrishanam saca sute muhaur uktha ca sansata”.
“O friends, do not worship anybody but Him, the divine one. Let no grief perturb you. Praise Him alone, the radiant, the showerer of benefits. During the course of self-realization, go on repeatedly uttering Hymns in His honour”.

[It is mentioned in Rigveda, Book 8, Hymn 1, Verse 1 ]
(Rigveda Samhiti, Volume IX, page 1 and 2 by Swami Satyaprakash Sarasvati and Satyakam Vidhya Lankar)


Brahma Sutra of Hindu Vedanta

The Brahma Sutra of Hindu Vedanta is:

“Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste nen na naste kinchan”
“Bhagwan ek hi hai dusara nahi hai, nahi hain nahi hai zara bhi nahi hai.”

“There is only one God, not the second, not at all, not in the least bit.”Therefore only if you read the Hindu Scripture will you understand the correct concept of God in Hinduism.”


CONCEPT OF GOD IN SIKHISM

The best definition that any Sikh can give regarding the concept of Almighty God in Sikhism, is quote the ‘Mul Mantra’ – the fundamental creed of Sikhism, which occurs in the
Beginning of Shri Guru Granth Sahib at the beginning, i.e. of Shri Guru Granth Sahib or JapojiMulmatra’ –
‘Only one God exists’. And He is called by ‘Dadru’, - the ‘Creator’, ‘the One free from fear and hatred’, ‘the Immortal, ‘Not begotten’, ‘Self-Existing’ ‘Great and Compassionate’.
[Volume No.1, Ch. No.1, Verse No.1.]

Sikhism strictly believes in Monotheism. And Almighty God, in the unmanifest form is called as ‘Ek Omkara’ and in the manifest form; He is called as ‘Ek Omkara’. And Guru Granth Sahib, he gave various attributes to this manifest form of Almighty God,

Omkara - and called it also as
Kartar -the Creator
Akal -the Eternal
Satyanama- the Holy One
Sahib- the Lord
Parvadigar-Cherisher
Rahim-the Merciful
Karim-the Benevolent
Wahe Guru-One true Lord, one true God.
Sikhism besides believing in Monotheism, it is also against Avtarvada- the concept of incarnation of God. They are against that God can take human forms can incarnate - and they are also against idol worship. Guru Nanak”
WAS VERY MUCH INFLUENCED BY “SANTH KABIR”
“Guru Nanak” Was very much influenced by SantKabir - No wonder, if you read the “Guru Granth Sahib several chapters contain many couplets “Doohas” of Sant Kabir. And one the most famous ‘Dohas’ of SantKabir is Dukhmeinsumren sab kare Sukhmeinkarena koi. Jo sukhmeinsumrenkare, to dukhkahe hoi. ‘Everyone remembers God during trouble - no one remembers Him during peace and happiness. The one who remembers him during peace and happiness, why will he have trouble? A similar message is given in the Holy Qur’an.
“When some trouble toucheth man, he crieth unto his Lord, turning to Him in repentance: but when He bestoweth a favour upon him as from Himself, (man) doth forget what he cried and prayed for before, and he doth set up rivals unto Allah, thus misleading others from Allah's Path. Say, "Enjoy thy blasphemy for a little while: verily thou art (one) of the Companions of the Fire!"
[Al-Qur’an Ch. 39, Verse No. 8]





CONCEPT OF GOD IN ZOROASTRIANISM:

God in Zoroastrianism is known as ‘Ahura Mazda’. ‘Ahura’ means ‘the Lord’ or 'The Master' and ‘Mazda’ means ‘the Wise’; hence ‘Ahura Mazda’ means ‘the Wise Lord’ or ‘the Wise God’. Ahura Mazda stands for God, in a strictly monotheistic sense.

Qualities of God according to the Dasatir:

According to the Dasatir, Ahura Mazda has the following qualities:
• He is One.
• He is without an origin or end.
• He has no father or mother, wife or son.
• He is without a body or form.
• Nothing resembles Him.
• Neither the eye can behold Him, nor the power of thinking can conceive him.
• He is above all that you can imagine.
• He is nearer to you than your own self.
Qualities of God according to Avesta
According to the Avesta, the Gathas and the Yasna give various characteristics to Ahura Mazda such as:
Creator

Yasna 31:7 & 11
Yasna 44:7
Yasna 50:11
Yasna 51:7

Most Mighty
the Greatest
Yasna 33:11
Yasna 45:6

Beneficent
Hudai.
Yasna 33:11
Yasna 48:3

Bountiful Spenta;
Yasna 43:4,5,7,9,11,13,15
Yasna 44:2
Yasna 45:5
Yasna 46:9
Yasna 48:3
Thus, in Zoroastrianism too, we find a concept of an eternal, omnipotent God. Several verses of Yasna praise the Lord as a Bountiful Creator.




CONCLUSION:
If we Analysis the concept of God on bases of Religious scripture they are same the teach us to worship only one true God.

Family Planning in Islam. Birth Control

WHY MUSLIM DON’T DO TO FAMILY PLANNING OR BIRTH CONTROL POPULATION INCREASING IN THE WORLD AND IT A BIG PROBLEM FOR THE WHOLE WORLD’S SOCIETY ?

Ans:

FAMILY PLANNING IN ISLAM (BIRTH CONTROL).


BIRTH CONTROL METHODS

There are two birth control methods:

1) Permanent methods: MTP (medical termination of pregnancy), TL (Tubal Ligation) Or Vasectomy.

2) Temporary methods.

1) Permanent methods

All most all scholars prohibited permanents methods in Islam but it’s allowed in certain Situation or circumstance, if mother had a multiple session doctor says another Pregnancy will dangerous to her life or if mother heart attack patient and if she Conceive a baby it’s dangerous to her life, in such situation only this permanent Allowed otherwise it’s prohibited in Islam.

Temporary Methods:

The most common method is “Copper T”:



Earlier science tell us “copper T” is a contraception but today science developedAnd tell us that “copper
T” is not contraception but it’s a “Contra implantation “Means “Ovum and sperm already form the zygote, its preventing the cling in Uterus involve, it’s already attach to mother wall (Uterus wall) means it’s human creation already began in the mother womb, its means It’s a “Earlier Abortion” killing a human life, right! Killing any innocent life is Prohibited in Islam,Allah says in the Qur’an Ch 5 Verse 32 “ If any one kill any innocent life as though He kill the whole mankind “

and other Methods are like taking “Contraceptive Pills” and you know that Its causes many side effects , in America and other countries , people are holding a banner and Board etc. “Pills kills Women” . Allah says in the Qur’an Ch 30 Verse 30 “Do not change your physiology”.

If takings Pills to save a mother life, if doctor says, if she should not conceive a baby up to Particular time then it’s allowed.

Why Family planning?

Allah says in the Qur’an Ch 6 Verse 151 “ Do not kill your child want of sustain, we sustain
You and your child”

Another Qur’an verse says Ch 17 Verse 31 “ Do not kill your child want of sustain, We provide Your children and you “

If you see the first verse and second verse look similar but order is change. Scholars says first one refer to poor people , “ I don’t have to eat who a feed my child”

In Islam show the Solution for this is “ZAKAT” If the person is poor he/she can take Zakat and Its not a obligation to take zakat but it’s their right to take.

And its refer to “Mal Jusion” theory , he says that “ crops inversely proportionately to population”

Means more population more danger to food but this theory has been disprove, Today population is Boone for the society not bane for the society , If you know which two country are competing for the Super power country? “India and China.” Why? Because they have man power, you know in America Children wearing a T shirt of written on “I and My Father Tax saver”. In Australia “more children more
Allowance like less tax, school allowance, etc. why? Encouraging population, in Russia few year back .They awarded a women has a maximum children in Russia as “Women of the Nation”. It the problem of the Indian Government, It should come up the good policy so that we can utilized the Human power otherwise actually population not at all a problem and 73% of world land not been yet utilized.

Second Verse refer: To the people, Modern people, they say “I want to make my daughter or son doctor or engineer or MBA etc. I need space between one child to another child .Almighty God already given a natural birth control, when baby born, when she breast feed, She will have lactation amureia means to


conceive a baby again chance is goes down, and there is a space by naturally .Allah says in the Qur’an Ch 31 Verse 15 “she give milk for two years”. But Today women they don’t believe in breast feeding, why? Because they lost their figure.



If you see the people who won the Noble prize in different field, science, math’s, social, etc. All of them are not the first or second child of their parent’s its mixed , some 1 , 5, 3 etc. its


Mixed if you saying that 1 child or 2 child only becoming well educated and successful in This world that wrong, illogical , Myth . In India “We two our two” after one not know and after two never.

Allah says in the Qur’an Ch 3 Verse 53 “ They think , they plan , Allah to plan , but Allah plan the best” If you believe that Allah is the best planner then leave to Allah , if you think you do better planning
Then go ahead .

PART: B

IT PERMISSIBLE TO ENGAGE IN COITUS INTERRUPTUS OR TO USE A CONDOM?

There is a hadith which says that one person came to prophet and says “o prophet I want to do “Uuss” (Arabic) means Coitus interruptus means intercourse in which, when ejaculation approaches, the man withdraws and ejaculates outside the women body “and prophet remain silent, some scholars says” prophet remain silent means its prohibited, other scholars says that “prophet remain silent means prophet allowed us” but whatever .No one can say its prohibited in Islam. And statistic tell us that , using condom(Some scholars prohibited if it using to fear of Children and their sustenance ) and women getting pregnancy chances is 17 percent but if you do proper methods Coitus interruptus, the chances is just 15 percent ,it better to using “Uuss” method than condom .

JEWISH VS. MUSLIM VIEW ON JESUS CHRIST

The position of the Talmud in the Judaeic tradition:
“The Talmud is probably the most important Jewish book, even more important than the Bible, even though the Bible is older and holier. The Jewish way of doing things (halakhah) is based on the Talmud much more than on the Bible. Many of the ideas and stories of Jewish life come to us from the Talmud.”

(KOLEL: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning)

“The Talmud was created by the Jewish people and the Talmud has, in turn, molded them as a nation.”

“… Talmud constitute the backbone of diverse Jewish knowledge..” (Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz)

The Talmud on Jesus:

“The Talmud claims that this Yeshu was the son of a Jewish woman named Miriam (Mary) who was betrothed to a carpenter (more accurately, their marriage was in the stage of kiddushin, where she is legally his wife but not yet living with him or having sexual relations with him). She was either raped or voluntarily slept with a Greek or Roman soldier known as Pandeira, and Yeshu was the product of that union. Because of the status of Miriam’s marriage, Yeshu is considered to be a mamzer (usually mistranslated as “bastard”, it means the product of an adulterous or incestuous relationship). Some say that he was also a ben-niddah (conceived through intercourse with a woman in a state of menstrual impurity, which is also said to leave a stain on the offspring). The Talmud describes Yeshu as a heretic who dabbled in sorcery and lead the people astray (into idolatry). He was stoned to death by the Sanhedrin for his crimes, and in accordance with the procedure for heretics, his dead body was hung in a tree until nightfall after his death.

Were Jesus and Yeshu the same person? Many Jewish sages in history believed so.”

“… the Jewish Encyclopœdia admits that Jewish legends concerning Jesus are found in the Talmud and Midrash and in ” the life of Jesus ( Toledot Yeshu) that originated in the Middle Ages. It is the tendency of all these sources to belittlethe person of Jesus by ascribing to Him illegitimate birth, magic, and a shameful death. “

Jewish Encyclopædia

The following are a couple of quotes from the Talmud:

In Schabbath, 104b:
“They, [the Elders] said to him [Eliezer]: “He(Jesus) was a fool, and no one pays attention to fools.”

book Zohar, III, (282):
“Jesus died like a beast and was buried in that “dirt heap…where they throw the dead bodies of dogs and asses, and where the sons of Esau [the Christians] and of Ismael [the Turks], also Jesus and Mahommed, uncircumcized and unclean like dead dogs, are buried.”

The second quote has not just attacked Jesus Christ. but also Muhammad (pbuh) the Last Prophet according to the Muslims. There is no need to quote further filthy insults against God’s chosen ones. Thus far, the quotes provided are more than sufficient.

The Christians who is reading this, we would like them to contrast this with what the Qur'an has to say about Jesus Christ:

Relate in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.

She placed a screen [to screen herself] from them; then We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
She said: "I seek refuge from thee to [Allah] Most Gracious: [come not near] if thou dost fear Allah."
He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, [to announce] to thee the gift of a holy son.
She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?"
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 a Mercy from Us': It is a matter [so] decreed."

So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.

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 and out of sight!"
But [a voice] cried to her from beneath the [palm-tree]: "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee;
"And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
"So eat and drink and cool [thine] eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to [Allah] Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into not talk with any human being'"
At length she brought the [babe] to her people, carrying him [in her arms]. They said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!
"O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!"
But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
"And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
"[He] hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
"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]"!
Such [was] Jesus the son of Mary: [it is] a statement of truth, about which they [vainly] dispute.
(Al-Qur'an 19:16-34)

Which side's postion is better according to you regarding Jesus?

Was Jesus really born on December 25th? / Does the Bible say when Jesus was born?

“Merry Christmas!” Centuries old, those cheery words are still being spoken each December by countless millions of people, some of whom do not even believe in Jesus Christ. As we write, the world is once again approaching “the Holiday Season,” when the name of Jesus Christ takes center stage for
a few weeks. For many people, “Christmas” is their favorite time of year.

Tradition teaches that Jesus was born on December 25, when it is very cold, and sometimes snowy, in Bethlehem. We believe the evidence supports the conclusion that Jesus was born in September. Tradition would have us believe that there were three wise men, and that they came to the manger. The truth is that there were quite a number of those who came from the East, and that they came to see Jesus when he was between 18 and 24 months old.

In this brief article, we cannot fully set forth the many pertinent biblical details, but we will give you the important facts, and we encourage you to pursue this via the avenues of study mentioned above. It is important to note that the actual chronology of events regarding the birth of Christ must be put together from what is recorded in Matthew and Luke (with some overlapping in time), as follows: Luke 1:5-25; 1:26-38; 1:39-56; 1:57-80; Matthew 1:18-24; 1:25a; Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 1:25b; Luke 2:21; 2:22-24; 2:25-35; 2:36-38; Matthew 2:1-12; 2:13-22; 2:23; Luke 2:39; 2:40; 2:41-50; 2:51 and 52.

Luke 1:5-25 is the record of the angel’s announcement to Zecharias that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son, whom they were to call John. Verse 5 contains a little phrase that is one important key to determining that Jesus was born in September, not December. It says that Zechariah “belonged to the priestly division [KJV: “course”] of Abijah.” A study will show that from the time of David, Jewish priests were organized into 24 “courses,” named after the heads of the priestly families. These courses of service in the Temple started on Nisan 1 (which corresponds to March or April on our calendar) and spanned the calendar year. Because the Hebrews used a lunar calendar and we use a solar calendar, Nisan 1 changes on our calendar each year. The course of Abijah was the eighth course, and, like each course, occurred twice during the year. In 4 B.C., the year prior to Christ’s birth, the first of those two courses took place during the last week of our month of May.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were quite elderly, and had no children, and the angel gave them the wonderful news that they would have a son, to be named John. Verses 23 and 24 tell us that when Zechariah finished his service in the Temple, he returned home (which would have been in early June). Upon his return, Elizabeth became pregnant. Verse 26 then says that in her sixth month of pregnancy (December), the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that she was about to become pregnant with the Son of God. Nine months later would have been September.

How else do we know that Jesus was not born in the Winter? Luke 2:8 speaks about the shepherds near Bethlehem who were in the fields, watching their flocks at night. Shepherds in that region did not keep their sheep out at night during the Winter because it was cold and sometimes even snowy, but they did keep them in the fields during the Fall, after the end-of-Summer harvest. At that time, the sheep could eat the stalks of grain left over after the harvest, and they would then fertilize the ground prior to the late Fall planting.

Also, Luke 2:1 says that when Mary was just about to give birth to Jesus, she and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to fulfill their obligation to be counted in a Roman census. They did not travel in the Winter because it would have been much too hard. Rather, people traveled in the Fall, between the heat of Summer and the cold of Winter. And at that time of year the grain, and also some fruit, were ripe, and travelers were allowed to eat some of the “gleanings” as they passed by (Lev. 23:22).

A study of the now computerized data by which we can very accurately determine astronomical events of that time gives us another piece of the puzzle to dating the birth of Christ in September of 3 B.C. In particular, the very noticeable celestial activity of Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Regulus (the King star), and Venus (the Queen star), and their various combinations of conjunctions in Leo during the nine months leading up to Christ’s birth are vital signs to determine the September birth date of our Lord Jesus. And we believe that research shows that he was born on September 11 (Tishri 1 on the Jewish calendar), on which day the sun was in Virgo, as per the prophecy in Revelation 12:1 of “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet” (Rev. 12:1). [1]

So then how did December 25 come to be the date that most all Christians recognize as the birth date of Christ? We quote from Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed:

“In 274 A.D., the Romans designated December 25 as the birthday of the unconquered sun, being the time when the sun begins noticeably to show an increase in light, resulting in longer daylight hours. By 336 A.D., the church in Rome was adapting this festival, spiritualizing its significance as a reference to Jesus Christ and calling it the ‘Feast of the Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness.’ Attempting to Christianize and incorporate the pagan traditions of antiquity, the church in Rome adopted this midwinter holiday celebrating the birth of the sun god as one of its own observances, somewhat changing its significance, but retaining many customs of the pagan festival. As the Roman church spread its influence religiously and militarily, this holiday of December 25 became the most popular date in Christendom to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A special mass was established for Christ, hence, the name, ‘Christmass,’ abbreviated ‘Christmas.’”

What about the “three wise men”? First, the Bible never says there were three. It says that they brought three gifts: “gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” In that time, three men with such precious treasure traveling such a great distance, some of it through the land of their country’s enemies, would have been easy prey for enemy soldiers or the many robbers who prowled the roads. It is therefore almost certain that they would have traveled in a much larger group, with adequate protection.

Who were those men who took note of the many astronomical phenomena heralding the birth of Christ in Judea, and then traveled to find him, arriving when he was about 18 months old? Scripture calls them “Magi,” and they were scholarly men from Persia well versed in astronomy, history, and religion. It is most significant that their ancestors were those over whom King Nebuchadnezzar had appointed Daniel in what was then called Babylon (Dan. 2:28 and 5:11 says he was appointed “master of the magicians [Magi]”).

It is very significant that there were some religious sects in Persia, including Zoroastrianism, that looked forward to a coming Redeemer, a prophet to be sent by God to save mankind. And that is why they would have been most interested in learning from Daniel about Judaism’s hallmark prophecies of a coming Messiah, especially as these prophecies related to the celestial motions of the planets, something they studied diligently.

In any case, the striking celestial activity told them of the birth of that promised Redeemer, and they set out to find him. Matthew 2:11 tells us that they came to “the house,” not a manger, and saw “the child” (the Greek word paidion), not a “newborn baby” (the Greek word brephos). As the NIV Study Bible says regarding that verse: “Contrary to tradition, the Magi did not visit Jesus at the manger on the night of his birth as did the shepherds. They first came to Jerusalem, apparently thinking that in the capital city of Israel they should be able to find out where the king had been born. After King Herod told them he had been born in Bethlehem, they went there and found him as a ‘child’ in his ‘house.’”

That explains why Herod, who had consulted with the Magi as to the time when they saw the star (Matt. 2:7), determined to kill all the Israeli boys under two years old. He knew that Jesus was no longer an infant, and set two years as a safe limit to how old he would have been, which we believe was about 18 months.

The evidence shows that Jesus Christ was born in September, 3 B.C., and that the local shepherds were the only ones who came to see him at the manger. It is significant that in that culture, shepherds were generally considered extremely faithful and trustworthy men, and certainly those particular ones were, because they immediately acted on what the angel told them, and after they had found Jesus, they “spread the word” concerning what the angel had told them. You might want to take a moment, put yourself in their place, and let the magnitude of their experience sink into your heart.

We think it is sad that so many people on earth associate the birth of Jesus Christ with a fictitious being called “Santa Claus,” who has come to be known as the Giver of good gifts. As we rudely learn at an early age, there is no Santa Claus.

The Christmas season is a golden opportunity to do just what those shepherds of long ago did—spread the word about Jesus Christ. Now that’s something to rejoice about!