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"Say: 'O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah(God); that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords other than Allah.' But if they turn away, say: 'Bear you witness that we have surrendered unto Allah (We are Muslims).'" A'al-Umran(3):6
© (Copyright 1995, Misheal Abdullah Al-Kadhi)
To: Zaakirah Dauwd Madan
"We reach with Our mercy whom We will. We lose not the reward of the good."
Yusuf (12):56
The great messenger of God, Jesus, says: "And this is life
eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You
have sent." John 17:3
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Do not over-praise me as the Christians over-praised Jesus the son of Mary. I am His slave, so say: 'God's slave and messenger'." Narrated by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Follow this chart from Christianity to Islam
Table of Definitions and Abbreviations
Chapter 1 - Christian-Muslim Dialogue
1.1 Christian perspective 1.2 Muslim perspective
1.2.1 'Blind faith' or 'Prove all things'? 1.2.2 The 'Trinity', or 1+1+1=1
1.2.2.1 Matthew 28:19 1.2.2.2 I Corinthians 12:4-6
1.2.2.3 II Corinthians 13:14 1.2.2.4 Jude 1:20-21
1.2.2.5 1 John 5:7 1.2.2.6 John 1:1
1.2.2.7 John 10:30 1.2.2.8 Genesis 1:26
1.2.2.9 John 14:8-9 1.2.2.10 John 14:6
1.2.2.11 John 20:28 1.2.2.12 A logical analysis
1.2.2.13 On 'steam, water, and ice' 1.2.3 The 'Son of God'
1.2.3.1 Anglican bishops declare that Jesus is not God 1.2.3.2 How many 'Sons' does God have?
1.2.3.3 Because God was his 'Father'? 1.2.3.4 Because he performed miracles?
1.2.3.5 Because he was filled with the Holy Ghost? 1.2.3.6 Because he was the 'Image of God'?
1.2.3.7 Because he was 'from above'? 1.2.3.8 Because he was the 'Messiah/Christ' and the 'Word'?
1.2.3.9 Because he was called 'Lord'? 1.2.3.10 Because God 'gave His only begotten Son'?
1.2.3.11 What about 'Unto us a child is born'? 1.2.3.12 How did Jesus' people know him?
1.2.3.13 Is God a man? 1.2.3.14 Does God pray to Himself?
1.2.3.15 Jesus is God's servant 1.2.3.16 Does God have a God?
1.2.3.17 Is God greater than Himself? 1.2.3.18 More to think about
1.2.3.19 Was God ignorant and savage? 1.2.3.20 But he must be God, or else we can not be saved
1.2.3.21 But he must be God, he was lifted up 1.2.4 'Worship me! '
1.2.4.1 Who can forgive sins? 1.2.4.2 Jesus said 'I am' so he must be God
1.2.4.3 But people 'worshipped' Jesus and he did not object 1.2.4.4 But he doesn't need to say it
1.2.5 Historical origin of the 'Trinity' myth 1.2.6 The systematic destruction of the law of Jesus
1.2.7 Christianity's true founder, Paul, admits fabrication 1.2.8 Summary: What is a 'Trinity'?
1.2.9 Conclusion
2.1 Christian scholars recognize contradictions 2.2 A small sampling of these contradictions
2.3 Did mankind tamper with the Old Testament? 2.4 When is a book an 'inspired' book?
Chapter 3 - Ancient paganism and the dangers of compromise
Chapter 4 - Jesus' second coming and 'grace'
Chapter 5 - Various miscellanea
5.1 A Biblical picture of God 5.2 My grandfather did it (or: Is King David going to Hell?)
5.3 Poison yourself or be damned 5.4 Who's will is stronger?
5.5 Who bears the sin? 5.6 Like Jesus prayed
5.7 Like Jesus' greeting 5.8 Thirty seven verses word for word?
5.9 Melchizedek, A god greater than Jesus? 5.10 The ultimate test of Jesus
5.11 Who was 'Immanuel'? 5.12 Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani
5.13 Hiding the miracles 5.14 Was 'Christ' a 'Christian'?
5.15 Will Judas judge Israel? 5.16 Does God need an 'blood atonement'?
6.1 Three distinct prophesies 6.2 Foretells the story of the chapter of 'Al-Alak'
6.3 A Paraclete like Jesus 6.4 The emigration (The Hijra)
6.5 Isaiah's vision 6.6 Truthfulness of Muhammad (pbuh)
6.7 Moses foretells of Muhammad's coming 6.8 Legitimacy of Hagar and Ishmael
6.9 A rod out of the stem of Jesse 6.10 Reference to Moses, Jesus, & Muhammad in that order
6.11 God did not kill Muhammad for speaking in His name 6.12 Glorifies Jesus (pbuh)
6.13 The rejected stone 6.14 Other Prophesies
Chapter 10 - The life of Muhammad
Chapter 11 - What is Islam?
Chapter 12 - Islamic faith: Some details
Chapter 13 - The miracle and challenge of the Qur'an
Chapter 14 - 'We' an Arabic and Hebrew plural of respect
Chapter 15 - Women in Christianity and Islam
Chapter 16 - Summary
Chapter 17 - Additional references
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Description: Is the Bible God's Word? is a fact based criticism of
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"Certainly, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and those who are Pagans, and you will find the nearest in love to the Believers (Muslims) those who say: "We are Christians." That is because amongst them are priests (Men devoted to learning) and monks (men who have renounced the world), and because they do not behave proudly. And when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger (Muhammad), you see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth. They say: "Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses. And why should we not believe in Allah and in that which has come to us of the truth (Islamic Monotheism) and we wish that our Lord will admit us (in Paradise on the Day of Resurrection) along with the righteous people?" So because of what they said, Allah rewarded them Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), they will abide therein forever. Such is the reward of good-doers. But those who disbelieved and denied Our signs, they shall be the dwellers of the Hell-Fire." (Holy Qur'an 5:82-86)
Muhammad In The Old Testament
Prophet Muhammad In The New Testament
Acknowledgment: The entire set of articles was taken from www.islamicweb.com and reformatted for www.muhammad.net The following message is from www.islamicweb.com. The title of the book is, "Muhammad in the Bible." See seerah_books.html for a list of bookstores to purchase. No Copyright notice from islamicweb.com: Any organization or individual wishing to reprint or copy the contents of this website may do so as long as the information is kept in its original form, names of all authors and sources are kept intact and is used for non-malicious purposes. An acknowledgement would be HIGHLY appreciated.
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Muhummed THE NATURAL SUCCESSOR TO Christ
By Ahmed Deedat
CHAPTER 1
The final Messenger
MULTI-FACETED SUCCESSION
Successions are of many kinds like the birthright of the "first-born" as in Jewish law. Or the ascending of the eldest son or daughter to the kingly throne. Or by election, to select a candidate by the vote of the majority. Or Theologically, an appointment by Divine Decree of God's chosen Messengers. Like the call of Abraham, Moses, Jesus or Muhummed (May the Peace and Blessings of God be upon them all) who were appointed or "anointed"2 in consecration to their office.
Muhummed's (pbuh) succession to Jesus Christ (pbuh) is multifaceted.
1. Chronologically, in history as a sequence of event in time.
2. By being Chosen3 by God.
3. In the fulfilment of the prophecies of his predecessors, and but not in the least...
4. By bringing the Guidance of God to perfection ' "For he will Guide you into all Truth." said. Jesus Christ
1. In this book as well as in my other publications, I quote extensively from the Arabic Qur’ân not only for blessings or adornment. It presents a golden opportunity for my learned brethren to memorize these quotations with its meaning and to share their knowledge with others.
2. "ANOINTED:" or appointed; Hebrew word "Messiah." See my book - "Christ in Islam," for fuller explanation.
3. "CHOSEN:" Arabic – Mustafa. A title of the Prophet of Islam.
HISTORICALLY
The Holy Prophet Moses preceded Jesus Christ (pbuh) by some 1300 years and Muhummed (pbuh) succeeded to that high office vacated by Jesus some six centuries later.
It was the 12 of Rabi I., in the year of the Elephant, or the 29th of August 570 of the Christian Era1 that Muhummed the Praiseworthy, to whom all praise is due, was born in the sacred city of Makkah in pagan Arabia. His people the Quraish remembered the year of his birth as the "Era of the Elephant", because just two months before the birth of the child Abraha al-Ashram, the Abyssinian viceroy of Yemen had attacked the sacred sanctuary at Makkah at the head of his troops riding a huge African elephant. A terrifying sight never to be erased from their memory and a still more shocking end to the invasion — the miraculous destruction of Abraha and his army as recorded in Sura Fil or the Elephant —
Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the Companions of the Elephant?
Did He not make their treacherous plan go astray?
And He sent against them flights of Birds,
Striking them with stones of baked clay.
Then did He make them like an empty field of stalks and straw,(of which the corn) has been eaten up
(SURA FIL) Holy Qur’ân 105:1-5
1. Always use A.C. (After Christ) or C.E. (Christian Era) and not A.D. as Muslims often do unthinkingly.
GOD'S OWN STANDARDS
God Almighty
chooses His Own Messengers, He uses His Own Standards although we may not always
understand the wisdom of it. Paul cries the anomaly -
For the Jews require a sign (miracles to convince) and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
(HOLY BIBLE) I Corinthians 1: 22
But worldly wise as Paul was, he found that his wisdom was "a stumbling-block" to the Jews and "foolishness" to the Greeks.
God chose Moses (pbuh) a man who was a fugitive from justice and a stutterer. The Holy Bible calls him a man with "uncircumcised lips." (Exodus 6: 12).
Despite his difficulties when commissioned to confront Pharaoh, the greatest tyrant of the age, Moses (pbuh) cries out to the God of Mercy —
(Moses) said: "O my Lord! expand for me my breast;" 1
Make my task easy for me;
"And remove the impediment from my speech,
"So that they may understand what I have to say:
"And give me a Minister from my family,
"Aaron, my brother; "Add to my strength through him, "And make him share my task:
"That we may celebrate Thy praise without stint,
"And remember Thee without stint:
'For Thou art He that (ever) regardeth us. (God) said: "Granted is thy prayer, 0 Moses!"
(SURA TA'HA) Holy Qur’ân 20:25-56
1. Meaning – give me courage, make me bold.
WHY "SUPPOSED"?
Then comes Jesus (pbuh) who was chosen by God. According to Christian teachings, he was a carpenter and the son of a carpenter, with a dubious genealogy as recorded in the Gospels —
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) 1 the son of Joseph...
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 3: 25
Acknowledged today by a thousand million Muslims that Jesus Christ (pbuh) was born miraculously — without any male intervention; the followers of Christ created two separate genealogies for a man who had no genealogy. Between the Gospels of Matthew and Luke they give this mighty Messenger of God sixty-six fathers and grandfathers. And of these two separate lists only one name is common to these two lists and that is of Joseph the Carpenter, who does not Fit in anywhere because, as Luke records above, he was only the "SUPPOSED" father of Jesus. 2
1. The words you see here in brackets are the exact replica from the King James and the Roman Catholic Versions of the phrase – "(as was supposed)" brackets and all.
2. Consult – "Is the Bible God’s Word?" for a fuller explanation of these anomalies.
EVEN BISHOPS DOUBT
In a "SHOCK SURVEY OF ANGLICAN BISHOPS" in June 1984 it was revealed that 31 of their 39 Bishops thought that "Christ's miracles, the virgin birth and the resurrection might not have happened exactly as described in the Bible."
In deference to the Bishops of the Church of England (the "Anglicans") the Church of Scotland most respectfully omitted any reference to the "Virgin Birth" from its most recent publication "A STATEMENT OF FAITH." The topic of the miraculous conception of Jesus (pbuh) is getting increasingly hotter for Western Christianity to handle as you see here:
AND GOD CHOSE JESUS (PBUH)
Jesus Christ
(pbuh) though spiritually rich in wisdom, light and truth; philosophised
light-heartedly about the beggars of the world, when he said:
There came unto him (Jesus) a woman having an albaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head...
But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
For this ointment might have been sold For much, and given to the poor.
... he (Jesus) said unto them ... For ye have the poor always with you, but (poor) me ye have not always.
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 26: 7-11
But when destitution stared him in the face. When poverty, penury and need touched his own dear self; he cried pathetically:
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the son of man (referring to himself) hath not where to lay his head.
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 8: 20 also repeated in Luke 9: 58
And yet God chose him (Jesus pbuh): Unique and inscrutable are Thy ways O Lord!
M-U-S-T-A-F-A THE CHOSEN ONE
It is He Who sent amongst the unlettered a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, — although they had been, before, in manifest error;-
(SURA JUMUA) Holy Qur’ân 62: 2
Amazing as it may seem, I am not amazed anymore! For this is His way — He chooses an Ummi 1 non-literate Prophet for an Ummi illiterate nation.
"A POOR SHEPHERD PEOPLE, ROAMING UNNOTICED IN ITS DESERTS SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD: A HERO-PROPHET WAS SENT DOWN TO THEM WITH A WORD THEY COULD BELIEVE: SEE, THE UNNOTICED BECOMES WORLD-NOTABLE, THE SMALL HAS GROWN WORLD-GREAT; WITHIN ONE CENTURY AFTERWARDS, ARABIA IS AT GRENADA (Spain) ON THIS HAND, AT DELHI (India) ON THAT; -GLANCING IN VALOUR AND SPLENDOUR AND THE LIGHT OF GENIUS, ARABIA SHINES THROUGH LONG AGES OVER A GREAT SECTION OF THE WORLD. BELIEF IS GREAT, LIFE-GIVING. THE HISTORY OF A NATION BECOMES FRUITFUL, SOUL ELEVATING, GREAT, SO SOON AS IT BELIEVES. THESE ARABS, THE MAN MAHOMET, AND THAT ONE CENTURY, -IS IT NOT AS IF A SPARK HAD FALLEN, ONE SPARK, ON A WORLD OF WHAT SEEMED BLACK UNNOTICEABLE SAND; BUT LO, THE SAND PROVES EXPLOSIVE POWDER, BLAZES HEAVEN HIGH FROM DELHI TO GRENADA! I SAID, THE GREAT MAN WAS ALWAYS AS LIGHTNING OUT OF HEAVEN; THE REST OF MEN WAITED FOR HIM LIKE FUEL, AND THEN THEY TOO WOULD FLAME."
Thus concluded the speech of Thomas Carlyle, one of the greatest thinkers of the past century. It was Friday, the 8th of May 1840. His theme — "The Hero as Prophet" His audience: were Anglicans — English Christians.
1. UMMI: "Unlettered." "One other circumstance we must not forget: that he had no school-learning; of the thing we call school-learning; none at all." Thomas Carlyle in his "HEROES AND HERO-WORSHIP"
THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
God chooses His Messengers and God chooses His People, In the realm of the Spirit no nation was as favoured as the Jews and yet Moses (pbuh) is made to bewail against his own people —
Ye have been rebellious against the Lord from the day I knew you.
(HOLY BIBLE) Deutronomy 9: 24
In this last will and testament of Moses (pbuh) the Israelites frustrate their "meek and gentle" Messenger who is forced to rail against their continual stubborn resistance and arrogant attitudes to God's guidance —
For I knew thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the lord; and how much more after my death?
(HOLY BIBLE) Deutronomy 51:27
Alas how true! I am not going to philosophise on God's choice. But in the very next chapter the fire of God's anger is kindled to a blaze and He decries the Jews -
They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they (the Jews) have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are Not A People; I will provoke them to anger with a Foolish Nation.
(HOLY BIBLE) Deutronomy 32:211
1. Emphasis are mine.
JEWS SUBSTITUTED
Anyone with a modicum of Scriptural knowledge will be able i guess who in the eyes of these arrogant, racist Jews is "not-a people" — a non-entity and "a foolish nation" if not the Ishmaelite cousins — the Arabs who in the words of Thomas Carlyle have been "ROAMING UNNOTICED IN ITS DESERT SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD."!?
THE ARABS. Alexander the Great passed them by: the Persian. passed them by; the Egyptians passed them by; and the Roman; passed them by. It would have been an absolute liability for any nation to conquer and colonise them. But the Creator did not pass them by. He picked them up from the depths of darkness and transformed them into torch-bearers of light and learning to the world. "I will move them "I will move them (the Jews) to Jealousy"1 This jealousy is a cultivated sickness. Remember, Sarah and Hagar the two wives of Abraham (pbuh) — the Friend of God. The jealousy of Sarah was bequeathed to her children and on to nations and tribes yet unborn.
1. If the Romans or the Greeks had displaced the Jews as the "Chosen of God" then the envy would not have been as acute or as intolerable to the Jews. Not so long ago I read a book on the discovery of medicine written by a Jewish medical man. I can unfortunately not remember the name of the author and failed to retrace the book. However, the wordings of the tribute paid by this Jewish author to his Semetic (Arab) cousins have made an indelible impression on my mind. And I quote from memory:
"GOATHERDS AND CAMEL DRIVERS SITTING ON THE THRONE OF THE CAESARS"
Full of spite, venom and sarcasm, but how true! This is what God did and always does. He honours whom He wills. This is what He does to show His Mighty Hand (Power)?
IT IS SURELY ONE OF THE GREATEST MIRACLES OF HISTORY THAT FROM THE BACKWATER OF ARABIA THERE SHOULD HAVE EXPLODED A GROUP OF MEN, COMPANIONS OF A PROPHET, WHO WITHIN THE SPACE OF A FEW BRIEF DECADES WERE ABLE TO CREATE A MAGNIFICENT CIVILISATION EXTENDING FROM THE PYRENEES TO THE GATES OF CHINA
Abdul Wadod Shalabi in "Islam Religion of Life:"
THE LAST WARNING
The foregoing is the exact fulfilment of Jesus Christ's (pbuh), (the last of the great Jewish prophets) own prediction of the displacement of the Jewish race in the spiritual guidance of man. In the words of the Master himself —
Therefore I say unto you (Jews), The Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you (Jews), and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 21: 45 1
1. "Kingdom of God:" The honour, the privilege of being God’s chosen people to guide mankind – "Ye (Jews) shall be unto me (God Almighty) a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:6) This grand commission ended with Jesus (pbuh).
CHAPTER TWO
IN THE WORDS OF THE MASTER
JUST ONE FULL PROPHECY1
1 This site only expounds a single prophecy from the New Testament. See "What the Bible says about Muhammmed (pbuh)" for prophecies from the Old Testament.
A COMMON TRAIT
Just a cursory glance, a rapid reading, a hurried look at the previous verse will satisfy the Muslim that Jesus Christ (pbuh) did indeed prophesy the advent of Muhummed (pbuh), the Messenger of God. The Muslim is puzzled at the stubbornness, vanity and tunnel vision of the Christian which prevents him from seeing his own inner light and listening to his conscience so as not to recognise the obvious.
The Christian in turn is puzzled at the hard-hearted obstinacy of the Jews, a nation endowed with such creative genius, which, despite a thousand and one prophecies in their own Bible (the Old Testament) regarding the coming of the "Messiah," are totally incapable of recognising their lord and "saviour." Are they both somewhat blind?
No! Neither the Jews nor the Christians are necessarily impervious to truth. The trouble is that we all pick up our prejudices from childhood. The American call it being "programmed"
Simply reading the verses or listening to lectures and getting that smug satisfaction of being in the know will not help spreading the truth. This is the age of the "EVERYMAN." 1 The age of the professionals is over. It is the duty of every Muslim — man, woman or child to get involved. Each according to his or her capacity. Memorize the above verse with its meaning as well as the quotations preceding and those that follow so that you may feel equipped to share our Deen with non-Muslims. There are no short-cuts to Da'wah (propagation)!
1. "EVERYMAN:" is a new series of books to equip everyman or woman to learn an art or trade such as – plumbing, pottery, woodwork, etc by studying at home.
PRODUCE YOUR PROOF!
Perhaps this is not the first time you are reading or might have heard about the prophecies in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures regarding the advent of the last and final Messenger of God — Muhummed (pbuh) the Mercy unto all mankind. And perhaps you have at times made some half-hearted and skimpy efforts at suggesting that our Nabi-e-Kareem was prophesised in the Holy Bible. But when proof was demanded, you simply not able to, because you had not done any home work Remember, there is no substitute for hard work. I believe what I say and I practise what I preach. Insha-Allah!
I have personally memorized various selections from the Bible in a dozen different languages, including Arabic and Hebrew. Not for show but because of the openings these snippets of religion create for me in propagating our faith to various language groups. Languages are the keys to people's hearts.
IN THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS
Notwithstanding many assurances, I got stranded in Cairo for lack of an entry visa. A kind gentleman from the AI-Azhar, who was trying to help us obtain the relevant documents, got frustrated with the delay and in order to attend to his Friday prayers, handed me and my son Yousuf to a young Egyptian lady, well-groomed in Western attire.
After much effort and time she returned to us with the good news. "Forty dollars," she said. I asked, "For what?" "The visas," she answered. Twenty dollars for me and twenty for my son. "But I am a guest of the Government," I insisted. She said that she knew nothing about it, so I smiled and paid.
From the lady's speech and deportment, I had sensed that she was well-educated and a lady of culture, so undauntedly I asked her again what her name was in my broken Arabic. However, her name was too novel for me to remember. I asked her further: "Are you a Muslim?" She said, "No, I am an Egyptian Christian." This was the opening I was waiting for. I began, "Do you know that before Jesus Christ departed from this world, he told his disciples," and I started to quote, now in meticulous Arabic, a verse from the Arabic Bible, (see next page), which I had memorized for opportunities just like this particular one.
THE TRANSLATION
I had no need
to translate the above Arabic to her, because as an Arab she understood the
verse perfectly. But for the benefit of those who do not know Arabic I give you
its exact equivalent from the English Bible, which I had also taken the trouble
to memorize in my spare time. You can create that spare time also if you have
true love for Allah's Deen and wish to share it with others.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 16:7
"AL-MOOUZZI" THE COMFORTER
I implore my brethren who can read the Arabic quotation to memorize it together with the English translation above and create opportunities for using it. Learn the verses in conjunction
with other languages that you know. There will be a definite all-round improvement in your fluency, and proficiency in preaching Islam to other people.
The word "Comforter" above is "al-Moouzzi" in Arabic. I asked the lady, "Who is the "al-Moouzzi" of this prophecy?" She said, " do not know," She was honest She did not beat around the bush. So I said that we are told in the Holy Qur'an that Jesus Christ (pbuh) had told his disciples —
I continued that, *This Ahmed is another name for Muhummed, and Muhummed is Moouzzi!" "Very funny," she exclaimed, "these Egyptians" (meaning the Muslim Egyptians) "take us to the cinema, they take us" (meaning Christian women) "to the dance, but no one ever tells us anything about this Moouzzi!" Through her Allah soobha'nahoo-wa-ta'aalaa, armed me with a fourteen-pound SledgeHammer before leaving Cairo Airport. Alhumdo'lillah! And, did I use that SledgeHammer!!
An integrated explanation of Comforter/Moouzzi of John 16: 7 and Ahmed/Muhummed of The Holy Qur’an 61: 6 will be slotted in place when explaining the Ayat (the verse) heading this chapter.
BIBLICAL CONFIRMATION
Remember, that in the sixth century of the Christian Era, when Muhummed (pbuh) was chanting God's words which was systematically "put into his mouth," ' the Arabic Bible had not yet been translated. He could never have known that he was fulfilling and confirming the utterances of his predecessor Jesus (pbuh) to the letter.
ONLY FOR THE ISRAELITES
1.
JESUS FOR JEWS ONLY
These twelve
Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying,
Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles,
1
and
into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go ye rather unto The Lost
Sheep Of The House Of Israel.
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 10:5-6
1 Gentiles: non-Jews
NOT FOR DOGS
And behold a woman of Canaan 1 came ... and cried unto him saying, have mercy on me ... my daughter is seriously possessed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word.
And his disciples came and begged him, saying. Send her away: for she crieth after us.
But he answered and said, I am Not Sent But Unto The Lost Sheep Of The House Of Israel.
But she came and knelt before him, saying. Lord, help me.
But he answered her and said, It is Not Fair To Take The Children's Bread And Cast It To The Dogs. 2
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 15:22-26
1. Mark 7.26 says that the woman was a Greek.
2. Meaning non-Jews.
It goes to the credit of this Jewish prophet, that he practised what he preached. In his lifetime he never converted a single Gentile (non-Jew). And of his hand-picked elect (his twelve disciples), he made sure that they belonged to his tribe so that his other prophecy might Find fulfilment: "when the son of man (Jesus pbuh referring to himself) shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye (the disciples) also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19: 28).
NO NEW RELIGION
2 "LAW": The word in the Arabic text here is "Taurat." (Heb. "Torah.")
The Messiah was no mealy-mouthed Messenger among the Jews. Like his predecessors Amos and Ezekiel or Isaiah and Jeremiah, he was trenchant in his condemnation of Jewish formalism and hypocrisies. His novel approach and militant preaching had created certain misgivings amongst the religious hierarchy. The Scribes and the Pharisees came to him again and again to test him as to his bona fides (His Genuineness).
To allay their suspicions that he had brought no new fangled religion, and that his was the confirmation of all the teachings that had gone before him. He says — Think not that I am come to destroy the law (Hebrew - Torah), or the prophets: I am come not 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 (Torah), 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. HOLY BIBLE Matthew 5: 17-19
Compare this phrase "CONFIRMING THE LAW (WHICH CAME) BEFORE ME" - these seven words at the beginning of this section with the three verses of Matthew above, and you will not fail to note that there is no wordiness in the Qur’ânic diction. It conveys God's Message concisely, with clarity and precision.
"THE FATHER1 OF TRUTH CHOOSES HIS OWN PROPHETS, AND HE SPEAKS TO THEM IN A VOICE STRONGER THAN THE VOICE OF THUNDERY
Sayed Amir Ali in "The Spirit of Islam. "
1. FATHER: The use of the word "Father" in relation to God was cut out from Islam owing to the perversion of the idea among Christians.
The Qur’ân had come to Confirm, Correct and Complete Divine Revelation, or whatever was left of it in unworthy hands.
3. THE GOOD NEWS
I will not apologise, nor am I called upon to apologise for reproducing here verbatim (a word for word) commentary on the word "AHMED," from ABDULLAH YUSUF ALI'S English translation. But before I do that permit me to pay a fitting tribute to the KING FAHD HOLY QUR'AN PRINTING COMPLEX in Al-Madinah AI-Munawarah which is turning out millions of Holy Qur’ân in many different languages.
Their reason for using YUSUF ALI as a base for their reproduction is summed up in these words:
"A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE IN THE PAST VENTURED TO TRANSLATE THE QUR'AN, BUT THEIR WORKS HAVE GENERALLY BEEN PRIVATE ATTEMPTS, GREATLY INFLUENCED BY THEIR OWN PREJUDICES. IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A RELIABLE TRANSLATION FREE FROM PERSONAL BIAS, A ROYAL DECREE (No, 19888, DATED 16/8/1400 AH) WAS ISSUED BY THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES, KING FAHD IBN ABDUL AZIZ, AT THAT TIME THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER - THE TRANSLATION OF THE LATE USTADH ABDULLAH YUSUF ALI WAS CONSEQUENTLY CHOSEN FOR ITS DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS, SUCH AS A HIGHLY ELEGANT STYLE, A CHOICE OF WORDS CLOSE TO THE MEANING OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT, ACCOMPANIED BY SCHOLARLY NOTES AND COMMENTARIES."
The Presidency of Islamic Researches, lfta, Call and Guidance
Out of over six thousand profound explanatory notes in Yusuf Ali's translation, the following is just one of three explaining the prophecy in the words of Jesus (pbuh) regarding the advent of Muhummed (pbuh) the Messenger of God. Note No: 5438:
|
"Ahmed", or "Muhummed", the Praised one, is almost a translation of the Greek word Periclytos. In the present Gospel of John 14:16, 15:26, and 16:7, the word "Comforter" in the English version for the Greek word "Paracletos", which means "Advocate", "one called to the help of another, a kind friend", rather than "Comforter". Our doctors contend that Paracletos is a corrupt reading for Periclytos and that in the original saying of Jesus there was a prophecy of our holy Prophet Ahmed by name. Even if we read Paraclete, it would imply to the Holy Prophet, who is "a Mercy for all creatures" (H.Q. 21:107) and "most kind and merciful to the Believers" (H.Q. 9:128) See also note 416 to H.Q. 3:81. |
4.
Thus concludes (Ayat) verse 6 of (Sura) chapter 61 under discussion. "The Prophet of Islam was foretold in many ways; and when he came he showed forth many Clear Signs, for his whole life from beginning to end was one vast miracle. He fought and won against odds. Without learning from men he taught the highest wisdom. He melted hearts that were hard, and he strengthened hearts that were tender and required support. In all his sayings and doings men of discernment could see the working of God's hand;" yet the sceptics called it SORCERY — jugglery — magic!
FORGER AND JUGGLER! NO, NO! THIS GREAT FIERY HEART, SEETHING, SIMMERING LIKE A GREAT FURNACE OF THOUGHTS, WAS NOT A JUGGLER'S. [Thomas Carlyle, page 88 in his book -"Heroes and Hero-worship"]
And they called his miraculous fulfilment of prophecy magic, Jugglery, enchantment — that which became the most solid fact of human history — Islam!
CHAPTER THREE
MUHUMMED (PBUH) IS THE "PARACLETE"
To the sincere seekers of Truth it is obvious that Muhummed (pbuh) is the promised Paraclete or Comforter, alternatively called Helper, Advocate, Counsellor, etc of the prophecies of Jesus (pbuh) in the Gospel of St. John. There are millions of Christians — men and women like our good lady at the Cairo Airport who are hungry for this simple straight-forward Message. But alas, we can only weep with Jesus (pbuh) for our utter ineptitude —
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the workers are few.
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 9: 57
LANGUAGE OF JESUS (PBUH)
In the Holy Qur’ân God Almighty puts the name "Ahmed" which is another name for Muhummed (pbuh) in the mouth of Jesus (pbuh). The Christian controversialist, Bible-thumper, Hot-Gospeller flippantly scoffs at the suggestion. The Christian missionary does not deny that Jesus (pbuh) did make a prophecy about someone coming after him. But "Ahmed" to him seems too far-fetched.
The most commonly accepted name by Christendom is "Comforter" It does not really matter Comforter or any other equivalent term will do. We will settle for Comforter as used in the most popular Bible Translation the "King James Version."
Ask your adversary, your disputant whether Jesus (pbuh) spoke the English language? "Most definitely not!" any Christian will say. If you are sharing this with an Arab Christian then you can ask him whether his "lord" used the word "MOOUZZI?" Surely not, because Arabic was not his language. Did Jesus (pbuh) prophesy "uMthokozisi?" (Comforter in Zulu) or "Trooster" from the Afrikaans Bible? The answer again is a definite NO!"
The Christians are rightfully boasting that they now have translated the complete Bible into hundreds of different languages, and the New Testament (in which this prophecy abounds) into more than two thousand different languages and dialects. So the Christian genius has invented more than 2000 different names in 2000 different languages for this one candidate — Comforter!
PNEUMA: GHOST OR SPIRIT?
The Church fathers had developed a sickness by translating names of people, for which they had no right to do. For example like Esau to Jesus, Messiah to Christ, Cephas1 to Peter and so on.
1. See "What is His Name?" for a better clarification on this point.
The closest one can ever get to the original utterance of Jesus (pbuh) in the Christian Scriptures is the Greek word "Para-cletos" which also has to be rejected because the Master did not speak Greek! But let's not be difficult for the purpose of this discussion and accept the Greek word Paracletos and its English equivalent Comforter.
Ask any learned Christian man as to who the Comforter is? You will unmistakingly hear - "The Comforter is the HOLY GHOST!" from John 14: 26. This sentence is only part of verse twenty six. We will deal with the verse fully in due course. But first we must educate the Christian mind with regards to this misnomer — "Holy Ghost." "Pneuma" is the Greek root word for SPIRIT. There is no separate word for GHOST in the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, and the Christians now boast 24,000 different manuscripts in their possession of which no two are identical!
The editors of the KJV (The King James Version) alternatively called AV (The Authorised Version) and the DOUAY (The Roman Catholic Version) of the Bibles gave preference to the word "GHOST' instead of the word SPIRIT when translating "pneuma"
The revisers of the RSV (Revised Standard Version) 1 the most up-to-date version of the Bible, are going back, as claimed, to the Most Ancient manuscripts. These revisers, described as "thirty-two scholars of the highest eminence, backed by fifty co-operating denominations" who courageously re-placed the shady word "ghost" with the word "spirit" Hence from now on you will read in all modem translations — "The Comforter which is the Holy SPIRIT"! However, the Christian crusaders and the televangelists stubbornly cling to the spooky ("ghost"-ly) past They will not opt for the Newer Versions. It's better fishing with the old bait - the KJV and the RCV (Roman Catholic Version).
1. For greater detail on the RSV see "Is the Bible God’s Word?"
With the new change in spirit, the verse under scrutiny will read:
But the
Comforter, Which is The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.
(Emphasis
added).
(HOLY BIBLE) John 14: 26
You do not have to be a Bible scholar of any calibre to sense that the expression "which is the Holy Spirit" is actually an interpolation. It ought to be in parenthesis, in brackets, like my words which have been interpolated in the quotation, i.e. "(emphasis added)." Although the editors of the RSV have expunged dozens of interpolations from their boasted Revised Standard Version, they have retained this jarring phrase which contradicts other explicit predictions of Jesus (pbuh) on the subject of the Comforter itself.
"HOLY SPIRIT" IS HOLY PROPHET
(i) It may be noted that no Biblical scholar of any standing has ever equated the "paracletos" of John in the original Greek with the Holy Ghost. Now we can say with one breath that if the Comforter is the "Holy Spirit" then that Holy Spirit is the Holy Prophet!
As Muslims we acknowledge that every true prophet of God is Holy and without sin. But whenever the expression "The Holy Prophet" is used among Muslims it is universally accepted as referring to the Holy Prophet Muhummed (pbuh). So even if we accept the above incongruous saying — "the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit," as Gospel truth, even then this prophecy will fit Muhummed (pbuh) like a glove, without any stretching of its meaning.
The same John, who is supposed to have authored the Gospel bearing his name, also penned three more Epistles which are also part of the Christian Bible. Amazingly he has used the same terminology of "Holy Spirit" for "Holy Prophet."
Beloved, believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits whether they
are of God; because many false Prophets are gone out into the World.
(HOLY BIBLE) 1 John 4: 1
You can observe that the word spirit is used here synonymously with a prophet. A true spirit is a true prophet, and a false spirit is a false prophet But for the so-called "born-again" Christians who see only with eyes of emotion, I recommend that they lay their hands on C.I. Scofield's Authorized King lames Version of the Bible who with an Editorial Committee of 9 D.D.’s adding their notes and comments. When they come to the First word "spirit" in the above verse they should give a notation to compare it with Matthew 7: 15 which confirms that false prophets are false spirits. So according to St. John the Holy Spirit is the Holy Prophet, and the Holy Prophet is Muhummed (pbuh) the Messenger of God.
A VALID TEST
But St. John does not leave us in the air, guessing the true from the false. He gives us an acid test for recognising the true Prophet, he says —
Hereby know ye the Spirit 1 of God: Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
(HOLY BIBLE) 1 John 4: 2
According to John's own interpretation in verse one above the word "spirit" is synonymous with the word prophet So verse two "Spirit of God" would mean Prophet of God and "Every spirit" would stand for every Prophet You have a right to know as to what the Holy Prophet Muhummed (pbuh) says about "Jesus Christ." 2
1. For SPIRIT, read PROPHET
2. See "Christ in Islam" for detailed information of the high positon that Jesus (pbuh) occupies in the house of Islam
Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) is spoken by name no less than 25 times in the Holy Qur'an. He is honoured as —
Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, the son of Mary)
An-nabi (The Prophet)
As-saaliheen (The Righteous)
Kalimatu'Llah (Word of God)
Ruhu-Llah (Spirit of God)
Masih-uLlah (Christ of God)
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 honour in this world and The Hereafter and of (the Company of) those nearest to God- (surah al-i-'imran) Holy Qur’ân 3:45
MUHUMMED (PBUH) IS THE "OTHER"
(ii) The Comforter in John 14: 26 can never be the "Holy Ghost" because Jesus (pbuh) had already explained— And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you Another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 14: 16
The emphasis here is on the word "ANOTHER," an other, a different one, an additional one, but of the same kind, yet distinctly different from the first. Who is then the first Comforter? The Christian world is unanimous that in this case the speaker himself — Jesus Christ (pbuh) is the first Comforter; then the other, the one to follow must be of like nature, subject to the same conditions of hunger, thirst, fatigue, sorrow and death.
But this promised Comforter was to "abide with you for EVER!" No one lives for even Jesus (pbuh) was mortal so must the coming Comforter also be mortal. No son of man can ever be immortal!
Every soul shall have a taste of death.
(SURAAL-I-IMRAN) Holy Qur’ân 5:185
ALIVE IN THEIR TEACHINGS
The soul does not really die, but when it separates from the body at the time of the death of the body, the soul will get a taste of death. But our Comforter was to "ABIDE" continue, endure for ever. All Comforters abide with us for ever. Moses is here with us today in his teachings. Jesus is here with us today in his teachings and Muhummed also is here with us in his teachings today. (May the peace and blessings of God be upon them all). This is not my novel idea trying to justify the preposterous. I say this with conviction and on the authority of Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself.
In Luke, chapter sixteen, Jesus (pbuh) tells us the story of the "Rich Man, Poor Man.' At death both find themselves at opposite ends — one in Heaven and the other in Hell. The rich man (Dives) simmering in Hell cries to Father Abraham to send the beggar (Lazarus) to assuage his thirst. But when every plea fails, he, as a last favour, requests that Father Abraham send the beggar back to earth to warn his living brothers against their impending doom if they heeded not the warnings of God.
But Abraham said, "If they (those still alive on earth) won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even though someone rises from the dead. " (to warn them) (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 16: 31
Jesus (pbuh) uttered the above fact centuries after the demise of the prophets of Israel like Jeremiah, Hosea, Zechariah, etc and over thirteen hundred years after Moses (pbuh). The Pharisees at the time of Jesus (pbuh) and we today can still listen to "MOSES AND THE PROPHETS," for they are still alive, and with us here today in their teachings.
'YOU' OF THE TIME
If it is said that the Comforter was promised to the immediate disciples of Jesus (pbuh) and not to a people six hundred years later:
and he (God) shall give You another Comforter, that he may abide with You for ever.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 14:16
Surprisingly, the Christian sees no difficulty in justifying the fulfillment of prophecies "since the world began," 1 and after over a millennium2 when Peter in his second sermon to the Jews, reminds them:
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord Your God raise up unto You of Your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear In all things what-so ever he shall say unto You.
(HOLY BIBLE) Acts 3: 22
All these "YE, YOU and YOURS" are from the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 18, 3 when Moses (pbuh) addressed his people and not the Jews at the time of Peter, thirteen hundred years later. The Gospel writers have put the same compromising words in the mouth of their Master which are begging for fulfillment for two thousand years. I think just one example will suffice:
But when they persecute You in this city, flee Ye into another: for verily (most assuredly) I (Jesus) say unto You, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the son of man (Jesus) be come.
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 10: 25
1. Acts 3:21
2. Millennium: A thousand years
3. For an elaboration on this prophecy, see "WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MUHUMMED (PBUH)"
SCANNING THE CLOUDS
These early followers of the Messiah, forever ran, forlornly fleeing persecution. They ran from one city to another in Israel, scanning every dark cloud for the descent of Jesus (pbuh) in his second coming. The missionaries see no anomaly in their millennium of unfulfilled prophecies. God Almighty did not keep them waiting for even a quarter of the time for the advent of the "paracletos," — the Comforter or Ahmed which is another name for the Praised One. Let them show gratitude to God by accepting this Last and Final Messenger of God — Muhummed (pbuh)!
ADVENT OF COMFORTER CONDITIONAL
(iii) The Comforter is definitely not the "Holy Ghost" because the coming of the Comforter was conditional whereas that of the Holy Ghost was not as we observe in the prophecy —
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go for If I Go Not Away, The Comforter Will Not Come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 16: 7
"lf I don't go he won't
come, but if I go, I will send him." There are numerous instances in the Holy
Bible about the coming andgoing of the HOLY GHOST, before the birth and
departure of the Messiah. Do yourself a favour, please verify these references
in your Bible -
B.C. BEFORE CHRIST'S BIRTH:
1. ...
and he (John
the Baptist) shall be
filled with the Holy Ghost,
even from his mother's womb.
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 1: 15
2.
... and Elizabeth was filled
with the Holy Ghost.
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke
1: 41
3.
And his father Zacharias was
filled with the Holy Ghost.
(HOLY BIBLE)
Luke 1:67
A.C. AFTER CHRIST'S BIRTH:
4. ...
and the Holy Ghost was upon him (Simeon).
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 2:26
5. And
the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily
shape like a dove upon him (Jesus).
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 3:22
From the above
quotations, before and after the birth of Jesus (pbuh), one cannot help admiring
St. Luke who appears to be a specialist on the Holy Ghost We may well ask the
Christians, after the descent of the "dove", with whose help did Jesus (pbuh)
perform his many miracles if not with the help of the Holy Ghost? Let the Master
himself tell us. When accused by his own people, the Jews, that he was working
in league with Beelzebub (the chief of the devils) to work his miracles, Jesus (pbuh)
rhetorically questions them, "How can Satan cast out Satan?" The Jews imputed
that this spirit of holiness - the Spirit of God - which was helping him, was
devilish. This was treason of the highest order. So he gives them a dire
warning:
... but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, it shall never be forgiven
(HOLY BIBLE)
Matthew 12:31
This "Holy Ghost"
is non other than what Matthew himself has described in three verses before
quoting the Master:
But if I (Jesus) cast out devils by the Spirit OF God, then the kingdom of God
is come upon you.
(HOLY BIBLE)
Matthew 12:28
Compare the same
statement by another Gospel writer1
But
if I (Jesus) by the Finger Of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God
is come upon you.
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 3:22
1. Give a second glance at the two verses, top and bottom, and you cannot help concluding that they are almost indentical. Why? The answer is in "Is the Bible God’s Word?".
You do not have to be a Bible scholar to understand that the expressions (a) "Finger of God" (b) "Spirit of God" and (c) "Holy Ghost" are all synonymous phrases. So the Holy Ghost was helping Jesus (pbuh) in his ministry. The Holy Ghost was also helping his disciples on their missions of preaching and healing. If there is still any doubt in your minds about the workings of the Holy Ghost then please read:
EMPTY PROMISE
...as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you (the disciples of Jesus),
And when he had said this, be breathed on them, and saith unto them,
Receive Ye The Holy Ghost
(HOLY BIBLE) John 20: 21 –22
This was surely no empty
promise. The disciples must have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. So if the
"Holy Ghost" was with (1) John the Baptist, (2) Elizabeth. (3) Zacharias. (4)
Simeon. (5) Jesus and (6) the Disciples of Jesus; then all this makes nonsense
of the saying that "if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you."
Therefore the Comforter is not the Holy Ghost?
The verse under discussion is John 16: 7. I remember the thrill and joy 1 got
out of it when quoting it in Arabic to the Coptic Christian lady in the land of
the Pharaohs ( discussed earlier). The pleasure is immense when expounding
Biblical verses in the standard native language of a country or locality. I have
done it in a dozen different vernaculars. Won't you master the above verse in a
language or two of your choice for the good of Islam?
AFRIKAANS A UNIQUE LANGUAGE
Of all the languages in which I have mastered the verse in question. I have derived the greatest excitement and benefit from Afrikaans. It is a language of the ruling race in South Africa. It is the youngest of the world's languages. The language is unique. In fact every language is unique. But Afrikaans is in a class of its own. It also happens to be the mother tongue of half the Muslim population of South Africa who were brought here as prisoners of war and enslaved by the Christians; that is simply by force of circumstances. For their immediate benefit and for your information I reproduce the verse here:
Maar ek se
julle die waarheid: dit is vir julle voordelig dat ek weggaan;
want as ek Nie weggaan Nie, sal
die Trooster1
Nie na julle kom
Nie; maar as ek weggaan, sal ek horn na julle stuur
]ohanness 16: 7
1. TROOSTER: Now changed to "VOORSPRAAK!"
Believe it or not! It is the
genius of this language that it uses four negatives NIE, NIE, NIE, NIE. to prove
a positive! The departure of Jesus is an absolute imperative for the coming of
the "Trooster," the Comforter to come! This verse in this language has opened
many doors for me, other than religious, and it locks the door against the idea
of the "Comforter which is the Holy Ghost" (John 14:26).
DISCIPLES NOT FIT
We now come to the four most
comprehensive and decisive verses in John. chapter sixteen to solve the enigma
of the Successor to Christ. For Jesus (pbuh) did truly say:
I have yet Many Things to say unto you, but Ye Cannot Bear Them Now.
(HOLY BIBLE)
John 16: 12
We will later tie up the phrase "many things" from the above verse with "guide you into all truth" from the verse that follows, when discussing it. For now. let us discuss the phrase — "YE CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW"
The truth of this statement "ye cannot bear them now" is repeated monotonously throughout the pages of the New Testament:
And he
(Jesus) saith unto them (the disciples). Why are ye fearful,
O Ye Of Little Faith?
(HOLY BIBLE)
Matthew 8. 26
AND (JESUS) said unto him (Peter) O Thou of Little Faith... (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 14:31
... he (Jesus) said unto them (the disciples), O Ye Of Little Faith, why reason among yourselves ... (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 16: 8
And he (Jesus) said unto them (his disciples). Where Is Your Faith? (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 8: 25
We must bear in mind that this is not the indictment of Jesus (pbuh) on the indecisiveness of the Jews, but on his very own elect. He stoops down to the level of little children to make things plain to his disciples but he is compelled to burst out in frustration
And Jesus said, Are Ye Even Yet Without Understanding?
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 15:16
And when he was provoked to breaking point, he rails against his chosen ones —
“... O Faithless And Perverse Generation, how long shall I be with you, how long shall I bear with you? (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 9: 41
OWN FAMILY THOUGHT HIM MAD
If Jesus (pbuh) would have been a Japanese instead of a Jew. he would happily have committed that honourable "harakiri" (suicide). Sadly, he was the most unfortunate of God’s Messengers. His family disbelieved him For neither did his (]esus’) brethren believe in him (John 7: 5). In fact they went to the extent of wanting to apprehend him. believing that he was mad.
And when his relatives heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him (Jesus); for they said, he is beside himself. (HOLY BIBLE) Mark 3. 21
Who were these friends and relatives of Jesus (pbuh) which had concern for his sanity? Let Rev. J.R. Dummelow. M.A. in his One Volume Bible Commentary tell us. On page 726 he says —
"FROM V.31" (just 10 verses following the above quotation) "THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN HIS MOTHER AND BRETHREN… HIS FAMILY SAID ‘HE IS BESIDE HIMSELF,’" (meaning that he is not right in his head); "THE SCRIBES SAID, ‘HE IS POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL HIMSELF.’ IT IS NOT, HOW EVER, IMPLIED AT ALL THAT HIS FAMILY WAS IN SYMPATHY WITH THE SCRIBES" (the learned men of the Jews). "THEIR APPREHENSION BEING SIMPLY THAT HIS MIND WAS UNSETTLED. AND THAT HE NEEDED TO BE PUT UNDER RESTRAINT."
JESUS - REJECTED BY HIS NATION
That was the verdict of the close relations of Jesus (pbuh). What then was the response of his own nation, the Jews, after all his beautiful preaching and mighty miracle workings? His disciple puts it very mildly:
He came unto his own (the Jews) and his own received him (Jesus) not.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 1:11
Actually "his own" mocked him. scorned him and vehemently rejected him. To the extent of making an attempt to crucify him.' Despite two thousand years of Christian persecutions and pogroms, and now their overweening love and infatuation for them, so as to salve their own conscience, the Jews as a people and as a whole can never accept Jesus as their Saviour, their Deliverer, their God, simply because of their one sound judgement —
"THAT NO JEW CAN EVER ACCEPT ANOTHER JEW AS A GOD!"
It is only in Islam that the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims can find accommodation — all believing in Jesus Christ (pbuh) for what he really was — one of the mightiest Messengers of God; and not as God or His son!
DISCIPLES DESERTED HIM
What was the response of the chosen twelve; of his own "mother and bretheren!" (Mark 3: 34), as he called them? I will allow Professor Momerie to describe it in his own inimitable words—
"HIS IMMEDIATE DISCIPLES, WERE ALWAYS MISUNDERSTANDING HIM AND HIS WORK: WANTING HIM TO CALL DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN; WANTING HIM TO DECLARE HIMSELF KING OF THE JEWS; WANTING TO SIT ON HIS RIGHT HAND AND ON HIS LEFT HAND IN HIS KINGDOM; WANTING HIM TO SHOW THEM THE FATHER. TO MAKE GOD VISIBLE TO THEIR BODILY EYES;
WANTING HIM TO DO. AND WANTING TO DO THEMSELVES. ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH HIS GREAT PLAN. THIS WAS HOW THEY TREATED HIM UNTIL THE END. (and) WHEN THAT CAME. THEY ALL FORSOOK HIM. AND FLED."
Quoted from Sayed Amir All in his "The Spirit of Islam" page 31.
It was most unfortunate that Jesus Christ (pbuh) had no real choice in selecting his disciples. They let him down as no other group of devotees had ever let down their prophet before. It was no fault of the Master. He bewailed his plight: "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh (clay) is weak" (Matthew 26: 41). Truly, this is not the clay out of which a new Adam could be made. He passes on that responsibility to his Successor, whom he calls here — "The Spirit of Truth," ie the Prophet of Truth, the Prophet of Righteousness!
"SPIRIT" AND "PROPHET" SYNONYMOUS
Howbeit when he, the Spirit Of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth
(Holy Bible) John 16:13
It has already been established that. Biblically, the word "Spirit" is used synonymously for "Prophet," by the same author in 1 John 4: 1 (as seen earlier).
Hence the "Spirit of Truth" would be the Prophet of Truth. A prophet in whom Truth is personified. He had walked through life so honourably and industriously that he had won for himself even from his pagan fellow countrymen the noble designation of as-Saadiq (the Truthful One) and al-Amin, "the Honest," "the Upright." "the Trustworthy;" the Man of Faith who never broke his word. His life, his personality, his teachings are the veritable proof of Muhummed (pbuh) being the embodiment of Truth (al-Amin) — the Spirit of Truth!
CHAPTER FOUR
Total Guidance!
"MANY" AND "ALL"
As promised, we will now combine, "I have yet MANY things to say unto you" from verse twelve, with "he will guide you into ALL truth." From John 16: 12 and 13.
If the Christian still persists that the Spirit of Truth of this prophecy is the Holy Ghost then ask him or her whether in their language does "MANY" means more than one? Also if "ALL" in the above verse means more than one? If you get a halting, wavering, hesitant "y-e-s" then close the book. it is not worth pursuing dialogues with opinionated fools. But if you get the answer "yes!" with alacrity then proceed ...
The one prophesied by Jesus (pbuh) was to unravel many things which he had left unsaid, as well as to guide humanity into all truth. There are many problems facing mankind today, for which we are fumbling for answers. Can you please give me one new thing that the alleged Holy Ghost gave to anybody in the past two thousand years, which Jesus Christ had not already given in so many different words? I don’t want many, I’ am looking for just one!
NO SOLUTION FROM HOLY GHOST
Believe me, in my forty years of questioning. I have not come across a single Christian with a single "new Truth" inspired by the Holy Ghost, yet the promise was that the coming Comforter -"he will guide you into all truth!" If the Spirit of Truth of this prophecy is the Holy Ghost then every Church and denomination, and every 'born-again' Christian is claiming the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Roman Catholics claim that they have the whole Truth because of the so-called "in-dwelling" of the Holy Ghost. The Anglicans make the same claim, and the Methodists, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Seventh Day Adventists, the Baptists, the Christadelphians. etc. etc. not forgetting the 'born-agains' who claim to be numbering over 70 million in the United States alone.
You have the right to demand solutions from them, on the authority of the Holy Ghost, for the problems listed below:
1. Alcohol
2. Gambling
3. Fortune Telling
4. Idol Worship, Devil Worship
5. Racism
6. Problem of Surplus Women etc etc.
PROBLEM OF ALCOHOL
The Republic of South Africa with a small "white"1 population of 4 million among its total population of 30 million, has over 300,000 alcoholics. In neighbouring Zambia. Kenneth Kaunda calls such people "drunkards!" It is recorded that the "coloureds"2 in South Africa have five times the amount of alcoholics as any other race in the country. For the Indians and the Africans no statistics are available for their respective drunkards.
Jimmy Swaggart the televangelist records in his book "ALCOHOL" that the United States has 11 million alcoholics3 and 44 million "heavy drinkers!", and he like a good Muslim, goes on to say that he sees no difference between the two. To him they are all drunkards! The rampant evil of drunkenness is universal. The Holy Ghost has not yet made its pronouncement on this evil through any Church. Christendom winks at drunkenness on three flimsy pretences based on the Holy Bible.
1. Of European extraction.
2. A mixture between the Black and White Races,
3. The Americans euphemistically call them "Problem Drinkers."
(a) Give strong drink (hard liquor) to him who is perishing (one who is dying) And wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty. And remember his misery no more.
(HOLY BIBLE) Proverbs 31:6-7
A very good philosophy to keep the subject nations under subjugation, you will agree.
HIS VERY FIRST MIRACLE
(b) Jesus (pbuh) was no "killjoy," the imbibers say, he turned water into wine in his very first recorded miracle in the Bible:
Jesus saith unto them. Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
And he saith unto them. Draw out now...
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine ...
And saith ... (why) thou hast kept the good wine until now.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 2: 7-10
Since this alleged miracle, wine continues to flow like water in Christendom.
SOBER ADVICE
(c) Saint Paul the thirteenth self-appointed disciple of Christ, the real founder of Christianity, advises his new convert protege — Timothy, born of a Greek father and a Jewish mother:
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
(HOLY BIBLE) 1 Timothy 5: 23
The Christians accept all the Bible quotations on stimulating and intoxicating drinks given above as the infallible word of God. They believe that the Holy Ghost inspired the authors to pen such dangerous advices. Rev. Dummelow seems to have some qualms about this verse. He says.
"IT TEACHES US THAT IF THE BODY NEEDS THE STIMULANT OF WINE. IT IS RIGHT TO TAKE IT IN MODERATION."
ABSTINENCE THE ONLY ANSWER
There are thousands of Christian priests who have been lured into alcoholism by sipping the so-called mild wine in the Church rite of the Holy Communion. Islam is the only religion on the face of the earth which prohibits intoxicants in toto. The Holy Prophet (Spirit) Muhummed (pbuh) had said. "WHATEVER INTOXICATES IN GREATER QUANTITY IS FORBIDDEN EVEN IN SMALLER QUANTITY." There is no excuse in the house of Islam for a nip or a tot. The Kitab-al-Haq, the Book of Truth (Haq) one of the titles of the Holy Qur’ân condemned in the strongest terms not only the evil of alcohol but also items 2, 3, and 4 namely "gambling." "fortune telling" and "idol worship," with just a single stroke —
(SURA MAIDA) Holy Qur’ân 5:93
When this verse was revealed, wine barrels were emptied in the streets of Madinah, never to be refilled. This simple straightforward directive has created of the Muslim Ummah (religious community) the biggest society of teetotaller1 in the world.
1. Teetotaller: A person who abstains completely from all alcoholic drinks.
U.S.A. FAILS WITH "PROHIBITION"
The question arises, how is it that this Spirit of Truth — the Holy Prophet Muhummed (pbuh) succeeded with one verse whereas mighty America with the brainpower of the nation and the money power of the Government, supported by its powerful propaganda machinery failed with "Prohibition," 1 the law outlawing alcohol?
Who coerced the American nation to enact prohibition? Which Arab nation threatened this mighty power with if you do not prohibit alcohol in your country. We will not supply you with oil? Not the Arabs as there was no such thing as oil as a "POLITICAL INSTRUMENT" in the hands of the Arabs during the twenties to egg the United States. It was an intellectual awareness among the American (founding) fathers, based on study and statistics which brought them to the conclusion that intoxicants must be banned. They failed, notwithstanding the fact that the overwhelming majority of the nation was Christian, and that it was they who had voted their Congressmen into power. It is rightly said that that which comes from the brain (intellectually) tickles the brain, but that which comes from the heart and soul of a man, will move the heart. The verse just quoted above from the Holy Qur’ân on prohibition, had and has the power for change; we will allow Thomas Carlyle to reveal the source of that power:
"IF A BOOK COME FROM THE HEART. IT WILL CONTRIVE TO REACH OTHER HEARTS; ALL ART AND AUTHORCRAFT ARE SMALL AMOUNT TO THAT. ONE WOULD SAY THE PRIMARY CHARACTER OF THE KORAN IS THIS OF ITS GENUINENESS, OF ITS BEING A BONA-FIDE BOOK."
1. Prohibition: The era from 1920 to 1933 in which the sale, trade and consumption of alcohol was outlawed in the United States as a result of a long campaign by church groups, women’s organizations, temperance societies and the Anti-Saloon league. It sparked off bootlegging, which gave a strong financial arm to organized crime. Congress repealed the Act in 1933, after strong public opinion dismay at its failure. These were also the years in which the infamous Al-Capone made his first debut.
HIGH SPIRITUALITY - A SOURCE OF POWER
All the beautiful thoughts, words and expressions, never mind how artistically constructed, remain like ringing bells or clanking cymbals unless they are backed up by a powerful personality charged with high spirituality. And that type of super spirituality comes only as Jesus (pbuh) put it through "fasting and prayer" (Matthew 17: 21).
Muhummed (pbuh) practised what he preached. After his demise someone asked his dear wife Ayesha Siddiqa about the life-style of her husband. She said. "He was the Qur’ân in action." He was the walking Qur’ân. He was the talking Qur’ân. He was the living Qur’ân.
"IF THESE MEN AND WOMEN, NOBLE, INTELLIGENT, AND CERTAINLY NOT LESS EDUCATED THAN THE FISHERMEN OF GALILEE, HAD PERCEIVED THE SLIGHTEST SIGN OF EARTHLINESS, DECEPTION, OR WANT OF FAITH IN THE TEACHER HIMSELF, MOHAMMED’S HOPES OF MORAL REGENERATION AND SOCIAL REFORM WOULD ALL HAVE BEEN CRUMBLED TO DUST IN A MOMENT."
"Spirit of Islam" by Sayed Amir Ali, page 21
CRITIC'S HERO
If it is said that these are the words of a devoted Believer about his beloved, then let us hear what a sympathetic Christian critic had to say about HIS "Hero Prophet!"
"A POOR, HARD-TOILING, ILL-PROVIDED MAN; CARELESS OF WHAT VULGAR MEN TOIL FOR. NOT A BAD MAN, I SHOULD SAY; SOMETHING BETTER IN HIM THAN HUNGER OF ANY SORT, — OR THESE WILD ARAB MEN, FIGHTING AND JOSTLING THREE-AND-TWENTY YEARS AT HIS HAND, IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH HIM ALWAYS, WOULD NOT HAVE REVERENCED HIM SO!
"... THEY CALLED HIM PROPHET, YOU SAY? WHY, HE STOOD THERE FACE TO FACE WITH THEM; BARE. NOT ENSHRINED IN ANY MYSTERY; VISIBLY CLOUTING HIS OWN CLOAK, COBBLING HIS OWN SHOES; FIGHTING, COUNSELLING, ORDERING IN THE MIDST OF THEM: THEY MUST HAVE SEEN WHAT KIND OF A MAN HE WAS, LET HIM BE CALLED WHAT YOU LIKE! NO EMPEROR WITH HIS TIARAS WAS OBEYED AS THIS MAN IN A CLOAK OF HIS OWN CLOUTING. DURING THREE-AND-TWENTY YEARS OF ROUGH ACUTAL TRIAL I FIND SOMETHING OF A VERITABLE HERO NECESSARY FOR THAT, OF ITSELF."
"Hero and Hero-worship" by Thomas Carlyle, page 93
PROBLEM OF RACISM
... For he (the Spirit of Truth) will guide you into all truth!
(HOLY BIBLE) John 16:13
NOT WITHOUT A SYSTEM
It is very easy for the followers of any religion to talk glibly about "THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN" but how is this beautiful idea to be implemented? How to devise a system to bring mankind into a single brotherhood? Five times a day, every Muslim is obligated to gather together at the local mosque to strengthen himself spiritually. The black and the white; the rich and the poor; people of different nationalities, of varying hues are made to rub shoulders in the daily Salaat, the Muslim at Prayer. Once a week, that is on Fridays, he has to congregate at the cathedral Mosque (the Jaame Musjid) for a wider gathering from the surrounding districts. And twice a year during the two Eids at still a larger venue, preferably in the open air, for a vaster communion. A-n-d, at least once in a life-time at the Kaaba, the Central Mosque in Makkah, for an international gathering; where one can witness the blonde-haired Turk, the Ethiopian, the Chinese, the Indian, the American and the African, all get levelled-up in the same pilgrim's garb of two unsewn sheets. Where is there such a great leveller in the religious rites of other faiths?
The infallible precept as enunciated in the Book of God is that the only standard recognised by God is on the basis of one's conduct, one's behaviour towards one's fellow human beings and not because of one's race or riches. These are the only true bases on which the "Kingdom of God" can be established. All this does not mean that the Muslim is immaculate, that he is altogether free from this sickness of racism, but you will find the Muslim the least racist of all the religious groupings strutting the world today.
PROBLEM OF SURPLUS WOMEN
Nature seems to be at war with mankind. It appears that it wants to take revenge for his cleverness. Man will not listen to the healthy, practical solution to his problems, which a Beneficial, Benevolent Providence offers him. So it says. "go simmer in your SOUP!" (in a manner of speaking).
It is an accepted fact that at birth the ratio of male and female is about equal everywhere. But in child mortality more males die than females. Amazing! The "weaker sex"? At any given time there are more widows in the world than widowers. Every civilized nation has a surplus of women. Great Britain, 4 million. Germany, 5 million. Soviet Russia 7 million, etc. But a solution acceptable to the problem of the mighty United States of America, will be a solution acceptable to nations everywhere. The statistics of this most sophisticated nation on earth is more readily verifiable.
AMERICA, O AMERICA!
We learn that the U.S.A. has a surplus of 7.8 million women. It means that if every man in America got married, there would still be 7 800 000 women left over, women who would be unable to get their share of a husband. One thing we do know, and that is that every man will never get married for so many different reasons. Man gets cold feet and finds many excuses. A woman, even if frigid, would not mind getting married. She would marry, even if it is just for shelter and protection.
But the American problem of surplus women is compounded. Ninety-eight percent of its prison population is male. Then they have 25 million sodomites. Euphemistically they call them "gays" a once beautiful word meaning — happy and joyous — now perverted!
America does everything in a big way. She produces everything mighty. Mighty in promoting God and also mighty in promoting the Devil. Let us for once, join the mighty televangelist (now fallen) Jimmy Swaggart, in his prayer. In his well-researched book - "HOMOSEXUALITY." he cries,
"AMERICA - GOD WILL JUDGE YOU (meaning that God will destroy you), FOR IF HE DOES NOT JUDGE YOU (destroy you). HE (God) MIGHT HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH" for their hasty, utter destruction because of their practice of homosexuality or their wanton gratification of unnatural lust.
NEW YORK AS AN EXAMPLE
The City of New York has one million more women than men. Even if the total male population in this city mustered enough courage to unite with the opposite sex in matrimony; there would still remain 1 000 000 women without husbands.
But to make things worse, it is reputed that one third of the male population in this city is "gay" (homosexuals/sodomites). The Jews, a very vociferous lot in every controversy, remain quiet as mice, for fear of being labelled backward Easterners. The Church, with their millions of born again votaries claiming to be the dwelling houses of the Holy Ghost, are also silent on this topic.
The founders of the Mormon Church. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, claiming a new revelation in 1830 preached and practiced unlimited polygamy to solve the problem of surplus women. The present day prophets of Mormonism1 have abrogated the teaching of their Church fathers to placate American prejudice on the subject of polygamy. What is the poor American/Western/European surplus women to do? They have literally gone to the dogs.2
1. The Mormons believe in an unbroken chain of living prophets in their church.
2. Consult "The life of the American Female," by Dr. Alfred Kinsey and the latest on the subject by Masters and Johnson
ONLY SOLUTION - RESTRICTED AND REGULATED POLYGAMY
Al-Amin, the Prophet of Truth, the Spirit of Truth, under inspiration of God supplies the solution to their unfortunate plight. God ordains —
... Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four;
But if you fear that you will
not be able to deal justly (with them)
Then (marry) only one ...
(SURA WSAA) Holy Qur’ân 4: 3
The Western world feigns tolerance towards the millions of sodomites and lesbians in their midst. It is a joking matter in the West for a man to keep a dozen mistresses, and beget a dozen bastard1 children every year. Such lecherous creatures are proudly labelled as "studs."2 "Let him sow his wild oats, but don't hold him responsible!" says the West
Islam says: "make man responsible for his pleasures." There is a type of man who is prepared to take on extra responsibility, and there is a type of woman who is prepared to share a husband. Why place obstacles in their way? You mock at (polygamy). which was practised by the prophets of God as recorded in the Holy Bible, you forget that Solomon The Wise had a thousand wives and concubines as recorded in the Good Book (1 King 11:3), a healthy solution to your momentous problem, and yet smugly wink at the gratification of unnatural lusts by sodomites and lesbians! What a perversion? Polygamy was practised by the Jews and the pagans in the time of Jesus (pbuh). He did not say a single word against it. Not his fault. The Jews gave him no peace to propound solutions. His was a natural cry, "when he the Spirit of Truth is came, he will guide you into All truth" (John 16:13).
1. Bastard: is Biblical. The Holy Bible has used it three times: Deut. 23:2, Zech. 9:6 and Heb.12:8
2. Stud: A slang used for a man considered to be excessively virile. The term usually reserved for animal husbandry.
COMFORTER TO BE A MAN
If I take the liberty of quoting the prophecy under discussion, with an emphasis on the pronouns, you will agree without any persuasion that the coming Comforter was to be a man and not a ghost.
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come. . He will guide you into all truth:
for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall
He speak: and He will show you things to come.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 16: 13
Please count the number of He's in the above verse. There are s-e-v-e-n! Seven masculine pronouns in a single verse! There is not another verse in the 66 books of the Protestant Bible or in the 73 Books of the Catholic Bible with seven masculine pronouns, or seven feminine pronouns, or with seven neuter genders. You will agree that so many masculine pronouns in one verse ill befits a Ghost, holy or not!
NON-STOP INTERPOLATIONS
When this point of the seven masculine pronouns in a single verse of the Bible was mooted by the Muslims in India in their debates with the Christian missionaries, the Urdu version of the Bible had the pronouns presently changed to SHE. SHE. SHE! so that the Muslims could not claim that this prophecy referred to Muhummed (pbuh) — a man! This Christian chicanery; deception I have seen in the Urdu Bible myself. This is a common trickery by the missionaries, more specially in the vernacular. The very latest ruse I have stumbled across is in the Afrikaans Bible, on the very verse under discussion; they have changed the word "Trooster" (Comforter), to "Voorspraak" (Mediator), and interpolated the phrase — "die Heilige Gees" — meaning THE HOLY GHOST, which phrase no Bible Scholar has ever dared to interpolate into any of the multifarious English Versions. No not even the Jehovah's Witnesses. 1 This is how the Christians manufacture God's word!2
1. Jehovah’s Witnesses: A Christian sect which has contrived its own Bible translation.
2. See "Is the Bible Gods Word?" and learn how the Christian has been interpolating his own prejudices in a book he claims to be from God.
NINE MASCULINE PRONOUNS
The only other place an author has unknowingly used so many masculine pronouns for this mighty Messenger Muhummed (pbuh) is given below:
"HIS GENTLE DISPOSITION, HIS AUSTERITY OF CONDUCT, THE SEVERE PURITY OF HIS LIFE, HIS SCRUPULOUS REFINEMENT, HIS EVER-READY HELPFULNESS TOWARDS THE POOR AND THE WEAK, HIS NOBLE SENSE OF HONOUR, HIS UNFLINCHING FIDELITY, HIS STERN SENSE OF DUTY HAD WON HIM, AMONG HIS COMPATRIOTS. THE HIGH AND ENVIABLE DESIGNATION OF AL-AM1N, THE TRUSTY."
"Spirit of Islam," by Sayed Amir Ali. page 14
"AL-AMIN," the Faithful, the Trustworthy, "even the Spirit of Truth" (John 14: 17). This expression is a figurative way of saying that SPEAKING TRUTH would be so characteristic of him that people would regard him as TRUTH PERSONIFIED: exactly as Jesus (pbuh) said about himself, "I am the way, the truth and the life . . ." (John 14: 6), that these noble qualities are personified in me. Follow me! But "when he the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16: 13). then you must follow him! But prejudices die hard, therefore we must work harder. But believe me, with the laser truth that Allah has given us, we can change the world with only a fraction of the energy that the Christian is expending.
SOURCE OF REVELATION
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth! For He Shall Not
Speak From Himself But Whatsoever He Shall Hear, That Shall He Speak.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 16:13
I have consistently been using the King James Version in my Biblical quotations, but for greater clarity, I give below, alternate rendering from some different versions of the above emphasised sentence:
1. for he will not speak on his Own
Authority, But will tell only what he hears.
The New English Bible
2. He will not speak On His Own; He will
Speak Only What He Hears.
New International Version
3. for he will not be presenting His Own Ideas,
But He Will Be Passing On To You What He Has Heard.
The Living Bible
This "Spirit of Truth," this Prophet of Truth. "Al-Amin.' will not be speaking spiritual truths on his own impulse, but he will speak on the same basis as his previous Comforter — Jesus (pbuh) had spoken:
For I speak not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me the commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
.,. even as the Father hath saith unto me, so I speak.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 12: 49-50
In an identical manner God Almighty testifies His revelation to His Messenger Muhummed (pbuh).
Nor does He say (aught) of (His own) desire.
It is no less than, inspiration sent down to Him.
He was taught by one mighty in power. 1
(SURA NAJM) Holy Qur’ân 53; 3-5
This is how God communicated with all His chosen Messengers, whether Abraham, Moses or Jesus.2 It would be absurd to think that this "Spirit of Truth" is the Holy Ghost, because we are told that "he will not speak from himself, but what he hears," surely not from himself?
1. All Qur’ânic Commentators understand this role to refer to the archangel Gabriel. Call him the "Holy Ghost" if you like.
2.
Luke 1:70:
"And he spake by the
mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began."
Acts 1:16: ."This scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spake by the mouth of David concerning Judas."
Luke 12:12: " For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say."
GOD - A TRINITY?
It is universally accepted in Christendom, all orthodox Christians who believe in what they call the Holy Trinity; that the Father is God, the son is God and the Holy Ghost is God, but they are not three Gods but one God. (?) Let an erudite Christian theologian, like the Rev. Dummelow tell us of this indivisibility, indisolubility of the Christian's "triune" God. Commenting on "We will come" of John 14: 23 he says —
WHERE THE SON IS, THERE OF NECESSITY IS THE FATHER ALSO, AS WELL AS THE SPIRIT, FOR THE THREE ARE ONE, BEING DIFFERENT FORMS OF THE SUBSISTENCE AND MANIFESTATION OF THE SAME DIVINE BEING. THIS PASSAGE ILLUSTRATES THAT THE PERSONS OF THE HOLY TRINITY ARE INSEPARABLE, AND CONTAIN ONE ANOTHER.
Please don't worry. You are not really expected to understand the above verbiage. In short the Christian believes that the "THREE" (I beg your pardon, the Christian says, "ONE!"), all the three are supposed to be Omnipresent and Omniscient and as such leads us to an amusing and ridiculous conclusion. Jesus (pbuh) according to the Christians agonized on the cross at Calvary. Being "inseparable," the Father and the Holy Ghost also must have agonized with the Son, and when he died, the other two died with him! Little wonder we hear the cry in the West — "God is Dead!" Don't laugh. All this imposes on us a more sombre responsibility of extricating our Christian brethren from the spiritual quagmire into which they are wallowing.
CHAPTER 5
Fulfilled Prophecies
And he will show you things to come.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 16: 13
REFUGEE: ONLY FOR A WHILE
The Christians put great weight on the fulfillment of prophecies. Muhummed (pbuh) fulfilled many prophecies of the Old1 and the New Testaments. To them, the prediction of events is considered to be the function of true prophecy — true Prophethood.
The Prophet of Islam uttered many prophecies, which are recorded for posterity in the Holy Qur’ân. Here are a few taken at random.
1. Verily. He Who (God Almighty) ordained the Qur’ân for thee, (He) will bring thee back to the Place of Return... (SURA QASAS) Holy Qur’ân 28: 85
"Place of Return," is a title of the Holy City of Makkah. During the Hijrat (Migration) when the Holy Prophet was fleeing from Makkah to Madinah. It was a hopeless situation. Most of his followers had already migrated to Madinah. Now it was his turn. Together with Abu Bakr (as-Siddiq) he had reached a place called Juhfa, when this assurance was given by God that once again he will return to his birth-place Makkah, and so he did.
He migrated as a refugee and God returns him as a conquerer, fulfilling yet another prophecy.2
And he (Moses) said, the Lord came from Sinai, and rose from Seir unto them; he shined Forth from mount Paran (that is in Arabia), and he (Muhummed) came with Ten Thousand Saints:3from his right hand went a fiery law For them. (HOLY BIBLE) Deuteronomy 33: 2
1 You will finds some of these prophecies expounded in – "What the Bible says about Muhummed (pbuh)".
2. For a detailed exposition of this book read "Muhummed (pbuh) in the Bible" by Abdul-Ahad Dawud; former Bishop of Uramiah.
3. The Holy Prophet was accompanied by 10 000 SAHABAS (companions – veritable saints) at the conquest of Makkah.
SUPER-POWERS: IN CONFLICT
2. The Roman Empire has been defeated In a land close by; But they, (even) after (this) Defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious — Within a few years. With God is the Decision, In the Past and in the Future: On that day shall the Believers rejoice — (SURA RUM) Holy Qur’ân 30: 2-4
The above prophecy was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhummed (pbuh) in the year 615/16 of the Christian era. The Christian Empire of Rome had lost Jerusalem to the Persians, and Christianity had been humbled in the dust. In this holocaust between two of the Superpowers of the day, the Mushriks (polytheists) of Makkah derived vicarious pleasure in the discomfiture of the Romans by the pagan Persians.
"THE PAGAN ARABS NATURALLY SIDED WITH THE PERSIANS IN THEIR DESTRUCTIVE ZEAL, AND THOUGHT THAT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CHRISTIAN POWER OF ROME WOULD ALSO MEAN A SETBACK TO THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHET, THE TRUE SUCCESSOR TO CHRIST. ... WHILE THE WHOLE WORLD BELIEVED THAT THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS BEING KILLED BY PERSIA, IT WAS REVEALED TO HIM THAT THE PERSIAN VICTORY WAS SHORT-LIVED AND THAT WITHIN A PERIOD OF A FEW YEARS THE ROMANS WOULD CONQUER AGAIN AND DEAL A DEADLY BLOW AT THE PERSIANS." Abdullah Yusuf Ali (Commentator on the English translation of the Holy Qur’ân)
Within ten years of the revelation of this Divine prediction, the prophecy was fulfilled!
CHALLENGE OF THE QUR’AN
3. The Holy Prophet claimed that the Holy Qur’ân was from God Almighty, and that it was revealed to him by inspiration. The proof of its Divine authorship is its own beauty and nature, and the circumstances in which it was promulgated. To prove the veracity of his claim, he has placed before you many Suras. Can the unbeliever produce one like it? This is a standing challenge! An eternal prophecy of mankind's inability to equal or excel, or to rival successfully any of its chapters.
Your plea, "I don't know Arabic," is useless. There are millions of Christian Arabs living today. The Christians boast that there are at least 10-15 million Coptic Christians in Egypt alone and these are not all fellaheens.1 Here is the challenge of God in His Own words —
(a) This Qur’ân is not such as can be produced by other than Allah.2
Holy Qur’ân 10:37
(b) Say: "If the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur’ân, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support."
(SURA BANI ISRAIL) Holy Qur’ân 17: 88
(c) Or do they say. "He forged it"? Say: "Bring then a Sura like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can, besides Allah, if it be that ye speak the truth!"
(SURA Y-UNUS) Holy Qur’ân 10:38
(d) And if ye
are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then
produce a Sura like thereunto; And call your witnesses or helpers (if there are
any) besides Allah. If your (doubts) are true. But if ye cannot — And of a
surety ye cannot —
Then fear the Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones,— which is prepared for those
who reject Faith.
(SURA BAQARA) Holy Qur’ân 2:23 24
It is now fourteen hundred years since the above challenges, but mankind has singularly failed to produce anything similar or something better. This is an Eternal Testimony of the Divine Origin of the Holy Qur'an.
1. Fellaheen: A peasant or agricultural labourer in Arab countries
2. Allah: A proper noun for God Almighty in the Semitic languages. See "What is his name?" which explains the word in detail
CHRISTIAN ARABS HAD A TRY!
The Arab Christians in the Middle East, not to be outwitted, launched a sixteen-year project lately and produced selected portions of the New Testament in Arabic, with a wholesale borrowing1 of words and phrases verbatim from the Arabic Qur’ân. It is an ignoble attempt! In this un-ashamed plagiarism, every chapter of this new Arabic New Testament of theirs begin with the First verse of the Holy Qur’ân —
In the name(SURA FATIHA) Holy Qur’ân 1:1
Can you beat that?
There are many more challenges and prophecies in the Holy Qur’ân and in the Ahadith (traditions of the Prophet) which can be expounded. It is a neglected field. Perhaps books can be written on the subject. I trust that Muslim scholars will take up the challenge. But let me end this theme of prophecy with one last reference from Allah's Kalaam (the book of God).
1. "He who goes borrowing, goes a sorrowing!"
ISLAM TO PREVAIL
(e) It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth. That he may Proclaim it over all religion. Even though the associators may detest (it).
(SURA SAFE) Holy Qur’ân 61:9
Within decades the above promise became true. Islam prevailed. The two superpowers of the day, the Persian and the Roman Empires crumbled at the hands of the Muslims. And for centuries the power of Islam predominated — from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Alas, the Muslims are in the doldrums today. But fear not, the world of Islam is arising. There is hope. Even non-Muslim Visionaries in the West have predicted its destiny to be in the skies.
"AFRICA IS A FAIR FIELD FOR ALL RELIGIONS, BUT THE RELIGION WHICH THE AFRICAN WILL ACCEPT, IS A RELIGION WHICH BEST SUITS HIS NEEDS: AND THAT RELIGION, EVERYONE WHO HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT SAYS IS ISLAM."
"The Shape of Things to Come" KG. Wells
"IF ANY RELIGION HAS A CHANCE OF CONQUERING ENGLAND, NAY EUROPE WITHIN THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS, THAT RELIGION IS ISLAM."
George Bernard Shaw
Without any real effort on the part of the Muslims, we are told by the Westerners themselves that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world today. I hope, this pleasant news does not lull us to sleep. The promise of God is true, the destiny is there, only a little exertion is required on our part. Allah can transform nations and peoples by His Own Will, but He has given us the privilege of serving His Deen by personal self-sacrifice. To be an effective soldier in this battle, arm yourself with John 16: 7 in one or more languages, and watch how Allah fills you with more knowledge. It is our destiny to master, supercede and bulldoze every ism, never mind how much the unbeliever may be averse to the Message of Islam.
GLORIFYING JESUS (PBUH)
He (the Spirit of truth)1 shall Glorify Me (Jesus): for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 16:13
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall Testify of Me.
(HOLY BIBLE) John 15:26
This promised Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth in whom Truth is personified, when he comes, will bear witness to the truthfulness of the Messiah and absolve him from the calumnies of his enemies.
This Muhummed (pbuh), Al-Amin, the Prophet of Truth, eminently succeeded in doing. He made it possible that today, a thousand million Muslims believe in Jesus Christ (pbuh) as one of the mightiest Messengers of God. They believe in his miraculous birth, which many modem day Christians, even Bishops do not believe. And they also believe in his many miracles, including those of giving life to the dead by God's leave; and healing those born blind and the lepers by God's leave. What a mighty testimony! Listen to the moving terms of the story of his Annunciation:
1. The same John who supposedly wrote this Gospel, says in 1 John 4:6 "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth from the spirit of error."
It is clearly shown here that, spirit of truth is articulated only in reference to a human being (and in the context of this study, a human prophet), not the Holy Spirit or Ghost. A spirit of truth would be a true Prophet, and a spirit of error would be a false prophet.
MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION
And mention in the Book, the story of Mary, when she withdrew from her people to a place In the East.
And she placed a screen to screen herself from them;
Then we sent unto her Our Spirit, that appeared to her as a man in all respects.
She said. "I take refuge in the All-Merciful from you, If you fear Allah ..,"
He said, "I am but a messenger come from your Lord, to announce to you the gift of a holy son."
She said, "How can I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?"
He said, "Even so your Lord has said:
'Easy is that for Me, and that We may appoint him a sign unto men and a mercy from Us; it is a thing decreed'."
So she conceived him, and withdrew with him to a distant place ...
(SURA MARYAM) Holy Qur’ân 19: 16-22
At the present moment a billion Muslims throughout the world accept the Immaculate Conception of Jesus (pbuh) on the authority of Muhummed (pbuh) alone. Jesus (pbuh), his mother Mary and the whole Christian world can never thank Al-AMIN — the Spirit of Truth, enough.
JEWISH RESPONSE TO JESUS
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I (Jesus) have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gatheretb her chickens under her wings, but ye would not let me! (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 23:37
That mighty Messenger of God went after the Jews like a hen after her chickens, but they turned on him like vultures to tear him into pieces. Not satisfied with their relentless assaults and harassment and the eventual attempt on his life1; they charged his mother for having ill-begotten him in sin.
That they
(the Jews) rejected Faith; and they uttered against Mary a grave false
charge.
(SURA NISAA)
Holy Qur’ân 4: 156
What was that "grave false charge"? — The nearest to uttering the actual calumny, Muhummed (pbuh) the true "Glorifier" of Jesus (John 16: 13) is made to record.
"O sister of
Aaron! thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!"
SURA MARYAM) Holy
Qur’ân 19: 28
1. For a detailed record of how God foiled the Jewish plot on the life of the Messiah, see "Crucifixion or Cruci-fiction?"
WHAT SAY THE TALMUDISTS
The Jewish charge of the illegitimacy of Jesus (pbuh) and the adultery of Mary is referred to here as an insinuation of the Jews, questioning Mary's chastity. The Holy Qur’ân does not stoop down to even reproducing the actual monstrous slander. Now compare this Qur’ânic terminology with what the erudite and famous Rev. Dummelow, backed by no less than a team of sixteen Christian divines, all Reverends and D.D.s; as to their choice of words in recording the calumny of the enemies of Christ:
THE JEWISH TALMUD1STS SAID, ‘THE SON OF THE ADULTERESS' (I.E. OF THE VIRGIN MARY) BROUGHT MAGIC OUT OF EGYPT. BY CUTTINGS WHICH HE HAD MADE IN HIS FLESH.’ ‘JESUS PRACTICED MAGIC AND DECEIVED. AND DROVE ISRAEL TO IDOLATORY.’ IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTICE THAT MAHOMET INDIGNANTLY REPUDIATED THESE JEWISH CALUMNIES." (Emphasis added)
Dummefow's Bible Commentary page 668
EVANGELIST DITTOS JEWS
Josh Me Dowell. described as a graduate of Wheaton College and magna cum laude graduate of Talbot Theological Seminary, and who is reputed to have spoken to more than Five million students and faculty at over 550 universities in 53 countries, seems to have done more research than the whole galaxy of Biblical scholars mentioned above, on the subject of the Jewish Talmud regarding the birth of his "Lord."
In his book — "Evidence that Demands a Verdict," just to prove that Jesus (pbuh) was not a myth but a historical person, he quotes extensively from the Jewish Talmud without any inhibitions. I give you below a few brief excerpts from pages 85/86 of his book.
"Tol’doth Yeshu. JESUS IS REFERRED TO AS ‘BEN PANDERA.’ "1
Yeb.IV3;49a:
"R. SHIMEON BEN AZZAI SAID (CONCERNING JESUS): ‘I FOUND A GENEALOGICAL ROLL IN JERUSALEM WHEREIN WAS RECORDED, SUCH-AN-ONE IS A BASTARD OF AN ADULTERESS.’ "
Joseph Klausner adds to the above:
"CURRENT EDITIONS OF THE Mishnah, ADD: TO SUPPORT THE WORDS OF R. YEHOSHUA' (WHO IN THE SAME Mishnah, SAYS: WHAT IS A BASTARD? EVERYONE WHOSE PARENTS ARE LIABLE TO DEATH BY THE BETH DIN). THAT JESUS IS HERE REFERRED TO SEEMS TO BE BEYOND DOUBT..." 5/35
1. "BEN PANDERA:" Means – son of Pandera. A Roman soldier alleged by the Jews to have raped Mary to produce her illegitimate offspring. (God forbid!) May he forgive us for even reproducing such blasphemies.
MISSIONARY LOLLS HIS TONGUE
Josh McDowelL the great evangelist, "born-again" Christian; worshipper of Christ, filled with the Holy Ghost (?) lolls his tongue when quoting calumnies of the enemies against his Lord and God — Jesus! And the Christian world laps it up. His books are bestsellers in Christendom. A taste for Filth and insults has been created in the votaries of Christ. I refuse to quote further from that filthy narration. If Jesus (pbuh) has such devoted friends (?). what need is there for him to have enemies.
Muhummed (pbuh) really was the true Friend, the Comforter, the Helper, the Advocate, the Glorifier, the Testifier of these prophecies in John chapters 14, 15 and 16. Let me repeat the ungrudging tribute of his enemies to this Benefactor of Jesus (pbuh) his mother Mary and humanity at large: "It is interesting to notice that Mahomet1 indignantly repudiated these Jewish calumnies." (Rev. Dummelow and his associates).
1. "Mahomet": It is a pity that scholars of Christianity of the highest eminence still misspell the name of the Holy Prophet, even at the end of the twentieth century.
CHAPTER SIX
Extremism Condemned
We will now allow the Spirit of Truth to lay the Ghost of Jewish and Christian extremism, and put the records straight regarding their controversies about the Messiah. The Jews said that Jesus (pbuh) was the illegitimate son of Mary because he could not point a finger to a father. The Christians for the same reason made him into a God and the "begotten" son of God. Just one verse to debunk this lie!
O People of the Book!
Do not go to extremes in your religion: nor say of Allah anything but the truth.
Verily, Christ1 Jesus the son of Mary was no more than a messenger of Allah, and His Word which he bestowed upon Mary,
And a Spirit proceeding from Him:
so believe in Allah and his messengers.
Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you:
For your Allah is One God:
Glory be to Him:
(Far Exalted is He) above having
a son. To Him belongs all
things in the heavens and the earth.
And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.
(SURA NISAA) Holy Qur’ân 4:171
1. Christ: In the Arabic text of the Holy Qur’ân the word is Masih, which is the same as the Hebrew word Messiah.
Note 657/6 on the above verse
Just as a foolish servant may go wrong by excess of zeal for his master, so in religion people's excesses may lead them to blasphemy or a spirit the very opposite of religion.
The Jewish excesses in the direction of formalism, racialism, exclusiveness, and rejection of Christ Jesus have been denounced in many places in the Holy Qur’ân.
Here the Christian attitude is condemned, which raises Jesus to an equality with God; in some cases venerates Mary almost to idolatry; attributes a physical son to God; and invents the doctrine of the Trinity, opposed to all reason, which according to the Athanasian Creed, unless a man believes, he is doomed to hell for ever."
The attributes of Christ are mentioned here:
1. That he was the son of a woman, Mary, and therefore a man.
2. But an apostle, a man with a mission from God, and therefore entitled to honour.
3. A Word bestowed on Mary, for he was created by God's word "Be" (kun) and he was. H.Q. 3:59.
4. A spirit proceeding from God, but not God: his life and his mission were more limited than in the case of some other apostles, though we must pay equal honour to him as a man of God.
The doctrines of Trinity, equality with God and sonship, are repudiated as blasphemies. God is independent of all needs and has no need of a son to manage His affairs."
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
NOTHING FROM SELF
You give this Spirit of Truth (Muhummed pbuh) too much credit, when you allege that he wrote the preceding verses and further authored more than six thousand other verses of the Noble Qur’ân.
He cries to us again and again in the Book of God, that this is not my handiwork — "IT IS NO LESS THAN AN INSPIRATION SENT DOWN TO HIM (Muhummed)" (Holy Qur’ân 53:4). Exactly as it was prophesied by Jesus (pbuh)
... for be shall not speak from himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak...
(HOLY BIBLE) John 16: 13
CHRISTIAN "TRILEMMA"
All the testification and glorification by this "another Comforter," does not placate the Christians. Because Muhummed (pbuh) did not pander to their prejudices. To them glorification meant to deify Jesus (pbuh) — to make him into a God. Instead of solving their dilemma whether Jesus (pbuh) "died" on the cross as a man, or as a God? They have now invented a trilemma. A word not to be found in any dictionary in the world. Josh McDowell the Travelling Representative for Campus Crusade for Christ International, in his book — "Evidence that Demands a Verdict," actually uses his new inspired (by the "Holy Ghost"?) conundrum1 for his chapter 7 — "TRILEMMA -Lord, Liar or Lunatic?" You have now guessed it! The three L's! He wants his readers to answer whether Jesus Christ is your LORD (God), or was he a LIAR, or a LUNATIC? Very ingenious, you will agree! No Muslim could utter that Jesus Christ was a liar, or a lunatic: then what? Its more than any dilemma! It’s actually blasphemy of the highest degree. But he is blinded by his preconceived notions. Roger Bacon, the philosopher who was bom too soon, rightly said: "IT IS EASIER FOR A MAN TO BURN DOWN HIS OWN HOUSE THAN TO GET RID OF HIS PREJUDICES."
1. Conundrum: A puzzling problem or question admitting of no satisfactory solution.
WISDOM OF THE CHILD
To say of any man that he is God, the "begotten" son of God, or that his father is God; is not an honour but an insult. A French peasant understood this distinction better than the millions of erudite Christian scholars walking the earth today.
It is reputed that Louis XV, King of France was a very lecherous person. No woman was safe from his debaucheries. After his death, when his son was well settled on the throne, a rumour spread around Paris that an exact duplicate of the young king was seen roaming about the capital. The King was naturally intrigued to see his double. It did not take the King’s men long to have the rustic from the countryside presented before the King. The King was amused by the stark resemblance to himself and his late father. He was tickled to have a dig at the poor farmer. He politely asked. "Did your mother ever visit Paris during my father's reign?" "No!" the rustic replied, "But my father did!" This was a death-knell for the King, but he had asked for it!
DONT GO TO EXTREMES
The rank hatred of the Jews which lead them to slander Jesus and his mother is bad, and the over infatuation of the Christians for Christ is also bad. Muhummed (pbuh) the Messenger of God condemned both these extremes, and elevated Jesus (pbuh) to his true status, as the Messiah, a great prophet and reformer. Love him, respect him, revere him, follow him; but do not worship him! For worship is due to God alone, the Father in heaven: ALLAH!'
This is true glorification — for,
"He shall glorify me!" John 16:14
Historically, morally and prophetically, Muhummed (pbuh) the last and Final Messenger of God, "The Spirit of Truth," is the only one to guide mankind into all truth. He is pre-eminently the Natural Successor to Christ.
Your further inquiries, comments and criticisms are welcome. Don’t just sit there, for the sake of God, act now!
AHMED DEEDAT
(Servant of Islam)
EPILOGUE
Dear reader, it has been suggested that some Christian propagandists might lure you from your exposition of the preceding pages, by dangling before you the "Pentecostal" experience.
Pentecost was a Jewish festival day celebrated on the Fiftieth day after the beginning of corn harvesting. The Jews gathered in Jerusalem from far and wide for the feast Peter with "the Eleven"1 together with others were in one place, when suddenly they heard the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them where they were sitting. This electrified the people and they began to "speak in tongues," in dialects and languages foreign to themselves. Some marvelled while others mocked, saying, "They're drunk, that's all!" It reminded them of the "babbling" at Babel (Genesis 11:9).
The Christian missionaries contend that that was the fulfilment of what Jesus (pbuh) had prophecised in John chapters 14, 15 and 16. Astounding as the whole drama may sound, Peter, the one, the Master had appointed to "feed my lambs .. . feed my sheep" (John 21: 15-16), rose to defend the disciples, saying. "These men are not drunk! It's much too early for that! People don’t get drunk so early in the morning!"
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel .. 2
(HOLY BIBLE) Acts 2: 16
Pentecost was the fulfillment of the prophecy of the prophet Joel and not of any predictions of Jesus (pbuh). Christendom believes that Peter was inspired to record the same. Both obviously tickled by the Holy Ghost! Not a single word3 is recorded anywhere as to what these apostles of Christ had babbled or murmured on Pentecost day, yet as to the Comforter, he was to guide mankind "into all Truth!" Proving once again that the Comforter is not the Holy Ghost!
1. "The Eleven" (Acts 2: 14). No Bible commentator dare discuss as to who these eleven were, because Judas the traitor was long since dead. The Holy Ghost failed to inform Luke. That at best there could only be ten beside Peter and not eleven!
2. "Prophet Joel:" In "The New English Bible." published by The Bible Societies in association with the Oxford University Press in their fourteenth impression of 1984, expunged the name JOEL, without an apology. He was too insignificant (?) a prophet, having written only two pages in a thousand of the Bible. If Christendom can edit out names of their own prophets, what will they not do to names like Ishmael and Ahmed?
3. On the contrary, hear what Muhummed (pbuh) the Comforter uttered in his trances in fulfilment of the prophecies. See The Holy Qur’ân online.
THE END
*Dr Maurice Bucaille, the French author of the book "Bible, the Qur’ân and Science"; wrote a sub-chapter entitled "Jesus's Last Dialogues. The Paraclete of John's Gospel". He questions the notion of the comforter being the Holy Ghost. He does not set out to prove that the Comforter was any specific historical person.But he rules out the possibility of it being a Ghost; or anything else than a man. The chapter is very small, and it is worth reading as a post-conclusion to this great book by Ahmed Deedat. Click here to read the chapter.
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Description: What is His name? is a discussion of the Concept
of God by focusing on the etymologies, semantics, and phonologies of the
proper noun for God Almighty in many different languages, including, Engligh,
Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, Sanskrit, Zulu, Afrikaans, the language of the Aborigines
of South Australia, etc.
About Ahmed
Deedat...
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About
Ahmed Deedat...
Description: What was the Sign of Jonah? discusses the only
sign (miracle) that Jesus (p.b.u.h.) was prepared to give to the scribes and
Pharisees who requested a sign (miracle) from Jesus (p.b.u.h.), to prove that
he, Jesus (p.b.u.h.), was the Christ.
http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/books/Books/wwtsoj/index.html
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Description: To this question "Mr Deedat has very simplistically and
convincingly resolved the problem besetting the minds of all thinking Christians
...."
DR G.M. KARIM
B.A. (Hons.) (S.A.) B.Sc., B.Ch. (WW)
http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/books/Books/wmts/index.html
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Description: In this book Ahmed Deedat expounds Biblical prophesies about Muhummed (p.b.u.h.), the prophet of Islam, and the Greatest benefactor of Mankind.
http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/books/Books/wtbsam/index.html
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Description: The God That Never Was is an examination of the
Christian's own authority, The 'Holy Bible', to show the human nature of Jesus (p.b.u.h.).
The book shows how Jesus (p.b.u.h.), with all his human imperfections and
frailties, can never be God.
http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/books/Books/tgtnw/index.html
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Description: Crucifixion or Cruci-Fiction? 'unveils mind-blowing evidence within the New Testament which attest to the irrefutable Quranic facts espoused in Chapter 4 Verse 157 that Christ was neither killed nor crucified.'
http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/books/Books/coc/index.html
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Description: The Muslim at Prayer is a comparative study of the Muslim prayer. It is intended to show in it, among other things, the relationship of the various aspects of Islamic prayer with the teachings of the People of the Book (i.e. The Jews and the Christians.)
http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/books/Books/tmap/index.html
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Description: Way to the Qur'an prepares your mind, body and soul to receive the infinite riches and treasures that your Lord and Creator, Allah, offers in this Mercy to all of Mankind, the Holy Qur'an.
http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/books/Books/wttq/index.html
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Description: Salāh - The Muslim Prayer is a step by step guide that shows one how to perform salāh, which Prophet Muhummed (p.b.u.h.) has called the second Pillar of Islam after the shahadah (The Muslim declaration of Faith). The book shows the actions performed and gives the arabic recitations, with the english translations thereof, recited before, during and after salāh.
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Description: "WAS THE RESURRECTION A
HOAX?"
Under the above title Garner Ted Armstrong the Executive Vice-President and
Co-Publisher of "THE PLAIN TRUTH" dated July 1977 poses the question:
"The resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is either the supreme fact
of history or a flagrant, deliberate fabrication foisted off on the followers of
Christianity. Did the central figure of the Christian faith really rise from the
dead?"
Mr. Ahmed Deedat in his usual incisive manner ably answers this question here.
Description: Dawood Ngwane, a former high ranking Christian, has
written this book in Zulu and in English, to expose the baseless Doctrine of
Trinity and to show without any doubt that There is none worthy of worship but
Allah, the God of all creation AND Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) is the last messenger of
Allah.
He writes on page 64 of the English version:
'Those who have ears to hear, let them hear; those who have eyes to see, let
them see and take heed, as those who have read this book will have no excuse on
the Day of Judgement.'
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PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS
- Harun Yahya -
In the sixth ayah of Surah Hud, Allah states that Allah gives the "sustenance"
of all living things, that is, all the provisions that provide for their
subsistence:
There is no creature on the earth which is not dependent upon Allah for its
provision. He knows where it lives and where it dies. They are all in a Clear
Book. (Surah Hud: 6)
One can easily recognise how Allah "gives sustenance" to all living things once
one looks around oneself conscientiously and with wisdom. All our food and drink
are things that are "made" and "created". The water we drink, the bread, fruits
and vegetables we eat are all the results of a special creation. Take a fruit,
an orange for instance.... This fruit is originally formed on the branch of a
tree, which is, in fact, a mass of wood. The tree absorbs minerals and water
from the soil and combines them with the energy it obtains from the sun. The
result it yields is extremely useful for the human body, extremely tasty and
fragrant when consumed by humans. Moreover, it is in a very healthy and
aesthetically pleasing wrapping.
How does a tree bring about such a yield? Why is it so useful to the human body?
Why do all fruits contain essential vitamins appropriate to the seasons in which
they grow? Why are they so tasty and not bitter? Why are they so fragrant and do
not stink?
Certainly a tree is just a bulk of wood and it is out of the question for it to
produce a fruit on its own and equip it with features essential for human use.
Just as Allah sustains human beings, so does He sustain the animals. In the
following pages, we will review the hunting techniques some living beings use to
reach their sustenance.
It is by no means difficult for one to understand the might and omnipotence of
Allah if one conscientiously examines, within the boundaries of wisdom and
logic, the systems with which animals are endowed to get their food. Every
animal that we cover in this chapter is one of the great examples Allah has
spread out on the earth.
For instance, the "hunting technique" of the fish you see on the next page is
amazing. This fish neither chases its enemy nor does it lurk secretly to dash
upon them. The fish is no different from others at first glance. Yet, as soon as
it lifts its fin, a "fake fish" appears on its back. When other fish approach
this small fake fish, not realising who the real owner of the fins is, they
become easy prey to the hunter fish.
Has this fish by itself given its fin a fish image? Or rather, have coincidences
accumulated and given the fish such a feature? It is unquestionably impossible
to claim that a fish could conceive of such a conscious plan, and act and carry
it out. No doubt, all the features the living things possess bring us face to
face with a single reality: the existence of the owner of the superior wisdom
and design prevailing in nature, the existence of Allah....
AN UNCONVENTIONAL HUNTER: THE VENUS PLANT
Besides the predators we have mentioned so far, there are also some plants which
"hunt" by using amazing methods. One of these is the "Venus" plant, which
catches and feeds on insects that visit it.
The hunting system of this plant works as follows: a fly looking for food among
the plants suddenly comes across one which is very attractive: the Venus plant.
What makes this plant, which resembles a pair of hands holding a bowl,
attractive, is its charming red colour and, more importantly, the sweet scent
secreted by the glands surrounding its petals. The fly is charmed by this
irresistible smell and lands on the plant without hesitation. While moving
towards the origin of the food, it inevitably touches the seemingly harmless
hair over the plant. After a short while, the plant suddenly snaps its petals
shut. The fly is left tightly compressed between two petals. The Venus plant
starts to secrete a "flesh dissolving" liquid, which causes the fly to turn into
a jelly-like substance, and then the plant consumes the fly by absorbing it.
The swiftness of the plant in catching the fly is remarkable. The speed of the
plant in closing is faster than the fastest closing speed of the hands of a
human (if you try to catch a fly sitting on your palm, you most probably would
not succeed, but the plant does). How, then, can this plant, which has no
muscles or bones, make such an abrupt move?
Research has shown that there exists an electrical system inside the Venus
plant. The system works as follows: the strokes of the fly on the hairs of the
plant are transmitted to the receptors under the hairs. If this mechanical push
is strong enough, these receptors will send electrical signals along the petal,
just like waves in a pool. These signals are carried to the motor cells that
cause the petals to make sudden moves, and finally the mechanism is activated to
swallow the fly.
In addition to the stimulus system of the plant, the mechanical system by which
the trap is closed also is created perfectly. As soon as the cells inside the
plant receive electrical stimulation, they change the concentration of water
within themselves. The cells inside the trap release water from their bodies.
This event is like the dying of a deflated balloon. The cells outside the trap,
on the other hand, take in excess water and swell. Thus, the trap is closed in
the same way as when a person, in order to move his arm, needs to have one
muscle contract and one relax. The fly trapped inside the plant actually touches
the hairy strands repeatedly, causing the propulsive electrical force to
discharge again, and making the trap more tightly closed. Meanwhile, the
digestive glands in the trap are also activated. As a result of stimulation,
these glands kill the insect and start slowly dissolving it. Thus, the plant
feeds on digestive fluids that have turned into a bowl of soup enriched by plant
proteins. At the end of the digestion, the mechanism that makes the trap close
works conversely to open it.
This system has yet another interesting feature: in order to activate the trap,
the hairs have to be touched twice in succession. The first touch generates a
static electric charge but the trap is not closed. The trap is only closed with
a second touch after the static charge reaches a certain point and discharges.
Due to this dual action mechanism, the flytrap is never closed without purpose.
For instance, the trap does not become activated as soon as a raindrop falls on
it.
Now, let us contemplate this striking system. The whole system has to exist at
the same time for the plant to catch its prey and digest it properly. The
absence of only one element would mean death for the plant. For instance, if
there were no hairs inside the leaf, the plant would not close, as the reaction
would never start although the insect would walk all over and inside the plant.
If the closing system were there, but if the plant were devoid of secretions to
digest the insect, the whole system would be useless. In brief, any element
lacking in the system would mean the death of the plant.
This plant, since the moment it was created, must have always possessed the
features we refer to here. The plant, no doubt, did not suddenly transform into
a hunter. It is certainly not the "magical spell of coincidences" that has made
the plant such a professional hunter.
The most important point is that this proficient hunter does not have the
capacity to think. If this living being were not a plant but an animal, then the
advocates of evolution would possibly claim that the animal had progressed by
itself with the estimable contributions (!) of "nature". What we are talking
about here is that this system is found in a plant, a being with no brain or
similar structure, and which is certainly unconscious. The plant is not even
aware that it is hunting. It, too, is already created with a system by which it
can feed itself without any effort just like all other plants.
Qur'an: Genetic Code of the
plants- seeds
Harun Yahya
"Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the
creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createst not
this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire." (Al Qur'an:
Al-Imran,191)
All the information about plants is hidden in their seeds which, by size, can be
defined with milli- meters or centimeters, and which, in appearance, look like
wood. Seed is like a miniature library full of information about the plant.
Seeds, which are formed by the union of male and female reproductive cells of a
plant, have one plant embryo and one food reserve. This is a very important
detail about the development of the seed, because in the first stages of its
life under the ground, the seed has no roots to absorb food from the soil, nor
any leaves to produce its own food. Until it develops enough to meet its own
needs, the food reserve is sufficient for the plant.
The formation of a meters-long plant from a tiny particle begins with the
germination of the seed. During the slow growth of the plant, all the systems
within it (such as its reproductive organs, photosynthesis process, inner tubes
etc.) develop at the same time with its roots elongating towards the ground and
its branches towards the sky. All the details in the plant have to exist
simultaneously. For example, inner tubes and wood tubes in a plant have no
meaning unless it has its reproduction mechanism developed. Since the plant will
not be able to carry on with its generation, nor will it be able to carry food
or water. Simply put, the additional mechanisms will be of no importance.
Every seed - regardless of its type - has an outer shell or a protective outer
layer. Imagine we scatter the seeds in the soil randomly. After a while, when
all conditions (heat, light, food for its growth) are fulfilled, this shell is
split and the seed begins to sprout. As we stated at the beginning, the thing we
call seed resembles a piece of wood, and the soil on it is a very thick and
heavy substance. When it is time for the seed to sprout, it overcomes all
obstacles - no matter what they are - and makes it way to the daylight. Let us
think of the slender body of the bud and the thickness of the soil. Only then
can it be possible for us to understand the greatness of the job done by the
seed. Innumerable plant types come out of the seeds casted into the same soil.
Strawberry, apricot, water-melon, lime, bean, aubergine, poplar tree, lemon
tree… It is obvious that we are not even able to count these one by one.When we
think of roses, carnations, magnolias and many other flowers with magnificent
odours that come out of the very same soil, we can liken the seed to a factory
that produces numerous trees and plants with a large variety of fruits, leaves,
odours and colours. The seeds are only one of the perfect examples of Allah's
art of creation. In the Qur'an, we are called to attention to this perfect
creation as below:
"It is He Who sends down water from the sky, and with it We bring forth
vegetation of all kinds, and out of it We bring forth green stalks, from which
We bring forth thick clustered grain and out of the date-palm and its spathe
come forth clusters of dates hanging low and near, and gardens of grapes, olives
and pomegranates, each similar and yet different. Look at their fruits when they
begin to bear, and the ripeness thereof. Verily in these things there are signs
for people who believe." (Surat al An'am, 99)
Also the ways the plants reproduce show variety among themselves. Some plants
reproduce by releasing their pollens whereas some reproduce by spreading their
seeds in various ways.
The seeds of the plants that multiply through their seeds definitely have to
reach the soil. The way this is done differs according to every plant type. Some
plants have animals (bees, insects, birds, ants, etc.) to carry their seeds or
pollens, some have the ability to mimic the insects that will carry them (as
orchids mimic bees), and some have systems to throw their pollens into the air
by winds (as the system in cones).
Some plants do not have a perfume or look to attract animals. How will these
plants reproduce? If we think from the standpoint of the theory of evolution,
their waiting for a coincidental structure to form would mean the end of their
generation, which is, therefore, impossible. Every plant has a unique way of
multiplying. For instance, some, like Mediterranean cucumbers, use their power
to spread their seeds. As they ripen, they begin to be filled with a sticky
liquid. After a while, the pressure of this liquid increases so much that the
seeds in the cucumber cannot stand it any longer and they burst. As the seeds
burst, they spurt out the liquid inside them. With this liquid, the seeds of the
cucumber are scattered to the ground.
This mechanism is very sensitive, the filling of the liquid in the capsule takes
place exactly when the cucumber begins to ripen. If this system were activated
earlier, the capsule would explode before the seeds ripened and it would not be
of any use. Mediterranean cucumber would be a plant that kept on exploding by
itself.
One of the most successful of the plants which spread their seeds by exploding
them, is a tree named Hura which is a plant peculiar to Brasil. When the tree
dries and the time to spread its seeds comes, it can throw its seeds as far as
12 m..
There are also some plants found by the sea or river side that can only have
their seeds carried away by water and whose seeds can stay in water for a very
long time without rottening or germi- nating. The most familiar of this type of
plants is the coconut palm tree whose seed is placed in a hard shell. The
outside of the seed is covered with a hard shell so that it is not harmed by the
water. Inside this hard shell, there is everything (such as water and food) that
can be needed during a long journey.
Sea bean is also one of the plants that spread their seeds through water and use
rivers for trans- portation. The most important characteristic of the plants
using water transportation for carrying their seeds, is the blooming of their
seeds as soon as they reach the land.
Plant seeds usually start germinating as soon as they contact water. Is the
answers to questions such as; why these plants do not start to ripen as soon as
they fall in the water but wait to reach the land, and how come they know they
are not in water but on the land; is that "they knew that their seeds would
rotten and die away, and that they would be extinct if they bloomed before it
was time or if they stayed in water longer than the time needed for their
germination"?
This, surely, is not the answer. It is impossible for the seed to display that
timing and to give a decision like this. Some plant seeds are covered with an
oily, edible tissue. Reproduction of these type of plants is performed by the
ants, because the oily tissue of these plant seeds is a very appealing food for
the carrier ants. Ants collect and carry these to their homes with a great zeal.
Thus, in the first stage, they unintentionally bury the seed under the soil. The
ant who puts itself to so much trouble to carry this seed which is much more
bigger than itself in size, does something very interesting and leaves the
inside, fleshy part of the seed untouched, and eats only the shell. By doing
this, it ensures the continuity of this plant kind.
There are millions of questions to be asked about the living beings on this
earth and millions of detailed answers to be given these questions. All these
answers converge on these common points; perfection, excellent designs, complete
systems operating within a certain plan. And again, all these details lead us to
only one conclusion: To the existence of the one Creator Who has an
all-embracing knowledge beyond the limits of the human mind, and Who is exalted
in wisdom...
To the existence and oneness (unity) of Allah, the Lord of the universe...
Harun Yahya is a well known writer from Istanbul who has written numerous books
and articles on Islam, which includes the marvels of Allah's creation, the
evolution theory, and politics. His articles have been published, not only in
Turkey, but in other countries as well. His study aims to convey the message of
the Qur'an, and to encourage people to think on issues such as the existence and
the unity of God, and the Hereafter.
The Mosquito and Its Extraordinary Adventure
Harun Yahya
"Surely Allah is not ashamed to set forth any parable-- (that of) a gnat or any
thing above that;…" (Al-Baqara (The Cow), 26)
As people are invited to contemplate on their own creation, the Qur'an
frequently calls people to investigate the nature and to see the signs of Allah
therein. Since the whole universe, with all its living and non-living elements,
consists of the signs revealing that they have been 'created'. And they exist
just in order to demonstrate the power, knowledge and art of their 'Creator'.
And mankind is responsible to know these signs and appreciate the Creator of
all, Allah. All living things possess these signs, yet there are some
specifically mentioned animals in the Qur'an. Mosquito is one of these. This is
referred to in the Qur'an in the below verse:
"Surely Allah is not ashamed to set forth any parable-- (that of) a gnat or any
thing above that; then as for those who believe, they know that it is the truth
from their Lord, and as for those who disbelieve, they say: What is it that
Allah means by this parable: He causes many to err by it and many He leads
aright by it! but He does not cause to err by it (any) except the
transgressors," (Al-Baqara (The Cow), 26)
When considering the life of the mosquito, we can say that it has a very
extraordinary adventure. What is generally known about mosquitoes is that they
absorb and feed on blood. Yet, this is not completely true. Because not all the
mosquitoes, but only the female ones absorb blood. And their need for blood is
not related to feeding at all. Actually, both male and female mosquitoes feed on
nectar of flowers. The only reason that females, unlike males, do absorb blood
is for their eggs which need to mature with the proteins contained in the blood.
In other words, female mosquito absorbs blood just to ensure the survival of the
new generation.
The point to be stressed here is that the verse of the Qur'an points out only
the 'female' mosquito. As previously mentioned, it is only the female mosquito
which has the superior capabilities that will be detailed here. So, it is surely
quite expressive that female mosquitoes are particularly emphasized in the
Qur'an. Besides, it is a remarkable fact to point out that at the time of the
revelation of the Qur'an, this knowledge was completely unknown to mankind.
The development process and its phases, is one of the most amazing aspects of
the mosquito. This animal converts from a larva into a mosquito after passing
through completely different phases. Let us see this adventurous story of the
mosquito briefly.
The mosquito eggs which are fed with blood are laid on damp leaves or dried
ponds for maturation by the female mosquito, during summer or fall. But prior to
this, the mother initially examines the ground thoroughly by using a receptor
placed under her abdomen, functioning as a humidity and temperature sensor. She
aims at finding a convenient place for her eggs. When the most suitable area is
found, she starts to lay her eggs. These eggs, which have a length of less than
1 mm, are arranged in a line either in groups or one by one. Some species lay
their eggs joined to each other forming a raft, some of which may contain up to
300 eggs.
The carefully placed white eggs soon start to change their colour. This takes
only about a few hours after they are laid down, and they become completely
black in colour. With this change, they attain an excellent protection against
birds and insects. Their dark colour can not be recognized by these organisms.
It takes a winter for the incubation period to complete. Since eggs are created
with such a structure to resist a long and cold winter, they survive until
spring when their incubation period ends. When the incubation period is
complete, the larvae start getting out of their eggs, all about the same time.
The first egg is immediately followed by the others. As soon as they get out of
the eggs, they start to swim in water. Now, the underwater days start for the
mosquitoes.
The continuously fed larvae grow with great speed. Soon the skin covering their
body gets too small to let them grow any further. This is the time for their
first skin change. The hard and brittle skin gets easily broken. Until this
developmental cycle is completed as a whole, the mosquito larvae will change its
skin two more times.
Since the life of the mosquito initializes in water, the system designed for
feeding of the larvae is rather impressive. The larvae empowers whirlpools in
the water with its feathered prolongations located at the two sides of its
mouth, which lead bacteria and other micro-organisms for feeding. And a solution
also exists for its respiration: each larva has an innate diving equipment. They
breathe via respiratory tubes at their back while standing upside down in water.
This system may be resembled to "snorkels" used by the divers. During the
employment of this method, the larva secrete a sticky secretion from their body
in order to prevent water from leaking inside, through the respiratory openings.
Shortly, the animal lives with the help of the combined harmony of all these
delicate balances. If it did not have a respiratory tube, it would not survive;
if it did not have a sticky secretion, its respiratory tube would be choked.
As the time goes by, most of the larvae change their skin once more. The last
skin change is rather different from the others. With this last change, larvae
pass onto the final phase of their maturation, the "pupa phase", and they are
ready to become a real mosquito at the end. So, the time has come for the mature
pupa to get out of the sheath covering its body.
However, the creature that gets out of the sheath is so different from the
earlier phases, that it seems unbelievable for them to be just two developmental
phases of the same being. And this metamorphoses is too complicated and delicate
to be designed by the larva itself, nor by its mother, or any other thing...
During this last transition period, there is a threat for the creature, since
the respiratory openings above the water may get closed with the leaking of
water inside. This will naturally mean that the pupa will be out of breath, and
die. But from then on, respiration will not be done via these holes. There
emerge two new air tubes on the head of the pupa. Therefore, before the pupa
gets ready for the last skin change, firstly these two tubes rise on the water.
This will be its new method for respiration. During the three or four days of
the pupa phase, there will be no nutrition for the coming mosquito.
Now, the mosquito within the pupa cocoon is mature enough and ready to fly with
all its organs and organelles like antennas, trunks, feet, chest, wings, abdomen
and large eyes covering most part of its head. Then, the pupa cocoon is torn at
the top. This stage where a complete mosquito will emerge is the most dangerous
stage of all. The greatest risk is water leakage into cocoon. However, the torn
top is covered with a sticky liquid preventing the head from contacting water.
The mosquito must get out of water without having any direct contact with water,
so only its feet touch the water surface. This instant is extremely important;
even a light wind may cause its death. Finally, the mosquito leaves for its
first flight after a rest of about half an hour.
It should be noted once again: The animal has got out of water without even
touching the water... At this point, the question that should come to mind is,
how the first mosquito has attained such an 'ability'? Might be that a larva has
decided to transform into a mosquito after changing skin three times?
Absolutely, these are impossible. This tiny animal which Allah gives as an
example, has specifically been created as it is. This leads the Muslims to
ponder on the creation of Allah and think that Allah has not created all these
for nothing, they fear Allah and act totally to comply with His Will.
Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on
their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the
earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all)
this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire."
Harun Yahya
[He is a well known writer from Istanbul who has written numerous books and
articles on Islam, which includes the marvels of Allah's creation, the evolution
theory, and politics. His articles have been published, not only in Turkey, but
in other countries as well. His study aims to convey the message of the Qur'an,
and to encourage people to think on issues such as the existence and the unity
of God, and the Hereafter.]
About the Honey bee in
Qur'an
Harun Yahya
"Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and
reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say):
Our Lord! Thou createst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the
doom of Fire." (Al Qur'an: Al-Imran,191)
"And thy Lord taught the Bee" "And thy Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in
hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations; Then to eat of all the produce (of
the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues
from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men.
Verily inthis is a Sign for those who give thought." (Nahl Sura, 68-69)
The above verse of the Qur'an, in the chapter named "An-Nahl" or "honeybee",
notifies us that this tiny animal has got many creation mysteries within itself.
Do you ever remember yourself thinking about the detailed story of the delicious
food honey and its producer, honeybee? In fact, bees store this wonderful food
named honey as a preparation to the winter months when it is going to be hard
for them to find flowers.
Normally, animals do not bother to store food exceeding the amount they can
consume. However, bees produce honey, several times more than their need. This
is just the same as the hen unnecessarily laying eggs daily or the cow producing
milk more than its newborn would ever need… Absolutely, the first question that
comes to mind is; why has this "excess production" lasting for tens of thousands
of years not terminated? The answer to this question lies in the above verse
that explain how the bee is taught to produce honey.
Lives of bees in the hive and their honey production have very interesting
details. Without going into too much detail, let us discover more about the
primary properties of the bees' "social life".
Regulation of humidity:
Temperature in the hive has to be 32 degrees Celsius for 10 months of the year
during the brooding period. Humidity, which principally causes honey to attain
its protective quality, must be kept within a certain limit in the hive. If this
limit is exceeded, then the honey gets spoiled upon loosing its protective and
nutritious qualities. In order to constantly maintain the temperature and
humidity in the hive within these exact limits, a special "ventilation group" is
appointed just for this important task.
Air conditioning: Bees ventilate the hive to make it cool and produce honey
containing the right humidity caliber. The same ventilation system is used to
safeguard the hive from smoke and air pollution. During a hot day, it is easy to
observe the bees ventilating the hive. The entrance of the hive is full of bees
and by clamping on the wooden floor they fan the hive using their wings. In a
standard hive, the entering air is forced to leave from the other side. The
extra ventilators in the hive also labor for pushing the air to four different
directions.
This time another question comes to mind, how do the bees "plan" and "carry out"
the operations for the regulation of humidity and air conditioning? These
operations need immense "intelligence" and "consciousness". We already know that
it is not possible for these animals to possess these abilities. Then, the real
source of this intelligence and consciousness must be found.
Health system:
The effort of the bees to preserve the quality of the honey is not only limited
with humidity regulation and air conditioning. A wonderful health system
functions in the hive to control all events that may result in the origination
of bacteria. This system firstly aims at destroying all places that may possibly
result in the production of bacteria. The basic principle of this health system
is to prevent foreign objects entering the hive. Because of this, there are
always two guardians at the hive's entrance. If a foreign substance or insect
enters the hive despite this prevention, all bees get into action to keep it out
from the hive.
For the bigger foreign objects that can not be carried outside, another
prevention mechanism is started. Bees produce a substance called "propolis (bee
resin)" for these kinds of situations.They formulate it by gathering resin from
trees like pine, poplar and acacia; then combining this with some special
secretions. The basic feature of propolis, is its capability of not sheltering
any bacteria inside it. These sorts of substances are covered with 1.5 mm thick
propolis, and isolated from the hive. This same bee resin is used to patch the
cracks of the hive. This resin reacts with the air and forms a hard surface
after drying in a very short time.
It is clearly obvious to realize that the system bees implement when protecting
the hive needs great consciousness and intelligence again. The most interesting
part of it is that beyond all these, the secretion of bees used for protection
purposes do not shelter any bacteria. Even though we assume that bees secrete
this substance "consciously" to cover the foreign particles, how will we be able
to explain that bees give an antibacterial quality to this secretion? Do you,
who has a more developed intelligence than the bee, possess the ability to give
antibacterial quality to any secretions of your own body? Finally, it is barely
clear that bee's body and its secretions are precisely "designed" and created.
Cleaning:
Bees never leave their feces inside the hive, they do this when flying or far
away from the hive.
Cells:
Honeybees shape small beeswax and construct a hive for 30.000 bees to live and
work together. The hive is made up of beeswax walled honeycombs with many tiny
cells on their surfaces. All the cells forming the honeycomb have exactly the
same dimensions. This engineering miracle is multiplied by the collective
functioning of thousands of bees. Bees use these cells for food storage and
maintenance of the young bees.
Bees use the hexagonal structure in the formation of the honeycomb for millions
of years. Why have they chosen the hexagonal formation rather than octagonal,
spherical or pentagonal structures? Mathematicians have spent too much effort on
finding the answer to this question. The calculations proved that; the hexagonal
structure was the most suitable and convenient geometric form to gain maximum
benefit from the unit area in the honeycomb. If the honeycomb cells were formed
in another structure, then there would be spare places left out of use; thus
less honey would be stored. Also the population of the bees using the hive would
be less. Another advantage of the hexagonal cell is while containing the maximum
amount of honey; it needs the minimum amount of wax for construction.
The honeycomb as an architectural miracle:
The construction of the honeycomb is started from the upper side of the hive and
continued simultaneously in two or three separate rows downward. While a single
honeycomb expands in two opposite directions, first the bottom part of its two
rows join.
This job is realized in a startling cooperation and arrangement. So, it is never
possible to tell that the honeycomb originally constituted from the process of
three separate parts. The pieces of honeycomb produced in separate starting
points are combined in such excellence that, although there are hundreds of
different angles in its structure it seems like one uniform piece.
The cells combining these two rows also have a perfect hexagonal structure and
same dimensions with others. Even one cell is not different from the others.
Scientists are deeply surprised how thousands of bees are able to match this
sort of a precise calculation.
Determination of direction:
Honeybees usually have to fly long distances and trace large territories to find
food. They gather flower dust and honey constituent within a range of 800 meters
from their hive. The bee, which finds the flowers, flies back to the hive to
inform others about their place. But, how will this bee describe the place of
the flowers to its friends?
The bee returning to the hive starts to make a kind of a dance. This dance is a
way of explaining the location of the flower source to the other bees. This
dance, repeated many times by the bee; includes information about the direction,
distance and other details to enable the other bees to reach the target. This
dance of the bee is actually performed by drawing an 8 figure in the air. The
bee forms the middle part of the eight by shaking its tail and making zig-zags.
The angle between the zig-zags and the line between the sun-hive, gives the
exact direction of the food source.
However, knowing only the direction of the food source is not enough. Worker
bees should also possess information regarding the distance of the hive to the
source before going there. So, the bee returning from the flower source shakes
its body several times to tell the distance. For example; in order to express a
distance of 250 m., it shakes the bottom part of its body 5 times in half a
minute. This way, the exact place of the source is determined with both distance
and angle.
If the journey from the hive to the source is taking a long time, then there
arises a new problem for the bee. Sun moves 1 degree every four minutes.
Eventually, while describing the location of the food source, the bee will
possibly make an error of one degree for each four minutes he passes on his way
back to the hive. Yet, actually the bee does not have any problem at all! The
bee's eye is formed of many small hexagonal lenses. Each lens focuses on a
narrow area just like a telescope. When the bee flies towards the sun during the
day, it can find its exact place all the time. Scientists say that the bee is
doing this by making use of the change in the brightness of the sun according to
the time of the day. As a result, the bee modifies the information about the
direction of the food source according to the movement of the sun and tells the
exact direction of the food source to the other bees without any fault.
Harun Yahya is a well known writer from Istanbul who has written numerous books
and articles on Islam, which includes the marvels of Allah's creation, the
evolution theory, and politics. His articles have been published, not only in
Turkey, but in other countries as well. His study aims to convey the message of
the Qur'an, and to encourage people to think on issues such as the existence and
the unity of God, and the Hereafter.
THE MECHANISMS IN OUR BODY
The Creation of Man
- By Harun Yahya -
In many verses
of the Qur’an, Allah calls our attention to the creation of man and invites
people to ponder on
this creation:
"O man! What has deluded you in respect of your Noble Lord? He Who created you
and formed you and proportioned you and assembled you in whatever way He
willed." (Surat al-Infitar: 6- 8)
The human being is one of the living beings with the most excellent,
sophisticated and amazing systems in nature, fashioned in due proportion by
Allah.
The human body is an amount of flesh and bone of
approximately 60-70 kilograms. As is well known, flesh is one of the most
fragile materials in nature. When left in the open, it decomposes within a
couple of hours, becomes maggoty within a few days and starts to stink
unbearably. This feeble substance constitutes a large part of the human body.
However, it is maintained without being spoilt, and without decaying, for about
70-80 years by means of the blood circulation that feeds it, and by the skin
that protects it from external bacteria.
On the other hand, the skills of the body are very impressive. Each one of the
five senses is a miracle. Man gets to know the external world through these
senses, and lead his life peacefully thanks to the wholeness of these senses.
Details that we encounter as we survey the senses of sight, smell, touch,
hearing and taste and their flawless designs are each pieces of evidence that
prove the being of the Creator.
The miraculous structures of the human body are not limited to the five senses.
Each of the organs facilitating our lives is a separate miracle. They all
function just to meet our needs. Let's just imagine how hard life would be if we
were created without hands. What would happen if we did not have legs, or if our
bodies were covered with thorns, scales or a hard outer layer, instead of skin?
Moreover, the existence of complex systems in the human body, such as
respiration, feeding, reproductive and defence mechanisms, and the aesthetics of
the human body are each separate wonders.
As seen, there are many delicate balances in the human body. The perfect
relation of the entirely interdependent systems to the other systems in the body
enables man to carry on his vital functions without problem.
Moreover, he does all these without spending any extra effort, or facing any
difficulties. Most of the time, the person does not even become aware of all
that happens. Man is not aware of many things: the time when digestion starts or
ends in his stomach, the rhythm of his heart, the blood’s carrying exactly the
required material to exactly the right places, and his seeing and hearing.
A flawless system has been established in the human body and it works perfectly.
This is the creation of Allah, Who regulates all affairs from the heavens to the
earth. Allah creates everything, every detail and every living being in the
universe. The design we confront when we closely examine the human body is
evidence of the uniqueness and flawlessness of Allah’s art of creation.
Allah draws our attention to the perfection in the universe in Surat al-Mulk:
He who created the seven heavens in layers. You will not find any flaw in the
creation of the All-Merciful. Look again - do you see any gaps? Then look again
and again. Your sight will return to you dazzled and exhausted! (Surat al-Mulk:
3-4)
A few of the millions of delicate balances in the human body are as follows:
The five senses are arranged entirely according to the human’s needs. For
instance, the ear can only sense those sound vibrations that are within certain
limits. At first glance, to hear within a larger range might seem more
advantageous, yet these sensory limits - called the "hearing threshold" - are
regulated for a purpose. If we had very sensitive ears, every moment we would
have to bear the sound of many noises from the beating of our hearts to the
rustling of microscopic mites on the floor. Then, life really would be very
irritating for us.
The same "punctuated equilibrium" holds true also for the sense of touch. The
nerves sensitive to touch lying under the human skin are made sensitive in the
best possible way and are spread all over the body. The nerves are amassed
mainly on our fingertips, lips and sexual organs. Comparatively, "less
important" regions of the body such as our backs have fewer nerves. This
provides great advantages for man. Let us imagine if the contrary was the case:
that our fingertips were extremely insensitive, and that the majority of nerves
were collected on our backs. Undoubtedly, this would be quite irritating, for
while we would not be able to use our hands effectively, we would feel the
tiniest substance - for instance, the creases of our shirt - on our backs.
Development of the organs is an example of this "delicate balance". For
instance, think about hair and the eyelashes. Although both are ultimately
"hair", they do not grow equally in the same period. Suppose that eyelashes grew
as fast as our hair. They would impede our sight and go into our eyes, thus
harming one of our most vital organs. Eyelashes have a certain length that stays
constant. If by any means, such as burning or an accident, they shorten, they
then elongate until they reach their "ideal" length and stop again.
Even the shape of the lashes is very important. Since they curl slightly
upwards, they do not restrict sight and they give the eyes an aesthetic look. As
the lashes grow, they are covered by an unusual oil secreted by specific glands
located at the rim of the eyelids. This is why our lashes are not rough and
straight like a brush. There is exactly just such a "subtle adjustment" in every
spot of the human body.
This punctuated creation is strikingly revealed in the new-born baby as well as
in adolescents. For instance, the new-born baby’s skull bones are very soft and
can, to a limited extent, move over one another. This flexibility facilitates
the emergence of the baby’s head from the womb without harm. If these skull
bones were inflexible, during birth they could crack and cause serious damage to
the baby’s brain.
With the same flawlessness, all of the organs in a human being develop in
harmony with each other in the course of development. For example, in the
development of the head, the skull that encases the brain grows along with it. A
skull developing comparatively slower than the brain would compress it, and
cause death in a short time.
The same balance is true also for other organs such as the heart, lungs and
thorax, the eye and eye socket.
For this reason, it is useful to examine the extraordinary structures of our
body to see the art and might in the creation. Every part of our body, the
structure of which is more perfect than the most advanced factories equipped
with the latest technologies, displays the matchless creation of Allah and
proves His sovereignty over our entire body.
If we briefly examine the systems and organs in the human body, we will witness
intimately the evidence of a flawless and balanced creation.
An Engineering Marvel:
SKELETON
Harun Yahya
The skeleton is an engineering marvel on its own. It is the
structural support system of the body. It protects vital organs like brain,
heart and lungs, and upholds the internal organs. It furnishes the human body
with a superior capacity for movement that cannot be imitated by any artificial
mechanism. Bone tissue is not inorganic as many people think. Bone tissue is the
mineral bank of the body that includes many important minerals like calcium and
phosphate. In accordance with the needs of the body, it either stores these
minerals or delivers them to the body. Besides all these, bones also produce red
blood cells.
In addition to the uniformly perfect functioning of the skeleton, the bones
constituting it also have an exceptional structure. Having the tasks of bearing
and protecting the body, bones are created with the capacity and strength to
fulfil this function. The worst conditions possible are taken into consideration
as well. For instance, the thighbone can carry a weight weighing a ton when
perpendicular. Surprisingly, at each step we take, the bone carries a weight
equivalent to three times our body weight. When an athlete pole-vaults and he
lands on the ground, every square centimetre of his pelvis is exposed to a
pressure of 1,400 kilograms. What makes this structure, which is formed by the
division and replication of the single original cell, so strong? The answer to
the question is hidden in the unequalled creation of bones.
An example from today's technology would be helpful to further clarify the
subject. The scaffolding system is used in the construction of spacious and tall
buildings. The support elements of the constructions made with this technique do
not have a monolithic structure, but consist of many intersecting rods forming a
scaffold. By the help of complex calculations that can only be made by
computers, it could be possible to build stronger and more cost-effective
bridges and industrial constructions.
The internal structure of bones is similar to that of the scaffold system used
in the construction of those bridges and towers. The only important difference
is that the system in bones is more complicated and superior to those designed
by men. By means of this system, the bones are extremely strong and yet light
enough for comfortable use by humans. If the opposite were the case, i.e., if
the interior of the bones was hard and full like its exterior, it would be too
heavy to be carried by a human and would easily break or crack at the slightest
blow due to its rigid and hard structure.
The perfect design of our bones helps us lead our lives very simply, manage to
perform even very difficult tasks easily without pain. Another feature of bone
structure is its flexibility in certain parts of the body. Just as the rib-cage
protects the vital organs of the body such as the heart and lungs, it also
expands and contracts to let air move in and out of lungs.
The elasticity of bones may change over time. For instance, in women, the
hipbones are extended towards the last months of pregnancy and move apart from
each other. This is an extremely important detail, because during birth, this
extension allows the baby's head to come out of the mother’s womb without being
crushed.
The miraculous aspects of the bones are not limited to these. Besides their
flexibility, durability and lightness, the bones also have an ability to repair
themselves. When a bone is broken, one only has to keep this bone firm to allow
it to repair itself. As is obvious, this, like all other processes in the body,
is an extremely complex process in which millions of cells collaborate.
The locomotive capability of the skeleton is another important detail to
consider. With each step we take, the vertebrae making up our backbone move over
each other. This continuous movement and friction might normally cause the
vertebrae to wear out. In order to prevent this, between each vertebra,
resistant cartilages, called ‘disks’, are placed. These disks function as shock
absorbers. At each step, a force is exerted by the ground on the body as a
reaction to the body’s weight. This force does not do any harm to the body due
to the shock absorbers of the backbone and its "force distributing" curved
shape. If this flexibility and special structure that reduce the force of
reaction did not exist, the released force would be transmitted directly to the
skull and the top end of the spine would break into the brain by shattering the
skull.
The traces of creation are also visible at the joint surfaces of the bones. The
joints do not need to be lubricated although they move continuously for a
lifetime. Biologists conducted research to find the reason: how is the friction
in joints being eliminated?
Scientists saw that the event was solved by a system that can be regarded as an
"absolute miracle of creation". Joint surfaces exposed to friction are covered
with a thin, porous cartilage layer. Under this layer is a lubricant. Whenever
the bone compresses the joint, this lubricant gushes out of the pores and makes
the joint surface slide "as if on oil".
These all show that the human body is the outcome of perfect design, and it is a
superior creation. This perfect design helps a human being to make very
dissimilar movements with great swiftness and facility.
Just imagine if everything were not so perfect and the entire leg were formed of
a single long bone. Then, walking would be a serious problem and we would have
very clumsy and idle bodies. Even taking a seat would be difficult, and the leg
bone would easily break because of being forced during such acts. However, the
human skeleton has a structure that permits all kinds of body motions.
Allah created, and still creates, all the features of the skeleton. Allah
invites man, whom He has created, to ponder this:
...Look at the bones -Look further at the bones, how We bring them together and
clothe them with flesh... (Surat al-Baqara: 259)
Man must ponder this, appreciate the might of Allah, Who has created him, and be
thankful to Him. If he does not do so, he will be in great loss. Allah, Who
created the bones and clothed them with flesh, is able to do it again. This is
stated in the verse:
Does not man see that We created him from a drop yet there he is an open
antagonist! He makes likenesses of Us and forgets his own creation, saying, "Who
will give life to the bones when they are decayed?" Say "He who made them in the
first place will bring them back to life. He has complete knowledge of every
created thing." (Surah Yasin: 77-79)
About the Rain in Qur'an
Harun Yahya
"Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the
creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say):Our Lord! Thou createst not
this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire." (Al Qur'an:
Al-Imran,191)
Rain is indeed one of the most important factors for life on the earth. Rain is
a prerequisite for the permanence of life in a region. Rain, which carries great
importance for all living things including human beings, is mentioned in various
verses of the Qur'an where substantial nformation is given about the formation
of rain, its proportion and effects. The fact that it was not possible for any
of this information to have been discovered at the time of the revelation of the
Qur'an shows us that the Qur'an is the word of Allah.
Now, let us examine the information given in the Qur'an about rain.
The Proportion of Rain
In the eleventh verse of Surat az-Zukhruf, rain is defined as water sent down in
due measure. The verse is as follows:
"And He who sends down (from time to time) water from the sky in due measure,
and We raise to life therewith a land that is dead. Even so will you be raised
(from the dead) (Surat az -Zukhruf, 11)
This "measure" mentioned in the verse has to do with a couple of characteristics
of rain. First of all, the amount of rain that falls on the earth is always the
same. It is estimated that in one second, 16 million tones of water evaporates
from the earth. This number is equal to the amount of water that drops on the
earth in one second. This means that water continuously circulates in a balanced
cycle according to a "measure".
Another measure related with rain is about its falling speed. The minimum
altitude of rain clouds is 1200 meters. When dropped from this height, an object
having the same weight and size as a rain drop, would continuously accelerate
and fall on the ground with a speed of 558 km/h. Certainly, any object that hits
the ground with that speed would cause big damage. If rain happened to fall in
the same way, all harvested lands would be destroyed, residential areas, houses,
and cars would be damaged, people would not be able to walk around without
taking necessary precautions. What is more, these calculations are made just for
clouds of 1200 meters high, whereas there are also rain clouds at an altitude of
10 000 meters. A rain drop falling from such a height could normally reach a
very destructive speed. But this is not how it works; no matter from how high
they fall, average speed of rain drops is only 8-10 km/h when they reach the
ground. The reason for this is the special form they take. This special form
increases the friction effect of the atmosphere and prevents acceleration when
the rain drops reach a certain speed "limit". (Today parachutes are designed by
using this technique.)
This is not all about the "measures" of rain. For instance, in the atmospheric
layers where it starts to rain, the temperature may fall so low as 400 C
degrees. Despite this, rain drops never turn into ice particles*. (This would
certainly mean a fatal threat for the living things on the earth). The reason is
that the water in the atmosphere is pure water. As known, pure water hardly
freezes even in very low temperatures.
The Formation of Rain
How rain forms remained a great mystery for people for a long time. Only after
air radars were discovered, could it have been possible to learn by which stages
rain formed. The formation of rain takes place in three stages: First, the "raw
material" of rain rises up in the air. Later, clouds are formed and lastly, rain
drops appear. These stages are clearly defined in the Qur'an in which precise
information was given about the formation of rain centuries in advance;
"It is Allah Who sends the Winds, and they raise the Clouds:then does He spread
them in the sky as He wills, and break them into fragments, until you see
rain-drops issue from the midst thereof: then when He has made them reach such
of his servants as He wills behold, they do rejoice!"
Now, let us look at the three stages mentioned in the verse;
1st Stage : "It is Allah Who sends the winds..." Countless air bubbles formed by
the foaming in the oceans continuously burst and cause water particles to be
ejected towards the sky. These particles which are rich in salt, are then
carried away by winds and move upwards in the atmosphere.These particles which
are called aerosols form clouds by collecting around themselves the water vapor
-that again ascends from the seas - as tiny drops, by a mechanism called "water
trap"
2nd Stage : " ... and they raise the Clouds: then does He spread them in the sky
as He wills, and break them into fragments ...." The clouds form from the water
vapor that condenses around the salt crystals or the dust particles in the air.
Because the water drops in these are very small (with a diameter between 0.01
and 0.02 mm), the clouds are suspended in the air and they spread in the sky.
Thus the sky is covered with clouds.
3rd Stage : ".... until you see rain-drops issue from the midst thereof." Water
particles that surround salt crystals and dust particles thicken and form rain
drops. So, the drops which become heavier than air depart from the clouds, and
start to fall on the ground as rain.
The conclusion to be arrived here is that; Every stage in the formation of rain
is told in the verses of the Qur'an. Furthermore, these stages are explained in
the order they take place... Just like in many other natural phenomena in the
world, it is again the Qur'an that provides the most correct explanation about
this phenomena as well, and more, that has announced these facts to people
centuries before they were discovered by science.
Life Given to a Dead Land In the Qur'an, a lot of verses call our attention to a
particular functionof rain, which is "giving life to a dead land". It is stated
in a verse as
" We send down pure water from the sky. That with it We may give life to a dead
land, and slake the thirst of things We have created,- cattle and men in great
numbers. Surat al - Furqan, 48- 49)
In addition to furnishing the earth with water, rain also has a fertilization
effect. Rain drops that reach the clouds after being evaporated from the seas,
contain certain substances "that will give life" to a dead land. These
"life-giving" drops are called "surface tension drops". Surface tension drops
form on the top level of the sea surface which is called the micro layer by
biologists. In this layer, which is thinner than one tenth of a millimeter,
there are many organic leftovers caused from the pollution of microscopic algaes
and zooplanktons. Some of these leftovers select and collect within themselves
some elements which are very rare in sea water such as phosphorus, magnesium,
potassium and some heavy metals like copper, zinc, cobalt and lead. These
"fertilizer" laden drops are lifted up into the sky by the winds and after a
while they drop on the ground inside the rain drops. Seeds and plants on the
earth find numerous metallic salts and elements essential for their growth here
in these rain drops. This event is informed in another verse of the Qur'an as
follows:
"And We send down from the sky rain chartered with blessing, and We produce
therewith gardens and grain for harvests." (Surah Qaf, 9)
Salts that fall with rain are small examples of some fertilizers (calcium,
magnesium, potassium etc.) used for increasing fertility. The heavy metals found
in these types of aerosols, on the other hand, are other elements that increase
fertility in the development and production of plants. Forests also develop and
are fed with the help of these sea-originated aerosols. In this way, 150 million
tons of fertilizer falls on the total surface of lands every year. If there was
not a natural fertilization like this, there would be very little vegetation on
the earth, and the ecological balance would be damaged. What is more interesting
is that this truth, which could only be discovered by modern science, was
informed by Allah in the Qur'an centuries ago.
* This discussion doesn't pertain to the science of snow fall or snow-rain
Harun Yahya is a well known writer from Istanbul who has written numerous books
and articles on Islam, which includes the marvels of Allah's creation, the
evolution theory, and politics. His articles have been published, not only in
Turkey, but in other countries as well. His study aims to convey the message of
the Qur'an, and to encourage people to think on issues such as the existence and
the unity of God, and the Hereafter.
THE MIRACLE OF HONEY
- Harun Yahya -
"And your Lord revealed to the bee saying:
Make hives in the mountains and in the trees and in what they build:
Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. There
comes forth from within it a beverage of many colours,
in which there is healing for men;
most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect."
(Surat an-Nahl, 68-69)
Do you know how important a food source the honey is, which
Allah offers man by means of a tiny insect?
Honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like
magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate. It
contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which change according to the
qualities of the nectar and pollen. Besides the above, copper, iodine, and zinc
exist in it in small quantities. Several kinds of hormones are also present in
it.
As Allah says in the Qur’an, honey is a "healing for men". This scientific fact
was confirmed by scientists who assembled during the World Apiculture Conference
held from 20-26 September 1993 in China. During the conference, treatments with
honey derivatives were discussed. American scientists in particular said that
honey, royal jelly, pollen and propolis (bee resin) cure many diseases. A
Romanian doctor stated that he tried honey on cataract patients, and 2002 out of
his 2094 patients recovered completely. Polish doctors also informed the
conference that bee resin helps to cure many diseases such as haemorrhoids, skin
problems, gynaecological diseases and many other disorders.
Nowadays, apiculture and bee products have opened a new branch for research in
countries advanced in science. Other benefits of honey may be described as
below:
Easily digested: Because sugar molecules in honey can convert into other sugars
(e.g. fructose to glucose), honey is easily digested by the most sensitive
stomachs, despite its high acid content. It helps kidneys and intestines to
function better.
Has a low calorie level: Another quality of honey is that, when it is compared
with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. Although
it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight.
Rapidly diffuses through the blood: When accompanied by mild water, honey
diffuses into the bloodstream in 7 minutes. Its free sugar molecules make the
brain function better since the brain is the largest consumer of sugar.
Supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed
by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood.
It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation.
It also functions as a protection against capillary problems and
arteriosclerosis.
Does not accommodate bacteria: This bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of
honey is named "the inhibition effect". Experiments conducted on honey show that
its bactericide properties increase twofold when diluted with water. It is very
interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony are nourished with
diluted honey by the bees responsible for their supervision - as if they know
this feature of the honey.
Royal Jelly: Royal jelly is a substance produced by worker bees inside the
beehive. Inside this nutritious substance are sugar, proteins, fats and many
vitamins. It is used in problems caused by tissue deficiency or body frailty.
It is obvious that honey, which is produced in much higher amounts than the
requirements of the bees, is made for the benefit of man. And it is also obvious
that bees cannot perform such an unbelievable task "on their own."
Harun Yahya is a well known writer from Istanbul who has written numerous books
and articles on Islam, which includes the marvels of Allah's creation, the
evolution theory, and politics. His articles have been published, not only in
Turkey, but in other countries as well. His study aims to convey the message of
the Qur'an, and to encourage people to think on issues such as the existence and
the unity of God, and the Hereafter.
Death WILL Catch You Any Time
by HARUN YAHYA
Who knows, perhaps that time is now, or too close to you.
These lines may be your last chance, or a last reminder, a last warning
before your death, to check and control yourself.
While you are reading these lines, you cannot be sure that you will
still be alive one hour later. Let's say you will be, but there is no
guarantee for the next hour. Not for an hour, it is not definite that
you will be living for one more minute or for even a second. There is
also no guarantee that you will be able to read till the end of these
lines. Death will come, most probably, at a time that you haven't
thought about it one minute before.
You will surely die, also the ones that you love, before you or later
than you, they will all die. 100 years from now, there will be not even
one alive person that you now know.
Everybody has endless plans about life. Finishing high school, attending
a university then graduation, finding a job, buying a house, getting
married and having some kids, then bringing the kids up and then
retiring to live a peaceful and quiet life... These are some of the most
usual and common ones. Apart from these, according to people's different
conditions, everybody has thousands of more complicated and detailed
plans. However, it is not certain that they will get realized. However,
death will get realized for a hundred percent.
A student who strive very hard to attend a university, dies while going
to his first classes. Or, somebody, on his way to his first day at work
or a newly married couple on their way back from the wedding ceremony
die at an unexpected traffic accident. A successful businessman, to gain
some time, prefers aeroplane transportation, but the plane crushes and
the life of the businessman ends dreadfully.
All the plans are in vain now. Without realizing the rest of his plans
and will never be able to realize them, they go to a place of no
return... But they have not planned anything for the place that they are
going now. They have been preparing everything in detail for years for
things that they will never be able to realize, but they have not ever
thought about what is very certain to happen.
Then, which one should a man that has wisdom, comprehension and reason,
give the priority to- to the one that is for sure, or make plans for the
other? Most people, give priority to the indefinite one. At whichever
stage of their life span, they make all their plans for a better way of
living in the future.
If men were immortal, this choice would be reasonable. However, all the
plans are doomed to an end called death. Therefore, giving importance to
things that will end and leaving what is certain, is absolutely
irrational. Nevertheless, people cannot apprehend this crystal clear
fact because of a weird magic that enslaves their mind. When this is the
case, they cannot identify their real life which starts with death. They
don't get prepared for this. When they are revived, they go nowhere but
Hell, which is created especially for them because they deserve it.
This booklet is written to make people think of the facts that they
don't want to think and to remind them of the big event that approaches
fast. This big event is definite. Qur'an, describes this as "Sure
Reality". (AL-HAAQQA, 1)
Therefore, escaping from thinking is not a solution at all.
SUPERSTITIONS AND REALITIES
Mankind have found solutions to many kinds of problems that arose
throughout the history, but only death. Every living thing is born
doomed to death. Some of them pass away when they are young, some live
a longer life, and some die even older. Nobody's property, wealth,
position, rank, power or beauty keep death away from them. Without
exception, all were obliged to die and will be obliged to die.
A lot of people, don't want to think about death and don't want to
remember that it is certainly going to happen to them. They have
developed a defence mechanism that they will not die if they do not
think about it. Whenever someone happens to talk about death, people
consider him to be a 'pessimistic' person and don't let him talk about
it. However, if someone talks about death, with or without any purpose,
he is reminding people of one of the most important signs and manages to
wipe the foggy cloud of heedlessness away a little. Yet, people that
chose unawareness as a way of life, get disturbed by things that draw
away their unawareness. But these who run away from the thought of death
in life, will get overwhelmed more when they face the real death. The
greater is their ignorance in this life, the greater is the horror,
confusion and pain at the Day of Resurrection and in the Hell.
You will see no man that can resist ageing and death as time passes.
You'll see no man free from death. It is impossible! Because man does
not own neither his body nor his life. One indication of this, is that
he wasn't the one to decide for his life . Another indication is that he
has no solution to stop his death. The Master of his life is the One
that gives it to him. And He, can take away that life whenever He wills.
Allah, the owner of all lives, informs us with the verse :
"We granted not to any man before thee permanent life (here): if then
thou shouldst die, would they live permanently?" (AL-ANBIYA, 34)
There are about 6 billions of people on earth, there have been numerous
people since the first man. And all have experienced death without
exception. Death is the end for all that lived before us and is living
now. Nobody can save themselves from this unavoidable end. This is what
it says in Al Qur'an:
"Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment
shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from
the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of
Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of
deception." (AAL-E-IMRAN, 185)
Supposing Death as Coincidence or Bad Fate
Death does not happen by chance. Like all other things, death happens by
Allah's decree. Everybody's time of birth is known, likewise the time of
death is also circumscribed even to its second. People consume their
predetermined time and approach rapidly to their last instant. The
place, the time and the type of death is predetermined in their destiny.
Despite this fact, most people believe that their death is a consequence
of the events which, in fact, Allah created as its cause. Everyday death
announcements are read in the newspapers. They come to some shallow
conclusions like "If this precaution would have been taken or if that
thing wouldn't have happened, he wouldn't have died." However, everybody
can live as long as his allowance permits, not one second more, not one
second less. However, people without the consciousness of faith,
consider death as a result of a chain of coincidences. Qur'an makes the
believers avoid from such a totally erroneous belief aroused by the
unbelievers:
"O ye who believe! Be not like the Unbelievers, who say of their
brethren, when they are travelling through the Earth or engaged in
fighting: "If they had stayed with us, they would not have died, or been
slain." This that Allah may make it a cause of sighs and regrets in
their hearts. It is Allah that gives Life and Death, and Allah sees well
all that ye do." (AAL-E-IMRAN, 156)
Believing that death is a coincidence is a great ignorance and
stupidity. And this gives a great psychological pain and an irresistible
regret, as also mentioned in the above verse. Unbelievers and also the
ones that don't believe the way as per Qur'an describes, feel this great
suffering as a 'a cause of sighs and regrets when someone close to them
dies. They presume that there was a chance for him to recover, however
because of bad luck, incidents or unprecautiousness, he died out of
nothing. This thought increases their grief and pain. In fact this pain
is for nothing but their distress of disbelieve.
Though there is a very important mystery; the reason of dying is not an
traffic accident, not a disease, not anything else. All of these reasons
are created by Allah. When our time ends, our souls are taken away with
these kinds of false reasons. Man, even though spends all of his
fortune, will not be able to live even one more minute than his respite.
Qur'an describes this divine law as:
"... To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached,
not an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in
anticipation)." (YUNUS 49)
Misunderstanding destiny
Most people have a misconviction of destiny, especially about death.
Irrational statements like 'to change the destiny' or 'to get over
destiny' are quite spread among public. People with little wisdom,
little intelligence and little knowledge suppose that their expectations
and predictions are their destiny, and when they don't get realized they
think that destiny does not happen as it was determined and it keeps
changing. They are in quite a foolish attitude as if they have read
their destiny before and it did not happen as it should happen. These
kinds of inconsistent logic mostly originates because the concept of
destiny is not fully understood.
Destiny or fate is, Allah's creation and determination of all the events
in the past and in the future at the timeless dimension, Who created the
concept of time and space out of nothing and Who is independent from
time and space. All the chain of events that were lived and will be
lived is planned and created at its very minute.
Time is created by Allah, therefore He is independent from time.
Therefore, there can be no such thing for Him to wait for the results
what He Himself created. In His sight, the beginning and end of
everything is determined at its point in the infinity. Everything has
already happened. In a film strip, it is not possible for the images to
make changes on the film, likewise nobody has the power or ability to
change anything on the life strip. Fate has the influence on people,
people don't have the influence on fate. Men is a part of the fate and
cannot behave independent from their fate. How can we talk about
changing the fate when one cannot even get out of it. This is like an
actor in a film, getting out of the film, become a physical being and
erasing and changing things in the film which he himself acts. This is a
totally absurd and illogical thing.
Therefore, phrases like 'coming over destiny' or 'changing the fate' are
totally ridiculous. When a person says 'I changed my fate', in fact, he
is saying something predetermined in his destiny.
Somebody can be in coma for days and it may seem impossible for him to
turn back to life. But the same person, contrary to expectations, may
recover. However this does not mean that 'he defeated his fate' or
'changed his fate'. This only shows that person has still not completed
the time allowed in his destiny for him to live. Everything is written
and predetermined at Allah's stage. The verse follows:
"... Nor is a man long-lived granted length of days, nor is a part cut
off from his life, but is in a Decree (ordained). All this is easy to
Allah." (FATIR 11)
"Nor can a soul die except by Allah's leave, the term being fixed as by
writing..." (AAL-E-IMRAN 145)
With these examples, Allah shows us the infinite wisdom and abundance in
variety of His creation. These increase the amazement and gratitude of
believers and increase their faith in Him. On the other side, these
increase the perversion and confusion of the unbelievers whose reasoning
does not go beyond a first step. This helps the believers acknowledge
Allah for showing them the foolishness and the lack of understanding of
the unbelievers and take lessons from them.
One other common belief in the society is that if a 80-year-old man
dies, it would be the appointed hour of death, whereas a young person's
or a child's death is considered to be 'unexpected painful event'. These
people try to consider death as normal if some conditions are provided.
According to them, death after a long-lasting sickness can be considered
natural, however death after a sudden sickness or an accident is a
disaster! Therefore, usually people regard death in a rebellious
attitude. This kind of psychology is a clear sign of disbelieve in fate
and consequently in Allah. Everybody with this mentality which is the
result of disbelief, is doomed to live in distress and sorrow and this
sorrow is only the beginning in this world and is to continue in the
Hereafter.
The SIGNS in the Heavens And
on Earth
By Harun Yahya
Assume that you set up a big city by bringing millions of Legos together. Let
there be in this city skyscrapers, twisting roads, railway stations, airports,
shopping malls, subways and also rivers, lakes, forests and a beach. Let there
also be living in it thousands of people wandering in its streets, sitting in
their homes and working in their offices. Take every detail into account. Even
the traffic lights, box offices, and the signboards at the bus stations.
If someone came up to you and said that all the Legos of this city, which you
had founded by planning it right down to the smallest detail, and each piece of
which you had picked up with great pains, had been brought together by
coincidence to produce this city, what would you think of the mental state of
that person?
Now, go back to the city you have built and consider that the whole city would
be levelled to the ground if you had forgotten to put into place even a single
Lego, or changed its place. Can you imagine what great balance and order you
have had to establish?
Life in the world where we live is also made possible by the accumulation of
such a great number of details incomprehensible to the human mind. The absence
of even one of these details might mean the end of life on the earth.
Everything, every detail from the atom, the smallest unit of matter, to the
galaxies harbouring billions of stars, from the moon, an inseparable adjunct of
the world, to the solar system, all work in a perfect harmony. This well-organised
system runs flawlessly, just like a watch. People are so confident that this
billions-of-years-old system will go on functioning without leaving out even the
smallest detail that they can freely make plans about something they think will
be realised in the next 10 years. No one is worried about whether the sun will
rise the next day. A great majority of people do not think about ‘whether the
world may ever chance to break free from the gravitation of the sun and start to
move towards the unknown in the pitch-dark space’; or ask ‘What keeps this from
happening?’
In the same manner, when people are about to sleep, they are very confident that
their hearts or respiratory systems will not relax as their brains do. However,
even a few seconds’ halt in any one of these two vital systems may well cause
results that will cost one's life.
When the ‘glasses of familiarity’ which surround the whole of life and cause
every event to be assessed as if ‘it is taking place in its natural course’ are
taken off, one is free to see that everything is made up of such closely
interdependent, meticulously planned systems that it is as if we were hanging on
to life by the skin of our teeth. You notice an excellent order prevailing in
every spot you turn your eyes on. Certainly, there is a great power that creates
such an order and harmony. The possessor of this great power is Allah, Who
created everything out of nothing. In a verse of the Qur'an, it is said:
He Who has created seven heavens in full harmony with one another: no
incongruity will you see in the creation of the Most Gracious. And turn your
vision (upon it) once more: can you see any flaw? Yea, turn your vision (upon
it) again and yet again: (and every time) your vision will fall back upon you,
dazzled and truly defeated. (Surat al-Mulk, 3-4)
When we look at the living beings in the heavens, on the earth and in all that
lies between them, we see that they all prove the existence of their Creator in
their own right. In this chapter, we are going to dwell on the natural phenomena
and living beings that every one sees, yet never thinks about, and how they have
come into being and continue their existence. If we were to write down all the
signs of Allah in the universe, they would fill many thousands of volumes of
encyclopaedias. Therefore, in this chapter, we will only deal briefly with some
subjects that deserve to be pondered upon at length.
However, even these brief mentions will help the conscientious ‘men of
understanding’ to notice the most important fact of their lives or at least will
help them remember it once again.
For Allah Exists.
To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth and He is known
through reason.
THE MIRACLES IN OUR BODY
‘A Half-Developed Eye Cannot See’
What comes to your mind first when you hear the word ‘eye’? Are you aware that
one of the most crucial things in life for you is your ability to see? Even if
you are, have you ever thought what other signs your eye bears?
The eye is one of the most manifest pieces of evidence that living creatures are
created. All sight organs, including animal eyes and the human eye, are
extremely striking examples of a perfect design. This exceptional organ is so
overwhelmingly complex that it surpasses even the most sophisticated devices in
the world.
In order for an eye to see, all of its parts have to co-exist and work in
harmony. For instance, if an eye happened to have lost its eyelid, but still had
all the other parts such as the cornea, conjunctiva, iris, pupil, eye lenses,
retina, choroid, eye muscles, and tear glands, it would still be greatly damaged
and soon lose its seeing function. In the same manner, even if all its
organelles were present, if the tear production were stopped, the eye would soon
dry out and become blind.
‘The chain of coincidences’ posited by evolutionists loses all its meaning
against the complex structure of the eye. It is not possible to explain the
existence of the eye other than as a matter of special creation. The eye has a
multi-sectioned complex system and, as discussed above, all of these individual
sections had to come into existence at the same time. It is impossible for a
half-developed eye to function at ‘half capacity’. In such a circumstance, the
act of seeing can by no means take place. An evolutionist scientist admits to
this truth:
The common trait of the eyes and the wings is that they can only function if
they are fully developed. In other words, a halfway-developed eye cannot see; a
bird with half-formed wings cannot fly.13
In this case, we again face that very important question: who created all of the
components of the eye all at once?
The owner of the eyes is obviously not the one who makes the decision about
their formation. For it is impossible for a being devoid of the knowledge of
what seeing is like, to desire to have a seeing organ and have it attached to
his body. So we have to accept the existence of a Possessor of superior Wisdom
Who has created living beings with senses such as seeing, hearing, and so on.
Another claim is that unconscious cells gained consciousness-requiring functions
such as seeing and hearing by their own desire and effort. It is very clear that
this is impossible. In the Qur'an, it is stated that seeing has been bestowed
upon living beings by Allah:
Say: He it is Who brought you into being and made for you the ears and the eyes
and the hearts: little is it that you give thanks. (Surat al-Mulk, 23)
The Army Inside Man
Every day, a war is fought in the innermost parts of your body unperceived by
you. On the one side are viruses and bacteria that aim to intrude into your body
and take it under control and on the other are the immunity cells that protect
the body against these enemies.
The enemies wait in an offensive state to make their way into the area they aim
at and they head towards the target area at the first opportunity. However, the
strong, organised and disciplined soldiers of the target area do not easily give
in to the enemies. First, the soldiers who swallow and neutralise the enemy
soldiers (phagocytes) arrive at the battleground. However, sometimes the fight
is tougher than these soldiers can handle. On such occasions, other soldiers
(macrophages) are summoned up. Their involvement causes alarm in the target area
and other soldiers (auxiliary T cells) are also called to battle.
These soldiers are very familiar with the local populace. They quickly
distinguish their own army from that of the enemy. They immediately activate the
soldiers assigned to weapon production (B cells). These soldiers have
extraordinary abilities. Although they never see the enemy, they can produce
weapons which will render the enemy ineffectual. In addition, they carry the
weapons they produce as far as they should be taken. During this journey, they
succeed in the difficult task of not causing any harm either to themselves or to
their allies. Later, the striker teams cut in (killer T cells). These discharge
the poisonous material they carry on themselves at the most vital spot of the
enemy. In case of victory, another group of soldiers arrives at the battleground
(oppressive T cells) and sends all the warriors back to their camp. The soldiers
who arrive at the battleground last (memory cells) record all relevant
information about the enemy, so that it can be used in the event of a similar
invasion in the future.
The excellent army discussed above is the immunity system in the human body.
Everything explained above is done by microscopic cells unobservable to the
naked eye. (For more information please see For Men of Understanding: The Signs
in the Heavens and the Earth by Harun Yahya)
How many people are aware that they have such an organised, disciplined and
perfect army inside their bodies? How many of them are aware that they are
surrounded on all sides by microbes that, if unimpeded, would cause them to
catch serious illnesses or even die? Indeed, there are many dangerous microbes
in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the surfaces we
touch. While one is unaware of all that is going on, the cells in one’s body
make strenuous efforts to save one from an illness that may even bring about
one’s death.
The ability of all immunity cells to distinguish enemy cells from body cells,
the ability of B cells to prepare a weapon to neutralise the enemy that they
have never seen, their ability to carry these weapons as far as they have to be
taken without adversely affecting any body cells, the signal-receiving cells'
fulfilling their duty completely without making any objections, each of them
knowing what to do, their returning to their places without any problem as soon
as they are finished with their work, and the abilities of the memory cells are
only some of the distinctive characteristics of this system.
For all these reasons, the story of the formation of the immunity system is
never taken up by any evolutionist writer.
It is extremely difficult for a person without an immunity system or with an
ill-functioning one to survive, since he would be exposed to all the microbes
and viruses in the outside world. Today, such people can exist only in special
enclosures with no direct contact with anyone or anything outside. Therefore, it
is impossible for a person without an immunity system to survive in a primitive
environment. This leads us to the fact that an extremely complex system such as
the immunity system could only have been created all at once and with all of its
elements.
A System Planned in its Every Detail
Breathing, eating, walking, etc, are very natural human functions. But most
people do not think how these basic actions take place. For example, when you
eat a fruit, you do not think how it will be made useful to your body. The only
thing on your mind is eating a healthy meal; at the same time, your body is
involved in extremely detailed processes unimaginable to you in order to make
this meal a health-giving thing.
The digestive system where these detailed processes take place starts to
function as soon as a piece of food is taken into the mouth. Being involved in
the system right at the outset, the saliva wets the food and helps it to be
ground by the teeth and slide down the oesophagus.
The oesophagus helps the food be transported to the stomach where a perfect
balance is at work. Here, the food is digested by the hydrochloric acid present
in the stomach. This acid is so strong that it has the capacity to dissolve not
only the food but also the stomach walls. Of course, such a flaw is not
permitted in this perfect system. A secretion called mucus which is secreted
during digestion covers all the walls of the stomach and provides a perfect
protection against the destructive effect of the hydrochloric acid. Thus the
stomach is prevented from destroying itself.
The rest of the digestive system is likewise planned. The useful food pieces
broken down by the digestive system are absorbed by the small intestine walls
and enter the blood stream. The inner surface of the small intestine is covered
with tiny tendrils called ‘villus’. On top of the cells over the villus are
microscopic extensions called the microvillus. These extensions function as
pumps to absorb the nutrition. This way the nutrition absorbed by these pumps is
delivered all around the body by the circulatory system.
The point that deserves attention here is that evolution can by no means explain
the system briefly summarised earlier. Evolution maintains that today's complex
organisms have evolved from primitive beings by the gradual accumulation of
small structural changes. However, as stated clearly, the system in the stomach
could in no way have been formed step by step. The absence of even one factor
would bring about the death of the organism.
When food is received into the stomach, the gastric juices acquire the ability
to break down food as a result of a series of chemical changes. Now, imagine a
living being in the so-called evolutionary process in whose body such a planned
chemical transformation is not possible. This living being, unable to acquire
this ability, would not be able to digest the food it ate and would starve to
death with an undigested mass of food in its stomach.
In addition, during the secretion of this dissolving acid, the stomach walls
simultaneously have to produce the secretion called mucus. Otherwise, the acid
in the stomach would destroy the stomach. Therefore, in order for life to
continue, the stomach must secrete both fluids (acid and mucus) at the same
time. This shows that not a step-by-step coincidental evolution but a conscious
creation with all its systems must, in effect, have been at work.
What all this shows is that the human body resembles a huge factory made up of
many small machines that work together in perfect harmony. Just as all factories
have a designer, an engineer and a planner, the human body has an Exalted
Creator.
ANIMALS AND PLANTS
Millions of plant and animal types present in the world stand out as evidence
that prove the existence and might of our Creator.
All of these living beings, a limited number of which will be described as
examples here, deserve to be examined individually. They all have different body
systems, diverse defence tactics, unique ways of feeding, and interesting
reproduction methods. Unfortunately, it is not possible to describe all living
beings with all their features in a single book. Encyclopaedias of many volumes
would not be enough for this task.
However, even the few examples we will discuss here will be sufficient to prove
that life on earth can in no way be explained by coincidences or accidental
happenings.
From Caterpillar to Butterfly
If you had 450-500 eggs and if you had to preserve them outside, what would you
do? The wisest course for you would be to take precautions to prevent them from
being scattered around, say, by the wind, or other environmental factors. Being
one of the animals that lay the most eggs at one time (450-500), the silkworms
use a very intelligent way to protect their eggs: they unite the eggs with a
viscous substance (thread) they secrete to prevent them from being scattered
around.
The caterpillars that pop out of their eggs firstly find a safe branch for
themselves and then get tied to this branch with the same thread. Later, to
promote their own development, they start to spin a cocoon for themselves with
the thread they secrete. It takes 3-4 days for a caterpillar that has opened its
eyes very recently to life to complete this process. During this period, the
caterpillar makes thousands of turns and produces a thread an average of
900-1,500 metres long.14 At the end of this process, it starts a new task
through which it undergoes a metamorphosis to become an elegant butterfly.
Neither the action taken by the mother silkworm to protect its eggs, nor the
behaviour of a tiny caterpillar devoid of any awareness, education or knowledge
can be explained by evolution. First of all, the ability of the mother to
produce the thread it uses to secure its eggs is miraculous. The newly-born
caterpillar's knowing the most suitable environment for itself, its spinning a
cocoon in accordance with it, its undergoing a metamorphosis, and its coming
through this metamorphosis without any problem are beyond human comprehension.
Hence, we can simply say that each caterpillar is born into the world with a
foreknowledge of what to do, which means that it was 'taught' all of these
things before it was born.
Let us explain this with an example. What would you think if you saw a new-born
baby standing up a few hours after his birth, getting together the things he
needs to make his bed (like quilt, pillow, mattress), and later putting all
these together neatly, making his bed and lying down on it? After you recover
from the shock of the event, you would probably think that the baby must have
been taught in an extraordinary way in his mother's womb to perform such a
process. The case of the caterpillars is no different from the baby in this
example.
This again leads us to the same conclusions: these living creatures come into
life, behave and live in the way determined by Allah Who has created them. The
Qur'anic verse stating that Allah has inspired the honeybee and commanded it to
make honey (Surat an-Nahl, 68-69) provides an example of the great secret of the
world of living beings. This secret is that all living beings have bowed to
Allah's will and follow the fate determined by Him. This is why the honeybee
makes honey and the silkworm produces silk.
The Symmetry in Wings
When we look at the butterfly wings in the pictures, we see a perfect symmetry
prevailing over them. These lace-like wings are so adorned with patterns, spots
and colours that each of them is like a work of art.
When you look at the wings of these butterflies, you notice that the patterns
and colours on both sides are fully identical, no matter how intricate they may
seem. Even the smallest dot is present on both wings, thereby introducing a
flawless order and symmetry.
In addition, none of the colours on these thin wings mixes with the other, each
being sharply set apart from the other. Actually, these colours are formed by
the amassing of tiny scales clustered one on top of another. Isn't it a wonder
how these small scales that are easily dispersed with your hand's slightest
touch can be arranged in both wings without any mistake in their disposal so as
to produce exactly the same pattern. Even the replacement of a single scale
would destroy the symmetry in the wings and impair their aesthetics. However,
you never see any muddle in the wings of any butterfly on the earth. They are as
neat and elegant as if made by an artist. And they are indeed made by an Exalted
Creator.
The Animal with the Longest Neck: The Giraffe
Giraffes have many amazing characteristics. One of these is that their neck
stands on 7 vertebrae, just like that of all other mammals, even though it is so
long. Another amazing fact about giraffes is that they do not have any problem
pumping blood up to their brain on top of their long neck. A little thinking
would make one notice how difficult it must be to have the blood pumped so high.
But giraffes do not have any problem about this, because their hearts are
equipped with features to pump blood as high as necessary. This enables them to
carry on with their lives effortlessly.
Yet they still face another problem while they drink water. Essentially,
giraffes should have died of high blood pressure every time they bent down to
drink water. However, the perfect system in their necks completely eliminates
this risk. When they bend down, the valves in their neck vessels are shut down
and they prevent excess blood from flowing to the brain.
There is no doubt that the giraffes did not acquire these traits by planning
them in accordance with their needs. It is even more implausible to say that all
these vital features were shaped over time through a gradual evolutionary
process. In order for a giraffe to stay alive, it is vital for it to have a
pumping system to transmit blood to the brain and a valve system to prevent high
blood pressure the minute it bends down. If any one of these characteristics did
not exist or did not function properly, then it would be impossible for the
giraffe to go on living.
The conclusion to be derived from all this is that the giraffe species was born
into the world with all the characteristics vital for its living. It is
impossible for a non-existent being to master its body and acquire essential
traits consciously. So, giraffes unquestionably prove that they are created by a
conscious creation, that is by Allah.
Sea Turtles
Sea turtles living in the oceans surge in crowds towards the beach when it is
time for them to reproduce. This is no ordinary beach though. The beach they
arrive at to reproduce has to be the one where they were born.15 Sometimes sea
turtles have to travel as far as 800 kilometres to arrive there. But a long and
tough journey does not change the situation. They arrive at the beach where they
were born to give birth to their offspring, no matter what.
It is quite unaccountable how a living being can find its way back to the very
same beach 20-25 years after its departure from there.16 It is all the more
extraordinary that it can find the direction of its birthplace in the depths of
the ocean where so little light penetrates, and then spot it from among numerous
similar beaches.
Finally, thousands of travellers with no compass meet on the same beach at the
same time. Initially a mystery, the reasons underlying this insistent meeting
came as a great surprise when finally revealed. Since turtles know that their
offspring cannot survive in sea conditions, they bury their eggs under the sand
on the beach. But why do all of them meet on the same beach, at the same time?
Would not the hatchlings survive if they did the same thing at different times
and on different beaches? Those who did research on this topic were faced with a
very interesting situation. Thousands of offspring under the sand have to
overcome a number of formidable obstacles after breaking their eggs with the
hard lump on their head. The hatchlings of an average of 31 grams cannot dig the
earth layer above them on their own and they all help each other. When thousands
of hatchlings on the beach start to dig the earth, they make it to the sand
surface in a few days. Yet before they appear on the surface, they wait for a
while for nightfall. For in the day time, there is the danger of falling a prey
to predators. In addition, it would be quite difficult for them to proceed by
crawling on sands scorched by the sunlight. When night falls, they go up to the
surface after completing the digging process. Although it is dark, they rush to
the sea and depart from the beach to return there as much as 20-25 years later.
It is impossible for these hatchlings to know that they have to dig their way up
after they pop out of their eggs and wait for a while at a certain distance from
the sea. It is by no means possible for them to know, when they are still buried
in the earth, whether it is day or night, that predators exist outside and that
they could fall a prey to them, that the sand is scorching because of the sun,
that this could harm them, and that they must rush to the sea. So, how does this
conscious conduct come about?
The only answer to this question is that these hatchlings have been somehow
'programmed' to behave in this way, which means that their Creator has inspired
in them the instinct that helps them protect their lives.
Bombardier Beetle
The bombardier beetle is an insect on which an enormous amount of research has
been done. The trait that renders this insect so popular is that it uses
chemical methods to protect itself from its enemies.
In moments of danger, the insect squirts hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone
stored in its body towards the enemy to protect itself. Prior to battle,
specialised structures called secretory lobes make a very concentrated mixture
of these two chemicals. The mixture is stored in a separate compartment called
the storage chamber. This compartment is connected to a second one called the
explosion chamber. The two compartments are kept separate from one another by a
sphincter muscle. The moment the insect senses danger, it squeezes the muscles
surrounding the storage chamber while simultaneously relaxing the sphincter
muscle, and the chemical in the storage chamber is transferred to the explosion
chamber. A large quantity of heat is released and a vaporisation occurs. The
released vapour and the oxygen gas exert pressure on the walls of the explosion
chamber and this chemical is squirted at the enemy through a channel leading
outward from the beetle's body.17
It is still a great mystery to researchers how an insect can harbour inside
itself a powerful system potent enough to trigger a chemical reaction that could
easily cause it harm while also isolating itself from the effects of that
system. No doubt, the existence and working of this system is too complicated to
be attributed to the insect itself. It is still a matter of discussion how the
bombardier beetle makes such a system work within its tiny body measuring about
2 cm in length, when human experts can perform it only in laboratories.
The only apparent truth here is that this insect is a concrete example
completely refuting the theory of evolution, because it is impossible for this
complex chemical system to have been shaped by a series of coincidental
variations and passed on to future generations. Even a minor deficiency or
'defect' in a single piece of the system would leave the animal defenceless, so
that it would soon be killed or it would cause it to blow itself up. Therefore,
the only explanation is that the chemical weapon in the insect's body had come
into being with all its parts all at once and without any defect.
Termite Nests
No one can help feeling surprised at the sight of a termite nest erected on the
ground by termites. These nests are architectural wonders, rising as high as 5
or 6 metres.
When you compare the size of a termite and its nest, you will see that the
termite has successfully completed an architectural project about 300 times
bigger than itself. But what is even more astonishing is that the termites are
blind.
A person who has never seen the huge nests built by blind termites would
probably think that they are made up of sand piles heaped upon each other.
However, a termite nest proves to be of a marvellous design incomprehensible to
the human mind: inside there are intersecting tunnels, corridors, ventilation
systems, special fungus production yards and safety exits.
If you assemble thousands of blind people and give them all kinds of technical
tools, you can never make them set up a nest similar to the one made by the
termite colony. So, just think:
- How could a termite measuring 1-2 cm. in length have learnt the architectural
and engineering information needed to make such a subtle design?
- How could thousands of blind termites manage to work in harmony to build this
construction which is an artistic wonder?
-If you divide a termite nest into two during the first stages of its
construction, and then reunite it, you will see that all passage-ways, canals
and roads fit each other. How can this miraculous event be explained?
The conclusion to be derived from this example is that Allah has created all
living beings uniquely and without any prior example. Even one termite nest is
enough for a person to comprehend Allah and believe that He is the One Who
created all.
The Woodpecker
As we all know, woodpeckers build their nests by boring holes in tree trunks
with their beaks. This may sound familiar to most people. But the point many
people fail to examine is why woodpeckers suffer no brain haemorrhage when they
beat a tattoo so vigorously with their heads. What the woodpecker does is in a
way similar to a human being driving a nail into the wall with his head. If a
man ventured to do something like that, he would probably undergo a brain shock
followed by a brain haemorrhage. However, a woodpecker can peck a hard tree
trunk 38-43 times in just two or three seconds and nothing happens to it.18
Nothing happens because the head structure of woodpeckers is ideally created for
such a task. The skull of the woodpecker has a remarkable suspension system that
absorbs the force of the blows. Its forehead and some skull muscles adjoined to
its beak and the jaw joint are so robust that they help lessen the effect of the
forceful strokes during pecking.19
Design and planning do not end here. Preferring primarily pine trees,
woodpeckers check the age of the trees before boring a hole in them and pick
those older than 100 years, because pine trees older than 100 years suffer an
illness that causes the hard and thick bark to soften. This was only recently
discovered by science and perhaps you may be reading of it here for the first
time in your life; woodpeckers have known it for centuries.
This is not the only reason why woodpeckers prefer pine trees. Woodpeckers dig
cavities around their nests, the function of which was not originally
understood. These cavities were later understood to protect them from a great
danger. Over time, the sticky resin that leaks from the pine trees fills up the
cavities and the outpost of the woodpecker's nest is thus filled with a pool
whereby woodpeckers can be protected from snakes, their greatest enemies.
Another interesting feature of woodpeckers is that their tongues are thin enough
to penetrate even ants' nests in the trees. Their tongues are also sticky, which
allows them to collect the ants that live there. The perfection in their
creation is further revealed by the fact that their tongues have a structure
which prevents them from being harmed by the acid in the bodies of the ants.20
Woodpeckers, each of whose characteristics is discussed in a different paragraph
above, prove with all their detailed features that they are 'created'. If
woodpeckers had evolved coincidentally as the theory of evolution claims, they
would have died before they acquired such extraordinarily consistent traits and
they would be extinct. However, as they were created by Allah with a special
'design' adapted to their life, they started their lives by bearing all the
vital characteristics.
Camouflage
One of the defence strategies of animals is camouflage. Some animals have the
special protection of a body structure and coloration which are totally adapted
to their habitat. The bodies of these living beings are so harmonious with their
environment that when you look at their pictures, you cannot tell if they are
plants or animals, or distinguish them from their surroundings.
As will be seen in the following pages, the incredible similarity of an insect
to a leaf helps it escape the notice of its enemies. It is obvious that this
tiny animal has not made its body look like a leaf. Maybe it is not even aware
that it is being protected because it looks like a leaf. However, the camouflage
is so deft that it readily impinges as a defence tactic planned specially and
'created'
False Eyes
There are some incredible and unimaginably interesting defence methods in the
animal world. One of these is false eyes. With such false eyes, various
butterfly, caterpillar and fish species convince their enemies that they are
'dangerous'.
The butterflies in the left pictures open their wings as soon as they sense a
danger and display a pair of eyes on each of their wings which appear quite
threatening to their enemies.
Let us take our time and think: can these extremely convincing eyes be the
result of a coincidence? How does the butterfly know that a pair of scary eyes
appear when it opens its wings and that this view would frighten its enemy? Has
the butterfly happened to see the pattern on its wings and decided that this
pattern was frightening and that it could use it in a moment of danger?
Such a convincing pattern can be the result only of a conscious design, not of
coincidences. Moreover, it is by no means possible to think that the butterfly
is aware of the patterns on its wings and discovered this as a defence tactic by
itself. It is obvious that Allah, Who created the butterfly, bestowed on its
body such a pattern and inspired in the animal the instinct to use it in moments
of danger.
Water Lilies
Little flowers on the earth are mostly considered commonplace by people,
notwithstanding their overall perfection. What prevents people from grasping the
creation miracles in these flowers is the familiarity brought about by seeing
them everywhere and every day. Therefore, flowers that grow in a totally
different place, under totally different conditions and in totally different
sizes will be assessed without the 'glasses of familiarity' and thus help us
grasp the existence of Allah.
Amazon water lilies that grow in the sticky mud covering the bottom of the
Amazon River are interesting enough to remove the 'glasses of familiarity' from
people, because they continue their lives not in the way people are accustomed
to and witness everyday, but with a very different struggle.
These plants start to grow in the mud at the bottom of the Amazon River, and
then reach out towards the river surface. Their goal is to reach the sunlight
which is vital to their existence. When they finally reach the water's surface,
they stop growing and develop thorny, round buds. The buds develop into gigantic
leaves with a reach of 2 metres in as short a time as a couple of hours.
'Knowing' that the more they cover the river surface with abundant leaves, the
more will they be able to make use of sunlight, these water lilies make ample
use of daylight to perform photosynthesis. They 'know' that otherwise they will
not be able to survive at the bottom of the river due to the scarcity of light.
It is certainly quite inspiring for a plant to employ such an 'intelligent'
tactic.
However, sunlight alone does not suffice for the Amazon water lilies. They also
need oxygen equally, yet it is obvious that this oxygen does not exist in the
muddy ground in which their roots are located. This is why water lilies stretch
out stems developing from their roots upwards towards the water surface where
their leaves float. Sometimes these stems grow as tall as 11 metres; they are
tied to the leaves and function as oxygen-carriers between the leaves and the
root.21
How can a bud in its initial stages in life in the depths of a river know that
it needs oxygen and sunlight to survive, that it would not be able to live in
their absence, and that everything it needs is present on the water surface? A
being recently introduced to life is aware neither of the fact that this water
has an ending point, nor of the existence of the sun or oxygen.
Therefore, if the whole event is assessed from the standpoint of evolutionists,
these plants should long before have been defeated by environmental conditions
and become extinct. Nevertheless, water lilies are still present today in all
their perfection.
The unbelievable life struggle of water lilies continues well after they reach
light and oxygen on the water surface, where they curl the brims of their huge
leaves upward to prevent them from sinking.
They can continue their lives with all these precautions, yet they also know
that these are not enough for their reproduction. They need a living being that
will carry their pollen to another water lily, and this living being is a beetle
(coleopterans) which has been created with a special weakness for white colour.
They prefer these white water lilies out of all the attractive flowers of the
Amazon River. When Amazon water lilies are visited by creatures which will
continue their species, they close all their leaves, imprison them, and offer
them ample pollen. They let them free after keeping them for one night, and then
change their colour so that they do not bring the same pollen back to them. The
once pure white, glorious water lilies will now go on adorning the Amazon river
in pink.
Could such flawless and finely calculated plans be the work of a bud unaware of
everything? Of course not. They are the work of the wisdom of Allah, Who created
all things. All the details summarised here show that plants, like all other
living beings in the universe, came into existence already furnished with the
most convenient systems, and this was thanks to their Creator.
CONCLUSION
Can the wind form an airplane by coincidence?
The famous physicist Sir Fred Hoyle makes a very striking observation about the
origin of life. In his book The Intelligent Universe he writes:
The chance that higher life forms might have emerged in this way (by
coincidence) is comparable with the chance that a tornado sweeping through a
junk-yard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein.22
This comparison of Hoyle's is quite inspiring. The examples that we have
discussed above also reveal that both the existence of life and the perfection
of its present systems force us to look for the great power making these come
into being. Just as a hurricane cannot produce an airplane as a result of
coincidences, neither is it possible for the universe to have come into being as
a result of unanticipated happenings and moreover to harbour extremely complex
structures therein. In truth, the universe is furnished with myriad systems of
an infinitely greater complexity than those of an airplane
Everything we have said in this chapter confronts us with the evidence of the
flawless planning not only in our immediate surroundings but also in the depths
of space. One who assesses these signs which are so evident as to be undeniable
by both reason and conscience can come to only one conclusion: there is no room
for coincidence in the universe; the universe was CREATED with all the minutiae
contained in it.
And Allah, the Creator of this flawless system, is He Who has infinite might and
knowledge.
Harun Yahya is a well known writer from Istanbul who has written numerous books
and articles on Islam, which includes the marvels of Allah's creation, the
evolution theory, and politics. His articles have been published, not only in
Turkey, but in other countries as well. His study aims to convey the message of
the Qur'an, and to encourage people to think on issues such as the existence and
the unity of God, and the Hereafter.
