An Islamic Christian

I think you'll agree that the last two guest blogs have been extremely insightful and interesting reads. Hopefully it's the first of many from the people who have already contributed to this blog. I think I can say that this blog has officially taken off, receiving quite a few hits on a daily basis and hopefully that shall continue. I haven't quite finished the blog that I've been preparing over the past few days, so I hope to publish that next week, and besides, more people read the blog at the beginning of the week, so it's probably better that I delay it until then.

In the meantime, what do I discuss? After reading the last two highly topical blogs I feel as if I have a lot to live up to. Reflecting on the last two blogs, I wanted to mention a few points. It will always astound me that so-called Muslims can accuse other Muslims of being non-Muslims. I know I can be judgmental from time to time, but that is surely taking it one step (or even more) too far.

For example, the condemnation of Shias in Saudi Arabia is shocking, Wahabi's run the show and the power they wield is extremely worrying. The grandsons of the Prophet are buried in Medina and not a soul is allowed to get anywhere near the graves, these were great people in the history of Islam and yet their graves are mere blocks of stone surrounded by security gates. From the death of the Prophet the followers of his true successor Imam Ali (a.s.) have been condemned, punished, silenced and killed and it continues to this very day. People often label Shias as being over-emotional, always upset and crying, but with such a cruel history and continuing atrocities occurring to Shias across the globe, how can we be anything but?

I don't want to get to bogged down by this because I can feel myself getting irritated, but it all boils down to one point: how can the holy Prophet spread the religion of Islam, across a region that was stuck in deep polytheistic rituals, in a mere 19 years and then just leave it to his followers to continue the process? It just doesn't make any sense. A man who taught people an entire new way of life, passed away when the religion was still in its infancy and did not appoint a successor to continue the message? Any logical person, Muslim or non-Muslim, cannot possibly believe that to be the case.

It would be a gross failure of his Prophethood if he didn't ensure the safeguard of his religion after his death. He appointed Imam Ali (a.s.) as his successor, a fact recognised by both Shia and Sunnis and yet it is not followed either through stubbornness or ignorance and instead people act out against Shias simply for following Imam Ali (a.s.) and the 12 Imams. There is much to say on the subject and countless books have been written about it, but I just wanted to state the one point that defines the whole issue.

Moving on, an with yesterday's blog in mind, there are many similarities between Christianity and Islam. Christianity in its original form is identical to Islam. Isa (Jesus) was a great Prophet of God, who attempted to spread the religion of Christianity. After his demise, the Bible and the ideals of the religion became altered by numerous people to make it more suited to them. In its original form Christianity held the same values as Islam. Had there been no alterations, no adjustments, there would be no need for Islam, Christianity was Islam.

After the changes made by man to the Christian faith, Allah sent down his last Prophet, Muhammad, to spread Islam across the world. This time he ensured that the Quran would not be changed by man and hence Islam has remained the same since its revelation. That maybe hard to believe in light of all the news about fundamentalism and terrorism across the globe allegedly linked to Islam, but Islam does not allow many of the atrocities that take place today and the people who try to claim that it is in the name of God will be punished accordingly. George Bernard Shaw famously once stated that "Islam is the best religion and Muslims are the worst followers" and I think that applies quite fittingly to such terrible acts.

Islam upholds many of the Christian beliefs. It states that Isa was a great Prophet of Allah, a miracle as he was the son of Virgin Mary. The Quran states that Mary was blessed with Isa as miracle of God for the people of Israel: "I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son. She (Mary) said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" Thy Lord said, 'that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us: It is a matter (so) decreed." (Surah 19, Verses 19-21). When people questioned the birth, Isa himself spoke as a baby in his mother's arms: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet" (Surah 19, Verse 30). Islam also states, similar to Christianity, that Prophet Isa was blessed with miracles to help his followers: "I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah's leave" (Surah 3, Verse 49).

Where Islam draws the line is in the status of Prophet Isa, he was a great Prophet, but NOT the son of God. "It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is." (Surah 19, Verse 35). Following on from this, he was not crucified at the cross either. "And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah. Behold! Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection..." (Surah 3, Verse 54-55). Thus we believe that someone was miraculously made to look like Isa and crucified in his place and Isa was taken up to the heavens. A miraculous life from start to finish.

There are many more similarities between the two faiths, much more than what is portrayed in the media today. By focusing on the similarities, perhaps a better understanding can be achieved, but that would mean less condemnation of Muslims and no-one wants that now do they?! As Dissident Voice stated in yesterday's blog, Muslims have lived in the West for many years, way before all the current tensions became so prominent and there was no problem then, so why such a problem now?

We haven't helped ourselves with such a laid back and apathetic attitude towards all the criticism being aimed at Muslims across UK and indirectly we have contributed to our own downfall. That can all change. Although we may not unite in faith (due to the different schools of thought), but we can unite in action against the condemnation. It doesn't call for drastic action, but simply methods such as collectively criticising certain reports that are published, criticising public figures when they attack Muslim principles, voting against certain policies and politicians and so on and so forth.

If somehow we can collectively highlight the major deficiencies in certain reports and attitudes against Muslims, perhaps things can change and people will realise that we're not all fundamental, face covering bombers! Yet again, maybe I'm being to idealistic, but I may as well type about it as I have done in the past. Maybe with more readers, others can have similar feelings and opinions and we can act together, who knows. I am being vague I know, but sometimes the tasks just seem too huge to face. We have to change and then hope that collectively, it can make a difference.

Take care all,
Thoughts just flow, when do they have to make sense?