I was watching a BBC documentary called A History of Christianity which stated these things. Is it true?
Did Muslims borrow some things from Christianity?
- Thread starter MaranathaSoonQuick
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Just to clarify some things of what I mean, it states that Christianity had a rival beginning their push out from the Arabian peninsula in 632 AD, some of the things mentioned are; Christianity played a part in shaping Muslim worship, it even affected it's doctrine. The Umayyad Mosque stands on the foundation of a Christian church and still contains a shrine that is said to be the tomb of John the Baptist, whom is honored as a profit in Islam. Also the possible likely-hood of the act of prostration during the Muslim prayer was originally inspired by eastern Christian tradition. They also believe that Jesus Christ is as a spirit of God and is coming back to some specific place (white marionette?). (I always thought Jesus was only a minor prophet to them? Perhaps only some). Scholar says prophet Muhammad said there at that white marionette by God Jesus Christ is coming back to you here at this white marionette in Damascus (also known as Jesus' marionette).
Quick answer is "Yes". Satan is the great counterfeiter. The more you learn about the Muslim Theology and especially their eschatology you will be able to see the hand of Satan forming His own eschatology in relation to the anti-christ, Mahdi, 12th Imam and the saviors return. Throughout biblical history, Satan has lied to and deceived many including those of the Muslim faith.
There is a book called Living by the point of my spear by zaki ameen . it explains the context in the muslim quran thoroughly and what the false prophet muhammad thoughts are upon the people of the book,women and gain /rise of power.
Jesus Christ is Lord
Jesus Christ is Lord
Last edited:
The Koran is >75% paraphrased Biblical Book of Revelation material all by itself!
The rest of the Koran was likewise paraphrased from the Holy Bible, taken out of context, and set to rhyme.
Little wonder that the material rings a bell with most folks.
As the source, The Holy Bible is required to correct and clarify the Koran (and Muslims) on ALL matters...
D
Dean
Guest
Boiling it down Allah is Yahweh, correct me if I'm wrong.. And all religions come from same thing, christanity as not took or give any concept of anything to the Muslim religion, bbc should stand for British brainwashing company, if bbc news said they found a horse with 6 legs and 2 tails the public would belive it, public belive everything the news says.
Islam goes back to Kaaba the black cube or square, well the Kaaba goes back to the God El he was the God of planet Saturn he was the Lord of the ring, he's symbol was the 6 pointed star what today we call the Star of David but it's the star of saturn any good reference books will tell you, maybe that's why they worship on saturn-day "Saturday".
And if you worshiped El you was an called an elder, and to become an el-der you need to be el-ected then you el-evate and become one of the el-ete, here's where are ideas come from in this link..
bible is the greatest STORY ever told because 15 other major religions before christiany told the exact same story.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bBnSrxzHy7E
Islam goes back to Kaaba the black cube or square, well the Kaaba goes back to the God El he was the God of planet Saturn he was the Lord of the ring, he's symbol was the 6 pointed star what today we call the Star of David but it's the star of saturn any good reference books will tell you, maybe that's why they worship on saturn-day "Saturday".
And if you worshiped El you was an called an elder, and to become an el-der you need to be el-ected then you el-evate and become one of the el-ete, here's where are ideas come from in this link..
bible is the greatest STORY ever told because 15 other major religions before christiany told the exact same story.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bBnSrxzHy7E
D
Dean
Guest
Bowman have you sat down and had a good read of the Koran as your talking like you have.
And your last sentence is so typical christian like, just because someone don't worship a Jewish man called jesus you think they need correcting on all matters, how sad are you for saying that, giving christians a bad name with your comments.
if you was to picture jesus mother Mary and what see wears what religion would you say she was from??
jesus prayed kneeling down with his head to the floor, isn't that what Muslims do, Jesus done fasting isn't that what Muslims do?
loads of stuff Jesus done that the Muslims do but let's not get mad about it, there just story's not punches of facts.
I've been studying Koranic Arabic for the better part of 20 years.
I have yet to encounter anyone who knows more about the true Arabic message than I do.
Yourself...?
In what way was Jesus a Jew?
Theologically?
I'm not Catholic.
When Jesus prayed, He NEVER asked for His own forgiveness....because He is perfect...and only God is perfect.
Now...when Muslims pray...what are they asking for?
That's right...see the difference here...?
Even the authors of the Koran knew that Jesus is God.
When are you...?
Wrong.
The 'allah' of the Koran is a pagan Arab god dressed-up to look like the true Biblical God.
I saw some people call muslim satan. i just want to say. if Satan tell people to give charity and to believe in the Creator only, and to reach out to people. whereas God says the opposite. If this is true, I rather believe in Satan.
In regard to brother's question did islam copy christianity. You do need to clarify what you mean by Christianity. If you mean the religion followed by jesus(pbuh) Then it is actually called -submit to God- not christianitt yes, because islam is a continuation of the message sent to jesus(pbuh) by the Almighty, and this is prophesised in the gospel of john16:12-14. But if you mean the religion established by Paul the Jew, I think Catholic is a more accurate word and Islam do not asspciate with that. Or if you meant the religion where people all making up their own story and calling each other and everyone else Satan, that is called Protestian, and unfortunately Islam do not associate with them either.
In regard to brother's question did islam copy christianity. You do need to clarify what you mean by Christianity. If you mean the religion followed by jesus(pbuh) Then it is actually called -submit to God- not christianitt yes, because islam is a continuation of the message sent to jesus(pbuh) by the Almighty, and this is prophesised in the gospel of john16:12-14. But if you mean the religion established by Paul the Jew, I think Catholic is a more accurate word and Islam do not asspciate with that. Or if you meant the religion where people all making up their own story and calling each other and everyone else Satan, that is called Protestian, and unfortunately Islam do not associate with them either.
ms]Wrong.
The 'allah' of the Koran is a pagan Arab god dressed-up to look like the true Biblical God.
[/FONT][/QUOTE]
Well, if you want to make a statement, pls give proof, please dont make a fool out of yourself. I do not like that. But what u said is kind of true, because biblical God is a barber according to Isaiah 7:20 where it saids -on that day, God will shave them with a hired razor. And God will shave their hair and legs.- I am sure Allah(SWT) is not a barber, and do not call me rude because u started it.
Just for your knowledge. Arabic christians also say Allah, if u tell me they believe in Satan. I am not gonna comment.
The 'allah' of the Koran is a pagan Arab god dressed-up to look like the true Biblical God.
[/FONT][/QUOTE]
Well, if you want to make a statement, pls give proof, please dont make a fool out of yourself. I do not like that. But what u said is kind of true, because biblical God is a barber according to Isaiah 7:20 where it saids -on that day, God will shave them with a hired razor. And God will shave their hair and legs.- I am sure Allah(SWT) is not a barber, and do not call me rude because u started it.
Just for your knowledge. Arabic christians also say Allah, if u tell me they believe in Satan. I am not gonna comment.
الله= “allah”
“allah” definition:
Written with the disjunctive alif, meaning God, i.e. the only true god, according to the most correct of the opinions respecting it.It is a proper name to the Being who exists necessarily, by Himself, comprising all of the attributes of perfection; a proper name denoting the true god (TA), comprising all the excellent divine names; a unity comprising all of the essences of existing things; the “al” being inseparable from it; not derived.It comes from the root “ilaha”, which means he served, worshipped, or adored; to adore, worship, deify any one,call any one god. He was, or became, confounded, or perplexed, and unable to see his right course.An object of worship or adoration; i.e. a god, a deity; anything that is taken as an object of worship or adoration, according to him that takes it as such.It signifies the goddess; and particularly the serpent; because it was a special object of worship of some of the ancient Arabs; or the great serpent; and the new moon.
References:
An Arabic-English Lexicon, E.W. Lane, volume one, pp. 82 - 83
The Dictionary of the Holy Qur’an, 1[SUP]st[/SUP] edition, Abdul Mannan Omar, pp. 28 - 29
Key points:
- Observe the revealing definition for “allah”, that is given by Lane...“i.e. the only true god”
- Lane is referencing a very specific example in his definition by his illustrated example (i.e.)
- It is abundantly clear that he is referencing a “god” (lower case) to represent the “allah” of the Koran
- To re-enforce the fact that the “allah” of the Koran is no more than a “god”, and to erase any notion of error, Lane repeats his very same remarks a few lines farther down in his lexical definition for “allah”, by referencing a separate entry – this time from the legendary “Ta’j el-‘Aroos” (TA)
- (TA “a proper name denoting the true god, comprising all the excellent divine names; a unity comprising all the essence of existing things”
- Further, “allah” is derived from the root “ilaha”, which means “he was, or became, confounded, or perplexed, and unable to see his right course”
- This would hardly seem a logical definition for true deity
- “ilaha” also means “an object of worship or adoration; i.e. a god, a deity; anything that is taken as an object of worship or adoration, according to him who takes it as such”…which signifies idolatry as mentioned in Revelation
- “ilaha” also signifies the goddess; and particularly the serpent; because it was a special object of worship of some of the ancient Arabs; or the great serpent; and the new moon
Clearly…
The god of the Koran is no more than a pagan Arab god dressed-up to look like the Biblical God.
Can we say Satan...?
Any Jew or Christian that uses the term Allah when referring to the God of the Holy Bible, uses the term as a translation of the original Hebrew and Greek, only.
Does the 'allah' that you worship have an only begotten Son named Jesus Christ, as does the Christian that uses the very same term?
Didn’t think so…
actually, prophet Mohammed is the last Prophet of Islam (Islam, which means, ''submission to God''), but not necessarily the most important one. Muslims believe that Jesus, their Messiah, and the Mahdi, will both return to Earth to usher in an era of peace.
The only place I find this definition on the internet is in ''Bowman's' posts. It is not in the Arabic Lexicon, it is fabricated and added to and perverted by you, because you are a liar who keeps spouting this nonsense all over the internet. One search copy and pasted from your posts proves this.
Allah in Arabic
Allah is Satan and Mohammad was jealous of Christianity
Interfaithforums.com - View Single Post - God/Allah
https://www.religiousforums.com/threads/allah-is-same-as-elohim.47395/page-6
53...
Thanks - Page 4 - Theology Online | Christian Forums & More
https://rdtwot.wordpress.com/2007/08/
As for Lane's Lexicon, the apparent source you claim writes:
Written with the disjunctive alif, meaning God, i.e. the only true god, according to the most correct of the opinions respecting it.It is a proper name to the Being who exists necessarily, by Himself, comprising all of the attributes of perfection; a proper name denoting the true god (TA), comprising all the excellent divine names; a unity comprising all of the essences of existing things; the “al” being inseparable from it; not derived.It comes from the root “ilaha”, which means he served, worshipped, or adored; to adore, worship, deify any one,call any one god. He was, or became, confounded, or perplexed, and unable to see his right course.An object of worship or adoration; i.e. a god, a deity; anything that is taken as an object of worship or adoration, according to him that takes it as such.It signifies the goddess; and particularly the serpent; because it was a special object of worship of some of the ancient Arabs; or the great serpent; and the new moon.
It is absolutely CLEAR that you have adulterated the part I have highlighted in blue, which begins ''It comes from the word ''Ilaha'', which means ''served'', worshipped or adored, to adore .. And you go on to say that it is about a moon good, a goddess and a serpent. What nonsense. Here are screenshots FROM Lane's Lexicon which prove you are falsifying this book and passing your drivel off as genuine.
The correct definition, from where you have so dishonestly and manipulatively altered it reads:
''not derived; or it is originally ilahun, or ílahun, (sb, Aheyth, S Msb K) of the measure of fi-alun,in the sense of the measure of mafaluun meaning ma'luhun, (S K), with [the article] prefixed to it. (sb Aheyth M S Msb) so that it becomes al-ilahu, etc etc etc.
Attachments
Last edited:
Kudos for promoting my exegesis....of which, is completely and freely verifiable via Lane's Lexicon.
Now would be a good time for you to learn to read a Lexical definition.
The god 'allah' is derived from the exact same root word as a whole pantheon of pagan Arab gods.
Most certainly, 'allah' is a false god.
Most certainly, 'allah' is Satan.
A snapshot of Lanes definition, showing that the god 'allah' is derived from the very same root word...
↓ مَأْلْوةٌ [An object of worship or adoration; i. e. a god, a deity]; (S, Msb, K) anything that is taken as an object of worship or adoration, accord. to him who takes it as such: (K with the article ال, properly, i. q. اللّٰهُ; [sec this word below;] but applied by the believers in a plurality of gods to what is worshipped by them to the exclusion of اللّٰه: (Msb pl. آلِهَةٌ: (Msb, TA which signifies idols: (JK, S, TA in the K, this meaning is erroneously assigned to إِِلَاهَةٌ: (TA [not so in the CK; but there, الالِهَةُ is put in a place where we should read الإِِلَاهَةُ, or إِِلَاهَةُ without the article:] ↓ الإِِلَاهَةُ [is the fem. of الإِِلَاهُ, and] signifies [the goddess: and particularly] the serpent: [(a meaning erroneously assigned in the CK to الآلِهَةُ; as also other meanings here following because it was a special object of the worship of some of the ancient Arabs:] (K or the great serpent: (Th and the [new moon; or the moon when it is termed]
↓ مَأْلْوةٌ [An object of worship or adoration; i. e. a god, a deity]; (S, Msb, K) anything that is taken as an object of worship or adoration, accord. to him who takes it as such: (K with the article ال, properly, i. q. اللّٰهُ; [sec this word below;] but applied by the believers in a plurality of gods to what is worshipped by them to the exclusion of اللّٰه: (Msb pl. آلِهَةٌ: (Msb, TA which signifies idols: (JK, S, TA in the K, this meaning is erroneously assigned to إِِلَاهَةٌ: (TA [not so in the CK; but there, الالِهَةُ is put in a place where we should read الإِِلَاهَةُ, or إِِلَاهَةُ without the article:] ↓ الإِِلَاهَةُ [is the fem. of الإِِلَاهُ, and] signifies [the goddess: and particularly] the serpent: [(a meaning erroneously assigned in the CK to الآلِهَةُ; as also other meanings here following because it was a special object of the worship of some of the ancient Arabs:] (K or the great serpent: (Th and the [new moon; or the moon when it is termed]
Last edited:
Mohammed is only the last prophet of Shi'ite Islam. Sunni Islam believes that there will be a great prophet in the line of Hussein who will usher in the coming of Mahdi. Wahabi Islam believes that the great prophet will actually be the Mahdi.
By the way, Sufi Islam believes that Jesus will actually be the Mahdi (reason why Sufiism is often despised by the other sects) though those who have studied the Sufis will also know that they taught the three-fold path, The Law, The King, and The Way (in essence one can be saved by Judaism (the Law), Christianity (the King), and Islam (the Way)).
Last edited:
P
prodigal
Guest
Allah - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
a Malaysian christian user confirms in his christian bible the word allah is used for the word God, which is now being challenged by Malaysian authorities. Remeber no ones saying its the same 'god' just the use of the word,
Malaysian court tells Catholic newspaper The Herald they can't say 'Allah' | Daily Mail Online
a Malaysian christian user confirms in his christian bible the word allah is used for the word God, which is now being challenged by Malaysian authorities. Remeber no ones saying its the same 'god' just the use of the word,
Malaysian court tells Catholic newspaper The Herald they can't say 'Allah' | Daily Mail Online
Last edited:
P
prodigal
Guest
you may or may not find this interesting,,
[h=1]St. John of Damascus’s Critique of Islam[/h]
Webmaster note: The following passage is from Saint John’s monumental work, the Fount of Knowledge, part two entitled Heresies in Epitome: How They Began and Whence They Drew Their Origin. It is usually just cited as Heresies. The translator’s introduction points out that Fount of Knowledge is one of the most “important single works produced in the Greek patristic period,…offering as it does an extensive and lucid synthesis of the Greek theological science of the whole period. It is the first great Summa of theology to appear in either the East or the West.” Saint John (+ 749) is considered one of the great Fathers of the Church, and his writings hold a place of high honor in the Church. His critique of Islam, or “the heresy of the Ishmaelites,” is especially relevant for our times.
There is also the superstition of the Ishmaelites which to this day prevails and keeps people in error, being a forerunner of the Antichrist. They are descended from Ishmael, [who] was born to Abraham of Agar, and for this reason they are called both Agarenes and Ishmaelites. They are also called Saracens, which is derived from Sarras kenoi, or destitute of Sara, because of what Agar said to the angel: ‘Sara hath sent me away destitute.’ [99] These used to be idolaters and worshiped the morning star and Aphrodite, whom in their own language they called Khabár, which means great. [100] And so down to the time of Heraclius they were very great idolaters. From that time to the present a false prophet named Mohammed has appeared in their midst. This man, after having chanced upon the Old and New Testaments and likewise, it seems, having conversed with an Arian monk, [101] devised his own heresy. Then, having insinuated himself into the good graces of the people by a show of seeming piety, he gave out that a certain book had been sent down to him from heaven. He had set down some ridiculous compositions in this book of his and he gave it to them as an object of veneration.
He says that there is one God, creator of all things, who has neither been begotten nor has begotten. [102] He says that the Christ is the Word of God and His Spirit, but a creature and a servant, and that He was begotten, without seed, of Mary the sister of Moses and Aaron. [103] For, he says, the Word and God and the Spirit entered into Mary and she brought forth Jesus, who was a prophet and servant of God. And he says that the Jews wanted to crucify Him in violation of the law, and that they seized His shadow and crucified this. But the Christ Himself was not crucified, he says, nor did He die, for God out of His love for Him took Him to Himself into heaven. [104] And he says this, that when the Christ had ascended into heaven God asked Him: ‘O Jesus, didst thou say: “I am the Son of God and God”?’ And Jesus, he says, answered: ‘Be merciful to me, Lord. Thou knowest that I did not say this and that I did not scorn to be thy servant. But sinful men have written that I made this statement, and they have lied about me and have fallen into error.’ And God answered and said to Him: ‘I know that thou didst not say this word.” [105] There are many other extraordinary and quite ridiculous things in this book which he boasts was sent down to him from God. But when we ask: ‘And who is there to testify that God gave him the book? And which of the prophets foretold that such a prophet would rise up?’—they are at a loss. And we remark that Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai, with God appearing in the sight of all the people in cloud, and fire, and darkness, and storm. And we say that all the Prophets from Moses on down foretold the coming of Christ and how Christ God (and incarnate Son of God) was to come and to be crucified and die and rise again, and how He was to be the judge of the living and dead. Then, when we say: ‘How is it that this prophet of yours did not come in the same way, with others bearing witness to him? And how is it that God did not in your presence present this man with the book to which you refer, even as He gave the Law to Moses, with the people looking on and the mountain smoking, so that you, too, might have certainty?’—they answer that God does as He pleases. ‘This,’ we say, ‘We know, but we are asking how the book came down to your prophet.’ Then they reply that the book came down to him while he was asleep. Then we jokingly say to them that, as long as he received the book in his sleep and did not actually sense the operation, then the popular adage applies to him (which runs: You’re spinning me dreams.) [106]
When we ask again: ‘How is it that when he enjoined us in this book of yours not to do anything or receive anything without witnesses, you did not ask him: “First do you show us by witnesses that you are a prophet and that you have come from God, and show us just what Scriptures there are that testify about you”’—they are ashamed and remain silent. [Then we continue:] ‘Although you may not marry a wife without witnesses, or buy, or acquire property; although you neither receive an ass nor possess a beast of burden unwitnessed; and although you do possess both wives and property and asses and so on through witnesses, yet it is only your faith and your scriptures that you hold unsubstantiated by witnesses. For he who handed this down to you has no warranty from any source, nor is there anyone known who testified about him before he came. On the contrary, he received it while he was asleep.’
Moreover, they call us Hetaeriasts, or Associators, because, they say, we introduce an associate with God by declaring Christ to the Son of God and God. We say to them in rejoinder: ‘The Prophets and the Scriptures have delivered this to us, and you, as you persistently maintain, accept the Prophets. So, if we wrongly declare Christ to be the Son of God, it is they who taught this and handed it on to us.’ But some of them say that it is by misinterpretation that we have represented the Prophets as saying such things, while others say that the Hebrews hated us and deceived us by writing in the name of the Prophets so that we might be lost. And again we say to them: ‘As long as you say that Christ is the Word of God and Spirit, why do you accuse us of being Hetaeriasts? For the word, and the spirit, is inseparable from that in which it naturally has existence. Therefore, if the Word of God is in God, then it is obvious that He is God. If, however, He is outside of God, then, according to you, God is without word and without spirit. Consequently, by avoiding the introduction of an associate with God you have mutilated Him. It would be far better for you to say that He has an associate than to mutilate Him, as if you were dealing with a stone or a piece of wood or some other inanimate object. Thus, you speak untruly when you call us Hetaeriasts; we retort by calling you Mutilators of God.’
They furthermore accuse us of being idolaters, because we venerate the cross, which they abominate. And we answer them: ‘How is it, then, that you rub yourselves against a stone in your Ka’ba [107] and kiss and embrace it?’ Then some of them say that Abraham had relations with Agar upon it, but others say that he tied the camel to it, when he was going to sacrifice Isaac. And we answer them: ‘Since Scripture says that the mountain was wooded and had trees from which Abraham cut wood for the holocaust and laid it upon Isaac, [108] and then he left the asses behind with the two young men, why talk nonsense? For in that place neither is it thick with trees nor is there passage for asses.’ And they are embarrassed, but they still assert that the stone is Abraham’s. Then we say: ‘Let it be Abraham’s, as you so foolishly say. Then, just because Abraham had relations with a woman on it or tied a camel to it, you are not ashamed to kiss it, yet you blame us for venerating the cross of Christ by which the power of the demons and the deceit of the Devil was destroyed.’ This stone that they talk about is a head of that Aphrodite whom they used to worship and whom they called Khabár. Even to the present day, traces of the carving are visible on it to careful observers.
As has been related, this Mohammed wrote many ridiculous books, to each one of which he set a title. For example, there is the book On Woman, [109] in which he plainly makes legal provision for taking four wives and, if it be possible, a thousand concubines—as many as one can maintain, besides the four wives. He also made it legal to put away whichever wife one might wish, and, should one so wish, to take to oneself another in the same way. Mohammed had a friend named Zeid. This man had a beautiful wife with whom Mohammed fell in love. Once, when they were sitting together, Mohammed said: ‘Oh, by the way, God has commanded me to take your wife.’ The other answered: ‘You are an apostle. Do as God has told you and take my wife.’ Rather—to tell the story over from the beginning—he said to him: ‘God has given me the command that you put away your wife.’ And he put her away. Then several days later: ‘Now,’ he said, ‘God has commanded me to take her.’ Then, after he had taken her and committed adultery with her, he made this law: ‘Let him who will put away his wife. And if, after having put her away, he should return to her, let another marry her. For it is not lawful to take her unless she have been married by another. Furthermore, if a brother puts away his wife, let his brother marry her, should he so wish.’ [110] In the same book he gives such precepts as this: ‘Work the land which God hath given thee and beautify it. And do this, and do it in such a manner” [111]—not to repeat all the obscene things that he did.
Then there is the book of The Camel of God. [112] About this camel he says that there was a camel from God and that she drank the whole river and could not pass through two mountains, because there was not room enough. There were people in that place, he says, and they used to drink the water on one day, while the camel would drink it on the next. Moreover, by drinking the water she furnished them with nourishment, because she supplied them with milk instead of water. Then, because these men were evil, they rose up, he says, and killed the camel. However, she had an offspring, a little camel, which, he says, when the mother had been done away with, called upon God and God took it to Himself. Then we say to them: ‘Where did that camel come from?’ And they say that it was from God. Then we say: ‘Was there another camel coupled with this one?’ And they say: ‘No.’ ‘Then how,’ we say, ‘was it begotten? For we see that your camel is without father and without mother and without genealogy, and that the one that begot it suffered evil. Neither is it evident who bred her. And also, this little camel was taken up. So why did not your prophet, with whom, according to what you say, God spoke, find out about the camel—where it grazed, and who got milk by milking it? Or did she possibly, like her mother, meet with evil people and get destroyed? Or did she enter into paradise before you, so that you might have the river of milk that you so foolishly talk about? For you say that you have three rivers flowing in paradise—one of water, one of wine, and one of milk. If your forerunner the camel is outside of paradise, it is obvious that she has dried up from hunger and thirst, or that others have the benefit of her milk—and so your prophet is boasting idly of having conversed with God, because God did not reveal to him the mystery of the camel. But if she is in paradise, she is drinking water still, and you for lack of water will dry up in the midst of the paradise of delight. And if, there being no water, because the camel will have drunk it all up, you thirst for wine from the river of wine that is flowing by, you will become intoxicated from drinking pure wine and collapse under the influence of the strong drink and fall asleep. Then, suffering from a heavy head after sleeping and being sick from the wine, you will miss the pleasures of paradise. How, then, did it not enter into the mind of your prophet that this might happen to you in the paradise of delight? He never had any idea of what the camel is leading to now, yet you did not even ask him, when he held forth to you with his dreams on the subject of the three rivers. We plainly assure you that this wonderful camel of yours has preceded you into the souls of asses, where you, too, like beasts are destined to go. And there is the exterior darkness and everlasting punishment, roaring fire, sleepless worms, and hellish demons.’
Again, in the book of The Table, Mohammed says that the Christ asked God for a table and that it was given Him. For God, he says, said to Him: ‘I have given to thee and thine an incorruptible table.’ [113]
And again, in the book of The Heifer, [114] he says some other stupid and ridiculous things, which, because of their great number, I think must be passed over. He made it a law that they be circumcised and the women, too, and he ordered them not to keep the Sabbath and not to be baptized.
And, while he ordered them to eat some of the things forbidden by the Law, he ordered them to abstain from others. He furthermore absolutely forbade the drinking of wine.
[h=1]Endnotes[/h] 99. Cf. Gen. 16.8. Sozomen also says that they were descended from Agar, but called themselves descendants of Sara to hide their servile origin (Ecclesiastical History 6.38, PG 67.1412AB).
100. The Arabic kabirun means ‘great,’ whether in size or in dignity. Herodotus mentions the Arabian cult of the ‘Heavenly Aphrodite’ but says that the Arabs called her Alilat (Herodotus 1.131)
101. This may be the Nestorian monk Bahira (George or Sergius) who met the boy Mohammed at Bostra in Syria and claimed to recognize in him the sign of a prophet.
102. Koran, Sura 112. 103. Sura 19; 4.169.
104. Sura 4.156.
105. Sura 5.Il6tf.
106. The manuscripts do not have the adage, but Lequien suggests this one from Plato.
107. The Ka’ba, called ‘The House of God,’ is supposed to have been built by Abraham with the help of Ismael. It occupies the most sacred spot in the Mosque of Mecca. Incorporated in its wall is the stone here referred to, the famous Black Stone, which is obviously a relic of the idolatry of the pre-Islam Arabs.
108. Gen. 22.6.
109. Koran, Sura 4.
110. Cf. Sura 2225ff.
111. Sura 2.223.
112. Not in the Koran.
113. Sura 5.114,115.
114. Sura 2.
[h=1]St. John of Damascus’s Critique of Islam[/h]
Webmaster note: The following passage is from Saint John’s monumental work, the Fount of Knowledge, part two entitled Heresies in Epitome: How They Began and Whence They Drew Their Origin. It is usually just cited as Heresies. The translator’s introduction points out that Fount of Knowledge is one of the most “important single works produced in the Greek patristic period,…offering as it does an extensive and lucid synthesis of the Greek theological science of the whole period. It is the first great Summa of theology to appear in either the East or the West.” Saint John (+ 749) is considered one of the great Fathers of the Church, and his writings hold a place of high honor in the Church. His critique of Islam, or “the heresy of the Ishmaelites,” is especially relevant for our times.
There is also the superstition of the Ishmaelites which to this day prevails and keeps people in error, being a forerunner of the Antichrist. They are descended from Ishmael, [who] was born to Abraham of Agar, and for this reason they are called both Agarenes and Ishmaelites. They are also called Saracens, which is derived from Sarras kenoi, or destitute of Sara, because of what Agar said to the angel: ‘Sara hath sent me away destitute.’ [99] These used to be idolaters and worshiped the morning star and Aphrodite, whom in their own language they called Khabár, which means great. [100] And so down to the time of Heraclius they were very great idolaters. From that time to the present a false prophet named Mohammed has appeared in their midst. This man, after having chanced upon the Old and New Testaments and likewise, it seems, having conversed with an Arian monk, [101] devised his own heresy. Then, having insinuated himself into the good graces of the people by a show of seeming piety, he gave out that a certain book had been sent down to him from heaven. He had set down some ridiculous compositions in this book of his and he gave it to them as an object of veneration.
He says that there is one God, creator of all things, who has neither been begotten nor has begotten. [102] He says that the Christ is the Word of God and His Spirit, but a creature and a servant, and that He was begotten, without seed, of Mary the sister of Moses and Aaron. [103] For, he says, the Word and God and the Spirit entered into Mary and she brought forth Jesus, who was a prophet and servant of God. And he says that the Jews wanted to crucify Him in violation of the law, and that they seized His shadow and crucified this. But the Christ Himself was not crucified, he says, nor did He die, for God out of His love for Him took Him to Himself into heaven. [104] And he says this, that when the Christ had ascended into heaven God asked Him: ‘O Jesus, didst thou say: “I am the Son of God and God”?’ And Jesus, he says, answered: ‘Be merciful to me, Lord. Thou knowest that I did not say this and that I did not scorn to be thy servant. But sinful men have written that I made this statement, and they have lied about me and have fallen into error.’ And God answered and said to Him: ‘I know that thou didst not say this word.” [105] There are many other extraordinary and quite ridiculous things in this book which he boasts was sent down to him from God. But when we ask: ‘And who is there to testify that God gave him the book? And which of the prophets foretold that such a prophet would rise up?’—they are at a loss. And we remark that Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai, with God appearing in the sight of all the people in cloud, and fire, and darkness, and storm. And we say that all the Prophets from Moses on down foretold the coming of Christ and how Christ God (and incarnate Son of God) was to come and to be crucified and die and rise again, and how He was to be the judge of the living and dead. Then, when we say: ‘How is it that this prophet of yours did not come in the same way, with others bearing witness to him? And how is it that God did not in your presence present this man with the book to which you refer, even as He gave the Law to Moses, with the people looking on and the mountain smoking, so that you, too, might have certainty?’—they answer that God does as He pleases. ‘This,’ we say, ‘We know, but we are asking how the book came down to your prophet.’ Then they reply that the book came down to him while he was asleep. Then we jokingly say to them that, as long as he received the book in his sleep and did not actually sense the operation, then the popular adage applies to him (which runs: You’re spinning me dreams.) [106]
When we ask again: ‘How is it that when he enjoined us in this book of yours not to do anything or receive anything without witnesses, you did not ask him: “First do you show us by witnesses that you are a prophet and that you have come from God, and show us just what Scriptures there are that testify about you”’—they are ashamed and remain silent. [Then we continue:] ‘Although you may not marry a wife without witnesses, or buy, or acquire property; although you neither receive an ass nor possess a beast of burden unwitnessed; and although you do possess both wives and property and asses and so on through witnesses, yet it is only your faith and your scriptures that you hold unsubstantiated by witnesses. For he who handed this down to you has no warranty from any source, nor is there anyone known who testified about him before he came. On the contrary, he received it while he was asleep.’
Moreover, they call us Hetaeriasts, or Associators, because, they say, we introduce an associate with God by declaring Christ to the Son of God and God. We say to them in rejoinder: ‘The Prophets and the Scriptures have delivered this to us, and you, as you persistently maintain, accept the Prophets. So, if we wrongly declare Christ to be the Son of God, it is they who taught this and handed it on to us.’ But some of them say that it is by misinterpretation that we have represented the Prophets as saying such things, while others say that the Hebrews hated us and deceived us by writing in the name of the Prophets so that we might be lost. And again we say to them: ‘As long as you say that Christ is the Word of God and Spirit, why do you accuse us of being Hetaeriasts? For the word, and the spirit, is inseparable from that in which it naturally has existence. Therefore, if the Word of God is in God, then it is obvious that He is God. If, however, He is outside of God, then, according to you, God is without word and without spirit. Consequently, by avoiding the introduction of an associate with God you have mutilated Him. It would be far better for you to say that He has an associate than to mutilate Him, as if you were dealing with a stone or a piece of wood or some other inanimate object. Thus, you speak untruly when you call us Hetaeriasts; we retort by calling you Mutilators of God.’
They furthermore accuse us of being idolaters, because we venerate the cross, which they abominate. And we answer them: ‘How is it, then, that you rub yourselves against a stone in your Ka’ba [107] and kiss and embrace it?’ Then some of them say that Abraham had relations with Agar upon it, but others say that he tied the camel to it, when he was going to sacrifice Isaac. And we answer them: ‘Since Scripture says that the mountain was wooded and had trees from which Abraham cut wood for the holocaust and laid it upon Isaac, [108] and then he left the asses behind with the two young men, why talk nonsense? For in that place neither is it thick with trees nor is there passage for asses.’ And they are embarrassed, but they still assert that the stone is Abraham’s. Then we say: ‘Let it be Abraham’s, as you so foolishly say. Then, just because Abraham had relations with a woman on it or tied a camel to it, you are not ashamed to kiss it, yet you blame us for venerating the cross of Christ by which the power of the demons and the deceit of the Devil was destroyed.’ This stone that they talk about is a head of that Aphrodite whom they used to worship and whom they called Khabár. Even to the present day, traces of the carving are visible on it to careful observers.
As has been related, this Mohammed wrote many ridiculous books, to each one of which he set a title. For example, there is the book On Woman, [109] in which he plainly makes legal provision for taking four wives and, if it be possible, a thousand concubines—as many as one can maintain, besides the four wives. He also made it legal to put away whichever wife one might wish, and, should one so wish, to take to oneself another in the same way. Mohammed had a friend named Zeid. This man had a beautiful wife with whom Mohammed fell in love. Once, when they were sitting together, Mohammed said: ‘Oh, by the way, God has commanded me to take your wife.’ The other answered: ‘You are an apostle. Do as God has told you and take my wife.’ Rather—to tell the story over from the beginning—he said to him: ‘God has given me the command that you put away your wife.’ And he put her away. Then several days later: ‘Now,’ he said, ‘God has commanded me to take her.’ Then, after he had taken her and committed adultery with her, he made this law: ‘Let him who will put away his wife. And if, after having put her away, he should return to her, let another marry her. For it is not lawful to take her unless she have been married by another. Furthermore, if a brother puts away his wife, let his brother marry her, should he so wish.’ [110] In the same book he gives such precepts as this: ‘Work the land which God hath given thee and beautify it. And do this, and do it in such a manner” [111]—not to repeat all the obscene things that he did.
Then there is the book of The Camel of God. [112] About this camel he says that there was a camel from God and that she drank the whole river and could not pass through two mountains, because there was not room enough. There were people in that place, he says, and they used to drink the water on one day, while the camel would drink it on the next. Moreover, by drinking the water she furnished them with nourishment, because she supplied them with milk instead of water. Then, because these men were evil, they rose up, he says, and killed the camel. However, she had an offspring, a little camel, which, he says, when the mother had been done away with, called upon God and God took it to Himself. Then we say to them: ‘Where did that camel come from?’ And they say that it was from God. Then we say: ‘Was there another camel coupled with this one?’ And they say: ‘No.’ ‘Then how,’ we say, ‘was it begotten? For we see that your camel is without father and without mother and without genealogy, and that the one that begot it suffered evil. Neither is it evident who bred her. And also, this little camel was taken up. So why did not your prophet, with whom, according to what you say, God spoke, find out about the camel—where it grazed, and who got milk by milking it? Or did she possibly, like her mother, meet with evil people and get destroyed? Or did she enter into paradise before you, so that you might have the river of milk that you so foolishly talk about? For you say that you have three rivers flowing in paradise—one of water, one of wine, and one of milk. If your forerunner the camel is outside of paradise, it is obvious that she has dried up from hunger and thirst, or that others have the benefit of her milk—and so your prophet is boasting idly of having conversed with God, because God did not reveal to him the mystery of the camel. But if she is in paradise, she is drinking water still, and you for lack of water will dry up in the midst of the paradise of delight. And if, there being no water, because the camel will have drunk it all up, you thirst for wine from the river of wine that is flowing by, you will become intoxicated from drinking pure wine and collapse under the influence of the strong drink and fall asleep. Then, suffering from a heavy head after sleeping and being sick from the wine, you will miss the pleasures of paradise. How, then, did it not enter into the mind of your prophet that this might happen to you in the paradise of delight? He never had any idea of what the camel is leading to now, yet you did not even ask him, when he held forth to you with his dreams on the subject of the three rivers. We plainly assure you that this wonderful camel of yours has preceded you into the souls of asses, where you, too, like beasts are destined to go. And there is the exterior darkness and everlasting punishment, roaring fire, sleepless worms, and hellish demons.’
Again, in the book of The Table, Mohammed says that the Christ asked God for a table and that it was given Him. For God, he says, said to Him: ‘I have given to thee and thine an incorruptible table.’ [113]
And again, in the book of The Heifer, [114] he says some other stupid and ridiculous things, which, because of their great number, I think must be passed over. He made it a law that they be circumcised and the women, too, and he ordered them not to keep the Sabbath and not to be baptized.
And, while he ordered them to eat some of the things forbidden by the Law, he ordered them to abstain from others. He furthermore absolutely forbade the drinking of wine.
[h=1]Endnotes[/h] 99. Cf. Gen. 16.8. Sozomen also says that they were descended from Agar, but called themselves descendants of Sara to hide their servile origin (Ecclesiastical History 6.38, PG 67.1412AB).
100. The Arabic kabirun means ‘great,’ whether in size or in dignity. Herodotus mentions the Arabian cult of the ‘Heavenly Aphrodite’ but says that the Arabs called her Alilat (Herodotus 1.131)
101. This may be the Nestorian monk Bahira (George or Sergius) who met the boy Mohammed at Bostra in Syria and claimed to recognize in him the sign of a prophet.
102. Koran, Sura 112. 103. Sura 19; 4.169.
104. Sura 4.156.
105. Sura 5.Il6tf.
106. The manuscripts do not have the adage, but Lequien suggests this one from Plato.
107. The Ka’ba, called ‘The House of God,’ is supposed to have been built by Abraham with the help of Ismael. It occupies the most sacred spot in the Mosque of Mecca. Incorporated in its wall is the stone here referred to, the famous Black Stone, which is obviously a relic of the idolatry of the pre-Islam Arabs.
108. Gen. 22.6.
109. Koran, Sura 4.
110. Cf. Sura 2225ff.
111. Sura 2.223.
112. Not in the Koran.
113. Sura 5.114,115.
114. Sura 2.