RE: “KORAN CONVERTED ME TO CHRISTIANITY”; A CLARIFICATION ON THE CONCOCTED CONVERSION STORY OF MARIO JOSEPH
Praises be to Allaah and may His blessing be upon His prophet, salallahu alayhi wasalam. Verily, He who Allah guides, no one can mislead and he whosoever He leaves astray, none can guide him. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and that Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wasalam, is His slave and Apostle.
This is a brief clarification on the viral clip of Mr Mario Joseph, the acclaimed Imam of a mosque who claimed to have converted to Christianity from Islam after a thorough study of Islam. This has been going on since 2013 as far as I know. However, after I have listened to this clip many times, I realised that some clarifications needed to be made, especially for those who aren’t so conversant with the Qur’an among the Muslims and as a result believe in the obvious lies and the feigning of Mr Mario. Also, I hope that this gives a correct view of the Qur’an on those issues raised in the clip to the christians who are just and sincere in management of information, who might have gotten a wrong perception of the message of the Qur’an as portrayed by Mario.
Firstly, here are the list of some areas of confusion:
-Who is Jesus according to the holy Quran?
-Why the name of Jesus was mentioned more than that of Muhammad, may peace of God be on both of them, in the Qur’an
-The mentioning of Maryam in the holy Qur’an
-Issues around creation of Jesus
-Miracles of Jesus as mentioned in the Qu’ran
-Differences between Jesus and Muhammad
-Confusion about “word of God” and creation
– Attributes of God and did he take a son?
-Did Muhammad ever doubt what was revealed to him and finally
-His statement “….but the holy Qur’an converted me to Christianity”
While taking the path of brevity and seeking the guidance of the Almighty:
– Who is Jesus according to the Qur’an?
Qur’an says:
_”O People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, “Three” -trinity; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.”_ 3:171
So we say: Jesus is a son of Mary, created through the word of God (like Adam), and his messenger.
– Why was the name of Jesus mentioned more than name of Muhammad in the Qur’an?
This is because;
– *Muhammad was given the book so there was no need to repeat his name severally.
– *one of the reasons the Qur’an was revealed was to correct the Christians belief about Jesus, hence the need to mention his name more.
Prophets whose names appeared more than that of Muhammed(PBUH) in the Qur’an:
ISA (Jesus) 25 times
LUT (Lot) 27 times
NUH (Noah) 43 times
YA’QUB (Jacob) 43 times
IBRAHIM (Abraham) 69 times
MUSA (Moses) 136 times.
Name of Maryam (Mary), mother of christ was mentioned 34 times in the Qur’an, more than that of christ (25 times).
Logically, if one would convert based on the number of times a prophet’s name is mentioned in the Qur’an, then that should be “Judaism”, self acclaimed followers of Moses, as his name undoubtedly appeared most! *Moses 136 times* and *Jesus -25 times*
– Mentioning of Maryam in the Qur’an.
Firstly, Maryam is regarded as one of the most pious women that ever lived on the surface of the earth. She was chosen by Allaah to give birth to one of His prophets, Isa – Jesus. Allaah mentions her name in high esteem in the Qur’an and so also we Muslims hold her in high esteem. God named a chapter after her and one after her family; these point to her purity and high status with her Lord. Hence, she gave birth to the miraculous baby Jesus.
However, what the man mentioned about her:
“Was born without original sin, never committed any sin in her life, went to heaven without physical body” etc.
None of these can be found in the Qur’an!!!
Here are some things mentioned about her and her noble birth:
“[Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of ‘Imran (mother of Mary) said, “My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.”
But when she delivered her, she said, “My Lord, I have delivered a female.” And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, “And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah].”
So her Lord accepted her (mary) with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, “O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?” She said, “It is from Allaah. Indeed, Allaah provides for whom He wills without account.” 3:35-37
“And [mention] when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer].” 3:42-43
– Issues around creation of Jesus
How beautiful is the statement of the Almighty when He said:
“This is what We recite to you, [O Muhammad], of [Our] verses and the precise [and wise] message. Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, “Be,” and he was. The truth is from your Lord, so do not be among the doubters.” (3:58-60)
NOTE: All creatures were created through this word of God “BE”. The difference is in what the word is said to. For example, the word was said to “clay” in creation of Adam, it was said to “adam’s rib” in creation of Eve, it was said to “the womb” of Mary in the creation of Jesus, and it is said to the “fertilised egg” in the creation of other humans! The command “BE” shows how EASY it is for God to do and create anything He wants – Exalted is He above that which they ascribe to Him of imperfections.
– Miracles of Jesus.
It is established in the Qur’an that God did miracles through the hands of His prophets as a way of making their people believe in the messages they have come with. Every prophet had specific and unique miracle carried out by him. This are widely mentioned in the Qur’an. However, none of the prophet would accredit the power to himself, rather they would accredit it to God the almighty.
The Bible also affirms this incapability of Christ to do things of his own will and power, rather, the will and permission of the one who sent him, God. John 5:30
“I can of mine own self do nothing…” King James Version
Let’s look at some miracles of Christ as mentioned in the Qur’an and see how Jesus himself affirmed the ability to belong to God alone.
“And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], ‘Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it *and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead – by permission of Allah*. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers”. 3:49
– Differences between Jesus and Muhammad, may peace of God be upon them.
Just like every other prophets, there are always differences in their life style and their methodologies. That Muhammad did not resurrect the dead makes him no lesser a prophet than Jesus, nor does Jesus through that has higher rank than Abraham, who also didn’t resurrect the dead. Rather, it is has we have said earlier; miracles of each prophet differ.
Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, also did a lot of miracles, like springs of water gushing out from his little finger, his sweat and hairs were used to cure various illness, he was taken to the highest place in heaven and back to earth in one night,… but to mention a few.
– Confusion about ” word of God, creator, creation”
Anyone who watches that part of the clip would realise how confused the man was, but for brevity as promised I say:
We have one creator and that is GOD the Almighty
He creates through His word “Be” ie command
Any other thing apart from Him is creation.
– Attributes of God and did he take a son?
The belief and statement that “Allaah has taken a son” is one of the gravest and most odious statement ever said on earth since the Creation of heaven and earth. It’s so blasphemous that the heaven and the earth were about getting asunder when it was said! Allaah mentions this in the Qur’an:
And they say: “The Most Beneficent (Allaah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allaah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [‘Iesa (Christ) ], and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels, etc.)].”
_Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing, Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins,That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son_
But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Beneficent (Allah) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children). There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) as a slave” 19:88-93
There are many verses in the Qur’an where Allah has condemned such and declare those who hold such belief as Ungrateful, disbelievers.
Rather, God summarised His attributes eloquently and clearly in the following verses:
“Say, “He is Allah , [who is] One. Allah, the Eternal One. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” 112
Also, the man mentioned that it can be found in the Qur’an that:
“God can see without eyes, hears without ears, talk without tongue..etc”
We say authoritatively that there is nothing of that in the Qur’an. Perhaps, he didn’t read the Qur’an well; hence his confusions.
He says:
“[He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. *There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing*.” 42:11
We believe He has Eyes as befits His majesty. He says:
“And construct the ship under Our Eyes and with Our Inspiration, and address Me not on behalf of those who did wrong; they are surely to be drowned.” 11:37.
The above verse shows that He has Eyes, though not like the eyes of any of His creatures as noone is like Him, rather we say as it bits His majesty, so we don’t know where Mr Mario got his information from – obviously not from the Qur’an!
– Did prophet Muhammad, ever doubt what was revealed to him?
Let’s read the verse together:
“So if you (O Muhammad) are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed unto you, [i.e. that your name is written in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] then ask those who are reading the Book [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So be not of those who doubt (it).” 10:94
This is a conditional statement in logic and it is not a confirming statement, hence cannot be used to establish fact!
Ie
if Muhammad is in doubt, he should ask…
‘but Muhammad is not in doubt’, so he needs not to check the revelation before him.
The next statement confirms this:
“The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord,”!!!
So since the truth has come to him from his Lord, then he has no reason to either doubt or make reference to scripture before him. That’s why God ended the verse with:
“so never be among the doubters.”!!!
Also, the “doubt” mentioned in the verse is not about doubting the guidance which His Lord has revealed unto him. And how would he doubt that when the first description Allah gave the revelation is “a book in which there’s no doubt”, so how could he have doubted what has no doubt in it!
Allah says:
_”This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah..]_ 2:2.
Finally, the man said:
“…but the holy Qur’an converted me to Christianity”
This is rather a lie against the Qur’an! This is what the
Qur’an says:
“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allaah is Islam (as it is the religion of all prophets). And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them – out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah , then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account.”_
3:19
And Allaah finally gave a stern warning against coming back to Him EXCEPT IN A STATE OF ISLAM and commanded us not to die EXCEPT AS A MUSLIM.
Qur’an says:
_”And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.”_ 3:85
_”O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].”_ 3:102
We give praises to Allaah for His guidance over us, if not for His Mercy we would not have been guided. May His endless blessings be upon the noble soul of Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wasalam, the last prophet and messenger to mankind.
Aboo AbdirRahman, Ishaq Olorunnisola.
College of Medicine of University of Lagos.
2015
