CHRIST(PBUH) IN ISLAM (by Ahmed Deedat)

CHRISTIAN MUSLIM RESPONSES

DEBATE ON TV

At the end of the debate - "Christianity and Islam" - which appeared on the SABC-TV programme "CROSS (+) QUESTIONS" on Sunday 5th June 1983, the chairman, Mr Bill chalmers commented:

"I think it can be said from this descussion that there is, at present, somewhat more accommodation on the Islamic side for the founder of Christianity than is on the Christian side for the fonder of Islam. What the significance of that is, we leave it to you, the viewers, to determine, but I do think you will agree that it is a good thing that we are talking together."

"BILL" as he is popularly addressed, without any formalities, on all his programmes, by all his panelists, is extremely charming and stupendous in his humility. He is a picture of what the Holy Quran portrays of a good Christian:

"... AND NEAREST AMONG THEM IN LOVE
TO THE BELIEVERS WILT THOU FIND
THOSE WHO SAY, "WE ARE CHRISTIANS":
BECAUSE AMONG THESE ARE MEN DEVOTED TO LEARNING AND MEN WHO HAVE RENOUNCED THE WORLD.
AND THEY ARE NOT ARROGANT."
{Holy Quran 5:58}

JESUS - HIS STATUS

Were the Muslims on the panel, trying to placate the viewers out of the policy, deceit or diplomacy? Nothing of the kind! They were only articulating what God Almighty had commanded them to say in the Holy Quran. As Muslims they had no choice. they had said in so many words - "WE MUSLIMS BELIEVE, THAT JESUS WAS ONE OF THE MIGHIEST MESSENGER OF GOD, THAT HE WAS THE CHRIST, THAT HE WAS BORN MITACULOUSLY - WITHOUT ANY MALE INTERVENTION (which many modern-day christians do not believe today), THAT HE GAVE LIFE TO THE DEAD BY GOD'S PERMISSION IN FACT NO MUSLIM IS A MUSLIM IF HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS!"

PLEASANT SUPRISE

Over 90% of the people who witnessed this debate must have believed their ears. They must have surmised that the Muslims were playing to the gallery - that they were trying to curry favour with their fellow Christian countrymen; that if the Muslims would say a few good words about Jesus, then in reciprocation the Christians might say a few words about Muhummed (May the Peace and the Blessings of God be upon all His rightious servants - Moses, Jesus, Muhammed etc); that I scratch your back and you scratch my back - which would be a sham or hypocrisy.

HATE CULTIVATED

We cannot blame the Christians for their scepticism. They have been so programmed for centuries. They were trained to think the worst of the man Muhummed (pubh) and his religion. How aptly did Thomas Carlye say about his Chrisrians brethren over a hundered and fifty years ago - "THE LIES WHICH WELL MEANING ZEAL HAS HEAPED ROUND THIS MAN (Muhummed) ARE DISGRACEFUL TO OURSELVES ONLY." We muslims are partly responsible for this staggering ingorance of the 1,200,000,000 Christians of the world. We have not done anything substantial fo remove the cobwebs.

OCEAN OF CHRISTIANITY

South Africa is an ocean of Christianity. If Libya boasts the highest percentage of Muslims on the continent of Africa, then the Republic of Sauth Africa would also be entitled to boast the highest percentage of Christians. In this ocean of Christianity - the R.S.A - the Muslim is barely 2% of the total population. We are voteless minority - numerically, we count for nothing; politically we count for nothing; and economically, one white man, as Oppenheimer, could buy our the whole lot of us, lock, stock and barrel.

So if we had feigned to appease, we might be excused. But no! We must proclaim our Master's Will; we must declare the Truth, weather we like it or not. In the words of Jesus (pbuh):
"Seek ye the truth, and the truth shall set you free" - (John 9:32).