After all the religion discussion I thought I'd throw another perspective on the fire...

Muslims respect and revere Jesus and await his Second Coming. They consider Him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to Him simply a "Jesus", but always add the phrase "Upon Him be peace". The Quran confirms His virgin birth ( a chapter of the Quran is entitled "Mary"), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation.

The Quran describes the Annunciation as follows: " Behold!" The Angel said, "God has chosen you, and purified you and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle, and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous."

She said " O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said " Even so, God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing. He says to it, " Be!" and it is. (Quran, 3:42-7)

Jesus was born miraculously through which the same power which had brought Adam into being without a father: " Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him "Be!" and he was. (Quran, 3:49)

Jesus performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said: " I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind and the lepers and I raise the dead by God's leave" (Quran 3:49)

Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in one God. In the Quran, Jesus is quoted as saying, "To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me." (Quran 3:50)

The Prophet Muhammad said " Whoever believes there is no god but God alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven." ( Hadith from Bukhari, Quran)

According to Islam, man is not born into original sin. He is God's vicegerent on earth. Every child is born with the "fitra" an innate disposition towards virtue, knowledge,and beauty. Islam considers itself to be the "primordial religion" (din-al-hanif); it seeks to return man to his original,true nature in which he is in harmony with creation, inspired to do good, and confirming the Oneness of God.

OK, I'm ready now...In'sh'Allah!

Mike Crocker (DH65) Nacogdoches, Texas
Mon, 24 Nov 1997 23:31:47 -0600