THE PROOF OF EXISTENCE OF PARADISE AND THE DAY OF RESURRECTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · The introduction about the people of cave(as-ha'bul kahaf) · What is the moral of story? · What is the specialty of paradise? · Now analyze this theory with the people of cave · A complete protection from god! · The situation of people of cave · A new kingdom a new city · Wish for death------disappointed with the innovations · Proof of paradise!-----------conclusion · Now follow the details regarding the cave , Christians and Christianity · Regarding the location of cave, the city of Ephesus · The era of people of cave and their faith · Religion of Romans before Constantine---year 100 to 300 · Regarding Christian and Christianity · The faith of early Christians: · Paul the founder of Christianity! · Christians confused with the limited power of Jesus (pbuh) · Christians could not digest the alleged suffering, crucifixion & return of him · The era of persecution · Roman emperor Decius, year 250-----a brief story about the people of cave · Regarding roman emperor Theodosius II · Major theological disputes in Christianity · Questions for Christians regarding Muhammad (pbuh) from Bible? Who is future prophet, another comforter, a future guide, and who will glorify Jesus (pbuh)? · Refers to whom---"Whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak"- · Who was the first person who believed in Muhammad (pbuh)? ---is none other than A Catholic priest a Christian! · And what is the demand of love! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indeed Quran is guidance and a mercy for God fearing people. The purpose of stories of former people to strengthen our belief and it will be an admonition and a reminder for us. And there is certainly in their stories a lesson for the people of understanding. And Allah says, "-----Thus does Allah make clear to you [His] verses that you might give thought.(2:266)" Therefore a careful study of the story of people of cave gives proof & evidence of existence of paradise and the day of resurrection and a great moral for future generation. In Islam, these youths are referred to as "The People of the Cave and inscription". (as-haabe-kahaf var-raqeem) And in Christian world they referred as "the Seven Sleepers, commonly called the "Seven Sleepers of Ephesus". Please note "inscription"(Arabic war-raqeem) here refers to the writings on the walls of caves about them with their names. According to Christian's authors they were seven Romans and their names are as follows: Maximian, Malchus, Marcianus, Denis, John, Serapion, and Constantine. However their names vary considerably in other books as Achillides, Diomedes, Diogenus, Probatus, Stephanus, Sambatus, and Quiriacus and to them they lived (i.e. slept) in the cave more than 200 years. However, according to Islamic interpretation the number and their duration is up to the best knowledge of Allah who knows best how long they stayed and how many actually they were, as Quran says only few people knows and the rest are guessing. Refer to holy Quran Q18:22 & 26, which state clearly, [say: "My Lord knows best their number (Q18:22)] and later in the verse 26, Allah said: [say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed" (Q18:26]. Furthermore, Allah declared that only few people knows the truth and the rest only guessing (Q18:22) and instructed prophet Muhammad (pbuh) not to argue any of the Jews & Christians regarding this subject because they also don't know the exact number and duration, such as Christian story completely unaware of the Dog who accompanied the youths into the cave, and kept watch at the entrance for the entire time.. While not giving the number of youths involved and their duration, the Christian account of Seven Sleepers story largely parallels with the Quranic rendering. Therefore our debate should not be on Number and their duration rather should be on the moral & theme, and to go deep into finding the main purpose of this story. The Jews with their habit of demanding the miracles and challenging the messengers brought a question to prophet Muhammad(pbuh) as one of the trials of Muhammad (pbuh) by the Jewish elders of Madina through pagans while he was in Makkah only; by explaining this mystery to his followers, prophet Muhammad(pbuh) would confirm his being a Prophet of God. Among the Jews who accepted Muhammad (pbuh) as the last prophet of Islam was the saint Abdullah ibn slam, was a Levite Jewish rabbi in Yathrib , was widely respected and honoured by the people of the city even by those who were not Jewish. After coming into the fold of truth he was participated in the conquest of Syria and Palestine. (Also refer to Quran 46:10) The most interesting about Jesus (pbuh) is that all his disciples were Jews only and the most trouble makers to him were Jews only. Please note the wicked Jews abused prophet Jesus(pbuh) as a false prophet (Nauzbillah) and slandered his mother Mary and played a major role in giving troubles to him and in the same manner they persecute these youths of cave saying they become Christians believing in the false prophet and rejecting demigods and idols. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MORAL OF STORY--------- The apparent purpose of story of cave It appears there are three main purposes :( Allah knows better) 1. To provide clear proof & evidence for the existence of paradise and the day of resurrection by giving the live & convincing logical evidences of it.(in those days many reject the concept of resurrection) 2. To show which group really aware of the running time (in this case the people of cave unaware of running time, their duration in the cave (Q18:12). 3. To reject the innovations in religion (i.e. the new concepts was established such as of trinity and sayings that Jesus(pbuh) was the literal son of God etc.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT IS THE SPECIALTY OF PARADISE? What is the most fantastic thing in the paradise? Is it food or beauty of paradise or the rivers of paradise? The basic fundamental power of paradise is ever lasting life without any fatigue, deterioration or harm neither from weather and nor from anything/any person. It means there will be no change in physical appearance and strength (i.e. you are not going to become old) and second nobody can harm you. A boy will remain boy in the paradise for ever with no change in his age, size, face and physical strength for not one year and not for thousands of years but for ever for eternal life. He will live with the God in the paradise forever without any deformation. In paradise it is not required either to trim or to shave their beard because there will be no more growth of hairs in paradise. Allah knows better what will be the fixed size of beard and moustache in paradise, but one thing which is clear it will remain as it is forever. This is the biggest favor of God on the people of paradise that they will remain youth forever in the paradise without any fatigue and without any unexciting. You will never find any weakness and nor any dull on their faces instead their faces glow with bliss always to the infinite time! NOW ANALYSE THIS THEORY WITH THE PEOPLE OF CAVE----NO PHYSICAL CHANGE! During that era some or you may say many including some heretics hardly believe in religion and doubt in the paradise and its existence and in the day of resurrection. Like today most of the Europeans are Christians by name but actually they don't believe in religion at all that is no religious affiliation, beliefs and ideas and no seriousness in religion. Most of the Americans, Chinese, Japanese and Russians don't believe in religion or more specific don't believe in the day of resurrection as such they are not serious in religion! One thing which is striking in this capitalist world is the the demographics of atheism or irreligion or no seriousness in religion, more specifically about the day of resurrection is increasing all over the world. People are going away from religion, and going against the laws of holy books and no respect for moral values and becoming more and more materialistic as such they reject these books or God or reject the day of resurrection. During that era similar scenario was there they raised questions regarding the existence of paradise and how the almighty God will resurrect the dead bodies after becoming decay on the day or resurrection. And they used to reject or doubt the concept of eternal life. This was one of the issues usually discussed in public gatherings. From historians the people of cave lived/slept in the cave from 200-300 years (Allah knows better). The point to be noted was their physical appearance that did not reflect the long duration of sleep as it was not changed and their clothes were remained as it was and no physical changes on their faces. Besides, their lengths of beards and moustaches had not been changed and their physical strength was as it was. A COMPLETE PROTECTION FROM GOD! There was no affect of weather on them. In addition to that nobody succeeded to go nearer to them to harm rather returned with fear. It was a complete protection from the God. A lot of people tried to reach to them but all of them failed with fear. It was a big topic and challenge under discussion in all the public gathering in those days to enter into cave. People who dared to go nearer to them had seen them as if they were awake and returned with so much fear which can't be described. As per Quran actually they were sleeping, it was a protection from the god which appears to them as if they are awake. A complete embarrassing situation for the king and those who persecuted them and therefore in rage & in embarrassment the king ordered to close the mouth of cave for fear they might run away from them. Sometime later it was opened but again people failed to go nearer them and in disappointment they left the cave. The cave was open for hundreds of years but none succeeded to go nearer to them and at last the God almighty Allah awake them to show His power to mankind. THE SITUATION OF PEOPLE OF CAVE: A complete unawareness of themselves! They were completely unaware of the running time and that somebody assigned from the God who was turning them left and to right during their sleep. No true calculation of time and not even a slight imagination of their duration rather they insisted for a day or a less than a day as usual. When they woke up they themselves did not recognized that they slept for hundreds of years, because, they were feeling as if they slept a day or even less than a day. Besides, there were no physical changes in their bodies, then how can they believe for such a long period. A NEW KINGDOM A NEW CITY When one of them went to the town he was astonished with the surroundings that were immensely changed. All of a sudden he encountered with the new kingdom and with the new city, gazing in utter surprise. It was really hard for him to believe what he was looking, he was in doubt about the reality rather had a feeling as if he was seeing the dreams. A new kingdom and a new city impossible to believe, and the most unbelievable thing the city was now a Christian city free of idolism and paganism but false innovations in religion. He is amazed to see crosses over churches (these are innovations in religion), and the people cannot understand whence he got his money coined by Decius (Allah knows better). Of course at last it comes out that the last thing he knew was Decius's reign; eventually the bishop and the prefect go up to the cave with him, where they find the six others and the inscription. The emperor is sent for, and the saints tell him their story. Every one rejoices at this proof of the resurrection of the body. People know very well about the cave and heard their stories from their forefathers and it was easy for them to believe and therefore this man succeeded in proving that he belonged to the past centuries and told their stories of persecution as it happened yesterday. WISH FOR DEATH------DISAPPOINTED WITH THE NEW CONCEPTS The sleepers, having improved the occasion by a long discourse, then die praising God. Actually these men in the start delighted after knowing the Christianity in their city but soon disappointed with the innovations in the religion and therefore wished for death. The almighty Allah accepted their prayer and soon after all had been died. Some wants to build golden tombs for them, but some say they appear to the emperor in a dream and ask to be buried in the earth in their cave. The cave is adorned with precious stones and a great praying place built over it. PROOF OF PARADISE!-----------CONCLUSION They slept inside the cave for hundreds of years without any deformations neither to their bodies and nor to their belongings such as clothes etc., remain alive with full protection from the God as nobody harmed them during this period, was the proof from the almighty God Allah that there is a paradise in which there will be no fatigue, no harm from enemy, will remain forever in the same status and there will be no effect of time on their physical bodies. These also provide evidence that it was not a big thing for the God. And in the same manner there will be day of resurrection. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please follow the details regarding the rest of the topic: ---------------------------------------------------------------- LOCATION OF CAVE: According to Christian authors it is located outside the city of Ephesus, (near modern Selçuk in Turkey) On the slopes of Mount Pion (Mount Coelian) near Ephesus , the "grotto"(i.e. cave) of the Seven Sleepers with ruins of the church built over it was excavated in 1927–28. The excavation brought to light several hundred graves which were dated to the 5th and 6th centuries. Inscriptions dedicated to the Seven Sleepers were found on the walls of the church and in the graves. This "grotto" is still shown to tourists (as per Wikipedia) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE CITY OF EPHESUS: It was one of the major cities during the reign of Roman Empire of five hundred years (27BC-478AC). During the event of people of the cave the city was under Roman Empire. when Augustus became emperor in 27 BC, he made Ephesus instead of Pergamum the capital of proconsular Asia, which covered western Asia Minor. Ephesus entered an era of prosperity. It became the seat of the governor, growing into a metropolis and a major center of commerce. It was second in importance and size only to Rome. Ephesus has been estimated to be in the range of 400,000 to 500,000 inhabitants in the year 100, making it the largest city in Roman Asia and of the day. Ephesus was at its peak during the 1st and 2nd century AD. The name Christians and Christianity called by foes, started from Palestine and become centre in Ephesus. Therefore Ephesus was an early centre of Christianity. It has rise and fall during this era. It was partially destroyed in an earthquake in 614. Ruled by Arabs in the year 654–655 by caliph Muawiyah I, and later in 700 and 716 and later by the Turks. According to Christian, Ephesus was one of the seven cities mentioned in Book of Revelation and it was a significant centre along the missionary travels of Apostle Paul during the first century. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ERA OF PEOPLE OF CAVE: Although the exact historicity is unclear and subject to a debate. There is a confusion between Decius (also called Decianus) and Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; reign 54 to 68). Christian tradition and secular historical sources hold Nero as the first major state sponsor of Christian persecution, and sometimes as the killer of Apostles Peter and Paul. However, according to Christians these youths hid inside a cave outside the city of Ephesus around 150-250 AD, to escape a persecution of Christians being conducted during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius(Allah knows better). Having fallen asleep inside the cave, they purportedly may have awaken approximately 150-300 years later during the reign of Theodosius II(Allah knows better) following which they were reportedly seen by the people of the now-Christian city before dying. As stated earlier as per Quran their exact number and duration is known to none but few people only. Therefore it is worthless to discuss about exact dates and their number and all those who are talking about it is nothing but a guess and therefore it can never be taken as granted. Rather we have to work on the moral. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- FAITH OF PEOPLE OF CAVE Indeed they were true believers, though labelled as Christians, believing in oneness of God and all His Prophets from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Solomon (peace be upon them all) to the last prophet of Islam Mohammad [i.e. Ahmed as written in Injeel for another name of Muhammad (pbuh)] and including Jesus (pbuh) as a Prophet & Messenger of God and not as a God and not as a son of God but certainly as a son of Mary. As per Quran 18:13-14, "It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. And We made firm their hearts when they stood up and said, "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression." Allah (subhanahu wa tala) actually accepted their prayer when they called Him: "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance."(Q18:10) Though the historians and some people used to call them Christians because they believe in Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and not because of present form of Christianity which is based on Trinity. Please note the present form of Christianity was established many years later in the period of Emperor Constantine (325 AD) who persecuted and exiled all those who did not consider Jesus (pbuh) as a literal son of God (Nauzbillah)! These people never worshipped Jesus(pbuh) as God or son of God but they strongly believe in oneness of God and they never bow-down to statue or picture of Jesus(pbuh) or his mother Mary as the present church possess these pictures and they never believed in trinity. Most likely after Christ his Apostles like Barnabas, and even the self-appointed Apostle Paul along with other followers of Christ did missionary work in present day Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, etc. which then belonged to Byzantine Empire. Please note the most important point later Paul and Barnabas separated and had disputes between them in faith articles. Gospel of Barnabas states that Jesus (pbuh) was not the son of God, but a prophet, and calls Paul "the deceived. Some youths of the city of Ephesus were among the converts from paganism to the teachings of Prophet Jesus (pbuh). For, early converts from paganism to unity of God did not call themselves "Christians". They considered themselves only as members of Judaism as preached by Jesus. --------------------------------------------------------- RELIGION OF ROMANS BEFORE CONSTANTINE---year 100 to 300 The Romans worshipped several gods and demi-gods who had been human, and knew the theory that all the gods had originated as human beings. There are two main types of religions. An imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors (or rulers of another title), are worshipped as messiahs, demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship", not in the modern pejorative sense. A divine king is a monarch who is held in a special religious significance by his subjects, and serves as both head of state and a deity or head religious figure. This system of government combines theocracy with an absolute monarchy. And the Hellenistic religion is a mixture of Greek culture with new religions. Greek gods and as well as Hellenistic rulers continues to worship during Hellenistic and roman period. -------------------------------------------------- CHRISTIAN AND CHRISTIANITY The word Christian first given by foes (Acts. 26:28) rather than friends and finally by peter in his letter I Peter 4:16: please note peter was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus(pbuh). Also note during the time of Jesus(pbuh), the word neither Christianity and nor Christian established. For the first two centuries of the Christian era, Imperial authorities largely viewed Christianity simply as a Jewish sect originally belongs to Torah and a continuation of all earlier prophethood rather than a distinct religion. Therefore it is not a new religion but certainly it is a corrupted form of Islam only as similar to the Judaism which also initially belonged to Islam only. Please note Islam is a religion starts right from Adam(pbuh) and ends with prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the last prophet of Islam and in between there is a series of prophets including Abraham, Noah , David, Moses, Jesus etc. (peace be upon them all) The problem of Jews they had rejected Jesus (pbuh) as a prophet and put an end to prophethood and the problem of Christians is that they rejected Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and put an end to religion besides, they consider Jesus (pbuh) as god or son of God. This was the grave sin they are doing! Please note Jews at least strict in belief of oneness of God (Tauheed) and are nearer to Muslims faith but Christians are far from the truth and more nearer to pagans believing in many gods as they call three in one in the same way as Hindus call millions in one! And put pictures in their churches. The Trinitarian branch of Christian's church is actually another branch of paganism (relating to an ancient religion that had many gods and praised nature) since it had three gods in the shape of three persons composed on each other and unconvincingly made a triune god. Please note during the period of Paul, Greeks and Romans were basically pagans and they used to worship Appolo, Dionysius and Hercules and therefore these nations found it reasonably which is in line with their original practice of paganism to believe in the new fancy and mystical idea of trinity. ------------------------------------------------------------- THE FAITH OF EARLY CHRISTIAN: Please note Prophet Jesus (pbuh) had 12 or more disciples and they never called him God or son of God they used to call him "Master" or teacher or simply Lord but not "Lord the God"---------keep it in mind and don't forget this! They were all true believers and are Muslims, believes in oneness of God and believes in the series of prophets, from Adam to the last prophet of Islam including Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Noah, David etc.(pbut all) And the all earlier followers of Jesus(pbuh) including Barnabas were Jews only and they never considered Jesus as God and they used to call him "teacher" or "Lord (noble person, or head of family)" or prophet but not "Lord the God". This was the faith of early Christians but later innovations taking place in religion as a result a new religion formed in the name of Christianity on the basis of alleged crucifixion, suffering and redemption of sins. What is more than this in Christianity? One more thing the trinity which is not mentioned in their books but certainly described in holy Quran! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAUL THE FOUNDER OF CHRISTIANITY!!!!! The problem of Christendom is that they don't believe in words of scriptures but they simply reject them and believe in the teachings of church. Major reforms brought by Mr paul in Christianity such as crucifixion etc. and that was the apparent reason the separation between Paul and Barnabas, and therefore more specifically you may name the Christianity the religion of Paul. Or you may say Paul the founder of Christianity! Note that Paul was not a discipline of Jesus and never met him and perhaps had never seen him. The Church has imposed the doctrine of crucifixion on the Christians because of Paul, and says it is necessary for their redemption of sin, and consequently has to accept the accursedness of Jesus because as per Bible who for he that is hanged is accursed of God (Deut 21:22-23). SOME OF THE INNOVATIONS OF MR PAUL: · He was also the first who declared Jesus as Son of God (Acts 9:20): "And straightway he (Paul) preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the son of God." The Jews worshiped only One God and that is why they called Paul a "babbler" and threw him out of the synagogues for teaching the concept of "son of god" which they knew was blasphemy. · Also the trinity in Christianity is not a teaching of Jesus (pbuh), but of Paul. · Paul admitted that the resurrection was his gospel (II Timothy 2:8) "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel." And it was Paul who taught the resurrection (Acts 17:18): " · As per bible Elijah (II Kings 2:11-12) and Enoch (Genesis 5:24) are taken to heaven. All Prophets who are raised and taken to heaven are you consider them as divine? The theory of trinity and sonship of Jesus (pbuh) not established until 325 years after Jesus (pbuh). All these doctrines are against the contents of holy Bible but created by Paul and Emperor Constantine, and all those Christians thus worship priests in this way besides Prophet Jesus (pbuh), and hence they are not believers but disbelievers.(Refer to holy Quran in this regard 5:72; 2:145; 58:20) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHRISTIANS CONFUSED WITH THE LIMITED POWER OF JESUS (PBUH) The problem of Christendom is that they confused with the limited power of Jesus (i.e. miracles such as giving life to dead etc.) and therefore start calling him God or son of God and they forget the ultimate and unlimited power of almighty God Allah. They simply don't know the difference between limited and unlimited; otherwise they will never call him God or son of god. Certainly he had limited power and knowledge of certain things and that also given by Allah. Please note Jesus cast out devils with the spirit of God and not by himself. Prophet Jesus (peace be upon Him) never claimed that he was God and worshiped him. There is not a single unambiguous statement available in the entire holy Bible that Jesus himself claimed that he was God and worshipped him. And neither his disciples during his time worshipped him and nor they call him "Lord the God". They used to call him Lord (noble person, or head of family) or teacher. And they certainly never worshipped him. Prophet Jesus (pbuh) neither claimed that he had power over all these things nor he had knowledge of everything or unseen. He never claimed that "He is the Most Well-Acquainted with all things". And he never claimed that "No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision". And he never claimed that everything in these worlds is belonging to him & every creature is servant (i.e. under his command) to him. Miracles Cannot Be The Basis To Define Someone As God! Some of the great miracles of prophet Moses are a wooden rod(staff) becomes a living thing (i.e. snake) , water of wells, lakes and even ocean becomes blood, a bare hand when put into bosom becomes shining , water(12 springs) start flowing from rock upon hitting on it, food coming from skies, stopping of water of river Nile, etc. Do you consider these miracles are small or big miracles and worship Moses(pbuh) as God as he gave life to a wooden staff and brought instant rain with hails and fire. Some of Jesus' opponents accused him of casting out demons by the prince of demons (Mark 3:19–22; Matthew 12:24; Luke 11:15). He countered that he did so by the spirit of God (Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20). In the same way as prophet Moses (pbuh) has done it his miracles with the help of Gabriel. And therefore miracles were proof neither of divinity nor of messiahship but our Christian brothers confused with his miracles and called him god and son of God and made lies and stories about alleged suffering & false crucifixion of Jesus (pbuh)? May god guide them to the truth! ------------------------------------------------------------------- CHRISTIANS could not digest the alleged suffering & crucifixion and return of Jesus (pbuh)! The problem of Christendom is that they go astray because of the alleged crucifixion. They could not absorb the alleged suffering & crucifixion of Jesus (pbuh). How someone who gives life to dead end up like a poor guy crucified which was a curse? And then how will he return to this world without death and resurrection. Therefore they go on making new ideas and theorems for justifying crucifixion and then return of him with lots of lies upon lies and giving reasons for alleged suffering such as remedy of sins for mankind and chosen scapegoat the most loved one for the sins of mankind. What a wonderful idea and fantastic theory! The unjust God killed his own son (Nauzbillah)! BUT Quran has solution for every problem, as per glorious Quran 4:157, "And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain." This is the fact about Jesus (pbuh) he was neither killed and nor crucified but appear in alleged crucifixion. This is the truth from God who knows the best but our poor Christians believes in the theories of church and as such going astray. May god guide them to the truth! Some say among the twelve disciples of Jeuss(pbuh) , Judas Iscariot (yehuda) was the betrayer, was made resemble to prophet Jesus(pbuh) and later they crucify him and Allah saved Jesus (pbuh) in this way and three days later he was lifted up to the skies alive. The Bible has many conflicting stories about Juda, the existence of conflicting accounts of the death of Judas a challenge for their scholars as it is threatening the reliability of The Scripture and gives clear evidence against the doctrine of biblical inerrancy. Another fact is that KJV has been changed many times in the last 350 years and there have been thousands of corrections! Poor Christian brothers believe in fancy theories and a fancy religion! I advise them to go back to their Original Holy Bible, study and compare with Quran -------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ERA OF PERSECUTION: Almost all the twelve disciples of Jesus (pbuh) except the one who betrayed had been persecuted and got martyrdom.(Allah knows better) Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire began during the Ministry of Jesus and continued intermittently over a period of about three centuries until the time of Constantine(325AD) when Christianity was legalized. Shortly thereafter it became the state religion of the Roman Empire. This persecution impacted all aspects of Christian life including the development of the Canonical gospels, Christian theology and the structure of the Church. Constantine I (sole ruler 324–337) became the first Christian emperor, and in 380 Theodosius I established Christianity as the official religion. No emperor issued general laws against the faith or its Church, and persecutions, such as they were, were carried out under the authority of local government officials. By the 5th century Christian hegemony had rapidly changed the Empire's identity even as the Western provinces collapsed. Those who practiced the traditional polytheistic religions were persecuted, as were Christians regarded as heretics by the authorities in power.(refer to wikipaedia in this regard) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ROMAN EMPEROR DECIUS, AROUND 250 AD--------The story about the people of cave As stated earlier the exact historicity is unclear and subject to a debate. There is confusion between Decius and Nero emperor (reign 54 to 68). However, according to Christian's authors in the year around 250 AD the city of Ephesus was ruled under the Roman emperor Decius labelled "fierce tyrant. The story describe that during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Decius, some young men were accused of following Christianity (not of today's), and they were against paganism. The emperor came into Ephesus for the persecution of Christian men, he commanded to edify the temples in the middle of city so that all should come with him to do sacrifice to the idols, and to seek all the Christian people, and bind them for to make them to do sacrifice, or else to put them to death; Certificates were issued to those who satisfied the pagan commissioners or offered sacrifices before Apollo or peter(Names of gods) during the persecution of Christians under Decius. The emperor considers himself as a God or demi-god and ordered people to bow down before him. Measures were first taken demanding that the bishops and officers of the Kingdome make a sacrifice for the Emperor, a matter of an oath of allegiance that these men considered offensive. These people of cave believe in the monotheism and always dishonour the idols and reluctant to offer pagans sacrifice for the Emperor and the Empire's well-being. Besides, in the oath of allegiance ceremony, and in the midst of many people they refused to bow down before the emperor as god or demi-god. Rather they openly disobeyed the emperor and declared him that he is nothing but a human being like them and that they worship none other than the true one God which is unseen and believes in the series of prophets from Adam to Jesus including the last prophet Mohammad(pbut)] who was yet to come. They were given some time to recant their faith, but chose instead to give their worldly goods to the poor. Later however they escape from them and retire to a mountain cave to pray, where they fell asleep and woke up in the era of emperor Theodosius II in his era 408-450(Allah knows better the true dates etc.) --------------------------------------------------- Regarding Roman emperor Theodosius II ------- the Theological disputes Theodosius II (Latin: Flavius Theodosius Junior Augustus; 10 April 401 – 28 July 450), commonly surnamed Theodosius the Younger, or Theodosius the Calligrapher, was Byzantine Emperor from 408 to 450. He is mostly known for promulgating the Theodosian law code, and for the construction of the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople. He also presided over the outbreak of two great christological controversies,Nestorianism and Eutychianism. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- THEOLOGICAL DISPUTES IN CHRISTIANITY You need hundreds of lies & more to make one lie to somewhat nearer to truth but at the end all your efforts go futile when it encounters with truth. This is what is happening in Christianity. Their disputes have not stopped, till today new theories and concepts are being created in a more fantastic & fashionable way to prove wrong to right but at the end truth prevails as a result every single day more and more learned Christians converting back to Islam! The concept of Jesus as God or son of God or a literal son of God or a figurative son of God; regarding mother of Mary who called sometime in the history as God creator; and the concept of trinity, redemption of sins, some sins/damages will not be forgiven etc. are some of the disputes in present form of Christianity. FIRST MAJOR DISPUTE----between missionary The first dispute arose between Paul and Barnabas the early missionary members. Nobody can deny their disputes as it is stated in the holy Bible. The New Testament record indicates that a "sharp contention" developed between them (Acts 15:36-41). They could not reach an agreement, and so they split up. As far as the sacred record indicates, these two remarkable men never saw one another again. The serious Bible student cannot read this episode and not be moved. Nevertheless, there are some vital principles that one may learn from the dispute that developed between these Christian brothers. Disagreements that Involve Doctrine The disagreement was not a small thing unless it was based on a theological doctrine for which the two needs heated disagreement and forced them to separate and above all they never saw each other. And secondly, the Gospel of Barnabas gives proof of this disagreement in terms of writing theological disputes of the doctrine against Paul. And therefore the Gospel of Barnabas was totally against the doctrine of sonship of Jesus and crucifixion. And it states that Jesus (pbuh) was not the son of God, but a prophet, and calls Paul "the deceived one", which no doubt gives, nothing but a proof for their disagreement. The gospel of Barnabas was accepted as a canonical gospel in the churches of Alexandria (of Egypt) till 325 AC. The Gospel of Barnabas, survives in two post-medieval manuscripts in Italian and Spanish. The major outline of gospel of Barnabas is that Jesus was not God and not son of god but a prophet. Furthermore, the Gospel of Barnabas states that Jesus escaped crucifixion by being raised alive to heaven; while Judas Iscariot the traitor was crucified in his place. Besides, The basic fundamental teaching the Christians believe today, i.e. the Trinity was not taught by Jesus. This was an innovation by Paul. Therefore whose word are you going to take for your salvation? The word of a direct disciple of Jesus - Barnabas or the so-called teaching of a self-proclaimed apostle – Paul, a persecutor of the original followers of Jesus! THE SECOND MAJOR DISPUTE: Disputes in doctrine of Christianity have started during and after Prophet Jesus (pbuh). Due to the nature of birth of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and more due to his miracles, some pagans called him God or son of God when they saw him giving life to dead bodies due to a fact that for pagans every respectable person was God and later Paul started calling him son of God. Position of Arius (Arianism) Please note "Arianism" was not the originator of the teaching that bears his name, the debate over the Son's precise relationship to the Father did not begin with him. This subject had been discussed for decades before his advent; Arius merely intensified the controversy and carried it to a Church-wide audience, where other "Arians" such as Eusebius of Nicomedia and Eusebius of Caesarea would prove much more influential in the long run. (Refer to Wikipedia in this regard) The First Council of Nicaea(325AD) ---- The first persecution The theory of trinity and sonship of Jesus (pbuh) not established until 325 years after Jesus by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in A.D. 325. The council created the doctrine of the deity of Christ as it did settle the debate within the early Christian communities regarding the divinity of Christ. The main purpose of the council was to resolve disagreements arising from within the Church of Alexandria over the nature of Jesus in relationship to God the Father; in particular, whether Jesus was the literal son of God or was he a figurative son, like the other "sons of God" in the Bible. St. Alexander of Alexandria and Athanasius claimed to take the first position; the popular presbyter Arius, from whom the term Arianism comes, is said to have taken the second. The Arians appealed to Scripture, quoting verses such as John 14:28: "the Father is greater than I", The Emperor carried out his earlier statement: everybody who refused to endorse the Creed would be exiled. Arius, Theonas, and Secundus refused to adhere to the creed, and were thus exiled to Illyria, in addition to being excommunicated. The works of Arius were ordered to be confiscated and consigned to the flames while all persons found possessing them were to be executed. Nevertheless, the controversy continued in various parts of the empire. Even armed with this historical fact, most Christians will not take the time or the effort to research this fact. They simply believed the church. Much of the debate hinged on the difference between being "born" or "created" and being "begotten". Arians saw these as essentially the same; followers of Alexander did not. The Arian concept of Christ is that the Son of God did not always exist, but was created by—and is therefore distinct from—God the Father. This belief is grounded in the Gospel of John passage "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I." (verse 14:28) Arius maintained that the Son of God was a Creature, made from nothing; and there was a time that He had no existence. Arius believed the Son Jesus was capable of His own free will of right and wrong, and that "were He in the truest sense a son, He must have come after the Father, therefore the time obviously was when He was not, and hence He was a finite being,"and was under God the Father. THE THIRD DISPUTE rose in 428AD: period of roman emperor Theodosius: During a visit to Syria, Theodosius met the preacher Nestorius and appointed him Patriarch of Constantinople in 428. Nestorius quickly became involved in the disputes of two theological factions, which differed in their Christology. Nestorius tried to find a middle ground between those that, emphasizing the fact that in Christ God had been born as a man, insisted on calling the Virgin Mary Theotokos ("birth-giver of God"), and those that rejected that title because God as an eternal being could not have been born. Nestorius, having asserted that Mary ought not to be referred to as the "Mother of God" (Theotokos in Greek, literally "God-bearer"), But suggested the title Christotokos ("birth-giver to Christ"), Though initially supported by the Emperor, Nestorius found a forceful opponent in Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria. With the consent of the Emperor and Pope Celestine I, an Ecumenical Council convened in Ephesus in 431, which affirmed the title Theotokos and condemned Nestorius, who was then exiled by the Emperor. THE FOURTH DISPUTE rose again in 448AD: Almost twenty years later, the theological dispute broke out again, this time caused by the Constantinopolitan about Eutyches, He first came to notice in 431 at the First Council of Ephesus, for his vehement opposition to the teachings of Nestorius , whose Christology was understood by some to mingle Christ's divine and human nature into one. Eutyches declared that Christ was "a fusion of human and divine elements", causing his own denunciation as a heretic twenty years after the First Council of Ephesus at the 451 AD Council of Chalcedon. Eutyches was condemned by Patriarch Flavian of Constantinople but found a powerful friend in Cyril's successor Dioscurus of Alexandria. Another council convoked to Ephesus in 449, deemed "robber synod" because of its tumultuous circumstances, restored Eutyches and deposed Flavian, who was mistreated and died shortly afterwards. Pope Leo I of Rome and many other bishops protested against the outcome, but the Emperor supported it. Only after his death in 450 would the decisions be reversed at the Council of Chalcedon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION FOR CHRISTIANS REGARDING MUHAMMAD (PBUH): WHO IS FUTURE PROPHET? And who is another comforter? And who is a future guide? Who will glorify Jesus (pbuh)? Christians must refer to their books and go back 313AD and find the true faith of the disciples of Jesus and must find out who is the another comforter as mentioned in John 14:15-17. Proof of Prophet Muhammad from the Bible: There are at least five occasions where he is prophesized. (1) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (john 14-15), (2) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. How be it when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth (John 16-12), (3) a chariot of camels (Isaiah 21:7) ; (4) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren (deut. 18: 18); (5) He shall glorify me? Do you know about all these prophesy refers to none but Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? Another Question, do you believe in Gospel of Barnabas, where Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name? Prophet like Moses!------ I will raise them up a Prophet As per Deuteronomy 18:18-19, I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. The future comforter! As per John 14 : 15-17, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;17, Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." The future guide!------Whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak Furthermore, as per John 16:12-13, " I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. How be it when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." Chariot of asses and chariot of camels The vision of Isaiah of the two riders in Isaiah 21:7: "And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels." In the above five things are mentioned: 1) A prophet like Moses and among brethren: Among their brethren: Please note among their brethren, The brethren of Israelites are descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Ishmaelites are descendants of Abraham through Ishmael. Jesus is here excluded, as he is an Israelite; otherwise it should be written "a Prophet from amongst you, and not among their brethren." Muhammad (pbuh) is in many ways like unto Moses (pbuh). If this is not accepted, then this promise has yet to be fulfilled. Like unto thee: prophet Muhammad(pbuh) is many ways similar to prophet Moses(pbuh) in terms of family life, marriage, children, death, career, encounter with enemies, forced emigration, results of encounter(winner), written down revelations in their own lives, acceptance of leadership, nature of teaching(i.e. both spiritual and legal). On the other hand all these things are against Jesus (pbuh). Therefore Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is like Moses. And this prophesy refers to him but not refers to Jesus (pbuh). 2) A guide, speak but not himself, and to the last hour. Whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, this is refers to none but to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as he was not a learned person. Whatever he hears from Gabriel he memorized and speak to people. And certainly not refers to Gabriel because he will hear from whom? Many Christians they don't know the above verses and those who know admit that these verses do not refer to Jesus himself and neither Gabriel. The future case certainly does not refer to Holy Spirit (i.e. Gabriel) as some misunderstood because he was already helping Jesus in miracles and etc. Refer to psalms 51:11 and matthew 3:16, 17; 12: 27-33). Secondly it refers to a physical body who will guide the mankind with the words of God' Allah and not a spiritual body. And secondly the Future prophesies until the last hour: Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) prophesied a lot of things which already proved true gives proof to none but him and certainly does not refers Gabriel a spiritual body telling the future events to whom? Who was that fortunate person in the history of mankind after Jesus (pbuh) spoke the future events until Qayama and declared that Gabriel informed him all those things is none other than Muhammad (pbuh). 3) Comforter: Paraclete or Periclyte Note the Christians translated the Greek word "paraclete" as comforter. But we cannot discount the opinion that what Jesus really said, in his own language of Aramaic, was nearer in meaning to the similar Greek word "Periclyte" which means "praised one". In Arabic its translation is nothing but "Muhammad" (peace be upon him). So, in the version of Bible, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name. But the Christians they may reject and argue that it was not "periclyte" but it is "paraclete" which is translated in English as above "comforter", which also conform with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as Quran says about him as "harisum alaikum" which means "solicitous for your welfare" Therefore the future case refers none but to prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as another comforter and Quran as the speech of God, and guidance to mankind to the last hour, because from the last 1400 years no one else claimed that he was a prophet and brought holy book as the speech of God. However, if you want to see the literal name of "Muhammad" in Bible, please refer to gospel of Barnabas where Muhammad is mentioned by name literally. 4) To the last hour means last prophet. Also the point to be noted here is he will be forever means for the rest of the age of mankind. It means he will be prophet until the last hour. As per Quran Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the last prophet and messenger of true God until Qiyama and prophethood is stopped. Even when Jesus(pbuh) will return he will teach Quran and will not bring another laws. 5) A chariot of camels: Who was the rider upon an ass? Every Sunday school student will know him. That was Jesus (John 12:14) "And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon as it is written." Who then is the promised rider on a camel? Bible readers have overlooked this powerful Prophet. This is Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). If this is not applied to him, then the prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. That is why Isaiah mentioned further in the same chapter (21:13): "The burden upon Arabia . . ." which means the responsibility of the Arab Muslims, and of course now of all Muslims, to spread the message of Islam. Also refer to Isaiah 21:14-17 which described the events of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Historical fact: The history shows that Deut 18:18-19, John 14: 15-17, John 16:12-13, refer to none other than Muhammad bin Abdullah, Christians admit that these do not refer to Jesus himself and the premature identification of the "paraclete " with the holy spirit is untenable in view of other verses of the bible . Furthermore no one else has come as a prophet giving due recognition to the mission of Jesus (he shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine.....) (John 16:14). No one else led mankind into "all truth" (john 16:13). only one man has received god's revelation since the time of Jesus, and only one man stands as counsellor and advocate ("paraclete) for mankind for all the ages to come, praised ("periclyte') be god and some 1600 millions of the human family! He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine.....(John 16:14) We Muslims love and respect Jesus (pbuh) as equal to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) more than Christians themselves. Therefore as such we glorify him as mentioned in the verse of bible! We glorify his mother Mary as well where as Jews slandered and abuse her. This is the fact about us which is prophesied in the Bible. We Muslims don't differentiate between Muhammad (pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh) (Quran 2:285; 2:253) and also not between any two other prophets, all were chosen prophets of God with the common mission but please note God had bestowed different favours' upon them such as God spoke to Moses(pbuh) directly and He elevated Muhammad (pbuh) above the heavens to a location (sidratul muntaha-lote tree in Miraj) where none reached before and He made Jesus(pbuh) speak in the cradle and lifted alive to the heavens but he will return(it means he is still alive in the heavens), He assigned mountains to sing the praises of God along prophet David(pbuh) and He declared Abraham(pbuh) as His friend etc. Friendship with God is a worthy goal. Jesus said, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15: 14). Too many are the enemies of God (Jas. 4: 4). Abraham(pbuh) was God's friend because of the quality of the character he possessed. He obeyed every order of God with zero reluctance. Are you a friend of God? The way to determine friendship with Jesus(pbuh), as we have seen, is in our obeying the commandments of God (John 15: 14). Asked another way, are you obeying the things Jesus commands? If you do so then only you will be a true believer and a friend of Jesus (pbuh). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- · THE FIRST PERSON WHO ACCEPTED MUHAMMAD (PBUH) ---IS NONE OTHER THAN A Catholic priest a Christian! The first person among Men very after his wife who believed and recognized Muhammad (pbuh) as a future prophet, which was already prophesized in the holy Bible is none other than a Christian a Catholic priest. His name was "Waraqa bin Naufal", the paternal uncle of Khadija(the first wife of prophet Muhammad(pbuh)). Please note his wife Khadijah was 55 years old and our beloved prophet was around 40 at the time of first revelation. According to some sources, Waraqa was a Catholic priest, living in Mecca, and one who had made detailed studies of the gospels and the Old Testament scriptures. Muslims tradition maintains that Waraqa was one of the believers in the Age of Ignorance, meaning that he was a believer before the prophecy of Muhammad (pbuh). Waraqa would frequently contemplate and pray at the Kaaba and began to read the Biblical texts in their original language and even learned to read Hebrew. When the first revelation had been revealed, Lady khadija( radhi Allahu anhu) took him to waraqa and he recognized his call to prophecy as authentic and tradition recounts Waraqa saying: "That is the same angel whom Allah sent to the Prophet Moses. Should I live till you receive the Divine Message, I will support you strongly."(Bukhari 4.605) Please note the most interesting thing in that is he wished to support him during his prophethood and thus he overshadows about the persecution and therefore he said if I lived I would support him strongly. But he died before Muhammad (pbuh) appeared and declared as a last prophet of Islam. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was questioned about Waraqah and Khadijah said to him, "He believed in you, but died before you appeared as a prophet." Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) then said, "I was shown him in a dream, wearing white clothes, and if he had been one of the inhabitants of Hell he would have been wearing different clothing."( (Tirmidhi 4623). Please note he was a true believer and not like today's Christians who follow Mr. Paul and believe in crucifixion, Trinity and pictures, But he joined the group of 12 disciples and Barnabas, and early Christians, and the seven sleepers and the Arians" such as Eusebius of Nicomedia and Eusebius of Caesarea and the First Great Christian King Ashama(Negus) of Ethiopia who don't consider Jesus(pbuh) as son of God and believed in the future prophet Muhammad(pbuh) insha'allah will enter into paradise. On the other hand anyone from the people of Christians who said Allah is one of the three is not a believer but a disbeliever (Q5:72) and anyone who reject the future prophet as prophesied in the holy Bible that refers to none but Muhammad (pbuh) is as if he reject the whole law and thus he becomes a disbeliever! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE DEMAND OF LOVE! Remember! As per John 14: 15, Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." If you really love Jesus then follow his commandments and accept Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as last and final prophet of Islam that will give you life and true salvation. ------------------------------------------ Note: The above explanation and headings have been compiled by me. If you have, any doubt and questions in this regard send an email to me. I sincerely invite to my fellow Christian brothers towards the fold of Islam and that is only the true salvation. Thank you Yours brother in Islam Abdul Hameed khan |
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