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[3:45] The angels said, “O Mary, GOD gives you good news: a Word from Him whose name is ‘The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary.’ He will be prominent in this life and in the Hereafter, and one of those closest to Me. [3:55] Thus, GOD said, “O Jesus, I am terminating your life, raising you to Me, and ridding you of the disbelievers. I will exalt those who follow you above those who disbelieve, till the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is the ultimate destiny of all of you, then I will judge among you regarding your disputes.
The Quran also names churches as being among those places of worship where God’s name is frequently commemorated. [22:40] They were evicted from their homes unjustly, for no reason other than saying, “Our Lord is GOD.” If it were not for GOD’s supporting of some people against others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and masjids―where the name of GOD is commemorated frequently―would have been destroyed. Absolutely, GOD supports those who support Him. GOD is Powerful, Almighty.
We know that the Christians departed from Jesus’ own teachings in their adoration and veneration of Jesus. His instructions were lost or corrupted, and claims were brought forth which he never said for himself. After he passed away, he was elevated to be a son of God and then a third of a Trinity and then God Himself.
[19:88-93] They said, “The Most Gracious has begotten a son!” You have uttered a gross blasphemy. The heavens are about to shatter, the earth is about to tear asunder, and the mountains are about to crumble. Because they claim that the Most Gracious has begotten a son. It is not befitting the Most Gracious that He should beget a son. Every single one in the heavens and the earth is a servant of the Most Gracious.
We are told: You Shall Not Make Any Distinction Among God’s Messengers
[2:285] The messenger has believed in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and so did the believers. They believe in GOD, His angels, His scripture, and His messengers: “We make no distinction among any of His messengers.” They say, “We hear, and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord. To You is the ultimate destiny.”
A true Muslim cannot say that “our prophet” (Muhammad) was better than Jesus. Similarly, no true Christian can say that “his Jesus” was better than any other prophet.
All prophets and messengers called to the one true faith – Submission to God alone (Islam). Submission: The Only Religion [3:19] The only religion approved by GOD is “Submission.” Ironically, those who have received the scripture are the ones who dispute this fact, despite the knowledge they have received, due to jealousy. For such rejectors of GOD’s revelations, GOD is most strict in reckoning. They had one mission, to worship God alone and reject all other gods and deities. God is the only One worthy of worship.
God tells us what Jesus will say on the Day of Resurrection. [5:116-118] GOD will say, “O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Make me and my mother idols beside GOD’?” He will say, “Be You glorified. I could not utter what was not right. Had I said it, You already would have known it. You know my thoughts, and I do not know Your thoughts. You know all the secrets. “I told them only what You commanded me to say, that: ‘You shall worship GOD, my Lord and your Lord.’ I was a witness among them for as long as I lived with them. When You terminated my life on earth, You became the Watcher over them. You witness all things. “If You punish them, they are Your constituents. If You forgive them, You are the Almighty, Most Wise.”
What does the Quran say about the basic characteristics of Christians?
[3:113-114] They are not all the same; among the followers of the scripture, there are those who are righteous.
They recite GOD’s revelations through the night, and they fall prostrate. They believe in GOD and the Last Day, they advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and they hasten to do righteous works. These are the righteous.
[3:199] Surely, some followers of the previous scriptures do believe in GOD, and in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed to them. They reverence GOD, and they never trade away GOD’s revelations for a cheap price. These will receive their recompense from their Lord. GOD is the most efficient in reckoning.
[5:83-85] When they hear what was revealed to the messenger, you see their eyes flooding with tears as they recognize the truth therein, and they say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so count us among the witnesses. “Why should we not believe in GOD, and in the truth that has come to us, and hope that our Lord may admit us with the righteous people?” GOD has rewarded them for saying this; He will admit them into gardens with flowing streams. They abide therein forever. Such is the reward for the righteous.
The Christians who are righteous and humble get a special status. [5:82] You will find that the worst enemies of the believers are the Jews and the idol worshipers. And you will find that the closest people in friendship to the believers are those who say, “We are Christian.” This is because they have priests and monks among them, and they are not arrogant.
The people of the Scripture are mentioned because God wants us to interrelate with them and be nice to them. [29:46] Do not argue with the people of the scripture (Jews, Christians, & Muslims) except in the nicest possible manner―unless they transgress― and say, “We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and our god and your god is one and the same; to Him we are submitters.”
If we communicate and understand one another better, the consequent
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