Friday, 31 October 2008
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Can Christians Acknowledge Muhammad As a Prophet?
Guest submitted by irishgrrl690
My father and I both think that Muhammad was a prophet. I know that in itself isn't so strange, but my mother says that no "good" Christian would believe that Muhammad was a prophet and, much less, had the ear of God. I don't see why that's not possible and I also don't see why we can't acknowledge Islam's prophet when they acknowledge all of ours.
This is one of those ongoing debates that my dad and I have with my mom. We believe in some non-biblical, spiritual concepts like reincarnation and also that Muhammad was a pretty awesome prophet who (if nothing else) preached similar ideals to Judeo-Christianity. To mother, these two beliefs are practically blasphemy. So maybe I'm not Lutheran--although that's how I worship and live? I'm a Christian Spiritualist? I think it's ridiculous that she considers me UN-Christian even though I still believe in Christ as the Son of God. Isn't the that whole point of being called a Christian?
We still only pray to capital-g-o-d. Just because my dad and I take a more theologically open-minded approach to it doesn't make us heathens; it makes us henotheistic and I don't see why that's a problem. Early Jews and Christians were also henotheistic. You can do this (in my opinion) insofar as you also follow the rule of your religion: worship no other gods before me. Just because I acknowledge Muhammad as a prophet (the last one) doesn't mean I now worship a different God. So, can someone explain to me how this is un-Christian? Because I don't get it.
Is it possible for God to have spoken through Muhammad? Can you be a Christian and acknowledge Muhammad as a true prophet?
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Comments (169)
@Sumita - These are wise words--thank you.
@AnchoressNun@xanga - I guess you could say I'm shopping around? It's not that Jesus, or Christianity, isn't enough, but I don't want to limit myself and my beliefs. It's a scholarly search as well as a spiritual one.
@MrDrStAndrew@xanga - I ... don't think I understand your reasoning. :-/ I'm not acknowledging Mohammed just because Islam calls Jesus a prophet--it's not a favor, if that's what you're saying. I like Islam's inclusion of earlier Judeo-Christian beliefs and I think many of their evolving ideologies on those early ones are also appealing.
@PeaceInTheLight - Thank you for your input (and definitions of terms that I not encountered yet in my search!). You make a good point, and I agree that I'm still trying to understand God which is why I'm searching in other religions for an expanded version of his vision. Love you neighbor as yourself is a central religion in most of the big religions... and I think it's important that people notice this central teaching as a common thread--it's what lead me to inquire elsewhere, a safe beginning and whatnot.
@perhaps_krisdoes@xanga - Thanks for the discussion offer! In the end, that's really all I'm looking for (be careful what you ask for! haha). We'll see where this all leads... I'm kind of shocked and grateful for the response as is.
(this comment is addressed to the commenters in general, not exactly the poster)
Okay. Muslim here.
2 cents: our belief is that God revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him, abbreviated pbuh which is standard respect to put after his name) his final message to mankind, and it is the Qur'an. Above I saw many people say that Muhammad's (pbuh) message contradicts christianity completely and is evil.
If you really care to know, read the Qur'an.
In it you'll find that through Muhammad God repeats again and again how people must be good and worship only one God, in order so that they may purify their souls.
The declaration of faith in Islam is "There is no God but God"
no stealing. cheating. lying.
i don't know how you could believe the message came from anyone evil.
learn about Muhammad's (pbuh) character. Who he was.
But only if you care to know the facts.
If you'd prefer to only base your impression of this Prophet (pbuh) and Islam on unreliable sources (ie anything but the Qur'an and reading about the life of the Prophet (pbuh)) that is your choice.
After all that's what its all about in life right, Free Will.
If you don't want to educate yourself, that is your choice. Peace be upon you either way.
@no_more_grace@xanga - And as a Muslim, I believe that we worship the same God, the one and only. Personally, I respect your religious beliefs and would never impose my own beliefs on yours, of course.
And as for Jesus being God, that's one point that we Muslims disagree on mainly because to us, there is no God but the One and Only and the prophets are merely the messengers of God. We don't give any prophet more of a higher status than the others. To us they are all created equally and have brought forth the same message to humankind. You see we believe that prophet Jesus could not be God, since God is the almighty. To give God an equal....well how is He the One and Only then? Wouldn't that mean that there is more than one god? So in that regard, we believe prophets are just that, the messengers of God.
Also the old testament, did mention Muhammad's forthcoming. He is mentioned as "Ahmed." Perhaps you could look it up. So, if a Christian wants to believe Muhammad was a prophet, great. After all, we believe that Jesus was a prophet
@PeaceInTheLight - What kind of church do you go to?
@Evowookiee@xanga - Just the idea of co-existing.
@irishgrrl690@xanga - "I'm trying to say, that I DON'T FOLLOW ISLAM! Not at all. I only believe in Mohammed words in the context of Christianity. "
That sounds fine to me. Where Mohammad spoke things that are in line with Christian doctrine, he spoke truth. But that doesn't necessarily make him a prophet. George Washington, MLK Jr., heck, even Charles Manson (gasp) spoke true things during their lives. Doesn't make them prophets though.
Having right-sounding ideas about the world, social justice, or humankind does not make someone a prophet necessarily. But just because (as I believe) Mohammad was not a prophet, does NOT mean he never spoke one ounce of truth!
...However, just saying true things does not make someone a prophet. Take the truth, but be careful what you listen to.
Do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.
~1 Thessalonians 5:20-21
My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.
~1 John 4:1
@nicolevw@xanga - Well, see, the absolute truth for me is not the same as the absolute truth for someone else. I am still Christian. But I'm not going to run around beating my chest and disparaging others or their religion. This is my way of respecting the differences in this world.
I always found semantics very useful - go figure, I'm the daughter of a couple of linguists. ;)
@grace_is_amazing - Hullo. The pastor I mentioned is a Methodist pastor from the church where I grew up. Admittedly, though, few in the congregation share his ecumenism. Currently, I attend the Society of Friends (Quaker) Meeting in my university's town.
I like the selections of Paul you chose.
Peace,
Caleb
The real question is who he was a prophet of. We understand that there are only 2 kinds of people (or prophets) either you are a child of God or a child of Satan. So we could certainly admit that he was a prophet of Satan leading people astray and to Hell with belief in his doctrine. So the answer to your question is yes he was a prophet. The prophets of Baal who confronted Elijah on the Mount Carmel in 1 Kings were similar prophets.
Islam IS very similar to Christianity. Ive been a Christian for a long time now but for the past six month or so have looked very much into Islam. I really don't think anyone can say much about one religion or the other unless you've read what each considers a Holy Book. Im not sure if you can accept Mohammad as a prophet if you believe Christianity 100% bc Christianity does preach that Jesus is God in flesh and Mohammad preached that Jesus was not God and people twisted his words. Mohammad taught that Jesus was only a prophet and that if Jesus was also God then how could people worship both? If you examine the Bible very carefully without your faith perspective you will notice nowhere does Jesus say worship me. He is speaking for God so they are God's words. And the word "trinity" is only found once. And most Bible's are supposed to clue you in to the fact that a man put that word in there, but most do not. You can research it for yourselves.but you really shouldnt bash a faith unless youve really learned it. plus if you were a good Jew, Christian, or Muslim its a pretty standard rule to love your enemies :)
@moritheil@xanga - What Mohammed taught about Jesus was that he was a prophet of God but not his son.
@elgaberino@xanga - saying stuff ignorantly makes me wonder how much biased and ignorant one can be
if someone truly/sincerely want to know from AUTHENTIC sources the answers OR WHY AND WHAT ISLAM TEACHES, then please go to http://www.islamic-awareness.org/
you do not have to believe that islam is the truth but making false accusations.....SAD SAD THING TO DO
To you be your Way, and to me mine
Chapter 109 verse 006 QURAN
@madiha - which of my points are those which with you take issue? I am genuinely curious, and did not knowingly make any false accusations. I speak from a knowledge of Christianity; the differences presented by Islam are more acquired for me. Any more light you can shed on the differences/similarities would be welcome. My main purpose was to show that Muhammad cannot be a prophet of the Christian faith, which is confirmed by your response to moritheil@xanga. If in that pursuit I implied things that are untrue, I welcome correction.
@elgaberino@xanga - There are quite too many points that you raised without giving any resources or references. Let me just start with two
1False Prophecy. Christianity further dictates that a prophet should be considered false if his prophecies prove false. Many of Muhammad's prophecies never happened or were proven wrong, including the year he predicted the Muslims would enter Mecca, and the destruction of Medina and the coming of the Antichrist seven months after the conquest of Constantinople.
Can you tell me which prophecies are your talking about that did not come true, (please can you quote me his (hadith) saying where he said antichrist will come seven months after the conquest of Constantinople.
I really have to know the resources you have relied your knowledge upon. I have yet to come accross a hadith or tradition which says that prophet muhammad said antichrist would come 7 months after the conquest of constantinople. Also the predcition that muslims would enter Mecca, to my knowledge and historical facts, Muslims did conquer makkah and to this day muslims are the ones incharge of the area. This brings me to another accusation you made that
Forced Conversions. Last but not least, Jesus taught that believers should accept violence against themselves, and be gentle. There is no room for forceful religious conquests, which is why Christians understand that the crusades and the conquistadors were patently wrong. Christ's gospel was relational, dealing with the value of individual lives. Muhammad, however, was a sociopolitical theorist, not an arbiter of the indwelling work of God in individual people's lives, so he taught the opposite of Jesus, to convert people by force and fear, killing those who refuse to convert.
WHEN WHERE did Muhammad force anyone to convert to Islam? can you give me ur refernce??? Can you tell me which muslim army is responsible for the spread of islam in the US? forget about US, how about china? indonasia? malaysia? which muslim army went their to force them to become muslims??
How come if muhammad was so cruel and forcefull, he could not force his dying (non muslim) uncle whom he dearly love to convert to Islam??
GOD says: “Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error. Whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 256]
Allah says: “If it had been your Lord’s will, all of the people on Earth would have believed. Would you then compel the people so to have them believe?” [Sûrah Yûnus: 99]
Allah says: “So if they dispute with you, say ‘I have submitted my whole self to Allah, and so have those who follow me.’ And say to the People of the Scripture and to the unlearned: ‘Do you also submit yourselves?’ If they do, then they are on right guidance. But if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message. And in Allah’s sight are all of His servants.” [Sûrah Âl `Imrân: 20]
Allah says: “The Messenger’s duty is but to proclaim the Message.” [Sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 99]
Well, I dont quite see it like that. Imagine god was the top of a mountain, and all humans at the bottom. DIfferent people choose different routes to reach God, hence come Judaism,christianity and Islam, the abrahamic faiths. But that doesnt necessarily make them wrong. I dont like the idea you are sending of either being right or wrong. Just because you're different that doesnt mean youre wrong or 'worshipping the devil'.
I would like the christian explanation for what will happen to all of the souls of the people who died before Jesus was born. Since accepting Jesus as your "lord and Savior" and that heaven is only for those who accept the Trinity what happens to them for eternity? Purgatory? Is God so unjust as to punish believers and followers by preventing them from entering heaven after total submission to Him just because of the time at which they were born? I believe God is the most just and merciful. He must be a different God than the Christians have.
well I'm not saying, Muhammad was an agent of evil trying to liure us but he may have been misguided. maybe he never even existed! I personally don't beleive in reincaraiton though. dude seriosuly, we onlt get one life and purgatory possibyl exists for repenting chrisitans after God's judgement (I don't know.) U'm contamterpoy christian with some covnerstaive beleifs (homosexuality is a sin) but that does'nt make ohmsoexuals evil people. Jesus is the only path to heaven. howeve,r at least the islamic faith is montehsitc, so it might be easier to get accept to Jesus then wiccas(I like hp, but real life wicca is unaccepatable.0 There are Jewish christians (I sitll condier htem christian but they aaccet the old and testament law and soem the oldteast meants make intso in toe newta,ent nad hte new ten commandements are usmmed in the new teastment, love God and your neighbor, I'm not sure about the sabbath) but yeah but I don't accept Muhammad as a prophet. I cna sitl lse msyslefing being close friends(not daitng) with people of other faiths (I don't menas protestants not daitng bpatiss for ex) and praying for the, .. I am rriends with christisans some who are devout and some beleive in God, and Jesus and the devil being evil, in heaven and hell, and beleive Marliy Mansino is aidiot and possibly going for burign the bile(he gives goths a band ame toughe hes' not there are goths woh are devot christians. they rock. I dres preppy bu y mts stlye has rocker infleucens as welland I like goth stuff but normal stuff) I do pary for themt become more devout. but yeah.
well christians i have some quistoins for you and i want you really to answer them rationally.
1- the Bible was re-written by many authers. they cahnged everything in it depending in what they like or they dont. so its not the words of god anymore, so how you make your believes based on the fales BIble?
2- second, jesus wasnt the son of god, he is a prophet like there were alot before him, we believe in him, in the original Bibel there was the prophecy of a prophet who will come after jesus, who is Mohamed. and Mohamed just contonued the same of jesus message which is to worship the one and the only God, Allah, we believe in your prophet sp why dont you believe in ours?
3- you claim that jesus was killed and by whom by his people you chistians , does it make a sense that a person would kill his god. is it possible that a god ( as you called jesus) can be killed? think a little
Mohammed was an agent of the devil. He was a pedifile and murderer. He was deranged, and no Christian would ever call him a prophet of God. Perhaps a prophet of Satan, but never God. Mohammed broke countless commandments and was a wild man.
http://healtheland.wordpress.com/2007/07/07/the-requirements-for-the-office-of-a-prophet/
Biblical requirements of a prophet:
1. A prophet must be an Israelite. (Born again Bible - adhering Christians, being spiritual Israel, thereby qualify)
2. Prophets must speak not of their own accord or in their own name or any other, but in the Name of the Lord only.
3. Prophecies must be consistent with prior revelation.
4. Prophecies must not encourage idolatry or any other sin.
5. All prophecies must come true.