“O you who believe! Fear Allah and believe in the messenger; He will give you a double share of His mercy, and will provide for you a light wherein you will walk, and grant you forgiveness. And verily Allah is the Master of immense grace. That the people of the book may not think that they (Muslims) have no power to attain aught of the grace of Allah, whereas all grace is in the hands of Allah. He gives it to whomsoever He pleases. And Allah is the Master of immense grace” Q57: 28-29.

Mr. Roland in his article with the above title tries to prove that Jesus is messianic king who would rule all the world for ever said: “ Quranic account of Jesus’ birth implies a meaningful link between  messiah and king”. Later he linked the meaning of messiah to king from what was written above the head of crucified Jesus, i.e. ‘king of the Jews’. That one is sweet and suits their claim but they will not claim any of the odd names with which he was called in the same Bible.

The meaning of messiah is nothing but anointed which was wrought on Jesus by a woman (Matthew 26: 7-13). It is quite symbolical! But it matters not who is anointed as in the practice of Prophets, kings and men of God (1 Chronicle 16: 22). Muslims do believe in second coming of IsaAS. No doubt true Christ we know was never a king at any time and he did not bag the title in the Quran. He would need to wait for his time before he can, and then, even he bags it, he would use it to correct and complement the state of Islam he would be meeting on ground by then and condemn and destroy those fake religions.  This of course can not make Christ unique in his world wide ruling as a Muslim, as he will only be benefiting  from already completed mission of Prophet MuhammadSAW , which is being bastardized by Christians and corrupted by bad Muslims. It is this repair work that Christ is coming to do. MuhammadSAW has ruled the world earlier and his impact is still being felt on every creature in the world today. Allah says: “We sent thee not (O Muhammad) but as a mercy for all creatures” Q21: 107. “We have sent thee but to all mankind giving them glad tidings and warning them, but most men know not” Q34: 28. It is because most men especially Christians know not or do not believe  this facts about MuhammadSAW and how true Islam is that will warrant the coming of Christ to further clarify the message, clear the disbelief and absolve himself of false attributes and wrong teachings put on him by his so-called followers. This will last for seven years and when this is done it will be all over.

No uniqueness among the Prophets (Q2: 136) but there is greatness. Prophet MuhammadSAW has achieved world wide ruler, king of kings far-far earlier before Christ will come to assume it. By this again there can be no uniqueness but of greatness. Prophet MuhammadSAW is no doubt greater than Jesus, that was the reason why Jesus foretold his mission (John 16: 12-13; Q61: 6) and acknowledged by John the Baptize (John 1: 19-23). See (‘The 100: A Ranking of Most Influential Persons in History’ by Michael H. Hart). Islam is the essence of every Prophet mission and that of true Christ can not be an exception. The word of peace that greeted the true Christ message and his insistent on one God are germane to Islam. It may therefore be too late for any Christian to wait for messianic king to come before the case is settled. 

Salvation inspires rejoicing! Mr. Roland under this sub topic, after praising his Lord-Jesus as saviour/salvation of God, then concluded: “Points to ponder especially for Muslim readers:

• Did you notice that God’s power to save- salvation is hardly mentioned in the writings of Muslim scholars much less in the 99 names of Allah? Notice particular how the name saviour is omitted!

• Have you ever noticed that there seems to be a note of joy missing in the Muslim worship in contrast to biblical worship?”  

In his gyration about salvation, Mr. Roland hit an important undeniable Islamic fact as he says: “salvation is closely linked to mercy…is it appropriate to apply these twin traits (merciful, rescuer) to our discussion? Is it not true that an act of mercy would inspire exuberant joy?”

Each chapter of  the Quran is opened with or contain the words ‘In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent the Merciful’ and of the 99 names of Allah are attributes such as As-Salam-The Sources of Peace; Al-Aziz- The Mighty; Al-Gafur-The Most Forgiving; Al-Adl-The Just; Al-Mujib-The Answerer of Prayer; Al-Wadud-The Loving; Al-Muhyi-The Life Giver; Al-Hafiz-The Guidance; An-Nur-The light; Al-Afuww- The Effacer of sins among others, all of which are integral part of salvation. One wonders how can Muslims have these and yet be telling them there is no name of saviour in their book.

Salvation is not just an ordinary one word as it looks but a composite of many things that has to do with rightful survival of man in this world against sins/evils and his ultimate protection from the consequence thereof-hell in the hereafter. At the end of these, stand Allah attributes which are composites of salvation. Remove any of the above attributes from salvation or its cause, and you will have failure and destruction. Muslim writers of cause can not busy manipulating words of salvation as we have it in Christianity but no book or talk of Muslim scholars is without the deeds towards salvation and inheriting the Paradise as stated in the Quran. That is what concern Muslims not grammatical and diabolic exercise.

Allah says: “Successful indeed are the believers. Those who…these will be the heirs, who will inherit Paradise” Q23: 1-11 and says: “… Paradise is the ultimate triumph” Q61: 10-12; Q5: 119. Meanwhile what is said not present in the Quran is there but for the disease of their hearts! Allah says: “Say it is Allah who deliver you from these and all distress, and yet you worship false gods” Q6: 64. “…thus it is incumbent upon Us to save those who believe” Q10: 103. “But Allah will deliver the righteous for they have earned salvation. No evil shall touch them nor shall they grieve” Q39: 61. “Allah has taken upon Himself to show mercy…” Q6: 12. What is the meaning of all these to you Christians?

Does it not perplex Christians that in the Bible, the word ‘salvation’ or ‘saviour’ did not just for once come out of Jesus’ mouth, let alone anything similar to any of the above quranic statement of salvation. All what we have in the Bible as reference to salvation is third party report; it is much rhetoric than reality or experienced. No wonder why Jesus denied the vital element that can confirm him as merciful lord or saviour. He denied of been ‘good’ (Mark10: 17-21). If you remove goodness from merciful or rescuer what else remain? Is Jesus truly a saviour?

‘Note of joy missing in Muslim worship in contrast to biblical worship’? Yes! Physically it seems so but spiritually it is not! This is what Allah says of our worship: “Those who believe in Our signs … and fall down prostrate and glorify Allah … and call on their Lord in fear and hope… for such, no soul knows what joy of the eyes is kept hidden for them as a reward for their deeds” Q32: 15-17. As a faith, Islam is more internal than outward. It builds and polishes inner self better than outer appearance. So Muslims’ joy is internal not external that is been celebrated by Christians. In Muslims’ salat, which is the peak and true mode of all worships, our joy lies in seeking Allah’s pleasure and is achieved and we are pleased and satisfied with that. Moreover, not in salat only, but all a Muslim life is considered worship so far it is based on Allah’s piety and in accordance with sunnah of the Prophet. By these, we find our pleasure; we are happy and satisfied at the bottom of our hearts. “Those who believe, and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah; for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” Q13: 28.  That is the result of salat, it is no 1 mode of Allah remembrance and through it, “… Allah is well pleased with them (Muslims) and they are well pleased with Him” Q98: 8; Q89: 27-30.

Does it not embarrass Christians that this Muslim worship that seems a note of joy is missing in it, is the same observed by all the Prophets in the Bible including their lord-god Jesus! No note of joy in Jesus worship (Matthew 26:39-44); no note of joy in Moses and Aaron worship (Number20: 6); no note of joy in great grand father of Jesus-David worship (Psalm 95: 6-7); no note of joy in Ezra and his people worship (Nehemiah 8: 4-6); no note of joy in Abraham worship (Genesis17:3); and no note of joy in Angels worship (Revelation 7:11). In fact the condition of Lord’s prayer recommended by Jesus in Matthew 6: 1-8, did not allow note of joy. Then where is the joy? Where the ‘note of joy’ like the one usually seeing in churches of today is found in the bible, it was cursed by God (Amos 5: 21-24; Ezekiel 25: 6-7)!  Would you prefer that? 

Mr. Roland raised the 4th issue saying: “Do you realize that the title given to Jesus in the Bible ‘king of kings and lord of lords’ is at odds with the Quran…the doctrine that God could become man is unthinkable to Muslims”.

Yes! Just as is to Muslims and the Quran and hadith likewise is at odd against itself and many facts in the same bible! A few questions for a Christian like Mr. Roland who believe in such oddities are:

• when Jesus said “why call me Good, none is Good except One and that is God” Mark 10: 18, was he still referring to himself?

• After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptize “a voice came from heaving saying this is my beloved son in whom am well pleased…”Matthew 3: 16-17. Whose voice was this if that same God has transformed to Jesus?

• When Jesus said “You have neither hear His (God) voice at any time nor seen his shape” John5: 37, was he not denying himself of any similarity with True God let alone His incarnate?

Jesus at any time did not say he his God incarnate and we read: “I am God and there is no one else. In a place of concealment I spoke not in the dark place of the earth…”Isaiah 45: 18-19. Could this be the same Jesus who ran into the bush when trying to escape death (John 11: 54). And is that the habit of the Supreme Being?

“Surely the masihu (true Christ) will never disdain to be a servant of Allah…” Q4: 172.

May Allah make acceptance of the truth easy for you!