IslamOnline.net & Newspapers
CAIRO — Christian missionaries in Malaysia are using verses of the Noble Qur’an about Jesus in an effort to preach Christianity to Muslims in the south Asian country.
“You aren’t criticizing Muhammad or any other prophets,” David Garrison, a Christian missionary, told The New York Times on Saturday, March 13.
“Just raising Jesus up.”
Garrison uses a strategy called “Camel Method”, which involves using Quranic verses about Jesus to convert Muslims to Christianity.
In one case, the missionary speaks with Muslims about the miraculous birth of Jesus.
“Do you know of any other prophets born of a virgin?” the missionary asks Muslims.
Muslims believe in Jesus as one of the great Prophets of God.
He is the son of Mary but not the Son of God. He was conceived and born miraculously.
This miracle is a sign to all that God has power to do anything He wills. This is similar to God's creation of Adam without a father or a mother.
In the Noble Qur’an, Jesus is called "Isa". He is also known as Al-Masih (the Christ) and Ibn Maryam (Son of Mary).
As for his crucifixion, Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified but was lifted up to heaven.
God Gift
In other cases, missionaries speak about Jesus miracles mentioned in the Qur’an to persuade Muslims that he was more than a prophet.
“It (Qur’an) says in that passage that Isa would be able to cleanse the leper, even raise the dead," Garrison said.
"At that point in the conversation with Muslims, we say, ‘Isn’t it interesting that Isa had this tremendous power that God gave to him? Even death was under his power.’
“Then you ask the question, ‘Is there any other prophet that had this kind of power?’ And in Islam, there isn’t.”
In Islam, different messengers were sent with different gifts, as they needed to speak to their own people in a way that would attract them and help them to understand.
The special gift of Jesus was that that he could perform miracles.
Being able to perform miracles, though, didn't make him equal to God.
Everything he did was by God's leave, to teach the people of Israel about God Himself. Even these miracles, though, were not enough to convince them.
Muslims believe that Jesus will come back to earth before the end of time to restore peace and order, fight the Anti-Christ (Al-Masih Al-Dajjal) and bring victory for truth and righteousness.
The true followers of Jesus will prevail over those who deny him, misrepresent him and reject him.
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