Regarding Judaism and Christianity being defective variants of Islam
Reader comment on item: Islam and Islamism - Faith and Ideology

Submitted by Ihsan Ayyub Qazi (Pakistan), Feb 11, 2005 at 06:28

Assalam o Alaikum [Peace be on You],

According to my understanding of Islam, Judaism and Christianity are not defective variants of Islam. The literal meaning of the word Muslim is one who submits his will to God, hence the Holy Quran refers to the Prophets as muslims including Prophet Abrahan, Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus and others. The Jews [who were muslims i.e. submitted their will to God] were given a special position and many Prophets of God were sent to their nation. When they continued to disobey the commandments given by God [the details can be read from Bible and from the Quran especially in the early portion of Surah Baqarah], there special position was taken back. So I don't think it is appropriate to term Judaism as a defective variant of Islam. It would be more approriate to say that all these religions follow the same basic tradition. As far as Chritianity is concerned, the Quran hold the view that they went astray. They believed Prophet Jesus to be God's only begotten son and hence also God. This is sharply contrasting to the views held Islam and Judaism who are very strict about attributed of God. It is mentioned in the Quran that God is one, He is Absolute and Eternal, He begets not nor is He begotten and there is none unto like Him. Exactly similar is the point of view held by the Jews. It is also quite surprising that there isn'y a single unequivocal statement in the Bible in which Prophet Jesus said worship me and I am God. So these are the differences. As far as the hertigae is concerned the Jews and Christians are our cousins. And we hope to engage with them in dialogue because we share the same goal --> that is to find the truth.

Ihsan

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