Response to Imam who converts to Christianity

#Imam #Convert #Christianity

A video has circulated on WhatsApp over the last few years showing clips of an Imam who converted to Christianity in India. There are many points he has raised. I have responded to some of those points in this video.

00:00 Introductory Remarks
00:56 First clip of Convert
3:30 Frequency of appearance of names of Jesus (as) and Muhammad (sa) in the Quran
4:49 Jesus never says "I am God"
5:25 Why is Jesus (as) mentioned more than Muhammad (sa)?
6:12 Why is Mary mentioned in the Quran and not the mother of Muhammad (sa)?
7:44 Second clip of Convert
8:33 Why is Jesus called Kalimatullah and Roohullah and no one else?
12:06 Biblical References where people have the Spirit of God
12:55 Jesus is one among many sons of God
13:20 "Word of God" is only in the beginning of the Gospel of John
14:20 Third clip of Convert
15:14 Is the Quran the eternal Word of God?

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Allegation #1
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The name of Jesus appears 25 times in the Quran but the name of Prophet Muhammad (sa) appears only 4 times

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Response
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The Quran is a guidance for the righteous. It takes names of Prophets on the basis of need. Prophet Jospeh (as) has an entire chapter dedicated to his story. Following this methodology, should Prophet Joseph (as) now be considered greater than Prophet Jesus (as)?

Similarly, in the Bible, there is no verse where Jesus himself says, "I am God; worship me". There are zero occurrences where Jesus says this. Should Christians stop believing this because this statement has zero occurrences?

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Allegation #2
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Why is Mary mentioned in the Quran but not the parents of Prophet Muhammad (sa)?

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Response
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As mentioned above, the Quran is a book of guidance. It is not a book of history. She is mentioned because the Quran is refuting the allegations made against her by her opponents. Her critics question her chasteness and the Quran defends her. No such critics exist for the parents of Prophet Muhammad (sa).

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Allegation #3
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Jesus Christ is called "Kalimatullah" (Word of Allah) in the Quran and Muhammad (sa) is not.

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Response
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There are many "Kalimaat" or Words of Allah. See 18:110:

Say, [b]‘If the ocean became ink for the words of my Lord, surely, the ocean would be exhausted before the words of my Lord came to an end, even though We brought the like thereof as further help.’

Should we now believe that all these words are 'God' in some way?
Furthermore, Jesus Christ has been called "word of God" by an anonymous author of the Gospel of John. Where does Jesus himself say, "I am the Word of God"?

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Allegation #4
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Jesus Christ (as) is called the "Roohullah" (Spirit of Allah) in the Holy Quran and Muhammad (sa) is not

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Response
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Having the Spirit or "Rooh" of Allah is a common phrase both in the Quran and the Bible. Having the Spirit is not specific to Jesus. If this makes Jesus a unique 'God', then what about all others who also have the Spirit of God?

For instance, the Quran 32:10 says: "Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His spirit". Similarly, see the following references in the Bible:

- Ezekiel 37:14
- Genesis 41:38
- Exodus 35:30-31
- 1 Corinthians 7:40

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Allegation #5
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God created the world through His Word. Hence, His Word is separate from God and is eternal. This "Word" is Jesus.

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Response
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This argument is often made by other Christians as well that Muslims call the Quran the word of God and it should be seen as separate from God Himself. Hence, the Word and God are two in one.

The problem with this argument is that it is a play on words. The word of God (according to Muslims) is the Quran. This word comes from the knowledge of God which is one of His attributes. The attributes of God are eternal just like His being. These attributes cannot be seen as separate from God. They are simply His characteristics or attributes that describe who He is. Distinguishing between God and His attributes is a logical absurdity and a silly argument.

Furthermore, the idea of a "word of God" is discussed only in the Gospel of John by its anonymous author. It is based on Platonian ideas and philosophy, and is not rooted in the revelation of God.