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People should not worship any of God’s creation, including Jesus and Mary. We must not assign any of God’s creation His divine attributes and characteristics. {He is God the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belongs the names Most Beautiful. All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him; He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.} (Al-Hashr 59: 24)
Although God can do all things, He only does things that are consistent with His fundamental nature. Begetting a son is not consistent with God’s magnificent nature. Consistent with His fundamental nature is forgiveness. Although Adam and Eve could no longer live in Paradise, God forgave Adam and Eve for their sin after they sincerely repented. We are responsible for our own deeds and will not be punished for the deeds of another person. Therefore, Muslims reject the doctrine of original sin. Although Adam and Eve were punished, God would still be merciful by sending guidance to mankind. {We said: ‘Get down all of you from this place (the Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.} (Al-Baqarah 2: 38)
When people hear the term “Islam”, they naturally tend to think of the organized religion of Islam which started in the 7th century CE with Prophet Muhammad. However, in Arabic the word Islam comes from the root “salema” which means peace, purity, submission, and obedience.
In the religious sense, Islam means peace and purity achieved by submitting to the will of God and obedience to His law. Muslims are those who submit. Muslims believe that all those who submitted to the will of God in line with divine revelation received before the advent of formal Islam with Prophet Muhammad, were themselves also Muslim. So coming from this understanding, Muslims believe that we are part of one continuing faith community with Jesus and Mary. Mary, Jesus, and the disciples were all “Muslims” because they submitted to God.
{And when the angels said, ‘O Mary, God has preferred you, and made you pure; He has preferred you above all women of the worlds. O Mary, be obedient to your Lord, prostrating and bowing with those who bow’.} (Al-Imran 3: 42-3)
Another Prophet with a message similar to Jesus’ would later be born in Arabia in the sixth century. He also called people to the worship of only God. Although unable to read and write, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would recite verses of the Quran as they were revealed to him. The Quran is a miracle, a sign, a mercy, a warner and guidance for all people. Prophet Muhammad is the last Prophet from a line of Prophets that included Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all). All Prophets were models for righteous living. Muhammad’s sunnah, his sayings, example, and traditions, is also considered revelation. His sunnah is expressed in various books of Hadith.
{Indeed in the Messenger of God you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) God and the Last Day, and remembers God much.} (Al-Ahzab 33: 21)
God created all people to worship Him and to live life based on His teachings and guidance: {And hold fast to God’s bond, together, and do not scatter; remember God’s grace upon you when you were enemies, and He brought your hearts together so that by His grace you became brothers; and you were upon the brink of a pit of fire; but He delivered you from it. So God makes clear to you His signs that you might be guided.} (Al-Imran 3: 103)
{If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to God), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost.} (Al-Imran 3: 85)
We accomplish this by bearing witness to God’s oneness and accepting His final revelation in our daily lives. {O ye who believe! Fear God as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.} (A-Imran 3: 102)
There is none worthy of worship but God, and Muhammad and Jesus are His messengers.
By Juan Galvan
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This article first appeared at islamfortoday.com. It is republished with with slight editorial modifications.
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