In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Peace and salutations be on all the Prophets.
FOREWARD.
The Qur’an in chapter 16, verse 125 exhorts the Muslims:
“Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the best way. Lo! Thy Lord is best aware of him who strays from His way, and He is best aware of those who go aright.”
This book has been written as the result of dialogues I had with Christian clergy as well as laity. The discussions were polite, pleasant, friendly, and constructive without the slightest intention of hurting the religious feeling of any Christian. It is provocative, and a challenge to Christianity. It is indispensable for those looking for the truth and those studying Comparative Religion.
As religion is a contentious issue, it would perhaps be appropriate to ask people of all faiths to put aside their dogmatic beliefs and consider this book with an open mind, without prejudice.
An earnest appeal is made to Muslims to buy extra copies, and to gift them to non-muslim friends, colleagues and neighbours, so that they can also benefit from this “Dialogue”. This injunction is in the Qur’an: chapter 103 that we have to “exhort towards the truth!”
I pray that God, Most Gracious, accepts this humble effort, to make our Christian brethren to at least study the Qur’an after reading this book. To accept or reject the message of Islam is an individual decision, as is stated in the QUR’AN time and again ie: “There is no compulsion in religion.” & “Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve.”
Individually we will have to stand before the SOVEREIGN LORD on the Day of Judgment to answer for our own belief and deeds.
Anybody interested in comparative religion will find in this book many surprises that challenge what many once believed to be absolute truths.
H.M.BAAGIL.
As a result of his study of Christianity, and the Bible over a four-year period, Dr. Baagil, a dedicated Muslim, learned not only that Christians differ in their basic beliefs (Trinity, Divinity of Jesus, etc.), but they are also not aware that Church doctrine contradicts the Bible numerous times and that the Bible even contradicts itself! His conversations with Christian clergy and laity during this period of study have provided the impetus for this publication “Christian-Muslim Dialogue”.
The reader will be surprised to learn that in the Bible, Jesus (pbuh) never claimed to be God, that Jesus never died on the cross; that the miracles performed by Jesus were also performed by many other prophets, and even by disbelievers; and that Jesus himself prophesied the advent of the Prophet Muhammed (pbut). All of this plus much more is detailed from clear concise passages of Bible scripture. The questions that obviously must be raised after witnessing such clear contradictions are:
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Is the Bible God’s Word as it stands today? The effort here by Dr. Baagil is to ask the intelligent followers of Jesus (pbuh) to start looking into the authenticity of the Bible as it is printed today, and to read this booklet with an open mind. The intention in writing this book is to point out the false charges, misrepresentations and outright lies against God and His Prophets. These are grave sins and a mockery to God as well as to the pure chosen souls, (the Prophets of God) which is a most odious thing.
We are living at a time when Science and Technology reign supreme, and the human mind has been freed from the shackles of superstition and unscientific beliefs. The worshipping of idols (graven images) has also largely been abandoned and eradicated throughout the world. The realization has dawned on the intelligent people of the world that idol worship cannot benefit or harm in the least. The goal is to eradicate the worshipping of idols and false gods as every Prophet taught the worship of ONE TRUE GOD alone. Even in the Hindu scriptures it clearly states the following: “There is no image of HIM! HE is bodiless and pure!” (Yujurved. Chapter: 32-3. & 40:8). Further in the Upanishads chapter 6:2:1 & Chapter 4:19 it clearly states: “There is no likeness of HIM, & HE is ONE only, without a second.” The responsibility now rests on the Hindu Pundits to preach this truth to their flocks, and to inform them that idol worship is forbidden in their own religious Scriptures. The Pundits will be held responsible if they fail in this duty and did not convey the message.
MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE also makes clear the Islamic viewpoint in these matters, and shows how the Qur’an, revealed to the Prophet Muhammed some 600 years after Jesus, (pbut)
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