CSS Forums - View Single Post

sardarzada11 · #14 Thursday, June 22, 2006

Jew or Gentile. Arab or 'Ajam {Persian), Turk or
Tajik, European or Asiatic, White or Coloured;
Aryan, Semitic, Mongolian, or African: or Ame-
rican, Australian, or Polynesian. To all men and
creatures who have any spiritual responsibility,
the principles universally apply."
Abdulbh Yusut Ali1

JESUS {PBUH) DlSCRIMINATES

Muhammad's (pbuh) immediate predecessor advised his
disciples, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs"
(meaning non-Jews}, "Neither cast ye your pearls before
swine" (meaning non-Jews, Matthew 7:6). The Gospel writers
are unanimous in recording that Christ lived by the precepts
which he preached. In his lifetime he did not preach to a
single non-Jew. In fact he spurned a gentile woman who
sought his spiritual blessings {"the woman was a Greek''
Mark 7:26). Then during the "Passover" season in Jerusalem
when the master with his disciples had congregated for the
occasion, certain Greeks hearing of his reputation sought an
audience with him for spiritual enlightenment, but Jesus
{pbuh} gave them the "cold shoulder''2 as narrated by St.
John:

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip . . . and desired him saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

1. Get your copy now of Yusuf Ali's English translation and cornrnentary, with over 6000 annotations. Obtain a copy for your non-Muslim friend, also.

2. Means a deliberately unkind or unfriendly treatment; a slight; a snub.

Philip cometh and telleth Andrew:
and again Andrew and Philip tell
Jesus.
John 12:20-22

SELF GLORIFICATION

The verses that follow do not even record the courtesy
of "Yea,yea;" or "Nay, nay;" (Yes, yes or no, no of
Matthew 5:37). They continue with his own praise -

And Jesus answered them (Andrew and
Philip), saying, The hour is come, that
the son of man (referring to himself}
should be glorified.
John 12:23

HIGHEST STANDARDS

Muhammad (pbuh) could never afford any such lati-
tudes. Remember, how the Almighty reminded him of the
highest etiquette required from him. Even the thought of
being ruffled by the untimely intrusion of a blind man, was
not accepted from him {see page 22 "He frowned']. As a
universal Messenger, God set for him the most lofty
standards:

And Most Certainly,
Thou (O Muhammad)
Are of most sublime
And Exalted Character.
Holy Quran 68:4
And his diocese, his field of mission? The whole of mankind!
And We sent thee not (O Muhammad), but as a mercy unto (all) the worlds. Holy Quran 21:107
UNIVERSAL MESSENGER
These are not mere platitudes; beautiful sentiments bereft of action. Muhammad (pbuh) practised what he preached. Among his first Sahabas (companions) and converts, beside the Arabs can be counted Bilal the Abyssinian, Salman the Persian and Abdullah Bin-Salaam the Jew. The sceptics may say that his outreach was simply incidental but what can they say about the historical fact that before his demise, he sent out five epistles, one to each of the five surrounding countries, inviting them to accept the religion of Islam.
1. The Emperor of Persia
2. The King of Egypt
3. The Negus of Abyssinia
4. The Emperor Hiraclius at Constantinople, and
5. The King of Yemen
Thus he set the example for the fulfilment of his impelling mission, his "greatness of purpose," the reclamation of the whole of humanity into the Master's fold. Is there another example of such universality in another religion? Muhammad (pbuh) was not out to set or to break any records, he was simply carrying out the trust that was reposed in him by the Lord of Creation!
2. SMALLNESS OF MEANS
Muhammad (pbuh) was born with no silver spoon in his mouth.
His life begins with infinitesimal support. His father

Regards,
Sardarzada