Page 138 - World Religions I - Islam

of the whole world." - 1 John 2:2
o The Qur'an confuses the teaching that Jesus died as the sacrifice for mankind by denying it
outright.
 "They (the Jews) said (in boast), 'We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of
Allah'; but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them,
and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only
conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up unto
Himself; and Allah is exalted in power, wise." - An-Nisa (Women) 4:157-58
• Abraham's sacrifice:
o The Bible records that Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God.
Not only is Isaac clearly identified in the Old Testament account, but the New Testament
confirms that Isaac was the intended sacrifice.
 "Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied.
Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region
of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.' Early the
next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his
servants and his son Isaac... When they reached the place God had told him about,
Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and
laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the
knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, 'Abraham!
Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. 'Do not lay a hand on the boy,' he said. 'Do not do anything to
him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son,
your only son.' - Genesis 22:1-3, 9-12

The phrase "only son" used to denote Isaac did not necessarily mean that he was
Abraham's only child, but instead reflected that he was the only promised child (Genesis
17:15-21; the Qur'an confirms in Surah 11:69-73, 37:112- 13, and 51:24-30), the only
child conceived miraculously to a barren mother and a very aged father (Genesis 17:15-
17, 18:9-15, 21:1-7; the Qur'an confirms in Surah 11:69- 73 and 51:24-30), and the only
child promised by God to whom his descendants would inherit the land given to
Abraham (Genesis 13:14- 18, 15:18-21, 28:13-14).

 "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had
embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son." - Hebrews 11:17
 "Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his
son Isaac on the altar?" - James 2:21
o The same account in the Qur'an is not very clear. In particular the identity of the son is not
explicitly stated.
 "So We gave him tidings of a gentle son. And when (his son) was old enough to walk
with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice
thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art
commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast. Then, when they had
both surrendered (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate upon his face, We called unto
him: O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good."
- As-Saafaat (One Who Draws Up The Ranks) 37:101-104
• The lack of identity of Abraham's son in this passage has led to all types of
confusion for the Muslim community. One of the greatest Islamic historians, Al-
Tabari, admitted that theologians were unsure which son Abraham offered.

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