Page 95 - MY GREAT LOVE FOR JESUS LED ME TO TROUTH

lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them—to him and his
descendants throughout their generations." (Exodus 30/21, 40/31) Indeed, no one
performs this long-standing religious obligation except the Muslims.
Circumcision is also a Christian practice. In Luke 2/21, we read that Jesus was circumcised
on the eighth day. The Bible itself states that God commands it, as in Genesis 17/9-14.[2]
Offering sacrifices to the Lord is also a religious practice, as in 1 Kings 8/63-66. We also
find equal retaliation in punishment, which is practiced in Islam, among Biblical teachings.
In Leviticus 24/17, for instance, we read, "Whoever kills any man shall surely be
put to death." Just like in Islam, equal retaliation is a punishment which relates to
matters affecting life as well as matters short of life, as in Exodus 21/24-25: "Eye for
eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for
wound, stripe for stripe."
There are also a number of prohibited acts mentioned in the Bible which Muslims,
compared to other nations and religious groups, totally avoid. Just as the Qur'an forbids
Muslims to engage in usurious transactions, the Bible does just the same thing. In Ezekiel
18/17, for instance, we read, "That has withheld his hand from the poor, that has
not received from money interest nor increase, has executed my judgments,
has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he
shall surely live."[3]
The prohibition of alcohol consumption[4] and music[5] is also stressed in the Bible. In Isaiah
5/11-12, for example, we read, "Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that
they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames
them! The harp and the strings, the tambourine and flute, and wine are in their
feasts; but they do not regard the work of the Lord, nor consider the operation
of His hands."
Regarding pork consumption, which is strictly prohibited in Islam, we find the same thing
in the Bible. In Deuteronomy 14/8, for instance, we read, "Also the swine is unclean
for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you shall not
eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses." Consumption of dead animals is also
forbidden, as in Leviticus 17/15-16 and Deuteronomy 14/21., and so is blood
consumption: "Only you shall not eat the blood." (Deuteronomy 12/16); "Only be
sure that you do not eat the blood...." (Deuteronomy 12/23), and "You shall not
eat anything with the blood." (Leviticus 19/26)