AbdurRahman.org [Just One Message!]

Just One Message!
Seeking the Truth Series.
By:  Dr. Naji I. Al-Arfaj  (Asst. professor in Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University).
E-mail:  seek@kfu.edu.sa.
P.O.Box:  418 Hofuf Al-Ahsa 31982, KSA.
Publishing date:  2001G, First Edition.
ISBN:  9960-9345-0-0

After the creation of Adam,just one original message has been repeatedly delivered to mankindthroughout the history of humanity.

Thus, to remind peopleabout it and bring them back on track, many prophets and messengers includingAdam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad were sent bythe only trueGod to convey this message:

God sent thesemajor prophets as well as many other prophets and messengers to accomplishseveral tasks and missions, some of which are:

To tell people about their final destination (the Last Day) and what leadsto Paradise or Hellfire.

It is the same God who createdthose prophets, all humans, all animals, and all objects.

Inother words, it is thisONE TRUE GODwho created the whole universe(including nature) and all it contains. He is the Creator of life, death, andlife after death.

The ONENESS of this true God, the Creator,is clearly evident and easily traceable in the holy scriptures of the Jews,Christians, Muslims, and others.

Studying the concept of Godin the Bible and the Qur'an sincerely and objectively, a researcher or a seekerof the truth would be able to define some unique qualities belonging to the trueGod only.

Some of the qualities that distinguish this onlyone true God from other claimed gods are:

This one true God is invisible; no one can see Him in this life. He is notmanifested or incarnated in other forms.

This one true God is not in need of anyone (like a mother, a wife , or ason) or anything (like food, drink, or help). But others are in need of Him.

This one true God is unique in His attributes; no one is like Him. No humanor animal descriptions can be attributed to Him.

We canuse these criteria and qualities (as well as other ones belonging to Him alone)in examining and rejecting any claimed gods.

Now let me turnto discuss the one message mentioned above and cite some of the Biblical andQur'anic verses confirming the oneness of God.

But beforethat, I would like to share with you this thought:

However, based ona great deal of reading and studying materials on Christianity and dialogueswith many Christians, I came to understand thatthey perceive this one God toinclude:

So, based on common sense andsimple logic, a sincere and honest seeker of the truth could reason:

In addition to that, and according to Christian dogmas,these three "Gods" have different identities, images, roles, and functions:

Bythe way, if Jesus, God the Son (or Son of God) is really God or part of the oneGod, doesn't this contradict what the Bible itself reports that no one can seeGod, nor hear His voice? The Bible states:

Based on these and other Biblical texts, I sincerely andhonestly wonder- how can we reconcile the dogma that Jesus is God and theBiblical testimony that no one has ever seen God, nor heard His voice?

Didn't the Jews at his time, his family, and his followersSEE Jesus (God the Son, as some believe!) and HEAR his voice?

Is there any secret orhidden purpose concerning the truth about God?

In theBible, the true God emphatically testifies,"I am the Lord, and there is noother god. I have not spoken in secret or kept my purpose hidden… I am the Lord,and I speak the truth; I make known what is right"(Isaiah 45:19).

Now, let us takeoff on a journey of seeking the truth about the one true God in the Bible andthe Qur'an.

At the end of this journey and after yourcritical, sincere, honest, and thoughtful reading of this booklet andparticularly the verses cited below, I would like to know your reactions orviews.

Has not the One God made and sustained for us the spirit oflife? (Malachi 2: 15 ).

You may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no godwas formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the Lord, and besides Methere is no Savior. (Isaiah 43:10-11).

I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no god. Who is likeMe? (Isaiah 44:6).

And there is no other god besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; thereis none besides Me. Turn to Me and be saved…To Me every knee shallbow. (Isaiah 45:21-23).

One came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, thatI may have eternal life? And he (Jesus) said unto him, Why callest thou me good?There is none good but one, that is, God (Matthew 19: 16 -17, in King JamesVersion).

Now this is life eternal, that they know you, the only true God, andJesus Christ, whom you have sent (John 17:3).

For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, theman Christ Jesus (1Timothy 2:5).

“ Say: He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetsnot, nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him” (112:1-4).

“ They disbelieve who say: Allah (God) is one of three, for there isno god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy),verily, a grievous chastisement will befall the disbelievers amongthem” (5:73).

“ Can there be another god besides Allah (God)? Nay, most of them knownot” (27:61).

“ Can there be another god besides Allah (God)? High is Allah abovewhat they associate with Him” (27:63).

“ Can there be another god besides Allah (God)? Say, 'Bring forth yourproof, if ye are telling the truth!” (27:64).

These verses as well as hundreds of similarpieces of evidence in the Bible and the Qur'an confirm this one, eternal messagethatthe true God is only ONE. "Turn to me now and be saved, people all overthe world! I AM THE ONLY GOD THERE IS"(Isaiah 45:22).

Not only does the Bible affirm that God is only ONE, but it also reveals thatthe true God, the Creator, is the only Savior."Before Me nogod was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the Lord, and besidesMe there is no Savior"(Isaiah 43:10-11).

So, accordingto this affirmation,all other supposed gods or deities like Jesus, the HolySpirit, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, or Buddha are neither gods normanifestations of the ONE TRUE GOD.

It was because ofsuch false beliefs that after the Jews worshipped other gods,"the Lord'sanger burned against them"(Numbers 25:3). Likewise, Moses destroyed thegolden calf.

On the other hand, the Essenes, an earlyChristian unitarian community, endured torture and persecution because theyrefused to exchange Jesus' monotheistic teachings for the Pauline innovation ofthe trinity.

To sum up, all God's prophets including Adam,Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad were sent by the same God, theCreator, to convey the same message:The true God is only ONE. Worship HimALONE and keep His commandments.

And since thoseprophets and messengers preached the same one message,their religion must bethe same one!So, what is the religion of those prophets and messengers?

Submissionto the will of God is the essence of themessage of those prophets. This word'SUBMISSION'means'ISLAM'inArabic.

The Qur'an does confirm that'Islam' is thereligion of all God's prophets and messengers. This Qur'anic fact is alsotraceable in the Bible itself! And this is what will be discussed in theupcoming booklet, God willing!

Ultimately, to attainsalvation, we must receive and believe in the above-mentioned message willinglyand whole-heartedly. Nevertheless, doing this is not enough! We must alsobelieve in all God's true prophets (including Prophet Muhammad) and follow theirtrue guidance and teachings. This is the gateway to a happy, eternal life!

So, if you are a sincere seeker of truth and a lover ofsalvation, you might like to consider this NOW, before it is too late!BEFOREDEATH! It can be soon! Who knows?

These questions and more will bediscussed in my upcoming writings, God willing!