Reply & 20 Questions For Christians

Answers And

20 Questions

For Our

Christian Brothers & Sisters

The Questions (if you want to skip my story) are in blue at the bottom!

An Arab Christian wrote to me to get me back to Christianity. Here's part of my reply to him (pray for him to learn real truth):

Peace be unto all who seek true guidance. 

Thank you, friend, for asking about my faith in Islam and my relationship with Jesus, peace be upon him.

Your concern for my well being and salvation is appreciated. I also care for you and for your chance to achieve true salvation. 

We, as Muslims, must always tell the truth. We are forbiden to lie or deceive others at any time, especially when it comes to our religion.

The Quran and teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him, have been preserved in the writiings and memories of truthful people for 14 centuries. There is no other compilation on earth to match this fabulous resource for preserving God's teachings.

To answer all of your questions with two simple statements--

"No!  I do know of any Muslim scholar who left Islam for any other religion."

"And, No. I did not hear of a single Muslim scholar leaving Islam to go to non-belief."

I did, however, visit the University of Al Azhar in Cairo several years ago to get the proof of many Christian scholars and priests going to Islam and their reasons for doing this.

As regards my relationship with Jesus, peace be upon him, there is no doubt in my mind, Jesus, peace be upon him, came with the clear message of salvation, by obeying God's Commandments and doing the Will of God.

Jesus, peace be upon him, is the promised Messiah. He did fulfil the prophecies and he also told of another prophet coming, who would make all things clear.

Jesus, peace be upon him, is with Allah now, and will be back to kill the anti-Christ in the last days.

Satan has deceived many as to the role of Jesus, peace be upon him. This is exactly what he wants.

Christians today have turned their backs on Jesus, peace be upon him. The have followed Saul/Paul's way, of being "Dead to the Law". The same Law, Jesus, peace be upon him, came to fulfill.

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

To help others know what the words in Arabic means, these are some definitions from Arabic:

1. Islam: (submission to God)

Meanings of "ISLAM" As A Verb:

Surrender; Submission; Obedience; sincerity (to God - Allah) and peace with God's Will.

"Islam" comes as a Way for mankind to practice their belief in the Almighty, by submitting and surrendering to the Will of Allah and allowing Allah's Will to be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.

Meaning of "ISLAM" As A Noun:

5 Pillars of Action - Way of Life - Taught by All Prophets (mentioned below under 'deen'); 6 Articles of Belief

6 Beliefs

Allah - Angels - Books - Prophets

- Judgment Day - Predestination

5 Actions

Shahadah - Salat - Fasting - Charity - Pilgrimage

Did you know?-

"Quran" means "The Recitation" It is not "In a Book" Therefore it is not considered a "Creation of Allah" but rather the actual "Speech of Allah".

Quran exists in the hearts of all the Muslims on the earth and is preserved 100% until Judgment Day - by Allah.

Did you know?

Over NINE MILLION Muslims Memorized the Entire Quran. 9,000,000 + Muslims living today have memorized the entire Quran in the original Arabic language. But surprisingly about 90% of all Muslims are not Arab. In fact, the largest number of Muslims today are in Indonesia.

Did you know?

2,410,000,000 Muslims have memorized a least a few surahs (chapters)?

Did you know?

The Quran is exactly the same today in the Arabic language as it was over 1,400 years ago.

Deen: A way of life; the way or path someone follows - The Bible says, in the Book of Acts (9:1-2): 

"But Saul (Paul), still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so if he found any belonging to the WAY, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem."

I emphasize the word "way" (Arabic: "deen") - It is used as a proper noun in the older versions of the Bible. The early disciples used the meaning of "Deen" for the name of what they were doing.

Just as early followers of Jesus, peace be upon him, were called "People of the Way," so are Muslims called "ahl deen" (people of the Way of Islam).

Muslims believe in Jesus, peace be upon him. He taught the message of One God and ordered the following of the Commandments of the prophets before him (Matt. 5:17-20):

¹⁷"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
¹⁸I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
¹⁹ Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."

The following 20 questions - I had to deal with before I came to Islam. I too, thought I was in the right way. However, I didn't really know the truth of Islam.

A Muslim from Egypt took the time and patience to over look me trying to present my beliefs and went on to share with me things to really make me think of my position and to consider worshipping the Lord Almighty direct, and without any partners.

I will not presume to know about your relationship with God Almighty, nor will try to put words in your mouth.

I hope that you have benefited from these clear explanations of Islam.

_________________________________

And now, I would like to ask you a few questions and if you are able to answer - Please don't get upset and start preaching to us without and proof. Then after reading please feel free to write back.

If you are unable to provide proper answers, then just throw this email away and we will understand that you are lost and give up, or better still, ask Almighty God to guide us to the truth. That is what I did, many years ago. And that is what so many others are doing right now all around the world. Won't you join us in asking God Almigty, the One who Jesus, peace be upon him, told us to worship and pray to, the One that Jesus, peace be upon him, prayed to.

~ Now here are the 20 QUESTIONS ~

1) Have you ever read your book in the original languages? Old Testamen in Hebrew? New Testament in Aramaic?

2) Have you ever read the Quran in the original language of Arabic?

3) Do you know anything about the history of the collection of the manuscripts for the Torah?

4) What about the manuscripts for Psalms, Isaiah, Job and other Old Testament scriptures?

5) To what extent have you examined or read any of the manuscripts that the New Testament is based on?

6) Have you even read the Bible all the way through in English?

7) Have youmemorized the Bible or any parts of it in the original language?

8) Are you aware of the similarities between the original texts of Bible and the Quran?

9) Are you aware of the differences between the original texts of Bible and the translations to English?

10) Are you aware there are documents signed by former ministers, priests, pastors, preachers, nuns and even bishops explaining how they came to better understand the true teachings of Jesus, peace be upon him, by studying the Quran in Arabic?

11) Are you aware many former atheists came to believe in the real God Almighty after studying the revelation of the Quran in the Arabic language?

12) Are you aware the seminary schools teach that Paul had his own doctrine, not the same as the Synoptic Gospels? It is called the "Pauline Doctrine."

13) Are you aware that over twenty million (20,000,000) people living on the earth today, have completely memorized the entire Quran in the original Arabic language?

14) Are you aware of the many scientifice vidences for the proof of Almighty God's existence mentioned in the Quran from 1,400 years ago?

15) Muslims believe in the original Bible and all that it taught -- do you?

16) Muslims believe in God Almighty, that He is Perfect in every way (and we are not).

17) Muslims have to tell the truth, in everything, especially when it comes to anything about God, His Teachings and His Prophets, peace be upon them.

18) Do you want to do "God's Will on earth?"

19) Have you ever asked God to guide you to do His Will instead of the human will?

20) Do you love the Lord - or do you love what He created instead?

We can post your replies on our website. You can get more choices for the truth of this life and why we were created.

May Allah guide you, as He has guided me and thousands of others, ameen.

Yours In Truth,
Yusuf Estes