Month: August 2021

Evidence of the existence and Godhood of Jesus

Jesus in the cloud

A.) APOSTOLIC TESTIMONIES OF THE EXISTENCE AND GODHOOD OF JESUS

1. JESUS DISCIPLES HAD HEARD THE VOICE OF THE FATHER DECLARING THAT JESUS IS HIS SON

[2 Peter 1:16-19] For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

2. MORE THAN 500 BELIEVERS HAD WITNESSED THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS

[Acts 1:2-3] until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God..

[1 Corinthians 15:3-9] I passed on to you the most important points of doctrine that I had received: Christ died to take away our sins as the Scriptures predicted. He was placed in a tomb. He was brought back to life on the third day as the Scriptures predicted. He appeared to Cephas. Next he appeared to the twelve apostles. Then he appeared to more than 500 believers at one time. (Most of these people are still living, but some have died.) Next he appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles. Last of all, he also appeared to me. I’m like an aborted fetus [who was given life]. I’m the least of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God’s church.

3. THE DISCIPLES HAD WITNESSED THE ASCENSION OF JESUS TO HEAVEN

[Luke 24:50-52] When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up His hands and blessed them, while He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into Heaven, then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

[Acts 1:9-11] After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”.

4. SAUL (THE FORMER CHRISTIANS PERSECUTOR) HAD SEEN JESUS IN THE FORM OF LIGHT

[Acts 22:3-10] “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today. I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me. Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’

B.) HISTORICAL TESTIMONIES OF THE EXISTENCE AND SUPERNATURALITY OF JESUS  

1. EXCERPT FROM THE WRITING OF TACITUS

[A.D. 54-119] Nero fastened the guilt … on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of … Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome… 

COMMENT: Though this knowledge of Tacitus about Christ is affected, nevertheless it confirms the existence of Jesus and his execution by Pontius Pilate, as well as the spread of Christian religion from Judea to Rome. 

2. EXCERPT FROM THE WRITING OF PLINY THE YOUNGER 

[A.D. 61-115] They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food – but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.

COMMENT: This writing of Pliny describes accurately that the early Christians performed the Holy Eucharist or Mass regularly. This writing also confirms that Christianity is not evil as mentioned by Tacitus above, on the contrary, Christians bowed not to do any type of wicked deeds.  And also early Christians were not afraid to stand up for their religion. 

3. EXCERPT FROM ‘ANTIQUITIES’ BY FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS

[A.D. 37-94] Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.

COMMENT: This testimony of Flavius hints that Jesus Christ was a supernatural man. This also agrees with the Gospel that Jesus was crucified under the order of Pontius Pilate and restored to life on the third day. This writing also confirms that Jesus’ believers loved Him so much and their religion continued to exist. 

4. EXCERPT FROM BABYLONIAN TALMUD

[A.D. 70-200] On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald … cried, “He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy.

COMMENT: “Yeshu” is an acronym for Hebrew word “Yeshua” which means “salvation”. This was the name given to Yeshua by the people who did not believe Him. “Yeshua” was translated as “Iesous” in Greek, and “Iesous” became “Jesus” in Latin.  The testimony above although affected, also agrees with the Gospel that Jesus was hanged on the cross on the eve of Passover. And also He led the Jews from Judaism (the Old Covenant) to Christianity (the New Covenant), in which the Jews regarded this act as an apostasy. In addition, this writing also bears the trace of the existence of Jesus. 

∼ο∼ 

ALSO READ: 

Jesus existed even before Creation

The miracles of Jesus are proofs of His Godhood

Ramadan was copied from Ashura

The hadiths laid below are strong proofs that Islam is paganism. Muhammad and his Muslims observed a pagan fasting called Ashura along with Quraysh (pagan tribe of Muhammad). How come the Muslims and the pagans shared the same fasting, yet Muslims are not pagans? How come God, who is supposed to hate idolatry, commanded His prophet and believers to observe a pagan fasting? Ashura was a pagan fasting observed by the Quraysh even before the birth of Islam. And when Muhammad launched his own version of fasting called ‘Ramadan’, he and his believers observed Ashura and Ramadan side by side.

1. [Sahih al-Bukhari 1592] Narrated `A’isha: The people used to fast on ‘Ashura (the tenth day of the month of Muharram) before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka`ba used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah’s Messenger said, “Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of ‘Ashura’) may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so.”

2. [Sahih al-Bukhari 1892] Narrated Ibn `Umar: The Prophet observed the fast on the 10th of Muharram (‘Ashura), and ordered (Muslims) to fast on that day, but when the fasting of the month of Ramadan was prescribed, the fasting of the ‘Ashura’ was abandoned. `Abdullah did not use to fast on that day unless it coincided with his routine fasting by chance. 

3. [Sahih al-Bukhari 1893] Narrated A’isha: (The tribe of) Quraish used to fast on the day of Ashura’ in the Pre-Islamic period, and then Allah’s Apostle ordered (Muslims) to fast on it till the fasting in the month of Ramadan was prescribed; whereupon the Prophet said, “He who wants to fast (on ‘Ashura’) may fast, and he who does not want to fast may not fast.”

4. [Sahih al-Bukhari 2001] Narrated A’isha: Allah’s Messenger ordered (the Muslims) to fast on the day of ‘Ashura’, and when fasting in the month of Ramadan was prescribed, it became optional for one to fast on that day (‘Ashura’) or not. 

5. [Sahih al-Bukhari 2002] Narrated A’isha: Quraish used to fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ in the Pre-Islamic period, and Allah’s Messenger too, used to fast on that day. When he came to Medina, he fasted on that day and ordered others to fast, too. Later when the fasting of the month of Ramadan was prescribed, he gave up fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ and it became optional for one to fast on it or not. 

6. [Sahih al-Bukhari 2003] Narrated Humaid bin `Abdur Rahman: That he heard Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan on the day of ‘Ashura’ during the year he performed the Hajj, saying on the pulpit, “O the people of Medina! Where are your Religious Scholars? I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘This is the day of ‘Ashura’. Allah has not enjoined its fasting on you but I am fasting it. You have the choice either to fast or not to fast (on this day).’ 

7. [Sahih al-Bukhari 4501] Narrated Ibn `Umar: Fasting was observed on the day of ‘Ashura’ (i.e. 10th of Muharram) by the people of the Pre-lslamic Period. But when (the order of compulsory fasting) in the month of Ramadan was revealed, the Prophet said, “It is up to one to fast on it (i.e. day of ‘Ashura’) or not.”

8. [Sahih al-Bukhari 4502] Narrated A’isha: The people used to fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ before fasting in Ramadan was prescribed but when (the order of compulsory fasting in) Ramadan was revealed, it was up to one to fast on it (i.e. ‘Ashura’) or not. 

9. [Sahih al-Bukhari 4504] Narrated A’isha: During the Pre-lslamic Period of ignorance the Quraish used to observe fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’, and the Prophet himself used to observe fasting on it too. But when he came to Medina, he fasted on that day and ordered the Muslims to fast on it. When (the order of compulsory fasting in ) Ramadan was revealed, fasting in Ramadan became an obligation, and fasting on ‘Ashura’ was given up, and who ever wished to fast (on it) did so, and whoever did not wish to fast on it, did not fast.

10. [Sahih Muslim 1125a] A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Quraish used to fast on the day of Ashura during the pre-Islamic days. The Messenger of Allah then commanded to fast on that day till (fasting) in Ramadan became obligatory. Then the Messenger of Allah said: He who wishes to fast should do so, and he who wishes to break it may do so.

11. [Sahih Muslim 1125c] A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported. In the pre-Islamic days fast was observed on the day of Ashura, but with the advent of Islam (its position was ascertained as that of a voluntary fast). Then he who wished to fast fasted, and he who liked to abandon it abandoned it. 

12. [Sahih Muslim 1126d] Abdullah b. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say about the day of Ashura: It is a day on which the people of pre-Islamic days observed fast. So he who liked to fast on this day should do so, and he who liked to abandon it should abandon it. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) did not observe fast except when it coincided (with the days when he was in the habit of observing voluntary fasts during every month).

13. [Sahih Muslim 1128] Jabir b Samura reported that the Messenger of Allah commanded us to observe fast on the day of Ashura and exhorted us to do it and was particular about it But when (fasting) in Ramadan was made obligatory, he hence. forth neither commanded us nor forbade us, nor was he so particular about it.

14. [Sahih Muslim 1129a] Abd al-Rahman reported that he heard Mu’awiya b. Abu Sufyan delivering a sermon in Medina. i. e. when he came there (for Hajj). He delivered a sermon on the day of ‘Ashura and said: People of Medina, where are your scholars? I heard the Messenger of Allah say on this very day: It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah has not made fasting on This day obligatory for you but I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it may not observe it.

15. [Sahih Muslim 1132a] Ibn Abbas was asked about observing of fast on the day of Ashura, whereupon he said: I do not know Allah’s Messenger singling out any day’s fast and considering it more excellent than another, except this day (the day of Ashura) and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan. 

16. [Sahih Muslim 1136a] Rubayyi’ daughter of Mu’awwidh b. ‘Afra’ said that the Messenger of Allah sent (a person) on the morning of Ashura to the villages of Ansar around Medina (with this message): He who got up in the morning fasting (without eating anything) he should complete his fast, and he who had had his breakfast in the morning, he should complete the rest of the day (without food). The Companions said; We henceforth observed fast on it (on the day of ‘Ashura) and, God willing, made our children observe that. We went to the mosque and made toys out of wool for them and when anyone felt hungry and wept for food we gave them these toys till it was the time to break the fast. 

17. [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 752] Abu Qatadah narrated that: the Prophet said: “Fast the Day of Ashura, for indeed I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins of) the year before it.”

18. [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 753] A’ishah narrated: “Ashura was a day that the Quraish used to fast during Jahiliyyah, and the Messenger of Allah used to fast it. But when (the fast of) Ramadan became obligatory, the Ramadan was the required and Ashura was left. So whoever wanted to, he fasted it, and whoever wanted to, he left it.”

19. [Sahih al-Bukhari 3831] A’isha said: “‘Ashura’ was a day on which Quraish used to fast in the pagan era [al-jahiliyya], and Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to keep it as well. Hence, when he arrived in Medina, he kept its fast and commanded its observance. Then, when Ramadan was decreed, [the fast of] Ramadan became the obligatory religious duty, and ‘Ashura’ was omitted, so one is free to fast this day or not to fast it.” 

20. [Sunan Abi Dawud 2442] ‘Aishah said: The Quraish used to fast on the day of ‘Ashurah in pre Islamic days. The Messenger of Allah would fast on it in pre-Islamic period. When the Messenger of Allah came to Medina, he fasted on it and commanded to fast on it. When the fast of Ramadan was prescribed, that became obligatory, and (fasting on) ‘Ashurah was abandoned. He who wishes may fast on it and he who wishes may leave it.

21. [Sunan Abi Dawud 2443] Ibn ‘Umar said: ‘Ashurah was a day on which we used to fast in pre-Islamic days. When (fasting of) Ramadan was prescribed, the Messenger of Allah said: This is one of the days of Allah ; he who wishes may fast on it.

22. [Sunan Ibn Majah 1733] It was narrated that ‘Aishah said “The Messenger of Allah used to fast ‘Ashura’, and he ordered (others) to fast it too.” 

23. [Sunan Ibn Majah 1737] It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar that the Day of ‘Ashura’ was mentioned in the presence of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah said: “That was a day when the people of the Ignorance used to fast. So whoever among you wants to fast may do so, and whoever does not want to may leave it.” 

24. [Sunan an-Nasa’i 2506] It was narrated that Qais bin Sa’d bin ‘Ubadah Said: “We used to fast on ‘Ashura and give Zakatul-Fitr, and when the command to fast in Ramadan was revealed, and the command to give Zakah was revealed, we were neither commanded to give it, nor told not to do so, and we used to do it.”

25. [Musnad Ahmad 1069] It was narrated from `Ali (رضي الله عنه) that The Messenger of Allah used to fast on the day of `Ashoora’ and enjoined others to do so. 

26. [Muwatta Malik Book 18, Hadith 33] Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa from his father that A’isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The day of Ashura was a day the Quraysh used to fast in the jahiliyya, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used also to fast it during the jahiliyya. Then when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to Madina he fasted it and ordered that it be fasted. Then Ramadan was made obligatory, and that became the fard instead of Ashura, but whoever wanted to, fasted it, and whoever did not want to, did not fast it.”

27. [Ash-Shama’il Al-Muhammadiyah 308] A’isha said: “‘Ashura’ was a day on which Quraish used to fast in the pagan era [al-jahiliyya], and Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to keep it as well. Hence, when he arrived in Medina, he kept its fast and commanded its observance. Then, when Ramadan was decreed, [the fast of] Ramadan became the obligatory religious duty, and ‘Ashura’ was omitted, so one is free to fast this day or not to fast it.” 

∼ο∼

ALSO READ:

The truth about Ramadan

Muslims are still observing Ashura