There is no second coming of Jesus



Salam,

On the second coming of Jesus to this world there are several interpretations done by Muslims based on various verses stated in the Quran. Apart from the interpretation that Jesus will come as a second coming there is also the interpretation that he will not come back as he is dead.

The second interpretation that Jesus is dead is based on the same verses of the Quran as of those who interpret he will come a second time to this earth. However those who made exegesis that he will not come back to this world have other supporting verses from the Quran that dispel the second coming altogether.

The second coming of Jesus is believed by some Muslims based on the following verses of the Quran; there are two verses in the Qur'an that these Muslims believe to indicate the second coming of Jesus is firstly as stated in this verse:

"And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them".

(Surah 4:159).

According to the above verse they contended, all the Ahl-e-Kitab (Jews and Christians), will believe in Jesus before his death. These commentators state that the Arabic leuaminanna (must believe) refers to an event in the future. This they believe could only be possible should Jesus come again and live in this world till he dies.

However the above interpretation cannot be accurate considering there will be millions of Jews and Christians in the future until the end of the world whether there is or not the second coming of Jesus. Not every Jew or the Christian will have the opportunity to be with Jesus at the time of their death. The length of time that Jesus will live with them at the second coming will not be that long.

So most likely more Christians and Jews will not have the opportunity to be with him so as to believe in him. Thus the most probable meaning of the above verse is that all Jews and Christians will realize at the moment of their death that Jesus was really a Prophet of God and not an illegitimate or the Son of God as believe by the Jews and the Christians respectively. The above verse therefore did not predict the second coming of Jesus but emphasize the message about Jesus as not being God but a Prophet to those Christians and Jews as the truth before they die on this earth. These will be experienced by each Christian or Jew after the first coming of Jesus before the time of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) till the Day of Judgment.

The other verse considered as the second coming of Jesus is based on the following verse of the Quran:

"And he (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): Therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: This is a Straight Way" (Surah 43:61).

The second verse is interpreted that Jesus is the sign of the Last Hour. So it is argued, 'How can he be a sign for Doomsday if he doesn't appear sometimes before it?' Those who do believe Jesus will come again see him in a subordinate role to that of the Prophet of Islam. Jesus will be under a Muslim Amir, leader, showing his complete adherence to Islam. Some Ahadith indicate that on his arrival Jesus will kill an impostor Messiah (i.e. the antichrist).

He will live for forty years during which he will marry, have children, and perform Hajj (pilgrimage). After his death, he will be buried beside the grave of the Prophet Muhammad (Wali ad-Din, Miskat Al-Masabih, (tr. James Robson), Vol.II, p.1159; Sahih Muslim, Vol.1, p.92).

However in actual fact in the verse referred at Surah 43:61 there is no mentioned of the name Jesus. Most of the commentators regard the Arabic pronoun “hu” in the word “innahu” which take the meaning “and he” but the Arabic word can also mean “and it”. Those commentators who believe in the second coming take the pronoun “innahu” or “and he” as relating to Jesus. Consequently it is interpreted on the above phrase as “And he (Jesus) is indeed a means to know of the coming of the last Hour.

On the contrary many other commentators relate the pronoun “hu” not to Jesus but to the Quran and understand the phrase in the sense that specific mention of the Last Hour and some of its sign were mentioned in the Quran. The following verses appear as of the signs of the final Hour with the coming of Gog and Magog being released and of the smoke and the scenario of the Last Day mentioned in the Quran:

On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another: the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together. (Surah 18:99)

Then watch thou for the Day that the sky will bring forth a kind of smoke (or mist) plainly visible, enveloping the people: this will be a Penalty Grievous.

(Surah 44:10-11)

The Day ye shall see it, every mother giving suck shall forget her suckling-babe, and every pregnant female shall drop her load (unformed): thou shalt see mankind as in a drunken riot, yet not drunk: but dreadful will be the Wrath of Allah. (Surah 22:2)

Thus it is the Quran rather than Jesus that is with the knowledge of the Hour and most of the signs of the Hour were mentioned with clarity. Furthermore the Arabic “innahu” pointing more suitable to mean the Quran rather than Jesus because the next Arabic words in the verse which is “lailmun lilsaa’ti” contained the proposition “li” which is used to express the dative and denote possession “have”, or for, or to or used to denote “because of” as in English.

Therefore if the Arabic is taken word by word translation the verse would be biased more toward the Quran than to the man Jesus:

Innahu (and it “the Quran”) lailmun (have knowledge) lilsaa’ti (for the Hour) fala tamtaruuna biha (therefore do not have doubt concerning it) wattabiuuni hazaa siraatun mustaqim (and follow me this is the straight path.

And it (The Quran) have knowledge for the Hour, therefore do not have doubt concerning it and follow me this is the straight path (Surah 43:61)

It can be seen that when the message of God is misinterpreted or being manipulated it will not end there, various fictions were being created surrounding the information and the fabrications  become more ridiculous when the verse is wrongly attributed to Jesus.

They believe when the second coming takes place Jesus descent from heaven will be accomplished by resting his hands on the wings of two angels. He will descend onto the white minaret, situated in the eastern part of Damascus. He will invite the whole world to be Muslim including Christians and Jews. The one eyed antichrist, accompanied by seventy thousand Jews, will be killed by Jesus, at the place called Lod. The Jews will be badly defeated. Jesus will break the cross, annihilate swine and will end all wars and jizya (poll tax). His position will be like that of a judge. During this period there will be an abundance of all sorts of goods. Muslims will dominate the world and there will be an end of all religions except Islam (Mawdudi, A.A, Finality of Prophethood, pp. 58-61).

The absurdity of the above tale contradicts with the message of the Quran. It is questionable that his last effort is to destroy all the crosses in the world and if he does that he will undermine the command of God in upholding the verse of no compulsion in religion as stated in the Quran which is against the proper character of a true prophet:

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. (Surah 2:256)

And it is just preposterous to even think that Jesus other mission is to annihilate the swine in this world. Imagine a Prophet of God running around four corners of the globe chasing to annihilate all the pig, boars and hogs for what purpose? This is again against the virtue and morality of God’s command in the Quran. Although God prohibit eating the flesh of swine but if there is no food then it is permissible in emergency:

He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience or transgressing due limits then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful. (Surah 2:173)

The fabrications being created out of the second coming of Jesus

Some groups like the Ahmadiyya and the Bahai believe that their founders were the second coming of Christ. Other groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus came back at the turn of this century and took the elect with him. Even the Bible reveals that his second coming will not be in secret. When the apostles saw Jesus ascending into heaven, the angels told them: "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" (Acts 1:11).

Those Muslim who believe in the second coming of Jesus have various ideas about the physical descent of Jesus. Some say he will land on the Ka'ba, others claim he will land on the minaret of the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, yet others think he will descend in Jerusalem. Whether coming to Jerusalem, Damascus or Mecca, one has to think carefully where he is coming from. If he is coming from heaven, then this coming will not be an ordinary one, with an ordinary body like ours. The fictionalization in the Bible declares that he is coming in heavenly splendor. He will come in all his glory and power (2 Thessalonians 1:7). Jesus said: "as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west", so will be his coming (Matthew 24:27). In simple words, his coming will be visible to everyone. His first coming took place in obscurity, but his second coming will be universally visible. His coming will be so dramatic no-one will fail to recognize him. (Matthew 24:30; Acts 1:9,11).

There is no second coming because Jesus is dead being a normal man as that of Adam.

The Christians believe Jesus is God that is why they believe he is coming again for the second time but Muslims believe he is just a normal man like any one of us and a normal man will die.  

The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust then said to him: "Be". And he was. (Surah 3:59)

Christ the son of Mary was no more than a messenger; many were the messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make His signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth! (Surah 5:75)

Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense……(Surah 3:185)

As regards to the Christian tenet they must believe that Jesus dies on the cross and must be risen otherwise their faith is in vain as stated in the following verse of the Bible:

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

For if the dead rise not then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (1 Corinthians 15:14-18)

The Quran is clear that Jesus did not die on the cross but he died elsewhere on earth and resurrected only in the hereafter.

That they 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.  (Surah 4:157)

Jesus did not die on the cross but as a normal man he died like any other prophets of God.

Because of his death in this world it is provided in the Quran that in the hereafter

He did not even know the Christians were worshipping him. Had he been here in this world at the second coming he would surely knew that he was being worshipped as God by the Christians and he would have answer differently on the Day of Judgment as opposed to that depicted in the following verse of the Quran of which he had witnessed:

And behold! Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah'?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden. "Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, 'worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up (make me died) Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things.)

Allah will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, their eternal Home: Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah: That is the great salvation, (the fulfillment of all desires). (Surah 5:116-119)

From the references in the Quran there are concrete evidences that there is no second coming as Jesus had served his duties to God and we are expected by God to do our duties and emulate the prophets of old and none of them were reported to destroy crosses or annihilate swine in their agenda.

Were ye witnesses when death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: "What will ye worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship Thy God and the God of thy fathers, of Abraham, Isma'il and Isaac, the one (True) Allah: To Him we bow (in Islam)." That was a people that hath passed away. They shall reap the fruit of what they did, and ye of what ye do! Of their merits there is no question in your case! (Surah 2:133-134)

In Jesus, God says in the Quran:

He was no more than a servant: We granted Our favor to him, and We made him an example to the Children of Israel. (Surah 43:59)

Those were the (prophets) who received Allah's guidance: Copy the guidance they received; Say: "No reward for this do I ask of you: This is no less than a message for the nations." (Surah 6:90)

ASAR

The argument against three salat concept

Salam,

There is some claim that since there are only three names of salat mentioned in the Quran some interpreters take to mean that God commanded Muslims to establish the salat at three specific times. To determine whether three names of salat is the source of three times of prayer one has to revert back to the original command of God ordained in the Quran.

The command to establish salat or obligatory prayers

In the Quran the command to establish the salat is clear that it is to be done at specific time and this specific timing is fixed by God and not at the whims and fancies of anybody. It is stated in the following verse the time is ordained by God:

When ye pass (Congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah's praises, standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from danger, set up regular prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times. (Surah 4:103)

It is also stated in the Quran that the specific times ordained by God cannot be compromised whatsoever because whatever you are doing or wherever you maybe the salat has to be established at the specific times:

Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers and the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). If ye fear (missing the prayers), pray on foot, or riding, (as may be most convenient), but when ye are in security, celebrate Allah's praises in the manner He has taught you, which ye knew not (before). (Surah 2:238-239)

O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on a day of assembly, hastens earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew! (Surah 62:9)

The time commanded by God is precise that it is easily determined and easily understood as has been stated in the Quran and as an example of noon it is at the time when the sun decline from its zenith as being clearly expounded in the following verse quoted below:

Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline towards the darkness of the night, and the morning reading: for the reading (the Quran) in the morning carry their testimony. (Surah 17:78)

  

The name of salat is designed not only to determine the specific times of prayer but the name is also being utilized for other purposes.

1.The names of salat is also to determine the time of family privacy times and to dedicate the time for household daily etiquette.

With the names “salat fajar” and the “salat Isha” the time is not only for salat or prayer, the names are also to indicate the privacy times in the morning and the night when the siblings is to take note that they cannot simply enter the parents rooms without giving any proper signal at those specific times as stated in the following verse:

O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and the (children) among you who have not come of age ask your permission (before they come to your presence), on three occasions: before morning prayer; the while ye doff your clothes for the noonday heat; and after the late-night prayer: these are your three times of privacy: outside those times it is not wrong for you or for them to move about attending to each other: Thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. (Surah 24:58)

So the names of the salat and the time of noon is to point towards the specific times when the parents are to left by themselves and certain etiquette is to be maintained if the children were to meet them.

2. The name middle salat or the Salat Wusta is not for a salat name exclusively it is also designed to indicate the number of obligatory prayers one has to establish daily.

The Quran in Arabic shows a clear indication the number of salat that is commanded by God according to specific times daily. The name Middle Salat verified that the total number must be an odd number of three or five or seven which can carry a middle number. And the role of middle salat is not only a name of salat it function as a middle salat in term of name and of time difference between adjoining salat. The middle salat must be in a position midway of equal time from and towards two adjoining salat time. The name middle salat is stated in the following verse:

Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers (salawaat) and the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). (Surah 2:238)

Some translators used “Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers especially the Middle Prayer” but there is no Arabic “awwal or aula” to indicate foremost or especially in the above Arabic text as compare to other examples of the Quran to put an “emphasis” it should be stated as in the following verse:

…..But kindred by blood have prior rights (aulaa) against each other in the Book of Allah. Verily Allah is well-acquainted with all things. (Surah 8:75)

So to insert the word “especially or foremost” instead of the simple “wa” or “and” in the surah 2:238 is therefore erroneous and misleading. The obligatory salat must be treated equal in important none is better than the other. Praying to God at any of the times fixed by Him carries the same virtue.

It is with the Arabic text that it cannot be disputed that the meaning in English of the Surah 2:238 which says “preserves all your prayers “salawaat” and the “Middle salat” gives the true number of total salat to be done daily.

The beauty of Arabic language is that there is the singular, the dual and the plural. Thus the plural of “salawaat” is not less than three but three with an extra one in a total of four cannot have a middle salat. That is the very reason in the Surah 2:238 the middle salat must be accompanied by four salat from the Arabic word “salawaat” making the total of five.

In the case of three salat in total ordained by God daily the middle salat is accompanied with two adjoining salat this will contradict with the Arabic text in the Quran. There is no Arabic dual word “salatain” in the Quran to accommodate the two salat plus the middle salat or three salat’s hypothesis.

Exposing the discrepancies created by the proponents of three salat.

The basis by which the mentors of the practice of three salat derived their belief is that since there are three names of salat in the Quran then God must have commanded Muslims to pray at only three specific times during the day. They claimed that the three names is the determinant of three salat times in the Quran and any other timing must suit itself into one of the names of salat mentioned in the Quran.

There is however two prominent groups of those practicing three salat and the differences of their belief are stated below:

Three Salat at sunrise (Salat Fajri), sunset (Salat Wusta) and early night (Salat Isha)

1.This group believes that one verse quoted in the Quran is conclusive enough conveying the three times to establish salat which coincide with the three names of salat mentioned in the Surah 24:58 the Salat Fajri (early part of the day) and Salat Isha (early part of the night) and Surah 2:238 mentioning the name Salat Wusta or the middle prayer. The Surah commanding the three specific timing is stated in the following verse:

And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: …..(Surah 11:114)

The proponents of this group who practice three salat concluded that the three salat names that were mention in the Quran is reflective of the timings stated in the above Surah. They claimed that the names Salat Fajri takes the early end of the day while Salat Wusta take the other end of the day and Salat Isha take the early part of the night salat. So they have two salat during the day and another salat during the night. They claimed this is conclusive enough that there are three salat names which matched with these three salat times.

Contrary to most opinion that the Surah 17:78 “Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline towards the darkness of the night…” is understood to be at the time of noon, they contended that this sun’s decline is actually at sunset and this coincide with the further end of the day salat as stated in the Surah 11:114 of the two ends of the day. There is no noon salat.

This group also claim that the command to establish salat on the Surah 62:9 which says “O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to salat on a day of assembly, hastens earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic):….” and this is also interpreted to be at the far end of the day as stated in the same Surah 11:114 which mentioned to establish the prayer at the two ends of the day. Therefore they have the salat at dawn, at sunset and at the early part of the night.

However this understanding creates distortion in the meaning of some of the words relating to salat and cause discrepancies and God says in Surah 4:82 “Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.” Their understanding is thus questionable.

First there is a clear distortion in the definition of “middle salat” according to this hypothesis. The time between the adjoining salat to its middle salat is in total distortion. The length of time from sunrise to sunset and from sunset to the early night salat which is about twelve hours verses two hours respectively disqualify sunset as being the middle salat. The criterion of middle salat is not only in name but the timing which must exhibit its true meaning of middle between two adjoining equal time frames from the center.

Secondly their view that the Surah 62:9 calling to salat at business time is also at sunset generate further contradiction in the Quran. It is stated at the verse 62:10 after finishing this salat believers were supposed to seek bounty as the Quran says “And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the bounty of Allah….” If this time is taken as at sunset they would end up seeking bounty at night after sunset which contradicts with the following verses of the Quran fostering seeking bounty during daytime:

He it is Whom hath made you the night that ye may rest therein, and the day to make things visible (to you). Verily in this are signs for those who listen (to His Message). (Surah 10:67)

We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs: the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the Day We have made to enlighten you; that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number and count of the years: all things have We explained in detail. (Surah 17:12)

Thus the propagators of the Quran based on the above understanding is therefore faulty and distorting as it does not conform with the true message of the timings to establish the salat during the day.

  

Proponents of three Salat at dawn (Salat fajri), noon (Salat Wusta) and sunset (Salat Isha)

Then there is another group who practice three salat juggling the times of salat to suit the three names of salat mentioned in the Quran. They claimed the three salat times are two ends of the day at Surah 11:114 and the middle salat at noon is the one mentioned in Surah 17:78. They do not accept Surah 11:114 of God commanding to establish three salat but they believe it is only two salat times.

They claimed the Surah 11:114 is speaking of two salat time which is two ends of the day. The early end speaks of Salat fajri while the other far end speaks of the Salat Isha. They believe that it is two salat times because sunrise and sunset (the two ends of the day) are events that take less than 2 minutes to be completed. It is only with the addition of the words "wa zulufan min al-layl" in the same verse that they are given a time range as to when these two salat are to be observed.

They claimed that the root of the word "zulufann" is "Zulfa". The word "Zulfa" is used in the Quran to mean near or close. As a result, the phrase "zulufann min al-layl" means the near parts of the night. The obvious question is: near to what? Nothing can be described as 'near' in absolute terms. The word 'near' can only have a meaning when one have a reference point to which this thing is near to. For example, one cannot say "my house is near" nor "the chair is near"! These phrases on their own do not have any meaning, but one can say "my house is near the school" and "the chair is near the table.

From this they see to read Surah 11:114 and make inference what God mean by 'near parts of the night', or in other words, near to what? The only other reference points given in 11:114 are the "ends of the day", which are sunrise and sunset. As a result, the words "zulufann min al-layl" can only mean the parts of the night which are near to sunrise and sunset.

As a result, 11:114 speaks of two salat only, and God is giving us they claimed in 11:114 the range of two salat. The range for the two salat are the parts of the night which are just before sunrise and immediately after sunset.

However this understanding is questionable on the belief that God command only two salat in the Surah 11:114 instead of three. It causes errors and contradiction with other verses of the Quran.

First their claim that sunrise or “fajar” is bordering the night is not true because the Quran mentioned early morning of “suboh” is earlier than fajar as stated below of the morning which is near part of the night:

(The Messengers) said: "O Lut! We are Messengers from thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! Now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind): To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning (Assubhi) is their time appointed: Is not the morning (assubhu) nigh?" (Surah 11:81)

The above verse of the Quran clearly show morning of “suboh” is nearer the night and this discard their claim that two ends of the day makes up of the salat fajri and the salat Isha which is near parts of the night. The command to establish the salat fajri is located at the time after morning suboh.

Another evident which proves that “suboh” is earlier than “fajar” is stated in the following verses of the Quran:

So verily I call to witness the planets - that recede, Go straight, or hide; and the night as it dissipates; and the dawn (assubhi) as it breathes away the darkness. (Surah 81:15-18)

Furthermore it is not true to say sunrise and sunset (the two ends of the day) are events that take less than 2 minutes to be completed and impossible to establish the salat. This is a weak excuse because sun rises until noon when it will decline from its zenith and for sunset the time is not two minutes but the time takes as long as the sun hits the horizon and sink completely when the day becomes total darkness. The prayer at two ends of the days therefore is to be done as the sun hits at the horizon during two ends of the day when it is still bright.

Another argument against the three salat concept is their three timings at sunrise (fajar), at the decline of the sun at noon (wusta) and the early night time (isha) contradict to the time exhibit in the scenario presented in the Surah 62:9 -11 as stated in the following verses:

O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on a day of Assembly, hastens earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew! And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper. But when they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave thee standing. Say: "The (blessing) from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! And Allah is the Best to provide (for all needs)."

The scenario above cannot be at sunrise (fajar) because before sunrise normally people were asleep. The above give an impression of a time there is trading and amusement or sports and none of this is done before the time of fajar. The time of early night or Isha is also impossible to fit into the scenario as the night is for rest as advocate by God in the following verse:

He it is Whom hath made you the night that ye may rest therein, and the day to make things visible (to you). Verily in this are signs for those who listen (to His Message). (Surah 10:67)

Their wusta time or at the decline of the sun at noon also contradict the calling people to salat at the time of business as visualize in the Surah 62:9-10. Noon is not the time of business, it is unlikely any call is being made at this time as noon is a time of privacy where people take a nap after the noon meal or this is a time of “undress’ as they rested from the morning activities. Business will resume only in the later afternoon and this is the actual time depicted in the above mentioned Surah 62:10.

It is obvious that when God commanded five times of obligatory prayer any manipulation to reduce the number will cause discrepancies and contradictions with other verses of the Quran. Hence it is proven that if the advocates of the three salat moves the time of their salat at Surah 62:9-10 outside the three timings given by them it will only mean the time is fixed at their own whims and fancies and the number of times they perform their salat during the day becomes more than three.

Conclusion

God does not command to establish the obligatory daily Salat based on name it is based on time and He is the one who fixed the time.

Surah 4:103

When ye pass (Congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah's praises, standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from danger, set up Regular Prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times.

The timings He fixed are five times daily as follows:

Surah 17:78

You shall observe the obligatory Prayer (Salat) when the sun declines from its highest point at noon, as it moves towards sunset. You shall also observe (the recitation of) the Quran at dawn. (Reciting) the Quran at dawn is witnessed.

Surah 62:9-10

O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to do obligatory prayer on a day of congregation, hastens earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew! And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper.

Surah 11:114

You shall observe the obligatory Prayers (Salat) at both ends of the day (tarafay al-nahar), and the early parts of the night (wa zulafan minal layl). The righteous works wipe out the evil works. This is a reminder for those who would take heed.

The timings is therefore as follows when the sun rise in the morning, when the sun decline from its zenith at noon, to be done at business time in the afternoon, when the sun decline at sunset and at early part of the night when it is completely in darkness.

It can be witnessed from the five times mentioned above the time to do salat at the time of business in the late afternoon is ordained to be the middle salat. This is because it is located in the center between sun’s decline at noon and sunset as its adjoining points where the time frame is at equal distance from the center point being the middle salat.   

If the salat at business time is moved earlier to that point between the salat fajar and sun decline at noon you will notice the sun’s decline at noon will take the role of the middle salat but this will distort the definition of middle as the time distance from the business before noon salat will not be equal to the time frame from noon to sunset salat.

Thus none can manipulate God message if He ordained five time daily obligatory salat it can never be attributed with discrepancy or contradiction to that of other verses in the Quran.

ASAR



A brief concept and application of Christian and Islamic beliefs

Salam,

Both Christian and Muslim believe and strive to do good deeds in this world in order to have an eternal life in the hereafter by entering heaven. Apart from doing good deeds there are extra requirements that both faithful must fulfill.

As for the Christian, to enter heaven they have to believe that Jesus is God that was why with the grace and mercy of God, He sent His only begotten son Jesus to be sacrificed on the cross and to die for the sins of human kind. The belief that Jesus is God is taken from the Bible which says that:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Therefore to gain salvation a Christian has to confess his sins and to believe that Jesus died for his sins. Everyone will not be free of sin and has to confess his sins as stated in the following verses of the Bible:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Roman 10:9-10)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Roman 3:23-24)

In Islam, to have an eternal life and to enter heaven a Muslim have to uphold the commandments, he is to believe and worship only one God Allah. And Allah says about Himself in His Book the Quran He is the Creator of everything as He created the human and thus He commanded human to worship Him as stated in the following verses:

I have only created Jinns and men that they may worship Me. (Surah 51:56)

"Verily, I am Allah: There is no god but I: So worship thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise. (Surah 20:14)

However to gain salvation the Muslims are not to idolize any other being besides or along with Allah. To God the most heinous crime is to put partners beside Him and this is stated clearly in the teaching of the Quran as follows:

Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgive anything else to whom He please; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed. (Surah 4:48)

Allah forgives not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgive whom He please other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah, Hath strayed far, far away (from the right). (Surah 4:116)

However with the grace and mercy of Allah the door of repentance is always open and he who repent, He will forgive as He will, depending on our sincerity. For only God knows our innermost thoughts.

"But, without doubt, I am (also) He that forgives again and again, to those who repent, believe, and do right, who, in fine, are ready to receive true guidance."

(Surah 20:82)

If any one does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah 4:110)

The Christians worship the Father, the Holy Ghost and Jesus as God

Since Christians believe that Jesus is God, therefore they worship him as they worship God as they believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost is one of the three in a trinity. They interpreted the following verses of the Bible in what is being said by Jesus is he is also God as the vision of God is in him:

Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:9-10)

Jesus forgives sins and therefore he is God as only God can forgive sins and he is sinless. And the Christians believe that the Word which with God in the beginning was Jesus and the interpretation is, although Jesus was with God they are not separated but one and the same identity. The following verse of the Bible is taken to mean not only God was the beginning Jesus was there too in the beginning. The following verse of the Bible gives this interpretation:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

Since the Word is interpreted to be “Jesus” as the beginning in John 1:1 the meaning of the verse is therefore “In the beginning was Jesus and Jesus was with God and Jesus was God. With this interpretation however it deprived the beginning of the Holy Ghost as there will be an error of omission in the Bible.

It is also interpreted from the verses of the Bible that Jesus claim his kingdom is not of this world and that he is the savior of mankind and therefore he is God:

Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is borne this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

The Christians worship Jesus is also because he is regarded as sinless and he is claimed to be the only begotten son of God and he is therefore God. The Bible says:

All human sins: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Roman 3:23-24)

Lovable God: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Thus the Christians believe that only through Jesus they will enter paradise without him no one will taste heaven.

The Muslims only worship Allah

On the other hand, Muslim worship only One God and there is no other representative besides Him, neither has He a son nor appear as a man but He is to be worshipped as an unseen God:

He is Allah, the one and only; Allah the eternal. Absolute; He beget not nor is he begotten; and there is none unto like Him (Surah 112)

No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things. (Surah 6:103)

And Muslims believe that only God Allah can forgive sin none others and He is the First and He is the Beginning while His words which He taught His creatures come after that:

And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins, and who can forgive sins except Allah? And are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done. (Surah 3:135)

To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: It is He Who gives Life and Death; and He has Power over all things. He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Immanent: and He has full knowledge of all things.

(Surah 57:3-4)

And put thy trust in Him Who lives and dies not; and celebrate his praise; and enough is He to be acquainted with the faults of His servants. (Surah 25:58)

No Sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me. For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance, Lord of Power, Steadfast (for ever).

(Surah 51:57-58)

 And call not, besides Allah, on another god. There is no god but He. Everything (that exists) will perish except His “own Face” (Presence). To Him belongs the Command, and to Him will ye (all) be brought back. (Surah 28:88)

He taught Adam of His words:

Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

(Surah 2:37)

For to anything which We have willed, We but say the word, "Be", and it is. (Surah 16:40)

Unlike Jews and Christians who have no specific names for God Muslims are commanded to worship God alone and to mention His Names during worship as commanded by Him in His Book the Quran and to shun any other names which has been invented without His authority:

"Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and of all that is between them; so worship Him, and be constant and patient in His worship: know thou of any who is worthy of the same Name as He?" (Surah 19:65)

He said: "Punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord: dispute ye with me over names which ye have devised - ye and your fathers, without authority from Allah? Then wait: I am amongst you, also waiting."

(Surah 7:71)

God whom the Muslims worship is never absent in term of place and in term of time He is ever presence and none can escape His authority and Judgment:

 And verily, We shall recount their whole story with knowledge, for We were never absent (at any time or place). (Surah 7:7)

When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he call on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.

(Surah 2:186)

The choice is yours to take salvation through Jesus the Son of God or through God only who is Allah “The One God”.

On the Day of Judgment all will be judged for the deeds which they have forwarded in this world and the true God will appear by the attributes as described in truth in His Holy Books and He will be presence as the ultimate Judge. The correct belief will come to pass.

In Christianity it is being propagated that Jesus taught that anyone who believes in Him "shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" as stated in John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Christians therefore will conclude that those who have been "born again" by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will be transformed into a heavenly state when Jesus Christ comes back again. All of these people, according to the apostle Paul, will answer for their Christian service and stewardship at the "judgment seat of Christ" at that time as stated in the following verses:

But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)

To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; (2 Corinthians 5:10)

None of these true believers, however, will face eternal condemnation at the Great White Throne, because Jesus Christ has already paid for their sins at Calvary (A hill outside ancient Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified).

"Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

Salvation is through the One God Allah is the only path.

On the contrary in Islam salvation belong to God alone as He is the One who can save and none can intercede except with His permission and He only accepts those who intercede for a good cause as stated in the following verses:

O ye who believe! Spend out of (the bounties) We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (Will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith they are the wrong-doers. (Surah 2:254)

Whoever intercedes for a good purpose will receive his share of the reward but the intercession for an evil purpose only adds more to one's burden. God has control over all things. (Surah 4:85)

Allah promise the good in this world and the hereafter for believers

Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions. (Surah 16:97)

"He that works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof: and he that works a righteous deed - whether man or woman - and is a Believer- such will enter the Garden (of Bliss): Therein will they have abundance without measure.

(Surah 40:40)

Allah will deliver those who believe and work righteousness and abandon the evils ones on the Day of Judgment.

So, by thy Lord, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and (also) the Evil Ones (with them); then shall We bring them forth on their knees round about Hell; Then shall We certainly drag out from every sect all those who were worst in obstinate rebellion against (Allah) Most Gracious. And certainly We know best those who are most worthy of being burned therein. Not one of you but will pass over it: this is, with thy Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. But We shall save those who guarded against evil, and We shall leave the wrong-doers therein, (humbled) to their knees. (Surah 19:68-72)

To be delivered one has to worship God alone and not to put partners to God whether it being a son or wife or other entities invented by human faculties. Allah says in the Quran:

Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore worship Me (and no other). (Surah 21:92)

Among His Signs are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon. Do not prostrate to the sun and the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him ye wish to worship. (Surah 41:37)

Those to whom We have given the Book rejoice at what hath been revealed unto thee: but there are among the clans those who reject a part thereof. Say: "I am commanded to worship Allah, and not to join partners with Him. Unto Him do I call, and unto Him is my return." (Surah 13:36)

Allah makes it easy His path to salvation there is no necessity the intercession of “a middleman”. Allah is directly approachable:

If any one does a righteous deed, it ensures to the benefit of his soul; if he does evil, it works against (his own soul). In the end will ye (all) be brought back to your Lord. (Surah 45:15)

Say: "Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the sustenance to such of his servants as He pleases: and nothing do ye spend in the least (in His cause) but He replaces it: for He is the Best of those who grant Sustenance. (Surah 34:39)

We shall set up scales of justice for the Day of Judgment, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least, and if there be (no more than) the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it (to account): and enough are We to take account. (Surah 21:47)

He that doeth good shall have ten times as much to his credit: He that doeth evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil: no wrong shall be done unto (any of) them. (Surah 6:160)

Only those who disbelieve and who reject with arrogance to His message in the Holy Books will be of those unfortunate in this world and more in the hereafter:

And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): but those who are too arrogant to worship Me will surely find themselves in Hell - in humiliation!" (Surah 40:60)

"And O ye in sin! Get ye apart this Day! "Did I not enjoin on you, O ye Children of Adam, that ye should not worship Satan; for that he was to you an enemy avowed? "And that ye should worship Me, (for that) this was the Straight Way? "But he did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did ye not, then, understand? (Surah 36:59-64)

Finally the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was inspired by God to say to all human kind:

"I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner. (Surah 18:110)

ASAR