TWENTY-SIX REALITIES

TWENTY-SIX REALITIES WHICH TOGETHER DEMONSTRATE, WHAT THE GLORIOUS QUR’AN TRULY TEACHES ABOUT THE MESSIAH ISA (JESUS). HE NOT ONLY DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, BUT IN HIS VICTORY OVER DEATH HE TOTALLY DEFEATED THE EVIL PLANS OF JEWISH LEADERS.

Introduction

Segments of the American press seem to work hard at setting Christian against Muslim and Muslim against Christian. Regretfully, it comes as no surprise when a United States newspaper identifies Muslims as “Muslim thugs”, combining the word thug with Muslim even though thug is a word used for the lowest of criminals.

Perhaps one of the more positive outcomes to emerge from the Intifada in the West Bank and Gaza is the way that Israeli repression and injustice have affected the relationship between Muslims and Christians. As both groups struggle for survival under the cruel heel of Israel, they have learned valuable new lessons about mutual support and cooperation. This suffering has given them a bond of respect and friendship that will not be easily broken. Side by side, Muslims and Christians have resisted Israeli repression and together experienced imprisonment, torture and death at the hands of their tormentors. At times the anguish has been so great that it seems as though their mutual prayers are not being heard by the Compassionate ALLAH. Despite how it appears, their agony is seen by ALLAH and their prayers are heard by Him. If He did not hear their prayers, ALLAH would not have commanded His angel to give the name “ALLAH Hears” to the forefather of the Muslims. (The name Ishmael in Hebrew has the exact meaning of “GOD Hears.”)When ALLAH took the responsibility upon Himself to name the first-born son of the Prophet Abraham “GOD Hears”, He undoubtedly foresaw a future time when this sacred name would have special significance for Ishmael’s descendants. Has there ever been a time when a significant group of his descendants have needed more assurance of ALLAH’S special care than the Palestinians need at the present? Is not the name “ALLAH Hears” the guarantee that ALLAH most certainly hears their cries for justice, along with hearing the prayers and pleas of all of Ishmael’s descendants?

In addition to fervent prayer, there is another resource available to both Muslims and Christians; thought the power of this resource seems to be beyond the understanding of both groups. I refer to a man. Some persons insist that though he is a prophet, he is no more than a prophet. But whether he is no more than a prophet in all circumstances, when he defeated death through ALLAH’S power, he accomplished a more marvelous victory over an evil scheme of Israel’s leaders than any other person has ever accomplished in the history of man. The leaders of Israel devised a wicked plot and the Messiah Isa totally defeated it. Because of his experience encountering the hardness of the hearts of Israeli leadership, the Living Messiah has a special sympathy for the suffering Palestinians. In fact, all victims of exploitation have a special place in the heart of the Messiah who was Himself cruelly rejected and severely persecuted by the leaders of Israel. Unfortunately, Muslims and Christians have been prevented from finding unity in the mightiest resource available in our world, the risen, exalted, Messiah Isa.

Before we consider these twenty-six realities which demonstrate the true teaching of the Qur’an regarding whether or not Isa was crucified, it is necessary to examine the verses before and after the one verse that appears to question his crucifixion:

“And We caused the Mount to tower above them at (the taking of) their covenant: and We bade them: Enter the gate, prostrate! and We bade them: Transgress not the Sabbath! and We took from them a firm covenant.

Then because of their breaking of their covenant, and their disbelieving in the revelations of ALLAH, and their slaying of the prophets wrongfully, and their saying: Our hearts are hardened-Nay, but ALLAH hath set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so that they believe not save a few-

And because of their disbelief and of their speaking against Mary a tremendous calumny;

And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, ALLAH’S messenger – They slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them and lo! Those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain,

But ALLAH took him up unto Himself. ALLAH was ever mighty, Wise.”

                                                         (Women 4:154-158)

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1. The disbelieving Jews planned Isa’s crucifixion but manipulated the Romans to carry it out. The Qur’an does not state that Isa was not crucified. Instead, it states that they (the Jews) did not crucify him. Though the Romans did, they could permanently end the life of ALLAH’S Messiah.

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2. If the Qur’an’s purpose was to teach that the Messiah Isa never died, even for three days, there would have been teaching in the Qur’an disputing the Christian belief in his resurrection from death. It was well known at the time in which the Prophet Muhammad received his revelation that Christians were certain that the Messiah had been crucified by the Romans but had returned to life after three days. It was even well known that after his return to life, the Messiah had many conversations with individuals and groups. Yet, nowhere in the entire Qur’an is there a statement against the resurrection of Isa.

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3. The words “killed” and “crucified” imply “the permanent ending of life.” In the case of the Messiah’s life, however, there was no permanent ending of life because after three days ALLAH raised him up. Therefore, Isa was neither “killed” nor “crucified” according to standard definition. Women 4:157 and 158 tell us that the Messiah was not killed nor crucified, but that ALLAH took him up. This statement definitely agrees with the Injil’s (Gospel’s) teaching that Isa did die but rose again on the third day.

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4. The passage preceding the Qur’an’s proclamation about Isa’s crucifixion condemns the wrong attitudes and hostile actions of Jewish leaders. It is the intention of the Qur’an to extol the magnificent victory of Isa over death. The purpose of the verses saying that Isa was not killed and that ALLAH took him up is to glorify ALLAH, who has such power to defeat not only the evil plans of Jewish leaders, but even to conquer death itself.

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5. The emotion and urgency expressed by the words used in Women 4:157 indicate that this verse has a secondary purpose in addition to the one stated above. By its strong language, it meant to silence forever those arrogant Jews who shamelessly boasted that they had permanently ended the life of Messiah, Isa, son of Mary, because as the next verse clearly demonstrates, ALLAH gave him new life.

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6. It is extremely unlikely that the Qur’an would abruptly change the subject from a strong criticism of the Jews to teach that Isa did not die and rise - - the central belief of Christians. In order to understand the one verse in the Qur’an which appears to question the crucifixion, it is imperative to keep in perspective that the whole purpose of the previous verses is to expose certain negative historical facts about the Jews’ rebellion against ALLAH. These verses are not intended to criticize Christian belief.

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7. When the Qur’an speaks of Isa not being killed or crucified, it is not teaching that Isa was not killed or crucified. Instead, it is using the literary technique of hyperbole. Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration and overstatement used to draw greater attention to a particularly important point. This technique is employed in this situation to give additional emphasis to the historical reality that ALLAH totally defeated the plans of Jewish leaders when he brought our Messiah back to life from death. The Qur’an desires that all persons everywhere clearly understand that these disbelieving leaders were magnificently defeated by ALLAH in their evil scheme against the Messiah to permanently end his life.

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8. Because so many fail to understand that hyperbole is being used in the verse about Isa’s crucifixion and because of the destructive influence of the Gospel of Barnabas (to be discussed later), people incorrectly think that the Qur’an teaches that someone who appeared to be Isa was on the cross instead of him. The Qur’an does not teach that there was someone on the cross who appeared to be Isa but was not him. Instead, it teaches that it appeared to the Jews who had planned the Messiah’s death that his righteous life had been permanently ended. They were convinced that this Blesses Messiah, who had exposed their corrupt practices by his teaching and by the righteousness of his own life, was now permanently dead. They were certain that he would no longer be able to teach the true meaning of submission to ALLAH. But, though most Jews have not yet admitted to themselves and to others, they totally failed in their plot to end the Messiah’s life because after three days, ALLAH took him up alive.

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9. It is true that the Qur’an does not state that Isa was taken up after three days. However, it is more significant that the Qur’an does not deny that Isa experienced three days of death before he was taken up by ALLAH. Women 4:157 and 158 do not include details regarding Isa’s victory over death. Extra details, such as speaking of his three days of death, would produce more clarity, but these details would detract from the two main points of the verses: to emphasize the glory due ALLAH for giving Isa victory over both the plans of the Jews and death, and to rebuke certain Jews for arrogantly and falsely boasting that they had permanently ended the life of ALLAH’S Messiah. Consequently, the Qur’an often directs its readers to the Injil (Gospel) where the facts of Isa’s victory over death are portrayed in much greater detail than in the Qur’an.

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10. Many Muslims are convinced that because those Jews who planned Isa’s murder were so cruel, dishonest and deceptive, that the Almighty ALLAH would not have allowed persona acting so wickedly to succeed in such an evil plan. For ALLAH to allow these persons to possess the power to end the righteous and merciful Messiah’s life does not seem right to these Muslims. They are correct. ALLAH did not allow rebellious Jews or any other group to experience success against His Anointed Messiah. Isa’s glorious resurrection after his death totally over-shadowed the tragedy of his murder. The evil Jewish plot to execute him was completely defeated by the life and love of ALLAH’S Messiah. Instead of being a victim, Isa became the victory by rising from the dead.

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11. Without realizing it, those who insist that the Glorious Qur’an teaches that the Messiah escaped from death rather than defeating it are creating a Messiah who is not worthy of the Glorious Qur’an. The portrayal of Isa fleeing from death does not agree with the exalted and honorable way that the Qur’an consistently portrays the Messiah. The Qur’an lists Isa as a prophet among other prophets. He is not only called “Faultless” and “Righteous” but is also referred to as a “Revelation for Mankind”, a “Word from ALLAH” and as one who is “Illustrious in the World and in the Hereafter.” The Qur’an goes so far as to state that there is no help in this world or in the hereafter for those who continue in their disbelief about Isa. (Imran 3:56) It is a dishonor to both the Qur’an and the Messiah Isa to believe that the same Messiah whom the Qur’an describes as having begun his life born of a virgin, chose to end his life fleeing from suffering.

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12. It is a dishonor to ALLAH to believe the Qur’an teaches that ALLAH caused another person to die in Isa’s place. No person can demonstrate their great love for others in a more magnificent way than to willingly give his life for them. The merciful ALLAH would not take away from Isa the opportunity to reflect His great compassion for all mankind by preventing Isa from giving his own for others.

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13. In the Suras (chapters) of the Table, The Imrans and Cattle, three of the Qur’an’s latest revelations, the Injil (Gospel) is consistently referred to in a positive way and as authoritative. The Injil’s teachings regarding Isa’s death and resurrection must then be considered reliable. However, the false teaching of the Gospel of Barnabas has succeeded in driving Muslims away from the Injil. The Barnabas document has manipulated many Muslims into thinking that the Qur’an itself does not instruct Muslims to read and think about the marvelous accounts in the Injil of the Messiah’s triumphant victory over death. Tragically, the Barnabas account presents the Messiah himself saying that the Injil has been changed, meaning that those Scriptures are of no benefit to man. Isa’a own teaching is the opposite. When the Devil tried to tempt him to use his marvelous powers in a selfish way, he proclaimed that words from ALLAH’S Scriptures, such as the Injil, are as necessary for man’s spiritual life as food is for man’s physical life.

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14. Instead of the Qur’an teaching that the Scriptures preceding the Qur’an are not to be trusted, again and again the Qur’an teaches the opposite. It states that the Scriptures preceding the Qur’an are protected by ALLAH and cannot be changed. When the Qur’an does speak of the Scriptures being changed, it is never the Christians doing the changing, but instead is always the Jews. Though there were Jews who became Christians, when the Qur’an speaks of Jews, it consistently refers to persons who do not believe in the Messiah Isa. In both 5:13 and 5:41 of The Table, the passage do not imply that there was a widespread conspiracy to change the Scriptures, but instead speak of subtle changes made by Jews to make certain meanings benefit their own self-interests. The Jews were the ones who attempt to convince everyone that Isa is not the Messiah, that he remained dead after his crucifixion without experiencing a glorious resurrection. The Qur’an’s main criticism of the Jews is not on their changing written Scriptures with their pens, but is on their changing the meaning of Scripture with their tongues. While speaking of the Jews of Al-Madinah, the Qur’an states:

“And lo! There is a party of them who distort the Scripture with their tongues, that ye may think that what they say is from the Scripture, when it is not from the Scripture.” (Imran 3:78)

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15. The Qur’an is emphatic in its teaching that the Gospel is trustworthy as a source of light for mankind and to guide us as we attempt to resist the evil of this world.

“And we caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in the Torah, and we bestowed upon him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was revealed before it in the Torah- a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil.)” (Table 5:46)

This wonderful testimony to the reliability of the Gospel would certainly not have been given if the Gospel should be considered untrustworthy as the writer of the false Gospel of Barnabas would attempt to deceive us into believing.

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16. It is my opinion that the Gospel of Barnabas was written by one of three persons: a Muslim who had only a little faith in ALLAH, a Christian who was angry and selfish or a Jew who was jealous and cunning.

The Muslim would have decided that Muslims could not be trusted to read the Gospel accounts of Isa so he attempt to prevent them from ever reading these wonderful books to which the Qur’an pointed them. The Christian would have been angry with Muslims for their different ideas about the relationship of Isa to ALLAH, so he attempted to erect a permanent barrier between Muslims and Christians. He hoped to prevent Muslims from ever sharing in the life, grace, mercy and forgiveness that are found in Isa. The Jewish writer would have wanted to prevent Christians and Muslims from discovering unity in their risen Messiah. He knew that if Muslims and Christians were to find this unity, the power of his own Jewish faith would be threatened. He realized that Islam and Christianity would possess together a new strength and authority when they agreed that their mutual Messiah defeated not only the plans of the Jews, but death itself.

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17. The Qur’an makes it clear that the Scriptures preceding the Qur’an, such as the Gospel, are to be proclaimed to mankind, are not hidden.

The Gospel of Barnabas teaches that the Scriptures have been changed and are not to be trusted. This teaching deceives people so that they directly disobey this teaching of ALLAH as recorded in the Qur’an. The false Barnabas document has caused these Scriptures to be hidden from especially Muslims, in direct disobedience to the clear instructions of the Qur’an, “And (remember) when ALLAH laid a charge on those who had received the Scripture (He said): Ye are to expound it to mankind and not to hide it. But they flung it behind their backs and bought thereby a little gain. Verily evil is that which they have gained thereby.” (Imran 3: 187)

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18. The Qur’an again and again warns of stern judgment against all who deny ALLAH’S true revelations. Even more condemnation rests upon religious or national leaders who use their position of authority to influence and intimidate others to disregard truth about Isa. When we refuse to trust the Scriptures preceding the Qur’an to which the Qur’an directs us, we choose to cut ourselves off from ALLAH’S revelation of the Messiah Isa. Why do we deliberately grieve ALLAH by turning our backs on one of the most important revelations ALLAH has ever entrusted to mankind?

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19. The Injil’s teachings regarding Isa’s death and resurrection are not just a few isolated verses which could be easily tampered with in order to change their meanings. Rather, numerous long accounts of Isa’s crucifixion, including his own prediction of it, and extensive narratives of his interactions with many persons after his resurrection would have needed to be totally changed in order for the Injil to teach that Isa died and rose again if it had not taught that originally. There is no teaching in the entire Qur’an to suggest that such major alterations of Scripture have ever taken place.

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20. Some may think that since there is more than one Gospel account of the life, death and resurrection of Isa, this means that none of the four accounts of his life are trustworthy. The opposite is true. In the Qur’an, it is taught that additional witnesses add a reality to testimony that increases confidence in that testimony.

“Those that defame honorable women and cannot produce four witnesses shall be given eighty lashes” (Light 2:4.)

ALLAH has ordained that four different witnesses give their testimony to what they and others observed of the life, death and resurrection of Isa. Though each of the four witnesses, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, did not include in their separate writings all of the same details, each of their testimonies to the truth about the Messiah most definitely agree. In fact, the agreement of the gospel writers is so great that the four gospels become, in the words of the Qur’an, “The Gospel.”

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21. Mary 19:33 extols not only Isa’s birth but also his death and resurrection.

“Peace on me the day I was born and the day I die and the day I shall be raised alive. Such was Isa, son of Mary.”

Some persons claim that this verse does not give evidence that Isa has already died and risen. They point out that there is a somewhat similar verse in the Qur’an regarding John the Baptist and that he is not yet risen. They insists that the verses about both men are only referring to the final resurrection in which John and Isa will be involved at the end of time.

Even though this verse speaking of Isa’s death and resurrection is similar to a verse about John, when we view the different circumstances of the two men we will understand that the two verses must be interpreted differently. If we insist that the verse about Isa and the verse about John be interpreted the same way, we must conclude that Isa is now dead and is in his grave like John. We must also conclude that both men are now awaiting their final resurrection. However, since the Qur’an and the Injil both teach that Isa is not now awaiting the final resurrection but is alive with ALLAH, this indicates that the two verses must be viewed differently. There is a great deal of reliable evidence from both the Qur’an and the Scriptures preceding the Qur’an that Isa died and rose from death. Therefore, a strong case can be made that the verse in the Qur’an extolling Isa’s birth, death, and resurrection must be considered as one more clear proclamation that Isa’s death and glorious resurrection have already occurred.

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22. Those who insist that this verse is referring to a future resurrection instead of Isa’s resurrection that occurred three days after his death have introduced two major problems for themselves to solve. Muslims who believe that Isa did not die believe that he has remained alive in ALLAH’S presence for almost two thousand years. If this is true, in order for Isa to be raised at the final resurrection, he must return to earth and live out his remaining life (in his earthly life he is only 33), then die, and then be raised at the future resurrection. Yet, this world is constantly facing devastating wars, especially in the Middle East, and now has enough nuclear weapons to destroy itself many times over. This world also is facing life-threatening ecological disasters. Time is rapidly running out for the Messiah to return to live out his life. If he does not return very soon, there are strong indications that there will not be an inhabitable world in which he can live out his earthly life.

The second problem for Muslims who insist that in some future time the Messiah will return to continue his earthly life is possibly more difficult than the first one. In view of Isa’s prominent and exalted position in the Qur’an and the reality that he must return soon in order to finish his natural life, it is reasonable to expect millions of Muslims to be excitedly anticipating his soon return. Yet, no such expectation exists. The Qur’an highly exalts Isa. Eleven times the Qur’an calls him Messiah. Ten times the Qur’an calls him “messenger” meaning ALLAH’S Messenger. Three times in the Qur’an he is referred to as a Word from ALLAH. The Qur’an speaks of him as both righteous and faultless. The Qur’an teaches that he will be a Witness against the Jews at the final resurrection. He is called a Sign from ALLAH, as prominent in this world and the world to come, and as favored by ALLAH. Additionally, according to both Muslims and Christians, he has now lived for almost two thousands years in the holy presence of the Almighty ALLAH. For hundreds of millions of sincere Muslims apparently not to care whether this one so blesses by ALLAH returns to earth or not is unbelievable and almost unexplainable. But let us investigate three potential explanations of why there is so little concern among Muslims about Isa’s return to this earth. It appears that many Muslims show disrespect for the Qur’an and ALLAH by not seriously considering this one upon whom ALLAH has bestowed such honor. Even though Muslims are convinced that Isa has been in the presence of The Supreme for almost two thousand years, many seem concerned that if they exalt the Messiah as much as the Qur’an exalts him, he will be in competition with the Prophet Muhammed. They forget that it was the Prophet himself who recited all of the statements in the Qur’an which lift up Isa. Therefore, when Muslims fail to give Isa the honor the Qur’an bestows upon him, they are actually dishonoring Isa, the Prophet Muhammed and the Qur’an. Also, because some Muslims are concerned that the Messiah Isa will receive more honor than the Prophet Muhammed, they consistently emphasize those few verses in the Qur’an that may at first appear to lower the position of Isa rather than to meditate upon the many verses in the Qur’an which definitely exalt him.

Or is it that insensitive Christians consistently force Muslims to be on the defense regarding who Isa is? That is, some Muslims attempt to deny the Messiah Isa honor because some Christians have tried to coerce them into giving him that honor. Therefore, these Muslims have lost their concern for whether this one whom ALLAH has no honored in the Qur’an returns to this earth or not.

Or is it possible that millions of Muslims are beginning to realize that the glorious Messiah of the Qur’an did already die and rise. In their hearts, if not in their minds, they are convinced that when he does come to this world again, he will not come to live out the remainder of his life and then finally die (he will be well over 2,000 years old by that time) and then be raised at a future Last Resurrection. Rather, they have a deep inner conviction that when the Messiah returns to this earth, he will rule in power and establish justice, not only in the Middle East, but also throughout the earth.

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23. In The Imrans (3:55), one of the last Suras to be revealed, the Qur’an clearly predicts the death of Isa even though most Muslims continue to believe that he did not die. The verse states,

“Isa, I am about to cause you to die and lift you up to me. I shall take you away from the unbelievers and exalt your followers above them till the Day of Resurrection.”

This verse contains clear testimony to the fact that Isa has already died and that he has already risen. Both the context of the verse and its wording make it clear that Isa’s death will not occur near the end of time, but was about to occur them. Therefore, the “lifting up” in the above verse, and the “took him up” of Women 158, both refer to the resurrection which occurred three days after Isa’s death. Consequently, it becomes clear that the “Day of Resurrection” mentioned in 3:55 is not the time when Isa will be raised because ALLAH has already raised him up. Rather, “Day of Resurrection” here refers to the resurrection at the end of time when others will be raised.

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24. Some Muslims will argue that the verb “die” in 3:55 may be interpreted to mean something less than death. Nevertheless, the message of this verse must be viewed in relation to the other evidence that Isa’s death and resurrection have already taken place. When this is done, this verse becomes another additional piece of strong evidence that the Qur’an definitely teaches that the one whom the Qur’an describes as a Revelation for Mankind did not escape death. Rather, it teaches that almost two thousand years ago he totally defeated both the schemes of the Jews and death by dying and rising from death.

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25. The Qur’anic statements that Isa was not killed even though he actually experienced death for three days, is entirely consistent with two other clear commands in the Qur’an. Twice Muslims are told in the Qur’an not to speak or even think that those slain in the cause of ALLAH are dead:

“Do not say that those who are slain in the cause of ALLAH are dead; they are alive although you are not aware of them”

(The Cow 2:154)

“You must not think that those slain in the cause of ALLAH are dead. They are alive and well provided for by their Lord”

(The Imrans 3:169)

As a result of this clear instruction from the Glorious Qur’an, the friends and loved ones of the Palestinian martyrs in the West Bank and Gaza continue to speak of their loved ones who have been the victims of Israelis oppression as still being alive. In fighting the might of Israel with the stones of David, these heroes were killed. Nevertheless, in their loved ones’ hearts and minds they are both thought of and spoken of as alive. When this clear teaching from the Qur’an is viewed in the light of the courageous example of the loved ones of the murdered youth of Palestine, can we possibly think that the Glorious Qur’an could have said anything else about our triumphant Messiah than what it states?

“…They slew him not or crucified him, but it appeared so unto them… But ALLAH took him up unto Himself. ALLAH was ever Mighty, Wise.” (Women 4:157,158)

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26. Finally, may none of us be declared guilty of considering the Wisdom and Might of ALLAH as comparable to the puny wisdom and might of the American CIA or the diminutive wisdom and might of the Israeli Mossad. For the Glorious Qur’an in Al Nisa 157, 158 clearly teaches that it was by the Wisdom and Might of the ALMIGHTY that the Messiah was raised up to ALLAH. To have changed the appearance of another man to have the appearance of the Messiah is a trick that Hollywood, the CIA or the Mossad could easily do. Such a cheep trick would definitely not require the Glorious Wisdom and Incomparable Might of ALMIGHTY ALLAH.

To insist that the Holy Qur’an would have us believe that the Wisdom and Might of ALLAH were needed for such amateur deception to occur is to reveal a lack of respect for ALLAH which is close to blasphemy. In contrast, to understand that ALLAH’S Majestic Wisdom and Glorious Might were both required to raise ALLAH’S Messiah up from total death makes logical sense. That is, it definitely took His Wisdom and Might to defeat not only the evil plans of Israeli leaders but also to defeat both death and Satin. These three wonderful victories vividly reveal that ALLAH deserves all Glory. ALLAHU AKBAR!

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Conclusion

Since the evidence is so strong from the Qur’an that Isa did die but rose from death, the following question must be answered: Why does all of this evidence not cause millions of Muslims to acknowledge that never in the history of man has ALLAH done something more wonderful than when He supernaturally raised Isa from death to be our triumphant Messiah?

A major part of the answer concerns the words Christians use to describe Isa’s relationship to ALLAH. Since Christian theology states that Isa is ALLAH’S son, Muslims think that if they acknowledge the victory of Isa over death, they will be expected to accept the idea that ALLAH has fathered a son.

Though it is difficult for both Muslims and Christians to accept, the concept of Isa being the Son of ALLAH is more a problem of our differences in forms of thought and our use of words than it is about the relationship between ALLAH and the Messiah, His Living Word.