A PARABLE BY:

Tom Griffith

WILL THE RISEN MESSIAH REVEALED IN THE HOLY QUR’AN BE ALLOWED TO VISIT HOLY MECCA?

INTRODUCTION

Nations of people often disagree over certain historical events. No matter how many people testify that an event did or did not occur, their convictions do not alter a fragment of what actually occurred. So it is with the most significant event in the history of mankind, the death and resurrection of the Messiah Isa. Some testify that Isa died for three days and then triumphantly defeated those who planned his execution by vanquishing death. Others believe he did not.

Many believe that the Qur’an teaches that Isa did not die and rise from death. I submit that a more consistent and logical interpretation of the Qur’an’s teaching leads to opposite conclusions and that he is not only humanity’s present Risen Messiah but he is also our future Judge. In support of this theme and to consider some of its implications, I have written a longer paper, which is not yet available. The following parable is part of that paper and demonstrates what may be the response to this understanding of the Holy Qur’an’s teaching.

The parable considers the banishment of the Risen Messiah in a Saudi Arabian context. Saudi Arabia is the custodian of Holy Mecca and fulfills a leadership role in Islam. Saudi Arabia currently rejects Isa’s authority. The parable portrays that rejection and banishment of ALLAH’S Messiah by Saudi Arabian leaders, who appear to be more interested in accommodating political, economic and religious interests than in pleasing ALLAH.

In our story, the risen Isa appears to others to have the physical limitations of man. It is ALLAH’S Will that His Risen; Triumphant Messiah visits the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He secretly passes by guards, enters into the palace and begins to introduce himself to leaders as the Mighty Sacrifice of whom the Qur’an speaks. The king, members of the Royal family and most of the council of ministers are present. All, including the King, personally meet him, and each person has the opportunity to individually examine nail wounds in his hands and feet.

One member of the Royal family, who read the unchanged Injil, asks Isa to show the deep hole in his side where a Roman soldier thrust a spear to make certain he was dead. Some of the braver officials touch the wound. All become convinced of the authenticity of his wounds, and through vigorous discussion with him are assured he is indeed exactly who he says that he is, ALLAH’S Risen Messiah.

The officials politely request that Isa be patient while they contact their religious advisors on how to manage his visit. They do not have the authority to make decisions on any matter that has religious dimensions and acknowledge that they do not know what to tell the common people about his visit to their Kingdom. They are emphatic that it is the responsibility of the religious advisors, and not his responsibility, to explain the purpose of his visit.

Observing how opinionated they are, Isa politely changes the subject. He explains that though the Scriptures repeatedly warn that his next coming will also be unannounced, it will catch multitudes by surprise. The officials reply that they missed reading those comments. They assure him, however, that everyone in the Kingdom has a deep respect for the teaching in all of ALLAH’S Scriptures.

As Isa listens, he overhears one official whisper to the person nearest him, “ I was recently told by a famous Muslim authority to read the Gospels. But, he emphasized that it is important never to try to learn anything from them. He told me to concentrate on trying to find statements that I could ridicule and that I could encourage others to ridicule. I wish that this authority was here to see these wounds. The reality of the wounds would stop him from cluttering people’s minds with his words of ridicule.”

The officials explain that it is time to call religious advisors regarding what to say in potential press releases about his reason for visiting their Kingdom. With some embarrassment they also explain that for security reasons he must stay in a soundproof room until all arrangements for his brief visit are completed. They tell him that though they do not wish to appear rude, his door will be locked for security reasons. Though they express concern for his comfort, the air conditioner in his room is temporarily out of order and the room has no windows or ventilation, also for security reasons. Isa graciously replies that since he was raised in a large Middle Eastern family without modern conveniences, they need not be concerned about his comfort.

Isa is not allowed to tell officials the reason for his visit. He assures them that this visit, unlike any future visits, will not interfere with established protocol but warns them that deciding his motives for him is a dangerous precedent which will lead to serious trouble.

The officials reply that though they want him to feel free to state his opinions, he must understand that they are experienced in handling delicate situations and that they have full confidence in the advice of their religious advisors. If the advisors consider it necessary, they will arrange to talk personally with him about his own view of the purpose of his visit. They accept the fact that he is ALLAH’S Messiah, but also recognize that only religious advisors have the necessary training to make decisions on religious issues.

Suddenly a prince raises his hand as if he is in a classroom. The Messiah instantly nods toward him approvingly.

“Sir, your wounds and your words have totally convinced us that you were indeed crucified. But now that I know you were crucified, I am very confused. The Holy Qur’an emphatically states that you were neither killed nor crucified.”

“Do I understand you to believe that nowhere in the Qur’an is my death mentioned?” Inquires their guest.

There is considerable whispering as almost everyone acknowledges to those standing near, that in several places the Qur’an indeed does speak of the Messiah’s impending death.

“But sir,” protests the prince, “you don’t understand! Of course there are verses which speak of your death. But these verses are all referring to a death which you have not yet experienced.”

“O prince, you are indeed sincere about what you think the Qur’an teaches. Nevertheless, my presence here with you today must help you acknowledge that you have read the Qur’an through the lens of man-made tradition. Does not your own Holy Book present me as stating that there would be a day of my death and also a day of my resurrection?”

“Yes, it certainly does,” he replies. “But you obviously do not realize what you meant when you spoke of those events.” Suddenly the confused prince is overwhelmed with embarrassment. In front of many other rational adults, he is attempting to convince ALLAH’S Messiah that he did not experience death, but would die in some vague future time. With no prior warning some instructions recorded in the book of Jonah flash through his mind. His embarrassment deepens as he realizes his disobedience to ALLAH’S instruction to the Prophet Muhammad. “If you are in doubt about what was revealed to you, then question those who read the Scriptures before you.” Instead of trying to learn from the very one of whom those Scriptures speak, he is foolishly attempting to instruct ALLAH’S Messiah. Before the prince can reveal to others his newly acquired humility his thoughts are interrupted.

“Please, would you kindly help me understand what I truly did mean when I spoke of my own death and resurrection,” asks the Messiah.

Realizing that he should not reveal more of his own misinformation, the embarrassed prince replies, “Please sir, will you help us understand the meaning of our Scriptures when they state that you were not crucified and that another person who appeared to be you was crucified instead of you?”

The Messiah pauses, looks into the eyes of each person and then slowly speaks.

“If your hearts seek truth you will understand my explanation. If your minds are closed, you will attempt to hide behind further debate.

“You are in error when you think the Qur’an teaches that another person who appeared to be me was crucified instead of me. You do not yet understand that the Qur’an is so emphatic that Israel’s leaders were unsuccessful in their futile attempt to permanently end my life that it actually ridicules those who arrogantly claimed that they had accomplished their evil goal. In the sense that crucifies means permanently ending life, indeed, I was neither killed nor crucified. It only appeared to them that my life was permanently destroyed. The verb” appeared” as it is used in the Qur’an, does not refer to another person who appeared to be me, dying in my place. Rather, it refers to the fact that it appeared to Jewish leaders that they had permanently terminated my existence. The Qur’an further emphasizes their utter failure when it culminates its comments regarding the Almighty’s triumph over their evil plans. Gloriously, it proclaims the historical reality that ALLAH, in His power and wisdom, raised me from my tomb. ‘But ALLAH took him up unto Himself. ALLAH is ever Mighty, Wise.’

As they each ponder the obvious truth of the Messiah’s explanation, he adds a final point. “If you think it strange that the Qur’an states that I was not crucified, when I truly was, please consider this. The Qur’an twice emphasizes that each person killed in the true cause of ALLAH, is not to be thought of as dead, but as alive with their Lord. My death occurred when I was being obedient to the cause of your ALLAH and my ALLAH. Therefore, it is consistent with the Qur’an’s emphatic teaching on how to think of ALLAH’S servants, who have been killed, to not think of me as crucified. Though my wounds are real, proving I was truly crucified, you are now to dwell on the glorious reality that I am alive forevermore. Do not be of those who reject faith to follow man-made conjecture.

As they hear these words they feel their hearts burning within them. For the first time they grasp the true significance of the verse immediately after the Qur’an’s proclamation of ALLAH’S Might and Power in raising His Messiah from death. “Yes, it appeared to Israel’s leaders that they destroyed him and he would never again expose the darkness of their hearts. But they did not take into account that every plot against the Almighty is doomed to fail. ALLAH, in His magnificent wisdom and through His irresistible might, brought back to life His obedient Messiah. Not one of Israel’s arrogant and rebellious leaders believed in his authority before his death. On the Day of Judgment they will be compelled to believe. On that final Day of Resurrection, the very one they believed they had eternally destroyed will stand as the Almighty’s witness against Israel’s leaders. Today he stands before us, the leaders of Saudi Arabia.”

The thought-filled silence is broken when a person superior to the prince speaks up and abruptly stifles the group’s contemplation.

“We are indeed impressed by your presence and your words. We also acknowledge that your Arabic is superb. Nevertheless, it is not appropriate for us to usurp the authority of our religious advisors concerning theological matters. Therefore, we will seek their advice concerning your radical views. We do not want anyone to think that we are allowing you to introduce disunity into our Kingdom.”

Since the last speaker is considered to be an authority, no one feels free to make any further comments. The subject is dropped.

They hastily escort him to his nearby room, close and lock the door and immediately pledge each other to total secrecy about his presence. As they start down the hallway they hear a faint knock coming from his door. They freeze with apprehension. With trembling hands, a Royal Family member cautiously unlocks and opens the door while the others stay a safe distance away. When they see Isa warmly smile, they regain their composure. They believe that the worst that will happen is that he will complain about the suffocating heat in his unventilated room. They all promptly gather around him. When they hear his words they are again overwhelmed with apprehension.

“When you are speaking with religious advisors, I have one request. I desire their permission to visit Mecca. I do not wish to be considered a religious pilgrim, but an observer. For some time I have wanted to visit Mecca, but have not received an invitation. I have yearned to be welcome there. I especially want to see the location of the animal sacrifices, since each sacrifice is symbolic of my own mighty sacrifice spoken of in the holy Qur’an.”

Without pausing for a response, Isa quietly shuts the door. It appears as though he is reluctant to force himself upon them. The officials detect that he does not feel welcome either in the King’s palace or in the King’s Kingdom.

When the phone call is made to the religious advisors, there is welcome news. Their entire committee is in an emergency meeting at the chairman’s home. One of the royal prince’s sisters was apprehended on a lonely desert road learning to drive and they are trying to figure out how to discreetly handle this major crisis. When the advisors hear that the Risen Messiah is at the Royal Palace, they are stunned. As they gather around an elaborate speakerphone, each new detail is greeted with amazement. When they hear of Isa’s request to visit Mecca, an intense sense of urgency sweeps over them.

It is agreed that deliberations will take considerable time and that Isa’s visit must remain a state secret. The religious advisors ask those at the Royal Palace to warmly greet him on their behalf and to express their sincere hope that he will enjoy his brief stay in their Kingdom. They agree to call the palace the moment they decide upon the appropriate disposition of this delicate matter.

The advisors compete among themselves to emphasize how potentially explosive this situation is. After most committee members repeat the same thing in slightly different words, they begin their deliberations. The vote is thirteen to two against allowing their Messiah to testify. The majority feels that the actual presence of someone so important to ALLAH might bias their decision in his favor. As they set their agenda priorities, they decide to determine first if they will allow him to visit their Holy City. They agree it is unnecessary to consider if he is truly who he claims to be due to the thoroughness of his interrogation at the Royal Palace. The conference call has confirmed that his general demeanor, his wisdom and wounds leave no room for doubt. He is the Risen Messiah. The second agenda item is to determine what to do with him if they rule against his visiting Mecca.

They agree that practical factors must guide their decisions. They listen to some comments from their chairman, “The fact that he is ALLAH’S Risen Messiah will be taken into consideration. Nevertheless, we cannot allow his stature with ALLAH to overly influence our decisions. The response of religious extremists to his presence in our Kingdom will be a major consideration. They will be extremely upset about his shocking request to visit our Holy City. Such a visit may be de-stabilizing to our entire Kingdom and beyond.

“Another persistent concerns are those terrible wounds which were emphasized in the phone conversation. If we allow him to visit, we must hide those huge nail holes in his hands and feet. Those holes will lead to questions, which will be impossible to answer, and may lead to a demand for change in our doctrine. And oh, that scar on his side. If people see that it will be a disaster. It will lead to unprecedented pressure from religious radicals. The potential of this uninvited guest to stir up religious unrest is awesome to contemplate. He could throw the entire Islamic world into confusion.

“The economic implications of his visit to Mecca are staggering. The impact on the airline industry is but a drop in the bucket. The word that the Risen Messiah is visiting Mecca may cause worldwide upheaval. There are also social and political implications. There is too much confusion in the Kingdom even now to have our Messiah show up unannounced.

What a bad time! The secret police are preoccupied trying to suppress tapes advocating radicalism. Radicals are demanding democracy or at least more plurality in government. As members of the religious advisors’ council, we find that one King is difficult enough to control. What will we do if the King gives actual decision-making responsibilities to people outside of the royal family? And this Messiah might teach something close enough to the concept of the Trinity that the people will no longer allow us to say, “Since ALLAH is one, you should be satisfied with one King to rule you. So stop this democracy talk.”

“The status quo is difficult to maintain without a charismatic Messiah. If the common people find out we have misled them to believe that the Qur’an teaches that Isa did not die and rise form death, they will be very upset. When they realize the Qur’an actually teaches the opposite, a tidal wave of change will sweep over the Middle East. This is a time for clear, calm, unbiased thinking. Since ALLAH has willed our Messiah to visit our Kingdom, we can be confident that He will help us discover a way to maintain the status quo and at the same time convince our Messiah that we sincerely desire to honor him.”

Before their leaders saw Isa’s wounds, they convinced themselves that if great numbers of Muslims believed Isa was not crucified, their belief would change history. They hoped that if sufficient Muslims believed Isa was not crucified, and then it would be as if he was not. This belief is so strong that some leaders are convinced that Isa himself will change his mind about whether he was crucified. But when the officials themselves saw his wounds, they began to seriously doubt his mind could be changed.

After a long intense discussion, the chairman comments on their decision, “Yes, our course is clear. Our plan is in place. Our strategy is obvious. We know that pride is wrong so we will give all credit to ALLAH for guiding us to our excellent solution. We believe our plan will satisfy everyone who is aware of our Messiah’s arrival and will prevent future problems. It will avoid confusion in doctrine. It will show our Messiah that we do care about him and want him to be undisturbed. Because ALLAH knows the thoughts in our hearts, it is useless to try to deceive Him. We can all be comforted that our efforts to help His Messiah are pleasing to Him.”

The chairman reflects on their extensive deliberations. “We almost all agree that stability and order in a society are more important to ALLAH then are justice and truth. We agree that ALLAH is one and not three and that Isa might say something to confuse this issue and thus promote disorder. There is general agreement that if the common people hear Isa call ALLAH his Father, it will cause doctrinal confusion. Doctrinal confusion is one of our main worries because many of us have families to support, and if doctrinal dispute becomes a problem, we may lose our positions as religious advisors. If Isa calls ALLAH his Father, this may influence people to think that Mary and ALLAH had some sort of intimate relationship that resulted in his birth. That thought may encourage people to again think ALLAH, Mary and Jesus are a trinity. It is in the people’s best interest to not know that a parable in Al Nur includes Isa and the Holy Spirit in ALLAH’S tri-dimensional unity.

“If Isa visits Mecca, it will lead to a loss of job security. It will be awkward to invent a believable excuse for covering his nail scars. Visitors to Mecca do not wear socks or gloves; when people see his wounds they will find out who he is. Then they will go to him instead of us with their religious problems.

“Though it would be helpful to know whether he would be willing to recite our statement of faith, wisdom dictates that we avoid a debate with him regarding particular words in the statement. Anyone visiting Mecca must accept the entire statement exactly the way that it is written. Nevertheless, in Isa’s case we will avoid the subject. If he disagrees with some word and we make an exception for him only because he is chosen by ALLAH to be the world’s Messiah, this will set an unwise precedent.

“We must decide whether Isa is now a Muslim or a Christian or perhaps even a Jew, since it is definitely established that the Qur’an’s Messiah was crucified. Before those holes in his hands, feet and side turned up, we considered Isa a Muslim. We believed that when he finally arrived in the last days; he would lead faithful Muslims to victory at Armageddon against misled Christians and infidels. Muslims are required to believe that Isa did not die on the cross, so can ALLAH’S chosen still be considered a Muslim? Only Muslims are allowed to visit Mecca, so it is vital to agree on whether Isa is Muslim and qualified to visit.’

The chairman continues his reflections, “We agree that by race he is a Hebrew. We know that many Christians consider him to be either a Christian Hebrew or a Hebrew Christian. But we consider him to be either a Muslim Hebrew or a Hebrew Muslim. This was before it was established that he was crucified. The requirement that a Muslim cannot believe that Isa died or rose from death confuses things. We now believe that he both died and rose and we are certain that we remain Muslims. So possibly a Muslim can believe that Isa died and rose and still be a Muslim. At least we were certain that we were still Muslims. But wait! This cannot be true! Or can it be true? If we follow our own rules, we can never again visit Mecca because we now believe that he died and rose and by our own definition, we are no longer Muslims. Some of us have families and homes in Mecca. Because of this intruder, we will never again see our wives and children. No! This is not true. We are panicking. Of course we can again see our families. We can visit together outside of Mecca. We can meet on the by-pass, where Christians are required to drive because they are not allowed to drive through Mecca. But this presents problems. When our families come out of Mecca to visit us, they will ask why we can no longer come home. When we explain our new belief that Isa died on the cross and ALLAH raised him to new life prevents our return, then our families will also believe. They too will no longer to able to live in Mecca due to the rule that only those who believe that their Messiah fled from death rather than defeating it, are allowed to go there.

 This belief in a victorious Messiah will also bring many difficult complications to our children’s lives. For instance, it will be impossible for them to use the telephone without close supervision. They will be tempted to call their friends in Mecca who they now miss so very much. If they accidentally tell them their secret, they too will come to believe and they also will be required to leave. When these children’s parents see their own children leaving Mecca, they will be certain to ask why they are leaving. When their children give an honest answer, the whole family will believe in the Risen Messiah and it will be necessary for them to also leave. Their employers will inquire from them why they are leaving their employment. When the employers hear the truth, they also will believe.

When they join the growing multitude required to leave, they will close their businesses. When they explain to their other employees why they are losing their jobs, they will also believe. The children of this multitude of adults who must exit from the city will withdraw from their schools. Their teachers will inquire about why their parents are moving. When the teachers and school administrators hear why all the children are leaving they will believe and also will be required to flee from the Holy City. This mass exodus will cause the schools to close due to no students, no teachers and no administrators. Even those who decide not to believe, because not everyone will believe the evidence, will have great difficulty remaining in Mecca. With no open schools and most of the businesses closed, it will be a hard life there.

“What about the people in the other cities of the Saudi Kingdom? The teachers, the administrators and the students at the new schools where the refugees from Mecca are arriving will ask them why they left Mecca. When they hear of how their courageous Messiah endured death rather than fleeing from it, they too will believe. When their friends hear this news, they will believe. They will be proud when they understand that the Qur’an’s Messiah did not sneak away from death while an innocent person was tortured and executed in his place. Many barriers will be erected to keep this news from reaching the people; none will be successful. The exciting news will spread throughout the Kingdom and the entire world.

“Will there be great anger directed at the king and his advisors because of their conspiracy against the people? Will the people be consumed with hostility because we have prevented accurate information about their victorious Messiah from reaching them? Will multitudes of new believers in the death-defeating Messiah be so frustrated at the misinformation campaign of their leaders that they will plan to overthrow the government?”

The leaders discuss their dread of new believers turning in hostility against the government. One person interrupts the barrage of paranoia with a fresh perspective, “I will admit that I have read the Injiil and see things differently than most of you. I think when the people realize that the government deceived them; they will not turn against it. Instead, they will follow Isa’s example in forgiving others. For instance, I believe that there will be a believing Saudi journalist who will read in the Scriptures the words that Isa shouted from the cross: ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.’ With joy and conviction the journalist will write an editorial about how Isa taught people to forgive even their enemies.

“They will not attempt to overthrow the government. There will be no demand for democracy because they will know that there are times when majority rule can bring tyranny. The people will realize that a truly just, wise and benevolent King can be a blessing to them. They will know that when a King truly listens to a broad spectrum of wise advisors who do not allow weapons’ salesmen to turn the Kingdom away from ALLAH, and who do not allow special privileges for relatives, the Kingdom will prosper.”

The leaders feel that he has said too much. Yet, many were already openly criticizing the affluence of the Royal Family and their emphasis on weapons instead of ALLAH, so they motion for him to continue.

“As Isa forgave Jewish leaders for arranging his execution, new believers will forgive the government for manipulating their beliefs about Isa and the earlier Scriptures. Each person in our Kingdom who receives this liberating news will become a more forgiving person. Instead of resenting the government for its conspiracy against them, believers will pray for the King and for all in authority. They will constantly petition the Almighty that we all might live peaceably in order to please ALLAH who gave a Mighty Sacrifice for our ransom.”

The group again discusses what will occur at Mecca, “The people there who refuse to believe that Isa died and rose again and who decide that they can survive without schools and businesses will be the only ones remaining. Of course, for a time pilgrims will continue to come but when they find the city virtually deserted, they will ask why. When they ask, those remaining will either explain why all the others were forced to leave or they will not tell them the truth about why they left. If the pilgrims hear the truth, many of them will believe. They will joyfully take this message back to their own families, friends, cities and nations. Those who hear about the victorious Messiah during their Mecca visit can never return to the Holy City. Those who hear about him in the nations will never be allowed to visit. They now believe things that though true, are unlawful for a Muslim to believe. Thus, millions of new Muslim believers in the courageous Messiah will never again see Mecca, depriving our economically struggling Kingdom of needed income.

“A second possibility is that the few unbelieving Muslims who remain in Mecca will refuse to explain why so many have departed or will invent an untruthful cover story. If the people encounter their refusal to answer they will be suspicious. If they hear a cover story they will still be suspicious and think that there is a plague or that the Mecca water supply is contaminated. The media will be notified and carry misinformation throughout the world that Mecca is to be avoided. Even if nothing is wrong there, if people think there is, it will be as if there really is plague or contamination in Mecca.”

“Multitudes will not be able to go to Mecca because they now either believe that Isa died and rose or they are fearful of contracting a fatal disease. Mecca will be skeleton of the city it once was. Those who have real estate investments there will lose their money.

Many older Saudi citizens depending on Mecca for their retirement income will turn to the government for assistance. All of these difficulties are because the Messiah visited the Royal Palace without an invitation. From his locked room, with no one’s assistance, this one man has turned Mecca into an empty city. The entire Kingdom is turned upside down and the message about Isa is spreading like a mighty tidal wave sweeping over the nations. A world-wide campaign to force the Kabbah and the Grand Mosque to be moved from the Kingdom to a city in Iran gains world wide support.”

As the advisors consider all that will occur as a result of Isa’s request to visit Mecca, some of the men begin to have a new thought. They now have sympathy for the Jewish leaders who manipulated the Romans to execute their Messiah. They wonder how any nation can endure such a troublemaker living in its midst.

“Since he is ALLAH Messiah, he should realize his radical ideas are ruining the lives of people everywhere. He should keep his revolutionary thoughts to himself. Does he need to change the world before he will be satisfied?

“Wait! Wait! Have we lost our focus? Is panic influencing our thinking without our realizing it? We are treating these events like they are now occurring. They are only our fears of what may occur. We are wise men. With the guidance of the Almighty we can solve each problem that the arrival of His Messiah will cause. It is important for us to concentrate on the beliefs of Isa and not on our own beliefs. We should not even worry about the potential beliefs of those who do not yet know that he is in our Kingdom. Circumstances favor our side, not his.

“We each have been to Mecca many times. He has never been there. His beliefs may exclude him form Mecca. Our beliefs will not exclude us. As for our belief about him, with some concentrated effort we can forget that the King, members of the Royal Family and the Council of Ministers have seen him. It can be as if no one in our Kingdom has seen or touched his wounds. It can be as if we do not believe even though we do believe. If we decide that it is best for the entire Islamic community for us not to believe, we will not believe. Or, if we decide to be more honest with ALLAH, we can designate a special part of Mecca for those who believe that His Messiah is courageous and did not flee from death. Those who believe that the Qur’an describes a brave Messiah must keep to their own section of Mecca so that they will not influence others. The remaining section will be for those who consider the Qur’an’s Messiah to be weak, one who depended on ALLAH to help him escape hardship and suffering and performed magic by making an innocent person appear to be the frail Messiah. Or, perhaps both believing Muslims and unbelieving Muslims will have access to all of Mecca and will learn to tolerate each other’s beliefs.”

One leader quickly points out that there are glaring defects connected with the co-existence of the strong Messiah and weak Messiah beliefs. “We all know which Messiah the majority will choose to believe in. Is our own government strong enough to tolerate people having access to a strong Messiah who is a resource to the ordinary citizen? We will be tempting the people to believe in a Messiah the government is unable to control. It will be like saying to them, ‘the government will pay for a foundation for your house. The two choices are a sand foundation or a stone foundation.’ How many will choose sand when stone is available? If our government is not prepared to tolerate a strong Messiah, we must continue to make a strong Messiah unavailable.”

At that point, the person who earlier made radical comments, requests everyone’s attention. “Gentlemen, brothers, please hear my words. We all believe that ALLAH has sent His Messiah to us. Therefore, we must trust both ALLAH and His Messiah to work things out without our scheming. We must all go to the Royal Palace immediately and release him. Then we must follow his counsel on how to support his plans. If we do not do this, we are placing our entire Kingdom and even Islam itself at the risk of experiencing severe judgment form the Almighty.  Our behavior is mocking both ALLAH and His Messiah.”

Before he stops speaking, a strange sound can be heard. Several leaders are grinding their teeth. Then one man screams out, “If the Merciful judges us, and our Kingdom, the results will not be worse than if we let this mad Messiah influence good Muslims.”

Another voice then adds, “He cannot be the Isa of which the Qur’an speaks or he would not be causing good and sincere leaders so much anguish.”

When the man who is considered radical hears these comments, he tries to present a fresh perspective. But his throat chokes up so much that he cannot speak. Great tears begin to roll down his cheeks. Everyone looks away from him.

The majority agrees they should not allow anyone to again recognize ALLAH’S victorious Messiah, “If we force ourselves not to think about him, soon his visit will be forgotten. Out of sight means out of the mind. If we force our minds to believe that ALLAH’S Messiah did not visit the Royal Palace, then no one from the Kingdom saw the wounds. If no one saw the wounds, it is as if there are no wounds. If there are no wounds, it is as if he was not crucified. If he was not crucified, then ALLAH did not raise him up after he died, because indeed, he did not die. If he did not die, we are correct in the way we interpret the Qur’an. If we always interpret the Qur’an correctly, we are right to claim that the teaching about Isa’s death and resurrection in the Scriptures preceding the Qur’an are not to be trusted. We are correct to say that those Scriptures were changed. If those Scriptures were changed, with a clear conscience we now can return to the status quo. We can be fully confident that before man and before ALLAH we each are prepared for the Judgment of the Final Hour. Yes, it is comforting for each of us to know that without doubt, we are guiding ALLAH’S people correctly. Those who dare to challenge our thorough reasoning, will face ALLAH’S certain Judgment.”

Now they return to their deliberations about Isa. Where were they? They had decided that they themselves are still Muslims even though they now temporarily believe in Isa’s death and resurrection. They were also deciding if the Risen Messiah’s beliefs would allow them to consider him enough of a Muslim to be eligible to visit Mecca. The question they need to answer is; should Isa be considered to be Muslim before being considered Christian? It appears that there is at least a small distinction between a Muslim Christian Hebrew and Christian Muslim Hebrew. It is decided that if a two-thirds majority votes that he is Muslim before being Christian, he will be eligible to visit Mecca. If there is less than a two-thirds majority for Muslim Christian Hebrew, ALLAH’S Messiah will not be allowed to visit Mecca under any condition. They also decided that if the vote goes against him, they will not tell him the reason that they deny his request. In fact, if the vote goes against him, they will not directly tell him that he cannot visit.   Instead, they will say that they have not yet totally decided whether or not such a visit will be appropriate. They will further explain that until there is a definite decision, they will find an isolated place for him to rest where he will have much more space than he now has. For his convenience they will arrange for a quiet and warm location where others will not disturb him.

There are also good reasons for them to agree not to tell the Almighty’s Messiah their reasons for not allowing him to visit, if that is what they decide. One leader explains, “We are concerned that our reasons for not allowing him to visit might be too complex for him to understand. Also, we do not think it is right to hurt the feelings of ALLAH’S Messiah and have him think that we might be rejecting him. Not informing him that he cannot visit if he cannot visit is a way of showing our faith. Since Isa reveals ALLAH, then we have faith that He may know what is in our minds, so we may actually have no need to tell him. But one thing is perplexing. If Isa knows what we have decided without our telling him, we will have no way of knowing if he knows. And if he does know, we will not know how he knows. Perhaps it is ALLAH’S Holy Spirit who is everywhere simultaneously who is telling him what we are deciding. But we are glad that we will not know if he knows about our decisions about him. We will feel very embarrassed if we know that he knows. It is bad enough for us to know that ALLAH knows about how we are deciding what to do with His Messiah. When we think of the possibility of Isa also knowing or of the possibility of ALLAH or ALLAH’S Holy Spirit telling him, we again feel embarrassed.”

Before the vote is taken, they agree upon the rules that he must agree to if they allow him to visit Mecca. Due to his wounds, he must agree to wear white gloves and white socks. When someone inquires why he is wearing them, he must reply, “It is because I have a mild type of contagious leprosy.” He also must agree to always stay in the presence of two members of the religious police and is not to discuss religion with any person under any circumstances. When he is asked for his opinion on a religious topic, there is one of two replies he will be allowed to use. He can say, “I am sorry but I do not have the religious background to answer that question” or “One of my two friends is more qualified to answer that question that I am.”

As meticulous as they have been to work out these guidelines, they are not needed. The religious leaders are almost equally split on their vote. The count is seven votes that he is a Muslim Christian Hebrew and eight that he is a Christian Muslim Hebrew. They agree that if they now allow him to visit despite the vote against him, it will be mocking the voting process. But to be realistic, it does not appear that any votes can ever be expected to swing the other way. If it had not been for the impact on the voters of those regrettable wounds, he undoubtedly would have received the required votes. For some who voted against his visit it does not seem right to their sensitive consciences that ALLAH’S only Messiah not be allowed to visit their Holy City. But rules are rules and even ALLAH’S chosen must follow them. Even if he were to agree to follow the special guidelines designed for his visit, the answer still must be no.

Several of the religious leaders do acknowledge what appears to be a contradiction. Isa’s obedience to ALLAH to be His Mighty Sacrifice is what disqualifies him from being able to visit the city where sacrifices are made which all point to his sacrifice. So if he had not been obedient by allowing himself to be sacrificed, he could have visited the place that directs people to consider his own obedient sacrifice. Yet, rules are rules and ALLAH’S Mighty Sacrifice must pay the penalty for being too obedient and be denied the opportunity to visit Mecca. One of the men even exclaims in a burst of enthusiasm, “If ALLAH’S Messiah goes to Mecca, he will go over our dead bodies!”

Some of the more spiritually minded among them point to another sad irony. All of them agree that the word Muslim is an active participate which literally means one who is submitted to ALLAH. The irony is that it was Isa’s own submission to ALLAH to be His sacrifice that caused him to have the wounds, which disqualified him from being considered as one who is submitted. In reality, Isa has become too good a Muslim to now be considered a Muslim. He must accept the fact that he has disqualified himself from being eligible to visit Mecca. Therefore, it is certainly wrong for the leaders to feel guilty. They do not bear any of the responsibility for excluding him from Mecca since it is now clear that he excluded himself. ALLAH’S Messiah should have known the consequences of being too good a Muslim to be considered a Muslim. This takes a great burden off the leaders’ shoulders. They can now move on to other considerations with a clear conscience.

Two reflective religions advisors feel that it is nonsense to prevent Isa from visiting Mecca because he is too submitted to ALLAH. Did not ALLAH Himself reward Isa for his obedience by raising him from death? In their minds, the only just thing to do would be to follow ALLAH’S example. Since ALLAH rewarded Isa for his obedience by raising him from death, they should reward Isa for his obedience by allowing him to visit Mecca. But the other advisors all become stern with these two men and accuse them both of following their own reasoning instead of following Islam’s traditions, rules and laws.

Things now begin to move at a more rapid pace. The action they must take quickly becomes clear to the majority. There are concerns that some members of the Royal Palace families heard bits and pieces of phone conversations allowing them to know something about “a messiah” being in the palace; fortunately they do not yet realize that he is ALLAH’S Risen Messiah. It is clear the Risen Messiah’s next visit must be to an isolated place and must be soon. After a brief debate, the location is unanimously agreed upon with two abstentions: The Empty Quarter.

There is intense disagreement over how many bottles of water he will be allowed to take with him to the oven-like region. Some are convinced that two cases of bottled water should be approved, considering the heat of the desert and the potential there is for him to stay there permanently. Others who are very religious feel strongly that even one small bottle is too much for someone who has attempted to stir up serious discontent. They contend that if they as leaders were not so wise and decisive, he could have started a revolution. They are also concerned that if too much water is given to him, he will realize that he will be in isolation for a long time, perhaps forever. But, if they openly admit that to him, it could give him the wrong idea about the sincerity of their religious beliefs. The attitude of the more merciful council members partially prevails, and one large bottle is agreed upon. Some leaders suggest that there is still a slim chance that he will figure out a way to survive.

All votes are unanimous now. The two men who had their own independent ideas both became nauseous and excused themselves from the deliberations. At first it appears regrettable that Isa lost the only two persons who consistently supported him. But this actually works out for his advantage. Now all discussions move along more quickly with only one point of view needing consideration. And Isa does deserve to have the meeting over because there is no ventilation in his oven-like room. Additionally, he is probably hungry, thirsty and lonely.

The remaining leaders quickly decide that the person chosen by the Almighty to be His Messiah, His Word, His Mercy to man, deserves to be treated with the utmost respect. They agree that he deserves to be transported in the King’s own personal helicopter to his final resting place in the Empty Quarter. One cleric magnanimously suggests that even though he has been so inconsiderate to cause others emotional stress, that a Royal Banquet be given in his honor. Of course, for security reasons, only those who already know about his visit to the Royal Palace will be invited to attend. During the discussion, it is pointed out that persons serving the banquet could learn enough about the guest of honor to harm the Kingdom. A much smaller banquet concept is soon suggested, only attended by Isa and the King. After additional discussion, it is concluded that such an event will be unfair to the King. That is, a dinner attended only by the King of their earthly Kingdom and the Eternal King of the Kingdom to come will put too much emotional pressure on the earthly King. There is consensus that he is too good a King to be under severe emotional pressure in his own palace. One insightful advisor points out that a two-person banquet concept will cause the King to mistakenly take some of the responsibility on himself for Isa’s banishment. (Unless Isa knows things that he has not yet been told, he does not yet know that a decision has already been made to banish him.

Though they do sometimes forget and use the harsh term “banish,” “taking him to his final resting place” is the more civilized terminology that they prefer to use.) They finally agree that the King’s special chef will prepare his last supper that will be attended only by ALLAH’S courageous Messiah. But then it is realized that the chef might ask embarrassing questions about who will eat this special meal and the news may reach the common people about who is being taken to his final resting place. If this occurs, it will cause the very unrest that they are praying that ALLAH will help them avoid. Finally they suggest that the King will give Isa one of his own microwave dinners from his own private refrigerator and Isa will fix his own meal on the King’s own microwave. They agree that it will be a privilege for someone who was born into humble circumstances to use such an important person’s private microwave.

Some of the leaders feel that Isa may be so upset about not being able to visit Holy Mecca that he will not appreciate the gracious gesture of being allowed to use the personal microwave of the King of one of the word’s wealthiest nations. Others assure them that ALLAH’S Messiah will not fail to appreciate his kind gesture of generosity. This is not the only special kindness he will receive. Because the religious advisors took so long to make their decision they want to be especially sensitive to how hungry he must be. As a further gesture of hospitality, the hungry Messiah will be given two microwave dinners instead of one.

While the majority of advisors concentrate on the food issue, one advisor makes a covert plan with the King. The two agree that the need to keep Isa’s visit a total secret is so great that extreme measures are justified. The one potential security leak that concerns them is the royal pilot who is assigned to transport a “special passenger” to his final resting place in the Empty Quarter. They think that there may be too much psychological pressure on him. They are worried that when he returns to Riyadh, he will tell others what he may learn about the identity of his passenger. For security reasons they arrange for the royal mechanic to fix the fuel gauge so it will appear there is over twice as much fuel in the tank as there actually is.

Events move swiftly after the official phone call is made to the Royal Palace. There is some slight hostility by a few at the palace toward Isa for not accepting their gracious offer of two microwave dinners. Some accept his explanation that he is praying and fasting due to a crisis, which is currently occurring in a nation he does not wish to name. But he does mention that the crisis involves the hardness of heart of certain leaders. He adds that he hopes his prayer will ultimately liberate these leaders from a spirit of deception, which subtly has entangled them in a web where the fear of man determines their every action.

The leaders devise a plan so that their Messiah will not cause any more disagreements. They know they must be shrewd in order to prevent a person with such troublemaking tendencies from creating dissension among them. They decide that none of them will see him again so they will not be influenced by him. They will command the royal pilot to take him from his room and escort him directly to the helicopter. It will then be the pilot’s responsibility to give several messages to ALLAH’S Messiah although he will not know the identity of the person to whom he is giving these messages. He will explain that all of the officials are quite tired and that they send their apologies for not being able to see him off and sincerely hope that ALLAH will be with him as he rests. The pilot will tell Isa that his place of rest will be the Empty Quarter while the leaders make their final decision about whether he will be allowed to visit Mecca. This faithful servant to the King obediently follows his orders, but he is not naïve. He realizes from the King’s instructions to him that whoever this kind passenger is, it is the King’s intention that this man will never return from their destination.

Why did his passenger say to him as they were boarding the helicopter, “Are you certain that you have enough fuel for your return flight?” He had answered, “Of course,” but why did he ask? Does his passenger know something about their flight that he does not know? He continues to ponder these questions as they near their destination. “What! Why is this fuel tank warning light blinking? Is it malfunctioning? Is that a miss in the engine? Are we actually running out of fuel? But the tank registers over half full. I must land immediately.” As soon as they land in the torrid, barren desert, the pilot rushes to check the fuel tank. His worst fears are confirmed. There is not enough fuel to get off the ground and they are far from any help.

“Sir, you asked me if we had enough fuel for a return trip even though you knew you were not returning. I was certain that my tank was full because my gauge showed that it was full and I saw the mechanic fill it. But you seemed to know that there would not be enough fuel to take me back to Riyadh. How did you know?”

Isa replies, “There are times when people who think they are serving ALLAH deceive others and try to hurt or even murder ALLAH’S people. So we must all stay alert and watch.”

“Whom is he talking about?” the pilot says to himself. “But how did you know I would not have enough fuel?” he again asks.

“My Father told me.” is Isa’s reply.

“But where is your Father? And how did he know that there was not enough fuel in my tank? And when did he tell you, because I have been with you every second since you came out of your locked soundproof room?”

“My Father is everywhere and He knows the amount of fuel in every tank. When I was still in the locked room, He showed me the mechanic putting less than half a tank of fuel into your helicopter.”

The startled pilot starts to reply that there were no windows in his room and he could not have seen the helicopter and the mechanic, but instead grief overwhelms him. He fully expects to die. To think of never seeing his lovely wife and five precious children brings numbness to his whole body. He wonders why ALLAH has allowed this to happen but his religion teaches him that no matter what, this is ALLAH’S will. He also knows that he must try to stay alive. He tells Isa (though he still does not realize that he is ALLAH’S Messiah.) “If I travel alone and as fast as I can, I may find some bandits who will rescue us. Of course there is a good chance that I will not find anyone, or, if I do, instead of helping us, they will murder us.

“Whatever happens to me is not important. I know that I have been a faithful pilot for my King so I am certain he will soon have many planes up searching for me, I mean us, I mean, oh, you know what I’m trying to say. But if he does not find me, and I do die, I know he will take excellent care of my wife and children.”

After trying not to accept it, the pilot finally agrees to take with him the one bottle of water that was put into the helicopter for his passenger. (There was no bottle of water for the pilot because they did not want to arouse his suspicions about their plans for him to never return.) In addition to receiving the gift of water, there is something unexplainable that occurs between the pilot and his unique passenger. As he talks with this peaceful man, he experiences a new joy that words cannot describe. As this man, who does not seem at all concerned about being stranded in the torrid desert, hands him the only bottle of water, he makes a remark that at first does not make sense. Then, as the words burn their way into his heart and mind, they make more sense than anything that he has ever heard.

“After you finish drinking this bottle of water, you will thirst again. But if you will believe in the one who gives you this water in a way that you have not believed in him before, he will be like an eternal spring of water in you constantly bringing you everlasting life.”

As the pilot hears these words, he notices for the first time the wounds in his passenger’s hands and the similar wounds in his feet. His mind suddenly connects what he is now seeing and hearing with a few words he had overheard being whispered back at the Royal Palace about someone being a Mighty Sacrifice. He then cries out to the heavens above, “Oh Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief. Oh Lord, I praise you for revealing to me the true identity of your own Mighty Sacrifice who is the Only One who can ransom men for ALLAH.”

Immediately, as his words wing their way toward the heavens, his own eyes are opened to see a stray camel drinking form a partially hidden spring about a bow shot away. With joy and excitement mixed with sadness because he is leaving his new friend, he begins running toward the camel. As he pauses to shout back to his friend, “ALLAH be with you,” he hears a loud clear voice.

“I praise you Father for opening the eyes of the blind to find the water of life that satisfies their eternal thirst.” Then he turns and shouts directly to the pilot in the same clear voice, “Do not be concerned about returning for me. It is I who will return for you. And remember that I forgive you.”

As the pilot hastens toward the camel drinking at the spring, he shouts praises to Allah with every word of praise that his vocabulary contains. Yet a flash of dread sweeps over him as he asks himself, “What if the camel runs away? What if Isa will not help me again?” But stronger than his fear is the inner assurance that ALLAH Himself has His own purpose in providing the camel. Then he decides in his heart that when ALLAH purposes for an event to occur, it occurs. As these silent thoughts stir in his mind, his camel looks up from the water and begins to amble slowly toward him.

It is now clear that the King and his religious advisors are jealous of the Risen Messiah’s power. It is their jealousy and fear of him that drove these confused leaders to attempt to murder both Isa and himself. They will not admit to themselves that they want to murder ALLAH’S Anointed, but murder was their clear intent. The pilot’s heart keeps telling him that if the king were not so blinded by his advisors and his own paranoia, he would never plan for either of them to die. Suddenly, he begins to sob and shake uncontrollably. Huge tears blind his eyes.

Graciously ALLAH has put it into the camel’s mind to sense that there is danger in Riyadh for the kind man who is now its rider. The pilot can tell by the position of the sun that the camel is refusing to go toward Riyadh. Instead, it stubbornly insists on beading toward Yemen. He thanks ALLAH for providing the camel but asks why he gave him such a stubborn camel.

Without warning a new understanding invades his tired mind. “I thought I was familiar with every part of my helicopter. How did my fuel tank become empty when the gauge showed half full? My good friend, the mechanic tampered with the fuel gauge. Instead of arranging for my safety, my own friend was bribed to arrange my death.”

He also now understands that the King will do anything that he thinks is necessary to prevent his religious advisors from criticizing him. Terrible pain envelops his whole body. His throat constricts. His mind tries to tell him that it is not true but he knows that it is. For the first time he recognizes the evil that resides in his own heart. His own blind obedience to his Sovereign led him to be willing to murder ALLAH’S Messiah. When he tries to comfort himself by saying that he did not know his identity, he realizes he is like the others. Knowing his identity did not stop them from planning his murder. He now understands that if he had not suddenly found his fuel tank to be empty, he would have forced Isa out of the helicopter to die in the desert. Yes, the words that Isa had shouted to him now make sense. “ALLAH’S Messiah forgave me for what I had been ready and willing to do. In Isa’s mercy, he forgave me, even though I did not yet know I needed forgiveness.”

As he thanks ALLAH and His Messiah for forgiving him, he feels an invisible load is floating from his shoulders to be buried under the endless sand of the Empty Quarter.

As his camel carries him across the burning sand, he keeps thinking about the King and the mechanic plotting together to kill him, and of his own willingness to kill Isa. Feelings of grief and joy flash through his being, grief at the wickedness of the three of them and joy that there is enough forgiveness for them all. But he also wonders how much longer the Almighty’s patience with the Saudi Kingdom will endure since he now realizes his Kingdom is leading the whole Muslim world in an evil rebellion against ALLAH’S Anointed. They constantly plot against those who believe in him, forgetting that ALLAH himself is the best of plotters.

“How many more sincere believers will they try to murder or successfully murder before these paranoid leaders are delivered from their bondage of fear?” Though he is not certain why, he still has an abiding love for his King. As great tears again flow down his cheeks, a soft whisper comes from his lips that only his camel and ALLAH will hear.

“Oh Father, I know I am forgiven, but please forgive my King and the mechanic for we did not know what we were doing.”

After his prayer, he realizes another evil that his King has done and for which he must now forgive him. He has undoubtedly made up a cover story for why his pilot and his helicopter have disappeared. He knows the King’s ways enough to be almost certain what his explanation will be. One of the King’s servants, most likely the mechanic, will say that after the helicopter and pilot disappeared, he then remembered that he had overheard the pilot talking to someone that he thought was from Iran or Iraq. He would say that in view of the pilot’s disappearance with the helicopter he now realizes they were discussing a large amount of money for the helicopter and help in obtaining a new identity in a European country. This would mean that there would be no expensive search for him and there would be little possibility that the helicopter would ever be seen in the vast Empty Quarter. This explanation would also make him a traitor and a deserter of his family. Of course his wife would never believe such a story and she and the children would grieve deeply for him thinking that he had been killed. All of the officials who know about Isa being in Riyadh, will be forced by the web of deception they are caught in to agree with this additional lie. They will not risk admitting to anyone that their King ordered his pilot to take ALLAH’S Mighty Sacrifice to the Empty Quarter. The pilot suddenly cries out, “Oh ALLAH, please give me the strength to forgive all of those who have plotted against us.”

When the exhausted pilot and his wise camel finally arrive in Al Bir, a small Yemeni village, numerous children and several adults quickly gather around him and immediately bring him water. One boy without being asked escorts his camel to a nearby well. But, when the men see the insignias on his shirt they recognize that he is the Saudi Kingdom’s Royal pilot and become very suspicious. Because there is considerable tension between Al Yemen and the wealthy Kingdom of their Northern border, you can sense that the people do not know whether to believe any explanation from the pilot. However, when they learn that his mother, who is already with ALLAH, was born in a nearby Yemeni Village, their attitude becomes receptive and they listen intently to his amazing story. When they hear that the King’s advisors took Isa prisoner and locked him in a small oven-like room they become agitated and some of them break small sticks that are in their hands. These people, though not as materially rich as the Saudis, have a richness of spirit and openness to truth that the majority of the Saudi leaders appear unwilling to possess.

When they hear the end of his story, an elderly man proclaims to the rest, “Those Saudi leaders intended all of this for evil but ALLAH has intended it for good.” After a thoughtful pause he adds, “But because we have only your words and nothing more, we cannot yet share either your belief or your joy.”

The pilot prays fervently but silently, “Oh Merciful ALLAH, please allow these lovely Yemeni people the joy of understanding that the Holy Qur’an’s Risen Messiah Isa is also ALLAH’S Mighty Sacrifice.” He recalls the ideas that formed in his mind during his long journey through the barren Empty Quarter as he contemplated his astonishing encounter with his Messiah. He also reflected on the true meaning of certain verses in the Qur’an that he had memorized.

As he continually turned thoughts over in his mind he gains a new insight. The way that he was taught to interpret verses form the Qur’an about Isa is totally consistent with recent Islamic tradition but it is not consistent with the Qur’an. “Yes, I will share these ideas with my new acquaintances,” he says to himself. So he explains to them the meaning of verses about Isa and verses about the authority of the Scriptures preceding the Qur’an. He tells them how he often wondered why his teachers always discouraged him from reading these scriptures since the Qur’an emphasizes so strongly that they must be trusted. Now he could see that he not only had allowed his teachers to intimidate him but also deceive him. But he now understands that before they deceived him, they had deceived themselves. It was when he was away from them that he gathered the courage to find out what the Injil said. When he was once in England, he read from the Scriptures that he found in his hotel room and words that he read burned their way into his mind. They were spoken by one of ALLAH’S angels who had an appearance that resembled lightning, and who sent paralyzing fear into military guards. But it was this angel’s tender words to two women who were looking for what they thought would be Isa’s dead body that remained lodged in his memory.

“He is not here. He has risen as he said he would.”

The pilot explains that since he now has met the man about whom this was written, he now understands the intended meaning of two of the most important verses in the entire Qur’an.

“Peace on me, the day I was born, the day I die and the day I shall be raised alive.’ So said Jesus, son of Mary. This is a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt.”

Oddly, the explanation given by the teachers of the first verse’s meaning always left him confused. He could not understand why sincere Muslims kept doubting the truth of Jesus dying and rising since the next verse not only emphasizes that this is the truth but it also accurately predicts that many would have doubts about it being the truth. It almost seemed to him that Muslims have a strange alliance with their Semitic cousins, the Jew, regarding the doubting. The Jews doubt the unique birth of Isa and his triumphant resurrection while Muslims doubt both his courageous death and glorious resurrection, but fully accept his miraculous birth.

The pilot then describes a miracle that occurred under the Empty Quarter’s blazing sun. He expected to die of thirst because he had nothing to hold water except for the one bottle he had received as a gift from his Savior and he did not expect to find another hidden spring. When he cried out for ALLAH’S help he had inadvertently mentioned Isa.

“Oh Merciful, O Risen Messiah, please don’t allow this water to be gone until I find help so my children will not be without their father.”

Though he tried to drink small amounts, the water line went down much more slowly than he thought it would. So, he praised and thanked ALLAH for hearing and answering his prayer. But as the noon sun was blazing down upon him, he drank his last precious drop of water. He then thought that ALLAH had not heard his prayer and had forsaken him. Despite his doubting of The Merciful Faithfulness, when he was certain he could endure no longer, their wonderful village came into view.

As he finishes describing the miracle of the water, he requests that they listen to his idea. Since they have no way to be certain of the truth of his words about Isa, he asks them to take the following steps. He explains that in learning to fly he was taught to follow certain steps, so on his long lonely trip he thought of these five steps.

“Step One - Sincerely pray on at least five consecutive days for ALLAH to give you some sign to help you believe in His Messiah.

“Step Two - Read verses in the Holy Qur’an about Isa and pray for a fresh understanding about these verses. Especially realize that Women 4:157 is using exaggeration or hyperbole when it states that Isa was not crucified. The true emphasis of the verse is that it only appeared to the Jews that they permanently ended his life. It is in the sense that crucifixion and killing means the total ending of life that they did not crucify or kill him.

“Step Three - Realize that the Qur’an instructs you to believe in the Scriptures before the Qur’an as is taught in Jonah 10:94. He explains that the Prophet himself was instructed to turn to readers of these Scriptures to solve any questions about the meaning of the Qur’an and to realize these Scriptures have not been changed.

“Step Four - Forgive your family, friends, strangers, enemies and your own government for grievances you have against them as you recognize that Isa is the one Momentous Sacrifice for everyone.

“Step Five - Promise ALLAH that when you believe in the crucified but Risen Messiah, you will try to honor him through your kindness and compassion to others.”

The pilot continues in clear soft voice. “I know in my heart that if you sincerely try to follow these five steps, whether you follow them accurately or not, ALLAH’S Living Messiah will bring new meaning to your life. But I have one more request. Please pray to the Merciful for my wife and five children that they will be able to join me here in Yemen. I know too much about what the leaders tried to do to ALLAH’S Risen Messiah to be accepted back there now. Soon, multitudes of Saudis will realize that though the Qur’an states that as a prophet or messenger Isa has no special distinction, it also proclaims him to be ALLAH’S unique Risen Mighty Sacrifice. When this occurs, I will be welcome there.”

Won’t the government and the secret police always prevent the Kingdom’s people from believing in the Risen Messiah?” asks the wise old man who had said that they could not yet believe.

“No! I am certain that ALLAH and His love are stronger than the government or the secret police or any other force, which attempts to hinder His purposes. I know in my heart that so many honest persons know about Isa’s arrival in Riyadh that they will not be able to keep his power and love a secret. I am sure that even some who voted against ALLAH’S Mighty Sacrifice will finally understand that they allowed their minds to get tangled in small detail while they missed the big picture of ALLAH’S purposes. One day soon they will feel guilty and will plead for forgiveness for what they have done.”

As he pauses to allow the people to digest what he is saying, he visualizes in his mind a pathetic sight that brings tears to his eyes. The pilot describes to his listeners a scene in which a Saudi Prince and a member of the religious council are waving their arms trying to scare away a gnat that is buzzing around their heads. However, they are hindered in their efforts to hit the tiny insect because they each have a part of a large camel protruding from their mouths with its legs and tail wildly swinging in all directions. Unbelievably, these supposedly wise officials are attempting to scare away a gnat while they are simultaneously swallowing a camel.

Then he remembers a statement of the Messiah when he was revealing impending judgment on Jerusalem and its leaders. He exposed their gross hypocrisy in concentrating on the comparatively trivial matter of giving ten percent of their food seasoning to God while they totally neglected the vital issues of justice and mercy and faithfulness.

“You religious leaders are so confused that you try to keep a gnat from entering your mouth but are not wise enough to avoid swallowing a camel.”

The pilot describes Saudi Islamic leaders as unable to understand when hyperbole is being used to make a point. “Just as these leaders think the Qur’an teaches that Isa was not truly crucified, they will think that Israeli leaders were being criticized by Isa for their attempts to lower the camel population by trying to swallow live camels. They do not understand that great teaching uses exaggeration.’

The pilot recognizes in his own mind that though the Qur’an rebukes Jewish leaders for their contempt for Isa and his mother, there is a similarity between the attitude of these ancient Jewish leaders and the current attitude of the Saudi religious leaders toward Isa and his visit. Neither group, though separated by almost twenty centuries, wants to risk allowing ALLAH’S Messiah to influence the multitudes. Both groups insulate themselves from big issues of obedience to ALLAH and to His Messiah by pretending that small legal points are more important than forgiveness from ALLAH and peace and forgiveness between people. As the pilot thinks again of the wildly swinging legs and tail of a camel protruding from the mouth of a small religious leader, he cannot keep himself from smiling. But when he tries to explain to the people in front of his own camel the reason for his smile, they have difficulty understanding. You can see by the way they keep looking at the size of the camel that they do not yet understand the literary technique of hyperbole. He can almost hear them saying to themselves, “But people can’t swallow live camels.”

The pilot then becomes quite serious. The thought of his own beloved King attempting to kill him is difficult to accept. He understands that it now appears to the King that his pilot and his Messiah died of thirst under the Empty Quarter’s scorching sun. He realizes that as it appeared to the Jewish leaders that they had ended Isa’s life, it now appears to the King that he lives of both his pilot and his Messiah have been ended. But, despite that appearance, they are both alive. ALLAH’S power is awesome and His wisdom is unfathomable.

“ALLAH is ever Mighty, Wise.”

As he stands among the people with these thoughts swirling in his mind, suddenly a mother comes screaming toward them, pushing and partly carrying her stumbling young son. The boy is scratching at his throat and his face has begun to turn blue. The sobbing mother screams to ALLAH to save her boy’s life. Without a thought, as the pilot swiftly moves behind the boy, he spontaneously cries out,

“Oh Living Messiah, rescue this boy.”

As his strong arms quickly encircle his chest, he squeezes and there are immediate cries of praise to ALLAH from all the people. A large ball of qat at mixed with sticky chocolate candy has leaped from the boy’s throat. As the people laugh and weep for joy, the elderly man who a few minutes before had asked a question proclaims to everyone: