Muslim Christian Dialogue

21. The Comforter

COMFORTER

John 14:16:"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."

We do not know exactly the original Aramaic word used by Jesus for Comforter. English Bibles use Consoler, Advocate, Helper, and in Greek Bibles the word Paraclete. The Church and Priests gives different explanations for it: Holy Spirit, the Word, etc.

The Holy Qur'an states in Surah 61:6 that Jesus explicitly mentioned the name "Ahmed", "And (remember) when Jesus Son of Mary said: "O' children of Israel! I am the Apostle of Allah (sent) to you confirming the Torah (which came) before me, and giving glad tidings of an Apostle to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed (i.e. another name of Prophet Muhammed, and literally means the one who praises Allah more than any other)."

Whatever the explanation is of the Comforter, we can conclude that Jesus left unfinished work and that someone was coming to complete his mission. Let us examine in the light of the Bible if this Comforter fits the character of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).

1. "Another Comforter": So many Comforters (prophets) had come and another one was yet to come.

2. "That he may abide with you for ever": i.e. there was no need for another one to come after him, as he was the Seal of all Prophets. The teaching i.e. The Glorious Qu'ran, will abide forever, and will remain intact, without any changes or interpolations. In fact the Holy Qur'an remains as pure as it was revealed, more than 1,400 years ago.

3. "He will reprove the world of sin" (John 16:8): All other Prophets, Abraham, Moses, David and Solomon (pbut) chastised their own people for sin, but not the whole world as Muhammed (pbuh) did. He not only rooted out idolatry in Arabia within a 23-year period, but also sent envoys to Heraclius, the Sovereigns of the empires of Persia and Rome, to Najashi, the King of Ethiopia and to Muqauqis, the Governor of Egypt. Copies of his letters to these rulers are in the Topkapi Museum in Turkey even today. He reprimanded the Christians for changing the Unity of God into a trinity, for having raised Jesus to Son of God, and God Himself. It was he who condemned the Jews and Christians for having corrupted their Scriptures, remonstrated the birthright of Ishmael (pbuh), and cleared the Prophets from accusations of adultery, incest, rape and idolatry.

4. "The prince of the world is judged" (John 16:11). This is Satan as explained in John 12:31 and 14:30. So Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) came to chastise the entire world on account of judgment.

5. "The Spirit of Truth" (John 16:13). Since childhood, Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was called Al-Ameen, i.e. the Honest and Truthful One; and "he will guide you unto all truth..." (John 16:13).

6. "For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak" (John 16:13). The Holy Qur'an is verbatim God's word. The angel Gabriel read it to Muhammed (pbuh), he memorized it, and his scribes wrote it down. Not a single word from Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) or his companions is included in the Glorious Qur'an. Imam Bukari and Imam Muslim record the prophet's sayings and teachings separately. They are called Ahadith (Traditions). Compare with Deuteronomy 18:18: "... and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." This corresponds with Qur'an: Surah 53:2-4: "Your companion (Muhammed) is neither astray nor being misled. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only the inspiration that is inspired."

7. "And he will show you things to come" (John 16:13). All prophecies of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) came to pass.

8. "He shall glorify me" (John 16:14). It is a fact that the Holy Qur'an and Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) have more reverence for Jesus (pbuh) than the Bible and Christians themselves. The following will clarify: to believe in his death on the cross discredits his prophethood.

According to Deuteronomy 13:5: "And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death..." It also stamps him as accursed (ALLAH forbid) according to Deuteronomy 21:22-23: "... for he that is hanged is accursed of God ... Matthew 27:46: "... My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Even a non-prophet would smile at agony if he knew that his death would win him the title of a martyr. Is this not an insult to Jesus (pbuh) in not having faith in ALLAH?

Matthew 7:6: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine..." John 2:4: "Jesus saith unto her (Mary), Woman, what have I to do with thee?"

We Muslims don't believe that Jesus (pbuh) could ever label the gentiles as dogs and swine and address his mother as woman. These are definitely interpolations. Jesus would never speak to his beloved mother in that manner.

The Holy Qu'ran states in Surah 19:32, Jesus said, "And be dutiful to my mother (i.e. Mary), and (Allah) made me not unblessed and arrogant."