My (earnest, irate) thoughts

I am reading Jesus, Prophet of Islam by Muhammad ‘Ata ur-Rahim. The real Isa, a Hebrew prophet and one of God’s beloved, came to fulfill the Musan law and spread God’s message to non-Hebrews. His original followers believed in one merciful, just Alaha (God, in Aramaic, the dialect of Arabic that Isa spoke).

As the trinitarians curried favor with Roman emperors and spread a distorted message in Europe, unitarian Christians kept faithful to Isa’s prophecy, spreading it throughout the Middle East and North Africa. They remained true to the original words, and did not flout the Musan law (which Isa had come to fulfill), nor embrace additional dogma like Isa’s divinity (which was considered heresy until 325 CE). They performed ritual ablutions, prayed several times a day, and dressed modestly.

So when an Arabian prophet who spoke the same words came 600 years later, they could feel its divine origin. Unencumbered by a highly political church, irrational dogma or nationalist notions like “only Hebrews can be prophets,” they embraced Muhammad’s message quickly.

This is the best book ever.