5.14 Was "Christ" a "Christian"?:

If we were to ask a random Christian off the street: "What was the religion of Jesus?" They would unhesitantly respond: "Christianity." If we were then to ask: "Did Jesus himself ever use this word? Did he ever call his religion 'Christianity' or call his followers 'Christians'?" If this Christian knows his Bible, he will say, "No."

"So," we would continue, "once again, what was his religion?" If this Christian knows his Bible he will now respond "Judaism." "That's right!," we would affirm, "Jesus was a Jew! He followed the religion of Moses!" (read chapter one). "According to the Bible, Jesus lived and died never having violated a single aspect of the true Mosaic religion. He fasted when they fasted. He prayed as they prayed. He observed the Sabbath as the Jews did. He never in his life tasted pork. He was circumcised like all faithful Jews, and he ordered his followers to keep the commandments of the God 'till heaven and earth pass' (Matthew 5:17-18)." So Jesus (pbuh) was a Jew! He followed the religion of Moses (pbuh). The word "Christianity" was not invented till long after the departure of Jesus (pbuh). We have already demonstrated in chapter one how everything from the Catholic Encyclopedia, to countless Christian scholars, to Western encyclopedias, in addition to many other Christian sources all confirm that the true founder of "Christianity" was the Jew named "Saul of Tarsus." More popularly known as "Saint Paul." According to the Bible, it was only after Jesus' (pbuh) death that the religion he observed so faithfully was nullified. This was done upon the authority of "Saint Paul" who had never met him in the flesh, and who claimed that he was receiving divine "visions" from Jesus' ghost ordering him to nullify that which Jesus (pbuh) observed throughout his life and commanded his followers to observe "till heaven and earth pass."

Now, we will ask: "If Jesus was a Jew, then where did 'Judaism' come from?" Once again, the respondent will most likely jump up and say: "From Moses!" "So Moses introduced Judaism?" we would ask. "Of course!" he would reply. We would then ask: "Was prophet Abraham a Jew?" Again, this man would more than likely respond "Of course!" We would now ask "was prophet Adam, the first human, a 'Jew'? "Were all of the prophets of God Jews?" He would not be sure.

We would respond: "Well then, did Moses ever call his religion 'Judaism'?" Once again, if this person knows their Bible then they will respond: "No." So, we would continue: "Where does the word 'Jew' come from then?" If he does not know, then we would explain that it comes from "Judah." Judah was the son of Jacob (Israel), who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham (pbuh).

So, if neither Abraham nor Moses (pbut) introduced "Judaism," and it was named after prophet Abraham's (pbuh) great grandson, then it is only logical to ask: what was prophet Abraham's religion? What was prophet Adam's religion? In general, what was it that all of the prophets from Adam through Jesus (pbut) preached? The Qur'an has the answer, but it needs a little explanation.

Since we have now found the origins of "Christianity" and "Judaism," it is only fair to do the same with "Islam." "Islam" is an Arabic word which means "Submission to the will of God(alone)." The word "Muslim" is derived from this word. "Muslim" means "one who has submitted to the will of God(alone)."

"O People of the Scripture! Why do you argue about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense? Verily! you are those who argue about that which you have some knowledge: Why then do you argue concerning that which you have no knowledge? Allah knows and you know not. Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright 'Muslim' (he surrendered to Allah), and he did not worship other than Allah. Verily! those of mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet(Muhammad) and those who believe; and Allah is the Ally of the believers"

The noble Qur'an, A'al-Umran(3):65-68.

"Say: 'Truly, my Lord has guided me to straight path, an upright enduring religion, the religion of Abraham, the true belief (i.e. the True Islamic Monotheism-- to believe in One God and to worship none but Allah, alone) and he was never amongst those who worshipped others with Allah."

The noble Qur'an, Al-Ana'am(6):161-163

"And strive hard in the cause of Allah as you ought to strive. He has chosen you, and has not imposed upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of your father Abraham [is this]. It is he who has named you Muslims of old time, and in this (Qur'an), that the messenger may be a witness over you, and that ye may be witnesses over mankind. So perfect [your] prayer, pay the poor-due, and cling fast to Allah. He is your Patron. What an Excellent Patron and what an Excellent Supporter!"

The noble Qur'an, Al-Hajj(22):78

"Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto Us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob and the sons of Jacob, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered (literally: "we are Muslims")."

The noble Qur'an, al-Bakarah(2):136