35
Both Exalted As God
HOW MAHDI PROCLAIMS TO BE GOD
So who exalts man above God: Christians or Muslims?
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18.
Christians are always accused by Muslims of exalting a man (Jesus) above God. Muslims take pride in the fact that their religion is the only one that correctly gives God honor and does not associate Him with any mortal man as Christians do. But is this really true? Do Muslims exalt God above men and angels? Do Muslims honor Jesus as much as they claim? Do Muslims only treat God as perfect?
Let’s start with the most proud individual that exists, the Devil himself. Satan desires to be like God, and will spare no effort to achieve this end: “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14). This declaration more than any other displays the level of arrogance and pride that defines the very essence of who Satan is.
Throughout this book, I will repeat this point—what is the most holy in Islam is the most unholy in the Bible, and what is the most holy in the Bible is the greatest blasphemy in Islam.
Muslims believe that the spirit that revealed the Qur’an to Mohammed was the angel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic). The utter blasphemy of Islam can be seen in that Jibril is called by such titles as Ameer Al-Wahi (The princely spirit), Khazen Al-Quds (The keeper of holiness), Al-Ruh Al-Ameen (The trusted spirit) and Al-Ruh Al-Qodos (the Holy Spirit)—all these titles from a Biblical perspective should belong to God and God alone.
As a Muslim, I had always argued that the idea of Jesus being God was utter blasphemy since from a Muslim’s viewpoint, Jesus was only a man. But, I couldn’t see the hypocrisy of my own beliefs. Islam teaches that the “angel” that Mohammed encountered is the Holy Spirit! Could anything be more transparently blasphemous?
While Muslims accuse Christians of blasphemy for calling Christ God, Mohammed, whose name means “The Praised One,” is often treated by Muslims with a level of respect that should only be reserved for God alone. Yet they cannot see it. Why else would he be given such a glorious title?
In Scripture, names of prophets always pertain to glorifying God, never a man. But Muslims do exalt Mohammed beyond any other being—either in heaven or on earth. When something as petty as a cartoon of Mohammed is published, Muslims throughout the world protest with an indignation that is unparalleled. Buildings were torched, dozens of Christians all over the world were murdered, and the cartoonist and his family now live in exile. While Muslims adamantly deny that they exalt Mohammed to the place of God, whenever you read Muslim literature in English, you will always see the acronym PBUH which stands for Peace Be Upon Him following Mohammed’s name. But this translation is misleading and inaccurate. In Arabic the phrase translated as PBUH is: Salla Allâhû `A’layhî wa sallam, which means, “the prayers and salutation of Allah be upon him [Mohammed].” Sala Allahu means “Allah prayed.” How could Allah pray upon Mohammed? Ibn Katheer, the classical Qur’anic commentator corroborates this: “In the Arabic language, the basic meaning of Sala is supplication. In religious terminology, Sala is used to refer to the acts of bowing and prostration.”123
So why do Muslims leave out the fact that the word “prayer” is present in this phrase? Because the phrase that is repeated by millions of Muslims everyday, actually means that Allah himself bows before and prays to Mohammed. This same phrase is even found in the Qur’an: “Allah and His angels pray upon the prophet. O ye who believe pray upon him and salute him with a worthy salutation” (Qur’an 33:56). Mohammed is the center of praise both in heaven and on earth: “He (Allah) has subjected to you (Mohammed) whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth” (Qur’an 45:12). Yet despite these entirely blasphemous claims, it is the Muslims who endlessly accuse Christians of blasphemy; in the exaltation of Mohammed to the place that only Christ or God could occupy, we see the hypocritical and Luciferian nature of Islam. While Lucifer desires to be “like God,” so also has Islam exalted created beings—both demons and false prophets alike—to the place of God. But why must Mohammed exalt himself as God?
The answer is found in II Thessalonians 2: “for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who oppose and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (II Thessalonians 2:4).
Islam has a catch 22. Satan must deny the deity of Jesus because he wants to replace Him. How can Satan take over that position as Messiah and be worshipped and at the same time accept Jesus’ deity? The best argument he could create is that Jesus is a mere man. How could a man become God? He must destroy the deity of Christ and establish himself instead, yet, at the same time he wants to be worshipped as God. He could not claim that Mohammed was God if he is to deny Jesus’ deity.
Satan must direct this worship to Himself. The Bible has warned us that Satan will attempt to exalt his man, the Antichrist, over Christ. Islam does exalt Mohammed above Christ and downgrades Christ; likewise, the Mahdi is believed to have the spirit of Mohammed, and so, he will have the same attributes, and will also occupy the Temple Mount. All this is written in the Islamic annals.
From the day of their birth until their death, Muslims will hear it proclaimed millions of times that Mohammed is the most perfect man that has ever existed. Not only did we believe that he is superior to Christ, but we also believed that he actually shares many attributes and names with God Himself. In a book titled The Perfect Man, speaking of Mohammed, we read: “This earth has seen great men in the thousands, who achieved greatness in one area or another. Some of them even left their marks on the pages of history…Some of these great men might have influenced some aspects of human life in different ways and in different manners, but none has affected it in its totality…Even the Messengers of Allah, such as Hazrat Ibrahim (Abraham), Hazrat Musa (Moses) and Hazrat Isa (Jesus) who changed the course of history and influenced the lives of men by their teachings and outstanding personal example, have not left behind much from which present or future generations can get inspiration…”124 “Allah…describes the personality of Mohammed (PBUH) in these words: ‘And you stand on an exalted standard of character’ (Holy Qur’an 68: V.4). Thus in the words of Allah, the standard of his character and personality is far above that of any other creation. He possessed the best and noblest qualities of the perfect man and was like a jewel illuminating the dark environment with his radiant personality, ideal example, and glorious message.”125 Islam requires all Muslims to believe that Mohammed is literally the best of all God’s creation. Thirteenth century Islamic scholar Al-Bajuri explains: “It is obligatory (wâjib) on every legally responsible person to believe that he [Mohammed] is the best of all, and one who denies it commits a sin, is guilty of innovation, and deserves to be taught a lesson.”126 In order to support this idea, Muslims often point out that throughout the Qur’an, Allah has actually shared many of his names with Mohammed. This is viewed as a clear proof that from among all of the created order, Mohammed holds a uniquely exalted status unparalleled by anything or anyone else. He is given the title Al-Maqam-Al-Mahmud (The Glorious). Muslim scholar, Dr. G. F. Haddad, in an article with a blasphemous title, The Best of Creation states “[There is no] other Prophet [other than Mohammed] or angel-brought-near with whom Allah Most High shared as many of His own Names in the Qur’an as He did with the Prophet. With respect to his foremost name—Mohammed—peace be upon him, consider the poetic verse of Hassan ibn Thabit (RA): ‘And He drew out for him [a name] from His own Name so as to dignify him greatly: The Owner of the Throne is the Glorious [Mahmûd], and this is the Praiseworthy [Mohammed]!’” 127 In other words, the name Mohammed is not a mere name for a man, according to the Qur’an, Allah, whose name is Mahmud, or the Glorious or the Praised One, named Mohammed after Himself. This is quite the claim. This is a further exaltation than the name Yeshua, which in English means
Jehovah is our Salvation. Mohammed literally means The Praised One—The Most Praised.
Mohammed wanted to be like Christ. The Bible teaches that only Jesus is positioned at the right hand of God where He is the only one that intercedes for mankind: “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Romans 8:34). One will never find in the Scriptures Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, Habakkuk, or Jeremiah called “The praised one.” From a Biblical perspective, this is blasphemous.
But speaking of Mohammed, Dr. Haddad writes, “‘It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate’ (Qur’an 17:79), a station which the Prophet said none but he would receive. And this is the Station of Intercession at the right of the Glorious Throne.”128
Do you see how Islamic theology usurps the unique position of Christ and applies it to Mohammed? Islam will do the same with the Mahdi, Mohammed’s ultimate successor. Do you see how crafty Satan’s plan is? Like Mohammed, the Mahdi will claim to be exalted above all of creation and will literally sit in the Temple of God in Jerusalem declaring the same titles that belong to God alone. Islam has replaced the sinless one with a prophet of Satan. Think about this fact: Islam, the fastest growing religion in the world, is and has been from its inception, the quintessence of the very antichrist spirit that John the apostle warned us of. And now its curse is upon us.
36
Both Ascend To Heaven
Translation:
Praise be to Allah Who enabled His slave, Mohammed, to make the journey at night from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid al-Aqsa
Desiring to imitate Christ as He ascended to heaven, this fallen star was the same one which according to the Qur’an transported Mohammed from the Al-Haram mosque in Mecca to Al-Aqsa mosque (the furthest mosque) in Jerusalem. In the Mishkatu ‘l-Masabih, Mohammed describes his ascent through the seven heavens into the icy presence of the many-veiled Allah. This journey has come to be known as Al-Isra-Wal-Mirajj, the ascension to heaven or “Mohammed’s Night Journey.”
According to this claim, “Allah ordered Jibraeel to go down with seventy thousand angels to Mohammed (pbuh), and stand by his door. Allah, Mohammed’s lord ordered these angels to summon Mohammed ‘Accompany him to My [Allah’s] presence.’ According to the tale, Mohammed was awakened in the night by the angel, who sat Mohammed on a strange creature called Al-Buraq, or ‘the lightning bolt.’ Every Buraq had a crown on its forehead inscribed with the words: ‘There is no god only Allah, Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah.’ Arise, my Master, and prepare yourself cried the Buraq! Ride on the back of the Buraq, the heavenly creature that will carry you on your journey to the Rabb (Lord) of power through the land of the angels!” He [Mohammed] went to the paradise of buraqs and there he found forty million buraqs.”129
This story has many similarities to the story of Lucifer, master of one third of the angelic host, the bright fallen angel who is mentioned in the Bible: “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God’…You were in Eden, the garden of God…I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14). This story is not only regarding Lucifer the angel as he is cast out of heaven, but Lucifer the Antichrist-man as he claims to have ascended to heaven, “For you have said in your heart…” In Isaiah 14:12, this Lucifer is called a man: “Is this the man who made the earth tremble?” (Isaiah 14:16) When was this Lucifer a man? And when did he claim to have ascended to heaven? This story is identical to Mohammed’s alleged heavenly ascension. It will also be the claim of the Mahdi since Islam makes him the same man as Mohammed.
In Dua’a Nudbah (the Prayer of Weeping) the classic Muslim poem about Mohammed’s night journey, we read “…and made your East and West come under his feet, and harnessed for him the Buraq, and did make him ascend towards your heavens…”130
In the ultimate expression of pride, like Nimrod at the Tower of Babel, Mohammed claims to have succeeded in ascending to heaven. Likewise, the Mahdi, who has the spirit of Mohammed and with Lucifer dwelling in him, will also make the same claims.
37
Both Are Described As A Beautiful And Wise Bird
Within many ancient cults from the Egyptian to the Mayan, one can often find the worship of feathered birds. The Bible also describes devils and demons with such language: “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Revelation 18:2).
Tawoos al-Malaeka (the peacock of the angels), as its described in the annals of Islam is the name that Islamic tradition gives to Mohammed’s heavenly transport that supposedly carried Mohammed into the seventh heaven and then ordered him to rule over all of mankind and the multitudes of demons.
God in the Bible addresses Satan with: “You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12). This description is identical to the angel Mohammed encountered and described in the Qur’anic chapter of Al-Najm “the Star” as, “One Mighty in Power, the One endued with wisdom” (Qur’an 56:5, 6). Is this coincidence?
Even the precious stones mentioned with regard to this angelic heavenly transport Al-Buraq, seem to fit what is written in Scripture regarding Satan: “His color was that of a peacock whose plumage was set with red rubies and corals, on which sat a white head of musk on a neck of amber. His ears and shoulders were of pure white pearls attached with golden chains, each chain decorated with glittering jewels. His saddle was made of silk lined with silver and gold threads. His back was covered with green emerald and his halter was pure peridot.”131
Now compare the description of Mohammed’s strange spirit guide with the description of Satan in the Bible “every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your setting and sockets was in you” (Ezekiel 28:13).
Many of Satan’s descriptions almost match perfectly the descriptions of the Buraq, Mohammed’s stead, that he rode to ascend to heaven. But beyond the ascension into heaven, this being, the Buraq is also described specifically as an angel of light.
Eventually Satan will be judged for “the iniquities of your trading” (Ezekiel 28:18). What does Satan trade in? The answer to this is simple—false religions and cults. The Muslim Sufis identify the spirit that inspired the Qur’an as the angel Jibril and refer to him as an angelic peacock: “God created the Spirit in a form of a peacock.”
38
Both Are Beings of Lights
The root word of Buraq (Mohammed’s spirit guide) is “Brq” which means “lightning bolt” or “glowing light.” The Bible describes Lucifer as “burning like a torch (or lamp)” (Revelation 8:10). This is exactly what the Qur’an describes Allah as: “a lamp.” Allah in the Qur’an dedicates chapter Al-Noor (The Light) as the most significant description of Allah:
“Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth; a likeness of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, (and) the glass is as it were a brightly shining star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither Eastern nor Western, whose oil is nigh luminous though fire scarce touched it. Light upon light! Allah does guide whom He will to His light: Allah sets forth parables for men: and knows all things” (Qur’an 24:35-36).
Light of the heavens, and brightly shining star or luminous, are satanic titles—“Lucifer” literally means the luminous one. Satan desires to be the bright shining star.
Even the Mahdi is identified by the prophet Mohammed as the “peacock of all angels and of the dwellers of the heavenly realm, he is dressed and adorned with the cloaks of light.132
“Thus says the great prophet (Allah’s prayers and supplications be upon him) Mahdi is the peacock of all angels and of the dwellers of the heavenly realm, he is dressed and adorned with the cloaks of light.”
&nbs
p; Above Arabic script:
“Thus says the great prophet (Allah’s prayers and supplications be upon him) Mahdi is the peacock of all angels and of the dwellers of the heavenly realm, he is dressed and adorned with the cloaks of light.”
This “lightning bolt” described by Mohammed is described by Jesus: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18). The word Lucifer means “bearer of light,” “luminous,” or “the morning star.” The Bible warns us regarding the manner in which Satan disguises himself “as an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14). John as well describes him: “I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit” (Revelation 9:1). This “star” is referred to as a “him,” a person and not an actual star. The Qur’an even calls Allah “The Lord of star of Sirius” (Qur’an, chapter of The Star, 53:49).
The same star is described in Revelation 8:10: “Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven burning like a torch (or lamp), and it fell on the third of the rivers and on the springs of water.” The “waters” is likely allegoric of “peoples, multitudes, nations, and different tongues” which Satan spiritually destroys. (Revelation 17:15)
God's War on Terror: Islam, Prophecy and the Bible Page 19