An open letter to people and pastors everywhere…
Dear __,
In the writing of a pastor who serves a large following, the word “pagan” was defined as anything other than the God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The pastor also made an excellent point that without defining terms, communication is hindered. I strongly disagree with the definition that was provided.
Historically, Ishmael, son of Abraham by Hagar, may have worshiped YHWH. When Muhammad (descendant of Ishmael) encountered the angel in the cave where he was given the Koran, the name and the attributes of the god of Islam that Muhammad was given are completely different than the attributes of YHWH, the God of our Bible.
To say that the god of Islam and YHWH, the God of Christians and Jews, are the same would be like me saying that you and me are the same people. The attributes and characteristics that make you uniquely you are very different than my attributes and characteristics that make me uniquely me. Not only are our names different, but the “who” that we are is completely different, too.
2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (ESV)
The Story of How the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad
Muhammad grew up in Makkah. The people of Makkah worshipped idols, but Muhammad was different: he believed in only one God, Allah. Muhammad was unhappy in Makkah and he often used to leave the busy city and go off up into the hills to be by himself to think and to pray. When it was the month of Ramadan, Muhammad decided to go and spend the whole month in the hills. He went to Mount Hira and lived in a cave, spending his time there praying and fasting. At this time, he was about 40 years old.
While Muhammad was in the cave, the angel of Jibril appeared to him and said to him: “Read!”
“I cannot read!” said the prophet for, like many people of the time, Muhammad could not read or write. Again the angel commanded “Read!”, and again Muhammad replied, “I cannot!”. For a third time, the angel commanded Muhammad to read, and spoke these words:
“Read: in the name of your Lord, who created all humanity from an original droplet, speak these words out loud! Your Lord is the Most Generous One – He who has taught the Pen, and taught humans what they did not know.” (Surah 96:1 – 5)
Muhammad repeated these words until he knew them by heart. He knew that he would never forget them. However, he was very frightened. What was it that had happened? Was the cave haunted? He rushed out of the cave and towards the city. Then the voice came again. This time it boomed out: “Oh Muhammad, you are the Messenger of Allah, and I am Jibril”.
Muhammad looked up and there, in front of him, he saw the angel towering above him in the sky. Muhammad ran home and, trembling all over, told his wife Khadijah what had happened. Khadijah believed all that Muhammad had told her. She went and told her cousin Waraqa, who was a wise and clever Christian. He told Khadijah that Muhammad had been chosen by Allah to be His messenger, and a prophet to the people. Waraqa warned Khadijah that Muhammad would have a great message for the world, but he had to be patient because not many people would listen to him.
The angel Jibril often came to Muhammad after that day, to teach Muhammad Allah’s message for the world. In fact, it took 23 years for the angel to give Muhammad the whole message. Later Muhammad dictated the message to some of his followers, who wrote it down in Arabic in the order that Allah wanted.
From Islam (Nelson) Frances Le Pla INSP/MS/04/SKR
Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
This is a different creation story than the one articulated above. The god of Islam claims to have created man out of a droplet.
Daniel 11:30-39
(30) For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage.
“So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. (31) And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (The Dome of the Rock – completed in 692 AD) (32) Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (33) And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. (34) Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. (35) And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.
(36) “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. (37) He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. (38) But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. (39) Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.
1 John 2:18, 22-23 “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”
“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
Please read the following excerpts from the inscription around the circumference of the Dome of the Rock (the shrine to the god of Islam, on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem):
(inner octagonal arcade): “O people of the book! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning god save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of god and his word which he conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from him.
So believe in god and his messengers, and say not ‘three’ – cease! (it is) better for you! God is only one god. Far be it removed from his transcendent majesty that he should have a son….”
“It befitteth not the majesty of god that he should take unto himself a son. Glory be to him!
Lo! Religion with god is Islam.
(outer octagonal arcade): “There is no god but god. He is one. He has no associate… He begetteth not nor was begotten.”
(the following phrase is repeated four times in this inscription): Mohammad is the messenger of god”
“Praise be to god who hath not taken unto himself a son, and who hath no partner in the sovereignty….” “There is no god but god. He has no associate.”
Plaque at eastern entrance of the Dome of the Rock, shrine to the god of Islam: “…. He begotteth not…”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
The god of Islam exalts himself above YHWH, the God of Christianity – and in the inscription, there is blatant denial that Jesus is the Son of God. Reread the passages from 1 John 2:18-25 and remark the hallmarks of the antichrist/s.
Also, the god of Islam IS the god which Muhammad’s fathers did not know. (Daniel 11:38) Ishmael, raised by Abraham, certainly would have known about YHWH. But Muhammad, his descendant, clearly did not.
Please consider these verses and so many others throughout our Bible describing the Father, His Son, and His Spirit. YHWH’s attributes are nothing like those of the god of Islam, and the Koran’s teachings, if you were to read it for yourself. According to what I have read, the Koran’s writings celebrate violence against infidels, rape of women, thievery….. If you would like to learn about the whole counsel of the Koran, I would recommend the book “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” by Nabeel Qureshi. It is Nabeel’s life testimony of being a child in a devout Muslim home, growing up as a Muslim amongst the culture of the Islamic people here in the U.S., of him seeking desperately to find the truth as to which god is the true God. I listened to the book on Audible – it was excellent! Nabeel himself is the reader – it is powerful and revelatory. And the God Nabeel found was YHWH, the God of the Bible, and His Son, Yeshua, Jesus Christ.
I have been so blessed by you and your ministry. My heart has been very very troubled since you inferred in your definition of pagan that the god of Islam and YHWH, God of Judaism and Christianity, were the same. My hope is that you will consider what I have written. You, as a teacher and leader in the faith of our God, YHWH, are held to a very high standard. I come to you as a fellow lover of the LORD, YHWH and Yeshua Messiah, Jesus Christ – and as one who wants the absolute best for you and the people you reach through your ministry. Please consider these things and consider redefining pagan for your audience in a way that truly brings honor and glory to our King.