I don't think that really addresses Hiroshi's question.
And the answer to your question requires you answer one first.
When you ask, "Is this the Injeel of Christ?" you have to tell us whether you are simply using the Arabic term Injeel, which when translated into English means Gospel, or are you using the technical term for a particular set message that the Qur'an alleges Jesus delivered, but which it then also claims has been totally lost to history so that no one can actually review it today.
The term "Injel" is not an English term, but a transliteration of the Arabic إِنْجِيلِ which, when properly translated, is rendered "Gospel". Thus it seems that by using the term "Injel" rather than "Gospel" you are intentionally desiring to speak of something different than the gospel, but rather this alleged Injel of which no one can even find testimony of its existence outside of the Qur'an. So rather obviously, when the Injel is to be defined as an alleged product that no longer exists, and Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the works of Paul do exist, then they are not going to be the Injel. However, they are indeed a record of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The word gospel you see does not come from the Arabic term إِنْجِيلِ , but from the Greek term ευαγγελιου. And while the term ευαγγελιου is most commonly translated into English as "Gospel", it literally means "good message." And that is why the Injel could never be the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in place of the works of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul, for the Qur'an tells us that Jesus only brought a message similar to what Muhammad delivered. And that message is one which does testify to the oneness and greatness of God -- no problem thus far -- but with regard to mankind, the message is no different than that of Judaism. If people want to experience God's grace, their only hope is to work hard for it, jump through all sorts of hoops, and then know that in the end you still don't have any promises. That might be a good challenge, it certainly promotes a good way of life. But the primary message is: "You had better pick yourself up by your own bootstraps and fly right, because if you don't God's coming along and gonna knock you down." That is more of a good threat than good news.
On the other hand, Mark -- 1:1 αρχη του ευαγγελιου ιησου χριστου (The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God) -- tells us that he has a ευαγγελιου, a good message that (because the term ευαγγελιου is in the genitive case) is expressed in relationship that is connected with Jesus Christ. If Mark had met to say it was a message by Jesus, he would have written using the dative case or even the vocative case. But as Mark writes of this gospel using the genative case he is declaring that the goodness of the message has to do with what the message tells us about Jesus. Thus it is that all that Mark (or any of the other good news writers for that matter) relate to us of the things that Jesus himself said are only preliminary, laying the background for the truly exciting good news which is yet to come. And that good news is that in Jesus God has finally done something that he had been promising he was going to do since the time of Isaiah, God had sent his anointed one to his people to by God's power and God's mighty work and the goodness and grace of God, not human effort, not human goodness, redeem them and set the world right again. And Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, and even others such as Peter, Jude and the author of Hebrews declare that this God did in the person and work of the man Jesus, who was more than just a man, but God's anointed agent for that purpose. Somehow the Injel the Qur'an speaks of missed that part of the message. So, no, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are not an alleged Injel, with a message that demands humans have to live up to some impossible, unachievable divine standard. Rather, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (and yes, in a way even the works of Paul) are a declaration of good news, a message that God has done the hard work, in Jesus we have been made right with God not by human effort, but by divine act and decree. Of course people are still called to live lives of submission to God and his ways, but when we fall short of the perfection he rightly demands of us, his creation, he accepts the anointed one's perfectedly submitted life as a substitute for ours as we accept his grace through faith. And that's why Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called gospels (and not Injel), because they contain a message that really is one of good news for all who will receive it.
(NOTE TO MODS: I realize that this post may be construed as a violation of forum rules as it does indeed lay out a message other than that of Islam. I didn't write it for that purpose, but because of Zafran's question. Over and over Muslims and Christians debate whether or not the Gospels of the NT are corrupted, and two of the reasons that Muslims claim they are is because they present a different message than what Islam projects to be in the Injel, and because they differ than the Qur'an with regard to the events of Jesus' life. What never seems to get said by anyone, it is precisely those differences that make the Gospels gospels in the first place. To present the supposed message of the Injel would be to present something that, at least from the Christian perspective, would NOT be gospel at all, for it wouldn't be a message of genuine good news. In light of the fact that this is comparative religion, and a thread on the difference between the Qur'an and the Bible, and this question focused on whether or not the existing books of the NT recorded the Injel which Zafran termed "gospel", I felt that this was the time to try to draw that distinction between our two completely different understandings as to what is and what is not a gospel message. With respect, I hope you will allow the post to stand.)
my apologies to the OP, but time only permits me to address the fisrt bit of this rot. to wit:
The term "Injel" is not an English term, but a transliteration of the Arabic إِنْجِيلِ which, when properly translated, is rendered "Gospel". Thus it seems that by using the term "Injel" rather than "Gospel" you are intentionally desiring to speak of something different than the gospel, but rather this alleged Injel of which no one can even find testimony of its existence outside of the Qur'an.
When we speak of the Injeel, we are speaking of the Message given to Isa ibn Marriam. your statement implies the that either your “God the Father” NEVER gave a coherent Message to Isa ibn Marriam, or as you would associate partners with Allah, “God the son” OR that Isa ibn Marriam or “Jesus of Nazareth” [a name by which NO FOLLOWER OF HIS EVER CALLED, nor was he known by for a millennia] was INCAPABLE of delivering said Message!
As for “testimony of its existence outside of the Qur'an,” you would lay a false claim that Deuteronomy 18:18 refers to “Jesus of Nazareth” [a name by which NO FOLLOWER OF HIS EVER CALLED, nor was he known by for a millennia]. Let’s review this passage shall we:
“18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.” IF this were to refer to your “associate God” [which it doesn’t], then we would define the “Injeel” as “the words that God put in the mouth of Isa ibn Marriam and which he was commanded to speak!” the fact that our present varieties of Christians felt no obligation to record and or maintain those “words that God put in the mouth of Isa ibn Marriam and which he was commanded to speak” is the reason that Allah planned for and sent the Final Messenger, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, Sallla Allahu Alayhee wa Salaam!
IF, Christians believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of those words, why DIDN’T they preserve them in a proper “chain of evidence?”
So rather obviously, when the Injel is to be defined as an alleged product that no longer exists, and Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the works of Paul do exist
Actually, 7 letters of Paul exists, but there is no contemporaneous forensic evidence of ANY writings by authors named Matthew, Mark, Luke or John! It is simply IMPOSSIBLE for you to make any claims about the words of Jesus of Nazareth based upon factual evidence! In fact, to paraphrase YOUR Gospels, you can only make claims based upon “a house made of sand” and NOT one built upon “a house of stone!”
While we MAY agree on 7 of the letters attributed to Paul, who did your “associate god” give the “keys to the kingdom of heaven to? we see addressed to Peter: Matt 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." NIV. Where is the preserved authentic “Gospel according to Peter?”
If you have any contemporaneous forensic evidence of the “words that God put in the mouth of Isa ibn Marriam and which he was commanded to speak,” please present it!
However, they are indeed a record of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The word gospel you see does not come from the Arabic term إِنْجِيلِ , but from the Greek term ευαγγελιου. And while the term ευαγγελιου is most commonly translated into English as "Gospel", it literally means "good message
The works of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are indeed “anonymous” books of unknown origin, which you as a Christian value MORE than “words that God put in the mouth of Isa ibn Marriam and which he was commanded to speak.” To therefore make the following claim: “And that is why the Injel could never be the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in place of the works of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul, for the Qur'an tells us that Jesus only brought a message similar to what Muhammad delivered” is absurd! You must first know WHAT Isa ibn Marriam actually said BEFORE you can speak contemptuously of the writings of the Qur’an.
And that message is one which does testify to the oneness and greatness of God -- no problem thus far -- but with regard to mankind, the message is no different than that of Judaism. But it IS different than that of the triune godship of Christianity!
If people want to experience God's grace, their only hope is to work hard for it, jump through all sorts of hoops, and then know that in the end you still don't have any promises. That might be a good challenge, it certainly promotes a good way of life
To firstly address this, your vtreatmewnt of the Words of Allah:
Al Kahf 18:56:
And We send not the Messengers except as giver of glad tidings and warners. But those who disbelieve, dispute with false argument, in order to refute the truth thereby. And they treat My Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), and that with which they are warned, as jest and mockery!
And for the “promises of Allah,” we further read in 18:1-2:
All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has sent down to His slave (Muhammad SAW) the Book (the Quran), and has not placed therein any crookedness.
(He has made it) Straight to give warning (to the disbelievers) of a severe punishment from Him, and to give glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a fair reward (i.e. Paradise).
And in 18:29-31:
And say: "The truth is from your Lord." Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve. Verily, We have prepared for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.), a Fire whose walls will be surrounding them (disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah). And if they ask for help (relief, water, etc.) they will be granted water like boiling oil, that will scald their faces. Terrible the drink, and an evil Murtafaqa (dwelling, resting place, etc.)!
Verily! As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, certainly! We shall not suffer to be lost the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner.
These! For them will be 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens); wherein rivers flow underneath them, therein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine and thick silk. They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good is the reward, and what an excellent Murtafaqa (dwelling, resting place, etc.)!
18:46:
Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds (five compulsory prayers, deeds of Allah's obedience, good and nice talk, remembrance of Allah with glorification, praises and thanks, etc.), that last, are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope.
18:88:
"But as for him who believes (in Allah's Oneness) and works righteousness, he shall have the best reward, (Paradise), and we (Dhul-Qarnain) shall speak unto him mild words (as instructions)."
18:107-108:
"Verily! Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous deeds, shall have the Gardens of Al-Firdaus (the Paradise) for their entertainment.
"Wherein they shall dwell (forever). No desire will they have to be removed therefrom."
Of course the reason that you remain blind to this is that your religion is founded on the ridiculous idea that you MUST associate partners with Allah! Nowuthubillah!
We see in an authentic Hadeeth Qudsi:
Hadith Qudsi 34
On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:
"Allah the Almighty said:
'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.'"
[At-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.]
As Muslims we rely totally on the Mercy of Allah as seen on this Hadeeth Qudsi:
Hadith Qudsi 33
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), from among the things he reports from his Lord (mighty and sublime be He), is that he said:
"A servant [of Allah's] committed a sin and said: 'O Allah, forgive me my sin.' And He (glorified and exalted be He) said: 'My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them.' Then he sinned again and said: 'O Lord, forgive me my sin.' And He (glorified and exalted be He) said: 'My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them.' Then he sinned again and said: 'O Lord, forgive me my sin.' And He (glorified and exalted be He) said: 'My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for sins. Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you.'"
[Muslim (also by al-Bukhari).]
It is bothersome when you make jest at the commands of Allah we even, according to YOUR book, we see Isa ibn Marriam have this conversation in Matt 19:
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
So you are saying that Jesus meant Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to”jump through all of the hoops necessary” to enter the kingdom of God? :hmm:
May Allah protect us!
:wa:
