Deedat in the Balance
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Deedat in the Balance
Mr Ahmad Deedat has been acclaimed as a hero and the
defender of faith by many Muslims. However, there are some
who see him as the opposite.
The following are extracts from a magazine called the MUSLIM
DIGEST, produced in South Africa. In introducing that
particular issue of the magazine, the Editor wrote:
This issue of the Muslim Digest representing the months of
July, August, September and October, 1986 is almost entirely
devoted in the public interest - both Muslim and non-Muslim
- through an indictment against Mr. Ahmad Deedat of the
Islamic Propagation Centre, for his various and dangerous
activities. (The Muslim Digest p. 2)
DEEDAT AND ISLAM
Let us read then the extracts from the MUSLIM DIGEST, they
are what the 'Ulama of Islam has said about Ahmad Deedat.
FROM HERE ON ALL THE FOLLOWING ARE EXTRACTS FROM THE MUSLIM
DIGEST:
------------------------------------------------------------
DEEDAT'S GURU NO. 1
"Mr Ahmed Deedat, the head of Islamic Propagation Centre,
has openly admitted that he is no man of letters as far as
secular knowledge is concerned, and in so far as Islamic
knowledge is concerned, from his own admission, he has
gleaned it from those who have inspired him, including
individuals such as JOSEPH PERDU, the BAHAI, who in the
1950's came to South Africa to undermine the faith of the
Muslims, and who was thoroughly exposed by us to leave South
Africa during that period. The exposure of Perdu is
contained in a number of pamphlets brought out by us, and
also in several issues of the Muslim Digest.
We quote Ahmed Deedat on the influence of Joseph Perdu, the
Bahaee, from his own (Deedat's ) explanation published in
the columns of the INDIAN VIEWS in its issue of November 6,
1957. said Deedat:
"I have learnt from Mr Joseph Perdu more about ISLAM than I
had learnt in the previous 38 years of my life." - INDIAN
VIEWS 6/11/57.
It is a psychological fact that if one obtains religious
knowledge from a dubious source, the danger always exists
that a dubious influence could be left on one's mind that
could later be dangerous to one's faith, and that of others,
particularly if one is engaged in Islamic Propagation work.
We of the Muslim Digest subscribed to this view then and we
reiterate this view now.
Deedat then appeared to be in an unholy alliance with Dr
Mall of the Arabic Study Circle who (Dr Mall) continued to
organise Joseph Perdu's lectures among Muslim's in Durban
even after Joseph Pedru told Advocate Bawa in the presence
of Dr Mall and Pr Wahhajur Rasul that "there was nothing in
the Qur'an to show that Prophet Mohammad was the LAST
PROPHET." Dr Mall remained silent all the time when Perdu
said this.
Mr Perdu, in his attempt to sow the seeds of Bahaism among
Muslim intellectuals first, further told Advocate Bawa that
"ISLAM IS NO MORE" ... ISLAM CAME FOR ONLY A THOUSAND (1000)
YEARS". Subsequently Advocate I.M. Bawa issued a Pamphlet
against Joseph Perdu and we reproduce the relevant part of
Advocate Bawa's pamphlet for the benefit of our readers."
(M.D. p.49-50)
DEEDAT'S GURU NO. 2
DEEDAT'S GREAT 'SERVANT OF ISLAM' RASHAD KHALIFA NOW SAYS:
TWO FALSE VERSES UNVEILED IN QUR'AN!
RASHAD KHALIFA, inventor of the spurious theory of Number
19, [By the use of numerology it claims that there is an
arithmetic pattern based on the number 19 running through
the Qur'an] cleverly camouflaged his hypocrisy and sinister
designs by wearing the mask of a sincere Muslim. Having
beguiled the Muslim community into believing his new-fangled
theory of number 19, he is now gradually unmasking himself
and revealing his true identity. The first glimpse of Rashad
Khalifa's hypocrisy came into light when he declared in his
bulletin, MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE, of March, 1985, that:
"THE COMPUTER EXPOSES AN HISTORICAL CRIME; TAMPERING WITH
THE WORD OF GOD; TWO FALSE VERSES UNVEILED IN QUR'AN; AN
INVITATION TO ALL MUSLIMS TO EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE BEFORE
REMOVING THE FALSEHOOD."
In the April 1985 issue of Rashad Khalifa's MUSLIM
PERSPECTIVE, a bold sub-heading tells the Muslim world:
"MORE EVIDENCE CONFIRMS THE FALSEHOOD OF THE LAST TWO VERSES
OF SURAH 9."
PARTNER
We accept his invitation to "examine the evidence". Before
doing so, however, we wish to remove another mask and expose
the face of his partner in this insidious crime against the
Holy Qur'an. the man who became instrumental in
disseminating the nefarious idea of Rashad Khalifa is none
other than the recipient of the King Faisal Award from the
Saudi Arabian Government for his "outstanding services" to
Islam - MR AHMAD DEEDAT.
Ahmad Deedat's fascination and preoccupation with the theory
of No. 19 became an obsession; and despite rational
criticisms and rebuttal of the theory by prominent writers
throughout the Muslim world, he (Ahmad Deedat) has remained
its steadfast champion and an ardent supporter of his
mentor, Rashad Khalifa, whom he calls "that great servant of
Islam".
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE"
Mr Ahmad Deedat wrote a tract in 1979 entitled AL-QUR'AN:
THE ULTIMATE MIRACLE, in which he slavishly echoed Rashad
Khalifa's ideas. In fact Ahmad Deedat effectively became
"His Master's Voice". He (Ahmad Deedat) says in his tract:
"I have in all humility taken the liberty of bringing the
scientific findings of that great servant of Islam - Dr
Rashad Khalifa Ph.D., in my own humble way... In it I have
freely utilised Dr Rashad Khalifa's data and in places I
have used his actual eloquent words verbatim for lack of
better expression." (Deedat in his booklet - "Al-Qur'an -
the Ultimate Miracle").
This tract of Deedat is freely distributed from Deedat's
headquarters in Durban, South Africa. In October 1985 he
published its First Reproduction in U.K. (20 000 copies) for
free distribution. Ahmad Deedat thus became an accomplice of
Rashad Khalifa by aiding and abetting him in his avowed aim
to attack the integrity of the Holy Qur'an." (M.D. p.25-26)
"And now Rashad Khalifa, Deedat's GURU number 2, says in his
recent bulletin called, " MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE " that the last
two verses in the Qur'an in Sura nine are false, and should
not form part of the Qur'an! - Muslim perspective - April,
1985. Muslims all over the world are labelling Rashad
Khalifa as a Murtad, some say he is a Kafer, others say, he
is a Munafiq, still others say he is not a Muslim, and is
outside the pale of Islam. Now if Ahmed Deedat has derived
his Islamic knowledge from such a dubious authority as
Khalifa, then it stands to reason that Deedat has no first
hand knowledge of ISLAM at all and that his ( Deedat's )
knowledge of Islam is not only shallow and second hand, but
DANGEROUS.
Rashad Khalifa has openly committed KUFR and it must follow
therefore that Deedat is pedaling Rashad Khalifa's KUFR to
unsuspecting Muslims through his lectures on Rashad
Khalifa's theories and booklets, of which there is no
doubt." (M.D. p.53)
"MUHAMMAD SAMIULLAIL head of the Islamic Research Bureau of
Karachi had this to say about Rashad Khalifa, who is
Deedat's GURU number 2:
"A perusal of Rashad Khalifa's translation will convince the
reader that it has been made for the sole purpose of
denigrating and dismantling the position of Hadith and
Sunnah from the edifice of Shari'ah. Those who believe in
Hadith along with the Qur'an as the basis of the Islam, are
accused as "false Muslims" and "idol worshipers".
Hadith is dismissed as conjectures and forgery. According to
him "Hadith is more than inventions by the enemies of the
prophet, aimed at repelling the people from god's way and
from the Qur'an" ( P.347 Rashad Khalifa's Qur'an translation
) - MUSLIM DIGEST, March/APRIL 1982.
Shiekh M.S Dien, Imam of Masjid us Salaam in Athlone, Cape
Town, had this to say about Rashad Khalifa, who is Deedat's
GURU number 2:
Rashad Khalifa's book, the Qur'an: the final Scripture
(Authorised English version ), is a disgrace to Qur'anic
translation and Exegesis, it should be banned by Muslim
Authority, organisations, institutions and individuals
throughout the world. (M. D. p. 52-53)
"MAJLIS" ON DEEDAT'S ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE
"THE MAJLIS NEWSPAPER published from Port Elisabeth by
Maulavi Sadak Desai condemns Deedat in no uncertain terms
regarding Deedat's Islamic knowledge, by saying:
Firstly, it is essential to state and stress that Mr Deedat
is not a man of Islamic learning. He is not qualified to
speak on matters pertaining to the Shariah. What is Fardh
upon Mr Deedat is the acquisition of the basic rules
pertaining to Wudhu, Salaat, Saum, etc. So that he may be in
position to discharge his daily Islamic duties. But, Islamic
law is not his avenue. Mr Deedat is absolutely confused by
claiming that "there is no prohibition against women
attending mosque" and "this is not traditionally done". His
confusion is the product of his stark ignorance of the
Shariah.
Mr Deedat is dabbling in matters about which he has no
knowledge and possesses no ability and no qualification, and
has brought himself under the purview of Rasulullah's
(Sallallahu alaihu wasallam) warning.
"He who speaks a lie on me should prepare his abode in the
fire"
It is about people of Mr Deedat's calibre that Sayyidina
Umar said:
"Verily, the people of opinion are the enemies of the
Sunnah."
All Muslims should beware of the un-Islamic and baatil
propagation of those who hold no status in Islamic
knowledge. The modernists in propagating the Kufr and Baatil
and trifling with Imman. Their end shall be disaster.
("Majlis", vol.4, no.6 - Port Elizabeth) (M.D. p.54)
DEEDAT AND THE AFRIKAANS TRANSLATION OF THE QUR'AN
"MR. Deedat's representation on behalf of Islam itself is
also in doubt, as his beliefs on Jesus (a.s.) from Islamic
point of view, are shrouded in ambiguity. When cornered, Mr.
Deedat says that he believes as the Muslims believe, but the
latest black and white proof is that despite having revised
Mr. Amin Baker's Afrikaans translation of the Qur'an, Mr.
Deedat's Propagation Centre left the Qadiani interpretation
on Nabi Isa (Jesus) intact, when it printed a new edition of
this Qur'an translation recently and sold them throughout
the country. Deedat's new edition of this Qur'an states that
Nabi Isa (Jesus) is dead. (M. D., p.140-141)
DEEDAT MAKES A SOMERSAULT OVER TV?
"In what was construed by Muslims as a somersault in his
views on Muslim women attending mosques after the "MAJLIS"
attack on Deedat, in wanting to correct his views on a
subject over TV, Mr. Deedat landed himself into further hot
water, as the following letter to the Muslim Digest at the
time shows:
DEAR SIR,
"I am sure that thousands of Muslim women must have seen the
TV program recently when Mr Ahmed Deedat of Durban spoke
about Muslim women not being encouraged to pray in the
mosque with men. I think most Muslim women will be
disappointed with Mr Deedat's poor showing of Muslim women
on the TV programme, and personally I am utterly disgusted
at the uncouth manner in which Mr Deedat explained why women
are not encouraged to come and pray in the mosque.
Firstly, we Muslim women do not pray WITH the men in the
mosques, and Mr Deedat Knows that there are separate halls,
galleries, etc attached to the mosques, for Muslim women
where prayer facilities are provided.
This is why I think I will be expressing the utter disgust
of all Muslim womanhood when Mr Deedat gave as reason for
Muslim women not being encouraged to come and pray in the
mosque, is that at the time of ablution (WUZU) women have to
lift their legs (and Mr Deedat even lifted his leg to
demonstrate!) in the presence of men when they are making
WUZU. Mr Editor, Mr Deedat knows that women don't make
ablution (wuzu) WITH the men in any mosque. In fact, in
nearly all cases, when Muslim women go to pray in mosques
where separate faculties exist for prayer, they make WUZU at
home and come.
Mr Deedat should be ashamed of himself for insulting and
disgracing Muslim womanhood in front of the public on TV,
especially as he claims to be a preacher of Islam. Please
print this Mr Editor without fail.
From all the foregoing it will be seen that Deedat has no
real knowledge about ISLAM at all. His religious knowledge
is found wanting. What he preaches and writes about Islam is
most dangerous and Muslims are asked to take note of this
and reject his so called no. 19 Computer theory of the
Qur'an reject his controversial lectures, reject his first
GURU Joseph Perdu and reject his second GURU Rashad Khalifa
too, who now says the last two verses of the Qur'an are
false and should not have been included in the Holy Qur'an
by those who compiled it, implying in other words, that
Caliph Omar and Caliph Uthman should not have included the
last 2 verses of Sura 9 in the Qur'an. In other words it
means that the various Qur'an translations that Deedat
advertisers and sells left, right and centre, are no more
the LAST Testament, and the Qur'an is no more the ULTIMATE
MIRACLE!" (M.D., p.54-55)
[After all that, no wonder the Muslim digest else where went
on to say]
....Deedat is only a "pretender" to the "ISLAMIC THRONE".
Deedat realy represents nobody, but himself. He does not
represent the Muslims of the world; he does not represent
the Muslim of South Africa; he does not represent the
Muslims of Natal; he does not represent the Muslims of
Durban; he does not represent the Muslims of his own little
town of Verulam either where he resides, and in fact that
the Trustees of the Verulam Muslim MOSQUE have even banned
Deedat from making a speech or lecture in the only Muslim
Mosque in his own home town of VERULAM. (M. D., p.140)
DEEDAT AND THE HINDU RELIGION
(PLEASE NOTE THIS ARTICLE WAS REPRODUCED BY THE MUSLIM
DIGEST JULY TO OCT. 1986)
"Deedat has embarrassed the faithful followers of Islam,
hurt, distressed and pained relatives and friends, violated
basic principles, infuriated Christians and Hindus and
insists on continuing his religious crusade that does more
harm than good to the cause of Islam that he claims he
espouses.
The Church's attitude was correct and so was the attitude of
its leaders for, in the process of denigrating Christianity,
Deedat insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w.) himself,
for while quoting the Qur'anic verse of how one should go
about propagating Islam - that is, "with wisdom and
beautiful preaching," Deedat has, time and again, flouted
these lofty principles, with there being neither "wisdom"
nor "beauty" in his preaching methods. In fact, of late, his
method of propagating Islam has even begun to stink to high
heaven itself!
IN RESPONSE TO DEEDAT'S OBJECTIONABLE VIDEO TAPE ON HINDUISM
Pamphlet headed: 'WAS KAABA A HINDU TEMPLE? IS ALLAH A HINDU
GOD?' Distributed
Mr Deedat's arrogance and the method of his preaching in
attacking other religions knows no bounds. His recent attack
on the Hindu religion prompted Hindus to react and make
counter allegations against ISLAM, the KAABA and against
ALLAH HIMSELF, for which Mr Deedat should be held
responsible.
A 13-page pamphlet headed: "WAS KAABA A HINDU TEMPLE?" --
"IS ALLAH A HINDU GOD?" was very widely distributed in the
Gujerati, Tamil, Telegu and the Hindustani sections of the
Hindu Community recently. The author of this 13-page
pamphlet is Mr P.N. Oak, M.A. LL.B., of Delhi, India. Among
other things, the author had this to say:
"Glancing through some research material recently, I was
pleasantly surprised to come across a reference to a King
Vikramadity inscription found in the Kaaba temple in Mecca,
proving beyond doubt that the Arabian peninsula formed a
part of his Indian Empire."
"This discovery changes the entire complexion of ancient
history and to a great extent, the history of ancient India.
For one thing we may have to revise our concepts about the
king who had the largest empire in history. It could be that
the expanse of King Vikramaditya's empire was larger than
that of all others."
"...The region of King Vikramaditya's empire extended from
Bali Island in the South East Pacific to the Baltic Northern
Europe, and from Korea to Kaaba. The only difference was
that while Indian rulers identified themselves with the
local population and established welfare states, Moghuls and
others, who ruled conquered lands, perpetrated untold
atrocities over the vanquished..."
"The text of the crucial Vikramaditya inscription, found
inscribed on a gold dish hung inside the Kaaba shrine in
Mecca, is found recorded on page 315 of a volume known as
"Sayar-ul-Okul" treasured in the Makhtab-e-sultania
(library) in Istanbul, Turkey."
"Rendered in free English the inscription says "Fortunate
are those who were born (and lived) during King Vikrama's
reign. He was a noble, generous, dutiful ruler, devoted to
the welfare of his subjects."
Mr P.N. Oak, the author of the pamphlet, then goes on to
quote the Arabic and reproduces the same in Roman script and
quotes (page 315 "Sayar-ul-Okul"). [something seems to be
missing here but that is how it is in the original in the
Muslim Digest] The title "Sayar-ul-Okul" signifies MEMORABLE
WORDS, says Mr Oak.
Mr Oak further says:
"...that the so-called Kutab Minar in Delhi could well be
King Vikramaditya's tower commemorating his conquest of
Arabia."
"...The first modern edition of "Sayar-ul-Okul" was printed
and published in Berlin in A.D. 1864. A subsequent is the
one published in Beirut in A.D. 1932."
"...The book also contains an elaborate description of the
ancient shrine of Mecca, the town and the annual fair known
as OKAJ which used to be held every year around the Kaaba
temple in Mecca. This should convince readers that the
annual Hajj of the Muslims to the Kaaba is not an Islamic
speciality, but a mere continuation of an earlier
pre-Islamic congregation."
"...Mecca, therefore followed the Varanasi (Benares)
tradition of providing a venue for important discussions
among the learned while the masses congregated there for
spiritual bliss. The principal shrines at both Varanasi in
India and at Mecca in Arbasthan (Arabia) were Shiva temples,
even to this day the ancient Mahadova emblems. It is the
Shankara stone which Muslim pilgrims reverently touch and
kiss in the Kaaba."
"...The main shrine in Mecca, which houses the Shiva emblem,
is known as the Kaaba. It is clothed in a black shroud. That
custom also originates from the days when it was thought
necessary to discourage its recapture (by enemies) by
camouflaging it."
"...Muslim pilgrims visiting the Kaaba temple go around it
seven times. In no other Mosque does this circumambulation
prevail. Hindus invariably circumambulate around their
deities. This is yet another proof that the Kaaba shrine is
a pre-Islamic Indian Shiva temple where the Hindu practise
of circumambulation is still meticulously observed."
"...Another Hindu tradition still associated with the Kaaba
is that of the sacred stream Ganga. According to Hindu
tradition Ganga is also as inseparable from the Shiva emblem
as the crescent moon. Wherever there is a Shiva emblem,
Ganga must co-exist. True to that association a sacred
foundation exists near the Kaaba. Its water is held sacred
because it had been traditionally regarded as Ganga since
pre-Islamic times."
"...It might come as a stunning revelation to many that the
word "ALLAH" itself is Sanskrit. In Sanskrit Allah, Akka and
Amba are synonyms. They signify a goddess or mother. The
term Allah forms part of Sanskrit chants invoking goddess
Durga, also known as Bhavani, Chandi and Mahishasuramardini.
The Islamic word Allah for God is therefore, not an
innovation but the ancient Sanskrit appellation retained and
continued by Islam. Allah means mother or goddess and mother
goddess."
"...Vaidik descriptions about the moon, the different solar
constellations and the creation of the universe have been
incorporated from the Vedas in Koran, part 1, chapter 2,
stanzas 113, 114, 115 and 158, 189; Chapter 10, stanzas 4 to
7."
"...Recital of the Namaz five times a day owes its origin to
the Vaidik injunction of Panchamayajnya which was part of
the daily Vaidik ritual prescribed for all individuals."
"...The Islamic term "Eed-ul-Fitr" derives from the "Eed of
Pitors", that is, worship of forefathers, in Sanskrit
tradition. In India Hindus commemorate their ancestors
during the Pitri-Paksha, that is, the fortnight reserved for
their remembrance. The very same is the significance of
Eed-ul-Fitr (worship of forefathers)."
(Reproduced by Muslim Digest, July to Oct. 1986 pages.
23-24) (Article written by Mr P.N. Oak at N-128, Greater
Kailas 1, New Delhi 14, India and distributed from Durban,
South Africa).
All the foregoing, from a historical and Islamic point of
view, is questionable and highly objectionable, and is only
a part of the contents of the 13-page pamphlet distributed
in the Hindu community recently, directly as a result of Mr
Deedat's objectionable lecture on video tape on Hinduism.
The aim of the writer and distributors of the pamphlet is
clear to all Muslims, and the blame for it all must rest
squarely on the shoulders of Mr Ahmed Deedat. - (Editor,
MUSLIM DIGEST).
DEEDAT AND CHRISTIANITY
This is a letter written to Mr. Deedat published in the
Muslim Digest:
"Your thesis, forceful as it may be, is an anti-thesis of
the view held by the majority of the Muslims, in particular
the Ahl-Hadith followers. Their view is opposed to your
thesis. They believe that Jesus was never put on the cross
and was "taken up". Your arguments very ably axed by the
Ahl-Hadith's fundamental belief about Jesus. They were
present in the hall. Amazing as it may be, your every blow
to their fundamental belief made them clap with joy! So much
so that they even shouted "Allah-o-Akbar, not knowing that
their own fundamental belief was systematically and
logically being elimenated! As they clapped and cheered I
remembered the Qur'anic verse: Deaf, Dumb, Blind Q.2:18"
(The MUSLIM DIGEST, Durban, South Africa, 1986, p.35.)
TRANSVAAL IN THE 1970'S - THE SYMPOSIUM THAT LEAD TO GREAT
HUMILIATION FOR MUSLIMS AND DEEDAT
In the Transvaal a symposium was organised at Benoni by
Deedat's friends in which Mr John Gilchrist of the Christian
faith opposed Deedat. Mr Adam Peerbhai who was present at
the symposium had this to say, which we reproduce from the
MUSLIM DIGEST:-
AT THE SENSATIONAL UPSET in Benoni, Transvaal, the huge
audience was asked by Mr John Gilchrist, at the conclusion
of Mr Ahmad Deedat's lecture on "WAS CHRIST CRUCIFIED"
(which in reality was a half-Qadiani theory and Un-Islamic)
[Mr Deedat believes that Jesus was crucified but did not die
on the cross, he only fainted], a simple question:
IS MR DEEDAT RIGHT IN HIS EXPLANATION OF CRUCIFIXION?
The audience, without reflection, in a loud roar, said:
YES ! MR DEEDAT IS RIGHT.
So, the Benoni lawyer, Mr John Gilchrist pointed to the
verse of the Holy Koran which states:
"BUT THEY KILLED HIM NOT, NOR CRUCIFIED HIM".
This is how Mr. John Gilchrist trapped the Muslim audience:
"You have heard already that we have heard the Islamic
viewpoint put forth by Mr Ahmed Deedat. Now I want to ask
first something, this: Do you believe what Mr Ahmed Deedat
said? (Loud roar: YES). I am going to go so far as to ask
every Muslim here tonight that if you believe what Mr Deedat
said (Another loud roar : YES), you don't believe what the
Qur'an says (YES!?)"
"I ask any Muslim to stand up here tonight and to tell me
that the Qur'an does not say that Christ was never put on a
cross, that in fact it was someone else, am I not right?
Does the Qur'an not say that God took Jesus up to Himself?
Does the Qur'an not say that God protected him? Does the
Qur'an not say that God made someone else look like him?
Does the Qur'an not say that God put that man on the cross?
What do you believe? Mr Deedat or the Qur'an? (Loud answer:
"the Qur'an")."
And thus the huge Muslim audience was struck to silence and
to defeat, which the Muslim's did not readily accept. So the
Muslim audience at one moment in their frenzy roared that Mr
Deedat was right, and the next when the truth was pointed
out to them from the Qur'an, then they answered that the
Qur'an was right, which in fact shows in what a humiliating
position they were put through the crucifixion arguments put
forward by Mr Deedat." - Muslim Digest", March 1977.
IF ONLY ADVICE WAS HEEDED
If only Mr Deedat had heeded the warnings given to him on
his un-Islamic method of propagating Islam, neither he nor
the Muslim community would have suffered such a humiliating
defeat. Incidentally, perhaps with wounded pride at the end
of this humiliating defeat, Mr Deedat perhaps in
frustration, made certain defamatory statements against Mr
John Gilchrist that led to a court action by Mr Gilchrist,
after Deedat refused to make an apology. Deedat lost the
subsequent court action and paid damages and costs totalling
to R2,138-00.
(HERE ENDS THE EXTRACTS FROM MUSLIM DIGEST)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR COMMENT:
Ahmad Deedat stated in his lectures and books that Jesus was
placed on the cross but did not die on it: He only fainted.
Every one knows how difficult it is to change the religious
beliefs of one person, especially if these beliefs are
deeply rooted and have been handed down, generation after
generation. For 16 centuries Muslims have denied that Jesus
was placed on the cross. It is a known fact that because of
the untiring efforts of Ahmad Deedat, millions of Muslims
now believe that Jesus was placed on the cross. Thus because
of the efforts of the one man, Ahmad Deedat, millions of
Muslims have changed their traditional views as to what
happened to Jesus.
This instantaneous change in the view of millions of Muslims
is a phenomenon that deserves closer investigation. It is
either that Ahmad Deedat possesses a stronger logic and
appeal than the Islamic tradition that says that someone
else was crucified instead of Jesus and that Jesus was
lifted up alive to heaven, or that this Islamic tradition is
so flimsy, in spite of its antiquity, that it was neither
well established nor deeply rooted in the minds of Muslims.
This tradition was simply an unsatisfactory explanation on
to which they clung. The minute these millions were offered
another explanation, they quickly accepted it without much
reflection.
There is no doubt that between those who believe that
someone else died instead of Jesus on the cross and those
who believe Ahmad Deedat's version of what happened to
Jesus, other millions are standing on neutral ground,
confused as to what to believe. These are more ready to
accept the truth of the crucifixion than they were before
Ahmad Deedat's thinking became widely known.
Ahmad Deedat deserves to be congratulated, because he,
single handed, has shifted the traditional Muslim position a
very, very long way towards the Christian position. For now
millions of Muslims at least believe that Jesus was placed
on the cross. And what a beautiful picture Mr Deedat has
painted of Christ to the millions of Muslims, for according
to Deedat, Jesus was at least lifted up on the cross, after
being insulted by the Jews, suffered and bled because of his
faithfulness to God. May God bless you Mr Deedat!
Mr. Deedat has achieved what thousands of missionaries have
failed to achieve. What remains now for the gap between the
Muslim and the Christian to be closed is for the Christian
to convince his Muslim friend that Jesus was not only placed
on the cross but did die there also.
History will prove that Ahmad Deedat deserves a higher
recognition from Christian leaders for his services to
Christianity than the one he received from king Faisal for
his services to Islam.
It is written in the Psalms that God the most high "is more
able" than any one. He is able to turn defeat into victory,
disasters into wonders, and the falsifications of people
like those of Ahmad Deedat into evidence for His truth.
God indeed works in mysterious ways. According to the Bible,
He can "Out of the eater bring something to eat, And out of
the strong bring something sweet."
Or in the language of the Qur'an: "They schemed and God
schemed, and God is the best of schemers." (The Qur'an 3:54)
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