I believe this incident took place when British ruled the subcontinent. A well known Christian scholar Reverend Paul Fender asked a well known Islamic scholar Maulana Qaranwi to have an open debate with him. Maulana communicated to Reverend Paul that he can’t speak English and he speaks only Urdu so he can’t participate. Reverend Paul spent few months and learned Urdu and then he came back and asked for a debate and Maulana agreed. When the debate started Reverend Paul Fender asked Maulana to start and Maulana insisted that since he is the guest he should start. So Reverend Paul started:
Reverend Paul: “Is your Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) dead or alive?”
Maulana: “Spiritually he is alive, but physically he is dead and buried in Madinah”
**Reverend Paul: **“Where is he now?”
**Maulana: **“He is next to Allah in Jannat-ul-Firdos”
**Reverend Paul: **“Where was he during the battle of Karbala?”
Maulana paused and then said: “He was with Allah in Jannat-ul-Firdos”
Reverend Paul: “Where was he when his grandsons Hasan and Hussain were being killed?”
**Maulana replied: **“He was with Allah in Jannat-ul-Firdos”
Reverend Paul: “Then why did not he ask Allah to save his grandsons?”
Maulana was silenced, long pause; the audience thought that Maulana has been stumped …
Reverend Paul: “Why don’t you reply, Maulana, why did not he ask Allah to save his grandsons?”
Maulana finally spoke: “Allah cried…”
Reverend Paul astonished and confused: “What? Allah cried?”
Maulana: “Yes, he cried. He said I couldn’t save my son from the cross, how can I save your grandsons…”
This is of course not true as we all know but this is battle of wits. Sometimes you have to use your Hikmat to drive your point across. Allah says in surah An-Nahl (The Bee) [16:125]
16:125 Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.
NOTE: This is taken from the audio tapes of Dr. Zakir Naik.
Question,
Why would you want to use this reasoning. In this picture God/Allah is painted as a powerless bystander. God is anything but powerless. He is almighty and powerfull. Had Jesus mummed the words, a league of angles would have come to his rescue. No he had a purpose to fulfill. Dying a condemned man to be raised again for your and my sins. But God being the unassuming Creator and lover of our souls, he is ,does not force this on you or me or anyone.
If I saw the argument as raised in the original post, I would question believing. Why follow God if he can do nothing to save or to punish you? I am sure God cried when Muhammeds children died, because Jesus looked on a man, unwilling to give up his riches and possesions to follow, with love. When all the leaders were ready to stone a woman for committing adultry, he said, "He that has no sin may cast the first stone."
Interesting how many Christians receive the grace given by our Lord. Then we go to our brothers, sisters and our enemies and try to ram it down there throats. No Christian's are called to love as Christ loved us.
Piece to you and blessings.
What kind of Mullah believe that God had a son?
Maulana: “He is next to Allah in Jannat-ul-Firdos”<<<
I thought only dead people lived in Jannat.
lyrixforu - Like the writing states very clearly, the bit about "crying" is not actually true... Allah is not weak, that was not the point of this writing... you are missing the point if you concluded that from this writing.
Madhanee - you are also missing the point. As far as the quote that you pointed out also read:
Maulana: “Spiritually he is alive, but physically he is dead and buried in Madinah” <<
I do want to mention that this post is not meant to demean anyone religion or beliefs. This is not a dig on Christianity in any shape or form. As a Muslim we are to respect others religions and beliefs.
This is an actual event that took place sometime ago and I found it very interesting and thought I will share it and see what people have to say about it. To be very honest with you I am not even sure if what Maulana said is legal in Islam but sure had an appeal in the given situation. That is why this post is titled “Battle of Wits”.
ChaChoo my friend,
Do not worry about offending me. I do not take offense when someone disagrees with me or does not believe in Jesus. Jesus was compassionate enough that he died while we were still enemies and he loved you and me in spite of our despise of him. How much mores so should I show grace now that I am in grace? I would pray that everyone would come to know his saving grace the way I do, but I will not force my views on anyone.
Maulana: “Spiritually he is alive, but physically he is dead and buried in Madinah” <<
I know this was your point. The problem is that your point is not the only point this discussion makes. If this teacher is a "true" Teacher of God, why does he give false teachings, (God is impotent)?
So if he teaches a false truth about God's power, I have no reason to believe that any of his claims are true. In essence he has discredited his own creditability.
Peace
I don't think that was the point... Maulana was trying to point out to the Reverend that God works in mysterious ways... just like Christians believe that Jesus (PBUH) was killed on the cross and God did not intervene ... He (God) did not intervene when Hazrat Hasan and Hazrat Hussain were being martyred even though they were the grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). God has his own reasons and plans and we humans are not always able to understand His reasoning behind certain things. At least that is my understanding from this bit; I can see how different people can deduce different meanings out of this.
Oh by the way as a Muslim I absolutely believe in Jesus PBUH as a messenger of Allah (SWT) but NOT as Allah (SWT)'s son.
Hi ChaChoo,
Can you answer a question for me? If it is a lie that God is powerless, then what difference does it make what the point is?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by lyrixforu: *
Hi ChaChoo,
Can you answer a question for me? If it is a lie that God is powerless, then what difference does it make what the point is?
[/QUOTE]
:) I thought I did explain the point very well in my last post...
Re: Battle of Wits
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by ChaChoo: *
**Maulana:* “Yes, he cried. He said I couldn’t save my son from the cross, how can I save your grandsons…”
[/QUOTE]
The Reverend Paul could have replied: You're wrong, Maulana. I would expect Allah to say: "I could save my son but he did not ask me and therefor decided not to do so. In your case, if you ask me, I could consider your request...."
Re: Re: Battle of Wits
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by The Old Man: *
The Reverend Paul could have replied: You're wrong, Maulana. I would expect Allah to say: "I could save my son but he did not ask me and therefor decided not to do so. In your case, if you ask me, I could consider your request...."
[/QUOTE]
Sure Old Man... Reverend or Maulana could have said many things to counter each others arguments and reasoning... but I stated to the best of my knowledge what actually transpired.