Jesus, Islam’s Greatest Prophet
To The Editors:
In my recent article, “Islam, Swedenborg and the Heavenly Doctrines,” one
of the questions discussed was whether or not Muslims “acknowledge the
Lord as the Greatest Prophet,” (De Verbo 17) and consider Him “to be greater
than Mohammed.” (Divine Providence 255) The following quote raised doubts
about the accuracy of the Heavenly Doctrines’ statements:
We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac
and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was
given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them.
(Quran 2:136)
The assumption appears to have been that the word “distinction” is referring
to distinction in rank among the prophets. This is not correct. Arberry in his
translation uses the word, “division,” which gives us quite a different meaning.
Here is the verse that immediately precedes the one shown above:
And they (the Jews and Christians) say, “Be Jews or Christians, then you will be rightly
guided. Say, No, but we follow the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of
the idolaters.” (Quran 2:135)
What the Quran is saying is that, unlike Judaism and Christianity, Islam
presents the unified, undivided message of all of God’s prophets, not just some
of them. This view is supported by Islamic scholars and by the following quote
from the Quran:
As for those who ignore Allah and His messengers, and want to make a distinction
(division) between them, saying, “We believe in some but not in others,” seeking a
middle way, they are really disbelievers. (4:150, 15)
The following is a quote from the Quran that indicates Islam actually does
recognize a distinction in rank among the prophets:
These are the verses of Allah which we recite unto you (Oh Mohammed), in truth. And
indeed, you are one of the messengers. These messengers we endowed with gifts, some
excelling others; to some of them Allah spoke, and some of them he exalted in rank: to
Jesus the son of Mary we gave clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.
(2: 252, 253)
This verse clearly states that some prophets did excel others and
were exalted over others, and it certainly appears to say that Jesus excelled
Mohammed.
The Quran, from Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary to the time of Jesus being
raised up bodily to God and His return on the Day of Judgment, testifies to the
many miracles of Jesus, including healing the deaf, the restoration of sight to
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