Mr. Al-Kadhi begins this section by saying: "Some people read:

"I am the way, ...no one comes to the Father, but through me."

When reading this verse, for some reason some people see in it a confirmation of the Trinity. Although I can not see how they can read either an explicit or even an implicit reference to the Trinity in this verse, still, due to its popularity it deserves to be studied

There appear to be a sizable number of Christians who when reading this verse interpret it to state that Jesus is God and that no one shall enter into heaven except if they worship Jesus. For this reason this verse should ideally be dealt with in section 1.2.3 (The 'Son of God'), however, since it is brought up so often in discussions of the Trinity it appears to be appropriate to discuss it here."

I am not among this "sizable number of Christians", nor have a met a Christian who sees a confirmation of the Trinity in this verse! This is, yet another, "strawman" argument that Al-Kadhi makes against the Bible - an argument that is so transparently absurd, that it can be easily dismissed.

The popular perception that this verse claims that Jesus requires our worship in order for us to receive salvation is not the intended meaning of this verse. However, in order for us to recognize this fact it is necessary to study its context.

The truth is that no one comes to the Father (God) except through Jesus. This is not a "popular perception", these are the words of Jesus, the Son of God.

If we were to back up a little and read from the beginning of this chapter, we would find that just before Jesus spoke these words, he said;

Let's look at the beginning of the chapter:

1

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

2

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

4

You know the way to the place where I am going."

5

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Al-Kadhi selects verse 2 saying: "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a mansion for you." John 14:2 The above statement is quite clear. It is in exact conformance to the teachings of the Qur'an.

The words of Christ are clear, but they most certainly do not confirm the teachings of the Qur'an!

Al-Kadhi continues:In the Qur'an we are told how God sent messengers to all tribes and nations. We are told that the basic message which was given to each of these tribes was the same: "Worship God alone and worship none else."

The Qur'an does not tell us the names of these messengers nor does it mention these tribes or nations! There are extensive archeological records of the ancient religions of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, Persia, and China. Other than (perhaps) Zoroaster of Persia, where are these prophets of monotheism?

Other Issues

Some of the secondary details of this worship might differ from one tribe or nation to the next according to God's infinite wisdom and his knowledge of those people. It was made very clear to each prophet that he was not to preach to anyone but his own people. It was further made clear to this messenger's people that if they were to obey him that they would receive the reward of God. God would not hold them accountable for what any other tribe or nation did or did not do. This would continue until God's last messenger, Muhammad (pbuh) would be sent to all mankind as the seal of the prophets.

"And verily, We have sent among every nation a messenger (proclaiming): Worship Allah (alone) and avoid all false deities." The noble Qur'an, Al-Nahil(16):36

Where is the evidence that any pre-Islamic people worshipped a deity named Allah (alone)?

"Verily, We have inspired you [O Muhammad] as We inspired Noah and the Prophets after him; and We inspired Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the sons of Jacob, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon. And to David We gave the Psalms. And messengers We have mentioned to you before, and messengers We have not mentioned to you. And to Moses Allah spoke directly. Messengers bringing glad tidings and warnings in order that mankind shall have no plea against Allah after the Messengers. And Allah is ever All-Powerful, All-Wise" The noble Qur'an, Al-Nissa(4):163-165

I have always found it interesting that God spoke directly to Moses, yet He allegedly sent a spirit (later called Gabriel) to speak to the "seal of the prophets" Muhammad.

Mr. Al-Kadhi provides us with more passages from the Qur'an. He probably does not realize that many of these passages actually create additional problems for his argument:

"Verily!, We have sent you (O Muhammad) with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And there has not been a nation except a warner had passed among them" The noble Qur'an, Fatir(35):24

AND

"On the day [of judgment] when We shall call all humans with their [respective] Imams (prophets or books)" The noble Qur'an, Al-Israa(17):71

BUT

"And [remember] the day [of judgment] when We shall send forth in every nation a witness upon them from among themselves, and We shall bring you [O Muhammad] as a witness over these [people]. And We have sent down upon you the Book (the Qur'an), as an exposition of all things, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who submitted themselves [Literally: Those who became 'Muslims']" The noble Qur'an, Al-Nahil(16):89

So, in other words, Muhammad is the main witness and the Qur'an is the standard by which all will be judged at the final judgment. Therefore, Muhammad and the Qur'an are of infinitely greater importance than the "Imams", "prophets", or "books" of the other tribes and nations since only "those who became Muslims" will obtain God's mercy. So much for Al-Kadhi's intellectual flirtation with Universalist philosophy!

Back to the Mansion

I truly enjoy when Mr. Al-Kadhi presents Bible verses (usually taken completely out of context) as evidence. He invariably shoots a hole in his own arguments and this section is no exception.

This is exactly what Jesus is saying here. He said that in God's mansion there are "many" rooms. Jesus was sent to guide to only one of them. The countless other rooms were reserved for other tribes and nations if they would obey their messengers. However, Jesus was telling his followers that they need not worry themselves about the other rooms. Anyone from among his people who wished to enter into the room which was reserved for them could only do so if they followed Jesus and obeyed his command. So Jesus confirmed that he was going to prepare "a" mansion and not "all" the mansions in "my Father's house".

Mr. Al-Kadhi, Jesus is not a hotel clerk! The Bible clearly says that He is the only way, NO ONE comes to the Father (God) EXCEPT through His Son Jesus Christ. Neither Jesus, nor any of God's Prophets, ever said that there were other messengers sent to other nations. When Jesus told His disciples that "In my Father's house are many mansions", He was assuring them that there was room for all who believe, and a place for each who follow Him. Incidentally, how did Jesus know that there were many mansions in His Father's house? He knew because He had been there - Jesus and the Father were One and always existed, and will always exist, throughout eternity.

What did Jesus mean when He said that "I go to prepare a place for you". Was Jesus going to this mansion to fluff the pillows? NO, He went to the Father, through His death and resurrection, in order to obtain the right for His followers, both then and now, to be in heaven. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross gives us sinners the ability, through God's grace alone and not of our own words or deeds, to possess our "place" in the Father's mansion if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and follow Him.

Further, the verse clearly states that Jesus was the "WAY" to a mansion. He did not say that he is the "DESTINATION" which would be the case if he were God, the destination of all worship and prayer. What else would we expect a prophet of God to say except "I am the 'way' to God's mercy"? That is his job. That is what a prophet does. It is why God chose him in the first place; in order to guide to the mercy of God.

Jesus said that He was THE WAY. He did not say that He was "a" way, "one" way, or "one of many" ways - He said that He was THE WAY. No Prophet of God ever said that he was THE WAY to God. Jesus Christ is "THE WAY" to the Father--"no man cometh unto the Father but by Me"; He is "THE TRUTH" of all we find in the Father we find in Him, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Col 2:9); and, He is "THE LIFE" that will flow to us and bless us from the God who is approached and thus manifested in Him "this is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). The main message of this passage is that the Son is the ordained and is the perfect manifestation of God the Father.

Jesus also claimed to be the Truth. Does Al-Kadhi consider this to be a serious statement? After all, one of the early Sufis, Al-Hallaj (858-922 A.D.), once said "I am the Truth" and he was crucified as a heretic by orthodox Muslims in 922 A.D. Al-Kadhi probably does not realize that Jesus is, once again, claiming to be divine in this passage. When Jesus says "I am the life," He is actually claiming to be God. Life is on of the prerogatives of God and God alone. In fact, one of Allah's 99 names isAl-Hayy: The Living. Also Al-Haqq: The Truth is another attribute of God and God alone.

Al-Kadhi continues: "This is indeed confirmed in John 10:9 where Jesus tells us that he is "the door" to "the pasture." In other words, he is the "prophet" who guides his people to "heaven" (see also Jn. 12:44). Once again, this is the message of Islam."

What?!? Is this really the message of Islam? Let's take a look at the passages that Al-Kadhi gives us:

John 10

6

Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7

Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.

8

All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

9

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Notice that Jesus, similar to the previous passage, said "I am THE gate". He did not say that He was "a" gate or "one of many" gates! Only Jesus can save people from their sins. This clearly does no conform to Islamic beliefs.

The chapter continues:

15

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

17

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again.

18

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Please notice that Jesus did not talk about different flocks and different shepherds, He said that there will be ONE flock and ONE shepherd - and Jesus is the ONE shepherd. Also notice that the ONE flock will include sheep that are from other pens - which is a reference to the many nations of the Gentiles (non Jews). However, in spite of the fact that they come from different "pens", they become members of the ONE flock when they believe in the ONE shepherd, Jesus. Also notice that Jesus says that He will lay down His life (die) and take it up again (come back to life). Does this conform to the teachings of Islam?

John 12:44

44

Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.

45

When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.

46

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

In verse 45, Jesus is clearly claiming divinity since those who see Him see God. Jesus also calls Himself a light. Once again, this is a very serious claim since Jesus is claiming an attribute of God. Does this conform to the message of Islam?

Al-Kadhi leaves us with one final thought: "Finally, remember

"Not every one that says to me(Jesus); 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven." Matthew.7:21"

Amen. I agree with this verse Mr. Al-Kadhi, do you?

The Rebuttal to "What Did Jesus Really Say?"
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