First Dialogue Between Muslim And Christian
19-02-2008
They were hundred in all, 83 men and 17 women to be exact.
They left Makkah in under the light of stars, traveled all the way up to port on
their feet, caught boats and reached ‘Abyssinia’ where they were greeted by
their brothers and sisters, who earlier migrated and seek asylum, which was
granted by kind and just Christian king, "Negus".
This was fourth year since the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah on him) got
first revelation and started calling people towards Islam. Opposition, anger and
hatred have already seen such peaks that some of Muslims were cold-bloodedly
murdered in day light, they were beaten in the middle of bazaars, tied and put
behind bars with no provision of food for days and disgracing them was seemed to
be everybody’s most enjoying pastime. The prophet (peace be upon him) himself
was the main target of these adversities. The person, who was once most beloved
and honoured person of society, was now beyond doubt, the most hated and
insulted for no reason but calling people to worship one God.
During
these dark days, prophet (peace be upon him) allowed his followers to migrate to
the secure land of ‘Abyssinia’, ruled by Christian king. Thus followers migrated
in two phases – once seventy in numbers and next time, hundred. They traveled in
the night because they were afraid of being tied up, beaten and tortured by
their fathers/brothers/spouses who haven’t embraced Islam yet. To cut short,
these initial followers reached ‘Abyssinia’, seek asylum and started practicing
Islam freely at home, a luxury which was denied to them in Makkah. While this
happened, Makkans roared in anger, this first migration literally cut their
society in many pieces, as if one is mourning his brother’s departure, then
other is weeping for her sweet father. Similarly, close relatives of some elites
of city also left which showed how deeply Islam has found place despite of all
the opposition. This definitely angered them so much that their oppressing on
Muslims left in Makkah and the prophet (peace be upon him) grew by leaps and
bounds, they also decided to send a delegation with lots of gifts and royal
presents to the Negus, king of ‘Abyssinia’, and ask him to send these traitors
(as they call them) back.
Delegation was comprised of Amro-Bin-Aas (later converted to Islam) and
Abdhulla-Bin-Rabiya, both known diplomats and best brain of Makkah. They reached
Abyssinia and at first, presented highly valuable gifts to the high officers,
close to the king, as a bribe so that they favor them next morning, when they’ll
appear in front of the king. A move very sharply aimed and correctly rewarded.
The delegation appeared, presented gifts to the royal treasure and they pleaded
this way;
"O the just king of Abyssinia, we want to request in your royal highness, some
idiots youngsters have fled our nation and now have hidden in your land. They
are traitors as they neither follower of our religion, neither they follow
yours; rather they are follower of some other unique religion. Please expel them
and return to us so that we teach them their religion back."
Bribed elites and officers of kings seconded the Makkans request but king said,
“I’ll not pass any judgment unless I listen to the second party, so call those
youngsters and I’ll talk to them”.
So the Muslims were called and on the very second instant, they appeared in
front of King, he asked them what has happened to them as they follow some newly
invented religion and neither follow Christianity nor Makkans religion. Muslims
were led by Jaffar Bin Abi Talib (May Allah Be pleased with him) He started with
sketching the image of pre-Islam era in front of king and introduced Islam as;
“O king, we were ignorant, worshipping idols, eating dead animals, committing
adultery, insulting our neighbors and the strong ones used to oppress the weak
ones. We were in loathed in such bad habits when Allah almighty nominated a
prophet among us, whose honesty, truthfulness, decency was already exemplary in
society. He called us to worshipping Allah alone and leave all others that we
and our parents used to believe. He ordered us never to tell a lie, to remain
just, take care of relatives of kinship and neighbors, and refrain from adultery
and other vulgar things. He asked us to offer prayers, to fast and to spend in
the path of Allah”.
He further said; “We embraced Islam, worshipped Allah alone, obeyed the Prophet
(peace be upon him) and started practicing all the teachings of Him. But our
nation didn’t like this act of ours, they tied us, put us behind bars, tortured
us and asked us to join and associate others with Allah in worship. They asked
to make ‘Haraam’ (forbidden) things ‘Halal’ (allowed).They made our own land
such place of misery to us, that we migrated to your land, preferring your land
to others on hope that we’ll not be oppressed here”.
Now since the king himself was a real Christian and a real follower of Jesus
Christ, he very enthusiastically asked;
“Do you have something of that, which is revealed on your prophet?”
They replied; “Yes”.
He said: “Recite that for me”.
On this, Jafar (may Allah Be pleased with him) started reciting chapter of Mary
(Surah#19) from vesre#1-35;
[19.1] Kaf Ha Ya Ain Sad.
[19.2] A mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zachariah.
[19.3] When he called upon his Lord in a low voice,
[19.4] He said: My Lord! surely my bones are weakened and my head flares with
hoariness , and, my Lord! I have never been unsuccessful in my prayer to Thee:
[19.5] And surely I fear my cousins after me, and my wife is barren, therefore
grant me from Thyself an heir,
[19.6] Who should inherit me and inherit from the children of Jacob, and make
him, my Lord, one in whom Thou art well pleased.
[19.7] O Zachariah! surely We give you good news of a boy whose name shall be
John: We have not made before anyone his equal.
[19.8] He said: O my Lord! when shall I have a son, and my wife is barren, and I
myself have reached indeed the extreme degree of old age?
[19.9] He said: So shall it be, your Lord says: It is easy to Me, and indeed I
created you before, when you were nothing.
[19.10] He said: My Lord! give me a sign. He said: Your sign is that you will
not be able to speak to the people three nights while in sound health.
[19.11] So he went forth to his people from his place of worship, then he made
known to them that they should glorify (Allah) morning and evening.
[19.12] O John! take hold of the Book with strength, and We granted him wisdom
while yet a child.
[19.13] And tenderness from Us and purity, and he was one who guarded (against
evil),
[19.14] And dutiful to his parents, and he was not insolent, disobedient.
[19.15] And peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on
the day he is raised to life.
[19.16] And mention Mary in the Book when she drew aside from her family to an
eastern place;
[19.17] So she took a veil (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her
Our spirit, and there appeared to her a well-made man.
[19.18] She said: Surely I fly for refuge from you to the Beneficent God, if you
are one guarding (against evil).
[19.19] He said: I am only a messenger of your Lord: That I will give you a pure
boy.
[19.20] She said: When shall I have a boy and no mortal has yet touched me, nor
have I been unchaste?
[19.21] He said: Even so; your Lord says: It is easy to Me: and that We may make
him a sign to men and a mercy from Us, and it is a matter which has been
decreed.
[19.22] So she conceived him; then withdrew herself with him to a remote place.
[19.23] And the throes (of childbirth) compelled her to betake herself to the
trunk of a palm tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died before this, and had
been a thing quite forgotten![19.24] Then (the child) called out to her from
beneath her: Grieve not, surely your Lord has made a stream to flow beneath you;
[19.25] And shake towards you the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop on you
fresh ripe dates:[19.26] So eat and drink and refresh the eye. Then if you see
any mortal, say: Surely I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent God, so I shall
not speak to any man today.
[19.27] And she came to her people with him, carrying him (with her). They said:
O Mary! Surely you have done a strange thing.
[19.28] O sister of Haroun! Your father was not a bad man, nor, was your mother
an unchaste woman.
[19.29] But she pointed to him. They said: How should we speak to one who was a
child in the cradle?
[19.30] He said: Surely “I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and
made me a prophet;
[19.31] And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me
prayer and poor-rate so long as I live;
[19.32] And dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me insolent, unblessed;
[19.33] And peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the
day I am raised to life”.
[19.34] Such is Jesus, son of Mary; (this is) the saying of truth about which
they dispute.
[19.35] It beseems not Allah that He should take to Himself a ! son, glory to be
Him; when He has decreed a matter He only says to it "Be," and it is.
On finishing recitation, when Jafar (may Allah be pleased with him) looked up,
he saw the king and his entire close associated are all weeping, so much so that
their beard were soaked in tears. This was (and still is) the impact of Holy
Quran, book of Allah. The King said in weeping but determined tone;
“Certainly, this revelation and that which came to Jesus are from same source.
You two (Makkans) go back, I’ll never hand over these people to you.”
Watching the impact of Quran, the Makkan delegate came up with an idea, they
said. “Your royal highness, do you know what they say about Jesus?” This
perplexed king as well, so he asked, “What are your beliefs regarding Jesus”.
Muslims thought for a second and then decided we’ll say only that which was
taught to us by our prophet (peace be upon him), so the reply from the Muslims
was;
“Jesus was the slave of Allah, and his prophet, and his spirit that he
introduced in virgin pure Mary”.
The King stood up and remarked, “By God, Jesus was none more than this”. “You
two (Makkans) now get back at once and take away your presents with you as when
God bestowed me this land, He did so without asking for any presents/bribe, so
now when God’s word has reached me, how can I even think of accepting bribe to
deny His words. I heard and I obeyed.”
Well, this was the story of first dialogue between Islam and Christianity. See
the impact of Holy Quran, see the determination of Muslims and see the zeal to
speak truth no matter what comes in front. And did I forget to mention,
‘Abyssinia’ was the first country to come under Islam’s flag, and their kings
also embraced Islam, Muslims remained at peace there. Later few Muslims returned
to their homeland when the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah on him) migrated
to Madinah and later Makkah was conquered.
Submitted by a Mujahid