TESTIMONY OF SHARIFAH
We were created as caliphs in world to worship the Almighty God and to obey his commandments and to avoid all that is forbidden by Him. "Islam" means to obey and submit as well as worship Almighty God. To carry out our roles as God's caliphs and vice-gerents on this earth, Almighty God has sent one after another, messengers and also His holy Books to guide and help His caliphs so that they could lead a life that is blessed by Him.
According to Islam, it is the perfect religion; "Innaddinn aindallah hilislam", and the Al-Quran is the complete and perfect book, yet, in its perfection, the Al-Quran encourages and does not prevent Muslims from referring to other Holy Books that were revealed before the Al-Quran.
For anyone who wants to obtain additional knowledge about the teachings of God, the Al-Quran does not give sufficient information. Because of that, with the permission granted by Islam, its followers also refer to the other Holy Books. As an example as Nabi Muhammad said that for one to know the teachings of all the prophets one has to refer to other Holy Books because there are stories that are not complete in the Al-Quran, such as about Jesus Christ or Isa Al-Masih. Why so little is said about Him? This is because Muhammad knew that all the stories about Him were already written in the Injil. Therefore it was not necessary to repeat them again. The same also applies to the teachings of prophet Moses, they were not repeated because they were written in the Taurat. Therefore, Muslims should not restrict their knowledge and refer only to the Al-Quran due to the fact that the other Holy Books can also be used as references by them.
To perfect our knowledge about Islam, then, let us read this interesting and true story of a young Malay girl from Malaysia. Her name is called Sharifah.
My name is Sharifah. I was born and raised in a fully Islamic way. When I became a teenager, I tried to learn more about Islam and instill the spirit of jihad in me. I tried to explain what Islam means to non- muslims, especially Christians and tried to attract their attention to Islam. To me, Islam is a religion that is perfect, complete and universal.
I then continued to study Islam so that I could convey the "beauty" of Islam to my Christian friends. But, instead, many questions arose and I was not satisfied with my questions as well as stumped by the answers they were giving to me. The logic in the answers they gave me caused me to have doubts about my own questions. From that point onwards, I began to search for the true answers to the questions in my heart. Who really is Isa Al-Masih that will judge us one day?
I tried to get the correct answers by asking learned and devout Muslims in Islam about Isa Al-Masih and the Christian teachings. But they discouraged me from learning much more about Christianity and asked me whether I was looking to be an apostate! Since I did not get the answers I was looking for, therefore I began to search by myself by researching about the Al-Quran and the Injil/Gospel. After making a comparison between the two, only then did I obtain some answers as to who Isa Al-Masih (Jesus Christ) actually is in the Al-Quran and Injil.
In the Injil, John 14:6 Isa declared: "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This verse was clear and it often came to my mind because in surah Al-Fatihah1:6 "Ihdinasyiraatall mustaqiim" which means `show me the straight path'. But John 14:6 explains that Isa Al-Masih is the straight path. Therefore I need not find a another path to know God intimately. From that moment my mind became confused. I was not sure of the things that I had done before this. I began to have doubts about my previous confidence.
I also found surah Al-Nisa' 171 which means Isa son of Maryam was sent by Allah and is His Word. When I saw the word 'kalimatullah' which means the Word of God, I believe that Isa Al-Masih is the Word of God. The characteristics of Allah is that He speaks. Who then is Isa Al-Masih if He is the Word of God? Is He God? Because for me, God's Word cannot be separated from God Himself. For confirmation, I read from surah Al-Imran 45 which means "And remember when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a WORD from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus Son of Mary, Illustrious in the World and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near unto God."
Therefore, it is true that Al-Masih is closest to Allah as He is the Word of God. I also read the scriptures that explain who Isa Al-Masih is, in John 1:1,14 :
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
Surah Az-zukhruff 61 which says ' Lo! Verily (with Jesus) there is knowledge of the Hour (of Judgement Day). So doubt ye not concerning it, but follow me, this is the right path.'
Surah Az-zukhruff 63 adds 'When Jesus came with clear proofs, he said: I have come to you with wisdom, and to make plain some of that concerning which ye differ. So keep your duty to God and obey me.'
This verse explains the coming of Isa Al-Masih-Jesus Christ. And, who is Jesus Christ who actually has the power over death? In John 5:24 we are told:
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
The above verses convinced me, and with a brave heart I took a decision to choose this Right Path and in my heart I was convinced that Isa Al-Masih ie.Jesus the Christ was the true path to heaven and to Allah. In 1 Corinthians 8:6 :
" Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
After I believed in Isa Al-Masih I began to have real peace in life. When, before this my life was up-side down, filled with questions, now I am free from such feelings. I have found the true answer. The verses above convinced me that Isa Al-Masih is my Saviour and I continue to be a worshipper of God Almighty.
My prayer for all Muslims are that you will strengthen your hearts to ascertain truly who Isa Al-Masih really is. I am very sure at the conclusion of your search, you will find the truth, the answer and eternal life.
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wa barakatuh…
Sharifah did not feel hesitant or afraid to search out
the Gospels when she had questions about her salvation, because
she knows that the Al-Quran does not forbid her from doing so.
What happened later was that she found the answers and a more
complete truth and knowledge about Allah and Isa Al-Masih. She
knows that there is a straight path and that path is not a what
or where, but WHO. He is Jesus Christ -Isa Al-Masih. After being
sure of the truth, sister Sharifah took a decision to follow
Him.
In the Book of Romans 1:16-17: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; forst for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live in faith."
Come my friends, don't let go of this oppurtunity to find the truth and salvation. Read the Injil (the Gospels) and believe in Isa Al-Masih.
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