PROPHET MUHAMMAD LEADS THE NAZARENES TO VICTORY

Social studies and religious researches are competing to understand and explain the concept of faith in the human race through investigating the realities in finding the answer for the question: what is the truth? Man’s work, his thinking, his revisions are never complete nor perfected, but man’s effort should be respected for his endeavors.

The author of this book provides evidence, in-depth knowledge and perception to the religious revelation and to what the Arab Prophet established, through the Noble Qur’an, in building a nation, a religion and a state. He explains how the Prophet Muhammad’s Message was heard, contemplated, and believed in. Today Islam is spread all over the world.

The author believes that religion gives a service to the human race, and is incorporated into man’s daily living and constitutes an integral part of human cultural heritage. To understand the Islamic Revelation, according to the author, is to accept the traditions to which early Arab believers adhered.

We agree with Dr. Effarah that the common name for Christians as “Nazarenes” is confusing and misused. Christianity is well known in the Arabian Peninsula, but we notice that the Noble Qur’an did not mention “Christians” by name, his reference was to the “Nazarenes” only. “Nazarenes” were a Hebrew sect that believed in Jesus Christ as a prophet and kept their adherence to the Law of Moses.

The Nazarenes or Nazoreans or Nassarah are those who were mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles 15:5 “But some of the Pharisees’ sect who had accepted the faith, got up and said,’ They must be circumcised and also told to observe the Law of Moses’. “ While the “Christians” are those who were referenced in the Acts 21:21 “Now, they have heard about thee that thou dost teach the Jews who live among the Gentiles to depart from Moses, telling them they should not circumcise their children or observe the customs.”

Dr. Effarah organized his book into eleven chapters that dealt with the concept of Religion, and the basic forms of Islam today. In chapter three, the author gives a vivid review for the development and growth of the Christian belief as represented in the five Ecumenical Councils of the Orthodox Catholic Church during the first 600 hundred years before the Birth of Islam.

In Chapter four, the author discusses the Birth of Islam among the pre-Islamic Arab Christians. Nazarenes and Jewish tribes.

Chapter five reveals the Qur’an according to God’s Holy Book and the Qur’anic verse difference between those revealed in Mecca and those revealed in Al-Madina.

Chapter six explains the divine qualities and signs that describe Jesus Christ in the Holy Qur’an at Birth, during His Early Life, His Message, End of His Life, the Judgement Day, and as the Word and Spirit of God.

The rest of the chapters deal with political environment of the Prophet, the phases of change in the life of the Prophet, the genius personality of the Prophet and his miracle of his victorious wars.

The difference between Christianity and Islam is fully discussed as they have one source of origin and what the Arab (Muslims and Christians) should do next.

We recommend the reading of this book to the intellectuals who are interested in pursuing the major goals of the true religious message that is based on love and justice.

March 18, 2004               Ret. Rev. Adib Badaoui

Thanks.

Jamil Effarah.