No Distinction Among God’s Messengers
[2:136] Say, “We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and all the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters.”
The Authorized English Translation of Quran – The Final Testament, the videos, audios, and the Submitters Perspective newsletters published by God’s Messenger of the Covenant are included to spread the truth about the religion of Submission (Islam in Arabic) without adding any personal opinions, articles, or making any modifications. “Submission” (Islam) is not a name. It is a description reflecting the soul’s absolute submission and devotion to God Almighty alone. This is the First Commandment in all of God’s scriptures, including the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Final Testament, Quran.
The following is quoted from the July 1989 Newsletter published by Rashad Khalifa, God’s Messenger of the Covenant:
NEW ERA IN HUMAN HISTORY
DIVINE CALL TO ALL BELIEVERS IN GOD
– THE JEWS, CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS, HINDUS, BUDDHISTS, BAHAIS, SIKHS, ETC.-
“Purify, Unify, Consolidate
Your Religions Into One.”
God enjoins all people, of all religions, to forget all idols-the powerless “Human Factors” such as Jesus, Mary, Muhammad, Buddha, and the saints-and devote themselves totally to their Creator ALONE.
O people of all religions, let us all agree on one reasonable principle: that we will worship none other than God; that we will never set up any idols besides Him, and will never set up any human beings as lords besides God. [Quran 3:64]
The Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, etc., have one thing in common: they all believe in God.
The only thing that creates differences, and fights, among them is their identification with THE HUMAN FACTORS, such as Muhammad, Jesus, Mary, Imams, Saints, etc. Implied statements like, “My Muhammad is better than your Jesus” are the root of all hatred and wars among the followers of various religions.
Ironically, the human factors themselves, who are being idolized by the various groups, never wanted to be idolized. They preached one and the same message: “You shall worship God ALONE.” They specifically enjoined their followers from idolizing them.
“Hear, 0 Israel! The Lord our God is one God! Therefore, you shall worship the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. [Deuteronomy 6:4-5]
None of those who call me “Lord” will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. When that day comes, many will plead with me, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? Have we not exorcised demons by its power? Did we not do many miracles in your name?”
Then I will declare to them solemnly, “I never knew you. Out of my sight, you evildoers!” [Matthew 7:21-23]
Jesus then said: “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Rather, go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God!’” [John 20:17]
Who are more evil than those who idolize beside God creatures who do not respond to them until the Day of Resurrection, and are totally unaware of their calls. When the people are summoned (on the Day of Judgment), they will be their enemies, and will disown their idolatry. [Quran 46:5-6]
The logical conclusion towards unifying all people is to devote ourselves to our Creator. We all recognize God as the Creator, Provider and Sustainer of the universe. This is the common ground on which we stand. Should we not then come to this vital agreement among us to unify humanity on the basis of this common ground?
When we forsake our common ground, disobey our Creator, and rebel against His messengers and saints who preached the worship of God ALONE, we deprive ourselves of a perfect life here and forever. We also alienate and oppose the very idols we adore so much. Note how Jesus Christ disowns his idolizers in Matthew 7:21-23, and how the Quran confirms this idea in 46:4-6.
What Price Universal Unity?
Is one’s prejudice to inherited traditions worth sacrificing Heaven? Are one’s personal prejudices worth giving up our happiness in this world and forever? Is one’s clinging to tribal or national bias worth all the wars, hatred, and antagonisms that dominate the world?
We can achieve universal unity, and get rid of immense pain and suffering by abstaining from the idolization of our prophets and saints against their will.
We learn from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Final Testament that there has been, and there will always be ONE RELIGION. If we compare Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Mark 12:29, and Quran 3:18, we see that the First Commandment is one and the same in all the Scriptures:
You shall worship God ALONE. You shall not set up any other god besides God.
The Meaning of “Islam”
“Islam” is the only religion approved by God. A person who practices any other religion is judged by God to be a heathen whose righteous practices are all in vain (39:65).
The English word for “Islam” is “Submission.” Thus, “Islam” is not a name. It is a description of one’s submission to God. Worshiping God and devoting the worship to Him ALONE is Islam, and anyone who meets this criterion is a “Muslim.” Thus, one may be a Muslim Jew, a Muslim Christian, a Muslim Buddhist, a Muslim Hindu, or a Muslim Muslim (2:62, 3:113, 5:69).
The Only Religion
God’s Final Testament, the Quran, informs us in no uncertain terms that
The only religion acceptable to God is Islam. [3:19]
Equally clear is the proclamation in 3:85 that:
Anyone who seeks other than Islam as a religion, it will not be accepted from him, and he will end up, in the Hereafter, with the losers.
God Supports This Proclamation
The idea of proclaiming one religion for all people is not my personal wishful thinking; it is God’s designed and perfectly timed proclamation. Thus, it is an idea that enjoys God’s support. The minds and hearts of the present and new generations will be rendered receptive to this idea. God will see to it that His sincere servants will rise up throughout the world to embrace, advocate, and carry out this divine proposal.