Jesus is GOD WITH US. This is why we can say that we have a RELATIONSHIP with God.
In Islam, this is an impossibility. The God of Islam will not and cannot associate with man. Allah calls himself “The Most Proud One (Al-Mutakabbir; Sura 59:23).” The name implies that he is haughty, arrogant, lofty, aloof and distant. For this reason, Muslims cannot have a relationship with Allah. The very thought is preposterous!
On the other hand, Yahweh has condescended to come down and dwell in the midst of man, as a man. This does not deny His divinity. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory…” (John 1:14)
It is no wonder that Muslims deny that Jesus is God. Because, associating with man, is something that the God of Islam cannot do. Muslims believe, to associate with man diminishes Allah! How is something that is All-Powerful get itself diminished by something that is weak?
The closest that Allah can come is to the lowest heaven every night, where he is reported to descend to hear the prayers of the believers.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night, and he says: Who is calling upon me that I may answer him? Who is asking from me that I may give him? Who is seeking my forgiveness that I may forgive him?” (Saḥih Bukhari 1094, Sahih Muslim 758)
[Some Muslims deny the clear interpretation of this hadith by claiming that it is really Allah’s mercy that descends or it is his command that descends or his angels but not Allah himself. This is a gross distortion and those who offer this misinterpretation are really accusing Muhammad of not saying what he meant to say. He clearly said “Our Lord descends”.
Furthermore, if it is Allah’s mercy that descends to the lowest heaven, then what good is it if it fails to reach the believers. His mercy ends in the lowest heaven?]
Have you ever wondered what happens if Allah actually descends all the way to the earth? I have asked Muslims this question. This is what I usually hear, “Allah is so powerful that everything will be destroyed!”
It sounds as if Allah self-destructs and the entire universe is wiped out. Is the Creator who created everything out of nothing really unable to handle his own power? It must be troubling for Muslims that Allah cannot be with them but satan certainly can. In one hadith, Muhammad claims that satan sleeps in the nose of the believers!
Allah cannot associate with man. Man cannot associate with Allah (i.e. the sin of shirk). There is obviously a chasm between man and God that cannot be crossed. In Christianity, this chasm has been bridged by God Himself through Jesus Christ. So God is no longer distant, but GOD is WITH US! The way to have a relationship with God has been opened.
In Islam, the chasm remains. Man cannot bridge it by performing any actions of religion or good works or rituals or recitations. In reality all these are simply man’s attempt to associate with God i.e. committing shirk, the unforgivable sin!
Only God can bridge the chasm. The question comes down to whether your God is willing to associate with you or not. Will he bridge the gap for you or not?
Will he come close to you or will he simply stop at the lowest heaven?
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