Deedat in the Balance
Table of Contents
Mr Ahmad Deedat has been acclaimed as a hero and the defender of
faith by many Muslims. However, there are some who see him as
the opposite.
The following are extracts from a magazine called THE MUSLIM
DIGEST, produced in South Africa. In introducing that particular
issue of the magazine, the Editor wrote:
This issue of the Muslim Digest representing the months
of July, August, September and October, 1986 is almost
entirely devoted in the public interest - both Muslim
and non-Muslim - through an indictment against Mr. Ahmad
Deedat of the Islamic Propagation Centre, for his various
and dangerous activities. (The Muslim Digest p. 2)
DEEDAT AND ISLAM
Let us read then the extracts from THE MUSLIM DIGEST, they are
what the 'Ulama of Islam has said about Ahmad Deedat. FROM HERE
ON ALL THE FOLLOWING ARE EXTRACTS FROM THE MUSLIM DIGEST:
DEEDAT'S GURU NO. 1
"Mr Ahmed Deedat, the head of Islamic Propagation Centre, has
openly admitted that he is no man of letters as far as secular
knowledge is concerned, and in so far as Islamic knowledge is
concerned, from his own admission, he has gleaned it from those
who have inspired him, including individuals such as JOSEPH
PERDU, the BAHAI, who in the 1950's came to South Africa to
undermine the faith of the Muslims, and who was thoroughly
exposed by us to leave South Africa during that period. The
exposure of Perdu is contained in a number of pamphlets brought
out by us, and also in several issues of the Muslim Digest.
We quote Ahmed Deedat on the influence of Joseph Perdu, the
Bahaee, from his own (Deedat's ) explanation published in the
columns of the INDIAN VIEWS in its issue of November 6, 1957.
said Deedat:
"I have learnt from Mr Joseph Perdu more about ISLAM than I had
learnt in the previous 38 years of my life." - INDIAN VIEWS
6/11/57.
It is a psychological fact that if one obtains religious
knowledge from a dubious source, the danger always exists that a
dubious influence could be left on one's mind that could later
be dangerous to one's faith, and that of others, particularly if
one is engaged in Islamic Propagation work. We of the Muslim
Digest subscribed to this view then and we reiterate this view
now.
Deedat then appeared to be in an unholy alliance with Dr Mall of
the Arabic Study Circle who (Dr Mall) continued to organise
Joseph Perdu's lectures among Muslim's in Durban even after
Joseph Pedru told Advocate Bawa in the presence of Dr Mall and
Pr Wahhajur Rasul that "there was nothing in the Qur'an to show
that Prophet Mohammad was the LAST PROPHET." Dr Mall remained
silent all the time when Perdu said this.
Mr Perdu, in his attempt to sow the seeds of Bahaism among
Muslim intellectuals first, further told Advocate Bawa that
"ISLAM IS NO MORE" ... ISLAM CAME FOR ONLY A THOUSAND (1000)
YEARS". Subsequently Advocate I.M. Bawa issued a Pamphlet
against Joseph Perdu and we reproduce the relevant part of
Advocate Bawa's pamphlet for the benefit of our readers." (M.D. p.49-50)
DEEDAT'S GURU NO. 2
DEEDAT'S GREAT 'SERVANT OF ISLAM' RASHAD KHALIFA NOW SAYS:
TWO FALSE VERSES UNVEILED IN QUR'AN!
RASHAD KHALIFA, inventor of the spurious theory of Number 19,
[By the use of numerology it claims that there is an arithmetic
pattern based on the number 19 running through the Qur'an]
cleverly camouflaged his hypocrisy and sinister designs by
wearing the mask of a sincere Muslim. Having beguiled the Muslim
community into believing his new-fangled theory of number 19, he
is now gradually unmasking himself and revealing his true
identity. The first glimpse of Rashad Khalifa's hypocrisy came
into light when he declared in his bulletin, MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE,
of March, 1985, that:
"THE COMPUTER EXPOSES AN HISTORICAL CRIME; TAMPERING WITH THE
WORD OF GOD; TWO FALSE VERSES UNVEILED IN QUR'AN; AN INVITATION
TO ALL MUSLIMS TO EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE BEFORE REMOVING THE
FALSEHOOD."
In the April 1985 issue of Rashad Khalifa's MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE,
a bold sub-heading tells the Muslim world: "MORE EVIDENCE
CONFIRMS THE FALSEHOOD OF THE LAST TWO VERSES OF Surah 9."
PARTNER
We accept his invitation to "examine the evidence". Before doing
so, however, we wish to remove another mask and expose the face
of his partner in this insidious crime against the Holy Qur'an.
the man who became instrumental in disseminating the nefarious
idea of Rashad Khalifa is none other than the recipient of the
King Faisal Award from the Saudi Arabian Government for his
"outstanding services" to Islam - MR AHMAD DEEDAT.
Ahmad Deedat's fascination and preoccupation with the theory of
No. 19 became an obsession; and despite rational criticisms and
rebuttal of the theory by prominent writers throughout the
Muslim world, he (Ahmad Deedat) has remained its steadfast
champion and an ardent supporter of his mentor, Rashad Khalifa,
whom he calls "that great servant of Islam".
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE"
Mr Ahmad Deedat wrote a tract in 1979 entitled AL-QUR'AN:
THE ULTIMATE MIRACLE, in which he slavishly echoed Rashad
Khalifa's ideas. In fact Ahmad Deedat effectively became
"His Master's Voice". He (Ahmad Deedat) says in his tract:
"I have in all humility taken the liberty of bringing the
scientific findings of that great servant of Islam - Dr Rashad
Khalifa Ph.D., in my own humble way... In it I have freely
utilised Dr Rashad Khalifa's data and in places I have used his
actual eloquent words verbatim for lack of better expression." (Deedat in his booklet - "Al-Qur'an - the Ultimate Miracle")
This tract of Deedat is freely distributed from Deedat's
headquarters in Durban, South Africa. In October 1985 he
published its First Reproduction in U.K. (20 000 copies) for
free distribution. Ahmad Deedat thus became an accomplice of
Rashad Khalifa by aiding and abetting him in his avowed aim to
attack the integrity of the Holy Qur'an." (M.D. p.25-26)
"And now Rashad Khalifa, Deedat's GURU number 2, says in his
recent bulletin called, " MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE " that the last two
verses in the Qur'an in Sura nine are false, and should not form
part of the Qur'an! - Muslim perspective - April, 1985. Muslims
all over the world are labelling Rashad Khalifa as a Murtad,
some say he is a Kafer, others say, he is a Munafiq, still
others say he is not a Muslim, and is outside the pale of Islam.
Now if Ahmed Deedat has derived his Islamic knowledge from such
a dubious authority as Khalifa, then it stands to reason that
Deedat has no first hand knowledge of ISLAM at all and that his
( Deedat's ) knowledge of Islam is not only shallow and second
hand, but DANGEROUS.
Rashad Khalifa has openly committed KUFR and it must follow
therefore that Deedat is pedaling Rashad Khalifa's KUFR to
unsuspecting Muslims through his lectures on Rashad Khalifa's
theories and booklets, of which there is no doubt." (M.D. p.53)
"MUHAMMAD SAMIULLAIL head of the Islamic Research Bureau of
Karachi had this to say about Rashad Khalifa, who is Deedat's
GURU number 2:
"A perusal of Rashad Khalifa's translation will convince the
reader that it has been made for the sole purpose of denigrating
and dismantling the position of Hadith and Sunnah from the
edifice of Shari'ah. Those who believe in Hadith along with the
Qur'an as the basis of the Islam, are accused as "false Muslims"
and "idol worshipers".
Hadith is dismissed as conjectures and forgery. According to him
"Hadith is more than inventions by the enemies of the prophet,
aimed at repelling the people from god's way and from the Qur'an"
( P.347 Rashad Khalifa's Qur'an translation ) - MUSLIM DIGEST,
March/APRIL 1982."
Sheikh M.S Dien, Imam of Masjid us Salaam in Athlone, Cape Town,
had this to say about Rashad Khalifa, who is Deedat's GURU
number 2:
Rashad Khalifa's book, the Qur'an: the final Scripture
(Authorised English version ), is a disgrace to Qur'anic
translation and Exegesis, it should be banned by Muslim
Authority, organisations, institutions and individuals
throughout the world. (M. D. p. 52-53)
"MAJLIS" ON DEEDAT'S ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE
"THE MAJLIS NEWSPAPER published from Port Elisabeth by Maulavi
Sadak Desai condemns Deedat in no uncertain terms regarding
Deedat's Islamic knowledge, by saying:
Firstly, it is essential to state and stress that Mr Deedat is
not a man of Islamic learning. He is not qualified to speak on
matters pertaining to the Shariah. What is Fardh upon Mr Deedat
is the acquisition of the basic rules pertaining to Wudhu,
Salaat, Saum, etc. So that he may be in position to discharge
his daily Islamic duties. But, Islamic law is not his avenue. Mr
Deedat is absolutely confused by claiming that "there is no
prohibition against women attending mosque" and "this is not
traditionally done". His confusion is the product of his stark
ignorance of the Shariah.
Mr Deedat is dabbling in matters about which he has no knowledge
and possesses no ability and no qualification, and has brought
himself under the purview of Rasulullah's (Sallallahu alaihu
wasallam) warning.
"He who speaks a lie on me should prepare his abode in the fire"
It is about people of Mr Deedat's calibre that Sayyidina Umar
said:
"Verily, the people of opinion are the enemies of the Sunnah."
All Muslims should beware of the un-Islamic and baatil
propagation of those who hold no status in Islamic knowledge.
The modernists in propagating the Kufr and Baatil and trifling
with Imman. Their end shall be disaster. ("Majlis", vol.4, no.6 -
Port Elizabeth) (M.D. p.54)
DEEDAT AND THE AFRIKAANS TRANSLATION OF THE QUR'AN
"MR. Deedat's representation on behalf of Islam itself is also
in doubt, as his beliefs on Jesus (a.s.) from Islamic point of
view, are shrouded in ambiguity. When cornered, Mr. Deedat says
that he believes as the Muslims believe, but the latest black
and white proof is that despite having revised Mr. Amin Baker's
Afrikaans translation of the Qur'an, Mr. Deedat's Propagation
Centre left the Qadiani interpretation on Nabi Isa (Jesus)
intact, when it printed a new edition of this Qur'an translation
recently and sold them throughout the country. Deedat's new
edition of this Qur'an states that Nabi Isa (Jesus) is dead.
(M. D., p.140-141)
DEEDAT MAKES A SOMERSAULT OVER TV ?
"In what was construed by Muslims as a somersault in his views
on Muslim women attending mosques after the "MAJLIS" attack on
Deedat, in wanting to correct his views on a subject over TV,
Mr. Deedat landed himself into further hot water, as the
following letter to the Muslim Digest at the time shows:
DEAR SIR,
"I am sure that thousands of Muslim women must have seen the TV
program recently when Mr Ahmed Deedat of Durban spoke about
Muslim women not being encouraged to pray in the mosque with
men. I think most Muslim women will be disappointed with Mr
Deedat's poor showing of Muslim women on the TV programme, and
personally I am utterly disgusted at the uncouth manner in which
Mr Deedat explained why women are not encouraged to come and
pray in the mosque.
Firstly, we Muslim women do not pray WITH the men in the
mosques, and Mr Deedat Knows that there are separate halls,
galleries, etc attached to the mosques, for Muslim women where
prayer facilities are provided.
This is why I think I will be expressing the utter disgust of
all Muslim womanhood when Mr Deedat gave as reason for Muslim
women not being encouraged to come and pray in the mosque, is
that at the time of ablution (WUZU) women have to lift their
legs (and Mr Deedat even lifted his leg to demonstrate!) in the
presence of men when they are making WUZU. Mr Editor, Mr Deedat
knows that women don't make ablution (wuzu) WITH the men in any
mosque. In fact, in nearly all cases, when Muslim women go to
pray in mosques where separate faculties exist for prayer, they
make WUZU at home and come.
Mr Deedat should be ashamed of himself for insulting and
disgracing Muslim womanhood in front of the public on TV,
especially as he claims to be a preacher of Islam. Please print
this Mr Editor without fail.
From all the foregoing it will be seen that Deedat has no real
knowledge about ISLAM at all. His religious knowledge is found
wanting.
What he preaches and writes about Islam is most dangerous and
Muslims are asked to take note of this and reject his so called
no. 19 Computer theory of the Qur'an reject his controversial
lectures, reject his first GURU Joseph Perdu and reject his
second GURU Rashad Khalifa too, who now says the last two verses
of the Qur'an are false and should not have been included in the
Holy Qur'an by those who compiled it, implying in other words,
that Caliph Omar and Caliph Uthman should not have included the
last 2 verses of Sura nine in the Qur'an. In other words it means
that the various Qur'an translations that Deedat advertisers and
sells left, right and centre, are no more the LAST Testament,
and the Qur'an is no more the ULTIMATE MIRACLE!" (M.D., p.54-55)
[After all that, no wonder the Muslim digest else where went on
to say]
...Deedat is only a "pretender" to the "ISLAMIC THRONE". Deedat
realy represents nobody, but himself. He does not represent the
Muslims of the world; he does not represent the Muslim of South
Africa; he does not represent the Muslims of Natal; he does not
represent the Muslims of Durban; he does not represent the
Muslims of his own little town of Verulam either where he
resides, and in fact that the Trustees of the Verulam Muslim
MOSQUE have even banned Deedat from making a speech or lecture
in the only Muslim Mosque in his own home town of VERULAM. (M. D., p.140)
DEEDAT AND THE HINDU RELIGION
(PLEASE NOTE THIS ARTICLE WAS REPRODUCED BY THE MUSLIM DIGEST
JULY TO OCT. 1986)
"Deedat has embarrassed the faithful followers of Islam, hurt,
distressed and pained relatives and friends, violated basic
principles, infuriated Christians and Hindus and insists on
continuing his religious crusade that does more harm than good
to the cause of Islam that he claims he espouses.
The Church's attitude was correct and so was the attitude of its
leaders for, in the process of denigrating Christianity, Deedat
insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w.) himself, for while
quoting the Qur'anic verse of how one should go about
propagating Islam - that is, "with wisdom and beautiful
preaching," Deedat has, time and again, flouted these lofty
principles, with there being neither "wisdom" nor "beauty" in
his preaching methods. In fact, of late, his method of
propagating Islam has even begun to stink to high heaven
itself!"
IN RESPONSE TO DEEDAT'S OBJECTIONABLE VIDEO TAPE ON HINDUISM
Pamphlet headed: 'WAS KAABA A HINDU TEMPLE? IS ALLAH A HINDU
GOD?' Distributed
Mr Deedat's arrogance and the method of his preaching in
attacking other religions knows no bounds. His recent attack on
the Hindu religion prompted Hindus to react and make counter
allegations against ISLAM, the KAABA and against ALLAH HIMSELF,
for which Mr Deedat should be held responsible.
A 13-page pamphlet headed:
"WAS KAABA A HINDU TEMPLE?" -- "IS ALLAH A HINDU GOD?"
was very widely distributed in the Gujerati, Tamil, Telegu and
the Hindustani sections of the Hindu Community recently. The
author of this 13-page pamphlet is Mr P.N. Oak, M.A. LL.B., of
Delhi, India. Among other things, the author had this to say:
"Glancing through some research material recently, I was
pleasantly surprised to come across a reference to a King
Vikramadity inscription found in the Kaaba temple in Mecca,
proving beyond doubt that the Arabian peninsula formed a
part of his Indian Empire."
"This discovery changes the entire complexion of ancient history
and to a great extent, the history of ancient India. For one
thing we may have to revise our concepts about the king who had
the largest empire in history. It could be that the expanse of
King Vikramaditya's empire was larger than that of all others."
"...The region of King Vikramaditya's empire extended from Bali
Island in the South East Pacific to the Baltic Northern Europe,
and from Korea to Kaaba. The only difference was that while
Indian rulers identified themselves with the local population
and established welfare states, Moghuls and others, who ruled
conquered lands, perpetrated untold atrocities over the
vanquished..."
"The text of the crucial Vikramaditya inscription, found
inscribed on a gold dish hung inside the Kaaba shrine in
Mecca, is found recorded on page 315 of a volume known as
"Sayar-ul-Okul" treasured in the Makhtab-e-sultania (library)
in Istanbul, Turkey."
"Rendered in free English the inscription says "Fortunate are
those who were born (and lived) during King Vikrama's reign. He
was a noble, generous, dutiful ruler, devoted to the welfare of
his subjects."
Mr P.N. Oak, the author of the pamphlet, then goes on to quote
the Arabic and reproduces the same in Roman script and quotes
(page 315 "Sayar-ul-Okul"). [something seems to be missing
here but that is how it is in the original in the Muslim Digest]
The title "Sayar-ul-Okul" signifies MEMORABLE WORDS, says Mr Oak.
Mr Oak further says:
"...that the so-called Kutab Minar in Delhi could well be King
Vikramaditya's tower commemorating his conquest of Arabia."
"...The first modern edition of "Sayar-ul-Okul" was printed and
published in Berlin in A.D. 1864. A subsequent is the one
published in Beirut in A.D. 1932."
"...The book also contains an elaborate description of the
ancient shrine of Mecca, the town and the annual fair known as
OKAJ which used to be held every year around the Kaaba temple in
Mecca. This should convince readers that the annual Hajj of the
Muslims to the Kaaba is not an Islamic speciality, but a mere
continuation of an earlier pre-Islamic congregation."
"...Mecca, therefore followed the Varanasi (Benares) tradition
of providing a venue for important discussions among the learned
while the masses congregated there for spiritual bliss. The
principal shrines at both Varanasi in India and at Mecca in
Arbasthan (Arabia) were Shiva temples, even to this day the
ancient Mahadova emblems. It is the Shankara stone which Muslim
pilgrims reverently touch and kiss in the Kaaba."
"...The main shrine in Mecca, which houses the Shiva emblem, is
known as the Kaaba. It is clothed in a black shroud. That custom
also originates from the days when it was thought necessary to
discourage its recapture (by enemies) by camouflaging it."
"...Muslim pilgrims visiting the Kaaba temple go around it seven
times. In no other Mosque does this circumambulation prevail.
Hindus invariably circumambulate around their deities. This is
yet another proof that the Kaaba shrine is a pre-Islamic Indian
Shiva temple where the Hindu practise of circumambulation is
still meticulously observed."
"...Another Hindu tradition still associated with the Kaaba is
that of the sacred stream Ganga. According to Hindu tradition
Ganga is also as inseparable from the Shiva emblem as the
crescent moon. Wherever there is a Shiva emblem, Ganga must
co-exist. True to that association a sacred foundation exists
near the Kaaba. Its water is held sacred because it had been
traditionally regarded as Ganga since pre-Islamic times."
"...It might come as a stunning revelation to many that the word
"ALLAH" itself is Sanskrit. In Sanskrit Allah, Akka and Amba are
synonyms. They signify a goddess or mother. The term Allah forms
part of Sanskrit chants invoking goddess Durga, also known as
Bhavani, Chandi and Mahishasuramardini. The Islamic word Allah
for God is therefore, not an innovation but the ancient Sanskrit
appellation retained and continued by Islam. Allah means mother
or goddess and mother goddess."
"...Vaidik descriptions about the moon, the different solar
constellations and the creation of the universe have been
incorporated from the Vedas in Koran, part 1, chapter 2, stanzas
113, 114, 115 and 158, 189; Chapter 10, stanzas 4 to 7."
"...Recital of the Namaz five times a day owes its origin to the
Vaidik injunction of Panchamayajnya which was part of the daily
Vaidik ritual prescribed for all individuals."
"...The Islamic term "Eed-ul-Fitr" derives from the "Eed of
Pitors", that is, worship of forefathers, in Sanskrit tradition.
In India Hindus commemorate their ancestors during the
Pitri-Paksha, that is, the fortnight reserved for their
remembrance. The very same is the significance of Eed-ul-Fitr
(worship of forefathers)."
All the foregoing, from a historical and Islamic point of view,
is questionable and highly objectionable, and is only a part of
the contents of the 13-page pamphlet distributed in the Hindu
community recently, directly as a result of Mr Deedat's
objectionable lecture on video tape on Hinduism. The aim of the
writer and distributors of the pamphlet is clear to all Muslims,
and the blame for it all must rest squarely on the shoulders of
Mr Ahmed Deedat. - (Editor, MUSLIM DIGEST).
DEEDAT AND CHRISTIANITY
This is a letter written to Mr. Deedat published in the Muslim
Digest:
"Your thesis, forceful as it may be, is an anti-thesis of
the view held by the majority of the Muslims, in particular the
Ahl-Hadith followers. Their view is opposed to your thesis. They
believe that Jesus was never put on the cross and was "taken
up". Your arguments very ably axed by the Ahl-Hadith's
fundamental belief about Jesus. They were present in the hall.
Amazing as it may be, your every blow to their fundamental
belief made them clap with joy! So much so that they even shouted
"Allah-o-Akbar, not knowing that their own fundamental belief
was systematically and logically being elimenated! As they
clapped and cheered I remembered the Qur'anic verse: Deaf, Dumb,
Blind Q.2:18" (The MUSLIM DIGEST, Durban, South Africa, 1986,
p.35.)
TRANSVAAL IN THE 1970'S - THE SYMPOSIUM THAT LEAD TO GREAT
HUMILIATION FOR MUSLIMS AND DEEDAT
In the Transvaal a symposium was organised at Benoni by Deedat's
friends in which Mr John Gilchrist of the Christian faith
opposed Deedat. Mr Adam Peerbhai who was present at the
symposium had this to say, which we reproduce from the MUSLIM
DIGEST:-
AT THE SENSATIONAL UPSET in Benoni, Transvaal, the huge
audience was asked by Mr John Gilchrist, at the conclusion of
Mr Ahmad Deedat's lecture on "WAS CHRIST CRUCIFIED" (which in
reality was a half-Qadiani theory and Un-Islamic) [Mr Deedat
believes that Jesus was crucified but did not die on the cross,
he only fainted], a simple question:
IS MR DEEDAT RIGHT IN HIS EXPLANATION OF CRUCIFIXION?
The audience, without reflection, in a loud roar, said:
YES ! MR DEEDAT IS RIGHT.
So, the Benoni lawyer, Mr John Gilchrist pointed to the verse
of the Holy Koran which states:
"BUT THEY KILLED HIM NOT, NOR CRUCIFIED HIM".
This is how Mr. John Gilchrist trapped the Muslim audience:
"You have heard already that we have heard the Islamic viewpoint
put forth by Mr Ahmed Deedat. Now I want to ask first something,
this: Do you believe what Mr Ahmed Deedat said? (Loud roar: YES).
I am going to go so far as to ask every Muslim here tonight that
if you believe what Mr Deedat said (Another loud roar : YES), you
don't believe what the Qur'an says (YES!?)"
"I ask any Muslim to stand up here tonight and to tell me that
the Qur'an does not say that Christ was never put on a cross,
that in fact it was someone else, am I not right? Does the
Qur'an not say that God took Jesus up to Himself? Does the
Qur'an not say that God protected him? Does the Qur'an not say
that God made someone else look like him? Does the Qur'an not
say that God put that man on the cross? What do you believe?
Mr Deedat or the Qur'an ? (Loud answer: "the Qur'an")."
And thus the huge Muslim audience was struck to silence and to
defeat, which the Muslim's did not readily accept. So the Muslim
audience at one moment in their frenzy roared that Mr Deedat was
right, and the next when the truth was pointed out to them from
the Qur'an, then they answered that the Qur'an was right, which
in fact shows in what a humiliating position they were put
through the crucifixion arguments put forward by Mr Deedat." -
Muslim Digest", March 1977.
IF ONLY ADVICE WAS HEEDED
If only Mr Deedat had heeded the warnings given to him on his
un-Islamic method of propagating Islam, neither he nor the
Muslim community would have suffered such a humiliating defeat.
Incidentally, perhaps with wounded pride at the end of this
humiliating defeat, Mr Deedat perhaps in frustration, made
certain defamatory statements against Mr John Gilchrist that led
to a court action by Mr Gilchrist, after Deedat refused to make
an apology. Deedat lost the subsequent court action and paid
damages and costs totalling to R2,138-00.
(HERE ENDS THE EXTRACTS FROM MUSLIM DIGEST)
OUR COMMENT:
Ahmad Deedat stated in his lectures and books that Jesus was
placed on the cross but did not die on it: He only fainted.
Every one knows how difficult it is to change the religious
beliefs of one person, especially if these beliefs are deeply
rooted and have been handed down, generation after generation.
For 16 centuries Muslims have denied that Jesus was placed on
the cross. It is a known fact that because of the untiring
efforts of Ahmad Deedat, millions of Muslims now believe that
Jesus was placed on the cross. Thus because of the efforts of
the one man, Ahmad Deedat, millions of Muslims have changed
their traditional views as to what happened to Jesus.
This instantaneous change in the view of millions of Muslims is
a phenomenon that deserves closer investigation. It is either
that Ahmad Deedat possesses a stronger logic and appeal than the
Islamic tradition that says that someone else was crucified
instead of Jesus and that Jesus was lifted up alive to heaven,
or that this Islamic tradition is so flimsy, in spite of its
antiquity, that it was neither well established nor deeply
rooted in the minds of Muslims. This tradition was simply an
unsatisfactory explanation on to which they clung. The minute
these millions were offered another explanation, they quickly
accepted it without much reflection.
There is no doubt that between those who believe that someone
else died instead of Jesus on the cross and those who believe
Ahmad Deedat's version of what happened to Jesus, other millions
are standing on neutral ground, confused as to what to believe.
These are more ready to accept the truth of the crucifixion than
they were before Ahmad Deedat's thinking became widely known.
Ahmad Deedat deserves to be congratulated, because he, single
handed, has shifted the traditional Muslim position a very, very
long way towards the Christian position. For now millions of
Muslims at least believe that Jesus was placed on the cross. And
what a beautiful picture Mr Deedat has painted of Christ to the
millions of Muslims, for according to Deedat, Jesus was at
least lifted up on the cross, after being insulted by the Jews,
suffered and bled because of his faithfulness to God. May God
bless you Mr Deedat!
Mr. Deedat has achieved what thousands of missionaries have
failed to achieve. What remains now for the gap between the
Muslim and the Christian to be closed is for the Christian to
convince his Muslim friend that Jesus was not only placed on
the cross but did die there also.
History will prove that Ahmad Deedat deserves a higher
recognition from Christian leaders for his services to
Christianity than the one he received from king Faisal for his
services to Islam.
It is written in the Psalms that God the most high "is more
able" than any one. He is able to turn defeat into victory,
disasters into wonders, and the falsifications of people like
those of Ahmad Deedat into evidence for His truth.
God indeed works in mysterious ways. According to the Bible, He
can "Out of the eater bring something to eat, And out of the
strong bring something sweet."
Or in the language of the Qur'an: "They schemed and God schemed,
and God is the best of schemers." (The Qur'an 3:54)
The above was NOT written by John Gilchrist but was sent to us by
somebody else for anonymous display on this Ahmed Deedat
Rebuttal Site
. Nevertheless, John Gilchrist is the main person
who has responded with rebuttals to nearly all literature published
by Ahmed Deedat. A good number of these rebuttals can be found on
this same page as well.
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