Crucifixion of Jesus Christ | counter to Zakir Naik

Zakir Naik

As Dr. Zakir Naik refuses to debate with SAN representative Bro. Jerry Thomas, SAN organizes public rebuttals of Dr. Zakir Naik’s malicious allegations against the Holy Christian faith. On June 25, 2011, in Chennai, India, Bro. Jerry Thomas refuted Dr. Zakir Naik’s allegations against the crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ. Transcripts and videos are provided below.

Videos:

 

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb24XUmvopI

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-gvEREm904

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpvWCmFp8F4

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeZnzQd7zPw

 

Transcript:

Introduction by Bro. Jerry Thomas

Greetings in the name of Triune God Yahweh, the only true God upon whom all the true prophets have called, who in the incarnation was known by the name Lord Jesus Christ.

I give all the glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ, and express my thanks to all our brothers who have worked tirelessly to arrange this rebuttal program.

At the outset, I must make it very clear why we are conducting this program. I am assuming most of you have heard the name Janab Dr. Zakir Naik.

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik and his associates regularly conduct programs questioning doctrines of Christianity and telecast them through his channel PeaceTV as though there is no one to answer him. He had one or two debates with Christians, who are very good authors or preachers but not debaters.

In fact, I checked with Pastor Rukuni who debated with Janab Dr. Zakir Naik on the crucifixion.

Pastor Rukuni told to me that when he met Janab Dr. Zakir Naik as one of his Church members wanted to me him, and had a one-on-one personal discussion with Janab Dr. Zakir Naik, Janab Dr. Zakir Naik invited Pastor Rukuni for a debate.

Then Pastor Rukuni very clearly told to Janab Dr. Zakir Naik that: “I am not a debater”. However, Janab Dr. Zakir Naik said ‘never mind’ and insisted on a debate.

The same Janab Dr. Zakir Naik when he was invited by renowned Christian debaters such as Bro. James White, Bro. Sam Shamoun, and Bro. David Wood refused to accept their invitations.

Further, our brothers from Sakshi Apologetics Network also went to Janab Dr. Zakir Naik’s with a debate invitation and suggested topics that discuss both sides. We told him that we will organize and bear the complete expense of the debate. However, IRF cited lame excuses and tactically evaded the debate invitation.

We have no issues if Janab Dr. Zakir Naik does not want to debate with any Christian debaters.

However, let him not speak about Christian subjects such as the Holy Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Bible.

Let him speak about Allah, Hazarat Muhammad, and Quran.

However, since he would not stop telecasting his talks and neither would debate with any Christian debater, we are now left with no option except to refute him publicly obeying the Holy Bible.

In Acts 18:28 – Apollos vigorously refuted Jews publicly.

1 Peter 3:14-15 commands us not to fear their threat or terror but answer those who question our faith. Apostles did that.

In Acts 9:22 – Apostle Paul confounded Jews.

In Acts 9:29 – Apostle Paul disputed against Hellenists.

Obeying the commandment of the Holy Bible, we will be doing exactly the same today. We will be displaying his debate presentation on crucifixion and then providing refutation for each of his points.

We

have divided this DVD into four sections. Each section having approximately 10-15 minutes of Janab Dr. Zakir Naik’s talk.

We will begin by displaying the first 10 minutes of Janab Dr. Zakir Naik’s talk. I will provide my analysis and answers for the first part.

Then we will be display the second part, followed by my rebuttal. Likewise, we will do for all four parts.

Let us begin. Part 1- first 10 minutes of Janab Dr. Zakir Naik’s talk.

 

Dr. Zakir Naik- Part 1

Respected Pastor Ruknuddin or as he likes to be called Pastor Rukni Henry, Pastor Saji, the respected pastors of various churches of Bombay, my respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters, I welcome all of you with the Islamic greetings Assalaamalaikkum …… May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah subahutallah of Almighty God be on all of you.

Before I dwell on the topic, I would like to clarify, the position of Jesus (PBUH) in Islam. Islam is the only non-Christian faith which makes it an article of faith to believe in Jesus (PBUH). No Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus (PBUH). We believe that He was one of the mightiest messengers of Allah subahutallh of Almighty God. We believe that He was the Messiah, translated Christ.  We believe that He was born miraculously, without any male intervention which many modern-day Christians today do not believe. We believe that He gave life to the dead with God’s permission. We believe that He healed those born blind, and lepers, with God’s permission. One may ask that if Muslims and Christians both love and respect Jesus (PBUH) then where is the difference.  The major difference in Islam and Christianity is the Christian’s insistence on the supposed divinity of Jesus (PBUH). And they say that He was crucified on the cross and He died for the sins of humanity.

The topic of today’s debate is if you have forgotten is “Was Christ really crucified?” And since we Muslims and Christians both believe in Jesus Christ (PBUH), it is obligatory that we put forth both the points of view – The Muslim and the Christian points of view. As far as the Muslim point of view is concerned, we believe the most authentic and sacred book which is the Word of God is the Glorious Quran. And I started my talk by reciting a verse from the Glorious Quran S 4:157 which gives the wording, the Islamic viewpoint regarding the topic of today’s debate: Was Christ really crucified?

And since Pastor Rukni is an Arab Christian missionary, Arabic is his mother tongue, I do not have to translate the meaning of what I recited at the beginning of my talk, for him to realize, to understand what is the Islamic viewpoint. But since, most of us, do not understand Arabic. Arabic is not our mother tongue, I would like to translate the verse I recited at the beginning of my talk S 4:157 which says “they said, the Jews embossed that “we killed Christ, the Son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.” They did not kill Him neither did they crucify Him. But it was made to appear so. And all those who differ herein are full of doubts, with no certain knowledge, with only conducted talk. For assuredly, they killed Him not.” This was from the Glorious Quran, so explicit and unambiguous, making it very clear that the Islamic viewpoint is ‘they killed Him not neither did they crucify Him. For assuredly, they killed Him not. No one can be more explicit or more unambiguous, more unequivocal than the Quran in this verse saying that He was not killed. If I conclude my presentation right now without commenting or refuting on the Biblical point of view, what the pastor has presented, as far as the debate is concerned, it will be a draw, if you believe me. The Muslims say, according to the Quran, Jesus (PBUH) was not really crucified. The Christians, according to their understanding of the Bible, they say He was crucified. It will be a draw. But I will not do that. I will prove from the Bible itself, which the Christian believe is the Word of God that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was not really crucified.

Let me first clarify that we Muslims, we do not consider the Bible to be the Word of God. The Bible may contain certain portions which we may consider it to be the Word of God. It contains the word of the prophets, the word of the historians. It also contains absurdity, obscene statements which, if somebody will give me a thousand rupees now, I will not be able to read from the Bible. Such obscene verses in those chapters! It also contains contradictions. But even though I don’t believe that Bible is the Word of God, yet I will prove from the Bible that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was not crucified because Pastor Rukni and many Christians here agree the Bible to be the Word of God. I will prove with their evidence because the Quran says in S2:111 ‘they say, the Jews and Christians, ‘you Muslims, you shall never get the Janna, with all your piety, with all your righteousness, as Pastor said, with all the good deeds, you shall not get salvation. That’s what the Pastor said just now. It’s useless! With all your zakaat, with all your hajj, with the salaah, with the mark on your forehead, you shall never get the Janna, unless you are a Jew or a Christian! Unless you are a Jew or a Christian! Allah says this is a wishful thinking, vain desires; tell them to produce a proof. Allah says; ask them to produce a proof. If I tell from the Quran that Jesus was not crucified, the Christians do not agree the Quran to be the Word of God. We have to ask ‘produce proof if you are truthful’. And the Christian, they have produced the proof, The Bible, as the Quran. The Christian says, ‘my  Bible says this, my Bible says that, my  Bible says this, my Bible says that’. Let’s analyze what does their Bible says. And they produced this Bible in no less than 2000 different languages of the world. So let’s analyze from the Bible whether Christ was really crucified.

And whatever conclusion I draw from the Bible need not necessarily be the Islamic viewpoint. Let me remind you that. The conclusion drawn from the Bible need not necessarily be the Islamic viewpoint. Islamic viewpoint has made it very clear in S 4:157 that “they killed Him neither did they crucify Him”.

 

Refutation by Bro. Jerry Thomas

Section 1:

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik began his presentation by stating Islamic belief:

On Jesus Christ
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ
On the Holy Bible

Let us start with the Islamic belief in Jesus Christ, then with the Holy Bible, and then with the crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ.

On Jesus Christ and the Fourth Article of Faith in Islam:

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik said Islam is the only religion on the face of the earth which makes it an article of faith to believe in Jesus Christ.

It is factually wrong. Bahaism is another religion that makes it an article of faith to believe in Jesus Christ. No Bahai is a Bahai unless he believes in Jesus Christ.

Further, there is no separate article of faith in Islam to believe specifically in Jesus Christ. There is an article of faith to believe in all prophets, which according to Islam, includes Jesus Christ as well.

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik also said that Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ which many modern-day Christians do not believe in it.

Here is Janab Dr. Zakir Naik is comparing apples with oranges. He should have compared the creed of Islam with the creed of Christianity. There is not a single Christian denomination that denies virgin birth.

If there are some modern-day Christians who deny the virgin birth, there are some modern-day Muslims also who deny the virgin birth of Lord Jesus Christ.

Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of Aligarh University, denies the virgin birth of Lord Jesus Christ.

Abdul Kareem Asri, in his Tafsir, denies the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

Further, from a Christian viewpoint, we can never agree that Muslims believe in Jesus Christ or in any other true prophets. Let me give you the reason.

In John 5:46 Lord Jesus Christ said “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.”
By the standards of Lord Jesus Christ, if you say you believe in a prophet, you must believe in what he wrote or taught.

Muslims do not believe in what Prophet Moses wrote. They believe in what Hazarat Muhammad spoke about Prophet Moses.

They do not believe in what Prophet David wrote. They believe in what Hazarat Muhammad spoke about Prophet David.

Likewise, they do not believe in what Lord Jesus Christ taught or spoke, they believe in what Hazarat Muhammad spoke about Jesus Christ.

For example:

Lord Jesus Christ said in:

John 8: 58 Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was I am- a very clear verse about His pre-existence. 

John 17: 4 Father, Glorify Me with the glory that I had with you before the World began. – Another clear verse about His pre-existence.

Moreover, the previous prophets also wrote about Messiah:

The prophets wrote:

Micah 5: 2-   Oh you Epharath Bethlehem, out of you shall come the ruler of Israel whose origins are from old and ancient.

Isaiah 9: 6–    Unto us, a child is born, a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder, His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God everlasting father.

If the Muslims believed in previous prophets or Lord Jesus Christ, they should have believed in the divinity of Lord Jesus Christ.

Further,

In Matthew 17: 22-23, Jesus Christ said he will be killed but resurrect on the third day.

Daniel 9:26 – After the sixty-two sevens, the anointed one will be cut off and will have nothing.

In other words, though Muslims claim that they believe in prophets and in Jesus Christ, in reality, they believe only in Muhammad and what he taught about others.

This dilemma of Muslims becomes clearer when we speak about the Holy Bible.

On the Holy Bible:

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik said that the Holy Bible may contain the word of God but it also contains the word of the prophets, and the words of historians.

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik forgot to add that is an article of faith in Islam to believe in the books. Which are the books? The Torah of the Jews and the Injil of the Christians?

If the Holy Bible is corrupted, then why:

In Surah 28:48-49 Allah challenges the unbelievers to bring a book that is a better guide than either Torah or Quran.

If Torah is already corrupted, this challenge does not make any sense.

Further:

Why Surah 5:44 asks Jews at the time of Muhammad to judge by their scriptures.

Why would Hazarat Muhammad ask Jews to judge by their scriptures if it was already corrupted?

Why Surah 5:47 at the time of Muhammad, asks Christians to judge by the Injil, the Gospels.

Why would Hazarat Muhammad ask Christians to judge by their scripture if it was already corrupted?

How are the Muslims supposed to believe in these books? They are supposed to believe just as Muhammad believed in it.

How did Muhammad believe in it?

In Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 38, Number 4434: Muhammad asked Jews to bring the Torah. When the Jews bought the Torah, Muhammad placed it on a cushion and said “I believed in thee and in Him Who revealed thee.”

Hazarat Muhammad believed in the text that was given to him, not in some imaginary book that existed as modern-day Muslims believe.

This is a Sahih Hadith.

In Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged), Volume 3, pp. 181-182, which is not only written by one the Quran’s best commentators in the history, but vetted by 10 modern-day scholars, this hadith is cited as Sahih.

That is why Quran says in:

Surah 4:136 says those who deny the books that have been revealed to the prophets have gone Far Far astray.

Do I need to add anything more?

Now, if Muslims are supposed to believe in earlier prophets and books given to those prophets, why are they accusing the Holy Bible to be corrupted instead of believing in it?

It is because, though Hazarat Muhammad asked Muslims to believe in the prophets and their books, his message contradicted the message of prophets and books.

However, as you will see, though they accuse the Holy Bible of being corrupted, it does not help them in resolving the issues they face.

One such topic is on crucifixion.

On Crucifixion:

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik says if he quotes Surah 4:157 and then concludes the presentation; the debate would be a draw.

He wants us to believe that the Quran is clear in its position. In fact, it is not.

It is one verse of the Quran against the rest of the Quran.

If we have Surah 4:157 which say that they did not crucify Jesus nor killed him, we have:

In Surah 3:55 and Surah 5: 117 – the Arabic word that is used to note the end of Life of Jesus Christ in this world is “waffa.”

Every time when Quran uses the word waffa, except in the case of Allah and angels, it means death.

Surah 10:104 – who takes your souls at death. (Waffa)

Surah 16:70– and takes your souls at death (Waffa).

Surah 32:11 – angel of death (waffa).

Surah 39:42 – It is all who takes the souls of men at death (Waffa).

So, if waffa is used to refer to death, except in the case of Allah and angels, honesty and logical consistency demand it should refer to death when it used in Surah 3: 55 and Surah 5:117 for Jesus Christ as well.

Ok, if Muslims wants to make an exception to Jesus Christ, how about:

Surah 19:33 – where the infant Jesus Christ speaks from his cradle:

‘So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised to life”!

The day I was born, the day I die, and the day that I shall be raised to life- sequence is very clear.

If you doubt the sequence, as some Muslims do, you can read the same Surah:

Surah 19: 15 about John the Baptist, we read “and peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on the day he is raised to life.”

No Muslim has any doubt about the sequence.

There were some Muslims who says that Jesus Christ would come again as a man, live and die.

There is not a single unambiguous verse in the entire Quran which says that Jesus Christ would come again and die. Not a single unambiguous verse.

Surah 5:75 “The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger; messengers before him had indeed passed away.”

Now read a similar verse regarding Muhammad.

Surah 3:143 “And Muhammad is only a messenger — messengers have already passed away before him. If, then, he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your heels?”

According to the earliest surviving biography of Hazarat Muhammad:

Sirat Rasul Allah Ibn Ishaq, Page 683, when Hazarat Muhammad died, his companions were shocked and Umar started preaching that Muhammad would return. Then Abu Bakr, the first caliph came, and recited Surah 3:143.

Then not a single companion of Muhammad doubted it. The meaning is established by Ijma.

If the meaning of 3:143 is clear, the meaning of 5:75 is also clear. Why the difference?

In other words:

It is one verse against the rest of the Quran.

Further, it is one verse of the Quran, which has divided the Muslim scholars

Surah 4: 157 says ‘they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it was made to appear to them.”

There are three aspects to this verse:

(a)  They killed him not

(b)  Nor crucified him

(c)  But it was made to appear to them

If it was made only appear to Jews that they crucified Jesus Christ but when in reality they did not, how did it happen?

Most of the Muslim scholars say someone else was made to appear like Jesus Christ?

If so, who was it? There is absolutely no agreement among the Muslim scholars on this.

Is it not attributing deception to God? This one verse has a serious theological implication.

If you believe that one person can be made to appear like another person, how can you ever believe in any of the hadiths? One of the tests for hadiths is that it has to come from a person whom they think is reliable.

Let us take Sunni hadiths. Abu Hurraia was a very reliable person for Sunni Muslims. But what if someone was made to appear like Abu Hurraia?

Ayesha was another reliable person for Sunni Muslims. But if it was not Ayesha but someone who was made to appear like Ayesha?

Will not this approach destroy the entire Hadiths literature?

Probably, that is why at least a few Islamic scholars have accepted that Jesus Christ died indeed died.

In the History of Al Tabari, Volume 4, Page 122, Al Tabari, probably the greatest Islamic historian of the Sunni Muslims, cites Islamic scholars such as Wahb who believed that Jesus died three o’clock in the day; and then was taken to heaven.

It is one verse of the Quran against the rest of the Quran.

It is one verse of the Quran with serious logical and theological issues and divided the Muslim scholars.

Further, it is one verse of the Quran against all historians before Hazarat Muhammad.

In Annals, Chapter 15, Cornelius Tacitus, the first-century Roman historian wrote about the crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ.

In Antiquities, Chapter 18, Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian wrote about it.

In the Death of Peregrine, Lucian of Samosate, the second-century Greek satirist wrote about it.

The Babylonian Talmud, wrote by the anti-Christian Jews in the fifth century, wrote about the death of Jesus Christ.

Apart from this numerous early Christian writers, some of them historians, such as Julias Africanas wrote about the crucifixion and death of Lord Jesus Christ.

It is one verse of the Quran against the rest of the Quran.

It is one verse of the Quran with serious logical and theological issues and divided the Muslim scholars.

It is one verse of the Quran against all secular and objective ancient historians.

Further, it is one verse of the Quran against the entire Holy Bible.

The Holy Bible not only prophesied the death of Messiah, it accurately described the crucifixion and death of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ.

There are at least 136 verses in the New Testament, which refers to the crucifixion and death of Lord Jesus Christ. And not a single verse contradicts it.

If one verse of the Quran is against the rest of the Quran,

If one verse of the Quran has divided the Muslim scholars

If one verse of the Quran is against all the known records of ancient history,

If one verse of the Quran is against the entire Holy Bible,

Then where did the verse come from?

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik in his rebuttal quotes the Nag Hammadi scrolls, the Gnostic gospels. He is absolutely correct.

The only piece of support that the Quran has is from the Gnostic Gospels. However, if you know the basics of Gnosticism, you will know that they did not deny the reality of Crucifixion but overruled it with their conspiracy doctrines. Gnostics believe that the material world and the God who created the material world are evil. The soul is real and the world is an illusion.

Most of them also differentiate between Jesus and Christ. According to them, at the time of Crucifixion, Christ fled from the body, and someone else was crucified.

For example:

The Second Treatise of Great Seth, a Gnostic gospel, the Gnostic Jesus calls all previous prophets for Adam to Moses, David, Solomon and John the Baptist as laughable stocks. The Gnostic Jesus comes and indwells in a body, displacing the man who was staying there.

If it is one verse of the Quran against the rest of the Quran,

If it is one verse of the Quran without any support in Hadiths,

If it one verse of the Quran which has divided the Muslim scholars,

If it is one verse of the Quran against all ancient secular historians,

If it is one verse of the Quran against the Holy Bible,

If it is one verse of the Quran whose only support is from spurious Gnostic gospels that mock previous prophets, Muslims must rethink their own theology.

At least, Muslims must admit that Hazarat Muhammad was wrong in this particular verse of the Quran.

Let us see the second clip.

 

 

Second Section: Allegations of Dr. Zakir Naik

The topic: Was Christ really crucified? What is the meaning of the English word ’crucified’? According to the Oxford dictionary, crucified means to put to death by fastening on to the cross. According to the Webster dictionary, crucify means to put to death by nailing or binding on to the cross. In short, for a person to be crucified, he should die on the cross. If he does not die, he is not crucified.

What is the meaning of the word ‘resurrection’? Resurrection according to the Oxford dictionary means the act or instance of rising from the dead. And resurrection with a capital R means Christ rising from the dead. According to the Webster dictionary, resurrection means the act of rising from the dead, and resurrection with a capital R means, rising again of Christ after His death. In short, for Christ to have resurrected, He has to die. If He does not die, He is not resurrected. Let everyone get these definitions very clear in their minds.

Zakir Naik: According to Jesus (PBUH), He says in the Gospel of Matthew 19:16-17, that a person can obtain salvation by keeping the Law and the commandments. But the point set by St. Paul is that He nails the Law and the commandments to the cross. Cross, cross, cross, cross. He nails the Law and the commandments to the cross as He says in Colossians 2:14. And Paul says that salvation can be obtained by believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus (PBUH). And he quotes, if you read the NT, 1 Corinthians 15:14, I give the reference so that you people realize that I am not putting a mass And I prefer giving the reference. Otherwise, if The Bible says this, the NT says this, in this encyclopedia, of more than 1000 pages, where will you find it? To make it easy, I give the reference.

The point said by Paul, 1Corinthians 15:14, and if Christ has not risen from the dead, our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.  As the Pastor said that all your good deeds, all your charity without believing in Christ who died for your sins, it is useless. And the Christian missionary, the reference he didn’t give, quoted from Isaiah 66:6, that all our righteousness, all our good deeds are like filthy rags, if you don’t believe that Jesus Christ (PBUH) died on the cross for the sins of humanity, all your righteousness, all your good deeds are like filthy rags. And in the words of the Pastor which, I wouldn’t ever say, he says that if there was no cross, if there was no crucifixion, Bible is less than 2 paise and he says, if no crucifixion, there is no Christianity. And I agree. I agree. And the pastor said that when he came to India, and he has spent more than two decades here, and only when he came to India, he really realized the message of Christianity. Previously, he was only a Christian. But you have practiced Christianity from the Muslim side. Now it reminds me that I have only met one Arab missionary before in my life, before meeting Pastor. One Arab Christian I met while in Jeddah and after he attended my talk, alhamdullah, …….   by Allah’s grace, he accepted Islam. This is the second time in my life that personally, I am meeting an Arab Christian. And Insha’Allah, and I pray to Allah subahutallah, that since he got the religion of Christianity from the Indians, he will come back to the original faith, which is Islam, after this talk, after discussion, I pray that he comes back to the original faith, ……. Insha’Allah, realizing that there is no crucifixion, no cross, no Christianity.  Th

at Insha’Allah, I will do it in the course of my time.

Zakir Naik: Let’s read what St.Paul says regarding the resurrection. St Paul, comments on the resurrected bodies in the same chapter where he says that if Christ hasn’t risen, our faith is in vain, our preaching is in vain. Same chapter. I Corinthians 15, towards the end of the chapter. Paul says in I Corinthians 15: 42-44, he says ‘so also is the resurrection of the dead’. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.  It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. It is a natural body and it is a spiritual body. According to St Paul, resurrected bodies are spiritualized. They are spiritualized. The same is said by his Lord and Master, Jesus Christ (PBUH)…in the Gospel of Luke 20:27-36 if you remember the story of a woman who had seven husbands, and the Jews pose it to Jesus, and it is a Jewish practice, that if a man marries a woman, and if he dies without leaving any children, the second brother marries the wife of the deceased brother so that he can give her the seed. If the second brother dies without giving any children; the third brother marries. So on and so forth.

So here they come with the poser that this woman married seven brothers one after the other. And all of them had her, which means they had her here as wife one after the other. But there was no problem. Why? Because each one of them had turned by turn. So there was no problem. And later on, even she dies. They pose a question to him, in the resurrection, who will have her there, indicating, during resurrection all these seven brothers will be raised simultaneously, along with the woman, then who will have her there? Jesus (PBUH) says in the gospel of Luke 20:35-36, that resurrected bodies do not marry. Neither do they give in marriage? Verse 36 says that neither shall they die anymore. They are equal unto the angels. That means they shall angelize. Resurrected bodies will be spiritualized. Who says that? Jesus says that. In Gospel of Luke 20:36. Paul says that in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. It is very clear. There is not a single verse anywhere in the Gospel which says that Jesus (PBUH) was resurrected.

In fact, if you read, it is mentioned, if you remember the story that after the alleged crucifixion, when the disciples when they met in the upper room, Jesus (PBUH) comes, it is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke 24:36, He comes and He says to the disciples ‘shalom’, which means peace unto you. The next verse Gospel of Luke 24:37 says but they were terrified and frightened and supposed Him to be a Spirit. I am asking a question, ‘why did the disciples think Jesus (PBUH) to be a Spirit?” Did Jesus look like a Spirit? And when I ask this question to the Christians, all of them said ‘no’. And they are right. Jesus (PBUH) did not look like a Spirit, alhamdidullah, Jesus did not look like a spirit. So why did they think He was a Spirit. The reason is that they had heard from hearsay that their Master Jesus (PBUH) was put on the cross. They had learned from hearsay that He had given up the ghost, that He died. They had heard from hearsay that he was dead and buried in the grave for three days. Hearsay! You know why? Because they wanted eyewitnesses.

According to the Gospel of Mark 14:50 says that all of them forsook Him and fled. In the most crucial junction in the life of Jesus (PBUH), when He required them the most, all the disciples, 100%, all of them, according to the Gospel of Mark 14:50, forsook Him and fled. Who says that? Not Dr. Zakir Naik! Gospel of Mark 14:50. All of them forsook Him. So it was from hearsay. Therefore they think and they thought that it was a Spirit. But Jesus (PBUH) clarified the doubt. It is mentioned in the next verses, in the Gospel of Luke 24:39-40, Jesus (PBUH) says that Behold, My hands, and feet. It is I Myself. Handle Me and see. For a Spirit has no flesh and bones as you see I am having. And saying so He showed them His hands. He tells them, Behold, My hands, and feet. It is I Myself. What has happened to you? It is Me, the Lord and Master, Jesus (PBUH). Why you are frightened? Handle Me and see. Behold, My hands, and My feet. For a Spirit has no flesh and bones. What was he trying to prove by showing His hands and His feet? Was He trying to prove that He was resurrected? Was He trying to prove that He was a Spirit? He was trying to prove that He was not a Spirit. He was not resurrected. Next verses. Gospel of Luke 24:41-42, says that they were overjoyed and they wondered. They thought He is dead. Now they are happy that their Lord and Master is alive. Physical, with flesh and bones in front of them. They are happy. Jesus (PBUH), yet to confirm, says “do you have any meat here?” and they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb. And He took it and He ate it before them. To prove what? That He was resurrected? To prove that He was a Spirit? To prove that He was a physical body! He ate and he chewed in front of them. A piece of broiled fish and honeycomb to prove that He was not resurrected, that He was not a Spirit, but to prove He was flesh and bones, a physical body. If no resurrection, no crucifixion, then no Christianity.

 

Second Section: Refutation By Bro. Jerry Thomas

Let me summarize the major points in this section:

1)    Janab Dr. Zakir Naik defined crucifixion according to Oxford and Webster dictionaries. He said if a person does not die on the cross, he is not crucified. I do not have an issue with this definition as we believe that Lord Jesus Christ was crucified and He died on the cross. But I am not sure if the Quranic author would agree with Janab Dr. Zakir Naik as the Quran separates killing and crucifixion when it says ‘they killed him not nor crucified him.’

2)    He then used dictionaries to define resurrection. Resurrection means rising from the dead. Mark the word ‘rising’. If I use the word rising in the context of a dead person, it means resurrection. The Gospels use this word when it says He is risen. I will accept this dictionary meaning as well.

3)    Janab Dr. Zakir Naik quoted Matthew 19: 16-17 and said that Lord Jesus Christ taught that by keeping commandments, we will get salvation and he accused Apostle Paul of teaching a different doctrine. This I will refute. 

4)    Then Janab Dr. Zakir Naik quoted or misquoted I Corinthians 15 and Luke 20, in the resurrection, bodies will be spirit. However, in Luke 24, Lord Jesus Christ showed his hands and feet, his flesh and bones. Therefore Lord Jesus Christ could not have resurrected.

5)    Again, quoting Mark 14:50, Janab Dr. Zakir Naik says all disciples fled and therefore accounts are hearsay account. I will answer this. 

6)    Why were the disciples frightened in Luke 24? I will answer this as well.

7)    Why were the disciples overjoyed?

8)    Why did Jesus Christ eat?

Since I do not have issues with one of the dictionary meanings that Janab Dr. Zakir Naik cited, I will straight come to point 3 in this section.

Did Lord Jesus Christ teach that salvation is by law: Did Apostle Paul teach contrary to that?

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik quoted Matthew 19:16-17. Let us begin with the same portion.

Matthew 19:17: When the rich man addressed Lord Jesus Christ as a good teacher, Lord Jesus Christ asked him “why do you call me good? No one is good except God.”

First, let us take the statement of Lord Jesus Christ. “No one is good except God.”

This is exactly what Apostle Paul also taught by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 3:10 “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”

This is exactly what earlier true prophets also taught.

Isaiah 64:6 “all our righteousness are like filthy rags.”

So, at least as far as the nature of human beings is concerned, Apostle Paul taught exactly what Lord Jesus Christ and other true prophets have taught.

Now about the salvation;

In Matthew 19: 18-19 Lord Jesus Christ instructs him to keep the five commandments and not the first four commandments that are related to God and not the commandment which says ‘do not covet your neighbor’s property.

In Matthew 19:20 – This rich man had kept these laws, but he did not find it sufficient. He still lacked something.

In Matthew 19: 21- Lord Jesus Christ told him “sell your property and come and follow me.”

As if selling property equals to the commandment ‘do not covet your neighbor’s property and following Jesus is fulfilling the first four commandments.

Now, Lord Jesus Christ used the law to direct this rich man to Himself. Now continue reading:

Matthew 19:25-29 – disciples ask Lord Jesus Christ what they would get since they followed Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ told them the blessing and then told about everyone who has left their house or brothers or sisters, for HIS namesake. He says they will receive a hundredfold and shall inherit eternal life.”

 Now, before I move to what Apostle Paul taught, let me say this.

According to the Church traditions, this rich man is the rich Levite we read in Acts 4:36-37– Barnabas.

In Deuteronomy 10: 9 and Joshua 13:33, we read that Levities have no inheritance among the brethren as Yahweh is their inheritance.

In other words, if Yahweh was the inheritance of a Levite in the Old Testament, Lord Jesus Christ is the inheritance of a Levite in the New Testament.

Now, if you read the story again, you will realize that Lord Jesus Christ used this conversation to teach:

1)    No one is good except God.

2)    Law is insufficient in itself, however, Law should lead one to Lord Jesus Christ

3)    Following Jesus Christ is sufficient for inheriting eternal life

Did Apostle Paul teach anything different?

Galatians 3: 24 “therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.”

Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

If Janab Dr. Zakir Naik had read the entire passage, rather than stopping at the middle of the passage, he would have understood that Apostle Paul taught exactly what Lord Jesus Christ taught.

In Luke 24, how can resurrected Lord Jesus Christ have flesh and bones when I Corinthians 15 and Luke 20 say that resurrected bodies will be angelized?

Let us start with 1 Corinthians 15:

I Corinthians 15:35, when Paul was asked about “How, are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?

In 1 Corinthians 15: 39-43, Apostle Paul explains by what body would the dead be raised up.

He explains the resurrected body as:

  • One of incorruption
  • One of glory
  • One of power

He calls the resurrected body a spiritual body as against the natural body we have now.

Now, by using the word spiritual, he did not teach that in the resurrection, we will not have bodies. He called the resurrected body spiritual.

As much as in Galatians 6:1: he calls born-again believers with sanctified lives as spiritual.

Now, spiritual does not need to mean one without body, spirit.

If it does not mean that in Galatians 6:1, it need not mean that in 1 Corinthians 15 as well.

Spiritual and natural are posed against each other. But not spiritual and physical. There are physical objects even in the spiritual realm.

Now coming to Luke 20: 36.

In Luke 20: 33 there was a question ‘whose wife does she become.” A question about marriage in the resurrection.

In Luke 20:35, Lord Jesus Christ says there is no marriage in the resurrection. And there will be no death.

In Luke 20:36 Jesus Christ then says they shall be equal to angels. The comparison is with respect to marriage and death.

One cannot extend the comparisons to every aspect between an angel and a human being.

If I say ‘your face shines like the moon’ do I mean to say that your face has many rough surfaces like the moon have and it is full of pits and holes? The comparison should be limited the brightness.

It is foolish to extend the comparison beyond what the context determines.

So, being spiritual need not mean being spirit.

Being like an angel need not mean angelized.

In John 20:26 we see that Lord Jesus Christ entered into a room and appeared to His disciples when the door was shut.

It could not have been the natural body then.

Again, quoting Mark 14:50, Janab Dr. Zakir Naik says all disciples fled and therefore accounts are hearsay account.  

The problem with Janab Dr. Zakir Naik is he stops reading in the middle of a passage.

Mark 14:54 “Peter followed Him at a distance.”

In other words, all of them fled but some came back.

John 19:25-27 “Apostle John, Mary the Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, etc were eyewitnesses to the crucifixion. It was not hearsay.

For argument’s sake, let us take the verse as it is and not the following verses and ask how does it matter?

The New Testament authors lived in the same time and had access to an eyewitness. What about Hazarat Muhammad who lived 600 years after the event and that too in a faraway place.

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik can accept the account from someone who lived 600 years after the event but not from contemporaries. 

Apart from this double standard, Janab Dr. Zakir Naik is not even reading the following events in the Holy Bible.

This argument is the result of both double standards and dishonesty unless he has some comprehension problem.

Further, why were the disciples frightened in Luke 24?

It was natural. If you see someone whom you saw as dead, you will be frightened.

Luke 24: 11 and 41 “they did not believe that Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead”

Luke 24:46 “Lord Jesus Christ explains to them He died and rose from the dead.”

When the Holy Bible very clearly states the reason, from where did Janab Dr. Zakir Naik get a different reason? He invented one.

Why were the disciples overjoyed?

Because they knew that their Master and Lord Jesus Christ is truly resurrected.

Why did he eat?

We have already proved that resurrected body is not a spirit but has a physical glorified body.

While touching the flesh and bones is sufficient to prove that He is not a spirit, eating does not prove it.

In Genesis 19, three angels ate the food Abraham gave.

However, Lord Jesus Christ ate to reinforce that they were not seeing an illusion but a reality.

In Luke 24: 11 – when the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ was reported to disciples, they dismissed it as fables.

But now by eating in front of them, Lord Jesus Christ gave additional proof that they are not seeing an illusion.

That is why:

In Acts 10: 41 Apostle Peter says ‘we are the witnesses of the resurrection. We ate and drank with Him after the resurrection.”

 

Section Three: Allegations by Dr. Zakir Naik

Dr. Zakir Naik: If you remember the story of Mary Magdalene when she goes to the tomb of Jesus (PBUH), it is mentioned in the Gospel of John 20:1, as well as Gospel of Mark 16:2, that it was the first day of the week, meaning it was Sunday. Sabbath day is Saturday for the Jews. The first day of the week is Sunday. It was the first day of the week that Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb. Now, why should Mary Magdalene go to the tomb on the third day after Jesus Christ (PBUH) supposedly was dead? So why should she go? The reply is given in the verse in the Gospel of Mark 16:1 that Mary Magdalene goes to massage Jesus (PBUH), to anoint. The word is anointed. The original Hebrew word is ‘masaha’, the meaning is ‘to massage’, to rub, to anoint. And from this root word, you can derive the Arabic word messiah, or the Hebrew word Messiah, which means The Anointed One, which you could translate to Greek, which means Christos, from which you get the word Christ, the Anointed One. I am asking a question, ‘do Jews massage dead bodies on the third day?’ have you any time heard Jews massaging dead bodies on the third day?’ And the answer is No. I am asking a question “do Christians massage dead bodies on the third day?’ and the answer is No. To Muslims, ‘do we massage dead bodies on the third day?’ and the answer is No. So why is she going to the tomb to massage Jesus who has died, on the third day, according to the Christian? You know why? Because she was the only one, besides Joseph of Arimithea and Nicodemus, who gave the burial bath to Jesus (PBUH).  And when Jesus’ body was brought down (PBUH) from the cross, she might have seen some life in the limp body. But she is not going to say “He is alive”. Otherwise, they will put Him to death again. Seeing some life in the limp body of Jesus Christ (PBUH), she comes back on the third day, after the Sabbath day, to look for a live Jesus (PBUH). A live Jesus (PBUH). And it is mentioned in the book of Gospel of John 20:1, and the Gospel

of Mark 16:4 that she finds that the stone has been removed. And even the winding sheets, are unbound and are placed in a pile. The question is why should the stone be moved and why should the winding sheets be unwound and placed at the side as a pile. If Jesus (PBUH) is resurrected as a spiritual body, does a spirit require the stone at the entrance of the tomb to be removed? If He is a Spirit, those cannot stop a Spirit. Am I not right? The stone need not be removed. Why was the stone removed? And if a Spirit has to move, does it have to unwind the winding sheets? It’s not required. But if it’s a physical body, the stone blocking the entry of the tomb has to be removed, the winding sheets have to be unwound, proving that Jesus (PBUH), the person who came out of the tomb was a physical body.

And the tomb was the private property of His secret disciple, of Joseph of Arimathea, who was rich and influential. And he had carved a big tomb, maybe for himself, in which Jesus (PBUH) was kept. The tomb was a sepulcher. And according to Jim Bishop, he says, Jim Bishop, not Bible, Jim Bishop, he says it was very roomy, very big. 5 ft wide, 7 ft in height, and 15 ft in depth. Why do you require a roomy tomb? Unless anyone wants to help a person, it can be done easily. There are small rooms in Bombay, just 75 sq. Ft. 75 sq ft flat is big in Bombay. We find 5-6 people living in that room, in Bombay, the most expensive place in the world. In 75 sq. Ft, you find 4-5 people living in it. It’s roomy, right, if you want to help a person. Why would they want to help a spiritual body? Spiritual bodies do not require help. But naturally, they want to help a physical body. Further, if you read the Gospel of John 20:15, Jesus sees that Mary Magdalene from the earth, there on the earth, not from the heaven when He sees her and He comes to her and asks, ‘woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?’ knowing very well, what is the reason, but you know na. She says, ‘I supposed Him to be a gardener’. She asks Him ‘where have You taken and laid Him so that I may take Him away’? I am asking you a question why did Mary Magdalene suppose Jesus (PBUH) to be a gardener?’ I am asking a question do resurrect bodies look like gardeners’? Do they? Yes or no? No! So why should she suppose that Jesus (PBUH) was a gardener? And the answer is because He was disguised as a gardener. So why should a spiritual body be disguised as a gardener? Jesus Christ (PBUH) was disguised as a gardener because he was afraid of the Jews. A spiritual body need not be afraid of the Jews. Why? Because according to Hebrews 9:27, a man dies only once. And after that is the Day of Judgement. Jesus (PBUH) said in the Gospel of Luke 20:36, ‘neither shall you die anymore’. If you are spiritualized, you need not be afraid of anyone. No one can harm you. You cannot die a second time. If He is spiritualized, why should He be disguised? Why should He be afraid? Why should He be in hiding? Why should He run away from the Jews? Proving that He was not a spiritual body but He was alive. And He says to Mary, ‘Mary!’ The one word is sufficient for Mary to recognize her Lord, her Master. You know everyone has a particular style of calling their beloved one. And the tone, the style in which you call the beloved one is sufficient to recognize who is the person. She immediately recognizes that he is Jesus (PBUH). And she rushes forward toward Him. Gospel of John 20:15-17, Jesus (PBUH) says, ‘touch Me not’. Why? Why does He rebuke? Is He a diseased body that someone touches one that person will be polluted? Is he a bundle of dynamite that someone touches Him, He will blow up? Why does he say ‘touch Me not’? Because he was a physical body. Imagine the ordeal, the pain, the physical pain, the emotional pressure that He had going through all that, so-called, supposedly put up on the cross, all that pain and torture, it will hurt a physical body. He says ‘touch Me not.’ And He continued to say, it says in the Gospel of John 20:17, ‘I have not yet ascended unto My Father’, meaning what? That He has not yet been dead. Jesus Christ (PBUH) until now He says that He has not yet been resurrected, proving that He was alive. Later on, it is mentioned in the Gospel of Mark 16:11, that the disciples had heard that Jesus (PBUH) was alive. From here, Mary Magdalene. And they believed.

 

Section Three: Refutation by Bro. Jerry Thomas

Let me summarize the questions to answer those:

(a)  Dr. Zakir Naik said the original Hebrew word is masaha, which means massage.

(b)  Why did Mary Magdalene go to massage the body on the third day with spices?

(c)  Why was the stone removed and clothes unbundled?

(d)  Why should there be a big tomb like this?

(e)  Why was Jesus dressed like a gardener?

(f)  Why did Lord Jesus Christ say touch me not?

The Hebrew word

First of all the original language for the Gospel of Mark is Greek and not Hebrew. I do not know why he wanted to consult the Hebrew.

The Greek word that is used is aleiphō, which means anointed.

Mary Magdalene did not go to massage the body of Christ but to anoint with spices.

Why did Mary Magdalene and other women go to anoint the body of Jesus Christ?

Many Jews did that. That was a Jewish burial custom.

2 Chronicles 16: 14 – Asa, King of Judah, when he died ‘they laid him in bed which was filled with spices and various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments.

But why did they go on the third day?

Luke 23:56 “the women after the crucifixion came back and prepared the spices and fragrant oils and they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

After the burial of Lord Jesus Christ, it was Sabbath. So the women did it after the Sabbath.

In fact, it is the Christians who should be asking this question.

If it was for medication or some antibiotics, why did she wait till the third day?

Because it was spiced which was used in the burial ritual.

Further, Janab Dr. Zakir Naik asked ‘why was the stone removed and clothes unbundled?”

I have heard that Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates used to say that treat every bug as a feature.

But I have seen only Janab Dr. Zakir Naik who treats every feature as a bug.

Removed stone and unbundled clothes are circumstantial evidence for the resurrection.

In Matthew 27:62-66, we see that chief priests and rulers sealed the stone that was placed in front of the tomb.

On the third, when the stone was removed, it proves that death cannot hold Him and emperors cannot seal Him.

Who moved the stone which was sealed and guarded?

It cannot be Jews, because they wanted it to be sealed.

It cannot be soldiers as it would mean that their own death.

It cannot be disciples as they were frightened and few in numbers to do that.

Circumstantial evidence clearly proves that the resurrection did take place as the Holy Bible says.

Why were the clothes unbundled?

Again, another proof that Lord Jesus Christ rose as He prophesized.

Who will remove the clothes from a completely bruised and dead body on the third day?

Compare this with Quran:

Surah 4:157 And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure.

If you ask a Muslim, was Jesus Christ crucified? He says no. Then who was on the cross? It was someone who appeared to be like Jesus.

Quranic narration is of a conspiracy theory. The Biblical narration is an example of circumstantial evidence.

Again, Janab Dr. Zakir Naik asked why there should be a big tomb?

He says that in Mumbai people stay even in a 75 sq ft house. But the poorest person in the Middle East would be staying in 700 Sq Ft house. It depends on the availability of land per person. It is simple economics.

Further, in Genesis 23– when matriarch Sarah died, Patriarch Abraham brought an entire field, with caves and trees to bury Sarah. That is how the rich people bury their dead.

Had Janab Dr. Zakir Naik read the prophetical books, he would have understood that about 600 years before the death of Lord Jesus Christ, prophet Isaiah prophesied:

Isaiah 53: 8-9 “For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”

Now Muhammad was buried underneath his bed in his own house. Have you ever seen a Muslim being buried in his own house? Not in the Middle East. Even in Mumbai, they don’t do that.

Shall I say stories about Muhammad are just myths and fables?

Again Janab Dr. Zakir Naik asks why did Lord Jesus Christ dress like a gardener?

The Holy Bible did not say that Lord Jesus Christ was dressed like a gardener.

John 20: 15 says Mary Magdalene supposed Him to be the gardener.

Why did she suppose Lord Jesus Christ to be the gardener? There are at least three reasons:

John 20: 1 “it was early in the morning”

John 20: 11 “Mary was weeping”

John 20: 13 “she thought that somebody carried the body of Jesus Christ and probably would have been expecting to meet gardener.”

If it is in the early morning, if you are crying and probably expecting someone to come, there is a high possibility that you might mistake someone to be the person you are expecting to be.

Why did Lord Jesus Christ say touch me not?

The word ‘do not touch me’ is also translated as ‘do not cling to me.’

Why did Lord Jesus Christ say that?

He himself gave the reason in the same verse:

John 20:17 “for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”

If Janab Dr. Zakir Naik did not understand the meaning of this verse, it is fine. But let him not invent any new reasons.

If you want to know the meaning of this verse, read the preceding chapters.

In John 14: 2-3 Lord Jesus Christ said “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told to you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

In John 20, Lord Jesus Christ is saying that it has not yet taken place.  It is not yet the time where Lord Jesus Christ would be with believers forever. Here is He is yet to ascend to God the Father.

In fact, if Janab Dr. Zakir Naik read the same chapter, just two more verses below, he would have definitely understood that this is resurrected, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 20: 19 “The same day at evening, when doors where shut, Jesus Christ appeared to His disciples.”

If it was for wounds, why is Lord Jesus Christ traveling? If Jesus Christ is not resurrected, how can He appear in a closed room?

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik’s question is simply illogical.

 

Section Four: Allegations by Dr. Zakir Naik

Dr. Zakir Naik: You know The Jews, their habit of opposing questions, troubling the Messenger: the Quran says that, the Bible says that, they posed questions to Moses (PBUH), they troubled Him and they harassed Him. The same they did to Jesus (PBUH). Further, it is mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew 12:38, the Jews come up to Jesus (PBUH) and say ‘Master’, meaning Rabbi, O Lord, ‘why don’t You give us a sign’, sign meaning a Miracle. Miracle!. All the good works that Jesus Christ (PBUH) did was not sufficient to convince the Jews. They said ‘give us a sign’. Give us a miracle. Maybe like flying in the air. Like walking on the water. Like walking on burning charcoal. They wanted some miracle. Sign here does not mean a sign on lamppost like you have signed on the roads. It’s not that significant. It particularly means a miracle. And if you read the New International Version, it says ‘a miraculous sign’. What is the reply that Jesus (PBUH) says? What is the reply that He says? The next verse, Gospel of Matthew 12:39-40, says, ‘you evil and adulterous generation, seeketh ye after a sign, seeks after a miracle?’ No sign shall be given to you but the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale, so shall the Son of man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.’ Jesus (PBUH) doesn’t say this” see go and meet Bathemus, the blind person who I gave sight, why don’t you ask the woman with issues, who on touching Me was healed. He didn’t refer to the 2000 pigs He had killed to heal a demon-possessed man. He didn’t say the 5000 and 3000 people He fed with broiled fish and with bread. He says no sign shall be given to you but the sign of Jonah. Jesus (PBUH) is putting all His eggs in one basket, the sign of Jonah. And for a person who knows the sign of Jonah, He doesn’t have to be a scholar of the Bible, He doesn’t have to be a doctor of divinity because this is taught in Sunday school. And in most countries including India, irrespective of whether you are a Christian, or Hindu, or a Muslim, some way or the other it is taught in economics, or in moral science lessons: the sign of Jonah.

But if you want to know the sign of Jonah actually, in the Bible, in this big book, the sign of Jonah is less than two pages. Less than one and a half page. I have the Xerox copy from the same Bible, to make it easy. Less than one and a half side. Less than one and a half side. Only four chapters.

To find one page inside the encyclopedia of more than 1000 pages is difficult. But everyone knows the outline of the story. That Almighty God, He asks His messenger, Jonah (PBUH), to go and deliver the message to the Ninevites, to go to Nineveh. But he says ‘these Ninevehites, they are so sinful, what will they listen to the message?’ he thinks that they will make fun of me. It will be a waste of time.  He goes to Joppa and from there setting sail to Tarshish. Now, why? At sea, there was a huge storm at sea and it was a superstition of that time that if there was a storm at sea, it was because someone has disobeyed the Master. And they had their own ways in trying to find who was the person responsible. They had the system of the casting of lots. And when they cast lots, it comes to the turn of Jonah (PBUH). And Jonah is a messenger of Almighty God, agrees and he says ‘see I am the person responsible. I was told by my Master, the Lord, to go to Nineveh, but from Joppa, I am setting sail to Tarshish. Running away. I am at fault. You take me and throw me overboard.’ But they say this person, such a pious person, why should he be killed’. So they try and steer the ship. Yet they are not successful with the storm. So he says ‘why don’t you throw me overboard?’ and finally, they agree and they throw him overboard. When they throw him overboard, the storm subsides. Maybe it was a coincidence. Later on, a big fish, a whale comes and swallows Jonah (PBUH). Jonah prays to Almighty God from the belly of the fish. The whale takes Jonah (PBUH) three days and three nights around the ocean and then vomits him out on the seashore. What does the sign of Jonah; Jesus (PBUH) says that no sign shall be given unto you but the sign of Jonah, that as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale so shall the Son of Man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth. Now I would like to ask you a question. When Jonah was thrown overboard, was he dead or alive? Before you answer, I would like to make it easier for you. See, Jonah volunteers; he says ‘ I am the culprit, I am responsible, throw me overboard’. If someone doesn’t agree, maybe you have to break his leg, you may have to break his neck, you may have to twist his arm; but here he was in tears, so you don’t have to do all that. So they throw him overboard. Now I am asking a question when Jonah was thrown overboard, was he dead or was he alive? Alive! The fish comes and swallows him. Was he dead or alive? Alive! He prays to Almighty God from the belly of the whale. Was he dead or alive to pray? Do dead men pray? Was he dead or alive? Alive! The whale takes Jonah 3 days and 3 nights around the ocean; dead or alive? Alive! Fish vomits him out on the seashore. Was he dead or alive? Alive! Alive alive alive alive! When a person is thrown overboard in a raging sea, you have to die. If he dies, no miracle. If he is alive, it is a miracle. Fish comes and swallows. You have to die. He doesn’t die! It is a miracle. 3 days and 3 nights! Suffocation in the belly of the whale. You have to die. He doesn’t die. It is a miracle. It’s a miracle of a miracle. The miracle of a miracle of a miracle. Jesus said (PBUH),’ as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights, so shall the Son of Man be 3 days and 3 nights. As Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale, so shall the Son of Man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth. Jonah was alive. But when I pose a question to my Christian brothers and they are our brothers, they are our cousins, when I pose a question to them that ‘how was Jesus (PBUH) in the tomb?” then all of them say that He was dead. He was dead! I am asking you a question ‘Jonah was alive. Jesus (PBUH) was dead. So was Jesus (PBUH) alike or unlike Jonah?’ Like or unlike? Unlike! So Jesus (PBUH) does not fulfill the prophecy. He puts all the eggs in one basket and says ‘no sign shall be given but one, the sign of Jonah’, and here the prophecy is not fulfilled. For the prophecy to be fulfilled, He should be alive. As I proved in the earlier part of my talk, He should be alive. Otherwise, Jesus (PBUH) will be a liar. Ousubillah ! which we cannot admit. We respect Him, revere Him. So for Him to fulfill the prophecy, He should be alive. And Jesus (PBUH) was alive as I proved in the earlier part of my talk.

As I said that for a person to be crucified, he should be put to death on the cross. If he does not die on the cross, he is not crucified. There are some people who may say, ‘See, here the main part of the sign is not dead or alive. It is the time factor. Time factor! You know, 3 days and 3 nights as Jonah was in the belly of the whale, so shall the Son of man be 3 days and 3 nights.’ 3 is mentioned four times. The main important thing is 3, 3, 3. It is not dead or alive. I say, ’what is so unique about three?’ if I say, ‘I took 3 days and 3 nights to reach Delhi’, is it a miracle? What is the miracle about 3? 3 days or 3 weeks! It is not a miracle! But they say ’No! It is the time factor’. Let us analyze whether Jesus Christ (PBUH) fulfills the time factor, which the Christians, some Christians say is the main theme of the sign’. As I said earlier and you know that when we ask the question, that when was Jesus Christ (PBUH) crucified, the Christians say ‘on a Good Friday’. We ask them ’what is so good about Friday’? They say Jesus Christ (PBUH) died for our sins. Therefore it is a good Friday’. And if you read the trial was hurried, the trial was in a hurry, hurry to put Him upon the cross, hurry to get Him down from the cross, as Pastor said, no one can stay overnight hanging on the cross on the Sabbath day, according to, he didn’t mention the reference, Deuteronomy 21:23, the land became cursed. So they were in a hurry to take Him down. And they give the burial bath. By the time, it is late in the evening, He is put in the sepulcher, it is late in the evening.

 And according to the Gospel of John 20:1, it was the first day of the week, Sunday morning that the tomb was found empty by Mary Magdalene. So supposedly Jesus was in the tomb on Friday night. Why do I say supposedly? Because the Bible does not say when does Jesus leaves the tomb? Maybe He left on Friday late night or Saturday morning. It doesn’t say. Agreed, that maybe Jesus rose early Sunday morning. So Jesus was in the tomb Friday night, supposedly, He was there in the tomb Saturday day, supposedly, He was there in the tomb Saturday night supposedly, and Sunday morning the tomb is empty. So Jesus was there for 2 nights and one day. But the sign says 3 days and 3 nights. 3 days and 3 nights. As Jonah was in the belly of the whale 3 days and 3 nights so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth 3 days and 3 nights. But Jesus (PBUH) was actually 1 day and 2 nights. Is 3 days and 3 nights equal to 1 day and 2 nights? Is it equal? 3 days and 3 nights. Is it equal? No! So even the time factor which they boast about was not fulfilled. The real thing is Jesus Christ (PBUH) was alive. For a person to be crucified, he should die on the cross.

Just to make it easy for the pastor in the rebuttal time, I will list the major points proving that He was not crucified; He was not resurrected, because He is alive. If He is alive, no crucifixion, no resurrection.  He was put on the cross and was brought down very fast in three hours. In 3 hours it is difficult for a person to die. So Jesus was alive. When He was brought down, even his two cross mates were alive proving that even Jesus was alive. Point No. 2. Point No. 3 His legs were not broken. Word used here is broken leg a dead man, proving that He was alive. Point No. 4 that the stone was removed and the winding sheets were unwound proving that Jesus (PBUH) was alive. Point No. 5 that He was disguised as a gardener. Why? Because He was alive trying to be safe from the Jews. Point No.6, the tomb was roomy. It was spacious. What use is this spacious tomb for a dead person proving Jesus was alive? Point No. 7 that when Mary Magdalene goes to touch Jesus (PBUH), He says ‘touch Me not’. Why? He was a physical body. He was alive. It will hurt Him. He was in pain proving that He was alive. Jesus (PBUH) says that I have not yet ascended unto My Father. That means He was alive. Point No 9, Mary Magdalene did not fear on recognising Jesus (PBUH)

Point no. 10 that in the upper room, He shows His hands and feet to prove that He was not a Spirit but He was alive. Point No. 11 that they were overjoyed to see Him. Why? Because they thought He is dead and He was in Spirit form. They were overjoyed to see Him because He was alive. Point No. 12, He ate a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb to prove that He was alive. The disciples had heard from Mary Magdalene that He was alive. Point No. 14, the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale so shall the Son of man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth alive, alive, alive. If He is alive, no crucifixion, no resurrection.

So, in short, Jesus Christ (PBUH) was put on the cross, according to the Bible, but He did not die. Now the topic is ‘was Christ really crucified?’ if He is put on the cross and if He dies, He is crucified. If He is put on the cross and does not die, what is one word that You will use? see, English language, interfacial, if you look up the dictionary for a word for a person who is put on the cross but the person does not die, you will not find any word. So we have to coin a new word. The best word that we can coin is that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was not crucified but He was crucified. It is not crucifixion C-R-U-C-I-F-I-X-I-O-N but it is the crucifixion, C-R-U-C-I-F-I-C-T-I-O-N. It is fiction. Coined a new word. So Jesus Christ (PBUH) was not crucificted, He was crucified.

So I hope this ends the friction and the pastor will agree, and the confusion will be removed from his mind that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was not crucified. There was no crucifixion, F-I-X-I-O-N, but crucifiction, F-I-C-T-I-O-N. I would like to end my talk by giving a quotation from the glorious Quran from S 3:54 which says they planned and plotted it, Allah too planned. Allah is the best of planners.

 

Section Four: Refutation by Bro. Jerry Thomas

In this section, Janab Dr. Zakir Naik raised two more questions and summarized his previous questions. While summarizing his previous questions, he also added a few questions which were not previously raised. I will answer those as well and summarize my answers to this.

Two questions in this section are related to the sign of Jonah.

(a)  If Jonah was alive in the belly of the fish, how can Jesus Christ be dead in the tomb?

(b)  Was Jesus Christ in the tomb for three days and three nights as Jonah was in the belly of the fish?

Let me begin answering these two questions by saying sign of Jonah is a figurative way of teaching the death and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ taught about His death both figuratively as well as literally. If a guru teaches a subject both figuratively and literally, common sense demands that we should interpret the figurative by literal and not literal by figurative speech.

In Matthew 12: 40-42, Lord Jesus Christ compared His death to the sign of Jonah.

In John 2: 19-21, Lord Jesus compared the body to the temple and taught to destroy this temple.

In John 3: 14-15, Lord Jesus Christ compared his crucifixion and death to Prophet Moses raising bronze serpent and Son of Man.

In Matthew 21:37-38, Lord Jesus Christ told the parable of gardeners, owner, and son to teach about his death.

In John 12: 23-25, wheat grain falls on the ground.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ also taught literally:

In Matthew 16: 21, Jesus Christ said that he will be killed and rise up on 3rd day

In Matthew 17: 22-23, Jesus Christ said he will be killed and rise up on 3rd day

In Matthew 20:19,  Jesus said He will  be crucified

In Mark 8:31, will be killed, and will rise up on 3rd day

In Mark 9:31, will be killed

In Luke 9:22, will be killed

In Luke 18:31, will be killed

 

If you interpret the figurative by literal, there is absolutely no confusion. Jesus Christ was crucified and killed.

 

Now, there were many Jewish rabbi’s who believed that Jonah died in the belly of the fish. The reason is the prayer of Jonah mentioned in Johan 2, is a thanksgiving prayer.

 

Jonah 2:2 – thanksgiving

Jonah 2:2- cried out from Sheol- Sheol is the place where the dead go.

 

Jonah 2:6 the earth closed in around me

 

Jonah 2:6 (my soul has been lifted from the pit

 

If you take the Jewish interpretation, Jonah was dead in the belly of the fish.

 

Now to add to three days and three nights. As I said, it was a figurative way of teaching. We cannot interpret the literal by figurative but figurative by literal.

 

However, to give you a similar example of Jewish counting, read:

 

 Esther 4:16-  fast for me, neither eat nor drink for three days, day or night.

 

In Esther 5:1– you will Esther stand before the King on the third day.

If Janab Dr. Zakir Naik had known the basic rule of interpretation- interpret the figurative by the literal, he would not have raised these questions.

At least, if he had studied the Jewish culture and their interpretation, he would not have raised these questions.

Summary of Questions and Answers:

Question 1: He was put on the cross and was brought down very fast in three hours. In 3 hours it is difficult for a person to die. So Jesus was alive.

Answer: Medically and humanly, it is impossible for Lord Jesus Christ to have survived the torture and the final piercing by the spear on His side.

On the night before Lord Jesus Christ was arrested, in the Garden of Gethsemane, His sweat became like great drops of blood. Medically, this condition is rare but happens when one is subjected to extreme grief. As a result, the skin would become very soft.

During His trial, Lord Jesus Christ was scourged. The whip or flagrum, would have many bars with long nails, and lead balls attached at the end of it. It would plow and pull the flesh out of the body. Now, at least thirty-nine lashes, but not less than that as Roman soldiers are beating and not the Jews, would have bared his body of flesh. Scholars say that after such scourging, you would be able to see the bones in the body very clearly.

In addition, they put a crown of thrones in the head, which would also deeply wound.

Both these would cause immense loss of blood, resulting in low blood pressure and erratic heartbeats.

After this, Lord Jesus Christ had to carry the cross. Now, Roman soldiers made Simon, a Cyrenian, carry the cross not out of sympathy but they would have seen the possibility of Lord Jesus Christ dying before He reaches the Golgotha.

Remember the thieves on the cross were not scourged. It was only the extreme criminals that were generally scourged.   But Lord Jesus Christ had to undergo both.

After this Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.

Now, leave all these things. Assume that none of these things had happened. But if pierce a man with a spear in his heart, do you expect him to survive after that?

I have given only a gist of the details.

Medically, it is impossible to survive after this. It is said that a medical doctor like Janab Dr. Zakir Naik should raise such a question.

It shows that he is not at all honest in his questions.

Now, spiritually:

John 10: 18 “Lord Jesus Christ said that He has the power to lay down His life and take it again.”

It was possible for Lord Jesus Christ to lay down His life.

Point 2: When He was brought down, even his two cross mates were alive proving that even Jesus was alive.

As I said, thieves on the cross were not scourged but Lord Jesus Christ was scourged.

Point No. 3 His legs were not broken. Word used here is broken leg a dead man, proving that He was alive.

The leg was broken if a person did not die on the cross.

John 19: 33- they did not break His legs, because He was already dead.

John 19:36 – “For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “not one of His bones shall be broken”

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik neither knows history nor the word of God, the Holy Bible.

Point No. 4 that the stone was removed and the winding sheets were unwound proving that Jesus (PBUH) was alive.

They removed stones and unwound clothes are circumstantial evidence given in the Holy Bible unlike the conspiracy theory of the Quran.

Point No. 5 that He was disguised as a gardener. Why? Because He was alive trying to be safe from the Jews.

The Holy Bible does not say that Lord Jesus Christ was disguised as a gardener. It only says that Mary Magdalene thought He was a gardener. 

Point No.6, the tomb was roomy. It was spacious. What use is this spacious tomb for a dead person proving Jesus was alive?

Burying is such a tomb was at least the custom of the Jews. But burying under the bed in the house is not a known custom. So, by the standards of Janab Dr. Zakir Naik, Hazarat Muhammad should have been a fable.

Point No. 7 that when Mary Magdalene goes to touch Jesus (PBUH), He says ‘touch Me not’. Why? He was a physical body. He was alive. It will hurt Him. He was in pain proving that He was alive.

The reason for Lord Jesus Christ saying cling to me not is explained by Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

It nowhere says that Lord Jesus Christ was in pain. It is putting words into the Holy Bible.

Lord Jesus Christ definitely had a physical body but not a natural body. Lord Jesus Christ’s body was resurrected glorified physical body. It is the misrepresentation of Biblical doctrines.

Further, Lord Jesus Christ is alive as this is a resurrection account.

As Lord Jesus Christ said in Revelation 1:18 “I am He who lives and was dead and behold, I am alive forevermore.”

 Point 8: Jesus (PBUH) says that I have not yet ascended unto My Father. That means He was alive.

I do not know if in Islam people are dead when they resurrect. In Christianity, when believers are resurrected,  they are alive physically and spiritually.

Point No 9, Mary Magdalene did not fear recognizing Jesus (PBUH)

Yes, because she believed that her Master resurrected as He foretold to them.

Point no. 10 that in the upper room, He shows His hands and feet to prove that He was not a Spirit but He was alive.

Lord Jesus Christ was not definitely a spirit without a body. He was bodily, physically resurrected. It is a spiritual physical body as against a natural physical body.

Point No. 11 that they were overjoyed to see Him. Why? Because they thought He is dead and He was in Spirit form. They were overjoyed to see Him because He was alive.

They were overjoyed because their master was resurrected.

Point No. 12, He ate a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb to prove that He was alive.

Yes. He was dead and is alive forever. 

Point 13: The disciples had heard from Mary Magdalene that He was alive.

Yes, that is true. He was dead and He is alive forever. When all the religious leaders like Hazarat Muhammad are dead and gone, our Lord Jesus Christ was dead but He is alive forever because He defeated death.

Point No. 14, the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale so shall the Son of man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth alive, alive, alive.

Learn the basics of interpretation, and you will not commit these mistakes. Figurative should be interpreted by the literal. At least, search the Jewish culture and interpretation, this mistake can still be avoided.

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik at the end said it is not crucifixion but crucifiction. 

It is crucifixion in the Holy Bible supported by medical and historical evidence. It is a fiction in the Quran without support except for conspiracy theories and Gnostics who do not care about history and facts.

Janab Dr. Zakir Naik quoted Surah 3:54.

However, if you read the same verse in Pickthall translation, one of the translations recommended by Janab Dr. Zakir Naik on his website, you will read:

Surah 3:54 (Pickthall)- “And they (the disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed (against them): and Allah is the best of schemers.”

The original Arabic word that is used is makar.  

According to Lane’s Arabic English lexicon, the word makar also means to practice deceit.

If you deny crucifixion, you can only conclude by saying Allah is the best of the schemers.

Moreover, you can be assured of your own salvation.

In Surah 46:8-9 “I know not what shall be done with me and with you”

In Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Number 266: “By Allah, though I am the Apostle of Allah, yet I do not know what Allah will do to me.”

Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Number 16– Hazarat Muhammad even told his daughter “O Fatima bint Muhammad! Ask me anything from my wealth, but I cannot save you from Allah’s Punishment.”

In fact, this is consistent with Allah’s nature of being Makara.

Surah 7:99 “Have they become sure about makra Allahi? None are sure about makra Allahi except the people who are losers.

However, in contrast, if you accept the crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ and its purpose, you can say:

John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

 It is the God who is the agape love. And He offers you salvation.

Let it be known to my Muslim friends:

Acts 4: 12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other names under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Accepting Lord Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord is the only way to receive salvation.

If you choose to follow Makra Allah, you can never be assured of salvation.

As the Quran says, you can never be safe from his scheming either.

If you choose to follow God who is the agape Love, you can be assured of salvation. The choice is yours.

May the name of Lord Jesus Christ be glorified for now and evermore. Amen.

 

Watch the videos on Crucifixion of Jesus Christ counter to Zakir Naik allegations against the crucifixion of Jesus Christ