What do you guys make of this?

[exoflare]

I stumbled upon Mark A Gabriel’s book Jesus and Muhammad while I was looking around at a bookstore (ironically, looking under the section marked “Islam”). His testimony seemed pretty interesting… he said that he graduated from Al-Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt. Also, he notes that it carries such influence for Islam and the middle east that it would be difficult for Westerners to comprehend it because there is no university with nearly as much influence over the Western world. He says this specifically in his book that I got to look at, although I don’t see that part on the website that I link. He also goes into a lot more detail of his background and testimony in his book that I saw. Unfortunately I didn’t get to buy it at the time, but if anyone happens to have read it or is more familiar with this guy please feel free to add your thoughts.

Anyway, here is his website where he goes into at least some detail about his testimony and background. In fact, I would recommend you click on the top link “Testimony” first as it probably gives the best idea of where this guy is even coming from in the first place.

markagabriel.com/

 

[meedo]

Well i never heared of The guy , all i know is taht we have a some copts who use their knowledge of Arabic and Egypt into making sometimes as if they were muslims. I remember once a coptic priest came to me in the book fair and asked me where to find a ceertain book on Islam and i showed him .

The coptic church is very hateful of Islam . so i wouldnt be surprised if they would make this thing up as they make up alot of the persecution stories . I cant deny or affirm the story really but there are certain aspects of it that makes me question if he really is what he is talking about

one of the things i am not convinced about this man is the following

**"I took the book home and opened it at random. My eyes fell on Matthew 5:38:

You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.” But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

My whole body began trembling. I had studied the Quran my whole life—not once did I find words as inspiring as this. I had come face to face with the Lord Jesus Christ.

"**

So he studied teh Quran for his whole life and he just couldnt get to see these verses ( These verses aer just for starters , there is more but i guess i will post these now because i dont have much time)

1"22. Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want, and those who have left their homes in Allah.s cause: let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (24-22)

2-"109. Quite a number of the People of the Book wish they could Turn you (people) back to infidelity after ye have believed, from selfish envy, after the Truth hath become Manifest unto them: But forgive and overlook, "

(2-109)

3-"134. Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men;- for Allah loves those who do good;-

"
(3-134)

4-"The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah. for ((Allah)) loveth not those who do wrong. (42-40)
"

5-"149. Whether ye publish a good deed or conceal it or cover evil with pardon, verily Allah doth blot out (sins) and hath power (in the judgment of values) (4-149)

I dont know where this man comes from but the information that he gives about Egypt or Al Azhar doesnt really substantiate anything because Al Azhar isnt this closed secret place where only he had the previlage of entering lol. Just knowing arabic and looking middle eastener doesnt substantiate he was a muslim.

Any way i really dont know . I just feel he at least wasnt aware with all the verses i quoted above even he studied the Quran all his life .

salam

 

[exoflare]

Thanks for replying.

That was actually something else he alluded to in his book. He said that he had always wanted to pay attention to the peaceful verses such as those you quote above, but was instructed by the administration of Al-Azhar to focus only on certain passages of the Quran instead, which he claimed mainly focused on jihad and killing the infidels and stuff like that. Also he talks about a professor becoming enraged at him when he tried to ask a question about how to put these different verses into a common context. He said he couldn’t find a way to reconcile these two types of verses in his own mind but later on he was forced to. Mind you this is all in the intro of his book. Once again, I didn’t get to read the whole thing. I haven’t been able to find much outside information about the guy myself either, so I’m still looking. I’m not claiming to know one way or the other about him; I was just wondering if anybody else here had heard of him mainly.

 

[Faith101]

exoflare:

Thanks for replying.

That was actually something else he eluded to in his book. He said that he had always wanted to pay attention to the peaceful verses such as those you quote above, but was instructed by the administration of Al-Azhar to focus only on certain passages of the Quran instead, which he claimed mainly focused on jihad and killing the infidels and stuff like that. Also he talks about a professor becoming enraged at him when he tried to ask a question about how to put these different verses into a common context. He said he couldn’t find a way to reconcile these two types of verses in his own mind but later on he was forced to. Mind you this is all in the intro of his book. Once again, I didn’t get to read the whole thing. I haven’t been able to find much outside information about the guy myself either, so I’m still looking. I’m not claiming to know one way or the other about him; I was just wondering if anybody else here had heard of him mainly.

the bolded statement above is kinda odd. I watch countless Islamic programs on the arabic TV, where they will have someone who graduated from al-azhar take calls from people. And the people ask everything including the type of question mentioned above. The sheik would respond peacefully and calmly explaining what the person misunderstood.

If he had went to a school where these questions were not allowed, then he wouldnt know how to answer them and he wouldnt answer them peacefully (b/c thats the way his teachers supposedly taught him).

 

[meedo]

Thanks for replying.

That was actually something else he eluded to in his book. He said that he had always wanted to pay attention to the peaceful verses such as those you quote above, but was instructed by the administration of Al-Azhar to focus only on certain passages of the Quran instead, which he claimed mainly focused on jihad and killing the infidels and stuff like that.""

**Well this doesnt make sense to me as an Egytptian who have been all my life here. You see, even normal muslims who are laymen would know how to reconcile the verses . All Holy books have verses that are reconciled with others . In Islam this isnt exception really . And No way would the government lead Azhar preach Violence lol . Simply he contradicts hismelf with teh article beause he said that the government caught an extreemest and locked him up. Why would they do that and Let the source of Violence which are the scholars of Al Azhars Preach hatred to their students?!

What i can see this man doing here is trying to preempt our road to commen sense by dismissing it . I am a lay man , if i read the Quran with a simple commentaryt i can easily know everything . It doesnt need a specialist in Al Azhar for 15 years and at the end of All this time he still even didnt read one commentary ?! **
"“Also he talks about a professor becoming enraged at him when he tried to ask a question about how to put these different verses into a common context. He said he couldn’t find a way to reconcile these two types of verses in his own mind but later on he was forced to. “””

**generaly muslim scholars never have an attitude of doing that really . Muslims are generous with their information and if a professor is busy he will refer you to another. We dont hold the sacred secret in a hidden chamber . Everey thing is public to non muslims same as muslims. **

By the way i am smelling somthing fishy here , this is the secind time i hear a convert story in Egypt who says that his father or relative was a big business man and member of Parliment .Do copts have a template ?! I really wonder !