Salam. I hope this question reaches your amazing team in good health! How can I explain to non-Muslims that Adam and Jesus (and all the other prophets) were in fact Muslims worshiping Allah alone? When I tell them, they say “then how come Islam came after Jesus?” Please answer so I know how to reply to this sort of tricky question. Jazakallah Khair! And keep up the good work!
This answer was answered in brief by Fadel Soliman and expanded by Brother Maan Khalife, a member of Ask About Islam Editorial Staff.
Salam dear Brother,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
Since there is One God and one human kind; as men are not better than women and whites are not better than blacks, nor are Arabs better than Indians, etc…, then there is One Sender and one recipient, therefore it is logical to have one religion sent by God to the human kind with different messengers through different eras.
This religion should not be limited, in order to suit all people. It should not be called after a person or a tribe or a geographic region like Hinduism which is called after Hind or India, Judaism after the tribe of Judas, Christianity after Jesus Christ and Buddhism after Buddha.
The religion of God is called Islam which is a concept meaning: submitting to God and worshipping Him purely without associating other gods with Him, in order to reach peace and harmony with the universe.
Islam is the religion of Jesus and Moses and Abraham and all the Prophets since Adam (peace be upon them all). Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is merely one of the messengers of Islam, the final messenger as called by the Quran (3:144):
{Muhammad is no more than a messenger of Allah, like the messengers that passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels (become unbelievers)? He who turns back on his heels will do no harm to Allah; soon Allah will reward the thankful.}
The main creed in Islam is to worship none but Allah, the Exalted, who is the only true God since He is the creator of everyone and everything; He is unique and there is no one comparable to Him. If a god walks on earth and eats like everyone thus discharges what he eats then he is surely not a god. The true God does not have to come to earth to show Himself, He chooses prophets and messengers from among people who speak their own language and understands their culture. Allah the Exalted mentions in His book what is translated as:
{Certainly we have sent you (O Muhammad) with the truth as a bearer of good news and as a Warner, for there has not been a nation which has not had a Warner}
So Allah has sent a prophet to warn every nation on earth from the beginning of time until the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who addressed the final reminder. This is to worship none but the only true God, Allah, otherwise there will be major consequences in the hereafter on those who reject. Why was Muhammad (peace be upon him) the final Warner? Because Allah has perfected and completed His religion to mankind as mentioned in the Qur’an (5:3):
{…This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…}
So the previous prophets before Muhammad (peace be upon them all) preached Islam by asking their followers to believe in only one unique God, the creator. Over time, people changed this ideology to what is known today as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc… It is mentioned in the Qur’an what is translated as:
{And this (submission to Allah, Islam) was enjoined by Ibrahim (Abraham) upon his sons and by Jacob (saying), “O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except in the Faith of Islam (as Muslims – Islamic Monotheism).”} (Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 132)
{Do you claim that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and their descendents were Jews or Christians? Say, “Are you more knowledgeable than Allah?” Who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony received from Allah (Islam)? Allah is not unaware of what you do.”} (Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 140)
Furthermore, Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying:
“I am most akin to Jesus Christ among the whole of mankind, and all the Prophets are of different mothers but belong to one religion and no Prophet was raised between me and Jesus.” (Muslim – Book 30, Hadith 5835)
In conclusion, Islam is the final revelation from God sent to humanity. It is everyone’s duty to study Islam and understand it in order to attain final salvation.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Salam and please keep in touch.
Source: OnIslam
