Summary of the third letter:
The wisdom of Christ in the Koran

The Parable of the lost son

My way to the light (Testimony of a former Moslem)

This is our third letter, and we hope that we will understand together what God wants to say.

The Koran says:
Then will God say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favour to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst show them the clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: 'This is nothing but evident magic.' (AL-MA'DA: 110).

This verse testifies that God taught Jesus the Scriptures, wisdom, the Torah and the Gospels. The Holy Spirit, who gave strength to Jesus (as stated in the Koran), has revealed the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in the Bible, and protected it from any form of falsification or alteration, so that the Bible remains "Hoda" (i.e. true guidance) for all people.

Now we want to look at a Parable that Jesus told:

A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of [thy] substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring the fatted calf, [and] kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him. But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and [yet] thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine. But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive [again]; and [was] lost, and is found.
(Luke 15:11-32).

In this simple story, Jesus revealed to us just how deep is the love of God for us. The father in this story symbolizes our heavenly Father, who gives free will to all people. The younger son symbolizes all of us, who, with our free will, have decided on a life of sin.

Summary of the short story:
"My way to the light"

In 1985 my job was to sell newspapers in Austria, where I met a Christian missionary. She was eager and talked about Jesus with each of my colleagues, and invited each to the event. I then took part in the event, and noticed the "Spirit of Islam" in the people (at that time, that meant for me that they really prayed to God). I also noticed that they have only Jesus and the Bible. I concluded that by participating in such events I would at least be protected from the terrible state of affairs in Europe.

I then asked the missionary to provide me with a Bible in Arabic. The first time I read it I found the style very amusing, especially when I compared it with the Koran. After I few days I regretted that, and had the impression, that this book had not been falsified. Because I found nothing about Islam in the Bible, I thought it must have been deleted in the translation of the Bible. I saw also that the stories of the Creation and the Prophets in the Bible are much clearer than in the Koran, and presented in the correct sequence.

I also realised that certain customs and traditions are not Islamic, but Jewish, e.g. circumcision of boys, sacrifice of sheep, and putting the blood of the victim on the house walls. I also read in the Bible why there are rainbows, why different languages are spoken in the world and many other things...I had never doubted Islam but at this time I was quite convinced that the Bible comes from God and that God himself is the best protector of his Word. Then I read a small book with the title "The only way to heaven".
It is based on verses in the Koran. It presents insights from great Islamic interpreters, a commentary on the lives of the prophets by Ibn Hisham, and talks about Mohammed and his life. In summary, this book concluded that Mohammed was no prophet, and presented the view that he was interested only in women, war and conquest. At that time, I thought that such people did not understand the divine wisdom regarding why Mohammed had had so many women. I soon noticed, however, that these verses and explanations are actually in the Koran itself and in reliable commentaries.

I found that the story in the 19th Sura of the Koran corresponds to what the Bible says: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us." (Matthew 1:23), "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah: 9:5).

So I was convinced that God became man. The Koran says that God sends his Spirit, and that there is no difference between God and his Spirit. Now I have seen the truth about belief in Jesus and I believe that the Bible, which presents a unified, complete and clear message, is the one, true way. The Bible begins with the story of creation, continues with the stories of the prophets, and ends with the promise of Christ that he will come again, and the promise of eternal life with God.

This contrasts with the Koran, which contains so many contradictory verses. These cause great controversy amongst scholars, who have written many interpretations and found little common ground. I have often read the Koran, the commentaries, the lives of the prophets and also the Bible, and have been surprised by the very different views of God given by the Bible and the Koran. The Bible shows us how God has created heaven and earth, how he gave the law to Moses, and how, through the prophets, he told of the coming of Jesus…a single historical account and a single law; no other prophet wrote a different history or pronounced another law.

All these 24 prophets, in over 4,000 years from the creation up to Jesus, said: "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 17-19).

I am also surprised that the one prophet who brought something different from all these Jewish prophets is an Arab prophet, and at the same time a prophet of Islam. If he is really from God, why does he bring another book and another law? If we study the words of Jesus, we find that Jesus did not refute either the law or the prophets. In contrast, although at first Mohammed testified to the Torah and the Gospels, he later changed his mind and cursed the Jews and the Christians, condemning them as unbelievers and as believing in more than one God.

I would like to end here with my experience with Islam in Egypt. I was conscientious in prayer, fasting and in reading the Koran and its scholars. The Imam (the spiritual leader of the Mosque) noticed my devotion, and invited me to become a member of the committee, and afterwards offered me the role of Muezzin (who calls people to prayer in the Mosque) in my mosque, and then the visit to the Mosques of the committees in Cairo. After three years, I began to teach in the Mosque, always after the prayer. I was then offered the role of preacher in the Mosque of the committee, but I declined the offer.
I preferred to proclaim Islam to the Moslems. I talked about Islam with Moslems at my workplace, in the Mosque and everywhere, and I warned them about sects and destruction, as I had learnt so much through reading, taking courses, and listening to the sheiks and teacher of the committee. I was also very proud of the plates on the walls of our Mosque: "The Mosque is for those who follow the book of God and those that He has sent". I spent ten years reading the writings of the scholars, and in prayer in the Mosques of the committee. But, I found that I had many questions that remained unanswered.
I was always given the answer, "One should not think so much", or, "God knows". In this environment, I was completely convinced of Islam, and was even a preacher among the Moslems. After reading the Bible at this juncture, however, I recognized why I was so confused and had so many open questions. It was because we had so many different explanations, and no reliable source. I was very boastful at that time of my knowledge. Now, however, through reading the Bible, the truth became clear. My heart was full of joy as I recognized the truth about God.
I recognized also that I am a sinner, and that my sins are forgiven not through prayer or fasting nor through good works, but simply through the grace of God.

In conclusion, I present the promise of God, which Jesus has given to all people.
"Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20), "And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved." (Acts 4: 12).

Oh Lord, I thank you for your love, your salvation and your goodness. I give these lines to your care, and ask that you will open the eyes of the people who read these words, that they may recognize you as the one, true almighty God. Amen.

To the fourth letter