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g) The Renewer of Hearts and of Minds
Blessed is he who realizes that Christ is not merely an ordinary human or a mere prophet, but the divine Legislator with the authority of God. Muhammad, however, was commanded by the angel to seek the counsel of the people of the Book, so that he could understand the meaning of the revelation given to him:
“So, if you are in doubt concerning that which we have sent down to you, ask those who have been reading the Book before you.” (Sura Yunis 10:94)
فَإِن كُنْت فِي شَك مِمَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْك فَاسْأَل الَّذِين يَقْرَأُون الْكِتَاب مِن قَبْلِكَ (سُورَة يُونُس ١٠ : ٩٤)
Christ did not need to ask the teachers of the Old Testament about the mysteries of the Law of Moses, neither did He require details of its message, for He Himself was the Word of God and the Legislator of the Law. Christ was actually the Law incarnate. He has the right that obedience be paid to Him. The Qur'an quotes Christ as having said:
“So, fear God and obey me.” (Sura Al Imran 3:50)
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّه وَأَطِيعُون (سُورَة آل عِمْرَان ٣ : ٥٠)
All men, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Christians, should study the Gospel carefully, keep it in their heart, and follow Christ in all aspects of their lives. Christ has the right and authority to demand obedience from every individual!
Christ did not lead His disciples to God only, He called them to follow Him and to apply His teachings. For this reason, the Qur'an portrays the followers of Christ with the best of descriptions, such as: Helpers of God, believers, Muslims, His followers and martyrs (Sura Al Imran 3:52-53). We read of His followers in the Qur'an:
“Then We sent Isa, the Son of Mary, and brought to Him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who follow Him compassion and mercy.” (Sura al-Hadid 57:27)
وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ابْن مَرْيَم وَآتَيْنَاه الإِنْجِيل وَجَعَلْنَا فِي قُلُوب الَّذِين اتَّبَعُوه رَأْفَة وَرَحْمَة ً (سُورَة الْحَدِيد ٥٧ : ٢٧)
In the Qur'an, Allah says:
“O Isa, truly I cause you to die, and raise you up to Me, and purify you of those who disbelieve. I will set those who followed you above the disbelievers untill the Das of Resurrection. Then to Me shall you return.” (Sura Al Imran 3:55)
يَا عِيسَى إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيك وَرَافِعُك إِلَي وَمُطَهِّرُك مِن الَّذِين كَفَرُوا وَجَاعِل الَّذِين اتَّبَعُوك فَوْق الَّذِين كَفَرُوا إِلَى يَوْم الْقِيَامَة ثُم إِلَي مَرْجِعُكُم (سُورَة آل عِمْرَان ٣ : ٥٥)
These Qur'anic verses state that the true followers of Jesus are a higher, special, and distinct class of people. They are humble, not wanting to boast or become big. Muhammad declared:
“And you will surely find that the nearest of them in sympathy to those, who have believed, are those who say: ‘We are Christians’. This is so, because some of them are priests and monks, and because they are not proud.” (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:82)
وَلَتَجِدَن أَقْرَبَهُم مَوَدَّة لِلَّذِين آمَنُوا الَّذِين قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَى ذَلِك بِأَن مِنْهُم قِسِّيسِين وَرُهْبَانا وَأَنَّهُم لا يَسْتَكْبِرُون (سُورَة الْمَائِدَة ٥ : ٨٢)
The Qur'anic testimonies point to the greatest miracle of Christ, showing His ability to silently cause political and social changes without war or deception. He renews and converts disobedient sinners, changing them from egoists to loving people, from boasting chiefs to humble servants of God. Christ Himself confessed that He did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
Everyone who compares the miracles of Muhammad with the miracles of Christ discovers that the signs of Muhammad were only words, whereas the signs of Christ were miracles manifested in His works of love and deeds of mercy.