Steven Avery
Administrator
Was Pope John Paul II wrong to kiss the Koran?
Years ago Pope John Paul II visited a mosque and was gifted with a Koran, which the Pope kissed. Was he wrong to do so? Would Jesus have kissed that book?
www.christianityboard.com
Let's consider this 'asinine' (sic) historical material that links Rome to Islam:
Why would "M." make only a deal with 'catholics'?
"... Interestingly, Muhammad, despite having waged massacres against communities of various religions, offered his protection to Roman Catholic St. Catherine’s monastery in A.D. 628. The monastery survives to this day despite being located within a country of Islamic dominance. ..." - Life Line to Members of the New Apostolic Church
The Ashtiname with the St. Catherine's monastery [the place of the infamous Codex Sinaiticus supposedly its orgination according to Constantin von Tischendorf, or instead a personal workof Constantine Simonides, according to himself, gathered at the pseudo-'Mt. Sinai', see also:
"... According to the historical record, the freedoms granted by the Prophet to the monks of Mount Sinai, along with other communities, were honored by Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, and ‘Ali, as well as the Umayyads, and the ‘Abassids. The Covenant of the Prophet Muhammad with the Monks of Mount Sinai is next attested by Muhammad ibn Sa‘d al-Baghdadi (784-845), the early Muslim historian and scribe of al-Waqidi (748-822 CE), one of the earliest historians of Islam and biographer of the Prophet, in a document called the Treaty of Saint Catherine which is cited in his Ṭabaqat or Book of Major Classes ..." - Covenant of Prophet Muhammad with the Monks of Mt. Sinai - Dr. John Andrew Morrow
Wikipedia:
"... The Ashtiname of Muhammad, also known as the Covenant or Testament (Testamentum) of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, is a document which is a charter or writ ratified by the Islamic prophet Muhammad granting protection and other privileges to the followers of Jesus the Nazarene, given to the Christian monks of Saint Catherine's Monastery. It is sealed with an imprint representing Muhammad's hand.[1] ..." - Ashtiname of Muhammad - Wikipedia
"... Whenever Christian monks, devotees and pilgrims gather together, whether in a mountain or valley, or den, or frequented place, or plain, or church, or in houses of worship, verily we are [at the] back of them and shall protect them, and their properties and their morals, by Myself, by My Friends and by My Assistants, for they are of My Subjects and under My Protection. ..." - Ashtiname of Muhammad - Wikipedia
Is it acknowledged by Islam and History? Yes ...
"... Tradition confirms that both Khadija and Waraqa were both [catholics] ..."
The Ashtiname of Muhammad in full, English:
"... English Translation of the Ashtiname by Anton F. Haddad
This is a letter which was issued by Mohammed, Ibn Abdullah, the Messenger, the Prophet, the Faithful, who is sent to all the people as a trust on the part of God to all His creatures, that they may have no plea against God hereafter. Verily God is Omnipotent, the Wise. This letter is directed to the embracers of Islam, as a covenant given to the followers of Jesus the Nazarene in the East and West, the far and near, the Arabs and foreigners, the known and the unknown.
This letter contains the oath given unto them, and he who disobeys that which is therein will be considered a disbeliever and a transgressor to that whereunto he is commanded. He will be regarded as one who has corrupted the oath of God, disbelieved His Testament, rejected His Authority, despised His Religion, and made himself deserving of His Curse, whether he is a Sultan or any other believer of Islam. Whenever Christian monks, devotees and pilgrims gather together, whether in a mountain or valley, or den, or frequented place, or plain, or church, or in houses of worship, verily we are [at the] back of them and shall protect them, and their properties and their morals, by Myself, by My Friends and by My Assistants, for they are of My Subjects and under My Protection.
I shall exempt them from that which may disturb them; of the burdens which are paid by others as an oath of allegiance. They must not give anything of their income but that which pleases them—they must not be offended, or disturbed, or coerced or compelled. Their judges should not be changed or prevented from accomplishing their offices, nor the monks disturbed in exercising their religious order, or the people of seclusion be stopped from dwelling in their cells.
No one is allowed to plunder these Christians, or destroy or spoil any of their churches, or houses of worship, or take any of the things contained within these houses and bring it to the houses of Islam. And he who takes away anything therefrom, will be one who has corrupted the oath of God, and, in truth, disobeyed His Messenger.
Jizya should not be put upon their judges, monks, and those whose occupation is the worship of God; nor is any other thing to be taken from them, whether it be a fine, a tax or any unjust right. Verily I shall keep their compact, wherever they may be, in the sea or on the land, in the East or West, in the North or South, for they are under My Protection and the testament of My Safety, against all things which they abhor.
No taxes or tithes should be received from those who devote themselves to the worship of God in the mountains, or from those who cultivate the Holy Lands. No one has the right to interfere with their affairs, or bring any action against them. Verily this is for aught else and not for them; rather, in the seasons of crops, they should be given a Kadah for each Ardab of wheat (about five bushels and a half) as provision for them, and no one has the right to say to them 'this is too much', or ask them to pay any tax.
As to those who possess properties, the wealthy and merchants, the poll-tax to be taken from them must not exceed twelve drachmas a head per year (i.e. about 200 modern day US dollars).
They shall not be imposed upon by anyone to undertake a journey, or to be forced to go to wars or to carry arms; for the Muslims have to fight for them. Do not dispute or argue with them, but deal according to the verse recorded in the Quran, to wit: ‘Do not dispute or argue with the People of the Book but in that which is best’ [29:46]. Thus they will live favored and protected from everything which may offend them by the Callers to religion (Islam), wherever they may be and in any place they may dwell.
Should any Christian woman be married to a Muslim, such marriage must not take place except after her consent, and she must not be prevented from going to her church for prayer. Their churches must be honored and they must not be withheld from building churches or repairing convents.
They must not be forced to carry arms or stones; but the Muslims must protect them and defend them against others. It is positively incumbent upon every one of the follower of Islam not to contradict or disobey this oath until the Day of Resurrection and the end of the world.[3] ..." - Ashtiname of Muhammad - Wikipedia
One must ask the question, how did Khadija know who the angel Jibr'il [supposedly Gabriel] was, a satan or evil angel was, how to test for a true or false angel [which was a ridiculous superstitious test], how they knew what the signs of a prophet to Arabia were to be, and how did Waraqa know the things he did, if they were to have no knowledge of Catholicism?
It is obvious, that there was a "catholic" presence in Makkah/Mecca and as well as Yathrib/Medina.
