Page 57 - Demo

Muhammad in the Bible David Benjamin KeldaniEdited & Annotated by: Prof. Dawud M. R. Alhanbali & Prof, Dr. Kaseb A. Albadran ( 57 )formally circumcised, whereas the latter baptized only. By the circumcision a Gentile was admitted into the family of Abraham (pbuh), and; therefore; into the fold of God’s people. By baptism, a circumcised believer was admitted into the society of the penitent and reformed believers. Circumcision is an ancient Divine institution, which was not abrogated by Jesus nor by Muhammad (pbuh). The baptism practiced by John (pbuh) and the Christ was only for the benefit of the penitent persons among the circumcised. Both these institutions indicated and presented a religion. The baptism of John (pbuh) and of his cousin Jesus ((pbuh) was a mark of admission into the society of the purified penitents who promised loyalty and homage to the Apostle of Allah whose coming they both foretold.Itfollows, therefore, that just as circumcision signified the religion of Abraham (pbuh) and his adherents (his slaves were also circumcised), so baptism signified the religion of John and Jesus (pbuh), which was a preparation for the Jews and the Gentiles to accord a cordial reception to the Founder of Islam and to embrace his religion.