Sky, I KNOW Muslims believe and follow the five pillars, but IF that is all it takes to be UNITED in Islam,

than WHY, pray tell, arent they? Politics ARE no excuse for disunity. The time when Christianity was founded on the concept of render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars; and unto God the thing which are Gods, in Islam there is NO Caesar but ONLY GOD who is the sole sovereign and the sole source of law. And that includes the laws of government. From this u will understand why Politics is important to every Believer. Its a surprise that you havent known that in ur stay in the Middle East?! Since the more important one is to give glory to God, this post will deal with HOW and WHY so many former Muslims have accepted Jesus, Gods Son, as Al-Masih (the Messiah). Just a point I need to clarify in your above statement. We believe that Jesus is the Messiah. The only thing that we do not agree about him with Christians is that Jesus is a Living God and/or a part of the Trinity along with God (The "Father") and the Holy Spirit. Chapter The Family of Imran, Verse 45: (Remember) when the angels said: Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah gives you the glad tidings of a Word [Be!and he was! i.e. Isa (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary)] from Him, his name will be the Messiah, Isa(Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah. Around the world, missionary friends are using the Quran and Muslim writings UNTIL Muslims acknowledge the glaring differences in the life of Jesus and and ANYONE else So that makes your missionary friends ones who believe in the Quran Maybe they are not aware of that, but thats how MANY missionaries embraced IslamIll go more into that inshaAllah (God willing)but b4 I do.We need to understand why does the Quran glorify Jesus..?! You said.. we both KNOW the vast difference in the Quran in its speaking of Jesus and anyone else from Adam to Muhammad The Quran honors all the prophets who were sent to mankind. And therefore Muslims respect all prophets in general, but Jesus in particular, BECAUSE he was one of the prophets who foretold the coming of Muhammad peace and blessing be upon him the count of every breath any soul breaths till the day of resurrection. The Qur'an tells us that Jesus said: 061:6. And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the apostle of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of an Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, "this is evident sorcery!" Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of Jesus by saying: "Whoever believes there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is a servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. [Bukhari] Both the Quran and the Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him came to defend Jesus from the vile sin of claiming divinity that his so-called followers attached to him. As for ur one answer questions.. According to the Quran AND the Scripture, which ONE was born of a virgin? According to the Quran AND the Scripture, which one was born without a mother or father?!

The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was. (Quran 003:59) Jesus had a mother, and Adam was created without a Mother or Father.?! Isnt that more miraculous?! According to the Quran AND the Scriptures, which ONE is said to have created? Allow me to correct you , the answer to that is Not JESUSit is ALLAH The Quran says Jesus said: "..'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird BY ALLAHs LEAVE: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, BY ALLAHS LEAVE;.. Therefore ALLAH was the ONE who Createdand those were signs for his ppl to believe him as a messenger sent to them by the ALMIGHTYor are you telling me that Jesus peace be upon him was the only Prophet aided by miracles?! And this does not contradict the bible where in John 8:28 Jesus said "I do nothing of myself"? According to the Quran AND the Scriptures, which ONE talked about His death AND resurrection? JESUS! No, allow me to correct u again but the answer to that again is not Jesus. The Quran doesnt say that Jesus died and got resurrected. It says he is raised to the second heaven and will die in the future when he will come back to earth by Gods permission. And then will be his first and only death. And his resurrection will be on the Day of Resurrection like all the children of Adam. Therefore he wont be the answer to your question. But let me tell u of some1 who would be the answer to this question from the Noble Quran. God Almighty says : Or like the one who passed by a town and it had tumbled over its roofs. He said : Oh! How will Allah ever bring it to life after its death? So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said : How long did you remain (dead) ? He (the man) said : (Perhaps) I remained (dead) a day or part of a day. He said : Nay, you have remained (dead) for a hundred years, look at your food and your drink, they show no change; and look at your donkey! And thus We have made of you a sign for the people. Look at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh. When this was clearly shown to him, he said I know (now) that Allah is Able to do all things. (Quran 002:259) And the verse right after that, gives you another example of a Prophet of God encountering GODs attribute of taking and giving life, which I think is worthy of mentioning. And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said, My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead. He (Allah) said: Do you not believe? He [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said: Yes (I believe) but to be stronger in Faith. He said: Take four birds, then cause them to incline towards you (then slaughter them, cut them into pieces), and then put a portion of them on every hill, and call them, they will come to you in haste. And know Allah is All Mighty , All-Wise. (Quran 002:260)

Scotchman if you do have more examples, then plz present them and Ill be more than happy to help clarify any misunderstandings you have. Now, I hope you will allow me to reply to the repeated implications in your post to the missionary efforts amongst MuslimsGod Almighty says in the Quran: And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (to be) those who say: Lo! We are Christians. That is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud. When they listen to that which hath been revealed unto the messenger, thou seest their eyes overflow with tears because of their recognition of the Truth. They say: Our Lord, we believe. Inscribe us as among the witnesses [Quran 5:82-83] Amongst the most powerful and thought-provoking testimonies are those of former Christian priests and missionaries who have discovered the one true religion.: Plz follow this link : http://www.thetruereligion.com/priests.htm Best Wishes,

Sky