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AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON GIBSON'S "THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST"

Hempstead, New York - February 16, 2004 - Actor Mel Gibson said he once
thought about committing suicide by throwing himself out a window. Instead,
he turned to the Bible, which ultimately inspired him to direct his new
movie, The Passion of the Christ, scheduled to debut in theaters February
25th. To date, most of the debate concerning the film revolves around
whether or not it will be offensive to those of the Jewish faith and whether
it might ignite anti-Semitic sentiment. However, according to the
Orientalist and Muslim author, Laurence Galian, so far, no one has
apparently mentioned what Muslims may make of the film. Some critics wonder
if Gibson chose to portray the story too graphically. Gibson wants the film
to be shocking, but he also wants it to inspire dialogue. According to the
Islamic faith, Jesus, was neither killed nor crucified. Muslims believe that
a Jesus-look-alike was crucified instead. Nevertheless, Muslims believe that
Jesus was taken up to Heaven by God. In Chapter 4 Verse 158 of the Qur'an it
states "Allah raised him up". According to Islamic belief, God raised Jesus
to the heavens, where he lives to this day. What is clearly stated and
believed by all Muslims is that Jesus, son of Mary, will return again at the
end of the world. He will descend at the end of time and judge among the
people with justice, following the Law of the Prophet Muhammad. During those
end-times of the world, Jesus will marry, live the life of a married man,
and then finally die a human death. "The People of the Book", the title by
which Muslims call the Jewish people and the Christians, will all believe in
Jesus before his death, after he descends at the end of time. Allah has
stated in the Qur'an, "There is none of the People of the book but must
believe in him (as only a Messenger of Allah) before his death. And on the
Day of Resurrection, he (Jesus) will be a witness against them." (Qur'an
4:159). In addition, before his death, Jesus will kill the False Messiah
(the Anti-Christ). Furthermore, there is no contradiction between Jesus'
descending and the fact that Muhammad is believed by Muslims to be the seal
of the prophets. This is so because Jesus will not be descending with a new
law, according to Islamic doctrine. The full quotation about the Islamic
view of what occurred on the day that Christians believe that Jesus was
crucified is as follows: "That they rejected faith: that they uttered
against Mary a grave false charge. That they said (in boast) "We killed
Christ Jesus the son of Mary the Messenger of Allah"; but they killed him
not nor crucified him but so it was made to appear to them, and those who
differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only
conjecture to follow, for of a surety they did not kill him. Nay Allah
raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power Wise. And there is
none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and
on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness against them." (Chapter 4,
Verses 156-159) Mr. Laurence Galian is a Member of the "American Oriental
Society" (Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, MI 48109-1205) and a Full-Time Administrator at Hofstra University
(Hempstead, New York). He recently presented a paper at the "2nd Annual
Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities" (Honolulu, Hawaii)
January 8 - 10, 2004. He is the author of "The Sun at Midnight: The Revealed
Mysteries of the Ahlul Bayt Sufis" (Quiddity Inc.).

© 2004 Laurence Galian. All rights reserved.

For additional information contact:

Mr. Laurence Galian

118 Hofstra University

Hempstead, New York 11549-1180

U.S.A.

516-843-9019 (home)

516-463-5444 (work)

516-463-4001 (fax)

DRMLJG@earthlink.net

http://www.quiddity-inc.com

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