Was Jesus Crucified?

I tried to join this same topic in the prophets/Jesus forum, but 'do not have permission to post replies' there.

My colleagues here have frequently advised me to watch 'Peace TV', presumably because they think it will help me to better understand Islam.  Well, I have taken their advice on several occasions, but to be honest, I find Dr Zaik on Peace TV to be too much to handle for me.  Here is a good example - one that has lead me to this forum in search of some debate:

Yesterday Dr Zaik used his skill to prove, from quotes from the bible, that Christ was not crucified.  Given that the central message of the New Testament is that Christ died on the cross for the sins of all people, Dr Zaik's message is an insult to all Christians.  Since tolerance of other religions is part of Islam, then Dr Zaik is, proven by his own actions, anti-Islamic.  Had a Christian cleric claimed on international TV that Mohammad was a false prophet, then there would have been demonstrations by Muslims around the world.  

I don't think that Christians are the sort of people who are likely to make a fuss about what some radical Islamic cleric has to say.  However, I think that it is the responsibility of moderate Muslims to send the message to Dr Zaik that Islam is tolerant of the views of other religions, and that it is unacceptable to make claims that undermine the very basis of those religions, no matter how logical an argument he can construct.

Brother,

My point is not whether Jesus was crucified or not.  My point is that an entire religion is based on this idea.  For Dr Zaik to contradict this idea is by definition to insult Christians.  The message of Islam is tolerance of others' beliefs; therefore, Dr Zaik's insulting of another's religion is anti Islamic.  He is therefore a bad muslim.  This is a simple fact and can't be contradicted by any logical argument.  It can only be contradicted by illogical dogma.

If it is OK for Dr Zaik, or you, or anybody else to say that they believe that Christ was not crucified, then it is equally OK for anybody to say that Mohammad PBUH was not a prophet. You can't have it both ways.  If you want to contradict others' beliefs then you can't complain if they contradict yours.  If you don't like having your beliefs contradicted, then don't contradict the views of others.

Please understand that I don't care about whether Jesus was crucified or not.  What I do care about is double standards and hypocrisy.

By the way, it is not 'your' Quran and 'My' bible. The books do not belong to you or me or your religion or my religion. They are books written by God (according to your beliefs). They are 'The' Quran and 'The' bible. I have read both of them, and according to my interpretation, they both claim that Jesus was indeed crucified. My interpretation is just as valid as anybody elses, including Dr Zaik's.

I would like to invite the Pope for a chat with me, too.  I don't think he will come to see me.  I haven't ever said anything against the Pope. So what insane reason can you think of that the Pope would accept an invitiation to meet a man who has openly stated that he considers him to be an enemy of Islam?  There would simply be no point in such a meeting.  It would simply be an argument of one man's beliefs against another man's beliefs, an argument that can't be won by either.

Actually I understand what ur saying here lost puppy, and you have a apoint. but btw the Quran does not state that Christ was crusified you said youve read it and that it does state that, it doesnt. But yeah you have a point about Zakir Naik on how certain people may get offended however its thathe does back his point using the Bible so hes discussing the Bible which Muslims too believe in. So we have the right to look at what came before us you see the same way Christians look at the OT for example.

 In all the posts above, the meaning of crucifixion has to be understood. People have notions about it. Crucifixion does not mean just putting up on the cross. It means putting upon the cross and dying on the cross. That means death on the cross.

Quran clearly denies it. The words of the bible NT also support the idea that Jesus did not die on the cross. His prayer in the garden and so many other factors point to that. Also the ignonimous death on the cross cannot be allowed, being good only for a cursed person.

 I personally believe that cross is the enemy of christ, being an instrument of punishment for Jesus the beloved of God. But the christians may be offended. So I would keep my opinion to myself in the future.