Islamist ex-crooner releases song about Jesus

[video=youtube;MKzekEDj44E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKzekEDj44E&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]


Islamist ex-crooner releases song about Jesus

Beirut (AFP) - Just a week before Christmas, a former Lebanese pop star and heartthrob turned Islamist fugitive has released a song about Jesus.

Once adored by women across the Arab world for his warm voice and good looks, Fadl Shaker gave up pop music in 2011, when he became a follower of a radical Sunni Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir.

He grew his beard and publicly renounced pop music as haram, or forbidden, in Islam.

The duo have been on the run from since the summer, when 18 soldiers died in clashes with Assir's supporters.

The song, entitled "Christ is Blessed," has already received more than 50,000 hits.

"Christ is blessed and we are all his beloved. He is the bringer of the true faith," Shaker sings softly, in a style akin to traditional Islamic chant.

Accompanied by a chorus that repeats the refrain throughout the four-and-a-half minute clip, he tells of the conception by Jesus' mother Mary.

"She gave birth to him, she was pregnant from the Creator of the universe, without the sperm of a man."

Unlike Christians, Muslims do not believe Jesus is the son of God. However, they do believe in the virgin birth, after a miraculous conception.

Jesus is highly revered in Islam as a prophet, and Mary is deeply hallowed, with a sura (collection of verses) in the Koran dedicated to her.

In the song, Shaker also makes reference to the belief that Jesus spoke in his cradle.

In his mid-forties, Shaker was born to a Palestinian mother and Lebanese father in the country's biggest Palestinian refugee camp, Ain al-Helweh.

http://www.maannews.net/ENG/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=658593

I read this: "Accompanying the link to his latest track, Shaker tweeted: "One is not a true Muslim if one doesn't believe in Christ, peace be upon him."

And I think, when a Muslim says he believes in Christ who am I to judge him?

Interesting, I read this story within minutes after reading an article about the Pope and his comment about gays who searched for Jesus, he said who am I to judge them? The article was written by a Protestant pastor who praised the Pope for looking like Jesus.

 

This is a very soothing song, would love for somebody to sub the song so I can understand the lyrics. Even though I'm one of those scrooges who states that Jesus wasn't born on December 25th, it's still a lovely song that is in good graces of the lord.

 

Maybe, he will release an English version.

What bothers me a lot is that in the Middle East mere associations often makes one a criminal.

And we use labels like Islamist or Terrorist to take away others human rights and use the labels as an excuse to justify treating them like animals and not even human beings.

There is not even a right to hear charges and a trial for the ones so labelled.

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Pope Francis: An Imitation of Christ

by(*)Jim Wallis(*)12-19-2013 | 3:34pm

Pope Francis is(*)TIME's Person of the Year. But that is only because Jesus is his "Person of the Day" — every day.(*)

Praises of the pope are flowing around the world, commentary on the pontiff leads all the news shows, and even late night television comedians are paying humorous homage. But a few of the journalists covering the pope are getting it right: Francis is just doing his job. The pope is meant to be a follower of Christ — the Vicar of Christ.

Isn’t it extraordinary how simply following Jesus can attract so much attention when you are the pope? Every day, millions of other faithful followers of Christ do the same thing. They often don’t attract attention, but they keep the world together.

The remarkable acts of kindness and grace we see with Pope Francis are the natural response from a disciple who has known the kindness and grace of Christ in his own life. The pope’s moments of Christ-like compassion and love point not to “a great man," but rather point to Jesus. He is not asking us to follow him, but inviting us to follow Christ.

In each story we hear, we are really seeing the beauty of the kingdom of God, where human beings are treated as wonderfully loved as they are. All the narrations of the things the pope has done remind us of the Christ we will soon celebrate as the newborn King.

Pope Francis reminds me of Jesus, calling us again to a deeper relationship with Christ. When he invites homeless men to have breakfast with him on his 77th(*)birthday, or provides a chair and food for the Swiss Guard outside his room, he reminds us of Christ. When he kisses the feet of Muslim prisoners, or offers to baptize the baby of a woman who was pressured to abort it, he reminds us of Christ. When he asks, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” he reminds us of Christ.(*) When he chooses a simple place to live and simple clothes to wear and when we hear rumors of his going out at night in disguise to minister to the homeless, he reminds us of Christ.

We have created a 'throw away' culture which is now spreading. It is no longer simply about exploitation and oppression, but something new. Exclusion ultimately has to do with what it means to be a part of the society in which we live; those excluded are no longer society's underside or its fringes or its disenfranchised — they are no longer even a part of it. The excluded are not the 'exploited' but the outcast, the 'leftovers.'


http://sojo.net/blogs/2013/12/19/pope-francis-imitation-christ/#comment-covenant

 

Jesus message is for me about inclusion and not exclusion.

It is truly sad how many take the words of Jesus and use Jesus to exclude others.

Let me give you a real life example, I just heard of a preacher who told members of his church they should not invite a child and grandchild who is gay and her partner to Thanksgiving dinner. They did it anyway. My comment, who did Jesus exclude and turn away? Noone, so why should they?

 

Well, he really is a criminal.

 

Who?

Jesus was crucified as a criminal.

The man who released the song in the OP is accused of being a criminal.

They do have things in common.

 

[video=youtube;KfXIF2Mm2Kc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfXIF2Mm2Kc[/video]

This is from another singer with a Lebanese background, he sings his songs in English and Arabic.

This is a very moving song.

Both are.

[video=youtube;foSbqLi6U10]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=foSbqLi6U10[/video]

 

But as a follower of a radical Sunni cleric, this singer's actions are in direct conflict to Jesus and what He taught and what He stood for.

As for December 25 being Jesus' birth date, It seems the date was questioned by those living in the East in the fourth century. Here are some excerpts by Rev. W.P. Ten Broeck on a homily given by Saint John Chrysostom in response:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

But in this matter we are not compelled to place our reliance solely upon God's superintending care of his Church. St. Chrysostom silences the unbelievers of his day by telling them that the reason why Dec. 25 was kept was, that Christians, resident at Rome, had examined the record, there publicly deposited, and had certified that this was the true Christmas. Long ago these records were reduced to ashes by some one of the barbarous burnings of the Eternal City. If, therefore, any one demand to see them, before he will believe, as Thomas demanded to see and touch the wound-prints, they cannot be produced.

For most men, however, the statement of St. Chrysostom is sufficient to satisfy them that it was documentary evidence, laid up in the archives of Rome, which had made the Western Christians so sure of December 25th being the birthday of Christ, and brought the Orientals to adopt the same day, as the festival of the Nativity.


1. St. Chrysostom, himself, had not the slightest doubt that Dec. 25 was the true Birth Day of Christ.

2. The Christians, living in Rome, had from the beginning been sure of it, and all the Churches in Europe, from Thrace to Cadiz, had from primitive times observed it.

3. The Christians at Antioch had adopted the day with eagerness, on the authority of some who had come from Rome and made it surely known.

4. The reasons of this absolute conviction were: the hand of Providence was so plainly to be seen in the spread and observance of Christmas Day; they had learned from the Roman archives that the Lord was indeed on that day born; they knew that Zacharias saw the vision in the Temple about the Day of Atonement.

And, forsooth, how can a believer in Divine Providence come to any other conclusion than that the Lord did appoint this day and sanctify it? If the eager and wide spread acceptance of Christmas Day was a valid argument in the 4th century, what shall we say of it in the 19th, when St. Chrysostom's bold prediction has become a prophecy fulfilled? How has Christmas forced itself into the heart of the world and made all men kin? How has its divine aroma secured for it the glory of being the one universal holiday? How has its signal triumph borne witness to its heavenly character? Those who believe, as did Gamaliel and Chrysostom, in God's sovereignty, may well declare, only because it is the "day of God," has it thus mightily prevailed.

 

What are the singer's acts that are in direct conflict to Jesus and what he taught and what He stood for?

Are there differences between Jesus and what He taught and what He stood for?

You wrote: "But as a follower of a radical Sunni cleric, this singer's actions are in direct conflict to Jesus and what He taught and what He stood for."

 

Many Arab songs ( especially sung by Palestinian Bedouins ) deal with death and hatred towards others.
Blahhhhh

 

Aww what a nice Islamic radical terrorist piece of (*)(*)(*)(*), Muslims deny the trinity, they deny the resurrection of Jesus, they deny the divinity of Christ etc etc et al, so please spare us the bull(*)(*)(*)(*) Dawa.

 

This terrorist piece of (*)(*)(*)(*) admitted to personally killing two Lebanese soldiers so freaking spare us.

 

Was that a confession he made to you?

Was there a trial?

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This man says he believes in Jesus.

WHO am I to judge his relationship with God?

 

Yes, and to anyone else who heard his interview:

Retired Lebanese singer Fadel Shaker admitted that he had killed two army soldiers and injured four others.



In a video published by the Asia News local website, Shaker boasted about what he called “a victory.”

“We killed two of your carcasses [sic], you dogs, you pigs… two carcasses and four injured pigs [sic],” Shaker said.

He also voiced his happiness over the growing number of Lebanese army casualties.



https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/lebanonnews/fadel-shaker-admits-to-killing-two-army-soldiers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV_JCwwpZdM

As if there was any doubt there is none after you have heralded this Islamic radical terrorist murderer.

Muslims don't believe in Jesus the same way as Christians, they deny the crucifixion, the trinity, and his divinity, spare us the propaganda Dawa.

 

Response to Post 14

I cannot get the video to play and based on the known difficulties I have personally confronted trying to determine the truth about events happening in that region recently, I simply cannot place any confidence in your source.

As for what individual Muslims believe and do not believe, how would you know?

About a year ago, Christianity Today published an article specifically on the issue of believers in Jesus among Muslims.

That question on who has a relationship with God and who does not is a question solely for God to address.

 

To believe in Jesus means nothing if he hasn't repented for his sins. Did he?

 

I do not know.

WHO are we to judge him?

I do not know what acts he has actually engaged in, with his recent associations with an alleged Islamist .

AND I do not know what may have been recently happening in his life that led him to sing this song and release this video?

IN particular, because I don't know the answers to these questions, I should not be judging this man.

I think about the criminal on the cross beside Jesus who was saved only a short period before his life ended.

 

This is a political forum. It's what we do here.

But we DO know what he confessed to in the link Face provided - "Retired Lebanese singer Fadel Shaker admitted that he had killed two army soldiers and injured four others. In a video published by the Asia News local website, Shaker boasted about what he called “a victory.” “We killed two of your carcasses [sic], you dogs, you pigs… two carcasses and four injured pigs [sic],” Shaker said. He also voiced his happiness over the growing number of Lebanese army casualties." So I'll say that his praising Jesus is a bit disingenuous at best, and that celebrating this guy as a devout follower - well, he's following something, I'll grant you that.

Uh oh. SyrianGirl1982 ain't gonna like that. I sense a flame war.

 

My source is Fadel Shaker, I provided the video, you have no (*)(*)(*)(*)ing argument.

Because it's in the (*)(*)(*)(*)ing Koran.

"And they said we have killed the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of God. They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, though it was made to appear like that to them; those that disagreed about him are full of doubt, with no knowledge to follow, only supposition: they certainly did not kill him. On the contrary, God raised him unto himself. God is almighty and wise."
—Quran surah 4 (An-Nisa النسا&#1569 ayah 157-158



"O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion; nor say of Allah aught but truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of Allah, and his word, which he bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His apostles. Say not 'Trinity': desist. It will be better for you; for Allah is One Allah.

Glory be to him; (for exalted is he) above having a son. To him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a disposer of affairs".

Surah 4:171

"They do blaspheme who say, Allah is one of three in a trinity; for there is no god except the One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.

Christ the son of Mary was no more than an Apostle; many were the apostles that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food".

Surah 5:76 + 78

"And behold! Allah will say, 'O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men 'Worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah'. He will say, 'Glory to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right (to say)".

Surah 5:116

They do not believe in the Christian Jesus they deny all the central tenants of Christianity IE the trinity, the divinity of Christ, and the crucifixion.

 

What does the trinity, the resurrection, and the divinity of Christ have to do with believing in him?

 

Beats me.

My key Bible verse that for me defines belief in Jesus is John 3:16 .

My understanding of the words there is constantly changing and I acknowledge fully I do not completely understand what is written there and the meaning of those words for all of the rest of humanity.

I refuse to put God in a box.

 

It would be like saying that you believe in Mohammad and the Koran but denying that the Koran is the unaltered and direct word of god through the archangel Gabriel, that Mohammad was the final prophet, and that the five pillars are not mandatory for salvation. The trinity, the divinity of Christ, and the crucifixion are all central tenants of the Christian faith.

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We are well versed in the "we believe in Jesus too" Dawa propaganda tactic, it's not going to work.

 

You can't be Muslims and believe in the central tenants of the Christian faith. But since Jesus is considered another messenger in the long list of prophets sent by god, you can be a Muslim and believe in Jesus.

 

I see the key Christian Bible verse as John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

I can accept that those words have a broader meaning to them then I have the present capacity to fully understand.

 

Many Muslims I know do indeed believe in Jesus.