Do not Call them Christians

Al-Imaam Ibn 'Uthaymeen and Shaykh Saaleh al-Fawzaan

Attributing the Nasaraa (widely known today as Christians) to the Maseeh (Christ) after the Prophet Muhammad - عليه الصلاة والسلام - was sent…no doubt that believing in Muhammad - عليه الصلاة والسلام - is also believing in the Christ ‘Eesaa son of Maryam- عليه الصلاة والسلام - because Allah the elevated said:

{ And [mention] when 'Eesa, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic." }

'Eesaa did not give them the glad tiding of the prophethood of Muhammad except so that they may accept what he (Muhammad) came with? Because giving glad tidings for something that is of no benefit is vain speech that cannot emanate from even the simplest of people in intelligence, let alone one of the noble messengers from amongst The Messengers of Strong Will; ‘Eesaa the son of Maryam - عليه الصلاة والسلام. And this glad tiding given by ‘Eesaa the son of Maryam is none other than Muhammad - عليه الصلاة والسلام, and his statement:

{ But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magicز }

This proves that the Messenger who was foretold about arrived, but they disbelieved in him and said that it is only clear sorcery. Therefore they disbelieved in Muhammad - عليه الصلاة والسلام , consequently, it is not correct for them to attribute themselves to him, calling themselves Christians. If they were truly Christians they would have believed in what ‘Eesaa son of Maryam foretold of (concerning the prophethood of Muhammad). As Allah took an oath and covenant from ‘Eesaa son of Maryam and the rest of the messengers to believe in Muhammad - عليه الصلاة والسلام; Allah the Elevated said:

{And [recall, O People of the Scripture], when Allah took the covenant of the prophets, [saying], "Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him." [Allah] said, "Have you acknowledged and taken upon that My commitment?" They said, "We have acknowledged it." He said, "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses." }

The one who came confirming what was with them is Muhammad - عليه الصلاة والسلام, because Allah the Elevated said:

{And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their desires }

The conclusion; attributing the Nasaara to 'Eesaa son of Maryam is an attribution that conflicts with reality, because they disbelieve in the glad tidings that 'Eesaa son of Maryam - عليه الصلاة والسلام - gave them; who is Muhammad - عليه الصلاة والسلام - and disbelieving in him is disbelief in ‘Eesaa son of Maryam - عليه الصلاة والسلام.

[Al-Manaahiy al-Lafdhiyyah: P.28]

Shaykh Saaleh al-Fawzaan stated:

We do not call them 'Christians' as they call themselves, or as the ignorant call them. They are not Christians; they are Nasaara as Allah the Glorified named them.

We do not say ' Israel' as the Yahood have made up, we say; the children of Israel, and we say Yahood. Allah named them Yahood and He named them the children of Israel. So we do not change the words from what they really are - as they have done.

We name them with the correct names that Allah named them with, they are a people who make up lies against Alalh, in the past as wells in the present, and they make up lies against the messengers of Allah.

So we are not surprised at what they said in the past, or what they are saying now, or what they will say in the future.