Islam and the Message of Jesus

Sabah al kher! (Good morning in Arabic) I am having a nice, relaxing Saturday morning so far. I just had a nice Guatemalan style breakfast with re-fried black beans and plantains and some yogurt (an Arabic twist). Yummy. Now I am just doing some reading on Shari'ah, which is Arabic for "a waterway that leads to a main stream, a drinking place, and a road or the right path." From this meaning, the word Shari`ah was used to refer to a path or a passage that leads to an intended place, or to a certain goal.
Shari`ah, refers to a set of rules, regulations, teachings, and values governing every aspect of a Muslim's life. Anyway, I was just thinking about Islam as a religion. Like I said in my prior post, I see religion as but a tool, not as the bottom line. God is the bottom line and submission to Him. That is why I am not completely in agreement when people put too much emphasis on saying their religion is the one true path to God. I know that the one true path to God is SUBMISSION TO HIS WILL!!! And guess what? That is what Islam means!!! And not only that, but also Islam is what all the prophets have been teaching us, Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.

So in this perspective, I would have to say that Islam IS the only path to God. I am not the best person at explaining concepts, but I hope you get what I am trying to say. The idea of submission to one God was the message of every prophet from Abraham to Mohammad, peace be upon them. Religion is important because it is the launching pad for this way of life.
Jesus (PBUH) and his Message - to free us from the law or to fulfill the law?

I often heard Christians defending their religion and putting down Islam by using the idea that Jesus has made them free from the law and that all Muslims are slaves to the law still because they have not been redeemed by Jesus. I however, never interpreted my studies of the bible and Jesus' sayings in this way. On the contrary. I saw that Jesus was here to uphold the law and remind us of the true essence of it. The law is for our benefit. Why should we see it as something bad? The law IS freedom. Freedom from the bondage of sin! I thank God for His laws. It is just one other way he shows us His love for us. For example, in the bible, in Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus said,

"You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth".

But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

This is a very well-known passage, but most Christians, including myself, have only partially interpreted it to mean that we should love and forgive our enemies and not be vengeful but to leave the vengeance to God. In each of the times in the bible that Jesus quotes the provisions of the Jewish Law, he did it without any criticism, and if you reread those passages in the bible you will see that. Jesus was not criticising the law, but endorsing it! Not only this, but he was calling on his followers not only to refrain from the abuses the Law condemns, but to go to the opposite extreme by exercising forgiveness and love — even when one has a just claim to vengeance.

So, he is explaining the law and encouraging people to adhere to it, and he took it even further by urging his followers to go further than the Law demands, in order to "Be perfect". For example, don't just punish people for their sins, also love them and forgive them and be strong in a tolerant manner. That is one thing that was amazing about him. He followed the law if you will note, but also took it further by doing everything in love. Well, I gotta go do some errands. I hope you enjoyed my ideas.