Jihad or Sacrifice

The Holy Injil offers us a clue:

Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins ( Heb. 9:22).

Does this refer to Jihad, or to a blood sacrifice for sins? It cannot refer to Jihad for several reasons. First, salvation cannot come through the efforts of sinful man because “by observing the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 [in the Injil]) Elsewhere it says our own attempts at righteousness are as “filthy rags” before the holy God.

God himself has decreed “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17 [in the Taurat]). Furthermore the Injil says “No murderer has eternal life” ( I John 3:15 [ in the Injil] ). Clearly if our own efforts to obey God cannot earn us Paradise, then disobeying his holy commands and so showing contempt for His clear command will surely never earn us a place in Paradise.

Therefore the shedding of blood that brings forgiveness refers to a blood sacrifice. Consider Eid Al-Adha (Celebration of Sacrifice), which commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. What is the meaning of this sacred event but that it signifies the sacrifice of Isa the Messiah (Peace be upon Him)? Here then is the answer to our question. God sent Isa the Messiah into the world for the purpose of paying the penalty for our sins for us. He purchased our forgiveness and offers it as a gift. He promises that all who put their faith in him and repent (turn from) their sins will be forgiven and will go to Paradise (John 3:16 and Acts 2:38 [in the Injil]). When God raised him from the dead, it was God’s sign of approval of this holy sacrifice and its sufficiency to pay for the sins of those who will believe.