Muhammad is dead. But Jesus is alive. Doesn't that mean that Jesus Is superior to Muhammad?

Muslims believe that Jesusand Muhammad were both prophets and
messengers of Allah. Peace be upon both of them. Muslims will not
belittle any of God's prophets or reject their message. The Qur'an
tells us to declare our faith in all of the prophets including
Abraham, Moses,and Jesus, and that we should make no distinction among
them (see Qur'an 2:136; 3:84; 2:285). This means that since each of
them preached the true message of God, it would be wrong to say we
believe in some but not inothers.
The prophets themselves were humble servants of God. They did not try
to prove themselves superior to others. It would be wrong for their
followers to argue over who is superior. Once a Muslim and a Jew were
arguing. The Muslim said that Muhammad is superior over all the
people. The Jew said that Moses is superior over all the people. When
this was related to the prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace, he said:
Do not give me superiority over Moses (This is recorded in Sahih
al-Bukhari, vol.4, p.410, Arabic- English edition).
He also said "None shouldsay that I am better than Jonah, son of
Matta" (ibid, p.413).
He also instructed,"Do notgive superiority to any prophet among
Allah's prophets" (ibid, p.414).
Once the prophet was asked, "Who is the most honorable among the
people?" He replied, "The most God-fearing". When he was asked to name
a specific individual, he replied:
The most honorable person is Joseph (i.e. the son of Jacob) (ibid, p.390).
This humility was shared by other prophets too. The prophet Jesus, on
whom be peace, is reported to have said:
I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen
anyone greater thanJohn the Baptist (Matthew11:11).
But John the Baptist was also humble. He did not claim that greatness
for himself. He spoke of a greater one who was to come after him. He
is quoted as saying:
After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose
sandals Iam not worthy to stoop down and untie (Mark 1:7).
When God sent the angel Gabriel to take the prophet Muhammad to the
Aqsa Mosque one night, the prophet, on whom be peace, led the prayers
there, and the other prophets followed his lead. He also related the
truth that on the Day of Judgement he will lead the banner of Praise
under which will be all the other prophets. But the prophet Muhammad
did not boast about this. He instructed Muslims that they should not
praise him as the people praised Jesus, son of Mary.He said:
Call me a slave of Allah and His Messenger (Bukhari, vol.4, p.435).
What is important is not to try and prove one prophet superior over
another, but to believe in both of them. The prophet Muhammad, on whom
be peace, said:
If a man believes in Jesus and then believes in me, he will get a
double reward (ibid. p.435).

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Muslims believe thatJesus did not die on the cross. Does that mean he died of natural causes? Will he come again? Whyis he the only prophet to return?

Muslims believe that God'smessenger Jesus, son of Mary, on whom be
peace, did not die yet. God tells us in His own words that Jesus was
raised up by God and that he was neither killed nor crucified(see
Qur'an 4:157-158). Furthermore, God tells us that in order to foil the
plans of the unbelievers, God recalled Jesus and raised him up (see
Qur'an 3:55). Muslims understandfrom these Qur'anic passages that
Jesus did not die.
Muslims believe that Jesuswill be coming again. A common explanation
of verse 159 of Surah 4 in the Qur'an is that when Jesus returns, the
people of the book will each believe in Jesus as he really is. Another
verse in the Qur'an calls Jesus, on whom be peace, a sign of the day
of Judgement (seeQur'an 43:61). This was further explained by the
prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace, when he said that Jesus's return
will be a sign that the dayof Judgement is near.
God alone knows the full wisdom behind what He does. We can only try
to understand some of the reasons. With God's help we can point to
several reasons why Jesus will be coming again. One reason is that
when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary about the birth of Jesus, he
prophesied that Jesus will speak to mankind while he is a baby and
again when he is mature (see Qur'an 3:46). The Arabic word Kahlan here
translated 'maturity' actually refers to a maturity at 40 years old.
When Jesus comes back he will live to this age and the prophecy willbe
fulfilled. Jesus also foretold his death (see Qur'an 19:33). This too
will be fulfilled when he returns, and Jesus will be buried in Medina
near his brother in faith, the last prophet, on whom be peace.
Another reason for Jesus's second coming is that he will be honored
with the opportunity to personally correct the belief of his people.
Too many have disbelieved and rejected him. Many others have believed
incorrectly abouthim. When he returns, everyone will believe in him
correctly. Yet anotherreason for his coming is that some of his
teachingshave been forgotten (see Qur'an 5:14), and replacedby
misguided teachings (see Qur'an 5:77, 9:30). Jesus will have the honor
of breaking the symbols of such false teachings and dramatically
confirming his true teachings which were alsotaught by his brother in
faith, the last prophet, on whom be peace.
A further reason is that in the last days an evil man called the
Antichrist will arise. He will spread muchcorruption on the earth.
Jesus will return to slay this man and restore peace on earth.
As to why Jesus alone andno other prophet will come back is for God
alone to say. The above are only a few indications.
Finally, we must admit that Jesus, on whom be peace, was very unique.
His entry into the world was unique, his departurewas unique, and his
return will be spectacular. The Qur'an rightly calls him "illustrious
in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto
Allah)" (Qur'an 3:45).

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What does Islam sayabout Domestic violence?

Islam condemns domesticviolence. Once a number of women came to the
prophet, on whom be peace, to complain that their husbands had beaten
them. The prophetannounced that men whobeat their wives are not good
men. The prophet also said: Do not beat the female servants of Allah.
Allah knows that life is not always a bowl of cherries. And so He
stipulates that a man must be kind to his wife even if he happens to
dislike her (Qur'an 4:19). Allah offers a good reasonas to why men
should notdislike their wives. Allah says that He has placed much good
in women (Qur'an 4:19). In this regard the prophet Muhammad, on whom
be peace, said that no believing man should hold a grudge against a
believing woman. So what is a husband to do ifhe dislikes some things
about his wife? This is bound to occur, since no human being is
perfect. The prophet instructed that men should look for the agreeable
traits in their wives rather than focus on their faults. (See Saheeh
Muslim, chapter on advice relating to women).
The prophet also advised men that if they wish to benefit from
marriage they should accept their wives as they are rather than try to
straighten them out and thus end upin divorce. In the following verse
of the Qur'an, Allah warns men that if they retain their wives in
marriage it should not be to take advantage of them. The verse reads:
Retain them in kindness or release them in kindness. But do not retain
them to their hurt so that you transgress (the limits). If anyone does
that he wrongs his own soul. Do not take God's instructions as a
jest(Qur'an 2:231).
Once the prophet, on whom be peace, was asked what are the obligations
of husbands toward their wives. He replied:
Feed her when you eat, and provide her clothing when you provide
yourself. Neither hit her on the face nor use impolite language when
addressing her (See Mishkat, chapter on the maintenance of women).
The prophet equated perfect belief with good treatment to one's wife
when he said:
The most perfect believer is one who is the best in courtesy and
amiable manners, and the best among you people is one who is most kind
and courteous to his wives (see Tirmidhi, chapter on the obligations
of a man to his wife).
Finally, the prophet, the best example of conduct said:
The best among you is the one who treats his family best.
Some of the last words of the prophet delivered during the farewell
pilgrimage enjoins that men should hold themselves accountable before
Allah concerning the question of how they treat their wives. Therefore
his advice to all men, is as follows:
You must treat them withall kindness.

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Why do Muslim women cover their heads? Isn't this a sign of subjection ofwomen?

Muslim women cover their heads because God so directed in His final
book, the Glorious Qur'an. The head cover is specifically mentioned in
24:31. This instruction from God is only one aspect of a wider context
of purity of thought and action for men and women.
Islam has very strict rules against adultery and fornication, and
introduces many cautious measures to ensure the prevention and
avoidanceof such sins. One measure is the prescription that men and
women should avoid intermingling as far as possible (see Qur'an
33:53). This is why men and women pray in separate areas or
separaterows in the mosque. Another measure is that men and women
should cover the specified areas of their bodies the sight of which
arouse sexual desire in others (see Qur'an 7:26; 33:59). Yet another
measure is that men and women should lower or turn their gaze away
from looking at a person of the opposite sex (see Qur'an 24:31).
The idea that the head covering is a sign of subjection of women is
found not in the Qur'an but in another religious book with which the
Qur'an does not always agree. That other book teaches that women
should have a sign of authority over their headsbecause man was not
created from woman, but woman from man. The same book says that a man
should not cover his head because he is the image and glory of God;
and a woman should cover her head because she is the glory of man. The
Qur'an does not identify with any of these ideas. The Qur'anic
prescription of head coverdoes not in any way imply the subjection of
women.
People often confuse the Islamic prescriptions with ideas they are
already familiar with. Therefore when they see Muslim women covering
their heads they hastily conclude that it is for the same reasons
mentioned in some other religious book. But to gain a better
understanding of Islamic prescriptions, they have to be viewed within
the framework of Islamic thought.
Another mistake made by many is as follows. When they hear that the
Qur'an includes the story of Adam and Eve they conclude that the
Qur'an also upholds the idea thatEve was responsible for the fall of
man, and that the subjection of women is a necessary result of God's
curse on them. On the contrary, the Qur'an is free of such ideas. In
the Qur'an, Adam and Eve were both approached by the Devil. The Devil
did not approach Adam through Eve. Adam is therefore specifically
blamed in the Qur'an 20:121. In other verses they are both blamed;
butin no verse is Eve alone singled out to be blamed for the fall of
man. Although men are charged with the responsibility of leadership in
Islam too, this is in view of the practical dynamics of human
interaction as prescribed by God. It is not because of a curse on
women.
It would be a mistake to take the prescriptions of Islam and associate
them with ideas held outside ofIslam. Within Islam, women are capable
of as much good as men, and they stand before God equally honored.

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