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Shalom, Salam, Peace be with you all. Today, I had a deeply thought-provoking conversation with Sheikh Saeed at the historic Amr ibn al-As Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. He raised a compelling point that I believe is worth sharing—and I invite you to reflect on both his words and my response. God willing, I’ll also share a few fascinating details about this remarkable mosque. I had expressed to Sheikh Saeed one of the reasons I believe Jesus more faithfully taught and lived out the commandments of God than Muhammad. Specifically, I pointed out that Muhammad led military campaigns and, at times, killed in the name of defending or spreading Islam. In contrast, Jesus not only taught against killing—warning that those who live by the sword will die by it—but also lived by that standard. He never killed anyone, even when he had the opportunity or justification to do so. Sheikh Saeed responded with a thoughtful question: “Do you believe that Jesus will return in the last days to execute righteous judgment? And do you believe people will be punished or killed when He does?” I answered yes. He replied, “Then just as Jesus will judge in the last days, Muhammad executed righteous judgment upon those who deserved punishment.” Here was my response, and I ask you to consider it carefully: The reason Jesus did not kill during His first coming—but will execute judgment at His second—is because He had not yet received the full authority and knowledge from God to judge. That authority will be given to Him at His return, when He will judge with perfect righteousness. Muhammad, however, made judgments during his lifetime without possessing all knowledge or divine authority to read hearts and judge infallibly. A telling example comes from a well-known hadith: > When Muhammad migrated to Madinah, he observed farmers artificially pollinating date palms. Unfamiliar with the practice, he asked, “What if you don’t do it?” Out of respect, the farmers stopped. That year, the yield was poor. When they told him why, he replied, “You have better knowledge in worldly affairs.” (Sahih Muslim 2363) This story shows that Muhammad, though revered, did not claim omniscience—even in observable matters. If he lacked knowledge in agriculture, how could he possess the divine insight needed to judge the unseen motives of the heart? If he had such insight, he would have known the farmers were right. My point is this: Muhammad did not possess the full knowledge or authority of God to execute judgment perfectly, and therefore, it was not right for him to kill in the name of religion—whether for its defense or its spread. In contrast, when Jesus returns, He will have both the authority and the divine knowledge to judge rightly. That is why His future judgment will be righteous, while His first coming was marked by restraint and mercy. Sheikh Saeed seemed unfamiliar with this perspective. Caught off guard, he shifted the conversation and pointed to the mosque around us. “Do you see this mosque, Hezekiah?” he said. “This is the Amr ibn al-As Mosque—the first mosque built in Egypt and in all of Africa. Muhammad conquered Egypt, which was under Roman rule and persecuting Christians. Islam saved them from that persecution.” Let’s pause here to clarify the historical record: ✅ Yes, the Amr ibn al-As Mosque is indeed the first mosque built in Egypt and Africa, constructed in 641–642 CE by General Amr ibn al-As after the Muslim conquest of Egypt. However, the claim that Muhammad himself conquered Egypt is not historically accurate. Muhammad passed away in 632 CE. Egypt was conquered nearly a decade later under the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, with Amr ibn al-As leading the campaign. I acknowledged Sheikh Saeed’s point with grace: “Perhaps God allowed the Muslim conquest of Egypt because, in some ways, it was more merciful than the Roman rule that preceded it. If so, I give you that credit, sir. But while Muhammad may have been a capable and even just governor in comparison to others of his time, I still believe Jesus more fully embodied and taught the commandments of God. That is why I remain a Judeo-Christian—not by tradition, but by conviction.” After that, Sheikh Saeed kindly introduced me to his grandchildren. It was a warm moment, and I was grateful for the hospitality and the opportunity to visit such a historic site. 🕌 A Few More Highlights About the Amr ibn al-As Mosque: Oldest mosque in Africa, built in 641 CE in what became the Islamic capital of Fustat. Originally constructed from palm trunks and mud bricks, it has been rebuilt and expanded many times. Once served as a major center of Islamic learning before Al-Azhar Mosque rose to prominence. Though little of the original structure remains, it continues to function as a place of worship and a symbol of Islamic heritage in Egypt.

Some boys wear dresses, like JVN… And your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How dare you! Tunics aren’t dresses! Except, in the modern sense, they absolutely are. Google “first century jewish tunic.” I’ll give you a minute. Now tell me, army of outrage, if a man were to walk into a bar in 2025 wearing that single piece garment… You’d probably say to yourself, “that guy is wearing a dress.” Wouldn’t you? Modern folks might call this person queer, non-binary, or trans… And some in the church might call them damned. But gender norms (social expectations based on gender) have varied widely across history. And the church’s obsession with those who don’t present themselves according to the latest norm is weak. Because if men aren’t supposed to wear dresses, why did Jesus? And before you start shouting Deuteronomy at me, I covered that too. I even let Paul, who has a tendency to be a little heavy handed on this topic, weigh in. If you’re someone who excludes people from rightness with God based on gender expression… It’s time to make that judgment make sense. After all, Jesus didn’t seem to mind it. Read more at the link below.

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Today, on International Women's Day, I wrote one of the most important articles I’ve ever written about… see below. We've come far since the days of the once caveman. We've evolved, created astonishing technology, and we've done it primarily because of intellectual curiosity and a deep desire for a prosperous and better tomorrow. While all that is wonderful, the pressing issues we are faced with today are also more sensitive than ever before for they deal with not only integrity, values, respect, ethics, but also moral responsibility in society. All this becomes challenging to navigate through, meanwhile various types of economies intersect in what is a fast-paced tech global platform of a free market. I warmly invite you to walk with me, from caveman to the modern man, as I describe not only four cornerstones I find essential in a global free market but also four different economic systems, some of their challenges and some of their advantages, as well. As you walk past the caveman, allow yourself to take pride in the evolutionary reality you get to be part of today and to be filled with more than curiosity for that which is good and just in the world. 👇👇👇👇 https://www.carmenthecreativevisionary.com/post/integrity-values-respect-ethics-and-the-diverse-economic-systems-of-our-world ☝️☝️☝️☝️ Written with love ❤️ and hope for tomorrow. Carmen - The Creative Visionary Author. Artist. Poetess.

Music legend P. Jayachandran passed away on January 9, 2025, at the age of 80. It sent me on a whirlwind of memories. Today, instead of a formal obituary, I’ve compiled a list of 25 songs that have left a lasting impression on me, celebrating the timeless magic of this legendary singer.

These servers should've been a little more careful with what they wrote on the customer's bill. Here are 17+ incredible rude notes on receipts both from the servers and the customers.