Now
when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And
while he was praying, the heavens opened,
3:22 and
the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a
voice came from heaven, "You are my one dear Son; in you I take
great delight. (Bible Luke 3:21-22)
Although the ritual of the supposed 'baptism' of Prophet
Jesus (a.s.) by Prophet John (Yayha a.s.)) does indeed find mention in several places
in the present-day Bible, the Quran and the Sunnah are absolutely silent
regarding this particular issue....thus we as believers in the Quran and the
Sunnah can neither deny nor confirm with absolute conviction whether or not
this specific ritual of the 'baptism' of Prophet Jesus (a.s.) at the hands of
Prophet Yahya (r.a.) on the Jordan River did take place or not. And Allah Alone Knows Best.
Your
Question: However I was told that every child born is a Muslim but the parents
themselves change their religion by letting them baptize. What is your opinion
on baptismal?
The term 'baptism' is described by the American Heritage
Dictionary as: 'A religious sacrament marked by the symbolic application of
water to the head or immersion of the body into water and resulting in
admission of the recipient into the community of Christians.'
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verses 135-138:
135 They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (to
salvation)." Say thou: "Nay!
(I would rather follow) the religion of Ibraheem, the true; and he joined not
gods with Allah."
136 Say ye: "We believe in Allah, and the Revelation given to us,
and to Ibraheem, Ismail, Is-haaq, Yaqoob and the Tribes, and that given to Musa
and Isa, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord; we make no
difference between one and another of them, and we bow to Allah (in
Islam)."
137 So if they believe as ye believe they are indeed on the Right Path;
but if they turn back it is they who are in schism; but Allah will suffice thee
as against them and He is The All-Hearing, The All- Knowing.
138 (Our religion is) the 'baptism' of Allah; and who can baptize
better than Allah? and it is He whom we worship.
Al-Muwatta Hadith 16.53
Yahya related from Malik from Abu'z Zinad
from al-Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Every
child is born on the 'fitra' (nature, ie. Islam) and it is his parents who make
him a Jew or a Christian."
Islam guides that every child that is born is born on
'fitra' or nature, and the inherent nature of all human beings is to believe in
the One Lord Creator Who created everything in existence....it is only his
parents/guardians who formulate rituals to initiate them into their
self-invented 'deens' other than Islam.
If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and
commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws),
one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any
other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be
assured of being led astray.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
