X: I have a firm belief that one of the main reasons that Islam is still as strong till the present time as it was at its early days is that Almighty Allah has preserved the Qur'an from corruption and alteration. Being the final message to humanity, Islam brought us back to the pure innate of man and recorded its guidance in the Qur'an as brought by Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad. Such guidance was kept intact in its original form throughout centuries and many Muslim scholars started getting knowledge and explaining the details of this Shari`ah. Now, the Qur'an stands as the ultimate source of guidance and the standing proof for the truthfulness of Muhammad and Islam. Almighty Allah says:

“O mankind! Now hath a proof from your Lord come unto you, and We have sent down unto you a clear light.” (An-Nisa’: 175)

Almighty Allah also says:

“There is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the Book (of Our decrees). Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.” (Al-An`am: 38)

It tells us the stories of the early nation so that we take admonition as it says:

“In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.” (Yusuf: 111)

Z: You are quite right. In its words and style, the Qur'an was miraculous. Arabs of that time were unable to produce the like of it though they mastered language and eloquence. The miracle of Qur'an is of an eternal nature meaning that it stays till the Day of Judgment.

X: Every sensible person would surely believe that Qur'an is coming from the Divine Source since it contains miracles of all types; philosophical, legislative, moral, spiritual and scientific. At the time of its revelation, the Qur'an represented a challenge to Arabs who declared their inability to match it or even produce what is as small as one verse.

Z: This great book helped Muslims stand firm and stick to their religion, follow their Prophet and apply their rituals. It was interesting to me to think scientifically in some verses of Qur'an. Such thoughts you may find in Appendix III. You will find how such verses are pointing to the miracles in the universe through a high scientific approach.

Z. I think such verses motivated and guided the first believers to make scientific researches in all branches of science.

X. Really, the Quran had this influence in the start of Islam. When Europe was passing the dark ages, or the middle ages, the Muslims were living golden ages in the period from the seventh century to the fifteenth century. The founders of most branches of sciences were Muslims. I hope you shouldn’t consider that the Islam is tied with the east or west. Now, the Muslims are spread allover the world. So, don’t consider that the lagged east is the Islam’s area and the developed west is the Christianity’s area because it is a misleading statement.

However, you may see an article in the “Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia” concerning the Islamic Renaissance. I hope to read it, discover that we are so enlightened from the start of believing in Islam as we are not casting the superstition and fear of the medieval world in our belief. The number of pioneering Muslim Scientists who had their favor on different branches of sciences, as recorded in the encyclopedia are more than 300 scientists. Their books are found in many international libraries all over the world. As you say;

Quran urges to discover the natural laws which governed the universe and which led to scientific, political and social advances. Discovering these laws show us the wisdom of God in His Creation and keeping such universe in order.  Here are two verses from the holy Quran (from Surat Al-Omran), which shows that the Quran was the scientific way for the whole human civilization:
[190-191] Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of Night and Day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding. Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): "Our Lord! Not for naught hast thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the Penalty of Punishment.

Z. Your scientific faith in God strengthens our Christian faith in Egypt, as both of us are sharing the same country, Muslim and Christians in Egypt worked together to stick each to his own faith. That is why Egyptian Christians did not experience the same problems Westerners had like atheism. Due to their lacking of an eternal miracle that keeps their hearts at ease, you can find that Christians believe that Virgin Mary appears sometimes, something which has been misused by some fabricators who use media means and cinema stuff to produce some images and give people a fake belief of something like that.

X: Christianity did not have such a strong start as that of Islam. The record of the life of Prophet Muhammad shows that in a number of years as small as 23 years he was able to establish a state that fought against the Super Powers of the world; Persians and Romans. In less than one century after the death of Prophet Muhammad, the Companions were able to carry this guidance to the whole world. They were trustworthy protectors and heirs of this religion. Contrary to this, Christianity started as a religion coming for the main purpose of guiding the astray sheep of Israel and then, after the death of its founder, people subjected it to their whims and inclination and altered its heritage in a way that led, in the end, to the clergy appointing themselves mediators between people and their Lord.

Z: You are quite right. Some clergy still insist that they stand between man and his Lord, they say they have connection with God and it is only them who can understand Christianity and its secrets. They even go farther to say that none of their people can be near to God as they do. This led them to claim that if anyone annoys them, he will be harmed. Such beliefs still exist at this age of science and technology where people have been liberated from superstitions.

X: I believe that the main role of Muslim scholars and religious leaders is guiding people and telling them what is religiously correct and what is wrong. You can find very simple people who have studied religion and apply what they have learnt. So the basic notion of religion is to inculcate in man the sense of loving and respecting God as well as fearing to commit sins. In this way, man will gain God’s love and satisfaction. Almighty Allah says:

“Lo! Verily the friends of Allah are (those) on whom fear (cometh) not, nor do they grieve. Those who believe and keep their duty (to Allah)? Theirs are good tidings in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. There is no changing the Words of Allah that is the Supreme Triumph.” (Yunus: 62-64)

Therefore, we Muslims looks at our scholars and religious leaders as people who are specialized in Islam but have no authority other than the respect that is given to them by merit of knowledge. Simple people can, by means of their faith and God loving, gain Allah’s pleasure and assistance. As for those whose hearts are full of arrogance and pride, they have no place in Islam. In Islam, there is no place for mediators, since man has a direct connection with Allah through direct praying in any place.

Z: The concept of religious leaders in Islam is different from that found in Christianity since our Christian religious leaders believe that they are near to Jesus and thus have the authority to be mediators between God and people.

X: Yes, this is what the Qur'an blamed them for when telling:

“They have taken as lords beside Allah their rabbis and their monks and the Messiah son of Mary, when they were bidden to worship only One God. There is no god save Him. Be He glorified from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)!” (At-Tawbah: 31)

Following this was of thinking is really dangerous since it gives man a feeling that he works under the authority of someone other than God and he does not have direct connection with his Creator. This has led to many people revolting against priests during the Medieval ages and shunned the idea of religion altogether.

Z. The Muslims believe the truth of their book; Qur'an. So, they believe its guidance and way called as

"Straight Path" and try to follow it strictly. But the Christians are confused. I read an article in times online of title: Catholic Church no longer swears by truth of the Bible", By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent, timesonline. This article states, according to the Pope, that there are many altered or corrupted verses in the Bible. Paul also asked his followers not to follow the guidance of the Law, Old Testament, since, as he claimed, it is weak and useless. Really, I read in his message to the Hebrew that the Law (Torah) is weak, useless and imperfect: 7:18 On the one hand a former command (Old Testament) is set aside because it is weak and useless, 7:19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

So, Paul claimed that a better hope is in his own words or the words of some men who claimed to have special secrets. What are such secrets which delete a Holy Book, the Law, which was sent from God. 

X: So, Paul command deleted God's command which is the Former Commands. I think this is against Jesus instructions:   He follows the same Law of Moses and he insisted that the Law cannot be changed, in Mark we read: But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a letter in the law to become void. (16:17). He told also that it is not permissible to him to change any word in the Law: in Mathew we read:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.(5:17-18)

Z: That is why people called the religion of Paul as "Pauline Christianity", and the original Christianity as sent by Jesus as "Jesus Christianity". Of course both are too different.

X: I think this difference is mentioned in the book of a Christian scientist, Michel Hart, who wrote a book of the title

"The Greatest Hundred in the History. He told that if Jesus will return to the earth and see How his message was corrupted by Paul, he would get so mad. However, the Christian writer found in his book Mohamed is the greatest man in the History.

Z: I think this Paul, who was not one of the Jesus disciples, was an enemy of Jesus. According to his previous history, as written in his Acts, he was killing Jesus followers and hating Jesus. Personally, I do not believe any of his words or his claims to be a messenger of Jesus. Why should Jesus select one of his enemies and leave his loved disciples. I think there is no logical reason to select such funny person who changed his name, his origin, his belief, his holy book, his words, his acts, his beliefs and his claims in every sent letter to every different country.  

X: I think Paul was the only person who glorified such idol called "Cross". However, he stated a condition for accepting the magic or power of his cross. This condition was found in 1 Corinthians 1, as follows: The Message of the Cross: 1:18

for the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1:19

For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”

 So, the faith in a cross is foolishness unless the God would destroy wisdom and intelligence. However, Saint Paul claimed that it is written that God would destroy the wisdom and intelligence. But No one had found such writings in the Gospels. It is hard also to believe that it may happen that God will destroy His Wisdom as it His gift to people. It is written that the God is wise and he gifted such wisdom to selected people as Solomon, prophets, disciples and others too.

Z: Actually, Paul had a bad history before his claimed meeting with the God in which he claimed that God asked him, asked a Killer, not to persecute Him. Why God came and ask such killer who was not one of Jesus disciples not to persecute him? He was also the only one who glorifies the cross and gave great importance to the crucifixion after Jesus.  Such tales and funnies increase the fuzziness of the Christians dogmas.

X: As a fact; Islam has not such dogmas, secrets, Baptism, salvation, mediators, idols, crosses, God's son, crucifixions or Popes.

The train stopped and some friends came and interrupted their talk. They were obliged to wait some time.