Lings tells the standard tale of Muhammad's catching up into glory. Gabriel shows up one night and takes him to mount an animal which proceeds to transport him to Jerusalem. Here he is met by Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others, prophets all, in Islam's view. He leads them all in a prayer meeting before being taken up into the seventh heaven.

When he arrives there, the persons with whom he had just prayed are reassembled! Of course, now they are "transfigured" into their heavenly forms. Quite a few interesting things transpire, not the least of which is his Abraham-like conversation with Allah during which he talks God into relenting on his 50-prayer-a-day life sentence. By the time the two have finished talking, it is down to 5, the very prayer system used by Muslims today.

I do not believe this story, but only for one reason: anything that purports to be from God, and places Jesus in a subordinate position, is false on the surface, and false all the way through.

The true transfiguration story is told in the Gospels. In this story, there were eyewitnesses. Peter was still talking about it when he wrote his first letter (I Peter 1:16-21). He certainly remembers how embarrassed he was when it all unfolded.

He and his his two friends James and John were asked to accompany Jesus to the top of a hill. There Jesus was changed from His human form into Someone gloriously different. We have never heard all the details. But of the four people on the mount at that time, there was no question as to Who was superior.

And it didn't stop there. Two more people showed up. Moses and Elijah, the two greatest prophets mentioned in the Old Testament. Now there are six. Still Jesus shines as brightest. Peter attempts to start a conversation but is hushed by the announcement of the Father, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Does any thinking person believe that if Muhammad had been at such a meeting, he would be in charge of it? Jesus is subordinate to no one, yet freely gives His life for us on a Roman cross. Muhammad cannot match the glory of the Son, nor even His servitude.