Shroud of Turin, Between Christians and Muslims Belief and The Controversy

About Shroud of Turin

Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth 14 feet 3 inches long by 3 feet 7 inches wide, bearing the highly distinct Image of a Crucified Man. Since the sixteenth century, the Shroud, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Christ, has been kept in St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Turin, Italy. From August until October 2000, the Shroud was displayed publicly -- for the last time -- in Turin, Italy. The previous public exhibition was in 1998 and, prior to that, 1978 and even before that, 1933, 1931, and 1898. And next exhibiton will be held in the Spring of 2010.

Christian Belief

Many Christian believe the image in Shroud of Turin is to be a negative image of the crucified Christ (Jesus of Nazareth) and the shroud is believed to be his burial shroud.

They have their own reason to believe. They assume a possibility that the Shroud of Turin is the burial cloth of Jesus comes primarily from a consideration of the many wounds found on the Shroud. In particular, the evident wounds of crucifixion in the wrists and the feet, numerous scourge-like marks over the back, puncture wounds on the top of the head, and a wound in the side all correlate well with the New Testament accounts of the Passion of Jesus.

Moreover, the Shroud and its image have numerous characteristics that are entirely consistent with a Jewish burial of the First Century.

Muslim Belief 

Muslims believe that Jesus was ascended to Allah; but no one can tell but Allah how that happened. There is no compromise at all with Muslims concerning Jesus (known in Arabic as: `Isa), (They slew him [Jesus] not nor did they crucify him) (An-Nisaa' 4:157).

Muslims do not believe in the crucifixion of Jesus. The shroud cannot be taken as a proof at all that Jesus was killed or buried. Muslims do not believe in the Shroud ascribed to Jesus or anything similar to it. They should abide by what the Qur'an told on the end of Jesus on Earth.

The Controversy

The shroud is the subject of intense debate among some scientists, people of faith, historians, and writers regarding where, when, and how the shroud and its images were created.

Some believe the shroud is the cloth that covered Jesus when he was placed in his tomb and that his image was recorded on its fibers at or near the time of his alleged resurrection. Skeptics, on the other hand, contend the shroud is a medieval forgery; others attribute the forming of the image to chemical reactions or other natural processes.

Various tests have been performed on the shroud, yet the controversy about its origin continue until now.