A Study of Islam

Some Facts About The Quran Quran = The Reading  Muslims Believe These Are The Words Muhammad Received From the Angel Gabriel Over a Period of 23 Years.  The Quran Was Not Compiled Until After His Death.

The Other Books  Like Mormonism, Muslims Have Other Books That Affect Their Beliefs and Practices.  6 Books = Hadiths  Basically, They Are a Narration of the Life of Muhammad.  They Are Considered to be Authoritative Examples of How to Live for Allah.

How Do They View the Quran?  The Quran Is The Perfectly Preserved Word of God.  Every Word, Syllable, and Letter, Is Perfectly Preserved.  Many Believe the Muslims Look So Highly at the Quran That They Actually Worship It.  But What Is The Truth About the Recording of the Quran?

3 Categories of Problems 1. Internal Contradictions 2. External Errors 3. Verses Contradicting Earlier Revelations

Internal Contradictions  Muslims Claim that Muhammad Was the First Muslim (one who submits to God).  Surah 6:14  “Say (O Muhammad )… Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit themselves to Allah (as Muslims)." And be not you (O Muhammad ) of the Mushrikun [polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah].

Surah 6:161,163 “Say (O Muhammad ) : Truly, my Lord has guided me to a Straight Path, a right religion, the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham), Hanifa [i.e. the true Islamic Monotheism - to believe in One God (Allah i.e. to worship none but Allah, Alone)] …And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.”

What’s The Problem?  There Are Many Who Lived Before Muhammed Referred to As the Followers or Disciples (those who submit to God).  At Least Two Are Called Muslims Before Muhammed.

Surah 4:163 “Verily, We have inspired you (O Muhammad ) as We inspired Nuh (Noah) and the Prophets after him; We (also) inspired Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob), and Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)], 'Iesa (Jesus), Ayub (Job), Yunus (Jonah), Harun (Aaron), and Sulaiman (Solomon), and to Dawud (David) We gave the Zabur (Psalms).

Surah 3:67 “Ibrahim (Abraham) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism - to worship none but Allah Alone) and he was not of Al- Mushrikun (See V.2:105).

Surah 3:52 – Speaking of the Disciples of Jesus “Then when 'Iesa (Jesus) came to know of their disbelief, he said: ‘Who will be my helpers in Allah's Cause?’ Al- Hawariun (the disciples) said: ‘We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we submit to Allah).’”

Islam’s Response by Sami Zaatari  “So their argument is pretty much that some Quranic verses say Muhammad is the first Muslim while there are other passages showing that there are Muslims before Muhammad. Is this a contradiction? No, you must understand what Muhammad meant and in what context…What this basically and simply means that Muhammad is commanded to be the first Muslim AMONG HIS PEOPLE. That is all it means, it means that Muhammad is the first Muslim among his people, and is commanded to be the first Muslim among his people.

Internal Contradiction #2  Should Muslims Show Kindness to Their Parents? What If They are Unbelievers?  The Quran Commands Muslims to Show Kindness to Their Parents.

Surah 17:23 “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.”

Surah 6:151 “Say (O Muhammad ): ‘Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand.

What’s The Problem?  The Quran Says Not to be Friends With Parents Who are Unbelievers.  9:23-24  O you who believe! Take not for Auliya' (supporters and helpers) your fathers and your brothers if they prefer disbelief to belief. And whoever of you does so, then he is one of the Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.). “Befriend” “Protector”

Surah 10:62 “Behold! verily on the friends of God (auliya Allahi) there is no fear, nor shall they grieve.” This is the Word They Claim Means Protector or Supporter

Category #2 – External Errors  These are Errors or Contradictions With Both Science and History.  These Become Very Complicated and Weighty.

Category #2 – External Errors  According to the Quran (Surah 18:89-98) Alexander the Great was a devout Muslim and lived to a ripe old age. Historical records, however, show that Alexander the Great died young at 33 years of age ( B.C.), and believed he himself was divine, forcing others to recognize him as such. In India on the Hyphasis River (now Beas) Alexander erected twelve altars to twelve Olympian gods.

Category #3 – Contradictions With Earlier Writings (i.e. the Bible)  According to the Quran, One of Noah’s Sons Was Lost in the Flood.

Surah 11:42-43 “So it (the ship) sailed with them amidst the waves like mountains, and Nuh (Noah) called out to his son, who had separated himself (apart), ‘O my son! Embark with us and be not with the disbelievers.’ 43. The son replied: ‘I will betake myself to a mountain, it will save me from the water.’ Nuh (Noah) said: ‘This day there is no saviour from the Decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy.’ And a wave came in between them, so he (the son) was among the drowned.

Surah 21:76 – States That Noah’s Family Was Saved. “ And (remember) Nuh (Noah), when he cried (to Us) aforetime. We listened to his invocation and saved him and his family from great distress.”

Category #3 – Contradictions With the Bible  The Quran States that God Raised Up Prophets and Kings for Israel Before the Time of Moses.  Surah 5:20-21  “And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his people: ‘O my people! Remember the Favour of Allah to you, when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the 'Alamin (mankind and jinns, in the past).’ ‘O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you, and turn not back (in flight) for then you will be returned as losers.’”

Prophets and Kings Before Moses  Muhammad had heard of many kings and prophets in Israel, but was not clear about their historical succession, so that his ignorance led to this historical error in the Qur'an.  Muhammad was looking back at the whole history of Israel with all their prophets and kings when putting these words into the mouth of Moses.

Other Contradictions  A Samaritan Made the Golden Calf for Israel.  Moses Had Access to the Gospel in His Days.  Mary the Mother of Jesus is Confused with Miriam the Sister of Moses.  The Pharaoh That Wanted to Kill Moses is the Same Pharaoh During the Exodus.  The Stories of Jacob and Moses Fleeing and Marrying are Confused.  Many More

The Bible  Christians Are Not Forced to Believe Something Despite the Evidence.  Christians Are Encouraged to Investigate and Question the Authenticity of the Bible.  This Is The Only Way One Can Really Believe That It Is the Word of God.