The Qur’an The Bible
Sura 19:20,34, Jesus praised his birth and then said, “I am the servant of Allah.” And Allah teaches, “It is not for God to take a son unto Him.” | “Jesus… He said to him, 'Do you believe inthe Son of God?' He answered and said, 'Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?' And Jesus said to him, 'You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” (John 9:35-37) |
Sura 10:68-70 They say: “God hath begotten a son!” - Glory be to Him! He is self- sufficient! His are all things in the heavens and on earth! No warrant have ye for this! say ye about God what ye know not? Say: “Those who invent a lie against God will never prosper.” A little enjoyment in this world!- and then, to Us will be their return, then shall We make them taste the severest penalty for their blasphemies.” | “...do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?” (John 10:36) “When Jesus heard that, He said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4) |
5:72-73, 5:75 “They do blaspheme who say: “God is Christ the son of Mary.” They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a trinity: for there is no God except one God Allah. If they do not desist from their word of blasphemy, verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them. Christ the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him.” | “He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.”(Matthew 27:43) “...but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31)
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| Sura 5: 119: “And behold! God will say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, “Worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God”? He will say: “Glory to thee! Never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, though I have not known what is in thine. For thou knowest in full all that is hidden.” | The Eunuch asking to be baptized-“Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God'” (Acts 8:37). |
Sura 18:4-5 “Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, “God hath begotten a son”: No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood!”
| (Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say that I am? "Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (Matt 16:15-17) |
Sura 43:59 states “Jesus was no more than a mortal whom Allah favored and made an example to the Israelites. They are unbelievers who say God is Messiah, Mary’s son.” | “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel; [which is, being interpreted, God with us.]”(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” ( that is Yahweh, Luke 2:11) |
Sura 25:2-3 “He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: no son has He begotten, nor has He a partner in His dominion: it is He who created all things, and ordered them in due proportions. Yet have they taken, besides him, gods that can create nothing but are themselves created; that have no control of hurt or good to themselves; nor can they control death nor life nor resurrection | At Jesus’ transfiguration the Father speaks “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This isMy beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5). |
Sura 19:88-92 They say: “(God) Most Gracious has begotten a son!” Indeed ye have put forth a thing most monstrous! At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin, That they should invoke a son for (God) Most Gracious. For it is not consonant with the majesty of (God) Most Gracious that He should beget a son.” | The voice of the Father speaks from heaven at Jesus’ baptism, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt.3:17) Jesus said “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.” (John 3:35). “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things” (John 5:20). |
Sura 18:4-5 “Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, “God hath begotten a son”: No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood!” | “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15, 1 John 1:7) “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1) Paul- “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20). |
| Sura 112:1-4 “Proclaim, 'He is the One and only GOD. The Absolute GOD. Never did He beget. Nor was He begotten. None equals Him.” | “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18).“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (I Jn 4:9) |
To be the only- begotten means one is unique, there is no other like him- it does not mean one is an offspring.
Proverbs 30:3-4 “I neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know?
His name is Jesus
Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
I John 5:13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God
Translation: The Qur'an Versus The Bible
Tim Haile
June 4, 2002
A common objection raised against the Bible by many Muslims is that the original biblical texts have been corrupted by the processes of transmission and translation. They therefore contend that the Old and New Testaments of our modern Bibles do not accurately represent the will of God. This explains why Mohammed frequently emphasized the importance of the Arabic language in the delivery of the Qur’an. Muslims contend that the exclusive use of Arabic insured the accuracy and integrity of Qur’anic teaching. Notice how these Qur’anic passages emphasize the significance of the Arabic language:
"Thus have We sent this down - an arabic Qur'an - and explained therein in detail some of the warnings, in order that they may fear Allah, or that it may cause their remembrance (of Him)" (20:113).
"We have put forth for men, in this Qur'an every kind of Parable, in order that they may receive admonition.
"(It is) a Qur'an in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against Evil" (39:27-28).
"A Book, whereof the verses are explained in detail;- a Qur'an in Arabic, for people who understand" (41:3)
"We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom)" (43:3).
Mohammed taught that the Qur’an’s ability to "explain in detail," to "explain without any crookedness," and its overall "understandability" and usefulness are all attributed to its being delivered in the Arabic language. There are several problems with this defense.
1) In spite of the above passages emphasizing an "Arabic Qur’an," the Qur’an has been translated into dozens of different human languages. If the Arabic language was as important as Mohammed thought it was, for the purpose of maintaining scriptural integrity, then why have Muslim scholars and translators translated the Qur’an into so many different languages? Wouldn’t this constitute a violation of Mohammed’s will? At the very least, it is contradictory for Muslims to argue that the Bible is inferior to the Qur’an as a result of translation. If one argues that the procedure of translation necessarily corrupted the Bible, then he must also argue that the same procedure corrupted the Qur’an! Thus, if what Muslims allege is correct, by their own argument, the Qur’an is just as corrupt as the Bible! It is hypocritical for Muslims to argue that translation processes corrupted only the Bible, and had no corrupting influences on the Qur’an.
2) The Muslim argument limits God’s ability to communicate His will multilingually. The Muslim argument turns human languages into barriers too resistant for divine providence to overcome. Muslims may argue that "Allah’s" will can only be kept pure through the use of the Arabic language, however, the God of the Bible has never had any difficulty relating His will in different languages. The God of Islam is limited by human language. The God of the Bible controls human languages. After all, it was God’s personal intervention that resulted in the formation of multiple languages. Before Babel all men were "of one language and of one speech" (Gen. 11:1). God reasoned that it was better for men to be divided and scattered than to go into collective apostasy. Thus, He "confounded their language so that they would not be able to understand one another’s speech" (Gen. 11:7). Divided language was only an obstacle to man: It caused no difficulty for God. He continued to effectively communicate His will in every language known to man. This is especially demonstrated on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2. The very first gospel sermon was preached in dozens of different languages (Acts 2:6-11). Interestingly, some in attendance were "Arabs." However, let us note that Arabic was only one of the languages spoken by the Apostles on that great day! The God of the Bible can communicate His will as easily in Greek as He can in Arabic.
That human languages present no hindrance to God’s ability to communicate and preserve His will is seen from the use of the spiritual gift called tongue speaking (1 Cor. 12:10). This gift equipped a person with the ability to miraculously speak in a language that he had never before learned, and did not know (Acts 2:4,6,8). Whether the divinely given message was spoken or written, it constituted "the word of God" (2 Thess. 2:15; 1 Thess. 2:13). God has seen to it that His will has been effectively translated into hundreds of different languages. Yes, there are problems with some translations, but usually these errors are isolated, and usually comparative translation and evaluation easily resolve these discrepancies.
3) Muslims use the "Abrogation" Loophole. On this point alone, the Bible far outshines the Qur’an when comparing scriptural integrity. The doctrine of "abrogation" has opened the door for dozens of Qur’anic passages to be "abrogated" in favor of later revelations. The argument is built upon Surah 2:106, which says,"None of our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar--Knowest thou not that Allah hath power over all things?" This verse in the Qur’an provides a loophole for all kinds of discrepancies, contradictions, and inconsistencies, and it is effectively used by Muslims to explain many of them away.
In the "Dictionary of Islam, page 520, Jalalu'd-Din, says that the number of abrogated verses has been variously estimated to range from 5 to 500. He furnished a list of 20 verses, which are acknowledged by all commentators to be abrogated. For example, the "fight and slay" passages like Surah 9:5 and 47:4 are said to have canceled out no less than 124 verses! Contrast this with the Bible. Jesus plainly affirmed that "the scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35). Jesus affirmed that no contradictions exist, nor are they allowed in the Bible. Yet, Muslim scholars claim that the Bible is the corrupt book, while the Qur’an remains perfectly "pure!"
4) The Septuagint. Christ’s use of the Septuagint presents a real problem for the Muslim argument. Dozens of New Testament passages are quotes, not from the Masoretic (Hebrew) Texts, but from the Greek Septuagint. The Septuagint was translated in Alexandria, Egypt in about 250 BC. Many New Testament writers used the Septuagint for their quotes, but for the sake of space, and because the Qur’an orders Muslims to accept the writings of Jesus, I will limit my references to His teaching. Since the Muslims argue that translation has corrupted God’s word, they implicate Jesus as one who knowingly directed His hearers to a "corrupt" translation of God’s word! Let us notice some examples:
In Matthew 13.14-15, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 6:9-10, saying, "For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed." This quote was taken from the Septuagint version of that passage.
In Matthew 15:9, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 29:13, saying, "In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." This quote is from the Septuagint.
In Matthew 21:16 Jesus said, "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." This quote was taken from the Septuagint version of Psalm 8:2.
Luke 4:18-19 is quoted from Isaiah 61:1-2, also of the Septuagint version of the Old Testament.
Muslims contend that the Bible has been corrupted through translation. Jesus recognized the Greek translation of the Old Testament as being accurate to the degree that it translated canonical materials.
From my studies and investigations, Muslims should be far more concerned aboutwhere they got their Bible, than they are about whether or not it has ever been translated. Muslims should be more concerned about textual transmission than they are about translation. God, Himself, has recognized the ability of honest men to accurately translate information that He has given. He may even providentially interfere in the safe preservation of His words (Matt. 24:25; 1 Peter 1:24-25). If Muslims wish to compare the Qur’an to the Bible, we are happy to accommodate them. In another article I will focus upon the real problem. The really important question has to do with the textual transmission of the Qur’an, as opposed to the Bible.
What does the Holy Quran say about Jesus (peace be upon him)
Most of the following was gathered from the foot notes of the Holy Quran that I have. It is translated and documented by Minister Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Muslims believe that Jesus peace be upon him according to the Holy Quran is a wonderful, humble, generous messenger of God who came down and revealed God's words to his people, the people of Israel. Muslims do not believe that Jesus is God, nor they believe that God ever chose to come down to earth in a form of a man to die for our sins to purify us and forgive us. According to Islam, Jesus never died on the cross, nor ever wanted to die on the cross, nor ever was born to die on the cross. Muslims believe that Jesus was sentenced to death, and people thought that he got executed on the cross. The Holy Quran rejects this idea, and claims that it is a false one. Jesus never died on the cross, nor he ever died for anyone's sins. Let us look at what the Holy Quran (The Muslims Holy Scripture) says about this issue: Let's look at verse 4:156-159 "That they rejected Faith; That they uttered against Mary A grave false charge; That they said (in boast): 'We killed Christ Jesus The son of Mary, The Messenger of Allah.' But they killed him not, Nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjunction to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up Unto Himself; and Allah Is Exalted in Power, Wise. And there is none of the people of the book (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him (Jesus) Before his death; And on the Day of Judgment He (Jesus) will be a witness Against them." The false charge against Mary was that she was unchaste. Such a charge is bad enough to make against any woman, but to make it against Mary, the mother of Jesus, was to bring into redicule Allah's power itself. Islam is specially strong in guarding the reputation of women. Slanderers of women are bound to bring four witnesses in support of their accusation, and if they fail to produce four witnesses, they are be flogged with eighty stripes and debarred forever from being competent witnesses. Let us look at verse 24:4 "And those who launch A charge against chaste women, And produce not four witnesses (To support their allegations) Flog them with eighty stripes; And reject their evidence Ever after: for such men Are wicked transgressors. Unless they repent thereafter And mend (their conduct); For Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." Here we see in this Holy Verse how much Allah Almighty cares about not criticizing women unless we are absolutely sure about it and we can provide at least 4 witnesses to support our allegation. Now in 4:156-159 above "......Nor crucified him,....." The end of the life of Jesus on earth is as much involved in mystery as his birth, and indeed the greater part of his private life, except the three main years of his ministry. It is not profitable to discuss the many doubts and conjectures among the early Christians sects and among Muslims theologians. The Orthodox-Christian Churches make it a cardinal point of their doctrine that his life was taken on the Cross, that he died and was buried, that on the third day he rose in the body with his wounds intact, and walked about and conversed, and ate with his disciples, and was afterwards taken up bodily to heaven. This is necessary for the theological doctrine of blood sacrifice and vicarious atonement for sins, which is rejected by Islam. But some of the early Christian sects did not believe that Christ was killed on the cross. The Basilidans believed that someone else was substituted for him. The Docetate held that Christ never had a real physical or natural body, but only an apparent or phantom body, and that his crucifixion was only apparent, not real. The Marcionite Gospel (about A.C. 138) denied that Jesus was born, and merely said that he appeared in human form. The Gospel of St. Barnabas supported the theory of substitution on the Cross. The Quranic teaching is that Christ was not crucified nor killed by the Jews, not with standing certain apparent circumstances which produced that illusion in the minds of some of his enemies; that disputations, doubts, and conjectures on such matters are vain; and that he was taken up to Allah Almighty. Let us look at verse 3:55 "Behold! Allah said: O Jesus! I will take thee And raise thee to Myself And clear thee (of the falsehoods) Of those who blaspheme; I will make those Who follow thee superior To those who reject faith, To the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, And I will judge Between you of the matters wherein ye dispute." Here we see that Allah Almighty promised Jesus peace be upon him to raise him to heaven. Jesus was charged by the Jews with blasphemy as claiming to be God or the son of God. The Christians (except a few early sects which were annihilated by persecution, and the modern sect of Unitarians), adopted the substance of the claim, and made it the cornerstone of their faith. Allah Almighty clears Jesus of such a charge or claim. Those who follow Jesus are the Muslims and the Christians who don't believe he is God. All of the controversies about dogma and faith will disappear when we appear before Allah. He will judge not by what we profess but what we are. In 4:156-159 "......Nay Allah raised him up Unto Himself....." There is a difference of opinion as to the exact interpretation of this verse. The words are: The Jews did not kill Jesus, but Allah raised him up (rafa'ahu...in Arabic) to Himself. Some people hold that Jesus did not die the usual human death, but still lives in the body in heaven, which is the generally accepted Muslim view. Another hold that he did die but not when he was supposed to be crucified, and that is being "raised up" unto Allah means that instead of being disgraced as a malefactor, as the Jews intended, he was on the contrary honoured by Allah Almighty as His Messenger. The same word (rafa'a) is used in association with honour in connection with Al Mustafa (Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him). Let us look at verse 94:4 "And raised high the esteem (In which) thou (are held)?". The prophet's (any prophet) virtues, the magnanimity of his character, and his love for mankind were fully recognized even in his lifetime, and his name stands highest among the heroic leaders of mankind. Let us also look at verse 37:119 "And We (Allah) left (this blessing) for them among generations (To come) in later times: Peace and salutation To Moses and Aaron! Thus indeed do We reward Those who do right." Here we see how Allah Almighty rewards Moses and Aaron peace be upon them. They are considered his messengers. In 4:156-159 ".....But must believe in him (Jesus) Before his death...." Those who hold that Jesus did not die say that Jesus is still living in the body and that he will appear just before the Final Day, when the world will be purified of sin and unbelief. There will be a final death before the final Resurrection, but all will have believed before that final death. In 4:156-159 ".....He (Jesus) will be a witness Against them." Jesus will be the witness of his people and his contemporaries for those who accept Allah, and against those who reject Him. Let us look at verse 4:41-42 "How then if We brought From each People a witness, And We (Allah) brought thee As a witness against These People. On that day those who reject faith and disobey the Messenger will wish that the earth Were made one with them: But never will they hide A single fact from Allah !" Here in this Holy Verse we see that Allah Almighty will judge people based on what their messengers had told them. Allah Almighty sent to nations and tribes prophets and messengers to direct those people from the darkness of Satan, to the light of Allah Almighty. Let's look at verse 3:59 "The similitude of Jesus Before Allah is as that of Adam; He (Allah) created him (Jesus) from dust, Then said to him: Be. And he was." After a description of the high position which Jesus occupies as a prophet, we have a reputation of the dogma that he was Allah, or the son of Allah, or anything more than a man. If it is said that he was born without a human father, Adam was also so born. Indeed Adam was born without either a human father or mother. As far as our physical bodies are concerned, they are mere dust. In Allah's sight Jesus was a dust just as Adam was or humanity is. The greatness of Jesus arose from the Divine command "Be", for after that he was. He also was a great spiritual leader. Let's look at verse 4:171-172 "O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say Of Allah ought but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) A Messenger of Allah, And His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and the Spirit proceeding From Him: so believe In Allah and His Messengers. Say not "Trinity": desist: It will be better for you: For Allah is One God: Glory to Him: (Far Exalted is He) above Having a son. To Him (Allah) Belong all things in the heavens And on earth. And enough Is Allah as a Disposer of affairs. Christ disdaineth no To serve and worship Allah, Nor do the angels, those Nearest (to Allah): Those who disdain His worship and are arrogant, He will gather them all Together unto Himself (Jesus) to (answer)." In 4:171-172 ".....Commit no excesses in your religion....." Just as a foolish servant may go wrong by excess of zeal for his master, so in religion people's excesses may lead them to blasphemy or a spirit the very opposite of religion. The Jewish excesses in the direction of formalism, radicalism, exclusiveness, and rejection of Christ Jesus have been denounced in many places. Here the Christian attitude is condemned, which raises Jesus to an equality with Allah; in some cases venerates Mary almost to idolatry; attributes a physical son to Allah; and invents the doctrine of the Trinity, opposed to all reason, which according to the Athanasian Creed, unless a man believes, he is doomed to hell forever. Let us look at verse 11:110 "We (Allah) certainly gave the Book To Moses, but differences Arose therein: had it not been That a Word had gone forth Before from thy Lord, the matter Would have been decided Between them: but they Are in suspicious doubt Concerning it." Previous revelations are not to be denied or dishonoured because those who nominally go by them have corrupted and deprived them of spiritual value by their vain controversies and disputes. It was possible to settle such disputes under the flag, as it were, or the old Revelations, but Allah's Plan was to revive and rejuvenate His Message through Islam, amongst a newer and younger people, unhampered by the burden of age-old prejudices. Let us look at verse 10:19 "Mankind was but one nation, but differed (later). Had it not Been for a Word That went forth before From they Lord, their differences Would have been settled Between them." All mankind was created one, and Allah's Message to mankind is in essence one, the Message of Unity and Truth. But as selfishness and egotism got hold of man, certain differences sprang up between individuals, races, and nations, and in His infinite Mercy He sent them messengers and messages to suit their varying mentality, to test them by His gifts, and stir them up to emulation in virtue and piety. When men began to diverge from one another, Allah made their very differences subserve the higher ends by increasing their emulation in virtue and piety, and thus pointing back to the ultimate Unity and Reality. In 4:171-172 ".....Say not "Trinity": desist....." Christ's attributes are mentioned: 1- That he was the son of a woman, Mary, and therefore a man. 2- But a messenger, a man with a mission from Allah, and therefore entitled to honour. 3- A word bestowed on Mary, for he was created by Allah's word "Be" (kun....in Arabic), and he was. 4- A spirit proceeding from Allah, but not Allah. His life and his mission were more limited than in the case of some other Messengers, through we must pay equal honour to him as a prophet from Allah. The doctrine of Trinity, equality with Allah, and sonship, are repudiated as blasphemies. Allah is independent of all needs and has no need of a son to manage His affairs. The Gospel of John in the Bible has put in a great deal of Alexandrine and Gnostic mysticism round the doctrine of the Word (Greek, Logos), but it is simply explained in the Holy Quran. In 4:156-159 ".....To serve and worship Allah....." Christ often watched and prayed, as a humble worshipper of Allah; and his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane was full of human dignity, suffering, and self-humiliation. In 4:156-159 ".....He (Jesus) will gather them all together unto Himself To (answer)." The disdainful and the arrogant are the crew of Satan, who will be gathered together before the Supreme Throne for punishment.
Does the Noble Quran in Verse 19:33 confirm Jesus' crucifixion? Here is what Noble Verse 19:33 states: "So peace is upon me [Jesus] the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life." Trinitarian Christians believe that Jesus was GOD Himself, or part of GOD, came to earth, was crucified on the cross to purify our sins and then raised from death back to life and went up to heaven until he will come back again to this earth. The Noble Quran does not in anyway support this theory!. We Muslims believe that Jesus was born from a Noble Virgin; Mary the Virgin, preached the word of GOD to the people of Israel, raised to Allah Almighty alive (even though he might have been put on the cross, but never actually died), will come back to earth again to fight the army of Satan and then die a natural death and then be raised again back to life from death as we all do in the Day of Judgement. Some Muslim scholars say that Jesus not being crucified in Noble Verse 4:157means that he was put on the cross but didn't die, and others say that it means that he was not put on the cross itself and never died either. There are some Christian sects such as the Basilidans, the Docetate and the Marcionite do not believe that Jesus was put on the cross. Either way, it doesn't really matter whether he was put on the cross or not. The more important point is that Jesus never died according to Islam. There is a similar Verse to 19:33 in the Noble Quran that was mentioned to another Messenger of GOD: "So peace on him [Yahya, or John the Baptist] the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life! (The Noble Quran, 19:15)" This Noble Verse (19:15) is similar to 19:33, where it does not at all state that any Messenger of GOD was crucified or will die twice!. The reason why no Messenger of GOD will ever die twice is because Allah Almighty said clearly in His Noble Book that every soul He creates (this includes all of His Messengers and Prophets even Jesus) shall taste death once; "Nor will they [all humans who end up in heaven] there taste death, except the first death; and He will preserve them from the penalty of the blazing fire. (The Noble Quran, 44:56)".
Further sites to research: Please visit: The blessed Jesus in Islam. From the Jewish point of view: New evidence that proves that Jesus never resurrected. Did Isaiah 53 really prophecies Jesus' crucifixion? Isaiah 53 perfectly agrees with Islam's claims regarding Jesus peace be upon him never died on the cross and he was lifted to Allah Almighty. I also exposed the intentional mistranslation of Isaiah 53:9 to hopelessly try to prove the dogma of trinity. Please email me at Osama Abdallah |
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Is Jesus God or Not?
The Quran presents criteria to distinguish the true God from false gods.
Is He then Who creates like him who does not create? Do you not then mind?... And those whom they call on besides Allah have not created anything while they are themselves created; Dead (are they), not living, and they know not when they shall be raised. S. 16:17, 20-21 Shakir
And they have taken besides Him gods, who do not create anything while they are themselves created, and they control not for themselves any harm or profit, and they control not death nor life, nor raising (the dead) to life. S. 25:3 Shakir
These preceding passages state that:
- The objects which others call upon besides God (i.e., whether other gods, angels, and/or individuals) have not created anything.
- These objects cannot bring death, cause life, or resurrect.
- These objects of worship are dead.
Which implies that:
- God is the Creator.
- God is the Source of Life.
- God is ever-Living.
It is no secrect that the Holy Bible states that the Lord Jesus created the cosmos and was called upon in worship by the first Christians:
"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made... He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him." John 1:3, 10
"In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, 'Ananias!' 'Yes, Lord,' he answered. The Lord told him, 'Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.' 'Lord,' Ananias answered, 'I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.' But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.' Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit'... All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?'" Acts 9:10-17, 21
"To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their Lord and ours:" 1 Corinthians 1:2
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For BY HIM all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created BY HIM and FOR HIM. He is before all things, and IN HIM all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." Colossians 1:15-18
"but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven... And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him'... But about the Son he says... 'In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.'" Hebrews 1:2-3, 6, 8a, 10-12
According to the same Holy Bible, the Lord Jesus is alive forever and ever, having conquered death and ushering in glorious immortality:
"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1:8-10
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.'" Revelation 1:17-18
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again." Revelation 2:8
By conquering death, Christ demonstrated that he is truly the source of life for all:
"In him was life, and that life was the light of men." John 1:4
"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it... I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD and those who hear will live... Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear HIS VOICE and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." John 5:21, 25, 28-29
"Jesus said to her, 'I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?' 'Yes, Lord,' she told him, 'I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.'" John 11:25-27
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:3-4
The Lord Jesus fits the criteria given in the Quran which demonstrates true Deity (i.e., the Creator, the Source of Life, and ever-Living). Christians are therefore justified in worshiping him as their sovereign Lord.
Now the Muslim will definitely object to our appeal to the Holy Bible on the grounds that it doesn't accurately reflect the life and teachings of the historical Jesus, and as such it cannot be used to prove that Jesus and his original followers truly believed that Christ was God.
It is not the object of this present paper to provide the evidence which establishes the historical veracity of the NT documents, or to demonstrate that the first followers of Christ confessed their belief in the absolute Deity of the Lord Jesus, or in his death and resurrection. For that we simply defer our readers to the following articles and links:
http://www.rationalchristianity.net/skeptics.html#reasons
www.christian-thinktank.com
www.tektonics.org
www.carm.org
http://answering-islam.org/Case/index.html
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/documents.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Bible/index.html
What we would like to do here is to show that even according to the testimony of the Quran, the Lord Jesus perfectly fulfills the criteria of being Deity.
and he shall be a prophet to the people of Israel (saying), that I have come to you, with a sign from God, namely, that I will CREATE for you out of clay (annee AKHLUQU lakum mina ALTTEENI) as though it were the form of a bird, and I will blow thereon and it shall become a bird by God's permission; and I will heal the blind from birth, and lepers; and I will bring the dead to life by God's permission; and I will tell you what you eat and what ye store up in your houses. Verily, in that is a sign for you if ye be believers. S. 3:49 Palmer
When God shall say, O Jesus son of Mary, remember my favour towards thee, and towards thy mother; when I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, that thou shouldest speak unto men in the cradle, and when thou wast grown up; and when I taught thee the scripture, and wisdom, and the law, and the gospel; and when thou didst CREATE of clay (wa-ith TAKHLUQU mina ALTTEENI) as it were the figure of a bird, by my permission, and didst breathe thereon, and it became a bird by my permission; and thou didst heal one blind from his birth, and the leper, by my permission; and when thou didst bring forth the dead [from their graves], by my permission; and when I with-held the children of Israel from [killing] thee, when thou hadst come unto them with evident [miracles], and such of them as believed not, said, this is nothing but manifest sorcery. S. 5:110 Sale
These two passages demonstrate that Christ has the breath of life and can create in exactly the same way God creates:
HE it is Who created you from clay (Huwa allathee KHALAQAKUM min TEENIN) and then HE decreed a term. And there is another term fixed with HIM. Yet you doubt. S. 6:2 Y. Ali
Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I am about to create man from clay (innee KHALIQUN basharan min TEENIN): When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him." S. 38:71-72 Y. Ali
Note the connection between God breathing his Spirit into man with Christ being strengthened with the Holy Spirit, breathing life into clay birds and resurrecting the dead. And also notice that Christ created a living bird from clay just as God created man from clay. These passages therefore teach that Christ had the same life-giving Spirit of God!
The Quran says by way of mocking the gods of the people:
"O mankind! A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully): verily! Those on whom you call besides Allah cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatched away a thing from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought." S. 22:73
Even though Jesus didn't create a fly, he did create a bird and breathed life into it just as Allah did to Adam!
In fact, according to one Salafi Muslim site the word for create (khalaqa) refers to creating something from nothing, an act which only God can perform:
Imam al-Bukhari reported in his Saheeh from Abu Sa`eed (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon Him) said: "There is no created being but Allah created it." In Arabic, the word "khalaqa" means to make out of nothing, which is something that ONLY ALLAH CAN DO; it is impossible for anyone except Allah to do this. It also carries the meaning of decreeing or foreordaining. [**]
See Fath al-Bari Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhari, 13/390. (439: Evidence that only Allah is the Creator of life; bold and capital emphasis ours)
But this very same word is applied to Christ which means, at least according to the above position, that Jesus must be God! Note how this works out logically:
- God alone can create out of nothing (i.e. the literal meaning of khalaqa).
- Khalaqa is applied to Jesus.
- Therefore, Jesus must be God according to Islam.
The Quran also implies that Christ is alive in heaven:
And when Allah said: O Isa, I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me and purify you of those who disbelieve and make those who follow you above those who disbelieve to the day of resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, so I will decide between you concerning that in which you differed. S. 3:55 Shakir
That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God"; - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Nay, God raised him up unto Himself; and God is Exalted in Power, Wise; - S. 4:157-158 Y. Ali
Orthodox Islam has generally understood these passages to mean that Christ was taken alive into heaven, into the very presence of God himself.
Moreover, specific Islamic narrations teach that Jesus will be an intercessor for his people:
... "Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant) but if there is any good (done) He doubles it." (4.40) The Prophet added, "Then THE PROPHETS and Angels and the believers will intercede, and (last of all) the Almighty (Allah) will say, 'Now remains My Intercession. He will then hold a handful of the Fire from which He will take out some people whose bodies have been burnt, and they will be thrown into a river at the entrance of Paradise, called the water of life. ..." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 532s)
Ibn Kathir wrote in reference to Sura 3:45 that:
<Held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah.> meaning, he will be a leader and honored by Allah in this life, because of the Law that Allah will reveal to him, sending down the Scripture to him, along with the other bounties that Allah will grant him with. `Isa will be honored in the Hereafter and will intercede with Allah, by His leave, on behalf of some people, just as is the case with his brethren the mighty Messengers of Allah, peace be upon them all. (Source)
The next text supports the interpretation that Jesus may intercede:
And We did not send before you any apostle but We revealed to him that there is no god but Me, therefore serve Me. And they say: The Beneficent God has taken to Himself a son. Glory be to Him. Nay! they are honored servants. They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act. He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for him whom He approves and for fear of Him they tremble. And whoever of them should say: Surely I am a god besides Him, such a one do We recompense with hell; thus do, We recompense the unjust. S. 21:25-29 Shakir
This reference says that at least some of those honored servants who were wrongly worshiped as gods or considered children of God will indeed intercede. And since according to the Quran Jesus is an honored servant who was wrongly worshiped as God and as the Son of God this therefore means that he may well be one of those interceding.
But this directly conflicts with the following text:
And those whom they invoke besides God HAVE NO POWER OF INTERCESSION;- only he who bears witness to the Truth, and they know (him). If thou ask them, who created them, they will certainly say, God: How then are they deluded away (from the Truth)? (God has knowledge) of the (Prophet's) cry, "O my Lord! Truly these are people who will not believe!" S. 43:86-88
No intercessor will they have from those whom they made equal with Allah (partners i.e. their socalled associate gods), and they will (themselves) reject and deny their partners. S. 30:13 Hilali-Khan
The above references claim that those invoked by the unbelievers have no power to intercede. Jesus happens to be one of those very beings that so-called unbelieving Christians invoked and continue to invoke in their prayers. Thus, either Jesus can intercede which means that the Quran is wrong; or he cannot intercede which means that the Islamic tradition is wrong.
In light of the aforementioned citations, we are left with the conclusion that:
- Jesus creates in the same way God creates.
- Jesus gives life in the same way God gives life.
- Jesus is alive in heaven.
Therefore, the Quran clearly shows that the Lord Jesus fits the description of God, fulfilling the very criteria which demonstrates that Christ is indeed very God of very God.
Yet, it is at this precise point that we have a contradiction within the Quran itself. There is no denying that the Quran rejects the Deity of Jesus (cf. 4:171; 5:17, 70-75; 9:30). But, as we just saw, the Quran attributes titles, qualities and functions to Christ which shows that he is indeed God. Other titles given to Christ which affirm his essential Deity include the Word of God and a Spirit from God (cf. 3:39, 45; 4:171).
A Muslim may say that Jesus was given the ability to create and give life by God, just as the passages themselves state. He didn't have this ability within himself. This response doesn't solve the contradiction, but only pushes it a step further.
Why would God grant Jesus the abilities and characteristics of Deity? Why is God permitting Jesus to perfectly fit the description and fulfill the criteria which places one within the category of God?
Second, the expression "by God's permission" doesn't necessarily mean that Christ was given abilities he did not already have. The statements can be understood in light of the biblical teaching that Christ did nothing on his own initiative, but did everything in perfect union with his Father's will. (cf. John 5:16-30)
In other words, the Quranic expression simply implies that Christ only exercised his divine prerogatives in accordance with the decree of God, never acting on his own behest or initiative. It need not deny that Christ always had these divine attributes and characteristics. This becomes all the more likely when we recall that the Quran describes Christ as God's Word and a Spirit proceeding from God, titles which point to Christ's divinity and pre-existence.
The above observations are relevant for a correct understanding of Sura 3:7. A detailed discussion of the consequences of this contradiction, and some others, are found in the article Muhammad's attempt of damage control.
Contradictions in the Qur'an
Articles by Sam Shamoun
Answering Islam Home Page
I object to the Quran so much because it tries to destroy the divinity of Jesus Christ, and say that our New Testament is a lie without giving one bit of proof or even offering a theory as to how Jesus survived an inescapable crucifixion.
QUESTIONS:
1. When were our scriptures corrupted and why? Did Christians all want to go to hell after glorifying a mere man?
If the gospels didn’t say Jesus died on the cross and then appeared alive three days later, why were the gospel writers executed? Why weren’t they afraid to die? Why didn’t they admit their great lie? Not only the gospel writers but all of the disciples died painfully.
2. If the disciples didn’t all claim that Jesus was the son of God and one with God but preached something different to what we have in our New Testament today, why were they executed? Why were they either stoned, crucified upside-down, beheaded, skinned alive and dragged through the rough streets, boiled in hot oil etc.? Why weren't they afraid to go through that?
3. Why did God watch Muhammed die slowly and painfully before his message was put into a book?
4. Why didn’t God send a replacement to that dinner when Muhammed ate poison, or why didn’t He cause someone else to take the first bite and warn Muhammed not to eat?
5. If the poisoned lamb spoke to Muhammed, why did it speak too late?
6. Why does my Quran say the earth was made “flat” for you when others say the earth was made “smooth” and others say “subservient”? How can Muslims claim that it is preserved?
7. Why does the Quran order the killing of unbelievers when a person has their whole life to accept God? Why doesn’t the Quran concentrate on the conversion of these people? Killing unbelievers while they are unbelievers adds another soldier to Satan’s army in hell and takes another potential believer from god!
8. Why would God allow Muhammed to have 20 wives, then command that believing men have no more than 4?
9. Why would God keep creating females without feathers if He wants them all to cover so much?
10. Why would God keep creating females with a clitoris?
11. Why would Jesus come back and condemn me to hell when I love him so much?
12. Why would He send me back to earth and watch me get closer to him rapidly, if I was believing a lie?
13. How can God be “MERCIFUL & COMPASSIONATE” and command the most merciless punishment on those who haven’t found Him yet?
14. Why do you think Satan wouldn’t try to hide behind a ‘Mask of God’, to make his plan succeed?
15. How can our creator delight in so much destruction of his creation?
16. Why would God speak to Moses personally yet send Gabriel to tell Muhammed His most important message?
17. If God can do everything, why did He need Gabriel?
18. Why did God send his message to an illiterate man?
19. Why did Muhammed include Mary in God’s trinity?
20. How did the story-telling Christians succeed in changing every single Bible that was in existence in the world at the same time?
21. Why didn’t God protect the real Injeel if there was one, so the Quran had some hard-evidence?
22: Muslims claim, that a proof the Koran was from God, is that it contains scientifically accurate information about Embryology before man discovered it for himself. However, all the information in the Koran regarding Embryology is copied from three sources,(A:) A Greek doctor named Galen, who lived of 150 AD.(B:) A Jewish doctor named Samuel ha-Yehudi who lived 150 AD.(C:) the Greek father of medicine Hippocrates who lived 400 BC. My question is: in light of the fact that all the information contained in the Koran was already in print by these three doctors, will you retract the argument on Embryology? If not, will you supply one detail revealed in the Koran about Embryology, that was not already revealed or that was new?
23: Muslims claim, that a proof that the Koran was from God is that it contains scientifically accurate information about Embryology, yet in 86:6-7 the Koran says, "man was created from ejected liquid- Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs". This echoes the scientific error of Hippocrates who believed semen originates, from the brain down the spinal chord, before passing through the kidneys and finally out of the body.(Hippocratic Writings, Penguin Classics, 1983, p. 317) My question is: do you reject modern science and believe the Koran when it says sperm originates from the mid-gut section of a man's body?
Muhammad was not a real prophet, he was a false prophet. He died as a result of eating poison that he didn't know about. The poisoned lamb "spoke" to him too late. Only when he realized he was dying did Muhammad "spiritualize" his suffering and coming death. Prior to that he tried to get well.
Moses knew about his coming death (Deut 34:1-5). Jesus also knew of His future death (Mark 8:32, 32). Yet Muhammad was in the dark until he himself realized he was going to die.
Paul the apostle was bitten by a poisonous snake (Acts 28:1-6), but Paul suffered no ill effects from the bite. God had his hand of protection on Paul, to finish the work laid out for him. Muhammad died so suddenly that there was confusion as to would be the next ruler of the Islamic state. To this day, part of that confusion remains. The Islamic world is divided in part because of this issue (Shia vs. Sunni). Wouldn't Allah, who abhors division within the Ummah have protected Muhammad long enough to insure that his state remain unified, and a clearly defined successor be named?
Jesus predicted false prophets would come into the world and mislead many (Matthew 24:24). Muhammad was such a false prophet. Both Jesus and Moses knew God face to face, Muhammad only had a spirit or angel he called "Gabriel" speaking to him. In the end, even this angel's prayers were not answered by Allah. Could it be that this "Gabriel" was preaching a false religion (Galatians 1:8) to Muhammad? Could Gabriel have been a deceptive demon or Satan himself?
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From Ibn Sa'd pages 251, 252:[different narrator]
"....When the apostle of Allah conquered Khaibar and he had peace of mind, Zaynab Bint al-Harith the brother of Marhab, who was the spouse of Sallam Ibn Mishkam, inquired, "Which part of the goat is liked by Muhammad?" They said, "The foreleg." Then she slaughtered one from her goats and roasted it (the meat). Then she wanted a poison which could not fail..... The apostle of Allah took the foreleg, a piece of which he put into his mouth. Bishr took another bone and put it into his mouth. When the apostle of Allah ate one morsel of it Bishr ate his and other people also ate from it. Then the apostle of Allah said, "Hold back your hands! because this foreleg; ...informed me that it is poisoned. Thereupon Bishr said, "By Him who has made you great! I discovered it from the morsel I took. Nothing prevented me from emitting it out, but the idea that I did not like to make your food unrelishing. When you had eaten what was in your mouth I did not like to save my life after yours, and I also thought you would not have eaten it if there was something wrong.
Bishr did not rise form his seat but his color changed to that of "taylsan" (a green cloth).........The apostle of Allah sent for Zaynab and said to her, "What induced you to do what you have done?" She replied, "You have done to my people what you have done. You have killed my father, my uncle and my husband, so I said to myself, "If you are a prophet, the foreleg will inform you; and others have said, "If you are a king we will get rid of you.""......
The apostle of Allah lived after this three years till in consequence of his pain he passed away. During his illness he used to say, "I did not cease to find the effect of the (poisoned) morsel, I took at Khaibar and I suffered several times (from its effect) but now I feel the hour has come of the cutting of my jugular vein."
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