Additional Resources
Just the Facts Ma’am” – A comparison between Jesus and Muhammad
The Cycle of Life and Death
To Choose or Not to Choose
Was the Bible Corrupted?
Is Islam a Religion of Peace?
“Just the Facts Ma’am” – A comparison between Jesus and Muhammad
The following is a contrast between the diverse dogmas of Islam and Christianity. I will thus be following the maxim of TV’s Sergeant Friday effectively adopted by Ronald Reagan: “Just the facts, Ma’am”:
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Category
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Jesus
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Muhammad
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Birth
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Born of a virgin even according to Qur’an.
Born around 4 BC in Bethlehem.
Jesus Christ’s (the Messiah’s) birth and coming were foretold in 333 prophecies in the Bible, hundreds of years prior to His birth. Of these prophecies, 456 specific details of His life are given. God gave the Old Testament to the Jews so they would recognize the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Jesus fulfilled all prophecies foretold of the Messiah in minute detail, during His birth, miracles, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.
The angels announced His birth to the shepherds. John the Baptist (the forerunner) announced His coming. The angel Gabriel announced His birth to Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph. The Magi came from the East with gifts to worship Him.
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Born of Aminah
Born around AD 570 in Mecca.
There are no prophecies concerning the coming of Islam’s prophet.
Islam’s prophet did not have a forerunner. His coming was not anticipated. He simply claimed to be a messenger of God.
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The Messiah
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“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” [God with us] (Isa. 7:14, written around 700 years before Christ).
“And the angel [Gabriel] said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.’ And Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God’ (Luke 1:30–33).
“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:17, 18).
“And a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in YOu I [God] am well-pleased” (Mark 1:11).
“You are My Son, Today I [God] have begotten You” (Ps. 2:7). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
“I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13, 14, written centuries before Christ.
“I [God] will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isa. 49:6), written centuries before Christ.
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6, written around 700 years before Christ).
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).
“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
“My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me” (John 8:16).
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“We gave Jesus the son of Mary clear (signs) and strengthened him with the holy spirit” (Surah 2:87).
“Behold! The angels said: ‘O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name is Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah; He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous” (Surah 3:45, 46).
“We (God) sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah” (Surah 5:46).
Allah did not confirm Muhammad’s ministry in a public manifestation.
“Christ the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger” (Surah 5:75a).
“(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah and obey me” (Surah 3:50).
“To you, We (God) sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it” (Surah 5:48).
“And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in Him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness against them” (Surah 4:159).
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The Prophet
Muhammad
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There is no mention of another prophet after the Messiah; on the contrary, the Bible concludes with these stern and uncompromising words: “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophesy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18).
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“Allah and His Angels send blessings on the prophet: O you that believe! You send blessings on him, and salute him with all respect” (Surah 33:56).
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Titles
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Door to heaven
Eternal life
Judge of the living and dead
Messiah (Savior)
Prince of Peace
Word of God
King Eternal
First and Last
Bread of Life
Immortal God
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An Apostle
A Messenger
Son of Abd Allah
A Preacher
Prophet with the Sword
A Warner
Evangelist
Seal of the Prophets
The Prophet of Islam
Mortal Man
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Marriage
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Never married or had relations with any woman.
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Married 15 women, including the then seven-year-old Ayisha
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Worldly desires and riches
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Jesus was not of this world nor did he have worldly desires or riches. He said in Matthew 8:20, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
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The prophet Muhammad was poor but became well-to-do upon marrying Khadija, his first wife who was fifteen years his senior. He also profited from the booties of war. Ayisha, the youngest of the prophet’s wives, used to say that the prophet loved three things: women, scents, and foods. During his wars, the prophet claimed 15 percent of the booty.
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Great Prayers
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Jesus taught His followers to pray in this way:
“Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen (Matt. 6:9–13).
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This prayer is called the “Fatiha,” or the opening of the Qur’an, which is its first chapter:
“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. You do we worship, and Your aid do we seek. Show us the straight way. The way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who do not go astray” (Surah 1).
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Miracles
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Miraculous birth of Jesus by a virgin as God promised (even acknowledged by the Qur’an). Jesus healed the sick, the blind, and the paralytic, walked on water, rebuked the storms, raised the dead, rose from the dead just as He promised, and as it was foretold by the prophets of old. He appeared to over 500 followers following the resurrection. He performed countless other miracles. Was lifted up into heaven in front of His disciples forty days after His resurrection.
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The prophet Muhammad claimed that the Qur’an is the Muslim miracle, and issued a challenge in Surah 2:23 for unbelievers to produce a similar Surah to what is in the Qur’an.
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War & Peace
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Never lifted a sword.
“Then Jesus said to him: ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword’” (Matt. 26:52).
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matt. 5:9).
“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:43, 44).
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12).
“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matt. 5:41).
“You have heard that it was said, ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I [Jesus] say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also” (Matt. 5:39, 40).
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27).
“Behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3).
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:15).
“You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:43–48).
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Proselytized with the sword in sixty-six recorded battles.
“Therefore, when you meet the unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; at length until you have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them)” (Surah 47:4).
“Fighting is prescribed for you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows and you know not” (Surah 2:216).
“And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression” (Surah 2:193a).
“Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in those circumstances), that do wrong” (Surah 60:9).
“And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out” (Surah 2:191).
“We ordained therein for them: ‘Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.’ But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah has revealed, they are (no better than) wrong-doers” (Surah 5:45).
“Let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. To him who fights in the cause of Allah, whether slain or gets victory — soon shall We give him a reward of great (value)” (Surah 4:74).
“Fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)” (Surah 9:5).
“Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah does not love transgressors” (Surah 2:190).
“The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter” (Surah 5:33).
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Enemies
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Loved his enemies
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Killed his enemies
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Kingdom
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Kingdom not of this world
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Established an earthly empire
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Law vs. grace
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While Jesus was teaching at the temple, the Pharisees brought before Him a woman caught in adultery, and they inquired of Jesus what they should do in order to test Him and find grounds to accuse Him. They reminded Him that the Law of Moses calls for the stoning of such women. This was a classic trap. The Law is formal: it calls for stoning. Jesus did not contradict the law nor approve of the sin. On the one hand, He is scornful of the accusers, who are filled with pride, and says to them: “Let him who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” And He watched them leave in silence. On the other hand, Jesus calls sin sin and evil evil when he told the woman to sin no more (John 8:1–11).
Implication: Mercy is dispensed resulting in grace, which forgives. Jesus taught His followers in Matthew 7:1 not to judge, lest they be judged.
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In the Muslim tradition, there is also an incident when an adulteress is brought before the prophet Muhammed as he was in the oasis of Khaybar. Sonic Jews brought before him a woman caught in the act of adultery. They asked him what they should do, so he called for a copy of the Torah. Since the Torah formally stated that the adulteress should be stoned, he ordered her to be stoned. In Islam, obedience to the Law comes before everything.
Implication: Judgment is unre-lenting, resulting in the Law which stones.
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Foremost Command-ment
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“One of the scribes came and . . . asked Him, ‘What commandment is the foremost of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is One Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these’” (Mark 12:28–31).
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“Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him” (Surah 112:1–4).
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Salvation
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“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’” (John 14:6).
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“Those who believe (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians, and who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” (Surah 2:62).
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Death
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Condemned no one to death
Died in Jerusalem at age of 33 by crucifixion
Arose from the dead on the third day as prophesied and appeared to hundreds of witnesses
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Condemned many to death
Died in Medina at age 62, due to pneumonia and poisoning
Lingers in his grave
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Last words
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Jesus never asked for forgiveness for His sins for He was perfect. But one of His last statements on the cross was to forgive those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Jesus’ last words on the cross fulfilled a prophesy from Psalm 31:5 when He said: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46).
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The last words of the prophet Muhammad in a whisper were, “Lord grant me pardon; eternity, in Paradise! Pardon. The blessed companionship on high.”
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Second coming
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Jesus’ second coming is revealed in both the Bible and the Qur’an. He will come to judge (John 5:25, 27).
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“And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment); therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but you follow Me: This is a straight Way.” (Surah 53:61)
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The Cycle of Life and Death
By sinning against God in the garden, something fundamental happened to people. They died spiritually as they lost their fellowship with their Maker, and they began to die physically. Both the Bible and the Qur’an agree that God created humans, and they enjoyed a special relationship with the Creator in the Garden, but that relationship was severed. As a result, the quest of religion is how to restore that broken relationship, but religion cannot restore it. Only God can. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). We must place our faith in God’s righteousness and promises instead of trusting in our sin-stained hands to save us.
The following paragraphs offer some insights concerning the creation, degeneration, and regeneration .
Act I. The Generation of Humanity
Michelangelo’s famous fresco in the Sistine Chapel—known as the Finger of God—which depicts the creation of Adam is one of the most famous images in the world. This fresco can help enhance our understanding of the Christian view of man’s spiritual state. God is shown as a bearded old man in a swirling cloak next to cherubims (type of angels). He stretches out his right arm to impart the spark of life from His finger into that of Adam, who is earthbound. Adam’s left arm is extended in a pose mirroring God’s to show that God created humans in His own image.
Man enjoyed perfect communion with God in the Garden before sin crept into the world.
This touch or communion between God and people continued until people disobeyed God in the Garden. As a result, they died spiritually since their fellowship with the Creator was severed. A great gulf grew between God and people. The reason: God is eternally holy and will not allow un-holiness in His presence. However, God in the Garden spoke of a Savior who would bridge that great gulf. Since sinning against a just and holy God is an infinite crime against an infinite God, God said that a Savior would suffer to pay the price for sin. In essence, Michelangelo’s famous fresco of the creation of Adam is the first of three acts in the cycle of life and death.
Act II. The Degeneration of Humanity
In order to understand the ensuing events after Adam’s creation, we must imagine a second fresco. We would see the same painting with the same set of players but with one stark difference. This time, the slight distance that separated God’s finger from Adam’s finger grew to infinity because God will not allow sin to go unpunished. I would title this the degeneration of humanity. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden because of their sin, and a great gulf separated them from a holy God who hates sin. Therefore, it became impossible for them to bridge that gulf and renew fellowship with God. It is interesting to note that man still has a finger pointed toward God trying to reach him on his own terms with his man-made efforts. God also has a finger pointed toward man lovingly longing to reach Him in the appointed time, and in the only way possible that does not compromise the infinite holiness of God.
The slight distance that separated God’s finger from Adam’s finger grew to infinity because God will not allow sin to go unpunished.
Act III. The Regeneration of Humanity
The regeneration of humanity is the third act that Michelangelo never drew. Once again, God reached down from heaven to Adam, and Adam reached out to God, but this time, two other personalities appear in the picture, the savior that God promised, and the Holy Spirit. The savior is nailed to a cross, bridging the gap between man’s sinfulness and God’s holiness. He is touching Adam’s finger with His human nature, and God’s finger with His divine nature. The great chasm between Adam (man) and God is now bridged by a Savior covered in blood and crowned with thorns. This Savior had to be one with God in order to be a savior for if you were dying of thirst and someone wanted to help you, they would have to have water. Likewise, if you need eternal life, the savior would have to have eternal life. Thus the Savior could not be a mere mortal prophet but he had to be divine.
The Holy Spirit is also present in this fresco in the form of a dove (Luk 3:22). The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and need for repentance. The Bible tells us that no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3). The Holy Spirit helps us to see in the spiritual realm. He helps us realize that our efforts at holiness are feeble. He enables us to appreciate how holy God is and how sinful we are. He assists us to grasp that there’s a great gap between us and God that only God can fill and that only God can cleanse us and renew us (Tit. 3:4-6). He convicts us to humble ourselves before God and enthrone Him in our lives instead of magnifying ourselves. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He will not force Himself on us and reveal the truth to us against our will, but if we ask Him to reveal the truth to us (1 Pet 1:2), He will. Hence, the concept of the Holy Trinity is fully manifested when our relationship with God is restored (2 Cor. 13:14, Mat 28:19, Rom 8:9). The Holy Spirit draws us to the Father, through the Son who is our High Priest (Mat 3:16-17, Jud 1:20-21).
The great chasm between Adam (man) and God is now bridged by a Savior covered in blood and crowned with thorns.
Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are monotheistic religions, as they believe that God is one. Muslims however, erroneously denounce the Christian view of the Trinity (Trinitarianism) as polytheism (shirk – associating someone with God). Trinitarianism is not the opposite of Unitarianism or Monotheism (belief that God is one), but polytheism is (belief that there is more than one God). Trinitarianism does not contradict monotheism but it asserts it. Trinitarianism is the belief that God is one what, but three whos – or said differently, one in being, but three in persons or expressions. It is this concept of the Trinity that enables God to be self-sufficient. God is not in need of anyone to commune with for He is able to commune with Himself. In the same way that man one, yet he is body, mind, and soul; so is God one, yet he is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has the ability to have each member of the Holy Trinity or the Godhead or the being of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) represent themselves distinctly. Thus, Christians believe that God is one is essence, but He expresses Himself in three persons who share in the one divine being.
In the same way, that man one, yet he is body, mind, and soul, so is God one, yet He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit helps us to grasp spiritual truths that are beyond human understanding. He enables us to appreciate how holy God is and how sinful we are. He reveals to us that there’s a great gap between us and God that only God can fill (Tit. 3:4-6). However, the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He will not force Himself on us and reveal the truth to us against our will, but if we ask Him to reveal the truth to us (1 Pet 1:2), He will. Hence, the concept of the Holy Trinity is fully manifested when our relationship with God is restored (2 Cor. 13:14, Mat 28:19, Rom 8:9).
To Choose or Not to Choose
God gives us a choice of whether to live in the second fresco—degeneration—with no hope of fellowshipping with God, or the third fresco—regeneration—where our fellowship with God is restored. If God did not allow us to choose for ourselves, we would be puppets. God does not want mere puppets to worship Him because they are forced to, but He wants free-will agents to worship Him from their hearts because they want to. If our worship did not come from the heart, it becomes a hollow expression that means nothing to God. “The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” (Isa 29:13)
If our worship did not come from the heart, it becomes a hollow expression that means nothing to God.
In stark contrast to the above, in countries where the Shari’a (Muslim Jurisprudence) is the law of the land, Muslims are forced to worship during prayer time at the risk of being whipped by the muttawa [Islamic morality police]. Incidentally, the shari’a undermines most human rights, particularly freedom of religion, freedom of expression, political freedoms, and women’s rights. The shari’a crushes dissent. They don’t want people to choose for themselves, but they want religion to choose for them. In essence, Islam emphasizes the external expression of worship instead of genuine heartfelt praise to the Almighty.
In essence, Islam emphasizes the external expression of worship instead of genuine heartfelt praise to the Almighty.
We do not serve a vengeful God, but a loving God who walked among us, who understands our tears, our sufferings, and our sorrows. He does not want us to serve Him because we have to but because we want to. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). He does not force us to love Him, but He awaits us with nail-scarred hands, saying,
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28–30)
God tells us in His Word that we can try to reach Him with our human efforts and religions, but we will always end up in the second fresco—degeneration—with a great gulf separating us from God. We can never bridge the gap, only God can. Muslims say: “I don’t believe Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.” Arnold Toynbee puts it best in his astute analysis: “Find the body of that Jew, and Christianity crumbles into ruins.”5 Muslims also say: “I have my own way, for the blood is offensive to me.” God says to them: “Good, now you know how I feel about your sin. Your sin is an offensive stench in My nostrils.”
Was the Bible Corrupted?
According to the Qur’an itself, biblical sources are held in highest esteem and are the yardstick of veracity by which any other message is measured. “But if thou art in doubt (kunta) as to that which we have revealed to thee, ask those who read the Book before thee. Certainly the Truth has come to thee from thy Lord, so be not thou of the doubters” (Surah 10:94).
It is clear that the above verse was directed at Islam’s prophet, for the verb is in the masculine singular form kunta (you are), instead of its plural form kuntum. However, if we use the biblical source as a yardstick to measure the Qur’anic scriptures, then simply put, the Qur’an flunks the acid test of veracity since it rejects the fundamental tenets of Christianity, such as the Trinity, the inerrancy of the biblical Scriptures, the deity of Christ, His death on the cross, and His subsequent resurrection.
In comparing the Qur’an and the Bible concerning inerrancy, we will consider the following:
1. The Qur’an contradicts the Bible concerning fundamental issues. Since they cannot both be right, one of them must be in error.
2. The Qur’an claims that the Bible is the barometer of truth.
3. Therefore, the Qur’an must be in error.
1. The Qur’an contradicts the Bible concerning fundamental issues. Since they can’t both be right, one must be in error:
a. Regarding the identity of Jesus, the Qur’an says, “They indeed disbelieve who say: ‘Surely, Allah — He is the Messiah.’” (Surah 5:17, see also 5:72)
b. Regarding the crucifixion of Jesus, the Qur’an says, “They killed him (Jesus) not, nor did they cause his death on the cross, but he was made to appear to them as such.” (Surah 4:157)
2. The Qur’an claims that the Bible is the barometer of truth.
a. “But if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to you, ask those who read the Book [Bible before you.” (Surah 10.94a)
b. “And that which We have revealed to you of the Book [Bible], that is the truth verifying that which is before it; most surely with respect to His servants Allah is Aware, Seeing.” (Surah 35.31)
c. “Say: Who revealed the Book which Moses brought, a light and a guidance to men?” (Surah 6:91b)
d. “And do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit.” (Surah 29:46)
3. Therefore, the Qur’an must be in error.
Since the Qur’an and the Bible disagree on fundamental issues, they cannot both be right. Logic demands that one has to be in error. Muslims claim that since the Bible does not match the Qur’an, the Bible must have been corrupted. However, since the Qur’an instructs us that the Bible is the barometer of truth, this leads us to the inevitable conclusion that whenever the Bible and the Qur’an disagree, the Qur’an must be in error. In other words, the Qur’an is in error concerning a myriad of theological issues such as the Holy Trinity, the identity of Jesus as the Son of God, the sacrificial atonement of Christ, the inerrancy of the Bible, etc. Let us examine some clues in the following vignette to explain why the Qur’an is so vastly different from the Bible.
“A cartoon shows a line of pews and the same sentence is being passed verbally from one pew to the other:
First pew: ‘My ear kind of hurts.’
Second pew: ‘The pastor has an earache.’
Third pew: ‘The pastor got a hearing aid.’
Fourth pew: ‘The pastor is having trouble hearing.’
Fifth pew: ‘The pastor got a double earring.’
Last pew: An old lady with a cane is walking out and says, ‘That does it, I’m outta here! The pastor’s got a double earring!’”
Though it is intended to be satirical, the above vignette brilliantly describes how biblical stories could be altered in the Qur’an. The main reason behind the discrepancies between the Bible and the Qur’an is that Islam’s prophet had to rely on oral information from Christians and Jews concerning the Bible, because the Bible was not yet translated into the prophet’s language of Arabic until approximately three hundred years after his death (AD 900). This further proves that the Qur’an lacks divine origins; otherwise, biblical stories would have been preserved unchanged. Muslims need to make up their minds concerning whether Allah’s word can be altered. If it cannot be altered, then the Bible, which the Qur’an claims to be the word of God, could not have been altered. Muslims cannot vacillate on their beliefs concerning this issue to suit their purposes. Therefore, if the Bible was corrupted, Muslims must be open to the possibility that the Qur’an itself was corrupted.
Is Islam a Religion of Peace?
In Islam, the world is traditionally divided into two camps. Those are Dar Al Islam (literally house of Islam or submission) meaning House of Peace, and Dar Al Harb (House of War). Although the exact definitions of these terms vary widely, a traditional definition is as follows: Countries that are under Muslim rule are grouped in the House of Peace, whereas countries that are not are grouped under House of War. Muslim fundamentalists have Islamic world domination in mind. They are on a jihad until the whole world confesses the Islamic creed which is featured on the Saudi Arabian flag. The Wahabis are the dominant Islamic sect in Saudi Arabia. Their war cry was: “kill the infidels.” The national flag of Saudi Arabia, the religious center of Islam has the words, “La Illaha Illa Allah” (There is no god by Allah). Beneath those words, is the key to making that happen—a sword.
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