The Islamic Dilemma
Compiled by Doug Less-Smith
Information from David Wood
Fact # 1
According to the Quran Jesus was a prophet of Islam. Surah 42:13
He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus - to establish the religion and not be divided therein. Difficult for those who associate others with Allah is that to which you invite them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him].
· Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus were all prophets teaching the same religion, Islam. In fact according to the Quran Surah 19:23-33 Jesus began teaching Islam when he was still a baby.
Fact # 2
According to the Quran a number of Jesus listeners became Muslims. Surah 3:52 & 5:111
But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, "Who are my supporters for [the cause of] Allah?" The disciples said," We are supporters for Allah. We have believed in Allah and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].
And [remember] when I inspired to the disciples, "Believe in Me and in My messenger Jesus." They said, "We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims [in submission to Allah ]."
· Jesus preach and was successful winning converts to Islam. Therefore Jesus had Muslim followers in the first century.
Fact # 3
In the Quran, Allah promises Jesus that His followers would be superior to unbelievers until the day of resurrection. Surah 3:55
[Mention] when Allah said, "O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.
· Allah promises Jesus followers will be protected and be superior to unbelievers till the day of resurrection. (this is a long time) Since the day of resurrection has come yet – Jesus followers are still under Allah’s protection.
Fact # 4
If there were any first century Jews that converted to Islam, after hearing Jesus preach, they did not last very long.
The Quranic claim that Jesus followers were Muslims – Fact # 2 raises an obvious question! Why have we never hear of any first century followers of Jesus who were Muslims? We have a ton of historical information of Jesus first century followers, but no evidence at all that they were Muslims. We have both Christian and no-Christian source that tell us what Jesus followers believed. Yet none of these source suggest anything remotely resembling Islam.
· Therefore Muslims must agree that the Muslim followers of Jesus did not last very long as they left no historical foot print. Alternatively the Quran must be wrong!
Fact # 5
According to the Quran Allah help Jesus gain the upper hand over the Jews who rejected Jesus. Surah 61:14
O you who have believed, be supporters of Allah , as when Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, "Who are my supporters for Allah ?" The disciples said, "We are supporters of Allah ." And a faction of the Children of Israel believed and a faction disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant.
· Allah aided the followers of Jesus till they gained the upper hand over the Jews. It must be noted in the first century Christians were the persecuted minority. Therefore Allah promised that Jesus followers were to be victorious would come some time later.
Fact # 6
The only followers of Jesus who became superior over the Jews were Christians who believed in the death resurrection and deity of Jesus.
From fact # 4 we know that the followers of Jesus who became dominate and powerful were not Muslims. We also know that follower of Jesus did become victorious over the Jews, we also know what these followers believed and it was not Islam.
· Interesting to note that Muslim commentators admit the Quran is referring to Christian who took over the Roman Empire, they permeated the Roman Empire and Christianity became the predominate religion of the world. The Muslim commutator Yusuf Ali confirms this : - Commentary on surah 61:14 english-quran-with-commentaries(yusuf-ali)
Fact # 7
The Quran states that the Injil (Gospel) was give as a guidance for mankind. Surah 3:3-4
He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Qur'an. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah will have a severe punishment, and Allah is exalted in Might, the Owner of Retribution
· Allah’s goal was to give mankind the Gospel so it can be a guidance for mankind. This raises the question was Allah successful in achieving this goal or not.
Fact # 8
According to the Quran Christians still possessed the Gospel during Mohammad’s time. Surah 18:27
And recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words, and never will you find in other than Him a refuge
· Contrary to the Muslim belief today the Quran assets that no one can change Allah’s words. Thus the Quran insists that the Gospel is the word of Allah and no one can change Allah’s words. It also declares that 7th Century Christians were reading the Torah and Gospels.
Surah 7:157
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.
· How can we find Mohammad written down in the Gospel if we do not have the Gospel? If were accept the Muslim view that the Gospel is corrupted but there are some parts that are not, How do we then know the parts about Mohammad are also not corrupted?
· What is the point of referring to a book to validate your prophet when at the same time you are claim the book you are referring to is been corrupted?
Surah 5:47
And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.
· Here we see not only was the gospel available in the 7th century but Allah commands
Christians to Judge by the Gospel.
· If the Gospel has been corrupted then Christians have no bases for their faith as Allah tells the Christians in Surah 5:68
Say, "O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord." And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. So do not grieve over the disbelieving people.
· Allah revealed the Gospel – Fact # 7
· No one can change Allah’s word – Surah 18:27
· Christians were reading the Gospel during the time of Mohammad – Surah 5:47
· Allah commands Christians to Judge by the Gospel – Surah 5:68
· It is clear according to the Quran Christians had the Gospel during the time of Mohammad.
· This means that the Gospel was reliably transmitted from the 1st century all the way to the 7th century.
Fact # 9
If there was a 1st Century Gospel fundamentally different from the New Testament it was corrupted very early in the 1st century or lost entirely.
The Gospels from the 2nd Century were known as the Four Fold Gospels or simple the Gospel, teaching the death resurrection and deity of Jesus as fundamental doctrines. Since the Quran tell us Allah inspired the Gospel and we know the gospel we have contradicts the Quran. Muslims are forced to claim that the Gospel been corrupted.
· We have thousands of manuscripts of the Gospel but none of them agree with Islam. So what happened to the Gospel that Allah inspired?
· The conclusion would be that the Quran is simply wrong when it claims there was once an Islamic Gospel.
· However let us simple agree that there is no record of an Islamic Gospel and thus it was corrupted very early in the 1st Century or lost entirely. Therefore did not make a significant impact.
Fact # 10
According to Islam Allah tricked the Jews into believing that they had crucified Jesus.
· We know historically that Jesus death was common knowledge by ancient authorities. Jesus earliest followers including Peter, James and John came to believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and that he had risen from the death.
· All four gospels confirm early Christian belief that in Jesus death and resurrection. As does the book of Acts and Pauls letter repeatedly claim the death and resurrection of Jesus.
· The Christian creed in I Corinthians 15 is dated to a few years of Jesus life confirms the death and resurrection of Jesus.
· We also have writings from outside of the Christian faith that confirm the death and resurrection of Jesus. Eg Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Josephus and Tacitus.
But Islam asserts that Jesus never died or was raised from the dead. If Islam is correct then why have some many people, Christian and non-Christian believed that Jesus died by crucifixion? According to the Quran Allah tricked people into believing Jesus was crucified.
Surah 4:157-158
And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.
· This is known as the substitution theory by Muslims – Allah took someone else and disguised him to look like Jesus and put them in Jesus place for the Crucifixion – Commonly thought to be Judas.
· Jesus death and resurrection ids foundation in the Christian faith. Thus if Allah had not tricked the Jews into believing they had crucified Jesus there would be no Christianity.
· Therefore Allah through deception and trickery start Christianity.
Ten Question Muslims cannot Answer.
Question One
Assuming that the Muslin view is correct what happened to Jesus Muslim followers in the 1st Century?
Question Two
Why would Allah lead Jesus followers astray and destroy everything Jesus work so hard to accomplish?
Question Three
Why did Allah tell his followers they would be superior until the day of resurrection?
Question Four
If the gospel was given as a guidance for mankind, why did Allah not preserve his message and rather start to help a heresy?
Question Five
If the Islamic Gospel was corrupted so quickly that we have no evidence that it ever existed, why did Allah say it was still available during Mohammad’s time?
Question Six
If Allah is powerless to stop people corrupting his message can we trust the Quran?
Question Seven
Once the Christian heresy had started why did Allah help them to rise to power?
Question Eight
If Allah deceives people who follow his prophets, how do Muslims know that Allah is not deceiving them?
Question Nine
Since Allah deceived people about Jesus, as since Allah could not protect Jesus message, what did Jesus ultimately accomplish?
Question Ten
How does all this compare to the Christian view?
Answer # 10
Muslim claim that they worship a superior god and believe in a deity that deceives people for no reason, overthrows the work of his prophets, starts false religions, is powerless to preserve his message. Although he calls himself the truth, promises to protect his followers and boasts that no one can change his word. Muslims claim to have a superior view of Jesus yet claim he accomplished nothing of any lasting significance and was utterly incompetent in choosing disciples.
If the Quran is true then Allah ignorant and deceptive, Jesus was irrelevant and incompetent while his disciples that were weak willed and unreliable. Islam is one massive insult to God, to Jesus and to Jesus followers. On the surface Islam look promotes reverence for God and respect but when we dig deeper we find blasphemous, incoherent nonsense. This is what one would expect from a false religion.
Christianity on the other hand honours God, god of the Bible is perfect in it attributes, Gods justices is perfect therefor all sin must be punished. God love and mercy are also perfect therefore he is vastly more loving than we can ever hope to be. So much so that He is willing to take the punishment of sin on Himself. God loves sinners so much He entered into creation to pay the price for our sins. As Jesus of Nazareth He fulfilled His mission perfectly and suffered for our sake so we could stand before God with the righteousness of Christ.
Compiled by Doug Less-Smith
Information from David Wood
Fact # 1
According to the Quran Jesus was a prophet of Islam. Surah 42:13
He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus - to establish the religion and not be divided therein. Difficult for those who associate others with Allah is that to which you invite them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him].
· Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus were all prophets teaching the same religion, Islam. In fact according to the Quran Surah 19:23-33 Jesus began teaching Islam when he was still a baby.
Fact # 2
According to the Quran a number of Jesus listeners became Muslims. Surah 3:52 & 5:111
But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, "Who are my supporters for [the cause of] Allah?" The disciples said," We are supporters for Allah. We have believed in Allah and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].
And [remember] when I inspired to the disciples, "Believe in Me and in My messenger Jesus." They said, "We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims [in submission to Allah ]."
· Jesus preach and was successful winning converts to Islam. Therefore Jesus had Muslim followers in the first century.
Fact # 3
In the Quran, Allah promises Jesus that His followers would be superior to unbelievers until the day of resurrection. Surah 3:55
[Mention] when Allah said, "O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allah alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.
· Allah promises Jesus followers will be protected and be superior to unbelievers till the day of resurrection. (this is a long time) Since the day of resurrection has come yet – Jesus followers are still under Allah’s protection.
Fact # 4
If there were any first century Jews that converted to Islam, after hearing Jesus preach, they did not last very long.
The Quranic claim that Jesus followers were Muslims – Fact # 2 raises an obvious question! Why have we never hear of any first century followers of Jesus who were Muslims? We have a ton of historical information of Jesus first century followers, but no evidence at all that they were Muslims. We have both Christian and no-Christian source that tell us what Jesus followers believed. Yet none of these source suggest anything remotely resembling Islam.
· Therefore Muslims must agree that the Muslim followers of Jesus did not last very long as they left no historical foot print. Alternatively the Quran must be wrong!
Fact # 5
According to the Quran Allah help Jesus gain the upper hand over the Jews who rejected Jesus. Surah 61:14
O you who have believed, be supporters of Allah , as when Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, "Who are my supporters for Allah ?" The disciples said, "We are supporters of Allah ." And a faction of the Children of Israel believed and a faction disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant.
· Allah aided the followers of Jesus till they gained the upper hand over the Jews. It must be noted in the first century Christians were the persecuted minority. Therefore Allah promised that Jesus followers were to be victorious would come some time later.
Fact # 6
The only followers of Jesus who became superior over the Jews were Christians who believed in the death resurrection and deity of Jesus.
From fact # 4 we know that the followers of Jesus who became dominate and powerful were not Muslims. We also know that follower of Jesus did become victorious over the Jews, we also know what these followers believed and it was not Islam.
· Interesting to note that Muslim commentators admit the Quran is referring to Christian who took over the Roman Empire, they permeated the Roman Empire and Christianity became the predominate religion of the world. The Muslim commutator Yusuf Ali confirms this : - Commentary on surah 61:14 english-quran-with-commentaries(yusuf-ali)
Fact # 7
The Quran states that the Injil (Gospel) was give as a guidance for mankind. Surah 3:3-4
He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Qur'an. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah will have a severe punishment, and Allah is exalted in Might, the Owner of Retribution
· Allah’s goal was to give mankind the Gospel so it can be a guidance for mankind. This raises the question was Allah successful in achieving this goal or not.
Fact # 8
According to the Quran Christians still possessed the Gospel during Mohammad’s time. Surah 18:27
And recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words, and never will you find in other than Him a refuge
· Contrary to the Muslim belief today the Quran assets that no one can change Allah’s words. Thus the Quran insists that the Gospel is the word of Allah and no one can change Allah’s words. It also declares that 7th Century Christians were reading the Torah and Gospels.
Surah 7:157
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.
· How can we find Mohammad written down in the Gospel if we do not have the Gospel? If were accept the Muslim view that the Gospel is corrupted but there are some parts that are not, How do we then know the parts about Mohammad are also not corrupted?
· What is the point of referring to a book to validate your prophet when at the same time you are claim the book you are referring to is been corrupted?
Surah 5:47
And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.
· Here we see not only was the gospel available in the 7th century but Allah commands
Christians to Judge by the Gospel.
· If the Gospel has been corrupted then Christians have no bases for their faith as Allah tells the Christians in Surah 5:68
Say, "O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord." And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. So do not grieve over the disbelieving people.
· Allah revealed the Gospel – Fact # 7
· No one can change Allah’s word – Surah 18:27
· Christians were reading the Gospel during the time of Mohammad – Surah 5:47
· Allah commands Christians to Judge by the Gospel – Surah 5:68
· It is clear according to the Quran Christians had the Gospel during the time of Mohammad.
· This means that the Gospel was reliably transmitted from the 1st century all the way to the 7th century.
Fact # 9
If there was a 1st Century Gospel fundamentally different from the New Testament it was corrupted very early in the 1st century or lost entirely.
The Gospels from the 2nd Century were known as the Four Fold Gospels or simple the Gospel, teaching the death resurrection and deity of Jesus as fundamental doctrines. Since the Quran tell us Allah inspired the Gospel and we know the gospel we have contradicts the Quran. Muslims are forced to claim that the Gospel been corrupted.
· We have thousands of manuscripts of the Gospel but none of them agree with Islam. So what happened to the Gospel that Allah inspired?
· The conclusion would be that the Quran is simply wrong when it claims there was once an Islamic Gospel.
· However let us simple agree that there is no record of an Islamic Gospel and thus it was corrupted very early in the 1st Century or lost entirely. Therefore did not make a significant impact.
Fact # 10
According to Islam Allah tricked the Jews into believing that they had crucified Jesus.
· We know historically that Jesus death was common knowledge by ancient authorities. Jesus earliest followers including Peter, James and John came to believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and that he had risen from the death.
· All four gospels confirm early Christian belief that in Jesus death and resurrection. As does the book of Acts and Pauls letter repeatedly claim the death and resurrection of Jesus.
· The Christian creed in I Corinthians 15 is dated to a few years of Jesus life confirms the death and resurrection of Jesus.
· We also have writings from outside of the Christian faith that confirm the death and resurrection of Jesus. Eg Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Josephus and Tacitus.
But Islam asserts that Jesus never died or was raised from the dead. If Islam is correct then why have some many people, Christian and non-Christian believed that Jesus died by crucifixion? According to the Quran Allah tricked people into believing Jesus was crucified.
Surah 4:157-158
And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.
· This is known as the substitution theory by Muslims – Allah took someone else and disguised him to look like Jesus and put them in Jesus place for the Crucifixion – Commonly thought to be Judas.
· Jesus death and resurrection ids foundation in the Christian faith. Thus if Allah had not tricked the Jews into believing they had crucified Jesus there would be no Christianity.
· Therefore Allah through deception and trickery start Christianity.
Ten Question Muslims cannot Answer.
Question One
Assuming that the Muslin view is correct what happened to Jesus Muslim followers in the 1st Century?
Question Two
Why would Allah lead Jesus followers astray and destroy everything Jesus work so hard to accomplish?
Question Three
Why did Allah tell his followers they would be superior until the day of resurrection?
Question Four
If the gospel was given as a guidance for mankind, why did Allah not preserve his message and rather start to help a heresy?
Question Five
If the Islamic Gospel was corrupted so quickly that we have no evidence that it ever existed, why did Allah say it was still available during Mohammad’s time?
Question Six
If Allah is powerless to stop people corrupting his message can we trust the Quran?
Question Seven
Once the Christian heresy had started why did Allah help them to rise to power?
Question Eight
If Allah deceives people who follow his prophets, how do Muslims know that Allah is not deceiving them?
Question Nine
Since Allah deceived people about Jesus, as since Allah could not protect Jesus message, what did Jesus ultimately accomplish?
Question Ten
How does all this compare to the Christian view?
Answer # 10
Muslim claim that they worship a superior god and believe in a deity that deceives people for no reason, overthrows the work of his prophets, starts false religions, is powerless to preserve his message. Although he calls himself the truth, promises to protect his followers and boasts that no one can change his word. Muslims claim to have a superior view of Jesus yet claim he accomplished nothing of any lasting significance and was utterly incompetent in choosing disciples.
If the Quran is true then Allah ignorant and deceptive, Jesus was irrelevant and incompetent while his disciples that were weak willed and unreliable. Islam is one massive insult to God, to Jesus and to Jesus followers. On the surface Islam look promotes reverence for God and respect but when we dig deeper we find blasphemous, incoherent nonsense. This is what one would expect from a false religion.
Christianity on the other hand honours God, god of the Bible is perfect in it attributes, Gods justices is perfect therefor all sin must be punished. God love and mercy are also perfect therefore he is vastly more loving than we can ever hope to be. So much so that He is willing to take the punishment of sin on Himself. God loves sinners so much He entered into creation to pay the price for our sins. As Jesus of Nazareth He fulfilled His mission perfectly and suffered for our sake so we could stand before God with the righteousness of Christ.