by Harry Osborne
Last week, we outlined the foundational teaching of Islam and briefly saw its fundamental doctrines. We also noted that the doctrinal teaching of Islam rests upon an uncertain base of changing revelation. The "revelations" of Islam admit change and ambiguity, yet command the adherent to submit to such. The true revelation of God in the Bible stands in sharp contrast to the fables of Islamic teaching (Psa. 119:89; 1 Pet. 1:22-25; Gal. 1:6-9; Eph. 5:17).
Our purpose in this article will be to focus attention on the Koran. (Muslims prefer the spelling Qur'an.) Muslims believe that the Koran is a revelation from God (Allah) to Mohammed. It was not written down by Mohammed, nor were the supposed revelations recorded during his lifetime. After his death, the followers of Mohammed wrote the Koran claiming it to be an accurate account of his revelations. As we will see in this study, someone goofed because the Koran is neither accurate nor reasonable in many cases. Though the Koran claims to be free from discrepancies, it admits the implication inherent if it is found to have such:
"Do they not ponder on the Qur'an? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy" (Sura 4:82).
Yes, the writings of human hands not guided by divine inspiration do yield the fruit of discrepancies. Let us examine a number of such discrepancies from the Koran.
And as the ark moved on with them amid the mountainous waves, Noah cried out to his son, who stood apart: "embark with us, my child. Do not remain with the unbelievers!" He replied: "I shall seek refuge in a mountain, which will protect me from the flood." Noah cried: "None shall be secure today from the judgement of God but those who shall enjoy His mercy!" And thereupon the billows rolled between them, and Noah's son was drowned (11:42-43).
Of course, the Bible says that Noah followed "all that Jehovah commanded him." That included the command to Noah: "Come thou and all thy house into the ark" (Gen. 7:1-5). That meant Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives all entered the ark and were saved. Peter confirms that all eight souls in Noah's house were saved (1 Pet. 3:20).
The accounts of the Koran and the Bible conflict regarding the silence brought on Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. The Koran says that Zacharias asked for a sign following the news that his wife would bear a son and then gives the following answer of the angel:
"For three days and three nights," He replied, "you shall not speak to any man except by signs" (3:41).
The same period for the speechlessness of Zacharias is later stated in the Koran (19:10). However, the Bible says that Zacharias was unable to speak from the time the angel spoke unto him until the promised son was born and named John at his circumcision on the eighth day (Lk. 1:13-25, 57-64). Thus, the period of silence for Zacharias was approximately nine months. That is a clear discrepancy from the three day period incorrectly stated by the Koran.
The Koran says that Abraham left his father in Ur (6:75; 19:47). Yet, the Bible says that Abraham's father left Ur as he journeyed with Abraham towards Canaan, dying in Haran (Gen. 11:31-32; Acts 7:4). The Koran says Lot's wife stayed behind rather than leaving Sodom with her family (26:171). The Bible says that Lot's wife left the city with the family (Gen. 19:16). Again, there is a clear discrepancy between the Koran and the facts recorded in the Bible.
The Koran tells a far different story from the Bible regarding Joseph in the house of Potiphar. The Koran says that Potiphar's wife sought to seduce Joseph and that Joseph would have succombed if he had not seen a sign from God. It further says that in running from her, Joseph met Potiphar at the door. The Koran says that Potiphar believed Joseph and blamed his wife for the situation, but that Joseph was later jailed for rejecting the advances of a group of women from the town (12:23-34). The facts are correctly given in the Bible account of Genesis 39:7-20.
The Koran denies that Jesus died on the cross. Notice the following:
They declared: "We have put to death the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Apostle of Allah." But they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did. Those that disagreed about him were in doubt concerning him; they knew nothing about him that was not sheer conjecture; they did not slay him for certain (4:157).
The Bible record is in total conflict with this fable of Islam. From start to finish, the Bible looks forward to and back upon the death of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice providing for man's salvation from sin. If Jesus did not die upon the cross, prophecies of the Old Testament predicting such are false (e.g. Isa. 53), the Gospel accounts of Christ's death are false, our hope of salvation through His blood is without substance (Rom. 6:3-11), and we are hopelessly lost in sin. But thanks be to God that the Koran is false and we find reconciliation provided for at Calvary's cross (Rom. 5:7-11).
The Koran repeatedly and vigorously denies the deity of Jesus. The following examples are a few of the many that could be cited:
People of the Book (Christians - HRO), do not transgress the bounds of your religion. Speak nothing but the truth about God. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was no more than God's apostle and His Word which He cast to Mary: a spirit from Him. So believe in God and his apostles and do not say: "Three." Forbear, and it shall be better for you. God is but one God. God forbid that He should have a son! (4:171).
Unbelievers are those who declare: "God is the Messiah, the son of Mary" (5:17).
The Koran goes so far as to say that Jesus never claimed to possess the divine nature. Notice the following:
Then God will say: "Jesus son of Mary, did you ever say to mankind: 'Worship me and my mother as gods besides god?'" "Glory be to You," he will answer, "I could never have claimed what I have no right to. If I had ever said so, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my mind, but I know not what is in Yours. You alone know what is hidden" (5:115-116).
The fact is that Jesus did claim to be the Son of God and to possess the divine nature (Jn. 8:58; 10:30-32, 36; 20:28-29). Regarding worship, Jesus received worship while upon earth (Matt. 2:11; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9; etc.). Jesus also knew what was hidden in the minds of others as He demonstrated on several occasions (Matt. 12:25; 9:4; etc.). Yet, denials of Jesus' divine nature are replete throughout the Koran. It claims that Jesus had no inherent power, but was strengthened "with the Holy Spirit" to teach and to work miracles (5:110-111). Those who persist in believing that Jesus was divine are threatened with punishment of a severe nature. Yet, the Bible clearly teaches the deity of Christ (Jn. 1:1-18; 20:30-31; Rom. 1:4; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3-4; Rev. 5; etc.) The Gospel of John records seven main miracles as proof of Jesus' divine nature noting that the miracles were the result of His inherent power. Whether it be the Koran or any other message of mere man who denies the deity of Christ in part or in whole, such falsehoods stand in stark contrast to the word of God. Teaching otherwise is sheer blasphemy!