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Rev. Thomas McCuddy www.faithdefense.com Allah vs. Yahweh Is the God of Muhammad The Father of Jesus Christ? 2
Preliminary Considerations Goal: Comparative Religion Difficulty 1: What is representative of the religions? Difficulty 2: What is characteristic? Bottom Line A Christian believes in a theistic God named Yahweh (Jehovah), follows the teachings of Jesus, and uses the Bible as the rule and guide for faith and practice. A Muslim believes in a theistic God, named Allah, follows the teachings of Muhammad, and uses the Qur an as the rule and guide for faith and practice. 3
The Test of Faiths Compare the Deities Compare the Scriptures Compare the Champions Test #1: The Deities What have they revealed about themselves? What are their natures? How do their followers understand them? What is expected of those who follow? 4
Allah vs. Yahweh Allah means Divinity Allah is Deterministic Islam is Fatalistic (37:94) En sh Allah = Allah wills it The cause of evil. (17:16) Sends to hell not because of justice but for pleasure. Yahweh means I am God is Sovereign Christianity is directed God is in control The cause of good. Sends to hell because of justice, not for pleasure Allah Arbitrarily Sends People to Hell Had we so willed We should have brought every soul its guidance, but true is that saying of Mine: I shall assuredly fill up Gehenna with jinn and men together (32:13) 5
Allah vs. Yahweh He created you as well as what you do Not known by his nature; known by his actions. He does everything, including what Satan does, but better. Performs contradictory actions. Choose this day whom you will serve. His nature is Father, Savior and Comforter He does good and it is Satan who does the bad. Cannot deny himself. Test #2: The Scriptures How were they written? How do their compositions compare? Are they inspired or simply inspiring? Are there significant issues with either of the texts? 6
Qur an vs. Bible Inspiration of one man Means recitation Written over 23 years and compiled after his death (AD 633) [Traditional View] Cannon established by one man (Not Muhammad). Self-Correcting Inspiration of many men Means book Written over 1400 years and compiled as written. Cannon established by the church based on authenticity. Self-fulfilling Quotes from the Qur an The stories of the Qur an were meant to validate the Bible (12:111). If you (Mohammed) doubt the reliability of the Qur an, you should ask those who are reading the Bible, which was revealed prior to your life. (10:94) There is nothing new in the Qur an which was not revealed to former apostles (41:43). Previous revelations contained in the book are authoritative and authentic revelations from God (2:136, 4:163) 7
Problems with the Qur an Then we made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood, then of that clot we made a (fetus) lump; then we made out that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh (23:14) The Sun sets in the west in a muddy spring (18:86) Claims prophecy but gives nothing specific that was fulfilled. Contradictions in the Qur an 125 verses calling for patience and tolerance + unbelievers should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned (Surah 5:33) + slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush (Surah 9:5) 8
Contradictions in the Qur an Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus were the first Muslims (Surah 2:136). Verse 131 commands Abraham to be a Muslim. Verse 135 tells Jews and Christians to submit to the religion of Abraham which is Islam. But Surah 6:14, 163; and 39:12 says Muhammad was the first to submit to Allah and Islam, thus, the first Muslim. Context, Context, Context When Islamic apologists say terrorists quote the Qur an on jihad out of context author Robert Spencer noted, they neglect to mention that the Qur an itself often offers little context. Frequently it makes reference to people and events without bothering to explain what s going on. This is where the Hadith comes in. The Hadith is a compellation of things Muhammad may or may not have said and may or may not have done. 9
From the Pen of a Muslim Scholar Unfortunately the Qur an was badly edited and its contents are very obtusely arranged. Test #3: The Champions Who were they? What were they? What did they claim about themselves? But let s look at this using ONLY the Qur an. 10
Muhammad vs. Jesus Committed sins (40:55; 48:1-2) Not born of a virgin (known) Dead and buried in Medina (known) Could not create (6:102) Could not make the deaf hear (27:80) Human messenger (17:90-93) Awaits Judgment Without sin (3:34-46; 19:17-21) Virgin born (3:47) Bodily ascended into heaven (4:158) Created a bird (5:110) Healed born blind and lepers (3:49) Called Messiah (3:45) Will return to Judge (3:55; 4:159) Witnessing: C.A.M.E.L. Chosen 3:42-44 Mary was chosen by Allah for a special purpose. Announcement 3:45-47 Angels announced the birth of the Messiah to Mary. Miracle 3:48-49 Jesus power is revealed in His miracles. Eternal Life 3:50-55 Jesus knows the way and is the way to heaven. 11
http://radicaltruth.net/uploads/pubs/facingthemuslimchallenge-gilchrist.pdf 12