Apologetics and Islam

Apologetics and Islam Sana a Codex John Oakes UCSD 5/21/2016

Apologetics and Islam Outline Positive Apologetics of Islam and the Qur an Islamic Criticism of the Old and New Testaments Apologetic Issues in Islam and the Qur an

Positive Apologetics and the Qur an No internally fulfilled prophecies, no miracles, no historical verification, so

I. Positive Apologetics of Islam and the Qur an In a recent debate, Shabir Ally made these points: 1. The word yom in the Arabic text of the Qur an 365 times is evidence of inspiration. 360 days in the Arab year 2. The use of the number 19 is evidence of inspiration. Sura 74:30 19 angels Sura 1:1 19 letters 114 Suras 19 x 6 Sura 96 19 th from the last has 19 verses and 209 letter (19 x 11)

Purported Prophecies (I) Deut 18:15-18 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die. 17 The Lord said to me: "What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.

Purported Prophecies (II) Deut 18:15-18 From among their brothers Deut 17:15 (brother foreigner) Deut 34:10 Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt Like Moses = miraculous signs and wonders, which Mohammed never did, but Jesus clearly did.

Purported Prophecies (III) Deut 33:1-2This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2 He said: The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes. Muslims claim: Sinai = Moses Seir = Jesus Paran = Mohammed Paran is nowhere near Mecca (Hab 3:3)

Purported Prophecies? Isa 21:7 when he sees riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be fully alert Muslim claim: riders on donkeys = Jesus, riders on camels = Mohammed. Context: fall of Babylon!

Fulfilled Prophecies? Jn 14:16 The Comforter parakletos = periclytos? (praised one) 1. No manuscript support. 2. Jn 14:26 tells us Comforter = the Spirit 3. Comfort for the apostles 600 years later? 4. Jn 16 The Comforter will abide forever. 5. Jn 14:26 The Comforter sent in Jesus name. (unacceptable to a Muslim!) 6. Acts 1:5 The Comforter will come in a few days.

More Positive Evidence The Qur an is perfect, beautiful and pure Arabic, despite the fact that Muhammad was illiterate. 1. We can concede that the poetry is pretty good. 2. Muhammad was illiterate? 3. Pure Arabic? Sura 12:1-2, Sura 13:37, Sura 16:103 4. Hundreds of non-arabic words in the Qur an. 5. Much of the writing is virtually impenetrable.

Other arguments Changed lives Not completely without validity. obviously, if someone believes fervently enough Rapid spread! slow at first, picking up only when Mohammed picked up the sword. So many converts! promise of paradise, alternative of slavery, taxes, death

II. Islamic Criticisms of the Bible and Christianity The most common apologetic of Islam is not to support Islam or the Qur an, but to undermine Christianity and the Bible. Islam has a huge problem. The Qur an makes it clear that the Old and New Testaments are from Allah, but if the Bible is true then Muhammad is a liar. Note: the claim of corruption comes hundreds of years after the time of Muhammad.

Bible corrupt! Qur an only is pure.

Early Period in Mecca. Muhammad sees himself as following tradition of Judaism. Muslims pray toward Jerusalem. Early Medina period. Mohammad begins to be politically powerful. The idea of Jihad introduced. Later Medina and Meccan period. Muhammad strongly opposed to Jews and Christianity. Islam definitely a distinct religion.

Quranic view of biblical inspiration The people of the Injil shall rule in accordance with Allah s revelations therein. Anyone who does not rule in accordance with Allah s revelations -- these are the wicked! sura 5:47 We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and that which came down to you sura 29:46

Quranic view of biblical inspiration Inconsistency: Use OT and NT to refute Christians. Why, if the scriptures are corrupt?

Does the Qur an Teach the Bible was Corrupted? No! Sura 2:75 some of them have already heard the word of Allah and knowingly perverted it, after they had understood its meaning. Sura 5:13 they change words from their context. In other words, people mininterpreted uncorrupted scripture.

Question: When was the Old Testament Corrupted? Dead Sea Scrolls 800 years before Muhammad says to obey the Torah. So, when was the OT corrupted? Rylands Papyrus, Washington Manuscript, Codex Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, etc. Hundreds of years before Muhammad. When was the NT corrupted?

New Testament Corrupt? John 1:1 If Jesus is not God, when was John 1:1-18 corrupted? There is NO ANSWER to this question. Sura 4:157 And for their saying: We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah, and they killed him not, nor did they cause his death on the cross, but he was made to appear to them as such. Arch-skeptic and atheist Bart Ehrman: One of the most certain facts of history is that Jesus was crucified on orders of the Roman prefect of Judea, Pontius Pilate. Q: When was the crucifixion added to the Bible? What about Tacitus, Josephus and the Talmud?

What About the Qur an? Uthman burned all competing manuscripts about AD 650 Ibn Masud Codex (Kufa) 150 variants in Sura 2 alone Sana a Manuscript about AD 650 missing suras and hundreds of variants. Topkapi Manuscript (Turkey) has 44 variants Hadith mentions missing suras. Muslims avoid all study of Qur an manuscripts and history. What are they afraid of?

The Sana a Manuscript: a palimpsest

Christians: Original autographs are perfect and inspired. Copiers and human and not inspired. Muslims: Original autographs are perfect and inspired. Copiers are inspired and all copies are perfect. Which view holds up to the evidence? :

Are Muslim Apologists Equally Skeptical of Their Own Scripture? The irony is that Christians are open about minor changes in their scriptures, which ultimately makes our Greek NT and Hebrew OT more reliable. But the Muslim s lack of openness about the problems in the Qur an has made it less reliable. Do they question the historical support for Jesus speaking from the cradle?

More Muslim Criticisms of Christianity Christianity is tritheism Only Allah is eternal (but the Qur an is eternal) Unjust for Jesus to die for someone else s sins Qur an includes the idea of substitutionary sacrifice Both of these criticisms are based on human logic, The Bible descriptions of Abraham, David, Samson is disrespectful and inaccurate Which is more likely to be accurate, an whitewashed account 2000 years after the event, or an embarrassing account 2000 years earlier?

III. Apologetic Issues in Islam and the Qur an A. World View Issues B. Historical Errors C. Scientific Errors D. Satanic Verses and Abrogation

World View Issues: Is Islam a Better Religion? Islam and women Works salvation Predestination Fate: Problem of Pain and Suffering Islam: God unapproachable.

Qur an and women Men have authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to support them. Good women are obedient If they are rebellious, rebuke them, beat them, and send them to bed. -- 4:34

Qur an and wives Marry women of your choice, two, three, or four. -- 4:3 Sexual relations with captive female slaves is acceptable 23:5,6 70:30

Islam on Sin Surely good deeds take away evil deeds (11:114). Kabira (big sins) murder, adultery, drunkenness, disobeying parents, neglecting Ramadan or Friday prayers, gambling, dancing, shaving the beard, forgetting the Koran after reading it, usury Forgiveness with repentance. Saghira (little sins) deceit, anger, lust. Forgiveness if greater sins are avoided and good deeds are performed. Shirk association (of other gods with Allah). No forgiveness.

Qur an and paradise The true servants of Allah will be well provided for, feasting on fruit and honored in gardens of delight. Reclining face to face upon soft couches, they shall be served with a goblet filled at a gushing fountain delicious to those who drink it. They shall sit with bashful, dark-eyed virgins, chaste as the sheltered eggs of ostriches. -- 37:40-49. See also 78:32ff.

Salvation by own effort (40:9, 39:61, 7:43) Charity atones for sins (2:271,277) Earn grace. Earn favor of Allah. Earn salvation. Earn paradise.

Islam: Salvation is earned through the efforts of those who were pre-selected by Allah to inhabit a very sensual paradise. Christianity: Salvation is granted by the grace of a loving God to those who, through faith and repentance and baptism accept that love.

Initiative Human approach (Islam) God Christianity God Mankind Mankind

Predestination In Islam, Allah determines everything, even who will choose to follow him. Sura 6:39 Who Allah wills he leaves to wander, who Allah wills, he places on the way that is strait. God created Paradise for those who are fit for it while they were yet in their father s loins, and created for Hell those who are to go to Hell while they were yet in their father s loins (Salih Muslim 33:63-93)

Historical errors in the Qur an Crucifixion in Egypt at time of Moses 7:124, 12:41 Zechariah silent for 3 days (rather than 9 months) 3:41 Abraham and Ishmael make pilgrimage to Mecca and the Kabah but Mecca did not exist before Christ. Jesus childhood miracles 3:46, 3:49, 5:110 Jesus speaks from the cradle 19:30-33 Muhammad believed trinity was Father, Mother, Son 5:116 Do not say Three gods: Allah, Isa and his Mother (Tafsir al- Jalalayn)

The cosmology of Islam is not unlike that of the Bible, except that it takes incorrect popular ideas more literally. The main difference is that the Qur an is not inspired, so the statements contained in the Muslim scripture has rather obvious scientific problems. Islamic Cosmology

Scientific errors in Qur an (I) 23:14 Creation from the clot of blood Then we made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then from that clot we made a lump; and we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh. 36:4 Man deposits child into the mother 18:86 Traveling west till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring.

Scientific errors in Qur an (II) 21:32-33 Sun and stars orbit the earth 34:9, 52:44 Piece of sky falls and kills someone

Theory of Abrogation Sura 6:34 no one can alter Allah s promises Sura 6:115 No one can change His words Sura 10:64 There is no changing the promises of Allah vs. Sura 2:106 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? Whatever Mohammad said later abrogates his previous sayings.

Abrogation (cont.) Sura 53:19 In a moment of weakness Muhammad said: Have you thought of Al-lat, al Uzza and AManat? These are exalted intermediaries whose intercession is to be hoped for. Later abrogated, of course. Examples: Only four wives (4:3) Later: Muhammad can have more 33:50 and 33:52 Praying toward Jerusalem abrogated by praying toward Mecca. (sura 2:142-145) Sura 9 Ultimatum 9:5 Verse of the sword abrogates milder statements about unbelievers.

Summary Positive Apologetics of Islam and the Qur an Islamic Criticism of the Old and New Testaments Apologetic Issues in Islam and the Qur an Reaching out to Muslims: Focus on Jesus. Remember that Muslims respect Jesus and deal with reliability of the Old and New Testaments.

Part II. Modern Islam and Jihad Muslim sects today: Sunni >80% Shia 15% Sufi Salafi (lit. ancestors) Wahabi Nearly all Salafis and all Wahabis are Sunni

Is Islam a Religion of Peace? Most Muslims are peace-loving. But the trends are in the wrong direction A recent Pew Poll: 237 million favor capital punishment for apostasy 345 million favor honor killings 469 million favor application of sharia to all

Jihad: The Sixth Pillar of Islam? Jihad = strife or struggle. Most Muslims interpret this as spiritual struggle. Sura 22:78 Sura 109 spiritual jihad. All from Meccan period. But.. Almost all uses of Jihad in the Qur an and Hadith are about warfare. Sura 2:216-218 Warfare is prescribed for you, though you dislike it Behold, those who believe, emigrate and undertake jihad, these have hope of the mercy of Allah.

\The Encyclopedia of Islam: Djihad consists of military action with the object of the expansion of Islam and, if need be, of its defense. Before the 20 th century: jihad = warfare with a spiritual significance. Islam is a religion of peace first stated in India in 1930s in context of India and Mahatma Ghandi.

Things to bear in mind 1. Muhammad fought in or oversaw many battles including offensive warfare. 2. Muhammad ordered the execution and maiming of many people, including the massacres of innocents. 3. The Qur an teaches jihad as a means of spreading Islam. 4. The Hadith agrees with this and expands on it. 5. Muhammad s vision was put into practice in a massive empire by AD 700.

Things to bear in mind 6. The Qur an promises immediate and unconditional access to Paradise to those who die in authorized jihad. Sura 9:111 7. Based on the doctrine of Abrogation, the violent aspect of jihad is the correct one (sura 9)

Sura 9 The Disavowal Considered by Islamic scholars to be the final sura. Concering polytheists: Kill the polytheists wherever you find them, lay siege to them, take them captive and sit in ambush for them everywhere. If they confert, leave their way. (sura 9:5) Concerning people of the Book: Fight those who do not believe [in Islam] from among the people of the Book until they pay their jizra (ransom tax) and feel their subjugation. (9:29) May Allah destroy them. (9:30) If you do not march forth, He will punish you with great punishment. (9:39-41)

Conclusion Most Muslims want to get along with non-muslims and the majority of their history agrees with this view. My concern: Muslims have rejected Muhammad s and the Qur an s view of jihad principally because of tradition and because they generally have almost no access to the Qur an and Hadith. In Islam, Reformation/Restoration and a return to the text bodes very badly for peaceful Islam.

Warfare and Peace: Christianity vs Islam In Christianity, a return to its roots is a return to pacifism and non-violence. The first offensive warfare committed in the name of Christ was 1100 years after Christ. In Islam, a return to its roots is a return to an aggressive militant Islam. Reformed Islam is violent Islam. The internet is exacerbating this problem to a great degree. Nabeel Qureshi: As long as Islam is practiced in a way that calls Muslims to return to its foundations, violence will follow.

What is the solution to violent Islam? Jesus The Prince of Peace

Reaching Out to Muslims Moufid Thome, evangelist in Beirut: The forefront for the conversion of Muslims to Christ is in the United States, not in Muslim countries. 1. Know the history and religious culture that is Islam. 2. Read the Qur an and be aware of the importance of Hadith. 3. Prepare to answer Apologetic questions regarding Islam. 4. Show honor and respect. Find common ground (Acts 17). 5. Introduce your Muslim friends to Jesus as described by those who actually knew him the gospels.