What Every Christian Should Know About Islam Part 2 The Qu ran The Five Pillars of Islam A. Sources: Bakhtiar, Laleh (trans.). 2007. The Sublime Quran. Chicago: islamicworld.com. Mallon Elias D. 2006. Islam: What Catholics Need to Know. Washington: National Catholic Educational Association. Zepp Ira G. Jr. 2000. A Muslim Primer: Beginner s Guide to Islam (2 nd ed.). Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press. http://www.usc.edu/dept/msa/quran/: source for, Marmaduke Mohammad Pickthall, and translations Many internet sources, especially Wikepedia entries and www.hajinformation.com. B. The Qur an is the guide to humanity and Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets 2:185 The month of Ramadan is one in which the Quran was sent forth as a guidance for humanity, with clear portents of the guidance, and the Criterion beween right and wrong;... 3:3 He sent down to you the Book with The Truth establishing as true what was before it; and He has sent forth the Torah and the Gospel before this as a guidance for humanity; and He has sent forth the Criterion between right and wrong; Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong).... It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). 1
2 33.40 Muhammad was not the father of any men among you, but he is the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets, and God is Knowing of everything. Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong).... C. Answers from the Qur an to those who doubt its authenticity. 2:23 If you are in doubt about what We have sent down to Our servant, then approach with a chapter of the Quran the like of it and call to your witnesses, other than God, if you are the ones who are truthful. 10:37-38 This Quran would not have been devised by other than God; instead, it establishes as true what was before it and as a decisive explanation of the Book; there is no doubt in it; it is from the Lord of all the worlds. Or shall they say: He devised it? Say: Bring a chapter of the Quran like it And call on whomever you are able other than God, if you are ones who are sincere. 11:13 Or they say: He has devised it; say: Approach you then with ten chapters of the Quran like it, forged, and call to whomever you are able other than God if you are the ones who are sincere. And if you are in doubt as to that which We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a chapter like it and call on your witnesses besides Allah if you are truthful. This Qur'an is not such as can be produced by other than Allah; on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book wherein there is no doubt from the Lord of the worlds. Or do they say, He forged it? say: Bring then a Sura like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can besides Allah, if it be ye speak the truth! M.M. Pickthall Or they say: He hath invented it. Say: Then bring ten surahs, the like thereof, invented, and call on everyone ye can beside Allah, if ye are truthful!
3 52:33-34 Or they say: He has fabricated it. Rather they believe not. Then let them bring a discourse like it, if they are ones who are sincere. Or do they say, "He fabricated the (Message)"? Nay, they have no faith! Let them then produce a recital like unto it,- If (it be) they speak the truth! D. Bismillah: In the Name of God, The Merciful, The Compassionate. E. The Qur an s claim that it has no contradictions because it is from God. 4:82 Meditate they not on the Recitation? Had it been from other than God, certainly they would have found in it many contradictions. Do they not then meditate on the Quran? And if it were from any other than Allah, they would have found in it many a discrepancy. F. Example of abbrogation. The 1:2 odds of 8:66 abbrogates the 1:10 odds of 8:65 8:65-66 O Prophet! Encourage fighting to the ones who believe; if there are twenty who remain steadfast among you, they shall vanquish two hundred; and if there are a hundred of you, they shall vanquish a thousand of those who are ungrateful because they are a folk who understand not. Now God has lightened your burden from you for He knows that there is a weakness in you; so if there are a hundred of you, ones who remain steadfast, they shall vanquish two hundred; and if there be a thousand of you, they shall vanquish two thousand with the permission of God; and God is with the ones who remain steadfast.
4 G. Idolatry is the unpardonable sin 4:48 Truly God forgives not that any partner be ascribed to Him, but He forgives other than that to whomever He will. Whoever ascribes partners unto God, indeed he has devised a serious sin. Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed. H. Denial of belief in the Trinity 5:73 Yet ungrateful are those who said: Truly God is the third of three. While there is no god but One God. If they refrain not from what they say, there shall afflict those who are ungrateful among them, a painful punishment. They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them. I. Denial of Jesus divinity 4:171 O Peopleof the Book! Go not beyond the limits in your way of life, and say not about God but The Truth: That the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was a Messenger of God and His word that He cast to Mary and a Spirit from Him; so believe in God and His Messengers; and say not: Three; to refrain from it is better for you; there is not but One God! Glory be to Him that He should have a son! To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in and on the earth; And God suffices as a Trustee. O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only a messenger of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His messengers, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one Allah; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.
5 J. Call to prayer I testify that there is no god except God. I testify that there is no god except God. I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God. I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God. Come to prayer! Come to prayer! Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)! Come to success! There is no god except God. K. al-fatiah (The Opening) 1:1-7 In the Name of God, The Merciful, The Compassionate. The Praise belongs to God Lord of the worlds, The Merciful, The Compassionate, One Who is Sovereign of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and to You alone we pray for help. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom You have been gracious, not ones against whom You are angry, nor the ones who go astray. 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. Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way, The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.