Hello, Fellow Traveller!
What do I mean by addressing you like that? Well, a traveller is on his way from a point of departure to a destination. Perhaps more explicit, you and I and everybody else on this planet started out in life at some time and place – and travel on the course of life till the point of death.
I agree that is not a very pleasant thought, but that’s the way it is.
May I suppose that you have a goal in and for your life? Well, I have one. More than one, in fact. But one is excessively more important than all the others. I’m sure you know what I am talking about. I like to spend my eternity in the Presence of God. One calls that heaven. It doesn’t take much imagination to assume that you want the same.
Therefore the most important issue in our lives is to make sure we get there – never mind the cost! I am not talking about suicide bombing here, mind you. Shall we do it together?
You are a Muslim. I am a Christian. We do not follow the same route. In fact you probably think I am miles off course. The reason for that is – pardon for being so blunt – that you reject the Bible, the Book in which you are compelled to believe. Surah 2:177, the foundation of iman, demands that. I want to assume that you are not a hypocrite like so many who claim to believe and yet do not.
I think I know the answer to what you now think. You think: “I do believe in the taurat, the zabur and the injil, but not as they appear in today’s Bibles. These have been corrupted and changed!” Have they???
Muslims who propagate that the Bible was corrupted overlook expediently the fact that eminent Muslim theologians like al-Tabari (died AD 855), al-Bukhäri (died AD 870), as well as al-Ghazzali (died AD 1111) believed in the authenticity of the then existing (Greek) Gospel text. And that is the very message the Qur’an teaches:
“Say ye: We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses, and Jesus, and that given to all prophets from their Lord: we make no difference between one and another of them.” (Surah al-Baqara 2:136).
“It was We who revealed the Law (to Moses); therein was guidance and light . . . if any do fail to judge by the light of what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) unbelievers . . . We sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: Therein was guidance and light . . . a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah. Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by the light of what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel. Judge what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires (Surah Mâ-ida 5:47, 49.50, 52).
“Say: we believe in the revelation which has come down to us and that which came down to you” (Surah al-Ankabût 29:46). (Read also Surah 3:2-3, 4:136 and 10:37 and 94).
It is quite clear that at the time when the Qur’an was written, nobody questioned the authenticity of the Bible. Anyone contradicting it now will not only contradict the Qur’an, but will also have to provide an answer to the following questions:
WHO changed or corrupted the Bible?
WHEN was the Bible corrupted?
WHERE is the original, or evidence that shows that there was such an original?
If the Bible would have been corrupted before or at the time of Muhammad, the Qur’an would hardly have spoken of the Bible in the way it does. Had the Bible been changed or corrupted afterwards, the many existing old manuscripts that predate Muhammad by hundreds of years would have given proof of that fact. As it is, the content of these manuscripts do not vary from the Bibles of our time.
We have just read from the Qur’an that the Bible is God’s Word. We should add, also from the Qur’an, that “no man can change the words of God” (Surah 6:34 and 10:64). So, what are Muslim critics of the Bible doing?
Some Muslims argue that the Qur’an does state that the Bible was distorted. They quote:
“Ye People of the Book Why do ye clothe truth with falsehood, and conceal the truth, while ye have knowledge?” (Surah Al-Imran 3:71).
“There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (as they read) you would think it is part of the Book, but it is not part of the Book” (Surah Al-Imran 78).
These passages say nothing more than that the Bible, rendered by the Jews in public, as the context suggests, was distorted with their tongues, not with their pens. Else the Qur’an would not suggest that Muslims should ask the People of the Book about the content of the Bible:
“Ask of those who possess the Message” (Surah al-Anbiyāa, 21:7).
We may well ask, why do so many Muslims believe that the Bible was corrupted, when history, archaeology and the Qur’an deny this?
Never heard about this? Well, you have now. And now you will have to decide whether you like to really enquire about God and what He revealed of Himself – or be a good hypocrite.
Greetings from
Theophilus
4 comments:
I believe that the God I praise and the Allah I worship is one and the same.
I have too many questions at this time. When speaking to Imaams and Muftis on my concerns, it raises even more questions, doubts and disbelieve in the quraan.
I don’t believe the bible is corrupt, but I do believe (personally) maybe when translating it, it was not done accurately. I am not referring to translating the whole verse inaccurately. I am merely referring to simple words. Eg “Would or Will”
The Quraan on the other hand has been totally and utterly translated to suite and benefit the MEN. Although it preached “fairness, equality & integrity” there are many other verses, quotes, gitaabs that says and refers differently.
So in essence, the quraan was not only incorrectly translated in comparison to the Bible, but it has been severely corrupted too. There a many supporting evidence of this if we refer to the many little gitaabs out there written by various mufti’s and Hajies and all those who believe they are of the higher order or power!
Dear Mumtaz,
your letter touched me. You revealed your heart in it. A faith in which the heart does not beat is dead.
It is difficult not to accept what you write. Excepting one point. You write: "I believe that the God I praise and the Allah I worship is one and the same." Many of the fundamental expressions of Allah in the Qur'an and the Hadith are in grave conflict with what Jesus taught and did. Let me just take what you mentioned and what apparently hurts you. The position of women in relation to God.
Compare what the Qur'an and Muhammad say with what the Bible says:
"Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will."
Surah 2:223
(a tilth is a field)
"Narrated by Mu'awiyah ibn Haydah: I said: Apostle of Allah, how should we approach our wives and how should we leave them? He replied: Approach your tilth when or how you will, give her (your wife) food when you take food, clothe when you clothe yourself, do not revile her face, and do not beat her."
Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 2138
"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more than the other, and because they support them from their means... As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them, refuse to share their beds, beat them. But if they return to obedience, seek not against them means, for Allah is Most High, Great.
Surah 4:34
"... marry women of your choice, two , or three, or four. But if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly,then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustly."
Surah 4:3
(May women marry also 2, 3 or 4 men?)
"Narrated by Abu Hurayrah: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "If I were to order anyone to prostrate himself before another, I should order a woman to prostrate herself before her husband."
Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 3255
"Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah was asked: Who among women is the best? He replied: She who gives pleasure to him (husband) when he looks, obeys him when he bids, and who does not oppose him regarding herself and her riches fearing his displeasure".
Mishkat I, p. 216
"Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: By Him in Whose hand is my life, when a man calls his wife to his bed, and she does not respond, the One Who is in the heaven is displeased with her until he (her husband) is pleased with her".
"Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When a man invites his wife to his bed and she does not come, and he (the husband) spends the night being angry with her, the angels curse her until morning".
Sahih Muslim II, p. 723
The Bible says:
“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.... Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.”
Ephesians 5:22,25.
Also reported in the Gospel is how Jesus acted even toward a bad woman:
"Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:1-12
Do you really believe that the two very differing perceptions shown from Islam and the Bible are coming from the same source?
If you are inclined to say 'No!' you will have only one choice left. To get to know more about Jesus and to find out how you also can be forgiven by Him and by that token become fit to enter God's heaven when you will pass out of this world.
For further discussion you are welcome to write to me at g.nehls@bigpond.net.au
either Muslims, Christians, Buddhist, Hinduism, Judaism, Atheist or other religions, this also applied to our Race... we are all just humans... and it's always have those who like to be a good humans and those who like to live their life the way they like it...... but one thing sure coming toward us is DEATH!... when our body will be put 6 ft under... nobody cares.....solidarity.....rotten....our beautiful body became a good meal to a creatures live there........ when it came to us..... then we will know the real facts about truth........ either the CHOOSE you make in your life is WORTH IT on not.....either you will be regret or be happy....or may be nothing will happen....... so while you still have your life .... why don't you find out the TRUTH yourself....??...you still got your brain right?.....USE IT!!!..and...FIND IT!!!... but it's your life to begin with......so I don't care and I won't care.... I'm just giving a reminder...if you don't need it......I don't care and I won't care...
-BananaOhBanana-
why all comments must be approved by the author???? i think if you open it... then we will see a good debate out of your topic..... the way you doing it right now it's like hiding your true intentions toward people.. you are talking one sided.... the comments that you allowed... is always by you side.... I'm not talking that your side is bad......
but some people need an argument to find the REAL HARD EVIDENCE OF TRUTH....
not who's the winner... but who's make the most logic from the opinion.
I'm new to your blog.. but i find it interesting....
....sorry about my english... i know it's bad... but i'm not an english anyway...
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