“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful… For the word of God is alive and active… For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (John 1:1; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:21).
The Bible is the word of God, written for all mankind. It is relevant for all nations and all generations! The Bible conveys the signs and message of God, it gives His perfect and everlasting law, explains the wisdom underlying this law, and lays the principles and rules of conduct which brings about complete spiritual transformation in the lives of all people! This is the claim for the need of the Quran, but the Bible fulfills all of this! The Bible is said to be written by God through man (2 Peter 1:20-21). The Quran claims to be a message from Allah given to Muhammad through an angel (Surah 11:1; 26:192-193; 2:23). Could the Quran be of God? Even though the Bible says, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.” Revelation 22:18!
Let’s look at the differences in the Quran (written 611-632 ACE) and the Bible (written 1450 BCE-90ACE). Surah 19:28 says that Mary the mother of Jesus is the sister of Aaron. The only problem, they lived 1000 years apart. Surah 21:80 states King David received a coat of mail; mail invented 300 BCE, while David lived at 1000 BCE. According to the Quran, the covenant of God would be through Ishmael and his offspring, however, the Bible says the covenant will be established with Isaac (Genesis 17:21; Surah 34:48; 19:54-55)! Surah 3:55 states that Jesus would die a natural death and not on a cross (Mark 9:31). Surah 53:19 was retracted and replaced as it was known as the Satanic verse. According to Muhammad, Satan placed the verse without his knowledge and so was deceived. If Muhammad wanted to change a surah, he would just replace it and tell his followers to stop quoting the old, this is known as abrogation (Surah 2:106)! One of the most Interesting differences is between Jesus words of the New Covenant (still in effect today) and the convictions of the Quran in regards to violence. According to Jesus we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-44),But the Quran says in Surah 5:38 “Kill in the name of ALLAH, kill in self-defense, pursue and attack them, don’t be friends with them, strike terror, cut off their fingertips, pursue, fight, kill, go to hell if you do not fight and are able!” Also stated in Surah 4:74; 4:89; 8:12; 9:5; 9:14; 9:20; 9:29-30,38-39,88,111,123; 17:16; 25:52. No matter what the reason Muslims give for violence, this teaching is contrary to the Bible! Not to mention the difference in morals!
Surah 4:34 allowing men to beat their wives if they do not submit to them. Or allowing men to have up to four wives; with the exception of Muhammad who was allowed to take as many as he wanted (Surah 33:50). Christians do not believe in pointing the way to go, but leading the way. It is hypocritical to say, “do as I say, but not as I do!” Muslims will say that the Quran is the miracle of Allah and a continuation of the actual Bible. We have looked at some of the differences between the two but let us now look at the evidence claiming the Quran is a miracle.
The Claim
The Quran claims to be the word of God because it is said to be unique in literary style, a miracle of Muhammad because of illiteracy, perfect preservation, prophecies in Quran, the unity of Quran, scientific accuracy of Quran, amazing mathematical structure, and lastly the changed lives. These are the claims made to support the Quran being a miracle; But let us look at what a miracle must have to be classified as a miracle according to Muslim scholars.
The Evidence
A miracle confirming the prophethood must have the following confirmation. 1. An act of God that cannot be done by any creature. 2. Contrary to the customary course of things in that class; 3. Aimed at proving the authenticity of that prophet; 4. Preceded by the announcement of a forthcoming miracle; 5. Carried out in the exact manner it was announced; 6. Accomplished only through the hands of the prophet; 7. in no way contrary to his prophetic claim; 8. Accompanied by a challenge to reduplicate it; 9. Cannot be duplicated by anyone present. Interesting, Muslims believe that Moses, Elijah, and Jesus performed miracles that fulfilled these criteria. But does the Quran? Let’s look at the facts and the evidence!
Literary Style & Illiteracy
It’s claimed that Muhammad was illiterate and still wrote the Quran. Could Muhammad just be that gifted? If the test is being gifted, then Mozart could be a prophet, after all, Mozart composed his first symphony at the age of six! If he just quotes an angel, then why would his illiteracy be of any importance? But the Quran is claimed to be written with such a unique style! Would we then say Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” is inspired by God since it leads in the English language as unique in style? According to Iranian Shi’ite scholar Ali Dashti, the Quran possesses numerous grammatical irregularities (74:1; 4:160; 20:66; 2:172; 49:9, etc.). Anis A. Shorrosh states there have been noted over 100 aberrations from the normal rules and structure in Arabic.
Perfect Preservation
Zayd was requested by Abu Bakr to gather the various chapters and verses from the land to form the modern-day Quran. Then he was asked by Uthman (third Muslim Caliph) to search out the multiple forms of the Quran and burn those that was different; Proving there were various texts of the Quran contrary to Muslims claims!
Prophecy
No claim of prophecy is supernatural in the Quran. “The Prophet of the sword” (Muhammad), says they will get the victory in battle. But what military leader would not say they will get the victory? Interesting when Muhammad loses the battle at Uhud, it was a test of his faith and not evidence to show he wasn’t a prophet of Allah (Surah 3:166-168)!
The only prophecy made that has any weight was Surah 30:2-4 stating the Roman empire would be victorious over Persia in a few years (3-9 years). However, the victory doesn’t come till 10-11 years later. Not very supernatural considering the Roman army defeated almost all of their opponents!
Unity
Within 20 years it was necessary for change and or correction, known as abrogation (53:21-23,2:106, 9:5, 2:256, 9:29, 10:64, 6:34)! Surah 7:54 and 32:4 said the world was made in six days. However, Surah 41:9-12 says it took God 8 days to create the world. Both cannot be right (18:29/17:13; 10:99-100)! The Quran also states, “No change there can be in the Words of God” Surah 10:64!
Scientific Claims
One of the scientific claims in the Quran describes a man being made from a blood clot (Surah 23:14), to say this is scientific evidence of a baby. A phrase unacceptable to scientists specializing in this field! Of other interest is Surah 18:86 as a man walks west he sees the sun setting into a muddy spring!
Mathematical Structure
An argument for the mathematical structure has 19 points, a few are listed here: The Opening statement consists of 19 Arabic alphabets… The first Quranic revelation consisted of 19 words… The last Quranic revelation consisted of 19 words…. The Quran consists of 114 chapters (19×6). You can see the basic thinking with the number 19. Would this same reasoning apply to the Bible? According to Dr. Ivan Panin, The first verse in the Bible is 7 Hebrew words, 28 letters (7×4) “In the Beginning God created the Heavens and the earth.”… 3 nouns, God, Heavens, Earth…. total numeric value is 777 (7×111)… created has a value of 203 (7×29)… The first 3 words contain the object, composed of 14 letters (7×2) last four words include the subject, also consisting of 14 letters (7×2) and so on (Ibid., 127. For a Christian approach to the mathematical structure of the Bible).
Changed Lives
Would we accept Karl Marx’s Das Kapital as inspired because it transformed millions of lives and many cultures? Why would this be proof it is from God? What could be a reason for many converts? The Promises of paradise if you convert and threats of punishment if you do not.
Why would there be so many differences between the Quran and the Bible? Well, the Bible is written by God, and the Quran is delivered by an Angel! Satan himself is an angel masquerading as an angel of light and leading the whole world astray (2 Corinthians 11:14; Revelation 12:9). Look at what God says about an angel bringing a different message than the scriptures in the Holy Bible: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” Galatians 1:6-9 Understanding that if the Quran was delivered by an angel, that angel was not of God!
The Quran is not a miracle, it has no true credentials, and it’s claims contain fallacies. So do you keep believing it without any facts or support? You cannot hold to both. Everyone must choose, but choose wisely! Study the facts and follow the truth!
Love,
Coltin L Rohn