Apology & Islam

Apology and Islam 25 August 2009

Table of Contents HISTORY OF ISLAM .......................................................................................................................................... 2 THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD (570-632) ........................................................................................................................ 2 His Context ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 His Life ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 His Legacy ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 THE CASE AGAINST CHRISTIANITY.................................................................................................................... 4 THE BIBLE HAS BEEN CORRUPTED ................................................................................................................................ 4 THE PROBLEM OF THE TRINITY ................................................................................................................................... 4 THE OBJECTION TO THE TERM "SON OF GOD" .............................................................................................................. 4 THE SIGN OF JONAH ................................................................................................................................................. 5 THE GOSPEL OF BARNABAS........................................................................................................................................ 5 THE OBJECTION TO THE CRUCIFIXION........................................................................................................................... 5 THE CASE AGAINST ISLAM ............................................................................................................................... 7 THE ARGUMENT FROM MORALITY .............................................................................................................................. 7 Muhammad and Women................................................................................................................................ 7 Muhammad and the Treatment of Female Captives ...................................................................................... 8 Muhammad and Cruelty ................................................................................................................................. 8 THE ARGUMENT FROM SCIENCE ................................................................................................................................. 9 The Scientific Case against Muhammad ......................................................................................................... 9 The Scientific Case against the Qur’an ........................................................................................................... 9 THE ARGUMENT FROM INCREDULITY ......................................................................................................................... 10 THE ARGUMENT FROM THE QUR’AN ......................................................................................................................... 10 THE ARGUMENT FROM SCRIPTURE ............................................................................................................................ 11 THE GENERAL PRESUPPOSITIONAL ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................ 12 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................................... 12

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HISTORY OF ISLAM THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD (570-632) His Context 1. Bedoiun society, nomadic lifestyle, desert, camels (meat, milk, 57 degrees C, 8 days no water, raiding), continuous warfare for resources & blood feuds. 2. Vague notion of God/Allah, idolatry, sanctuary/shrine at Mecca (the Ka‘ba, built by Abraham) 3. Byzantine & Sassanian empires at war, but ignore the Arabian peninisula 4. Arabia is crucial to international trade (Africa  Asia), gave rise to Mecca which completely depended upon import of food. Zam zam spring in Mecca also makes it strategic (where Allah provided water for Hajira and Ismail) 5. Quraysh tribe owned the trade in Mecca & Muhammad was born into this tribe AD 570.

Map of Arabia

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His Life 1. Both his parents had died before he was seven (his dad died before he was born) so he was raised by his uncle and grandfather. 2. He married at 25 after receiving a proposal from Khadijah, a wealthy forty-year-old widow who he worked for in the trading business. 3. At the age of 40, while Muhammad was meditating in a cave on Mt. Hira near Mecca he received his first call to be a prophet (Surah 96:1-5). (AD 610) 4. Nine years later, in AD 619, Khadijah and Abu Talib died. Muhammad remarried immediately to an Abyssinian widow (Sauda), and was shortly was engaged to Ayisha, a girl of seven & daughter of Abu Bakr, whom he married 3 years later in Medina. 5. In AD 622, Muhammad moved to Medina and transformed from a dreamer into a political leader. 6. Muhammad raided Meccan caravans for support causing the Battle of Badr, Battle of Uhud and Battle of Ahjab. 7. In AD 630, after a treaty was signed between the Muslims and the Meccans, Muhammad returned to Mecca with 10 000 men and took over the city. All the idols in the Ka‘ba of Mecca were destroyed. Mecca was made a holy city of Islam. The next year Muhammad attacked Syria with 30 000 men. 8. In AD 632, at the age of 62, Muhammad died suddenly in Medina (probably from poisoning). By this stage he had taken for himself 13 wives and concubines.

His Legacy 1. First Caliph was Abu Bakr (AD 632-634). Defeated Byzantine army. 2. Second Caliph was Umar (AD 634-644). Surahs of Qur‘an collected. Captured Jerusalem and gained control of Syria, Egypt and Persia. 3. Third Caliph was Uthman (AD 644-656). Selected official Qur‘anic texts and destroyed the rest. 4. Fourth Caliph was Ali (AD 656-661). This led to a split between Shia and Sunni over a succession problem: Sunnis hold that Abu Bakr was Muhammad's rightful successor but the Shia believe that Muhammad divinely ordained his cousin and son-in-law Ali in accordance with the command of God to be the next Caliph, making Ali and his direct descendants Muhammad's successors. 5. Golden age of Islam (AD 660-750) 6. The Crusades (AD 750-1258) 7. The Rule of the Ottoman/Turkish Empire in Constantinople (AD 1301-1900)

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THE CASE AGAINST CHRISTIANITY THE BIBLE HAS BEEN CORRUPTED 1. Who corrupted it and why? What would motivate the Jews or Christians to corrupt the Bible? Why do both agree on the text of the Old Testament? Can you provide a single historical source which testifies to this corruption? 2. When was it corrupted? Testimony of the Qur’an: I believe in the Book (of the People of the Book) which God has sent down... (Surah 42:15) We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmael, 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 2:136) And when there comes to them a Book (Qur'an) from God confirming what is with them... ... yet they reject all besides even if it be truth confirming what is with them... And when there came to them an Apostle of God confirming what was with them... (Surah 2:89, 91, 101) 3. How was it corrupted? Dissemination of Scriptures by the time of Muhammad into Asia, Africa, and Europe. Testimony of the Qur’an: The Word of thy Lord doth find its fulfillment in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. (Surah 6:15) No change can there be in the Words of God. (Surah 10:64)

THE PROBLEM OF THE TRINITY Testimony of the Qur’an: And behold! God will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! didst thou say unto men, 'worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God?'" (Surah 5:116) They do blaspheme who say God is one of three in a trinity; for there is no god except one God. (Surah 5:73) Summary of argument: Trinity teaches that 1+1+1=1 therefore it is a contradiction Response: 1x1x1=1 or ∞+∞+∞=∞ One God, not three Gods. Three persons not one person. One God is defined as three persons. The only contradiction here is the contradiction between the Allah of Islam and the God of Scripture. Allah is too human. Isaiah 48:16 ―Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit.‖ (Isaiah scroll, http://www.imj.org.il/shrine_center/isaiah_scrolling/index.html, found in Qumran Cave 1 which was discovered in the winter or spring of 1947).   

Predates the oldest extant Qur‘an by at least 200+700=900 years. The original would predate the ―original‖ Qur‘an by about 720+650=1370 years. Therefore we can conclude that the concept of the trinity is an ancient concept in comparison with the Qur‘anic criticism of the trinity which is uniquely misrepresentative in its formulation (Surah 5:116).

THE OBJECTION TO THE TERM "SON OF GOD" Testimony of the Qur’an: How can He have a son when He hath no consort? He created all things, and hath fall knowledge of all things. That is God, your Lord! There is no God but He, the Creator of all things. (Surah 6:101-102) PAGE 4 |

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nd

Response: Sonship does not refer to the ―source‖ of the Divine 2 person but rather the relationship st he has with the 1 person in the Trinity in a way that would be understandable to his creatures.

THE SIGN OF JONAH But he answered them, ―An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth. (Matt 12:39-40) Response: 1. How did Jesus interpret his own words: Matt 20:19 2. How did the Jews interpret Jesus‘ words: Matt 27:63-64 3. How did Jews understand the concept of days and nights: Esther 4:16-5:1 4. In the Jewish Talmud an ―onan‖ or part of a day was considered a full day. 5. What was the real Sign of Jonah: the fact that Jesus‘ message of repentance came from God.

THE GOSPEL OF BARNABAS The claims made by this text: Chapter 42: ―Jesus confessed, and said the truth: ‗I am not the Messiah.‘‖ Chapter 163: ―The disciples answered, "O Master, who shall that man be of whom you speak, who shall come into the world?" Jesus answered with joy of heart: 'He is Muhammad; Messenger of God, and when he comes into the world, even as the rain makes the earth to bear fruit when for a long time it has not rained, even so shall he be occasion of good works among men, through the abundant mercy which he shall bring. For he is a white cloud full of the mercy of God, which mercy God shall sprinkle upon the faithful like rain.‘‖ Response: Modern scholarship has identified it as a forgery from sometime between the 13th and 16th century (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Barnabas). Contradicts the Qur’an: Behold! The angels said: ―O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah; (Surah 3:45)

THE OBJECTION TO THE CRUCIFIXION Testimony of the Qur’an: That they (the Jews) said (in boast) "We killed Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, the Apostle of God" - But they killed him not nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. (Surah 4:157) So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised tip to life (again). (Surah 19:33) (Pharaoh) said: ―Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this must be your leader, who has taught you magic! Be sure I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm-trees: so shall ye know for certain, which of us can give the more severe and the more lasting punishment!‖ (Surah 20:71) Tactics: Muslims try and argue that ―crucify‖ means ―killed by crucifixion‖.

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Response: 1. Only 4 options: falsehood theory, swoon theory, vision theory, mythical theory 2. Anachronistic use of the concept of crucifixion – given that it was a Roman invention (absolutely no historical evidence to support this claim). The term ―crucify‖ comes from the Latin crucifixio, fixed to a cross, from prefix cruci- (cross) + verb ficere, (fix or do). 3. Evidence from the Bible: a. Jesus predicted his death & resurrection (Matthew 16:21; Luke 18:31,32; John 12:30-32) b. Jesus went willingly to the cross (Matthew 26:53; Matthew 26:39; John 10:18) c. Gospel writers described his death (Matthew 27:32-50; Luke 23:26-46; John 19:17-30) d. Witnesses to his death (Matthew 27:54-56; John 19:26) e. Prophecy from the Old Testament (Gen 3:15; Isaiah 53; Psalm 22; Zech 13:7) 4. Evidence from Jewish sources: Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin, Folio 43a: ―On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, 'He is going forth to be stoned because he has practised sorcery and enticed Israel to apostacy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.' But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!‖ (http://www.come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_43.html) 5. Evidence from Roman sources: a. Publius Cornelius Tacitus (AD 56-120), in The Annals, Book 15.44: ―Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular.‖ (http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/tacius/TacitusAnnals15.html) b. Lucian of Samosata (AD 115-200), in The Syrian Goddess: "They still reverence that great one (τὸν μέγαν ἐκεῖνον), the man who was crucified in Palestine because he brought this new mystery into the world. The poor creatures have persuaded themselves that they will be altogether immortal and live for ever; wherefore they despise death and in many cases give themselves to it voluntarily. Then their first Law-giver (i.e., Christ) persuaded them that they were all brethren, when they should have taken the step of renouncing all the Hellenic gods, and worshipping that crucified one, their sophist, and living after his laws.‖ (http://sacred-texts.com/cla/luc/tsg/tsg05.htm) c. Josephus (AD 37-100), in Antiquities 18.3: ―Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, [if it be lawful to call him a man;] for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher [of such men as receive the truth with pleasure,] He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. [He was the Christ.] And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, (9) those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; [for he appeared to them alive again the third day; (10) as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him.] And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.‖ (http://www.religiousstudies.uncc.edu/JDTABOR/cruc-josephus.html) 6. Evidence from experience

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THE CASE AGAINST ISLAM THE ARGUMENT FROM MORALITY Muhammad and Women According to Pierre Crabites, "Muhammad was probably the greatest champion of women‘s rights the world has ever seen." (cited in Allama Sir Abdullah Al-Mamun Al-Suhrawardy, The Wisdom of Muhammad, p. 20.) But consider Qur’an 4:34... Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret what Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted, Great. (Mohammed Pickthall Translation) Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. (M.H. Shakir Translation) Men are the protectors And maintainers of women, Because Allah has given The one more (strength) Than the other, and because They support them From their means. Therefore the righteous women Are devoutly obedient, and guard In (the husband‘s) absence What Allah would have them guard. As to those women On whose part ye fear Disloyalty and ill-conduct, Admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); But if they return to obedience, Seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, Great (above you all). (Abdullah Yusuf Ali Translation) 1

And consider the testimony of Sahih Muslim ... It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Umar that the Messenger of Allah observed: O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell. A wise lady among them said: Why is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk is in bulk in Hell? Upon this the Holy Prophet observed: You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. I have seen none lacking in common sense and failing in religion but (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of the wise, besides you. Upon this the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense and with religion? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Your lack of common sense (can be well judged from the fact) that the evidence of two women is equal to one man, that is a proof of the lack of common sense (book 1, number 0142) 2

And consider the testimony of Sahih al-Bukhari ... Narrated Abu Sa`id Al−Khudri: The Prophet said, "Isn't the witness of a woman equal to half of that of a man?" The women said, "Yes." He said, "This is because of the deficiency of a woman's mind." (volume 3, book 48, number 826) The Prophet said, "I looked at Paradise and found poor people forming the majority of its inhabitants; and I looked at Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women." (volume 4, book 54, number 464) The Prophet replied, "I saw Paradise and stretched my hands towards a bunch (of its fruits) and had I taken it, you would have eaten from it as long as the world remains. I also saw the Hell−fire and I had never seen such a horrible sight. I saw that most of the inhabitants were women." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Why is it so?" The Prophet replied, "Because of their ungratefulness." It was asked whether they are ungrateful to Allah. The Prophet said, "They are ungrateful to their companions of life (husbands) and ungrateful to good deeds. (volume 2, book 18, number 161)

1

This hadith collection is considered the 3rd most authentic book in Islam after the Quran and Sahih Al-Bukhari (http://www.islamhouse.com/p/70896) 2 This hadith collection has been called "The most authentic book after the Qur'an." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahih_al-Bukhari & http://www.islamhouse.com/p/70510)

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Then he went towards the women and said. "O women! Give alms, for I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell−Fire were you (women)." The women asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the reason for it?" He replied, "O women! You curse frequently, and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. O women, some of you can lead a cautious wise man astray." (volume 2, book 24, number 541) Allah's Apostle said, "In Paradise there is a pavilion made of a single hollow pearl sixty miles wide, in each corner of which there are wives who will not see those in the other corners; and the believers will visit and enjoy them. (volume 6, book 60, number 402) Allah's Apostle said, "If a husband calls his wife to his bed (i.e. to have sexual relation) and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the angels will curse her till morning." (volume 4, book 54, number 460)

Muhammad and the Treatment of Female Captives The Testimony of the Qur’an... For their Lord‘s displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity— And those who guard their chastity, Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess—for (then) they are not to be blamed (Surah 70:30) The Testimony of Sahih Muslim.... We went out with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) on the expedition to the Bi'l−Mustaliq and took captive some excellent Arab women; and we desired them, for we were suffering from the absence of our wives, (but at the same time) we also desired ransom for them. So we decided to have sexual intercourse with them but by observing 'azl (Withdrawing the male sexual organ before emission of semen to avoid−conception). But we said: We are doing an act whereas Allah's Messenger is amongst us; why not ask him? So we asked Allah's Mes− senger (may peace be upon him), and he said: It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born. (book 8, number 3371)

Muhammad and Cruelty The Testimony of Sahih al-Bukhari Allah‘s Messenger [said], ―Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.‖ (Volume 9, Book 84, No. 57) He then ordered to cut their hands and feet, and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron, and then he threw them in the sun till they died." I said, "What can be worse than what those people did? They deserted Islam, committed murder and theft." (Volume 1, Book 4, No. 234) Narrated Abu Huraira: That he heard Allah's Apostle saying, "We (Muslims) are the last (to come) but (will be) the foremost (on the Day of Resurrection)." And added, "If someone is peeping (looking secretly) into your house without your permission, and you throw a stone at him and destroy his eyes, there will be no blame on you." (Volume 9, Book 83, No. 26) A Bedouin came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Judge between us according to Allah's Book... My son was a laborer for this man and committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife... The Prophet said, "I shall judge between you according to Allah's Book (Laws)! ... your son shall receive one−hundred lashes and be exiled for one year‖... ―O you, Unais,‖ the Prophet addressed some man, "Go in the morning to the wife of this man and stone her to death." So Unais went to her the next morning and stoned her to death. (Volume 9, Book 89, No. 303) The Testimony of the Qur’an The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter; (Surah 5:33) As to the thief, Male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in power. (Surah 5:38)

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THE ARGUMENT FROM SCIENCE The Scientific Case against Muhammad The Testimony of Sahih al-Bukhari The Prophet (the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ―If a house fly falls in the drink of any one of you, he should dip it (in the drink), for one of its wings has a disease and the other has the cure for the disease.‖ (volume 4, book 54, number 537) The Prophet (the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ―Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits [i.e. 90 feet] tall. . . . People have been decreasing in stature since Adam‘s creation.‖ (volume 4,book 55, number 543) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The first group of people who will enter Paradise, will be glittering like the full moon and those who will follow them, will glitter like the most brilliant star in the sky. They will not urinate, relieve nature, spit, or have any nasal secretions. Their combs will be of gold, and their sweat will smell like musk. The aloes−wood will be used in their centers. Their wives will be houris. All of them will look alike and will resemble their father Adam (in statute), sixty cubits tall." (volume 4, book 55, number 544) Allah's Apostle the true and truly inspired, narrated to us, "The creation of everyone of you starts with the process of collecting the material for his body within forty days and forty nights in the womb of his mother. Then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period (40 days) and then he becomes like a piece of flesh for a similar period. (volume 9, book 93, number 546) Allah‘s Apostle (the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ―Gabriel has just now told me of their answers‖ [to the questions he had been asked]. . . . As for the resemblance of the child to its parents: If a man has sexual intercourse with his wife and gets discharge first, the child will resemble the father, and if the woman gets discharge first, the child will resemble her.‖ On that Abdullah bin Salam said: ―I testify that you are the Apostle of Allah.‖ (volume 4, book 55, number 546) The Testimony of Sahih Muslim Man‘s discharge (i.e. sperm) is thick and white and the discharge of woman is thin and yellow. (book 3, number 608) Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. When any one of you awakes up from sleep and performs ablution, he must clean his nose three times, for the devil spends the night in the interior of his nose. (book 2, number 462) 'Abdullah (b. Mas'ud) reported that a mention was made of a man who slept the whole night till morning. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: That is a man in whose ears (or in whose ear) the devil urinated. (book 4, number 1700) The son of Abu Said al−Khudri reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When one of you yawns, he should keep his mouth shut with the help of his hand, for it is the devil that enters therein. (book 42, number 7130)

The Scientific Case against the Qur’an The Testimony of the Qur’an: And the sun runs his course for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing. And the Moon—We have measured for her mansions (to traverse) till she returns like the old (and withered) lower part of a date-stalk. It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law). (Surah 36:38-40) It is He Who created the Night and the Day, and the sun and the moon: all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course.(Surah 21:33) They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, ―I will rehearse to you something of his story.‖ Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends. One (such) way he followed, Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: ―O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness.‖ (Surah 18:83-86) And we have, (from of old), adorned the lowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the Evil Ones, and have prepared for them the Penalty of the Blazing Fire (Surah 67:5)

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Now let man but think from what he is created! He is created from a drop emitted— Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs: (Surah 86:5-7) It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does he get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old—though of you there are some who die before—and lets you reach a Term appointed; in order that ye may learn wisdom. (Surah 40:67) And Solomon was David‘s heir. He said: ―O ye people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah.)‖ And before Solomon were marshalled his hosts—of Jinns and men and birds, and they were all kept in order and ranks. At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: ―O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it.‖ So he smiled, amused at her speech; and he said: ―O my Lord! So order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee: And admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants.‖ (Surah 27:16-19) Do they not look at the birds, held poised in the midst of (the air and) the sky? Nothing holds them up but (the power of) Allah. Verily in this are signs for those who believe. (Surah 16:79)

THE ARGUMENT FROM INCREDULITY Testimony of Sahih al-Bukhari... Narrated Salim's father: Once Gabriel promised the Prophet (that he would visit him, but Gabriel did not come) and later on he said, "We, angels, do not enter a house which contains a picture or a dog." (volume 4, book 54, number 450) The Prophet said, "On every Friday the angels take heir stand at every gate of the mosques to write the names of the people chronologically (i.e. according to the time of their arrival for the Friday prayer and when the Imam sits (on the pulpit) they fold up their scrolls and get ready to listen to the sermon." (volume 4, book 54, number 433) Allah's Apostle said, "If somebody keeps a dog, he loses one Qirat (of the reward) of his good deeds everyday, except if he keeps it for the purpose of agriculture or for the protection of livestock." (volume 4, book 54, number 541)

THE ARGUMENT FROM THE QUR’AN3 The Claim... And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true. (Surah 2:23) 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!‖ (Surah 10:38) Say: ―If the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur‘an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support.‖ (Surah 17:88) The Argument... Premise One: If unbelievers can‘t produce something comparable to a chapter of the Qur‘an, then it must be from God. Premise Two: Unbelievers can‘t produce something equivalent to a chapter of the Qur‘an. Conclusion: Therefore, the Qur‘an must be from God. An Example: Looking at three consecutive Surahs... To thee have We granted the Fount (of Abundance). Therefore to thy Lord turn in Prayer and Sacrifice. For he who hateth thee, he will be cut off (from Future Hope). (Surah 108) 3

This section has been abridged and adapted from David Wood‘s article, ―Islam‘s Rule of Thumb‖.

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Say: O ye that reject Faith! I worship not that which ye worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship. And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship. To you be your Way, and to me mine. (Surah 109) When comes the Help of Allah, and Victory, And thou dost see the people enter Allah‘s Religion in crowds, Celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy). (Surah 110) A Response Is there anything miraculous or unique in these passages which would compel us to accept a supernatural origin for them? No! Because they could have been written by anyone! In fact, it easy to show that just a few sentences from the Bible contain both more content and superior literary style, even after translation, than those three Surahs combined. Consider, for example: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” But a Muslim might argue that only the Arabic version of the Qur‘an is miraculous - not the English translation. This forces us to conclude that the Qur‘an is only miraculous because of its literary style, and not because of its content. This would imply that the Qur‘an would have to be more impressive in its literary style than any other piece of prose or poetry in any other language including the likes of Shakespeare, Dickens, or Elliot. Thus there are three problems with this claim: 1. It‘s a subjective claim with no objective criteria with which to arbitrate such a competition. 2. It makes literary style superior to content in determining ultimate truth, which would: a. undermine the interpretation of the Surahs which offer this proof in support of the Qur‘an itself. b. allow any other piece of literature, upon serious review, a possible standing as the divine word of Allah, irrespective of its content or unimpressive origin. 3. It assumes the very thing it tries to prove a priori (i.e. the authority and divine origin of the Qur‘an). Thus in practice, the Muslim believes in the beauty of the Qur‘an because of its divine origin not vice versa. Thus the proof for the Qur‘an becomes an empty claim. David Wood concludes, ―Thus, the legitimacy of Islam hangs primarily on a syllogism with two false premises.‖

THE ARGUMENT FROM SCRIPTURE If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‗Let us go after other gods,‘ which you have not known, ‗and let us serve them,‘ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams... But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5) I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

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THE GENERAL PRESUPPOSITIONAL ARGUMENT Testimony of the Qur’an: If thou were in doubt as to what We have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before thee (ask the People of the Book). (Surah 10:94)

BIBLIOGRAPHY ARLANDSON, J.M. Torture in the Quran and early Islam: Where is Islamic justice and human rights? [online]. [Accessed 17 August 2009]. Available from World Wide Web: GEISLER, N.L. & SALEEB, A. 1999. Answering Islam. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. 336 p. MCDOWELL, J. & GILCHRIST, J. 1983. The Islam Debate. California: Here's Life Publishers Inc. 199 p. MORIN, H. Responding to Muslims. [online]. [Accessed 14 August 2009]. Available from World Wide Web: WOOD, D. Banish Them to Their Beds and Scourge Them!: Muhammad‘s Low Opinion of Women. [online]. [Accessed 17 August 2009]. Available from World Wide Web: WOOD, D. Islam‘s Rule of Thumb: The Resurrection Versus the Qur‘an In the Light of Logic. [online]. [Accessed 14 August 2009]. Available from World Wide Web: WOOD, D. Talking Ants and Shrinking Humans: An Analysis of Muhammad's Scientific Blunders. [online]. [Accessed 14 August 2009]. Available from World Wide Web:

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