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Following are brief answers to frequently asked questions by Muslims. We will periodically add more questions and answers on other issues of major concern to the viewers. Please e-mail us any question you may have: Feedback@IslamReview.com
Why
do Christians criticize violence in the Quran, when the Bible is full
of violence?
- The Old Testament does, indeed, record various acts of violence committed
by men against each other or kings against other kings. Much of that
was done against God's will, and the aggressors in such violence were
condemned and punished by God.
- Another type of so-called violence in the Old Testaments was actually
punishment from God against evil nations. Those nations took it upon
themselves to disobey God's authority, tempt God's people to commit
sin, sow corruption on earth, and defile the land. The reason that God
decided to get rid of them was to contain evil so it would not contaminate
society, and to stop evil from spreading through their offspring. Sometimes
God dealt directly with such evil as in the cases of the flood at the
time of Noah and the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah. At other times God
ordered His people to eliminate these evil nations. It is important
to note that God's judgment came upon these nations after a waiting
period of 400 years (Genesis15). During that time God gave them chance
after chance to repent, but they chose to continue with their evil,
filling the cup of their iniquity.
- The New Testament, on the other hand, brings with it a new dispensation
based on grace. Forgiveness was the main theme of Jesus' teachings.
When the Jews brought to Him a woman who was caught committing adultery,
asking that she be stoned, Jesus gave the woman a second chance, telling
the accusers, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast
a stone at her." (John 8:7). Jesus taught us not to resist evil, but
to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39). Jesus rebuked Peter for using
the sword (Matthew 26:52). When Jesus' disciples, James and John, asked
for fire to come down from heaven to consume a village that did not
receive Him, Jesus rebuked them saying, "Ye, know not what manner of
spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives,
but to save them." (Luke 9:55&56)
- It seems regressive rather than progressive that, after Jesus, another
messenger would come from God, to advocate using the sword.
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And, how about
violence committed in the name of Christianity, such as in the Crusades,
and in the Balkan...etc.?
- Although such violence was done in the name of Christianity, Christianity
did not sanction it. Because the Crusades to control Jerusalem were
not from God, they ended in defeat. This land was not for them. Christianity
is a spiritual and peaceful religion that doesn't call for physical
occupation of lands or political rule over people.
- Any person who claims to be Christian and commits atrocities against
others is not a true Christian. The fruit of a tree is an indication
of what kind of a tree it is. The fruit of a Spirit- filled Christian
is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance." (Galatians 5:22&23).
- The wars in the Balkan are ethnic rather than religious. They took
place between different ethnic groups that happened to belong to Christianity
or Islam. It is an old struggle, and all sides committed atrocities
against one another during different periods of past history. Christianity
doesn't approve of the atrocities committed by those so-called "Christians."
Christians around the world condemned the violence against the Muslims,
and Western, predominantly Christian, countries were instrumental in
stopping the violence and protecting the Muslims.
- By contrast, the Muslim government of Khartoum is waging genocide
against Christians and Animists in South Sudan. Over 2 millions have
been killed so far, and thousands of women and children are being sold
into slavery. We have yet to see a Muslim country coming to help those
victimized people.
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If polygamy is wrong,
why was it practiced in the Bible?
- Polygamy is against human nature. No woman, whether she is a Muslim,
a Christian, a Jew or an atheist would be happy to see another woman
in the arms of her husband. When God created Adam, He created for him
one Eve not four.
- God did not design polygamy in the Old Testament. It was man's choice
and it was a corrupting element for man. Solomon's wives corrupted his
life and he ended up being disobedient to the God of Israel, and worshiping
idols.
- In the New Testament Jesus made it clear that it is one woman for
one man. Jesus said, "But from the beginning of the creation God made
them (one) male and (one) female. For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one
flesh: so then they are no more twain but one flesh." (Mark 10: 6-8)
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If Islam is not from
God, why is it the fastest growing religion in the world?
- First we have to assume that Islam is in fact the fastest growing
religion. No concrete scientific evidence has been presented to prove
the point. It may well be that perhaps atheism is the fastest growing
belief in the world.
- It is not coincidental that the growth of Islam happened to occur
during the last few decades, and after the discovery of oil in the Islamic
world. Billions of Dollars from oil revenues have been poured into Islamic
evangelism. The money is being used to build mosques, hire activists,
print books and pamphlets, and buy television and radio time. The money
is also being used to help financially those who embrace Islam, and
to support extremist Islamic groups who are waging a jihad against those
whom they label as infidels. It is a carrot and the stick policy to
entice people into Islam, and at the same time to deter critics of Islam
from freely voicing their opinions.
- The total number of followers is not indicative of the validity of
the religion. Movements that fall in line with satisfying fleshly desires
are usually more popular than those which seek to satisfy the spirit.
For example, a party that will feature a performance of belly dancers
will most likely attract more people than a prayer meeting.
- Christianity never claimed that it is a religion for the masses, rather
it is only for the few who sincerely search for the truth. Jesus said,
"wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat: Because straight is the gate,
and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it." (Matthew 7:13&14). Notice here that the broad way that
leads to destruction is available for the masses to simply go upon it.
On the other hand, the narrow way is not easily found. One must be willing
to search for it until he/she finds it. On the broad way, people benefit
from going upon it, while on the narrow way, people sacrifice by going
upon it.
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If Christianity
is so great, how come we hear of a higher divorce rate among Christians,
alcoholism and drug abuse, priests raping children and homosexuals being
married in churches?
- Divorce is not allowed in Christianity except for adultery (Matthew
19:3-9). Alcohol, drugs, or any destructive habits to the body are totally
forbidden in Christianity (1Corinthians 6:19&20). Fornication with
children or adults is condemned in Christianity (1Corinthians 7:18).
Homosexuality is forbidden in Christianity (Romans 1:26&27), and
was called abomination in the Bible (Leviticus 18:22). Because of homosexuality
God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah ( Genesis 19:25).
- It is clear that those who commit such sins, although they may be
called "Christians," are actually not, because they don't follow the
teachings of Christianity. The holy Book of any religion is the only
base to judge a religion, not those who break its commandments.
- The same rule applies to Islam. We don't judge Islam by the behavior
of Muslims but by the teachings of the Quran and Hadith.
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How can Christians
worship three gods? Is it conceivable that God gives birth to a son?
- Christianity doesn't believe in three gods, but one true God (James
2:19,
Deuteronomy 6:4).
- It is clear from both the Old and New Testaments that God is a triune
God. The concept of a triune God is the most logical because it reveals
God as sufficient in Himself. As Christians, we believe in God being
one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is not 1+1+1=3,
but rather 1x1x1=1.
- The belief of Jesus being "the Son" of God doesn't come from the physical
sense of the word. It doesn t mean that God, at a certain time, had
sex and produced a child. Jesus is the Son of God from eternity.
- To say that Jesus is the Son of God is to mean that He, spiritually,
was with God from the beginning. (John1:1) However, at a certain point
of time in history, he was miraculously incarnated into a human being
through the Virgin Mary (Matthew 2:1), to redeem our fallen human race.
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How can you argue that the
Bible is not corrupted in the light of the existence of so many different
versions of the Bible?
- The different versions of the Bible, are different translations, using
different languages and different dialects. All these translations are
taken from the original texts and have been done by experts as accurately
as humanly possible. If there are variations in the wording of the texts
they are because of the different shades of meanings that the original
words could carry. However, the essence of the Bible is the same. The
same situation applies also to the Quran. There are many translations
of the Quran, which differ from one another and those who don't speak
Arabic have to rely on the translations.
- The claim of the corruption of the Bible is an idea that Muslims had
to invent to justify the many discrepancies of the Quran when compared
to the Bible. For somebody to claim that the Bible in our hands is corrupt,
they must be able to present the correct copy as evidence. There is
no such correct copy of the Bible other than the one we have. Extant
(currently existing) manuscripts of the Bible dating to the 4th and
5th centuries -- long before the birth of Islam -- are found to agree
completely with the text we now have. The oldest extant fragment of
the book of John dates to about 125 A.D.
- The Quran actually testified to the validity of the Bible and repeatedly
said so (see Sura 4:47; 2: 41, 91; 20:133; 29:46). Accordingly, Muslims
can not argue that Christians and Jews corrupted their Bible before
the birth of Islam.
- On the other hand, It is inconceivable that the corruption of the
Bible took place after Islam, either. It was virtually impossible for
this to have happened, seven centuries after the birth of Christianity,
and after Christianity had spread all over the world. By that time Christianity
had divided into many denominations that were not even talking to one
another, much less sitting down together and agreeing on a conspiracy
to forge their Book. Also, how could they have kept this conspiracy
a secret without having somebody coming out and disclosing it? This,
in addition to the fact that the Bible had by then been translated into
many languages, and so to corrupt the Bible one would have had to collect
all the existing Bibles in the world and destroy them, which would have
been impossible to do.
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The Quran says that
God revealed the Injil (the Gospel), to Jesus. However, Christians have
four different Gospels written by four different men. How do you explain
this?
- Contrary to what the Quran says, there was no such thing as an "Injil"
that was given, revealed or taught to Jesus. No such book was ever found,
or referred to in any historical references. When Mohammed came in,
7 centuries after Christ, the four Gospels were already known allover
the known world, including the Arabian Peninsula. The Quran never claimed
that there was anything wrong with the Book of the Christians, and never
revealed a corrected version of it.
- The word "injil" (gospel) is derived from the Greek language to mean
"good news." St. Paul provided a definition of the Gospel in (1 Corinthians
15:1-4), "Brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel, which I preached
unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand: By which
also ye are saved. For I delivered unto you first of all that which
I also received, how that Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures;
and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according
to the scriptures." Although there are four gospels, but all of the
four gospels are witnesses to that one gospel: that Jesus died, was
buried, and rose again. All ended by stating this fact.
- Jesus never ordered his disciples to record his words. He promised
his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in them, to
teach them all things and remind them of all what Jesus had done and
said (John 14:26). On the day of Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled his promise,
when the Holy Spirit dwelt in the disciples (Acts2: 1-4, 15-22).
- The four Gospels were written by four different men, inspired by the
Holy Spirit. The gospels narrate, from different viewpoints, what Jesus
did and said during his ministry. They don't contradict, but rather
complement one another.
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What is the
proof that the Crucifixion actually took place? How could an all-mighty
God die at the hand of humans? Why would God need to die to save humanity,
anyway? Doesn't the all-powerful God possess the authority to forgive
whom He pleases, and when He pleases, without the need to die on a cross?
- The story of the Crucifixion is a fact not fiction; it has been recorded
by many reliable sources. Here are just a few examples:
Historians' Testimony such as the Greek Tacitos (A.D.55), the Jewish
Falavius Josephus (A.D.37-97), The Romans Pliny the Younger and Seutonius,
and many others who referred to the Crucifixion of Jesus in their writings.
The Jewish Talmud Testimony (Refer to the 1943 Amsterdam edition, page
42)
The Old Testament Testimony as it has been recorded in the many prophecies
pointing to the Crucifixion (Genesis 3:15, Psalm 22:16, Isaiah 53, and
Zechariah 11: 12-13).
Jesus' own Testimony in the New Testament predicting his own crucifixion
(Matthew 17:22-23, Mark 8:31, and Luke 9:22).
The Gospels' Testimony.
The Apostles' Testimony (Acts 2:22-23, Romans 3:24, Romans 10:9-10,
1Corinthians 1:18), and in many other places, and their willingness
to die for proclaiming that truth.
The Nicene Creed Testimony in A.D.325.
- The Crucifixion of Jesus was not an accidental incident that happened
by chance at some point in history. It was a divine and eternal plan.
From the beginning, before man fell into sin, God knew what would happen
and prepared a way to save man (1Peter 1:18-21, Acts2: 23-24).
- When man disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree, he committed
a gross sin against God. This sin is punishable by eternal death. The
judgment came to Adam and his seed after him, who inherited the fallen
nature (Romans 6:23, Ezekiel 18:20).
- God can only act according to His basic attributes. Because God is
faithful, He can not lie, and because He is just, He can not let sin
go unpunished. God's plan for salvation must satisfy both His love and
His justice (Psalms 85:10).
- This could only be accomplished when God took human flesh and accepted
death on the cross on our behalf, to pay the penalty of our sin (John
3:16; Romans 5: 8; 1John 4:10).
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Why Christians and
Jews don't believe in Mohammed, when the Bible predicted his coming?
Muslims cite many references in both Old and New Testaments to prove that
Mohammed was prophesied in the Bible. However, a close examination of these
references shows that they don't fit Mohammed. These are references that
usually point either to Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Here are the most quoted
examples:
- In the Old Testament: " The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a
prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto
him ye shall hearken. I will raise them up a prophet from among their
brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he
shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." (Deuteronomy 18:15
& 18)
This can't possibly refer to Mohammed. Mohammed is the descendant of
Ishmael, and the Jews never looked at the descendants of Ishmael as
"brothers." On the other hand Jesus fits the description "like unto
Moses." Jesus was a Hebrew, as was Moses, while Mohamed was not. Jesus
performed signs and wonders, as did Moses, and Mohamed did not. Peter,
in the New Testament, left no doubt about the fact that this prophecy
applies to Jesus. (See Acts 3:20-26)
- In the New Testament: " But when the Comforter is come, whom I will
send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth
from the Father, he shall testify of me. "(John 16:26).
Muslims say that the Greek word which was translated "the comforter",
actually means " the praised one" or "Mahmoud" in Arabic, in reference
to Mohammed. It is true that there is a word, similar in pronunciation,
which means "the praised one," however the word used in the Gospels
is different and is accurately translated to "the Comforter." This,
no doubt, refers to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a spirit, while
Mohammed was flesh. The Holy Spirit was sent to the disciples, but Mohammed
came in 6 centuries after the death of the disciples. The Holy Spirit
was said that he would "dwell" with the disciples (John14: 17). On the
other hand Mohammed never saw the disciples. It was said that the world
would "not see" the Holy Spirit, but people saw Mohammed.
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