Post Six

I found another inconsistency in this book. In Sura 10:90, Pharaoh is stated to have repented at the last. He died believing in Allah. Pharaoh's confession was:
I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam.)
Lest we be in doubt, since Islam as Christianity does teach of last minute conversions, v. 91-92 confirms this.

(It was said to him), "Ah now!-but a little while before, was thou in rebellion! And thou didst mischief (and violence)! This day shall We save thee in thy body, and that thou mayest be a Sign to those who come after thee! But verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!

But Sura 11:98 declares, "He will go before his people on the Day of Judgment, and lead them into Fire (as cattle are led to water....) Shortly afterwards, the Almighty concludes it was not We that wronged them: they wronged their own souls."

Oh, you notice it too?! God almost always speaks in the We form. Normal to us Christians, and a few kings and queens, but the royal, imperial "we" fails to make sense for a religion who emphasizes the oneness of God. Anyone protesting about adding partners to God should be more careful.


Another thing I noticed in the story is that God told Moses "provide dwellings for your people in Egypt, make your dwellings into places of worship and establish regular prayers." S10:87 My reaction- Aha! Now we know why they made the bricks! It was all a misunderstanding. In our version, Pharaoh punishes the Jews for listening to Moses by making them produce more than the normal quota of bricks. Then, he makes them do it without providing the straw. Thus they not only have to make the increased amount, they have to supply the raw materials. And all this time, we thought they were making the bricks for the pyramids and stuff. Cecil B. DeMile misled us!
According to the Bible, they were already slaves, beaten and abused. Moses had seen a man being mistreated, and he stepped in to defend the guy, and ended up murdering the attacker. That is why Moses got in trouble. He escaped, wandering until he stumbled into Midian. He was there when he got instructions from God to go back to Egypt and deliver His People. That was not until after a considerable time-forty years. But according to S.26:22 , Moses tells Pharaoh that God has sent him, "and this is the favour with which thou dost reproach me, -that thou hast enslaved the Children of Israel!"

Btw, when something is in parenthesis in the middle of the quote, that means it is not there in the original Arabic. It is added to help make sense, and add to the readability.

Post Five

Psalm 13
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
And every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to me eyes, or I will sleep in death;
My enemy will say, I have overcome him,
And my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
My heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
For he has been good to me.

(My thoughts for the first day of Ramadan, which I am not observing.)

Sometimes we feel forgotten, though we have known God's face. Many of us, Jews Christians, and Muslims could all pray this prayer. It is a cry of earnestness before the Lord. Despair to be met with hope, with expectation.
As you pray for sincere fasts, and seek forgiveness, the message of the Bible is that God can be known. And we can receive forgiveness. We can know His Love.

Many Christians all over the world pray for you during Ramadan. We offer this, not as an enemy to exult over you-or in hope to triumph over you-but as one beggar telling another where he might find bread.
And I take from you, the example of committing willfully and strongly to seek God in prayer; and to remember Him during my day. I will choose to redirect my thoughts to the Almighty and to eternal purposes, because we do all get caught up in activities and forget what matters.

Post Four

In addition to the historical mistakes one finds embellishments, not to mention stories altered altogether. I've discussed the presence of Esther's archenemy in Pharaoh's court with Moses. Mohammed really liked to use previous godly men being mistreated or misunderstood to point out he was merely in a long line of prophets who weren't listened to.
There is some truth to these examples. It must have been difficult trying to warn stubborn and rebellious people who refused to listen. But beating people up with false stories to induce guilt is not justified.
Many times he lists accusations that indubitably were leveled against him. (many are specifically proven in other places, with what others accused him of.) Unfortunately amongst these "historical" examples, he lists those that are inappropriate for the story being related. See if you can find the one.

Sura 11:27 The Chief of the Unbelievers among his People said: "We see (in) thee nothing but a man like ourselves. Nor do we see any follow thee but the meanest among us in judgment immature: nor do we see in you (all) any merit above us: in act we think ye are liars!" Noah

S.11:31 I tell you not that with me are the Treasures of Allah nor do I know what is hidden, nor claim I to be an angel.... Noah
S.11:32 They said: "O Noah! Thou hast disputed with us, and much hast thou prolonged the dispute with us: now bring it on if He wills...."

S.11:35 Or do they say, "He forged it?..." ---talking about Noah.

Several of these are likely, but my winner is about forging. Noah didn't write anything.

He points out the examples of the Thamud, to whom Salih was sent. The Ad, who had Hud as a prophet. To the Madyan (Midian), Shu'aib went, presumably at a different time than when Moses was there. Moses' father-in-law was Jethro the priest of Midian. And Lut (Lot) was sent to his own group. Of course, these were all rejected. (Btw, I have no idea who the Thamud or Ad, or some of the other groups mentioned are. I had never heard of these before reading the Koran.)
Hud told his people they were inventing other gods. They responded he hadn't brought clear signs, so they wouldn't desert their gods merely on his word-with no proof. Salih told his not to bother a she-camel. But the Thamid, as well as the Madyans were destroyed by Allah, using "a mighty blast." The result was punishment as follows. "And they lay prostrate in their homes the next morning" is recorded for both groups, 11:67 and 11:94 respectively.

These names and stories are repeated several times throughout the Koran, so they are not isolated verses. The purpose is intentionally to warn others of the consequences of not believing. For example:
Salih is listed in 7:73-79;11:61-68, 26:141-159, 27:26-53
The Ad are in 7:65-72, 11:50-60, 25:38, 26:123-140, 29:38, 41:15-16, 46:21-26, 51:41-42, 54:18-21, 69:4-8, and 89:6-14.
The Thamud are included in 7:73-79, 11:61-68, 25:38, 26:141-159, 27:45-53, 29:38, 41:17, 51:43-45, 54:23-31, 69:4-8, 85:17-20, 89:9-14, 91:11-15.

I point this out for another reason- the repetition can become monotonous. Many times there is no fresh input into the story. If he took the amount of verses together, as the Bible does, more comprehensive stories could be told.
It is a little similar to comparing stories in I and II Samuel with those in I and II Kings. But usually there some significant details are new. Even in the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the reader gets new insight. So when Mohammed dares to speak of the splendor of his writing, challenging someone to produce a better sura, I want to roll my eyes. But remember this is someone's holy book
For better reading on the Patriarchs, try the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible, known as the books of Moses or the Torah.) For better prayers try the Psalms. For better stories, parables, and exhortations take the gospels (Injil.) For instruction in practical godly living- the epistles, or letters, which follow the book of Acts in the New Testament. For wisdom, read Proverbs or Ecclesiastes. For prophecy-Revelation, Daniel, Isaiah and so on.
When someone is unfamiliar with a masterpiece, a cheap imitation may seem glorious. Many of the things spoken of, are not incorrect. God is most merciful, oft forgiving. He did create the universe. There is no other God than the Creator.

Did you notice the mighty blasts? Mohammed was big on the thought of people being blown up. Even if these were supposed to be natural or supernatural, the idea of this punishment being suitable for (and earned by) the Unbelievers is definitely planted right there in the Koran.

Lest you think I am being unduly harsh, in S.11:124, the Koran quotes the Unbelievers as asking if anyone was encouraged or refreshed upon hearing a new Sura. Kind of a "how was that for you" jest. Or "did you get anything out of that?" Ok, I admit it-they were rude. They boldly heckled the speakers as they tried to warn the crowds. I am so proud. I get inspired every time I read of their adventures.

Sura 14: 13 confirms my opinion about the proportion of Unbelievers. They believed the land was theirs because they outnumbered those who followed the prophet. Again this is couched in terms of "historical reference."
And the Unbelievers said to their apostles, "Be sure we shall drive you out of our land, or ye shall return to our religion, ..." He, of course, had reviewed them about Moses, Noah, Ad and Thamud, and generic "other apostles." And he reminded them Allah is free of all wants. 14:8 (That is the standard line about why God can't have a Son. He doesn't need sex. Though they do not deny the Virgin Birth: God only had to say it and it was done.)

I apologize to those of you who notice I seem to keep changing subjects. Or that while I cover one, I end up switching to another. It's the Koran. No matter what topic (Abraham, Moses, Noah, recent battles, wives and inheritance laws, creation, you will find the requisite complaints about 1) not adding partners to Allah. 2) Not having anyone capable of interceding for you, or 3) people refusing to believe, and a few others such as God not having any children, or Jesus only being human. These are summarized by the consequences-such as a variety of descriptions of torture in hell.

Post three

Mohammed was a member of the Quraish tribe. At that time many were "Unbelievers" (and some Christian.) His cousin Waryqah was a known Christian, but somehow caved. She was the one who convinced him, along with his first wife Khadijah, that his first experience of meeting an "angel" wasn't demonic, and that he wasn't demon possessed.
It is obvious that he had extensive exposure to Christians, both in his harping against them and in the use of terms, and in his apologetics. He answers many arguments Christians would give such as dealing with assurance of salvation and forgiveness, Jesus as intercessor, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. A story is also recorded in Muslim biographies of his visit to a Syrian Christian monk as a child.
A main point here, though is that the tradition of Mohammed bringing the concept of one god to a bunch of idol worshipping tribes is partly hogswallop. From the Apostle Paul on, many Christians went to Arabia to share the good news (gospel/injel.) They also went to India and North Africa. The existence of Jewish and Christian tribes disproves the story.
Even more so, the constant rantings against those who combine other partners with Allah or who believe they have another intercessor (not needing Mohammed to perform that service), disproves the lie as well. Christianity was well established throughout the Middle East and North Africa by the seventh century.
Since the arguments are pervasive, I cannot quote them all. However, let me note you do not argue with a non-existent enemy. Nor do you concentrate on a minor opposition lest you elevate it to a major one.
While many of "the hypocrites" were already living under threats-of having their goods stolen, being killed, or having their wives taken, we can perhaps be merciful in our evaluation of them. They opposed when they could. Having responsibility for others, maybe they could not risk the destruction of others in order to satisfy their own egos. And others, after having "converted," could not live a lie. Before we judge them too harshly, consider these jewels.



S.5:33 only
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 side, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.
(This is listed as 5:36 in my second copy of the Koran. So if you look up a verse and it is the wrong number, just look a few verses up or down.)

Sura 20:71 (Pharaoh) said Do you believe 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 you will be crucified on trunks of palm trees....
Pharaoh is talking to the magicians about Moses. Understand that's not in the Bible.

I know of no known proof of crucifixion existing in ancient Egypt. However it appears to me that whenever Mohammed wanted to add credibility to his own personal experience, he used a time worn sales technique-use of an expert, or celebrity. Things he says happened appear to me to be his applying what is happening currectly to the past, so it will make him appear like it is the same for all great prophets.

So Pharaoh had all kinds of things happen that are not included in the earlier documents such as the five books of Moses in the Bible. Personally, I prefer to stick with the ones whose recorded history it is, rather than someone writing millennia later, who says "let me tell you what happened then."
This is especially true when their testimony lists someone present who lived in a different place, hundreds of years later. Haman is listed as assisting Pharaoh. He is the bad guy of the Bibles' book of Esther, who lived in Persia in the city of Susa, around 460 B.C. (S28:6,38, S29:39, and S40:36-37.)
The story of Pharaoh and Moses was recorded in the Torah. According to its introduction to the book of Exodus, the NIV Study Bible lists the date for that at about 1446 B.C., although acknowledges some think it possible to range to the 13th century before Christ (about 1290 B.C.) Either way, that is a huge chunk of time difference, not to mention geographical distance.

Post two

In the movie Lawrence of Arabia, at one point Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) says, "ah, the desert Arabs." Perhaps the main reason is that the Koran blatantly insults them. At least the Islamic reader would take it that way. And I'm sure the desert tribes have gone out of their way for centuries to prove their dedication to the religion of the Prophet as a result. Here are some of the comments from various Suras.
Oh, for everyone's sake, let me explain. The Bible is divided into 66 books, with different names such as Acts or Romans. Then within each, there is a chapter with many verses. We locate a statement by its "address," the name of book, chapter, and verse. For example, Romans 8:28. Suras, or Surahs, are the major divisions, comparable to the books. They also have sections, but that isn't how they are located. Sura number, verse number such as Sura 43:81 tells one how to find a statement. My copies of the Koran also have very limited equivalents to concordances as well. (I bought used copies and underlined as I do my Bible. It helps me to locate relevant verses, as I am not from a society used to memorizing everything.)
Anyway, back to the subject at hand-the desert Arabs. These references are from sura 9, verses 90,98,99, and 101. But v.97 is the ultimate and I believe 107 also.

The Arabs of the desert are the worst in unbelief and hypocrisy, and fitted to be in ignorance of the command which Allah hath sent down to His Apostle. But Allah is all knowing, all wise." V.97.
There were those who tried to sit out fighting, Mohammed bemoans.
V.90 And among the desert Arabs (also), men who made excuses and came to claim exemption: and those who were false to Allah and His Apostle, (merely) sat inactive. Soon will a grievous penalty seize the Unbelievers among them.
In verse 93, he chides them for staying with the women, and says"Allah hath sealed their hearts" against believing in Islam. (Perhaps with the Holy Spirit.)
V. 98 explains that some of them look upon payments to the cause as a fine, although in v.99 others joyously give. Either way, the Messenger is to continue taking the money to "purify" them. (V.103)
But 107 is my favorite of the lot. "And there are those who put up a mosque by way of mischief and infidelity to disunite the Believer-and in preparation for one who warred against Allah and His Apostle aforetime. They will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good: but Allah doth declare that they are certainly liars."
These he compares to building a mosque on uncertain sand. (He steals quite a few of the Biblical analogies, parables, and terms. I include a section on this later.
V.109 Which then is best? He that layeth his foundation on an undermined sand-cliff ready to crumble to pieces? And it doth crumble to pieces with him, into the fire of hell.
Certain of the desert Arabs round about you are Hypocrites, as well as (desert Arabs) among the Medina folks they are obstinate in hypocrisy....v.101 He mentions them again in other suras, altough sometimes he calls Medina by its earlier name, Yathrib.

Another thing, he uses some terms so often, I tend to abbreviate them.
1) A. and H. M. stands for Allah and His Messenger
2) A. and H. A. stands for Allah and His Apostle
3) Mo is for Mohammed
4) M. is for Messenger
5) A is usually for Apostle, although sometimes it's for Arabs, or Allah. I will not leave it unclear.
6)Xns stands for Christians, though handwritten I write the n and s as exponesnts. As most of you have no doubt seen Christmas written as Xmas.
7) H. is for Hypocrites.

This is not meant for any particular disrespect. It limits my typing and the space of the file. Also, of course, as a Christian I do not view the Koran as being given by God. But I do try to treat it as a historical document, which I believe expresses many of Mohammed's own thoughts, opinions, or observations of his time. And I try to keep in mind that it is someone's sacred book, so I try not to be too rude.

The term Hypocrites is explained in Sura 9:66-67.
Make ye no excuses: ye have rejected Faith after ye had accepted it.... The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other: they enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their hands. They have forgotten A. so He hath forgotten them. Verily the H. are rebellious and perverse.
Verse 69 explains further. "They were mightier than you in power, and more flourishing in wealth and children." Apparently these non-Muslims do good works, because he points out "their works are fruitless... they will lose all spiritual good."
They swear by Allah to please Mo. They mock him, saying he is "all ear," because of supposedly hearing prophecies from Gabriel. But when questioned say they were only "talking idly and in play." Found in v.61-65.

Post one

Sura 16 holds much to inspire Christians. It reveals how plagued Mohammed is with those who continue to invoke partners to Allah. Besides being arrogant, they throw his arguments back to him. "If Allah had so willed, we could not have worshipped aught but Him...." At first, it is general, then it becomes more specific. Herein I invoke the art of reading between the lines-with substantial help, of course, from the words themselves.
In the middle of "rehearsing the Signs," the proof of God's faithfulness and provision for mankind, he inserts some points about inheritance. This seemed weird until I read further. Ok, I'll tell you-I believe some of his wives and possibly children were Christians. (This can be supported from verses elsewhere.) Some of his long term followers were as well, including some who had left their homes after trials and persecutions and had striven and fought for the faith (Islam.)
Verses 106-111 hold the bit encouraging them. "Anyone who after accepting faith in Allah, utters Unbelief, and open their breast to Unbelief-are at great risk. On them the Wrath of Allah rests and a great penalty. But to those who've left...Allah is oft forgiving, Most Merciful."
The wives are covered in verses 71-73. Being the one "more favored" who has to decide what to do with his money, he mutters about them. (He's getting old and his wives are much younger.)

Those more favored are not going to throw back their gifts to those on whom their right hand possess, so as to be equal in that respect. Will they then deny the favors of Allah?
The next couple of verses are even clearer.
And Allah has made for you mates (and companions) of your own nature, and made for you, out of them, sons and daughters and grandchildren, and provided for you sustenance out of the best: will they then believe in vain things, and be ungrateful for Allah's favors? And worship others than Allah such as have no power of providing them, for sustenance, with anything in heavens or earth...Invent not similitudes for Allah: for Allah knoweth, and ye knoweth not."We can only guess whom he was speaking about and to. Supposedly, God's instruction to the "messenger" is "but if they turn away, thy duty is only to preach the Clear Message."

Mohammed instructs his followers to fulfill their covenants with Allah and not to break their oaths. Not to practice deception. And warns them they might be responsible for someone's foot slipping after it was firmly planted. Then they would taste evil consequences for "having hindered men from the Path of Allah." Allah tells him not to worry about their plots in v. 27.
Then Mohammed tries a different approach-using Christian language as if to say, "hey, we have that too." In v.97 of ch 16, he tries: "Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure..." He threatens them that Satan has power of those who join partners with Allah, v.100.
V.102 Say the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from they Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a Guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims. (Since Christians are accused of adding partners to God because of believing in the Trinity, just exactly why is that not adding partners to Allah? Shame on you Mohammed, Gabriel, whomever!

Then he appeals to xenophobia and racism,as if to say 'hey this is in our language-"Arabic, pure and clean." while theirs is in a foreign tongue.' The good news is that he says, "most of them do not understand." The bad news is this was written in the late Meccan period, except v.110. So after they went to Medina a lot of the open opposition was oppressed. But this tells us what his extended family and associates really thought.
Mohammed started in Mecca, was kicked out, even fleeing the country with a few followers for awhile. They went to Abyssinia, a Christian country (Ethiopia.) Then they went to Medina. The Muslim calendar starts from that point, known as the Hijaz. He built up a following there, and later returned to Mecca. They took control of the Kabbah, and the Holy House-the central place where Muslims go for their pilgrimage. (I verified with a Muslim expert at their bookstore that late Meccan means right before they left Mecca, not when they returned.)

Introduction

Mostly when meeting these kind and gracious people I have no difficulty having a kind and loving attitude towards Muslims. So I apologize to any and all if the contents of this website might offend. Some of the books I've read on Christian apologetics tell me I must never insult Islam, Mohammed, or the Koran. Only kind and reasoned responses that answer their questions or teachings of their faith will produce results. That seems reasonable to me until I read the Koran.
I cannot say the mostly negative comments about Christians anger me, or even offend me. (And there are many statements that are gracious.) The books had prepared me what it said about Jesus being the Son of God, or of his dying for my sins. But how can I tell you the most beautiful story, when nearly every page of your Scripture tells you this is not true? Nor can I say that I hate the Koran. It has some lovely sentiments, and the first time I read it, I sympathized with Mohammed. Though I was sad he had not listened to the gospel someone had obviously shared with him, his frustrations seemed real when he wondered why others wouldn't receive his message.
But how can I help when not allowed to speak the truth? There are answers to the points the Koran makes. Mohammed is not the perfect example for all. Even the Koran admits Jesus was sinless, while your hadith praises the Messenger for time spent praying for forgiveness. Furthermore, if you see a lack of graciousness, understand, I am a smartalecky person.