Basic
Worldview:
104
Why Christianity?
Koran
and Judeo-Christian Apostles
Evidentiary
Religions - Islam Introduction
Koran
and Judeo-Christian Apostles
Koran
and Judeo-Christian Scriptures
Koran
Contradicts Judeo-Christianity (Part 1)
Koran
Contradicts Judeo-Christianity (Part 2)
Koran
Contradicts Judeo-Christianity (Part 3)
Koran
Contradicts Judeo-Christianity (Part 4)
Another
Gospel and Explaining the Success of Islam (P. 1)
Explaining
the Success of Islam (Part 2)
Explaining
the Success of Islam (Part 3)
Islam
Conclusions
Introduction | Section 1
| Section 2 | Section
3
The Koran's Affirmation of Judeo-Christian Apostles
In this section we will display a very lengthy series of quotes
from the Koran in order to thoroughly demonstrate the two
following points:
1) That Mohammed frequently affirmed the validity of
Judeo-Christian apostles.
2) That Mohammed affirmed these Judeo-Christian apostles
in defense of his own authenticity.
As the quotes below will demonstrate, one of the main ways
that Mohammed attempted to support his validity was draw similarities
between those who rejected him and those who rejected previous
apostles sent by God.
In combination with the next section, our goal is to demonstrate
that since Mohammed himself affirms that previous apostles
and scriptures are true, he himself is invalidated if those
apostles and scriptures contradict his own words in the Koran.
Notice as you read these quotes, the extent to which Mohammed
is not only affirming the apostles himself, but also at times
the miracles or scriptures given by that apostle. And as you
read these quotes, please also keep in mind the 2 points above,
which each of these quotes demonstrates.
At the end of this lengthy series of quotes, we will place
a short, summary list of the more significant statements that
occur, just so that they don't get lost in the vast number
of the rest of the quotes.
So, without further delay, here are the quotes from the Koran.
To Moses We gave the Scriptures and after him We
sent other apostles. We gave Jesus son of Mary veritable signs
and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Will you then scorn
each apostle whose message does not suit your fancies, charging
some with imposture and slaying others? (Koran, p. 18, 2:85,
4th Para.)
Such are God's revelations. We recite them to you in all
truth, for you are one of Our emissaries. Of these emissaries
We have exalted some above others. To some God spoke directly;
others He raised to a lofty status. We gave Jesus son of
Mary indisputable signs and strengthened him with the
Holy Spirit. Had God pleased, those who succeeded them would
not have fought against one another after the veritable signs
had been given them. But they disagreed among themselves;
some had faith and others had none. Yet had God pleased they
would not have fought against one another. God does what he
will. (Koran, p. 37, 2:250, 3rd Para.)
The Apostle believes in what has been revealed to him by
his Lord, and so do the faithful. They all believe
in God and His angels, His scriptures, and His apostles: We
discriminate against none of His apostles. (Koran, p.
42, 2:283, 4th Para.)
Are they seeking a religion other than God's, when every soul
in the heaven's and the earth has submitted to Him willingly
or by compulsion? To Him shall they return. Say: 'We believe
in God and what is revealed to us; in that which was revealed
to Abraham and Ishmael, to Isaac and Jacob and the tribes;
and in that which their Lord gave Moses and Jesus and the
prophets. We discriminate against none of them. Too Him
we have surrendered ourselves.' He that chooses a religion
other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and in
the world to come he will surely be among the losers. (Koran,
p. 50, 3:83, 1st Para. - 3rd Para.)
Muhammed is no more than an apostle: other apostles have
passed away before him. If he die or be slain, will you
recant? He that recants will do no harm to God. But God will
recompense the thankful. (Koran, p. 54, 3:140, 1st Para. -
2nd Para.)
To those that declare: 'God has commanded us to believe in
no apostle unless he brings down fire to consume an offering,'
say: 'Other apostles before me have come to you with
veritable signs and worked the miracle you asked for. Why
did you slay them, if what you say be true?' If they reject
you, other apostles have been rejected before you, although
they came with veritable signs, psalms, and the light-giving
Scriptures. (Koran, p. 58, 3:183, 1st Para. - 2nd Para.)
We have revealed Our will to you as We revealed it to Noah
and to the other prophets who came after him; as We revealed
it to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes; to Jesus,
Job, Jonah, Aaron, Solomon and David, to whom We gave the
Psalms. Of some apostles We have already told you,
but there are others of whom We have not yet spoken (God spoke
directly to Moses): apostles who brought good news to mankind
and admonished them, so that they might have no plea against
God after their coming. (Koran, p. 77, 4:163, 1st Para.)
Believers, have faith in God and His apostle, in the Book
He has revealed to His apostles, and in the Scriptures He
formerly revealed. He that denies God, His angels, His
Scriptures, His apostles, and the Last Day has strayed
far. (Koran, p. 75, 4:136, 1st Para.)
Those that deny God and His apostles, saying: 'We believe
in some, but deny others,' - thus seeking a middle way
- these indeed are the unbelievers. For the unbelievers
We have prepared a shameful punishment. As for those that
believe in God and His apostles and discriminate against none
of them, they shall be recompensed by Him. (Koran, p.
76, 4:147, 3rd Para. - 4th Para.)
The Messiah, the son of Mary, was no more than an apostle:
other apostles passed away before him. His mother was
a saintly woman. They both ate earthly food. (Koran, p. 88,
5:75, 1st Para.)
One day God will gather all the apostles and ask them:
'How were you received?' They will reply: 'We have no knowledge.
You alone know what is hidden.' God will say: 'Jesus, son
of Mary, remember the favour I bestowed on you and on
your mother: how I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit,
so that you preached to men in your cradle and in the prime
of manhood; how I instructed you in the Book and in wisdom,
in the Torah and in the Gospel; how by My leave you fashioned
from the clay the likeness of a bird and breathed into it
so that, by My leave, it became a living bird; how by My leave,
you healed the blind man and the leper, and by My leave restored
the dead to life; how I protected you from the Israelites
when you had come to them with clear signs: when those
of them that disbelieved declared: "This is but plain sorcery";
how, when I enjoined the disciples to believe in Me and in
My apostle, they replied: "We believe; bear witness that we
submit." (Koran, p. 91, 5:106, 2nd Para. - 5:110, 1st Para.)
We send forth apostles only to proclaim good news and
to give warning. Those that believe in them and mend their
ways shall have nothing to fear or to regret. But those
that deny Our revelations shall be punished for their misdeeds.
(Koran, p. 96, 6:48, 1st Para. - p. 97, 6:48, 1st Para.)
We gave him Isaac and Jacob and guided both as We had guided
Noah before them. Among his descendents were David and Solomon,
Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron (thus do we reward the
righteous); Zacharias and John, Jesus and Elias (all were
upright men); and Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot. All these
We exalted above the nations as We exalted some of their
fathers, their children, and their brothers. We chose them
and guided them to a straight path. Such is God's guidance;
He bestows it on those of His servants whom He chooses. Had
they served other gods besides Him, their labours would have
been vain indeed. On those men We bestowed the Scriptures,
wisdom, and prophethood. If these are denied by this generation,
We will entrust them to others who will not deny them.
Those were the men whom God guided. Follow then their guidance
and say: 'I demand of you no recompense for this. It is but
an admonition to all mankind.' They have no true notion of
God's glory, those that say: 'God has never revealed anything
to a mortal.' Say: 'Who, then, revealed the Scriptures which
Moses brought down, a light and a guide for mankind? You have
transcribed them on scraps of paper, declaring some and suppressing
much, though now you have been taught what neither you nor
you fathers knew before.' (Koran, p. 100, 6:80, 3rd Para.
- 6:91, 1st Para.)
To Moses We gave the Scriptures, a perfect code for the
righteous with precepts about all things, a guide and
a benison, so that they might believe in meeting their Lord.
And now We have revealed this Book truly blessed. Observe
it and keep from evil, so that you may find mercy and not
say: 'The Scriptures were revealed only to two communities
(1) before us; we have no knowledge of what they read'; or:
'Had the Scriptures been revealed to us we would have been
better guided than they.' (Koran, p. 107, 6:153, 2nd Para.
- 6:157, 1st Para.) (Footnote 1: Christians and Jews.)
Children of Adam, when apostles come to proclaim to you
My revelations, those that take warning and mend their
ways will have nothing to fear or to regret; but those
that deny and scorn Our revelations shall be the heirs of
the Fire, wherein they shall remain for ever. (Koran,
p. 111, 7:34, 2nd Para.)
They denied him. So We saved him and all who were with
him in the ark, and drowned those that denied Our revelations.
Surely they were blind men. (Koran, p. 114, 7:59, 4th Para.)
Is it not plain to the present generation that if We pleased,
We could punish them for their sins and set a seal upon their
hearts, leaving them bereft of hearing? We have recounted
to you the history of those nations. Their apostles came
to them with veritable proofs, yet they persisted in their
unbelief. Thus God seals up the hearts of the unbelievers.
(Koran, p. 117, 7:96, 5th Para. - 6th Para.)
Like Pharaoh's people and those before them, they disbelieved
God's revelations. Therefore God will smite them for their
sins. Mighty is God and stern His retribution. God does not
change the blessings He has bestowed upon a people until they
change what is in their hearts. God hears all and knows all.
Like Pharaoh's people and those before them, they disbelieved
their Lord's revelations. Therefore we will destroy them for
their sins even as We drowned Pharaoh's people. They were
wicked men all. (Koran, p. 131, 8:51, 2nd Para. - 4th Para.)
Have they not heard the stories of those who have gone
before them? The fate of Noah's people and of Thamud and 'Ad;
of Abraham's people and the people of Midian and the Ruined
Cities? Their apostles showed them veritable signs. God
did not wrong them, but the wronged themselves. (Koran, p.
140, 9:69, 2nd Para.)
They say: 'God has begotten a son.' God forbid! Self-sufficient
is He. His is all that the heavens and the earth contain.
Surely for this you have no sanction. Would you say of God
what you know not? Say: 'Those that invent falsehoods about
God shall not prosper. They may take their ease in this life,
but to Us they shall then return, and for their unbelief We
will make them taste the grievous torment.' Recount to
them the tale of Noah. He said to his people: 'If it offends
you, my people, that I should dwell in your midst and preach
to you God's revelations (for in God I have put my trust),
muster all your idols and decide on your course of action.
Do not intrigue in secret. Execute your judgement and give
me not respite. If you turn away from me, remember I demand
of you no recompense. Only God will reward me. I am commanded
to be one of those who shall submit to Him.' But they disbelieved
him. Therefore We saved Noah and those who were with him in
the ark, so that they survived, and drowned the others who
denied Our revelations. Consider the fate of those who were
forewarned. (Koran, p. 153, 10:68, 1st Para. - 4th Para.)
We sent forth Moses with Our signs and with clear authority
to Pharaoh and his nobles. But they followed the behests
of their master; misguided were Pharaoh's behests. He
shall stand at the head of his people on the Day of Resurrection,
and shall lead them into the Fire. Evil is the place they
shall be led to. (Koran, p. 164, 11:96, 1st Para.)
We will recount to you the histories of these apostles
to put courage into your heart. Through them the Truth shall
be revealed to you, with precepts and admonitions for the
faithful. Say to the infidels: 'Do whatever lies within your
power, and so shall we. Wait if you will; we too are waiting.'
(Koran, p. 165, 11:113, 5th Para. - 6th Para.)
Say: 'This is my path. With sure knowledge I call on you to
have faith in God, I and all my followers. Glory be to God!
I am no idolater.' Nor were the apostles whom We sent before
you other than mortals inspired by Our will and chosen
from among their people. (Koran, p. 174, 12:108, 1st Para.
- 2nd Para.)
Other apostles were mocked before you: but, though
I bore long with the unbelievers, My scourge at length
overtook them. And how terrible was My scourge! (Koran,
p. 178, 13:31, 3rd Para.)
Each apostle We have sent has spoken only in the language
of his own people, so that he might make his precepts clear
to them. But God leaves in error whom He will and guides whom
He pleases. He is the Mighty, the Wise One. We send forth
Moses with Our signs, saying: 'Lead your people out of darkness
into the light, and remind them of God's favours.' Surely
in this there are signs for every steadfast, thankful man.
(Koran, p. 179, 14:1, 3rd Para.)
It was We that revealed the Admonition, and shall Ourself
preserve it. We have sent forth apostles before you to
the older nations: but they scoffed at each apostles We
sent them. Thus do We put doubt into the hearts of the guilty:
they deny him, despite the example of the ancients.
(Koran, p. 184, 15:6, 3rd Para.)
The people of Hijr also denied Our apostles. We gave
them Our signs, but they ignored them. They hewed their dwelling
into the mountains and led their lives in safety. But one
morning the Cry took them. Nothing did their gains avail them.
(Koran, p. 186, 15:78, 2nd Para.)
The apostles We sent before you were but men whom We inspired
with revelations and with scriptures. Ask the People of
the Book, if you know not. To you We have revealed the Admonition,
so that you may proclaim to me what was sent down for them,
and that they may take thought. (Koran, p. 190, 16:37, 3rd
Para.)
By the Lord, We have sent apostles before you to other
nations. But Satan made their foul deeds seem fair to
them, and to this day he is their patron. A woeful scourge
awaits them. (Koran, p. 191, 16:62, 2nd Para.)
We have exalted some prophets above others. To David We
gave the Psalms. Say: 'Pray if you will to those whom
you deify besides Him. They cannot relieve your distress,
nor can they change it.' Those to whom they pray, themselves
seek to approach their Lord, vying with each other to be near
Him. They crave His mercy and fear His punishment; for your
Lord's punishment is to be feared indeed. (Koran, p. 201,
17:52, 5th Para. - 6th Para.)
Hell is their reward: because they had no faith, and
because they mocked My apostles and My revelations.
As for those that have faith and do good works, they shall
for ever dwell in the gardens of Paradise, desiring no change.
(Koran, p. 213, 18:106 - p. 214.)
You shall also recount in the Book the story of Abraham:
He was a saintly man and a prophet. He said to his father:
'Why do you serve a worthless idol, a thing that can neither
hear nor see? Father, things you know nothing of have come
to my knowledge: therefore follow me, that I may guide you
along and even path. Father, do not worship Satan; for Satan
has rebelled against the Lord of Mercy. Father, I fear that
a scourge will fall upon you from the Merciful, and you will
become one of Satan's minions.' He replied: 'Do you dare
renounce my gods, Abraham? Desist, or I will stone you. Leave
my house this instant!' 'Peace be with you,' said Abraham.
'I shall implore my Lord to forgive you: for to me He has
ever been gracious. But I will not live with you or with your
idols. I will pray to my Lord, and may my prayers to my Lord
not be in vain.' (Koran, p. 216, 19:39, 2nd Para. - p. 217,
19:46, 2nd Para.)
And when Abraham had cast off his people and the idols
which they worshipped, We gave him Isaac and Jacob. Each
of them We made a prophet, and We bestowed on them gracious
gifts and high renown. (Koran, p. 217, 19:46, 3rd Para.)
In the Book tell also of Moses, who was a chosen man, an
apostle, and a prophet. We called out to him from the
right side of the Mountain, and when he came near We communed
with him in secret. We gave him, of Our mercy, his brother
Aaron, himself a prophet. (Koran, p. 217, 19:46, 4th Para.
- 5th Para.)
These are the men to whom God has been gracious: the prophets
from among the descendants of Adam and of those whom We
carried in the ark with Noah; the descendants of Abraham,
of Israel, and of those whom We have guided and chosen.
For when the revelations of the Merciful were recited to them
they fell down on their knees in tears and adoration. (Koran,
p. 217, 19:54, 4th Para.)
Had We destroyed them with a scourge before his (1) coming
they would have said: 'Lord, if only You had sent us an
apostle! We would have followed Your revelations before
we were humbled and disgraced.' (Koran, p. 227, 20:132, 3rd
Para.) (Footnote 1: Muhammad.)
Some say: 'It (2) is but a medley of dreams.' Others: 'He
has invented it himself,' And yet others: 'He is a poet:
let him show us some sign, as did the apostles in days gone
by.' [Yet though We showed them signs,] the communities
whom We destroyed before them did not believe either. Will
they believe? (Koran, p. 227, 21:1, 4th Para. - 21:6,
1st Para.) (Footnote 2: The Koran.)
The apostles We sent before you were but men whom We inspired.
Ask the People of the Book if you do not know this. The
bodies We gave them could not dispense with food, nor were
they immortal. Then We fulfilled Our promise: We delivered
them and those We willed, and utterly destroyed the transgressors.
And now We have revealed a Book for your admonishment.
Will you not understand? (Koran, p. 228, 21:7, 1st Para. -
2nd Para.)
Say: 'Show us your proof. Here are the Scriptures of today
and those of long ago.' But most of them know not the Truth,
and this is why they pay no heed. We inspired all the apostles
We sent before you, saying: 'There is no god but Me. Therefore
serve Me.' (Koran, p. 228, 21:18, 5th Para. - 6th Para.)
We showed Moses and Aaron the distinction between right
and wrong, and gave them a light and an admonition for righteous
men: those who truly fear their Lord, although unseen, and
dread the terrors of the final hour. And this (1) is a blessed
admonition We have sent down. Will you reject it? We formerly
bestowed guidance on Abraham, for We knew him well. (Koran,
p. 230, 21:47, 2nd Para. - 3rd Para.)
Before him Noah invoked Us, and We answered his prayer.
We saved him and all his kinsfolk from the great calamity,
and delivered him from those who had denied Our revelations.
Evil were they; We drowned them all. And tell of David
and Solomon: how they passed judgement regarding the cornfield
in which strayed lambs had grazed by night. We gave Solomon
insight into the case and bore witness to their judgements.
We bestowed on both of them wisdom and knowledge, and caused
the mountains and the birds to join with David in Our praise.
All this We did. We taught him the armourer's craft, so that
you might have protection in your wars. Will you then give
thanks? To Solomon We subjected the raging wind: it sped at
his bidding to the land which We had blessed. We had knowledge
of all things. We assigned him devils who dived for him into
the sea and who performed other tasks besides. Over them We
kept a watchful eye. And tell of Job: how he called
on his Lord, saying: 'I am sorely afflicted: but of all those
that show mercy You are the most merciful.' We answered his
prayer and relieved his affliction. We restored to him his
family and as many more with them: a blessing from Ourself
and an admonition to the devout. (Koran, p. 232, 21:75, 2nd
Para. - p. 233, 21:88, 4th Para.)
If they deny you, remember that before them the people
of Noah, 'Ad and Thamud, the people of Abraham and of Lot,
and the dwellers of Midian had also denied their apostles:
Moses was likewise rejected. (Koran, p. 238, 22:42, 1st
Para.)
Then we raised a new generation, and sent forth to them
an apostle of their own. 'Serve God,' he said, 'for you
have no god but Him. Will you not take heed?' But the unbelieving
elders of his people, who denied the life to come and
on whom We had bestowed the good things of this life, said:
'This man is but a mortal like yourselves, nourished by the
same food and drink. If you obey a mortal like yourselves,
you shall indeed be lost. Does he promise you, when you are
dead and turned to dust and bones, you will be raised to life?
A foolish promise, indeed. There is no other life but this,
our earthly life: we die and live, never to be restored to
life. This man is but an impostor who tells of God what is
untrue. (Koran, p. 242, 23:28, 3rd Para. - 23:37, 1st Para.)
After them We raised other generations - no people
can delay their doom or go before it - and sent forth Our
apostles in succession. Yet time after time they disbelieved
their apostles, so that We destroyed them one by one and
held them up as an example. Gone are the unbelievers. (Koran,
p. 242, 23:37, 4th Para.)
Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron, with Our
signs and with clear authority, to Pharaoh and his nobles.
But they received them with contempt, for they were arrogant
men. 'What!' said they. 'Are we to believe in two men like
ourselves, whose people are our bondsmen?' They denied them,
and thus incurred destruction. And We gave Moses the Book,
so that they might be rightly guided. (Koran, p. 242,
23:37, 5th Para. - 23:49, 1st Para.)
Your Lord is the Mighty One, the Merciful. Lot's people,
too, disbelieved the apostles. Their kinsman Lot had said
to them: 'Will you fear God? I am indeed your true apostle.
Fear God and follow me. For this I demand of you no recompense;
none can reward me except the Lord of the Universe.' (Koran,
p. 262, 26:153, 5th Para.)
Nor did we destroy the nations until He had sent apostles
to their capital cities proclaiming to them Our revelations.
We destroyed those cities only because their inhabitants were
wrongdoers. (Koran, p. 276, 28:58, 2nd Para.)
On that day God will call to them, saying: 'What answer
did you give Our apostles? And on that day such will be
their confusion that they will ask no questions. But those
that repent and embrace the Faith and do what is right may
hope for salvation. (Koran, p. 276, 28:64, 2nd Para.)
We sent forth Noah to his people, and he dwelt among
them for a thousand years less fifty. Then in their sinfulness
the Flood overwhelmed them. But We delivered him and all
who were in the ark, and made the events a sign for mankind.
(Koran, p. 279, 29:13, 2nd Para.)
And tell of Abraham. He said to his people: 'Serve
God and fear Him. That would be best for you, if you but knew
it. You worship idols besides God and fabricate falsehoods.
Those to whom you serve besides God cannot give you your daily
bread. Therefore seek your daily bread from God, and worship
him. Give thanks to Him, for to Him you shall return...His
people's only reply was: 'Kill him!' or 'Burn him!' But
from the fire God delivered him. Surely in this there are
signs for true believers. (Koran, p. 279, 29:13, 3rd Para
- p. 280, 29:20, 5th Para.).)
Have they never journeyed through the land and seen what
was the fate of their forebears? Far mightier were they;
they tilled the land and built upon it more than these have
ever built. And to them, too, their apostles came with
undoubted signs. God did not wrong them but they wronged
themselves. Evil was the end of those who did evil, because
they had disbelieved God's revelations and derided them.
(Koran, p. 284, 30:1, 5th Para.)
We sent before you apostles to their peoples, and they
showed them veritable signs. We took vengeance on the guilty,
and rightly succoured the true believers. (Koran, p. 287,
30:43, 3rd Para.)
We made a covenant with you, as We did with the other prophets;
with Noah and Abraham, with Moses and Jesus son of Mary.
A solemn covenant we made with them, so that He might question
the truthful about their truthfulness. But for the unbelievers
he has prepared a woeful punishment. (Koran, p. 294, 33:7,
1st Para.)
Believers, do not behave like those who slandered Moses.
God cleared him of their calumny, and he was exalted by God.
Believers, fear God and speak the truth. He will bless your
works and forgive you your sins. Those who obey God and
His apostle shall win a signal victory. (Koran, p. 299,
33:63, 4th Para.)
We have sent no apostle to any nation whose message was
not denied by those of them that lived in comfort. The
unbeliever say: 'We have been given greater wealth and more
children than the faithful. Surely we shall not be punished.'
Say: 'My Lord gives abundantly to whom He will and sparingly
to whom He pleases. But most men do not know it. Neither your
riches nor your children shall bring you one jot nearer to
Us. Those that have faith and do what is right shall be doubly
rewarded for their deeds: in the High Pavilions they shall
dwell in peace. But those that strive to confute Our revelations
shall be summoned up for punishment. (Koran, p. 303, 34:33,
3rd Para. - 5th Para.)
If they deny you, other apostles have been denied before
you. To God shall all things return. (Koran, p. 305, 35:2,
3rd Para.)
The blind and the seeing are not equal, nor are the darkness
and the light. The shade and the heat are not equal, nor are
the living and the dead. God can cause whom He will to hear
Him, but you cannot make those who are in their graves hear
you. Your only duty is to give warning. We have sent you with
the Truth to proclaim good news and to give warning; for there
is no community that has not had a warner. If they disbelieve
you, know that those who have gone before them also disbelieved.
Their apostles came to them with veritable signs, with scriptures,
and with the light-giving Book. But in the end I smote the
unbelievers: and how terrible was the way I disowned them!
(Koran, p. 306, 35:19, 1st Para. - 2nd Para.)
You shall cite, as a case in point, the people of the city
to which Our messengers made their way. At first We sent
to them two messengers, but when they rejected both We strengthened
them with a third. They said: 'We have been sent to you
as apostles.' But the people replied: 'You are but mortals
like ourselves. The Merciful has revealed nothing: you are
surely lying.' They said: 'Our Lord knows that we are
true apostles. Our only duty is to give plain warning.' (Koran,
p. 309, 36:7, 6th Para. - 7th Para.)
They found their fathers erring, yet they eagerly followed
in their footsteps. Most of the ancients went astray before
them, though We had sent apostles to give them warning. Consider
the fate of those whom We have warned: they perished all,
except God's true servants. Noah prayed to Us, and
his prayers were graciously answered. We delivered him, and
all his household, from the mighty scourge, and made his descendants
the sole survivors. We bestowed on him the praise of later
generations: 'Peace be on Noah among all men!' Thus do We
reward the righteous: he was one of Our believing servants.
The others We peremptorily drowned. Abraham was of
the self-same faith and came to his Lord with a pure heart.
He said to his father and to his people: 'What are these that
you worship? Would you serve false deities instead of God?
What think you of the Lord of the Universe?' He stole away
to their idols and said to them: 'Will you not eat your offerings?
Why do you not speak?' With that he fell upon them, striking
them down with his right hand. The people came running to
the scene. 'Would you worship that which you have carved with
your own hands, he said, 'when it was God who created you
and all that you have made?' They replied: 'Build up a pyre
and cast him into the blazing flames.' Thus did they scheme
against him: but We abased them all. (Koran, p. 314, 37:69
- p. 315, 37:105, 3rd Para.)
We also sent forth Elias, who said to his people: 'Have
you no fear? Would you invoke Baal and forsake the Most Gracious
Creator? God is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.'
(Koran, p. 316, 37:123.)
Lot was also sent with a message. We delivered him
and all his kinsfolk, except for an old woman who stayed behind,
and utterly destroyed the others. You pass by their ruins
morning and evening: will you not take heed? (Koran, p.
316, 37:123, 4th Para.)
Jonah was also sent with a message. He fled to the
laden ship, cast lots, and was condemned. The whale swallowed
him, for he had sinned; and had he not devoutly praised the
Lord he would have stayed in its belly till the Day of Resurrection.
We threw him, gravely ill, upon a desolate shore and caused
a gourd-tree to grow over him. Thus did We send him to a nation
a hundred thousand strong or more. They believed in him, and
We let them live in ease awhile. (Koran, p. 316, 37:123, 5th
Para.)
Their faction is no more than a beaten army. The people
of Noah, Ad, and Pharaoh, who impaled his victims upon the
stake; Thamud, the compatriots of Lot, and the
dwellers of the Forest - all denied their Lord and divided
themselves into factions: all charged their apostles with
imposture. My punishment justly smote them. (Koran, p.
318, 38:10, 2nd Para.)
And tell of Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:
men of might and vision whom We made pure with the thought
of the hereafter. They shall dwell with Us among the righteous
whom We have chosen. And of Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhul-Kifl,
who were all just men. (Koran, p. 320, 38:44, 2nd Para. -
3rd Para.)
None but the unbelievers dispute the revelations of God.
Do not be deceived by their prosperous dealings in the land.
Before them the people of Noah also disbelieved, and
so did the factions after them. Each community strove to lay
hands on their apostle, seeking with false arguments to refute
the truth; but I smote them, and how stern was My punishment!
Thus shall the word of your Lord be fulfilled concerning the
unbelievers: they are the heirs of the Fire. (Koran,
p. 328, 40:1, 3rd Para.)
Have they never journeyed through the land and seen what
was the end of those who have gone before them, nations
far greater in prowess and in splendour? God scourged them
for their sins, and from God they had no protector. That
was because their apostles had come to them with veritable
signs and they denied them. So God smote them. Mighty
is God, and stern His retribution. We sent forth Moses
with Our signs and with clear authority to Pharaoh, Haman,
and Korah. But they said: 'A sorcerer, a teller of lies.'
And when he brought them the Truth from Ourself, they said:
'Put to death the sons of those who share his faith, and spare
only their daughters.' Futile were the schemes of the unbelievers.
Pharaoh said: 'Let me slay Moses, and then let him invoke
his god! I fear that he will change your religion and spread
disorder in the land.' (Koran, p. 329, 40:18, 2nd Para. -
p. 330, 40:26.)
And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell:
'Implore your Lord to relieve our torment for a single day!'
'But did your apostles not come to you with undoubted signs?'
they will ask. 'Yes,' they will answer. And their keepers
will say: 'Then offer your prayers.' But vain shall be the
prayers of the unbelievers. (Koran, p. 331, 40:45, 3rd Para.
- 5th Para.)
We will surely help Our apostles and the true believers
both in this world and on the day when the witnesses rise
to testify. On that day no excuse will avail the guilty. The
Curse shall be their lot, and the scourge of the hereafter.
(Koran, p. 331, 40:51 - p. 332, 40:52.)
Do you not see how those who dispute the revelations of
God are turned away from the right path? Those who have
denied the Book and the message We sent through Our apostles
will learn hereafter: when, with chains and shackles round
their necks, they shall be dragged through scalding water
and burnt in the fire of Hell. (Koran, p. 333, 40:66,
4th Para.)
We sent forth other apostles before your time; of some
We have already told you, of others We have not yet told you.
None of those apostles could bring a sign except by God's
leave. And when God's will was done, justice prevailed and
there and then the disbelievers lost out. It is God
who has provided you with beasts, that you may ride on some
and eat the flesh of others. You put them to many uses; they
take you where you wish to go, carrying you by land as ships
carry you by sea. He reveals to you His signs. Which of God's
signs do you deny? (Koran, p. 333, 40:72, 5th Para. - p. 334,
40:81.)
When their apostles brought them veritable signs they proudly
boasted of their own knowledge; but soon the scourge they
mocked encompassed them. And when they beheld Our might
they said: 'We now believe in God alone. We deny the idols
which We served besides Him.' (Koran, p. 334, 40:81, 3rd Para.)
Thus God, the Mighty One, the Wise One, inspires you as
He inspired others before you. (Koran, p. 338, 42:1 -
p. 339.)
Should We ignore you because you are a sinful nation? Many
a prophet did We send forth to the ancients: but they mocked
each prophet that arose among them. We utterly destroyed them,
through they were mightier than these. (Koran, p. 343, 43:1,
3rd Para.)
Thus, whenever, before you, We sent an apostle to forewarn
a nation, those who lived in comfort said: 'This was the
faith our fathers practiced; we are merely following in their
footsteps.' Each apostle said: 'What if I bring you a faith
more enlightened than your fathers'?' But they replied:
'We reject the message you have been sent with.' So We took
vengeance on them. Consider the fate of those who disbelieved.
Tell of Abraham, who said to his father and to his
people: 'I renounce the gods you worship, except Him who created
me, for He will rightly guide me.' He made this an abiding
precept among his descendants, so that they might for ever
turn to Him. (Koran, p. 344, 43:20, 4th Para. - p. 345, 43:26.)
Ask those of Our apostles whom We sent before you if
We ever appointed gods besides the Merciful to be worshipped.
We sent forth Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his
nobles. He said: 'I am the apostle of the Lord of the Universe.'
But when he showed them Our signs they laughed at them; yet
each fresh sign We revealed to them was more powerful than
the one that came before. We therefore smote them with the
scourge, so that they might return to the right path. 'Sorcerer,'
they said, 'pray for us to your Lord and invoke the promise
He has made to you. We will accept your guidance.' Pharaoh
made a proclamation to his people. "My people,' said he, 'is
the kingdom of Egypt not mine, and are these rivers which
flow at my feet not mine also? Can you not see? Am I not better
than this despicable wretch, who can scarcely make his meaning
plain? Why have no bracelets of gold been given him, or angels
sent down to accompany him? Koran, p. 346, 43:43, 2nd Para
- 43:51.)
Say: 'I am no prodigy among the apostles; nor do I
know what will be done with me or you. I follow only what
is revealed to me, and my only duty is to give plain warning.'
(Koran, p. 353, 46:9.)
In Moses, too, there was a sign. We sent him forth
to Pharaoh with clear authority, but he turned his
back, he and his nobles, saying: 'A sorcerer, or a madman.'
So We seized him and his warrior, and cast them into the
sea. Indeed, he deserved much blame. In the fate of 'Ad
there was another sign. We let loose on them a blighting wind,
which pounded into dust all that it swept before it. And in
Thamud. They were allowed to take their ease awhile; but they
disobeyed the commandments of their Lord. The thunderbolt
struck them as they looked on; they could not rise up from
their fall, nor did they gain their end. And the people
of Noah before them. They too were impious men. (Koran,
p. 368, 51:31, 4th Para. - p. 369, 51:46.)
Therefore seek God. I come from Him to warn you plainly. Set
up no other deity besides God. I come from him to warn you
plainly. Thus whenever an apostle came to those that flourished
before them they cried: 'Sorcerer!' or 'Madman!' Have they
handed down this cry from one generation to the next?
Surely they are transgressors all. Pay no heed to them; you
shall incur no blame. Exhort them; exhortation helps the true
believers. (Koran, p. 369, 51:46, 3rd Para. - 5th Para.)
Long before them, the people of Noah disbelieved. They
disbelieved Our servant, and called him a madman. Rejected
and contemned, he cried out, saying: 'Help me, Lord, I am
overcome!' We opened the gates of heaven with pouring rain
and caused the earth to burst with gushing springs, so that
the waters met for a predestined end. We carried him in a
vessel built with planks and nails, which drifted on under
Our eyes: a recompense for him who had been disbelieved. This
We left as a sign: but will any take heed? How grievous
was My scourge, and how clear My warning! We have made
the Koran easy to remember: but will any take heed? (Koran,
p. 374, 54:1, 2nd Para. - 54:11, 3rd Para.)
The people of Lot disbelieved Our warnings. We let loose
on them a stone-charged whirlwind which destroyed them all,
except the house of Lot, whom We saved at dawn through Our
mercy. Thus do We reward the thankful. Lot had warned them
of Our punishment, but they doubted his warnings. They demanded
his guests of him. We put out their eyes, and said: 'Taste
My punishment, now that you have scorned My warning.' And
at daybreak a heavy scourge took them. 'Taste My punishment,
now that you have scorned My warning!' We have made the
Koran easy to remember: but will any take heed? (Koran,
p. 375, 54:25, 5th Para. - 54:37, 2nd Para.)
To Pharaoh's people also came the warning. But they disbelieved
all Our signs, and We smote them with the scourge of the
Mighty One, the All-powerful. Are your unbelievers better
men than these? Or are you given immunity to the Scriptures?
(Koran, p. 375, 54:37, 3rd Para. - 4th Para.)
Those that believe in God and His apostles are the
truthful men who shall testify in their Lord's presence. They
shall have their guerdon and their light. But those that
disbelieve Our revelations and deny them are the heirs of
Hell. (Koran, p. 382, 57:17, 3rd Para.)
Therefore strive for the pardon of your Lord, and for a Paradise
as vast as heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe
in God and His apostles. Such is the grace of God: he
bestows it on whom He will. God's grace is infinite. (Koran,
p. 383, 57:21.)
We have sent Our apostles with veritable signs, and through
them have brought down scriptures and the scales of justice,
so that men might conduct themselves with fairness. We have
sent down iron, with its mighty strength and diverse uses
for mankind, so that God may recognize those who aid Him,
through unseen, and help His apostles. Powerful is God, and
mighty. We sent forth Noah and Abraham, and bestowed on
their offspring prophethood and the Scriptures. Some were
rightly guided, but many were evil-doers. After them We
sent other apostles, and after those Jesus son of Mary. We
gave him the Gospel, and put compassion and mercy in the
hearts of his followers. (Koran, p. 383, 57: 25 - p. 384,
57:29.)
Those that oppose God and His apostle shall be brought
low. God has decreed: 'I will surely triumph, Myself and
My apostles.' Powerful is God, and mighty. (Koran, p.
386, 58:19, 2nd Para.)
You have a good example in Abraham and those who followed
him. They said to their people: 'We disown you and the idols
which you worship besides God. We renounce you: enmity and
hate shall reign between us until you believe in God only.'
(But do not emulate the words of Abraham to his father: 'I
shall implore forgiveness for you, although I can in no way
protect you from God.') 'Lord, in You we have put our trust;
to You we turn and to You we shall come at last. Lord, do
not expose us to the designs of the unbelievers. Forgive us,
Lord; You are the Mighty, the Wise One.' (Koran, p. 389, 60:4
- p. 390, 60:5.)
Tell of Moses, who said to his people: 'Why do you
seek to harm me, my people, when you know that I am sent to
you by God?' And when they went astray, God led their very
hearts astray. God does not guide the evil-doers. And of
Jesus son of Mary, who said to the Israelites: 'I am sent
forth to you from God to confirm the Torah already revealed,
and to give news of an apostle that will come after me whose
name is Ahmad.' Yet when he brought them conspicuous signs,
they said: 'This is plain sorcery.' And who is more wicked
than the man who invents a falsehood about God when called
upon to submit to Him? God does not guide the wrongdoers.
They seek to extinguish light of God with their mouths; but
God will perfect His light, much as the unbelievers may dislike
it. (Koran, p. 391, 61:1, 4th Para. - 61:8.)
Have you not heard of those who disbelieved before you?
They tasted the fruit of their unbelief, and grievous punishment
is yet in store for them. That is because, when their apostles
brought them veritable signs, they said: 'Shall mortals
be our guides?' They disbelieved and paid no heed. But God
was in no need of them: God is self-sufficient and glorious.
(Koran, p. 395, 64:2, 4th Para.)
How many nations have rebelled against the commandments
of their Lord and His apostles! Stern was our reckoning
with them, and harrowing was Our scourge. They tasted
the fruit of their misdeeds: and the fruit of their misdeeds
was ruin. God has prepared a grievous scourge for them. Have
fear of God, you that have sense and faith. God has now
sent down to you an exhortation; and apostle proclaiming to
you God's revelations in all plainness, so that he may
lead the faithful who do good works from darkness to the light.
He that believes in God and does good works shall be admitted
to gardens watered by running streams, where he shall dwell
for ever. A rich provision God has made for him. (Koran, p.
397, 65:7, 2nd Para. - 3rd Para.)
Pharaoh, and those before him, and the inhabitants of the
Ruined Cities, also committed sin and disobeyed their Lord's
apostle. With a terrible scourge He smote them. When the
Flood rose high We carried you in the floating ark, making
the event a warning, so that all attentive ears might heed
it. (Koran, p. 404, 69:8, 2nd Para. - 3rd Para.)
We sent forth Noah to his people, saying: 'Give warning
to your people before a woeful scourge overtakes them.' (Koran,
p. 406, 71:1.)
Remember the name of your Lord and dedicate yourself to Him
utterly. He is the Lord of the East and of the West: there
is no god but Him. Accept Him for your Protector. Bear patiently
with what they say, and leave their company without recrimination.
Leave to Me those that deny the Truth, those that enjoy
the comfort of this life; bear with them yet a little while.
We have in store for them heavy fetters and a blazing fire,
choking food and harrowing torment: on the day when the earth
shall quiver with all its mountains, and the mountains crumble
into heaps of shifting sand. We have sent forth an apostle
to testify against you, just as We sent an apostle to Pharaoh
before you. Pharaoh disobeyed our messenger, so that with
a baleful scourge We smote him. (Koran, p. 409, 73:1,
2nd Para. - p. 410, 73:12, 2nd Para.)
Have you not heard the story of the warriors of Pharaoh
and of Thamud? Yet the unbelievers still deny it. God
surrounds them all. Surely this is a glorious Koran,
inscribed on an imperishable tablet. (Koran, p. 423, 85:10,
3rd Para. - 85:22.)
All this is written in earlier scriptures; the scriptures
of Abraham and Moses. (Koran, p. 424, 87:19.)
Having completed a very exhaustive list of quotes from the
Koran, here at the end of this segment we would like to highlight
some of the more important statements found above. Below are
some of the more significant statements as they pertain to
this study.
1.) First, notice that while Mohammed does mention
a few non-Jewish apostles (Ad, Thamud, Ishmael), that the
vast majority of the apostles Mohammed and the Koran attest
to are all Jewish, including of course Jesus. Furthermore,
the Jewish apostles are the only ones to whom the Koran ascribes
miracles. And, it is also significant to point out that we
only have scriptures from the Jewish apostles. We have no
scripture from any of the non-Jewish apostles.
We gave him Isaac and Jacob and guided both as We had guided
Noah before them. Among his descendents were David and Solomon,
Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron (thus do we reward the
righteous); Zacharias and John, Jesus and Elias (all were
upright men); and Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot. All these
We exalted above the nations as We exalted some of their
fathers, their children, and their brothers. We chose them
and guided them to a straight path. Such is God's guidance;
He bestows it on those of His servants whom He chooses. Had
they served other gods besides Him, their labours would have
been vain indeed. On those men We bestowed the Scriptures,
wisdom, and prophethood. If these are denied by this generation,
We will entrust them to others who will not deny them.
Those were the men whom God guided. Follow then their guidance
and say: 'I demand of you no recompense for this. It is but
an admonition to all mankind.' They have no true notion of
God's glory, those that say: 'God has never revealed anything
to a mortal.' Say: 'Who, then, revealed the Scriptures which
Moses brought down, a light and a guide for mankind? You have
transcribed them on scraps of paper, declaring some and suppressing
much, though now you have been taught what neither you nor
you fathers knew before.' (Koran, p. 100, 6:80, 3rd Para.
- 6:91, 1st Para.)
2.) Second, notice from the selected quotes below that
Mohammed is considered nothing special among the other apostles.
He is "no prodigy among the apostles" and he is "no more than
an apostle."
If you have suffered a defeat, so did the enemy. We alternate
these vicissitudes among mankind so that God may know the
true believers and choose martyrs from among you (God does
not love the evil-doers); and that God may test the faithful
and annihilate the infidels. Did you suppose that you would
enter Paradise before God has proved the men who fought for
Him and endured with fortitude? You used to wish for death
before you met it, and now you have seen what it is like.
Muhammed is no more than an apostle: other apostles have
passed away before him. If he die or be slain, will you
recant? He that recants will do no harm to God. But God will
recompense the thankful. (Koran, p. 54, 3:140, 1st Para. -
2nd Para.)
Say: 'I am no prodigy among the apostles; nor do I
know what will be done with me or you. I follow only what
is revealed to me, and my only duty is to give plain warning.'
(Koran, p. 353, 46:9.)
3.) Third, notice that Mohammed and the Koran affirm
all of God's scriptures and apostles without discrimination
between them.
The Apostle believes in what has been revealed to him by
his Lord, and so do the faithful. They all believe
in God and His angels, His scriptures, and His apostles: We
discriminate against none of His apostles. (Koran, p.
42, 2:283, 4th Para.)
Are they seeking a religion other than God's, when every soul
in the heaven's and the earth has submitted to Him willingly
or by compulsion? To Him shall they return. Say: 'We believe
in God and what is revealed to us; in that which was revealed
to Abraham and Ishmael, to Isaac and Jacob and the tribes;
and in that which their Lord gave Moses and Jesus and the
prophets. We discriminate against none of them. Too Him
we have surrendered ourselves.' He that chooses a religion
other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and in
the world to come he will surely be among the losers. (Koran,
p. 50, 3:83, 1st Para. - 3rd Para.)
In fact, Mohammed and the Koran actually declare that anyone
who believes in some apostles and scriptures but denies others
to create a "middle way" are "unbelievers" who have "strayed
far" and are destined for "a shameful punishment."
Believers, have faith in God and His apostle, in the Book
He has revealed to His apostles, and in the Scriptures He
formerly revealed. He that denies God, His angels, His
Scriptures, His apostles, and the Last Day has strayed
far. (Koran, p. 75, 4:136, 1st Para.)
Those that deny God and His apostles, saying: 'We believe
in some, but deny others,' - thus seeking a middle way
- these indeed are the unbelievers. For the unbelievers
We have prepared a shameful punishment. As for those that
believe in God and His apostles and discriminate against none
of them, they shall be recompensed by Him. (Koran, p.
76, 4:147, 3rd Para. - 4th Para.)
This is extremely significant because it means that Mohammed
and the Koran cannot be selective about which portions of
the Judeo-Christian scriptures are from God. This will be
very important as we move ahead to compare the Koran to the
Old and New Testaments after our next section.
In conclusion, from the extremely long list of quotes above,
we can see the dramatic extent to which Mohammed's own support
for himself depends on his declaration that the Jewish apostles
and their scriptures, including Jesus, are vessels of truth
from God. Now, if something is the word of the perfect God,
then it should not contain errors and self-contradictions.
So, if Mohammed and the Koran contradict the apostles that
they both affirm and rely upon, then we can conclude that
Islam is not from God. We'll examine such contradictions,
right after our next segment.