Koran - A new testament - Confirming the past

This is a continuation of a multi-post article. You can read the first post here and you can read the previous post here. This is also part of a larger series called "The Koran from a Christian perspective." You can find other posts in this series here.

The Koran claims to be a continuation of the scriptures previously delivered to mankind. Much like the Book of Mormon, the Koran believes itself to be a new revelation, a new testament, built upon the previous revelations and testaments, confirming what was said before and clarifying and unifying beliefs through its message. The Koran states that first there was the Law, then the Gospel, then the Koran; all from God and all part of one revelation.

"Surely We sent down the Torah [Law], wherein is guidance and light; thereby the Prophets who had surrendered themselves [professed Islam] gave judgment for those of Jewry, as did the masters [doctors] and the rabbis [teachers], following such portion of God's Book as they were given to keep [were the keepers] and were witnesses to." (Koran 5:48)

"And We sent, following in their [the prophets] footsteps, Jesus son of Mary, confirming the Torah [law] before him and We gave to him the Gospel [Evangel], wherein is guidance and light, and confirming the Torah [Law] before it, as a guidance and an admonition unto the godfearing." (Koran 5:50)

"He has sent down upon thee the Book with the truth, confirming what was before it, and He sent down the Torah [Law] and the Gospel [Evangel] aforetime, as guidance to the people, and He sent down the Salvation ['Illumination']." (Koran 3:2)

Muhammad believed that the Jews and Christians would instinctively see the truth of his message and would readily embrace the Koran as the truth from God. However, they did not. A fact which lead to latter wars initiated by Muslims in an attempt to convert the world to the message of the Koran. In the Koran, Muhammad exhorts both Jews and Christians to leave behind their objections and join him and other Muslims in following the Koran.

"Children of Israel, remember My blessing [favor] wherewith I blessed you, and fulfil My covenant and I shall fulfil your covenant; and have awe of Me. And believe in that I have sent down, confirming that which is with you [your Scriptures], and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And sell [barter] not My signs for a little price; and fear you Me." (Koran 2:38)

"There is a party [others] of the People of the Book say, 'Believe in what has been sent down upon those who believe at the beginning of the day, and disbelieve [deny it] at the end of it; haply they will then return [Thus do they go back]'" (Koran 3:65-66)

This idea, that the genuineness and authenticity of the Koran is demonstrated by its conformity with the previous Jewish and Christian scriptures, is repeated over and over within the Koran.

"Naught [nothing] is said to thee but what already was said to the Messengers [Apostles] before thee." (Koran 41:43)

However, is this, in fact, true? Later on, we will look in great detail at the historical inaccuracies of the Koran, but for now, these two examples will suffice.

Genesis records the account of Noah. It states that, "Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth." (Genesis 7:6) However, the Koran states,

"Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years, all but fifty; so the Flood seized them, while they were evildoers." (Koran 29:13)

In one account Noah lived six hundred years before the flood. In the other account, nine hundred and fifty years.

Samuel records the account of David defeating Goliath. "Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine... Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David's hand... When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley." (1 Sam 17:48, 50-52) However, the Koran records,

"So, when they went forth against Goliath And his hosts, they said, 'Our Lord, pour out upon us patience [steadfastness], and make firm our feet, and give us aid against the people of the unbelievers [infidels]!' And they routed them, by the leave of God, and David slew Goliath." (Koran 2:251-252)

In one account, David slew Goliath while the other Israelites cowered. Only after David killed Goliath did the Israelites engage them in battle. However, in the Koran, they all rushed to the battle together and, during the battle, David kills Goliath.

One may say that these are small differences. However, the claim of the Koran is that it is a word-for-word translation of the Mother Book in heaven. How can a book that claims to be a word-for-word recitation from God and, at the same time claims to conform and confirm to what was written previously, have so many discrepancies and historical inaccuracies, especially when compared with the previous scriptures? The Koran does not conform and confirm and, in may places, actually differs and contradicts the scriptures. This is another key reason why I cannot and do not believe in the Koran.

More to come...

David Robison