Koran - A new testament - Could not have been forged

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.

One of the oft repeated defenses for the Koran is that, even if men and Jinn tried, they could not reproduce the likes of the Koran.

"And if you are in doubt concerning that We have sent down on Our servant, then bring [produce] a sura like it,  and call your witnesses, apart from [besides] God, if you are truthful." (Koran 2:21)

"Or do they say, 'He has forged it [the Koran is his own device]'? Say: 'Then bring you ten suras the like of it, forged [of your devising]; and call upon whom you are able, apart from God, if you speak truly.'" (Koran 11:16)

"Say: 'If men and jinn banded together [assembled] to produce the like of this Koran, they would never produce its like, not though they backed [help] one another.'" (Koran 17:90)

It is interesting how the requirement went from one sura, to ten, and then to an entire Koran! Muhammad faced many distractors in his day who claimed that his work was just a work of a poet and not that of a prophet.

"Nay, but they say: 'A hotchpotch of nightmares [a medley of dreams]! Nay, he has forged it; nay, he is a poet! Now therefore let him bring us a sign, even as the ancient ones were sent as Messengers.'" (Koran 21:5)

"saying, 'What, shall we forsake our gods for a poet possessed [crazed poet]?'" (Koran 37:35)

But the Koran defends Mohammad in light of their retorts.

"We have not taught him [Muhammad] poetry; it is not seemly for him. It is only a Remembrance [warning] and a Clear Koran, that he may warn whosoever is living, and that the Word may be realized [sentence may be justly given] against the unbelievers [infidels]." (Koran 36:69-70)

So what is the nature of the Koran such that no one could produce the likes of it through mere human effort and apart form direct revelation from God? How are we to judge one book against another? Certainly, if I were to try and assign a place for the Koran among other works of classical literature I would have to place it far below these other great works of literature. To me, the Koran does not stand out as any great work of literature. 

One of the natures that the Koran claims for itself is that it is the best guidance for mankind.

"Say: 'Bring a Book from [before] God that gives better guidance than these, and [that I may] follow it, if you speak truly.'" (Koran 28:49)

However, I would readily place before the Koran the works of the early Christian Apostles and writers; works providing greater and better guidance for our daily lives than the Koran does. The Koran also claims for itself a better form of discourse; one that the person instinctively and viscerally recognizes and knows.

"God has sent down the fairest discourse [best of recitals] as a Book, consimilar in its oft-repeated [in unison with itself], whereat shiver [creep] the skins of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of God. That is God's guidance, whereby." (Koran 39:24)

However, I must say that such is not true for me. My skin does not crawl nor does the Koran later bring a warm memory of God, yet when I read the Christian scriptures my heart is warmed by the love and mercy of God and the great sacrifice God gave for my redemption. Yes, the Koran is full of threatening and judgments that might cause some to react with fear and terror, but the Gospel is full of love and acceptance that woos the unbeliever back to God. Finally, the Koran puts forward this challenge,

"Woe that day unto those who cry it lies! 'Eat and take your joy a little; you are sinners!' Woe that day unto those who cry it lies! When it is said to them, 'Prostrate yourselves!' they prostrate not. Woe that day unto those who cry it lies! In what discourse after this will they believe?" (Koran 77:45-50)

But I would ask, "why was there a need for another discourse in the first place?" For me, the Jewish and Christian scriptures are sufficient for redemption, salvation, guidance, correction, reproof, training, and for all other matters that affect the human life. Therefore, why do we need another testament or another book from God? Certainly we do not need on of the character and nature of the Koran; one full of judgment and threatenings that make the skin crawl.

More to come...

David Robison

Koran - A new testament - Abrogation

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.

Muhammad, speaking in an attempt to bolster trust and faith in the Koran, said,

"What, do they not ponder the Koran? If it had been from other than God surely they would have found in it much inconsistency [many contradictions]." (Koran 4:84)

In other words, it is only because the Koran was given by direct word-for-word revelation to Muhammad that it is free from all contradictions and inconsistencies. However, is this a valid proof of its origin and divine nature? For there are any number of books that are consistent within themselves. For example, the Book of Mormon could be considered to be consistent within its own revelation. Are we to now accept it as being from God as well? Heretics through out the centuries have produced books describing their beliefs that are consistent and without contradictions when compared with themselves. Self-consistency is in no way a valid proof of divine origin but merely proof of a careful and articulate author. In fact, seeing that the Koran is the result of one author we should expect it to be consistent since Muhammad need only be consistent with himself.

That being said, the truth is that we do find inconsistencies and contradictions within the Koran itself. For example, consider this one example. early Muhammad writes,

"[Let there be] No compulsion is there in religion." (Koran 2:257)

And yet latter he writes,

"When you meet [encounter] the unbelievers [infidels], smite their necks [strike off their heads], then [till], when you have made wide [great] slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds [make fast the fetters]." (Koran 47:4)

"They wish that you should disbelieve [infidels] as they disbelieve [infidels], and then you would be equal [alike]; therefore take not to yourselves friends of them, until they emigrate [fled their homes] in the way [for the cause] of God; then, if they turn their backs, take [seize] them, and slay them wherever you find them;." (Koran 4:91)

So which is it? Is it "No compulsion" or "slay them where you find them"? This contradiction and inconsistency exists multiple times within the Koran and to various degrees. Even Muhammad himself displayed this same inconsistency in his life. Philip Schaff describes his life in this manor.

"At first he proclaimed toleration: 'Let there be no compulsion in religion;' but afterwards he revealed the opposite principle that all unbelievers must be summoned to Islâm, tribute, or the sword. With an increasing army of his enthusiastic followers, he took the field against his enemies, gained in 624 his first victory over the Koreish with an army of 305 (mostly citizens of Medina) against a force twice as large, conquered several Jewish and Christian tribes, ordered and watched in person the massacre of six hundred Jews in one day, while their wives and children were sold into slavery (627), triumphantly entered Mecca (630), demolished the three hundred and sixty idols of the Kaaba, and became master of Arabia. (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume IV, Section 42. Life and Character of Mohammed)

To explain such contradictions and inconsistencies, the Koran invokes the idea of abrogation.

"And for whatever verse We abrogate [cancel] or cast into oblivion [cause to forget], We bring a better or the like of it; knowest thou not that God is powerful over everything?" (Koran 2:100)

To abrogate is to cancel, revoke, or rescind. Some have justified God's revoking or rescinding former verses in that, previously mankind was not able to receive the fullness of God's revelation; so He reveals a little at a time; revealing more as they are more mature and more able to receive what God has to say. So was it that man was too tolerant and compassionate for them to hear the message to kill the infidels where they find them? Did God need to wait until their hearts were hardened and they became more intolerant before He could teach them to hate and to kill? Or was it God who changed and became more intolerant and less merciful towards those who believed different from the Muslims that He turned to command the Muslims to kill the Jews and Christians? Such abrogation, such contradictions and inconsistencies, is not worthy of a book that claims to be divine and the literal word of God.

More to come...
David Robison

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

Koran - A new testament - Unambiguous

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 book that is easily understood; one that presents the commands of God in a way that all can understand, believe, and follow. In this since, it claims to be unlike former revelations from God that left people at variance as to what to believe and left them fighting and wrangling over their differing views of what God had really said.

"And We have not sent down upon thee the Book except that thou mayest make clear to them that whereon they were at variance [the subject of their wranglings], and as a guidance and as a mercy to a people who believe." (Koran 16:66)

"and We shall bring thee as a witness against those [these Meccans]. And We have sent down on thee the Book making clear [clearing up] everything, and as a guidance and a mercy, and as good tidings to those who surrender." (Koran 16:91)

"an Arabic Koran, wherein there is no crookedness [free from torturous wording]; haply [to the intent that] they will be godfearing" (Koran 39:29)

However, history has shown that there is much in the Koran that is ambiguous and difficult to understand. Even today we see a wide disparity of beliefs in Islam with doctrinal and religious wranglings between many of the competing factions. For example, here is but one example from the Koran of a verse that is far from clear.

"And say to the believing women, that they cast down [refrain] their eyes and guard their private parts [observe continuance], and reveal not their adornment [ornaments] save such as is outward [external]; and let them cast their veils over their bosoms, and not reveal their adornment [ornaments] save to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons..." (Koran 24:31)

This verse is far from clear as to what and how a woman should cover herself. Some have taken it to mean modest dress, some a covering of the hair, others covering the entire face, and still others covering the entire body including the hands. For a revelations that is supposed to be clear and free from ambiguity, there is much that still remains uncertain within.

The Koran also claims that it clears up and settles every matter of disagreement between various Jews, Christians, and each other.

"This Koran could not have been forged [devised] apart from God; but it is a confirmation of what is [revealed] before it, and a distinguishing [clearing up] of the Book [of the Scriptures], wherein is no doubt, from the Lord of all Being." (Koran 10:38)

"And not a thing is there hidden [no secret thing] in heaven and earth but it is in a Manifest Book [the clear Book]. Surely this Koran relates [declareth] to the Children of Israel most of that concerning which they are at variance [most things wherein they disagree]; it is a guidance, and a mercy unto the believers [faithful]." (Koran 27:78-80)

However, history has again shown that the Koran has offered little in the way to clear up the differences and disputes regarding their scriptures by either the Jews or the Christians. In fact, the Koran stands at odds against much of what was previously written in the Jewish and Christian scriptures. In my opinion, the Koran offers little light as to the message and the revelation of God other than what had already been revealed in the scriptures prior to the coming of Muhammad.

Finally, it appears that Muhammad himself, later in life, understood that the Koran was not as clear and direct as had been previously claimed in the Koran itself. In a later revelation, he adds this caveat.

"It is He who sent down upon thee the Book, wherein are verses clear [Some of its signs are of themselves perspicuous] that are the Essence [basis] of the Book, and others ambiguous [are figurative]. As for those in whose hearts is swerving [given to err], they follow the ambiguous part [follow its figures], desiring dissension [discord], and desiring its interpretation; and none knows its interpretation, save only God. And those firmly rooted in knowledge say, 'We believe in it; all is from our Lord'; yet none remembers, but men possessed of minds [endued with understanding]." (Koran 3:5)

If the Koran were really as clear as it claims to be then there would be no need to warn its readers that parts of it are figurative and, in fact, not clear. Even more so, while admitting that parts are figurative and parts clear, it fails to identify what is figurative and what is clear. Leaving us once again without guidance and direction; left to our own opinion as to what the book really means; left again with a book uncertain.

More to come...

David Robison

Koran - A new testament - Clear signs

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 repeatedly refers to the "clear signs" that were "sent down" to warn and instruct the people. These Clear Signs did not originate with Muhammad, but were a pattern established by God long ago.

"Ask the Children of Israel how many a clear sign We gave them." (Koran  2:207)

In some cases, the Koran makes references to the "clear signs" that were the attesting miracles done by the prophets to prove their message was genuine and that they were sent from God. The Koran says of Moses,

"And We gave Moses nine signs, clear signs. Ask the Children of Israel when he came to them, and Pharaoh said to him, 'Moses, I think thou art bewitched [enchanted].'" (Koran 17:103)

However, in most cases, these signs have nothing to do with sings as we normally think of, that being supernatural signs, miracles, and wonders. In most cases, these "clear signs" that the Koran speaks of are the very verses of the Koran and of other sacred books sent down to Mankind from God above. The Koran says of Jesus,

"And when Jesus came with the clear signs [manifest proofs] he said, 'I have come to you with wisdom, and that I may make clear to you some of that whereon you are at variance; so fear you God and obey you me." (Koran 43:63)

Notice that the Koran claims that Jesus understood that the clear signs He came with was the wisdom which was able to correct all misunderstandings and false doctrine that left the Jews debating among themselves. Here, the clear sign is not that He rose from the dead but rather that He brought the wisdom to make clear what God had always intended.

This is something unique in regard to the Koran and Muhammad. Neither offer anything in the way of miracles or supernatural proofs of their genuineness or their appointment by God. The only proof, or clear sign, that they offer is the Koran itself.

"the Koran was sent down to be a guidance to the people, and as clear signs [explanation] of the Guidance and the Salvation [of that illumination]." (Koran 2:181)

"A sura that We have sent down and appointed; and We have sent down in it signs, clear signs, that haply you will remember." (Koran 24:1)

The Koran claims for itself that the proof of its genuineness is that its verses are direct, clear, and compelling to our understanding. Its proof is that, once hearing the Koran, we are, or ought to be, compelled to follow it because its verses will resonate within us.

"It is He who sends down upon His servant signs, clear signs [clear tokens], that He may bring you forth from the shadows [of darkness] into the light. Surely God is to you All-gentle, All-compassionate." (Koran 57:9)

"A Book whose verses are set clear [stablished in wisdom], and then distinguished [set forth with clearness], from One All-wise, Allaware [All-informed]" (Koran 11:1)

But is this truly the case? Is the Koran really self-evident? Are its verses and signs clear enough to convince all that it is truly God's word sent down from above? Is the Koran so compelling that neither it nor Muhammad need any signs and wonders to give proof of their mission and genuineness?

In my opinion, no! While it may have a resonance when recited in Arabic, I find its message in English to be less than compelling. Such a claim of self-evidence based on "clear signs" depends so much on the opinion and estimation of the one hearing those signs. In my estimation, they are left lacking.

More to come...
David Robison

Koran - A new testament - In Arabic

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 teaches that, to each nation, God sends their own messenger and their own testament, speaking and written in their own tongue, that they might be warned and rightly guided into the truth.

"Every nation has its Messenger [Apostle]; then, when their Messenger [apostle]comes, justly the issue [a rightful decision] is decided between them, and they are not wronged." (Koran 10:48)

"And We have sent no Messenger [Apostle] save with the tongue [speech] of his people, that he might make all clear to them." (Koran 14:4 )

 "And thou shalt see every nation hobbling on their knees [kneeling], every nation being summoned unto its Book: 'Today you shall be recompensed [repaid] for that you were doing [have done]. This is Our Book, that speaks against you the truth; We have been registering all that you were doing.'" (Koran 45:27-28)

In this sense, the Koran was sent down, written in Arabic and for an Arabic speaking people.

"We have sent it down as an Arabic Koran; haply you will [that ye might] understand [it]." (Koran 12:2)

"The sending down of the Book, wherein no doubt is, [s revelation send down] from the Lord of all Being [the world]. Or do they say, 'He has forged it'? Say: 'Not so; it is the truth from thy Lord that thou mayest warn a people to whom no warner came before thee, that haply so they may be guided." (Koran 32:1-2)

Muhammad believed that he was chosen as the messenger to bring a Arabic book from God to warn, instruct, and lead a people whom previously had been without a warner and a book from God. He was an Arabic warner with an Arabic book for an Arabic speaking people. His mission was not to change the world, or to convert a people of an unknown tongue, but to being God's message to the people around him who spoke his language. He was a messenger and a warner sent to a specific people, not to the world in general.

"Surely We have sent thee with the truth good tidings to bear, and warning; not a nation there is, but there has passed away in it a warner. If they cry thee lies [treat the as a liar], those before them also cried lies; their Messengers [Apostles] came to them with the clear signs, the Psalms [scriptures], the Illuminating Book; then I seized [chastised] the unbelievers, and how was My horror [vengeance]!" (Koran ?35:22-24)

Given this, it makes me wonder how Islam went from an Arabic message to an Arabic people to a conquering force seeking to establish its religion and rule over all of mankind. Muhammad himself sought to expand his Islamic control over other nations and people through military battles and campaigns. We have seen over the past fourteen hundred years the aggressive expansion of Islamic rule throughout the world; often through military conquest rather than peaceful persuasion. Even today, there are those within our borders and without that are actively seeking to overthought our societies and cultures in order to bring about Muslim rule. However, one must ask, "Where is our warner? Where is our book written in our own language?" If we are so bad and in such need of reform, let God do what He promised in the Koran and send us our own messenger and our own book! However, it is those who claim to follow Islam yet disregard the message of the Koran who are seeking to destroy us from within. This inconsistency is one of the reasons I find it hard to accept the Muslim message: the inconsistency both within the Koran itself and in the combative lives of those who seek its spread its message in a way that seems contrary to the message of Muhammad himself.

More to come...
David Robison

Koran - A new testament - The mother book

This is a continuation of a multi-post article. You can read the first 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.

Muslims hold the Koran to be unique and prized above all other books. Their reverence for the Koran goes far beyond that which any other religion has for its sacred texts. Muslims, who hold the Jewish and Christian texts in honor, see the Koran as a book that stands apart from them and one that requires special handling and treatment. The Koran itself requires that those who copy and preserve it be noble and those who handle it be pure.

"No indeed; it [the Koran] is a Reminder [warning] (and whoso wills, shall remember it) upon pages high-honoured, uplifted [exalted], purified, by the hands of scribes noble [honored], pious [righteous]." (Koran 80:11-15)

"it is surely a noble [honorable] Koran in a hidden [preserved] Book [let] none but the purified shall touch [it], a sending down [revelation] from the Lord of all Being [the Worlds]." (Koran 56:76-77)

There are many reasons for this reverence, one being their believe concerning the origin of the book and their belief that the Koran is an exact, word-for-word, copy of the master book in heaven which is also written in Arabic. The Koran says this of its origin,

"By the Clear Book, behold, We have made it an Arabic Koran; haply you will [that ye may] understand and behold, it is in the Essence of the Book [a transcript of the archetypical Book], with [kept by] Us; sublime [lofty] indeed, wise [filled with wisdom]." (Koran 43:2-3)

During Muhammad's first revelation, Gabriel speaks to him of the Pen that is in heaven.

"Recite: In the Name of thy Lord who created, created Man of [from] a blood-clot. Recite: And thy Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the Pen, taught Man that he knew not." (Koran 96:1-5)

When asked about this Pen, Muhammad replied,

"The first thing God created was the pen. He created the tablet and said to the pen: 'Write!' And the pen answered: 'What shall I write?' He said: 'Write My knowledge of My creation till the day of resurrection.' Then the pen traced what had been ordained." (Muhammad, his life based on the earliest sources)

This archetypal book, this copy of the Koran in heaven written by the Pen, is refereed to in subsequent revelations as "a glorious recitation (qur'an) on an inviolable tablet and as the mother of the book" (Muhammad, his life based on the earliest sources)

This belief that the Koran is a literal, word-for-word, copy of the original Arabic book written by the Pen in heaven seems quite fanciful. For nearly four thousand years, God hid the knowledge of this book from mankind. No where in the Jewish or Christian texts does the existence of such a book find evidence, nor is there existence of the Pen that write it or the Tablets upon which it was written. Similarly, this Mother of the Book would have had to be written in Arabic for the Koran to be a word-for-word copy of the book. No where in the Jewish or Christian texts is it alluded to that the official language in heaven is Arabic, or that there is even language as we know it in heaven. Why would God write a book in a language that would not exist for nearly four thousand years? For four thousand years God was revealing Himself to mankind and in all that time He never did it in Arabic! Even if heaven did have an official language, I would have assumed it to be Hebrew since the Jews were God's "chosen people" (Isaiah 43:20) and those though whom salvation was to come. I personally cannot and do not believe there is such a Mother Book and, if the existence of a Mother Book is to be disbelieved, then so is the Koran which claims its origin from such a questionable book.

More to come...
David Robison

If God died on the cross, then who is running the universe?

Recently, a Muslim reader posed this question to me:

Now tell me if God incarnated and came to earth then who was controlling the skies and matter? Also, also you said that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) died, if He is dead it means God is dead as well, and if this is the case then who is controlling the universe as there is no god left? Also you said Prophet Jesus will come again. How will He come again as God and Prophet Jesus (pbuh) both died?

To answer this question, there are two things we must understand. First is the nature of death. James says, "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." (James 2:26) Death is not extinction but merely separation. When we die, it's not that we cease to exist, rather it's that our body and our spirit are separated and the fleshly part of our life dies and our spirit lives on. Our body is temporal but our spirit is eternal and lives on eternally even after our death. Even the Koran testifies to this truth.

"God takes the souls [unto Himself] at the time of their death, and that which has not died, in [during] its sleep." (Koran 39:43)

"Count not those who were slain in God's way as dead, but rather living with their Lord, by Him provided [richly sustained], rejoicing in the bounty that God has given them, and joyful in those who remain behind [follow after them] and have not joined them, because no fear shall be on them, neither shall they sorrow," (Koran 3:164-165)

Furthermore, the scriptures make it clear that the dead are not unaware, but fully alive and able to perceive, feel, and communicate. Jesus tells the story of two men who died and their very different experiences after death. "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom." (Luke 16:22-23) When asked about the resurrection, Jesus said, "But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." (Matthew 22:31-32) Truly, those who die live on, just not in this world. This is why the scriptures speak of those who are "cut off out of the land of the living." (Isaiah 53:8) Still living, just not in the land of the living. Even though Jesus died on the cross, He still lives, both as God and man.

The second thing we must understand is that God is not limited by human or physical limitations. God is the one who fills all things. Paul says, "He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things." (Ephesians 4:10) God is everywhere at all times. David knew this and said, "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,  even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me." (Psalms 139:7-10 NKJV) God is able to dwell in human for in Jesus Christ and still fill the universe He created and controls. Paul tells us that Jesus "emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:7) Jesus emptied Himself but He didn't empty heaven. Whether embodied in Jesus Christ or filling the universe He created, God is still in control.

I hope this helps.
David Robison

Koran - A new testament - A process of preservation

This is a continuation of my posts in the series "The Koran from a Christian perspective." You can find other posts in this series here.

Muhammad received his first revelation, delivered to him by the angel Gabriel, in 610 CE. These revelations continued for approximately twenty two years until Muhammad's death in 632 CE. The revelations were delivered to Muhammad in the form of short Suras, or chapters, which, during the revelation, Muhammad committed to memory and then taught them to his family, friends, and follows. These were taught to recite the revelation word-for-word just as Muhammad had been taught to recite them by Gabriel.

The Koran, primarily and fundamentally, is meant to be recited. This may seem odd to those who grew up in cultures where written records were esteemed over the oral transfer of knowledge. However, in the nomadic desert society in which the early Muslims lived, oral recitation greatly assisted the memorization and transmission of the Koranic verses to believers, many of whom were illiterate, The Koran itself speaks of the importance of its recitation.

"and a Koran We have divided [parsed out in sections], for thee to recite it to mankind at intervals [by slow degrees], and We have sent it down successively [piecemeal]." (Koran 17:107)

As Muhammad began to teach his friends and family to recite the Koran, they began to write down what he taught them so that they might preserve and remember the words they had been taught. During his life, the Koran existed in this form; scraps of it preserved on "parchment, wooden planks, or palm leaves" (The History of the Qur’anic Text, Muhammad Mustafa Al-a`zami) and in the memories of the believers. However, after Muhammad's death, the benefit of a compiled and standardized Koran was quickly realized.

"About a year after his death, at the direction of Abu-Bakr, his father-in-law and immediate successor, Zayd, the chief ansar or amanuensis of the Prophet, collected the scattered fragments of the Koran “from palmleaves, and tablets of white stone, and from the breasts of men,” but without any regard to chronological order or continuity of subjects." (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume IV, Section 44. The Koran, and the Bible)

The Suras were generally arranged from largest to smallest rather than chronologically. To westerners this might seem odd, but it is no different from the Jewish book of Psalms which too has no apparent (or overt) chronological order. Once the job of compilation was complete, all other copies of the Koran, including the fragments from which it was compiled, were burned, thus ensuring a single authoritative and standardized version of the Koran.

"With the task complete, the ink on the final copy dry, and duplicate copies dispatched, there was no need for the numerous fragments of the Qjir'an circulating in people's hands. So all such fragments were burned. Mus'ab bin Sa'd asserts that the people were pleased with 'Uthman's decision; at the very least no one voiced any objections.' Other reports confirm this unanimous approval." (The History of the Qur’anic Text, Muhammad Mustafa Al-a`zami)

Thus, the claim is that the Koran had existed in its present form, unaltered, for over fourteen hundred years since it was first recorded by those who heard it from the prophet Muhammad. This claim is more than tradition for many Muslim believers, it is also a point of faith. Any suggestion that there may have been corruptions or alterations to the Koran is often met with vehement objection by believers, especial radical and fundamentalist believers. Unfortunately, this has often stifled any development of historical, socialistic, and critical examination of the Koran, its development, and its preservation until today. However, our concern here is not so much the history of the Koran but what it contains and what it has to say. To this we will turn our attentions to next.

More to come...
David Robison

How could God decide to start a family

Recently, a Muslim reader asked me this question.

"God Is unique ...if He starts having family then there is no difference between the creator and the creation."

This is an astute question as it acknowledges that God is unique and we expect Him to be different from ourselves. One of the greatest difficulties we face when trying to understand God is in trying to understand Him in human terms. Here we try to understand God and the Son of God in human terms of having children and starting a family. Though we call Him the Son of God it is not as if God one day decided to take a wife and start having children. My reader correctly surmises that if this were the case then God would no longer be unique and no different form the rest of His creation. To properly understand what is meant by the term "Son of God" we must first understand this term in its context.

Often the scriptures use the same term to mean multiple things, each which must be understood by its context. For example, what the scripture means by being born or begotten is different based on its context. When the scripture says that "Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers." (Matthew 1:2 NKJV) it means that Isaac, Jacob, and Judah were born of natural means with a father and a mother. When the scriptures speak of Jesus saying "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) It does not mean that Jesus was born in the normal human since but that the Word of God was incarnated in human flesh in the womb of the virgin Mary. And, when the scripture says that Jesus, "is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." (Colossians 1:18) it is obviously not speaking of normal child birth or the production of a human family since no one has ever created a family by giving birth from the dead.

Similarly, when Jesus is call the "Son of God" we do not take the term "Son" to mean and stand for normal sons and daughters as we might have them. The scriptures speak of Adam this way, "the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God." (Luke 3:38) Although Adam was in no way birthed as normal children, yet he is called the son of God because he was directly made and fashioned by the hands of God. Similarly, Job refers to the angles as the sons of God, not because they were birthed, but because they were created. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them." (Job 1:6) Also, believers are called the children of God, not because we are born so but because we are made so by the salvation of God. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12) So Jesus is called the Son of God, not because He was made or because he was birthed, but because He came from the Father and entered this world through the womb of a virgin.

Finally, we must realize that, even as Jesus was born into this world, it was not as if He never existed until His birth. Jesus told this parable of Himself and His mission on Earth.

"At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him some of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he proceeded to send another slave; and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. And he proceeded to send a third; and this one also they wounded and cast out. The owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.'" (Luke 20:10-13)

Here, Jesus shows us that when He was sent from the Father to enter this world as a child, that He already existed with the Father. Jesus' birth was not His creation. He was from eternity with the Father and will for all eternity continue to be with the Father. John says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1, 14) John clearly states that Jesus always existed with God as the Word of God and was, in fact, God. His coming forth as the Son of God was his appearance upon Earth but not His creation as the Son. Paul writes of Jesus, "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Things that can only be said of God. Similarly, "who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:6-8) Showing clearly that Jesus existed as God long before He ever became a man and walked among us.

I hope this helps you to understand Jesus as the Son of God and His incarnation into this world.

David Robison