Conversation
with Muslims about Christ
How
to Explain
That The
Bible
Has Not Been Corrupted
Abd
al-Masih
GRACE-AND-TRUTH
All
Rights Reserved
Order Number:
FPB 8003 ENG
2nd Edition
2003
English
Title: How to Explain That The Bible Has Not Been Corrupted
Grace-and-Truth
l P.O.Box 2904
l Weirton,
WV 26062 l USA
Internet:
www.grace-and-truth.org
e-mail:
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Introduction
Many Muslims are skeptical
and claim that the Bible has been changed and falsified. Some concede that
Christians are well-organized and industrious people, and that their social
rules are just. But they also regard those among them, who fear God, as being
dreamers in a cloud-cuckoo-land, because such Christians consider the Torah,
Psalms and gospels to be reliable books. That may have been true in the past,
these Muslims say, but their present editions are all tampered with. All
Christians are for them victims of a great error, believing in fairy tales.
Where does the skepticism of Muslims against the
66 books of the Bible come from? What arguments do they put forth to underline
their accusations concerning the corruption of the Bible?
The Attacks of the Qur'an Against
the Torah
The answer to these questions can be found in ten
verses of the Qur'an. They constitute the basis for the skepticism of
Muslims towards the Bible. An elder of the Jews in Medina was accused of having
committed adultery. The Jews did not want to disclose to the Muslims the verses
about the punishment for adultery in the Torah in order to save their elder
from stoning. Thereupon, in several passages of his Qur'an, Muhammad made Allah
challenge these Jews who did not reveal the secrets and the commandments of
their Torah to the Muslims:
Do not sell off my verses at a low
price. (Sura al-Baqara 2:41)
Do not clothe justice with injustice and do not hide justice, since you
know it. (Sura al-Baqara 2:42)
Some of them heard the word of Allah, but then they falsified it after
they had understood it, knowing (what they were doing). (Sura
al-Baqara 2:75)
Woe to those who write the book with their own hands and then claim:
'This is from Allah!' selling it off at a low price. (Sura
al-Baqara 2:79)
Truly, Some of them conceal the
truth, although they know it. (Sura al-Baqara 2:146)
Oh people of the book! Why do you clothe justice with injustice and hide
justice, knowing (what you are doing)? (Sura Al 'Imran 3:71)
Truly, Some of them twist their tongues when (reading) the book (aloud),
so that you would take (what was read) to be from the book, but it is not from
the book. (Sura Al 'Imran 3:78)
Some of the Jews move letters of the words from their places (so that
they make a different sense). (Sura
al-Nisa 4:46)
Since they broke their covenant, we (Allah) have cursed them and
hardened their hearts, so that they moved the letters from their places and
forgot part of what they were made to memorize. (Sura
al-Ma'ida 5:13)
Of those who say, "We are Christians (Nasara)", we have
ordained their covenant. But then they forgot part of what they were made to
memorize. (Sura al-Ma'ida 5,14)
If you analyze these 10 parts of Qur'anic
verses in the Arabic language you can find eight historical realities:
• Not
"all" Jews, but only a small group of them, tried to lead
Muhammad astray (Sura al-Baqara 2:75,146; Al 'Imran 3:78).
• They
were people who were rightly guided (Sura al-Nisa 4:46), but they
covered parts of their law with empty words in order to hide justice
(Sura al-Baqara 2:42; Al 'Imran 3:71).
• They
did not translate all biblical texts openly to Muhammad and did not
tell him everything from their book, unless he first did his shopping
with them (Sura al-Baqara 2:41, 79).
• They hid
some commandments from him, especially those that would have been harmful to
them in specific occasions involving Muhammad and his Muslims (Sura al-Baqara
2:42,146; Al 'Imran 3:71).
• They changed
the vowels or diacritical points in some words thus changing the
meanings of such words (Sura al-Baqara 2:75; al-Nisa 4:46; al-Ma'ida 5,13).
• They twisted
their tongues while pronouncing certain texts from the Torah so that nobody
could understand what they were really saying (Sura Al 'Imran 3:78).
• They wrote
their holy books with their own hands but pretended that it came
directly from God (Sura al-Baqara 2:79).
• They forgot
a number of verses from their scripture that as revelation, they should have
kept in their memory (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:13). Muhammad also accused Christians of
this infidelity towards God and his revelation (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:14).
From these Qur'anic accusations you can see that only a minority of
Jews in Medina had a problem with Muhammad. The vast majority of Jews are not
accused in the Qur'an with this reproach. They neither falsified nor concealed
their holy book. Jews everywhere possess the genuine, original Torah to
this very day.
In the Qur'an there is also no
mention that a whole scroll of the Torah was altered from
beginning to end. Muhammad claimed that only some single words were covered
up, pronounced wrongly or fitted with different vowels. The integrity of the
Torah as a whole is not questioned anywhere in the Qur'an!
Jews, however, as well as Christians, were not
able to recite long passages from the Bible by heart, but
offered their personal opinions, experiences or interpretations of Biblical
texts. For Muslims learning the revealed word by heart is proof of the love of
a believer for God and his revelation. They missed this kind of love in Jews
and Christians. Muhammad wanted to hear the exact texts of the
Revelation repeated from memory; he did not want to learn the opinion of
individuals about it.
This short analysis of the Qur'anic verses
mentioned above shows that Muslims suspect without reason that the Torah was
completely corrupted. In addition to that, the Qur'an never mentions
anywhere that the Gospel was falsified or changed, because Muhammad respected
Christians and knew their reliability and love of the truth.
The Muslims' Search for Muhammad's
Name in the Bible
After several Jews and Arabic Christians
accepted Islam, the idea emerged among them that Muhammad, who called himself
the seal of all prophets, should have been prophesied in the words of the
Bible. Muhammad let 'Isa say in the Qur'an that an envoy called Ahmad would
come after him (Sura al-Saff 61:6).
Since then, Muslims suspect that Jews and
Christians have erased the name of Muhammad or its synonym Ahmad from their
holy books.
In the mean time a hectic examination of the
prophecies in the Bible began to see if it perhaps revealed the coming of
Muhammad. Countless speculations and writings deal with the Islamic belief that
Muhammad must have been mentioned in the Bible. They often quote Deuteronomy
18:15,18. There Moses says, The Lord our God will raise up for you a prophet
like me from among your brothers. Listen to him! The Muslims claim
enthusiastically: ”This promised prophet must be Muhammad.” But they have not
noticed that this prophet must come from the people of Israel. Whoever asks
them whether they would like to confess that Muhammad should be an Israeli or a
Jew would hear an indignant ”No!”
From the Gospel they repeatedly quote the famous
promise that Jesus made: The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
will send in my name, will teach you all things (John 14:16,17,26). Muslim
researchers think that the promised counselor should be Muhammad! They examined
the Greek word parakletos (counselor), quickly replaced its vowels and
changed parakletos into perikletos, which means "the
praised one" (Muhammad). When they accuse the Christians of having changed
the name of Muhammad into parakletos, we can show them that they
were the ones who changed the vowels! Furthermore, when you ask these
promise-seekers whether they agree that Muhammad was sent by ”Christ” as his
servant, you will hear a shocked denial. (In John 16:7 it is written that Jesus
has sent the counselor.) That question can disarm this Islamic claim.
An Anti-Biblical Decision
When the Islamic scholars and commentators of
the Qur'an compared the Bible with the Qur'an centuries after Muhammad's death,
they found that not a single sentence matched exactly in the two books in form
and content. The growing irritation coming from this realization was refuted by
a primitive, but cunning legal decision. They determined that all differences
between the Bible and the Qur'an must point to the corruption of the Bible. By
this method the Qur'an was made the standard of measurement and judge of the
Bible. Basically Muslims believe that both books derive from the original book
in heaven and were transmitted by verbal inspiration. The unbridgeable
differences between the Bible and the Qur’an, however, prove in their opinion
the forgery of the Torah and the Gospel. We should recognize that on the basis
of this conclusion Islam proves itself to be an anti-biblical spirit that holds
captive the majority of Muslims in collective bondage.
The Poisonous Shots of Mr. Deedat
The fourth Islamic attack against the Bible
comes from a team around Mr. Deedat, an Indian Muslim in South Africa. He has
collected a great number of non-Qur'anic arguments from European
atheists, communists, materialists and liberal theologians which seem to prove
the errors of the Bible. His anti-biblical claims repeatedly contradict the
statements in the Qur'an. In spite of his arguments being built on a shaky
foundation, several governments of Islamic oil states financially support him,
because he was able to shake the confidence of countless Christians and Muslims
in the Bible world-wide.
Among other accusations Mr. Deedat claims that
Christ did not tell the truth when he prophesied: As Jonah was three days
and three nights in the belly of the fish, so the Son of Man will be three days
and three nights in his grave (Matthew 12:40; Mark 8:11-12; Luke 11:29-32).
Maliciously, Mr. Deedat points to the fact that Christ was in his grave only
from Friday afternoon, before sunset, until Sunday morning, before dawn. He
propagates the fact that Jesus was only one and a half days and two nights in
his grave, but never three full days and three full nights! From this fact he
draws the conclusion that Jesus was no reliable prophet!
Many Christians do not know how to reply to such
arguments of Mr. Deedat's and go away with drooping heads. But in this case we
can answer that according to Jewish tradition, whatever happened at any time of
a day has been done on the entire day. Since Jesus was buried on Friday, the
whole Friday is the day of his death. Likewise his resurrection officially took
place on the entire first day of the week.
With such tricks Mr. Deedat tries to question
the cross and the resurrection of Christ and his gospel. He has collected many
critical statements concerning the text of the Bible, written by liberal
theologians, and tries to prove with the help of such statements that not even
Christian experts believe in the infallibility of the Bible. The poisonous
shots of this enemy of Christ are published and distributed by the millions in
Africa, Asia and other continents. His students have worked energetically for
two generations in many languages with considerable influence.
The Shaken Confidence in the Truth
of the Bible
We should not be surprised that not only
Christians, but also Muslims have been shaken in their confidence in the Bible.
Whoever tries to explain the salvation of Christ to Muhammad's followers must
first find ways to establish confidence in the Bible in them, otherwise all
efforts could be in vain. The following hymn by Nikolaus Ludwig, Earl of
Zinzendorf (1700-1760), is true also in missionary work among Muslims:
Lord, preserve your word,
the noble gift, this gold, for me;
for I prefer it to any possessions
and to the greatest wealth.
If your word is no longer valid,
what shall be the foundation of faith?
I do not want to work for a thousand
worlds
but for this word!
(German Protestant Hymnal, EKG 436)
If you try to explain the truth of the Bible to a Muslim, you will find five
convincing sources full of arguments for your endeavor:
1. The
testimony of the Old Testament to the truth of the revealed word of God;
2. The
statements of Jesus Christ about the authenticity of the Old and the New
Testament;
3. Different
secular sources can confirm the truth of the Bible;
4. Positive
verses in the Qur'an about the undamaged Torah and the original Gospel;
and
5. Our personal
experience of drawing power from the word of God.
1. The Testimony of the Old Testament about the
Authenticity of the Torah and the Prophets
Whoever wants to explain to a Muslim that God
watches over his word should remember the following verses and share them with
his Muslim friend:
• Jeremiah 1:11-12: The word of the Lord came to me: ”What do you
see, Jeremiah?” – ” I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. The Lord
said to me, ”You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my
word is fulfilled.”
The prophet was given a promise; he was
guaranteed the validity and authenticity of the word of God, because the LORD
Himself is watching over His word. He who is Eternal neither sleeps nor
slumbers but watches over his people and prevents the twisting of His word. The
aim of God's word is not only the word itself, but also its action and effect.
The LORD watches over His word to see that it is done. Nobody can
prevent the omnipotent Lord from doing what He says.
• In Deuteronomy 4:2 we read a word by Moses: Do not add to what I
command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your
God that I give you.
Who would dare, consciously or by error, alter
God's commandments and promises, add his own ideas or eliminate prohibitions he
does not like? The Lord himself commands through Moses to preserve His word
intact and unaltered, to learn it by heart and to act accordingly in daily
life. The Bible defends its truth itself. In Islam the word of a prophet
is the direct word of Allah! There is no difference between the two. An envoy
of Allah possesses great authority. Muslims often understand the Torah to be
the entire Old Testament.
• In Proverbs 30:5-6 we read: Every word of God is flawless; he is a
shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will
rebuke you and prove you a liar.
As gold is purified by fire the word of the Lord
has gone through the purifying force of His holiness. Therefore it is flawless,
pure and eternal. The Lord offers us ”the full armor of God” (Ephesians
6:10-20) by His word. He who is not rooted in the word of the Lord has not got
any spiritual power. He who presents his personal philosophy, psychology,
natural science or so-called truths from other religions and cultures as
revelation, will be unmasked as a liar and punished by God. The ”foolishness of
the word of the Lord” is stronger than the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians
1:18-29).
• Psalm 33:4 The word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful
in all he does.
The texts of the Bible contain authentic truth,
even if Muslims and liberal Christians deny this fact. The indication of the
truth of God's word lies in what God does. His word is not only true,
but it will do what He says. The 333 promises in the Old Testament fulfilled in
the New Testament prove the truth of the Old Testament in a unique way. In the
entire world there is no book that contains a self-justification of its truth
like the Bible. The Lord does what He says! The Qur'an teaches the
predestination of all things. The inevitable fulfillment of the promises of the
Old Testament in the New Testament is an eye-opener for many Muslims,
corresponding to their understanding of determinism.
• Psalm 119:89 Your word, o Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the
heavens (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25).
The boundlessness of the word ”eternal”
communicates the consequences and the range of this promise. We all live
briefly. But the word of the Lord stands firm in eternity and is unshakeable,
even more so than the great boulder in the middle of the Rhine Waterfalls near
Schaffhausen, Switzerland, which roar around it day and night. With the word of
the Lord, eternity reaches into our time. For all continents and for billions
of galaxies this word of the Lord is a promise that is legally binding. His
commandments, His promises and the testimonies of the experiences of the
believers confirm His fidelity. Some Jews and Muslims think that the original
book of God with all its revelations is in heaven. No one can shake or alter
this original word of the Almighty.
• Psalm 19:7-9 contains the testimony of David, how he
experienced the truth of the unchanged word of the Lord in his life:
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
He who meditates on these four statements: perfect, trustworthy,
right and radiant will gain trust in the authenticity of the Bible and can
pass it on to Muslims.
• Isaiah 55:10-11 encourages all servants of the Lord who offer His word
to Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, liberals and fanatics: As the rain and
the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the
earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and
bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not
return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose
for which I sent it.
The revelations of the Lord in the Bible are not
merely true and authentic, but powerful and mighty. They will do what
the Lord desires. Muslims do not imagine that the revealed word possesses such
potency. Out of the word of the Bible flow creative, healing, forgiving,
comforting and renewing power. Many Jews experienced this fact and honor their
Torah scrolls with great reverence. More than a few of them have paid with
their lives for their belief in the authenticity and power of the books of the
Old Testament.
2. Verses Confirming the Authenticity of the Revelation in the New Testament
• Matthew 5:17-18 offers the decisive and guiding testimony of Jesus
Christ who defines His position in regard to the revelation in the Old
Testament: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until
Heaven and Earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a
pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
By this fundamental statement, the Son of God
guarantees the authenticity of the Old Testament. Jesus denies that He replaces
former revelations by new or better ones, such as the Qur'an, which in itself
contains 240 verses that have been abrogated and are no longer valid.
Jesus Christ, however, speaks about the fulfillment
of the Law and the Prophets through His teaching, His life, His miracles, His
death, His resurrection, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and His return. The
Lord Jesus honored, deepened and lived the revelation in the Old Testament as His
Bible.
Jesus guarantees the authenticity of all
the books of the Old Testament until the end of the universe so that even a
Muslim can be certain that not the smallest dash or a little dot was lost, but will
be fulfilled precisely. This authoritative declaration by Jesus Christ
annuls the accusation of Muhammad's followers.
• Matthew 24:35 offers another word of Jesus Christ which guarantees the
truth and eternity of His own Gospel and of all the scriptures in
the New Testament: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never
pass away.
Jesus is neither an optimist nor a pessimist,
but a realist. He assures us that all the human programs to improve the world
and to preserve the creation will be in vain, because the heavens and our small
earth will pass away. But since our Lord lives and His word is full of
spirit and power, His gospel will not pass away even when the elements
crash and perish. He encourages us to believe and to hope when He says, Rejoice
that your names are written in heaven! (Luke 10:20). All who have been born
again by His word and received His Holy Spirit participate in everlasting life.
• Luke 1:1-4 shows us how careful and exact the evangelists were in
handing down the words and deeds of Jesus Christ. The Greek physician Luke
describes how he composed his gospel: Many have undertaken to draw up an
account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were
handed down to us by those who from the first were eye-witnesses and servants
of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything
from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for
you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the
things you have been taught.
The gospels did not fall down from heaven as
complete books, as some Muslims imagine the Qur'an to have been revealed.
Doctor Luke, the Greek physician, who was a believer in Christ, asked many
eye-witnesses and responsible people who were appointed by the apostles to
collect and write down the words of Jesus. They were called servants of the
word.
Luke, the physician, wanted to know how the
Virgin Mary could have a child without a husband! So he respectfully asked her
about the events. It was probably Mary who told him how the angel
Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and announced the birth of John the Baptist (Luke
1:5-24). She told him about the appearance of the archangel to her in Nazareth
(Luke 1:25-56) and told him the details of the events which occurred at the
birth of Christ (Luke 2:1-21). She also informed him about the presentation of
Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:22-40) and about the visit of the twelve-year-old
Jesus to the temple (Luke 2:41-52).
This Greek physician collected several parables
and reports of Jesus which the other gospels do not mention: The lost sheep
(Luke 15:1-7), the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the Good Samaritan (Luke
10:25-37), the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) and the report of the ten
healed of leprosy (Luke 17:11-19). Luke listened to the parable of the Pharisee
and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), he took notes of Jesus visiting Zacchaeus
(Luke 19:1-10) and of the tears of the Lord over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44).
Luke also included the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), handed down
the names of the female disciples following Jesus (Luke 8:1-3), and probably
learned from them the three unique words Jesus spoke on the cross (Luke
23:34,43,46).
Luke asked for details about the meeting of the
risen Jesus with the two disciples at Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) and other details
about the risen Jesus who taught His shocked disciples from the scriptures of
the Old Testament (Luke 24:44-49). He alone reported the ascension of Jesus
(Luke 24:50-52; Acts 1:1-14) and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts
2:1-47).
Without Luke, the physician, we would not know
many key texts of the gospel. He wrote his two books for one individual,
Theophilus, a Roman governor who had become a Christian in Antioch. The risen
Lord, through His Holy Spirit, guided Luke the ”foreigner” to collect
historical facts carefully and write them down in an orderly way with
responsibility. His gospel was supported, written and sealed by the Holy
Spirit. Jesus himself never wrote a book although he could read and write
Hebrew. But His eyewitnesses gave strong and faithful testimony to what
they had seen and heard.
• John 1:14 gives us unique help when we talk to Muslims: The Word
became flesh and lived among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one
and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John understood that Jesus not only preached the
word of the Lord, but He Himself was the Word! There was no difference
between His words and His works. Thus, He remained without sin. The word of the
Lord creates, heals, forgives, comforts and renews believers. In Jesus the will
of God and His power became visible. The incarnation of the word of the Lord in
Jesus sums up all the words of God in His person. All promises are Yes and Amen
in Him. We do not believe in a ”religion”, but in a ”person”! We not
only trust in the printed word of the Lord, but first of all in Jesus, a
person. He does not change. A book can be falsified and destroyed. But Jesus
lives forever. He is the Word of the Lord. The Qur'an testifies to this
fact five times. We ought to recognize this open door to the Muslims, go
through it and preach Jesus as the Word of the Lord incarnate.
• John 16:13 contains an exciting sentence: But when he, the Spirit
of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.
When a former Muslim in Kashmir read this text,
he asked excitedly, ”Do you have the Spirit of truth?” He continued in his
thoughts and said, ”If you have received the Spirit of truth, you cannot lie.
And if you lied hastily, the Spirit of truth will press you to confess your
lie. This Spirit does not tolerate dishonesty.” The man from Kashmir did not
wait for an answer to his questions and went on, ”If the Spirit of truth dwells
in Christians, they can never falsify the Bible! This truthful Spirit would not
allow that.”
That is the core of the problem! Muslims suspect
Jews and Christians of forging the Bible, because there is no Spirit of truth
in Islam. In Islam, lies are legally allowed in four circumstances: in the Holy
War, in reconciling two Muslims, when a husband communicates with his wives,
and when a wife speaks to her husband. Even an oath spoken in haste can be
broken (Sura al-Tahrim 66:1-2). In Islam Allah calls himself the best of
all deceitful plotters (Sura Al 'Imran 3:54; al-Nisa 4:142; al-Anfal 8:30). Who
would then be surprised to find his Muslims suspecting others of being as
cunning as their spirit in the Qur'an? If you try to explain to a Muslim the
authenticity of the Bible you should pray first, that the Spirit of truth
would hover over them as well as over yourself. Otherwise truth, faithfulness
and reliability will remain a foreign vocabulary.
• John 17:17 reveals a secret in the vicarious high priestly prayer of
Jesus. There he pronounced the clearest definition of the authenticity of the
Bible in its shortest possible form: Your word is truth! This sentence
goes far beyond doctrinal teaching, sermon, or testimonies. Rather, Jesus
describes the reality and truth of the word of God in His prayer-dialogue with
his father in heaven. Whatever critics of the Bible, liberal theologians,
anti-Christian Muslims or materialistic communists bring forth against the
Bible will be shattered before this divine reality. Whatever they may offer as
proof, falsification or implication will be disarmed by the testimony of the
Son to His Father: Your word is truth!
In Semitic languages truth also means "law
and right"! Therefore this sentence means: The word of the Lord contains
all His laws, regulations and even the principles of judgment, as well as all
grace, atonement and substitutionary sacrifice for us. He who lives outside or
against biblical law is a rebel. But he who keeps and believes the word of Jesus
will be justified and renewed. His word is our life, our strength and our hope.
Every servant of the Lord possesses a foundation for his services unknown to
philosophies, party programs or mystical dreams: The unchanging solid truth of
the word of the Lord; Christ is the truth and the word of His Father
personified.
• Revelation 22:18-19 gives a stern warning that fits the Muslim mind: I
warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds
anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And
if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from
his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this
book.
Muslims can comprehend what this warning means:
If you add anything to the word of God, God will add severe
plagues to your punishment in eternity. If you take away or withhold
words or meanings from the content of the word of God, God will lessen or
take away his blessing prepared for you in heaven. The consequences of this
divine threat are plain: Who would be such a fool as to falsify the word of God
if eternal punishments and disadvantages would result? It is unthinkable that a
god-fearing Jew could falsify the Torah or that a true Christian could falsify
the Gospel. If he does not believe or lives an ungodly life, he is no longer a
real Jew or a faithful Christian, but a son of the father of all lies (John
8:37-45).
In the Old and in the New Testament you can find
more verses that prove the truth and the genuineness of the Bible. We should
not read our Bible with Christian eyes only, but also learn to understand how
these verses can speak to Muslims. The Bible defends and justifies itself.
We should practice listening to its voice, in order to be able to offer the
truth to the Muslims with love.
3. Arguments from Human Logic and the Qumran
Scrolls to the Authenticity of the Bible
A growing number of Muslims today believe in
science. They are leaving the thought patterns of the Qur'anic age. Sometimes
it is possible to talk with them objectively and to encourage them to critical
thinking. The so-called ”W-questions” could be of help here. The first question
would be:
Who falsified the Bible? The Jews or
the Christians? Mostly they answer, “The Jews!” We can reply, “Do you think the
Christians would keep quiet if the Jews had changed the Torah and the
prophets?” The fact that the two different religious communities exist makes it
impossible for either of them to tamper secretly or openly with any books from
the Old Testament. In case Christians were accused of having changed the Torah,
you can answer that orthodox Jews would start a fierce worldwide crusade
against these heretics. Pious Jews would be ready to fight even against liberal
Jews in order to preserve the status of the word of their Lord.
When was the Torah falsified? If they
answer ”before” Muhammad you can ask why Muhammad mentioned Moses by name 136
times in the Qur'an, Abraham 69 times, Satan 68 times (Shaitan), Israel
47 times, Solomon 17 times and David 16 times. The Qur'an confirms directly and
indirectly the reports of the Torah and their inspiration by Allah. In the
first 15 years of his religious service Muhammad considered the Torah to be
divine truth without question. However he could not read Hebrew and relied on
oral interpreters who had to translate the text into Arabic for him. They did
not convey to him the original text of the Bible but mainly stories and laws
from the Mishna and the Talmud.
If a Muslim maintains that the Torah was
falsified only during the last few years of Muhammad in Medina, you can
answer that the Bible by then had already been translated into several
languages: Greek, Latin, Armenian, Syrian, Chaldean, Coptic, Abyssinian and
other languages. In these languages there existed hundreds, if not thousands,
of handwritten manuscripts. Who would collect all those Bibles in all those
translations in order to change some words on certain pages? As the Bible was
so widely spread in Muhammad's time, it was utterly impossible to falsify the
texts!
What and which chapters in
the Bible were falsified? No Muslim knows a satisfactory answer to that
question! Most of them do not know the contents of the Torah. Therefore we can
show them that we still possess a copy of the original Bible and would
be ready to carefully examine any newly found manuscripts with the Muslims.
Until then, however, we have the right to insist that our Bible is authentic.
It is not for us, the accused, to prove its truth and its validity. No,
it is for the accuser, the Muslims, to prove the opposite – which they cannot
do. Until they can bring a better original Bible, we can offer them a copy of
the best-preserved original text.
Mr. Deedat tries to disparage the Bible with the
help of destructive arguments provided by European atheists from the 19th
century. But most of his arguments are out-dated by science. Nevertheless it is
necessary for missionaries among Muslims to read Deedat's books and the answers
of his Christian counterpart, Mr. Gilchrist, a lawyer in South Africa, to be
able to give suitable and helpful answers.
Some learned Muslims point to the various footnotes
in the Greek New Testament, which show the differences between the original
manuscripts. They sneeringly use these differences to underscore their
accusations. But it is those numerous footnotes that demonstrate the truth,
fidelity and diligence of generations of researchers, theologians and linguists
who did not formulate a standardized original text but, for the sake of the
truth, continued to preserve even the differences. No other book in the world
has been verified as completely as the New Testament with more than 1500
manuscripts extant.
With the Qur'an the situation is the exact
opposite! When Muhammad died there existed about a dozen different original
manuscripts of the Qur'an that disclosed unbridgeable differences and caused
arguments and quarrels in the armies of the caliphs. Caliph Uthman therefore
commanded Zaid b. Thabit to edit a standard Qur'an and to have all existing
originals burned!! The Muslims of today no longer possess a copy of
Muhammad's Qur'an, only copies of Uthman's edited Qur'an. The Shiites
repeatedly claimed – and some of them do so up till today – that the Qur'an of
Uthman has been falsified and corrupted.
The Isaiah Scroll of Qumran
The Qumran scrolls, which were found by Bedouins
near the Dead Sea, are particularly important to under-gird the authenticity of
the biblical texts. Among the scrolls was a surprisingly well-preserved scroll
of Isaiah. Scientists analyzed this scroll and found that it may date from the
years 150 to 100 before Christ. Until these scrolls were found, the oldest
available manuscript of the Torah was only from the year 875 AD.
After the discovery of the Isaiah scroll at
Qumran it became suddenly possible to test whether mistakes had crept in by
chance during the 1000 years of copying, or whether conscious forgery had been
attempted. The period in question includes even the life of Muhammad and the
genesis of Islam, so that their accusations of forgery can be answered
conclusively.
The scribe made several mistakes when copying
the scroll of Isaiah. Each mistake was marked in the scroll by three dots under
the particular letter. The correct letter was written above it. There was no
erasing in the text. Everything appears for all eyes to see. At the end of the
correction all the letters of the entire scroll in the original and in the copy
were counted as often as necessary until any divergence was eliminated! The
Isaiah scroll from the caves at Qumran can embarrass any Muslim who loves the
truth.
In all discussions about the authenticity of the
Bible it is necessary not to forget that the Qur'an nowhere claims that the Gospel
was falsified. Muhammad honored the Christians and knew that they did not lie
or play tricks on him. However, this argument should only be put forth
tactfully, perhaps as a question, so as not to shame the Muslims.
4. How does the Qur'an Testify to the Authenticity of the Bible?
In the beginning, Muhammad showed high respect
to the Jews and Christians because they possessed holy books. He accepted their
oral testimonies, which had been translated into the Arabic language, and included
them in his Qur'an. The founder of Islam never had the chance to read the Torah
and the Gospel in his mother tongue, because these books had not yet been
translated into Arabic. Only after Muhammad had formed his religious state in
Medina and expected acknowledgement, agreement and submission from Jews and
Christians, did he begin to verbally attack them, because they did not embrace
him. Since they did not recognize him as a prophet, he fought them, chased them
away and killed the Jews. The Christians were treated more gently in the
beginning because the Abyssinians had given asylum to the Muslims during their
persecution.
From the period when Muhammad tried to win the
Jews and Christians for Islam, there are numerous positive verses in the Qur'an,
which can be used to show Muslims that Muhammad himself confirmed the
infallibility of the Bible.
• We find several of these verses in Sura al-Ma'ida. The Jews of Medina
tempted Muhammad, the mayor and supreme judge of the town, to judge a difficult
adultery case in their community. But Muhammad, who could not read the Torah
himself, sensed a trap that could make him look ridiculous or ignorant and
expose him to the revenge of the particular clan (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:42). So he
referred the case back to the Jewish leaders, with interesting and essential
reasons (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:43-45):
43 How can they ask you to judge their case if they possess the Torah
in which is the judgement of Allah? And (if you would judge them) they would
nevertheless turn their backs on you afterwards. These people do not belong to
the (real) believers.
44 We have made the Torah descend (from heaven). In it there is guidance and light. The Prophets who have submitted (to Allah) pass judgement by it for those who are Jews; and the Rabbis and Scribes (do likewise) by what they were entrusted with from the book of Allah. They were witnesses thereof. Do not dread people and dread me! Do not sell off my songs (verses) for a small amount. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has made to descend (from heaven), those are the non-believers.
45 In it we prescribed for them as a penalty
that the soul (must be killed) for the soul, and the eye (destroyed) for the
eye, and the nose for the nose, and the ear for the ear, and the tooth for the
tooth, and the wounds (likewise). But whoever donates instead of it (i.e. instead
of this retaliatory penalty) then it is an expiation for him. Whoever
does not judge by what Allah has made to descend (from heaven) those are the
offenders.
These important verses are the reason why Jews
must not be compelled to become Muslims in an Islamic state! They are allowed
to judge their own affairs according to their divine law. An important reason
for this legal principle is found in the testimony of Muhammad, who
acknowledged in this Qur'anic passage that at his time the law of the
Old Testament in the Torah was fully existent. He also confirms that there are legal
guidance and divine light in the Torah, and also judgment that encompasses law
and wisdom, guidance and mercy. These Qur'anic verses mean that Allah guides
the Jews rightly and does not lead them astray. They are privileged and enjoy
the positive election of Allah, since they possess the book inspired by God.
Why then do Muslims dare claim that the Torah was falsified?
• A similar exemption from submission to Islam is legally accorded to
the Christians:
46 And we caused to follow upon their (i.e.
the prophets') footsteps 'Isa the son of Mary, consenting to what (was) between
his hands of the Torah. And we caused the Injil (the gospel) to come to him. In
it there is guidance and light - and consenting to what (was) between his hands
of the Torah - and guidance and a sermon for the pious.
47 And let the People of the Injil (the
Christians) judge (their problems) by what Allah has made to descend (from heaven)
in it (i.e. in the Gospels). And those who do not judge by what Allah has made
to descend (from heaven) in it, those are the unclean offenders (Sura
al-Ma'ida 5:46-47).
Christians who live in Islamic countries should
learn these two verses by heart, for they contain their right to remain
Christians. No one of them is legally compelled to become a Muslim.
The basis for this exceptional right is that
Allah sent ‘Isa to confirm the authenticity of the Torah as his most
important responsibility (Matthew 5:17-18). This verse also reveals that in the
Qur'an the gospel is considered to be a divine, verbal inspiration that
contains guidance and light. In addition, we read that the Gospel
that Christ taught also confirms the Torah in itself. This twofold confirmation
of the integrity of the Torah through Jesus and his Gospel was fully
recognized at the time of Muhammad and still is! Therefore these elements of a
speech by Allah in the Qur'an can silence the Muslims who accuse Christians of
having falsified their gospel.
Muhammad let Allah point to a special guidance
and sermon that Christ offered to his followers. Perhaps he was referring to
the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), which Muhammad was not able to read,
because it had not been translated into Arabic. In addition, Muhammad was
illiterate at the beginning of his religious activity (Sura al-A'raf
7:157-158).
From these facts and from this supposed sermon
of Allah, Muhammad drew a legal consequence and let Allah strictly
command that everyone who owns a Gospel should live according to this book.
Every Christian who does not live according to the Gospel is considered a
criminal.
Christians in this unique Qur'anic verse are
called the people of the Gospel because they often quoted and spoke from
the Gospel to Muhammad and the Muslims, and tried to practice it. This title of
honor appears only in this Sura and thus describes Christians as "walking
gospels".
• In the same Sura (5:48) Muhammad let Allah reveal a special verse to
him:
48 We have sent down to you the book (the Qur'an) with the right (Law),
to confirm what he (Muhammad) has in his hands of the (original) book, and (he,
i.e. Allah, is) watching over it. ....
Muslims believe there is an original book in
heaven, the mother of all divine books, from which each prophet has
received some pages. With this verse Muhammad let Allah say that the Qur'an confirms
the Torah and the Gospel at Muhammad's time, and that he, Allah himself, is watching
over his word that nobody can falsify it. Should Allah have slept when the Jews
and the Christians falsified the Bible, as some Muslims claim? Allah proves
everyone a liar who passes on these suspicions.
• In that same Sura (5:68) Muhammad almost appears to be an
"evangelist". He was angry when he saw that the Jews and Christians
did not believe him and that some of them did not live according to the
commandments of their books:
68 Say: O people of the book, you are nothing (you know nothing and are
unable to do anything good) until you establish the Torah and the Gospel and
what your Lord has made to descend to you.
In this verse Muhammad challenged the Jews and
the Christians to study the Torah and the Gospel and to live accordingly, to
plan and to judge exactly in accordance with it. Muhammad at that time still believed
that all heavenly books originated from the same source and supplemented one
another. He did not think that the Torah or the Gospel had been falsified;
rather, he ordered people of the book to carry them out in their daily lives.
An Arabic evangelist in Jordan used this verse,
took the Bible in his raised right hand and called, walking up and down between
the trains packed with pilgrims for Mecca on the platform of Ma´an, ”You are
nothing until you establish the Torah and the Gospel!” The evangelist
omitted the opening words and the last sentence and invited all Muslims to buy
Bibles from him. Nobody attacked him because he was repeating a divine verse
from the Qur'an!
• In the Qur'an there are two further helpful verses, but these should
not be used often. In Sura Yunis 10:94 Allah commands Muhammad:
94 When you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, then ask
those who recite the book (since a time) before you.
Muhammad investigated biblical truths from Jews
and Christians, kept their oral messages in his memory, translated them into
good Arabic and revealed them some time later during his epileptic attacks.
Sometimes he revealed what he had heard but could no longer remember the exact
meaning of the words and sentences involved. He found no other way than to let
Allah command him to ask those who had told him these Bible verses, what the
revelation that he had uttered actually meant. How can the Muslims claim that
the Bible was forged, if Allah in the Qur'an ordered Muhammad to go back to the
Jews and Christians that they may explain the Qur'an to him, because they had
recited the book before him? We should not explain the content of this verse to
the Muslims ourselves, but ask them for its meaning until they recognize and
confess what the real inference is.
• In Sura al-Nahl 16:43 a similar sentence is suggested to all
Muslims. Allah is supposed to have dictated to Muhammad:
43 Before you we have not sent anybody except men to whom we had
inspired (revelations). Therefore (O Muslims) ask the people of remembrance
when you do not know (the meaning of some verses in the Qur'an).
Muhammad encouraged Muslims to go to Jews and
Christians when they were in doubt about Qur'anic passages, in order to ask
them about Allah and his orders. But Muhammad sent them not to any Christian or
Jew, but only to those who could quote the text of the revelation in the Torah
and in the Gospel word for word and by heart.
Anyone who wants to work among Muslims as a
servant of the Lord should learn essential passages of the Bible in their
language by heart, including the numbers of the chapters and the verses.
Muhammad himself sent Muslims only to those who can recite the word of God
without a book in their hands.
• There are more verses in the Qur'an which confirm the content of the
Bible. We want to quote just one further of Allah's revelations in the Qur'an:
27 Then, in their footsteps we sent our messengers and finally we sent
‘Isa, the son of Mary, and we made the Injil (the Gospel) to come to him, and
we lay in the hearts of those who followed him loving-kindness and mercy (Sura
al-Hadid 57:27).
Muhammad testified several times that Christians
are the friendliest of the opponents of Muslims, because they have sympathy and
mercy for them. That experience of Muhammad goes back to the time when he was
severely persecuted in Mecca. He urged 83 Muslims to flee to Ethiopia in order
to seek asylum. They were not made slaves there but received help and freedom.
Muhammad asked himself how this was possible. He found that Allah had inspired
‘Isa with the Gospel and put mercy, love and pity out of this Gospel into the
hearts of those who followed Christ faithfully.
Muhammad recognized something unusual in
Christians, but could not understand which factor changed them into devotedly
loving people and helpful servants even of their enemies. The answer is written
in Romans 5:5b, where Paul said: God has poured out his love into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit, given to us. Muhammad did not know the reality of the
Holy Spirit, but he saw its fruit in the followers of Jesus Christ.
This verse points out the best way to
explain to Muslims that the Bible is not corrupt. The most effective method is
nothing other than love and mercy even for the enemies of the cross. With our
lives, prayers, testimonies and services we can become the spurs for the
Muslims to recognize that the Bible is authentic and powerful. Each of us
carries a great responsibility.
5. The
Testimony of Christian Experience!
• Peter confessed: Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy
One of God (John 6:68-69; Matthew 16:16). Later, Peter reinforced this
testimony in his first letter: You have been born again, not of perishable
seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God (1
Peter 1:23; John 1:13; 3:5).
• James, the brother of Jesus, confirmed this
experience, writing: He chose to give us birth through the word of truth,
that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created (James 1:18).
• John, the youngest of the disciples,
testifies: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we
have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched –
this we proclaim concerning the word of life... We proclaim to you what we have
seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our
fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1-3).
• Paul cuts out all uncertainties by saying: I
am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God for the
salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).
• The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews tells
us: The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged
sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it
judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
From 2000 years of church history we read countless
testimonies of men and women who recognized that the words of Jesus are spirit
and life, full of power, truth and wisdom. Pastor Wilhelm Busch from Essen in
Germany urged believers in his church during the nights of the bombing in the
Second World War, ”When the sirens wail and you run into the air-raid shelters,
the most important thing is not to take along with you your money or checkbook
but the Bible.” Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that
comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4).
The treasure of evangelical hymns and revival
songs is the response of believers to God, when He speaks to them. They praise
Him as their Father, confess their sins to Him, receive forgiveness from Him
and the power of His Spirit, which generates mercy and love in their lives.
They also hear the call to bring the living word of God to all nations, for the
Gospel must be preached to all men before Jesus can come again.
Martin Luther sang:
Lord,
keep us steadfast in Thy Word,
Curb those
who fain by craft or sword
Would wrest
the kingdom from Thy Son
And set at
naught all He has done.
(Lutheran
Hymnal, Australia, 197, 1)
The church in Leipzig sang in 1597:
Thy word is true and shall endure,
Thy promise
stands forever sure
In life, and
at my dying.
Thou, Lord,
art mine:
Keep me as
Thine,
All needed
strength supplying.
(Lutheran
Hymnal, Australia, 535, 3)
Q
U I Z
Dear reader!
If you have studied this booklet carefully, you can easily answer the
following questions. Whoever answers 90% of all questions in the eight booklets
of this series correctly, can obtain a certificate from our center on
Advanced Studies
in helpful
ways for conducting conversations with Muslims about Jesus Christ
as an
encouragement for his/her future services for Christ.
1. What
is the paralyzing attitude in most Muslims towards the truth of the Bible? Why
does this view hinder many of them to trust any text in the Torah and the
Gospel?
2. Which
legal problem ensued for the Jews in Medina when they tried to hide certain
laws of their Torah from Muhammad, the judge of their town?
3. Which
of the ten accusations in the Qur'an concerning the Torah seem to be the most
dangerous to you?
4. Where
does the Qur'an claim that all Jews in the world unanimously agreed to
change some texts in their Holy Book?
5. Where
does it say that a complete Torah has been tampered with?
6. What
does the Qur'an say about the falsification of the Gospel (Injil)?
7. How
can you clarify to a Muslim that the promised prophet "like Moses" in
Deuteronomy 18:15,18 is not Muhammad?
8. Why
can the promise of Jesus about the coming of the Counselor (parakletos)
in no way be regarded as having been fulfilled in the coming of Muhammad?
9. What
did Muslim scholars realize when they carefully compared the Qur'an with the
Bible? How did they try to solve the irreconcilable contradictions between
these two books?
10. What
are the poisonous methods of Mr. Dedat and why could he shake the faith of even
active Christians in Asia and Africa? Explain the problem implied in the
resurrection of Christ after having been buried "three days and three
nights"!
11. Which
are the five sources that you can use to explain to a Muslim the unchanged
texts of all books in the Bible?
12. How
did the Lord Himself assure Jeremiah about the unchanged truth and validity of
His word?
13. What
can we learn from Deuteronomy 4:2 and Proverbs 30:5-6 when defending the truth
and infallibility of the Bible?
14. Which
verses in the Old Testament show that this Holy Book in itself defends the
unchanged truth of the divine revelation in it?
15. How
can the promise of the Lord in Isaiah 55:10-11 comfort every faithful servant
among Muslims?
16. Why
should every Christian dealing with Muslims learn the unique statement of Jesus
in Matthew 5:17-18 by heart?
17. How
did Jesus guarantee the eternal validity of His own word?
18. What
can we learn about the truth of the gospel from the introduction of the Greek
physician Luke to his gospel?
19. What
could it mean for a Muslim that Jesus is called the "Word of God"
in the flesh in both the Gospel of John and in the Qur'an?
20. Why
is the Spirit of Truth indispensable for us as well as for Muslims? Why
can no such Spirit of Truth exist in Islam? What is the consequence of this
fact for your services among Muslims?
21. Why
could Jesus in His prayer confess to His heavenly Father: "Your word is
truth"? What does this comprehensive confession mean?
22. Why
can Revelation 22:18-19 enlighten every open-minded Muslim?
23. How
can the question, "Who changed the Torah?" help you show
Muslims that nobody can falsify the Bible in an undisputed manner?
24. How
can the question, "When do you think that the Torah was
changed?" help you guide Muslims to the infallibility of the Torah?
25. Why
have the 1500 ancient manuscripts of different parts of the Bible not been
harmonized or even destroyed? And why were all the originals of the Qur'an
burnt?
26. Which
striking arguments can you obtain from the Isaiah scroll discovered in Qumran?
27. What
are the special rights of Jews living in an Islamic state according to
Sura al-Ma'ida 5:43-45? How did Muhammad confirm the divine inspiration and
infallibility of the Torah in these verses?
28. How
do the unique verses in Sura al-Ma'ida 5:46-47 guarantee all Christians
the right to remain Christians if they live in an Islamic society? Why should
every Christian living among Muslims study these verses and know them by heart?
Explain the content of these two verses of the Qur'an!
29. How did Muhammad claim that his
Qur'an confirms the Old and the New Testament? How is Allah in Islam supposed
to protect his revelation? (see Sura al-Ma'ida 5:48)
30. Why
did Muhammad nearly become an evangelist demanding from Jews and Christians to
live according to their books? What does his call mean for the infallibility of
the Bible? (see Sura al-Ma'ida 5:68)
31. Whom
was Muhammad to ask about the meaning of his own Qur'an whenever he did not
understand what was revealed through him? (see Sura Yunus 10:94)
32. To
whom are Muslims directed whenever they need help to understand their Qur'an?
(see Sura al-Nahl 16:43)
33. What
is the clearest proof of the infallibility and power of the Bible? (see Sura
al-Hadid 57:27)
34. Which
verse from the testimonies of the apostles of Christ express most clearly that
the Bible is the unchanged Word of God?
35. Why
did the apostle Paul say that the Gospel of Christ contains the full power of
God? (see Romans 1:16)
36. Has
the living Lord spoken to you directly through His printed word in the Bible?
If it is convenient for you, then please write us in short what He said to you.
Every
participant in this quiz is allowed to use any book at his disposition and to
ask any trustworthy person known to him when answering these questions. We wait
for your written answers including your full address on the papers or in
your e-mail. We pray for you to Jesus, the living Lord, that He will call,
enlighten, send, guide, strengthen, protect and be with you every day of your
life!
Yours in His service,
Abd al-Masih and his brothers in the Lord
Send
your replies to:
GRACE-AND-TRUTH
P.O.Box 2904
Weirton,
WV 26062
USA
or by e-mail
to:
info@grace-and-truth.org