THE BIBLE VS THE
QUR’AN
A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
2012
Jay Smith
3/14/2016
Find out what they claim about the
Qur’an
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It is Inimitable (Therefore above criticism):
It is Superior to all other revelations
It is Stylistically perfect
It is Grammatically perfect
It is Linguistically perfect (pure Arabic)
It is Universally unique
It is Compiled perfectly
It has no Contradictions
It has no Errors
It has no History (uniquely preserved)
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INIMITABLE CLAIMS:
Muslim’s claim the Qur’an is UNIQUE:
• The Qur’an is the greatest wonder among the
wonders of the world . . . This book is second
to none in the world according to the
unanimous decision of the learned men in
points of diction, style, rhetoric, thoughts and
soundness of laws and regulations to shape
the destinies of mankind.
Hadith (Mishkat III, pg. 664)
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Muslim’s claim the Qur’an is SUPERIOR to
all other pieces of literature:
• Will they say, ‘Muhammad hath forged
it?’ Answer: ‘Bring therefore a chapter
like unto it, and call whom ye to your
assistance, besides Allah, if ye speak
truth.’
(Suras 10:37-38; 2:23; 17:88)
• “Mother of Books” (Sura 43:3-4)
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Muslim’s claim the Qur’an has perfect
literary style…yet, Compare:
• a) sura 76:29-30 (or sura
16:93)
• b) sura 111
• a) I Timothy 2:4, Luke 15:3-4,
• c) suras 4:74,84; 5:33; 48:16-
John 10:14,18.
• b) Francis of Assisi's prayer
(see Nehls, Christians Ask
Muslims, 1987, pg.75, no.11)
• c) Matthew 5:3-12
• d) sura 109
• d) Psalm 23
• e) sura 24:2
• e) John 8:3-12
• f) suras 2:222-223;
• f) Ephesians 5:22-25
17
4:11,24,34,176
• g) sura 9:29
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• g) I Corinthians 13:4-7
It has many Literary defects:
• Not chronological
• Endless repetitions
• Jumps from one topic to the next
• Inconsistencies in grammar, law, and
theology
• Verbs left out
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According to Al-Kindi, a Christian polemicist
employed in the Caliphal court (830 A.D.):
“The result of all of this [process by which the
Qur’an came into being] is patent to you who have
read the scriptures and see how, in your book,
histories are all jumbled together and
intermingled; an evidence that many different
hands have been at work therein, and caused
discrepancies, adding, cutting out whatever they
like or disliked. Are such, now, the conditions of a
revelation sent down from heaven?” (Muir
1882:18-19, 28)
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WHAT DO THE EXPERTS TODAY
SAY?
German secular scholar Salmon Reinach states
that:
• “From the literary point of view, the Koran has
little merit. Declamation, repetition, puerility, a
lack of logic and coherence strike the unprepared
reader at every turn. It is humiliating to the
human intellect to think that this mediocre
literature has been the subject of innumerable
commentaries, and that million of men are still
wasting time in absorbing it.”
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(Reinach
1932:176)
Theodore Nöldeke:
• “Chaotic Confusion...prosaic...stiff in
style...tedious sermonizing...rhetorical...never
metrical...and the rhyme on the whole a
burdensome yoke...superfluous
verbiage...syntax betrays great
awkwardness...tiresome effect of its endless
iterations...[so that dogma] turns a defective
literary production into an unrivalled
masterpiece in the eyes of the believers”
(Nöldeke 1998:36,44-47)
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Muslim’s claim the Qur’an is
Grammatically perfect, yet:
1)2:177, the word Sabireen should be
Sabiroon;
2)3:59, the words Kun feekunu should be
written, Kun fakaana;
3)5:69, the title al Sabioon, should be written
al Sabieen (see also sura 2:62 & sura
22:17)
4)7:160, Uthnati (feminine) Ashrat (feminine)
Asbaataan. should be Uthnaiy (masculine)
Ashara
Sibtaan.
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Muslim’s claim the Qur’an contains only Perfect
Arabic (Suras 12:2; 13:37; 41:41,44):
• Yet uses Egyptian, Hebrew, Syriac, Christian Aramaic, &
•
•
•
•
Ethiopic words.
-Accadian (No.Iraq) words: Adam and Eden repeated 24
times. A more correct term for “Adam” in Arabic would be
basharan or insan, meaning “mankind.” “Eden” would be
the word janna in Arabic, which means “garden.”
-Assyrian words: Abraham (sometimes recorded as
Ibrahim). The correct Arabic equivalent would be Abu
Raheem.
-Persian words: Sirat meaning “the path” has the Arabic
equivalent, Altareeq. Hoor meaning “disciple” has the Arabic
equivalent, Tilmeeth. Firdaus meaning “the highest or
seventh heaven" has the Arabic equivalent, Jannah.
-Greek words: Injil, which means “gospel” was borrowed, yet
it3/14/2016
has the Arabic equivalent, Bisharah
Muslim’s claim the Qur’an is UNIVERSAL:
Case 1:Women’s Position:
(Suras 2:224-230; 4:11,24-25,34,176; 55:56; 56:36; 78:33)
• Polygamy: S 4:3 1 husband/ 4 wives and
• Polygamy...Genesis 2:24, Mt. 19:5, 1
•
•
•
•
•
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what right hand possesses
(slaves/concubines)
Wife Beating: S 4:34, men may beat
wives
Inheritance: S 4:11 ”inheritance to the
male, equal to that of two females.”
Testimony: S 2:282, Bukhar1:301
Muhammad replied, “Is not the
testimony of a woman equivalent to
half the testimony of a man?
Tilth: S 2:223 “Your women are a tilth
for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as
ye will”
Slaves/Concubines: S 33:50 “We have
made lawful unto thee whom you have
paid dowries (contract), those whom thy
right had possesses (Slaves) of those
whom Allah hath given thee as spoils of
war...
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•
•
Tim 3:2, perfect marriage relationship
between 1 man and 1 woman.
Love one’s wife: 1 Pet. 3:7, Col. 3:19
“husbands must love your wives & NEVER
treat them harshly.”
Testimony: Matthew 28:9 “The first
people to see Jesus and be His witnesses
were women”
Equality: Galations 3:28 “all believers are
equal in Christ”
-Hebrews 4:14-16 “both can approach
God directly.
-1 Peter 3:7 “you are equal together in
the grace of life.”
-1 Corinthians 7:1-40, husbands and
wives fulfil each other emotionally and
sexually. Their bodies belong to each
other. Not one is above the other.
Paradise In the Qur’an:
A Beautiful Garden:
• Surah 55 :26 two gardens
• Surah 56:12 Garden of delights
• Surah 56: 31 water flowing constantly, fruit in plenty
With Female and Male Servants:
• Surah 55: 56 chaste females whom no man has been with
• Surah 55: 70 fair and beautiful women
• Surah 55: 72 - 74 Hûr - beautiful, fair females, guarded in
•
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pavilions - virgins
Surah 56:22 Hûr, with wide, lovely eyes
Surah 55: 76 reclining on green cushions and beautiful
mattresses
Surah 56 : 34-38 on couches or thrones raised high, a
special creation, and made them virgins, loving...
Surah 56:17 immortal boys will go around, serving with
cups...flowing wine
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Muslim’s claim the Qur’an is UNIVERSAL:
Case 2: Violence vs. Peace
• Violence:
• Suras 4:74,84; 5:33; 8:39; 9:5,29; 33:49;
47:4; 48:16-17
• vs. Bible: Matthew 5:38-44; 26:52….
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The Qur’an’s 149 Sword Verses:
1.
7.
2:178 2.
2:179 3.
2:190 4.
2:191 5.
2:193 6.
2:194
2:216 8.
2:217 9.
2:218 10. 2:244 11.
3:121 12. 3:122
13. 3:123 14. 3:124 15. 3:125 16. 3:126 17. 3:140 18. 3:141
19. 3:146 20. 3:152 21. 3:153 22. 3:154 23. 3:155 24. 3:156
25. 3:157 26. 3:165 27. 3:166 28. 3:167 29. 3:169 30. 3:172
31. 3:173 32. 3:195 33. 4:071 34. 4:072 35. 4:074 36. 4:075
37. 4:076 38. 4:077 39. 4:084 40. 4:089 41. 4:090 42. 4:091
43. 4:094 44. 4:095 45. 4:100 46. 4:102 47. 4:104 48. 5:033
49. 5:035 50. 5:082 51. 8:001 52. 8:005 53. 8:007 54. 8:009
55. 8:012 56. 8:015 57. 8:016 58. 8:017 59. 8:039 60. 8:040
61. 8:041 62. 8:042 63. 8:043 64. 8:044 65. 8:045 66. 8:046
67. 8:047 68. 8:048 69. 8:057 70. 8:058 71. 8:059 72. 8:060
73. 8:065 74. 8:066 75. 8:067 76. 8:068 77. 8:069 78. 8:070
79. 8:071 80. 8:072 81. 8:073 82. 8:074 83. 8:075 84. 9:005
85. 9:012 86. 9:013 87. 9:014 88. 9:016 89. 9:019 90. 9:020
91. 9:024 92. 9:025 93. 9:026 94. 9:029 95. 9:036 96. 9:038
97. 9:039 98. 9:041 99. 9:044 100.
9:052 101.
9:073 102.
9:081
103.
9:083 104.
9:086 105.
9:088 106.
9:092 107.
9:111
108.
9:120 109.
9:122 110.
9:123 111.
16:110 112.
22:039
113.
22:058 114.
22:078 115.
24:053 116.
24:055 117.
25:052
118.
29:006 119.
29:069 120.
33:015 121.
33:018 122.
33:020
123.
33:025 124.
33:026 125.
33:027 126.
33:050 127.
47:004
128.
47:020 129.
48:015 130.
48:016 131.
48:017 132.
48:022
133.
48:024 134.
49:015 135.
59:002 136.
59:005 137.
59:006
138.
59:007 139.
59:008 140.
59:014 141.
60:009 142.
61:004
143.
61:011 144.
61:013 145.
63:004 146.
64:014 147.
66:009
148.
73:020 149.
76:008
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Muslim’s claim the Qur’an was COLLATED
Perfectly and Completely
Yet, according to Arthur Jefferies, 16
Codices are noted by 9th c. compilers:
Zaid ibn Thabit (Medina)
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (Kufa - no Fatiha, nor
S.113-114, differences in S.3:19, 39 & S.9Bismillah, Shi’ite readings)
Abu Musa (Basra,116 Suras)
Ubayy ibn Ka'b (Damascus,116 Suras)
Missing Vss = 24:32 (stoning), 33:23
3/14/2016
SUMMARY:
• .Some Qur’anic verses were lost.
Many (of the passages) of the Qur’an that were sent down were
known by those who died on the day of Yamama...but they
were not known (by those who) survived them, nor were they
written down, nor had Abu Bakr, Umar, or Uthman (by that time)
collected the Qur’an, nor were they found with even one
(person) after them. (Ibn Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Masahif p.23).
• .Much of the Qur’an has disappeared.
It is reported from Ismail ibn Ibrahim from Ayyub from Naafi from
Ibn Umar who said: “Let none of you say ‘I have acquired the
whole of the Qur’an’. How does he know what all of it is
when much of the Qur’an has disappeared? Rather let him
say ‘I have acquired what has survived.’ (as-Suyuti, [d.
1500sAD] Al-Itqan fii Ulum al-Qur’an, p.524).
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• .Parts of the Qur’an have been forgotten.
We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and
severity to (Surah) Bara’at. I have, however, forgotten it
with the exception of this which I remember out of it:
“If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he
would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach
of the son of Adam but dust”. (Sahih Muslim, [d. 875 AD] Vol.
2:2286, p.501).
• .Parts have been canceled.
We used to read a verse of the Qur’an revealed in their
connection, but later the verse was canceled. It was:
“convey to our people on our behalf the information that we
have met our Lord, and He is pleased with us, and has made us
pleased”. (Sahih al-Bukhari, [d. 870AD] Vol. 5:416, pg.288).
3/14/2016
• While others are now missing.
Allah sent Muhammad (saw) with the Truth and revealed the Holy Book to
him, and among what Allah revealed, was the Verse of the Rajam
(the stoning of married persons, male and female, who commit adultery)
and we did recite this Verse and understood and memorized it.
Allah’s Apostle (saw) did carry out the punishment of stoning and so did we
after him. I am afraid that after a long time has passed, somebody will
say, ‘By Allah, we do not find the Verse of the Rajam in Allah’s Book’,
and thus they will go astray by leaving an obligation which Allah has
revealed. (Sahih al-Bukhari, [d. 870AD] Vol. 8:817, pg.539).
• .There are some verses which have been overlooked.
Khuzaimah ibn Thabit said: “I see you have overlooked (two) verses
and have not written them”. They said “And which are they?” He replied
“I had it directly (tilqiyya - ‘automatically, spontaneously’) from the
messenger of Allah (saw) (Surah 9, ayah 128): ‘There has come to you a
messenger from yourselves. It grieves him that you should perish, he is very
concerned about you: to the believers he is kind and merciful’, to the end of
the surah”. Uthman said “I bear witness that these verses are from Allah”.
(Ibn Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Masahif p.11).
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• Some verses which have been changed.
Abu Yunus, freedman of Aishah, Mother of Believers, reported:
Aishah ordered me to transcribe the Holy Qur’an and asked
me to let her know when I should arrive at the verse Haftdhuu
alaas-salaati waas-salaatiil-wustaa wa quumuu lillaahi qaanitiin
(2.238). When I arrived at the verse I informed her and she
ordered: Write it in this way, Hafidhuu alaas-salaati waas-
salaatiil-wustaa wa salaatil ‘asri wa quumuu lillaahi qaanitiin.
She added that she had heard it so from the Apostle of
Allah (may peace be upon him). (Muwatta Imam Malik, [d.795
AD] p.64).
• .And others which have been modified.
Altogether al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf made eleven modifications
in the reading of the Uthmanic text. ... In al-Baqarah
(Surah 2.259) it originally read Lam yatasanna waandhur, but it
was altered to Lam yatasannah ... In al-Ma’ida (Surah 5.48) it
read Shari ya’atan wa minhaajaan but it was altered to shir
‘atawwa
minhaajaan. (Ibn Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Masahif p.117).
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• Lost
• Disappeared
• Forgotten
• Cancelled
• Missing
• Overlooked
• Changed
• Modified
• Does this sound like a book which was
COLLATED Perfectly and Completely?
3/14/2016
TALMUDIC SOURCES:
*Abraham Sura 21:51-71: (smashed idols,fiery pit)
= Midrash Rabah - Jewish Folktales & UR
= "fire" =Jonathan Ben Uziel (2nd c.)
• Mt. Sinai Sura 7:171 of God lifting up Mount
Sinai and holding it over the heads of the Jews
= Hails from a second century apocryphal
Jewish book, The Abodah Sarah (2nd c.)
3/14/2016
*Cain and Abel (Sura 5:31):
• Sura 5:31
Then Allah sent a raven, who
scratched the ground, to
show him how to hide the
shame of his brother. `Woe
is me!' said he; `Was I not
even able to be as this raven,
and to hide the shame of my
brother?' Then he became
full of regrets.
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• Targum of Jonathan-benUzziah (150-200 A.D.)
Adam and Eve, sitting by the
corpse, wept not knowing
what to do, for they had as
yet no knowledge of burial.
A raven came up, took the
dead body of its fellow, and
having scratched at the
earth, buried it thus before
their eyes. Adam said, `Let
us follow the example of the
raven,' so taking up Abel's
body, buried it at once.
Cain & Abel (Sura 5:32)
• Qur'an- sura 5:32
• On that account: We
ordained for the
Children of Israel that if
anyone slew a person unless it be for murder
or for spreading
mischief in the land- it
would be as if he slew
the whole people: and if
anyone saved a life, it
would be as if he saved
the life of the whole
people...
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• Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 (5th c.)
• We find it said in the case of Cain
who murdered his brother, `the
voice of thy brother's blood crieth
out' [this latter is a quote from the
Bible, Genesis 4:10], and he says,
`it does not sayeth he hath blood
in the singular, but bloods in the
plural.'
• Thou was created single in order
to show that to him who kills a
single individual, it should be
reckoned that he has slain the
whole race. But to him who has
preserved the life of a single
individual, it is counted that he has
preserved the whole race.
Solomon & Sheba - sura 27:17-44
•
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•
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•
•
•
•
Qur'an- sura 27:17-44
(aya 17) And before Solomon were marshalled his hosts-of
Jinns and men, and birds, and they were all kept in order and
ranks.
(aya 20) And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said:
`Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the
absentees?
(aya 21) I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or
execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for
absence).
(aya 22) But the Hoopoe tarried not far: he (came up and)
said: `I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not
compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings
true.
(aya 23) I found (there) a woman ruling over them and
provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent
throne...
(aya 27) (Solomon) said: `Soon shall we see whether thou
hast told the truth or lied!
(aya 28) Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to
them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what
answer they return."
(aya 29) (The queen) said: "Ye chiefs! Here is-delivered to
me-a letter worthy of respect.
(aya 30) It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): `In the
name of Allah, most Gracious, Most Merciful: Be ye not
arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the
true Religion).'"
(aya 32) She said: "Ye chiefs! Advise me in (this) my affair:
no affair have I decided except in your presence."
(aya 33) They said: "We are endued with strength, and given
to vehement war: but the command is with thee; so consider
what thou wilt command."
(aya 35) She said..."But I am going to send him a present,
and (wait) to see with what (answer) return (my)
ambassadors."
(aya 42) So when she arrived, (aya 44) she was asked to
enter the lofty Palace: but when she saw it, she thought it
was
a lake of water, and she (tucked up her skirts),
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uncovering her legs. He said: "This is but a palace paved
• II Targum of Esther (2nd c.)
•
•
•
•
•
•
"Solomon...gave orders...I will send King and armies
against thee...(of) Genii [jinn] beasts of the land the birds
of the air.
Just then the Red-cock (a bird), enjoying itself, could not
be found; King Solomon said that they should seize it and
bring it by force, and indeed he sought to kill it.
But just then, the cock appeared in the presence of the
King and said, "I had seen the whole world (and) know
the city and kingdom (of Sheba) which is not subject to
thee, My Lord King. They are ruled by a woman called the
Queen of Sheba. Then I found the fortified city in the
Eastlands (Sheba) and around it are stones of gold and
silver in the streets." By chance the Queen of Sheba
was out in the morning worshipping the sea, the scribes
prepared a letter, which was placed under the bird's wing
and away it flew and (it) reached the Fort of Sheba.
Seeing the letter under its wing (Sheba) opened it and
read it.
"King Solomon sends to you his Salaams. Now if it
please thee to come and ask after my welfare, I will set
thee high above all. But if it please thee not, I will send
kings and armies against thee."
The Queen of Sheba heard it, she tore her garments,
and sending for her Nobles asked their advice. They knew
not Solomon, but advised her to send vessels by the sea,
full of beautiful ornaments and gems...also to send a letter
to him.
When at last she came, Solomon sent a messenger...to
meet her...Solomon, hearing she had come, arose and sat
down in the palace of glass. When the Queen of Sheba
saw it, she thought the glass floor was water, and so in
crossing over lifted up her garments. When Solomon
seeing the hair about her legs, (He) cried out to her..."
The Palm Tree: (Sura 19:22-26)
• Qur'an- sura 19:22-26
• So she conceived him [Jesus], and
•
•
•
•
she retired with him to a remote
place.
And the pains of childbirth drove
her to the trunk of a palm tree:
She cried (in her anguish): `Ah!
would that I had died before this!
would that I had been a thing
forgotten and out of sight'!
Then [the babe ‘Isa (Jesus)] cried
unto her from below her, saying:
`Grieve not! for thy Lord hath
provided a rivulet beneath thee:
And shake towards thyself the
trunk of the palm tree; it will let
fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
So eat and drink and cool (thine)
eye.
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• The Lost Books of the Bible
(2nd c.)
• Now on the third day after Mary
was wearied in the desert by the
heat, she asked Joseph to rest for
a little under the shade of a Palm
Tree. Then Mary looking up and
seeing its branches laden with fruit
(dates) said, `I desire if it were
possible to have some fruit.' Just
then the child Jesus looked up
(from below) with a cheerful smile,
and said to the Palm Tree, `Send
down some fruit.' Immediately the
tree bent itself (toward her) and so
they ate. Then Jesus said, `O
Palm Tree, arise; be one of my
Father's trees in Paradise, but with
thy roots open the fountain
(rivulet) beneath thee and bring
water flowing from that fount.'
*Jesus's Childhood:
-Baby Jesus talking- S.19:29-33
= The first Gospel of the Infancy of
Jesus Christ (2nd c.)
-Creating birds from clay- S.3:49
= Thomas' Gospel of the Infancy of
Jesus Christ (2nd c.)
---------------------------------------
• Poetry in the Qur’an (Meccan Suras)
=Gunther Lűling: traced the poetry to
pre-Islamic Christian Syriac hymns,
written in the 6th c., with Arab themes added
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CONTRADICTIONS:
• If the words of Allah cannot be changed (Sura
•
•
•
•
6:34,115; 10:6), then how does Allah ‘substitute one
revelation for another’ (Sura 2:106, 16:101)?
Does Allah's day equal to 1,000 human years
(22:47, 32:5) or 50,000 human years (70:4)?
Was the earth created in 6 days (7:54; 25:59) or 8
days (41:9-12)?
Does the angel Gabriel bring the revelation from
Allah to Muhammad (2:97), or is it the Holy Spirit
(16:102)?
If the Bible is considered authoritative (4:136;
5:47-52,68; 10:95; 21:7; 29:46), then why is so
much of it contradicted by the Qur’an (5:733/14/2016
75,116;
19:7; 28:9, etc...)?
(Contradictions cont.)
• Is the punishment for adulteresses life imprison•
•
•
•
ment (4:15) or 100 floggings (24:2)?
Why is it that Homosexuals are let off if they repent
(4:16), though the same allowance is not given for
heterosexuals (24:2; 4:15).
Did Abraham confront his people and smash their
idols (21:51-59), or did he not, and leave the area
after confronting them (19:41-49, 6:74-83)?
Were there 9 plagues, or signs (17:101), or only 5
(7:133)?
Did Jesus not die (4:157) or did he die, and rise
again (19:33)? [note: refer to sura 19:15, which
repeats the same words for Yahya]
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ERRORS:
(Historical Anachronisms and Scientific problems)
1) Cross: S.7:124 = Moses’s Pharaoh -1447BC,
2)
3)
4)
5)
12:41 = Joseph’s Baker - 1800BC:
1st crucifixions = Darius = 519BC (900 & 1,300
yrs later).
(Sura 19:7) Yahya is a name unique to John the
Baptist; what about (2Kings 25:23)?
(S.19:28; 66:12; 20:25-30) How was Mary, Jesus’
mother, Aaron’s sister and Imran’s daughter,
as she lived 1,570 years later?
(S.20:85-87, 95-97) Samaritan built ‘golden calf’
in 1447 BC, Samaritans began in 722 BC, or 725
years later.
(S.28:38; 29:38; 40:25,38) Can Haman be an
Egyptian who builds a tower to God, as this name
is Babylonian, & the tower was built 750 years
earlier.
• 6) (S.18:96) Where is Alexander the Great’s iron and
•
•
•
•
brass wall between two mountains, in 330 BC? No
Record!
7) Mountains (S.16:15; 21:31; 31:10; 78:6-7; 88:19) are not
tent-pegs to keep earth from shaking, due to volcanoes
& tectonic plates
8) Bad Math (S.4:11-12) Inheritance for widow =1/8 + 3
daughter =2/3 +2 parents =1/3, totalling 1&1/8 or
112.5%!?
Or (S.4:11-12 & 176) My mother = 1/3, my wife = 1/3, my
two sisters = 2/3 totalling: 4/3rds, or 133%!!
9) (S.86:5-7) Does Semen really originate in the back or the
kidney or is this simply borrowing from 5th century B.C.
Hippocrates?
10) Dirham (S.12:20) ‘a few dirham counted out’ for Joseph,
yet coins created in 7th cent. BC by Lydians. Drachmas
from 590-650 AD, but Dirhams not minted till 642 AD, by
Caliph Umar; vs. Gen.37:28 = Shekels = 0.2 kgs. of
silver!
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From what we have seen here, what
Conclusions can we use in our polemics
today?
The many claims Muslims make for the
‘inimitability’ of the Qur’an do not stand up under
critical scrutiny.
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
It is not Inimitable, because:
It is Inferior to most other revelations
It is Stylistically imperfect
It is Grammatically impure
It is Linguistically defective (many non Arabic words)
It is Universally inadequate
It is Compiled piece-meal
It is full of Contradictions
It is replete with Errors
It has a History (evolving over 100-200 years)
Thus, it is nothing more than a human document,
borrowed from numerous traditions…
…made by man!
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Critique of the Manuscripts
Manuscript Evidence for the Qur’an
• 1. ‘Ma'il’ 7th-9th century (Medina and Mecca),
or ‘Hijazi’. (2165 Brit.Lib. & Sanaa
Manuscript)
• 2. ‘Mashq’ 7th century onwards.
• 3. ‘Kufic’/Abbasid (Eastern) 8th-11th
century, begins with Abbasid dynasty in 749
AD, see coins for chronological script evolution
(needs landscape format).
• 4. Naskh 11th century till today
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Topkapi Manuscript
(Topkapi Palace,
Istanbul, Turkey)
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Ma’il Qur’an
(2165)
British Library
(Ridblatt Gallery)
Hijazi Script,
dated 8th c.
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Jam’ al-Qur’an & Islamic Coins
Quran Manuscripts in the Early Almail Script
al-Ma’il script Qur’an (790 AD)
Umayyad coins
Abdul Mallek (Mashq script? 697-700 AD)
(British Museum)
7.1
7.2
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(Kuwait National Museum)
Topkapi MS
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Samarqand Kufic Codex (9th century)
Early Abbasid coins (Kufic script 750 AD)
11.2
11.1
11.3
Abbasid gold Dinars (Kufic script 837 AD)
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(Preserved in Tashkent, former Soviet Union)
Sana’a Manuscript (705 ):
Karl-Heinz Ohlig (1981-Present):
•Qur’an began to be compiled
in the last two decades of the
7th century, with other versions
continuing until the 9th century
Dr. Gerd Puin (1981-Present):
•“Oldest parchments & papers
of any Qur’anic Ms.”
•Yet, more than half of the text is ambiguous letters
which need diacritical marks for understanding.
•Adding vowels helped correct mistakes. Changes
in orthography found in geographical tradition
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schools.
•Many deviations not
mentioned in later
literature.
•Different numeration,
and sura
arrangements found
i.e. suras 19-22 ----->
26-37-36-38...6771-72-51
•Difference in scripts,
showing evolution in
text.
(Puin 1996:111)
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•“Difference is even
meaningful in a
theological sense”
i.e. ‘Qalu’ to ‘Qul’ ->
• Sometimes
Abraham (S.2),
sometimes Ibrahim
• ‘Qalu’ 50% with
alif b/w Qaf-Lam,
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Palimpsests
Using Ultra-Violet light, we
find a ‘Qur’anic’ script written
and washed below that of the
existing script. This is the
first evidence we have of an
evolution in the Qur’anic text
in one manuscript
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Manuscript Variants
(extant mss. available to Western researchers)
• Difficulty finding complete early MSS.
• Keith Small:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(Sura 14:35-41 – Abraham in Mecca)
Acts 7:1-8 (Stephen on Abraham, Isaac & UR)
150 available MSS in the 1st 300 yrs.
Only 13 with these vss.
Suras 82-114, only 3 in late 8th c.
Suras 108-114, none exist
Conclusions: Possible standardization of vss by late
7th c., but no extant MS. to support it, just a guess.
– Canonized text only in Abbasid period -post 749 AD?
3/14/2016
Textual Criticism of the NT
and the Qur’an
A Direct Comparison
NEW TESTAMENT AND THE
QUR’AN CRITICAL TEXTS
NT CT
-EXISTING
MANUSCRIPTS
COLLATED INTO
TEXT FAMILIES:
ALEXANDRIAN,
WESTERN,
BYZANTINE,
CAESAREAN
QUR’AN CT
-EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS COLLATED
INTO FAMILIES BY
READING (Qira’at):
10 Qira’at- slightly
different versions; 2 in
print- Hafs and Warsh
KINDS OF VARIANTS
• NT: WRITTEN VARIANTS
• QUR’AN: WRITTEN AND ORAL VARIANTS
NT VARIANTS: CODEX BEZAE
Paris BN
Ms 328
Hijazi
Script
ORAL AND WRITTEN VARIANTS
“...oral tradition is characterized by variants
resulting from words wrongly heard, from
words confused with similar sounding words,
and from whole episodes being forgotten,
misplaced, or reinterpreted. Leaving aside the
art of calligraphy, written tradition is
characterized by variants resulting from
copyists errors, words read wrongly, revised, or
left out by a careless eye, and by random
passages getting lost, or being added to on the
basis of other sources”.
Adrian Brockett
• Qur’an: oral type match what are
recorded as having existed in the
Companions Collections, but none of
these are in extant manuscripts.
• NT: Written type are in mss, as well
as some from hearing the text read
aloud.
Qur’an’s
Textual
Transmission
Islamic
View
NT Textual Transmission
• Both Christian and Islamic
Traditions recognize the same kinds
of textual variants, and that they
don’t change the basic meaning of
their texts.
• The NT MSS still contain a range of
variants while the Qur’an MSS
almost universally contain only
minor ones.
• Asserting the Qur’an’s text has not
been changed is false and
misleading.
• Asserting the Bible’s text has been
corrupted is false and misleading.
• The Original Qur’an text
cannot be discovered from
existing Qur’an MSS.
Thus, we have the Qur’an of
Faith, with a questionable
early history.
• The Original NT text can be
recovered from existing NT
MSS.
We have the NT of History and
it establishes our Faith
Steven Masood
• “Documentary evidence shows that
whereas the message has indeed
been preserved, both books have
suffered from editing errors and
some variants in the text. Christians
are very open about this matter.
Information of variations in the
biblical text can be found reproduced
in most of the modern translations
available to us.”
Steven Masood
• “In contrast we find that the present
translations and commentaries of the
Qur’an are silent about its variants
and omissions. One has to go to the
classical writings of Muslim scholars
to obtain such information.”
(pp. 206-207 The Bible and the Qur’an)
Michael Nazir-Ali
• “The attitude of Christian scholars towards
the variety of MSS available is in striking
contrast to the Muslim position that there
should be only one recension of the Qur’an
available. As is well known, only the
recension of the Qur’an made under the
Caliph ‘Uthman has survived. Therefore,
when a modern edition or translation of
the Qur’an is prepared, only one line of MS
evidence is available.”
M. Nazir-Ali con’t.
• “When a critical edition or translation
of the New Testament is being
prepared, scores of more or less
variant MSS in many different
ancient languages are available, and
the critical text is established by
sustained comparative work on these
MSS.”
M. Nazir-Ali, con’t.
The survival of variant MSS is regarded
as a strength by Christian scholars in
establishing a critical text of the New
Testament. The variations do not appear
to compromise either the historical
integrity of the New Testament or its
reliability as a canon of Christian doctrine
in any substantive way.
M. Nazir-Ali, con’t.
• “The existence of a large number of MSS in
different ancient languages, with their
origins in widely separated churches yet in
substantial agreement with each other, is
an argument in favour of the integrity of
the Scriptures.”
(p. 48, ‘Frontiers in Muslim-Christian Encounter’)
3/14/2016
[I] HISTORICAL ANALASIS OF THE BIBLE
LOOKING AT THE NEW TESTAMENT EVIDENCE:
3/14/2016
[A] THE CANON
1) was it authoritative: did it come from God?
Did it have the seal of apostolic authority?
2) was it prophetic: was it written by a man of God?
3) was it authentic: rule-of-thumb was “if in doubt, throw it out.”
4) was it dynamic: did it change lives?
5) was it used: was it read and collected by early Christians?
(II Peter 3:16)?
3/14/2016
[B] MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE
(1) Manuscripts:
(2) Dating
(3) Eyewitness accounts:
(4) Hostile Accounts:
(5) Versions or Translations:
(6) Lectionaries:
(7) Early Church Father’s Letters:
3/14/2016
(1) Manuscripts:
New Testament extant manuscripts
5,300 Greek
10,000 Latin Vulgate
9,300 other early versions
+ 24,000 manuscript copies, or portions
230 MSS compiled before the 7th century!!
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(2) Dating
Author
Secular Manuscripts:
Herodotus (History)
Thucydides (History)
Aristotle (Philosopher)
Caesar (History)
Pliny (History)
Suetonius (Roman History)
Tacitus (Greek History)
Date Written
Earliest Copy
Time Span
Copies (extent)
480 - 425 BC
460 - 400 BC
384 - 322 BC
100 - 44 BC
61 - 113 AD
70 - 140 AD
100 AD
900 AD
900 AD
1,100 AD
900 AD
850 AD
950 AD
1,100 AD
1,300 years
1,300 years
1,400 years
1,000 years
750 years
800 years
1,000 years
8
Biblical Manuscripts: (note these are individual manuscripts)
Magdalene Ms (Matthew 26)
1st century
50-60 AD
John Rylands (John)
90 AD
130 AD
Bodmer Papyrus II (John)
90 AD
150-200 AD
Chester Beatty Papyri (N.T.)
1st century
200 AD
Diatessaron by Tatian (Gospels) 1st century
200 AD
Codex Vaticanus (Bible)
1st century
325-350 AD
Codex Sinaiticus (Bible)
1st century
350 AD
Codex Alexandrinus (Bible)
1st century
400 AD
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co-existant(?)
40 years
60-110 years
150 years
150 years
275-300 years
300 years
350 years
7
?
Papyrus Manuscripts: Upto 4th Century
3/14/2016
Sinaiticus:
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• New Testament
• 4th Century
ALEXANDRINUS
-Old & New Testament
-5th Century
3/14/2016
Peshita (Syriac - 5th century AD)
3/14/2016
(3) Eyewitness accounts:
Internal Corroboration
Luke 1:1-3
(Disciples)
“...to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word
have handed them down to us, it seemed fitting for me as well,
having investigated everything carefully from the beginning,
to write it out for you in consecutive order.”
Acts 2:22
(Jews)
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene,
a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs
which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know...”
Acts 26:24-26
(Secular Auth.)
“...Paul said, 'I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus,
but I utter the words of sober truth. For the king knows about these matters,
and I speak to him also with confidence,
since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice;
for this has not been done in a corner.”
LUKE’S accuracy:
Erastus = Corinth treasurer (Rom. 16:23)
-pavement found in 1929 with this name
Politarchs = civil authority of Thessalonica (Acts 17:6)
-19 inscriptions use it, 5 in Thesselonica
Praetor = for Philippian ruler instead of Duumuir
-Romans used Praetor earlier
Proconsul = title for Gallio (Acts 18:12)
-corroborated by Delphi Inscription
(52 AD) Gallio held this position for 1 year only.
3/14/2016
(4) Hostile Accounts:
External Corroboration
1) Thallus: a Greek historian
52 AD, crucifixion, day suddenly turned dark,
and earth tremled
2) Tacitus: a Roman historian
80-84 AD, death of Christ, reign of Tiberius’,
by governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate
3) Josephus: a Jewish historian
90-95 AD, death of Jesus, martyrdom of James,
John the Baptist, resurrection
4) Suetonius: a Greek historian
Expulsion from Rome of followers of Crestus,
by emperor Claudius, (Acts 18:2)
5) Pliny the Younger: a Roman author and administrator
3/14/2016
112 AD of the Christian community in Asia Minor,
and of their devotion to Christ
(5) Versions or Translations:
19,284 translations, in 11 languages!
(note: 230 examples between 2nd - 6th C.)
Latin
150 AD -> (over 10,000 examples)
Syriac
150-250 AD -> (350 examples)
Coptic
early 3rd and 4th centuries (100 + examples)
Armenian
400 AD -> (2,587 examples)
Gothic
4th century -> (6 examples)
Georgian
5th century -> (4,101 examples)
Ethiopic
6th century -> (2,000 examples)
Nubian
6th century ->
3/14/2016
(6) Lectionaries:
6th century
3/14/2016
2,135 lectionaries
(7) Early Church Father’s Letters:
Dr. Jean Burgon: 86,489 quotes
Sir David Dalrymple:
36,289 quotes before 4th C.
Clement of Alexandria
2,406 quotes
Tertullian
7,258 quotes
Justin Martyr
330 quotes
Irenaeus
1,819 quotes
Origen
17,922 quotes
Hippolytus
1,378 quotes
Eusebius
5,176 quotes
36,289 quotes
3/14/2016
+36,000
quotes from before 325 AD = all but 11 verses of the New Testament!!!!
Conclusion:
No other book, religious or secular,
can make the claims the Bible can
make…so be proud of the authority
you have, and use it wisely ‘for His
Kingdom’.
3/14/2016
OLD TESTAMENT AUTHORITY
PEOPLE:
-50 Old Testament people
-27 New Testament people
I.e. Daniel 5:16
3/14/2016
Belshazar?
Let’s go and see just how
authoritative the Old Testament is:
• Looking at Architecture: From the British
Museum….
Epic of Creation
Flood Tablets
3/14/2016
Ur of the Chaldees & Tablets from
Mari, Nuzi, Ebla & Armana
Harps from Ur
Tablets from Amarna
3/14/2016
(1394 BC)
(1900=Abraham, 1700=Joseph, 1447=Moses, 1000=David)
Armana tablets: Apiru or Habiru first found = Genesis 14:13
Ebla tablets: Case Laws, Customs, and Judicial Proceedings
(Deuteronomy 22:22-30)
Mari tablets: Arriyuk, or Arioch found in Genesis 14
Nuzi tablets:
3/14/2016
a) a barren wife giving a handmaiden to her husband
b) a bride chosen for the son by the father
c) a dowry paid to the father-in-law
d) work done to pay a dowry (i.e. Jacob)
e) the unchanging oral will of a father (i.e. Isaac)
f) a father giving his daughter a slave-girl (i.e. Leah, Rachel)
g) the sentence of death for stealing cult gods (i.e. Jacob).
Neo Hittite Figures
3/14/2016
Assyrian Architecture:
Jehu Obelisk (841 BC)
(2 Kings 9 & 10 – Elisha & Ahab)
Tiglath Pileser III
(745-727 BC)
(2nd
Kings 15:19/20
&3/14/2016
1st Chronicles 5:26 – ‘PUL’)
Sargon II (722-701BC)
(2 kings 17:6, 24)
& Sennacharib (704-681BC)
3/14/2016
Lachish
Taylor Prism
1. Hezekiah rebelled against
Senacharib.
2. The fortified towns of Judah
fell.
3. Lachish also fell
4. Hezekiah was shut up in
Jerusalem
5. He paid 30 talents of gold in
tribute to Senacharib to gain
favour
6. Jerusalem did not fall
7. The Assyrian army left
without firing a single arrow
at Jerusalem.
‘Tirhakah’
(2 Kings 19:9, and
Isaiah 37:9)
3/14/2016
Sennacharib cont.
‘Tirhakah’ statue
(2 Kings 19:9; Isaiah 37:9)
Hezekiah Mural
(II Kings 19:35-36)
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Murals of Ninevah
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(Nahum 1:10, 2:13, 3:13-15)
Book of Daniel and the Nabonidus Drum
Drum – (539 B.C.)
Prayer for Balshazzer
(Daniel 5:16)
Nabonidus Tablet
3/14/2016
Persian Artifacts
Cyrrus Cylindar
Artaxerxes Silverware
3/14/2016
EVENTS:
-The Flood
(Gen. 11:1-9)
-Tower of Babel
-David's capture of Jerusalem
via water shafts
(II Samuel 5:6-8; I Chronicles 11:6)
(Macalister, J.G. Duncan, and Kathleen Kenyon)
3/14/2016
What the Archaeologists say
G.E. Wright: “We shall probably never prove that Abram really existed..
but what we can prove is that his life and times, as reflected in the stories about him,
fit perfectly within the early second millennium, but imperfectly within any later period.”
Sir Frederic Kenyon: “The evidence of archaeology has been to re-establish
the authority of the Old Testament, and likewise to augment its value by rendering it more
intelligible through a fuller knowledge of its background and setting.”
William F. Albright: “The excessive skepticism shown toward the Bible
by important historical schools of the 18th and 19th centuries, certain phases which still
appear periodically, has been progressively discredited. Discovery after discovery
has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought increased
recognition to the value of the Bible as a source of history.”
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Millar Burrows: “On the whole, archaeological work has unquestionably strengthened
confidence in the reliability of the scriptural record.”
Joseph Free: confirms that while thumbing through the book of Genesis,
he mentally noted that each of the 50 chapters are either illuminated or confirmed
by some archaeological discovery, and that this would be true for most of the remaining
chapters of the Bible, both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Nelson Glueck: (a Jewish Reformed scholar and archaeologist)
“To date no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a single,
properly understood biblical statement”
3/14/2016
Conclusion:
No other book, religious or secular,
can make the claims the Bible can
make…so be proud of the authority
you have, and use it wisely ‘for His
Kingdom’.
3/14/2016