Apologetics: Flippin’ Fatwa Friday – The Quran vs. The Bible: Surah Al-Baqarah Verses 40-46, 53.

Now that we’ve covered what’s possibly the worst retelling of the Creation account that I’ve ever read and had a week-long break to process whatever that was, it’s time to jump back into the Quran to compare it to the Bible. This time, however, we’re once again dealing with the Islamic Dilemma, the million-dollar question of whether the Bible is true as the Quran claims or if it’s been corrupted. I’ve already dealt a bit with this question in other posts, but this is one of the first times in the Quran where this really comes up, and, to rub salt in the wound, it also raises some questions about Israel in Islam and who actually gets that land.

But let’s start with what the verses in question say:

^40. O Children of Israel! Remember My blessings which I bestowed upon you and fulfill the covenant (you made) with Me, I shall fulfill the covenant (I made) with you, and Me alone you should hold in awe. ^41. And believe in what I have revealed (now) confirming (the prophecies of the Scripture) which are (already) with you, and do not be the first to deny it, neither take a paltry price for My Messages, and Me alone you should take as a shield (for protection). _^42. Do not confound the truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth knowingly. ^43. And observe Prayer, present Zakat (-purifying alms) and devote yourselves (to the service of one God) along with those who are wholly devoted (to the service of one God). ^44. How is it that you enjoin others to do good and neglect you ownselves while you recite the Scripture? Do you not even (after reading the Scripture) abstain (from evils)? ^45. Seek (God’s) help through perfect perseverance and Prayer, and this is indeed a very hard thing except for those who are humble. ^46. Who know for certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.

So, besides the fact that we’re going to skim over the origins of Israel and why they’re important, this raises some really big questions that Islam can’t ignore. First of all, it confirms that the Bible is the Word of God. This is then repeated in verse 53:

And (recall) when we gave Moses the Scripture and the Discrimination (-clear proof and argument to know the right from the wrong), so that you might be guided aright.

Because of this affirmation that the Bible (or, at the very least, the Old Testament) is God’s Word, the Quran has just nuked its claims to being the divine word of Allah because nothing in the Bible confirms the Quran, foretells Muhammad, or anything like that. While there are a few areas of agreement here and there, the Bible contradicts everything in the Quran.

“But the Bible has been corrupted!” I can hear the Muslims yelling now.

Well, if that’s true, then why is Allah deceiving people into believing it isn’t? That once again destroys the Quran’s credibility because it’s relying on something that isn’t reliable.

Then there’s the second issue, which is especially problematic to Muslims’ claim over this region and that is: if what the Bible says is true and doesn’t contradict the Quran, then why are you trying to fight the Jews and steal Israel? It’s an honest question. If the Bible doesn’t contradict the Quran and vice-versa, then both should be able to agree that the Jews belong in Israel because it is the land that God promised them several thousand years ago. The only way to get around this is abrogation that not only contradicts earlier teachings (because Allah changes his mind constantly), but also contradicts the Bible, which is supposedly on the same level as the Quran. Weird.

Anyways, that’s all I got for this week. Next up in Flippin’ Fatwa Friday is the Rings of Power level retelling of the story of Moses and the Exodus, which may have to be a series in of itself.

Until next time,

M.J.