It seems to me that Islam and Christianity and Judaism all have the same god, and he’s telling them all different things. (Billy Connolly)
Thinking about the musings from Day 47: So What Exactly Is The Law Of Sharia?…
I would submit to you that for the approximately 1.8 billion believers of Islam, (depending on which website you are looking at), it works for them. I would also submit to you that once you dig a little deeper into Islam, there is one basic logical conclusion that doesn’t seem…logical.
Still, what Islam does prove logically is the fact that…
‘Someone Upstairs Runs The Show’.
Is Islam a logical belief system?
It appears on the surface that Islam could be perceived as a natural extension of both Judaism and Christianity. Consider what Judaism, Christianity and Islam all have in common:
1) With at least 4.3 billion combined in followers, they combine to be three of the most influential belief systems in the world today;
2) They are all monotheistic, belief systems;
3) They all trace back to the same Patriarch, Abraham;
4) All 3 acknowledge the significance of the prophet Moses and;
5) All 3 acknowledge the existence of Jesus of Nazareth.
I would submit to you that when you apply Aristotle’s syllogism to Islam, (Day 11: There Has To Be A Way To Make It All Make Sense…Right?), the results are very similar to Judaism and Christianity:
PART A – If I follow the Five Pillars of Islam, I acknowledge that there is one, true God;
PART B – If I follow the Sunnah, I acknowledge that Muhammad is the last of the prophets;
PART C – By following the Five Pillars and the Sunnah, I as a Muslim would acknowledge that there is one true God, and that Muhammad is the last of the prophets.
The logic seems reasonable, follow the basic tenants of Islam, follow the Quran and the Sunnah, and your soul is set for eternity. Follow what Allah wants you to follow…Read and live according to the words in the Quran…Follow what Muhammad did…Read and live according to the words in the Sunnah.
Why wouldn’t you not want to follow Islam as a belief system? It appears to be the last of the great, monotheistic religions, and it is chronologically, following Christianity by just over 600 years. There are two books to be familiar with and live out, the Quran and the Sunnah. Follow those edicts and you should be good to go for the rest of your life.
Right?
I wish to submit to you 9 sets of verses, from both the Quran and the Bible. Please consider the following question when reading the Quran and Bible sets of verses:
“Is the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and the Bible, the holy book of the Jews and Christians, consistent?”
I placed in italics the places for you to focus on when reading these verses:
1) She said, “Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah.” (Sunnah 19:18)
1A) 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (Luke 1:28 KJV)
2) So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, “Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.” (Sunnah 19:22-23)
2A) 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. (Luke 2:4-5 KJV)
3) But he called her from below her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. (Sunnah 19:24-25)
3A) 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:4-7)
4) Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah ]. And he was not of the polytheists. (Sunnah 3:67)
4A) 8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. (Isaiah 41:8 KJV)
5) O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him… (Sunnah 4:171)
5A) 30I and my Father are one. (John 10:30 KJV)
6) …So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, “Three”; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God… (Sunnah 4:171)
6A) 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9 KJV)
7) …Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs. (Sunnah 4:171)
7A) 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5 KJV)
8) And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. (Sunnah 4:157)
8A) 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. (John 19:18 KJV)
9) And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.” But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, “Who are my supporters for [the cause of] Allah?” The disciples said, “We are supporters for Allah. We have believed in Allah and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]. (Sunnah 3:50-52)
9A) 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22 KJV)
After reading the 9, above-mentioned verses from both the Quran and the Bible, consider the following:
Should your god be based on fear or favor?
Was Jesus born in a remote place or Bethlehem?
Was Jesus born by a stream and under a palm tree or near an inn and in a manger?
Was Abraham a Muslim and not a Jew, or was Abraham the father of the Jews and not a Muslim?
Was Jesus, a messenger of Allah, or was Jesus, one with God?
Is Allah the one, true God, or is God a Holy Trinity of: Spirit, Christ, and God?
Is Allah above having a Son, or did God have a beloved Son?
Was Jesus not killed and crucified, or was Jesus killed and crucified?
Did Jesus and his disciples support Allah, or are those who deny Jesus as the Christ…the antichrist?
After comparing these 9 sets of verses side by side, do the Quran and the Bible sound consistent to you?
If you believe that the answer is no, then wouldn’t the next question you should ask be:
If Muslims claim that the Quran ultimately came from God, and the Jews and Christians claim that the Bible also comes from God, which book is right if they are both inconsistent with each other?
That will be covered after some rest.
Do not feel discouraged if you are still undecided as to the validity of Islam as a valid belief system. Do not feel discouraged if you are still undecided as to whether the Quran or the Bible is the more reliable holy book. Instead, embrace the idea that after reading the information that was presented to you today, at least you can conclude that you have more questions than answers regarding the Quran and the Bible. Perhaps many questions. Enjoy the freedom that you have to ask such deep and profound questions.
16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:16 KJV)
Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?
Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 48: The Validity Of Islam.
If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.
Please feel free to go back to where all of this began: