Muhammad ibn Abdullāh ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim c. 570 – 8 June,
632), in short, Muhammad, is considered by Muslims to be the last
messenger and prophet sent by God to guide humanity to the right way
(Quran 7:157). Muslims believe that Muhammad is the final prophet sent
by God; and the Quran, which is the central religious text of Islam, was
revealed to Muhammad by God. According to Muslims, he was sent to
restore Islam, which they believe to be the unaltered original
monotheistic faith of Adam, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, and other prophets. The
religious, social, and political tenets that Muhammad established in the
light of Quran became the foundation of Islam and Islamic civilization.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_in_Islam) As a teenager Muhammad would sit for hours in his ‘favorite place,’ a cave on Mt. Hira near his hometown of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and, among other things, contemplate the difference between the Arabs and the merchants who traveled through Mecca on their way to larger cities elsewhere. The “People of the Book,” (the Bible) Jews and Christians, seemed sophisticated and were better off than the Arabs. He felt if his people had a religious book of their own their lifestyle would improve. Before long he had a vision of the Angel Gabriel and he believed he was called by God to be a prophet and teacher of Islam. Muhammad believed that he himself was God's final prophet. However, the Christians are taught,(Rom 1:16) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” If the gospel of Christ offers salvation what need is there for anything else? So we have a conflict at the outset. We have the greatest respect for the individual Muslim. This writer lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for over two years and found the people to be the same as people anywhere – the common man on the street was born in the likeness of God, concerned with human basics: food, clothing and shelter for his family. Meeting strangers at an outdoor café in Jeddah, eating a Shwarma sandwich and drinking freshly squeezed orange juice is not unlike meeting people in a local coffee shop anywhere in America. Arabs are devout and zealous; they pray five times a day and their fervor for Allah is legendary! However, they are generally intolerant of anyone who does not share their belief that Muhammad is the greatest and final prophet. Members of the Islamic faith consider the Bible a Holy Book. Using that as common ground, we will show why, according to the Bible, their particular religion did not originate with God. In his letter to the church at Galatia Paul wrote: Galatians 1:6-9 (KJV used throughout) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. [emphasis added] KEEP THE FAITH There are quite a few verses throughout the New Testament that admonish followers to not change anything in the Bible and to “keep the faith,” to maintain Scripture as delivered. We have been warned there will be ungodly men who want to add, change or delete from what has been written. Jude 1:3-4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Emphasis added) Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand [emphasis added] Titus 1:9 (A bishop is responsible for) Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. [emphasis added] We read statements throughout the New Testament that there should be no changes to the text already delivered. (See ‘Keep the Ordinances’ elsewhere on this website.) In Galatians 1:6-9 (above) Paul notices that some members of the church at Galatia are leaning towards a completely new gospel. He cautions them that even if an apostle or an angel from heaven preaches any other gospel than what they already have he is to be accursed! In spite of such a clear warning, counterfeit gospels have been allegedly offered by angels and accepted by millions! 2 Cor 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians, and us, by the way, that Satan is devious and capable of seeming righteous while turning himself into an angel of light. If that is possible, and we have no doubt it is, then the message provided by the angel Gabriel is suspect! (More to come regarding this angel in the following paragraphs.) 1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. To enjoy fellowship with those in the kingdom of God one must read and obey that which has been declared. Accepting false gospels prevents fellowship with God! DIABOLICAL DIGRESSIONS Di’a’bol’i’cal (adj.) 1. of devil; connected with the devil or devil worship; 2. Evil; extremely cruel or evil. Anything leading one away from salvation is of the devil, the Prince of Confusion, The Father of Lies! We need to be aware of what we are reading lest we are led astray! A requirement for inspired Scripture calls for writings by an apostle, which has not been possible since 100 AD (Acts 1:21-22). Also, we should avoid angels with new gospels (Gal 1:6-9). Nevertheless… The Qur’an, written in the 7th Century, is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims believe that it represents the words of God revealed to Muhammad through the archangel Gabriel. Muhammad’s teachings are recorded in the Qur’an, Hadith (Hadith are the traditions and sayings of Muhammad), and Sira (Sira is comprised of Muhammad’s biographical material). These foundational texts of Islam contain Muhammad’s words and deeds over a 23-year period, with the Qur’an being dominant in Islamic theology. In studying the scripts, it needs to be remembered that many of his words apply only to a specific people for a specific time or event. It appears that as Muhammad’s circumstances changed, his words, teachings, commands, and attitudes changed. Thus, as situations changed over time Muhammad’s words and teachings morphed to accommodate them. Qur’an scholars and jurists came to acknowledge the differences, while arguing that the latest verse on any subject abrogated all earlier verses that contradicted it. The Qur’an makes no distinction between the holy books of the Jewish or the Christian scriptures. It attributes their similarities to their having a common divine source (the one God) and the original Christian and Jewish texts are authentic revelations given to Godly prophets. That Muslims know these holy books are divine is good. Their failure to read one but not the other is without excuse! CONTRADICTION The Muslims claim there are no contradictions in the Qur’an however many websites list them for all to see. One, http://carm.org/contradictions-quran, lists several obvious inconsistencies. Muslim scholars are quick to point out that events are described accurately but then as circumstances change the event is again described using the new information. Therefore, where it appears there are contradictions they explain this is simply the result of updated reporting. Where there are discrepancies between the Bible and the Qur’an the Islamic explanation is that the Bible has errors throughout. For example, in Genesis 22 God tells Abraham to take Isaac (the father of the Israelites) to Mt. Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice. However, Islamic scholars claim this is an error, the result of distorted interpretation. They say the real son in this story was Ishmael (the father of the Arabs). Our personal view is that the legitimate son was the one who would be a better, without blemish, sacrifice. Centuries later Jesus, who was free of sin, was the ultimate sacrifice and he was of the lineage of Isaac as well. The Bible, in spite of being written by 40 different authors over a 2000-year period, contains no backtracking. Where the Bible is comprised of three separate periods, Patriarchal, Mosaic and Christian, the flow is continuous with a definite Spiritual advantage as we move into each new stage. The different perspective of different writers explains any apparent discrepancy. However, the essence of the story remains true throughout! In the final dispensation Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). We read in Hebrews 5:9, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Jesus Christ teaches He is the only way to salvation, salvation that he authored! Coming along 600 years later and offering a different gospel the revelations of Muhammad cannot offer salvation. With salvation offered only through Christ, we want to avoid following a new, conflicted gospel offered by what appears to be an angel claiming to come from heaven. RAMADAN The month of Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. It is celebrated as the time Muhammad received the Qur’an from the Archangel Gabriel. One of the five pillars of Islam, strict religious observance requires fasting from dawn to dusk as a means of self-purification and restraint. They refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours. See: http://www.colostate.edu/orgs/MSA/events/Ramadan.html for more information. For westerners living and working in Saudi Arabia this is also a time to celebrate. Not for religious reasons but because the usually horrendous rush hour traffic is reduced by about 80%. During the month of Ramadan the majority of Muslims turn their schedule around so they sleep during the day and have feasts during the night. Thus they avoid the difficulty of being hungry and thirsty during the day while still following the letter of the law. Whether this demonstrates true restraint is not for me to say. Meanwhile the traffic patterns are vastly improved because the majority of Muslims are at home sleeping, waiting for sundown. In 1899 Sir Winston Churchill wrote about his concerns regarding the Muslim religion. He realized then what we are just now beginning to find out. “How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities - but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.” W. Churchhill 1899 Paul asked us if we seek to please other men or to please God? He pointed out that if someone preaches to please men he is not a servant of Christ. He admonished us to stand up for God and not for manmade gospels. We stand for the gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. We do not support the Gospel of Muhammad. The Bible tells us that the gospel of Jesus Christ is all we need for salvation and anyone offering something else should be condemned. No my friend, God is not the author of confusion and the Qur’an is not from God. We are to keep the faith as delivered and condemn the claims of an angel offering a new, improved gospel. The assertion that an angel from heaven was involved in providing a holy book that disagrees with the apostolic gospels should be toxic to anyone familiar with Christian Scripture. Knowing mankind’s propensity for ignoring the Bible, the Father of All Lies offers perverted gospels. Appealing to man’s pride, he convinces him there is a new and better version of God’s story. However, according to the apostle Paul, Islam is a diabolical detour leading to perdition! That is why I am not a Muslim. preach any new gospel to you, let him be accursed. |
CONTACT AUTHOR: BRAD COOK