The Qur'an Versus The Bible

by Bobby Witherington

Worldwide, the religion of Islam is growing rapidly. According to one report, in the last 50 years Islam has gone from one seventh to one fifth of the world’s population. Reportedly, there are over one billion Muslims in the world. We are told that there are between three to five million Muslims in the United States, and some claim that Islam is the “fastest growing religion in America.” To say the least, Islam is a religion which will affect all Americans throughout the foreseeable future. It thus behooves us to know something about Islam. In this article we shall point out some of the contradictions between the Bible, which is embraced by all true Christians, and the Qur’an, which is embraced by all true Muslims.

First of all however, it is appropriate to state that the Qur’an often contradicts itself! For example, from Surah 6:2, of Allah, we are told that “He it is Who created you from clay.” But Surah 25:54 states, “It is He Who has created man from water …” And in Surah 96:2 we are told that Allah, “created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood.” These are but a sample of the contradictions within the Qur’an. It should be evident that if the Qur’an contradicts itself, then it would certainly contradict the Bible. And, indeed it does! In this article we shall note a few of the contradictions.

The Qur’an denies the God-hood of Jesus! Surah 5:72, “They do blaspheme who say: ‘God is Christ the son of Mary.’” Surah 5:73, “They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a trinity: for there is no god except one God (Allah).” Surah 5:75, “Christ the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him.” In contrast to the Qur’an, the Bible says that when Jesus was born, the angel said to Joseph, “they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God.” The “Word” of John 1:1 is the One whom John said “was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Regarding Jesus Christ, I Timothy 3:16 says that “… God was manifest in the flesh.” Moreover, the Bible also speaks of “the Father and … the Son, and … the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19), each of whom is called “God” in the sacred Scriptures (cf. John 3:16; I Timothy 3:16; Acts 5:3-4).

The Qur’an denies the crucifixion of Jesus! Surah 4:157, “That they said (in boast), ‘We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary the Messenger of Allah,’ – but they did not kill him, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they did not kill him.” In contrast, the Bible states that Jesus was delivered “to be crucified,” that they “led him away to a place … called in the Hebrew Golgotha; where they crucified Him, and two other with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst” (John 19:16-18). A cardinal fact of the gospel is that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3). To the saints at Corinth the apostle Paul said, “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (I Corinthians 15:2).

Islam’s way of dealing with unbelievers! “But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful” (Surah 9:5). In contrast, the Bible admonishes us to “Fight the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12), and it plainly says, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (II Corinthians 10:4).

The Qur’an takes a very sensual view of paradise! According to the Qur’an, awaiting “the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah,” there will be “Fruits (Delights); and they (shall enjoy) honor and dignity, In Gardens of Felicity, Facing each other on Thrones (of dignity); Round will be passed to them a cup from a clear-flowing fountain, Crystal-white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof), Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom, And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty)” (Surah 37:40-47). Elsewhere we read that they will be joined “to companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes” (Surah 44:54). In delightful contrast, the Bible describes heaven as a place where one receives a “crown of life” (Revelation 2:10), where God wipes away “every tear from the eyes,” where all things are “made new,” which has “the glory of God,” whose streets are paved with gold, the walls of jasper, where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it,” where no sin exists, where the “pure river of the water of life” forever flows, where the “tree of life” forever grows, where there “shall be no night,” and where the redeemed therein “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 21:4-5, 18, 21, 27; 22:1, 2, 5)!

The Qur’an and Polygamy! Surah 4:3, “… marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.” Mohammed himself reportedly had eleven wives, or “consorts of the prophet.” In contrast, Jesus talked about God’s plan from “the beginning,” when God “made them male and female,” and said “for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh” (Matthew 19:4-5). He further said “what therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6). According to the Bible, a lawful marriage involves one man and one woman joined in marriage for life.

Various and Sundry Contradictions: The Qur’an says that one of Noah’s sons “was among those overwhelmed in the flood” (Surah 11:43), whereas the Bible teaches that all three of Noah’s sons, and their wives, were spared the ravages of the flood (Genesis 7:13; I Peter 3:20). The Qur’an teaches that Abraham was the son of Azar (Surah 6:74), whereas the Bible teaches that Abraham was the son of Terah (Genesis 1:26). The Qur’an teaches that Jesus, like Adam, was created “from dust” (Surah 3:59), whereas the Bible teaches that Jesus pre-existed creation and was the person of the Godhead who created all things (John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:2; Colossians 1:15-17), etc.

Conclusion: Over 500 years before one verse of the Qur’an was written, “the faith … was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). “All truth” of a spiritual nature had been delivered (John 16:13). The “whole counsel of God” had been preached (Acts 20:27). People had been made “complete in” Christ (Colossians 2:10). The gospel in its fullness had been proclaimed, and the anathema of God had been pronounced upon any man, or angel, who dared to “preach any other gospel” than that which the apostles preached (Galatians 1:6-9). Muhammad was a false teacher, who preached “another gospel,” and the Qur’an is just as false as Muhammad was immoral. And that is saying a lot! Obey Jesus and His gospel! Reject Muhammad and his self-contradictory, Bible-contradicting, God-dishonoring, Christ-demoting Qur’an!