Questions from a Christian to Muslims

Greetings! I am currently in college studying the Bible and its history, and in so dong, have become interested in not only learning about Chrisitanity, but also it's fellow descendants from Abraham, that is Judaism and Islam. Living in Kentucky, it is hard for me to find an imam close by to ask these questions of. "The closest mosque is, i believe, a little over an hour away). At any rate, I was hoping to be able to ask questions here and get answers from everyday Muslims about their religion, namely:

1: Is there some way for me to refer to prophets without appending pbth or other honorifics, without being offensive to you?

2: I am not sure I understand the Islamic view toward the Gospel. If it was not distorted, as you believe, then would Muslims view it as scripture?

God bless you.

prophet bible

asked Feb 27 '12 at 19:32 CuriousScholar 4●1●4

edited Feb 27 '12 at 19:36

21 Answers

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Hi CuriousScholar-- thanks for your question.

It is not obligatory, even for a Muslim, to always say "peace be upon him" after the names of the prophets. It is just a courtesy, a good piece of etiquette. So it is not expected of you. If God guides you and blesses you with His grace so that you are enabled to pray and send peace on the souls of the great prophets Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, etc., so be it. But no Muslim is going to fault you for not doing it.

As for your second question, the Qur'an states that the "Injil" (or "gospel") was a Revelation from God. But which "gospel"? Was it talking about the Gospel of Mary Magdalene? The Gospel of Thomas? The Gospel of Judas? The Gospel of Mark? Which one? Fortunately, the Qur'an not only mentions "the Gospel" but also defines it. In Qur'an 5:46, God states: "We gave him {Jesus} the Gospel".

According to the above definition, the Qur'an cannot be talking about the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Judas, the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, or, for that matter, the four gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke & John. This is because God did not reveal any of these books to Jesus. Jesus never read any of these books.

So according to the Qur'an, "the Gospel" is some type of a message-- whether actually a physical book or not-- that Jesus preached under the direction instruction or inspiration of God. Both Muslims and Christians can agree that such a gospel does not exist, at least not anymore. Nonetheless, in so far as the present day four canonical gospels in the NT must contain some aspects of Jesus' original teachings, we still respect it and might even occasionally refer to it as "the Gospel", while understanding that it is not exactly synonymous with "the Gospel" that the Qur'an is talking about. There is some overlap, to be sure, but the two are not identical.

Now as for the couple of Christians that are raising their objections-- let me boil this down for you:

If you read Mark 1:14 and other similar passages in your four canonical gospels, you will see that it says things like "Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the gospel."strong text Now obviously, this "gospel" that Jesus was preaching was not a copy of the Gospel of Mark that he was carrying under his arm. No. This "gospel" that Jesus was preaching was a pure message from God. That is the "Gospel" that Muslims claim to believe in, 100%, not 75% or 50%. That "gospel" that Jesus is preaching in Galilee-- that is the gospel that I believe in.

As for the second Christian objection-- "How can you believe in a Scripture if it is tampered?" Easy. Do you believe in EVERYTHING that Jesus said? The answer will be yes. But do you have a complete record or transcript of everything that he ever said, everything that he preached? No. Do you believe in everything that Jesus wrote? The answer is yes. But do you have a transcript of anything that Jesus wrote? No.

The closest thing you have to anything Jesus wrote is the report in John 8:6, in which it says that Jesus stooped down and wrote something in the ground using his finger (in order to dispel the angry mob). But what did he write down? I've been asking Christians this question for years, and no one has a precise answer, only conjecture. And yet, if we were able to time-travel and take a peek at what Jesus wrote in the ground, we as Muslims and Christians would undoubtedly believe in it. We would consider it to be the Truth.

So to summarize-- that short message that Jesus wrote in the ground with his blessed finger comes much closer to the Qur'anic definition of "the Gospel" than anything we find in the New Testament today. Nonetheless, there is an overlap, because at least some of the things that are reported in the four canonical gospels might be accurate representations of what Jesus said and did. Reports that are multiply attested to in the synoptic gospels, for example, are more likely to be true or accurate as compared to solitary reports/narratives found only in the Gospel of John.

Muslims are not really saying anything that liberal theologians and liberal biblical scholars are not saying. Islam in a sense foresaw the conclusions of modern-day liberal scholars like Bart Ehrman and others.

I hope this has been of some help to you.

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answered Feb 28 '12 at 07:49 AnwarX 116●2

Thank you for your time to write out this detailed of an answer to me. You have, in fact, helped me a great deal with recognizing what the differences are between what Christians recognize s the Gospel and what Muslims recognize as Gospel.

God bless you.

(Feb 28 '12 at 08:43) CuriousScholar

God bless you and lead you on the strait path.

(Feb 28 '12 at 10:41) Al Ummat ♦

Hey AnwarX, i having receiving email that you have posted answers to me about you Muslims respecting Bible... And what I must tell you is that i am my self a Muslim A Muslim since i was born.. Thanks

(Feb 28 '12 at 21:34) zm14

1.1 بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم

1:2 الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين

1:3 الرَّحمـنِ الرَّحِيم

1:4 مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّين

1:5 إِيَّاك نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين

1:6 اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ

1:7 صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّين

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answered Mar 23 '12 at 23:42 Muhammad Izammudin Ismail 22●1●7

confusedsoul:

I agree with you. There should not be any name-calling or insulting involved in such discussions, otherwise they are not "discussions" any more.

Keep in mind that this is not an "Islamic Studies board". It is just another Internet forum where people can pretty much say whatever they want, and there is little (if any) filter.

On my part-- you're most welcome to keep on asking questions and sharing your comments.

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answered Mar 07 '12 at 18:07 AnwarX 116●2

Arguments are natural when you have differences of opinions but they don't have to be harsh and hurting. I am sure you in the West, young and strong-headed maybe, have heard debates of scholars on theology on youtubes on the many websites originating mostly from the West too. You should learn from these knowledgeable and gentle people albeit militant in their voices/presentations. You see how well prepared they are (particularly the muslims) when they exploit their own Holy Book and those of their opponents as well. They DO NOT insult one another and they never lose their objectives of "un-earthing" the truth by first proving the authenticity of their sources. They do not ramble their own opinions. The truth will glare at you so to speak without having to resort to stamping on or embarrassing you opponents. Yes, I have noticed that whenever there is such a debate between, say, a Christian and muslim scholars, it is always obvious the the latter is always well prepared knowing not only their own Holy Book but also that of the opponent. In the end, in a cordial atmosphere, the audience can conclude for themselves the right from the less right. We should keep this forum as clean and civil as possible, please.....

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answered Mar 06 '12 at 23:59 nashiko 30●1●4

This particular column started as a very polite question from a Christian who was curious about Islam. Answers and comments were equally civil initially. Then suddenly a few seemingly fanatics of religions destroyed the peaceful exchanges of information into a war of ideologies. How do you think you can impress the questioner with such an attitude. Criticize not one another's beliefs. You need not be hostile to prove a point.....you can equally impress your opponent with polite but firm answers based on the religious teachings not your personal opinions. Let us keep this discussion civil........

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answered Mar 06 '12 at 21:01 nashiko 30●1●4

if you have noticed that is what happens when you give information to a christian confusedsoul comes and askes his own question its not bad he requests information too but it does always lead to argument look at any question from a christian or athiest and you will see that an argument started

(Mar 06 '12 at 21:32) NesreenA ♦

asalaam aleykum,

very kind of you.... ....If i would address Issa bin Maryam without mentioning (Aleyhi salaam) i feel like i loose You know what.....=On him there is Peace from Almighty...wont you like some One to wish you all the best?

Talking about being Ibrahimic etc ...Gospel you respect it of course We muslim have been instructed to respect any say like an emblemnational flag, swastika , cross like this.

coming to either is distorted or not surely you can figure out How come to a book from god to be revised by humans till date.YET bible and Talmud there are few teaching which are intact.

:::

Precisely the same thing was taught by the Prophet Jesus (may Allah's peace be upon him) (29:60) How many an animal there is that does not carry about its sustenance. Allah provides sustenance to them and to you. He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. *99

"While migrating you should not be worried about your means of livelihood as you should not worry about your life's safety. For none of the birds and the animals of the land and the sea that you find around yourself carries its provision with it. Allah is providing for all of them; wherever they go they get their provision through Allah's bounty. Therefore, do not be disheartened by the thought that if you left your homes for the sake of your faith, you would have nothing to eat. AIlah will provide for you as well from the sources from which He is providing for the countless of His other creatures:"

Precisely the same thing was taught by the Prophet Jesus (may Allah's peace be upon him) to his disciples when he had said: "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold :of the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than that, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: Quote: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall .we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew. 6: 2434). ). The background of these discourses of the Qur'an and the Gospel is the same. Quote: There always comes a stage in the way of the propagation of the Truth when the follower of the Truth is left with no alternative but to stake his very life only with trust in Allah, regardless of the support and means of the material world. In these conditions, those who are too calculating about the possibilities of the future and seeking guarantees of the saftey of life and assurance of provisions cannot do anything.

Indeed, such conditions are changed only by the efforts and power of those who rise fearlessly in face of every danger and are even prepared to risk their very lives. It is all due to their sacrifices that ultimately the Word of Allah is raised high and all other words and creeds stand humbled and subdued before it.

http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/matt6v24.htm

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answered Mar 06 '12 at 09:02 abjad 73●24

edited Mar 06 '12 at 09:25

confusedsoul:

If you believe that the Bible is only preserved in the original Hebrew, Aramaic (portions of the Book of Daniel), and Greek, then have you bothered to learn any of these languages? If you have, then please make this simple by giving me the word that is used in Genesis when it talks about God creating "animals". We will then check a Hebrew lexicon to see if that word for "animal"/"beast" can also mean human beings in a primitive state, as you are asserting.

Likewise for the Jairus problem. Please provide us with the original Greek and explain to us why you think there is no contradiction.

We are not employing double standards. If an apparent contradiction in the English translation of the Qur'an requires us to go back to the original Arabic and analyze it, we will do it. I have shown you a clear contradiction in the two Jairus accounts (Gospel of Mark's account vs. Gospel of Matthew's account). If you feel you have to go back to the koine Greek in order to analyze and reconcile this problem, go right ahead and do it.

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answered Mar 06 '12 at 07:03 AnwarX 116●2

How come people have a problem saying pbuh i know its not obligory to say it but all it means is peace be upon them is it bad to wish somone peace? and not only about muhammad but about Jesus too there was somone that told somone else please remember to say pbuh and then they said last time i checked i didnt have to i dont remember who it was and it wasent those specific words but very similar to them now i would understand if you hated muslims you wouldnt want to wish our prophet peace but what about your own prophets whats wrong with saying pbuh wouldent you like to wish Jesus, moses, david, abraham, joseph, etc. peace? this is a general question im not attacking anyone.

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answered Mar 05 '12 at 21:57 NesreenA ♦ 184●5●21

It is not a question of "hating muslims" or the Islamic faith, or not wishing well upon Jesus and the other's. It is, simply, a different culture than mine. To me, it is to close to the way that Catholicism treats the saints for my comfort, but that is more of a personal belief than a generic one. I have no problem saying peace be unto Jesus, i simply mostly delegate it to my personal prayer time. It is not something I think about in every day conversation.

(Mar 05 '12 at 22:47) CuriousScholar

i was talking about people who refuse to say it not people who dont remember to say it

(Mar 06 '12 at 00:22) NesreenA ♦

I certainly did not intend for hostility to come about from this question, although I suppose it was inevitable. I know the questions you posed were not directly toward me, but I would like to throw in my two cents anyway.

i do believe the bible is accurate. I also believe the Bible was written by man, seeing at is signed by men. I do not believe this, in any way, tarnishes the Bible's reliability, as its construction was Divine in origin.

Now, then, onto your specific inquiries. I, personally, take neither genesis account as a statement of fact, but rather as an allegorical story, but if I did have to take one as fact, then it would be the second creation. The first creation story, exegetically, could not be literal, due to days passing before there is a sun, or an earth to rotate. It is a figure of speech to show that there seven parts to the complete creation. The point is not that the world was created in seven days, but instead, that God created.

As to the thing with Jairus' daughter. i can not say which one is more accurate than the other, nor can i see why it would matter. The gospels were written by a diverse group of men a decade or more after Jesus walked the earth. I challenge any one of you to accurately recall the exact words someone told you two years ago, much less ten or twenty. The theological point in behind it is the same, and that is not what matters, not whether she was revived from death of from near death, but that she was revived. As a side note, would not suggest using the NIV translation. it is notorious for leaving out words from the Greek.

The Quran is not without similar statements. What will people eat in Hell? [Sura 88:6, 69:36, 37:66] What was man created from? [Sura 96:1-2, Sura 25:54, Sura 24:45, Sura 15:26, Sura 30:20] Did Abraham smash the idols of the people, or did he leave quietly? [Suras 19:41-49 and 6:74-83, Sura 21:51-59]

Please, answer me these questions also. I intend no maliciousness, and I admit these questions are from a cursory glance, as I have not had time to study the Quran in depth.

God bless you.

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answered Mar 05 '12 at 21:43 CuriousScholar 4●1●4

to get the real definition of the quran you would have to know arabic its probably due to language translation thats why we dont call a translated version of the quran a quran because it can never have the same definition i assure you there is no contradictions in the quran in fact the second surah second aya specificlly says thalik alkitab la reib afeeh in this boook there are no contradictions

(Mar 05 '12 at 21:50) NesreenA ♦

If you only read the Quran in the original language, then you should read the Bible in it's original language. I only believe it to be fair.

(Mar 05 '12 at 22:44) CuriousScholar

confusedsoul: but how can you accept a new scripture written by a human and try to interpret it "correctly" as you say but not a new book written by allah that has no cotradictions written in one language no mistakes because of the language barrier which one would you rather take as the truth yes the bible did come first but why dont you ask yourself can christianity and islam exist without people revising the bible not without the bible keep in mind that others rewrote it islam cant exist without the revision of the bible not the bible itself and if you belive the bible is 100% true how can it stay true when people keep adding on to it you cant change somthing then keep saying its the same as long as you disregard the thing that changed it and why would you want a book that you cant take litterly its like depending on a friend to save you and they promised to do so but you have to keep in mind you shouldnt belive them all the time wouldent you rather ask your trustworthy friend to save you one that everyone belives and no one has ever caught them lying?

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answered Mar 05 '12 at 20:25 NesreenA ♦ 184●5●21

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Asked: Feb 27 '12 at 19:32

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Last updated: Mar 23 '12 at 23:42

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