University of the future
ISLAM & ITS TEACHINGS
UNIVERSITY OF EXCELLENCE
THE QUR'AN (KORAN): ISLAM'S SACRED BOOK
ISLAMIC STUDIES - SECTION 1
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THE KORAN: ISLAM'S SACRED BOOK
CONTRADISTINCTION OF THE HOLY BIBLE AND THE KORAN
ORGANIZATION OF THE KORAN
CONTRADISTINCTION OF THE HOLY BIBLE AND THE KORAN
The Holy Bible is definitive when dealing with historical narratives and history of times. For example, it specifically and systematically tells time periods in which kings of Israel and Judah reigned. The Holy Bible is concisely woven together over a period of 1500 years of writing (the chronology covered is at least 4,000 years) by over 40 authors, many not knowing the others had written, or would be writing. These books of the Holy Bible never contradict each other, and form the national history of a people, the Jews, who God would use to bring forth a Man: The Messiah.
The Messiah ("anointed One") was the anticipated King and Deliverer of the Old Testament, and fulfilled by Jesus (the) Christ [Hebrew: Yeshua Ha Meshiach]. Jesus admitted that He was the Christ, or Messiah (read John 4:25-26 and Mark 14:61-62 of the New Testament). This Man, the Messiah of Israel, fulfilled 33 prophecies the day He died on the cross for the sins of the world, and 333 prophecies during His walk on earth. He was raised from the dead, this fact corroborated by the unimpugned evidence of many eye witnesses.
There is more manuscript authority for the New Testament alone than any other classical literature, or literature from any kind, from antiquity. Over 20,000 copies of New Testament manuscripts today are in existence. The New Testament accounts of the life and teaching of Jesus were recorded by men who had either been eye witnesses or told the accounts as related by eyewitnesses.
The Holy Scriptures NEVER prophesy, however, of another prophet to come AFTER Jesus. As a matter of fact, Jesus said, there would be false prophets who would claim to be the Messiah, and NOT to listen to them. Moses and David and many prophets told of the Redeemer Who would come, and the scriptures are replete with prophecies which Jesus later fulfilled during His time on earth to validate His office as The Messiah. In addition, we have the record of His miracles, His life, His death, and His resurrection! Finally, we have the testimony of millions of MIRACLES still happening today through faith in His name.
Holy men of God considered the canon of scripture to be complete and finished with the 66 books of the Holy Bible as we know it today (39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament). The one central theme, the coming of the Redeemer, was fulfilled. There was never any prophecy or hint of a prophecy concerning a prophet to preach any other gospel, or to add any thing extra or new to the already completed divine revelation to man. Neither was there ever a revelation of the need for the same to come after the Chosen Redeemer, Jesus.
There are prophets in the Church established as part of the five fold gift ministries for the upbuilding of God's people [Ephesians 4:11-12], but these prophets agree to and preach only the Good News of the Redeemer and all that may be appropriated through His salvation. There are two prophets in the end times [Revelation Chapter 11] but these anointed men prophesy judgment against the anti Christ, against his system of one world government, and against those who take his mark in the last days. Take notice of the fact that Islam is an anti Christ movement.
Any good Muslim knows that their so-called holy book, the Koran, teaches that Jesus is to be revered as a prophet. So, when a Muslim is asked, "Do you believe in Jesus?" . . . if they are honest, and if they are true to the Koran, they will have to say "Yes." And if they say "Yes," then they are faced with the issue of learning more about Him. This, in itself, is an OPEN DOOR to evangelism: an open door to provide literature, films, testimony, and prayer for real MIRACLES to confirm His presence TODAY.
Notice that Islam, like Mormonism, teach that Jesus was a prophet: but NOT the final one. This teaching is heretical; however, it opens the door to these cults about the discussion of Jesus: WHO He is, WHY He came to earth, and WHAT He did. This also opens the door to opportunities to pray for them to receive MIRACLES. If they believe in a historical Jesus, and if they will allow you to pray for them in His name, then they are in a position to receive MIRACLES - real miracles - which will testify to His resurrection.
The Holy Bible is arranged in orderly construction and has ONE THEME: the redemption and restoration of fallen man. It is overlaid with the LOVE of God for Israel, His Chosen people, and for all mankind.
ORGANIZATION OF THE KORAN
Edward Gibbon, eminent historian and author of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, says this about the Koran:
"An incoherent rhapsody of fable, and precept, and declamation, which sometimes crawls in the dust, and sometimes is lost in the clouds."
Salomon Reinach, a German scholar who wrote, Orpheus, a History of Religion, says this about the Koran:
"From the literary point of view, the Koran has little merit. Declamation, repetition, puerility, a lack of logic and coherence strike the unprepared writer at every turn. It is humiliating to the human intellect to think that this mediocre literature has been the subject of innumerable commentaries, and that millions of men are still wasting time absorbing it."
Ali Dashti, a renowned Muslim scholar, says this about the Koran:
"Unfortunately, the Qur'an was badly edited and its contents are very obtusely arranged. All students of the Qor'an wonder why the editors did not use the natural and logical method of ordering by date of revelation as in 'Ali b. Abi Taleb's last copy of the test."
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NOTICE
THIS BRINGS TO LIGHT AN IMPORTANT WEAKNESS!
MUHAMMAD CONTENDED THAT HE WAS A PROPHET OF GOD.
YET, HE DID NOT PREDICT HIS OWN UNEXPECTED DEATH.
RESULT: NO CAREFUL COMPILATION OF HIS WRITINGS!!!
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Neither Muhammad, nor his followers, expected his death. He did not have time to gather his records, nor did he write or prepare the final manuscript of the Quran. As a matter of fact, there were NO original manuscripts. When Muhammad fell into seizures (some say trances) he did not write down what he saw when he spoke to others.
There is no logical organization to the Quran. It was put together after Muhammad's death by his followers. It was arranged by size: from the largest Sura to the smallest, irregardless of logic or order or chronology. And, there are MANY contradictions in the Quran. Many commandments laid out in the first part of the Quran are done away with later. There is NO consistency of purpose, other than hatred of Jews and Christians. Whereas there is consistency of purpose in the Holy Bible: the calling of the nation Israel to bring forth the Messiah who would be a blessing to ALL nations.
Muslims claim that "allah" is speaking with man [in the first person] in the Quran; however, many places in the Quran it is evident that "allah" is not the one speaking: it is Muhammad. Whereas the Holy Bible begins with the CREATION of all things and progresses in an orderly fashion, the Quran is incomplete and each Sura picks up the theme of some different topic, like "why 'allah' doesn't want Muhammad's wives arguing in front of him."
For example, the Holy Bible progresses as follows:
- Creation
- Fall of man
- The Flood
- The tower of Babel
- The call of Abraham
- The Patriarchs
- Israel (Jacob) and the 12 tribes
- The call of Moses
- Exodus
- Israel grows as a nation
- Captivity
- Cyrus' proclamation and return from captivity
- Rebuilding of Israel
- Birth of Messiah
- Prophesied death and resurrection of Messiah
- Establishment of the Church
- Last days
- End of this universe
The Qur'an claims it is the continuation of the Old and New Testaments, but as a literary work, it is vastly inferior; and, it is easy to see that it is a deceitful work. Also, there was, and is, no need for an addition to the canon of Scripture closed and completed: the Redeemer, Messiah, has come . . . as prophesied, fulfilling hundreds of prophecies when He came to earth . . . and will return at the appointed time. There are several prophetic happenings on the world wide scene today which point that His appearing is "on track" and impending. [These prophetic happenings are discussed in "U of E Module 3: Eschatology and the New World Order."]
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