What the Bible Says…
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain is Shinar and settled there. … Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with ha tower that reaches to the heavens…"
But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." (Genesis 11: 1-7).
What the Qur'an Says..
And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the fidderence of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge. (Qur'an, 30:22).
Commentary…
According to the Bible, the difference in languages was a plot from God who felt jealous and afraid when He saw men speaking the same language.
Allah says in the Qur'an that the difference of languages and colors is one of His miracles because He created humans and gave them the ability to speak, listen and understand. Therefore, the difference in languages is a miracle, and not a curse. Allah does not plot jealously against humans. All humans cannot do anything against the Will of Allah and can neither harm nor benefit the Almighty Allah whether they speak one language or not.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
Killing the Enemy`s Women and Children
What the Bible Says..
This is what the Lord almighty says: "… Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." (1 Samuel 15:2,3).
Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man. (Numbers 31:17, 18).
However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. (Deuteronomy 20:16).
What the Qur'an Says..
Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who are just. Allah forbids you only those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your home, and helped to drive you out, that you make friends of them. And whosoever, makes friends of them, then such are the wrongdoers. (Qur'an, 60: 8,9).
Commentary..
The Bible asserts that Allah and His Prophets Moses and Joshua, peace upon them, commanded the Jews to kill guiltless women and children!
And they say: "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah: and they speak a lie against Allah while they know it. (Qur'an, 3:78).
There is not doubt that Allah is free from these shocking crimes and so are His Prophets. Allah and His Prophets never commanded the killing of blameless women and children. Allah says in the Qur'an:
For that cause, We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a human being for other than murder or spreading mischief in the land, it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind, And indeed, there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits in the land. (Qur'an, 5: 32).
In the Qur'an, there is not a single Verse that commands the killing of the enemy's women or children. On the contrary, the Qur'an instructs Muslims to deal justly and kindly with all innocent people. Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) used to warm his army saying, "Do not kill an old man, a woman or a child."
This is what the Lord almighty says: "… Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." (1 Samuel 15:2,3).
Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man. (Numbers 31:17, 18).
However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. (Deuteronomy 20:16).
What the Qur'an Says..
Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who are just. Allah forbids you only those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your home, and helped to drive you out, that you make friends of them. And whosoever, makes friends of them, then such are the wrongdoers. (Qur'an, 60: 8,9).
Commentary..
The Bible asserts that Allah and His Prophets Moses and Joshua, peace upon them, commanded the Jews to kill guiltless women and children!
And they say: "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah: and they speak a lie against Allah while they know it. (Qur'an, 3:78).
There is not doubt that Allah is free from these shocking crimes and so are His Prophets. Allah and His Prophets never commanded the killing of blameless women and children. Allah says in the Qur'an:
For that cause, We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a human being for other than murder or spreading mischief in the land, it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind, And indeed, there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits in the land. (Qur'an, 5: 32).
In the Qur'an, there is not a single Verse that commands the killing of the enemy's women or children. On the contrary, the Qur'an instructs Muslims to deal justly and kindly with all innocent people. Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) used to warm his army saying, "Do not kill an old man, a woman or a child."
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Racism
What the Bible Says...
Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside…
When Noah awoke from his wine and found out when his youngest son had done to him, he said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest slaves will he be to his brothers." (Genesis 9: 20-25).
The (Canaanite) woman came and knelt before him. "Lord help me!" She said. He (Jesus) replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." (Matthew 15:25,26).
You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother Israelite… (Deuteronomy 23:20).
What the Qur'an Says…
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that who is the most pious of you. Verily, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware. (Qur'an, 49:13).
And He has united their (Believers`) hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All- Wise. (Qur'an. 8:63).
Commentary..
According to the Bible. Prophet Noah (pbuh) cursed Canaan and made him a slave for his brother because of the mistake of his father Ham, which implies that the descendents of Ham (Black people) are cursed people and slaves for the descendants of Shem and Japheth. The muslim rejects this story for the following reasons:
Prophet Noah (Pbuh) was a great Messenger of Allah and accusing him of drinking wine and lying naked is not accepted by Muslims.
Canaan should`t have been cursed for Ham`s mistake. Why was an innocent son cursed for his father`s mistake? This is an accusation of injustice against one of the great Prophets.
The Jews claim that they are the children of God and the rest of people are gentiles. They fabricated this story to arrogate to themselves superiority over the Canaanites and to give themselves the right to kill and Humiliate them.
In addition, the Jew`s hands wrote in the Bible that they could charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother Israelite. Further, the Jews falsely accuse Prophet Jesus (pbuh) of saying that the Jews falsely accuse Prophet Jesus (pbuh) of saying that the Canaanites are their dogs. It is unbelievable that Jesus (pbuh) said this racist statement. How could a Messenger of Allah Consider non-Israelites as the dogs of the children of Israel?
Every nation throughout history has claimed a kind of superiority based on false criteria such as race, color or language. However, the Qur`an provides the true criterion which is piety. The superiority of a person over another depends on righteousness and good behavior, and not blood, wealth of nationality because all humans are the children of Adam.
The Qur'an says that Allah created different races so that people recognize each other. He did not do that to give certain races superiority or advantage. In fact, the difference in the shapes and colors of people is one of the miracles of Allah which deserves admiration and appreciation; although Allah created us from one male (Adam) and one female (Eve), each person is different from the other; each one is unique. Therefore, the difference is a great miracle of Allah and not justification for racism.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
"O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e: white) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person except in piety".
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the first one to practice this teaching. He treated his Companions equally, the rich, the poor, Arabs and non-Arabs. Bilal the Ethiopian, Suhaib the Roman and Salman the Persian were among the Prophet`s closest Champions. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said,
"Salman (the Persian) is one of my family."
Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside…
When Noah awoke from his wine and found out when his youngest son had done to him, he said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest slaves will he be to his brothers." (Genesis 9: 20-25).
The (Canaanite) woman came and knelt before him. "Lord help me!" She said. He (Jesus) replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." (Matthew 15:25,26).
You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother Israelite… (Deuteronomy 23:20).
What the Qur'an Says…
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that who is the most pious of you. Verily, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware. (Qur'an, 49:13).
And He has united their (Believers`) hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All- Wise. (Qur'an. 8:63).
Commentary..
According to the Bible. Prophet Noah (pbuh) cursed Canaan and made him a slave for his brother because of the mistake of his father Ham, which implies that the descendents of Ham (Black people) are cursed people and slaves for the descendants of Shem and Japheth. The muslim rejects this story for the following reasons:
Prophet Noah (Pbuh) was a great Messenger of Allah and accusing him of drinking wine and lying naked is not accepted by Muslims.
Canaan should`t have been cursed for Ham`s mistake. Why was an innocent son cursed for his father`s mistake? This is an accusation of injustice against one of the great Prophets.
The Jews claim that they are the children of God and the rest of people are gentiles. They fabricated this story to arrogate to themselves superiority over the Canaanites and to give themselves the right to kill and Humiliate them.
In addition, the Jew`s hands wrote in the Bible that they could charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother Israelite. Further, the Jews falsely accuse Prophet Jesus (pbuh) of saying that the Jews falsely accuse Prophet Jesus (pbuh) of saying that the Canaanites are their dogs. It is unbelievable that Jesus (pbuh) said this racist statement. How could a Messenger of Allah Consider non-Israelites as the dogs of the children of Israel?
Every nation throughout history has claimed a kind of superiority based on false criteria such as race, color or language. However, the Qur`an provides the true criterion which is piety. The superiority of a person over another depends on righteousness and good behavior, and not blood, wealth of nationality because all humans are the children of Adam.
The Qur'an says that Allah created different races so that people recognize each other. He did not do that to give certain races superiority or advantage. In fact, the difference in the shapes and colors of people is one of the miracles of Allah which deserves admiration and appreciation; although Allah created us from one male (Adam) and one female (Eve), each person is different from the other; each one is unique. Therefore, the difference is a great miracle of Allah and not justification for racism.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
"O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e: white) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person except in piety".
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the first one to practice this teaching. He treated his Companions equally, the rich, the poor, Arabs and non-Arabs. Bilal the Ethiopian, Suhaib the Roman and Salman the Persian were among the Prophet`s closest Champions. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said,
"Salman (the Persian) is one of my family."
Monday, March 2, 2015
Wisdom and Knowledge
What the Bible Says…
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge the more grief. (Ecclesiastes 1: 18).
… The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?… (Ecclesiastes 2: 15).
What the Qur'an Says…
He grants wisdom to whom He wills, and he, to whom wisdom is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. (Qur'an 2: 269).
Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have been granted knowledge, to high ranks. (Qur'an, 58:11).
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge the more grief. (Ecclesiastes 1: 18).
… The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?… (Ecclesiastes 2: 15).
What the Qur'an Says…
He grants wisdom to whom He wills, and he, to whom wisdom is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. (Qur'an 2: 269).
Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have been granted knowledge, to high ranks. (Qur'an, 58:11).
Sunday, March 1, 2015
The Biblical and Qur'anic Styles
The Biblical Style...
The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, there were two women.. They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breast were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed. The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah… Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalim…
When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her nakedness.. there she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. (Ezekiel 23:1-20).
The Qur'anic Style…
And Allah puts forward the example of a city enjoying security and quiet, abundantly supplied with sustenance from every place, but it disbelieved in the Favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste extremes of hunger and fear, because of that which they used to do. (Qur'an 16:112).
As for Aad, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said: "Who is mightier than us in power?" Did they not see that allah Who created them was mightier than us in power?"And they used to deny Our signs. So, We might make them taste the torment of disgrace in the life of this world. And verily, the torment of the Hereafter will be more disgracing, and they will not be helped.
And as for Thamud, We gave them guidance, but they preferred blindness to guidance; so the stunning punishment of humiliation overtook them because of what they used to earn. And We saved those who believed and used fear Allah, keep their duty to Him and avoid evil. (Qur'an, 41: 15-18).
Commentary …
In order to show the seriousness of idolatry and sins committed by Israel and Judah, the Bible pictured Samaria and Jerusalim as two sisters who engaged in prostitution. This prostitution metaphor is often used in the Bible, (Ezekiel 16:2-32; Jeremaiah 3:1).
The writer of these verses used very lewd sexual expressions and words which obviously cannot be from Allah. If any moral person cannot utter these words, then how could we believe that Allah spoke them!
In contrast, when the Qur'an talks about the sins committed by some people and their punishment, it uses very noble and impressive language which moves the reader to tears and fills the heart with awe. It does not take long for the reader to recognize the beauty and majesty of the word of Allah.
- Two adulterous sisters
The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, there were two women.. They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breast were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed. The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah… Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalim…
When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her nakedness.. there she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. (Ezekiel 23:1-20).
The Qur'anic Style…
And Allah puts forward the example of a city enjoying security and quiet, abundantly supplied with sustenance from every place, but it disbelieved in the Favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste extremes of hunger and fear, because of that which they used to do. (Qur'an 16:112).
As for Aad, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said: "Who is mightier than us in power?" Did they not see that allah Who created them was mightier than us in power?"And they used to deny Our signs. So, We might make them taste the torment of disgrace in the life of this world. And verily, the torment of the Hereafter will be more disgracing, and they will not be helped.
And as for Thamud, We gave them guidance, but they preferred blindness to guidance; so the stunning punishment of humiliation overtook them because of what they used to earn. And We saved those who believed and used fear Allah, keep their duty to Him and avoid evil. (Qur'an, 41: 15-18).
Commentary …
In order to show the seriousness of idolatry and sins committed by Israel and Judah, the Bible pictured Samaria and Jerusalim as two sisters who engaged in prostitution. This prostitution metaphor is often used in the Bible, (Ezekiel 16:2-32; Jeremaiah 3:1).
The writer of these verses used very lewd sexual expressions and words which obviously cannot be from Allah. If any moral person cannot utter these words, then how could we believe that Allah spoke them!
In contrast, when the Qur'an talks about the sins committed by some people and their punishment, it uses very noble and impressive language which moves the reader to tears and fills the heart with awe. It does not take long for the reader to recognize the beauty and majesty of the word of Allah.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Incest
What the Bible Says…
Commentary…
Incest is a great sin and betrayal of trust by someone supposed to be a protector not an offender. It is religiously, morally and naturally rejected and detested.
Allah revealed His Books as light and guidance to lead all humans out of darkness and to warn them and guard them against evil. These Books command righteous deeds and forbid shameful deeds and wickedness.
It is true that Allah does mention in His books crimes and sins committed by some people. However, Allah mentions these stories to warn people against committing such sins and crime, and not to encourage people to commit them. When a book mentions very indecent stories of incest or adultery without criticizing or punishing the people who committed them., then the book, in fact, encourages people to do the same. In the Bible:
What is the moral teaching of these immoral stories? Does any upright person want his or her sons and daughters to read them? These fabricated stories have no benefit except spreading immortality and evil on earth and damaging the reputation of Prophets and righteous people. These stories cannot be the Word of Allah and cannot be from the teachings of the Prophets.
What the Qur'an Says…
Verily, those who like that illegal sexual intercourse should be spread among the believers, will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter and Allah knows and you know not. (Qur'an, 24:19).
- [Prophet Abraham (pbuh) married his sister]
- [Prophet Lot (pbuh) and his daughters]
- [Reubun and his father's concubine]
- [Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar]
Commentary…
Incest is a great sin and betrayal of trust by someone supposed to be a protector not an offender. It is religiously, morally and naturally rejected and detested.
Allah revealed His Books as light and guidance to lead all humans out of darkness and to warn them and guard them against evil. These Books command righteous deeds and forbid shameful deeds and wickedness.
It is true that Allah does mention in His books crimes and sins committed by some people. However, Allah mentions these stories to warn people against committing such sins and crime, and not to encourage people to commit them. When a book mentions very indecent stories of incest or adultery without criticizing or punishing the people who committed them., then the book, in fact, encourages people to do the same. In the Bible:
- Prophet Lot (pbuh) is accused of committing incest with his daughters night after night and there is no criticism.
- Judah committed incest with his daughter-in-law Tamar and Allah rewarded Judah for this crime with two sons born of incest and one of them was (according to the Bible) a great grandfather of Prophet Jesus (pbuh), although he was born miraculously without a father!
- Reuben committed incest with his father's concubine Bilhah, without any reaction from his father Prophet Jacob (pbuh).
What is the moral teaching of these immoral stories? Does any upright person want his or her sons and daughters to read them? These fabricated stories have no benefit except spreading immortality and evil on earth and damaging the reputation of Prophets and righteous people. These stories cannot be the Word of Allah and cannot be from the teachings of the Prophets.
What the Qur'an Says…
Verily, those who like that illegal sexual intercourse should be spread among the believers, will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter and Allah knows and you know not. (Qur'an, 24:19).
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Polygamy (Polygyny)
What the Bible Says…
In Jerusalem David took more wives… (1 Chronicles 14:3).
He (Solomon) had seven hundred wives (1 kings 11:3).
What the Qur'an Says…
If you fear that shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, then 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 slaves that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice. And give the women on marriage their dowry (money given by the husband to his wife) with a good heart. (Qur'an, 4:3,4).
Commentary…
The Bible does not prohibit polygamy and most of the Old Testament Prophets were polygamous. Criticizing polygamy implies criticizing those Messengers, and this should not be acceptable to any true Jew, Christian or Muslim.
Unlike the Bible, the Qur'an limits polygamy to a maximum of four wives provided that the husband deals with them justly. If not, then only one wife is allowed. Therefore, polygamy is not one of the pillars of Islam but a restricted permission! The Qur'an did not invent polygamy but limited it.
Islam allows polygamy not merely for the satisfaction of desires but as a solution to certain social problems. It is very clear that if the number of women in any society is equal to the number of men, then every man will marry one woman and as result, no man can marry more than one woman. However, if the number of women is more than that of men, then polygamy is without doubt better than leaving some women without husbands which may result in fornication, prostitution, homosexuality, diseases, and illegitimate children. Therefore, many women, who could not get married, find in polygamy the right way to satisfy their emotions and enjoy the pleasure of having family and children.
In Jerusalem David took more wives… (1 Chronicles 14:3).
He (Solomon) had seven hundred wives (1 kings 11:3).
What the Qur'an Says…
If you fear that shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, then 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 slaves that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice. And give the women on marriage their dowry (money given by the husband to his wife) with a good heart. (Qur'an, 4:3,4).
Commentary…
The Bible does not prohibit polygamy and most of the Old Testament Prophets were polygamous. Criticizing polygamy implies criticizing those Messengers, and this should not be acceptable to any true Jew, Christian or Muslim.
Unlike the Bible, the Qur'an limits polygamy to a maximum of four wives provided that the husband deals with them justly. If not, then only one wife is allowed. Therefore, polygamy is not one of the pillars of Islam but a restricted permission! The Qur'an did not invent polygamy but limited it.
Islam allows polygamy not merely for the satisfaction of desires but as a solution to certain social problems. It is very clear that if the number of women in any society is equal to the number of men, then every man will marry one woman and as result, no man can marry more than one woman. However, if the number of women is more than that of men, then polygamy is without doubt better than leaving some women without husbands which may result in fornication, prostitution, homosexuality, diseases, and illegitimate children. Therefore, many women, who could not get married, find in polygamy the right way to satisfy their emotions and enjoy the pleasure of having family and children.
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