Jewish rabbis delight in arguing over many different interpretations of the Torah and rabbinic reflection on the basic text is vital.
Christian Biblical Scholars question the historicity of the Christian Gospels and there is no certainty about what what Jesus actually said.
Christian Biblical Scholars question the historicity of the Christian Gospels and there is no certainty about what what Jesus actually said.
The search for the historical Jesus’ has largely been abandoned. All we have is what the young Christian Church said of Jesus.
Similar questions can apply to the Qu’ran.
Islam depends on various assumptions. That:
Islam depends on various assumptions. That:
1) Muhammad did indeed believe that the Qur'an was dictated by the Archangel,
2) Allah did, indeed, dictate the Qur'an
3) Allah intended the Qur'an to apply at all times and not just in the circumstances in which it was revealed,
4) Zayd Ibn Thabit was able to accurately collect the various small fragments together into a single volume and this is the volume that we have today.
If any of these are rejected, then the basis of Islam itself would be called into question.
The fact that the above cannot be proved to be true does not, of course, mean that they may not be true…. Exactly the same applies to Christian claims.
ISLAM
ISLAM
Central to Islam is a radical monothesim – commitment to God being One. The greatest enemy of Islam is idol worship.
Central to Islam is a radical monothesim – commitment to God being One. The greatest enemy of Islam is idol worship.
The Qu’ran recognises Jews and Christians as fellow ‘people of the book’ and gives them a place of respect. It appears that the Qur'an modifies this slightly – possibly due to the opposition Muhammad faced from Jews in Medina and elsewhere and also, possibly, because a Jewish wife tried to poison him after her husband was killed by Muslims.
Nevertheless throughout much of its history Islam has shown tolerance of Jews and Christians (generally far more, let it be said, than Christians have been tolerant of Muslims!). BUT…..
Islam shows apparent tolerance of Judaism and Christianity BUT there is no idea of freedom of religion in Islam.
Islam shows apparent tolerance of Judaism and Christianity BUT there is no idea of freedom of religion in Islam.
If someone leaves Islam (for instance to convert to Christianity) then the death penalty is imposed for men or a life prison sentence is imposed for women.
Muslims, therefore, can find it difficult to engage in inter-religious dialogue as they are certain that they have God’s truth and every other religion is wrong or, at most, a partial and distorted insight into truth.
Although the Gospels and Torah are respected, Islam claims they provide an inaccurate accounts of Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Although the Gospels and Torah are respected, Islam claims they provide an inaccurate accounts of Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
The Gospels and Torah are accepted in so far as they are in accordance with the Qu’ran, where the former differ, they have been tampered with.
Thus Jesus was indeed born of a virgin as the Christian Gospels say – this is affirmed in the Qu’ran.
The Virgin Mary is held in high veneration in Islam as the virgin mother of the prophet, Jesus.
“It was we who revealed the law of Moses; therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophet who bowed to Allah’s will, by the rabbis and doctors of the law…” (Sura 5:47)
“It was we who revealed the law of Moses; therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophet who bowed to Allah’s will, by the rabbis and doctors of the law…” (Sura 5:47)
Allah is light, the lights of heaven, earth and the cosmos – the first light and the source of all light. Allah is absolute truth and the source of all truth.
Allah is light, the lights of heaven, earth and the cosmos – the first light and the source of all light. Allah is absolute truth and the source of all truth.
This light also shines through the Torah, the Gospels and the Qu’ran which are pure truth – but only the Qu’ran is unmediated, a direct Word from God.
The light of true faith enlightens the one real way to Allah.
The term ‘kafir’ means ‘ungrateful’ and later came to be used as ‘unbeliever’.
The term ‘kafir’ means ‘ungrateful’ and later came to be used as ‘unbeliever’.
The Qu’ran rejects both polythesists and the People of the Book in varying degrees: “Those who reject (Truth) among the People of the Book and among the polytheists, will be in hell-fire, to dwell therein for aye, and they are the worst of creatures. Those who have faith, and do righteous deeds – they are the best of creatures.” (Sura 98: 6-8)
