From Part I
Wine: Good or bad? Strong drinks and ... is only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. [5:90, also 2:219]. Yet on the other hand inParadise are rivers of wine [47:15, also 83:22,25]. How does Satan's handiwork get into Paradise ?
Good News of Painful Torture? Obviously, announcing torment and suffering to anyone is bad news, not good news. However, the Qur'an announces the good news of painful torment [3:21, 4:138, 9:3, 9:34, 31:7, 45:8, and 84:24].
Jinns and men created for worship or for Hell? Created only to serve God [Surah 51:56], many of them made for Hell [Surah 7:179].
Preferred for Hell? S. 17:70 says that Allah prefers (all) the children of Adam over many of his creatures, but S. 98:6 declares the majority of men to be the worst of creatures, many of them being even created specifically for Hell (S. 7:179).
Will all Muslims go to Hell? According to Surah 19:71 every Muslim will go to Hell (for at least some time), while another passage states that those who die in Jihad will go to Paradise immediately.
Will Allah disgrace Muslims? On the day of judgment Allah will not humiliate or disgrace the Prophet and those who believe in him [S. 66:8]. However, 19:71 says that everyone will enter Hell, and 3:192 states that whomsoever Allah sends to Hell, is disgraced thereby.
Will Jesus burn in Hell? Jesus is raised to Allah, [Surah 4:158], near stationed with him [Surah 3:45], worshiped by millions of Christians, yet Surah 21:98 says, that all that are worshiped by men besides Allah will burn in Hell together with those who worship them.
Is Jesus God or Not? In Surah 16:17, 20-21 and S. 25:3 we find a criterion to distinguish the true God from false gods. Yet, according to S. 3:49, 55, 4:157-158, 5:110, 6:2, and 38:71-72 Jesus satisfies the definition and should be considered true Deity.
Is Jesus Like Adam? S. 3:59 makes this claim, but how many aspects of likeness are there really?
Can there be a son without a consort? Allah cannot have a son without a consort [Surah 6:101], but Mary can have a son without a consort because that is easy for Allah [Surah 19:21].
Who is the father of Jesus? A more involved argument that is difficult to summarize in one sentence.
Begetting and Self-sufficiency A self-contradiction on account of confused terminology.
Could Allah have a son? Surah 39:4 affirms and Surah 6:101 denies this possibility.
Did Jesus Die already? Surah 3:144 states that all messengers died before Muhammad. But 4:158 claims that Jesus was raised to God (alive?).
One Creator or many? The Qur'an uses twice the phrase that Allah is "the best of creators" [23:14, 37:125]. What other creators are in mind? On the other hand, many verses make clear that Allah alone is "the creator of all things" [e.g. 39:62]. There is nothing left for others to be a creator of.
From among all nations or from Abraham's seed? Surah 29:27 states that all prophets came Abraham's seed. But 16:36 claims that Allah raised messengers from among every people.
Marrying the wives of adopted sons? It is important that Muslims can marry the divorced wives of adopted sons [Surah 33:37], yet it is forbidden to adopt sons [Surah 33:4-5].
Messengers were never sent to other than their own people? So it is claimed in Surah 14:4 and 30:47. However, the Bible and the Qur'an, and the Muslim traditions confirm that Jonah was sent to a different nation.
Messengers Were Sent Only to Their Own People? Surah 14:4 states that never was a messenger sent except in the language of his own people. Yet, the Quran itself claims that Jesus is supposed to be a sign to all people, that the Torah and Gospel are for all people, that Moses was sent to Pharaoh of Egypt, and that Muhammad is sent to all of mankind. The hadith also claim that Noah was sent to "the inhabitants of the earth".
Did Allah give a Greek Injil to the Jews?
What kind of book is the Injil?
Messengers Amongst the Jinns and Angels? Allah sent only men as messengers [Surahs 12:109, 21:7-8, 25:20-21] but there seemingly are messengers from Jinns and Angels [6:130; 11:69,77; 22:75; etc., see article for details].
Do all of God's messengers eat food?
A Messenger from among the beasts? Allah sent only men as messengers [Surahs 12:109, 21:7-8, 25:20-21]. Yet, the Qur'an also speaks about a beast that is a messenger from Allah to men [S. 27:82].
Is Muhammad Only A Warner or a Prophet/Messenger?
Did the Messengers Perform Miracles?
Divinely Inspired Ignorance?
Which Prophets Did the Jews Kill?
Another eleven contradictions...
Further:
- Examples of conflicting versions of the same story in the Qur'an
- Contradictory Grammar
... and more ...
- Statements that are difficulties only because of the wording in the English translation: To speak or not to speak? Say: I shall not speak to any man today. (Surah 19:26)
Further pages with Muslim responses:
- A summary response to (some of items) above
- Misha'al Al-Kadhi's response titled "Does the Word of God in the Noble Qur'an Contain Contradictions?" He never informed me that he was writing about me ... Maybe he hoped that as long as I don't know about it he will not be refuted? Carefully compare my reasoning and his reply, since many times he only responds to the short abstract given on this page, without paying any attention to the detailed discussion of each of these contradictions, found when one follows the given links.
- The same approach was taken by Laaman Ball in his Response to Internal Contradictions which prompted my question in return.
- Some interesting responses from the sectarian Qur'an Only camp: [*]
- Osama Abdallah also put together a number of responses [*]
- Answering Islam's Critics is Shabir Ally's new page in response to the Qur'an Contradictions. Having just written a response to only the first entry above, he already claims they are all invalid. That seems somewhat premature to us.
External Contradictions:
Introductory question
Science:
Solomon listening to ants? In Surah 27:18-19 Solomon overhears a "conversation of ants".Is this possible based on our knowledge about the mode and complexity of ant communication?
The stars and the moon The Qur'an teaches that there are seven heavens one above the other [67:3, 71:15], and that the stars are in the lower heaven [67:5, 37:6, 41:12], but the moon is depicted as being in/inside the seven heavens [71:16], even though in reality the stars are much further away from the earth than the moon.
Qur'an and Science: Section Four in Dr. Campbell's book
Qur'an and Embryology
Can non-living matter think, feel and have a will?
The human embryonic development
The place of Sun rise and Sun set
The Seven Earths
Stars created to be thrown at devils?
Sun and moon are subject to man?
Mountains and Earthquakes
The impossible conversation
Solomon and the animals...
Shaking the trunk of the palm tree?
Thinking with the breasts?
All things are made in pairs? S. 51:49 claims that everything is created in pairs. But that’s not true! There are a number of things that have no counterpart and species where only one gender exists.
History:
The Qur'an Attacks ... Christianity?
Selling Joseph for a few Dirhams? (before coins were even invented)
Moses and the Samaritan?
The farthest Mosque?
Alexander the Great, a Muslim?
None else was named "John" before John the Baptist?
Two Pharaohs who crucified?
Burnt bricks in Egypt?
How many gods did the Egyptians worship?
Israel, the Quran and the Promised Land
Were they utterly destroyed?
What kind of book is the Injil?
Jesus was not crucified?
The anachronistic title al-`Aziz given to Potiphar [with special gratitude to Islamic Awareness for making such a big deal about a minor point on a defunct web page, and forcing the issue into public attention.]
The Qur'an in Contradiction to the Earlier Revelations:
Ultimately, the strongest, most serious problem of the Qur'an is that it affirms the scriptures of the Jews and the Christians as authentic and true revelation from God (cf. what the Qur'an says about the Bible), while radically denying central aspects of their message, e.g. the core themes of sacrifice and atonement in the Torah, the crucifixion of Jesus, the deity of Jesus and even the mere messianic title "Son of God" for Jesus, the very nature of God, the fall and the sinfulness of man (*, *), necessity and means of salvation, etc. For this reason Muslims had to invent the unwarranted theory of corruption of the earlier scriptures, even against the clear testimony of the Qur'an itself.
In the following some smaller discrepancies between the Qur'an and the scriptures it supposedly confirms.
Historical Compressions:
Saul, David, Gideon and Goliath
A Samaritan tempting the Israelites in Moses time?
Prophets and Kings in Israel before the time of Moses?
Moses and the Gospel?
Punishment for future disobedience?
Mary, the sister of Aaron?
Pharaoh and Haman?
A Pharaoh Who Forgot to Die in Time?
Was there a second period of slaying the sons of the Israelites?
Moses or Jacob?
Did Joseph's parents go to Egypt?
Abraham's name
Abraham and Solomon
Other contradictions in comparison to the Bible:
Introductory remark
Did God teach Adam the names of the animals?
Noah's Age
Were Believers Really Called Muslims Before the Time of Muhammad?
The Quran’s Mistakes regarding the Biblical Patriarchs
Who Adopted Moses: Pharaoh’s Daughter or Pharaoh’s Wife?
A Flood in the time of Moses?
Israel, the Quran and the Promised Land
The Quran, Moses and the Tablets of Stone
Solomon Working with Demons
Israel's Response to the Covenant: ‘We Obey’ or ‘We Disobey’?
Where is the Blood?
Divinely Inspired Ignorance?
Which Prophets Did the Jews Kill?
What kind of book is the Injil?
Animal sacrifices for Christians?
How many messengers at Noah's time?
Why did the Queen of Sheba come to Solomon?
Ezra the Son of God?
Jesus reached old age?
Did the golden calf say 'Moo'?
Did disobedience result in extra commandments?
How many messengers were sent to Noah's people?
The Progeny of Abraham?
Two young men?
How many wings does an angel have?
More contradictions between Qur'an and Bible
Do they not ponder on the Qur'an? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy. -- Surah 4:82
Since this verse is claiming that there is "no contradiction / discrepancy" in the Qur'an, therefore itself has to be part of the list of contradictions because it contradicts the existence of the above listed contradictions. Or would you say because it says "much" and the above aren't "enough of them" yet to qualify for "much", all is actually fine? Note the paradox: it doesn’t say: NO DISCREPANCY- So in fact, it corroborates that there ARE SOME DISCPREPANCIES….How to judge this?
If you want to use these contradictions when talking to your Muslim friends, then read this.
A book on this topic, listing several hundred difficult issues in the Qur'an is: `Abdallah `Abd al-Fadi “Is the Qur'an Infallible”? Order Number VB 4009 E available from: Light of Life, P.O.Box 13, A-9503 Villach, Austria, also available in Arabic.
Other Pages on these topics:
- Contradictions in the Qur'an
- Chapters 6 - 11 in the book "Behind the Veil"
- Errors in the Qur'an
- A Partial List of Problems and Contradictions in the Quran
- Quran Contradictions
If you have the feeling this is a really mean, disrespectful and distasteful attack on the Qur'an, ... and Muslims would never do things like that to the Bible ... maybe you would like to have a look around some Muslim sites:
- The Bible Criticism Page [1], [2], [3], [4] is copied and displayed on many Islamic sites and often one of the first links that you see when entering these Islamic pages: [1], [1a], [2], ... [3], and a similar page is here.
What do you think about Muslims using Atheist material?
There is no joy in this approach. Muslims have forced it with their pages.
Furthermore, there are "genuinely" Muslim pages, that are not just relying on the atheists, but they have their own Bible contradictions. I am giving again several locations of the identical text, to show how important these books are to Muslims and how often they are used.
- Shabir Ally's "101 Clear Contradictions in the Bible" are quite popular, but it is interesting to note that none of the Muslim pages is willing to link to the Christian response to their attack on the Bible. What is the fear? Why do Muslims demand that we link to their responses on the Qur'an contradictions but they are not willing to link to the Christian response to Bible contradictions?
- Abdul Rahman Dimashkiah presents "Let the Bible Speak" ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5])
- Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya's "God: Is not the Author of Confusion" is responded to on our site
- 101 Questions About Christianity ([1], [2], [3])
====> Christian Responses
IHS
Wine: Good or bad? Strong drinks and ... is only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. [5:90, also 2:219]. Yet on the other hand in
Good News of Painful Torture? Obviously, announcing torment and suffering to anyone is bad news, not good news. However, the Qur'an announces the good news of painful torment [3:21, 4:138, 9:3, 9:34, 31:7, 45:8, and 84:24].
Jinns and men created for worship or for Hell? Created only to serve God [Surah 51:56], many of them made for Hell [Surah 7:179].
Preferred for Hell? S. 17:70 says that Allah prefers (all) the children of Adam over many of his creatures, but S. 98:6 declares the majority of men to be the worst of creatures, many of them being even created specifically for Hell (S. 7:179).
Will all Muslims go to Hell? According to Surah 19:71 every Muslim will go to Hell (for at least some time), while another passage states that those who die in Jihad will go to Paradise immediately.
Will Allah disgrace Muslims? On the day of judgment Allah will not humiliate or disgrace the Prophet and those who believe in him [S. 66:8]. However, 19:71 says that everyone will enter Hell, and 3:192 states that whomsoever Allah sends to Hell, is disgraced thereby.
Will Jesus burn in Hell? Jesus is raised to Allah, [Surah 4:158], near stationed with him [Surah 3:45], worshiped by millions of Christians, yet Surah 21:98 says, that all that are worshiped by men besides Allah will burn in Hell together with those who worship them.
Is Jesus God or Not? In Surah 16:17, 20-21 and S. 25:3 we find a criterion to distinguish the true God from false gods. Yet, according to S. 3:49, 55, 4:157-158, 5:110, 6:2, and 38:71-72 Jesus satisfies the definition and should be considered true Deity.
Is Jesus Like Adam? S. 3:59 makes this claim, but how many aspects of likeness are there really?
Can there be a son without a consort? Allah cannot have a son without a consort [Surah 6:101], but Mary can have a son without a consort because that is easy for Allah [Surah 19:21].
Who is the father of Jesus? A more involved argument that is difficult to summarize in one sentence.
Begetting and Self-sufficiency A self-contradiction on account of confused terminology.
Could Allah have a son? Surah 39:4 affirms and Surah 6:101 denies this possibility.
Did Jesus Die already? Surah 3:144 states that all messengers died before Muhammad. But 4:158 claims that Jesus was raised to God (alive?).
One Creator or many? The Qur'an uses twice the phrase that Allah is "the best of creators" [23:14, 37:125]. What other creators are in mind? On the other hand, many verses make clear that Allah alone is "the creator of all things" [e.g. 39:62]. There is nothing left for others to be a creator of.
From among all nations or from Abraham's seed? Surah 29:27 states that all prophets came Abraham's seed. But 16:36 claims that Allah raised messengers from among every people.
Marrying the wives of adopted sons? It is important that Muslims can marry the divorced wives of adopted sons [Surah 33:37], yet it is forbidden to adopt sons [Surah 33:4-5].
Messengers were never sent to other than their own people? So it is claimed in Surah 14:4 and 30:47. However, the Bible and the Qur'an, and the Muslim traditions confirm that Jonah was sent to a different nation.
Messengers Were Sent Only to Their Own People? Surah 14:4 states that never was a messenger sent except in the language of his own people. Yet, the Quran itself claims that Jesus is supposed to be a sign to all people, that the Torah and Gospel are for all people, that Moses was sent to Pharaoh of Egypt, and that Muhammad is sent to all of mankind. The hadith also claim that Noah was sent to "the inhabitants of the earth".
Did Allah give a Greek Injil to the Jews?
What kind of book is the Injil?
Messengers Amongst the Jinns and Angels? Allah sent only men as messengers [Surahs 12:109, 21:7-8, 25:20-21] but there seemingly are messengers from Jinns and Angels [6:130; 11:69,77; 22:75; etc., see article for details].
Do all of God's messengers eat food?
A Messenger from among the beasts? Allah sent only men as messengers [Surahs 12:109, 21:7-8, 25:20-21]. Yet, the Qur'an also speaks about a beast that is a messenger from Allah to men [S. 27:82].
Is Muhammad Only A Warner or a Prophet/Messenger?
Did the Messengers Perform Miracles?
Divinely Inspired Ignorance?
Which Prophets Did the Jews Kill?
Another eleven contradictions...
Further:
- Examples of conflicting versions of the same story in the Qur'an
- Contradictory Grammar
... and more ...
- Statements that are difficulties only because of the wording in the English translation: To speak or not to speak? Say: I shall not speak to any man today. (Surah 19:26)
Further pages with Muslim responses:
- A summary response to (some of items) above
- Misha'al Al-Kadhi's response titled "Does the Word of God in the Noble Qur'an Contain Contradictions?" He never informed me that he was writing about me ... Maybe he hoped that as long as I don't know about it he will not be refuted? Carefully compare my reasoning and his reply, since many times he only responds to the short abstract given on this page, without paying any attention to the detailed discussion of each of these contradictions, found when one follows the given links.
- The same approach was taken by Laaman Ball in his Response to Internal Contradictions which prompted my question in return.
- Some interesting responses from the sectarian Qur'an Only camp: [*]
- Osama Abdallah also put together a number of responses [*]
- Answering Islam's Critics is Shabir Ally's new page in response to the Qur'an Contradictions. Having just written a response to only the first entry above, he already claims they are all invalid. That seems somewhat premature to us.
External Contradictions:
Introductory question
Science:
Solomon listening to ants? In Surah 27:18-19 Solomon overhears a "conversation of ants".Is this possible based on our knowledge about the mode and complexity of ant communication?
The stars and the moon The Qur'an teaches that there are seven heavens one above the other [67:3, 71:15], and that the stars are in the lower heaven [67:5, 37:6, 41:12], but the moon is depicted as being in/inside the seven heavens [71:16], even though in reality the stars are much further away from the earth than the moon.
Qur'an and Science: Section Four in Dr. Campbell's book
Qur'an and Embryology
Can non-living matter think, feel and have a will?
The human embryonic development
The place of Sun rise and Sun set
The Seven Earths
Stars created to be thrown at devils?
Sun and moon are subject to man?
Mountains and Earthquakes
The impossible conversation
Solomon and the animals...
Shaking the trunk of the palm tree?
Thinking with the breasts?
All things are made in pairs? S. 51:49 claims that everything is created in pairs. But that’s not true! There are a number of things that have no counterpart and species where only one gender exists.
History:
The Qur'an Attacks ... Christianity?
Selling Joseph for a few Dirhams? (before coins were even invented)
Moses and the Samaritan?
The farthest Mosque?
Alexander the Great, a Muslim?
None else was named "John" before John the Baptist?
Two Pharaohs who crucified?
Burnt bricks in Egypt?
How many gods did the Egyptians worship?
Israel, the Quran and the Promised Land
Were they utterly destroyed?
What kind of book is the Injil?
Jesus was not crucified?
The anachronistic title al-`Aziz given to Potiphar [with special gratitude to Islamic Awareness for making such a big deal about a minor point on a defunct web page, and forcing the issue into public attention.]
The Qur'an in Contradiction to the Earlier Revelations:
Ultimately, the strongest, most serious problem of the Qur'an is that it affirms the scriptures of the Jews and the Christians as authentic and true revelation from God (cf. what the Qur'an says about the Bible), while radically denying central aspects of their message, e.g. the core themes of sacrifice and atonement in the Torah, the crucifixion of Jesus, the deity of Jesus and even the mere messianic title "Son of God" for Jesus, the very nature of God, the fall and the sinfulness of man (*, *), necessity and means of salvation, etc. For this reason Muslims had to invent the unwarranted theory of corruption of the earlier scriptures, even against the clear testimony of the Qur'an itself.
In the following some smaller discrepancies between the Qur'an and the scriptures it supposedly confirms.
Historical Compressions:
Saul, David, Gideon and Goliath
A Samaritan tempting the Israelites in Moses time?
Prophets and Kings in Israel before the time of Moses?
Moses and the Gospel?
Punishment for future disobedience?
Mary, the sister of Aaron?
Pharaoh and Haman?
A Pharaoh Who Forgot to Die in Time?
Was there a second period of slaying the sons of the Israelites?
Moses or Jacob?
Did Joseph's parents go to Egypt?
Abraham's name
Abraham and Solomon
Other contradictions in comparison to the Bible:
Introductory remark
Did God teach Adam the names of the animals?
Noah's Age
Were Believers Really Called Muslims Before the Time of Muhammad?
The Quran’s Mistakes regarding the Biblical Patriarchs
Who Adopted Moses: Pharaoh’s Daughter or Pharaoh’s Wife?
A Flood in the time of Moses?
Israel, the Quran and the Promised Land
The Quran, Moses and the Tablets of Stone
Solomon Working with Demons
Israel's Response to the Covenant: ‘We Obey’ or ‘We Disobey’?
Where is the Blood?
Divinely Inspired Ignorance?
Which Prophets Did the Jews Kill?
What kind of book is the Injil?
Animal sacrifices for Christians?
How many messengers at Noah's time?
Why did the Queen of Sheba come to Solomon?
Ezra the Son of God?
Jesus reached old age?
Did the golden calf say 'Moo'?
Did disobedience result in extra commandments?
How many messengers were sent to Noah's people?
The Progeny of Abraham?
Two young men?
How many wings does an angel have?
More contradictions between Qur'an and Bible
Do they not ponder on the Qur'an? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy. -- Surah 4:82
Since this verse is claiming that there is "no contradiction / discrepancy" in the Qur'an, therefore itself has to be part of the list of contradictions because it contradicts the existence of the above listed contradictions. Or would you say because it says "much" and the above aren't "enough of them" yet to qualify for "much", all is actually fine? Note the paradox: it doesn’t say: NO DISCREPANCY- So in fact, it corroborates that there ARE SOME DISCPREPANCIES….How to judge this?
If you want to use these contradictions when talking to your Muslim friends, then read this.
A book on this topic, listing several hundred difficult issues in the Qur'an is: `Abdallah `Abd al-Fadi “Is the Qur'an Infallible”? Order Number VB 4009 E available from: Light of Life, P.O.Box 13, A-9503 Villach, Austria, also available in Arabic.
Other Pages on these topics:
- Contradictions in the Qur'an
- Chapters 6 - 11 in the book "Behind the Veil"
- Errors in the Qur'an
- A Partial List of Problems and Contradictions in the Quran
- Quran Contradictions
If you have the feeling this is a really mean, disrespectful and distasteful attack on the Qur'an, ... and Muslims would never do things like that to the Bible ... maybe you would like to have a look around some Muslim sites:
- The Bible Criticism Page [1], [2], [3], [4] is copied and displayed on many Islamic sites and often one of the first links that you see when entering these Islamic pages: [1], [1a], [2], ... [3], and a similar page is here.
What do you think about Muslims using Atheist material?
There is no joy in this approach. Muslims have forced it with their pages.
Furthermore, there are "genuinely" Muslim pages, that are not just relying on the atheists, but they have their own Bible contradictions. I am giving again several locations of the identical text, to show how important these books are to Muslims and how often they are used.
- Shabir Ally's "101 Clear Contradictions in the Bible" are quite popular, but it is interesting to note that none of the Muslim pages is willing to link to the Christian response to their attack on the Bible. What is the fear? Why do Muslims demand that we link to their responses on the Qur'an contradictions but they are not willing to link to the Christian response to Bible contradictions?
- Abdul Rahman Dimashkiah presents "Let the Bible Speak" ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5])
- Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya's "God: Is not the Author of Confusion" is responded to on our site
- 101 Questions About Christianity ([1], [2], [3])
====> Christian Responses
IHS
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