Please visit Crescent Project. The bulk of this series is outlining the Bridges series from Crescent Project.
This series has shown where the Qur’an states that the the Gospel of Jesus, the Injeel (the Arabic name Muslims use for the Gospels) is from Allah. This is phenomenal! From the authoritative word of Allah for Muslims, there is the direct teaching that not only Jesus but other prophets from the Old Testament delivered the word of God to humanity. It has also been shared in this series that Muslims believe that Allah has revealed his word in succession as previous scriptures were distorted, corrupted, or changed by men. The differing understandings and views that Muslims and Christians have concerning the Injeel (The Gospels) has also been shared. To read the rest of this series scroll down, or click on the Islam label at the bottom of this post.
Theological Response
One response to a Christian apologist could give to Muslims for why the Injeel has not been corrupted is a theological response.
When Muslims say the Injeel has bee corrupted, Fouad Masri, founder of Crescent Project, suggests saying, “Astaghfurallah”! This means, “God forbid.”
Why should this response be given? It would appear that such a response is instantly setting up a fight, using the name of Allah and throwing it back in a Muslims face that he or she is WRONG! In fact, this is done from a loving position. Muslims say “God Forbid” whenever something is said or done that goes against Allah or his will. The idea is that Christians apologists should respond with “God Forbid” to direct them to the truth that what they just said went against God’s word, because it suggests that humans are stronger than God.
From a theological study of the Qur’an, who is stronger, man or God? Clearly God. From a theological study of the Qur’an, is the Injeel (The Gospels) from Allah and is the Injeel Allah’s Word? The answer is yes. It then stands to reason, if they were God’s words when they were written down, how could man have the power to change them? If man can corrupt God’s word, how do you know then if the Qu’ran can’t be corrupted. God will save and protect his word.
At this point a Christian can encourage a Muslim to know that in the Injeel God has promised to keep his word. Encourage a Muslim to read the Injeel. Copies of the New Testament can even be purchased which have the title “Injeel” on the cover and they are written in both Arabic and English. It would be the perfect time to share the Injeel with a Muslim, ensuring him or her that God’s word cannot be corrupted, because God will preserve his word – man is not stronger than God.
Many Muslims have not read the Injeel, because they have always been told that it is corrupted! They are taught that it is corrupted because it clearly contradicts what the Qur’an teaches. Yet, the Qur’an says the Injeel is the word of Allah. Christians must begin to interact with Muslims to show them that the Qur’an mandates that the Injeel be kept and read and that it came before the Qur’an and God’s word cannot be changed by men, since God is stronger than men and God has promised to keep his word. Once Muslims begin to read the Injeel, in the view that it is the word of God and can be trusted, they will learn what the Injeel’s teachings about God and the prophets runs contrary to that of the Qur’an, and if they were in fact reading it as God’s word that came before the Qur’an then in hope they will see the Qur’an for what it truly is, the word of a man.
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You present an interesting methodology but it leaves me wanting the references to the passages in the Qur’an to which you refer. Why wouldn’t a Muslim person put a Christian on the spot and ask where it says this and then question the Christian’s interpretation of these passages? Do they not also insist that the Qur’an can only be truly read and understood in Arabic? From this, could they not infer that we are mistaken? Only suggesting hear that assuming the argument will go as planned or that the parties have a firm grasp of the texts involved could only be improved with citations that reference the text that is central to your argument. Armed with the chapter and verse we could ask what is write at… And for them to tell us what it means. They would then be the ones drawing meaning from their book and we are removed from the focus.
I admit that I may be missing something as this was my first visit to your blog, but I was moved to respond.
I’ve never had a Muslim question me about where it’s in the Qur’an that the words of Moses, David, and Jesus are from Allah. It’s common knowledge to them that the prophets of the OT and Jesus are called prophets in the Qur’an, so they are not so worried about what the specific citation is or if you read it in English or Arabic. But you ask some great questions. My next blog post will provide the Qur’an citations to your questions and I’ll address some of what you said about Muslims only viewing the Qur’an to be in Arabic.
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Kudos
Since my first comments above, I have not stood motionless. There are significant cultural differences in the Muslim and Christian worldview. There are literary styles and mechanisms as well as significant doctrines that make a literal reading of the Quran error prone. It’s not as simple as finding a passage you like that fits the narrative that pleases you. I am unlikely to be able to completely persuade you in a short forum such as this… Maybe not even in a more protracted discussion, but if you are willing to dig a little and take just a few suggestions, you may be more convinced by what you find for yourself. I suggest, if you would permit me, to study the following four doctrines. The doctrine of the Takkiya, doctrine of Abrogation, doctrine of Biblical Corruption, and doctrine of Living Obedience. If you hope to reach out to a Muslim effectively and respectfully, it will be helpful to understand who you are dealing with and what they believe beyond are few short passages. God bless your efforts.
This post is very interesting. Many Muslims mistakenly say that the Injeel has been corrupted due to a lack of understanding. Is the Christian Scriptures or New Testament the Injeel, or is the Injeel a book that has been either lost or changed? Here is the kicker, does the Qur’an refer to the Injeel as a book (Al-Kitaab)?