God's Scripture
A Faithful Comparison - What Jews, Christians, and Muslims Must KnowBy NADER POURHASSANiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2009 DR. NADER POURHASSAN
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4401-8679-0Contents
Dedication........................................................................................vPreface...........................................................................................ixIntroduction......................................................................................xiChapter 1 Fundamental ideas within the Bible, as compared to the Koran............................1Chapter 2 Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus in comparison to the Koran...............................232.1) Genesis compared to the Koran................................................................232.2) Exodus compared to the Koran.................................................................612.3) Leviticus compared to the Koran..............................................................81Chapter 3 Comparison of God's Scriptures by Category..............................................1103.1 Comparing the Bible with the Koran - Guidance.................................................1123.2 Comparing the Bible with the Koran - Stories..................................................133Chapter 4 All the verses of the Koran categorized by subject......................................215Chapter 5 Similarities between the teachings of the Koran and the New Gospels.....................299Chapter 6 Conclusion..............................................................................308APPENDIX..........................................................................................329
Chapter One
Fundamental ideas within the Bible, as compared to the Koran
It is universally acknowledged that the Bible and the Koran are the two holiest books within the Abrahamic religions that include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The followers of these religions more or less believe that the world's main prophets include:
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Samuel David, Solomon, Jesus, and Mohammad
These powerful prophets are not the only ones recognized by the Holy Scriptures. There are many more prophets whose names and stories are mentioned in the Bible but not in the Koran. The Bible lists complete and accurate accountings of almost all the prophets. While the Koran only gives details of a few prophets, it does tell (in some cases) part of the story that is not covered by the Bible. For example, about Noah, Eber, Shelah, Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, Jethro, Job, and a few others, the Koran includes details that are unfamiliar to those who have studied the Bible but not the Koran.
One important truth which would surprise many Christians and Jews is that Muslims believe in all the prophets that Christians accept. Furthermore, Muslims also believe in a prophet who is considered to be the last one, Prophet Mohammad. They believe that his coming was predicted in the Hebrew Bible several times.
Bible: Genesis 17:20 "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year." 22 Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
Bible: Isaiah 19:19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. 20 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. 21 Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. 24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria-a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."
On a further note, Christians believe in all the prophets that Jewish people do, including the prophet Jesus Christ. His coming is also predicted in the Bible (the Old Testament).
Bible: Isaiah 7:13 Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."
Jews believe in all the prophets that are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) but reject the last two prophets. So, in essence, Jews and Christians are both the children of Israel, and the only difference between them is whether they accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior.
Muslims are the children of Abraham through Ishmael. They are also blessed as predicted in the Bible. Prophet Mohammad is finally sent to them about 600 years after Jesus Christ was sent to the children of Israel. Prophet Mohammad is sent to the children of Ishmael, so they can't claim that a prophet was not sent to them as Jesus Christ was sent to the children of Israel. Please note the Koran states this fact:
Koran 6:156 Now you can no longer say, "The scripture was sent down to two groups (Jews, Christians) before us, and we were unaware of their teachings." 157 Nor can you say, "If only a scripture could come down to us, we would be better guided than they." A proven scripture has now come to you from your Lord, and a beacon, and a mercy. Now, who is more evil than one who rejects these proofs from God, and disregards them? We will commit those who disregard our proofs to the worst retribution for their heedlessness.
Abrahamic religions have 41 Holy Books. All these books have the same guidance from the same God to the children of Abraham and He is known as the one and only one God, the creator of all things. These 41 books are then grouped into two books, including:
1. The Bible - Contains 40 books: 39 in the Old Testament, plus the New Testament, which counts as one book because its four Gospels cover more or less the same things about the life of Jesus Christ and His teachings in that same period of time. 2. The Koran - Contains the same teachings as the Torah. The Torah contains the first five books of the Bible.
Koran 87:18 This (the Koran) is recorded in the earlier teachings. 19 The teachings of Abraham and Moses.
The Koran also claims that Prophet Mohammad is nothing but a prophet and that he is like the prophets of old who brought warnings to the people.
Koran 3:144 Mohammad was no more than a messenger like the messengers before him.
Koran 46:9 Says, I am not different from other messengers. I have no idea what will happen to me or to you. I only follow what is revealed to me. I am nothing but a plain warner.
The main difference is that Prophet Mohammad was sent to the children of Ishmael (who was the son of Prophet Abraham) and is known as the father of the Arabic people. All other prophets after Prophet Abraham were sent to the children of Israel who are descendents of the children of Jacob (Jacob was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham). God changed Jacob's name to Israel, thus his descendents are referred to as children of Israel rather than children of Jacob.
Bible: Genesis 32:28 And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."
This fact is aligned with the Koran as in the Koran also God refers to Jacob as Israel:
Koran 3:93 All food used to be lawful for the Children of Israel, until Israel imposed certain prohibitions on themselves before the Torah was sent down. Say, "Bring the Torah and read it, if you are truthful."
Almost one third of the Koran is stories surrounding the Children of Israel. Interesting is the verses in the Koran in favor of Israel and his descendents who are said to be the chosen once by God.
Koran 5:120 Recall that Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember God's blessings upon you: He appointed prophets from among you, made you kings, and granted you what He never granted any other people."
Koran 45:16 We have given the Children of Israel the scripture, wisdom, and prophet-hood, and provided them with good provisions; we bestowed upon them more blessings than any other people.
Koran 7:140 Shall I seek for you other than God to be your god, when He has blessed you more than anyone else in the world?
Koran 2:47 O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I bestowed upon you, and that I blessed you more than any other people.
Bible: Luke 11:49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, "I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute," 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.
The subject of all these books can be categorized into four areas: 1. Guidance
2. Stories
3. Information (God, earth, heaven, etc.)
4. Parables (describing heaven in earthly terms)
In chapters two and three we will compare the Bible and the Koran with regard to the areas already listed above. In this chapter, however, we will only compare the main ideas presented by these religions. This is an attempt to prove that the fundamental messages contained within the pages of these Holy Books are identical in terms of the guidance each offers.
This type of comparison will allow us to draw increasingly valuable conclusions about these three powerful religions-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The point and the impetus of these comparisons will make it apparent to everyone that there are no major differences between the three religions.
My intent with this book is to demonstrate that these three major religions all stem from the same God. Therefore, each contains exactly the same guidance that God wanted His people to have. In addition, I believe strongly that the apparent differences between these books stem from the laws created by people rather than the laws given by God. In all three religions, laws of human origin ultimately replaced most or all of the laws imparted by God. This can be verified easily because these books are all available in a vast variety of languages.
Clergy and other religious figures never talk against these man-made laws because once such laws are generally accepted among religious people, they are soon labeled as having been given by God. Once rules of human origin become part of the lexicon, so does the conviction that they came from God. Soon, any person who does challenge the new rules becomes a pariah and is cast out as a nonbeliever.
My hope is that this book will become a stimulus to encourage all followers of these books to read their Holy Books for themselves.
Below is a list of all the powerful books encompassing God's scriptures?
As mentioned earlier, all these Holy Books, except the Koran, were sent to the children of Israel (from Abraham's son, Isaac). However, the Koran was sent to the children of Ishmael (Abraham's son through his wife's maid, Hagar). These children then went on to form today's Arabic population.
Islam, which translates as "submission to God," shares this belief with all other Abrahamic religions, as they all claim to be "those who submit to God." Every religion, from Adam down to Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad, was about worshiping and accepting the one and only one God.
Koran 16:36 We have sent a messenger to every community, saying, "You shall worship God, and shun Evil." Subsequently, some were guided by God, while others were committed to straying, to roaming the earth and to noting the consequences of those "rejectors."
Bible: Matthew 22:35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "`You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great Commandment."
This notion or ideal of accepting one God and pleasing Him by doing good deeds is not new. This ideal or notion is called Islam, which means "submission" and goes back all the way to Adam. Therefore, and technically speaking, all religions were referred to as Islam. Some of the prophets who emerged from original Islam (as all religions were once known) include Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad. These Holy men were each sent between a stretch of 5,000 years.
The Prophet Abraham was known as The Father of all these three religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), thus was he named Abraham - which means "father of many nations." Technically speaking, and for all intents and purposes, Abraham is thus the father of all the nations that believe and worship the one true God. This is why we call Judaism, Christianity, and Islam the Abrahamic religions.
Bible: Genesis 17:4 As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
The separation of Judaism/Christianity from Islam happened because of, and through, the two sons of Abraham, who were called, Ishmael and Isaac. God promised Abraham that both his sons would multiply to form two great nations and that His covenant would be with the younger one, Isaac, who was from his own wife, Sarah.
Bible: Genesis 17:23 So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael; 27 and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Ishmael is known as the father of most of the Arabic people. Most of his descendents form today's Muslims, a religion brought to Arabic nations through Prophet Mohammad. Contrary to the common belief of today's Muslims, the Koran never claims to be the fulfillment of the Bible. Unlike Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammad claimed that the Koran is only repeating that which is contained within the pages of the many books that came before him, especially the Torah (the first five books of the Bible). By contrast, Jesus Christ claimed that His teaching was the fulfillment of every book that God had sent to mankind before His coming, including the Torah.
Bible: Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Therefore in reality we have two religions: one is the religion of the children of Israel, who are either Jews (if they reject Jesus) or Christians (if they accept Jesus), and the other religion is Islam. The Jewish religion constitutes a very small and insignificant population, while Christianity, as a whole, is the religion with the most followers in the world. In theory, then, we can argue that, mathematically speaking, almost every Jew belongs to those who have accepted Jesus, and the new name for their religion is Christianity. Jewish people today amount to only about 0.3 percent of the world's population, while one of every three people in the world today is a Christian.
Most of the comparisons I make in this book will be between the Koran and the Bible. However when it comes to the teachings of Jesus Christ (the New Gospel), we will not include anything that is not aligned with the Gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Also, for the sake of simplicity, we will refer mostly to the book of Matthew since the other three are supposed to provide the same rules of guidance. The four Gospels contain the story of Jesus's life and His teachings to Jews.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from God's Scriptureby NADER POURHASSAN Copyright © 2009 by DR. NADER POURHASSAN. Excerpted by permission.
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