The Bible Versus the Koran

One of the evidences that the Bible is from a Divine source is the unity and harmony of its teaching. Though some 40 different men from various countries, walks of life, and who spoke and wrote in different languages penned its various books throughout 1400-1500 years, these writings are completely harmonious with no contradictions. No uninspired group of men could ever accomplish this. There are no conflicts in history or geography between the Old and New Testaments. In fact, the gospel writers often use Old Testament prophecy and teaching to confirm that the New Testament fulfilled the Old. This is evidence that it is all the product of the mind of God, just like it claims.

If the Koran is from God, we would expect to be able to say the same thing regarding its unity and harmony with the Old and the New Testaments. Yet, we can not. Mohammad's’s teachings often contradict the Bible. We might expect some difference in doctrine, since Muslims claim the Koran replaced the gospel. But there should be no conflict of history or eternal principles. Note some examples:

·        Mohammad said Jesus’ death was not a crucifixion, He did not die as a sacrifice for the sins of others, and He did not rise from the dead. The Bible teaches all these as fact.

·        Mohammad said Jesus was not Divine and not the Son of God, but the Bible teaches that He was.

·        Mohammad thought Christians believe that the Godhead consists of the Father, Son, and Mary, whereas the Bible actually teaches it consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

·      The Koran says that one of Noah’s sons drowned in the flood, but the Bible says that all of  his sons were spared (Genesis 7:1-7; 1 Peter 3:20).

·        The Koran says that Lot’s wife stayed behind and perished among the people of Sodom, whereas the Bible says that she fled but looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:15f, 26).

·        The Koran says that John the Baptist’s father was speechless for 3 days as a sign from the angel, but the Bible says he was speechless from before the time his wife conceived until the baby was born (Luke 1:13, 20, 24, 57-64).

·        Mohammad referred to Haman as the minister of Pharaoh, whereas the Bible says that he was minister of Ahasuerus, king of Persia in the book of Esther.

·        Mohammad confused Miriam, the sister of Moses, with Mary, the mother of Jesus.

·        The Koran teaches men today may practice polygamy and divorce for any cause. Jesus said this was allowed under the Old Testament only because of the hardness of men’s hearts, but would not be allowed under the New Testament (Matthew 19:3-9). Islam claims Mohammad’s revelation is greater than Jesus, yet its moral standard is clearly inferior.

·        The Koran teaches that there will be marriage in heaven, but Jesus said there is not (Matthew 22:30).

Muslims try to rationalize these contradictions by claiming that the Koran has been preserved accurately but the Bible has been perverted. Hence, whenever there is conflict, the Bible is wrong and the Koran is right. Yet, consider how much of the Bible this means has been corrupted. There is no historical evidence that the Bible has been corrupted and much evidence that it has not been.

Further proof that the Koran is not from God lies in the fact that Mohammed's teachings contradict themselves. The Bible never contradicts itself, despite being written by 40 different men from widely different circumstances. Just one man wrote the Koran so, if it had no self-contradictions, it would prove little. However, it turns out that this one man did contradict himself.

·        Mohammad commanded his disciples to use violence against those who reject Islam, yet he said violence should not be practiced in the name of religion.

·        He forbade the use of images, then under threat of starvation he excused it. Later he then condemned it again.

·        He first taught men to pray facing Jerusalem, then later said they must pray facing Mecca.

In fact Mohammad admitted having changed his doctrine at times. Muslem commentators themselves admit some 5-50 examples of such. Jesus’ teachings harmonize with all previous Divine revelation, without arguing that it has been corrupted. But Mohammad’s teaching conflicts with previous revelation that he admits was from God. Jesus never changed His teaching and never contradicted Himself (1 Corinthians 1:13), but Mohammad contradicted himself and changed his teachings several times. Which book, then, do you think was from God and which one was not?