Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun’s article Should Jews and Christians follow the Bible or the Quran?

 

Shamoun wrote:

The Quran instructs both Jews and Christians to follow the guidance given to them in the Torah/Law and the Injil/Gospel:

But how do they come to you for decision while they have the Taurat (Torah), in which IS the (plain) Decision of Allah; yet even after that, they turn away. For they are not (really) believers. S. 5:43 Hilali-Khan

What makes this text interesting is that it discourages the Jews (and presumably the Christians) from turning to Muhammad for guidance since they have the Torah which contains the plain decision of Allah!

 

 

My response:

 

Muhammad Asad gives a commentary of this verse as follows:

 

This verse illustrates the strange mentality of the Jews, who-despite the fact that they believe the Torah to contain all of the Divine Law - surreptitiously turn to a religious dispensation in which they do not believe in the hope that its verdict on certain ethical questions might confirm some of their own wishful beliefs which happen to run counter to the Torah.

In other words, they are not really prepared to submit to the judgment of the Torah-although they assert their belief in it -nor the judgment of the Qur'an, which confirms some of the laws of the Torah and abrogates others: for, as soon as they come to realize that the Qur'an does not agree with their preconceived ideas, they turn away from it.

 

The interpretation given by Shamoun is very childish.

 

 

Shamoun wrote:

And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in the Torah, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein IS guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed) before it in the Torah - a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil). Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are evil-livers. S. 5:46-47 Pickthall

Here Christians are told to consult the Gospel since it is guidance and light. Hence, the foregoing verses are basically telling the Jews and Christians that they do not need Muhammad’s Quran since they have all that they need in the Law and the Gospel.

 

 

My response:

 

Here is the correct translation of this verse,

 

(46) And We caused Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow in the footsteps of those [earlier prophets], confirming the truth of whatever there still remained" of the Torah; and We vouchsafed unto him the Gospel, wherein there was guidance and light, confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah, and as a guidance and admonition unto the God-conscious.

 

 

Another incorrect mentioning of the verse.

 

 

 

 

Shamoun wrote:

The Quran goes on to tell Muhammad to judge by the revelation given to him:

And We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what IS before it of the Book and a guardian over it, therefore judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires (to turn away) from the truth that has come to you; for every one of you did We appoint a law and a way, and if Allah had pleased He would have made you (all) a single people, but that He might try you in what He gave you, therefore strive with one another to hasten to virtuous deeds; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will let you know that in which you differed; And that you should judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires, and be cautious of them, lest they seduce you from part of what Allah has revealed to you; but if they turn back, then know that Allah desires to afflict them on account of some of their faults; and most surely many of the people are transgressors. S. 5:48-49 Shakir

The above references explicitly say that Allah appointed for every one a specific law (shariah) and way, since his purpose wasn’t that all the people should be united as one. This implies that each group received laws that contained major differences between them, that none of the prescribed ways that Allah gave are identical with one another, and that this is one of the reasons why the nations became divided.

 

My response:

 

I wonder why you use different translations for different verses. Why not stick to one?

 

Below is posted the verse,

 

(48) And unto thee [O Prophet] have We vouchsafed this divine writ, setting forth the truth, confirming the truth of whatever there still remains of earlier revelations and determining what is true therein.' Judge, then, between the followers of earlier revelation in accordance with what God has bestowed from on high," and do not follow their errant views, forsaking the truth that has come unto thee.

Unto every one of you have We appointed a [different] law and way of life.` And if God had so willed, He could surely have made you all one single community: but [He willed it otherwise] in order to test you by means of what He has vouchsafed unto, you.' Vie, then, with one another in doing good works! Unto God you all must return; and then He will make you truly understand all that on which you were wont to differ.

 

 

 

Shamoun wrote:

 

Ibn Kathir clearly saw the problem in what the Quran states and tried to somehow resolve the dilemma.

 

 

 

My response:

 

There is no dilemma, you are trying to create one but see the verses posted above and you will see that you are at fault. Next time, please just use one translation when you are posting from the same chapter.

 

 

Shamoun then goes on to give the following verses,

S. 2:40-41 Shakir

S. 2:89 Shakir

S. 5:66, 68 Arberry

And says that the previous books are by God completely.

 

Before posting the verses below, let me put one point which is that once again Shamoun uses different translations that suit him.

 

2: 40

O CHILDREN of Israel!* Remember those blessings of Mine with which I graced you, and fulfil your promise unto Me, [whereupon] I shall fulfil My promise unto you; and of Me, of Me stand in awe!

2: 41

Believe in that which I have [now] bestowed from on high, confirming the truth already in your possession, and be not foremost among those who deny its truth; and do not barter away My messages for a trifling gain;* and of Me, of Me be conscious!

 

The Quran nowhere says that they have the complete truth.

 

2: 89

And whenever there came unto them a [new] revelation from God, confirming the truth already in their possession-and [bear in mind that] aforetime they used to pray for victory over those who were bent on denying the truth -: whenever there came unto them something which they recognized [as the truth], they would deny it. And God's rejection is the due of all who deny the truth.

 

5:66,68

and if they would but truly observe the Torah and the Gospel and all [the revelation] that has been bestowed from on high upon them by their Sustainer, they would indeed partake of all the blessings of heaven and earth. Some of them do pursue a right course; but as for most of them-vile indeed is what they do!

Say: "O followers of the Bible! You have no valid ground for your beliefs -unless you [truly] ob serve the Torah and the Gospel, and all that has been bestowed from on high upon you by your Sustainer!"

Yet all that has been bestowed from on high upon thee [O Prophet] by thy Sustainer is bound to make many of them yet more stubborn in their overweening arrogance and in their denial of the truth. But sorrow not over people who deny the truth.

 

 

 

 

Shamoun wrote:

 

Yet these assertions introduce several problems. First, there are many issues in which the Quran does not confirm the previous revelation, but expressly contradicts it.

 

 

 

My response:

 

The writer should use a little common sense if his understanding skills aren’t good enough. Quran confirms that they were from God and does not say what you think.

 

 

 

Shamoun wrote:

If thou were in doubt as to what We have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before thee: the Truth hath indeed come to thee from thy Lord: so be in no wise of those in doubt. S. 10:94 Y. Ali

This presupposes that the Bible is the criterion over the Quran, and therefore implies that the Bible must determine whether the Quran is true or not, what parts can be believed and which should not be accepted etc. This therefore means that every time that the Quran contradicts the instructions and prohibitions of the Holy Bible then the Quran must be rejected.

 

 

My response:

 

Wishful thinking!

 

“Asking the people who have been reading the book before you” does not refer to you people. Your books are just 300 years older than the Quran. The Quran again and again says that the Bibles are corrupt. The Quran also says that the Jews know Prophet Muhammad (s) as they know their own sons and also says that Prophet Muhammad (s) is the messenger and the learned among the Jews know it. The people who have been reading the books before no longer exist.

 

In this verse, Allah is speaking to the people in general to go and ask the learned Jews. Now this is common sense that those Jews will lie, so it appears that Allah is speaking of those Jews who have embraced Islam like Abdullah bin Sailam.

 

 

In the end of the article, Shamoun gives a summary of the above. It has not been replied to because the detailed points have been answered well.