Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun’s article Qur'an Contradiction: Is Jesus God or not?

Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun’s article

Qur'an Contradiction: Is Jesus God or Not?

Shamoun has come up with what he thinks is Quranic contradiction. Shamoun believes the Quran teaches that there is no God but Allah, yet at the same time teaches that Jesus is God because of some miracles. As we shall shortly see, Shamoun’s supposed contradiction completely fails and just shows how bad the Christian arguments are getting.

Before moving on to refuting his article, I would just like to say that I have already written an article dealing with the supposed argument of Jesus being God in the Quran, here is the link:

https://www.answering-christianity.com/is_isa_god_in_islam.htm

I suggest you go read this article before reading this rebuttal since it will give you a clear picture of the arguments and the refutation.

We now proceed to Shamoun’s supposed contradiction

He Wrote

The Quran presents criteria to distinguish the true God from false gods.

Is He then Who creates like him who does not create? Do you not then mind?... And those whom they call on besides Allah have not created anything while they are themselves created; Dead (are they), not living, and they know not when they shall be raised. S. 16:17, 20-21 Shakir

And they have taken besides Him gods, who do not create anything while they are themselves created, and they control not for themselves any harm or profit, and they control not death nor life, nor raising (the dead) to life. S. 25:3 Shakir

These preceding passages state that:

The objects which others call upon besides God (i.e., whether other gods, angels, and/or individuals) have not created anything.
These objects cannot bring death, cause life, or resurrect.
These objects of worship are dead.

Which implies that:

God is the Creator.
God is the Source of Life.
God is ever-Living.

My Response

The verses are saying that God ALONE creates, that no one else can create, that no one else can control life and death. What Shamoun wants to do now is show verses which show Jesus gave life, as we shall shortly see, the verse he will post in no way helps his case out or contradicts these passages.

He Wrote

It is no secrect that the Holy Bible states that the Lord Jesus created the cosmos and was called upon in worship by the first Christians:

"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made... He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him." John 1:3, 10

"In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, 'Ananias!' 'Yes, Lord,' he answered. The Lord told him, 'Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.' 'Lord,' Ananias answered, 'I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.' But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.' Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit'... All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?'" Acts 9:10-17, 21

"To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their Lord and ours:" 1 Corinthians 1:2

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For BY HIM all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created BY HIM and FOR HIM. He is before all things, and IN HIM all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." Colossians 1:15-18

"but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven... And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him'... But about the Son he says... 'In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.'" Hebrews 1:2-3, 6, 8a, 10-12

According to the same Holy Bible, the Lord Jesus is alive forever and ever, having conquered death and ushering in glorious immortality:

"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1:8-10

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.'" Revelation 1:17-18

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again." Revelation 2:8

By conquering death, Christ demonstrated that he is truly the source of life for all:

"In him was life, and that life was the light of men." John 1:4

"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it... I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD and those who hear will live... Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear HIS VOICE and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." John 5:21, 25, 28-29

"Jesus said to her, 'I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?' 'Yes, Lord,' she told him, 'I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.'" John 11:25-27

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:3-4

The Lord Jesus fits the criteria given in the Quran which demonstrates true Deity (i.e., the Creator, the Source of Life, and ever-Living). Christians are therefore justified in worshiping him as their sovereign Lord.

Now the Muslim will definitely object to our appeal to the Holy Bible on the grounds that it doesn't accurately reflect the life and teachings of the historical Jesus, and as such it cannot be used to prove that Jesus and his original followers truly believed that Christ was God.

My Response

This is a red herring and off topic. This is not the time nor place to bring this up since this article of yours is supposed to deal with a contradiction in the Quran. However so please feel free to write all this information in a separate article to which I will gladly refute. Anyways, let us please stay on topic.

He Wrote

It is not the object of this present paper to provide the evidence which establishes the historical veracity of the NT documents, or to demonstrate that the first followers of Christ confessed their belief in the absolute Deity of the Lord Jesus, or in his death and resurrection. For that we simply defer our readers to the following articles and links:

http://www.rationalchristianity.net/skeptics.html#reasons
www.christian-thinktank.com
www.tektonics.org
www..
http://./Case/index.html
http://./Shamoun/documents.htm
http://./Quran/Bible/index.html

What we would like to do here is to show that even according to the testimony of the Quran, the Lord Jesus perfectly fulfills the criteria of being Deity.

My Response

Actually correction, the first followers did not profess that Jesus is God or so on. That is a Christian lie and myth:

https://www.answering-christianity.com/followers_of_yeshua.htm

He Wrote

and he shall be a prophet to the people of Israel (saying), that I have come to you, with a sign from God, namely, that I will CREATE for you out of clay (annee AKHLUQU lakum mina ALTTEENI) as though it were the form of a bird, and I will blow thereon and it shall become a bird by God's permission; and I will heal the blind from birth, and lepers; and I will bring the dead to life by God's permission; and I will tell you what you eat and what ye store up in your houses. Verily, in that is a sign for you if ye be believers. S. 3:49 Palmer

When God shall say, O Jesus son of Mary, remember my favour towards thee, and towards thy mother; when I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, that thou shouldest speak unto men in the cradle, and when thou wast grown up; and when I taught thee the scripture, and wisdom, and the law, and the gospel; and when thou didst CREATE of clay (wa-ith TAKHLUQU mina ALTTEENI) as it were the figure of a bird, by my permission, and didst breathe thereon, and it became a bird by my permission; and thou didst heal one blind from his birth, and the leper, by my permission; and when thou didst bring forth the dead [from their graves], by my permission; and when I with-held the children of Israel from [killing] thee, when thou hadst come unto them with evident [miracles], and such of them as believed not, said, this is nothing but manifest sorcery. S. 5:110 Sale

These two passages demonstrate that Christ has the breath of life and can create in exactly the same way God creates:

HE it is Who created you from clay (Huwa allathee KHALAQAKUM min TEENIN) and then HE decreed a term. And there is another term fixed with HIM. Yet you doubt. S. 6:2 Y. Ali

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I am about to create man from clay (innee KHALIQUN basharan min TEENIN): When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him." S. 38:71-72 Y. Ali

Note the connection between God breathing his Spirit into man with Christ being strengthened with the Holy Spirit, breathing life into clay birds and resurrecting the dead. And also notice that Christ created a living bird from clay just as God created man from clay. These passages therefore teach that Christ had the same life-giving Spirit of God!

My Response

I find it truly sad that Shamoun has to twist things around and cannot simply read the passages he quotes a bit more carefully. I will re post those verses which he showed on Jesus; however this time I will highlight the points Shamoun conveniently leaves out.

and he shall be a prophet to the people of Israel (saying), that I have come to you, with a SIGN FROM GOD, namely, that I will CREATE for you out of clay (annee AKHLUQU lakum mina ALTTEENI) as though it were the form of a bird, and I will blow thereon and it shall become a bird by God's permission; and I will heal the blind from birth, and lepers; and I will bring the dead to life by God's permission; and I will tell you what you eat and what ye store up in your houses. Verily, in that is a sign for you if ye be believers. S. 3:49 Palmer

Those very words there refute Shamoun’s entire argument. Note that even before Jesus performs the miracle he says that IT IS FROM GOD. How can Shamoun miss that? Before Jesus performs the great miracle he makes sure to tell everybody it’s not really him doing it!

Now note the earlier passages Shamoun quoted:

As we can see, Jesus fails that criteria, Allah does not need someone to give him these great powers, Allah ALONE does it, and he is not given it. Allah is in control of everything, as we see Jesus is not in control since it is Allah giving him the power and miracle.

Now also note the verses say that all this happens by Allah’s permission. So not only is Allah giving this miracle to Jesus, he is allowing the miracle to work, so hence Jesus really is not doing anything. This once again does not contradict the earlier verses at all, since Allah ALONE does what he wills, and he doesn’t need no permission or help from anybody else. Allah is independent, as we see Jesus is not, he is completely dependant on Allah for all the miracles he has. Had Jesus performed the miracle on his own, without any one else’s permission, then the Christians would have a case.

As for Christ having a life giving spirit, this is just nonsense on Shamoun’s part, the verse says things become alive by Jesus only by Allah’s permission, hence it is not really Jesus who is giving life it is Allah, put this with the fact that Allah is giving Jesus this power. Shamoun has no case or argument. Jesus’ breath doesn’t give life, it is Allah’s will and power that allows Jesus’ breath to give life, Shamoun seems to forget this.

So as we clearly see, the verse Shamoun brings up to help his case actually refutes him twice in just the space of a few words! How ironic!

He Wrote

The Quran says by way of mocking the gods of the people:

"O mankind! A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully): verily! Those on whom you call besides Allah cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatched away a thing from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought." S. 22:73

Even though Jesus didn't create a fly, he did create a bird and breathed life into it just as Allah did to Adam!

In fact, according to one Salafi Muslim site the word for create (khalaqa) refers to creating something from nothing, an act which only God can perform:

Imam al-Bukhari reported in his Saheeh from Abu Sa`eed (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon Him) said: "There is no created being but Allah created it." In Arabic, the word "khalaqa" means to make out of nothing, which is something that ONLY ALLAH CAN DO; it is impossible for anyone except Allah to do this. It also carries the meaning of decreeing or foreordaining. [**]

See Fath al-Bari Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhari, 13/390. (439: Evidence that only Allah is the Creator of life; bold and capital emphasis ours)

But this very same word is applied to Christ which means, at least according to the above position, that Jesus must be God! Note how this works out logically:

God alone can create out of nothing (i.e. the literal meaning of khalaqa).
Khalaqa is applied to Jesus.
Therefore, Jesus must be God according to Islam.

My Response

Shamoun continues to twist things around. Let me address his first point when he says:

The Quran says by way of mocking the gods of the people:

Even though Jesus didn't create a fly, he did create a bird and breathed life into it just as Allah did to Adam!

Anyone who knows how to read and understand properly will see the verse Shamoun puts up means that no one can create anything by themselves. The verse basically means that their supposed God’s cannot create a single thing, they cannot create in the sense to create life, death etc. The same is for Jesus, he cannot create a single thing on his own, the only way Jesus could create is because Allah GAVE HIM THAT POWER AND ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN, and that my friend is a completely different issue. What Shamoun seems to keep forgetting is that Allah creates what he wills on his own, he is independent, he needs no help or permission.

Jesus needed the help, needed the permission, and was given the miracle, hmm how un Godly is that! That my friend is the total opposite to God in Islam, so it seems you don’t understand who or what Allah is in Islam. I suggest you go learn about that then maybe you can make better arguments.

Shamoun then says:

God alone can create out of nothing (i.e. the literal meaning of khalaqa).
Khalaqa is applied to Jesus.
Therefore, Jesus must be God according to Islam.

What a nice twist. What is very funny about this is Shamoun refutes himself! Note what he says:

God alone can create out of nothing

Shamoun finally gets it, yes God ALONE can create anything. As we clearly saw from the passages you showed us, Jesus did not create anything by himself, so hence Jesus is not God! So hence Shamoun just refuted himself and his whole article!

This is why Christians should never try and interpret Islam as they see fit since they always make a fool of themselves, I say this not to be offending, but to be honest with my opponent since I don’t want them to go and make a fool of themselves to be laughed and mocked at. When I dialog with Christians, I expect some real good arguments that don’t fall in on themselves, so I say this in the spirit of having good dialogs since as we can see, this is not a good dialog since there is no real argument or issue to have a dialog in. So do not be offended Mr. Shamoun.

He Wrote

The Quran also implies that Christ is alive in heaven:

And when Allah said: O Isa, I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me and purify you of those who disbelieve and make those who follow you above those who disbelieve to the day of resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, so I will decide between you concerning that in which you differed. S. 3:55 Shakir

That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God"; - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Nay, God raised him up unto Himself; and God is Exalted in Power, Wise; - S. 4:157-158 Y. Ali

Orthodox Islam has generally understood these passages to mean that Christ was taken alive into heaven, into the very presence of God himself.

In light of the aforementioned citations, we are left with the conclusion that:

Jesus creates in the same way God creates.
Jesus gives life in the same way God gives life.
Jesus is alive in heaven.

Therefore, the Quran clearly shows that the Lord Jesus fits the description of God, fulfilling the very criteria which demonstrates that Christ is indeed very God of very God.

My Response

The Quran does not teach that Jesus is God. Jesus did not create in the same way that Allah did since Allah needs no permission. Jesus did not create in the same way as Allah since Allah is independent and doesn’t need someone to give him the miracle and power. As for Jesus being alive in heaven, I don’t see your point to that.

He Wrote

Yet, it is at this precise point that we have a contradiction within the Quran itself. There is no denying that the Quran rejects the Deity of Jesus (cf. 4:171; 5:17, 70-75; 9:30). But, as we just saw, the Quran attributes titles, qualities and functions to Christ which shows that he is indeed God. Other titles given to Christ which affirm his essential Deity include the Word of God and a Spirit from God (cf. 3:39, 45; 4:171).

My Response

There is no contradiction my friend. You must just read harder and not seek to find error and contradictions whenever you read the Quran since that alone clouds your rational mind.

He Wrote

A Muslim may say that Jesus was given the ability to create and give life by God, just as the passages themselves state. He didn't have this ability within himself. This response doesn't solve the contradiction, but only pushes it a step further.

Why would God grant Jesus the abilities and characteristics of Deity? Why is God permitting Jesus to perfectly fit the description and fulfill the criteria which places one within the category of God?

My Response

Is that your response? My friend that does not at all refute the Muslim refutation to you.

Why would God grant Jesus the abilities and characteristics of Deity?

God gave those miracles and power to Jesus to prove to the people that there is God, Jesus himself said the miracle he has is from God, so hence these great things were given to Jesus to prove that there is greater being out there who is God.

003.050
YUSUFALI: "'(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.

003.051
YUSUFALI: "'It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'"

Why is God permitting Jesus to perfectly fit the description and fulfill the criteria which places one within the category of God?

Actually this is not true, God creates by himself, he needs no help or permission, Jesus did not do anything or have anything by himself, Allah gave him the miracle and allowed the miracle to work hence Jesus really didn’t do anything. Jesus would fit the criteria of God if Jesus did it alone, needed no permission and so on, he however fails all this.

He Wrote

Second, the expression "by God's permission" doesn't necessarily mean that Christ was given abilities he did not already have. The statements can be understood in light of the biblical teaching that Christ did nothing on his own initiative, but did everything in perfect union with his Father's will. (cf. John 5:16-30)

My Response

Well these verses are not being examined under biblical teaching, these verses are being understood in Quranic teaching, and the Quran teaches that Jesus is not God. So hence this response is very very weak and doesn’t refute our stance.

He Wrote

In other words, the Quranic expression simply implies that Christ only exercised his divine prerogatives in accordance with the decree of God, never acting on his own behest or initiative. It need not deny that Christ always had these divine attributes and characteristics. This becomes all the more likely when we recall that the Quran describes Christ as God's Word and a Spirit proceeding from God, titles which point to Christ's divinity and pre-existence.

My Response

Actually, Christ being called God’s word and spirit is not what you hope it means, here is Tafsir Ibn Kathir for you:

Allah forbids the People of the Scriptures from going to extremes in religion, which is a common trait of theirs, especially among the Christians. The Christians exaggerated over `Isa until they elevated him above the grade that Allah gave him. They elevated him from the rank of prophethood to being a god, whom they worshipped just as they worshipped Allah. They exaggerated even more in the case of those who they claim were his followers, claiming that they were inspired, thus following every word they uttered whether true or false, be it guidance or misguidance, truth or lies. This is why Allah said,

[ÇÊøóÎóÐõæÇú ÃóÍúÈóÜÑóåõãú æóÑõåúÈóÜäóåõãú ÃóÑúÈóÇÈÇð ãøöä Ïõæäö Çááøóåö]

(They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah.) Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,

«áóÇ ÊõØúÑõæäöí ßóãóÇ ÃóØúÑóÊö ÇáäøóÕóÇÑóìö ÚöíÓóì ÇÈúäó ãóÑúíóãó. ÝóÅöäøóãóÇ ÃóäóÇ ÚóÈúÏñÝóÞõæáõæÇ: ÚóÈúÏõÇááåö æóÑóÓõæáõå»

(Do not unduly praise me like the Christians exaggerated over `Isa, son of Maryam. Verily, I am only a servant, so say, `Allah's servant and His Messenger.') This is the wording of Al-Bukhari. Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik said that a man once said, "O Muhammad! You are our master and the son of our master, our most righteous person and the son of our most righteous person...'' The Messenger of Allah said,

«íóÇ ÃóíøõåóÇ ÇáäøóÇÓõ Úóáóíúßõãú ÈöÞóæúáößõãú¡ æóáóÇ íóÓúÊóåúæöíóäøóßõãõ ÇáÔøóíúØóÇäõ¡ÃóäóÇ ãõÍóãøóÏõ Èúäõ ÚóÈúÏöÇááåö¡ ÚóÈúÏõÇááåö æóÑóÓõæáõåõ¡ æóÇááåö ãóÇ ÃõÍöÈøõ Ãóäú ÊóÑúÝóÚõæäöí ÝóæúÞó ãóäúÒöáóÊöí ÇáøóÊöí ÃóäúÒóáóäöí Çááåõ ÚóÒøó æóÌóá»

(O people! Say what you have to say, but do not allow Shaytan to trick you. I am Muhammad bin `Abdullah, Allah's servant and Messenger. By Allah! I do not like that you elevate me above the rank that Allah has granted me.) Allah's statement,

[æóáÇó ÊóÞõæáõæÇú Úóáóì Çááøóåö ÅöáÇøó ÇáúÍóÞøó]

(nor say of Allah except the truth.) means, do not lie and claim that Allah has a wife or a son, Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. Allah is glorified, praised, and honored in His might, grandure and greatness, and there is no deity worthy of worship nor Lord but Him. Allah said;

[ÅöäøóãóÇ ÇáúãóÓöíÍõ ÚöíÓóì ÇÈúäõ ãóÑúíóãó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøóåö æóßóáöãóÊõåõ ÃóáúÞóÜåóÇ Åöáóì ãóÑúíóãó æóÑõæÍñ ãøöäúåõ]

(Al-Masih `Isa, son of Maryam, was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit from [created by] Him;) `Isa is only one of Allah's servants and one of His creatures. Allah said to him, `Be', and he was, and He sent him as a Messenger. `Isa was a word from Allah that He bestowed on Maryam, meaning He created him with the word `Be' that He sent with Jibril to Maryam. Jibril blew the life of `Isa into Maryam by Allah's leave, and `Isa came to existence as a result. This incident was in place of the normal conception between man and woman that results in children. This is why `Isa was a word and a Ruh (spirit) created by Allah, as he had no father to conceive him. Rather, he came to existence through the word that Allah uttered, `Be,' and he was, through the life that Allah sent with Jibril. Allah said,

[ãøóÇ ÇáúãóÓöíÍõ ÇÈúäõ ãóÑúíóãó ÅöáÇøó ÑóÓõæáñ ÞóÏú ÎóáóÊú ãöä ÞóÈúáöåö ÇáÑøõÓõáõ æóÃõãøõåõ ÕöÏøöíÞóÉñ ßóÇäóÇ íóÃúßõáÇóäö ÇáØøóÚóÇãó]

(Al-Masih [`Isa], son of Maryam, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam] was a Siddiqah. They both ate food.) And Allah said,

[Åöäøó ãóËóáó ÚöíÓóì ÚöäÏó Çááøóåö ßóãóËóáö ÁóÇÏóãó ÎóáóÞóåõ ãöä ÊõÑóÇÈò Ëõãøó ÞóÇáó áóåõ ßõä Ýóíóßõæäõ ]

(Verily, the likeness of `Isa before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "Be! Ü and he was.)

[æóÇáøóÊöì ÃóÍúÕóäóÊú ÝóÑúÌóåóÇ ÝóäóÝóÎúäóÇ ÝöíåóÇ ãöä ÑøõæÍöäóÇ æóÌóÚóáúäóÜåóÇ æóÇÈúäóåóÂ ÁóÇíóÉð áøöáúÚóÜáóãöíäó ]

(And she who guarded her chastity, We breathed into her (garment) and We made her and her son [`Isa] a sign for all that exits.) (21:91)

[æóãóÑúíóãó ÇÈúäóÉó ÚöãúÑóÇäó ÇáøóÊöì ÃóÍúÕóäóÊú ÝóÑúÌóåóÇ]

(And Maryam, the daughter of `Imran who guarded her chastity,) and Allah said concerning the Messiah,

[Åöäú åõæó ÅöáÇøó ÚóÈúÏñ ÃóäúÚóãúäóÇ Úóáóíúåö]

(He [`Isa] was not more than a servant. We granted Our favor to him.)

The Meaning of "His Word and a spirit from Him

`Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ma`mar said that Qatadah said that the Ayah,

[æóßóáöãóÊõåõ ÃóáúÞóÜåóÇ Åöáóì ãóÑúíóãó æóÑõæÍñ ãøöäúåõ]

(And His Word, which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit from [created by] Him;) means, He said,

[ßõäøó]

(Be) and he was. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ahmad bin Sinan Al-Wasiti said that he heard Shadh bin Yahya saying about Allah's statement,

[æóßóáöãóÊõåõ ÃóáúÞóÜåóÇ Åöáóì ãóÑúíóãó æóÑõæÍñ ãøöäúåõ]

(and His Word, which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit from [created by] Him;) "`Isa was not the word. Rather, `Isa came to existence because of the word.'' Al-

Bukhari recorded that `Ubadah bin As-t said that the Prophet said,

«ãóäú ÔóåöÏó Ãóäú áóÇ Åöáåó ÅöáøóÇ Çááåõ¡ æóÍúÏóåõ áóÇ ÔóÑöíßó áóåõ¡ æóÃóäøó ãõÍóãøóÏðÇ ÚóÈúÏõåõ æóÑóÓõæáõåõ¡ æóÃóäøó ÚöíÓóì ÚóÈúÏõÇááåö æóÑóÓõæáõåõ æóßóáöãóÊõåõ ÃóáúÞóÇåóÇ Åöáì ãóÑúíóãó æóÑõæÍñ ãöäúåõ¡ æóÃóäøó ÇáúÌóäøóÉó ÍóÞøñ¡ æóÇáäøóÇÑó ÍóÞøñ¡ ÃóÏúÎóáóåõ Çááåõ ÇáúÌóäøóÉó Úóáóì ãóÇ ßóÇäó ãöäó ÇáúÚóãóá»

(If anyone testifies that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, and that `Isa is Allah's servant and Messenger and His Word which He bestowed on Maryam and a spirit created by Him, and that Paradise is true and Hell is true, then Allah will admit him into Paradise with the deeds which he performed.) In another narration, the Prophet said,

«ãöäú ÃóÈúæóÇÈö ÇáúÌóäøóÉö ÇáËøóãóÇäöíøóÉö íóÏúÎõáõ ãöäú ÃóíøöåóÇ ÔóÇÁ»

(...through any of the eight doors of Paradise he wishes.) Muslim also recorded it. Therefore, `Ruh from Allah', in the Ayah and the Hadith is similar to Allah's statement,

[æóÓóÎøóÑó áóßõãú ãøóÇ Ýöì ÇáÓøóãóÜæóÊö æóãóÇ Ýöì ÇáÇøñÑúÖö ÌóãöíÚÇð ãøöäúåõ]

(And has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth; it is all from Him.) meaning, from His creation. `from Him' does not mean that it is a part of Him, as the Christians claim, may Allah's continued curses be upon them. Saying that something is from Allah, such as the spirit of Allah, the she-camel of Allah or the House of Allah, is meant to honor such items. Allah said,

[åóÜÐöåö äóÇÞóÉõ Çááøóåö]

(This is the she-camel of Allah...) and,

[æóØóåøöÑú ÈóíúÊöìó áöáØøóÂÆöÝöíäó]

(and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it.) An authentic Hadith states,

«ÝóÃóÏúÎõáõ Úóáóì ÑóÈøöí Ýöí ÏóÇÑöå»

(I will enter on my Lord in His Home) All these examples are meant to honor such items when they are attributed to Allah in this manner. Allah said,

[ÝóÜóÇãöäõæÇú ÈöÇááøóåö æóÑóÓõæáöåö]

(so believe in Allah and His Messengers.) believe that Allah is One and Alone and that He does not have a son or wife. Know and be certain that `Isa is the servant and Messenger of Allah. Allah said after that,

[æóáÇó ÊóÞõæáõæÇú ËóáóÜËóÉñ]

(Say not: "Three!") do not elevate `Isa and his mother to be gods with Allah. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. In Surat Al-Ma'idah (chapter 5), Allah said,

[áøóÞóÏú ßóÝóÑó ÇáøóÐöíäó ÞóÇáõæÇú Åöäøó Çááøóåó ËóÜáöËõ ËóáóÜËóÉò æóãóÇ ãöäú ÅöáóÜåò ÅöáÇøó ÅöáóÜåñ æóÍöÏñ]

(Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is the third of the three.'' But there is none who has the right to be worshipped but One God.) Allah said by the end of the same Surah,

[æóÅöÐú ÞóÇáó Çááøóåõ íÚöíÓóì ÇÈúäó ãóÑúíóãó ÃóÁóäÊó ÞõáÊó áöáäøóÇÓö ÇÊøóÎöÐõæäöì]

(And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O `Isa, son of Maryam! Did you say unto men: `Worship me''') and in its beginning,

[áøóÞóÏú ßóÝóÑó ÇáøóÐöíäó ÞóÂáõæÇú Åöäøó Çááøóåó åõæó ÇáúãóÓöíÍõ ÇÈúäõ ãóÑúíóãó]

(Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Maryam.) The Christians, may Allah curse them, have no limit to their disbelief because of their ignorance, so their deviant statements and their misguidance grows. Some of them believe that `Isa is Allah, some believe that he is one in a trinity and some believe that he is the son of Allah. Their beliefs and creeds are numerous and contradict each other, prompting some people to say that if ten Christians meet, they would end up with eleven sects!

So Shamoun’s article fails and fails to show any Quranic contradiction. The Quran is the word of God and Shamoun must accept this fact.

For a more detailed article on the issue of Jesus in Islam from a Christians perspective, please visit these 2 previous rebuttals:

https://www.answering-christianity.com/rebuttaltosamshamoun37a.htm

https://www.answering-christianity.com/rebuttaltosamshamoun37b.htm