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Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun's "The Quran, Moses and the Tablets of Stone" article:

This article is a rebuttal to Sam Shamoun's article that is located at: http://www../Quran/Contra/the_tablets.htm.

He wrote:

The Quran, Moses and the Tablets of Stone

Another historical error in the Quran

The Holy Bible, God’s true Word and the oldest existing record on Israel’s history, says that God gave Moses two stone tablets containing the laws and commands which Israel had to follow:

"And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God." Exodus 31:18

"When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God." Exodus 34:29

"And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone." Deuteronomy 4:13

"These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me." Deuteronomy 5:22

"And the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words that the LORD had spoken with you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly." Deuteronomy 9:10

The Quran, however, contradicts the oldest extant written record of Israel’s history by claming that Moses actually received more than two tablets:

And We wrote for him on the Tablets (al-alwahi) of everything an admonition, and a distinguishing of everything: 'So take it forcefully, and command thy people to take the fairest of it. I shall show you the habitation of the ungodly. S. 7:145

And when Moses returned to his people, angry and sorrowful, he said, 'Evilly have you done in my place, after me; what, have you outstripped your Lord's commandment?' And he cast down the Tablets (al-alwaha), and laid hold of his brother's head, dragging him to him. He said, 'Son of my mother, surely the people have abased me, and well nigh slain me. Make not my enemies to gloat over me, and put me not among the people of the evildoers. S. 7:150

And when Moses' anger abated in him, he took the Tablets (al-alwaha) and in the inscription of them was guidance, and mercy unto all those who hold their Lord in awe. S. 7:154

The word for Tablets is alwah and is in the plural form. Arabic has not only singular and plural but also a dual form, that is used when two of something are referred to. The plural is used when three or more are in view. Had the author of the Quran spoken of two tablets, he would have used the form al-lawhayni (the two tablets) in all three verses.

Since the plural refers to any number greater than two the number of tablets has to be at least three according to the Quran, and could be anything between 3 and three million! The passages simply do not limit the possible number of stones that Moses received. They only say that there were more than two, in clear contradiction to the Torah.

Tafsir Al-Jalalayn, one of the classical commentaries of the Quran, suggests the number of the tablets may have been seven or ten which is mere speculation but again supports our claim that (a) the Arabic definitely talks about more than two, and (b) that Muslims are left guessing how many they really were. Moreover, the same commentary claims that those tablets were made of paradise wood tree or some kind of pearls. This also contradicts the Torah which explicitly mentions that they were made of stone.

A Muslim may argue that the Quran uses the plural to refer to the two occasions where Moses received the tablets, since he had broken the first two. Such an interpretation doesn't fit the facts since in Sura 7:150, cited above, the Quran says that Moses received more than two tablets in his first encounter with God which he then "cast down" out of his anger at Israel making and worshiping the calf (cf. 7:148-154).

Thus, a Muslim cannot turn to the Holy Bible in order to tell us how many tablets Moses received since God’s true Word falsifies the Quran. It doesn’t help it in the least.

My response:

It is quite ridiculous that the polytheist trinitarian pagan appeals to books that had been badly altered by men.  Ironically, in the books of Moses above, we even read about the details of his death and burial story.  Can the polytheist trinitarian pagan tell us who wrote about Moses death in Moses' books?

Deuteronomy 34:5-10
5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said.
6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.
7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.
8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.
10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

Let us look at what the NIV Bible theologians say about the books of Moses:

From https://www.answering-christianity.com/authors_gospels.htm:

The Book of Genesis:

"Historically, Jews and Christians alike have held that Moses was the author/compiler of the first five books of the OT. These books, known also as the Pentateuch (meaning "five-volumed book"), were referred to in Jewish tradition as the five fifths of the law (of Moses). The Bible itself suggests Mosaic authorship of Genesis, since Ac 15:1 refers to circumcision as "the custom taught by Moses," an allusion of Ge 17. However, a certain amount of later editorial updating does appear to be indicated (see, e.g., notes on 14:14; 36:31; 47:11).    (From the NIV Bible Commentary, page 2)"

So in reality, the book of Genesis had been tampered with by man.  It had been corrupted.  It is dangerous to consider all of it as the True Living Words of GOD Almighty, because by doing so, we are running into the risk of committing a crime against Him since we are claiming that He spoke words that He never spoke.

The Book of Numbers:

"It is not necessary, however, to claim that Numbers came from Moses' hand complete and in final form. Portions of the book were probably added by scribes or editors from later periods of Israel's history. For example, the protestation of the humility of Moses (12:3) would hardly be convincing if it came from his own mouth.   (From the NIV Bible Commentary, page 183)"

So in reality, we don't know who were all the authors who wrote the book of Numbers.    How is it possible then to call the book of Numbers the True Living Revelations of GOD Almighty if the book had been tampered with by the man-made laws of the scribes?

As you clearly saw in Jeremiah 8:8 in the introduction above, GOD Almighty condemned the laws of the scribes and accused them for turning the Bible into a lie.

The book of Deuteronomy:

"The book itself testifies that, for the most part, Moses wrote it (1:5; 31:9,22,24), and other OT books agree (1Ki 2:3, 8:53; 2ki 14:6; 18:12)--though the preamble (1:1-5) may have been written by someone else, and the report of Moses' death (ch.34) was almost certainly written by someone else.  (From the NIV Bible Commentary, page 240)"

As we clearly see, there is ample evidence that proves beyond the shadow of the doubt that Moses was not the sole author of the book.  He couldn't have possibly have written about his own death.  Again, another corrupted book by man in the Bible.   How can you claim that the book of Deuteronomy was indeed all revealed by GOD Almighty?   If you're not sure, and you still insist on your claim, then you are committing a crime against GOD Almighty's Revelations.

Anyway, the differences between the Noble Quran and the Bible only prove the Noble Quran's Truthfulness.  The Noble Quran came to correct the corrupted and altered bible.  I have covered this topic in great details and gave ample examples of differences between the bible and the Noble Quran, and showed ample corruptions in the bible:

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

The reader can read the article and be the Judge.

Responses to all of the so-called "Contradictions" in the Noble Quran.

My Rebuttals, and exposing the lies of the Answering Islam team section.

Rebuttals to Sam Shamoun's Articles section.

My rebuttal to Sam Shamoun's "Examining the Evidence which proves that the Spirit is God" blasphemous article (PART II).

My rebuttal to Sam Shamoun's "A Brief Rebuttal to Anti-Missionary Attacks on the Trinity" article.

What is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Islam? Why can't we call it GOD?

Ask me any question section.

Errors and History of Contradictions and Corruption in the Bible.

Christians are Commanded to follow the Old Testament.

Allah, Islam, Quran, Muhammad questions and answers.

What is the place of Jews, Christians and non-Muslims in Islam?

Answering Trinity.

"Allah" was GOD Almighty's Original Name in the Bible according to the Hebrew and Aramaic sources.

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