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==The Bible versus the Koran==

==The Bible versus the Koran==

At less than 80,000 words, (figures vary: 77,701 in Arabic by one source,<ref>http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Uk/uk.religion.islam/2005-09/msg01868.html</ref>  77,439 by ‘Ata bin Yasar<ref>http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Menj/bravo_r4bc.htm</ref>) the Koran is much smaller than the Bible, (602,585 words in the Old Testament; 180,552 in the New = 783,037,<ref> http://muthbible.org/resources/bible/biblestatistics.php</ref> with the [[KJV]] being counted at 788,258 words total.<ref>http://www.biblebelievers.com/believers-org/kjv-stats.htm</ref>) The Koran is also far more restrictive in in its scope of communication, lacking the manner of extensive historical narratives of the Bible, and the context it provides for its commands, as well as genealogical records which helps provide historical chronology. In addition, absent from the Koran are extended doctrinal discourses on salvation, such as are especially seen in the New Testament. This results in difficultly formulating extensive [[systematic theology]] out of the Koran by itself, and in its allusions to Biblical characters and events evidences that it requires knowledge of the Bible, which as the prior revelation, it must agree with. Muhammed himself is seen to uphold the Scriptures<ref>http://isaalmasih.net/bible-isa/kitab-true.html</ref> that existed then as divinely inspired, both the Torah, (Sura 2:87) and the Psalms, (4:163) and the Gospels, (Suras 3:3; 5:46)  such as in stating,  

At less than 80,000 words, (figures vary: 77,701 in Arabic by one source,<ref>http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Uk/uk.religion.islam/2005-09/msg01868.html</ref>  77,439 by ‘Ata bin Yasar<ref>http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Menj/bravo_r4bc.htm</ref>) the Koran is much smaller than the Bible, (602,585 words in the Old Testament; 180,552 in the New = 783,037,<ref>http://muthbible.org/resources/bible/biblestatistics.php</ref> with the [[KJV]] being counted at 788,258 words total.<ref>http://www.biblebelievers.com/believers-org/kjv-stats.htm</ref>) The Koran is also far more restrictive in in its scope of communication, lacking the manner of extensive historical narratives of the Bible, and the context it provides for its commands, as well as genealogical records which helps provide historical chronology. In addition, absent from the Koran are extended doctrinal discourses on salvation, such as are especially seen in the New Testament. This results in difficultly formulating extensive [[systematic theology]] out of the Koran by itself, and in its allusions to Biblical characters and events evidences that it requires knowledge of the Bible, which as the prior revelation, it must agree with. Muhammed himself is seen to uphold the Scriptures<ref>http://isaalmasih.net/bible-isa/kitab-true.html</ref> that existed then as divinely inspired, both the Torah, (Sura 2:87) and the Psalms, (4:163) and the Gospels, (Suras 3:3; 5:46)  such as in stating,  

<blockquote>If thou wert 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.  10:94 (Y. Ali)</blockquote>  

<blockquote>If thou wert 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.  10:94 (Y. Ali)</blockquote>  

In response, Muslim apologists seek to make a case against a reliable Bible based upon the lack of a universal canon among all Christian churches, or early incomplete manuscripts, or additions to them (''the Epistle of Barnabas'', and portions of ''The Shepherd of Hermas'' to Codex Sinaiticus), as well as evidence of a relatively small degree of actual (beyond spelling, etc.) textual disagreement among some of the thousands of existing  manuscripts. However, none of these aspects provides a solution to the Islamic problem, as none of the manuscripts substantiates the Koranic deviations, nor  does the small percentage (contrary to typical Muslim exaggeration) of actual variants among manuscripts support the manner of massive changes which the Islamic solution requires. In addition, the Koran has its own problematic texts,<ref>http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/islam/contradictions-quran</ref> even though it is a far smaller (in size and scope) book, and one that was written after durable writing materials came into use, and then underwent a purification process in which variant manuscripts were burned.<ref>[http://www.beholdthebeast.com/textual_history_of_the_koran.htm Texual History of the Koran]</ref> Thus it is seen that the manner of corruption of biblical text which Islam charges is that of the Koran, not the Bible which it is largely based upon.  

In response, Muslim apologists seek to make a case against a reliable Bible based upon the lack of a universal canon among all Christian churches, or early incomplete manuscripts, or additions to them (''the Epistle of Barnabas'', and portions of ''The Shepherd of Hermas'' to Codex Sinaiticus), as well as evidence of a relatively small degree of actual (beyond spelling, etc.) textual disagreement among some of the thousands of existing  manuscripts. However, none of these aspects provides a solution to the Islamic problem, as none of the manuscripts substantiates the Koranic deviations, nor  does the small percentage (contrary to typical Muslim exaggeration) of actual variants among manuscripts support the manner of massive changes which the Islamic solution requires. In addition, the Koran has its own problematic texts,<ref>http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/islam/contradictions-quran</ref> even though it is a far smaller (in size and scope) book, and one that was written after durable writing materials came into use, and then underwent a purification process in which variant manuscripts were burned.<ref>[http://www.beholdthebeast.com/textual_history_of_the_koran.htm Texual History of the Koran]</ref> Thus it is seen that the manner of corruption of biblical text which Islam charges is that of the Koran, not the Bible which it is largely based upon.  

While Muslims also typically claim that the text of the Koran is identical to that received by Muhammad. Christian researchers contend that there is overwhelming evidence that it is not. <ref>[http://www.answering-islam.org/Quran/Text/ Textual answering-islam.org; ''Variants of the Qur'an'']</ref>

While Muslims also typically claim that the text of the Koran is identical to that received by Muhammad. Christian researchers contend that there is overwhelming evidence that it is not.<ref>[http://www.answering-islam.org/Quran/Text/ Textual answering-islam.org; ''Variants of the Qur'an'']</ref>

As no extant Biblical manuscript, from before the time of Muhammed or after him, agrees with the Koranic contradictions, many Muslim apologists look to the [[Gospel of Barnabas]] for support. However, this radically different account is judged by both Christian and secular academics, (and some Muslims such as Abbas el-Akkad), as a late  work and pseudepigraphical. With its obvious anachronisms and historical errors (like sailing to Nazareth) and utter lack of early  manuscript  evidence and irreconcilable differences between it and any ancient  manuscripts, it is seen as a fourteenth century attempt to read later Islamic doctrine into the Bible, which clearly refutes it.<ref>http://www.muslimhope.com/ForgeryOfTheGospelOfBarnabas.htm</ref> <ref>http://answering-islam.org/Barnabas/saleeb.html</ref> <ref>http://www.answering-islam.org/Green/barnabas.htm</ref> <ref>http://www.ichthus.info/CaseForChrist/Archeology/intro.html</ref>

As no extant Biblical manuscript, from before the time of Muhammed or after him, agrees with the Koranic contradictions, many Muslim apologists look to the [[Gospel of Barnabas]] for support. However, this radically different account is judged by both Christian and secular academics, (and some Muslims such as Abbas el-Akkad), as a late  work and pseudepigraphical. With its obvious anachronisms and historical errors (like sailing to Nazareth) and utter lack of early  manuscript  evidence and irreconcilable differences between it and any ancient  manuscripts, it is seen as a fourteenth century attempt to read later Islamic doctrine into the Bible, which clearly refutes it.<ref>http://www.muslimhope.com/ForgeryOfTheGospelOfBarnabas.htm</ref><ref>http://answering-islam.org/Barnabas/saleeb.html</ref><ref>http://www.answering-islam.org/Green/barnabas.htm</ref><ref>http://www.ichthus.info/CaseForChrist/Archeology/intro.html</ref>

''For more information, see [[The Bible versus the Qur'an]]''

''For more information, see [[The Bible versus the Qur'an]]''

The Koran contains scores of verses exhorting Muslims to engage in violence against non - Muslims:

The Koran contains scores of verses exhorting Muslims to engage in violence against non - Muslims:

*"I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore '''strike off their heads''' and '''strike off every fingertip of them'''" (Sura 8 verse 12). <ref>http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm</ref>

*"I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore '''strike off their heads''' and '''strike off every fingertip of them'''" (Sura 8 verse 12).<ref>http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm</ref>

*"Say to the Unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from Unbelief), their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).  And '''fight them''' on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there '''prevail justice and faith in Allah''' altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do" (8:38,39)<ref>http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/008.qmt.html#008.038</ref>.

*"Say to the Unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from Unbelief), their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).  And '''fight them''' on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there '''prevail justice and faith in Allah''' altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do" (8:38,39).<ref>http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/008.qmt.html#008.038</ref>

*"So when the sacred months have passed away, then '''slay the idolaters wherever you find them''', and '''take them captives''' and '''besiege them''' and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them" (Koran 9:5).<ref>http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm</ref>.

*"So when the sacred months have passed away, then '''slay the idolaters wherever you find them''', and '''take them captives''' and '''besiege them''' and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them" (Koran 9:5).<ref>http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm</ref>

*"The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!" (9:30) <ref>http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/009.qmt.html#009.030</ref>.

*"The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!" (9:30).<ref>http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/009.qmt.html#009.030</ref>

*"Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority" (Sura 3 verse 151).<ref>http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm</ref>  This verse commands violence against Christians, who according to Mohammed 'joined Companions with Allah' and are thus infidels who must be killed, subjugated, or converted according to the Koran.

*"Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority" (Sura 3 verse 151).<ref>http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm</ref>  This verse commands violence against Christians, who according to Mohammed 'joined Companions with Allah' and are thus infidels who must be killed, subjugated, or converted according to the Koran.