Let's do a little exploration of Islam and Judeo-Christian teachings for ourselves. The
best place I know to find out about anything, especially religion, is to look at its own writings. You see, unlike the politicians and, unfortunately, most of what passes for the church these days, I believe that people are intelligent enough to arrive at their own conclusions when they know the facts. Of course, with the pressures of day-to-day life, it seems that there is little time left over to examine with a critical eye what our news media and preachers are telling us regarding religious beliefs. So, I've done a little research of my own that I would like to share with you.
Now there are no doubt some that will read what is below and accuse me of being intellectually lazy, of pulling verses out of context. What I invite you to do is to go to the Koran and see for yourself if I have been disingenuous or not. That is why I've included the Koranic sura (chapter) and verse, and chapter and verse from the King James Bible. There are additions in brackets for comments as needed. Those in parentheses were included from the electronic version of the Koran at http://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/koran/.
What follows is certainly not a comprehensive list, but is intended to give the reader a brief overview only.
From the Koran:
A benign approach to Christians, Jews, and Sabians
2:62, 5.69 Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians [another group of Abrahamic monotheists], whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear in them, nor shall they grieve.
From the Koran:
A hostile approach to Christians and Jews
2:120 And the Jews will not be pleased with you, not the Christians until you follow their religion. Say: Surely Allah's guidance, that is, the (true) guidance. And if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you shall have no guardian from Allah, nor any helper.
2:135 And they say, Be Jews or Christians, you will be on the right course. Say: Nay (we follow) the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanif [monotheists], and he was not one of the polytheists. [Muslims consider Christians polytheists because of the belief in the Trinity.]
3:67-69 Ibrahim was not a Jew or a Christian but he was upright, a Muslim, and he was not one of the polytheists. Most surely the nearest of people to Ibrahim are those who followed him and this Prophet and those who believe and Allah is the guardian of believers. A party of followers of the Book desire that they should lead you astray, and they lead not astray but themselves, and do not perceive. [Ibrahim - Abraham actually lived thousands of years before Mohammad and the advent of Islam in the Seventh century A.D.]
5:51 O you who believe! Do not take the Jews or Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever among you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
9: 5 So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters whenever 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; surely Allah is forgiving, merciful. [The only final options for non-Muslims: Conversion or death. Subjugation is also allowed, but only until either of the first two options can be carried out.]
9:30 And the Jews say: Uzair [possibly Ezra] is the son of Allah; and they Christians say: The Messiah [Jesus] is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!
From the Bible concerning the Jews:
Deuteronomy 7:7-8 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
From the Bible concerning Christians:
Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Koran: Going to heaven
3:157 And if you are slain in the way of Allah or you die certainly forgiveness from Allah and mercy is better than what they amass. [Martyrdom for the cause of Islam guarantees paradise.]
The Bible: Going to heaven
John 14:5-6 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. [Faith in Jesus is the ONLY WAY to heaven.]
The Koran: Dealing with those who turn from Islam
4:88-89 What is the matter with you, then, that you have become two parties about the hypocrites, while Allah has made them return (to unbelief) for what they have earned? Do you wish to guide him whom Allah has caused to err? And whomsoever Allah causes to err, you shall by no means find a way for him. They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) on Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or helper.
4:115 And whoever acts hostilely to the Apostle after that guidance has become manifest to him, and follows other than the way of the believers, we will turn him to that to which he has (himself) turned and make him enter hell; and it is an evil resort.
The Bible: Dealing with those who never believe or turn from belief in Jesus
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? [This means that a Christian should not knowingly "hook their star" to someone is not a believer –especially, in my view, someone determined to remain that way.]
Titus 3:10-11 A man that is an heretick [heretic] after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. [If a nominal Christian is believing, or worse, preaching error, it is up to another Christian who does follow the Bible to point out the error. If that person - or church, for that matter - still refuses to accept Scriptural teaching, then it is time to move on.]
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [God can and will take care of those who refuse him. It is not up to us to retaliate for him. I am not however advocating a position of pacifism here. As James said: Resist the devil, and he will flee from you – James 4:7. Evil that is not confronted generally becomes successful.]
Conclusion
I hope this clears up the confusion over what the Koran and the Bible actually have to say on the subjects above. As you can readily see, there is a vast difference between the teachings of the Bible and the Koran in the areas explored above. As you read through this article and examine the evidence for yourself, I hope you will decide for yourself if you’re finding the information given to you by the media – or from the pulpit – is in any way accurate or not. If you find it is not, perhaps now would be an excellent time to pass on that discovery to others – while we still have time!
