What was Israel’s Response to the Covenant?

10 / 14 / 05 - In one of his recent articles, Sam Shamoun contends that because the Qur'an cites the response of the Israelites to Yahweh's covenant as "We hear and we disobey" (2:93; 4:46) whereas the Bible quotes the same as "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey" (Exodus 24:7) and "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him." (Joshua 24:24), therefore, the Qur'an, and I quote Shamoun, "is in error, a point which cannot be debated on historical or logical grounds." This hubristic remark results from shutting one's eyes from the context of the cited Qur'anic remark in verse 2:93, as well as the complementary nature of 4:46 in its elaboration. The issue discussed in the context of 2:93 was the malicious tongue-twisting of the Israelites, which, in practice, was reflective of their disrespectful and defiant attitude vis-a-vis the implications of Yahweh's covenant....Read More

Talking Ants in the Qur'an?

10 / 14 / 05 - Basically, the gist of the missionary claim is: Why does the Qur'an say that ants talk (27:18-19)? Everyone knows that ants communicate by chemicals detected by scent and never sound! Is this not a scientific error in the Qur'an? This style of argument is quite sophomoric in that it is entirely based on someone who does not even have a rudimentary level understanding of zoology or entomology (I believe this is covered in 9th-Grade Biology in the USA). Its sadly typical of this genre of anti-Islamic quasi-polemicists. You seriously couldn't go to the library or even do a web search for information on acoustic communication by ants? What does this say about your credibility as a genre collectively?...Read More

Wine – Good or Bad?

10 / 14 / 05 - Strong drink and ... are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. [5:90, also 2:219]. Yet on the other hand in Paradise are rivers of wine [47:15, also 83:22,25]. How does Satan's handiwork get into Paradise?...Read More

Who Suffers the Consequence of Sins?

10 / 14 / 05 - The Qur'an declares that everyone will be held responsible only for his own sins [S. 17:13-15, 53:38-42]. Yet, the Qur'an accuses the Jews of Muhammad's day for the sins committed some 2000 years earlier by other Jews, e.g. worshipping the Golden Calf idol....Read More

Can Angels Disobey? The Nature of Iblis And The Reason For His Fall

10 / 14 / 05 - Can angels disobey? No angel is arrogant, they all obey Allah [16:49-50], but: "And behold, we said to the ANGELS: 'Bow down to Adam'. And THEY bowed down, EXCEPT Iblis. He refused and was haughty." [2:34]....Read More