Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 13
February 8, 1962
NUMBER 39, PAGE 1,12-13a

The Religion Of Islam --- (No. 4)

Robert H. Farish, Lufkin, Texas

The Teaching Of The New Testament Contrasted With The Teaching Of The Koran

In former articles attention has been called to the fact that Mohammed in his Koran declared Jesus to be a prophet of God (Al Koran chap. 4); but denied that Jesus was the Son of God. (Al Koran chap. 9) It was further pointed out that Jesus' claim to be the Son of God proved that Mohammed was a false prophet. For if Jesus is a prophet of God his claim to be the Son of God is the claim of a prophet of God and is true, and Mohammed is proved to be a false prophet by his denial of this truth. On the other hand if Jesus is NOT a prophet of God, then Mohammed's declaration that Jesus was a prophet of God is false. Either way you take it, Mohammed is a false prophet.

This article will be an extension of this line of argument to the doctrine of Christ in contrast to the doctrine of Mohammed. The doctrine of Christ is recorded in the New Testament, while the doctrine of Mohammed is recorded in the Koran. It is my purpose to point up contradictions between the doctrine of Jesus and the doctrine of Mohammed in order that it may be clearly seen that Mohammed is a false prophet. This is in line with the requirement of Jesus, whom I serve, that I "believe not every spirit but prove the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

Jesus The Prophet Of God

Moses wrote, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren like unto me, unto him ye shall harken;....I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not harken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." (Deut. 18:15-19) Peter quoted this prophecy and identified the prophet, of whom Moses spake, as Jesus. (Acts 3:22) The declaration is made, with reference to the things which Jesus taught, "that every soul that shall not harken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3:23) Moslems find themselves in an impossible position when they consider the teaching of Mohammed in the Koran in connection with the teaching of Jesus the prophet of God. They cannot harken to Jesus in all things which he speaks without rejecting many things that Mohammed taught and they cannot refuse to harken unto Jesus without rejecting the teaching of him whom Mohammed in the Koran declared to be a prophet of God. This will be illustrated by presenting some of the doctrine of Jesus alongside the doctrine of Mohammed on the same point.

Marriage

The law of God on marriage as expressed by Jesus the prophet of God who is also the Son of God through whom God speaks his will to men of this age is, "he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (Matt. 19:4-6) And in response to the question of right of divorce and remarriage he said, "Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it bath not been so. And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery." (Matt. 19:8, 9) The will of God as spoken by Jesus is that one man is to have one wife and that the right to divorce and remarry is granted to the innocent party when the other party is guilty of fornication.

Mohammed taught, "And if ye fear that ye shall not act with equity toward orphans of the female sex, take in marriage of such other women as please you, two, or three or four and not more. But if ye fear that ye can not act equitably toward so many, marry one only, or the slaves which ye shall have acquired....If ye be desirous to exchange a wife for another wife, and ye have already given one of them a talent, take not away anything therefrom: Will ye take it by slandering her, and doing her manifest injustice? Ye are forbidden to marry your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your aunts, both on the father's and on the mother's side, and your brothers' daughters, and your sisters' daughters, and your mothers who have given you suck, and your foster-sisters and your wives' mothers, and your daughters-in-law which are under your tuition, born of your wives unto whom ye have gone in, (but if ye have not gone in unto them, it shall be no sin in you to marry them) and the wives of your sons who proceed out of your loins; and ye are also forbidden to take to wife two sisters, except what is already past...." (Al Koran chap 4) This teaching allows a plurality of women to one man and forbids marriage between near kin except in certain cases. It will be interesting to note a little later the special privilege which is granted Mohammed in the matter of marriage.

But note the divorce law of the Koran. "Ye may divorce your wives twice; and then either retain them with humanity, or dismiss them with kindness....But if the husband divorce her a third time, she shall not be lawful for him again, until she marry another husband. But if he also divorce her, it shall be no crime in them if they return to each other...." No this is not a description of Hollywood practice, it is the teaching of the Koran which Mohammed claimed came down from God.

And as if not enough license is granted in the law for the common Moslem, the prophet fixes up special privileges for himself. "0 prophet, we have allowed thee thy wives unto whom thou hast given their dower, and also the slaves which thy right hand possesseth, of the body which God hath granted thee; and the daughters of thy uncle, and the daughters of thy aunts, both on thy father's side, and on thy mother's side, who have fled with thee from Mecca, and any other believing woman, if she give herself unto the prophet; in case the prophet desireth to take her to wife. This is a peculiar privilege granted thee above the rest of the true believers. We know what we have ordained them concerning their wives, and the slaves which their right hand possess: lest it should be deemed a crime in thee to make use of the privilege granted thee; for God is gracious and merciful." (Al Koran chap. 33) This ridiculous arrangement needs no comment. Just observe that he had found it advantageous to marry some near of kin and must needs provide himself with the necessary justification. This he handles very neatly by bringing out another chapter to the Koran.

Paradise

"This is a description of paradise, which is promised to the pious. It is watered by rivers; its food is perpetual, and its shade also; this shall be the reward of those who fear God." (Al Koran chap. 13)

"But those who fear God shall dwell in gardens, amidst fountains. The angels shall say unto them, enter ye therein in peace and security, and we will remove all grudges from their breasts; they shall be as brethren, sitting over against one another on couches: weariness shall not affect them therein, neither shall they be cast out thence forever." (Al Koran chap. 15) "....therein shall they enjoy whatever they wish." (Al Koran chap 16) "Therein shall be no vain discourse but peace; and their provisions shall be prepared for them therein morning and evening." (Al Koran chap 19) "They shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their clothing therein shall be silk." (AI Koran chap. 34) "They shall be clothed in fine silk, and in satin; and they shall sit facing one another. Thus shall it be: and we will espouse them to fair damsels, having large black eyes. In that place shall they call for all kind of fruits...." (Al Koran chap. 44) "The description of Paradise, which is promised unto the pious: therein are rivers of incorruptible waters; and rivers of milk, the taste thereof changeth not; and rivers of wine, pleasant unto those who drink; and rivers of clarified honey; and therein shall any have plenty of all kinds of fruits; and pardon from their Lord." (Al Koran chap. 47) "And it shall be said unto them eat and drink with easy digestion; because of that which ye have wrought: leaning on couches disposed in order; and we will espouse them unto virgins having large black eyes....and we will give them fruits in abundance and flesh of the kinds they desire. They shall present one another therein a cup of wine, wherein there shall be no vain discourse, nor any incitement unto wickedness." (Al Koran chap. 52)

In contrast Jesus, the prophet of God, said, "The sons of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage: for neither can they die anymore: for they are equal unto the angels and are sons of God being sons of the resurrection." (Luke 20:34-36)

The conflict between the teaching of Jesus the prophet of God and the teaching of Mohammed, on the provisions made for those worthy to attain unto the resurrection, cannot be reconciled on this point. One must be judged as false. Jesus says that, "they neither marry nor are given in marriage." Mohammed says that God will "espouse them unto virgins having large black eyes."

A striking characteristic of the teaching of Christ is its aloofness from sensual appeal, there being no appeal to the lust of the flesh or any other weakness. Gratification of physical needs or desires is not the goal set before men to induce them to live soberly, righteously and godly. The promises of God expressed in the teaching of Jesus are universal in appeal. They appeal with the same force to the people whose women characteristically have "big black eyes" as to the people whose women have narrow, slanting eyes, big blue eyes or soft grey eyes! The gospel is for every creature in all the world, not just for those people who prefer women with "big black eyes."

The contrast between the sensuous appeal contained in the description of the paradise of the Koran with the spiritual appeal of the New Testament requires the rejection of one or the other. Mohammed's claim to be a prophet of God, his declaration that Jesus was a prophet of God cannot be reconciled with this conflict in the teaching of the two. Mohammed was a false prophet.