Questions for Muslims

by Matt Slick

Dear Muslim, I do not post these questions as a "proof" that Islam is false.  I do not believe that is possible with a simple list of questions.  Nevertheless, they are here to encourage discussion that the truth may be known.

1. The Qur'an says "To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness hath Allah promised forgiveness and a great reward" (Surah 5:9).  
   1. Question: Are you doing enough good deeds to receive salvation on the Day of Judgment?
   2. Question: Are you doing all you can or are you relaxing in your dedication to Allah?
2. The Qur'an says, "O ye who believe! Turn unto Allah in sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your evil deeds and bring you into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, on the day when Allah will not abase the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their light will run before them and on their right hands; they will say: Our Lord! Perfect our light for us, and forgive us! Lo! Thou art Able to do all things," (66:8-9).  Notice how it says if you are sincere you may receive forgiveness.  
   1. Question: How do you know you are sincere enough to be forgiven of Allah?
   2. Question: Does it give you peace to know that even if you are very sincere then, at best, you may receive forgiveness?
   3. Question: If you say that you know you are sincere enough in your repentance before Allah, how do you know you are not deceiving yourself?
   4. Question: Is your heart really good enough to muster enough sincerity before a Holy and Righteous God?
   5. Question: If you say yes, I honestly and humbly ask you, "Are you being prideful?"
   6. Question: If you say you are not being prideful, then are you boasting in your sincerity?
3. In Christianity, Jesus is God in flesh who paid for our sins on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24).  Because of that, we Christians are secure in Him and do not have to worry about doing enough good works to please God since we are saved by grace through faith in Him, (Eph. 2:8-9).
   1. Question: Why should we Christians give up our guarantee of salvation in Jesus for the requirements of your Qur'anic law when you yourselves don't even know if you have done enough good deeds to be saved on the Day of Judgment?
4. The Bible says that God is love (1 John 4:16) and that He loves all people (Matt. 5:43-48; John 3:16).  The Qur'an never says that "God is love."  In fact, the Qur'an says that Allah does not love unbelievers (2:98; 3:32).  
   1. Question: If Allah does not love unbelievers, can you say that Allah is love, especially if the Qur'an does not say it?
   2. Question: If you say yes, that Allah is love, then why does he only love the Muslims and not all people?
   3. Question: If you say Allah is love, is he more loving than the God of the Bible who loves all people?
5. In the Bible, Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." In Christianity, the greatest act of love is performed by God Himself -- since Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9).  Jesus is the one who fulfilled His own words on this.  He laid His life down for us. 
   1. Question: What is the greatest act of love performed by Allah?
   2. Question: If what Jesus said is true, then hasn't someone besides Allah performed the greatest act of love?
   3. Question: Why do you, as a Muslim, want me to give up such a great love performed by God Himself (from a Christian perspective) for your belief in Allah who only loves people if they are Muslims?
6. Islam teaches that the Holy Spirit is Gabriel.  In the Bible, the Holy Spirit lives in the Christians. 
   1. Question: If the angel Gabriel is the Holy Spirit, how can he dwell in us?   (Note:  According to the Nestle Aland Greek New Testament Textual Apparatus, there are no textual variations of any of the following biblical references.  They are recorded and transmitted to us accurately.)
      1. "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you," (2 Tim. 1:14, NASB).
      2. "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16, NASB).
7. Lying is okay?
   1. Question: Was Muhammad wrong for advocating lying?  Is Lying okay? "Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, "O Allah's Apostle! Would you like that I kill him [Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf]?" The Prophet said, "Yes," Muhammad bin Maslama said, "Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab). "The Prophet said, "You may say it," (Hadith Vol. 5, Book 59, #369).
   2. Question: Who is more holy, Allah or Yahweh?
   3. In the above quote from the hadith, Muhammad advocated lying.  The Christian God would never approve of lying.  Does the god of Islam approve of lying?  If not, then wasn't Muhammad wrong?  If he was not wrong, then Allah approves of lying.  Which God is more holy?  The God of Christianity is far more holy.

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