Today I want to compare the Bible and the Qur’an. As Christians we believe that God’s Word is inerrant and infallible. We believe that God gave his revelation to man and that He has preserved it pure until this day.

As a former Muslim, Shahram had no faith in the Qur’an and its teachings. He had no promise of salvation and no answers to his questions. Seeing the consistency of the Bible, and that Jesus is the living Word of God is what gave him hope.

Fortress of Faith is not only a ministry of exposing Islam, it is also a ministry of reaching Muslims with the Gospel. When we compare the Bible with the Qur’an we find that the credibility of the Bible far exceeds the credibility of the Qur’an.

The Qur’an does not pass muster when it claims to be given from Allah as his word. There are 1.7 billion people in this world who are told to put their faith and trust in it. When compared to the Bible it becomes obvious that Muslims should reject the Qur’an and put their trust in the Bible.

The Source Of Muhammad’s Revelation

As we examine this issue, we believe it will be a great tool, not only to strengthen Christians, but to help them reach out to Muslims. There are missionaries who are involved in “bridge-building” between Muslims and Christians and who teach there is a common word between the Qur’an and the Bible. When we look at the contradictions and lack of witness for the Qur’an, we find that there is nothing common between them. The truth is, they are contradictory.

Let’s start with the idea of witnesses. The Bible was given to multiple witnesses. Both the Old and New Testaments were given through multiple people, Moses, the prophets, the apostles, etc. It was not concocted by one person. It was given over a period of time, and was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

Who is the original witness of the Qur’an? There is only one, Muhammad. Muslims are, by faith, to take this one man’s word. It is like comparing a full orchestra with a string section, a base section, a brass section, etc. playing in magnificent harmony (the Bible) with a one string guitar that is out of tune (the Qur’an).

The Bible is very detailed. It gives places, times, names, etc. so we can check out what it says. If you talk in vague generalities like some of the prognosticators and astrologers who try to predict the future, their predictions can apply to just about anything or anyone.

Some 40 men were used of God to record His Word. He used them over hundreds of years and yet the messages fits together without any contradictions. The harmony of the Bible is one of its most remarkable features. The Qur’an, on the other hand, is a jumble of disassociated thoughts and contradictions.

It is our hope that you will see that the Bible, in its entirety, is the Holy Word of God. You will see that only God could have put it together.

The central figure of the Bible, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, is the Lord Jesus Christ. There are over 300 Messianic prophecies from the Old Testament which are fulfilled in one Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. The probabilities of these 300 prophecies being fulfilled in one person approaches impossibility. Only God could have known these things in advance.

Some say that Jesus came to abolish the law, but the Bible tells us that He came to fulfill the law.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17)

In the Qur’an the central figure is really Muhammad. He is the only person who received the “revelation” from Allah.

We must ask, were there other witnesses to Muhammad’s revelation? Muhammad claimed that he routinely visited a cave for meditation and this is where the revelations began. He claimed that these revelations were given to him by the angel Gabriel. The following is from “The Narration From Aisha.” She is recounting the story that Muhammad had told her.

He [Muhammad} used to go in seclusion to the cave of Hira, where he used to worship Allah alone continuously for many days and nights. … The angel came to him in it and asked him to read, the Prophet replied, I do not know how to read. The angel caught me forcefully and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and asked me again to read. And I replied, I do not know how to read, whereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and asked me to read, but again I replied, I do not know how to read, or maybe, what shall I read. Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me and released me and said read in the name of your lord who has created all that exists, has created man from a clot.

This was the initial encounter that Muhammad had with the angel. Apparently the angel didn’t know Muhammad couldn’t read.

Are there any examples in the Bible where an angel shows up and nearly kills one of the prophets while trying to give him revelation? Of course there are not. There are times when an angel appeared and the men were afraid, but the angel always sought to calm them and assure them there was no danger. I think it would be a natural thing to be afraid if an angel suddenly showed up in front of you.

In the biography of Muhammad, which is considered part of the Islamic scriptures, he is quoted as saying:

Never shall the Quraish say of me poet or possessed. I shall go to the top of the mountain and cast myself off and find rest

Muhammad actually planed to commit suicide rather than be thought to be demon possessed. He said to his wife:

I see light and I hear sound, and I fear I am mad.

These encounters made him think he was going crazy.

There is another question we need to answer. Was the revelation given to him all at once, or was it given over time. There is controversy and contradiction within the Qur’an and Muslim scholars have come up with various excuses. In the Bible there is no contradiction even though it was penned over hundreds of years by some 40 different writers. The point is that if one of the writers went astray, there are other writers that keep everything in check.

Think about all of this. Not only is Muhammad the only witness, he was so confused when he received the revelation he wanted to commit suicide. He actually thought he was visited by a demon. Maybe he should have stuck with his first instinct.