What Is the “Islamic Dilemma”?
The “Islamic Dilemma” is the name of an argument that exposes a foundational error in the Qur’an. If the Qur’an affirms the Torah and the Injil (Gospel) it contradicts them and is wrong. If the Torah and the Injil (Gospel) are corrupted then the Qur’an is still false because it affirms it. Both arguments result in an unresolvable error.
The miracle of Islam is the perfection and preservation of the Qur’an.
If the Qur’an affirms the Injil (the Gospel), it creates a contradiction:
- the Injil is the word of God (the Gospels), Islam contradicts it and Islam fails.
- If the Injil (the Gospels) is corrupted, Islam still fails because the Qur’an affirms its authority.
This inconsistency challenges the Qur’an’s claimed perfection and raises questions about its divine origin.
Summary of issue
The core belief is that the Qur’an is Gods word from Gods messengers and is perfect.
But is it?
If the Qur’an is perfect and is Gods word perfectly preserved would it have mistakes? Of course not. If there are errors in the Qur’an it cannot be Gods word.
The Qur’an makes claims. If those claims are true, it could be Gods word. If the Qur’an makes false claims it cannot.
Islam believes that the Qur’an is perfect and therefore is a miracle of God. God though had other plans and left mistakes in the Qur’an that prove it false.
One error destroys this miracle. The Qur’an affirms the Injil (the Gospel). Here is the first mistake of many:
- the Injil is the word of God (the Gospels), Islam contradicts it and Islam fails.
- If the Injil (the Gospels) is corrupted, Islam still fails because the Qur’an affirms its authority.
Both positions of the argument point to the failure of Islam and the failure of Allah's foresight or power or wisdom. Why has he allowed you to be in this position?
The Qur’an declares you can trust the Injil. But Muslims today do not believe that. Down below we will go into many arguments about why Black is White or Up is Down but look at it clearly, if this is Allah's word why is it wrong or why is it confusing of why did Allah fail or why does the Qur’an redefine Jesus (the most important question)
2-min Video Overview
Here is a link to a Video page and here is a video on this issue:
Details
Here are the arguments against this issue and how the arguments fall down:
- The Qur’an Commands Muslims to Acknowledge Previous Revelations
- Contradiction Between Qur’anic Command and Muslim Beliefs About the Bible
- The Qur’an Affirms the Torah and Gospel as Revelations from Allah
- The Injil is not the Christian Gospel
- The Qur’an States Allah's Words Cannot Be Changed
- Muslims Are Commanded to Judge by the Gospel
- Qur’an Affirms the Authority of the Gospel's
- Muhammad Commanded to Seek Confirmation from Jews and Christians
- The Conclusion
- Jesus
The Qur’an Commands Muslims to Acknowledge Previous Revelations
In Surah 29, verse 46, the Qur’an commands Muslims to say to Christians:
"We believe in what has been revealed to us and in what has been revealed to you. Our God and your God is one, and to Him we submit."
وَلَا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ وَقُولُوا آمَنَّا بِالَّذِي أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَأُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَإِلَٰهُنَا وَإِلَٰهُكُمْ وَاحِدٌ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ
Surah Al-Ankabut 29:46
Despite this command, many Muslims say something different to Christians. They assert, "We don't believe in your book because it's been corrupted, and your God is a false God."
Contradiction Between Qur’anic Command and Muslim Beliefs About the Bible
If Muslims are commanded to believe in what has been revealed to Christians (the Bible), why do they claim that the Bible is corrupted? If the Qur’an says that their God and our God are the same, why do they instead assert that the Christian God is false?
These contradictions are across the board and absolute. The Bible agrees with itself 1,000 times. The Quran stands apart.
Here are three that show the complete deviation of the two sets of scripture.
1. Mediator Between God and Man
1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV): "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."
Surah 2:255 (Ayat al-Kursi) (Sahih International): "Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. ... Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?"
Arabic: اللّٰهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ... مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ
2. Tawhid versus Trinity
The Qur’an's Teaching on God and the Bible's Teaching on the Trinity
According to the Bible, God is a Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) while the Qur’an denies this. If Muslims follow the Qur’an, they can't believe in the Bible's account of the Trinity and Jesus' death and resurrection. This leads Muslims to reject the Bible because it contradicts the Qur’an's teachings.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (NIV): "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
Surah 4:171 (Sahih International): "O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah ... So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, ‘Three’; desist – it is better for you."
Arabic: يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللّٰهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ ... وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ
3. Eternal Life
John 3:16 (NIV): "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Surah 3:185 (Sahih International): "Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]."
Arabic: كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
The Qur’an Affirms the Torah and Gospel as Revelations from Allah
Some Muslims will say that the Injil is not the Gospels of the New Testament. That it is another book give to Jesus. But that idea falls down immediately you step beyond it.
If the Injil is a separate book where is it? What historical commentator Christian or Roman or Greek referenced this separate book? The Qur’an says it was a book in the hands of Christian in 700. Where is there a copy of this other book or references to it from 200 AD through to now? That is an argument from zero evidence.
The Qur’an declares that the Torah and the Gospel were revealed by Allah. In Surah 3, verses 3-4, it
"He has revealed to you the Book with truth, verifying that which is before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel before, as guidance for the people, and He sent the Qur’an."
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ مِن قَبْلُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَنزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ
Surah Aal-E-Imran 3:3-4
If Allah revealed the Torah and the Gospel as guidance, how could they have become corrupted? This creates a tension with the belief that Allah's guidance would mislead people.
The Injil is not the Christian Gospel
"And let the followers of the Evangel judge according to what Allâh has revealed therein. And indeed those who do not judge according to what Allâh has revealed it is these who are the real disobedient."
وَلۡيَحۡكُمۡ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡإِنجِيلِ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِۚ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَحۡكُمۡ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ
Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:47
"And We have revealed to you this perfect Book comprising the truth and wisdom, fulfilling (the prophecies of) the Scripture which was present before it and stands as a guardian over it, then judge between them according to that which Allâh has revealed (of the Qur'ân ), and do not deviate from the truth that has come to you in order to follow their low desires. For each one of you did We prescribe a spiritual law and a well-defined way (- a code in secular matters). And if Allâh had so willed He might have made you all one community (by force), but He wishes to show your perfection (the capacities and capabilities) that He has endowed you with. Therefore vie one with another in (doing) good deeds. To Allâh is the return of you all, then He will inform you as to that wherein you were at variance."
وَأَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ مُصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَمُهَيۡمِنًا عَلَيۡهِۖ فَٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّۚ لِكُلّ ٖ جَعَلۡنَا مِنكُمۡ شِرۡعَةٗ وَمِنۡهَاجٗاۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمۡ أُمَّةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِي مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَبِقُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ جَمِيعٗا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ فِيهِ تَخۡتَلِفُونَ
Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:48
In this passage above the Qur’an say the Injil is a physical book in the hands of Christians. And then is says explicitly says "do not deviate from the truth that has come to you in order to follow their low desires" so you have to accept that it existed at the time of Muhammad and was publicly held. What could that be historically other than the bible, the Torah and the Gospels.
Here is a link to the further explanation to the injil, What is the Injil?
The Qur’an States Allah's Words Cannot Be Changed
In Surah 18, verse 27, the Qur’an asserts that no one can change Allah's
"And recite what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is none who can change His words, and you shall not find any refuge besides Him."
وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا
Surah Al-Kahf 18:27
If no one can change Allah's words, and the Torah and Gospel are considered Allah's words, how can Muslims argue that the Bible has been corrupted?
Muslims Are Commanded to Judge by the Gospel
If the Gospel has been corrupted, why would Allah command Christians to judge by it? The only Gospel Christians have contradicts Islam, so judging by it would lead them to reject Islam.
Surah 5, verse 47, commands Christians to judge by the
"Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by the light of what Allah hath revealed, they are no better than those who rebel."
وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِنجِيلِ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ فِيهِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
Surah Al-Maidah 5:47
Qur’an Affirms the Authority of the Gospel's
Why would Allah tell Christians to stand upon the Torah and Gospel if these were corrupted? If they were truly corrupted, Allah would have instructed them to abandon these books in favor of the Qur’an.
In Surah 5, verse 68, the Qur’an tells the people of the Book to hold to the bible that they have.
"Say, O people of the Book, you have no ground to stand upon unless you stand fast by the Torah, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord."
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ تُقِيمُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ
Surah Al-Maidah 5:68
Muhammad Commanded to Seek Confirmation from Jews and Christians
When Muhammad had doubts about his revelations, Allah commanded him to seek confirmation from the people of the Bible and the Christians and the Jews. It was not that he doubted but if he doubted the resolution of his doubt was to be found outside of the Quran and in the scriptures they had in their hands.
"But if you, O Muhammad, are in doubt as to what We have revealed to you, ask those who read the Book before you. Certainly, the truth has come to you from your Lord, therefore you should not be of the disputers."
فَإِن كُنتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَقَدْ جَاءَكَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ
Surah Yunus 10:94
This shows that even Muhammad was directed to seek confirmation from the scriptures of Jews and Christians, further affirming the authority of these scriptures.
The Dilemma: Gospel's Authority Versus Qur’anic Contradiction
The Qur’an puts Muslims in an inescapable
- If the Gospel is still the inspired, preserved, authoritative word of God, then Islam is false because the teachings of the Gospel contradict the Qur’an.
- If the Gospel has been corrupted, then Islam is also false because the Qur’an affirms the inspiration, preservation, and authority of the Gospel.
Conclusion: Either Way, Islam Is False
Whether the Gospel is the word of God or not, Islam faces a self-destructive contradiction.
- If the Gospel is the word of God, Islam is false because it contradicts the core teachings of the Gospel.
- If the Gospel is not the word of God, Islam is false because the Qur’an affirms the authority of the Gospel.
By affirming scriptures that contradict its core teachings, Islam self-destructs. Muslims who don't want to believe in a self-destructive religion will need to find a new belief system. Let's encourage our Muslim friends to obey the Gospel as both the Bible and Qur’an command.
This logical proposition shows in this circumstance that the Qur’an is not perfect. There are 100 other issues with it but that is not the issue. The issue of the Qur’an is it resets who Jesus is. Jesus is the answer. Jesus is Your answer.
Islam says you can get your own sins forgiven. That is a lie. Your sins separate you from God. That is the start of the Gospel message.
Without a solution to your separation from God you will die separated from God.
There is no way past that problem other than Jesus. Let me explain