QUR’AN CONCEPTS
Though we have sought through these words to be as objective as possible in reference to true Islam, we would not have the reader misunderstand us. The fact is that Islam is a political/religious system of government that was born out of an era of conflict. It was given birth by one who was seeking to usher in among his Arab people peace among conflicting nomadic Arab tribes who were polytheistic and politically divided. Muhammad and his close friends were military people. As the leader of his movement, had his thoughts transcribed, and then his followers, who were often in conflict, fed upon them as political/religious dictates that must be implemented in every society that conquered. The result was that they inspired themselves to be victorious over unbelievers in their political/religious system of government in order to live in peace and unity among themselves.
Muhammad was one of the great spiritual and social leaders of his time. The fact that he is given credit for producing religious and social oracles is evidence of the fact that he was a leader who wanted to bring to his people under a creed that would encourage peace and unity.
Any reading of the Qur’an gives the impression that Muhammad sought to bring to the lives of simple nomadic people a life-style of social order in the chaotic manner by which nomadic tribes did that which was right in the eyes of each chieftain. In order to produce this order, he did what most religionists do in order to marshal the behavior of the adherents into conformity and uniformity. He produced laws that were eventually collected together over one hundred years after his death into what is now referred to as the Qur’an. This was a legal document of precepts and codes similar in nature to what God gave to Israel through the Torah. Israel needed “precept upon precept” in order to maintain order among scattered tribal farmers throughout the land of promise. Likewise, the uneducated bedouins needed simple directions on how to live the spiritual life and maintain a government of unity. And in reference to this need, Muhammad delivered.
It is often the desire of those who seek a following to do the same with the New Testament. Some leaders have interpreted from the New Testament a legal system of Christianity that is simple and legal: Five steps of salvation and five acts of worship. As long as one had obeyed these simple dictates, then he was fine with God, regardless of his behavior and thinking. The early uneducated rural farmers of America—and now the rest of the developing world—could easily understand this system of legal requirements. They could thus implement such a legal system of law in their lives in order to legally claim their salvation before God, and then judge others “unfaithful” if they did not conform to the code. Even “worship” was legalized in order to give attendees at assembly a sense of self-satisfaction that they had worshiped God according to law.
Muhammad, with different and more complex rules, did the same for the Arabs. Of course each system of religiosity is legal. And because the systems are legal it places the responsibility for salvation on the shoulders of the adherent to live perfectly in compliance with the laws before one can self-confidently claim salvation on the merit of his own obedience. But when the submissive adherent confesses to his inability to keep the laws perfectly, he is continually racked with guilt for not performing perfectly the codes of his legal religiosity. But the systematic theology of Muhammad appealed to the people. He was successful in that he gave people a legal system of behavior by which to conduct their lives in all aspects of human relationships, and by doing such, live in peace with Allah.
Because of the era in which Muhammad lived, we would assume that there would be many concepts in the Qur’an that are contrary to the Bible. When religions are invented by men, they inevitably reflect the times in which the men live. Such was the case with the birth of the Qur’an. When religious “scripture” is born out of the contemporary times of the writers, the mandates of the “scriptures” of these “holy books” reflect precepts and concepts that are eventually dated with the death of the authors and the changing of the times. And because man-made “scriptures” are dated, they are inevitably in conflict with the unchanging word of God, which word finds its uniqueness in the fact that it is valid and relevant for all cultures until the end of time. Moderate Muslims are such because they seek to bring Islam into a modern age of the developed world. We must certainly commend them for this effort, though we do not cease to point out those problems that they have in doing this by ignoring some precepts of the Qur’an that are dated.
Now in reference to the Qur’an that Muslims have today, there is a very dubious history. Muhammad died in 632. However, the earliest materials that Muslims have today in reference to the life and teachings of Muhammad were written by Ibn Ishaq in 750. It takes little math to figure out that this is about 120 years after Muhammad died. Now this story becomes even more interesting when one realizes that Muslims do not even have any of the original autographs of the work of Ibn Ishaq. What is available are only some copies of the revisions and amendments of Ishaq that were produced by Ibn Hisham, who died in 834. Again, if we do the math, this is about 200 years after Muhammad died.
Now add to the intrigue of this story the work of Uthman Ibn Affan (644-656), the third caliph after Muhammad. This was an era when the Muslims needed a sacred book in order to consolidate the Muslims under his caliphate. So in order to marshal the people together under his rule, his scribes, with the help of the Samaritans, began to build a character model of Muhammad after the leadership of Moses. The Qur’an that Muslims use today was based on the material that was gathered by Uthman to produce a Qur’anic text. This is the Qur’anic text that is generally accepted by all Muslims today. However, this unfortunately means that the Qur’an that Muslims use today did not originate from Arab scribes. Muslims today assume that the Qur’an in their hands dates back to some original autograph of Muhammad at the time he died. But this is simply not true. There is absolutely no historical evidence that the Qur’an that exists today dates back to the time of Muhammad, or even immediately after his death. This history of the Qur’anic text is one of those embarrassing historical facts with which most Muslims are uncomfortable in discussing.
Now when we speak of the documents of the New Testament text, there is a similar history of collecting copies that were made from copies of the original autographs. However, there is a significant difference between how Christians view the New Testament text they have today and how Muslims view the Qur’anic text. Christians follow the message of the documents, and this message is clearly, and without any contradictions, revealed through the more than five thousand manuscripts that we have today of the New Testament. However, Muslims are always in a frantic search to verify the exact words of Muhammad because the Qur’an is the very revelation of Allah to man. Any corruption of the text of the Qur’an, therefore, would be a corruption of the revelation of Allah for Muslims today.
Now in contrast to Bible teaching, the following are a few example teachings of the Qur’an that might be interesting to the Bible student in order to determine some basic differences between teachings of the Qur’an and the Bible:
I. Mercy, forgiveness and forbearing:
In view of the present conflicts that prevail throughout the Arab Islamic world, we find the following statements of Muhammad quite interesting, if not a paradox to the militant Islamist:
Allah is forgiving and merciful (Surah 2:218).
And know that Allah is forgiving and forbearing (Surah 2:235).
Allah is embracing and knowing (Surah 2:247).
Allah is gracious toward mankind (Surah 2:251)
These statements are scattered throughout the Qur’an. All moderate Muslims of the world focus on these statements in reference to defining their Islamic faith to the Christian world. However, when we see the conflicts that are presently happening in the Middle East, we are led to believe that the conflicts are not the result of pious spiritual leaders who are trying to implement Islam. What radical Islamists seem to be doing is enriching themselves on the wealth of oil that is sold to the infidel. And in order to do this, power must be claimed. And in order to claim the power, Islamists must ignore the forgiving, merciful and forbearing teachings of Muhammad concerning his understanding of the nature of Allah.
II. Deceive for Allah:
Now Muslims would lead the world to believe that the basic nature of Islam is “mercy, forgiveness and forbearing.” But the vast majority of Muslims throughout the world know that this is not always the case. The teaching of Taqiyya is a doctrine of the Qur’an. It is a principle that gives the right to the Muslim to proclaim one’s beliefs in a deceptive manner in order to escape persecution or harm. When in negotiations with the West, the Islamic nation would feel that it is their right to deceive the Western negotiators for the sake of promoting the Islamic cause. Surah 16:106 reads,
Anyone who, after accepting faith in Allah, utters unbelief, except under compulsion, theirs will be a dreadful chastisement.
What the surah is saying is that a Muslim has the right to utter falsehoods in order to escape persecution. The same principle of deception and denial is taught in reference to breaking oaths, promises and other contracts with the infidel, if such is down for the benefit of the Muslim (See surah 2:225; 8:54; 9:3; 11:106; 40:28; 66:2). Would an Islamic nation that is governed by sharia law sign a treaty with the West, and then later recant on the conditions of the treaty? The Qur’an would certainly justify such.
III. Aggression:
We do not forget that within the pages of Muhammad’s teaching that there are clear statements that encourage aggression. Surah 9:29 states:
Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor abide by the religion of truth—from among those who received the Scripture—until they pay the due tax, willingly or unwillingly.
In contrast to this aggression that is taught in the Qur’an, note Surah 5:87:
O you who believe! Do not prohibit the good things Allah has permitted for you, and do not commit aggression. Allah does not love the aggressors.
And fight them until there is no oppression, and worship becomes devoted to Allah alone. But if they cease, then let there be no hostility except against the oppressors (Surah 2:193).
In reference to this aggressive spirit that is taught in the Qur’an, which was military aggression, the West must not forget that the radical Islamist obsesses over these statements in order to launch jihad against the free world. The West would certainly use military force to resist any formalized Islamic army that would endanger nationhood and the Western citizen’s way of life. But such a military conflict with jihadist will not happen. Islamic jihad is covert. The aggression of the Islamist today is carried out through the infiltration of society under the umbrella of the “freedom of religion” embedded in the laws of the free world. Islamists in the West are using the freedom of democracy as the means to continue the Islamic war against the unbelievers.
This does not mean, however, that when Muslims have the majority vote that they will implement sharia law. There are countries as Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia that by far are Muslim in majority with Islam as the state law, but do not seek to oppress other faiths by a strict application of sharia law. We must keep in mind that the vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are moderate and want to continue on with peace in their lives as any citizen in the freedom of a democratic society. But we must never forget that deep inside, Muslims know that the world must become Islam. This is the thinking of the vast majority of Muslims, though the moderate Muslim would use more subtle means than outright military conflict.
It is certainly the goal of the Christian to make all the world Christian. His evangelistic outreach is through the proclamation of the gospel, to which people can voluntarily and individually respond. No one is forced to become a Christian. Those who would impose their faith on others, will eventually have others retaliate by imposing their faith on them. There is the vast difference between using terrorism as a means to impose one’s faith on others.
If the Christian would succeed in his evangelistic efforts to reach the world, then he does not have in his back pocket a religious state constitution that he would impose on those who would volunteer to be Christian. Almost all modern Muslims in democratic states feel the same in reference to Islam and the Qur’an. However, we must keep in mind that movements as the Taliban, Boko Haram, ISIS, Al Sahabaab and Al qaeda have copies of the Qur’an ready to impose on the people as a state constitution.
We are often horrified at the horrendous atrocities that are being carried out by Islamic groups in different parts of the world. There is a reason for this. The radical Islamist accuses the non-Islamic world of attacking Islam. They are right, but not as they think. The attack is with the gospel, not with guns. In the early 1960s there was a book that was published annually entitled, Unreached People. In the early 1960s it was stated that about one billion people in the world had never heard the name “Jesus.” But since then, this has all changed. The name of Jesus has been preached throughout the last fifty years to people all over the world. Few people in the world today have never heard of the name Jesus.
Now we wonder why Islamists feel that they are under attack? The truth is that Muslims are converting to Christianity throughout the world. And what would we expect when the kingdom of darkness is under attack? Islamists know that the message of love that Christians bring through the preaching of the gospel will overcome the power of any religious system that is of this world.
Christians recall in their history when the same scenario of oppression of their faith happened at the beginning of the first century until the first of the fourth century. The Jews first persecuted Christianity, and then state persecution began with Nero and extended until Rome finally relented under Constantine and made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Hate and military aggression of the great Roman Empire succumbed to love.
When one has an inferiority complex about his faith, his only recourse is terroristic aggression. When one knows that he is losing the battle for the hearts of men, then he will often lash out with fierce aggression. A once “unreached people” of the world are now being reached with the message of love from the cross that was expressed through grace and was poured out on the cross of Calvary. There is no power whatsoever that can stand against the power of the love and grace that was revealed on a cross a short distance from Jerusalem. Someone once asked us how to convert Muslims. There is really only one answer that would begin the conversion process. Jesus gave the “method”:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn 13:34,35).
IV. Islam only:
Surah 9:33 states that Islam is the only true religion.
It is He who sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, in order to make it prevail over all religions, even though the idolaters dislike it.
The religion before Allah is Islam (Surah 3:19; see 3:85).
This statement would also reflect the goal of Christians in reference to Christianity. What the constitution of a democratic state accomplishes is to offer both the Christian and Muslim, as well as all religious faiths within a nation, the social environment in which differences in faith can be freely discussed. If either side of the discussion would seek to impose the laws of their faith as the laws of the state, then we can know that that faith is simply the invention of man. If one needs the law of state to convert the people, then we can be assured that the law of one’s faith is simply from man and not God. Those who lack confidence in their “system of faith” will always seek some way to impose their faith on others by using the law of the state.
But the doctrine of “Islam only” is totally contrary to the teaching that Jesus is the only way, truth and life (Jn 14:6). He is the only way into the realm of the eternal Father (At 4:12). Islam cannot be the only way, if the only way is through Jesus. The teaching that Islam is the only religion forces every Muslim to accept the following teaching of the Qur’an:
V. Denial of the cross:
Surah 4:157 states:
And for their [Jews] saying, “We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.” In fact, they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them as if they did. Indeed, those who differ about him are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it, except the following of assumptions. Certainly, they did not kill him.
This is one point of teaching of the Qur’an that will always separate Christianity from Islam. There will never be a compromise between the two faiths, as some have attempted with the theology of “Christlam.” Such teaching is a mockery of the Son of God and the cross upon which He poured Himself out for the salvation of all men.
Muhammad denied the very foundation upon which God labored for centuries throughout human history to accomplish. The cross is the centrality of the work of the one true and living God. And it is by the denial of this salvational event of history that proves that Islam is simply a religion of man. Because of this denial on the part of Muhammad, he will always be considered a false prophet by all Christians.
Muhammad’s denial of this central reason for Christian faith speaks volumes concerning the digressed state of “Christianity” that he encountered. He placed no salvational emphasis on the cross, indicating that the supposed Christianity of the era had long forgotten that the Christian life is centered around the cross. What Muhammad encountered was a religion that was defined by organized religious people who based their faith in a religious institution. There was no preaching of the gospel of Jesus and the cross at this time in history. There was only preaching of the church. If the gospel had been preached and lived throughout the Arabian areas of the world, then certainly Muhammad would have mentioned message of the gospel that “Christians” were supposed to be preaching. If “Christians” were preaching the gospel of the cross, Muhammad would have attacked the message of the cross and not simply what he considered to be the fraudulent claim of the death of Jesus.
Will this be the demise of the church in the years to come? Will we too stop preaching the gospel of the cross and the necessity of obeying the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in the waters of baptism for the forgiveness of sins? Will preaching of an institutional churchianity overshadow the cross? It seems that the digression has already started with those who obsess over “faith only” salvation to the neglect of obedience to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (See 1 Co 15:1-4; Rm 6:3-6; 2 Th 1:6-9). The central message of some in these days is a message of church, and not Christ. It is often a message of preserving one’s religious heritage, and not preaching of our inheritance through the cross.
When prophets start preaching that people are individually predestined to either heaven or hell, then there is no need to proclaim the cross to which all men must have an opportunity to respond. When prophets rise up, and with sweet voices, proclaim that a simple faith only is all that is needed to be saved, then there is no need to preach the incarnate blood of Jesus Christ dripping from the cross of Calvary. When the obsession of our preaching is a catechism to define our church heritage, then the foundation of our faith moves from Christ to church.
We would assume that Christendom has moved closer to the era of Muhammad by promoting a churchianity that is sterile of the cross, but organize according to the laws of heritage. If one does not believe this, then he should take note of all the “miracle meetings” that are conducted throughout the misguided religious world of Christendom. People are drawn to the “miracle meetings” in hope of healing. Churches are thus filled with narcissistic attendees who come weekly and weakly for some “healing.” They are “me churches” that seek something for self. They are not drawn into assembly because of what Jesus did for us through the cross. This certainly seems to be contrary to what Jesus said would draw people unto Him. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me” (Jn 12:32). It is the cross that draws true repentant believers to Jesus, not miracles.
Please keep in mind that the digression from the preaching of the gospel and simple Christianity to an institutional churchianity identified by its organization took less than five centuries to developfully. This is the “christianity” that Muhammad encountered and rejected. In the middle of the first century, Paul started everything right during his three-year ministry in Arabia (Gl 17,18). Though Christianity was started right, it ended up wrong when people left the direction of the word of God. Digression from the gospel message is slow, but it eventually comes. Our task is to determine at what stage we are presently in concerning the digression of Christianity to being just another religion.
To think that Christianity without the Bible is static and uninfluenced and unchanging everywhere in the world, is certainly being naive as a historian. It is the duty of every disciple to check his Bible, and then look around and determine the state of the religious world in which he lives. Most of the time all one must do is simply look at those who are sitting beside him on Sunday morning. He should thus first check himself lest he become a part of that institutional religiosity which Muhammad encountered, and rejected. The “Christianity” of his day was so false that even he admonished the “Christians” to follow the teachings of Jesus (See Surah 3:161-166). We know that we have strayed a long way from Jesus when it takes an unbeliever to call us hypocrites in reference to the faith that we profess.
VI. God is not three, but one:
Surah 4:171 states:
O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion, and do not say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, is the Messenger of Allah, and His Word that He conveyed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and do not say, “Three.” Refrain—it is better for you. Allah is only one.
Muhammad did not consider Jesus to be the manifestation of God on earth, and thus, not the Son of God. Jesus was simply a prophet/messenger from God. He was a prophet just as Muhammad claimed to be. When Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9), He stated a teaching that was totally contrary to the concept that Muhammad had of Jesus.
VII. Jesus not God, nor Son of God:
Muhammad denied the sonship of Jesus. To him, Jesus was, as he, only a messenger from Allah. In fact, Jesus was created by Allah, and thus could not be as Allah himself (Surah 3:59).
In blasphemy are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary (Surah 5:17; see 5:72)
Christ the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him (Surah 5:75).
Muhammad taught that since Jesus was a created being, and thus not one with God, as the Bible teaches, then it would be wrong for one to believe and teach that Jesus was the Son of God (Surah 9:31). On this basis, he denied the deity of the Son of God. Of the twenty-five times that reference is made to Jesus in the Qur’an, twenty-three times reference is made to Him as only the “son of Mary.”
Under no circumstances did Muhammad want people to think of Jesus as the Son of God. If such were believed, then the teachings of Jesus would be elevated above the teachings of Muhammad. Jesus would thus not have been just another prophet of God, as Muhammad so claimed He was. If in any way Jesus was accepted to be more than a prophet, then Muhammad’s teachings would not have been accepted as teachings in a succession of prophets, of which Muhammad claimed to be the last.
VIII. Legal salvation by works:
Surah 23:101-103 state:
When the Horn is blown, no relations between them will exist on that Day, and they will not ask after one another. Those whose scales are heavy—those are the successful. But those whose scales are light—those are they who have lost their souls; in Hell they will dwell forever. (Also see surah 34:3-5).
One’s salvation, according to Muhammad, depends on the number of good works he has accumulated for the day of judgment. Now because the Qur’an taught this legal system of salvation, there was no guaranteed way that one would go to heaven, for one would never know if his works were sufficient to give him a pass into the presence of the many virgins that awaited him. Even if one did make it into heaven, there was no guarantee that he would stay there. So Muhammad came up with an ingenious way of encouraging his recruits for war, and at the same time, give them peace of mind that they would enter into the presence of all these virgins, and stay there. If one died a martyr for Allah, he was guaranteed heaven. The suicide bomber, therefore, is guaranteed entrance into the presence of the virgins if he commits his murderous act of suicide. If one would commandeer an airplane and fly it into a skyscraper, killing hundreds of infidels, then he would go straight to heaven.
VIX. Polygamy:
Surah 4:3 states:
If you fear you cannot act fairly towards the orphans—then marry the women you like—two, or three, or four ….
Muhammad’s teaching on polygamy rose out of an era of wars when fathers were killed in battle. The returning men from battle were given the responsibility of caring for the wives and children of those husbands and fathers who were killed in battle.
X. Believe in Jesus:
Surah 3:79 state:
No person to whom Allah has given the Scripture, and wisdom, and prophethood would ever say to the people, “Be my worshipers rather than Allah’s.” Rather, “Be people of the Lord, according to the Scripture you [Christians] teach, and the teachings you learn.”
In a mandate to his followers, Muhammad wrote in Surah 4:161-166:
We have inspired you, as We had inspired Noah and the prophets after him. And We inspired Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon. … Some messengers We have already told you about, while some messengers We have not told you about. … Messengers delivering good news, and bringing warnings; so that people may have no excuse before Allah after the coming of the messengers. … But Allah bears witness to what He revealed to you. He revealed it with His knowledge. And the angels bear witness. Though Allah is a sufficient witness.
And then in a contradictory statement, Muhammad wrote in Surah 3:17:
Verily, the true religion in Allah’s sight is Islam.
In other words, the Christian is to believe in Jesus Christ, and thus be Christian. But then Muhammad affirms that there is only one religion, Islam. Then consider the fact that the Bible teaches that God does not deliver to man “religion,” but principles by which His people conduct themselves in the world and with one another. If one must follow Jesus in his “religion,” then how can Islam be the only religion in the sight of God?
XI. Disrespect for women:
Muhammad viewed women as property and a means to satisfy sexual urges and pleasures. This thinking is brought out in Surah 33:51:
You may defer any of them [women] you wish, and receive any of them you wish. Should you desire any of those you had deferred, there is no blame on you.
XII. Hope of a carnal heaven:
In the statements of Surah 56:10-35, Muhammad described his concept of the reward of obedient Muslim men. We do not presume that Muhammad was speaking metaphorically when he gave this description of hope for his followers. Since he surely did not, then the hope of heaven that is presented by the Qur’an is certainly carnal.
And the forerunners, the forerunners. Those are the nearest. In the Gardens of Bliss. A throng from the ancients. And a small band from the latecomers. On luxurious furnishings. Reclining on them, facing one another. Serving them will be immortalized youth. With cups, pitchers, and sparkling drinks. Causing them neither headache, nor intoxication. And fruits of their choice. And meat of birds that they may desire. And lovely companions. The likenesses of treasured pearls. As a reward for what they used to do. Therein they will hear no nonsense, and no accusations. But only the greeting: “Peace, peace.” And those on the Right—what of those on the Right? In lush orchards. And sweet-smelling plants. And extended shade. And outpouring water. And abundant fruit. Neither withheld, nor forbidden. And uplifted mattresses. We have created them of special creation. (See also Surah 3:11; 4:60).
While he was still alive and attacking caravans across the desert, Muhammad made some very carnal promises to his men in order to guarantee their loyalty and die for his cause. If they would fight with him, he promised that they could have the women they captured in order to satisfy their sexual desires. And then some of his men began questioning that if they were killed in battle, then they would have no women. So another revelation was squeezed out of Muhammad that said there would be virgins waiting for them in heaven (See surah 56:34-36).
There are many legal mandates and exhortations imposed on Muslims by the Qur’an. The religion is based on a legalistic system of behavior and salvation, and thus, emphasis for salvation is based on one’s performance of those laws that Muhammad enjoined on his followers. It is a system of religiosity wherein there can be little grace, for grace cannot be the focus of a religious system that is based on legal perfection in obedience to law by those who teach the system.
Though there are many good principles that are taught in the Qur’an, the confusion it leaves with the reader would suggest that moderate Muslims probably spend little time in studying its text because of the nature of its legal system for salvation. The same could be said of many of those who profess to be Christian concerning their knowledge and study of the Bible. But at least by reading the Bible and the Qur’an, one would be encouraged to read the Bible simply because there is a literary flow of the text without all the rambling thoughts that seem to be characteristic with some parts of the text of the Qur’an.
We would encourage every Christian to be very familiar with the teachings of the Qur’an, especially those teachings where the Qur’an makes God a liar and a deity who has changed His mind from what He first said in the Bible. The Qur’an is filled with justification for lying, deception, slavery, women as property, the right to selfishly kill for the reward of heaven, military dominance of all nations, and a host of other teachings that are contrary to Bible teaching. If the Qur’an is from God, then God sure changed His mind on a great deal of moral issues that He revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.
We are certain that most moderate Muslims today are entirely unaware of many teachings of the Qur’an that are contrary to Bible teaching, and in many cases, contrary to the constitutional law of secular states. It is for this reason that Christians should be familiar with the teachings of the Qur’an in order to teach Muslims. This is being done by many Christians in Africa, and as a result thousands of African Muslims are being converted to Jesus. The day may come when we in Africa will need to send African evangelists to America in order to teach American Christians how to convert Muslims. Just keep in mind that the moderate Muslim’s ignorance of his own source of authority is an open door to bring moral truth to those who are walking in ignorance.