This Qur'an review is based on the
book "The English Reference Qur'an Translation: The first translation of
the Qur'an from the original Arabic into modern English with references to the
Tawrah, Zabur, and Injil", published by the Reference Qur'an Council.
Since this book is a translated version of the Qur'an, my review of the Qur'an
is inherently limited to the translator's' knowledge about the Arabic language,
culture, the Qur'an as well as the translator's' understanding of the Bible
which has been referenced significantly. Based on my reading of this translated
version of the Qur'an, I received a clear and repeating message - Allah wants
you to believe in him as the true one God, to live a holy life according to
what is revealed in the book, and that you will be saved by doing so.
What did I learn?
The Qur'an is understood as the
collection of dialogs between Allah and the prophet[1],
through which reveals what Allah wants the believers to know, believe, and
behave. In the Qur'an we will find historical accounts, poets, laws, and
Allah's commands on how to live a life that pleases Allah, such as animal
sacrifices, marriage, diet, and other instructions. From this perspective, the
Qur'an looks like an Arabic version of Torah.
Jesus Christ is referenced quite
often in the Qur'an. First, Jesus is
introduced as Messiah. In verse 4:171, "Truly, the Messiah, Isa son of
Mariam is Allah's messenger and his word which he sent down on Mariam, and a
spirit from him."[2]
In the Qur'an, Jesus is called the Messiah[3]
and Allah's messenger, whom Allah raised up to himself (4:158), who is the
witness on the day of judgment (4:159), who is Allah's Word which was in
existence before it was cast into his mother Mary (4:171), and who is also a
spirit from Allah (4:171).[4]
Second,
the Qur'an recognizes Jesus' death, resurrection, ascension, and His
substitutionary atonement. In verse 3:55, Allah said, "Isa, I will make
you die (Jesus' death) and raise you
up to me (Ascension), and purify you
from the disbelievers[5],
and make your followers higher than the disbelievers (if they repent and follow him) until the day of resurrection (The Lord's Day, Jesus' second coming)."
Jesus' resurrection is mentioned in 19:33, "Peace upon me the day I was
born, the day I will die, and the day I will be resurrected alive!" In
this verse, Jesus' death was predicted, and in verse 5:117, Jesus actually
spoke of his death in perfect past tense to indicate the fact that he had died.
Third,
Jesus is described as sinless and born of a virgin in the Qur'an. The Qur'an
identifies Jesus as the only prophet and messenger in the Qur'an who is sinless
(19:19), was born of a virgin (19:20), is a sign (19:21), spoke as an infant
(19:30), was a prophet from birth (19:30), is blessed (19:31), and pronounces
peace upon himself (19:33).[6]
However, the Qur'an has a different view of who killed Jesus.
Fourth, the Qur'an said that Jews did
not kill Jesus[7], Allah did it himself[8].
Although many explanations have been offered for verse 4:157, many believe that
Jesus voluntarily submitted his life to Allah's will and lay down his life for
people. The final point is that the Trinity is not honored in the Qur'an as
it is in the Protestant doctrines. In verse 5:17, "Those who said that
Allah is the Messiah, son of Mariam have truly covered [the truth]." It is
understood that in the Qur'an, Allah couldn't be Messiah. If someone said this,
he would be saying that when the Messiah was on earth, there was no god in
heaven.[9]
What Surprised me?
Before I read the Qur'an, I didn't expect to
find too many similarities between the Bible and the Qur'an. But after I read it, I realized that many
teachings in the Qur'an are inherited from Torah with an Arabic flavor. Both,
to some extent, warrants social justice and maintains social order through
religious laws such as paying poor-tax, fair punishments (an eye for an eye
5:45, cut-off hands of thieves 5:38), taking care of widows, peaceful living,
respecting women's will (4:19), rejecting suicide, love your neighbor, and
being charitable to your parents (4:36). Many of the teachings about ritual
purification are very unique to an Arabic desert lifestyle. Some teachings are
very practical such as washing with pure sand after sex if water is not
available.[10]
Summary - What Questions do I have?
Perhaps I didn't study thoroughly,
but the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3) is not found in the Qur'an. Jews
are viewed as lowly deceivers and liars (5:51). Jesus as Lord has no place in
the Qur'an; Jesus is just a prophet who is not recognized as the Son of God. I
don't think the Qur'an teaches anti-Christianity, on the contrary, true
Christians are highly regarded in verse 5:82. So I don’t quite understand why many
extreme Muslims dislike Christians so much.
[1]
Muhammad, I suppose, since I didn't find a direct reference to who the author
is.
[2]
4:171 (page 75).
[3]
Jesus is the Messiah, acknowledged in Qur'an, but I am not sure if the context
of Messiah here and the role and mission of the Messiah coming to the world
carries the same meaning as that in the New Testament.
[4]
Footnote 833 on page 73.
[5]
Jesus has no sin (19:19), so he doesn't need Allah to purify him. Jesus' dying
is to purify the disbelievers from the guilt, shame, and uncleanness of their
sins if they repent and follow him. (paraphrase from footnote 535).
[6]
Footnote 2450, page 216.
[7]
"We killed the Messiah, Isa son of Mariam, Allah's messenger," though
they did not kill him nor crucify him, but it seemed so to them. (4:157)
[8]
Allah said, "Isa, I will make you die and raise you up to me, and purify
you from the disbelievers, and make your followers higher than the disbelievers
until the day of resurrection." (3:55)
[9]
Footnote 907, page 79.
[10]
4:43.
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