UI – Part 239 – Islam is a Circular Argument

 Islam

Islam is a circular argument.

That said, what is meant by it.  Round and round we go.  What is the basis?  What is the proof?  Are the basis and proof related?  Are they different?  What is the foundation for Islam? 

The truth of Islam, that is what we will attempt to prove.  For Islam, Allah is true, but not proven as the experience of Allah was only Muhammad’s, the words related only from the mouth of the mortal Muhammad.   That is the conclusion.  What is the polemic – because the Quran says Allah is true.  Why is the Quran true?  Because Allah says it is true.  A bit circular is it not?  If you use the Quran and verses from this Holy Book  to prove the validity of this text is that rational?  If you say yes, then explain how.

From an article in The Malaysian Insider, a news website, the author agrees.  (Read Article).  The author uses a pseudonym – Futile Democracy.  He writes in response to a discussion on Islam, “sending me quotes from your Holy Book (Quran) to prove the validity of your Holy Book is the very essence of circular reasoning, and so is not to be considered reason at all to control my entire existence, by your faith.”

How do Muslims prove Islam?  They use Muhammad. They also reference Gabriel, the angel.  Muhammad provided the verses from dreams where Allah revealed himself via the angel Gabriel.  (God remains unseen)  So since the Quran came to pass from the lips of Muhammad via the Angel Gabriel revealing Allah to Muhammad then the Quran is true and statements therein are true.  Is this a logical argument?  Is it true because a man, human and mortal, Muhammad, made such a claim? It appears more a man-made religion – the ideology of Muhammad. Linking the statements to Allah, or the divine, does not in fact add to the Truth. 

Bible

An early book of the Bible, Deuteronomy, calls out false prophets, Deut 18:20, “…a Prophet who presumes to speak in my name (God or Allah) anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death (suffer severed chastisement)….’ How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’  If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.”  Earlier in Deuteronomy 13:1-5, it reads, “If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder…you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.  The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.  It is the Lord God you must follow, and him you must revere.”

The Bible is important to the Quran.  Prophets referenced all forecast the coming of the Messiah.  The Quran itself refers to the Bible often, even calling it the Word of God.  It is the Book of the People. The ancients of the Bible are prophets whose prophecies have been fulfilled, to include the coming of Christ.  His birth, his life, his death were all foretold.  Jesus himself said he would rise in three days. (Mark 9:31)  But then the Quran goes astray denying Christ’s divinity, his death on the cross and the resurrection. 

In the many Quranic references to the Bible as the Word of God, vouching for it, even its authenticity, how can Islam be true, or the Quran true.  This might suggest to some, or beg the concern, is Allah true?  The Quran goes against the Word of God, putting forth alternative thoughts, such as  referencing the Christian’s Trinity as being polytheist, or the incarnation of Christ (man-God) as not humanly possible,  the Holy Spirit as counselor is really Muhammad, and that Jesus, born of a Virgin (Mary) is not divine (Allah is not the Father). There is more.  These are not corrections to the Bible; they are aberrations.

There is a significant and practical proof of the Word of God – the Bible.  It is Christ.  He stated he was the Truth.  The leaders of the day reacted to his claim calling his statements blasphemous.  To kill Jesus would kill this claim to be Truth.  As that which is True is true in all circumstances, otherwise it is a personal truth – true for me but not for you, and so it.  If the person dies, that person’s truth also dies.  But Christ did not die.  The resurrection of Christ gave mankind proof of his claim to be Truth.  This also when logically applied to the Bible makes the Word of God True.  God’s Truth is Divine Truth when God is God, as Christ claimed, “I am, the I am.”

Intellect

We are gifted with intellect.  Thank God.  We are encouraged to think and to reason.  Does Islam make sense?  We must conceive of the most supernatural being possible.  In so doing, it cannot be exceeded by anything else.  Thus, we conceive of God.  In that reality, perfection and truth dominates the mental projection.  Yet the Quran suggests Allah is the best at deception (Sura 3:54).  Why would God desire to fool anyone, even lead them astray (as in Sura 14:4 of the Quran)?  It is not logical.  It makes no sense.  Allah could then forgive and yet not forgive – as is his will.  The logic would flow as follows.  God is all-powerful and all truthful. Islam considers Allah God.  Allah is the Best of Deceivers. Deception is a falsehood. Would God lie? If God would not lie and embodies Truth, then Allah is not God.

In the books of Matthew and James reference is made to making Oaths.  Indeed if you make an Oath you are to keep it, no matter the nature, religion or character of the other Party.  Your ‘Yes’ should mean ‘Yes.’ (refer to Matthew 5:37 and James 5:12).  Yet Allah is free from liability – so states in the Quran.  As a Muslim you can say “Yes’ to an infidel and not mean it – if it benefits Islam.  Muhammad provided such an example in oaths made and broken with Medina Jews.

God is Unchangeable

The Bible declares God as unchangeable (Malachi 3:6) and knowable (John 17:1-3). If God is unchangeable he would not lie. He would remain true.  There would be no deception. 

Thanks

I thank Mike Robinson for inspiring this piece and expressing this Thesis made more eloquently in his blog – Refuting Islam: Philosophical Analysis (thelordgodexists.com/2012/08/refuting-islam-philosophical-analysis/)

The Circular nature of Islam from the polemics presented by its adherents and scholars suggests confusion and lack of proof.  Denial of Christ, his divine nature, is made clear when Truth is understood.  It is to deny that which is True.  It is the Bible, it is Christ as divine, it is God, the Creator, as inspiring the ethical and moral values to guide us in living as Christ. There is no deception.  It is believing and being saved, made right is God’s eyes, knowing the Truth.  Jesus Rose from the Dead to set us free, free to believe and to have a life eternal with Him.  Salvation assured. 

Thanks Be to God. 

 Grace and Peace