You are most welcome my friend as this is a discussion board for those of different faiths.
May I just add that the fact that the Bible contains numerous additions, deletions, changes and contradictions is even confirmed by Christian scholars and Jesus himself talks about how his words have been corrupted in the Dideche. Also Christian scholars themselves confirm that there is no certainty as to who Mathew Luke John etc really are. So why were their accounts included in the Bible? What is the Bible in the first place except a compilation of random books and chapters by various sources many of them very random.
Who was the Bible actually compiled by but by corrupt rulers at the time who included what they wanted to and disregarded what they did not want to include in it. What was the criterea for the random selection of books included in the bible?
The Bible was very easy to corrupt as there is no "original" version to refer back to. If you don't have an original text how can you check if the one you have is authentic? Linguists can easily spot the thousands of irregularities contained in the Bible. The following link lists just 100 of the many contradicitions found in the Bible:
http://www.answering-christianity.com/101_bible_contradictions.htm
Also unlike Qur'nic translations which are based on the "original" words of the Qur'an, many of the Bibles translation are fundamentally different because there are no "original" words to refer back to. There are many new translations being formed today even more different to previous versions.
Christianity is a religion today that has changed beyond recognition. Any one who has bothered to study the Bible and Christian history will know that. Today you have numerous Christian denominations that are fundamentally different from one another. The church is abrogating the fundamentals of the faith just to try and appeal to the masses but the result is more and more people being dissillusioned with the Church.
Also many of the fundamental concepts in Christianity such as the trinity, blood atonement of Christ etc are not backed up anywhere in the Bible. How can you believe in the fundamentals of your faith that are found no where in your scriptures? Nor is Jesus mentioned as "son of God" explicitly anywhere in the Bible. According to scriptures such as the Dideche and the dead sea scrolls he is only referred to as a "Prophet". This goes against the pagan polythesitic beliefs which infiltrated and corrupted the Bible after Jesus left the Earth. Surely your heart is not satisfied with these things and will never be satisfied because your faith is essentially based upon blind belief in falsehood and lies.
As Muslims we are 100% reassured that the Qur'an we read today was exactly what was revealed to Prophet. This is because when the revelation was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) over a 23 year period, various companions of his memorised it. The Qur'an has been memorised from then all the way until this very day. Also because books were not a tradition at the time and place in Arabia the verses were written on stones, rocks etc. So not only were they memorised by many companions but they were also written down. Due to conflicts which arose shortly after the Prophets (PBUH) death which killed a number of his companions who had memorised the Qur'an it was immediately written down in book form by those companuions who remained who had memorised it and had writen it down.
If we look at who could have written the Qur'an then it could only have been written by ONE of 3 possible sources:
1 The Arabs
2 Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him)
3 Allah (GOD)
Besides the above mentioned sources, Qur'an couldn't possibly have been written by ANYONE else. No other source is possible, because Qur'an is written in pure, rich, and poetic Arabic, which was not known to anyone other than the above mentioned sources, at that time. The Arabic language was at its peak in expression, richness, vocabulary, artistic, and poetic value during the time the Qur'an was being revealed. Anyone speaking the classical Arabic ( the Arabic of Qur'an at the time it was revealed) would argue that a non-Arab entity couldn't possibly have written such an extensive and brilliant piece of literature in the Arabic language. Qur'an could only have been written by an Arabic speaking entity.
An entity, who's knowledge, style, vocabulary, grammar, and way of expression was so powerful that it impacted the entire Arabian peninsula, the east, the west, and continues to impact people all over the globe today!
At no other time, in the history of Arabic language, had it ever achieved its peak in expression, literature, and development, than the time of Arabia during the 6th Century, the time when Qur'an was being revealed. With the Arabic language at its peak, and the best of Arabic writers, poets present in Arabia, it is impossible that a non-Arabic speaking entity would write a book like Qur'an and have such a dynamite impact on the Arabs!
Lets examine the three choices one by one.
(1) Arabs Wrote it ?
What Qur'an teaches goes DIRECTLY against the pagan Arab culture, religion, and gods, that existed before the Qur'an was revealed. Qur'an condemns idol worshipping, but the Arabs, loved their idol gods, and worshipped them regularly. Qur'an raised the status of women; the Arabs treated women next to animals. The Arabs would never write something that goes against their most important belief of idol worshipping. Qur'an goes against most of the social habbits (such as backbiting, slandering, name calling, etc) which the Arabs were heavily indulged into. For example, the Arabs would call insulting nicknames such as Abu Jahal (the father of ignorance). Qur'an condemns and prohibits taking interest on money, whereas, the Arabs freely levied heavy interest rates in loans and businesses. Qur'an condemns and prohibits Alcohol drinking, whereas, the Arabs consumed alcohol freely. The Qur'an condemns and prohibits gambling, whereas, the Arabs were some of the worst gamblers. The Arabs would never write something so comprehensively against just about all of their customs and culture and religious beliefs, as the Qur'an is.
During the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the Arabs would indulge in all the social habits that the Qur'an condemns and prohibits. How can Arabs then write something that would negate their entire society's norms and ideologies ?
Did a group of Arabs or an individual Arab write Qur'an? Perhaps a rebel Arab beduoin, or a society's misfit, or someone with different ideals and norms decided one day to write Qur'an? The answer to those questions are also 'no'. Because, if we read Qur'an, we notice that there is no author ! No individual has his/her name written on the cover of Qur'an! No one in the history of the world has EVER claimed to have written the Qur'an, No one in the world has ever been accused of writing the Holy Qur'an, except the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), by non-muslims.
The Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was the only Arabian who first practiced, explained, and preached Qur'an, and ended up making a lot of Arab tribes enemies. Any historian, Muslim or non-Muslim would argue that the only possible source of Qur'an can be the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), the man responsible to recite it, teach it, and expalin it to the people of Arabia. In fact, many historians today still think that only Mohammad (pbuh) could possibly have written it.
This leads one to conclude that the Prophet (pbuh) must have written it !
(2) Mohammad (PBUH) wrote it ?
First, he was illiterate !! How can an illiterate person come up with such a rich, poetic, intellectual, and inspiring text that it rocked the entire Arabia ? Mohammad (pbuh) never went to school ! No one taught him. He had no teacher of any kind in any subjects. How can he have the knowledge of all the science, astronomy, oceanography, etc that is contained in the Qur'an ? ( For example, the mention of ocean currents, stars, earth, moon, sun and their fixed paths in Soorah Rahman; and many other scientific statements that are found in Qur'an, that cannot be stated in this short article)
When Qur'an was revealed, the Arabic language was at its peak in richness, poetic value, literature, etc. Qur'an came and challenged the best literature in Arabic, the best poetry in Arabic of the time to produce a single chapter like that of the Qur'an.
And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 2,Verse 23
Mohammad (PBUH) being illiterate couldnt possibly have come up with something so immaculate that it even exceded the best of poetry, and literature in Arabic at the time of the language's PEAK development. Arabic language had never been so rich in expression, poetic value, vocabulary, and variety in literature, as it was in the time of Qur'an. At a time like this, Qur'an came and exceeded the best of Arabic in all aspects of the language: poetry, literature, expression, etc. Any classical Arabic speaker would appreciate the unbeatten, unchallenged, and unmatched beauty of the language of Qur'an.
Mohammad (PBUH) had no reason to come up with something like Qur'an, and cause the entire society of Arabia to become his enemy. Why would he do something like that? Why would he write something going against almost all of the norms of the society, and lose his family, relatives, friends, and other loved ones , and not to mention all the wealth he lost ?
Qur'an was revealed over a period of 23 years ! A very long time! Is it possible for someone to maintain the same exact style of Arabic speech , as demonstrated in Qur'an, for over 23 years ?
Also, what the prophet Mohammad (PBUH) used to say is recorded in what we call his hadeeth (sunnah). If we look at the Arabic style of the hadeeth, and compare it with the style of Qur'an, we can clearly see that they are clearly DIFFERENT, and DISTINGUISHABLE Arabic styles. The Prophet (PBUH) spoke in public. It does not make sense that a man has two UNIQUE, Distinguishable, and completely different styles of speech in public. Yet another reason why Mohammad (PBUH) couldn't possibly have written Qur'an.
It is He Who has sent amongst the Unlettered a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, although they had been, before, in manifest error The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 62,Verse 2
The Conclusion: Qur'an is Allah (God)'s word.
The Qur'an has retained its original pure form for over 14 centuries not a word has changed. Allah has promised to safeguard it from corruption
We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption). The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 15,Verse 9
No falsehood can approach it from before or behind it: It is sent down by One Full of Wisdom, Worthy of all Praise. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 41,Verse 42
I hope that you can look into Islam and the Qur'an more deeper with an open heart and sk of God to guide you and there is no doubt you will find the truth - God willing!
