The Islamic Dilemma
The Islamic Dilemma is a term commonly used in Christian apologetics to highlight an alleged inconsistency in Islamic views regarding the Bible. The argument is based on two central premises:
- The Qur'an affirms the divine origin of the Torah (Tawrat), Psalms (Zabur), and Gospel (Injil), describing them as guidance and light for humankind.[1]
- Muslims claim that the Bible, as it exists today, has been altered from its original form, a belief known as the doctrine of textual corruption (tahrif).[2]
Critics argue that these two positions are incompatible. If the Bible is affirmed as the Word of God, then any claim that it has been corrupted raises questions about the basis for its initial affirmation. This argument has been popularized in debates between Christian and Muslim theologians.
Christian polemics
Proponents of the "Islamic Dilemma" assert that:
- The Qur'an explicitly validates the Bible as a source of divine guidance without providing clear warnings about its corruption.
- The absence of such warnings implies that the Qur'an either mistakenly affirms a corrupted scripture or that the Islamic claim of corruption is unsupported.[3]
They further argue that if the Bible is divinely inspired and trustworthy, it contradicts Islamic teachings, particularly concerning the identity of Jesus and key theological doctrines such as the Trinity and salvation.
Muslim response
Muslim scholars and apologists reject the premise of the "Islamic Dilemma" and provide several counterarguments:
- Affirmation of original revelations: Muslims maintain that the Qur'an refers to the original scriptures revealed to Moses, David, and Jesus, not the contemporary versions of the Bible.[4] These original texts are considered authentic and unaltered, whereas today's Bible is believed to have changed.[5]
- Role of the Qur'an as the Criterion (Furqan): The Qur'an is described as a "guardian" over earlier scriptures, verifying and correcting their content where distortions may have occurred.[6] This position allows Muslims to affirm the divine origin of the earlier scriptures while recognizing the need for the Qur'an to clarify their true message.
- Historical evidence of corruption: Islamic scholars often cite textual criticism and variations in Biblical manuscripts as evidence of textual alterations.[7]
- Contextual interpretation: Affirmations of earlier scriptures in the Qur'an are understood to refer to their original state, not their current forms. This interpretation reflects the Qur'anic emphasis on historical and doctrinal continuity within its own framework.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ Qur'an 3:3; 5:46.
- ↑ Rahman, Fazlur. Major Themes of the Qur'an. University of Chicago Press, 1980.
- ↑ Jay Smith, "The Islamic Dilemma," Apologetics Press, 2012.
- ↑ Qur'an 5:44; 5:68.
- ↑ Qur'an 2:75-79.
- ↑ Qur'an 5:48.
- ↑ Shabbir Akhtar, The Quran and the Secular Mind: A Philosophy of Islam. Routledge, 2007.
- ↑ Rahman, Fazlur. Islam. University of Chicago Press, 1979.