FROM ISLAM UNVEILED
Internal Contradictions in the Qur’an
Contradictions Concerning Alcohol
In the first days of his prophethood, before Muhammad gained a following, he presented a moderate approach to intoxicants.
Surah 2:219
219. They ask you
Concerning wine; gambling,
Say “In them is great sin,
And some profit for men;
But the sin is greater
Than the profit. ...
As his power grew, he presented a stronger position. It was not acceptable to have had any intoxicants close enough to prayers to fog the mind.
Surah 4:43
43. O you who believe!
Approach not prayer
With a mind befogged,
Until you can understand
All that you say.
When his position was established, he forbade the use of intoxicants entirely.
93. O you who believe!
Intoxicants and gambling,
(Dedication) of stones,
And (divination by) arrows,
Are an abomination, -
Of Satan’ handiwork:
Eschew such (abomination)
That you may prosper.
94. Satan’s plan is (but)
To excite enmity and hatred
Between you, with intoxicants
And gambling, and hinder you
From the remembrance
Of Allah, and from prayer:
Will you not then abstain?
His final revelation calls the use of intoxicants Satan’s handiwork. This puts him in the awkward position of having had Allah approve of Satan’s Handiwork’ when he said that there was “some profit for men” in the use of intoxicants.
Question -Does God vacillate on sin? Would God approve of sin at one time and condemn it later? This is a most telling argument that the Qur'an is from the mind of man and not from the mind of God?
Muslims attempt to expalin this contradiction by arguing a principle they call "progressive revelation."
Progressive revelation means that a principle is first stated, later, it is elaborated upon, and finally, God’s will concerning the matter is clearly stated. This process was deemed necessary because of the extremely corrupt nature of the society in which Muhammad lived. Dr. Kaukab Siddique illustrates this progression of revelation with the teaching on intoxicants.
The first revelation on this subject stated: ‘They ask you concerning intoxicants and gambling. Say “In them is great sin and some profit for people; but the sin is greater than the profit.” 2:219 The second revelation on the subject to did not prohibit intoxicants but brought about a sharp contradiction between the Islamic way of life, based on prayer, and the pre-Islamic way based on intoxicants. 'O you who believe! approach not prayer with a mind befogged with intoxicants, until you can understand all that you say.' 4:43 The final revelation on the subject prohibited and condemned the use of intoxicants. 'O you who believe! intoxicants and gambling, (dedication) of stones and (divination by) arrows are an abomination, - of Satan’s handiwork: Leave aside such (abomination) that you may prosper. Satan’s plan is to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will you not then abstain?'“ 5:93-94
This interpretation technique provides a handy argument for explaining contradictions contained in the Qur'an. The claim is made that they aren’t really contradictions, they are steps in the progress of revelation.
Surah 5:93
This method of interpretation, however, places Allah in the position of approving intoxicants at one point and then saying they are from Satan at another. He says that there is “some profit for people” (2:219), then in 5:90-91 he says intoxicants are “are an abomination, - of Satan’s handiwork.”
Does this not make Allah contradict Himself at some point?
From a clot of blood1. Proclaim (or Read)
In the Name
Of thy Lord and Cherisher,
Who created-
2. Created man out of
A (mere) clot
Of congealed blood;Surah 96:1-2The Qur'an contradicts itself when it describes the substance of man's creation.
From Clay
Surah 6:2 (Also 7:12)
2. He it is Who created
You from clay, and then
Decreed a stated term
(For you). And there is
In His Presence another
Determined term; yet
Ye doubt within yourselves!
From Water
Surah 25:54
54. It is He Who has
Created man from water:
Then has He established
Relationships of lineage
And marriage: for thy Lord
Has power (over all things).
The above are contradictions. They show that the Qur'an is inconsistent in its assertions and teachings. An inconsistent teaching cannot be from God. The idea that God would modify truth, which is what progressive revelation really claims, is ludicrous. Truth does not change.
Surah 2:219
219. They ask you
Concerning wine; gambling,
Say “In them is great sin,
And some profit for men;
But the sin is greater
Than the profit. ...
As his power grew, he presented a stronger position. It was not acceptable to have had any intoxicants close enough to prayers to fog the mind.
Surah 4:43
43. O you who believe!
Approach not prayer
With a mind befogged,
Until you can understand
All that you say.
When his position was established, he forbade the use of intoxicants entirely.
93. O you who believe!
Intoxicants and gambling,
(Dedication) of stones,
And (divination by) arrows,
Are an abomination, -
Of Satan’ handiwork:
Eschew such (abomination)
That you may prosper.
94. Satan’s plan is (but)
To excite enmity and hatred
Between you, with intoxicants
And gambling, and hinder you
From the remembrance
Of Allah, and from prayer:
Will you not then abstain?
His final revelation calls the use of intoxicants Satan’s handiwork. This puts him in the awkward position of having had Allah approve of Satan’s Handiwork’ when he said that there was “some profit for men” in the use of intoxicants.
Question -Does God vacillate on sin? Would God approve of sin at one time and condemn it later? This is a most telling argument that the Qur'an is from the mind of man and not from the mind of God?
Muslims attempt to expalin this contradiction by arguing a principle they call "progressive revelation."
Progressive revelation means that a principle is first stated, later, it is elaborated upon, and finally, God’s will concerning the matter is clearly stated. This process was deemed necessary because of the extremely corrupt nature of the society in which Muhammad lived. Dr. Kaukab Siddique illustrates this progression of revelation with the teaching on intoxicants.
The first revelation on this subject stated: ‘They ask you concerning intoxicants and gambling. Say “In them is great sin and some profit for people; but the sin is greater than the profit.” 2:219 The second revelation on the subject to did not prohibit intoxicants but brought about a sharp contradiction between the Islamic way of life, based on prayer, and the pre-Islamic way based on intoxicants. 'O you who believe! approach not prayer with a mind befogged with intoxicants, until you can understand all that you say.' 4:43 The final revelation on the subject prohibited and condemned the use of intoxicants. 'O you who believe! intoxicants and gambling, (dedication) of stones and (divination by) arrows are an abomination, - of Satan’s handiwork: Leave aside such (abomination) that you may prosper. Satan’s plan is to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will you not then abstain?'“ 5:93-94
This interpretation technique provides a handy argument for explaining contradictions contained in the Qur'an. The claim is made that they aren’t really contradictions, they are steps in the progress of revelation.
Surah 5:93
A Real Dilemma
This method of interpretation, however, places Allah in the position of approving intoxicants at one point and then saying they are from Satan at another. He says that there is “some profit for people” (2:219), then in 5:90-91 he says intoxicants are “are an abomination, - of Satan’s handiwork.”
Does this not make Allah contradict Himself at some point?
From a clot of blood1. Proclaim (or Read)
In the Name
Of thy Lord and Cherisher,
Who created-
2. Created man out of
A (mere) clot
Of congealed blood;Surah 96:1-2The Qur'an contradicts itself when it describes the substance of man's creation.
From Clay
Surah 6:2 (Also 7:12)
2. He it is Who created
You from clay, and then
Decreed a stated term
(For you). And there is
In His Presence another
Determined term; yet
Ye doubt within yourselves!
From Water
Surah 25:54
54. It is He Who has
Created man from water:
Then has He established
Relationships of lineage
And marriage: for thy Lord
Has power (over all things).
The above are contradictions. They show that the Qur'an is inconsistent in its assertions and teachings. An inconsistent teaching cannot be from God. The idea that God would modify truth, which is what progressive revelation really claims, is ludicrous. Truth does not change.
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