Sakshi Apologetics Network (SAN) approached Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) for an educative debate between Bro. Jerry Thomas and Janab Dr. Zakir Naik. However, citing laughable reasons, IRF evaded the debate invitations leaving SAN with no option except to do public rebuttals for all the allegations of Janab Dr. Zakir Naik. Following is the fourth part for Dr. Zakir Naik’s transcript- Similarities between Islam and Christianity and notes from Bro Jerry Thomas’s rebuttal given on July 31, 2010. This is first in the series and God willing, all other videos of Dr. Zakir Naik will be similarly refuted in public and distributed to people to see the banality of Dr. Zakir Naik’s arguments.
Janab Dr. Zakir Naik- Section 4: (26:06-42:20): The Holy Trinity and Divinity of Lord Jesus Christ 26:06
Otherwise there were several revelations that came on the face of the earth. By name, only 4 are mentioned in the Quran. But all the revelations that came before the last and final revelation, the glorious Quran were meant only for a particular group of people. And the complete message was meant only for a particular period of time.
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But the last and final revelation, the glorious Quran was meant not only for the Muslims or the Arabs. The Quran says in Surah14:52, Here is the message for humankind. Let them take warning here from. Let them know there is only one God. Let the men of understanding take heed. The last and final revelation, the Quran, was meant for the whole humankind.
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The message is repeated in Surah 2:185 which says that Ramadan was the month in which the Quran was revealed as guidance to the whole of humankind and a criterion to judge right from wrong. Quran says in Surah 39:41, “we have revealed to thee, Prophet Mohammad, the book to instruct humankind. It doesn’t say to instruct only Muslims or Arabs, but to instruct the whole of humankind.
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So the last and final revelation, glorious Quran was revealed for the whole humanity.
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Therefore, all the revelations that came before Quran fit only for a particular time period. Allah did not think it fit to maintain it in its original pure form. The only religious book that we have today which has maintained its original form is glorious Quran.
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William Moore, the strongest critic of Islam has said “There is no religious scripture that has maintained its pure form as pure as the glorious Quran, for 12 centuries.” This he mentioned 200 years before.
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Ablaa prophet Mohammad said it is mentioned in Sahih BUkhari Vol 1 Hadith No. 7, he said, “Islam is based on 5 pillars.” The first is “la ilah ill allah…” There is no God but Allah and Prophet Mohammad is the messenger of Allah. The second is Salah; the third is zakaat; the fourth is hajjj and the fifth is Sawm (fasting).
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The first is that there is no God worthy of worship other than Allah and PM is his messenger. It is the concept of Allah. Quran says in Surah 2:177, it is not righteousness to turn your face to the east or to the west, but it is righteousness that you believe in Allah, you believe in life after death, you believe in these books, you believe in the angels and you believe in the messengers, as far as destiny.
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The glorious Quran says in Surah 3:64, “Say O People of the Book, say O Jews and Christians, come to common terms as with us and you.” Which is the first term? Worship no one but Allah. Which is the second term? That we associate no partners with Allah. We erect not among ourselves lords and patrons as signs of Allah. We are Muslims bowing our will to Allah.
This verse in the glorious Quran shows how to speak with Jews and Christians. That come to common terms with us and with you. Which is the first term? That we worship no one but Allah.
The concept of Almighty God in Islam, its best definition is given as in Surah 112:1-4 which says He is Allah, one and only. Allah is absolute eternal. He begets no one nor is he begotten. There is nothing like it. This is the whole line definition of Almighty God given in the glorious Quran. Say Allah is one and only. He begets not nor is he begotten. There is nothing like him. This is the whole line definition. If any candidate claiming to be Almighty God fits into this whole line definition, we Muslims have no objection in accepting that person as Almighty God.
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And glorious Quran says in Surah 4:48 that Allah says Forgive it not that to join partners with Him and if anyone who joins partners with Allah, he has committed a heinous sin. Allah will forgive any other sin if he wishes but joining partner with Allah, Allah will never forgive. Quran repeats the message in Surah 4:115 that Allah forgiveth not the sin of joining partner with Him. Anything else He may forgive, if He pleases. But joining of partners, he will never forgive associating partners with Allah is the greatest sin in Islam.
And a similar message is given in the book of Exodus in the Bible chapter 20 verses 3 and 5, that thou shall have no other God besides Me. Almighty God is speaking, thou shall have no other god besides Me, thou shall not make unto thee any carved image of the likeness of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth beneath or in the waters beneath the earth. Thou shall not bow down to them nor serve them, for I, thy God thy Lord is a jealous God.. A similar message is repeated in the book of Deuteronomy 5:7-9, thou shall have no other god besides Me, thou shall make no graven image of anything, of any likeness of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth beneath or in the waters beneath the earth. Thou shall not bow down to them nor serve them, for I, thy God thy Lord is a jealous God. That means making images of Almighty God and doing worship unto them is strictly forbidden in the Bible.
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And I start my talk by quoting a verse from the glorious Quran Surah 5: 72 says they are blaspheming who say that Jesus , son of Mary , he is Allah. They are blaspheming those who say, Jesus, son of Mary, claimed divinity, that is Allah. O children of Israel, worship Allah, who is my Lord and thy Lord. Anyone who associates partners with Allah, Allah will make them a haram for him. And fire shall be his dwelling place. And he shall have no helpers for him. Jesus himself said that anyone who associates partners with Allah, paradise will be forbidden for him. Heaven will be forbidden for him. And fire shall be his dwelling place. And in the hereafter, he will have no helper. But there are certain Christians who say that Jesus claimed divinity, that He is Almighty God. In fact if you read the Bible, there is no unequivocal statement in the complete Bible where Jesus Himself s
ays that He is God or worship Him. I would like to repeat, you read the Bible, there is no unequivocal statement in the complete Bible where Jesus Himself says that He is God or worship Him. If any Christian can show me any verse anywhere from the Bible where Jesus Himself says that He is God or worship Him, I am ready to accept Christianity immediately. I am not speaking on behalf of the other Muslims. Since I am a student of comparative religions, I have read the Bible. In fact, if you read the Bible, Jesus Himself says in the Gospel of John 14:28, My Father is greater than I.
John10:29, My Father is greater than all Matthew 12:28 and Luke 11:20- But I cast out demons by the Spirit of God.
John 5:30 I can of my own do nothing for I seek not My own will but the will of My Father in heaven.
He said, “I can do nothing of My own.” He never claimed divinity. Jesus said if anyone associates partners with Allah, paradise will be forbidden for him.
And glorious Quran says in Surah 17:110, “by whichever name you call upon him, to whom belongs….” you can call Allah by any name, but it should be a beautiful name not a conjecture….by a picture. There are no less than 99 attributes to Allah in the glorious Quran like Rehman, Raheem, Al Hakeem; most merciful, most gracious, most wise. No less than 99 attributes are given to Allah in the glorious Quran. And this message is repeated in glorious Quran in Surah 7:118 and Surah 20:8 and Surah 59:24 that to Allah belongs the most beautiful name.
But why do we Muslims prefer to call Allah by the Arabic name Allah instead of the English word God? The reason is that Allah is a pure word.
38:18 The English word ‘God’, you can play mischief in that word. If you add a ‘s’ to God, it becomes ‘gods’- plural of god. There is nothing like plural in Allah. Say he is Allah, one and only.
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If you add ‘dess’ to god, it becomes ‘goddess’- female god. There is nothing like male Allah or female Allah in Islam. Allah has no gender. If you add ‘father’ to God, it becomes ‘godfather’. ‘he is my godfather. He is my guardian.’ There is nothing like Allah father or Allah appa in Islam. Allah is a unique word. . If you add ‘mother’ to God, it becomes ‘godmother’. There is nothing like Allah mother or Allah amma in Islam. If you prefix a word ’son’ before god , it becomes ‘songod’…… there is nothing like ………… that is the reason we Muslims prefer calling Allah by the Arabic name Allah instead of the English word God. But when we speak to non-Muslims and people who don’t understand Allah, we use this word ‘God’. I have no objection.
39:42 But the appropriate word for Allah is Allah itself. God is not the appropriate word. And the same word Allah is mentioned in many religious scriptures including Bible. And if you know in the OT, the word used for God is ‘Elohim’. ‘Ela’ is for God and ‘him’ is plural for respect – Elohim. And if you read the Bible commentary by Scotfield, he writes ‘ela’ as ‘elah’ or ‘alah’. So only pronunciation difference. They pronounce Alah, we pronounce Allah. Only pronunciation difference.
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Further, Jesus Christ, when He was put on the cross, according to the Bible in the Gospel of Matthew 27:46, further mentioned in Gospel of Matthew 15:34 that Jesus when He was put on the cross cried out “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani”. In every translation of the Bible, whether we read it in English translation or Hindi translation or Malayalam or Kannada, this Hebrew phrase “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” is there. And then it is said “so as to say: O God, O God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani”. “O God, O God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” I am asking you, when Jesus said “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” does it sound like He said “O God, O God why hast thou forsaken Me?”? Does it sound similar?
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Does “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” sound similar to “Joha, Joha, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”? Does “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” sound similar to “Jesus, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”? If you translate into Arabic, it reads “Allah, Allah, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’. “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” sounds similar to “Allah Allah, ..”. Arabic and Hebrew are sister languages. And you realise, they sound similar also. So even Jesus, when He was put on the cross, according to the Bible, cried out to Allah. Therefore we Muslims, because Allah is a pure word, we prefer calling him by the word Allah instead of the English word God. It was the same word used by Jesus. (42:20)
Bro. Jerry Thomas – Section 4: Answers for the Holy Trinity and Divinity of Lord Jesus Christ There are four major points that Janab Dr. Zakir Naik has covered in this.
1) The oneness of God in the Holy Bible and in Quran- Does it Rule out the Holy Trinity? 2) That Lord Jesus Christ never claimed to be divine and that Lord Jesus Christ denied His divinity 3) Uniqueness of the Arabic word Allah
4) The similarity between the Arabic word Allah and the word Eli.
Let me refute those one by one:
The oneness of God in the Holy Bible and in Quran When God says He is one in the Old Testament and New Testament and Allah says he is one in Quran, the meaning of the word is different. Let me explain with examples.
In Torah, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, H
oly Yahweh God revealed thus to His prophet Moses “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God (Elohim), the LORD is ECHAD!.”
The word Echad like the English word can mean one and also unity in plurality.
Genesis 2:24 Adam and Eve, two persons were said to be One- Echad.
Genesis 11:6 – Many people are said to be One- Echad.
Genesis 34:16– Two different groups becoming One- Echad.
Ezra 2:64 and 3:1, 42360 persons, an assembly, are said to be One- Echad.
If Yahweh God wanted to convey that He is absolute numerical one, there is a word in Hebrew which means Yachid.
Judges 11:34- Jephthah’s one daughter- Yachid.
Jeremiah 6:26- Mourn as for an only son – Yachid
Amos 8:10- And I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son- Yachid.
If you are still in doubt, there are three passages which I want to bring it to your attention.
Genesis 18: 1- Yahweh God appeared to Prophet Abraham. Genesis 18:8 –15 Yahweh God eats the food prepared by Abraham and Sarah.
Genesis 18:16-33- Yahweh God speaks to Prophet Abraham as a friend speaks face to face.
In Genesis 19: 24- when we read about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, we are told that Yahweh, the God who appeared to Prophet Abraham in earth, brought brimstone and fire from Yahweh out of the heaven.
There is Yahweh on earth and there is Yahweh in heaven.
In Zechariah 2: 8 “Thus says the LORD God of Hosts “I have been sent among you. He who touches you touches my apple of the eye.” Yahweh God of Host is the speaker and now who sent Yahweh God of Hosts? Zechariah 2: 11 explain it.
In Zechariah 2:11 – the LORD God of Hosts says “then you shall know that the LORD God of Hosts has send me.”
How many LORD of Hosts are there? At least two.
In Isaiah 48: 12-16 Yahweh God says that it is I am unchangeable, I am the one who laid the foundations for the world, and then He goes onto say “I have spoken from the beginning and in verse 16, He says “and now the LORD God has send Me and His Spirit.
How many are there? Three- Yahweh who sends, Yahweh who is being send and the Spirit of Yahweh.
In Injil, God the Injil has been described as Hen which can again mean unity in plurality In Mark 12:29- Hear of Israel, Lord our God, the Lord is one- hen.
1 Corinthians 8:4 – God is one – hen.
Ephesians 4:6- God is one- hen.
Hen is word like Echad which can convey unity in plurality.
In Matthew 19: 5- Adam and Eve, two persons were said to be One- Hen
In John 10:30- scattered people shall become One- hen.
In John 10:16- two flocks shall become One- hen.
In Romans 12: 5 and 1 Corinthians 12:5- assembly shall become One- hen. So, the Torah and Injil have unity in describing the oneness of God as unity.
The usage of Ahad in Surah 112.
We heard Janab Dr. Zakir Naik saying that the best definition of Allah is given in Surah 112.
Surah 112: 1- Say Allah is one. The Arabic word for one is ahad.
Usually, Muslim scholars interpret this word to deny any plurality within God. However, if you only Quran and not any Islamic scholars, you have a problem.
Students of Arabic tell us that the word Ahad has always been used in the Quran to mean one of or one in a group. The word that is used is ahad and not al-ahad.
In Surah 2:96– one of them (idolaters) – ahad.
In Surah 2:136- do not distinguish between anyone of the prophets- ahad. (Surah 2:285, 3:84 etc are also the same).
In Surah 9:84- do not pray at the grave of anyone of the unbelievers- ahad.
In the Uthmanic Quran, Surah 33:40 – Muhammad is not the father of anyone. There is a totally opposite verse in the Ibn Masud Quran.
Surah 43:17 when the news reaches one of them, ahad. (2:102, 3:73, 3:153, 4:152, 4:43, 5:6, 7:80, 9:6, etc).
If one studies Quran by using Quran alone, then ahad means Allah is one among the many.
Now whatever might be the meaning, it is clear that there is no similarity between the oneness of God in the Holy Bible and oneness of God in the Quran.
Further, to say that God is Triune is to acknowledge the tri-unity of God as revealed in the Holy Bible and as per St. John Chrysostom to deny Tri-unity is to mutilate God.
That Lord Jesus Christ never claimed to be divine and that Lord Jesus Christ denied His divinity
Where Did Lord Jesus Christ say that I am God?
Revelation 1:11 Lord Jesus Christ said: “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1: 17-18 Do not be afraid: I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Remember, the title Alpha and Omega is specifically referred to Lord Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 22: 12-13 and behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me to give everyone according to his word. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
Revelation 21:6-7 And He said to me, it is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the end. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Hope we will soon see the home coming of Janab Dr. Zakir N
aik to Christianity- returning to the everlasting Father’s home.
Further, Lord Jesus Christ accepted worship:
Matthew 2:11 They fell down and worshipped Him.
Matthew 14:33 Then those were in the boat came and worshipped Him, saying, Truly, You are the Son of God.
In fact, God the Father clearly declares that Lord Jesus Christ is God.
Hebrews 1:5 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: Let all the angels of God worship Him.
Hebrews 1: 8 But to the Son, He says: Your throne, o God is forever and ever.
This is the testimony of God the Father.
Before I move into answering a few verses which Dr. Zakir Naik cited, let me point out the irony of his question.
Dr. Zakir is speaking about the five pillars of Islam. Can Dr. Zakir Naik show me the five pillars of Islam from Quran alone? Four out of the five pillars would not exist if we use Quran alone.
He wants to accept the five pillars of Islam which he can never ever prove from Quran alone.
But when it comes to the divinity of Lord Jesus Christ, it is not sufficient if we show the divinity by the Holy Bible alone, nor by the other sayings of Lord Jesus Christ but he wants exactly as he says it in the Holy Bible.
John 14: 28 “My Father is greater than I.”
Does this mean that Lord Jesus Christ is not God?
Luke 7:28 “For I say unto you, among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.”
The greater here would mean only in rank and not in the nature. Similarly, when Lord Jesus Christ says “My Father is greater than I” it only means in the rank and not in the divine nature. In the same chapter, Lord Jesus Christ already said:
John 14:9 He who has seem Me has seen the Father. (Same nature).
This is very clearly explained in Philippians 2:5-11
Philippians 2: 6 Who being in the form of God ( Nature exactly same)
Did not consider it robbery to be equal with God ( in rank became lesser).
How?
Philippians 2:7 By becoming man or taking the human nature as well. In other words, Lord Jesus Christ was not denying his divinity but was only referring to human nature- in the form of a bond servant.
We will examine the next verse:
John 5:30- I can of Myself do nothing (Is it a denial of his divinity or an affirmation of unity in the Triune God?)
Read the same chapter:
John 5: 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do. For whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” If someone says to you, I can do everything that God does, is he claiming to be divine. Yes, Lord Jesus Christ is claiming to be God Himself. In other words, Lord Jesus Christ is not denying his divinity but only affirming the unity in the Triune God.
Further:
John 5: 23 “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.” If someone says that everyone should honor him, just as they honor God, is he claiming to be God? Not merely as a prophet, not merely as a guru, but just as they honor God, all should honor Son. Luke 11:20 and Matthew 12:28 If I cast out demon by the finger of God.
Is Jesus denying His divinity or affirming the Unity in Triune God? In the light of the passages that we already read, we certainly know that this is affirmation of the Unity of Triune God rather than denial of His divinity.
Further, miracles of Lord Jesus Christ were unique. How? When prophets did miracles, they attributed the power to God. When Lord Jesus Christ did miracles, He claimed to be source of power. Exodus 16: 4-8 For example, Prophet Moses gave manna to the children of Israel and said by this you will that Yahweh has brought you out of the land of Egypt. But Prophet Moses never said “I am the bread of life.” John 6: 48 and 51 Lord Jesus Christ said “I am the bread of life” and I am the living bread which came down from heaven. 1 Kings 17: 21 Prophet Elijah prayed to God and God raised the widow’s son. But Prophet Elijah never claimed to be the resurrection and life. John 1
1: 25-26 Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Lord Jesus Christ said: “I am the resurrection and the life.” In other words, while affirming the unity of the Triune God, Lord Jesus Christ also affirmed His divinity. Uniqueness of the word Allah Surah 53: 19-16 – According to the commentary of Ibn Kathir, one of the greatest Islamic scholars ever lived, al-lat is the feminine form of Allah (Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, Volume 9, page 319). So, what Dr. Zakir says is refuted by the scholars of Islam itself. Similarity between the word Eli and Allah According to Dr. Zakir Naik, Eli and Allah are similar sounding words in sister languages; therefore they must have been the same. If this Dawwah logic is correct, my brothers, then we can find so many other similarities too. Muslims say that they have to do five times salat a day. Salat in Arabic means prayer. Now if you say that you have to do five salat in Hebrew, that means you have do make five times salad a day. Salat in Hebrew means salad. Further, the word Allah is used in the Hebrew Holy Bible but not referring to God. Joshua 24:26 Here the word Allah means Oak tree. Why go for similar sounding words, when you have the exact word itself.
Further, the name of the God of the Bible is not Eli but Yahweh.
Exodus 15:3- Yahweh is a warrior. Yahweh is His name. Deuteronomy 28:58- to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD [YHWH] your God.
Psalms 83:18- whose name is the Yahweh. Isaiah 42:8- "I am the Yahweh, that is My name.
Jeremiah 10:16- The Yahweh of hosts is His name.
Further, Old Testament believers worshipped God for what He did for them.
Genesis 22:1-14- Abraham worshipped the Yahweh as Yahweh Jireh because Yahweh foresees the need and provides.
Exodus 15:22-27- When Yahweh healed the people Yahweh said I am Yahweh Rophe.
Exodus 17: 14-17 – When Yahweh gave victory over Amakelites, Moses worshipped Him as Yahweh Nissi- Yahweh is my banner.
Judges 6: 24- When Yahweh blessed Gideon with peace, Gideon worshipped Yahweh as Yahweh Shalom.
The New Testament believers also call Yahweh by what He did for them.
Matthew 1:21 Because He saves His people from their sins, He shall be called Yeshua. (Yahweh Saves).
That is why the Holy Bible interchangeably uses the name Yahweh and Yeshua.
Joel 2:27-32 those who call on the name of Yahweh will be delivered.
Romans 10:8-13 those who call on the name of Yeshua, will be saved.
This name is important as:
Acts 4: 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Because of this:
Jeremiah 23: 26-27 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tell his neighbor as their fathers forgot My name for Baal?
Unfortunately, in the entire Quran, the true name of the true God does not appear even once.
Now, you decide if the name of the God of the Bible and if the name of the god of the Quran are same.
So, Dr. Zakir’s arguments stand refuted in the light of the Holy Bible. The rest of the DVD is primarily about explaining his religion which I am skipping because of the time constraint.
Before concluding, let me repeat:
Acts 4: 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. May the name of Yeshua, Yahweh saves, be glorified forever and ever. Amen.
