Quran (Koran)

Muslims are allowed to eat sheep, goats, camels, cows, and buffalos that are slaughtered per Islam rules. Muslims not allowed to eat the following:

• Meat of swine (pig) including all it's by products

• Meat of an animal that was not blessed with the name of Allah at the time of slaughter

• Meat of dead animals (carrion)

• Meat of animals that were strangled to death

• Meat of animals that were beaten to death

• Meat of animals that died due to falling from a height

• Meat of animals that were gored to death by a horn

• Meat of animals that were devoured by wild beasts

• Animals killed in a manner which prevents their blood from being fully drained from their bodies

• Carnivorous animals with fangs, e.g. lions, dogs, wolves, tigers, etc

Muslims can't drink alcohol, and can't eat pork products or meat from animals with claws, such as cats and lizards.

(THE FORBIDDEN THINGS)

1. Allah (Glory be to Him) has prescribed for us in the Holy Qur'an and in the Sunnah (Traditions of the Prophet) many laws:
2. Some of these are obligations and others are Muharramat (forbidden things, when something is prohibited we say it is Haram).
3. As for the obligations, I have already pointed them out previously.
4. As for the Muharramat, some of the most important of them are the following:

First: Forbidden Foods:

1. Dead Meat: These are the dead bodies of animals which died naturally, (i.e. without being Islamically slaughtered) or by being strangled, or by falling from a high place, or by being partly eaten by a wild animal, and were not slaughtered before being dead.
2. Also, those animals slaughtered by other than Muslims, Jews or Christians.
3. But the meats of dead sea animals are not forbidden.
4. Blood poured forth.
5. Flesh of the Pig (pork).
6. Meat which has, when slaughtered, had the name of anything or anyone other than Allah invoked upon it, or that was slaughtered to glorify any one other than Allah.
7. The meat of beasts of prey, such as lions, dogs... etc, and those of preying birds that attack with their claws, such as eagles, vultures… etc.
8. The meat of domestic donkeys and asses.
9. The meat of animals that feed on filthy things, except if they are isolated and fed clean food for sufficient time.
10. Any food spoiled by filth until it is cleaned by water if it is possible.
11. Wine and all kinds of intoxicants.
12. Foodstuffs containing toxic elements which are harmful to our bodies.

Second: Forbidden Deeds:

Allah Hates these deeds and their doers and punishes them:

1. To associate (in worship) anything or anyone with Allah.
2. To be disobedient to our parents.
3. To give false testimony.
4. To kill a person whom Allah has forbidden to, except by Law (Legally).
5. Adultery and fornication.
6. To steal.
7. To take anything, unjustly, from the property of an orphan,
8. To desert the battle-field while fighting unbelievers.
9. To falsely accuse with adultery or fornication a chaste Muslim woman or man.
10. To uncover "Awra" in front of anybody.
11. To take others' wealth illegally, by means of bribery, robbery trickery, or deceit.
12. To bribe in order to take others' properties illegally, or to get what you have no right to.
13. To marry mother, daughter, sister, paternal aunt, maternal aunt, brother's daughter, sister's daughter, whether they are through blood or foster relationship, your father's wife, your son's wife, your wife's mother or daughter.
14. A Muslim man is not permitted to marry a non-Muslim woman unless she becomes Muslim; but he can marry a Christian or a Jewish woman.
15. A Muslim woman is not permitted to marry a non-Muslim man, even a Christian or a Jew, unless he becomes a Muslim.
16. To take part in back-biting or scandals.

The 25 prophet names that mentioned in Quran are:

1. Adam
2. Idris (Enoch)
3. Nuh (Noah)
4. Hud
5. Saleh
6. Ibrahim (Abraham)
7. Isma'il (Ishmael)
8. Ishaq (Isaac)
9. Lut (Lot)
10. Ya'qub (Jacob)
11. Yousef (Joseph)
12. Shu'aib
13. Ayyub (Job)
14. Musa (Moses)
15. Harun (Aaron)
16. Dhu'l-kifl (Ezekiel)
17. Dawud (David)
18. Sulaiman (Solomon)
19. Ilias (Elias)
20. Al-Yasa (Elisha)
21. Yunus (Jonah)
22. Zakariyya (Zechariah)
23. Yahya (John)
24. Isa (Jesus)
25. Mohamed (or Muhammad or Mohammed or Mohammad or Mohamet)

The question, as worded, claims Quran is human written and assumes that this is a fact that does need to be questioned but the only question is how long it took to be written. In this sense, it is an offensive question and demonstrates enmity to other faith(s). The question virtually deserves a different answer because Muhammad (pbuh) never composed the holy Quran. Let's see how.

1. Nobody ever could and can write a similar Sura as that of the Quran let alone the entire Quran.

2. He was illiterate. The Quran is so scientific from every branch of science that it is more than impossible for him to write the Quran.

3. Not a single letter of it is distorted whereas the original Bible is extinct and different Christianity has different Bibles.

4. The prophecies of the holy book never proved wrong.

For more information on the proofs of Quran revelation by God, refer to the related link and related question listed below.

Praise be to Allaah.

1 - Facing the direction of the Ka'bah

1- When you stand up to pray, face the direction of the Ka'bah wherever you are, in both fard (obligatory) and naafil (supererogatory) prayers. This is one of the pillars of prayer, without which prayer is not valid.

2- The obligation of facing the direction of prayer does not apply to one who is engaged in warfare, when he prays the fear prayer (salaat al-khawf) or is engaged in heavy fighting. It also does not apply to those who are unable to do it, such as one who is sick, or one who is traveling on a ship, in a car or on a plane, if they fear that the time of the prayer will elapse (before they reach a place where they can find the correct direction). And it does not apply to one who is praying a naafil prayer or Witr prayer whilst riding on a riding-animal etc., but it is mustahabb for him to face the qiblah if he is able to do so when pronouncing the takbeer of ihraam (at the beginning of the prayer), then he may face whatever direction he is facing.

3- Everyone who can see the Ka'bah must face it; those who cannot see it must face its direction.

Ruling on not facing the Ka'bah in prayer by mistake:

4- If a person prays not facing the qiblah, because of clouds [preventing him from working out the direction from the position of the sun] or some other reason, after he did his best to work out the right direction, his prayer is valid and he does not have to repeat it.

5- If someone whom he trusts comes - whilst he is praying - and tells him of the right direction, then he must hasten to turn that way, and his prayer is valid.

2 - Qiyaam (standing in prayer)

6- It is obligatory to pray standing. This is a pillar (essential part of prayer), except for the one who is praying the fear prayer or at times of intense fighting, when it is permitted to pray whilst riding; for the one who is sick and unable to stand, who should pray sitting if he is able, otherwise lying on his side; and the one who is praying a naafil prayer, who may pray whilst riding or sitting if he wishes, and he indicates the rukoo' and sujood with his head. The one who is sick may also do this, and he should make his sujood lower than his rukoo'.

7- It is not permissible for one who is praying sitting down to put something raised up on the ground in order to prostrate on it. Rather he should make his sujood lower than his rukoo' - as we have mentioned - if he is unable to touch the ground directly with his forehead.

Prayer on board a ship or airplane

8- It is permissible to pray fard prayers on board a ship or airplane.

9- It is permissible to pray them sitting down if one fears that one may fall.

10- It is permissible to lean on a pillar or stick when standing, if one is old or weak in body.

Combining standing and sitting in prayer

11- It is permissible to pray qiyaam al-laylstanding or sitting with no excuse, or to do both. So a person may pray and reciting sitting down, and just before doing rukoo'he may stand up and recite the rest of the aayahs standing up, then do rukoo' and sujood, then he can do likewise in the second rak'ah.

12- If he prays sitting down, he should pray sitting cross-legged or in whatever position he finds comfortable.

Praying wearing shoes

13- It is permissible to pray barefoot, or to pray wearing shoes.

14- It is better to pray sometimes barefoot and sometimes wearing shoes, according to what is easy; one should not make it difficult to put shoes on or to take them off in order to pray If a person is barefoot, he should pray barefoot and if he is wearing shoes then he should pray wearing shoes, except when there is a reason not to do so.

15- If he takes them off, then he should not place them to his right; rather he should place them to his left, if there is no one on his left, otherwise he should put them between his feet. There is a subtle hint that he should not place them in front of himself. This is the etiquette which most worshippers ignore, so you see them praying facing their shoes! This is what was narrated in the saheeh reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

Praying on the minbar

16- It is permissible for the imaam to pray on an elevated place such as the minbar, in order to teach the people. So he should stand up on it to pray, then say takbeer, recite Qur'aan and do rukoo' whilst he is on that place, then he should come down backwards so that he can prostrate on the ground at the base of the minbar, then he may go back to it and do the same in the second rak'ah as he did in the first.

It is obligatory to pray facing a sutrah and be close to it

17- It is obligatory to pray facing a sutrah (screen or cover), there is no difference whether that is in the mosque or elsewhere, whether the mosque is big or small, because of the general meaning of the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), "Do not pray except facing a sutrah, and do not let anyone pass in front of you, and if he insists then fight him, for he has a companion (qareen) with him" - meaning the Shaytaan.

18- It is obligatory to be close to the sutrah, because this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded.

19- Between the place where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prostrated and the wall there would be a space nearly big enough for a sheep to pass through. Whoever does that is close enough [to the sutrah] as is required. I say: from this we known that what people do in all the mosques that I have seen in Syria and elsewhere, by praying in the middle of the mosque far away from the wall or pillars is but negligence towards the command and action of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

How high should the sutrah be?

20- The sutrah should be approximately a handspan or two above the ground, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When one of you places in front of him something such as the stick on the end of a saddle, he should pray and not worry about anyone who passes in front of that." This hadeeth indicates that a line on the ground is not sufficient, and the hadeeth narrated concerning that is da'eef (weak).

21- He should face the sutrah directly, because this is apparent meaning of the command to pray towards the sutrah. Stepping slightly to the right or left so that one is not facing it directly, is not correct.

22- It is permissible to pray facing a stick planted in the ground and the like, or a tree, or a pillar, or one's wife lying down in bed underneath her blanket, or an animal, even if it is a camel.

Prohibition of praying towards graves

23- It is not permitted to pray facing graves at all, whether they are the grave of Prophets or of others.

Prohibition of walking in front of one who is praying even in al-Masjid al-Haraam

24- It is not permitted to walk in front of one who is praying if there is a sutrah in front of him [i.e., it is not permissible to come between him and his sutrah]. There is no difference in this regard between al-Masjid al-Haraam and other mosques, all of them are the same in that this [walking in front of one who is praying] is not permitted, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "If the person who passes in front of one who is praying knew how great a burden of sin resulted from that, standing for forty [years] would be better for him than passing in front of one who is praying." This refers to passing between him and the place of his prostration. The hadeethwhich speaks of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaahbe upon him) praying in Haashiyat al-Mataaf without a sutrah and with people passing in front of him is not saheeh, even though it does not say that they were passing between him and his place of prostration. It is obligatory for the one who is prostrating to prevent the one who wants to pass in front of him, even in Masjid al-Haraam.

25- It is not permissible for the one who is praying towards a sutrah to let anyone pass in front of him, because of the hadeeth quoted above, "Do not let anyone pass in front of you…" And because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaahbe upon him) said: "When one of you is praying towards something which is a sutrah between him and the people, and someone wants to pass in front of him, then he should push him in the upper chest and repel him as much as he can." According to another report: "… he should stop him twice, but if he insists then he should fight him, for he is a devil."

Stepping forward to prevent someone passing in front of him

26- It is permissible for a person to take one or two steps to the front, in order to prevent one who is not responsible from passing in front of him, such as an animal or a small child, and to make them pass behind him.

What breaks prayer

27- The sutrah is so important to prayer that it prevents a person's prayer from being invalidated, if someone passes in front of him. This is in contrast to the one who does not use a sutrah, whose prayer is broken if an adult woman, a donkey or a black dog passes in front of him.

3 - Niyyah (intention)

28- The worshipper must have the intention of praying the prayer for which he is standing. He must have the intention in his heart of performing a specific prayer, such as the fard(obligatory prayer) of Zuhr or of 'Asr, or the Sunnah of those prayers. This is a condition or pillar (essential part) of the prayer, but uttering the intention verbally is a bid'ah which goes against the Sunnah, which was not suggested by any of the imams who are followed.

4 - Takbeer

29- Then he should start the prayer by saying "Allaahu akbar (Allaah is Most Great)." This is an essential part of the prayer, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The key to prayer is purifying oneself (wudoo'), it is entered by takbeer (saying 'Allaahu akbar') and exited by tasleem (saying 'al-salaamu 'alaykum')" i.e, once you say takbeer, certain things are prohibited and this prohibition ends when you say tasleem.

30- He should not raise his voice when saying takbeer in all the prayers, unless he is acting as an imaam.

31- It is permissible for the muezzin to convey the takbeer of the imaam to the people, if there is a need to do so, such as if the imaam is sick and his voice is weak, or because there are many worshippers praying behind him.

32- The one who is following the imaam should not say takbeer until the imaam has finished saying takbeer.

Raising the hands - how it is to be done

33- He should raise his hands when saying the takbeer, or before or after doing so. All of these are proven in the Sunnah.

34- He should raise them with the fingers stretched out.

35- He should raise them level with his shoulders, or sometimes until they are level with his earlobes. I say: with regard to touching the earlobes with the thumbs, there is no basis for this in the Sunnah, rather in my view this has to do with waswaas (insinuating whispers of the Shaytaan).

Placing the hands - how it is to be done

36- Then he should place his right hand on his left, immediately after the takbeer. This is the way of the Prophets (peace be upon them), and this is what the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined upon his companions. It is not permissible to let the arms hang at the sides.

37- The right hand should be placed on the back of the left hand, wrist and forearm.

38- Sometimes the left hand may be grasped with the right. The combination of placing and grasping, which was favoured by some later scholars, has no basis.

Where they should be placed

39- The hands should be placed on the chest only; there is no difference between men and women in this regard. I say: placing them anywhere other than on the chest is da'eef (weak) or has no basis.

40- It is not permissible to put the right hand on the waist.

Humility and looking at the place of prostration

41- The worshipper must be humble in his prayer, and should avoid everything that may distract him from it, such as adornments and decorations. He should not pray where there is food that he wants to eat, or when he needs to urinate or defecate.

42- Whilst he is standing, he should look towards the place where he will prostrate.

43- He should not look to the right or the left, because looking here and there is a snatching away which the Shaytaan steals from the prayer of the slave.

44- It is not permissible for him to look up at the sky.

Du'AA' al-Istiftaah (du'AA' at the start of prayer)

45- Then he should start the prayer with some of the du'AA's which are narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). There are many of these, the most famous of which is "Subhaanaka Allaahumma WA bihamdika, WA tabaaraka ismuka WA ta'aala jadduka, WA laa ilaaha ghayruka (Glory and praise be to You O Allaah, blessed be Your name and exalted be Your Majesty, and there is no god but You)." The command to do this is proven so we should adhere to it. Whoever wants to see the other du'AA's may refer to Sifat al-Salaah, p. 91-95, Maktabat al-Ma'aarif, Riyadh, edition. [In English, see "The Prophet's Prayer described" by Shaykh al-Albaani, al-Haneef Publications, p. 14-19]

Recitation of Qur'aan

46- Then he should seek refuge with Allaah - this is obligatory, and he is sinning if he omits to do so.

47- The Sunnah is sometimes to say "A'oodhu Billaahi min al-Shaytaan il-rajeem, min hamzihi WA nafkhihi WA nafathihi (I seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed Satan, from his madness, his arrogance and his poetry)," - poetry here refers to blameworthy kinds of poetry.

48- And sometimes he may say, "A'oodhu Billaah il-Samee' il-A'leem min al-Shaytaan… (I seek refuge with Allaah, the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the Shaytaan…)."

49- Then he should say silently - whether the prayer is to be recited aloud or silently - "Bismillah il-Rahmaan il-Raheem (In the Name of Allaah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful)."

Reciting al-Faatihah

50- Then he should recite Soorat al-Faatihah (the first soorah of the Qur'aan) in full, including the Basmalah (Bismillaahi il-Rahmaan il-Raheem). This is an essential part of the prayer, without which the prayer is not valid. Those who do not speak Arabic must memorize this soorah.

51- Those who cannot remember it should say: "Subhaan Allaah, WA'l-hamdu-Lillaah, WA laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, WA Allaahu akbar, WA laa hawla WA laa quwwata illa Billaah (Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god but Allaah, Allaah is Most Great, and there is no strength and no power except with Allaah)."

52- The Sunnah is to recite it one verse at a time, and to pause at the beginning of each aayah. So he should say: "Bismillaah il-Rahmaan il-Raheem (In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)," then pause. Then say, "Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabb il-'Aalameen (All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists), then pause. Then say: 'al-Rahmaan il-Raheem (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), then pause… and so on, until the end of the aayah.

This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite the whole soorah, pausing at the end of each aayah and not joining one aayah to the next, even if there is continuity of the meaning.

53- It is permissible to read it as Maaliki Yawm id-Deen or Maliki Yawm id-Deen.

How the one who is praying behind the imaam should recite it

54- The one who is praying behind the imam should recite it behind the imaam in prayers where Qur'aan in recited silently and in prayers where it is recited aloud, if he cannot hear the imam's recitation, or if he pauses after completing it so that those who are praying behind him can recite it. We think that this pause was not proven in the Sunnah. I say I have mentioned the evidence of those who think that this pause is permissible and the refutation of that evidence, in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Da'eefah, no. 546, 547, part 2, p. 24-26, Dar al-Ma'aarif edition.

Recitation after al-Faatihah

55- It is Sunnah to recite - after al-Faatihah - another soorah, even in Salaat al-Janaazah (funeral prayer), or some aayahs, in the first two rak'ahs.

56- The recitation may be made lengthy sometimes, and shorter sometimes, for reasons of travel, coughing, sickness or the crying of an infant.

57- The recitation varies according to the prayers. The recitation in Fajr prayer is longer than it is in all the other prayers. Next longest is Zuhr, then 'Asr, then 'Isha', then Maghrib, usually.

58- The recitation in the night prayers (qiyaam al-layl) is longer than all of these.

59- The Sunnah is to make the recitation longer in the first rak'ah than in the second.

60- He should make the recitation in the last two shorter than in the first two rak'ahs, half the length. If you want more details on this topic, see Sifat al-Salaah p. 102 (Arabic original).

Reciting al-Faatihah in every rak'ah

61- It is obligatory to recite al-Faatihah in every rak'ah.

62- It is Sunnah to add to it in the last two rak'ahs as well.

63- It is not permissible for the imaam to make his recitation longer than that which is described in the Sunnah, because that is difficult for those who may be praying behind him, such as the elderly and sick, or nursing mothers, or those who have other things to do.

Reciting aloud and reciting quietly

64- Qur'aan should be recited aloud in Fajr and Jumu'ah prayers, Eid prayers, prayers for rain (istisqaa'), prayers at the time of an eclipse (kusoof) and in the first two rak'ahs of Maghrib and 'Isha'.

He should recite silently in the first two rak'ahs of Zuhr and 'Asr, in the third rak'ah of Maghrib and in the last two rak'ahs of 'Ishaa'.

65- It is permissible for the imaam occasionally to make an aayah audible in the prayers where recitation is to be done silently.

66- In Witr and Qiyaam al-Layl, he should recite silently sometimes and aloud sometimes, and he should be moderate in raising his voice.

Tarteel - reciting at a measured pace

67- The Sunnah is to recite the Qur'aan at a measured pace, not quickly or hastily. It should be read in a manner that clearly distinguishes each letter, beautifying the Qur'aan with one's voice. He should observe the well known rulings of the scholars of Tajweed and he should not recite it in the innovated manner of singers or according to the rules of music.

Prompting the imaam

68- It is prescribed for the one who is praying behind the imaam to prompt the imaam if he hesistates in his recitation.

6 - Rukoo' (bowing)

69- When he has completed the recitation, he should pause briefly, to catch his breath.

70- Then he should raise his hands in the manner described for takbeerat al-ihraam (the takbeer at the beginning of prayer).

71- And he should say takbeer ("Allahuakbar"). This is obligatory.

72- Then he should do rukoo', bowing as deeply as his joints will let him, until his joints take the new position and are relaxed in it. This is an essential part of prayer.

How to do rukoo'

73- He should put his hands on his knees, firmly, spacing the fingers out, as if he is grasping his knees. All of this is obligatory.

74- He should spread his back and make it level so that if water were poured on it, it would stay there (not run off). This is obligatory.

75- He should not lower or raise his head, but make it level with his back.

76- He should keep his elbows away from his sides.

77- In rukoo', he should say "Subhaana Rabbiy al-'Azeem (Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty) three times or more. There are others kinds of dhikr which may be said in rukoo', some of which are long, some of medium length and some short. See Sifat Salaat al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), p. 132, Maktabat al-Ma'aarifedition [The Prophet's Prayer Described, p. 44].

Making the essential parts of prayer equal in length

78- It is Sunnah to make the essential parts of prayer equal in length, so the rukoo', the standing after rukoo', the prostration and the sitting between the two prostrations should be make approximately the same in length.

79- It is not permissible to recite Qur'aan in rukoo' or in sujood.

Straightening up from rukoo'

80- Then he should straighten up from rukoo'. This is an essential part of the prayer.

81- Whilst straightening up, he should say, "Sami'aAllaahu liman hamidah (Allaah listens to the one who praises Him)." This is obligatory.

82- He should raise his hands when straightening up, in the manner described above.

83- Then he should stand straight until every vertebra has returned to its place. This is an essential part of the prayer.

84- Whilst standing thus, he should say, "Rabbanaa WA laka al-hamd (our Lord, to You be all praise)." (There are other kinds of dhikr which may be said at this point. See Sifat al-Salaah, p. 135/The Prophet's prayer described, p. 47). This is obligatory for every person who is praying, even if he is following an imaam, because this is the dhikr of standing after rukoo', and saying "Sami'aAllaahu liman hamidah" is the dhikr of straightening up from rukoo'. It is not prescribed to put the hands one over the other during this standing, because this was not narrated (from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)). For more details, see Sifat Salaat al-Nabi, 1 - Istiqbaal al-Qiblah (The Prophet's Prayer Described - Facing the Ka'bah).

85- He should make this standing equal in length to the rukoo', as stated above.

7 - Sujood (prostration)

86- Then he should say "Allaahu akbar" - this is obligatory.

87- He should raise his hands sometimes.

Going down on the hands

88- Then he should go down into sujood on his hands, putting them down before the knees. This is what was commanded by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and it is proven that he did this, and he forbade imitating the manner in which a camel sits down, which camel is by kneeling with its forelegs first.

89- When he prostrates - which is an essential part of the prayer - he should put his weight on his palms and spread them out.

90- He should keep the fingers together.

91- And point the fingers towards the qiblah.

92- He should put his palms level with his shoulders.

93- Sometimes he should make them level with his ears.

94- He should keep his forearms off the ground. This is obligatory. He should not spread them along the ground like a dog.

95- He should place his nose and forehead firmly on the ground. This is an essential part of the prayer.

96- He should also place his knees firmly on the ground.

97- The same applies to his toes.

98- He should hold his feet upright with his toes touching the ground. All of this is obligatory.

99- He should make his toes point in the direction of the qiblah.

100- He should put his heels together.

Being at ease in sujood

101- He should be at ease in sujood, distributing his weight equally on the parts of the body which should be in contact with the ground during sujood. They are: the nose and forehead, the palms, the knees, and the toes.

102- Whoever is at ease in his sujood in this manner has got it right. And this being at ease is also an essential part of the prayer.

103- In sujood, he should say, "Subhaana Rabbiy al-'A'laa (Glory be to my Lord Most High)" three times or more. (There are other kinds of dhikr also, see Sifat Salaat al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), p. 145/The Prophet's Prayer described, p. 55).

104- It is mustahaab to offer a lot of du'AA'during sujood, because it is a time when du'AA' is likely to be answered.

105- He should make his sujood almost as long as his rukoo', as described above.

106- It is permissible to prostrate on the bare ground, or on something covering the ground such as a garment or carpet, or a mat, etc.

107- It is not permitted to recite Qur'aan whilst prostrating.

Iftiraash and Iq'AA' between the two sajdahs

[Iftiraash means sitting on the left thigh with the right foot upwards and its toes pointed towards the qiblah; IQ'AA' means resting on both heels and feet]

108- Then he should raise his head, saying takbeer. This is obligatory.

109- He should raise his hands sometimes.

110- Then he should sit at ease, until every vertebra returns to its place. This is obligatory.

111- He should spread his left leg and sit on it. This is obligatory.

112- He should put his right foot upright.

113- And make its toes point towards the qiblah.

114- It is permissible to sit in IQ'AA' sometimes, which means resting on the heels and feet.

115- Whilst sitting thus, he should say, "Allaahumma ighfir li warhamni wajburni, warfa'ni, WA'aafini warzuqni (O Allaah, forgive me, have mercy on me, strengthen me, raise me in status, pardon me and grant me provision)."

116- If he wishes, he may say, "Rabbi ighfir li, Rabbi ighfir li (My Lord, forgive me, my Lord, forgive me)."

117- He should make this sitting almost as long as his sujood.

The second sajdah

118- Then he should say takbeer - this is obligatory,

119- He should raise his hands sometimes when saying this takbeer.

120- He should do the second prostration - this is also an essential part of the prayer.

121- He should do in the second prostration what he did in the first.

The sitting of rest

122- When he raises his head from the second prostration and he wants to get up for the second rak'ah, he should say takbeer. This is obligatory.

123- He should raise his hands sometimes.

124- He should sit up straight, sitting on his left foot, until every bone returns to its place.

The second rak'ah

125- Then he should get up for the second rak'ah, supporting himself on his hands with his fists clenched as if kneading dough. This is an essential part of the prayer.

126- He should do in the second rak'ah what he did in the first.

127- Except that he should not recite the du'AA' for starting the prayer.

128- He should make it shorter than the first rak'ah.

Sitting for the Tashahhud

129- When he completes the second rak'ah, he should sit for the Tashahhud. This is obligatory.

130- He should sit in iftiraash, as described above for the sitting between the two prostrations.

131- But it is not permitted to sit in IQ'AA' at this point.

132- He should put his right hand on his right thigh and knee, and the end of the right elbow on the thigh, not far from it.

133- He should spread his left palm on his left thigh and knee.

134- It is not permissible to sit resting on one's arms, especially the left arm.

Moving the finger and looking at it

135- He should clench all the fingers of his right hand, and put the thumb on the middle finger sometimes.

136- Sometimes he should make a circle with them.

137- He should point with his index finger towards the qiblah.

138- He should look towards it.

139- He should move it, making du'AA' with it, from the beginning of the Tashahhud until the end.

140- He should not point with the finger of his left hand.

141- He should do all of this in every Tashahhud.

How to say Tashahhud and the du'AA' following it

142- The Tashahhud is obligatory, and if he forgets it, he must do the two prostrations of forgetfulness (sajdat al-sahw).

143- He should recite it silently.

144- The wording of the Tashahhud is: "Al-tahiyyaatu Lillaahi WA'l-salaawaatu WA'l-tayyibaat. Al-salaamu 'alayka ayyuha'l-Nabiyyu WA rahmat-Allaahi WA barakaatuhu. Al-salaamu 'alayna WA 'ala 'ibaad-Illaah il-saaliheen. Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah WA ash-hadu Anna Muhammadan 'abduhu WA rasooluhu (All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allaah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allaah. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allaah. I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the slave and Messenger of Allaah)." [Other versions are mentioned in Sifat Salaat al-Nabi/The Prophet's Prayer Described, but what is mentioned here is the most sound].

Sending salaams upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): this is what was prescribed after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and is narrated in the Tashahhud of Ibn Mas'ood, 'Aa'ishah and Ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them). For more details see Sifat Salaat al-Nabi, p. 161, Maktabat al-Ma'aarif, Riyadh, edition/ The Prophet's Prayer Described, p. 67).

145- After that, he should send prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), by saying: "Allaahumma salli 'ala Muhammad WA 'ala aali Muhammad kama salayta 'ala Ibraaheem WA 'ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed. Allaahumma baarik 'ala Muhammad WA 'ala aali Muhammad kama baarakta 'ala Ibraaheem WA 'ala aali Ibraaheem, innak hameedun majeed (O Allaah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibraaheem and upon the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allaah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibraaheemand upon the family of Ibraaheem); You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory)."

146- If you wish you may shorten it and say: "Allaahumma salli 'ala Muhammad WA 'ala aali Muhammad, WA baarik 'ala Muhammad WA 'ala aali Muhammad, kama salayta WA baarakta 'ala Ibraaheem WA 'ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka haamedun majeed (O Allaah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers and blessings upon Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem; You are

Talkhees Sifat Salaat al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) min al-Takbeer ila al-Tasleem ka annaka turaahaa by Shaykh Muhammad Naasir al-Deen al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him).

Source: Islam Q&A (http://www.Islam-qa.com/en/ref/13340/prayer)

Just like the other two Abrahamic religions (Judaism & Christianity) Islam's basic foundational belief on the origin of man is that all mankind are descendants of Adam and Eve (peace be upon them), the first man and woman on earth. Adam (pbuh) was created in Heaven by Allah (God) from seven different kinds of earth, whilst Eve was created by Allah from one of Adam's ribs. Both Adam & Eve were evicted from Heaven and sent to earth when they were conned by Satan and disobeyed Allah's command by eating the forbidden fruit.

Adam was the most beautiful human that ever existed, for Allah created him with his own "hands", so that means he perfected him and made him soo beautifull.

God did not create Adam pbuh in his own image... Quran 112:4 says;"And there is none like unto Him."

And God said to the angels:

"'Verily, I am going to place mankind generations after generations on earth.' They said: 'Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood(like the demons that are there now?), while we glorify You with praises and thanks and sanctify You.' God said: 'I know that which you do not know.'" (Quran 2:30)

"And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: 'I am going to create a human (Adam) from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud. So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him." (Quran 38:71-72)

[Quran 51:56] I did not create the jinns and the humans except to worship Me ALONE.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet pbuh said,

"Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits(I think this is 30 meter) tall. When He created him, He said to him, "Go and greet that group of angels, and listen to their reply, for it will be your greeting (salutation) and the greeting (salutations of your offspring)." So, Adam said (to the angels), As-Salamu Alaikum (i.e. Peace be upon you). The angels said, "As-salamu Alaika WA Rahmatu-l-lahi" (i.e. Peace and Allah's Mercy be upon you). Thus the angels added to Adam's salutation the expression, 'Wa Rahmatu-l-lahi,' Any person who will enter Paradise will resemble Adam (in appearance and figure). People have been decreasing in stature since Adam's creation. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The best of days on which the sun has risen is Friday. One this day Adam was created, and on this day he was descended to earth." (al Bukhari)

The Angel of Death ascended with it, Allah soaked the clay till it became sticky. Then Allah said to the angels: "Truly, I am going to create man from clay. So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him." (Chapter 38:71-72 Quran).

So Allah shaped Adam into a human being, but he remained a figure of clay for 40 years. The angels went past him. They were seized with fear by what they saw, and Iblis felt fear most. He used to pass by the figure of Adam, buffeting it, which would make a sound like pottery. Allah told us: "He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery." ( 55:Quran). Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Allah created Adam from dust after He mixed the clay and left him for some time until it became sticky mud, after which Allah shaped him. After that Allah left him till it became like potter's clay. Iblis used to go past him saying 'You have been created for a great purpose.'

When the time drew near to breathe the spirit into Adam, as Allah decreed, He commanded the angels: "When I breathe My spirit into him prostrate before him." Allah breathed His spirit into Adam and when it reached his head Adam sneezed. The angels said: "Say all praise belongs to Allah." Adam repeated: "All praise belongs to Allah." Allah said to him: "Your Lord has granted you mercy." When the spirit reached his eyes, Adam looked at the fruits of Paradise. When it reached his abdomen Adam felt an appetite for food. He jumped hurriedly before the spirit could reach his legs, so that he could eat from the fruits of Paradise. Allah, therefore, said: "Man is created of haste." ( 21:37 Quran). And then: The angels prostrated themselves all of them together. Except Iblis, he refused to be among the prostrators. ( 15:31-32 Quran).

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Iblis tried in vain to justify his refusal: "Shall I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?" Iblis said: "See? those whom You have honored above me, if You give me respite (keep me alive) to the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize and mislead his offspring (by sending them astray) all but a few!" (17:62 Quran).

Adam was following what was happening around him and had feelings of love, awe, and astonishment. Deep love of Allah,Who had created and glorified him and Who had made His angels prostrate before him. Awe of the Creator's wrath when He excluded Iblis from His mercy. Adam was surprised by this creature, Iblis who abhorred hiwithout even knowing him and who imagined himself better than Adam without having proved that he was worthier. What a strange creature Iblis was, and how strange was his excuse for not prostrating!

From the dialogue Adam realized that Iblis was a creature characterized by cunning and ingratitude. He then knew that Iblis was his eternal enemy. He was greatly astonished at Iblis's audacity and Allah's tolerance. Immediately after his creation Adam witnessed the large amount of freedom that Allah gives to His commissioned creatures.

Allah knew that Iblis was not going to obey Him in prostrating before Adam. Allah could have totally annihilated him or turned him into a handful of dust or stifled the refusal in his mouth. Yet, Allah gives His commissioned creatures absolute freedom even to the extent that they can refuse Allah the Almighty's commands. He grants them the freedom of denial, disobedience, and even disagreement with Him.

There were many traditions about Iblis at the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Ibn Masud, Ibn Abbas and a group of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that Iblis had been the head of the angels in the worldly heavens. Ibn Abbas said in one narration that his name had been Azazil and in another narration he said it had been Al Harith. Ibn Abbas also said that Iblis was a jinn and that they had once been the keepers of Paradise, with Iblis the most honorable and the most learned and the most pious of them. Another tradition says that he had been one of the famous four possessors of wings (angels), before Allah transformed him into the accursed Satan.

After this lesson about freedom Adam learned another lesson, one about knowledge. Adam realized that Iblis was the symbol of evil in the universe and that the angels were the symbol of good. However he did not yet know anything about himself. Then Allah made him perceive his true identity and the reason for his creation, and the secret of his glorification.

Allah the Exalted said: He taught Adam all the names of everything. (2:31 Quran).

Almighty Allah granted Adam the power to know the natures of all things and to summarize them by names; that is a bird, that is a star, that is a tree, etc Allah implanted in Adam an insatiable need for and love of knowledge and a desire to bequeath knowledge to his children. This was the reason for his creation and the secret of his glorification.

After Adam had learned the names of all things, along with their properties and uses, Allah presented them to the angels and said: "Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful." (2:31 Quran) the angels admitted their inability: "Glory be to You, we have knowledge except what You have taught us. Verily it is You the All Knower, the All Wise." ( 2:32)

Allah Almighty then turned to Adam: "O Adam! Inform them of their names, " and when he had informed them of their names, He said: "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been hiding?" (2:33 Quran).

Allah wanted the angels to know that He knew of their astonishment when He had told them about the creation of Adam and that He also knew of their confusion which they had not revealed, as well as what Iblis had concealed of his disobedience and ingratitude.

Ibn Abbas and a group of companions of the Prophet (PBUH) narrated that when Iblis was sent out of Paradise and Adam was accommodated therein, Adam was alone in Paradise and did not have a partner from whom he could get tranquility. He slept for some time and when he woke up, he saw a woman whom Allah had created from his ribs. So he asked her, "Who are you? She replied, "A woman" He asked: "Why have you been created?" She said :"So that you could find tranquility in me." The angels, trying to find out the extent of his knowledge, asked him: "What is her name O Adam?" He replied, "Eve" They asked "Why was she so named?" He replied, " Because she was created from something living."

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "O Muslims! I advise you to be gentle with women, for they are created from a rib, and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part. If you try to straighten it, it will break and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so I urge you to take care of the women." (Sahih Bukhari).

Allah commanded Adam to dwell in Paradise: "O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight of things therein as wherever you will, but come not near this tree or you both will be of the Zalimeen (wrong doers).(2:35)

The location of this Paradise is unknown to us. The Quran did not reveal it, and the commentators had five different opinions. Some said that it was the paradise of our refuge and that its place was heaven. Others regreted that statement because if it was the paradise of refuge Iblis would have been forbidden admission and disobedience would have been forbidden as well. Still others said that it was another paradise that was created by Allah for Adam and Eve. A fourth group said it was a paradise on the earth located in a high place. Another group of commentators accept what was in the Quran without questioning where this paradise was located. We agree with this last opinion as the lesson we learn from its location is immaterial compared to the lesson we leafrom the events that took place there.

Adam and Eve understood that they were forbidden to eat the fruit of that tree. Adam was however a human being and man tends to forget. His heart changes and his will weakens. Iblis summoned all the envy within him and took advantage of Adam's humanity to exploit him. He started to whisper to him day after day, coaxing him: "Shall I guide you to thTree of Immortality and the Eternal Kingdom?" He said to them: "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals." He (Satan) swore by Allah to them both saying: "Verily I am one of the sincere well wishers for you both." (7:20-21)

Adam asked himself: "What will happen if I eat from this tree? It might truly be the Tree of Immortality." His dream was to live forever in the pure innocence of Paradise."

Years went by, and Adam and Eve were preoccupied with thoughts of that tree. Then one day they decided to eat of its fruit. They forgot that Allah had warned them not to approach it and that Iblis was their sworn enemy. Adam stretched out his hand, picked one of the fruits and offered it to Eve. They both ate of the forbidden tree.

Allah Almighty told us: "So he (Satan) misled them with deception." (Ch 7:22) Allah said: "Thus did Adam disobey his Lord so he went astray." (20:121).

Adam had hardly finished eating when he felt his heart contract, and he as filled with pain, sadness and shame. The surrounding atmosphere had changed and the internal music had stopped. He discovered that he and his wife were naked, so they both started cutting tree leaves with which to cover themselves.

Allah the Almighty addressed him: "Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily Satan is an open enemy unto you?" They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers." Allah said; "Get down, one of you an enemy to the other (Adam, Eve, and Satan etc). On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment, for a time." He said: "Therein you shall live and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (resurrected)." (7:22-25).

Allah the Almighty addressed him: "Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily Satan is an open enemy unto you?" They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers." Allah said; "Get down, one of you an enemy to the other (Adam, Eve, and Satan etc). On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment, for a time." He said: "Therein you shall live and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (resurrected)." (7:22-25).

O Children of Adam! Let not Satan deceive you, as he got your parents (Adam and Eve) out of Paradise stripping them of their rainments; to show them their private parts. Verily he and Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. .. (Ch 7:27)

Al Hafez Ibn Asaker narrated that Allah commanded two angels to remove Adam from His holy proximity. So Gabriel stripped him of the crown on his head, and Michael took the diadem from his forehead. So Adam walked (or run) away, and on his way a tree catched him by his forehead. So Allah asked: "are you running away from me?" Adam thought that his punishment had been hastened and bowed down crying; "Forgiveness! Forgiveness!" so Allah asked: "Are you running away from Me?" Adam replied, "No, my Lord, but I am shy of You (because of what I did)."

Adam knew he bade farewell to peace and he left Paradise. On earth he had to face conflict and struggle. No sooner had one ended than another began. He also had to toil to sustain himself. He had to protect himself with clothes and weapons and protect his wife and children from the wild beasts. Above all he had to struggle with the spirit of evil. Satan, the cause of his expulsion from Paradise, continued to beguile him and his children in an effort to have them thrown into the eternal hellfire. The battle between good and evil is continuous, but those who follow Allah's guidance and should fear nothing while those who disobey Allah and follow Iblis will be damned along with him.

Adam grasped all of this and with the knowledge of this suffering he started his life on the earth. The only thing that allowed his grief was that he was master of the earth and had to make it yield to him. He was the one who had to perpetuate, cultivate and construct and populate the earth. He was also the one who had to procreate and raise children who would change and improve the world.

Adam understood his 3rd lesson. He knew now in a practical way that Iblis was his enemy, the cause of his losing the blessing of living in Paradise, and the cause of his distress. Adam also understood that Allah punishes disobedience and that the way of Paradise has to be through submission to the will of Allah. And he learned from Allah Almighty to ask for forgiveness.

Allah accepted Adam's repentance and forgave him. He then sent him to the earth as His first messenger.

Allah the Almighty recounted this third lesson Adam learned in Paradise: Indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found on his part no firm will power. Remember when We said to the angels "Prostrate yourselves to Adam." They prostrated (all) except Iblis, who refused. then We said: "O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. so let him not get you both out of Paradise, so that you be distressed in misery. Verily, you have (a promise from Us) that you will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you will suffer not from thrist therein nor from the sun's heat."

then Satan whispered to him, saying "O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?" Then they both ate of that tree, and so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their covering. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray. Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness and gave him guidance.

Allah said: "Get you down (upon the earth), both of you, together from Paradise, some of you are an enemy to some others. THen if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders etc). Verily, for him is a life of hardship and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection."

He will say: "O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight before." Allah will said: "like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). came unto you, but you disregarded them (you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected in the Hellfire, away from Allah's Mercy.)"

And thus do We requite him who transgresses beyond bounds (commits the great sins and disobeys his Lord (Allah) and believes not in His Messengers, and His revealed Books, and believes not in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). of his Lord, and the torment of the Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting. ( 20:115-127)

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The time arrived when the two young men desired life partners. This was part of Allah's plan for mankind, to multiply and form nations with different cultures and colors. Allah revealed to Adam that he should marry each son to the twin sister of the other. Adam instructed his children according to Allah's command, but Cain was displeased with the partner chosen for him, for Abel's twin sister was not as beautiful as his own.

Adam was in a dilemma. He wanted peace and harmony in his family, so he invoked Allah for help. Allah commanded that each son offer a sacrifice, and he whose offering was accepted would have right on his side. Abel offered his best camel while Cain offered his worst grain. His sacrifice was not accepted by Allah because of his disobedience to his father and the insincerity in his offering.

This enraged Cain even further. Realizing that his hopes marrying his own beautiful sister were fading, he threatened his brother. "I will kill you! I refuse to see you happy while I remain unhappy!"

Abel feeling sorry for his brother, replied, "It would be more proper for you, my brother to search for the cause of your unhappiness and then walk in the way of peace. Allah accepts the deeds only from those who serve and fear Him, not from those who reject His Commands."

Abel was intelligent, obedient, and always ready to obey the will of Allah. This contrasted sharply with his brother who was arrogant, selfish and disobedient to his Lord. Abel did not fear his brother's threats, but neither did he want his brother to be hurt, Allah had blessed Abel with purity and compassion.

Hoping to allay the hatred seething in his brother Abel said, " My brother, you are deviating from the right path and are sinful in your decisions. It is better that you repent to Allah and forget about your foolish threat. But if you do not then I will leave the matter in the hands of Allah. You alone will bear the consequence of your sin, for the Fire is the reward of the wrong-doers."

This brotherly plea did nothing to lessen the hatred in Cain's heart, nor did he show fear of Allah's punishment. Even familial considerations were cast aside. Cain struck his brother with a stone killing him instantly. This was the 1st death and the 1st criminal act committed by man on earth.

When Abel had not appeared for some time, Adam began to search for him but found no trace of his beloved son. He asked Cain about Abel's whereabouts. Cain insolently replied that he was not his brother's keeper nor his protector. From these words his father understood that Abel was dead and Adam was filled with grief

Meanwhile Cain did not know what to do with his brother's corpse. He carried it on his back wandering from place to place trying to hide it. His anger had now subsided and his conscience was saddled with guilt. He was tiring under the burden of the corpse which had started to have a stench. As a mercy, and to show that dignity could be retained even in death, Allah sent two ravens that began fighting, causing the death of one. The victorious bird used its beak and claws to dig a hole in the ground, rolled its victim into it and covered it with sand.

Witnessing this, Cain was overcome with shame and remorse. "Woe unto me!" he exclaimed. "I was unable to do what this raven has done, that is to hide my brother's corpse." Cain then buried his brother. This was also the 1st burial of man.

Allah the Almighty revealed: And (O Muhammad) recite to them the story of the two sons of Adam (Abel and Cain) in truth; when each offered a sacrifice to Allah, it was accepted from the one but not from the other. The latter said to the former; "I will surely kill you." the former said: "Verily Allah accepts only from those who are Al Muttaqeen (the pious). If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for I fear Allah; the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinn, and all that exists). Verily I intend to let you draw my sin onyourself as well as yours then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire, and that is the recompense of the Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoers)." So the self of the other (latter one) encouraged him and made fair seeming to him the murder of his brother; he murdered him and became one of the losers. Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?" Then he became one of those who regretted. ( 5:27-31).

According to Abu Ja'afar al Baqer, Adam was watching their offering and was sure that Abel's sacrifice would be accepted. Cain complained to Adam that the acceptance was due to his supplication for Abel and that he had not done the same for him, so he promised his father to settle the matter between himself and his brother. One night, Abel was late returning from tending his flock. Adam sent Cain to see what happened to him. When he found him, he glared at him saying: "yours was accepted, and mine was not." Abel replied, "Allah only accepts from the Allah-fearing." Cain became angry on hearing this and hit him with a piece of iron that was with him and thus killing him. In another version it was said that he killed him with a rock to the head while he was sleeping.

Adam was utterly grief stricken by the loss of his two sons. One was dead, the other was won over by the devil. Adam prayed for his son and turned to mundane matters for he had to toil for his sustenance. At the same time he was a prophet advising his children and grandchildren, telling them about Allah and calling them to believe in Him. He told them about Iblis and warned them by recounting his own experience with the devil and of how the devil had tempted Cain to kill his brother.

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So they went away searching for what Adam had requested. They met with the angels, who had with them his shroud and what he was to be embalmed with. They said to them: "O Children of Adam, what are you searching for? What do you want? Where are you going?"

They said: "Our father is sick and has an appetite for the fruits of Paradise." the angels said to them: "Go back, for your father is going to meet his end soon."

So they returned (with the angels) and when Eve saw them she recognized them. She tried to hide herself behind Adam. He said to her. "Leave me alone. I came before you; do not go between me and the angels of my Lord.' So they took his soul, embalmed and wrapped him, dug the grave and laid him in it. They prayed on him and put him in his grave, saying: 'O Children of Adam, this is your tradition at the time of death.""

Before his death Adam reassured his children that Allah would not leave man alone on the earth, but would sent His prophets to guide them. the prophets would have different names, traits and miracles, but they would be united in one thing; the call to worship Allah alone. This was Adam's bequest to his children. Adam finished speaking and closed his eyes. Then the angels entered his room and surrounded him. When he recognized the Angel of Death among them, his heart smiled peacefully.

After Adam's death, his South Seth (Shiith) took over the responsibilities of prophethood, according to a hadith narrated by Abu Dhar. Abu Dhar narrated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Allah sent down one hundred and four psalms, of which fifty were sent down to Seth." (Sahih al Bukhari) When the time of his death came Seth's son Anoush succeeded him. He in turn, was succeeded by his son Qinan, claim that Mahlabeel was the King of the Seven Regions, that he was the first one to cut down trees to build cities and large forts and that he built the cities of Babylonia. He reigned for a period of forty years. When he died his duties were taken ov er by his son Yard, who on his death, bequeathed them to his son Khonoukh, who is Idris (pbuh) according to the majority of the scholars.

"The first man to be called on the Day of Resurrection will be Adam who will be shown his offspring, and it will be said to them, 'This is your father, Adam.' Adam will say (responding to the call of Allah), 'Labbaik and Sa'daik (I respond to Your Calls, I am obedient to Your orders), wal Khair fi Yadaik (and all the good is in Your Hands)!' Then Allah will say (to Adam), 'Take out of your offspring, the people of Hell.' Adam will say, 'O Lord, how many should I take out?' Allah will say, 'Out of every thousand (take out) nine-hundred and ninety-nine (persons).' At that time children will become hoary-headed and every pregnant female will drop her load (have an abortion) and you will see the people as if they were drunk, yet not drunk; But Allah's punishment will be very severe." That news distressed the companions of the Prophet too much, and they said, "O Allah's Apostle! Who amongst us will be that man (the lucky one out of one-thousand who will be saved from the Fire)?" He said, "Have the good news that one-thousand will be from Gog and Magog, and the one (to be saved will be) from you." He added:"You Muslims (compared to the large number of other people/nations) will be like a black hair on the side of a white ox, or a white hair on the side of a black ox, and I hope that you will be one-fourth of the people of Paradise." On that, we glorified and praised Allah and said, "Allahu-Akbar!" Then he said, "I hope that you will be one-third of the people of Paradise." We again said, "Allahu-Akbar!" Then he said, "(I hope that you will be) one-half of the people of Paradise." So we said, Allahu Akbar."

Volume 9, Book 93, Number 607:

Narrated Anas:

Allah's Apostle said, "The believers will be assembled on the Day of Resurrection and they will say, 'Let us look for someone to intercede for us with our Lord so that He may relieve us from this place of ours.' So they will go to Adam and say, 'You are Adam, the father of mankind, and Allah created you with His Own Hands and ordered the Angels to prostrate before you, and He taught you the names of all things; so please intercede for us with our Lord so that He may relieve us.' Adam will say, to them, 'I am not fit for that,' and then he will mention to them his mistake which he has committed.' "

Volume 8, Book 77, Number 611:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam. 'O Adam! You are our father who disappointed us and turned us out of Paradise.' Then Adam said to him, 'O Moses! Allah favored you with His talk (talked to you directly) and He wrote (the Torah) for you with His Own Hand. Do you blame me for action which Allah had written in my fate before my creation?' So Adam confuted Moses, Adam confuted Moses," the Prophet added, repeating the Statement three times

Say: Bring your proof (of what ye state) if ye are truthful.--2:111

1. Don't confuse truth with falsehood or knowingly conceal the truth. 2:42
2. Pay the poor-due. 2:43, 110, 277
3. Be good to parents, relatives, orphans, and the needy. Speak kindly and pay the poor-due. 2:83
4. If you believe it, prove it. (A good rule, but does it apply to Muslims, too?) 2:111
5. The Jews say the Christians are wrong, and vice versa. Yet they both believe in the Scriptures. 2:113
6. Give of your wealth to family, relatives, and the needy. Set slaves free. 2:177
7. Do not fight wars of aggression. (Does this apply only during Ramadan?) 2:190
8. "Do good." 2:195
9. Spend your money for good: to help your parents, your family, orphans, wayfarers, and the needy. 2:215
10. Help orphans. 2:220
11. "There is no compulsion in religion." (But see the next verse which says that disbelievers will burn forever in Hell.) 2:256
12. Don't argue about things that you know nothing about. 3:66
13. Do not be guilty of usury, doubling and quadrpling the sum lent. 3:130
14. I suffer not the work of any worker, male or female, to be lost. Ye proceed one from another. 3:195
15. Give to orphans and don't steal from them. 4:2, 4:10
16. Men and women proceed from one another. 4:25
17. Don't kill other Muslims.(Is it OK to kill non-Muslims?) 4:29
18. Be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, neighbors, and travelers. 4:36
19. Whoever participates in a good cause, will be rewarded. Whoever participates in an evil cause, will bear the consequences thereof. 4:85
20. It is good to help the poor and make peace. 4:114
21. Value justice, for both poor and rich, even when it adversely affects you or your family's interests. 4:135
22. Don't lend money at unfairly high rates of interest. 4:161
23. Don't hate other people. Treat everyone fairly. 5:8
24. Whoever kills a human being, it is as if he had killed all mankind. Whoever saves the life of one, it is as if he had saved the life of all.

    (But see the next verse which says that the enemies of Allah and Muhammad will be killed, crucified, have their hands and feet cut off, or expelled. And after they die they will face "an awful doom.") 5:32

25. Pay the poor-due. 5:55
26. Feed and clothe the needy. Set a slave free. 5:89
27. Do good to parents, don't kill your children or other living things unnecessarily. 6:151
28. Don't steal from orphans. Don't cheat or lie. 6:152
29. Pay the poor-due. 7:156
30. Be kind and forgiving toward others. 7:199
31. And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it. 8:61
32. Pay the poor-due, but only if they are Muslims. [Never help a non-Muslim. (See 28:86)] 9:18
33. Alms are for the poor and needy, to free captives and debtors, and to help wayfarers. But not for non-Muslims. [Never help a non-Muslim. (See 28:86)] 9:60
34. Men and women are protecting friends of one another. They enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and pay the poor-due. 9:71
35. "Do not evil in the earth."

    Treat people fairly, respect their possessions, and avoid evil. 11:85

36. Be kind to your relatives. 16:90
37. Be kind to your parents. Treat them with respect in their old age. 17:23
38. Help your family, the needy, and wayfarer. Don't selfishly squander your wealth. 17:26
39. Don't kill your children to avoid falling into poverty. 17:31
40. Don't steal from orphans. 17:34
41. Don't follow what you don't know. 17:36
42. "Increase me in knowledge." 20:114
43. Feed the poor and unfortunate. 22:28
44. Don't lie. 22:30
45. Be kind to others, forbid injustice, and pay the poor-due. 22:41
46. Pay the poor-due. 22:78
47. Pay the poor-due. 23:4
48. Repel evil with that which is better. 23:96
49. Pay the poor-due. 24:37, 24:56
50. Repel evil with good. 28:54
51. Be kind to your parents. 29:8
52. Men and women should help each other with love an mercy. 30:21
53. Help your family, the needy, and wayfarers. 30:38
54. Pay the poor-due. 31:4
55. Good and evil are not the same. Repel evil with goodness. That way your enemies will become your friends. 41:34
56. Be loving and kind to your relatives. 42:23
57. It is wrong to oppress people. 42:42
58. Live peacefully with disbelievers. 43:88-89
59. Be kind to your parents. 46:15
60. Don't defame, insult, spy on, or backbite one another.. 49:11-12
61. Give of your wealth to help the poor. 51:19
62. "A guess can never take the place of the truth." 53:28
63. Pay the poor-due. 58:13
64. Pay the poor-due. 73:20
65. Free a slave, feed the hungry, and exhort one another to pity. 90:13-17
66. Don't oppress orphans or drive away beggars. 93:9-10
67. Pay the poor-due. That is true religion. 98:5
68. Let each person believe (or disbelieve) whatever he or she wishes. 109:1, 6

Good Stuff in the Bible

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. -- Proverbs 4:7

There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry. -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post

1. ==
2. "Honor thy father and thy mother." 20:12
3. "Thou shalt not kill." 20:13
4. "Thou shalt not commit adultery." 20:14
5. "Thou shalt not steal." 20:15
6. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." 20:16
7. Be kind to strangers, widows, and fatherless children. 22:21-22
8. Value the truth; don't lie. 23:1
9. Don't do what everyone else does, if what they do is wrong. 23:2
10. Be kind to your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 23:4-5
11. Treat the poor fairly. 23:6
12. Be honest. Don't kill the innocent. 23:7
13. Don't mistreat strangers. 23:9
14. Every seventh year the Israelites were to leave their fields unharvested, so that the poor would have something to eat. 23:11

1. What is stolen or wrongfully acquired should be returned to the owner. 6:2-5
2. Leave some grapes on the vine for travelers and the poor. 19:10
3. Don't steal or lie 19:11, 13
4. "Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind." 19:14
5. Don't gossip. 19:16
6. Don't hate people. 19:17
7. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." 19:18
8. Respect your elders. 19:32
9. Be kind to strangers. 19:33-34
10. Treat others fairly. Don't cheat. 19:35-36
11. To help feed the poor and strangers, farmers should not harvest the corners of their fields. 23:22
12. "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." 25:10
13. Do not oppress one another. 25:17

1. "Honor thy father and thy mother." 5:16
2. "Thou shalt not kill." 5:17
3. Don't commit adultery. 5:18
4. Don't steal. 5:19
5. Don't lie. 5:20
6. "Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." 10:19
7. Help the poor. 15:7-8
8. "Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy." 15:11
9. Judges and officers should strive to be impartial and should never take a bribe. 16:18-19
10. Look out for your neighbor's animals and protect them from harm. 22:1-4
11. Be careful when making a roof to ensure that no one falls off the edge. 22:8
12. Don't return runaway slaves to their masters. Let them live with you in peace and freedom. 23:15-16
13. Do not oppress the poor, whether they be slaves, neighbors, or strangers. 24:14-15
14. "It shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow."

    Be kind to widows, orphans, fatherless children and strangers. Share whatever you have with them. 24:17-21

15. "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." Let the animal eat while it works. 25:4
16. "Thou shalt have a perfect and just weight."

    Be honest when you deal with others. Don't cheat. 25:13-15

17. Take care of those who need help. 26:12-13

1. "He that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more." 7:7-9
2. Job says that humans perish at death like their own dung. Well, one might fault him for his choice of words, but the idea seems sound enough. 20:7

1. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor." 41:1
2. "Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked." Though this seems to be directed at other gods, it is good advice for humans as well. 82:3-4
3. "The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence." 115:17

1. "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother." 1:8
2. A beautiful proverb about mercy and truth. 3:3
3. Wisdom and understanding lead to happiness. 3:13
4. "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." 3:27
5. Help your neighbor, if you can. 3:28
6. Don't devise plots against your neighbor, fight without cause, or imitate an oppressor. 3:29-31
7. "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." 4:7
8. Speak plainly and honestly to others. 4:24
9. "Rejoice with the wife of thy youth.... Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love." 5:18-19
10. Wisdom is better than wealth. Nothing else compares with it. 8:11
11. "A wise son maketh a glad father." 10:1, 23:24, 29:3
12. "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins." 10:12
13. "When pride cometh, then cometh shame." 11:2
14. "The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh." Okay, I don't know about the soul stuff, but I like the general idea. 11:17
15. "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind." A nice thought and a great movie. 11:29
16. "Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge." 12:1
17. Be kind to animals. (Don't eat them.) 12:10
18. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." 12:15
19. "The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." 12:19
20. "A wise son heareth his father's instruction." 13:1
21. "A righteous man hateth lying." 13:5
22. "Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly." 13:16
23. Some nice proverbs about wisdom, anger, mercy and folly. 14:7-8, 14:16-18, 14:21-22, 29, 16:21-22
24. "The simple believeth every word." I wonder if this would apply to the fundamentalists who believe every word of the Bible. 14:15
25. "The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends." Can't argue with this one. 14:20
26. "A soft answer turneth away wrath." 15:1
27. Some good remarks about wisdom. 15:2, 7
28. "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." 16:18
29. Don't gossip about others. Avoid saying hurtful things. 16:28
30. "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." 16:32
31. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." 17:22
32. "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." 17:28
33. "A fool hath no delight in understanding" and his "mouth is his destruction." 18:2, 7
34. "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." 18:13
35. Be careful how you speak; words can do great damage. 21:23
36. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches." 22:1
37. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." 22:6
38. "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." 22:9
39. Don't rob the poor or oppress the afflicted. 22:22
40. "Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words." 23:9
41. "Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge." 23:12
42. "Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old." 23:22
43. Find the truth and hang on to it; Value wisdom, instruction, and understanding 23:23
44. "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth." 24:17
45. "Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips." 24:28
46. "Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work." 24:29
47. "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink." 25:21
48. "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him." 26:12
49. "As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed." 26:14
50. "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." 27:1
51. "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." 27:2
52. "Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." Take care of your animals. 27:23
53. "A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet." 29:5
54. "The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it." 29:7
55. "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." 29:23
56. As a sailor and birdwatcher, I agree with this proverb that says that the way a ship sails and an eagle flies are two of the most wonderful things. 30:18-19
57. "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more." 31:6-7

1. "The place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again."

   Good description of the water cycle. 1:7

2. Wisdom is better than folly, but the same fate awaits us all. 2:13-14
3. "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour." 2:24
4. "To everything there is a season...." Some nice poetry and a great Byrds song. ("Turn, Turn, Turn" -- written by Pete Seeger) 3:1-8
5. Strive to do good in this life. You only get one chance. 3:12
6. Eat, drink, and enjoy the good of your labor. 3:13
7. Men and animals both die and their spirits don't survive death. "A man hath no pre-eminence above a beast ... All goeth unto one place ... Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" 3:19-21
8. "Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works." 3:22
9. "Two are better than one" -- the value of friendship. 4:9-12
10. "Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king." 4:13
11. "A fool's voice is known by multitude of words." 5:3
12. Greedy folks are never satisfied. 5:10
13. "As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand." 5:15
14. "It is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life." 5:18
15. No one knows what happens after we die and no one can tell another how to live. 6:12
16. "A good name is better than precious ointment." 7:1
17. "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools." 7:5
18. "The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." 7:8
19. "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." 7:9
20. Don't waste time thinking about "the good old days." 7:10
21. Don't pay attention to everything people say. 7:21
22. Always strive "to know, and to search; and to seek out wisdom, and the reasonableness of things." 7:25
23. There is nothing better for us to do than "to eat, to drink, and to be merry." 8:15
24. The same death comes to us all, the good and the bad alike. 9:2-3
25. As long as we are alive there is hope. After that there is nothing. "A live dog is better than a dead lion." 9:4
26. Dead people know nothing and receive no reward. 9:5
27. "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart." 9:7
28. "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest." 9:9
29. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," because dead people don't work and they know nothing 9:10
30. Human life is subject to indifferent laws and random events -- just like the lives of other animals. 9:11-12
31. Wisdom, though often ignored and despised, is better than strength. 9:16-17
32. "Wisdom is profitable to direct." 10:10
33. "The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself." 10:12
34. "A fool also is full of words." 10:14
35. "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." I don't know what this means, but it sure sounds cool. 11:1
36. However long you may live, enjoy your life to the fullest. But do not forget the dark days and know that the end is both certain and final. 11:8
37. "Walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes." 11:9
38. "Much study is a weariness of the flesh." 12:12

1. "Cease to do evil; learn to do well ... relieve the oppressed ... plead for the widow." 1:16-17
2. "Come now, let us reason together." 1:18
3. "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Well, it's a nice thought, but Joel 3:10 says just the opposite. But what do you expect from a "God of Peace" (Rom.15:33, Heb.13:20) who calls himself a "man of war"? (Ex.15:3) 2:4
4. "The liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand." -- A Bible verse for Howard Dean and the US Democratic Party! 32:8
5. "All flesh is grass."

   Since all animals, including humans, survive by eating plants or other animals that have eaten plants, it is true that "all flesh is grass." 40:6

6. This verse appear to condemn slavery. However the bible is far from clear on this issue. 58:6
7. Feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked. 58:7, 10
8. "He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man." 66:3

1. Defend the helpless and oppressed; don't harm strangers, widows, orphans, or other innocent people. 22:3
2. Pay a fair wage to your employees. 22:13

1. "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice." 6:6

1. "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Well, it's a nice thought, but Joel 3:10 says just the opposite. But what do you expect from a "God of Peace" (Rom.15:33, Heb.13:20) who calls himself a "man of war"? (Ex.15:3) 4:3
2. "O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" 6:8

   (Well, it's a nice thought, but there are a few things more that Micah forgot to mention. Like you must believe certain unlikely things or you will be tormented forever in hell (Mk.16:16, Jn.3:18, 36); you must kill witches Ex.22:18, homosexuals Lev.20:13, those who believe differently than you Dt.13:6-10, disobedient children Dt.21:18-21, etc.6:8)

1. "Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart." 7:9-10
2. "These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath." 8:16-17

1. "Let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth." 2:15
2. God disapproves of adultery, lying, oppressing workers, and mistreating widows, orphans, and strangers. 3:5

1. Blessed are the merciful" 5:7
2. "Blessed are the peacemakers" 5:9
3. "Love your enemies." Well, it's a nice thought. But it seems strange coming from someone who damns his enemies to hell. (Mark 16:16) 5:44
4. Don't brag about the good things that you do. 6:1-3
5. Jesus tells his disciples not to pray in public. Those who favor school prayer, National Day of Prayer, etc. should take his advice. 6:5-6
6. "Consider the lilies of the field...." A nice analogy, good advice (unless you live in cold climates), and a great movie. 6:28
7. "Judge not, that ye be not judged." 7:1
8. Avoid hypocrisy. Consider your own faults rather than criticizing others. 7:3-4
9. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." 7:12
10. Forgive those who repeatedly offend you. 18:21-22
11. Jesus lists the "ten commandments," but his list has only six, and the sixth is not one of the ten. The commandments given by Jesus are secular, not religious, in nature. 19:18
12. Jesus quotes Lev.19:18: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This is by far the best verse in Leviticus, and one of the best in the entire bible. 22:39
13. "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in." 25:35
14. "All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." 26:52

1. When Jesus lists the "ten" commandments, he only mentions five -- the humanistic ones that make no mention of God. He also gives one that is not included in the so-called ten commandments: "defraud not." Just where he got this one is anyone's guess. 10:19
2. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." 12:31

1. Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely. 3:14
2. Love you enemies; do good to those who hate you. 6:27
3. The Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. 6:31-34
4. "Love your enemies." Well, it's a nice thought. But it seems strange coming from someone who damns his enemies to hell. (Mk.16:16) 6:35
5. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Well I'm glad Jesus thinks we should be merciful. But the Old Testament God is a strange role model for mercy! (See 1 Sam.15:2-3 for an example of the OT God's mercy.) 6:36
6. Don't judge or condemn others. Forgive those who have offended you. 6:37
7. Jesus warns against hypocrisy. The Christian right should pay more attention to this verse. 6:41
8. Love thy neighbor as thyself. 10:27
9. The story of the good Samaritan gets my vote for the best bible story. We should all "go and do likewise." 10:30-37
10. From his comments on the widow's mites, it appears that Jesus, contrary to today's Christian right, favored progressive taxation. 21:1-3

1. Jesus tells those who'd like to stone to death an adulteress that whoever among them that is without sin should "cast the first stone." Good advice -- but it directly contradicts the teachings of the Old Testament (Lev.20:20). If that wasn't a good law then why did God make it? Has he since changed his mind? Shouldn't it then be removed (along with most of the OT) from the bible? 8:7
2. "The truth shall make you free." 8:32
3. "Love one another." 13:34
4. "This is my commandment, That ye love one another." If this is what it takes to be a Christian, then count me in. Unfortunately, Christians often take Jesus' commandment to mean that Christians should love other, like minded, Christians, and to hell with everybody else. 15:12, 17
5. Pilate asked Jesus a very good question: "What is truth?" 18:38

1. It's better to give than to receive. (Jesus didn't say it, but it's a nice thought anyway.) 20:35

1. Let your love be genuine. Do good; avoid evil. 12:9
2. Be kind to others. 12:10
3. Show empathy toward others. 12:15
4. Associate with the lowly. Don't pretend to be wiser than you are. 12:16
5. Don't return evil for evil. 12:17
6. Try to "live peaceably with all men." 12:18
7. Be kind to your enemies. Overcome evil with good. 12:19-21
8. Love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 13:8
9. "If there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 13:9-10
10. Be honest; avoid drunkenness. 13:13
11. "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." 14:5
12. Don't judge other people or cause them to fall. 14:13
13. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." 14:19

1. Husbands and wives should be kind to each other. 7:3
2. Love is a good thing. 8:1
3. Some nice thoughts about love (or charity). 13:4-6
4. "Put away childish things." (Like believing in the bible?) 13:11
5. Speak clearly. Too bad the whole Bible doesn't follow this principle. 14:8-9
6. "Be not children in understanding." 14:20
7. Do all things with love. 16:14

1. "By love serve one another." 5:13
2. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 5:14
3. "Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, ... meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 5:22
4. Don't be conceited or envious of others. 5:26
5. Forgive others. Someday you might make a mistake, too. 6:1
6. Bear one another's burdens. 6:2

1. Don't lie. Speak the truth to your neighbor. 4:25
2. "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." 4:26
3. Don't steal, but rather work so that you will have something to give to those who are in need. 4:28
4. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying." 4:29
5. Be kind and forgiving to one another. 4:31-32
6. "So ought men to love their wives." 5:28
7. Love your wife as yourself. 5:33

1. Don't fight, be humble, and look after the needs of others. 2:3-4
2. "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 4:8

1. Avoid anger, wrath, and malice. 3:8
2. Don't lie. 3:9
3. Be merciful, kind, humble, and forgiving toward one another. 3:12-13
4. "Husbands, love your wives." 3:19
5. "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." 3:21
6. "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." 4:6

1. "Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." 5:14
2. Don't return evil for evil, but be good to yourselves and all others. 5:15
3. "Prove all things; hold fast to what is good." 5:21

1. "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies." If we follow this advice we would ignore most of the Bible -- especially the genealogies found in Gen.10, 1 Chr.1-9, Mt.1, and Lk.3. 1:4
2. Paul says to "refuse ... old wives' fables." What about old husbands' fables? Old Bible fables? 4:7
3. "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." 6:7

1. Be gentle and patient with all others. 2:24

1. Disregard "Jewish fables and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." Like most of the bible, maybe? 1:14
2. Do good works; be gentle toward others; avoid fighting or speaking unkindly about others. 3:1-2
3. "Avoid ... genealogies." Like Gen.10, 1 Chr.1-9, and Lk.3? 3:9

1. "Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." 10:24
2. Let brotherly love continue. 13:1
3. Be hospitable to strangers. 13:2
4. Avoid "strange doctrines." Those who do so will avoid nearly everything that the Bible teaches. 13:9

1. "Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." 1:19
2. "Pure religion ... is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." 1:27
3. The rich should not be treated better than the poor. 2:2-4
4. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." 2:8
5. Help others that are in need; don't just wish them well. This is good advice, though it's unfortunate that James restricted this help to "brothers". Did he mean by this that you only need to help fellow believers? 2:15-16
6. James ridicules those who say salvation is by faith alone. He says the devils believe in God. Will their faith save them? 2:19
7. "Speak not evil of one another." 4:11
8. Don't judge other people. 4:12
9. "Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (All we are is dust in the wind.) 4:14
10. Workers should be treated fairly. 5:4

1. "For all flesh is as grass."

   Life is ephemeral. Enjoy it while you can. 1:24

2. Avoid evil, malice, hypocrisy, and envy. Don't speak badly about others. 2:1
3. Be compassionate and courteous. Don't seek revenge when you are harmed by another. Speak kindly of others. Do good and avoid evil. 3:8-11
4. Peter says that Christians should be ready to explain why they believe what they do. This is a good verse to remember when Christians refuse to debate you. 3:15
5. Be hospitable to one another without grudging. 4:9
6. Don't murder, steal, do evil things, or interfere needlessly in the lives of others. I wish Christians would follow Peter's advice here, especially the "busybody" part, and stay out of the beliefs and sex lives of nonchristians. 4:15

1. Paul's epistles are hard to understand. And that those who try to understand them, as with the other scriptures, do so "unto their own destruction. 3:16

1. Those who love others are "in the light"; those who hate are "in darkness". 2:9-11
2. "Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." 3:18
3. "Love one another." 4:7-8, 4:16
4. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." 4:18

1. "Love one another."

   Except for all those antichrists (non-Christians), that is. (See verses 7-10) 5

1. Do good; avoid evil. 11

This is a contentious question and accordingly has numerous disparate answers. The answers will be organized by category:

• Answer A :those that assert that God provided the Qur'an or that the Qur'an has a Divine Origin (asserted by most Muslims)

• Answer B: Those that claim that Mohammed did write the Qur'an (asserted by some non-Muslims).

• Answer C: Those that assert that the Qur'an was written by humans other than Mohammed (asserted by some non-Muslims.
• Answer D: Islamic Counterpoint to Answers B & C

Additionally, see the Related Questions and Links for more information.

The Quran is the miracle given to Muhammad. Yes, it is just "a book" compared to the miracles of the Jesus, Solomon, Moses or any other prophets.

However, this book given to him is the main source of law in Islam. Quranic teachings cover all areas of this life and the life after death.The whole of the Quran is from God. Each and every single word is a revealed word. It was sent down to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. The Quran is in the Arabic Language and all the words have remained unchanged, even to the last of dot, for over 1400 years now. The Quran exists today is in its original form, unaltered and undistorted. It is a living miracle in the sense that it has survived so many centuries without suffering any change. Many non-Muslims claim that Quran is written by Muhammad itself. If that was true, and if u have read the Quran, you would agree with me that Muhammad is indeed the most genius person on earth God ever created. But no. Before he was a prophet, he couldnt even read but he was trustworthy, kind and well-known for his honesty. Muhammad can never have written the Quran. It is the word of God. Let me tell you why.

FIRSTLY, in the Quran, There is a chapter named Surah Maryam (CHAPTER MARY) named in honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. In fact, in one of the verses in the Quran (Al-Imran, Ayah 42) says..

"Behold! The angels said "O mary! Allah has chosen you and purified you, chosen you above the women of all nations."

Such an honor is not to be found given to Mary in any of The Christian Bible. If Muhammad was the author of the Quran, then he would not have failed to include in it with Maryam (Mary), his own mother - Aminah, his dear wife - Khadijah, or his beloved daughter - Fatima. But NO! This can never be. Why? Because The Quran is not his handiwork! And if you think further, why would Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam honor a woman from his opposition? And a Jewess at that! Belonging to a race which had been looking down upon his people for 3,000 years? Just as they still look down upon their Arab brethren today. But no. The words in the Quran is the word of God, sent to Muhammad as God's messenger, for him to deliver them to the people. And yes, Muslims believe in Jesus. But as a prophet, not as God. We love Jesus just like you love Jesus.

SECONDLY in the Quran, it is full of scientific evidence. I cant elaborate more on this but this is what i got from my research...

Maurice Bucaile (Prof of Surgery, France) in his book. "The BIBLE, the Quran and Science" mentions the following: (quoting page 120)

"What initially strikes the reader confronted for the first time with a text (The Quran) of his kind, is the sheer abundance of subjects discussed; The Creation, Astronomy, the Explanation of Certain Mailers concerning the Earth, The Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms and Human Reproduction.

Whereas monumental errors are to be found in the Bible, I could not find a single error in the Quran. I had to stop and ask myself; If a man was an author of the Quran, how could he have written facts in the seventh century AD.. that today are shown to be in keeping with modern scientific knowledge?

There was absolutely no doubt that it, the text of the Quran we have today is most definitely a text of the period, if i may be allowed to put it in these terms. What human explanation can there be for this observation? In my opinion there is no explanation; there is no special reason why an inhabitant of the Arabian Peninsula should, at a time when King Dagobert was reigning in France (629-639AD) have had scientific knowledge on certain subjects that was ten centuries ahead of our own."

Another eminent French Researcher Professor, Captain Jacques Cousteau embraces Islam as a result of reading in the Holy Quran verses which 1,400 years ago were related to the result of his recent research work. That is, there are phenomenal barriers at connections of certain oceans, and that waters of one sea do not mix with that of the other.

The Quran clearly states the above fact: (Quran: Ar-Rahman, Ayah 19-20)

19: He (God) has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together

20: Between them is a barrier, which they do not trangress

.

Professor Leith Moore (Anatomy, University of Toronto, Canada) describes the stages of human development, in his book "The Developing Human, Clinically Oriented Embryology" says:

"Growth of science was slow during the medieval periods, and a few high points of embryological investigation undertaken during this age are known to us.

It is cited in the Quran that human beings are produced creation of a human being from a sperm drop, and it is also suggested that the resulting organism settles in the womb like a seed, six days after its beginning. The human blastocyst begins to impant about six days after fertilization.

The Quran also states that the sperm drop develops "into a congealed clot of blood". An impanted blastocyst or a spontaneously aborted conceptus would resemble a blood clot."

Answer A2

No, it is impossible, he is an ummi(illiterate; someone who can not read or write).

Almighty Allah says: (And thou (O Muhammad) wast not a reader of any scripture before it, nor didst thou write it with thy right hand, for then might those have doubted, who follow falsehood.) (Al-`Ankabut 29: 48) He also says: (Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah(old testament) and the Gospel (which are) with them …) (Al-A`raf 7: 157)

[Sahih bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3] ...He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food like-wise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, "I do not know how to read... (but the word "iqraa" has two meanings ("recite" and "read"), so at the end, muhammed pbuh understood that the angel was saying "recite (repeat)"!.

The Qur'an clearly says: (Will they not then ponder on the Qur'an? If it had been from other than Allah they would have found therein much incongruity.) (An-Nisaa' 4: 82) At the time the Qur'an was revealed, the Arabs recognized that the language of the Qur'an was unique and that it was distinctly different from the language normally used by the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. The Arabs of that time, by the way, were known for their beautiful poetry and Muhammad was known to be an illiterate man!

some claim that he removed his name in the agreement with quraish. this is wrong because they said: "we refuse to call you muhammed apostale of allah, you are muhammed son of abdullah. so he aked his companions to remove his nam, but they could not do it. So he asked were is my name?, they pointed out his name. and he only removed his name by the pen, that's all. and the quraish wrote his name; muhammed son of abdullah.

If this Quran was made (or a product of) in Baghdad 8th,9th century,, we would find different versions and archeloges would certainly find one in arabia. But there is never found another version than the Quran we know today. And there is only one Quran. Thescholars that say Quran is dubious are (probebly) christians, funny how they try to convert people with lies.

Answer A3

Is Quran the word of God?

What does the Quran claim?

[This is] the revelation of the Book about which there is no doubt from the Lord of the worlds. Or do they say, "He invented it"? Rather, it is the truth from your Lord, [O Mohammed], that you may warn a people to whom no Warner has come before you [so] perhaps they will be guided. 32:2-3

What do the Disbelievers say?

And those who disbelieve say, "This [Qur'an] is not except a falsehood he invented, and another people assisted him in it. But they have committed an injustice and a lie. And they say, "Legends of the former peoples which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon. Say, [O Mohammed], "It has been revealed by He who knows [every] secret within the heavens and the earth. Indeed, He is ever forgiving and Merciful." 25:4-6

Neutral approach to come to a rational conclusion:

There are only two possibilities. They are:

1. The claim what the Quran makes is true

2. The claim what the disbelievers make is true

To know which of the above two claims is true, we will analyze the possible sources of the Quran.

Possible sources of the Quran:

There are 4 possible sources.

1. Quran was written by Mohammed(peace be on him) himself

2. Mohammed(peace be on him) copied it from other sources

3. Some other human / Satan taught Mohammed (peace be on him) or a psychiatric source like Epilepsy, Visions etc caused him to recite Quran

4. Quran was revealed by God

We will use the technique of "Exhausting the alternatives" to conclude on the source of the Quran.

First Possible Source -- Quran was written by Mohammed (peace be on him) himself

· If we analyze the background and education of Mohammed (peace be on him), he was an illiterate man who had NO formal education in any science, language, religious or secular.

· Quran speaks about a variety of branches of science like: Astronomy, Embryology, Hydrology, Geology, Sociology, Psychology, Oceanography, Law etc.

· Until the age of forty, there is NO historical account in his life that shows his scholarly tendencies or achievements in any of the spectrum of subjects the Quran deals with. How could such an illiterate man, suddenly, at the age of forty, bring about a book like the Quran which brought about an ideological and religious revolution that changed the face of history?

· If Mohammed (peace be on him) had authored the Quran, why would he honor and mention Mary (May Allah be pleased with her), the mother of Jesus (peace be on him) and NOT mention his own family members? (NOTE: Quran does NOT have the names of any of the family members of Mohammed (peace be on him)?

· If he had authored the Quran, why would he consistently deny authorship of the Quran? Not once, did he claim authorship of Quran.

· If he had authored the Quran, why would he disclose verses that reprimand him? Examples - 33:37 and 80:1-3

Inference: It is ONLY rational to conclude that Mohammed (peace be on him) himself is NOT the author of the Quran.

Second Possible Source -- Mohammed (peace be on him) copied it from other scriptures

When the critics are asked to name the scripture or the source from which Mohammed (peace be on him) could have copied, they say: from the Old and New Testament of the Bible. Let us examine if this claim can be true.

· Mohammed (peace be on him) was an illiterate and Quran testifies to this historical fact. Quran Chapter 29 Verse 48

· The Arabic version of the Bible was not present at the time of Prophet Mohammed (peace be on him). The earliest Arabic version of the Old Testament is that of R. Saadias Gaon of 900 C.E. - more than 250 years after the death of our beloved Prophet. The oldest Arabic version of the New Testament was published by Erpenius in 1616 C.E. - about a thousand years after the demise of our Prophet.

· Scientifically incorrect information in the bible

o Sun created after the creation of earth. Genesis 1:9-19

o Vegetation created before the Sun. Genesis 1:11-13, 14-19

o First man Adam appeared on earth approximately 5800 years ago. 1948 years between Adam and Abraham, Approximately 1800 years between Abraham and Jesus, 2000 years from Jesus till today. Genesis 5,9,11 etc.

o Noah's flood = Universal and occurred in the 21st or 22nd Century B.C (Genesis 6, 7 & 8).

· Quran mentions the same incidents as above without mistakes. It is illogical to assume that Mohammed (peace be on him) had borrowed the information from the Bible and corrected the mistakes before mentioning it in the Qur'an.

· How could so many Jews and Christians [some of them were scholars in their religion] amongst Mohammed (peace be on him)'s contemporaries become Muslims if Mohammed (peace be on him) was copying from their scriptures?

· If someone copies during an examination he will surely not write in the answer sheet that he has copied from his neighbor or Mr. XYZ. Prophet Mohammed (peace be on him) gave due respect and credit to all the previous prophets (peace be on them all). The Qur'an also mentions the various revelations like Torah, Zabur, and Injeel given by Almighty God to different prophets. Is it rational to believe that a person who copied from the previous scriptures gave due credit by mentioning them in the Quran?

How do we then explain the similarities between Quran and the previous scriptures? Is it NOT because the Quran was copied from the previous scriptures (Bible)?

The similarity is NOT because Quran was copied from the previous scriptures BUT rather due to the fact that the source for all the scripture is the same.

For example: First commandment given by Moses -- Deuteronomy 6:4. First Commandment given by Jesus -- Mark 12:29. If we use the same logic used by the critics, we will have to conclude that Jesus copied from Moses.

All the scriptures including the Quran have a common source -- God and hence the similarity.

Inference: It is ONLY rational to conclude that Mohammed (peace be on him) could NOT have copied the Quran from other scriptures.

Third Possible Source -- Some other human / Satan taught Mohammed (peace be on him) or a psychiatric source like Epilepsy, Visions etc

A) HUMAN TEACHER / TEACHERS:

1. Who was /were the person / persons who taught Mohammed (peace be on him)? Despite abundance of historical material on the Prophet's life, why is it not possible to discover that mysterious teacher(s)?

2. Quran was NOT revealed in a day. It was revealed in stages over a period of 23 years. "And [it is] a Qur'an which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively." 17:106 and "And those who disbelieve say: "Why is not the Quran revealed to him all at once?" Thus (it is sent down in parts), that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages." 25:32.

Is it rational to believe that someone was teaching Mohammed (peace be on him) consistently for a period of 23 years? How could he have hidden himself for a period of 23 years?

3. Quranic revelations sometimes came down in the presence of the people. Where then was the mysterious, invisible teacher?

4. What kind of a teacher would have taught Mohammed (peace be on him) a coherent and complete religion that changed the face of history? Why didn't he claim the credit for himself? Why couldn't he or they speak against the alleged student who continued learning from them for 23 years, while ignoring them and claiming some other divine source for his teachings?

5. Mohammed (peace be on him) was surrounded by his companions all the time and every minute detail of his life was recorded. In fact, no human being's life was recorded in so much detail as it was done for the life of Mohammed (peace be on him). How could Mohammed (peace be on him) make frequent secret visits to that mysterious teacher or teachers for 23 years without being caught even once?

6. How could so many Jews and Christians [some of them were scholars in their religion] amongst Mohammed (peace be on him)'s contemporaries become Muslims if Mohammed (peace be on him) was learning from their priests or rabbis?

B) SATAN:

1. If Satan would have taught the Qur'an, he would not have mentioned in the same Qur'an in chapter 16 verse 98 "So when you recite the Qur'an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled". Is this how you feel Satan would teach a book? Will he tell us; "Before you read my book ask God to save you from me?"

2. There are several verses in the Qur'an which will give enough evidence that Satan is not the author of the Qur'an. In chapter 7 verse 200, "And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing." Why would Satan tell his followers, that whenever he gives any suggestions to them, they should seek refuge in Allah?

3. Quran says in Chapter 2 Verse 208 and in several other places that "do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy." If it was Satan who taught Mohammed (peace be on him), why would he ask the readers not to follow him? Does it make any sense?

C) Psychiatric Source:

a. Epilepsy:

· Critics say that due to epileptic seizure Mohammed (peace be on him) recited something and that became the Quran. What is overlooked in this argument is that during the epileptic seizure, the functioning of the brain is disturbed. As such, sensible speech is impossible and the person affected by epilepsy will ONLY mumble something which he will forget after he recovers. All available recorded history of Mohammed (peace be on him) unanimously say that he was a man with excellent physical and mental health throughout his life.

· Quran was revealed in stages for a period of 23 years. This means the seizure continued for 23 years non-stop and enabled a man produce a book. Does this sound rational to believe?

· How could his followers (several thousands of them) believe in him without knowing that he is an epileptic and the Quran is from his epileptic seizures?

· Quran was revealed in the presence of people. Had Quran been due to epileptic seizures, people would have got to know about it.

· Saying Quran came from epileptic seizure is tantamount to saying Hamlet was produced by the epileptic seizures of Shakespeare.

b. Mythomania:

· This is a psychological disorder in which a person tells lies and then believes in them as if it were true.

· The Qur'an talks facts -- things that you can go and look and see that they are true, things you can verify. The mythomaniac cannot do this. Facts are a problem for him. Therefore psychologists treat a man suffering from mythomania by confronting him with facts.

· The Qur'an approaches its readers by confronting them with facts and thus heals them of their delusions. The Qur'an poses questions: "O human being -- you say so and so, but then what about such and such? Do you say this when you know that . . .?" A mythomaniac can never do this.

· Mohammed (peace be on him) was NOT only a spiritual leader BUT was also an astute and successful political leader. Had he been a mythomaniac he could have never been a successful political leader.

Inference: It is ONLY rational to conclude that someone could NOT have taught the Quran to Mohammed (peace be on him) and there could NOT have been a psychiatric source for the Quran.

Conclusion:

Using the technique of "Exhausting the alternatives", we are left with ONLY one possible source for the Quran -- God. A neutral researcher will have no choice BUT to agree that Quran could NOT have been authored by Mohammed (peace be on him) either consciously or unconsciously.

Quran's challenge to the mankind:

1. There is NOT a single scripture on the face of the earth, which gives a falsification test to disprove its authenticity.

"Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction." 4:82

And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Mohammed], then produce a chapter the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful. But if you do not - and you will never be able to - then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers. 2:23-24

2. Unlike many scriptures, where FAITH is the only way to approach the scripture, Quran appeals to the mind and rationale of a human being. Quran is a unique scripture that encourages the reader to think and ponder over it, which is not the same case with most of the scriptures.

"Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?" 47:24

"And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them deaf and blind." 25:73

Invitation to Mankind:

"It (Quran) is not except a reminder to the worlds. For whomever amongst you wish to take a right course." 81:27-28

"O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous" 2:21

"And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place. Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds." 18:29-30

Answer A4

The answer is no.

Quran was a revelation from God to Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. This God revelation of Quran started in year 610 AD and continued until year 632 Ad (by Prophet Muhammad death.

However, some historians claim that prophet Muhammad wrote the Quran by himself. Arguments against this claim are: Prophet Muhammad was an illiterate man who had no formal education in any science, language, religious or secular.

• Quran speaks about a variety of branches of science like: Astronomy, Embryology, Hydrology, Geology, Sociology, Psychology, Oceanography, Law etc. including lots of scientific statements thar were validated only recently and were not know in the time of the prophet.

• It was not known about prophet Muhammed any scholarly tendencies or achievements until the age of forty (when he received the first verses of Quran). So, how this illiterate man suddenly brings about a book like the Quran which brought about an ideological and religious revolution that changed the face of history?
• Why prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), if he authored the Quran, honor the virgin Mary (May Allah be pleased with her), the mother of Jesus (peace be on him) as the best woman over all women on earth over all ages until day of judgment and (an honor that even not offered by the bible) while not mentioning his own family members with a single word and even not mentioning any name of them.?
• If he had authored the Quran, why he didn't claim this authorship of Quran and consequently gaining higher prestige among his followers who may consider him as a God.
• Why he mentioned Quran verses that reprimand him (as that of chapter 33, verse 37 and chapter 80 verses 1-3) if he wrote Quran by himself?.

Some others claim that Prophet Muhammad copied the Quran from the Bible. Arguments against this claim are:

• No Arabic version of the Bible was available at the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). The oldest Arabic version of the New Testament was published by Erpenius in 1616 AD (about one thousand years after Quran start of revelation)

• Quran included correct scientific information on some incidents that are scientifically incorrect in the bible (e.g. sun was created after the creation of earth Genesis 1:9-19 and vegetation was created before the Sun-Genesis 1:11-13, 14-19). had prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) copied the information from the Bible and corrected the mistakes before mentioning it in the Qur'an? In addition, Quran includes lots of other scientific statements, that currently proven as correct, and not mentioned in the Bible.

• How so many Jews and Christians, including many who were werescholars in their religion, converted to Islam if there was doubt that Prophet Muhammad was copying from their scriptures?
• If Quran has some preachings or tales that are similar to that in the Bible, then this is because all holy books came from a single source (God).

Some others claim that a person or group of persons taught Muhammad (peace be on him) on how to write the Quran. Arguments against this claim are:

• If this is true, then why not discovered a single teacher of them in the time of the prophet.

• Quran was revealed over 23 years and not at once. Is it logic that that someone or more taught prophet Muhammad over a period of without being known.

• Sometimes Quran revelations occurred in the presence of the people.

• Why the teacher, who taught Quran to the prophet, didn't claim it and its credit to himself?

• Muhammad (peace be on him) was surrounded by his companions all the time and every minute detail of his life was recorded. How could Muhammad (peace be on him) make frequent secret visits to that mysterious teacher or teachers for 23 years without being caught even once?

• How could so many Jews and Christians convert to Islam[some of them were scholars in their religion] amongst Muhammad (peace be on him)'s contemporaries become Muslims if Muhammad (peace be on him) was learning from their priests or rabbis?

Answer A5

Most people who answer this question will speak from a biased perspective. The non Muslims will tell you it was written by Muhammad (saw) & that he copied the bible. The Muslims will tell you otherwise.

To get to the answer we must look at the facts

There are definitely some themes in the Qur'an which are shared with the bible, there also things which are contrary.

Muhammad could not read or write, he was unlettered, interestingly enough the bible predicts the coming of an unlettered prophet who shall carry a message from God.

The Qur'an is a fairly long book, it is also written in a poetic sort of style. It includes things like rhetorical questions & metaphors to get to the message.

Whilst the bible is written like a story book & i quote from numerous places in the bible 'now it came to pass' (once upon a time), the Qur'an is written in a more journalistic style with straightforward commands.

Whether Muslim or Non Muslim, no true academic can deny that the Quran is a literary masterpiece.

At the time of Muhammad there were no bibles written in Arabic, so even if for the sake of the argument he could read he would not have access to the bible.

We have established therefore that certain Stories in the Qur'an are Indeed similar to ones in the bible, & that Muhammad could not have copied these from the bible, it would be an absurdity for any one who has studied this thoroughly to say the Qur'an plagiarized from the bible.

Now that we have established the Qur'an is not a copy of the bible we must consider the psychological possibility of Muhammad writing the Qur'an himself.

It would be impossible for Muhammad to know of stories from the bible with such accuracy even if for the sake of the argument he as certain people claim did meet with Jews whilst he was trading & copy them.

When somebody cites discrepancy from the stories in the bible, one must remember that Muslims believe the bible to be a corrupted book.

Is it really plausible to assume an illiterate man could write such a book just from memory, he would have to not only formulate stories, he would need to think of these stories & present them in a poetic way.

Would a man who was illiterate be able to do all this & remember if i am correct 6346 verses of varying lengths.

Based on psychology i doubt that an illiterate man would be able to remember the whole Qur'an if he had to make it all up himself.

We must also consider this, Muhammad was an Arab, the Arabs & Jews are noted for there rivalry, the name of Jesus (a Jew) is mentioned 25 times more than the name of Muhammad in the Qur'an.

Once again reason dictates that if the Qur'an was written by Muhammad he would favor himself more than others. The mother of Muhammad is not mentioned by name once in the Qur'an. Mary the mother of Jesus on the other hand has a whole chapter named after her. Not only this but the grandfather of Jesus 'Imran'/Joachim also has a chapter which has the same name as him.

Reason & psychology dictates to me, that the Qur'an could not have been written by 1 illiterate man.

Answer B1

Non-Muslim's claim that Quran came from Muhammad himself. Among the many reason including the revelations that approves his behavior (marrying (Adopted son's)daughter-in-law and intimate relation with slave girls) two are given here.

1) Mohammad got Christian and Jewish Scripture details mainly from his Christian wife Khadijah and her cousin Waraqa: Muhammad's first wife was a Christian. Her uncle Waraqa was a monk who spends time at Hira Caves. Mohammad used to visit him to hear Biblical accounts. Mohammad never wrote anything. However, Mohammad retold these biblical incidents to Mohammad's followers as revelations from Allah. This is why Qur'an contains Biblical accounts. Many times Mohammad messed up the Biblical incidents and told them a distorted version of the true Biblical accounts. This is why Qur'an contradicts with the Biblical incidents. Mohammad does not have to be a learned person to recite what he heard from Waraqa and others.

2) Mohammad heard fables and tales from others and recited as Allah's revelation: Education is not necessary to repeat a story. During Mohammad's time, many people accused him of repeating these fables as revelation from Allah (Qur'an 8:31, 16:24, 25:5, 27:68, 46:17, 68:15). Some of the examples of the fables of that time found in Qur'an are the following: (None of these are included in the New Testament because they were fables)

• Qur'an mentions the story of Satan and his conflicts with Adam and God (7:11-12). This was mentioned in the Gospel of Bartholomew written in 3rd century A.D
• Qur'an mentions an altered version of Mary's betrothal to Joseph (3:44). This was mentioned in the gospel of the Birth of Mary written before the 4th Century A.D
• Qur'an mentions Jesus speaking from cradle (3:36, 5:110 & 19:29-34). This was written in The First Infancy Gospel Of Jesus Christ (1:1-3)
• Qur'an mentions Child Jesus making a clay bird and giving life (3:39, 5:110). This was written in two sources - Infancy Gospel of Thomas (A.D. 150) and Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ (15:1-7).

Answer C1

The most correct answer to this claim is no. Most Quranic experts attribute the Qur'an in its form today to post-7th Century alterations. The consensus is, "independent scholars studying the Qur'an and Hadith, have concluded that the Islamic scripture was not revealed to just one man, but was a compilation of later redactions and editions formulated by a group of men, over the course of a few hundred years. The Qur'an which we read today is not that which was in existence in the mid-seventh century, but is a product of the eighth and ninth centuries. It was not conceived in Mecca or Medina, but in Baghdad."

Because the origins of Islam and the Qur'an are dubious. This is the opinion of renowned scholars and professors of Islam, history, Arabic and many other fields. Among them - Dr. John Wansbrough, American historian who taught at London University's School of Oriental and African Studies; Professor Joseph Schacht, professor of Arabic and Islam at Columbia University in New York and a leading Western scholar of Islamic law; Dr. Patricia Crone, a scholar, author and historiographer of early Islamic history working at the Institute for Advance Study; R. Stephen Humphreys, professor of history and Islamic studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara; and Professor Andrew Rippin, professor of history and specialist in Islamic studies at the University of Victoria, B.C., Canada

"Almost universally, independent scholars studying the Qur'an and Hadith, have concluded that the Islamic scripture was not revealed to just one man, but was a compilation of later redactions and editions formulated by a group of men, over the course of a few hundred years. The Qur'an which we read today is not that which was in existence in the mid-seventh century, but is a product of the eighth and ninth centuries. It was not conceived in Mecca or Medina, but in Baghdad. It was then and there that Islam took on its identity and became a religion. Consequently, the formative stage of Islam was not within the lifetime of Muhammad but evolved over a period of 300 years."

Gerd Puin on Qur'anic Integrity

Gerd Puin, a German scholar and the world's foremost authority on Qur'anic paleography, the study and scholarly interpretation of ancient manuscripts. He is a specialist in Arabic calligraphy:

"My idea is that the Koran is a kind of cocktail of texts that were not all understood even at the time of Muhammad. Many of them may even be a hundred years older than Islam itself. Even within the Islamic traditions there is a huge body of contradictory information, including a significant Christian substrate; one can derive a whole Islamic anti-history from them if one wants. The Qur'an claims for itself that it is 'mubeen,' or clear, but if you look at it, you will notice that every fifth sentence or so simply doesn't make sense. Many Muslims will tell you otherwise, of course, but the fact is that a fifth of the Qur'anic text is just incomprehensible. This is what has caused the traditional anxiety regarding translation. If the Qur'an is not comprehensible, if it can't even be understood in Arabic, then it's not translatable into any language. That is why Muslims are afraid. Since the Qur'an claims repeatedly to be clear but is not-there is an obvious and serious contradiction. Something else must be going on."

Imperfect Qur'an

Another reason why the Qur'an fails the criteria as the word of a perfect God is because of the imperfections within the Qur'an. The Qur'an is riddled with literary contradictions, scientific errors and historical errors.

Plagiarism in Muhammad's Time

The Qur'an tells us that Muhammad's critics caught him plagiarising traditions, folklore and Jewish and Christian scripture. Examples: "We have heard this (before): if we wished, we could say (words) like these: these are nothing but tales of the ancients" (8:31). "Such things have been promised to us and to our fathersbefore! They are nothing but tales of the ancients!" (23:83)"

Zoroastrians Traditions

In regard to the Islamic versions of heaven, 'paradise', plagiarism from non-Abrahamic beliefs is also evident. "None of this, of course, can be found in the Jewish or Christian Scriptures, but it is in the writings of the Zoroastrians of Persia, who were a considerable presence in the areas around the Persian Empire before the advent of Islam. According to historian W. St. Clair Tisdall, who did pioneering work on these questions in his monograph "The Sources of Islam," which he later expanded into a book, and in his other writings, "the books of the Zoroastrians and Hindus... bear the most extraordinary likeness to what we find in the Koran and Hadith. Thus in Paradise we are told of 'houris having fine black eyes,' and again of 'houris with large black eyes, resembling pearls hidden in their shells.'... The name houry too is derived from an Avesta or Pehlavi Source, as well as jinn for genii, and bihisht (Paradise), signifying in Avestic 'the better land.' We also have very similar tales in the old Hindu writings, of heavenly regions with their boys and girls resembling the houris and ghilman of the Koran.""

Source: The Truth About Muhammad by Robert Spencer (2006)

Different Qur'ans in Muhammad's Time

Islamic sources tell us that Muhammad's followers would argue because Muhammad provided contradicting versions of the Qur'an. A notable example appears in Bulhari's Hadith:

"Umar bin Khattab [the second Caliph] said, 'I heard Hisham bin Hakim bin Hizam reciting Surat Al-Furqan ["Al-Furqan," the title of the 25th surah, has no meaning in any language.] during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle. I listened to his recitation and noticed that he recited it in several ways which Allah's Apostle had not taught me. So I was on the point of attacking him in the prayer, but I waited till he finished, and then I seized him by the collar. "Who taught you this Surah which I have heard you reciting?" He replied, "Allah's Apostle taught it to me." I said, "You are lying. Allah's Apostle taught me in a different way this very Surah which I have heard you reciting." So I led him to Muhammad. "O Allah's Apostle! I heard this person reciting Surat-al-Furqan in a way that you did not teach me." The Prophet said, "Hisham, recite!" So he recited in the same way as I heard him recite it before. On that Allah's Apostle said, "It was revealed to be recited in this way." Then the Prophet said, "Recite, Umar!" So I recited it as he had taught me. Allah's Apostle said, "It was revealed to be recited in this way, too." He added, "The Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in several different ways, so recite of it that which is easier for you."(Bukhari:V6B61N561)

Devoid of Context

The Qur'an in itself as a source for anything is devoid of context and thus arbitrary. Being devoid of context and any understanding, how can it be understood as the word of God?

"We do not have material in the Qur'an to compose a biography of Muhammad because the book is a disjointed discourse, a pastiche [imitation, parody] of divine monologues that can be assembled into a homily [lecture, sermon] or perhaps a catechism [snippets of dogma] but that reveals little or nothing about the life of Muhammad and his contemporaries.... The Qur'an give us no assurance that its words and sentiments are likely to be authentic in the light of the context they were delivered and in the manner of their transmission. There are no clues as to when or where or why these particular words were being uttered.... The Qur'an is of no use whatsoever as an independent source for reconstructing the life of Muhammad. The Qur'an is not terribly useful even for reconstructing the Meccan milieu much less the life of the man who uttered its words; it is a text without context."

Source: Jay Smith, "Is the Qur'an the Word of God?" A debate between on the Qur'an hosted at Trinity College, Cambridge and Dr Jamal Badawi in 1995

Answer C2

Whether or not Mohammed wrote the Qur'an is certainly debatable, but its claim to be Divine is at best questionable. It is impossible to prove that the Qur'an is not a Divine Holy Book simply because it is impossible to prove a negative in an absolute sense. For example, it is impossible to absolutely prove that there is no teapot in the Asteroid Belt, because our telescopes can't see something that small. There is no disagreement between Islamic Apologists and Critics that the Qur'an was physically written on Earth by humans. Islamic Tradition asserts that different groups in the Early Caliphate transcribed Mohammed's revelations. However, what splits the Islamic Apologists from the Critics the claim that humans wrote the Qur'an with Divine Assistance and this is a positive claim, an assertion of information. Muslims understand rightly that they have to justify this belief. Therefore, if all of their positive arguments can be dispelled, then the Qur'an returns, by default to human authorship without provable Divine Assistance.

1) Lack of Changes in the Qur'an Text: Muslims hold that the Qur'anic Text has never been altered from the moment of revelation until today. This is generally considered a defensible claim since most Qur'ans that have been discovered from the Middle Ages are consistent with the current Qur'an. However, recent archaeology has discovered Qur'ans in Sana'a, Yemen which have small differences with the current Qur'an. It is nothing major, but it shows that the Qur'an has not been consistently preserved. Additionally, even according to Islamic Tradition, Caliph 'Othman burned all of the Qur'ans that did not agree with his standardized version, meaning that there must have been some incorrect copies. The Bible was compiled over 600 years, whereas the Qur'an was compiled in, at most 200 years, but probably much less. There are fewer transcription problems when the first revelation and final revelation come closer in history.

2) Illiteracy: There is the claim that Mohammed's illiteracy proves that God inspired him. How else could he craft poetry or read the Bible? While the latter will be covered in #3, the former is easy to explain; poetry was an oral contest. Arab Poets would come together in the marketplace and have poetry contests much like "slam poetry" in the modern day. Being illiterate, while a possible hurdle, would not prevent someone with an incredible acumen from creating incredible poetry. There is also the question of how he could create a scholarly work if he were illiterate, but he was never tasked with writing the Qur'an, only speaking it. Illiteracy does not pose a problem to Mohammed having created the Qur'an himself and having it written down by others.

3) Bible Stories: There is the question of how Mohammed knew Biblical stories without a Bible to read. Of course, the assumption here is that a person would only be able to learn Bible stories by reading the Bible. This is not necessary. There were numerous Christian and Jewish groups who practiced their faith quite openly in Arabia and during his younger years, Mohammed could easily have spoken to them and learned the Bible stories. His memory may not have been perfect, so he retold some of the stories differently. It was likely that when he was confronted with this difference, he chose to blame the original sources for being wrong as opposed to himself. Also, it is worth noting that many of the differences between Biblical stories and Qur'anic stories of the same events that do not rise to textual disagreement use Jewish Midrash or Talmudic commentaries as opposed to new insights.

Additionally, there is the argument that Qur'an corrects certain scientific errors in the Bible such as greenery appearing before the sun and Noah's flood covering the whole world. While it is true that the Qur'an does not make these mistakes, it does not actually "fix them"; it just ignores the point. This is because the Qur'an is structured as a number of commands to believers and interpretations of stories that were already well known. As a result, it talks about Creation in sweeping terms as opposed to dealing with the events of every single day. As for the flood, prior to the modern age, there are no Qur'anic commentaries showing that Noah's flood was localized; this has developed recently.

Finally, some have questioned how Mohammed could have learned Bible stories on-the-spot during his 23-year revelation, but the answer was that he did not need to. He had forty years during which he was not a prophet and could learn the Bible stories that interested him. He could then take his time in retelling them.

4) Science: Qur'anic Science is as nonsensical as Biblical science. The Qur'an asserts many scientific claims that are untrue, such as: the idea that mountains hold the earth firm like tent pegs instead of plate tectonics (Q: 78:6-7), that the sky/heaven is a protected ceiling instead of a slowly thinning layer of gasses (Q: 21:32), that the Sun orbits the Earth like the moon (Q: 21:23), that two bodies of water will form a barrier instead of noting that the contents of the two bodies of water will diffuse (Q: 25:53), etc.

There are also very vague Qur'anic verses that have been adapted to refer to current scientific knowledge. For example see, Q: 21:30 (cited below). Qur'an Scientists argue that this indicates the Big Bang Theory and the fact that humans and other animals are over 60% water. However, the verse does not describe the fundamental basics of the Big Bang Theory nor does it account for all of the time between the beginning of the universe and living creatures on Earth. Additionally, the terms "heaven" and "earth" are the same ones used in the Genesis account in Arabic Christian Bibles, referring to a creation of the Earth. Similar vague Qur'anic verses are used in the following claims: that a fertilized zygote is a blood clot (Q: 22:5), that all creatures come in pairs, even bacteria (Q: 51:49), etc.

Q: 21:30: (Sahih International) Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?

5) Failure to Self-Glorify: Qur'anic Apologists point to the fact that Mohammed did not refer to himself often in Qur'an and occasionally referred to himself in a less-than-flattering light as evidence he did not write it. On the contrary, Mohammed was interested in creating a unified religion for all Arabs and so would naturally stress elements such as the Jewish and Christian Prophets/Heroes/Messiahs to attract their followers as opposed to self-glorifying which would highlight his differences with their traditions.

6) Conversions of Jewish and Christian Scholars: There can be many reasons for a person to convert and some of these scholars may very well have believed that Mohammed was Prophet. Others may have believed that he was an ascendant power and wanted to join him. Additionally, Jewish and Christian scholars had been incorrect before. Rabbi Akiva was a big supporter of failed Messianic Candidate Bar Kochba around 130 C.E. Paul of Tarsus believed that Jesus would return before he died. Both were very smart men in the Jewish and Christian traditions and both were wrong.

7) No Teachers to Show Mohammed How to Write the Qur'an: This is patently false. There were numerous Jewish, Christian, Hanif, and Henotheist religious groups who could have provided the information that he would need to put together a Qur'an.

8) No Contradictions: The Qur'an challenges believers to find contradictions in its text (Q: 4:82). Well, there are many, but Muslims refuse to acknowledge them or they abrogate one of the verses (Q: 2:106). For example, the Qur'an argues in some places that God leads people astray (Q: 2:6-7, 18:57) and in other places that Iblis (the Devil) leads people astray (Q: 19:83); it argues that Jews and Christians should be treated with kindness and patience (Q: 2:109) and elsewhere it argues that they should be fought against and subdued (Q: 9:29); it argues that all of Noah's family was saved from the flood (Q: 21:76) and that one of Noah's sons died in the flood (Q: 11:42-43).

9) Why Would Someone Lie?: There is an implicit assumption in this claim that either Mohammed truthfully revealed the Divinely Inspired Qur'an or Mohammed falsely created a book and pretended that it was God's. This ignores the very real possibility that he could have written a book of his own while truly believing that God had told him the information. However, even if we assert that Mohammed lied, there are many noble reasons for him to have done so. He wanted to end centuries of Arab internecine strife and end corruption in Mecca. Those are laudable goals and may have been sufficient to induce him to lie, if you refuse to accept the possibility that he truly believed that God revealed the Qur'an to him when God actually did not.

10) Satan is not the author: If you disprove Satan as the author, that does not say anything as to whether or not God is the author.

Concerning Answer B1

1) Khadijah was not Christian. She was Muslim. Waraqa is the one that told prophet Muhammad that what he received is God holy words conveyed to him through the prophets angel Gabriel or Jibril. It is logic to have some resemblance in Quran and the Bible as they are coming from the same God source.

2) It is logic to have some resemblance in Quran and the Bible as they are coming from the same God source. أHowever, you find in Qur'an other facts not mentioned in other God holy books. You may refer to the chapters titled Mariam, Ibrahim, Youcef, and Younis.

Concerning Answer C1

1) What are secular scholarly proofs especially that the Arabians of the seventh and eighth centuries are not Muslims. Quran was recited daily during prophet life and was concluded, written, and compiled during his life. Otherwise, how it comes that Qur'an is recited every day during praying and then comes new Quran verses after prophet death. It is not logic. Qur'an is not like the Bible that was written hundreds of years after Jesus (peace be upon him) lifetime.

2) The argument that the Arabic is not understandable it fatuous. Proofs on these sayings are required especially that these sayings come from a non Muslim who most probably doesn't know Arabic that is the language of the original Quran God revelation)

3) Please confirm the conclusion that there are literary contradictions with examples to be possible to reply upon.

4) Concerning the Plagiarism Argument, this is your own understanding because you didn't study carefully the Quran and didn't understand correctly the meanings of the Arabic words or you may not even read it completely.. Refer to the related question below to know what is revealed in Quran)

5) Again, what is wrong if some facts are common in different faiths or beliefs such as Zoroastrianism. This is not a proof that Quran is human written or is imitation of other faiths or religions.

6) Unfortunately, the hadith concerning the different recitations of the Qur'an is not properly understood. The point is that Muslims from different tribes used to talk in different accents. There were seven different accents that was approved by the prophet to recite the Qur'an with. The differences are in accents and not in Quran written words)

7) Quran is God holy book that calls people to full submission to God. It is not a historical book written by others to decribe prophet Muhammad personal history as in the Bible that was written by many authors and accordingly they devote particular chapters on Jesus family and hierarchy. As a result, it does not have a prosaic nature.

Concerning Answer C2

0) Introduction: Quran was written and compiled during prophet Muhammad life immediately upon the revelation of Qur'an verses. Many parts were also maintained with other Muslims and kept by heart by many Muslims as well as being recited during the daily prayers something with which it is impossible to introduce any alterations to the Quran original texts. During the first and second Caliph, it was maintained in one hand without single letter change. During the third caliph, Othman, different copies were made and distributed over the different parts of the empire.)

1) Lack of Changes in the Qur'an Text: However, in many occasions some non Muslims try to publish different versions of Quran but they never succeeded because of the availability of same reference copies in different countries, having Quran fully in the hearts of millions of Muslims, and because of Quran daily recitation in prayers and outside prayers.

2) Illiteracy: If created by prophet Muhammad himself while he is illiterate then how he would know the historical stories that are even different in details than what is mentioned even in previous holy books)

3) Bible Stories: How could you confirm that the Bible stories or the Jewish stories are the correct ones?. Otherwise, the Bible has different issues than the Jewish faith. How could you resolve these discrepancies. It means either the Bible or the Jewish holy books is not correct. Quran is not a book of science to say that the flood was local or worldwide. However, Quran scientific issues are validated just recently and sure these scientific facts were not known from 14 centuries ago when Quran was revealed. Quran is not only stories to be copied from other religions. In the meantime the stories in Quran are including some details that never mentioned before or recorded in other holy books. Refer to related question below

4) Science: It is not mentioned that the sun orbits the earth but mentioned that the sun moves also. something that was only proved recently. As for the mountains, it was proved just recently that any mountain has almost two thirds of it underground, something is resembling the tent pegs. It is true that sky/heaven is protecting ceiling something that was only recently proved as this air blanket protects us from the cosmic rays and ultraviolet radiation. Could you explain why two bodies of water (one fresh and the other saline) not diffusing into each other as the laws of physics state?). it is not required from Quran as religious holy book to speak on the details of scientific stories it is proved scientifically that any living thing is containing water. It is a challenge Quran scientific statement.

5) Failure to Self-Glorify: Even if the arguments above are correct, what is against mentioning the prophet explicitly by name as many times as Jesus, Moses and other are mentioned. Why neither of Muhammad wives are mentioned explicitly by name while Mariam (or Mary was mentioned explicitly more than once?)

6) Conversions of Jewish and Christian Scholars: How would you justify many scientists, priests and rabbis till present convert to Islam. Are they all wrong.

7) No Teachers to Show Mohammed How to Write the Qur'an: What they benefit from this support. How do you explain one of different religion help one in developing another religion that is not his?

8) No Contradictions: Read the verses carefully in its whole context and understand their occasions then you will be sure that there are no contradictions as proved by many non Muslims. For example; God lead people who are willing to follow God right path while Iblis/satan leads people who don't believe in God oneness. Treating Jews and Christians kindly is for those who don't expel Muslims from their homes and lands and don't break their treaties with Muslims and those who don't betray Muslims by uniting with the pagans against Muslims. Read the verses in this sense you find no contradictions. As for prophet Noah, it was clearly mentioned that his wife and son were not rescued as they were not believing in prophet Noah message.

9) Why Would Someone Lie?: If prophet Muhammad lied how do you explain that he was told by the pagans themselves that he is the honest and most trustful in Makkah/Mecca? even before he was assigned by God as prophet.

10) Satan is not the author: Many verses in Quran assures that God is the Qur'an author and that Quran is God revelation words to prophet Muhammad.

Part 2: Conclusion

I wonder why all this debate about Quran if it is God holy book or not. If one believe in its divinity that is fine. If not, then it is his/her own choice and responsibility. Only God will resolve these debates on the Resurrection Day.No one is forced to be Muslim or not or to believe in Qur'an divinity or not. It is a matter of faith. Otherwise, could someone give a single proof of the divinity of the current versions of the Bible or the Torah. It remains to only mention that many non Muslims convert every day to Islam including religious leaders and famous scientists. They convert without any persuasion from others. They don't convert to Islam to get food or medical treatment or better education. They convert just because they got convinced in Islam authenticity and in Quran divinity and in prophet Muhammad as God prophet and messenger. Refer to the related question below on What are the proofs that the Bible is God revelation words and not a human authored text to find that the same arguments apply on other God holy books including the Qur'an. you may refer to the other related Questions for more information.

Circumcision, though not mentioned in the Qur'an, is practiced among Islamic peoples and is most often considered to be a Sunnah (a holy tradition). The explanation for Muslim circumcision is that it is a sign of Abraham's covenant with God. This is the same explanation that is used in Judaism.

Some Muslim scholars believe circumcision is a requirement. Some others say it is not required. There is even a movement within Islam that opposes circumcision on the basis of the belief that it is a sin to alter the body in any way.

In Muslim countries where it is practiced circumcision usually pre-dates Islam. For instance, there are records of it being common in Egypt as far back as the Sixth Dynasty (2345 - 2181 BC).
Because Gods wanted all descendants of Abraham to be circumcised.