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What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an
What used to be an exotic religion of people halfway around the world is now the belief system of people living across the street. Through fair, contextual use of the Qur'an as the primary source text, apologist James R. White presents Islamic beliefs about Christ, salvation, the Trinity, the afterlife, and other important topics. White shows how the sacred text of Islam differs from the teachings of the Bible in order to help Christians engage in open, honest discussions with Muslims.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
337 people are currently reading
1734 people want to read
About the author
James R. White
30 books484 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty four books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter’s Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than one-hundred forty moderated, public debates around the world with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormonism, as well as critics such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. In recent years James has debated in such locations as Sydney, Australia, as well as mosques in Toronto, London, and South Africa. He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than thirty two years, and has two children, and one grandchild, Clementine.
James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty four books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter’s Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than one-hundred forty moderated, public debates around the world with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormonism, as well as critics such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. In recent years James has debated in such locations as Sydney, Australia, as well as mosques in Toronto, London, and South Africa. He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than thirty two years, and has two children, and one grandchild, Clementine.
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July 13, 2013
Islam
It's everywhere.
Just watch the news.
Muslim terrorists engaged in jihad, while Western Islamists proclaim that theirs is a religion of peace.
What do we know about them? About their book, the Qur'an?
When did the Muslim religion begin? Who was involved? Do their claims of truth hold up under scrutiny?
James White has written an excellent resource exploring and explaining these issues. What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an, is the book for every Christian who does indeed need to know about the Qur'an! Islam is one of the biggest challenges we face today in evangelism, culture, and politics. If we are to reach them for Christ we need to know them.
First of all, I am so glad to see a resource such as this written by James White. I have followed his ministry for years and have always been impressed with his relentless pursuit of truth, all while possessing a heart filled with love, overflowing in evangelism. He continually puts himself out there, whether it is in debates or ministry broadcasts, seeking to engage, challenge, and persuade others to the truth of Christ.
The Qur'an
Having read and studied much on the Bible and how it came to be in its present form, I was eager to learn of the Qur'an and its history. But this curiosity presents itself as problem right off the bat. Muslims believe that that the Qur'an is the eternal word of Allah, perfectly transmitted to the prophet Muhammad without error or need of question. Just our asking and seeking is seen as an insult, yet they are not hindered in the slightest when it comes to discussing the history and transmission of our Bible. Unfortunately, both sides most likely suffer from having a majority who have very little knowledge or understanding in how their sacred texts came to be.
James White sheds light on this essential topic, exposing the truth behind its creation. He looks at when it was initially written down. Under what conditions was the task completed. Who was in control of process and what motives may there have been in reaching its current form. All of which can be examined historically.
What I found interesting was the differences between texts such as the New testament and the Qur'an and their development. The New Testament was a very open model with no central control. Gospels and epistles were written, delivered, and copied continuously. We have fragments from all over the place at all times. Because of these many and varied sources, we can study them and discover by comparing them what the original text was.
The Qur'an on the other hand, is much different. Tradition claims the Muhammad received its message little by little over many years. The message itself was transmitted orally. This was how things remained till after the death of Muhammad. Interestingly enough the decision to begin writing the text down came after a battle in which many of the best reciters of the Qur'an were killed. After this a few began to write and distribute their versions. Later all the texts were ordered to be collected and an "official" version was to be written. Once this was completed all competing copies were to be destroyed. This presents a challenge to those wanting to determine the original text. With so little evidence to work with, what can be discovered? While this closed system has produced the appearance of textual accuracy without variation, it does raise the question of the ability of the text to be manipulated. The Islamic claim has always been that the books of the Christians and Jews have been corrupted, but as we can see it would be much easier to corrupt the confined and controlled source of the Qur'an.
This is just one area the book covers. I could go on and on retelling it, but you would benefit much more by simply reading it for yourself. The biggest point I took away, was that if the Qur'an is in fact the eternal word of Allah, then every claim or statement contained there within should be true. Makes sense doesn't it. White argues this and then points out time and again where the "writer" of the Qur'an was wrong. This is especially apparent when it comes to the subject of Christian beliefs, most notably in regards to the trinity. So often it is evident that the writer had no idea or was greatly confused on these matters. Not something you would expect to find in a text sent directly from Allah.
I can't recommend this book enough. As Christians desiring to present the Gospel to everyone, we must take the time to understand others and their beliefs.
One important note. White not only wrote with Christians in mind, he also addresses the Muslim reader who may be seeking to know more of us. He reaches out to them to consider the material presented and examine their truthfulness for themselves. So if you are currently witnessing to Muslims this may be a work to share with them.
I'd like to thank Bethany House Publishers for sending me this free copy for review.
It's everywhere.
Just watch the news.
Muslim terrorists engaged in jihad, while Western Islamists proclaim that theirs is a religion of peace.
What do we know about them? About their book, the Qur'an?
When did the Muslim religion begin? Who was involved? Do their claims of truth hold up under scrutiny?
James White has written an excellent resource exploring and explaining these issues. What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an, is the book for every Christian who does indeed need to know about the Qur'an! Islam is one of the biggest challenges we face today in evangelism, culture, and politics. If we are to reach them for Christ we need to know them.
First of all, I am so glad to see a resource such as this written by James White. I have followed his ministry for years and have always been impressed with his relentless pursuit of truth, all while possessing a heart filled with love, overflowing in evangelism. He continually puts himself out there, whether it is in debates or ministry broadcasts, seeking to engage, challenge, and persuade others to the truth of Christ.
The Qur'an
Having read and studied much on the Bible and how it came to be in its present form, I was eager to learn of the Qur'an and its history. But this curiosity presents itself as problem right off the bat. Muslims believe that that the Qur'an is the eternal word of Allah, perfectly transmitted to the prophet Muhammad without error or need of question. Just our asking and seeking is seen as an insult, yet they are not hindered in the slightest when it comes to discussing the history and transmission of our Bible. Unfortunately, both sides most likely suffer from having a majority who have very little knowledge or understanding in how their sacred texts came to be.
James White sheds light on this essential topic, exposing the truth behind its creation. He looks at when it was initially written down. Under what conditions was the task completed. Who was in control of process and what motives may there have been in reaching its current form. All of which can be examined historically.
What I found interesting was the differences between texts such as the New testament and the Qur'an and their development. The New Testament was a very open model with no central control. Gospels and epistles were written, delivered, and copied continuously. We have fragments from all over the place at all times. Because of these many and varied sources, we can study them and discover by comparing them what the original text was.
The Qur'an on the other hand, is much different. Tradition claims the Muhammad received its message little by little over many years. The message itself was transmitted orally. This was how things remained till after the death of Muhammad. Interestingly enough the decision to begin writing the text down came after a battle in which many of the best reciters of the Qur'an were killed. After this a few began to write and distribute their versions. Later all the texts were ordered to be collected and an "official" version was to be written. Once this was completed all competing copies were to be destroyed. This presents a challenge to those wanting to determine the original text. With so little evidence to work with, what can be discovered? While this closed system has produced the appearance of textual accuracy without variation, it does raise the question of the ability of the text to be manipulated. The Islamic claim has always been that the books of the Christians and Jews have been corrupted, but as we can see it would be much easier to corrupt the confined and controlled source of the Qur'an.
This is just one area the book covers. I could go on and on retelling it, but you would benefit much more by simply reading it for yourself. The biggest point I took away, was that if the Qur'an is in fact the eternal word of Allah, then every claim or statement contained there within should be true. Makes sense doesn't it. White argues this and then points out time and again where the "writer" of the Qur'an was wrong. This is especially apparent when it comes to the subject of Christian beliefs, most notably in regards to the trinity. So often it is evident that the writer had no idea or was greatly confused on these matters. Not something you would expect to find in a text sent directly from Allah.
I can't recommend this book enough. As Christians desiring to present the Gospel to everyone, we must take the time to understand others and their beliefs.
One important note. White not only wrote with Christians in mind, he also addresses the Muslim reader who may be seeking to know more of us. He reaches out to them to consider the material presented and examine their truthfulness for themselves. So if you are currently witnessing to Muslims this may be a work to share with them.
I'd like to thank Bethany House Publishers for sending me this free copy for review.
May 19, 2013
Dr. James White is today’s leading Christian apologist, debater and scholar. He has engaged in nearly one hundred moderated debates with proponents of Mormonism, Roman Catholicism and Islam and is the author of nearly thirty books. (Dr. White’s bio can be found here.) Dr. White has also taught extensively at the university level. So the depth that he brings to his latest work, “What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur’an” is not surprising
.
The work begins with a brief history of the life of Mohammed and then transitions into a description of the content of the Qur’an – all of which is very helpful to those unfamiliar with Islam, its prophet and holy book. Therein the reader will find some very helpful explanations of the key terms - tawhid, shirk, the Mithaq and Fitra – which are essential to discussing the Qur’an.
He then explains the Islamic concept of salvation (which is essentially “works righteousness”) and then explores the Islamic misunderstanding of the Trinity. White also examines the allegation of Islamic scholars that the text of the Christian Scriptures has been corrupted in their meaning or text with some very interesting discoveries. He is then able – using a wide array of scholarly sources – to document the errors of that allegation while pointing to some problematic examples in the Qur’an itself all the while maintaining a charitable and non-confrontational style.
The fact is that in our day, Islam is on the march. One cannot turn on any media which is devoid of the mention of Islam or its followers. Given that environment, Dr. White has provided an invaluable resource in our interaction with Islam around us. And he has done so in a winsome manner. Thanks to his efforts we now have – in a single volume – a beginning resource to the understanding of Islam and its holy book. And because Dr. White is an apologist, the information is presented in a way that will cause Muslims and non-Muslims to think more deeply about their respective religions. I like this book – and highly recommend it – for that very reason.
One previous reviewer put the book down because she was unprepared for the book’s apologetic focus. But don’t let that deter you – this is not by any means a fundamentalist diatribe – but rather a clear explanation of the Qur’an and its claims. Read it – you won’t be sorry.
May 23, 2013
* DISCLOSURE: James White is a friend of mine and my former academic mentor.
In this book, Dr. White's primary audience is fellow Christians who need orientation with regard to the Qur'an--what it is, how Muslims view it, and how Christians should handle its claims. James also includes some historical overview with regard to the rise of Islam, and other background topics that shed light on issues raised by the Qur'an.
But this book isn't just for Christians. He also addresses Muslims, contrasting Islamic beliefs drawn from the Qur'an with central Christian teaching (for example: Are Christians polytheists? Did Jesus die on the cross? Has the Bible been corrupted, while the Qur'an remains pure?). These will at least be of interest to the Muslim grappling to understand Christian doctrine, and curious to see how educated an Christian views Islam.
For those who hold to neither Christianity nor Islam, this book could be used as a basis for investigation of both faiths. James uses primary sources as much as possible, and notes differing opinions. There's a bibliography at the back, as well as a glossary of Arabic terms.
Since the primary audience is Christian, James' work as an apologist and debater will show through in his criticisms of the Muslim and Qur'anic claims. However, he tries to be even-handed and fair in his representations of the side he is critiquing, and shows respect for Muslims by quoting primary sources in context, and not attacking straw men.
James has been studying Islam for a number of years, and has even been learning Arabic so that he might examine the Qur'an in its original language. The level of study and scholarship he brings to the subject has earned him the respect and friendship of a number of his Muslim debate opponents. And it's this same level of study, scholarship, and respect that he brings to this book.
I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the Qur'an. While mostly very readable (there are some places where James' sentence structure is a bit obscure), this is not a light and fluffy book; but this is not a light and fluffy topic. Christians who are serious about reaching out to Muslims shouldn't fear having to apply their minds. This is the only way to approach such outreach in a way that honors our Muslim neighbors, and, most importantly, the Lord we serve.
In this book, Dr. White's primary audience is fellow Christians who need orientation with regard to the Qur'an--what it is, how Muslims view it, and how Christians should handle its claims. James also includes some historical overview with regard to the rise of Islam, and other background topics that shed light on issues raised by the Qur'an.
But this book isn't just for Christians. He also addresses Muslims, contrasting Islamic beliefs drawn from the Qur'an with central Christian teaching (for example: Are Christians polytheists? Did Jesus die on the cross? Has the Bible been corrupted, while the Qur'an remains pure?). These will at least be of interest to the Muslim grappling to understand Christian doctrine, and curious to see how educated an Christian views Islam.
For those who hold to neither Christianity nor Islam, this book could be used as a basis for investigation of both faiths. James uses primary sources as much as possible, and notes differing opinions. There's a bibliography at the back, as well as a glossary of Arabic terms.
Since the primary audience is Christian, James' work as an apologist and debater will show through in his criticisms of the Muslim and Qur'anic claims. However, he tries to be even-handed and fair in his representations of the side he is critiquing, and shows respect for Muslims by quoting primary sources in context, and not attacking straw men.
James has been studying Islam for a number of years, and has even been learning Arabic so that he might examine the Qur'an in its original language. The level of study and scholarship he brings to the subject has earned him the respect and friendship of a number of his Muslim debate opponents. And it's this same level of study, scholarship, and respect that he brings to this book.
I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the Qur'an. While mostly very readable (there are some places where James' sentence structure is a bit obscure), this is not a light and fluffy book; but this is not a light and fluffy topic. Christians who are serious about reaching out to Muslims shouldn't fear having to apply their minds. This is the only way to approach such outreach in a way that honors our Muslim neighbors, and, most importantly, the Lord we serve.
April 20, 2013
You know, growing up in a multi-religious society, you'd think that I'd know the basics of the major religions. Well, I know what Buddhism, Shinto-ism is about; I know a little about Hinduism, and I know about the different cults (there was a reading phase). But suprisingly (to me anyway), I didn't know much about Islam. Sure, I knew about Hari Raya, about the Haj, but what about the fundamentals?
And along comes this book! It's stated purpose is to
"seek to honestly communicate what the Qur'an says about who God is, what His purpose are, and how we are to know Him."
At first, I was a little worried about how impartial the book would be, but I came across this line about examining the Qur'an and my fears were put to rest:
"We will invest great effort to examine the text fairly and honestly. If we do so more closely than might seem neccessary, as Christians we must. Just as we ask the Muslim to handle the Bible fairly and listen to it in its own context, so as lovers of truth and consistency we extend the same courtesy."
Just to be on the safe side, I asked my Google+ friend +Brandon Yusuf Toropov if he would listen to my questions. Surprisingly (for me at least), I had a total of... 2 questions. One was on the wives of the Prophet and the other was on the issue of Mushkrim (check spelling) ('idolators'). Both didn't come about because of some mis-representation, the questions arose because I wanted more answers.
The book looks at "The Qur'an and Muhammad of Mecca", an introduction to the Qur'an, and then on to the different theological positions, like what the Qur'an says about the Trinity, Jesus, Salvation. Then, the book looks at the Bible, to see if it's been corrupted, and if there are any prophesies about Muhammad in the Bible. Lastly, the book looks at the "Perfection of the Qur'an". It's slightly over 300 pages, but it packs a lot of punch. In fact, if there was an expanded edition, I'd probably buy it straightaway.
After each chapter, there are extensive footnotes and at the end, there is an extensive bibliography. In my opinion, this makes it a good book as a starting point for a study of Christianity and Islam.
Because this book is aimed at Christians, the book is very much focused on how Christianity and Islam relate to each other. Apart from the Christian, the author has written this book for the Muslim reader in mind too (they have a note at the beginning and the end of the book). I'm really hoping that a Muslim will read this book too and let everyone know what their opinion is. Still, I think it's possible for anyone to learn something from this book.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
And along comes this book! It's stated purpose is to
"seek to honestly communicate what the Qur'an says about who God is, what His purpose are, and how we are to know Him."
At first, I was a little worried about how impartial the book would be, but I came across this line about examining the Qur'an and my fears were put to rest:
"We will invest great effort to examine the text fairly and honestly. If we do so more closely than might seem neccessary, as Christians we must. Just as we ask the Muslim to handle the Bible fairly and listen to it in its own context, so as lovers of truth and consistency we extend the same courtesy."
Just to be on the safe side, I asked my Google+ friend +Brandon Yusuf Toropov if he would listen to my questions. Surprisingly (for me at least), I had a total of... 2 questions. One was on the wives of the Prophet and the other was on the issue of Mushkrim (check spelling) ('idolators'). Both didn't come about because of some mis-representation, the questions arose because I wanted more answers.
The book looks at "The Qur'an and Muhammad of Mecca", an introduction to the Qur'an, and then on to the different theological positions, like what the Qur'an says about the Trinity, Jesus, Salvation. Then, the book looks at the Bible, to see if it's been corrupted, and if there are any prophesies about Muhammad in the Bible. Lastly, the book looks at the "Perfection of the Qur'an". It's slightly over 300 pages, but it packs a lot of punch. In fact, if there was an expanded edition, I'd probably buy it straightaway.
After each chapter, there are extensive footnotes and at the end, there is an extensive bibliography. In my opinion, this makes it a good book as a starting point for a study of Christianity and Islam.
Because this book is aimed at Christians, the book is very much focused on how Christianity and Islam relate to each other. Apart from the Christian, the author has written this book for the Muslim reader in mind too (they have a note at the beginning and the end of the book). I'm really hoping that a Muslim will read this book too and let everyone know what their opinion is. Still, I think it's possible for anyone to learn something from this book.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
February 2, 2021
Very informative and helpful in understanding the issues surrounding the Quran. Not an exciting read though.
May 11, 2022
This is probably the best book I have ever read concerning engagements with Muslims. White walks through a brief history of the Qur’an and focuses on topics that are important for Christians when it comes to evangelizing to Muslims. This includes the reliability of the Bible, the death of Jesus on the cross, the trinity, and the changes that have occurred to the Qur’an itself. A great book for those who want to know what the holy book of Islam says and how to reach those who claim to be Muslim. White looks at all the information in a gracious and kind way, which is surprising considering his common demeanor, and shows a true care for the souls of those lost in the lies of Islam. A great read. A must read.
July 10, 2013
Did you know that Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus? Did you know that the Qur'an teaches that Christians believe that God is three gods forming a trinity made up of a father, son(Jesus) and surprisingly, Mary. These and other interesting facts are brought out in this educational critique of the Qur'an by James White. The history of the Muhammad and the Qur'an are both given as far as possible from historical/traditional accounts. What the Qur'an teaches about Jesus is examined, as also are so-called 'proofs' that the Christian Bible foretold of Muhammad's coming and status as prophet. White shows that their own document does not stand against some of their tests for the holiness of the Christian Bible.
It was very interesting to find that Muhammad apparently did not know exactly what the New and Old Testaments actually said when he wrote the Qur'an. He seems to have gotten his information on the Torah and Gospels from hearsay and observation of 'churches' rather than from the documents themselves. It was particularly fascinating to see learn that although Jesus is viewed as a great prophet, and apparently a sinless one as well, Muhammad is the greater prophet, despite having sinned and been forgiven by Allah.
I would disagree somewhat with White's declaration that the best way to share the Gospel and honor truth is to enter into another's worldview and their theology. I do not need to know or understand a person's false notions about baking cookies in order to teach them how to make them correctly. I just need to know the right way to make cookies. When God sent Phillip to the Ethiopian Eunuch, Philip did not have to enter into the man's worldview or theology to get him to want to talk about the Gospel. Perhaps I am too critical, but I just feel as though I need to mention these things. I am not discounting the helpfulness and at times the necessity of understanding worldviews or theologies, I believe that a biblical case may be made for that also. I simply do not think that it is imperative to do so since the Gospel is the power of God to salvation, not logical demolition of worldviews. Apologetics may lead to presenting the Gospel but the apology is not the Gospel itself, which is affirmative. So do I think that every Christian needs to know these things about the Qur'an? No.
But I really liked this book, this information would be very helpful to have when God brings along opportunities for us to share the Gospel with Muslims. Let me end with a point that White makes in response to a Muslim Criticism of Christianity, it struck me funny: "Islamic apologists make much of the so-called 'Synoptic Problem' in the New Testament studies. When you study the synoptic Gospels(Mathew, Mark, and Luke)…… you discern differences between them. Which makes sense - what would be the purpose for three carbon-copy gospels?"
Thanks to Bethany House publishers for sending me a free review copy of this book!(My review did not have to be favorable)
It was very interesting to find that Muhammad apparently did not know exactly what the New and Old Testaments actually said when he wrote the Qur'an. He seems to have gotten his information on the Torah and Gospels from hearsay and observation of 'churches' rather than from the documents themselves. It was particularly fascinating to see learn that although Jesus is viewed as a great prophet, and apparently a sinless one as well, Muhammad is the greater prophet, despite having sinned and been forgiven by Allah.
I would disagree somewhat with White's declaration that the best way to share the Gospel and honor truth is to enter into another's worldview and their theology. I do not need to know or understand a person's false notions about baking cookies in order to teach them how to make them correctly. I just need to know the right way to make cookies. When God sent Phillip to the Ethiopian Eunuch, Philip did not have to enter into the man's worldview or theology to get him to want to talk about the Gospel. Perhaps I am too critical, but I just feel as though I need to mention these things. I am not discounting the helpfulness and at times the necessity of understanding worldviews or theologies, I believe that a biblical case may be made for that also. I simply do not think that it is imperative to do so since the Gospel is the power of God to salvation, not logical demolition of worldviews. Apologetics may lead to presenting the Gospel but the apology is not the Gospel itself, which is affirmative. So do I think that every Christian needs to know these things about the Qur'an? No.
But I really liked this book, this information would be very helpful to have when God brings along opportunities for us to share the Gospel with Muslims. Let me end with a point that White makes in response to a Muslim Criticism of Christianity, it struck me funny: "Islamic apologists make much of the so-called 'Synoptic Problem' in the New Testament studies. When you study the synoptic Gospels(Mathew, Mark, and Luke)…… you discern differences between them. Which makes sense - what would be the purpose for three carbon-copy gospels?"
Thanks to Bethany House publishers for sending me a free review copy of this book!(My review did not have to be favorable)
May 11, 2016
What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an should not be dismissed as just another conservative rant against Islam. It's not that kind of book. James White is not primarily concerned with the ages of Muhammad's wives, or the onslaught of jihadi violence today, or the treatment of Muslim women.
There are enough books out there that rail against the perils of radical Islam. This book, instead, seeks to shed light on the theological differences between Christianity and Islam, with an eye toward helping Christians engage in honest, informed, and respectful conversations with their Muslim friends.
What does the Qur'an teach about the trinity, and how does it jive with the Bible's teachings on the same topic? What biblical evidence is there in support of Muhammad's claims to prophethood? Are the New Testament scriptures "corrupted" as many Muslims posit? How was the Qur'an recorded, preserved, and transmitted, and why does it matter? What do Muslims believe about the person and work of Jesus?
These are the types of questions this book seeks to address. It's a book written for theologically-minded Christians and Muslims who want to better understand one another. James White's respect and love for Muslims is clearly evident throughout the book. This is not a book for people looking for more reasons to fear Islam.
While I understand why James White chose the title he did, given its straightforward nature, I think "Weighing with Even Scales" would have been a better choice, since this is a very relevant quranic phrase to the Christian-Muslim dialogue and one he unpacks in the book.
Overall, this is a very thoughtful and well-written book. The conclusion is excellent.
There are enough books out there that rail against the perils of radical Islam. This book, instead, seeks to shed light on the theological differences between Christianity and Islam, with an eye toward helping Christians engage in honest, informed, and respectful conversations with their Muslim friends.
What does the Qur'an teach about the trinity, and how does it jive with the Bible's teachings on the same topic? What biblical evidence is there in support of Muhammad's claims to prophethood? Are the New Testament scriptures "corrupted" as many Muslims posit? How was the Qur'an recorded, preserved, and transmitted, and why does it matter? What do Muslims believe about the person and work of Jesus?
These are the types of questions this book seeks to address. It's a book written for theologically-minded Christians and Muslims who want to better understand one another. James White's respect and love for Muslims is clearly evident throughout the book. This is not a book for people looking for more reasons to fear Islam.
While I understand why James White chose the title he did, given its straightforward nature, I think "Weighing with Even Scales" would have been a better choice, since this is a very relevant quranic phrase to the Christian-Muslim dialogue and one he unpacks in the book.
Overall, this is a very thoughtful and well-written book. The conclusion is excellent.
January 15, 2016
This book is a scholarly work about the Qur'an that does not pull punches. It may be too technical for some, but for others looking for more than an elementary study of comparative religions, this book is for them. I found it fascinating, accurate, and eye-opening.
There is a general and popular misconception that the Christian Bible and the Muslim Qur'an are essentially the same book with a different cover. This could not be further from the truth, and to be intellectually honest, one must study the differences to make such a claim. "What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an" is not only for Christians, but for anyone wanting to know about what the Qur'an says and how it was written.
There is a general and popular misconception that the Christian Bible and the Muslim Qur'an are essentially the same book with a different cover. This could not be further from the truth, and to be intellectually honest, one must study the differences to make such a claim. "What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an" is not only for Christians, but for anyone wanting to know about what the Qur'an says and how it was written.
July 30, 2014
While billed as an introductory work this book is not for the faint of heart. You really need to be able to deal with the many, long quotations from the Qu'ran and the technical terminology that the author uses regularly. While there was a lot of good information and I learned a lot reading it, there was very little "flow" to the chapters, little structure, just a stream-of-consciousness argument (much like Dr. White's podcast, if you are familiar with it that does make the book easier to read).
Overall I'd recommend it, but be ready to do some homework and read it with a glossary nearby.
Overall I'd recommend it, but be ready to do some homework and read it with a glossary nearby.
April 27, 2013
This book is another phenomenal addition from Dr James White. Anyone looking to gain deep insight into the religion of Islam and the Koran should consider this a must read. The book is incredibly in depth but at the same time very readable. The author takes great pains to handle the text consistently and fairly. do yourself a favor and read this book
June 21, 2014
There aren't many books on Islam or the Christian's perspective that are fair and unbiased. For the most part, this book is, hence the high rating. Although White makes a few arguments which are untenable in my view, the overall tone is one of fairness and respect. White is the first Christian that I've read that defends the cultural legitimacy of Muhammad's marriage with the child bride Ai'sha. He correctly notes that no one (Christian, Jew, or Muslims) at that time censured Muhammad for consummating a marriage with a 9-year-old girl. That is important to realize. It doesn't make that action moral, but it should influence our opinion.
White did a good, thorough job of documenting his sources in the Qur'an and using widely accepted hadith. Particularly interesting was the argument about the difference between a centrally-controlled textual transmission (like the government controlled distribution of the Qur'an) and the distributed transmission and translation of the New Testament (which makes deleting unorthodox readings virtually impossible).
There were only a few major objections that I had. One was that White claims that Muslims and Christians worship a different God because Muslims deny the incarnation. That might be true, but White's argument is entirely invalid because Abraham would also have to be considered as worshiping a different God. Obviously, Abraham didn't specifically believe in the Incarnation.
This book is well-worth reading for any Christian who wants to better understand the Muslim religion. Beware though, there is a "clipping limit" for purchasers of the Kindle version. VERY annoying for a reference text!!!
Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 203-5 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 04:57 PM
From the position of Sunni Islamic orthodoxy, the Qur’an is as eternal as Allah himself. It is the very Word of God, without even the slightest imperfection. The finger of man has no place in it, as the book held reverently in the hand today is an exact copy of a tablet in heaven upon which the Qur’an has been written from eternity past.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 212-14 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 04:57 PM
Putting together Muhammad’s story is a challenge, as the sources from which the orthodox Islamic account are drawn come from at least a century after the events of his life. Further, even those show clear evidence of legendary expansion and the influence of piety in the early generations of adherents.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 456-66 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 05:18 PM
Without question, the harshest denunciations of Muhammad have been based upon his marriage to the young Aisha, who was betrothed at age six. Islamic sources are almost unanimous in saying the marriage was consummated at age nine (one major source saying ten). The idea of a fifty-three-or fifty-four-year-old man together with a child of nine is the basis upon which many have denounced even Islam as a whole. Add to this the scandal of Islamic child brides around the world today, and related horror stories associated with Taliban-like violence toward women and girls, and one can see why this conversation can become most strident. But the Qur’an gives no evidence of any embarrassment or apology as to Muhammad’s taking of Aisha. Unlike the Zaynab situation (see below), where a clear cultural taboo was broken, no such concern comes into the text here. Life spans were considerably shorter, and child brides were common. In fact, the Islamic literature’s emphasis on Aisha’s youthfulness may well be related to defense of her obvious virginity and purity.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 525-46 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 05:24 PM
To let the Muslim sources explain, [20] we start with Al-Tabari’s massive history, which places the story’s backdrop in its all-too-human setting: The Messenger of God came to the house of Zayd b. Harithah. (Zayd was always called Zayd b. Muhammad.) Perhaps the Messenger of God missed him at that moment, so as to ask, “Where is Zayd?” He came to his residence to look for him but did not find him. Zaynab bt. Jash, Zayd’s wife, rose to meet him. Because she was dressed only in a shift, the Messenger of God turned away from her. She said: “He is not here, Messenger of God. Come in, you who are as dear to me as my father and mother!” The Messenger of God refused to enter. Zaynab had dressed in haste when she was told “the Messenger of God is at the door.” She jumped up in haste and excited the admiration of the Messenger of God, so that he turned away murmuring something that could scarcely be understood. However, he did say overtly: “Glory be to God the Almighty! Glory be to God, who causes the hearts to turn!” When Zayd came home, his wife told him that the Messenger of God had come to his house. Zayd said, “Why didn’t you ask him to come in?” She replied, “I asked him, but he refused.” “Did you hear him say anything?” he asked. She replied, “As he turned away, I heard him say: ‘Glory be to God the Almighty! Glory be to God, who causes hearts to turn!’” So Zayd left, and having come to the Messenger of God, he said: “Messenger of God, I have heard that you came to my house. Why didn’t you go in, you who are as dear to me as my father and mother? Messenger of God, perhaps Zaynab has excited your admiration, and so I will separate myself from her.” Zayd could find no possible way to [approach] her after that day. He would come to the Messenger of God and tell him so, but the Messenger of God would say to him, “Keep your wife.” Zayd separated from her and left her, and she became free. While the Messenger of God was talking with ’A’ishah, a fainting overcame him. When he was released from it, he smiled and said, “Who will go to Zaynab to tell her the good news, saying that God has married her to me?” Then the Messenger of God recited: “And when you said unto him on whom God has conferred favor and you have conferred favor, ‘Keep your wife to yourself.’” and the entire passage. According to ’A’ishah, who said: “I became very uneasy because of what we heard about her beauty and another thing, the greatest and loftiest of matters—what God had done for her by giving her in marriage. I said she would boast of it over us.”
==========
- Highlight Loc. 557-65 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 05:26 PM
But the marriage between Zayd and Zaynab had not been a happy one, and Zayd found it no longer tolerable, so by mutual agreement with Zaynab he divorced her. This did not, however, make Zaynab eligible as a wife for the Prophet, for although the Koran had only specified that men were forbidden to marry the wives of sons sprung from their loins, it was a strong social principle not to make a distinction between sons by birth and sons by adoption. Nor was the Prophet himself eligible, for he had already four wives, the most that the Islamic law allows. Some months passed and then one day when the Prophet was talking with one of his wives the power of Revelation overwhelmed him; and when he came to himself his first words were: “Who will go unto Zaynab and tell her the good tidings that God hath given her to me in marriage, even from Heaven?” Salma was near at hand . . . and she went in haste to Zaynab’s house. When she heard the wonderful tidings, Zaynab magnified God and threw herself down in prostration toward Mecca. Then she took off her anklets and bracelets of silver, and gave them to Salma.
To overcome immediate charges of impropriety (even of incest), a revelation comes down to solve the great and vexing problem of the marriage of divorced wives of adopted sons. Except, of course, it is more than hard to believe this was a great and vexing problem. We would expect the great and vexing problem to be divorce, let alone even the consideration of marrying your former daughter-in-law. [23] But Allah commands his Prophet to break the customs of his day and marry his first cousin.
It seems even Aisha, his favorite (but who clearly experienced much jealousy toward his other wives), recognized an issue, for she is recorded to have said, “I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires.” [24] Certainly this must give one pause in weighing the claims of the Qur’an to status as a divine revelation. Modern Islamic orthodoxy identifies Muhammad as the ideal man, the model to which all should seek to conform their behavior and lifestyle. Yet here, plainly the Qur’an displays acute embarrassment and must provide an apologetic, a defense of his actions. Many motives are possible, from the seemingly blatant marriage breakup, and the resultant diminishment of the evil of divorce, to the political tensions that were formative of the early generations of Islam and that led to the formation of its two major branches, Sunni and Shia. Whatever the motivation, the attempt to justify Muhammad’s actions and their wide-ranging results is obvious and forceful.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 697-700 | Added on Monday, May 26, 2014, 06:04 PM
For now, again, note Arabic’s centrality to the Muslim understanding: The Qur’an itself exists in no other tongue. Even though the Islamic majority depends on translations, Muslims still would say the Qur’an itself is not translatable, at least in the religious or theological sense. While Arabic can be translated into any other language, the Qur’an’s essence as Allah’s very words is tied to the Arabic tongue.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 1276-78 | Added on Monday, June 02, 2014, 10:05 PM
We simply must insist that if its author believed Christians hold to three gods, Allah, Mary, and evidently their offspring, Jesus, then the Qur’an is the result of human effort, is marked by ignorance and error, and so is not what Muslims claim it to be.
No other Qur’anic text is as blatant in its misrepresentation of the Trinity. 116. And when Allah said: “O Jesus son of Mary! Did you say to mankind: ‘Take me and my mother for two gods other than Allah?’” He said: “Transcendent are You! It was not mine to say that of which I had no right. In saying it, then You knew it. You know what is in my self, but I know not what is in Your self. It is You, only You, Who know well all hidden things.” 117. I told them only that which You commanded me, [saying]: “Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord!” I was a witness over them while I dwelt among them, and when You took me, You were the Watcher over them. You are Witness over all things. Most commentators project this text to the Day of Judgment, and many translations insert such an indication by inserting “And beware the day” or something similar. Allah then asks Jesus if He taught mankind to take Him and His mother as “two gods other than Allah.” Jesus denies ever doing so, asserting that He only proclaimed that they were to engage in tawhid. At this juncture, we need not belabor the point that is so plainly stated. The charge is blatant polytheism, and here alone is the “three” so listed (though in ayah 75 it is obvious two of the three are Jesus and Mary, with Allah assumed). Nowhere does the Qur’an ever give Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or even Allah, Son, and Spirit (the Holy Spirit in the Qur’an being the angel Gabriel, or Jabril).
The Muslim must understand what is at stake. It is not an arguable fact that Christianity is clear in its profession of monotheism. Followers of Christ did not believe God had taken a human wife and by her sired a child named Jesus, and hence He was the “son of God.” The Qur’anic text seems plainly to say otherwise. What does this say concerning the truthfulness of its claims to divine origin and inspiration?
White did a good, thorough job of documenting his sources in the Qur'an and using widely accepted hadith. Particularly interesting was the argument about the difference between a centrally-controlled textual transmission (like the government controlled distribution of the Qur'an) and the distributed transmission and translation of the New Testament (which makes deleting unorthodox readings virtually impossible).
There were only a few major objections that I had. One was that White claims that Muslims and Christians worship a different God because Muslims deny the incarnation. That might be true, but White's argument is entirely invalid because Abraham would also have to be considered as worshiping a different God. Obviously, Abraham didn't specifically believe in the Incarnation.
This book is well-worth reading for any Christian who wants to better understand the Muslim religion. Beware though, there is a "clipping limit" for purchasers of the Kindle version. VERY annoying for a reference text!!!
Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 203-5 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 04:57 PM
From the position of Sunni Islamic orthodoxy, the Qur’an is as eternal as Allah himself. It is the very Word of God, without even the slightest imperfection. The finger of man has no place in it, as the book held reverently in the hand today is an exact copy of a tablet in heaven upon which the Qur’an has been written from eternity past.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 212-14 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 04:57 PM
Putting together Muhammad’s story is a challenge, as the sources from which the orthodox Islamic account are drawn come from at least a century after the events of his life. Further, even those show clear evidence of legendary expansion and the influence of piety in the early generations of adherents.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 456-66 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 05:18 PM
Without question, the harshest denunciations of Muhammad have been based upon his marriage to the young Aisha, who was betrothed at age six. Islamic sources are almost unanimous in saying the marriage was consummated at age nine (one major source saying ten). The idea of a fifty-three-or fifty-four-year-old man together with a child of nine is the basis upon which many have denounced even Islam as a whole. Add to this the scandal of Islamic child brides around the world today, and related horror stories associated with Taliban-like violence toward women and girls, and one can see why this conversation can become most strident. But the Qur’an gives no evidence of any embarrassment or apology as to Muhammad’s taking of Aisha. Unlike the Zaynab situation (see below), where a clear cultural taboo was broken, no such concern comes into the text here. Life spans were considerably shorter, and child brides were common. In fact, the Islamic literature’s emphasis on Aisha’s youthfulness may well be related to defense of her obvious virginity and purity.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 525-46 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 05:24 PM
To let the Muslim sources explain, [20] we start with Al-Tabari’s massive history, which places the story’s backdrop in its all-too-human setting: The Messenger of God came to the house of Zayd b. Harithah. (Zayd was always called Zayd b. Muhammad.) Perhaps the Messenger of God missed him at that moment, so as to ask, “Where is Zayd?” He came to his residence to look for him but did not find him. Zaynab bt. Jash, Zayd’s wife, rose to meet him. Because she was dressed only in a shift, the Messenger of God turned away from her. She said: “He is not here, Messenger of God. Come in, you who are as dear to me as my father and mother!” The Messenger of God refused to enter. Zaynab had dressed in haste when she was told “the Messenger of God is at the door.” She jumped up in haste and excited the admiration of the Messenger of God, so that he turned away murmuring something that could scarcely be understood. However, he did say overtly: “Glory be to God the Almighty! Glory be to God, who causes the hearts to turn!” When Zayd came home, his wife told him that the Messenger of God had come to his house. Zayd said, “Why didn’t you ask him to come in?” She replied, “I asked him, but he refused.” “Did you hear him say anything?” he asked. She replied, “As he turned away, I heard him say: ‘Glory be to God the Almighty! Glory be to God, who causes hearts to turn!’” So Zayd left, and having come to the Messenger of God, he said: “Messenger of God, I have heard that you came to my house. Why didn’t you go in, you who are as dear to me as my father and mother? Messenger of God, perhaps Zaynab has excited your admiration, and so I will separate myself from her.” Zayd could find no possible way to [approach] her after that day. He would come to the Messenger of God and tell him so, but the Messenger of God would say to him, “Keep your wife.” Zayd separated from her and left her, and she became free. While the Messenger of God was talking with ’A’ishah, a fainting overcame him. When he was released from it, he smiled and said, “Who will go to Zaynab to tell her the good news, saying that God has married her to me?” Then the Messenger of God recited: “And when you said unto him on whom God has conferred favor and you have conferred favor, ‘Keep your wife to yourself.’” and the entire passage. According to ’A’ishah, who said: “I became very uneasy because of what we heard about her beauty and another thing, the greatest and loftiest of matters—what God had done for her by giving her in marriage. I said she would boast of it over us.”
==========
- Highlight Loc. 557-65 | Added on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 05:26 PM
But the marriage between Zayd and Zaynab had not been a happy one, and Zayd found it no longer tolerable, so by mutual agreement with Zaynab he divorced her. This did not, however, make Zaynab eligible as a wife for the Prophet, for although the Koran had only specified that men were forbidden to marry the wives of sons sprung from their loins, it was a strong social principle not to make a distinction between sons by birth and sons by adoption. Nor was the Prophet himself eligible, for he had already four wives, the most that the Islamic law allows. Some months passed and then one day when the Prophet was talking with one of his wives the power of Revelation overwhelmed him; and when he came to himself his first words were: “Who will go unto Zaynab and tell her the good tidings that God hath given her to me in marriage, even from Heaven?” Salma was near at hand . . . and she went in haste to Zaynab’s house. When she heard the wonderful tidings, Zaynab magnified God and threw herself down in prostration toward Mecca. Then she took off her anklets and bracelets of silver, and gave them to Salma.
To overcome immediate charges of impropriety (even of incest), a revelation comes down to solve the great and vexing problem of the marriage of divorced wives of adopted sons. Except, of course, it is more than hard to believe this was a great and vexing problem. We would expect the great and vexing problem to be divorce, let alone even the consideration of marrying your former daughter-in-law. [23] But Allah commands his Prophet to break the customs of his day and marry his first cousin.
It seems even Aisha, his favorite (but who clearly experienced much jealousy toward his other wives), recognized an issue, for she is recorded to have said, “I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires.” [24] Certainly this must give one pause in weighing the claims of the Qur’an to status as a divine revelation. Modern Islamic orthodoxy identifies Muhammad as the ideal man, the model to which all should seek to conform their behavior and lifestyle. Yet here, plainly the Qur’an displays acute embarrassment and must provide an apologetic, a defense of his actions. Many motives are possible, from the seemingly blatant marriage breakup, and the resultant diminishment of the evil of divorce, to the political tensions that were formative of the early generations of Islam and that led to the formation of its two major branches, Sunni and Shia. Whatever the motivation, the attempt to justify Muhammad’s actions and their wide-ranging results is obvious and forceful.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 697-700 | Added on Monday, May 26, 2014, 06:04 PM
For now, again, note Arabic’s centrality to the Muslim understanding: The Qur’an itself exists in no other tongue. Even though the Islamic majority depends on translations, Muslims still would say the Qur’an itself is not translatable, at least in the religious or theological sense. While Arabic can be translated into any other language, the Qur’an’s essence as Allah’s very words is tied to the Arabic tongue.
==========
- Highlight Loc. 1276-78 | Added on Monday, June 02, 2014, 10:05 PM
We simply must insist that if its author believed Christians hold to three gods, Allah, Mary, and evidently their offspring, Jesus, then the Qur’an is the result of human effort, is marked by ignorance and error, and so is not what Muslims claim it to be.
No other Qur’anic text is as blatant in its misrepresentation of the Trinity. 116. And when Allah said: “O Jesus son of Mary! Did you say to mankind: ‘Take me and my mother for two gods other than Allah?’” He said: “Transcendent are You! It was not mine to say that of which I had no right. In saying it, then You knew it. You know what is in my self, but I know not what is in Your self. It is You, only You, Who know well all hidden things.” 117. I told them only that which You commanded me, [saying]: “Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord!” I was a witness over them while I dwelt among them, and when You took me, You were the Watcher over them. You are Witness over all things. Most commentators project this text to the Day of Judgment, and many translations insert such an indication by inserting “And beware the day” or something similar. Allah then asks Jesus if He taught mankind to take Him and His mother as “two gods other than Allah.” Jesus denies ever doing so, asserting that He only proclaimed that they were to engage in tawhid. At this juncture, we need not belabor the point that is so plainly stated. The charge is blatant polytheism, and here alone is the “three” so listed (though in ayah 75 it is obvious two of the three are Jesus and Mary, with Allah assumed). Nowhere does the Qur’an ever give Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or even Allah, Son, and Spirit (the Holy Spirit in the Qur’an being the angel Gabriel, or Jabril).
The Muslim must understand what is at stake. It is not an arguable fact that Christianity is clear in its profession of monotheism. Followers of Christ did not believe God had taken a human wife and by her sired a child named Jesus, and hence He was the “son of God.” The Qur’anic text seems plainly to say otherwise. What does this say concerning the truthfulness of its claims to divine origin and inspiration?
January 20, 2023
Helpful introduction to the basic problems in the Islamic tradition. A few that I found helpful:
- The Qu’ran has a flawed understanding of previous revelation. If it’s a perfect, divine document, shouldn’t it correctly understand previous revelation? It seems to fail to distinguish between reality and myth.
- Similarly, the Qu’ran misunderstands the trinity. It states that the 3 are Allah, Mary, and Jesus. Similar to above point…
- How can Allah forgive sins with compromising his divine justice? This is an issue that Christianity deals with.
- Islam denies Jesus’ crucifixion. This claim alone stands against the majority of human history. If they deny the claim, then they must have some explanation for why the event changed the course of the world. (Similarly, the claim to deny the crucifixion is made 500 years after the event, in a distant land that does not have access to the original sources)
- The OT/ NT scriptures that are referenced to point to Muhammad’s coming are actually interpreted by NT authors as fulfilled in Christ. A simple exegesis can resolve this misunderstanding.
- The Qu’ran actually has a poor transmission history. Especially when compared to the NT. The textual variants between manuscripts of the Qu’ran shows that the variants are not a result of copyist error (e.g., in the NT, most variants are the addition of a word, or a single word is missing. For example, “the Lord Jesus,” or “the Lord.” These are typical copyist errors). On the other hand, the Qu’ran’s manuscripts have words being moved, grammatical changes, and verbal forms are altered. This makes it seem like the copyist is purposefully redacting the text.
Good stuff in White’s work. Worth reading for yourself.
- The Qu’ran has a flawed understanding of previous revelation. If it’s a perfect, divine document, shouldn’t it correctly understand previous revelation? It seems to fail to distinguish between reality and myth.
- Similarly, the Qu’ran misunderstands the trinity. It states that the 3 are Allah, Mary, and Jesus. Similar to above point…
- How can Allah forgive sins with compromising his divine justice? This is an issue that Christianity deals with.
- Islam denies Jesus’ crucifixion. This claim alone stands against the majority of human history. If they deny the claim, then they must have some explanation for why the event changed the course of the world. (Similarly, the claim to deny the crucifixion is made 500 years after the event, in a distant land that does not have access to the original sources)
- The OT/ NT scriptures that are referenced to point to Muhammad’s coming are actually interpreted by NT authors as fulfilled in Christ. A simple exegesis can resolve this misunderstanding.
- The Qu’ran actually has a poor transmission history. Especially when compared to the NT. The textual variants between manuscripts of the Qu’ran shows that the variants are not a result of copyist error (e.g., in the NT, most variants are the addition of a word, or a single word is missing. For example, “the Lord Jesus,” or “the Lord.” These are typical copyist errors). On the other hand, the Qu’ran’s manuscripts have words being moved, grammatical changes, and verbal forms are altered. This makes it seem like the copyist is purposefully redacting the text.
Good stuff in White’s work. Worth reading for yourself.
February 6, 2022
Excellent book walking through issues that are presented in a concise fashion for its readers. Helps explain the transmission issues and inconsistencies of the claims of the Muslim religion.
September 5, 2023
Dr. White surveys the history and doctrine of Islam by positive presentation, followed by chapters answering objections from Muslims against Christianity and apologetic critiques of Islamic doctrine from a Christian perspective. Especially helpful was the section on the reliability of biblical textual criticism and the false security of Quranic preservation through the Uthmanic edition.
July 11, 2015
James R. White, What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur’an (Bloomington, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2013).
Paperback
|
Kindle
What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur’an presents an introduction to and a critique of Islamic scripture (Qur’an) and tradition (ahadith) as they touch on matters pertaining to orthodox Christianity. Author James R. White is a Christian theologian who has engaged in debates with Islamic scholars. As befits a scholar, White’s tone throughout is measured and reasonable, and his arguments are nuanced and fair-minded.
The first three chapters introduce readers to Muhammad, the Qur’an, and Islamic monotheism (tawhid). In these chapters, and throughout the book, White’s presentation hews closely to Islamic beliefs that are shared by all Muslims (Sunni and Shia). He bases his description of Muhammad’s life and early Islamic history in the Qur’an and ahadith. In other words, he utilizes the same sources that Islamic theologians utilize. This leads Christian readers directly to the textual sources of the Muslim faith and assures them that White’s critiques are based on authoritative texts Muslims themselves acknowledge.
The next four chapters focus on areas where the Qur’an and ahadith either misinterpret or contradict orthodox Christianity—or both. Chapter 4 demonstrates that the Qur’an critiques a Trinitarian doctrine that no orthodox Christian holds. Chapter 5 demonstrates the fundamental contradictions between what the Bible and the Qur’an say about Jesus. Chapters 6 and 7 turn to the doctrine of salvation, showing that Muslims deny that Christ died on the cross to graciously atone for people’s sins.
When Christians point out these misinterpretations and contradictions to Muslims, Muslims respond by claiming that Christians have “corrupted” their Bible, either by misinterpreting or rewriting the New Testament. The final four chapters thus turn to issues of translation, literary sources, and textual criticism. These are the most technical chapters in the entire book, but they also repay careful study. They demonstrate that Christians have not in fact “corrupted” their Bible and that the textual transmission of the Qur’an is not as clean as Muslims commonly believe.
For Christian readers, the effect of White’s overall argument is a shoring up of the intellectual defenses of their faith in Jesus Christ against Muslim assaults on the same. For Muslim readers the effect may be to raise a troubling question: Can we trust an allegedly inspired book that makes false statements about other religions and rests on questionable textual foundations?
I recommend What Every Christian Should Know About the Qur’an to both Christian and Muslim readers, though especially the former. We live in an age of great conflict between these two religious communities. Rather than focusing on a small minority of terrorists who commit violence in the name of Islam (against the wishes of the vast majority of Muslims, by the way), we should focus our critique on the doctrines and practices that all Muslims hold in common. Doing so is less exciting, perhaps, than the evening news, but it is also more helpful to the long-term project of winning Muslim hearts and minds.
-----
P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur’an presents an introduction to and a critique of Islamic scripture (Qur’an) and tradition (ahadith) as they touch on matters pertaining to orthodox Christianity. Author James R. White is a Christian theologian who has engaged in debates with Islamic scholars. As befits a scholar, White’s tone throughout is measured and reasonable, and his arguments are nuanced and fair-minded.
The first three chapters introduce readers to Muhammad, the Qur’an, and Islamic monotheism (tawhid). In these chapters, and throughout the book, White’s presentation hews closely to Islamic beliefs that are shared by all Muslims (Sunni and Shia). He bases his description of Muhammad’s life and early Islamic history in the Qur’an and ahadith. In other words, he utilizes the same sources that Islamic theologians utilize. This leads Christian readers directly to the textual sources of the Muslim faith and assures them that White’s critiques are based on authoritative texts Muslims themselves acknowledge.
The next four chapters focus on areas where the Qur’an and ahadith either misinterpret or contradict orthodox Christianity—or both. Chapter 4 demonstrates that the Qur’an critiques a Trinitarian doctrine that no orthodox Christian holds. Chapter 5 demonstrates the fundamental contradictions between what the Bible and the Qur’an say about Jesus. Chapters 6 and 7 turn to the doctrine of salvation, showing that Muslims deny that Christ died on the cross to graciously atone for people’s sins.
When Christians point out these misinterpretations and contradictions to Muslims, Muslims respond by claiming that Christians have “corrupted” their Bible, either by misinterpreting or rewriting the New Testament. The final four chapters thus turn to issues of translation, literary sources, and textual criticism. These are the most technical chapters in the entire book, but they also repay careful study. They demonstrate that Christians have not in fact “corrupted” their Bible and that the textual transmission of the Qur’an is not as clean as Muslims commonly believe.
For Christian readers, the effect of White’s overall argument is a shoring up of the intellectual defenses of their faith in Jesus Christ against Muslim assaults on the same. For Muslim readers the effect may be to raise a troubling question: Can we trust an allegedly inspired book that makes false statements about other religions and rests on questionable textual foundations?
I recommend What Every Christian Should Know About the Qur’an to both Christian and Muslim readers, though especially the former. We live in an age of great conflict between these two religious communities. Rather than focusing on a small minority of terrorists who commit violence in the name of Islam (against the wishes of the vast majority of Muslims, by the way), we should focus our critique on the doctrines and practices that all Muslims hold in common. Doing so is less exciting, perhaps, than the evening news, but it is also more helpful to the long-term project of winning Muslim hearts and minds.
-----
P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
February 1, 2021
The author claims that he did a lot of research about the Quran and seems to know a couple of Hadiths he quotes regularly to prove his point, while in fact, he doesn't really know the basics of Hadith nor the meaning of those Quran verses he quotes.
The book is suggesting -every now and then- that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) invented the Qur'an (for some reason?) and that everything he said came from his own imagination and his own perception of things that he seen when he was a boy and then a man. If this is the idea you want to focus on, you don't have to name your book "What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an", a title such as "Prophet Mohamed Invented the Qur'an" would have been more accurate.
As a Muslim, forgive me if I'm simply unable to grasp the idea of Trinity, as mentioned and explained in Chapter 6 of 15 (the audiobook). You say that God is ONE, and yet he is 3 distinct PERSONS. I can't see the logic behind this impossible equation 1 = 3.
How can anyone talk about (and claim) the contradictions in Quran while the heart of his religion (Trinity) is nothing but a huge contradiction?
The author doesn't understand Islam, but he's trying to explain it anyway. The result is a book full of suspicions and wrong ideas based on weak Hadiths and stories introduced to Islamic texts for this exact reason. Here are some of those examples:
- The idea that the Prophet tried to kill himself whenever Jibril (Gabriel) left for some time because he thought he was crazy : this never happened and it can't be true because if it was, why didn't he kill himself? Why did he continue talking to Gabriel and then "invented" the Quran and moved on if there was no "Gabriel" at all? This doesn't make sense to any Muslim.
- The event of the Satanic Verses is a big fantasy. There are multiple sources explaining that this never happened as the author quoted it.
The author focused only on those suspicious stories claimed by weak and unreliable sources while he left essential verses untouched.
If the Prophet Muhammad was just a simple man who wrote the Quran as a book of fiction, how does anyone explain the detailed verses about things a "simple man" would never know given the time he was living in?
How would he imagine what happens inside the womb of a woman (verses of human creation)? Muhammad wasn't a Doctor coming from the 21th century. Right? Neither was he a witch able to predict the future.
How could he imagine what's going on in the universe (planets, stars and others)? Wasn't he a simple man with no scientific degrees?
The list goes on and on.
The book is suggesting -every now and then- that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) invented the Qur'an (for some reason?) and that everything he said came from his own imagination and his own perception of things that he seen when he was a boy and then a man. If this is the idea you want to focus on, you don't have to name your book "What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an", a title such as "Prophet Mohamed Invented the Qur'an" would have been more accurate.
As a Muslim, forgive me if I'm simply unable to grasp the idea of Trinity, as mentioned and explained in Chapter 6 of 15 (the audiobook). You say that God is ONE, and yet he is 3 distinct PERSONS. I can't see the logic behind this impossible equation 1 = 3.
How can anyone talk about (and claim) the contradictions in Quran while the heart of his religion (Trinity) is nothing but a huge contradiction?
The author doesn't understand Islam, but he's trying to explain it anyway. The result is a book full of suspicions and wrong ideas based on weak Hadiths and stories introduced to Islamic texts for this exact reason. Here are some of those examples:
- The idea that the Prophet tried to kill himself whenever Jibril (Gabriel) left for some time because he thought he was crazy : this never happened and it can't be true because if it was, why didn't he kill himself? Why did he continue talking to Gabriel and then "invented" the Quran and moved on if there was no "Gabriel" at all? This doesn't make sense to any Muslim.
- The event of the Satanic Verses is a big fantasy. There are multiple sources explaining that this never happened as the author quoted it.
The author focused only on those suspicious stories claimed by weak and unreliable sources while he left essential verses untouched.
If the Prophet Muhammad was just a simple man who wrote the Quran as a book of fiction, how does anyone explain the detailed verses about things a "simple man" would never know given the time he was living in?
How would he imagine what happens inside the womb of a woman (verses of human creation)? Muhammad wasn't a Doctor coming from the 21th century. Right? Neither was he a witch able to predict the future.
How could he imagine what's going on in the universe (planets, stars and others)? Wasn't he a simple man with no scientific degrees?
The list goes on and on.
August 22, 2017
Meget bra bok! Balansert, samtidig tydelig. Gav mye nyttig informasjon og er en fin introduksjon til apologetikk med fokus på islam. Dersom man ønsker å ta et dypdykk i islam-apologetikk vil denne eller Nabeel Qureshi sin "No God But One" være et fint sted å begynne for så å gå videre på andre litt spesifikke temaer. Anbefales!
January 23, 2016
Very helpful. Learned a whole lot. Here are a few interesting points to keep in mind when witnessing to a Muslim.
1. To a Muslim, the Old Testament (the Torah) is inspired. The Gospels are as well (although a Muslim would claim they have been corrupted over time so they aren't entirely reliable).
2. Mohammed believed (and wrote) that Christians twisted Jesus's message, and went from worshipping one God (Allah/Jehovah) to worshipping 3 Gods (a misunderstanding of the doctrine of the Trinity). However, and importantly, Mohammed was only very vaguely familiar with the doctrine of the Trinity. The Koran condemns followers of Jesus for worshipping these three gods: the Father (a term they would consider blasphemous), Jesus Christ, and Mary, mother of Jesus. The Koran misrepresents a doctrine that had been foundational to Christianity since it's beginning, and it is seemingly simply a misunderstanding of the doctrine.
3. Muslims point to textual criticism to argue that the New Testament is unreliable because of the number of variants. However, it is noteworthy that the Koran's distribution (before the advent of the printing press) was controlled and regulated. There is evidence that textual variants were widespread before Uthman (in A.D. 650, 18 years after the death of Mohammed) compiled the Koran from fragments. Contradictory versions were destroyed, and there are apparently portions that were lost before the compilation. Arguably, the Koran's accuracy is much less reliable than the New Testament's despite the fact that the NT has more (by orders of magnitude) manuscript evidence available today, since its distribution was never controlled (copies were made and distributed freely all across the known world).
A Christian should speak the truth in love when witnessing to a Muslim. And this book is full of helpful information to know when you have that opportunity.
1. To a Muslim, the Old Testament (the Torah) is inspired. The Gospels are as well (although a Muslim would claim they have been corrupted over time so they aren't entirely reliable).
2. Mohammed believed (and wrote) that Christians twisted Jesus's message, and went from worshipping one God (Allah/Jehovah) to worshipping 3 Gods (a misunderstanding of the doctrine of the Trinity). However, and importantly, Mohammed was only very vaguely familiar with the doctrine of the Trinity. The Koran condemns followers of Jesus for worshipping these three gods: the Father (a term they would consider blasphemous), Jesus Christ, and Mary, mother of Jesus. The Koran misrepresents a doctrine that had been foundational to Christianity since it's beginning, and it is seemingly simply a misunderstanding of the doctrine.
3. Muslims point to textual criticism to argue that the New Testament is unreliable because of the number of variants. However, it is noteworthy that the Koran's distribution (before the advent of the printing press) was controlled and regulated. There is evidence that textual variants were widespread before Uthman (in A.D. 650, 18 years after the death of Mohammed) compiled the Koran from fragments. Contradictory versions were destroyed, and there are apparently portions that were lost before the compilation. Arguably, the Koran's accuracy is much less reliable than the New Testament's despite the fact that the NT has more (by orders of magnitude) manuscript evidence available today, since its distribution was never controlled (copies were made and distributed freely all across the known world).
A Christian should speak the truth in love when witnessing to a Muslim. And this book is full of helpful information to know when you have that opportunity.
December 29, 2013
Foundational for Respectful Dialogue
"What Every Christian Should Know.." lays a foundation for Christians to begin to humbly and knowledgeably broach difficult topics with Muslim friends. Christians cannot engage without first having some background in Islamic ideology/theology as presented in the Qur'an. This book teaches a whole new vocabulary (you learn tons of Arabic terms without even realizing it!)and conveys a lot of history in a story-format that is readable and interesting. Even as a stay-at-home mom who has been out of the learning sphere for many years, I found this highly academic book challenging, yet very attainable and readable.
It's vital to look at this rapidly growing worldview through a lens of a Christian worldview, not so that we can accept it passively, but so that we can lovingly show its deep flaws and reveal the exciting Truth of the Gospel.
This book comes recommended by Rev. Albert Mohler, John MacArthur and Michael J. Kruger. I was given this book by the publisher to provide a non-biased review.
"What Every Christian Should Know.." lays a foundation for Christians to begin to humbly and knowledgeably broach difficult topics with Muslim friends. Christians cannot engage without first having some background in Islamic ideology/theology as presented in the Qur'an. This book teaches a whole new vocabulary (you learn tons of Arabic terms without even realizing it!)and conveys a lot of history in a story-format that is readable and interesting. Even as a stay-at-home mom who has been out of the learning sphere for many years, I found this highly academic book challenging, yet very attainable and readable.
It's vital to look at this rapidly growing worldview through a lens of a Christian worldview, not so that we can accept it passively, but so that we can lovingly show its deep flaws and reveal the exciting Truth of the Gospel.
This book comes recommended by Rev. Albert Mohler, John MacArthur and Michael J. Kruger. I was given this book by the publisher to provide a non-biased review.
May 6, 2025
Very good. White does an excellent job giving an overview of the Qur'an, while also focusing on several parts that most concern the interaction between Christianity and Islam. A couple chapters of the book are especially enlightening, particularly the chapter dealing with the Qur'an's apparently fundamental misunderstanding of the Trinity as being composed of the Father, the Son, and Mary (instead of the Holy Spirit). White's handling of textual criticism and comparison of the manuscript traditions of the Bible and the Qur'an is also helpful. A quick word of warning to the casual reader: the author is not afraid to get into the weeds of specific key issues. Part of this is simply because the Qur'an is inherently confusing, but part of it is a choice by White to go beyond the superficial. After all the book is called "What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an" not "The Qur'an Made Easy."
October 17, 2013
Tremendous book. Very well researched and written. Dr. White does an outstanding job of explaining the challenges of the Quran and the difficulties that text. He explained in a scholarlary and loving way the differences and errors in the Quran and by extension the concepts of Islam as relates to Jesus and Christianity as a whole. The work is a must read for Christians as a means to meaningfully interact with Islam and also for Muslims as a means to accuratley evaluate the text upon which their beliefs are based.
May 22, 2016
Great resource that highlights key inconsistencies of the Quran with Scripture from the Christian perspective.
May 18, 2022
This starts off as a fairly easy-going introduction to Islam, Muhammad, and the Qur'an, but quickly becomes incredibly information dense. At least for myself, as somebody still quite new to the Qur'an and Islamic history, I found some parts quite difficult to follow. Lots of names, locations, and events are brought in without a great deal of explanation as to who or what they are or why or if we should consider them weighty in our attempt to understand things.
That said, this is (I'm sure) a very valuable resource for any Christian looking to engage in apologetics or evangelism with Muslims. It has helped me understand a lot more about how the average Islamic mind views the Qur'an and the Bible (as well as their relationship). It also provides answers to many critical questions that I hear Muslims bring up in regard to Christianity and the Bible. I shall likely read it again in the future (once I'm more educated) in order to help give myself a more consolidated view on the Christian-Muslim dialogue.
That said, this is (I'm sure) a very valuable resource for any Christian looking to engage in apologetics or evangelism with Muslims. It has helped me understand a lot more about how the average Islamic mind views the Qur'an and the Bible (as well as their relationship). It also provides answers to many critical questions that I hear Muslims bring up in regard to Christianity and the Bible. I shall likely read it again in the future (once I'm more educated) in order to help give myself a more consolidated view on the Christian-Muslim dialogue.
July 20, 2023
I first read this book back in 2015 and I thought I would read it again.
My views has not changed. This is a very helpful midway book between introductory and scholarly that every Christian should read if you want to understand the worldview and mindsets of your Muslim neighbours when it comes to their faith and their somewhat perplexing attitude to the untouchable Koran
For instance I know may Muslims who want put a Koran on the floor. This is because the Koran itself is holy. It is an eternal document that Mohamed revived from Gabriel over a period of 22 years. In which he recited it to his followers and they memorised it. After Mohamed’s death. Uthman a follower of Mohamed got worried about losing the Koran and got them to write it down and burns differing copies and surats that where differing considerable to each other.
Like a say: a good mid way book to read. Every brother and sister should read this
My views has not changed. This is a very helpful midway book between introductory and scholarly that every Christian should read if you want to understand the worldview and mindsets of your Muslim neighbours when it comes to their faith and their somewhat perplexing attitude to the untouchable Koran
For instance I know may Muslims who want put a Koran on the floor. This is because the Koran itself is holy. It is an eternal document that Mohamed revived from Gabriel over a period of 22 years. In which he recited it to his followers and they memorised it. After Mohamed’s death. Uthman a follower of Mohamed got worried about losing the Koran and got them to write it down and burns differing copies and surats that where differing considerable to each other.
Like a say: a good mid way book to read. Every brother and sister should read this
March 17, 2020
Every Christian who really desire to engage Muslims with the Gospel should read it. James White did a really scholarly, well informed, fair, compassionate and biblical analysis of the Qur’an and Muslims’s claims.
Here’s a part of the conclusion that’s going to tell you something of the vast amount of topics you’ll read about in this book : « We have examined information relating to Muhammad, the beginnings of Islam, and the key theological areas of disagreement and division between Christians and Muslims as they are touched upon in the Qur’an. We have looked at the Qur’an’s history, the sources it drew from, and its own transmission over time. What then must we conclude? »
I so enjoyed it I read it in 6 days.
Here’s a part of the conclusion that’s going to tell you something of the vast amount of topics you’ll read about in this book : « We have examined information relating to Muhammad, the beginnings of Islam, and the key theological areas of disagreement and division between Christians and Muslims as they are touched upon in the Qur’an. We have looked at the Qur’an’s history, the sources it drew from, and its own transmission over time. What then must we conclude? »
I so enjoyed it I read it in 6 days.
July 25, 2019
After reading "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus" and"No God but One" by Nabeel Qureshi (both books which I highly recommend) I wanted to get a even deeper understanding of Islam.
I must say that James White did a phenominal job in writing this book. He cover a lot of different topics in depth, with many references. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is looking into understanding Islam better and why we as Christians still can rely on the Bible and in Jesus name.
I must say that James White did a phenominal job in writing this book. He cover a lot of different topics in depth, with many references. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is looking into understanding Islam better and why we as Christians still can rely on the Bible and in Jesus name.
November 17, 2023
The other day, I got in an evangelistic conversation with two brilliant Muslim students on campus. Although I think I did a good job helping them to think more carefully about the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and the Christian doctrine of salvation, I wasn't as prepared as I would have liked to answer some of their accusations of the corruption of the New Testament and the 'perfection' of the Qur'an's transmission.
This book was massively helpful for growing in that skill. It was readable for a newcomer to the Qur'an and focused in on some key apologetic angles to take with Muslim interlocutors. I'm having dinner with one of those students tonight, so I pray I can share Christ well!
This book was massively helpful for growing in that skill. It was readable for a newcomer to the Qur'an and focused in on some key apologetic angles to take with Muslim interlocutors. I'm having dinner with one of those students tonight, so I pray I can share Christ well!
April 24, 2025
I think this was a phenomenal book. Although very dense, I think the author does a great job at providing sources and citations with proper context when it came to helping Christians understand the Quran. I also think it does a good job at fairly analyzing the Quran and the Hadith. This resulted in pages of long discourse which felt rather academic at times, yet helpful when understanding such a complex Religion.
Gentle, Bold, and Confident is how the author approaches this book.
Gentle, Bold, and Confident is how the author approaches this book.
July 27, 2017
A helpful overview of the Quran from a Christian perspective that is authoritative and fair in its criticisms of the sacred Islamic text.
Although it is sometimes dry and repetitive, the book is incredibly educational. White book quotes large swaths of the Quran and has footnotes that make up nearly ⅓ of the book.
It's incredibly well researched and can help any Christian better understand the Quran and how to dialogue with Muslims about faith.
Although it is sometimes dry and repetitive, the book is incredibly educational. White book quotes large swaths of the Quran and has footnotes that make up nearly ⅓ of the book.
It's incredibly well researched and can help any Christian better understand the Quran and how to dialogue with Muslims about faith.
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