Did Muhammad believe in women’s rights? The article I wrote for the Christian Research Journal broaches the subject and asks harder questions for this difficult subject matter. Christian Research Institute Director, Hank Hanegraaff (“The Bible Answer Man”), interviewed me today about this article. Click HERE for the link to the MP3. To purchase the journal or to become a subscriber, click HERE.
Quick update. Aramaic Broadcasting Network (ABN) invited me to participate in their “Jesus or Muhammad” Apologetics Series these past three days (November 27th – 29th). David Wood, Sam Shamoun and many others covered various topics. The three I participated in were:
1. “The Current Persecution of Christians in Iraq” 2. “The View of Women in Islam” 3. “Was Muhammad Foretold in the Bible?”
My husband grabbed a couple of short clips:
Correction to the Surah 61:6, “Ahmed” versus “Muhammad” section: It is the Hilali-Khan translation that inserts “Muhammad” for Ahmed. Yusuf Ali translates the name of the Apostle as “Ahmad,” Pickthall translates the name as “Praised One.”
A caller on the show said this is a mistranslation and misinterpretation by some Muslims. However, the verses following Surah 61:6 of the Qur’an have strong indication that this “Ahmad” is Muhammad:
Surah 61:6 – And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: “O Children of Israel! I am the apostle of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of an Apostle to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.” But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, “this is evident sorcery!”
Surah 61: 9 – It is He Who has sent His Apostle with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).
Surah 61:10 – O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty? Surah 61:11 – That ye believe in Allah and His Apostle, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew! If this passage from Surah 61: 6-11 is not referring to Muhammad as the messenger or apostle of Allah, then to whom is it referring? Now I see why the Hilali-Khan translation makes this connection between Ahmad and Muhammad. Otherwise, it appears as though you have another messenger or apostle of the Religion of Truth that you must believe in to save you from a grievous penalty in Islam other than “Allah and His Apostle,” the apostle mentioned by Jesus in Surah 61:6.
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My review of David Wood and Ali Ataie’s debate at the University of California is up on the Answering Islam website.
Here’s a quick preview:
“The main objective of this debate was to take a critical look at the prophet of Islam, Muhammad. David Wood, the Christian apologist, began the debate with a warning that ‘this is not going to be pretty’ and that this would be no ‘interfaith picnic.’ He foreshadowed two-hours of swift, aggressive jousting between two apologists that was enjoyable to the end. One prominent feature of this debate was the personal nature of the material as it related to the two men. For Wood, the material was based on the study of Islam he labored through with his best friend Nabeel, who was a Muslim. For Ali Ataie, the Muslim apologist, the material was central to his own beloved faith….”
For the full article on Answering Islamclick here.
If you are interested in a really fast-paced debate with two well-prepared scholars, I must recommend this recent debate between Christian apologist, David Wood, and Muslim apologist, Ali Ataie, at the University of California, Davis. The debate was sponsored by the Muslim Student Association, Campus Life, and Campus Crusade for Christ.
These two apologists reject political correctness to get at the heart of the issues surrounding Muhammad’s character, the scientific evidence for the Qur’an, the reasons Christians reject Muhammad as a prophet, and the material from the earliest Muslim manuscripts.
At the beginning of the debate, Wood cordially suggests that this will be no “interfaith picnic” and that the debate is not going to be “pretty.” His descriptive foreshadowing of the two hours ahead is spot on. Wood proceeds to lay out a series of arguments against the character of Muhammad and against the trustworthiness of the argument from scientific evidence and from literary excellence. Ataie responds with a rejection of the source material Wood is quoting, calling Wood’s arguments a “smokescreen” and pointing the finger back at the character of Jesus. In the end, though, Wood’s arguments go unanswered. Ataie spends more time attempting (but not succeeding) to build a similar case against the character of Jesus than he spends on defense of the character of the prophet Muhammad.
The debate is available on DVD from Amazon.com. For more information on how to purchase a copy click here.
