Today, suras 61-114

Today we walk quickly through 44 suras, most of which are very small, and have no new material for us to ponder.

Sura 61 finds us back in Medina, putting words into the mouth of the prophet Isa, whom we are supposed to believe is our Jesus. "O children of Israel, surely I am a messenger of Allah to you... to give you the good news of a messenger who will come after me. His name is Ahmad [Muhammad]." It is clear that the Bible does not predict Muhammad. So any prediction will have to be placed in the Koran. Here it is. Bold and brash, as so many of the claims of this religion. Messengers have come after Jesus. In one sense, you and I are His messengers. So is the Holy Spirit. Elijah the prophet will come. But no other person is called by name. Surely not one who doesn't even believe the message. The message of salvation, the message of atonement... Not Muhammad.

Friday as a special day of prayer is alluded to in Sura 62.

In sura 65, a special rule for divorce is given. In order to "depart from them in kindness," you are to divorce them during their menstrual period. Also in 65, we learn that Allah has created not only seven heavens, as opposed to the Bible's three, but seven earths also.

Matters from Muhammad's personal life are dealt with in sura 67. He is told that since some of his wives were really bad, he is justified in divorcing them, and should not be so hard on himself. "Why do you forbid what Allah has made lawful to you?" Allah promises that he will give Muhammad better wives in exchange. Next, another Medinan call to jihad against infidels. "Be harsh against them," is added to this one. And for examples of how infidels ought to be punished, he brings up the hitherto-unknown fact that not only Lot's wife, but Noah's, too, was an infidel. Both entered the fire of hell. But Pharaoh's wife got the message and was actually saved. Sura 67 lets us in on the secret of the stars. Stars are actually "missiles for the satans." Usama Dakdok suggests that angels used these stars (called shooting stars in chapter 37) to cast satans out of heaven.

Another word of encouragement comes to the prophet in sura 68. "You are not demon-possessed," says Allah to his messenger, "and surely you have great morals."

In chapters 73 and 74, Muhammad is addressed as the "wrapped" one and the "cloaked" one, alluding to the fact, possibly, that Muhammad was extensively covered during his times of receiving revelations. Some say he went into convulsions during these times, a state not unlike the reports we have heard of occult manifestations.

At the end of 75, Muhammad is chided for reciting too fast, and "you neglect the hereafter." Take your time. Be sure they get every word of what I am saying.

Another "repeating" sura is number 77. Echoed every few lines is : "Woe on that day to those who consider it [the recitation] a lie!"

Reading, reading, I find nothing new from here until sura 98, where there is a new comment on the people of the book. Those Christians and Jews who become infidel will not only "abide in the fire of hell forever," but "those are the worst of the creatures." This is how a true Muslim must view his world. All but Muslims are lost forever. And of these, the worst are the children of Israel and believers in the Jewish Messiah. Is there any question as to what the Middle East is about? Lots of "true Muslims" over there. And coming here.

Reading, reading. Sura 105 is worthy of note. Flocks of birds are seen throwing rocks made of clay onto the "companions" of elephants. That's the literal. We can hope there is a deeper meaning in the interpretation.

In 108, whoever hates a Muslim will be childless.

I find in 109 a verse that I can only imagine is quoted in the West quite a bit, and no doubt clung to by those who want only peace: "Infidels, I do not serve what you serve, and you do not serve what I serve... to you your religion and to me is my religion." Fair enough. But you and I have now read the Koran. We know that that verse, written in Mecca, has been abrogated long ago. Tolerance, co-existence, that's only for the Muslim in minority, struggling for a foothold. We know what Muslims are told to do when they are on the other side of power.

Why, in the very next sura, 110, written in Medina, there is talk of the coming conquest. All out jihad. And of course Islamic victory worldwide.

Even in Mecca, be careful. Even if you are family. Sura 111. Muhammad's uncle Abu Lahab would not accept Islam, and became a serious threat to Muhammad. So, says Allah, "Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and he will perish... he will roast in a flaming fire, and his wife will be a carrier of firewood..."

Is there no light at the end of this tunnel? We approach the end of the Koran, sura 112. "Allah does not birth, neither was he birthed, and there is no one equal to him." Islam must ignore the statement of Jesus, "I and My Father are one." No, no light here.

Sura 113? Here Allah is called the "lord of the daybreak," but also the creator of evil. No, nothing in the final sura, either. Muhammad in both of these sections is seeking refuge in Allah. We are left to wonder if he ever found it. For us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

So we end our survey of the Koran. I did not make you a scholar. I'm not one either. This was a bit of an experiment for me. Can I go into the unknown armed only with the Word of the living God? Can I recognize error because He has taught me truth? I believe so.

I'm sure that if a Muslim discovers my work, he will tell me I must become an expert in Arabic and that I must study with a Muslim to discover the truth. But I have already discovered the truth, Jesus, and He is enough. I certainly have grave respect for the apologists among us who have entered this struggle from the academic point of view. What I read of them lets me know that I have nothing to fear in terms of truth from challenges of Islam. I simply wanted to see for myself what it said, and pass that info to you. God's sheep will hear God's voice. We cling to Jesus and His Word. Nevertheless, with so many people in the world who give lip-service to this faith, it certainly is wise to know what it says from its original sources.

Some of you may be a bit disappointed that I did not cover those parts of the Koran that seem to be manifested in modern Islam. The fact is, much of modern Islam is based on the "hadith", the documents that tell the stories of the life of Muhammad, and not on the Koran. The study of the hadith is tricky beyond measure. They were written hundreds of years after the fact. There were no eyewitnesses. They contradict the Koran at times. They contradict each other! I will not even attempt to tell you how many there are, because Islam disputes that. Different denominations of Muslims have different collections they consider valid. Some honor only the Koran, and no hadith at all. No one accords to the hadith the Divine character of the Koran, yet for many, the reality is close thereto. Some hadith make Muhammad nearly Divine himself.

Anyway, for a person who wants a fuller picture of Islam, I strongly suggest a comprehensive biography of Muhammad by a Muslim scholar who is generally accepted throughout the Islamic community. Such an author will surely incorporate those hadith that are generally the most helpful.

So what have we learned in these 36 lessons? Better to address that question with positive Christian teachings that will counter Islam's errors:

1. Our Bible is the very Word of the living God. Nothing can be added or subtracted. 2. Jesus is the Son of that living God. Jesus is God the Son. 3. Salvation is by grace, through faith. 4. God wants all people to be saved. Really. 5. Our mission is spiritual, not military. 8. There is no condemnation in Jesus Christ. 9. Jesus is the first and the LAST. 10. Anyone who preaches any other gospel, though it be an angel from heaven, is accursed.

As you see, most of the foundational subject matter of our faith is assailed by Islam. There is no way the challenge this religion presents can be ignored. I ask you to pray seriously, and perhaps become a part of the reaching of Muslims with the love of God. You can imagine how much some of them will appreciate being delivered from this darkness and hate.