Paul vs. Muhammad

1. Paul vs. Muhammad Who’s telling the truth about Jesus?

2. Paul was a brilliant scholar, who knew all of the relevant languages. Muhammad was an illiterate caravan trader, who knew none of the relevant languages.

3. Paul was a contemporary of Jesus. Muhammad wasn’t.

4. Paul tested his revelations. Muhammad didn’t.

5. Testing Revelations “Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.” —Galatians 2:1-2

6. Testing Revelations “But if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to you, ask those who read the Book before you; certainly the truth has come to you from your Lord, therefore you should not be of the disputers.” —Qur’an 10:94

7. History confirms Paul’s view of Jesus, not Muhammad’s view of Jesus.

8. Historical Confirmation “Jesus’ death as a consequence of crucifixion is indisputable.” —Gerd Lüdemann “There is not the slightest doubt about the fact of Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius Pilate.” —John Dominic Crossan “One of the most certain facts of history is that Jesus was crucified on orders of the Roman prefect of Judea, Pontius Pilate.” —Bart Ehrman

9. Muhammad lived a morally reprehensible life. Paul didn’t.

10. Paul endured greater persecution than Muhammad.

11. Historical Confirmation “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” —2 Corinthians 11:23-27

12. Paul performed miracles. Muhammad didn’t.

13. Miracles “And they say: ‘Why has not a sign been sent down to him from his Lord?’ Say: ‘Surely Allah is able to send down a sign, but most of them do not know.’” —Qur’an 6:37 “And they say: ‘Why is not a sign sent to him from his Lord?’ Say: ‘The unseen is only for Allah; therefore wait—surely I too, with you am of those who wait.’” —Qur’an 10:20 “And those who disbelieve say: ‘Why has not a sign been sent down upon him from his Lord?’ You are only a warner and (there is) a guide for every people.” —Qur’an 13:7

14. Miracles “And those who disbelieve say: ‘Why is not a sign sent down upon him by his Lord?’ Say: ‘Surely Allah makes him who will go astray, and guides to Himself those who turn (to him).’” —Qur’an 13:27 “And nothing could have hindered Us that We should send signs except that the ancients rejected them; and We gave to Samood the she-camel—a manifest sign—but on her account they did injustice, and We do not send signs but to make (men) fear.” —Qur’an 17:59

15. Miracles “And they say: ‘Why are not signs sent down upon him from his Lord?’ Say: ‘The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a plain warner.’ Is it not enough for them that We have revealed to you the Book which is recited to them? Most surely there is mercy in this and a reminder for a people who believe.” —Qur’an 29:50-51

16. Muhammad was spiritually disturbed. Paul wasn’t.

17. Paul died an honorable death as a martyr. Muhammad died a disgraceful death as a false prophet.

18. The Death of Muhammad “And if he (Muhammad) had forged a false saying concerning Us We surely should have seized him by his right hand (or with power and might), and then certainly should have cut off his life artery (Aorta).” —Qur’an 69:44-46 (Hilali-Khan) “And if he had fabricated against Us some of the sayings, We would certainly have seized him by the right hand, then We would certainly have cut off his aorta.” —Qur’an 69:44-46 (Shakir)

19. The Death of Muhammad “And had he, namely, the Prophet, fabricated any lies against Us, by communicating from Us that which We have not said, We would have assuredly seized him, We would have exacted vengeance [against him], as punishment, by the Right Hand, by [Our] strength and power; then We would have assuredly severed his life-artery, the aorta of the heart, a vein that connects with it, and which if severed results in that person’s death.” —Tafsir Jalalayn on Qur’an 69:44-46

20. The Death of Muhammad “The Prophet in his ailment in which he died, used to say, ‘O Aishah! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaibar, and at this time, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison.’” —Sahih al-Bukhari 4428 “The Messenger of God said during the illness from which he died—the mother of Bishr had come in to visit him—‘Umm Bishr, at this very moment I feel my aorta being severed because of the food I ate with your son at Khaybar.’” —At-Tabari, Volume 8, p. 124

21. The Death of Muhammad “Umm Bishr said to the Prophet during the sickness of which he died: ‘What do you think about your illness, Apostle of Allah? I do not think about the illness of my son except the poisoned sheep of which he had eaten with you at Khaibar.’ The Prophet said: ‘And I do not think about my illness except that. This is the time when it cut off my aorta.’” —Sunan Abu Dawud 4449

22. The Qur’an affirms the reliability of Paul, but Paul condemns Muhammad.

23. The Qur’an Affirms Paul “O you who believe! be helpers (in the cause) of Allah, as Jesus son of Mary said to (his) disciples: ‘Who are my helpers in the cause of Allah?’ The disciples said: ‘We are helpers (in the cause) of Allah.’ So a party of the children of Israel believed and another party disbelieved; then We aided those who believed against their enemy, and they became uppermost.” —Qur’an 61:14

24. The Qur’an Affirms Paul “It was said that this verse was revealed about the apostles of Jesus, may peace and blessing be upon him. Ibn Ishaq stated that of the apostles and disciples that Jesus sent (to preach) there were Peter and Paul who went to Rome . . .” —Qurtubi on Qur’an 61:14

25. The Qur’an Affirms Paul “A portion of the Children of Israel—the one that really cared for the Truth—believed in Jesus and followed his guidance. But the greater portion of them were hard hearted, and remained in their beaten track of formalism and false racial pride. The majority seemed at first to have the upper hand when they thought they had crucified Jesus and killed his Message. But they were soon brought to their senses. Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus in A.D. 70 and the Jews have been scattered ever since. “The Wandering Jew” has become a byword in many literatures. On the other hand, those who followed Jesus permeated the Roman Empire, brought many new races within their circle, and through the Roman Empire, Christianity became the predominant religion of the world until the advent of Islam.” —Yusuf Ali on Qur’an 61:14

26. Paul Condemns Muhammad “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” —Galatians 1:8-9

27. Muhammad’s message self-destructs. Paul’s doesn’t.

28. Muhammad’s message insults Jesus and God. Paul’s doesn’t.

29. QUESTIONS?