When Muslims over and over are citing the fact that if you take two different Bibles from anywhere in the world, they will be different... can you explain?
Do you mean that if you take two different TRANSLATIONS they will be different? If 50 different people translated the Quran from Arabic into English so I could read it, would every one of them be exactly the same? I don't know Arabic... do you know Greek and Hebrew?
I feel like this is common sense. You really think that Jewish and Christian scholars weren't careful in their copying of their holy books and that no one would notice discrepancies?
As far as the original Biblical texts (which span many many centuries from the old testament to the new testament), these are all unaltered. We have ancient manuscripts to check the original content, just like Muslims have ancient copies of the Quran they could look at to make such a claim.
Are Muslims missing something here?
2006-12-04 08:10:13 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
science -- The Bible is translated into so many languages so that more and more people can READ it. How do you fault this? As far as memorizing the Quran, I don't see how that makes a difference in this discussion. However, I do want to point out that there are 800,000 words in the King James Bible, as opposed to 77,000 in the Quran. Is it possible for someone to memorize the whole thing? I'm not sure. Also, as far as different interpretations of the Bible, this is certainly true, and debatable within the Christian church. However, I ask you, do all Muslims interpret the Quran the same? If yes, then I assume you are cool with all of the suicide bombers, right?
2006-12-04 09:10:31 · update #1
As a muslim, all I can really say is....... ouch...... touche.
There are several translations of the Qu'ran and they, too, have slightly different wording, that can alter an english speaking person's interpretation. That's why it's encouraged to learn Quranic arabic, to get the full meaning and subtle nuance that only the original language can provide.
As a muslim, I would like to be able to stand up in righteous indignation and refute what you say, but, .. umm..... err........ you actually have a valid point. The original Arabic does exist unchanged, but like you, I don't speak (or read) Arabic except for being able to recite a few chapters for prayer.
One thing I can refute though, (even though it's not your main point) is that there have been things added and taken from the original bible..... BUT... I agree that the basic message is the same, and the basic message of the Quran is the same as the old testament! I wish more people understood this. Same God, same message, different words and languages for different people.
As a muslim, I do want to thank you for asking this question in a respectful manner. Peace.
Gary claims to know what "most muslims". have read...... I doubt it. Gary is spouting.
Fish hasn't a clue that in fact MOST muslims DO read their Qur'an, at least once in it's entirety every Ramadan, as well as daily recitations for prayer, and daily readings. It's a REQUIREMENT of Islam. Many of us have read the bible as well, myself for one.
2006-12-04 08:29:40 · answer #1 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In Islam- the Quran is the oldest still existing unaltered written speech of God, even if all, God forbide, even if all Qurans of the world were destroyed Islam would live on because people memorize the book so well and its words are pure to the soul, yes there translations into different languages but it is not altered in its theories, statements nor qoutes
unlike the bible which is translated into like every language of the world by several different scholars who do in fact change the text/// are christians missing something here?
2006-12-04 16:58:38 · answer #2 · answered by dreamz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Comparing two different INTERPRETATIONS’ of the Quran would not be different why? Because they mean the same thing, they aren’t translations but interpretations so its their own way of explaining the same thing.
Why interpretation well you need to do more than just read a chapter in the Quran, It can take weeks going through one small chapter because the Arabic text in the Quran is in great detail. Therefore those english Qurans we see today are just summarized points of a person interpretation.
When we say compare 2 bibles and they will be different, we then obviously mean the message they both convey are different.
We believe the Gospel and Torah are books from Allah (God) but hey were changed.
2006-12-04 16:20:18 · answer #3 · answered by Farhan 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
First of all, Yes, there are thousands of manuscripts in existence today, so that muslims can freely check for themselves its original content. Thus the differences in "Bibles" has nothing to do with its translations, but rather its languages. Over time, the Bible (or Scriptures) had to be translated into thier differrent languages to meet the needs of the common people so that they can be read. For example, that of the english language, which has been change over time to what we are a custom with.
Overall, the Bible stood against all odds and has kept its originality. The true God made sure of that.
2 Tim. 3:16, 17: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.”
We would expect God’s message to all mankind to be available around the globe. The Bible, the whole or in part, has been translated into some 1,800 languages. Its circulation totals in the billions. Says The World Book Encyclopedia: “The Bible is the most widely read book in history. It is probably also the most influential. More copies have been distributed of the Bible than of any other book. It has also been translated more times into more languages than ANY other book.”—(1984), Vol. 2, p. 219.
How can we be sure the Bible has not been changed?
“In the number of ancient MSS. [manuscripts] attesting a writing, and in the number of years that had elapsed between the original and the attesting MSS., the Bible enjoys a decided advantage over classical writings [those of Homer, Plato, and others]. . . . Altogether classical MSS. are but a handful compared with Biblical. No ancient book is so well attested as the Bible.”—The Bible From the Beginning (New York, 1929), P. Marion Simms, pp. 74, 76.
A report published in 1971 shows that there are possibly 6,000 handwritten copies containing all or part of the Hebrew Scriptures; the oldest dates back to the third century B.C.E. Of the Christian Greek Scriptures, there are some 5,000 in Greek, the oldest dating back to the beginning of the second century C.E. There are also many copies of early translations into other languages.
In the introduction to his seven volumes on The Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri, Sir Frederic Kenyon wrote: “The first and most important conclusion derived from the examination of them [the papyri] is the satisfactory one that they confirm the essential soundness of the existing texts. No striking or fundamental variation is shown either in the Old or the New Testament. There are no important omissions or additions of passages, and no variations which affect vital facts or doctrines. The variations of text affect minor matters, such as the order of words or the precise words used . . . But their essential importance is their confirmation, by evidence of an earlier date than was hitherto available, of the integrity of our existing texts.”—(London, 1933), p. 15.
It is true that some translations of the Bible adhere more closely to what is in the original languages than others do. (Ex. Like the New Worlds Translation) Modern paraphrase Bibles have taken liberties that at times alter the original meaning. Some translators have allowed personal beliefs to color their renderings. But these weaknesses can be identified by comparison of a variety of translations.
Unlike the "Quran", The Bible prophecy explains the meaning of world conditions: it foretold these conditions long ago; it explains their meaning and what the outcome will be. (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Luke 21:25-31) It tells what we must do in order to survive the impending world destruction, with the opportunity to gain eternal life under righteous conditions here on earth.—Zeph. 2:3; John 17:3; Ps. 37:10, 11, 29.
The Bible enables us to understand the purpose of life: It answers such questions as: Where did life come from? (Acts 17:24-26) Why are we here? Is it just to live a few years, get what we can out of life, and then die?—Gen. 1:27, 28; Rom. 5:12; John 17:3; Ps. 37:11; Ps. 40:8.
The Bible shows how we can have the very things that lovers of righteousness desire most: It tells us where to find wholesome associates who truly love one another (John 13:35), what can give assurance that we will have sufficient food for ourselves and our families (Matt. 6:31-33; Prov. 19:15; Eph. 4:28), how we can be happy in spite of difficult conditions that surround us.—Ps. 1:1, 2; 34:8; Luke 11:28; Acts 20:35.
It explains that God’s Kingdom, his government, will remove the present wicked system (Dan. 2:44), and under its rule mankind will be able to enjoy perfect health and eternal life.—Rev. 21:3, 4; compare Isaiah 33:24.
In conclusion, surely a book that claims to be from God, that explains both the meaning of world conditions and the purpose of life, and that shows how our problems will be solved is worthy of consideration.
2006-12-04 16:43:15 · answer #4 · answered by jvitne 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are missing something. But no one can actually tell the "differences". Even if its proved that the oldest Bible Copy is the same as today's. Even Mohammed himself told them to listen to the "People of the Book" and the Quran tells them the Bible is not changed. They are ignorant. The oldest copy of the Bible is from 1000 before Christ. The Dead Sea Scrolls written 100 Years after Christ confirm the old Scriptures and the Bible today is the same. It is proof that God kept his Message from the beginning to this day.
2006-12-04 16:32:12 · answer #5 · answered by Sternchen 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Farhan!
There is no proof that any part of the Old testament has been changed from the original,,,,NONE!
Muslims often criticize the Bible because of the different versions while the Quran can have thousands of different interpretations..so whats the difference?
2006-12-04 16:33:52 · answer #6 · answered by Roxton P 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
ok you're right but what do you say about the contradictions found in gosples .for example one of them says do that en the other says do not .
have you yourself really read the the bible carefully ... ?
there're totally 40 ( some say 128 ) gosples en hundreds of christian texts found so far , en luke,john,mattew en mark were choosed and others were banned by the church , how can you prove these four are really the words of god and why those 40 ( or 128 ) books can not be the words of god ?
i can show you some contradictions in gosples if you do like .
peace be upon you all .
2006-12-04 16:46:04 · answer #7 · answered by Perekletes 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People who say the Bibles are different are speaking out of their ***es. They have no idea what they are talking about. The Greek and Hebrew texts have 14,000 ancient manuscripts to verify their authenticity. The Iliad has only 642.
People are spewing this lie in order to get fools to believe it. Next time, ask them to "Prove it."
2006-12-04 16:16:15 · answer #8 · answered by ___ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most Muslims have never read the bible and are only repeating what they have heard from some one else ...usually some Muslim nonsense about too many translations.
" You shall die in your sins if you believe not that I am He (the messiah)". - Jesus Christ
" He that has see me has seen the Father" - Jesus (Jn. 14:9
" I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life; no man can come to the Father except through me". -- Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6)
" In Him is the fullness of the Godhead bodily".(Col. 2:9)
2006-12-04 16:15:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Most Muslims haven't read their own bible much less the real Bible. They find their own bible does not address practical issues so they made up other books to explain what they couldn't understand in the first place.
2006-12-04 16:27:16 · answer #10 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋