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Quran Issues:

Missing Details

 

Question: Is the Quran a detailed explanation of all things?

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Overview

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​​The Quran (6:114-115 & 12:111) claims to be a detailed explanation of all things. However, many important details about the Quran and the Islamic religion are not found in the Quran. The following are several examples.​​

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  • The Five Pillars: The Quran does not say that the Islamic religion is built on five pillars of belief and practice (The Declaration of Faith, Prayer, Giving, Fasting & Pilgrimage).​

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  • The Declaration of Faith: The Quran does not contain the Shahadah or say that the Shahadah is an Islamic initiation rite.

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  • Prayer: The Quran does not say that Muslims should pray five times each day or specify how Muslims should pray.

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  • Circumcision: The Quran does not say that male children should be circumcised.​​

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  • Moses & The Torah: The Quran does not say that God gave the Torah to Moses. Instead, the Quran says that Moses was given a book or the scripture but does not specify that this book or scripture was the Torah.​​​​

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  • Jesus & The Gospel: The Quran does not say when or where Jesus was born, where Jesus lived and ministered, what language Jesus spoke, who the disciples of Jesus were, what was contained in the book or revelation given to Jesus, or what it means for Jesus to be the Messiah. These details can only be found in the Bible. This means that Muslims need the Bible to understand the historical life and ministry of Jesus. It should be noted too that the New Testament was written shortly after the lifetime of Jesus and six hundred years before the Quran, which explains why the Bible (in contrast to the Quran) provides more accurate and detailed information about Jesus.​​

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  • Muhammad & The Quran: The Quran does not say when or where Muhammad was born or provide biographical information about Muhammad. These details are necessary because certain passages in the Quran were given in response to specific situations that arose during Muhammad's lifetime. This means that Muslims must rely on later and non-inspired sources (the hadith collections and tafsir commentaries) for the historical information needed to interpret the Quran correctly. The Quran also does not outline the number of chapters it should contain, the number of verses that comprise each chapter and in what order it should be organised. Muslims are again reliant on later and non-inspired sources for this information.

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  • The Angel Gabriel: The Quran does not say that the Angel Gabriel communicated to Muhammad the revelations of God or that the Angel Gabriel is the holy spirit (a common belief held by Muslims).

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These considerations highlight that the Quran is not a detailed explanation of all things. Instead, Muslims are reliant on later and non-inspired sources (and not the Quran) for many of the core beliefs of the Islamic religion. For instance, both Muhammad al-Bukhari (810 - 870 AD) and Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (815 - 870 AD) compiled their hadith collections two hundred years after the lifetime of Muhammad (570 - 632 AD), and Ibn Kathir (1300 - 1373 AD) wrote his tafsir commentary seven hundred years after Muhammad. Without sources such as these, as well as earlier Jewish and Christian sources, much of the Islamic religion would be missing. It is also significant that Muslims disagree about which sources are accurate and should be used to understand the Quran and the life of Muhammad. This information can be cited when Muslims claim that the New Testament cannot be trusted because it was allegedly written by non-inspired authors after the lifetime of Jesus.

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Quran Passages​

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The Quran 6:114-115 (Sahih International)

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(114) [Say], "Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?" And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters. (115) And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can alter His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

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The Quran 12:111 (Sahih International)

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(111) There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur'an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.​​​​​​

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