Islam: Muhammad's Fatal Mistake

Much like the bible, the Quran is dependent on the truthfulness of its teachings.  The source of the Quran's teachings is claimed divine.  Divine truths can not contradict other known truths or false in its teachings and this must be true for the Quran to be true (Quran 2:256).

It is clear the church taught The Trinity when Muhammad was having the Quran written.  The teaching of the Trinity is found all over the bible and the doctrine of the trinity was described in mid 4th century.  Orthodox Christianity has always taught that the Trinity is simply this:  One God made up of three unique equal 'persons'; God the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.  One Triune God.  This is evident from all the early church writings and councils long before the creation of the Quran.

The Quran on the other hand runs into a big problem in its record of what Christianity taught and claimed.  In fact, Muhammad miss understood the doctrine of the Trinity found in the bible and taught for hundreds of years before him.  His misunderstanding and ignorance is recorded in the Quran.

The Trinity

Quran 4:171

The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three";

Quran 5:73, 75

They have certainly disbelieved who say, " Allah is the third of three." And there is no god except one God...The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth.

Quran 5:116

And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah ?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. 

Quran 19:88

And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son."

Muhammad thought that Christianity believed in 3 gods (Q4:171; 5:73) and one of them was Mary (Q5:116).  Then some how thought that God the Father later made Jesus, the Son of God (Q19:88).  Christianity taught the Singular Triune God and His three distinct 'persons'; The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

This is a major problem for the Quran.  It makes false assumptions about Christianity.  It incorrectly characterizes Christianity.  It's claims of what Christians believe is incorrect.  It contradicts what orthodox Christianity truly taught.  Thus; these verses in the Quran are proven false in incorrect.

Muhammad failed to correctly characterize and summarize the teachings of Christianity.  Either His divine source is ignorant or He is.  Either way; the Quran is ignorant and falsely accuses Christianity of teachings it does not teach.

The Death of Jesus

Quran 4:157

"Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.

This theory is problematic for Muhammad. 

There is ample evidence greater than what is claimed in the Quran from other non believers of Jesus that Jesus was in fact killed.

The Talmud Sanhedrin (43a)

"Jesus was hanged on Passover Eve. Forty days previously the herald had cried, “He is being led out for stoning, because he has practiced sorcery and led Israel astray and enticed them into apostasy. Whosoever has anything to say in his defense, let him come and declare it.” As nothing was brought forward in his defense, he was hanged on Passover Eve."

This record was written closer to the historical event and before the Quran.  It is also written by Jewish non Christian author. 

Cornelius Tacitus (c. A.D. 55-120)

"the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius"

This record was recorded not very long after the event so the author could have even talk to eye witnesses or seen actual records for himself.  Not to mention he is a non Christian Roman historian. 

Mara Bar-Serapion

“What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their King? It was just after that that their kingdom was abolished.”

This record was from a Syrian Philosopher in a letter to his son around 70 AD.

There are many more historical examples that contradict the claims found in the Quran.  Josephus and other Talmud references.  The evidence is greater than the claim found in the Quran of which there is none for support.  Muhammad's claim contradicts history.

In Conclusion:

Because the Quran incorrectly understands and mischaracterizes the teachings of Christianity; this alone reveals is faulty author and/or source.  Secondly it conflicts with known history as recorded by anti Christian sources like Jews and Romans.  The claims itself can not be supported except from its own proven faulty author or source.