The Islamic Dilemma: A Roadmap to This Series
What This Series Will Cover — and Why It Matters
Why This Series Exists
For many years, Christians and Muslims have discussed an important question:
What does the Qur’an really say about the Torah and the Gospel?
Some Muslims argue that the Bible has been corrupted.
Christians often respond that the Qur’an actually affirms the Bible.
This discussion usually turns emotional very quickly. That is not the goal here.
This series is not written to attack Muslims. It is not meant to mock Islamic belief. Instead, it is a careful, internal examination of what the Qur’an itself says about previous Scripture.
We will look directly at the text.
We will use primary sources.
We will explain key Arabic terms clearly.
We will move step by step.
The goal is clarity.
If the Qur’an affirms the Torah and Gospel, and if it also says God’s words cannot be changed, then we must ask what happens when the Qur’an contradicts those same Scriptures.
That tension is often called the Islamic Dilemma.
What Is the Islamic Dilemma?
In its simplest form, the dilemma looks like this:
The Qur’an affirms the Torah and Gospel.
The Qur’an says God’s words cannot be changed.
The Qur’an contradicts key teachings found in the Torah and Gospel.
All three of those statements cannot be true at the same time.
Something must give.
Either:
The Bible was preserved,
The Bible was corrupted,
Or the claim that God’s words cannot be changed is incorrect.
This series will examine each of these possibilities carefully.
How This Series Is Organized
This is a multi-part series designed to build logically and slowly. Each article builds on the previous one. Readers are encouraged to follow in order.
Part 1 — Foundations
Article 1 — The Unchanging Word of God
When God speaks, can His words be altered?We will begin by examining what both the Bible and the Qur’an say about the nature of God’s word. Can it be changed? Can it fail?
Article 2 — What Is the Islamic Dilemma?
A logical problem inside the Qur’an itself.Here we will clearly define the dilemma in logical terms before examining any specific verses.
Purpose of Part 1:
Lay theological groundwork before discussing contradictions.
Part 2 — What the Qur’an Affirms
Article 3 — “What Is With Them”
Did Jews and Christians possess Scripture in Muhammad’s time?We will examine Arabic phrases such as “what is with them” and “between his hands” to understand whether the Qur’an refers to real, existing Scriptures in the 7th century.
Article 4 — Let Them Judge by It
Why Qur’an 5:47 creates a serious problem for the corruption claim.The Qur’an commands Christians to judge by the Gospel. We will explore the implications of that command.
Purpose of Part 2:
Establish what the Qur’an actually says about the Torah and Gospel.
Part 3 — “Final Revelation” and “Criterion” (Muhaymin)
Article 5 — The Qur’an as “Final Revelation”
Does “Final” Automatically Mean “Override”?Many Muslims respond to the dilemma by saying the Qur’an is the final revelation. In this article, we will examine what that claim actually solves — and what it does not. We will ask a simple question: If God’s words cannot be changed, does “final” mean the earlier words are no longer valid?
Article 6 — The Qur’an as “Criterion” (Muhaymin)
Does Being “Over” the Gospel Mean the Gospel Was Corrupted?Surah 5:48 describes the Qur’an as a guardian/overseer/criterion (muhaymin) over previous Scripture. This article will examine what muhaymin means and whether it logically implies corruption, replacement, or confirmation. We will compare how Muslims commonly use this claim today with what the Qur’an itself actually says about the Torah and Gospel.
Purpose of Part 3:
Directly address the most common Muslim response: “The Qur’an corrects the Bible because it is final and the criterion.”
Part 4 — Did the Qur’an Teach Textual Corruption?
Article 7 — What Does “Corruption” Actually Mean?
How early Islamic scholars understood tahrif.Many assume the Qur’an clearly teaches that the Bible was textually corrupted. We will examine what early Muslim scholars actually said.
Article 8 — When Did Textual Corruption Become the Standard View?
How the doctrine developed over time.We will look at how the idea of full textual corruption developed in later Islamic polemics.
Purpose of Part 4:
Determine whether the corruption claim truly comes from the Qur’an itself.
Part 5 — The “Original Injil” Claim
Article 9 — Was There Another Gospel?
Examining the idea of a lost original Injil.Some argue the Qur’an refers to a lost Gospel that no longer exists. We will examine the historical evidence for that claim.
Purpose of Part 5:
Address one of the most common modern objections.
Part 6 — Preservation and History
Article 10 — If Allah Revealed It, Who Protected It?
Manuscript history of the Bible and early transmission.We will examine early biblical manuscripts and what they show about preservation before the time of Islam.
Article 11 — How the Qur’an Was Compiled
Collection, standardization, and variant readings.We will briefly examine the compilation of the Qur’an and the development of the Uthmanic recension.
Purpose of Part 6:
Consider preservation claims fairly and historically.
Part 7 — Where the Books Collide
Article 12 — The Crucifixion: The Breaking Point
Qur’an 4:157 and the Gospel witness.The crucifixion is a central historical claim. We will examine why it cannot be harmonized between the two texts.
Article 13 — Two Portraits of Jesus
Prophet, Messiah, or Eternal Word?We will compare the identity of Jesus in the Qur’an and the Gospel.
Purpose of Part 7:
Show that the contradiction is not minor or peripheral.
Part 8 — The Logical Conclusion
Article 14 — Can All Three Claims Be True?
Affirmation, preservation, and contradiction brought together.We will assemble the full argument logically and examine the options.
Part 9 — The Crossroads
Article 15 — What Can a Muslim Do With This?
Three possible responses.This article will present the possible conclusions calmly and respectfully.
Part 10 — The Invitation
Article 16 — The Word That Stands Forever
Why the Gospel remains good news.This series will end not with argument, but with invitation.
How to Read This Series
Each article builds on the previous one.
Primary sources will be quoted directly.
Arabic terms will be explained clearly.
Readers are encouraged to examine the references themselves.
This series is an invitation to careful thinking.
If the Qur’an affirms the Torah and Gospel, and if God’s words cannot be changed, then contradictions deserve serious attention.
I invite you to read slowly, think carefully, and examine the evidence with an open mind.