What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an A review by Jack Kettler What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an By James White Dr. James R. White is the author of over ten books, including a number of best selling heralded books, such as The God Who Justifies and The Forgotten Trinity and Scripture Alone. He is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics ministry. He is an accomplished and reputable debater. What others are saying about Dr. White's book: “This book is magnificent! I believe this is the most thorough and comprehensive book written by an evangelical scholar on the Qur'an.” - Abdul Saleeb, coauthor of Answering Islam and The Dark Side of Islam “Dr. James White has written an immensely informative, carefully documented overview of Islam and the Qur'an--rich with fascinating historical, biblical, and theological analysis.” - John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California “It is absolutely essential that Christians understand that Islam and Christianity represent two contradictory sets of truth claims. James White understands this, and in this important new book he sets out the issues of truth with distinction and clarity. Christians will welcome this book as they seek to understand the challenge of Islam.” - R. Albert Mohler Jr., president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary A few highlights from the book: In this work, Dr. White is fair, in his citations from the Koran. Christians need to read this book in order to become conversant with Muslims on the street about their beliefs. In this work, we learn about Islamic beliefs concerning Christ, redemption, the Trinity, and the compiling of the Koran. Dr. White shows how the text of the Koran differs significantly from the teachings of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. Mohammad had never seen a copy of the Judeo/Christian Scriptures. Everything Mohammad says about the Old and New Testaments was dependent upon oral reports from what in most cases was so inaccurate that when Mohammad repeats this material in the Koran, it is laughable. Essentially, Mohammad repeats Judeo/Christian myths and heresy, as if it was in reality what the Bible teaches. A case in point, Chapter Four on the Koranic teaching about the Trinity provides the Christian powerful apologetic material to work with. Dr. White documents from the Koran and Hadiths, Mohammad's understanding of the Christian Trinity. Shockingly, Mohammad's understanding of the doctrine was that God (Allah) and a mother God (Mary had a boy (Jesus) who were all Gods. These 3 Gods are what Christians understood as the Trinity. The problems for Muslims is that they can not find any example anywhere, past or present of any Christian who ever believed such a thing. The conclusion is that Mohammad and his Koran are completely mistaken about the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. This incredible false understanding of biblical teaching is truly an embarrassment to the truth claims of Islam. Additionally, in Chapter Six, Dr. White shows how Mohammad and his Koran are again completely mistaken about Christ's death by crucifixion. Incredibly, Mohammad taught in the Koran that Jesus did not die nor was he crucified. Dr. White backs the Muslim into an impossible place, by documenting the teaching of the Bible on the crucifixion, and the testimony of non-Christian historians during the First Century who recorded Christ's death and crucifixion. The Muslim response is the Bible has been corrupted even though in Chapter Eight, Dr. White establishes that Mohammad in the Koran believed the Torah and Gospels were not corrupted. It was only the Jews and Christians were personally corrupt and did not believe their own Scriptures. In Chapter Eight; Did the “People of the Book” Corrupt the Gospel? In this chapter, Dr. White shows how the Koran affirms the inspiration, preservation, and authority of the Torah and the Gospel. “O ye unto whom the Scripture hath been given! Believe in what We have revealed, confirming that which ye possess.” Al-Quran 4:47 “O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.” Surah 5. Al-Maida, Ayah 68 Then he demonstrates how the Koran contradicts the teachings of the Torah and the Gospel. This puts Muslims in a quandary. If the Bible is the Word of God, then Islam is false because it contradicts the Bible. If the Bible is not the Word of God, then Islam is false nonetheless, because it declares that the Bible is the Word of God. The conclusion, Islam is contradictory and a counterfeit revelation. One of my favorite sections of the book was on the compiling of the Koran by the early Muslim caliph, Uthman. Those familiar with the evaluation of historical documents will be shocked at the process of putting together Mohammad's revelations into written form. Uthman destroyed all copies of the words of Mohammad he did not agree with, which may have been a factor in his later assassination. In most cases, Uthamn was dependent on the memories of numerous individuals who had memorized Mohammad's messages. A point of humor for me was learning that Aisha, Mohammad's child bride had a written portion of the what was to be included in the Koran called an ayah. This particular ayah was eaten by a sheep and lost forever. Another man who had memorized large portions of Mohammad's teaching was killed in battle. It will never be known what he remembered, or if it was accurate. This book certainly deserves a wide hearing in the Christian community. Dr. White provides the Christian with valuable apologetic material to witness to Muslims. A number of Dr. White's debates with Muslims have been recorded and can be viewed on YouTube. This work will help Christians engage in open, honest intelligent discussions with Muslims. Mr. Kettler has previously published articles in the Chalcedon Report and Contra Mundum. He and his wife Marea attend the Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church. Mr. Kettler is the author of the book defending the Reformed Faith against attacks, titled: The Religion That Started in a Hat. Available at: www.TheReligionThatStartedInAHat.com The reader should consult: Dr. White's Alpha and Omega Ministries web site can be found at: http://www.aomin.org/ An Interview with James White about His Book, “What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur’an”