using the sources

Submitted by Lactantius Jr. (United Kingdom), Dec 19, 2006 at 18:05

To Jaladhi

Yep ,I read you clearly, sure thing! I always try and source what I say about Islam in its "title deeds," the Qur'an, the Sahi Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim, the Sirat literature, notably the Sirat Rasullullah of Ibn Ishaq, which provides the lone account of Muhammad's life and example, written within 200 years of Muhammad's life, and the Ta'rikh of At-Tabari, a trusted, and comprehensive history of Islam's formation, and the Sunnah of Muhammad.

Ibn Ishaq (~AD 704 to 767) was an important Muslim scholar, who compiled one of the most extensive collections of scholar's opinions, and is often quoted by later scholars. Ishaq's Sirat Rasullullah was edited by Ibn Hisham (died AD 834), Hisham saying he edited Ishaq's work, omitting certain details deemed too offensive to Muslims.

Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasullullah is lost, surviving only in Ibn Hisham's "cleaned-up" recension, from which Alfred Guillaume prepared his "Life of Muhammad," seeking to recreate Ibn Ishaq's manuscript, using quotations from other Islamic scholars, notably At-Tabari, from whose quotations he was able to recover part of the missing portions of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasullullah, and Guillaumes "Life of Muhammad," provides one of the most important sources for Muhammad's life.

So, these are the most authoritative Islamic "title-deeds" available to us, and I have previously quoted the online Qur'an browser I use, but in case you missed it, here it is again.

http://www.quranbrowser.com

which displays the chosen verses in transliterated Arabic, together with10 English translations of the Qur'anic Arabic by different translators, but whichever translation is read, much of the Islam of Muhammad sure aint peaceful.

Two fine writers who use the Islamic sources to great effect in critiquing Islam from its own sources, are James Arland, and Sam Shamoun, Sam being probably the best in the world at doing what he does so well, his extensive list of online publications being listed at:-

http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/index.htm

with James' published work being at:-

http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Arlandson/index.htm

James' work also being published on AmericanThinker.com. where you can find it by using the search box.

What a terrific resource these two give us, and I wonder when they sleep?

So sure, let's source everything we say about Islam in its most authoritative documents, and lets also source everything we say about the Lord Jesus Christ in Christianity's most authoritative documents, the New Testament, to which the Qur'an and Sahi Hadith give eloquent and emphatic testimony, but see how Muslims try to wriggle out of it, claiming in contradiction to the Qur'anic testimony, that "the Bible is corrupted," "the Bible is changed," "The Qur'an has abrogated the Bible," etc. etc. etc.

Thanks for your encouragement Jaladhi.

With kind regards and best wishes

Lactantius Jr.

ps. what's the context for Muhammad saying, "I have been made victorious with terror" Sahi Bukhari V4B52N220

"Muhammad said, 'I have been commanded to fight until they testify there is no god but Allah and I am his messenger." Sahi Muslim C9B1N33

"Allah's apostle said, 'Killing disbelievers is a small matter to us.' " Tabari IX:69

"Muhammad said, 'Know that paradise is under the shade of swords.' " Sahi Bukhari V4B5N73

"Let those fight in the cause of Allah Who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah, - whether he is slain or gets victory - Soon shall We give him a reward of great (value)."

Surah 4:74

and to see how some Muslims respond to me quoting those words of their "model for all mankind" and the Qur'an, have a look at Jaan's response to me, http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/23659 and then see how Abdullah A , a co-religionist of Jaan's rounds on him:-

"Mr Jaan: Are you denying sahih ahadith and biographies by Ishaq and Tabari, the only sources available to the muslims to know who Mohammed was and to understand quran, it's chronology and context. Does not quran say Mohammed is your role model, follow what he said and what he did. Are those sources not the only ones available to muslims to know what Mohammed said and did. Don't the muslim pray, fast and go to Haj based on how Mohammed performed them, available only through the very sources you deny?"

http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/23688

Thank you Abdullah A. !!! great stuff, I couldn't have said it better myself !!!

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