Another debate was held in December which had been in planning stages for a while and ended up running rather well. Certainly there were some flaws with my arguments, but I came to realise, while listening to the arguments of my Christian counterpart, that there are some straw men cropping up around the field.
For example, the Christian Scriptures being devoid of the word 'Trinity' is not a proof they have not been altered. Some extremist Shia sects (that no longer exist) holding that a few verses have been omitted from the Quran that are at complete odds with what the text itself says are not a proof the text has been altered.
These statements aren't even real arguments - they are straw men. Who is setting up the criteria for these issues? Not evidence based critics.
Essentially the debate itself, both in my shortcomings and in the shortcomings of my counterpart, demonstrated to me the profound importance of using an evidence base for making arguments and, in turn, conclusions. Emotions and assumptions need to be left for after the evidence has been considered...
I'll build upon this into a better post within the next week or so, God willing, and hopefully it will help my methods in the future.
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Bismillah ir rahman ir raheem, As salamu 'alikum wr wb. I think you have done an excellent job and great service to humanity by increasing people's knowledge on such matters. I love Shabir Allay he is calm and collected. However, he has that robe and beard (I'm not knocking it) but some people may assume to themselves I too must wear as such?
ReplyDeleteMy sincere advice is not to waste too much time with Answering Muslims I have found them to be very disingenuous. After all we must question ourselves why we are into apologetic in the first place.
My blog site is just next door http://thegrandverbalizer19.blogspot.com/
keep in touch. May Allah bless you!
As salamu 'alikum wr wb!
Just to clarify on my above post. What I meant about brother Shabir Allay may Allah bless him. Is that in contrast when people see you as a westerner that you let them feel more at ease and relaxed. The feeling I would have is that hey if I become a Muslim I don't necessarily have to wear Arab garb etc. Your debate with James White was a clear victory for your side.
ReplyDeleteSalam brother.
ReplyDeletePlough through them all, they are losers walking into debates anyway without the Truth.
Please write on your blog about O.T and Ishmael. Is there any evidence that the Jews were rather "racist" and took away blessings from Ishmaelite arabs by editing the texts?
Please write on this blog or give a presentation about O.T corruption and how it brings people to Islam.
Jazakallah Khair brother.
Wayakum and Allahbarak feek for your kind words, both of you.
ReplyDeleteInshaAllah some later posts may shed some light on your question, but feel free to email any time.
Salam brother.
ReplyDeleteWhat year are you in, in medical school? I'm on a gap year I have an unconditional offer for medicine next year, I can't wait!!!
I took my year out (a gap year), for a spiritual journey to find the truth. I was exposed to all of the arguments against Islam for 2 years. But there was something inside of me that knew that this isn't the true/fair picture of Muhammad pbuh. So now that I am on my gap year, I searched for the truth and found that it was Islam. lol So I converted recently. I was always interested in Islam for a long time, but I wanted to know the reasons against Islam. Who better to go to than Christian apologetics? lol
Yeah, I just wanted to say that the christians on the answeringmuslims site unfortunately are very hostile and cold towards Muslims and even people who show an interest in Islam who go against their trinitarian beliefs. It's such a shame that their choice of words and their choice of sentences as well as their name calling is not very empathetic and they definitely don't justify what they call the 'gospel of Love'. Even if you have a valid argument or are just making any statement, they try to block it out and they REACT to it, as if they are losing their own faith, and so they argue out of emotion there.
The responses that you post to them will be lost anyway as new articles are put on and so people will never really see your arguments.
What I would personally just suggest, is that you answer Christian arguments on 'controversial' issues and then conclude, giving the Islamic ruling on certain things, as well as modern Islamic rulings.
I understand you're very busy.
I boycotted Fernando a long time ago and most of the people on that site. He already called you "ignorant" lol.
I think you can particularly be such a powerful apologetic when it comes to converting Jews to Islam as well, because of your degree and strength in that area so please don't forget the Jews lol
Don't forget the Jews! Hahaha! Yeah too many Muslims hate on the Jews which is disgusting! Allot of good Jewish sisters and brothers may Allah give them taufik! Amin! Personally I would love to see the Christians take down the Wahabbies and Deobandi charlatans any day of the week! Those people are violent and hateful. Our Ummah is better off without them!
ReplyDeletePersonally I think the Jews and people like James White if they convert to Islam would be key in helping us understand our deen. People may laugh at the suggestion and that's because they hate on converts, and those people would make allot of original contributions towards tafsir and maybe even penetrating insights into fiqh issues.
Dear Brother Akunde
ReplyDeleteI'm quite interested in apologetic issues and have with interest followed some apologetic blogs both christian and muslim.
I must say that I'm impressed with your evidence based approach and your knowledge which underpins that approach.
I cannot sufficiently express that I think that you are on to something here which is quite unique and might revolutionize the way islamic apologetics is carried out in the future.
May Allah reward you and give you success.
Is there a way to contact you via private messaging?
ReplyDeleteBfoali
Just some passing comments on the exchange you had with Hogan...
ReplyDeleteHogan writes:
This third claim (that Jews and Christians are to look to what is still contained) is indeed confirmed by the Qur’an:
“Say, O people of the book! You are not founded on anything until you PERFORM the TORAH and the GOSPEL, and what was revealed to you from your Lord” (Sura 5:68-71)
Hogan continues...
The Qur’an in both translations states that those who follow the book have no ground for their beliefs unless the truly observe the Torah and the Gospel---hello!!! (Notice Hogan conviently leaves out the AND "what has been revealed to you from your Lord". On what consistent basis does he stop short of the whole verse?
“If you Muhammad are in doubt regarding that which we have revealed to thee, ask THOSE who READ the BOOK from BEFORE YOU” (Sura 10:94).
I propose that on this particular translation we submit the point to Hogan. We allow Picktall's translation. Why?
It backfires on Christian polemic. Because if this is addressed to Muhammed (saw) than it's obviously not addressed to the masses. They can stop using this verse in to assert we must look to them for guidance.
Look at the verse. "IF" you are in doubt. If is conditional. There was never a moment in Muhammed (saw) life where he was in doubt.
Next we would ask the thoughtful Jew or Christian did Muhammed (saw) die as a Muslim or not?
This removes any doubt about his 'doubts'.
Next what would we ask THEM about? To confirm Jesus is God? What would the Jews say?
To confirm that original sin is true? What would the Jews say?
Next if I am allowed to post this point brother.
ReplyDeleteHogan than goes on to quote
O you who believe! Be you helpers of Allah: as said Jesus the son of Mary to his disciples, “who will be my helpers (to the work) Allah?” Said the disiciples, “We are Allah’s helpers!” Then a portion of the children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: but we gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed (Sura 6: 14)
A Christian would have to prove that the only way to understand this verse is in the sense of temporal authority and temporal dominance.
This also backfires on the Christian. The question to them is how do they want us to understand this verse?
In light of what C.S Lewis said,
Say what you like,” we shall be told, “the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, ‘this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.’ And he was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else.”
It is certainly the most embarrassing verse in the Bible.
C.S. Lewis, The World's Last Night: And Other Essays, p.97
Christians were expecting to be zapped into heaven within 100 years (that's being generous).
How were you to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Matthew 28:19)?
So if this is not understood to be in a sense of spiritual victory. Or that eventually the truth will be known about this early community the Christians are still in some thick mud.
Just my 2cents out of 50 ;)