Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2.0 out of 5 stars
I have some problems with this book, November 8, 2007
I have been studying the Tanakh (The Old Testament) and I wanted to learn more about how these prophets are depicted in the Qu'ran without actually having to read it. I now realize cutting corners is a bad idea.
To start with I found this book poorly organized. The author does quote the Suras but, only by their numbers, not by their titles. He gives the English names for the prophets and only gives the Arabic names for some of them. It would have been helpful if he had presented a table of the English, Hebrew, and Arabic names side by side.
The author points out how the Bible is full of mistakes that were corrected in the Qu'ran, however, he then turns around and uses Biblical evidence to corroborate many of his claims. I just can't countenance having it both ways. According to this author the Bible is blasphemous for portraying the prophets as imperfect people whereas they are portrayed as flawless in the Qu'ran. What I find personally most endearing about the Old Testament prophets is that they were not perfect people. Admittedly, there are stories in the OT that I find disturbing such as Lot/ Lut offering to toss out his virgin daughters to appease a violent mob of would be sodomites. The stories of Abraham/ Ibrahim, Moses/ Musa, Joseph/ Yusef, and Jonah/ Yunis are a demonstration of tremendous personal growth and faith. Moses and Jonah were unwilling prophets. Jonah, a reformed ingrate, is perhaps even more relevant to today's world. Perfect people have no need for repentance and forgiveness. The prophets of the OT offer hope for the rest of us.
The author also claims that Abraham was a Muslim, even though he lived about two millennia before the advent of Islam. The author alludes to the Jews and Christians' "inclining to polytheism" and to support his claim he mentions the stories of Abraham smashing idols and being threatened with death by fire for his beliefs, which do not appear in the Bible. These two stories do, however, appear in the Midrash. The Midrashic, or Oral Tradition, was codified in the Talmud in the early Common Era. Without the Midrash many of the OT stories can seem strange and incongruous, as the author maintains.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A great writing by one of the greatest Islamic scholars., December 2, 2002
By A Customer
Maulana Muhammad Ali's wholesome knowledge of Islam is once again reflected in this thought provoking book.
People with shallow knowledge of Islam -but who think God appointed them to judge others' religion- find Maulana Ali's no nonsense writings hard to cope with.
Additional strongly recommended readings:
Holy Quran & Muhammad The Prophet by Maulana Ali, Islam to East and West by Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din, and Jesus in Heaven on Earth by Khwaja Nazir Ahmed.
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18 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
BEWARE!!!, April 20, 2001
Peace be unto all,for those interested in learning about Islam, and for those interested in learning about Islam's view on the Prophets, please DISREGARD this book. This book is by a deviant cult that are not Muslims, but claim to be. They have twisted the meaning of the Qur'an and Sunnah (Tradition of the Prophet, pbuh) to suit their own purposes. I highly recommend all to stay away from this book, and to find an accurate one. Peace.
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