Abstract
Since the early period of Islam there have been persistent claims that the Christian Bible has been corrupted and that the original Torah and Gospel—which spoke of the coming of Muhammad—have been lost. The charge was given especially powerful force in the 1864 publication of Izhar al-haqq (Demonstration of Truth) by Rahmat Allah Kairanwi, which continues to be published in Arabic and Urdu and exerts widespread influence today.
The Gentle Answer is a brilliant refutation of the charges of corruption by a first-rate Qur’anic scholar and missionary practitioner. Gordon Nickel, who has lived much of his life in Asia ministering among Muslims, is an expert on the Qur’an, having completed his PhD under Andrew Rippin at the University of Calgary. His thorough familiarity with Arabic, Hebrew, and Greek, issues of textual transmission of the Bible and Qur’an, as well as knowledge of the history of the interpretation of the Qur’an are clearly evident in this meticulously researched and impressive work.
The Gentle Answer is divided into four sections. Section 1 begins with an invitation to the Muslim “to read and reason together” (p. 1), replacing angry denunciations with serious inquiry. The following five chapters directly respond to the accusation that Jews and Christians removed references to Muhammad from the original Torah and gospel. Other important criticisms from the Izhar are addressed in section 2. Historical and textual scholars have raised many critical questions about the origin and composition of the Qur’an, with Muslim scholars themselves often disagreeing on key issues. Section 3 presents an informative and judicious discussion of critical questions about the Qur’an. Section 4 concludes with a helpful presentation of the New Testament picture of Jesus that addresses special concerns of Muslims.
Three features set this book apart from anything else available. First, this is a carefully researched work that draws upon a wealth of historical, linguistic, and textual information about the Qur’an and the Bible. Nickel’s response to the claims of the Izhar is simply devastating. Second, despite the technical nature of some of the issues, Nickel presents the material in a very accessible and understandable manner. Finally, Nickel maintains throughout a gracious, irenic, and respectful tone as he invites Muslims to reconsider these familiar charges in light of the actual evidence. This book is ideal for Muslims willing to investigate the issues, but it should also be read by Christians involved in ministry among Muslims.