THE ERRORS OF ISLAM
A Systematic Theological Examination of the Contradictions Within the Qur'an and Islamic Tradition
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
One of the principal claims made by Islam is that the Qur'an is the final, perfect, and internally consistent revelation from God. The Qur'an itself repeatedly challenges skeptics by asserting that if it were from anyone other than God, they would find many contradictions within it. Consequently, the question of internal consistency is not peripheral but central to Islamic theology. When we examine the Qur'an and Islamic tradition side by side with the infallible, divinely preserved narrative of the Bible, it becomes clear that one faith rests on the eternal, unchanging Word of God, while the other is built on flawed, self-contradictory foundations.
Today, we shall engage in a systematic theological examination of the errors of Islam, proceeding through the proper order of theology: first, the doctrine of creation; second, the doctrine of the fall and its consequences; third, the doctrine of sin and its transmission; fourth, the doctrine of divine justice and judgment; and finally, the doctrine of salvation. This is not merely an academic exercise—it is a journey of spiritual growth and transformation. The study of theology should lead to a deeper love for God and a more profound commitment to living out the Christian faith. I write with the heart of a shepherd, seeking to guide believers into a richer understanding of their faith and a closer walk with God. To every truth-seeker: abandon the contradictions and step into the light of eternal truth. The Bible is the unshaken Word of God, Yahweh the true Creator, and Jesus the only Savior.
I. THE DOCTRINE OF CREATION: WHERE WAS ADAM FORMED?
The foundation of all theology begins with the doctrine of creation. If we cannot trust what a religious text says about the origin of humanity, how can we trust it about anything else? The Bible clearly teaches that God created Adam on earth. Genesis 2:7 declares: "Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." One narrative, one truth, one Creator—Yahweh. The Biblical account is not only harmonious but also deeply spiritual, connecting man's creation to the very breath of God. It paints a relational picture: man is not just matter, but a divine image-bearer, crafted with purpose and destined for fellowship with his Creator.
The Qur'an, however, contradicts this clear teaching by claiming that Adam was created in a heavenly Paradise. Which one of these two accounts is true? For the answer we need to look no further than the Qur'an itself. When recounting the creation of Adam, the Qur'an reveals the exact location where Allah intends to create him. Surah 2:30 states: "Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: 'I will create a vicegerent on earth.'" This Qur'anic verse confirms that Adam was created on earth. For this verse to be true, Adam must be created on earth and nowhere else. It does not say that Allah will create Adam in heaven but with the intention of later placing him on earth. Muslims deceitfully fabricate this claim to cover an obvious contradiction in the Qur'an. Surah 2:30 clearly contradicts Surah 2:36 which states that Adam and Eve were cast down to the earth after they sinned against Allah.
Moreover, the Qur'an presents no fewer than seven conflicting accounts of what man was created from: From Nothing (Surah 19:67), From a Clot of Blood (Surah 96:2), From Water (Surah 21:30), From a Small Seed (Surah 16:4), From Clay and Mud (Surah 15:26), From Dust (Surah 3:59), From Earth (Surah 11:61). The unavoidable question remains—which one is true? A book that claims divine origin should not contradict itself on something so foundational as the creation of humanity. In stark contrast, the Bible delivers a single, consistent, and profoundly theological account.
II. THE DOCTRINE OF PERFECTION AND THE FALL
After the creation of Adam, Allah commanded the angels to bow down to Adam. In obedience, they all bowed down to Adam with the exception of Satan. As we read these Qur'anic verses, we must take careful note of the chronological order of the events. Surah 7:11-12 states: "Surely We created you, then shaped you, then We said to the angels: 'Prostrate before Adam.' So they all did but not Satan who refused to prostrate with the others. Allah asked, 'What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?' Satan replied, 'I am better than he is. You created me from fire and created him from clay.'"
As a result of his disobedience, Allah banished Satan from the heavenly Paradise. Surah 7:13 declares: "Allah said, 'Then get down from Paradise! It is not for you to be arrogant here. So get out! You are truly one of the disgraced.'" After expelling Satan, Allah commanded Adam and Eve to dwell in Paradise. Surah 7:18-19 records: "Allah said, 'Get out of Paradise! You are disgraced and rejected! I will certainly fill up Hell with you and your followers all together.' Allah said, 'O Adam! Live with your wife in Paradise and eat from wherever you please but do not approach this tree, or else you be wrongdoers.'" In the next verse, the Qur'an reveals what happened subsequently. Surah 7:20 states: "Then Satan tempted them in order to expose what was hidden of their nakedness. He said, 'Your Lord has forbidden this tree to you only to you from becoming angels or immortals.'"
Think! How is it possible for Satan who was banished from the heavenly Paradise to regain entry into heaven to tempt Adam and Eve? Does it not make more sense to believe that Adam and Eve must have been dwelling here on earth all along and not in heaven as the Qur'an teaches? If Muslims refuse to accept this basic truth as taught in the Bible, then they must accept the fact that Satan is far more powerful than Allah. They must accept the fact that Satan defied the banishment order of Allah and sneaked back into heaven to tempt Adam and Eve. And Allah could nothing about it. Are Muslims willing to accept this? The account in the Bible which teaches that Adam and Eve were created here on earth is far more trustworthy than the wishy-washy stories in the Qur'an.
Furthermore, the Qur'an acknowledges that man was created perfect. Surah 32:7 declares: "Who has made perfect everything He has created. And He began the creation of man from clay." Surah 95:4 affirms: "We have created the human being in the best form." These Qur'anic verses harmonize perfectly with the teachings of the Bible. And the Hadith also verifies that Adam was a perfect creation of God. Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger as saying: "Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, created Adam in His own image." It would defy logic for Islam to claim that Adam was created in God's image if he was created imperfectly in any way. Confirming this fact regarding the perfection of all his creative works, Allah asks a significant question in Surah 67:3: "You do not see any imperfection in the creation by the Almighty. Keep looking; do you see any flaw?" The Qur'an challenges us to find "any imperfection or flaw in the creation by the Almighty." In other words, all the creative works of Allah are perfect. And this essentially applies to the creation of man since Allah even commanded the angels to bow down to Adam proving that the creation of man ranks high among his creative works.
However, Allah contradicts himself yet once again. In complete reversal with his own teachings in the Qur'an, Allah claims that humans are created weak by nature. Surah 4:28 states: "Allah wishes to lighten your burdens light for you because humans have been created weak by nature." It is vital to note that this Qur'anic verse does not say that humans became weak by nature but that they were created weak by nature. Did not Allah claim in Surah 67:3 that there are no imperfections or flaws in his creative works? Is it not absurd for Allah to claim that humans were created perfect but with an inherent weakness in their nature? Is this not an instant contradiction? In the twinkling of an eye, Allah contradicts himself in the Qur'an. He contradicts his claim from "perfect creation" to "weak creation." Are humans created perfect or are they created weak? Thus, Allah not only contradicts the teachings of the Bible but also his very own teachings in the Qur'an. This proves that Allah cannot be trusted. But more importantly it proves that Allah cannot be the true Creator.
III. THE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN AND ITS TRANSMISSION
These evidences verify the doctrine of Original Sin. They prove that after his fall from perfection, Adam passed on imperfection to his descendants. And imperfection led to sin and death. Either Muslims accept the doctrine of Original Sin as true or they have to recognize the fact that there are serious contradictions in the Qur'an. When Islam rejects the doctrine of Original Sin it has to blasphemously claim that the perfect Creator of the Universe created man with an inherent weakness in his nature. Would the true God create man as such? As we can see, the Qur'an both agrees and disagrees with the Bible on this single issue regarding the perfection of God's creative works. This means that the Qur'an is clearly in error in at least one instance. Can the Qur'an then be trusted?
The Qur'an is clearly in error when it denies the doctrine of Original Sin. The doctrine of Original Sin is a far more plausible explanation for the sinful nature of mankind than the blasphemous claim in the Qur'an. The Bible clearly teaches that Adam was a perfect creation of God but who lost his perfection by sinning against his Creator. And just as children inherit the hereditary diseases of their parents, we inherited sin and death from Adam. In other words, we all became sinners deserving of death. Romans 5:12 declares: "That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and death spread to all men because they had all sinned." And the Qur'an unwittingly agrees. It testifies that the entire world of mankind is deserving of death. Surah 16:61 states: "If Allah were to punish men for their wrong-doing He would not leave upon the earth a single living creature." This proves that no offspring of Adam is free from sin.
Now consider the Hadiths and the classical scholars of Islam who confirm this truth. Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet said, "Were it not for Bani Israel, meat would not decay; and were it not for Eve, no women would ever betray their husbands." Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger as saying: "Had it not been for Eve, woman would have never acted unfaithfully towards her husband." Al-Nawawi was a great Muslim scholar and interpreter of the Sunnah of the Prophet of Islam. He studied under the tutorage of more than twenty celebrated Muslim scholars who were masters and authorities on the subject of Hadith and Islamic Jurisprudence. To clarify the true meaning of the above Hadiths, Al-Nawawi based his exegesis on the Tafseer of Al-Qadhi. Al-Qadhi was a renowned Muslim scholar who lived during the time of Muhammad: "Had it not been for Hawaa' (Eve), women would never betray their husbands." Al-Qadhi said: "The meaning of this Hadith is that she was the mother of the daughters of Adam; so they resembled her, and they INHERITED from her what happened to her in the account of the tree with Iblees (Satan)—he seduced her into eating from the tree and lured her, so she told Adam about the tree and, as a result, he ate from it." Sounds pretty much like Original Sin, does it not?
Provided below is another Tafseer by a renowned Muslim scholar. He is one among the many who acknowledges the destructive consequence of Adam's sin on his offspring. In his exegesis on Surah 7:172, he stated the following. At-Tirmidhi recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said: "... so Adam denied and his offspring followed suit denying Allah's covenant, Adam forgot and his offspring forgot, Adam made a mistake and his offspring made mistakes." At-Tirmidhi said: "This Hadith is Hasan Sahih (Authentic), and it was reported from various chains of narration through Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet." Both the Hadiths and the Tafseers confirm the consequence of Original Sin on mankind. The great scholars of Islam recognize the fact that sin can be inherited. However, Muslim apologists deliberately conceal this truth since they know the dilemma this will cause to their religion. The admission that sin can be inherited clearly proves that we are all born in sin because of the sin we inherited from Adam. Centuries before the arrival of the Qur'an, the psalmist David wrote under inspiration: "Look! I was born guilty of sin. And my mother conceived me in sin."
Furthermore, Islam itself testifies that Adam's sin had damaging consequences on his offspring. It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira and Hudhaifa that the Messenger of Allah said: "Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, would gather people. The believers would stand till the Paradise would be brought near them. They would come to Adam and say: O our father, open for us the Paradise. He would say: What turned you out from the Paradise was the sin of your father Adam. I am not in a position to do that." Adam was not qualified to lead the believers into Paradise. Why? Islam itself testifies that this is because it was the sin of Adam that caused mankind to be cast out of Paradise in the first place. Thus, the deprivation of Paradise for the entire human race was the result of Adam's Original Sin.
Consider now another damaging evidence against Islam. Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Moses argued with Adam and said to him (Adam), 'You are the one who got the people out of Paradise by your sin, and thus made them miserable.' Adam replied, 'O Moses! You are the one whom Allah selected for His Message and for His direct talk. Yet you blame me for a thing which Allah had ordained for me before He created me?'" Allah's Apostle further said, "So Adam overcame Moses by this Argument." Moses blamed Adam for the expulsion of mankind from Paradise and the subsequent misery he caused the human race. However, Adam countered by saying that it was Allah who ordained him to commit this sinful act in Paradise. Moses is highly honored as an outstanding Prophet of God in Islam. The Qur'an testifies that among all the Messengers, the one to whom God spoke directly was Moses. Surah 4:164 states: "Messengers we have told you about, and messengers we never told you about. And God spoke to Moses directly." The fact that this great Prophet of God believed in Original Sin should trouble sincere Muslims. According to Moses, Adam's sin did have dire consequences on mankind. Since this proves that the doctrine of Original Sin is authentic as the Bible teaches, Muslims reject the testimony of Moses.
However, it only gets worse. Their rejection of the testimony of Moses in favor of Adam's is far more damaging for Islam than the Muslims realize. As we have noted, Adam blamed Allah for the cause of his sinful act. And shockingly, the Qur'an agrees with Adam. In the following Qur'anic verse, Allah declares: "Indeed, all things We created with predestination." Since it was Allah who predestined Adam to sin by eating from the forbidden tree, Allah is clearly the cause of Adam's sin. And since Allah is the originator of that sin, can his forgiveness of Adam be legitimate as the Qur'an claims? Does his forgiveness of Adam make any real sense to you? This proves that the forgiveness of Allah is nothing but a deception. It is a mockery! We should not be surprised at this deceitful characteristic of Allah. In fact, the Qur'an itself admits that Allah is a deceiver. Surah 3:54 declares: "And they cheated/deceived and Allah cheated/deceived, and Allah is the best of the cheaters/deceivers."
In contrast, the Bible clearly teaches that God created us as free moral agents with the freedom to choose our own destiny. Jehovah lovingly stated the following: "I have put life and death before you, the blessing and the curse. You must choose life so that you may live." Yes! We have the freedom to determine our own salvation. In harmony with the principle of divine justice, Jehovah grants us the freedom to choose.
IV. THE DOCTRINE OF DIVINE JUSTICE: CONSEQUENCE VERSUS ACCOUNTABILITY
The Muslim rejection of the doctrine of Original Sin is also based on the following Qur'anic verse. Surah 6:164 states: "Each one is personally responsible for every sin he commits. No one shall bear the burden of sin for anyone else." It is absolutely true that no one is accountable for the sins of someone else. The Bible is in complete agreement with this fact. And this is exactly what God testifies in the following verse: "A son will bear no guilt because of the error of his father, and a father will bear no guilt because of the error of his son." In other words, no one is accountable for the sins of another. However, Islam fails to recognize the difference between consequence and accountability. Islam confuses these two different issues and views them as one and the same. There is a vast difference between suffering the consequence of Adam's sin and bearing accountability for his sin.
To understand the difference between consequence and accountability, consider the following examples. While it is true that children who are born to an abusive father are not accountable for his actions, they will nonetheless suffer the consequence of his actions. The same can be said of the citizens who live under the reign of a tyrant. While they are not accountable for his actions, they will nonetheless suffer the consequence of his wicked rulership. Similarly, while we are not accountable for the sin which Adam committed in the Garden of Eden, we nonetheless suffer the inevitable consequence of his sin. Of course, we are accountable for the sins that we personally commit in violation of God's law. There is a difference between Original Sin and the sin we commit by choice.
We would like to ask the Muslims the following essential questions:
(1) If Allah's original purpose is for mankind to dwell in the heavenly Paradise, then why are we not in Paradise today? Is it not because of Adam's original sin? Does this not prove that we are suffering the consequences of Adam's original sin? If the original sin of Adam did not affect us, then what are we doing here on earth?
(2) Since the Qur'an claims that Adam and Eve were forgiven even before their expulsion, why did not Allah then allow them to continue dwelling in Paradise? Since they were both expelled from Paradise, how can the Qur'an then claim that they were forgiven? Can there be true forgiveness when the punishment was still enforced upon them?
(3) How can there be Original Forgiveness as Muslims claim if there is no Original Sin to forgive in the first place?
(4) Since Allah predestined the sinful act of Adam, who really introduced sin into the world of mankind? Was it Adam or was it Allah?
It is time to call their bluff. Muslims insist that we are not affected by the sinful act of Adam and Eve. Either we are affected or we are not. Muslims cannot have it both ways.
V. THE DOCTRINE OF JUDGMENT: THE SUBSTITUTION OF SINNERS
We are not finished with Islam yet. Truth is absolute. Lacking truth, Islam contradicts itself time and again. Islam teaches that on Judgment Day, Allah will enforce the Jews and the Christians to bear the sins of the Muslims. And Allah will ransom the Muslims from punishment by imposing their sins on the Jews and the Christians. Is this not a contradiction of Surah 6:164 which clearly states: "No one shall bear the burden of sin for anyone else." Let us look at the evidences.
Narrated Abu Musa: Allah's Messenger said: "On the Day of Resurrection, my Ummah will be gathered into three groups. One sort will enter Paradise without rendering an account. Another sort will be reckoned an easy account and admitted into Paradise. Yet another sort will come bearing on their backs heaps of sins like great mountains. Allah will ask the angels though He knows best about them: Who are these people? They will reply: They are humble slaves of yours. He will say: Unload the sins from them and put the same over the Jews and Christians; then let the humble slaves get into Paradise by virtue of My Mercy."
The following Hadith reveals that Allah will rescue the Muslims from Hell-Fire by substituting them with the Jews and the Christians. Allah will enforce the Jews and the Christians to take their place in Hell-Fire. In other words, Allah will punish the Jews and the Christians for the sins of the Muslims. Abu Musa' reported that Allah's Messenger said: "When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah would deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: That is your rescue from Hell-Fire." And Allah will ransom the Muslims from death by sacrificing the Jews and the Christians to take their place of punishment in Hell-Fire. Abu Burda reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle said: "No Muslim would die but Allah would admit in his stead a Jew or a Christian in Hell-Fire." No matter how great the sins of the Muslims are, Allah will forgive them by transferring their sins onto the Jews and the Christians. Abu Burda reported Allah's Messenger as saying: "There would come people amongst the Muslims on the Day of Resurrection with as heavy sins as a mountain, and Allah would forgive them and He would place in their stead the Jews and the Christians."
These teachings are absolutely damaging. Is it not ironical that while Islam rejects the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, it has no objection whatsoever in accepting the ransom of ordinary Jews and Christians to redeem the Muslims from sin and death? If the ransom sacrifice of Jesus is a mockery of justice as Muslims claim, then why could not Allah simply forgive the Muslims without imposing their sins upon the Jews and the Christians? How is it now possible for someone to bear the sins of another? What happened to the boastful claim of the Muslims that Allah could simply forgive without requiring anything in return? Muslims who challenge the doctrine of Original Sin fail to realize that their own Islamic sources teach that the reason why women are unfaithful to their husbands is because of the sin they inherited from Eve. And in contradiction with its own doctrines, Islam teaches that the Jews and the Christians will bear the sins of the Muslims on Judgment Day.
VI. THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION: THE ONLY HOPE FOR MANKIND
As a Muslim, are you not troubled by all these contradictions in your religion? As such, do you think Islam can guide you to salvation? We will let the Qur'an answer this vital question for you. Surah 4:82 declares: "Will they not ponder on the Quran? Had it not come from someone other than God, they would have certainly found therein many contradictions." The Qur'an just passed the verdict of guilt not only on itself but also on Islam. This Qur'anic verse testifies that the teachings which originate from God will be free from contradictions. We could not agree more. However, since there are so "many contradictions" in the teachings of Islam, can these teachings originate from the true God? Can they truly guide Muslims to salvation? If you are a Muslim, your salvation depends very much on the decision you make now. We have presented all these evidences because we care for you. There is still hope if you turn to the true and living God.
A true word from God, like the Bible, is infallible, coherent, and unified from Genesis to Revelation. Its fulfilled prophecies, archaeological confirmations, historical integrity, and unbroken narrative affirm its heavenly authorship. The Qur'an, cobbled together over 23 years through situational revelations and political motives, inevitably falls into contradiction and confusion. Even Muslim scholars debate these inconsistencies. Why trust the Bible? Because it is "God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness". It withstands the tests of time, science, history, and logic. It reveals a loving, personal God who offers salvation through Jesus Christ—not a distant deity obsessed with submission and fear.
With all these contradictory teachings in Islam, it will be wise for Muslims to first deal with these contradictions before challenging the doctrine of Original Sin. It will be a tragedy for Muslims to reject the only solution that God has provided for the liberation of mankind from the damaging effects of Original Sin. God sent Jesus Christ to undo the damaging effects of Original Sin. It will be wise for Muslims to recognize the redeeming value of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. John 3:36 declares: "The one who exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life. The one who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him."
Salvation belongs to Jehovah. Isaiah 12:2 proclaims: "Behold! God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. For Jehovah, even Jehovah is my strength and my might, and he became my salvation." I am a wide-eyed, sanctified, blood-bought, Spirit-taught, Bible-totin', Scripture-quotin', Satan-blastin', sin-trashin', Christ-followin', pride-swallowin', hard-prayin', truth-conveyin', faith-walking, gospel-talkin', bonafide big-time believer! And proud of it. To every truth-seeker: abandon the contradictions and step into the light of eternal truth. The Bible is the unshaken Word of God, Yahweh the true Creator, and Jesus the only Savior
