Muslims tell me that they know the Quran is true because it is coherent. It does not have contradictions. But, when reading the Quran carefully, it appears more disjointed than coherent. Let’s look at why many readers feel this way.
How Many Angels Spoke to Mary?
The Quran gives more than one account of Mary finding out she will give birth to Isa Al-Masih. In the first account, the Quran records that several angels appeared to Mary (Qs 3:42, 45). In Qs 19:17-18, though, the recording states that only one angel was sent to Mary.
In Qs 3:47, Mary only addresses one angel. If there were several, why does she only address one? And why does only one answer? The dialogue matches that of Qs 19:17, but the description does not.
Can God Command Someone to Do Evil?
Several verses in the Quran clearly state that Allah can’t make someone sin. Qs 16:90 states, “God commands (people) to maintain justice, kindness, and proper relations with their relatives. He forbids them to commit indecency, sin, and rebellion. God gives you advice so that perhaps you will take heed.” Qs 6:131 also says that God cannot destroy a city without just cause.
But Qs 17:16 states, “And when we (Allah) decide to destroy a village, we send a definite command to those who lead a life of luxury in it to commit lewdness, and thus 
the word of torment is justified against them. Then we destroy it with complete destruction.” In other words sometimes God wants to destroy a city but doesn’t have just cause. What does He do? He commands the people in that city to sin so that he will have a reason to destroy it.
Contradictions about God’s Power and Jesus Having God’s Power
You might think this contradiction strange, as almost all Muslims will adamantly state that Jesus is not God. They believe the Quran clearly states that.
The Quran gives clear guidelines to distinguish the true God from false gods. Qs 16:17, 20-21 state: “Is He then Who creates like him who does not create? . . . And those whom they call on besides Allah have not created anything while they are themselves created; Dead (are they), not living, and they know not when they shall be raised.”
Therefore, false gods cannot create, bring death, cause life, or resurrect. False gods are dead, not alive. On the contrary, the true God is alive and is the Creator. The true God is the source of life, which means He causes death and life.
The Quran actually records Jesus as being able to do many of these things! Qs 3:49 states that Isa created a bird out of clay and gave it life. This same verse also says that He healed the blind and brought the dead back to life! In other words, Jesus satisfies the definition of the true God.
Our Goal In This Series of Articles about Contradictions in the Quran
Our goal at Isa and Islam is to help you think through what the Quran says. We believe that it is important to study your Holy Book critically. Then decide if you have a foundation for your belief.
We at Isa and Islam have spent great time studying the Bible. We believe it to be the ultimate truth not just because we’ve been told to believe it. We believe because we have critically investigated the claims of the Bible.
[We invite you to visit us at https://www.isaandislam.com/way-of-salvation to learn more about God’s gift of Salvation. God loves you and waits to hear from you. Isa clearly said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Injil, John 14:6). For a deeper understanding of Isa we suggest you subscribe to “Isa, Islam, and Al-Fatiha” at this link.]
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW
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1. What do you think about the contradictions in this article?
2. Why do Muslims only view Isa as a prophet only when He did so many things that only God can do?
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This Contradictions article was very good to read. This website is fantastic.
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Thank you for your comment. I am glad that this website is being helpful to you. We pray that it will help many others to learn the truth about Isa Al-Masih.
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Quoting from the article: “The Quran actually records Jesus as being able to do many of these things! Qs 3:49 states that Isa created a bird out of clay and gave it life. This same verse also says that He healed the blind and brought the dead back to life! In other words, Jesus satisfies the definition of the true God.”
At the end of this verse in the Quran, Isa said, “with the permission and willing of Allah.”
So Isa isn’t God because He could only do these things with Allah’s permission.
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Khalid,
The Bible also clearly states that Isa could do nothing without the Father. Every time He healed a person or did other miracles, it was always the will of Allah.
This doesn’t mean that Isa is not God. All three persons of the Trinity are directly related to each other and none of them can do anything without the other.
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Quoting from the article: How Many Angels Spoke to Mary?
Would you mention the verse references in order to be more clear?
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Khalid,
The verses are Qs 3:47 and 19:17, as was mentioned in the article.
Jasmin
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Quoting from the article: [b]“And when we (Allah) decides to destroy a village, we send a definite command to those who lead a life of luxury in it to commit lewdness, and thus the word of torment is justified against them. Then we destroy it with complete destruction.”[/b]
This is the wrong translation from Arabic. The right translation is: “And when we (Allah) decide to destroy a village we send command to those who lead a life of luxury in it.
After the commandment is: “they committed lewdness, and thus the word of torment is justified against them. Then we destroy it with complete destruction.”
The reason for the commandment is, “God commands (people) to maintain justice, kindness, and proper relations with their relatives. He forbids them to commit indecency, sin, and rebellion. God gives you advice so that perhaps you will take heed” (Qs 6:131).
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Khalid,
I used one of the standard translations for that verse, and none of the translations I looked at put a period between “life of luxury in it” and “to commit lewdness.” That part of the article is actually referring to the fact that according to this verse in the Quran, the command that God sends to these people is for them to commit lewd acts.
Most of the translations I looked at translate it this way.
Jasmin
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Allah sent the angels to Mary about the glad tidings (Qs 3:45). After the angels left, she prayed to Allah asking Him in verse (3:47):[b] “O my Lord!, How shall I have a son when no man has touched me…”
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Here, she didn’t ask the angels but she prayed and asked Allah which means the angels are gone. Allah, then, sent one angel to answer (3:47) [b]”… He said: So (it will be) for Allah creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only:”Be!”- and it is.”[/b]
After a period of time Allah sent the angel Gabriel to grant her a pure child: verse (19:19).
In this time she didn’t ask Allah as in verse (Qs 3:47), but she asked the angel Gabriel because he was in front of her: [b]”How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?” (Qs 19:20). [/b] The angel answered her as mentioned in verse(19:20).
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Muslim,
In the first paragraph you were telling me that Mary prayed to Allah, but on the last it’s Gabriel. Also how do you make up the story? Quran doesn’t write whether the angles were gone or not. Also according to Qs 19:19, how do we know that it’s Gabriel? It is only written our angel (Qs 19:17).
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The Quran presents stories in the form of a flashback and nowhere is this more evident than in Surah al Maryam. Just read this Surah and appreciate its conciseness: The Quran makes a sudden shift from Yahya’s childhood to adulthood without mentioning the transition, but it was implied. In the same manner, the Quran does not mention the angels leaving, but it is implied. Moreover, Mary said, ”My Lord..” a term inappropriate to an angel but perfectly suitable to Allah. And by the way, the Hadith specifies that it was Gabriel.
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By saying “implying”, it doesn’t sound accurate.
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