The Qur’an was compiled and edited by Abu Bakr
The Muslim man you meet in the street purports the Qur’an to be a straightforward “perfect” revelation from God to man. Yet the facts tell a different story. According to Muslim authorities there are roughly seven evolutionary steps through which today’s Qur’an was given: 1) Starting at some undetermined time with Allah [i]; 2) delivered through an angel [ii]; 3) to Muhammad [iii]; 4) was written down on rocks, dried leaves, and bark by the “hands of noble and righteous scribes [iv];” 5) then, selected readings were rewritten by Muhammad’s companions [v]; 6) again, rewritten in various stages to add the diacritical marks to clarify words, distinguish gender, and modernize the text with verse and chapter markings [vi]; 7) finally, today we have many new “meanings” of the Qur’an [vii]. The Qur’an has been in constant transition since its inception, and there seems to be a new version coming out every year. Due to the many hands in the whole affair, it no surprise that the first Qur’an is unavailable despite the fact that the message is a fairly recent religious compilation. We therefore cast serious doubt that an original Qur’an ever existed in Muhammad’s day; we otherwise deduce the earliest protectors of Islam failed to secure a reliable copy for us to view. The scribes have therefore left us no choice but to question the genuineness of the current manuscript being distributed in our midst.
To shake things up further, we know Muhammad himself thought that his message was sent by someone “terrible in power.” Yet the Qur’an purports in another place that a “faithful spirit” gave it to him. In later traditions the means of inspiration is generally spoken of as an “angel.” It is not henceforth known through what agency Muhammad believed himself to be inspired, the Holy Spirit (a ghostly representation of Allah) or the seraph Gabriel. Sometimes we find Muhammad seeking refuge from or pleading for deliverance from this psychological terror. Furthermore, Muhammad could not distinguish the voice of Allah from that of Satan [viii]; as a result he became afraid or anxious at various episodes of his ministry. This sort of confusion brought the fear-filled prophet to a point that he ultimately felt it best to use the sword and to shed blood to prove he was God’s man [ix].
There is one more interesting aspect to consider: A fundamental teaching of Islam is that no one should be allowed to read the holy book unless he does so in Quraysh tribal dialect, a dead language no longer spoken in the modern world. The reason, so say the scholars, is that this dialect is supposed to be the language of the Hereafter regardless with which tongue the adherent was born [x].
In fact, all Muslims are encouraged to memorize the Qur’an in its original form whether he understands it or not. It is fascinating that later on the book was translated into hundreds of languages. We believe this is so simply due to the fact that the Bible proved long ago to be remarkably effective being translated into more than eighteen hundred languages; for that reason Islam desires to make similar advances throughout the world. Indeed, Islam is the chief imitator of biblical Christianity rivaling other sub-christian cults such as the popular Mormon movement.
Practically speaking the only peculiarity that distinguishes Islam from other trendy religious groups is its propensity to commit worldwide terrorism from which the concept of suicidal martyrdom is derived. Suicidal martyrdom is a telltale sign that frustrated Muslims feel a need to return to bloodshed, not love or the intellect, to make its point.
***
[iii] About six centuries had past after the death and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ when Muhammad was given the first recitation. Sometimes the Qur’an came to Muhammad through strange noises or through seizures similar to those of an epileptic. Initially, Muhammad thought that he was receiving messages from demons (Muhammad Husayn Haykal: Life of Muhammad. Indianapolis: North American Trust, © 1974, p. 74ff).
[iv] Surah 80:15-16. The scribes apparently wrote some of the verses on whatever materials they could find, but committed other verses to memory. A footnote on this Surah ( page 1898) located in the King Fahd translation of the Holy Qur’an (printed in Al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) states that through the third Khalifa (circa 650 A.D.) numerous critical revisions of the Qur’an were made to incorporate the most plausible elements found in varying sources.
[v] Surah 80:15-16. The scribes apparently wrote some of the verses on whatever materials they could find, but committed other verses to memory. A footnote on this Surah ( page 1898) located in the King Fahd translation of the Holy Qur’an (printed in Al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) states that through the third Khalifa (circa 650 A.D.) numerous critical revisions of the Qur’an were made to incorporate the most plausible elements found in varying sources. The Qur’an was not a complete book at the time of Muhammad; in fact, it was compiled by order of Caliph abu Bakr approximately after Muhammad’s death. Anas ibn Malik, an early follower, relates that he was “shocked” at the variances of the Qur’an found here and there on rocks, dried leaves, and bark. ‘Usman (Othman or Uthaman) ordered the Qur’ans he didn’t agree with to be burned. Both he and Zaid ibn Sābit differed about the variances of the Qur’an which apparently showed an early corruption.
[vi] Sayed Ahmad Khan admits the marks were refined and changed over time until the Qur’an could be standardized (Essays of the Life of Muhammad. Lahore: Premier Book House, © 1968, p. 252). I own seven variations of the Qur’an in my book collection. Modern commentators insert additional words not found in the original text to clarify and update the Qur’an. Unfortunately these insertions reflect the presuppositions and preconceived views of the commentators, and they vary substantially.
[vii] The Shi’a sect of Islam contends that ‘Usman purposely left out certain parts of the Qur’an to suit his own liking toward Ali, a hero of the Shi’ah. Thus not all Muslims accept the same version of the Qur’an. Sunni Muslims accept only the Sahī tradition of Masud as authoritative. Moreover, the ibn Masud Codex has a multitude of variations from the ‘Usman era. In the second Surah alone there are nearly 150 variations. It has taken archeologist, Arthur Jeffrey, some ninety-four pages to show the variations between the two. Some variations include omission of words and whole sentences. The uneven flow of the Qur’an indicates that it was the edited patchwork of a later writer(s), probably a combination of Abu Bakr, Uthman ibn Affan, Zaid ibn Sābit, and ‘Umar. Tradition does not shed enough light to determine the cause of the many discrepancies, but they may have been due to the numerous contributors and diverse dialects of Arabia they may have sprung up naturally in the already vast domains of Islam. Ibn Abbas says that the Qur’an was delivered to Muhammad in one dialect and recited in another until the number of versions increased. The Qur’an was first given to Muhammad’s own Quraysh dialect but when the prophet saw that the people of other nearby tribes had difficulty reciting it he allowed it to be spoken in all the tongues. Hence, many versions ran rampant until uniformity could be later agreed upon. There are even different versions of the Qur’an in Arabic as documented by Samuel Green. See http://www.answering-islam.org/Green/seven.htm.
[viii] Compare Surah 22 with Surah 53. The “Satanic Verses” made famous through Salmon Rushdie’s 1988 novel of the same name. In summary, Muhammad was supposedly tricked by Satan into revealing part of the Qur’an and then later the Muslim Prophet removed it. The “Satanic Verses” allow for prayers of intercession to be made to three Meccan goddesses and the story is corroborated by at least two early Islamic historians, Al-Waqidi (d. 822 A.D.) and Al-Tabari (d. 923 A.D.).
[ix] Muhammad had sanctioned at least eight wars in his lifetime as documented by Sayyid Ameenul Hasan Rizvi in his book, Battles By The Prophet (Abul Qasim Publishing House). Approximately a century after Muhammad’s death, the Islamic imperial conquests totaled fifty-six battles including sieges upon the Christian sites of Jerusalem and Constantinople.
nickvoss.wordpress.com 
The followers of the perverted twisted mentally deranged Mohammed are those of Satan, they are against God, and they are an evil force in the world to be contained.
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Good site! I reallydo love how it is easy on my eyes as well as the details are well composed. I am wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post was been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which really should do the trick! Have a nice day!
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Thanks for this post. I already agree with what you are saying. I have been talking about this subject a lot lately with my father so may this will get him to see my point of view. Fingers crossed!
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Thank you very much for the article, I actually learned something from it. Super good content on this website. Always looking forward to new article.
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Awesome article. Full of information, insight which were obviously researched and pondered. Thanks for sharing your excellent thoughts and work.
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What the hell is all this nonsense, you stupid retard?????? Quran is the only holy book out there that is in its original form. you christians changed whatever God has sent down. Islam is the right religion. I AM GIVING YOU A WARNING: If you want to enter Heaven, you have to worship god alone and have no partners with Him (that includes Jesus).
@ Mick Russom: You are going to regret whatever you said about Prophet Muhammad SAW. AND you better watch your mouth if you say anything bad about him. WE AS MUSLIMS, believe in all the prophets of God. We do not think one is superior than the other. WE do not believe that Jesus is son of God, unlike you Christians. WE also respect all the prophets. Yeah thats right!!! I said RESPECT. By you disrespecting Islam’s prophet, you have no shame and you’re putting a disgrace to your own religion. Islam has thought me to RESPECT all the prophets and ALL THE RELIGIONS. (Key word = RESPECT); but it has also thought me to preach the right.
AND by the way, Islam or the Quran has all the answers to your questions. What scientists have figured out this decade, Islam already knew it centuries ago, when there was no such thing as science or proof.
SO THERE I SAID IT. And DO NOT EVER talk about something, ex. ISALM, if you have no clue to what you’re saying. Surely it is a great sin. So i have one more thing to say, GO GET A BRAIN because you sure don’t have it.
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The Qur’an was edited and compiled by Abu Bakr. Even Muslim authorities agree with this. It is not a book from God. It is Abu Bakr’s book.
You claim to be a man of “respect.” Yet you call people names and make fun of people with handicaps. This does not sound like respect to me.
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Look Im not trying to be mean or start a fight here. OK. Get your facts straight: Abu Bakr did NOT edit the Quran. He only compiled it into one. By that i mean, that the quran did not come from god only at once. the chapters of the quran came in a period of 23 years. ALL abu bakr did was put it together. He did not do anything to the word of the quran (by anything i mean change it). AND I KNOW THIS IS A FACT.
AND whoever these muslim authorities you are talking about must have a problem or something. They are not telling you the truth.
And yes, I don’t have respect for you (no offense), because you are conveying the wrong message to every body about Islam. How would you like it if I said something wrong about your religions.
You know in your passage, the last paragraph, i don’t know what you’re saying. But of course Gods word cant be translated into any language, because His words are so powerful. But all the other languages are trying to make it near to what the quran is saying. but that does not mean we are changing it. We are only trying to explain it to people and let them have a basic understanding. (its not like we are changing it completely. By that i mean, if it say that intercourse is bad we don’t just make it into our words, saying that it is good.) Other religions change the words into opposite meanings just because they do not like the word of God.
When someone says they are reading the quran, it means the Arabic text (and not the other languages).
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Dear “None of your business”
Now you say you’re not trying to mean. You called me names and then insulted poor people with mental disabilities in the process.
Abu Bakr edited the Qur’an. Go back and read my article where I quote Islamic authorities. Look, Abu Bakr hismself decided what would go into the Qur’an and what would be omitted.
The Qur’an is not the word of God; it is the word of God according to Abu Bakr.
You say that “…these muslim authorities you are talking about must have a problem or something. They are not telling you the truth…” then you are saying that Al-Bukhari, Yusef Ali, and Sahih Muslim are liars? You could get killed by your own Muslim brothers for making such a comment.
Why are you making disparaging comments about other religions? I thought Islam was a religion of peace and tolerance. You do not appear to be a peaceful and tolerant person to me. You are man of great unrest and bitterness. At least that is how you tone your messages.
On the topic of the Qur’an cannot be translated or understood in other languages other than Arabic, that proves the point others are making that Islam is merely an Arabic religion. God is not an Arab! But I suppose you already know that.
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A City on Seven Hills Study No. 150
. . . I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads . . . . And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication . . . . And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains [or hills], on which the woman sitteth. (Revelation 17:3, 4, 18, 9)
A woman rides the beast that represents Antichrist and the revived Roman Empire he will rule. She is a city built on seven hills that reigns over the kings of the earth! John equates the readers� acceptance of this revelation with “wisdom.” That insight demands our careful and prayerful attention.
Many prophecy teachers insist that the woman is the United States. No, the US is a country. It might justifiably be referred to as Sodom, considering the honor now given to homosexuals, but it is not “Mystery Babylon.” She is declared to be a city.
Nor is the woman ancient Babylon now being rebuilt in Iraq, for it is not built on seven hills. Some other cities are, but only Rome meets all the criteria, including being known as Babylon. Even Catholic apologist Karl Keating confirms that Rome was known as Babylon and cites I Peter 5:13.1 The Catholic Encyclopedia states, “It is within the city of Rome, called the city of seven hills, that the entire area of Vatican State proper is now confined.”2
The woman is called a “whore” (verse 1), with whom earthly kings “have committed fornication” (vs. 2). Against only two cities could such a charge be made: Jerusalem and Rome. Jerusalem was indicted for spiritual fornication by numerous prophets (Isaiah 1:21, etc.), but does not meet the other criteria. Vatican City claims to have been the worldwide headquarters of Christianity since its beginning. Her pope claims to be the Vicar of Christ and his Church the true Church and bride of Christ.
Christ said His kingdom was not of this world, otherwise His servants would fight. The popes have fought with armies and navies in the name of Christ to build a worldwide empire. Vatican II states that even today the Roman Catholic Church ceaselessly seeks to bring under its control all mankind and all their goods.3 And in furtherance of these goals it has engaged, exactly as John foresaw, in fornication (unholy alliances) with the kings of the earth.
She is clothed in “purple and scarlet” (vs. 4), the colors of the Catholic clergy. The Catholic Encyclopedia states:
Cappa Magna – A cloak with a long train and a hooded shoulder cape . . . [it] was purple wool for bishops; for cardinals, it was scarlet watered silk . . . .
Cassock – The close-fitting, ankle-length robe worn by the Catholic clergy as their official garb . . . . The color for bishops and other prelates is purple, for cardinals scarlet . . . . (Emphasis added.)4
Her incredible wealth next caught John�s eye. She was “decked with gold and precious stones and pearls . . . .” Even Christ�s blood-stained cross has been turned to gold, reflecting her riches. The Catholic Encyclopedia says, “The pectoral cross [suspended by a chain around the neck of abbots, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and the Pope] should be made of gold and . . . decorated with gems . . . .” 5
She had “a golden cup [chalice] in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.” The Catholic Encyclopedia calls the gold chalice “the most important of the sacred vessels . . . .”6 That Church is known for its many thousands of gold chalices around the world. A recent newspaper article reported:
The fabulous treasure of Lourdes [France], whose existence was kept secret by the Catholic Church for 120 years, has been unveiled . . . . Rumors have been circulating for decades about a priceless collection of gold chalices, diamond-studded crucifixes, silver and precious stones . . . .
After an indiscreet remark by their press spokesman this week, church authorities agreed to reveal part of the collection . . . [some] floor-to-ceiling cases were opened to reveal 59 solid gold chalices alongside rings, crucifixes, statues and heavy gold brooches, many encrusted with precious stones.
Almost hidden by the other treasures is the “Crown” of Notre Dame de Lourdes, made by a Paris goldsmith in 1876 and studded with diamonds.
Church authorities say they cannot put a value on the collection. “I have no idea,” says Father Pierre-Marie Charriez . . . . “It is of inestimable value.”
Across the road is a building housing hundreds of [antique] ecclesiastical garments, robes, mitres and sashes�many in heavy gold thread . . . .
“The Church itself is poor,” insists Father Charriez. “The Vatican itself is poor.”7 (Emphasis added.) [And the treasure described here is only part of that which is kept in one location, the small town of Lourdes, France!]
She has practiced evil to gather her wealth, for the “golden cup” is filled with “abominations and filthiness.” Much of the wealth of the Roman Catholic Church was acquired by confiscating property of the Inquisitions� pitiful victims. Even the dead were exhumed to face trial and property was taken from their heirs by the Church. That practice, one historian writes, offered “unlimited opportunities for loot.”8
Most of Rome�s wealth has been acquired through the sale of salvation. Untold billions of dollars have been paid to her by those who thought they were purchasing heaven on the installment plan for themselves or loved ones. The practice continues to this day�blatantly where Catholicism is in control, less obviously here in the United States where (for example) one pays the Church to have a Mass Card placed on the altar in the name of the deceased during Mass to reduce time in purgatory. The wealthy often leave a fortune for masses to be said for their salvation after their death.
In addition to such perversions of the gospel, there are the further abominations (fully documented in police and court records) of corrupt banking practices, laundering of drug money, trading in counterfeit securities and dealings with the Mafia, which the Vatican and her representatives around the world have long employed. Former Business Week correspondent in Rome, Nino Lo Bello, who because of its incredible wealth calls Rome “the tycoon on the Tiber,” says the Vatican is so closely allied with the Mafia in Italy that “many people . . . believe that Sicily . . . is nothing more than a Vatican holding.”9
John�s attention is next drawn to the inscription on the woman�s forehead: “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (vs. 5). Sadly enough, the Roman Catholic Church fits that description as precisely as she fits the others. Much of the cause is due to the unbiblical doctrine of priestly celibacy.
The great Apostle Paul was a celibate and recommended that life to others who wanted to devote themselves fully to serving Christ. He did not, however, make it a condition for church leadership as the Catholic Church has done, thereby imposing an unnatural burden upon her clergy that very few could bear. On the contrary, he wrote that a bishop should be “the husband of one wife” (I Timothy 3:2) and set the same requirement for elders (Titus 1:5-6).
The doctrine of celibacy has been broken repeatedly by millions of priests and nuns, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and many popes such as Sergius III, John X, John XII, Benedict V, Innocent VIII, Urban VIII, Innocent X, et al. Celibacy has made sinners of the clergy and harlots out of those with whom they secretly cohabit. The Catholic Church has paid about 1 billion in out-of-court settlements in the last few years for sexual sins of its clergy in the USA alone. Rome is indeed “the mother of harlots”!
History is replete with sayings that mocked Romanism�s false claim to celibacy: “The holiest hermit has his whore” and “Rome has more prostitutes than any other city because she has the most celibates” are examples. Pope Pius II called Rome “the only city run by bastards,” the sons and grandsons of popes and cardinals.
Even Catholic historians admit that among the popes were some of the most degenerate and unconscionable ogres in all history. More than one pope was slain by a husband who found him in bed with his wife. To call such a man “His Holiness, Vicar of Christ” makes a mockery of holiness and of Christ. Yet the name of each of these mass murderers, fornicators, robbers, warmongers � some guilty of the massacre of thousands � is emblazoned in honor on the Church�s official list of Peter�s alleged successors, the popes.
John next notices that the woman is drunk � and not with alcohol but with “the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus . . . “(vs. 6). One thinks immediately of the Inquisitions (Roman, Medieval and Spanish) which for centuries held Europe in their terrible grip. Canon Llorente, who was the Secretary to the Inquisition in Madrid from 1790-92 and had access to the archives of all the tribunals, estimated that in Spain alone the number of condemned exceeded 3 million, with about 300,000 burned at the stake.10 A Catholic historian writes:
When Napoleon conquered Spain in 1808, a Polish officer in his army, Colonel Lemanouski, reported that the Dominicans blockaded themselves in their monastery in Madrid. When Lemanouski�s troops forced an entry, the inquisitors denied the existence of any torture chambers.
The soldiers searched the monastery and discovered them under the floors. The chambers were full of prisoners, all naked, many insane. The French troops, used to cruelty and blood, could not stomach the sight. They emptied the torture-chambers, laid gunpowder to the monastery and blew the place up.11
The remnants of some of the chambers of horror remain in Europe and may be visited today. They stand as memorials to the zealous outworking of Roman Catholic dogmas which remain in force, and to a Church which claims to be infallible and to this day justifies such barbarism. They are also memorials to the astonishing accuracy of John�s vision in Revelation 17. Do not forget, that Church has never officially admitted that these practices were evil, nor apologized to the world or to any of the victims or their descendants. Nor could John Paul II apologize today because “the doctrines responsible for those terrible things still underpin his position.”12
“Christian” Rome has slaughtered many times the number of both Christians and Jews that pagan Rome did. Beside those victims of the Inquisitions, there were Huguenots, Albigenses, Waldenses and other Christians, massacred, tortured and burned at the stake by the hundreds of thousands simply because they refused to align themselves with the Roman Catholic Church. Listen to the leading nineteenth-century Catholic professor of church history:
The view of the Church had been . . . [that] every departure from the teaching of the Church . . . must be punished with death, and the most cruel of deaths, by fire . . . .
Both the initiation and carrying out of this . . . must be ascribed to the Popes alone . . . who compelled bishops and priests to condemn heretics to torture, confiscation of their goods, imprisonment, and death, and to enforce the execution of this sentence on the civil authorities, under pain of excommunication. (Emphasis added.)13
Pope Martin V commanded the King of Poland in 1429 to exterminate the Hussites (sympathizers with the martyred Jan Hus). This excerpt from the Pope�s letter to the King explains why popes hated independent Christians and wanted them destroyed:
Know that the interests of the Holy See, and those of your crown, make it a duty to exterminate the Hussites. Remember that these impious persons dare proclaim principles of equality; they maintain that all Christians are brethren, and that God has not given to privileged men the right of ruling the nations; they hold that Christ came on earth to abolish slavery; they call the people to liberty, that is to the annihilation of kings and priests . . . .
[T]urn your forces against Bohemia; burn, massacre, make deserts everywhere, for nothing could be more agreeable to God, or more useful to the cause of kings, than the extermination of the Hussites.14 (Emphasis added.)
Note this excerpt from Pope Nicholas I�s (858-867) instructions to the King of Bulgaria, a new convert to what he thought was “Christianity,” to force Rome�s religion upon his subjects:
I glorify you for having maintained your authority by putting to death those wandering sheep who refuse to enter the fold; and . . . congratulate you upon having opened the kingdom of heaven to the people submitted to your rule.
A king need not fear to command massacres, when these will retain his subjects in obedience, or cause them to submit to the faith of Christ; and God will reward him in this world, and in eternal life, for these murders.15
Why should Rome apologize for or even admit this holocaust? No one calls her to account today. Protestants have forgotten and evangelical leaders join Rome to evangelize together. They don�t want to hear any “negative” reminders of the millions tortured and slain by the Church to which they now pay homage, or the fact that Rome has a false gospel of sacramental works.
The Nazi holocaust was thoroughly known to Pius XII in spite of his complete silence throughout the war on the slaughter of Jews.16 Had the Pope protested, as representatives of Jewish organizations and the Allied Powers begged him to do, he would have condemned his own Church. The facts are inescapable:
In 1936, Bishop Berning of Osnabruch had talked with the Fuhrer for over an hour. Hitler assured his lordship there was no fundamental difference between National Socialism and the Catholic Church. Had not the church, he argued, looked on Jews as parasites . . . ?
“I am only doing,” he boasted, “what the Church has done for fifteen hundred years, only more effectively.” Being a Catholic himself, he told Berning, he “admired and wanted to promote Christianity [Catholicism].”17
Finally, the angel reveals to John that the woman “is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (vs. 18). Is there such a city? Yes, and again only one: Vatican City. One eighteenth-century historian counted 95 popes who claimed to have divine power to depose kings and emperors. Historian Walter James wrote that Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) “held all Europe in his net.”18 Gregory IX (1227-1241) thundered that the Pope was Lord and Master of everyone and everything. Popes crowned and deposed kings and emperors, exacting obedience by threatening excommunication. Pope Nicholas I boasted: “Fear, then, our wrath and the thunders of our vengeance; for Jesus Christ has appointed us [the popes] . . . absolute judges of all men; and kings . . . are submitted to our authority.”19 In commanding one king to destroy another, Nicholas wrote,
We order you, in the name of religion, to invade his states, burn his cities, and massacre his people . . . .20
Eminent Catholic historian Ignaz von Dollinger writes, “Pope Clement IV, in 1265, after selling millions of South Italians to Charles of Anjou for a yearly tribute of eight hundred ounces of gold, declared that he would be excommunicated if the first payment was deferred . . . .”21 Catholic Professor Carrerio boasted that the popes had “put down from their thrones great kings and yet mightier emperors, and set others in their place, to whom the greatest kingdoms have long paid tribute, as they do to no other, and who dispense such riches . . . that no king or emperor has ever had . . . .”22
The qualifying data which John gives us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for identifying this woman/city, is specific, conclusive and irrefutable. There is no city upon earth, past or present, which meets all of these criteria except Catholic Rome and Vatican City. Pray for the 980 million Catholics who are deceived into trusting their Church instead of Christ for salvation. May Christ�s love move you to bring the gospel to them!
� written by Dave Hunt
Condensed from a chapter of Dave Hunt�s new book, A Woman Rides the Beast, available from The Berean Call, PO Box 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, for $13.00 postage paid.
NOTES
1Karl Keating, Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on “Romanism” by “Bible Christians” (Ignatius Press, 1988), p. 200.
2The Catholic Encyclopedia (Thomas Nelson, 1976), under the heading “Rome.”
3Austin Flannery, ed., Vatical Council II (Costello Publishing, 1988 rev. ed.), Vol 1, pp. 364-5.
4Peter M.J. Stavinskas, ed., Catholic Encyclopedia (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1991), pp. 175, 178.
5Robert Broderick, ed., Catholic Encyclopedia (Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1976), p. 466.
6Brokerick, op. cit., pp. 103-4.
7The European, April 9-12, 1992, p. 1.
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© Thomas McElwain
Thomas McElwain
Islam in the Bible
About the Author
Thomas McElwain was born into a devout Christian family in the United States in 1949. He was occupied by religious subjects from an early age and wanted to become a pastor. He studied theology and history at the Séminaire du Salève in France from 1968 to 1972, after which he continued studies in religion at Andrews University in Michigan. Already in France he was considered a rebel in terms of theology, but his expertise in languages earned him respect.
In 1974 he entered the University of Uppsala to study Biblical languages and Ethnography. He completed a Ph.D. degree in 1979 from the University of Stockholm with a dissertation on American Indian religious traditions, Mythological Tales and the Allegany Seneca. He has written several books and many articles on Native American religion, Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
For many years he has lectured at various universities, especially the University of Turku in Finland where he was active from 1979-84. He was editorial secretary for the nordic journal of comparative religion, Temenos, for five volumes. He has been on the faculty of the department of Comparative Religion as docent at the University of Stockholm since 1982.
His active participation in church work led to his ordination to the ministry in 1988. He served a Baptist missionary society full time from 1986 to 1990. He was a voting delegate to the Baptist World Alliance at its session in Zagreb in 1989, representing the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference of USA and Canada.
Following the Baptist principles of Bible study, which encourage freedom of thought and objective examination of the text, he has come to conclusions which will surprise the reader no matter what the religious background.
Like others of his denomination before him, notably Edward Elwall, he finds no conflict between his practice of Baptist faith and Islam. Knowing that God is One, and believing in all of His prophets, Dr. McElwain hopes that the walls between Christianity, Islam and Judaism will fall and all join in the faith of the one true God as expressed in the Bible and the Qur’an. Dr. McElwain recites the Bible in the original Hebrew and the Qur’an in Arabic daily.
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Islam And Qur’an Can Not be Destroyed
If you are not Afraid Finding out the Truth about Islam & Qur’an…
The best and only proof, the authentic word of God/ Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala – depending you are interested in the truth…or investigate at least!- , truth can only be found in the authentic words of God which haven’t been changed by the hand of mankind during history or time.
Even the most logical thinking human being on earth who looks out for or thinks about God, shall commit himself or herself to look critically at everything that has been written about the one and only God. At least so do muslims or those who came to embrace Islam.
Out of my personal experience I can tell you after a search and exhausting search for this truth and the consistency of Scriptures of every monotheistic religion, I can state, all versions of the Bible and even Pentateuch didn’t pass the test. Because of translation mistakes, the diversity of versions or even the different meanings of translations which often lead to a complete distorted meaning of the books or verses themselves when you are intesively are going to compare them.
For example, when you put 2 Bibles aside of eachother, you can notice almost 1300 differences in the same “Book”. These are not even founded in mistakes of translation errors or litlle differences, but result in a complete different point of view and so definition and meaning of whole verses or chapters.
So when you are a critic person, you have to think this over seriously. Why all these books are so different. And which version, is the authentic version as God revealed?
If you start reading and comparing this way, talk to people with knowledge about the Books you will get even more puzzled. As for there are many differences in the Books themselves, so the opinion of people is even more exhausting.
You will need decades, but hence, what are decades anyway?!
Some people never will be able to find the truth because they even didn’t try convince themselves of truth at all.
So let’s suppose: You are looking for the most authentic word and Revelation of God Himself, in unchanged version, without additions or adaptions, without translations – on which the translator could have been mistaken by purpose or by chance- but besides this, after research of the Holy Books, you only can come to one conclusion and the only unchanged book of God is the Holy Qur’an.
The reason for this is quit simple: The Holy Qur’an never changed.
Not o none single letter or point. And even in printed as spoken word, it will stay unchanged because of the way of delivering Qur’an from generation on to generation, from muslim to another muslim. From one century into another century. And no man or woman calling him- or herself a muslim, would dare to make a change to this because every change of the Qur’an is considered as a bid’ah (noveltie) and strictly forbidden.
Bid’ah
Bid’ah, introducing new things, as meant as in adapting, changing, leaving o radding things from the authentic word or revelation is not allowed in Islam.
Different versions of Interpretations of Qur’an or only one Qur’an?
In Islam there is only one difference to be made: We know only one real Qur’an:
The Arabic Qur’an.
Besides this, we have Interpretations of the Qur’an. No concession possible.
Interpretattions of the Holy Qur’aan are all translated versions of it, or the dual language Qur’an Interpretations people use, to learn the Arabic Qur’an or to make more easy to understand the original revelations for non arab speaking believers or people interested in reading the Qur’an.
But it stays an interpretation. How good or skilled the translators have worked, how many may have been working together in Total concensus about the translation….the only real Qur’an stays the arabic Qur’aan. And no… no concession to be made here!
Every translated version of the Holy Qur’an nowadays on which is written the word “Qur’an”, mostly also bears the words: “Interpretation of the Holy or Noble Qur’aan.” You can convince yourself of this in every well equiped bookstore which sells relgious books.
Protection and preservation of the Qur’an
The Qur’an was codificed by Oethman and the way of delivery has taken care of an absolute Insurance, it has not been change ever since. Because the Qur’an itself states it is forbidden to introduce new things or change words in it, – and the laws about this are very clear- the Qur’an is preserved since centuries in it’s original form like it is revealed to our Prophet Muhammed (SAW)
These strict rules guarantee and even make impossible, by time or by hand of mankind, anything would be changed.
Also it excludes everything which is not miraculous or beyond Human comprehension, because only the Qur’an on itself is a miracle because it IS the word of God himself.
The Sunnah for example, as described in the numerous hadith about the life of the Prophet (SAW), his companions, his habits, sayings, behaviour, all the stories are not considered as a miracle. Though the science of hadith, is one of the most strict and complex sciences in the World. Every word has to be delivered by trustworthy people, in a chain (isnaad) of trustworthy people. And even a slight difference in this will make the hadith not sahih (100% trustworthy as seen as Sunnah and literally spoken words of the Prophet Muhammed s.a.w)
For more about this, you can find various sources on the internet about the classification of ahadith and how to use them for gaining knowledge.
The onlu real evidence, the Qur’an is the Word of Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala, is the fact of the existance of Ijaz. Ijaz, is the remarkable eloquence which goes beyond Human capacity.
No man has been able in all history, to write a similar book with similar content, wisdom, meaning and knowledge, nor has ever been no man able to achieve the beauty nor literary high position or standard of Qur’an.
You have to read the Qur’an yourself, without prejudice to see this for yourself. One does not have to be a muslim to behold the beauty and magnificance of this Holy Book. Anyone with a sound mind will be convinced of this fact if you just read and judge for yourself.
Why is the arabic so important for Qur’an and Muslims?
Now we know, how miraculous the Qur’an is, and stayed in it’s most original state like it was revealed to our Prophet Muhammed (SAW) – an illiterate himself so he was not writing it himself by the way-, it is easy to understand, why it is important for a believer of God/G-d or Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala to preserve these original revelations. Because, who believes in God, loves Him and is truthful in heart and soul, one should only be interested in textures never changed by the hand of men, the pen or time, nor history, political motives, translation mistakes nor any other reason.
If you are a believer of God, in his Oneness (tawheed: no worship to any other besides God/ Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala), the Word of God himself is enough. And we want the only truth, unchanged.
To assure ourselves, therer has been no change at all in this Book, there is no better guarantee for this than to read the Qur’an in the language as it is revealed: Arabic.
For Muslims, we read the Arabic Qur’an, we recite the Arabic Qur’an and betwee none eachtoher exchanging knowledge, the best way to do is in Arabic, t o assure, we wouldn’t deliver any mistake, but pass over the original verses and wisdom and live that way according to his laws which will not be changed this way.
Besides this, because it is the word of Allah (God) Subhana wa Ta’ala himself, it has become a proof. Proof to speak with, to give how we call “daliel”, evidence from the Holy Qu’ran itself. This way, everything we speak or do, discuss stays pure, and it is an obligation on every muslim to convince him or herself of daliel.
Speaking about the Qur’an, Islam, or Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala requires an originated and founded source in the Qur’an itself.
Changing of the Scriptures in other monotheistis religions in History
You probaly heard or noticed, a lot of people trying to distort the view about Islam or Muslims, even do their best to change information about Islam on the Internet, hence, even in books. This is not because their own religion has taught them to do so. They wrong themselves by this. Distorting the revelations as done before, to every Prophet since Adam (AS) to Jesus (AS) untill the in the Bible announced “Seal of Prophets”: Muhammed (SAW)
We all can discuss long and exhausting about the reasons behind this. But it is of no use.
It is very clear to a reasonable person using his own sound mind, no man would dare to compare or even try to go beyond the revelations of God himself.
As for even the most Islam or Qur’an bashing mocking people of the Christians hadn’t understand their own Scripture.
In the Bible is written: Revelations 22:18-19:
18. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will strike him with the plagues that are written in this book.
19. If anyone takes away any words from the book of this prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book.
So we also could talk a long while about the hundreds of different versions and meanings of so many different Bibles. Convince yourself at http://bible.cc/genesis/1-1.htm and browse, to see for yourself. Why, would God reveal these verses in revelations, when men in history achieved to distort, add, remove even whole books from the Bible itself.
For as you know, protestant Bibles contain 66 books and Catholic Bibles contain 8 more. Not to speak about the additions like the Holy trinity which was nothing else than a innovation of Emperor Constantinus who decided at Concilia of Nicea to introduce this phenomenon,
Something which is completely out of range with the revelations of the Old Testament and the Taurat which state:
Exodus 23:25: “You must serve only the LORD your God.”
This leaves nothing for imagination. It is quit clear. There is only one God and you have to serve only God. No one or nothing else.
Constantinus prayed to a trinity founded in the 4 sungods, Isis, Horus and Seth, also known as Baal, Astarte and Tammuz, but in Roman Catholic church better known as “IHS”
Because of political motives to achiev unity between the admirers of the Gods of the Sun and the Fundamental Christians who didn’t believe in any trinity, hes end his army to them and annihilated them, to achieve this way, the possibility without any resistance, to introduce his selfinvented trnity which would be acceptable or sellable for anyone: the Holy Trinity as well as get rid of the Biblical Sabbath.
This way, every new believer was bestowed with a very unbiblical fundemental teaching (Holy Trinity, to worship a holy Ghost and a son beside the God which is stated in Bible itself to be served as the only God), they lost a fundamental teaching revealed by God: the Sabbath, and in time, this Holy trinity became the doctrine of all the churches of Christians as we know them now, in all their diversity and teaching or interpretations of these differences.
Teachings, even in Total contrast with the words of Jesus, the Prophets before him and the Bible itself.
So I ask you. Which version is the truth. And which sign out of the scriptures you want to deny or confirm? How you know, after all these alterations of the Books, which is the truth and the message of God himself?
The Qur’an
In Islam, it is out of the question someone changes even a point or one letter in the Qur’an.
Which excluded also, someone invented or added something new, did not translate wrong or even added something which would have been said by any Human being. The whole Qur’an is a scripture with the exact words of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (SAW)
Second: The whole Qur’ An is written in complete and perfect arabic. It does not contain foreign tongue or loaned words nor influences of other languages. This leaves no possibility for misinterpretation of the written text.
Imam Shafi, one of the most influential ‘Ulama (scholars) says in his Risala:
“The Qur’an points there is no part of the Book of Allah which is not written in Arabic Tongue. He, who has an opinion of this kind (concerning strange words in Qur’an) could have found some (people) who by submitting themselves absolutely (taqlid) to it’s authority and approved it. leavng the question of daliel (proof) to them who didn’t agree on this with him. However, by (absolute) submission they have neglected (their duty), may Allah forgive them and us. But, maybe he, who’s opinion is there would be strange tongue (words) in the Qur ‘an approved by others, because some (words) even are not understood by some Arabs.”
Besides this, it is ignorance of people themselves even between Arabs about the different opinion about some words of the Qur’an, it makes it no proof it contains these strange words.
Rather excists the posibility some non Arabs learned some Arabic words and spread and integrated it into their own language. Besides this, everywhere in the world tribes and peoples with dialects, containing even different choices for words for the same things, as we see in really every language in the world. Because of these differences in dialects it is the reason some people recognize words and others don’t. Even words mentioned in the Qur’an.
It is more rational more words became common because of the Qur’an and added by this a common vocabulary for Islamic believers, for no matter which regio nor dialect he or she comes, all muslim recite the arabic Qur’an in the same way with the same words as exactly written in the Qur’an. This also prevented changing of the Qur’an.
The muslim is taught, from beginning to study the Holy Book in Arabic, to follow it, to maintain and to transmit it this way. Own interpretations are useless and not neccesary this way, because the message reaches the one in all it’s perfection.
The Qur’an is completely and only revealed in Arabic, and this was intended to preserve it for these reasons stated above, which may become clear our of the following verses:
And if We had sent this as a Quran in a foreign language other than Arabic, they would have said: “Why are not its Verses explained in detail (in our language)? What! (A Book) not in Arabic and (the Messenger) an Arab?” Say: “It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it (the Quran) is blindness for them. They are those who are called from a place far away (so they neither listen nor understand).
[Surah Fussilat 41:44 – Interpretation in English by Muhsin Khan]
“And thus We have inspired unto you (O Muhammad SAW) a Quran (in Arabic) that you may warn the Mother of the Towns (Makkah) and all around it.”
[Surah Ash-Shuraa 42:7 – Interpretation in English by Muhsin Khan]
“And truly, this (the Quran) is a revelation from the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists), Which the trustworthy Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] has brought down; Upon your heart (O Muhammad SAW) that you may be (one) of the warners, In the plain Arabic language.”
[Surah Ash Shu’ara 26: 192-195 – Interpretation in English by Muhsin Khan]
“And thus have We sent it (the Quran) down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic.”
[Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:37 – Interpretation in English by Muhsin Khan]
“An Arabic Quran, without any crookedness (therein) in order that they may avoid all evil which Allah has ordered them to avoid, fear Him and keep their duty to Him.”
[Surah Az-Zumar; 39:28]
Also the books, of every Prophet from Adam (AS) till Muhammed (SAW) revealed in the language of their people. Concerning those, not skilled in arabic language it is recommended they learn the arabic language because Imam al Shafi said:
“It is obligatory for every Muslim to learn the arabic tongue until his utmost power to (be able) to proclaim ” this way there is no Illah (God) besides Allah and that Muhammed is his Messenger and to recite the book of Allah, By this to express what is in his duty, to do Takbir and all which is ordered, Tasbih, Tashahud and anything else.”
How accurate a translation of the Holy Qur’an may seem, we can not use this translation as a guide, because it is neccesary to be able to use verses and laws of the Arabic Qur’an to understand, to follow or to lead. The best example is the prayer itself, it never would be possible nor comprehendable in any other language if you don’t understand the exact meaning. But one knows when one learns the beautiful language of the Qur’an.
And even one who needs great effort to try and learn will be rewarded for the Prophet (SAW) said:
“Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses (because he doesn’t know how to read it but is trying to), then he will have twice that reward.”
Consistancy of the Qur’an and it’s indestructibility
The Qur’an is as consistent as it’s revelation itself, because it is delivered by what we call “tawattur”: unchanged delivery in it’s original form.
This gives great certainty and assurance because all revelations to the Prophet Muhammed (SAW) were immediately written down by his Sahaba (companions of the Prophet SAW) en maintained in spoken word in the way of reciting it all the rime, because that is what we strive for, to become a Hafiz: to learn the whole Qur’an by heart.
And not only the Sahaba were able to do this. Until today even gifted little children in the age of 8 or sometimes even yonger know to recite every letter of the Qur’an, in unchanged form, likei t was delivered by tawattur without influences of time, mankind and was maintained and will be maintained.
It can NOT be destroyed although some give it a try like the Pastor in USA with his abhorrent announcement to burn the Qur’an. The same pastor also said: it would be a sign of God if the Mosque was moved from Ground Zero…
He probably didn’t understand the verse out of his own Bible
“…Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”
[John20:29]
Suppose…tomorrow they would burn every Qur’an.
Suppose…tomorrow they would be able to delete all digital data of Qur’an
Suppose…tomorrow they would be really able to eridacte every written, spoken or digitalized or other way of media with Qu’ran….
We will be able to restore the Qur’an within one day or less. With all the hafiz and even children knowing the Qur’an by heart. It will be impossible to destory the Qur’an. Besides this it is an rascist and cruel act of intolerance, but above all, ignorance of the highest level.
But Suppose… if they would do these things with the Bible – something which by the way no muslim would even enter his mind to do so – how would they reconstruct it? How many centuries do all the different people with different versions and opinions will need to reconstruct and what is consistent of it from beginning?
This is the best proof, the Qur’an protect itself. Because Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala revealed his laws this way to protect the Qur’an forever, unable to destroy by mankind. Which of the signs of your Lord you want to deny?
Those who reject Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) are deaf and dumb in darkness. Allah sends astray whom He wills and He guides on the Straight Path whom He wills.
[Surah Al-A’Nam 6:39]
Certainly, We have brought to them a Book (the Quran) which We have explained in detail with knowledge, – a guidance and a mercy to a people who believe.
[Surah Al A’raf 7:52]
Torah, Zaboor and Injiel: Changed, concealed or additions…
When we go watch closely to the Taurat (Torah), Zaboor (Book of Psalms) and Injiel (Bible)
It is proven, a lot of those books were changed by men. By concilia, or because of political reasons because the original Jews also reigned the country and had to adapt some laws here and there. Hence, even in 6th century in Rome, some bisshops discussed over women having a soul or not and reduced Meryam (Mary) to something simple, while she is one of the most important and often named women in Qu’ran. Even Isa (Jesus) is mentioned more often!
But even this is revealed in the Qur’an:
They (the Jews, Quraish pagans, idolaters, etc.) did not estimate Allah with an estimation due to Him when they said: “Nothing did Allah send down to any human being (by inspiration).” Say (O Muhammad SAW): “Who then sent down the Book which Musa (Moses) brought, a light and a guidance to mankind which you (the Jews) have made into (separate) papersheets, disclosing (some of it) and concealing (much). And you (believers in Allah and His Messenger Muhammad SAW), were taught (through the Quran) that which neither you nor your fathers knew.” Say: “Allah (sent it down).” Then leave them to play in their vain discussions. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol.7, Page 37).
[Surah Al An’Am 6:91]
All the books, from Taurat, Zaboor, Injiel do not contain any other message than the original message from God as it was revealed to Adam (AS) and all the other Prophets.
But all the books of the Christians and the Jews were translated from Aramic, Greek, Latin and Hebrew, to be translated again into other languages, mostly not even by believers but just by people who get paid out of their profession to translate.
Knowing a language is not enough to translate the meaning of words of God.
Hence, all those people who maybe even offered their lifetime translating, they are just able to interpretate every choice of word, to personal opinion and regarding. But it stays interpretating, and they use the words, they regard as most proper.
My statement is: The word of God-G’d’Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala is impossible to translate for a Human being. So we even shouldn’t try to do so, because it damages reality and finding of truth in any way imaginable.
This is where all these books before Qur’an got in error. Nowadays, it even gets more worse. Nowadays, even words leand from other languages are added into other translations to make reading “more easy”.
To make it more “Easy” SubhanAllah.
Who wants to understand the message of God, has to do some effort.
But whose heart and mind, and common sense are open to see truth, their eyed and heart will be opened for it by His will. For it is not hard, to see the truth and the signs for those with a mind of their own, even for the most critic reader.
Even Torah was changed. The Jewish introduced a lot of innovations which found their foundation in changing fundamentally their own scriptures mainly in the fact they also were political reigners. Adapting laws, not always like the law as revealed to them by their G-d.
The jewish teaching is on tense foot with that was revealed to them. Examples to many.
Luckely there are Jews believeing in the Oneness (Tawheed) of God, and return on the right path and more and more getting there. But for a more detailed essay about these things: Neturei Karta, the real Torah Jews Organisation has a lot of well explained sources on their website about this topic:
http://www.nkusa.org/
Take away your blindness, remove your prejudice and convince yourself. I invite you to reads the Qur’an and Judge for yourself.
For every well thinking person with a mind of its own, even an interpretation of teh Qur’an in your own language, will be able to show you the wisdom, the beauty, and the Mercy of Islam.
To change your view, about the distorted perception media and some people try to put into brains of mankind.
Besides beauty, you will discover much more. As slavery was ended by Islam. Women have rights even justified by the Qur’an, as the only Holy Book giving rights and guarantees about things, even nowadays in present worldly life, people fight for. Miracles, science, even nowadays, scientiscts discover facts, which have been revealed in Qur’an, to an Illiterate Prophet Muhammed (SAW), things, which they only now with all knowledge and science are able to discover. Think about that. The Qur’an is not just a book about Religion. It is a book of laws for Life itself. For harmony, peace, inner rest and tranquility. Islam is Peace.
Free Books
On this website http://www.kalamullah.com/non-muslims.html you can download various ebooks for free. Beautiful books with explanation of the most basic and common questions about Qur’an, Islam and more.
On this website http://www.islamic-message.net/cims/default.aspx you can also download, or even order books, which will be send by postal mail to your home address for free.
If you have any questions, feel free to enter any mosque. Or to ask any muslim you see on the street. We all, will be very happy to explain to you. Or help you to find your information any other way so you can be sure you find out the real truth about Islam.
” This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”.
[Qur’an 5:3]
All the good I said is given to me by Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala. If I have states something not completely correct, it is from the Shaytaan. I seek refuge with Allah from the cursed Shaytan
and beg for forgiveness and Rahma of Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala.
May Allah Aubhana wa Ta’ala guide us all to the truth, keep us on the straight path and protect us against any evil. Allahumma Ameen ya Rabb.
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