Are Muslims on the true path?

cultured

Before I state my points, I just want to give a brief definition of Islam. Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion; meaning that it teaches of only one God. It also teaches that Muhammad is a messenger of God. It is the world’s second largest religion, after Christianity, with nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide. 

There are different types of Muslims each with slightly different beliefs. The two main branches of Islam are Sunni and Shi’a. The general difference in practice is that Sunni Muslims rely on the Sunnah and Shi’a Muslims rely on their ayatollahs (an important religious leader). 

Personally, I grew up in a half Christian and half Muslim household, and I’m Atheist, so I truly have no bias towards this statement. However, having studied Islam, there are a lot of important things I learned about the unique religion. 

Prior to stating my full answer, first I want to explain my interpretation of this question. What does it mean by the “true path”? And is there really a “true” path to life in itself? My understanding of this question is, are they on the right path? Doing the right thing? 

I myself, don’t believe that religion is a majorly important thing in life. I don’t believe that everything should be controlled by outdated beliefs. But do I respect their beliefs? Yes, I do. So, normally I would say they aren’t on the right path. And that they aren’t living life correctly, to live by these rules that restrict their life. 

But then, I tried to think about it with a slightly different perspective. What does it truly mean by “true” path anyway? And is there even one by definition? There are no set rules to life. Everyone lives it differently, and chooses to restrict themselves less/more than others. Some are adventurous, love risks, and don’t like being tied down.

Others, on the other hand, prefer maybe to stay at home, work a full career, and have a normal life. Does that mean because one lives different to another, they are leading a path that is not true? In this context, trying to label one life as “true” and the other as “untrue” doesn’t work. Which I find is the same, and can be applied, to religion. 

With this, my point is, how can a path be determined if it’s “true” or not? Just by how one lives their lives? Which is why I think that yes, they are. I believe that not only Muslims, but everyone is on the true path. Who am I, or who is anyone, to devalue a path by calling it “untrue”? Just because mine, or their own beliefs do not align with it?

My personal definition of a “true” life is living for the journey, not the destination. I want to live a life I can enjoy and be happy in. Which is why I say Muslims are on the true path, as is anyone else. If they enjoy practicing the beliefs of Islam, and they are happy and comfortable with the religion, why label it as an “untrue” path? And what is the criteria of a “true” path?

Maybe I am repeating my point a bit often, but I just want to make it clear exactly what I mean. Saying Muslims are on the true path does not mean I am saying that anyone who practices another religion to Islam is living an “untrue” life, it means that whatever makes them happy, is the true path. 

In conclusion, I agree with the statement that Muslims are on the right path. Not because I agree with their practices, but because I see how religion can make them happy. And to me, a “true” life is a happy one, as is with “paths”. 

royalson

I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this debate and commend my opponent for agreeing to engage me on this topic and providing her opening statement. Although it is not my intention to insult or offend anybody, I recognize that I am stepping on sacred ground, and that my arguments will challenge some very cherished beliefs. I ask that those who oppose my position, to consider the arguments presented on both sides and prayerfully weigh the evidence.

SURAH 1:6 says – Guide us to the straight path.

SURAH 2:213 says that  Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.

I am using the terms true path and straight path interchangeably, as I believe the straight path mentioned in the Qur'an is considered to be the true path. 
 

Throughout the debate, I will quote from the Qur'an and the Bible. The translations I shall appeal to are Sahih International and the King James Version respectively, unless stated otherwise.

As an overview, my opening presentation is structured in three parts:

1. Unpacking the terms of debate by breaking down the title for understanding.
2. Establish why I do not think Muslims have a good reason to believe that Islam is the true path.

3. Present what a true path should look like. 

I. UNDERSTANDING THE TITLE OF THE DEBATE

Firstly, Let us turn our attention to the title of the debate – Are Muslims on the true path? 

Although there are a number of different sects with varying beliefs. However, this presentation looks at the core beliefs shared by the majority.

The next part of the title of debate concerns the true path.

By true path, I am presupposing that truth is objective and not a merely subjective or contingent upon culture, time or personalities, but transcends time, culture and circumstance.

Notice, the title does not say *A* true path but *THE* true path. In other words, that there is only one path that is divinely inspired, and that no other path would be acceptable. This mirrors what is spoken of the Qur'an in the following verses:

SURAH 3 VERSE 19

“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account.”  

SURAH 3 VERSE 85:

“And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.

Hence, the religion itself does not consider itself as one of many acceptable paths, but the only one acceptable to Allah.” Thus – For my opponent to satisfy the burden of the affirmative position in this debate, she will need to prove that Islam alone is the true path for mankind to receive a favorable destiny in the age to come.

II. THERE ARE NO GOOD REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT ISLAM IS THE TRUE PATH

Now I am going to turn to the second part of my introductory word, namely That I contend that there are no good reasons to believe that Islam is the true path.

 
I have ten contentions: 

A. Islam is historically insufficient.

B. Tauhid is rationally insufficient.

C. Muhammad is prophetically insufficient.

D. The Qur'an is explanatorily insufficient.

E. Its connection with previous prophets is insufficient.

F.  Its connection with previous scriptures is theologically insufficient.

G. Allah is metaphysically insufficient.

H.The Pillars of Islam are practically insufficient.

I. Islamic practices are morally insufficient.
J. Allah as a guide is wholly insufficient.

Let us consider them one by one. Any that I cannot address in this round, I will endeavour (Lord willing) to cover in the next round.

A. Islam is historically insufficient.

If Islam were the true path, we would expect it to be consistently, historically accurate. This is not the case. 

The most obvious example is with regards to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Surah 4:157 says that they did not kill Him nor crucified Him but was made only to appear so.

Among the various theories in Islam, the two most prominent theories for Christ's death upon the cross are that:
1. Jesus was substituted on the cross by someone else.
2. Jesus fainted on the cross but didn't die on it

It is interesting that this verse says that those who differ are full of doubt with only conjecture to follow, yet it is the Muslims who have differing theories where Christians follow the one view, that Jesus Christ died on the cross.

On the one hand, you have the ancient historical affirmation by
Josephus, Sutonious, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Mara bar Serapion and Lucian of Samosata. These are all hostile witnesses. On the other hand, you have the wide spectrum of historical and New Testament Scholarship, which testifies that one of the most certain facts of history and of Jesus Christ Himself, was the event of His crucifixion under Pontius Pilate.

Other historical blunders of the Qur'an, include the insertion of writings that came from Gnostic non-christian sources to be scripture, and  the confusion of Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mariam the sister of Aaron and Moses. They are separated by thousands of years, and yet the Qur'an mistakenly treats them as contemporaneous.

B. TAUHID IS RATIONALLY INSUFFICIENT

Perhaps the greatest weakness of Islam, is its core doctrine of Tauhid – often equated with Monotheism. Tauhid is made up of three categories:

1. Oneness of Being

2. Oneness  of Worship 

3. Oneness  of Allah's names and Attributes 

The third category of Tauhid – (Tauhid al-Asmaa-was-sifaat) states that Allah's names and attributes cannot be compared with creation. They are completely other. Any attempt to find some kind of correlation or consistency between the two is frowned upon as Shirk – A blasphemous attribution of things to Allah that do not befit His majesty.

With this in mind, Allah's most basic attribute is His being one – Ahad. However, this attribute turns out to be anything but basic. What does it mean for Allah to be one? It cannot mean singular in nature – since there are many instances of this in creation. For example, there is ONE pencil on the table.

This problem extends to all of Allah's attributes. We might picture what mercy looks like, but it cannot be anything like Allah's mercy. Thus His attributes become unknowable.

Thus Allah becomes a being of unknowable attributes. The apostle Paul pointed out to the Athenians in Acts 17:23 that they worshiped an unknown God. Yet in Islam, not only is Allah unknown, but He is unknowable. Why believe in an unknowable God?

C. MUHAMMAD IS PROPHETICALLY INSUFFICIENT.

While Muslims often like to claim that Muhammad is the “Prophet sent like Moses” in Deuteronomy 18:18, it is clear that he fails the criteria established in this chapter:

 This passage shows that the Lord would raise up a prophet from among the bretheren of the Levites. 

 STRIKE ONE: Muhammad was not an Israelite.

In verse 20, the prophet who speaks a word which he has not commanded him to speak shall die.

STRIKE TWO: Muhammad spoke the Satanic Verses, which obviously God did not command him to speak. (Tabari 6:111) - “I fabricated things against God and imputed to Him words which He has not spoken”

STRIKE THREE: Muhammad spoke did not speak in the name of YHWH but another God.  (Surah 1:1). Muhammad should be thrown out as a false prophet.

In my next round, I will endeavor to present further details as to why I believe Muslims are not on the true path, and eventually discuss what I believe the true path really is.

I apologize for the delay for the posting of my opening statement. I had originally prepared a statement that I discovered went beyond the maximum character count (approx 28,000 characters instead of 8,000).

I look forward to my opponent's response. Thank you.