Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun’s article

A Series of Answers to Common Questions

By

Sami Zaatari

 

 

 

 

 

http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/allah_as_man.htm

 

I will just be posting the part of the article which deals with Islam, not on what he has to say about Christianity as this article is an argument against Islam.

 

 

He wrote:

This is precisely the point that Muslims refuse to accept. Muslims think it inconceivable that their god, Allah could or would assume a visible form or actually become man.

Yet, interestingly both the Quran and hadiths affirm that Allah actually has a visible form and that Allah actually moves from place to place. Here is a sampling of Quranic passages affirming that Allah has a visible body:

 

The Quran Attributes Movement To Allah

 

Nay! When the earth is pounded by power, AND THY LORD COMETH, and His angels, rank upon rank, and Hell, that Day, is brought face to face - On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance profit him? S. 89:21-23

 

The Quran Gives A Visible Form To Allah

 

By the Star when it goes down,- Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled. Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him: He was taught by one Mighty in Power, Endued with Wisdom: FOR HE APPEARED (in stately form); While he was in the highest part of the horizon: THEN HE APPROACHED HIM AND CAME CLOSER, And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer; SO DID HE (God) CONVEY THE INSPIRATION TO HIS SERVANT- (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey. S. 53:1-10 (Yusuf Ali's translation)

 

This passage clearly states that Muhammad saw Allah approaching him in visible form. Muslims have claimed that the person whom Muhammad saw was the Angel Gabriel. This interpretation will not work since the passage claims that the person that appeared to Muhammad was Muhammad's sovereign as indicated by the last part of the sentence, "TO HIS SERVANT." Unless Muslims want to claim that Muhammad is the servant of Gabriel, there is no avoiding the inescapable conclusion that the person whom Muhammad saw in visible form was none other than Allah himself.

 

Verily this is the word of a most honourable Messenger, Endued with Power, with rank before THE LORD OF THE THRONE, With authority there, (and) faithful to his trust. And (O people!) your companion is not one possessed; And without doubt HE SAW HIM IN THE CLEAR HORIZON. Neither doth he withhold grudgingly a knowledge of the Unseen. Nor is it the word of an evil spirit accursed. S. 81:19-25

 

Again, the person whom Muhammad saw is none other than the Lord of the Throne, i.e. Allah. There is no other referent in the context of the passage and therefore the burden of proof is upon the Muslims to show that Muhammad did not see Allah visibly, but rather the Angel Gabriel. Noted Islamicist, F.E. Peters comments on the preceding Suras, specifically 53:1-12:

 

"None of the pronouns is identified in these verses, though there is little doubt that the recipient of the vision was Muhammad. Who was seen is less clear, and if Muhammad's being referred to as his 'servant' in verse 10 suggests that is God Himself, the Muslim tradition preferred to understand that it was Gabriel in all the other instances, chiefly because later in his own career Muhammad, as we shall see, had unmistakably come to the same conclusion. But there is no other mention of Gabriel in the Meccan suras, and it appears far more likely that God Himself first appeared to Muhammad 'on the high horizon' and then on a second occasion by the lotus tree near the 'garden of the dwelling' to show him 'the signs of his Lord.' Muhammad was clearly earthbound when he had his first experience, but where the latter vision took place, whether in a known locality in Mecca or, as is often thought, in some heavenly venue, is not further indicated. Neither is there anything to suggest that it was on either of these occasions that Muhammad received the words of the Quran.

 

"If Sura 53:1-18 seems to say that Muhammad believed that on two distinct occasions he had a vision of God, who thereby prompted him and showed to him His signs, the second vision is referred to only in briefing in passing. (Quran 81:19-27)

"Although verse 10 appears to refer back to the same vision 'on the high horizon' mentioned in 53:7-9, the Muslim commentators saw in the first three verses of this passage from Sura 81 an unmistakable reference to Gabriel. But there is abundant evidence that Muhammad not only did not identify Gabriel as the agent of revelation until his Medina days, but that while at Mecca he was criticized for the fact that God had not sent an angelic messenger: 'They said: "If your Lord had so pleased, He would certainly have sent down angels; as it is, we disbelieve your mission".' (Quran 41:14)

 

"Muhammad's earliest response did not encourage them to think that there was in fact an angel in God's revelation to him:

They say: 'You to whom the Reminder is being sent down, truly you are jinn-possessed! Why do you not bring angels to us if you are one of those who posses truth?' We do not send down the angels except when required, and if they came, there would be not repsite. (Ibid., 15:6-8)

 

And before you as well the Messengers we sent down were but men, to whom We granted inspiration. And if you do not understand that, ask the people who possess the Reminder. (Ibid., 16:43) (F.E. Peters, Muhammad and the Origins of Islam [State of University Press New York, Albany 1994], pp. 142-143)

 

The next set of hadiths clearly say that Allah appeared visibly and literally touched Muhammad:

 

Narrated AbdurRahman ibn A'ish
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: I saw my Lord, the Exalted and Glorious in the most beautiful form. He said: What do the Angels in the presence of Allah contend about? I said: Thou art the most aware of it. He then placed HIS PALM between my shoulders and I felt its coldness in my chest and I came to know what was in the Heavens and the Earth. He recited: 'Thus did we show Ibrahim the kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth and it was so that he might have certainty.' (6:75)

Darimi reported it in a mursal form and Tirmidhi also reported. (Tirmidhi Hadith, Number 237- ALIM CD-ROM Version)

Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was detained one morning from observing the dawn prayer (in congregation) along with us till the sun had almost appeared on the horizon. He then came out hurriedly and Iqamah for prayer was observed and he conducted it (prayer) in brief form. When he had concluded the prayer by saying As-salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah, he called out to us saying: Remain in your places as you were. Then turning to us he said: I am going to tell you what detained me from you (on account of which I could not join you in the prayer) in the morning. I got up in the night and performed ablution and observed the prayer as had been ordained for me. I dozed in my prayer till I was overcome by (sleep) and lo, I found myself in the presence of my Lord, the Blessed and the Glorious, in the best form. He said: Muhammad! I said: At Thy service, my Lord. He said: What these highest angels contend about? I said: I do not know. He repeated it thrice. He said: Then I saw Him put HIS PALMS between my shoulder blades till I felt the coldness of His fingers between the two sides of my chest. Then everything was illuminated for me and I could recognize everything. He said: Muhammad! I said: At Thy service, my Lord. He said: What do these high angels contend about? I said: In regard to expiations. He said: What are these? I said: Going on foot to join congregational prayers, sitting in the mosques after the prayers, performing ablution well despite difficulties. He again said: Then what do they contend? I said: In regard to the ranks. He said: What are these? I said: Providing of food, speaking gently, observing the prayer when the people are asleep. He again said to me: Beg (Your Lord) and say: O Allah, I beg of Thee (power) to do good deeds, and abandon abominable deeds, to love the poor, that Thou forgive me and show mercy to me and when Thou intendst to put people to trial Thou causes me to die unblemished and I beg of Thee Thy love and the love of one who loves Thee and the love for the deed which brings me near to Thy love. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: It is a truth, so learn it and teach it.
Transmitted by Ahmad, Tirmidhi who said: This is a hasan sahih hadith and I asked Muhammad ibn Isma'il about this hadith and he said: It is a sahih hadith. (Tirmidhi Hadith, Number 245; ALIM CD-ROM Version)

 

The Quran also applies human qualities and characteristics to Allah:

 

The Quran Gives Allah A Face

 

"Every one upon it will disappear while your Lord's face will remain full of majesty and splendor." S. 55:26-27 (T. B. Irving - The First American Version of the Quran).

 

The Quran Gives Allah A Hand

 

"The ones who swear allegiance to you merely swear allegiance to God. God's hand rests above their hands..." S. 48:10

 

The Quran Gives Allah An Eye

 

Allah said: "Granted is thy prayer, O Moses! And indeed We conferred a favour on thee another time [before]. Behold! We sent to thy mother, by inspiration, the message: 'Throw [the child] into the chest, and throw [the chest] into the river: The river will cast him up on the bank, and he will be taken up by one who is an enemy to Me and an enemy to him: But I endued thee with love from Me: And [this] in order that thou mayest be reared under Mine eye.'" S. 20:36-39 - King Fahd Holy Quran

 

The Quran Seats Allah On The Throne

 

"He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six days; then He mounted the throne." S. 57:4 - M. M. Pickthall English Translation

 

The fact that Allah mounts the throne implies movement. To say that mounting the throne is a metaphorical term indicating that Allah assumed sovereign control over the creation leaves more problems. If it is only after creation that Allah assumed sovereign rulership then this implies that previous to this specific point in time Allah was not sovereign. Yet, if he was not sovereign prior to this point then this implies a change in the nature and experience of Allah. Yet, if Allah can change and experience new events this implies that he is not omniscient. We leave it to the Muslims to solve this paradox.

The Quran provides proof that the throne is actually literal:

 

"And the angels will be on its sides, and eight will, that Day, bear the Throne of thy Lord above them." S. 69:17

 

That eight angels bear Allah's throne above affirms that Allah literally sits on an actual throne.

 

The Quran gives Allah A Shin

 

"The Day that THE SHIN SHALL BE LAID BARE, and they shall be summoned to prostrate, but they shall not be able,-" S. 68:42

 

According to the Ahadith the Shin refers to Allah's Shin:

Narrated Abu Said:

I heard the Prophet saying, "ALLAH WILL LAY BARE HIS SHIN, and then all the believers, men and women, will prostrate themselves before Him; but there will remain those who used to prostrate in the world for showing off and for gaining good reputation. Such a one will try to prostrate himself (on the Day of Judgment) but his back (bones) will become a single (vertebra) bone (so he will not be able to prostrate)." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 441 as by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali, Ph.D., Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan in The Noble Quran English Translation of the Meanings and Commentary [King Fahd Complex for the printing of the Holy Qur'an, Madinah, K.S.A.], p. 779, f. 1a; bold and capital emphasis ours)

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri:

 

... Then the Almighty will come to them in a shape other than the one which they saw the first time, and He will say, ‘I am your Lord,’ and they will say, 'You are not our Lord.' And none will speak: to Him then but the Prophets, and then it will be said to them, ‘Do you know any sign by which you can recognize Him?’ They will say. ‘THE SHIN,’ AND SO ALLAH WILL THEN UNCOVER HIS SHIN whereupon every believer will prostrate before Him and there will remain those who used to prostrate before Him just for showing off and for gaining good reputation... (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 532s)

 

The Hadith also attributes bodyparts and movement to Allah.

 

Allah Actually Moves

 

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: "Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2:246)

 

Allah Has A Face

 

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:

when this Verse:-- 'Say (O Muhammad!): He has Power to send torments on you from above,' (6.65) was revealed; The Prophet said, "I take refuge with Your Face." Allah revealed:-- '...or from underneath your feet.' (6.65) The Prophet then said, "I seek refuge with Your Face!" Then Allah revealed:-- '...or confuse you in party-strife.' (6.65) Oh that, the Prophet said, "This is easier." (Sahih al-Bukhari 9:503)

 

Allah Has A Hand and Fingers

 

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "Allah's Hand is full, and (its fullness) is not affected by the continuous spending, day and night." He also said, "Do you see what He has spent since He created the Heavens and the Earth? Yet all that has not decreased what is in His Hand." He also said, "His Throne is over the water and in His other Hand is the balance (of Justice) and He raises and lowers (whomever He will)." (See Hadith No. 206, Vol. 6) (Sahih al-Bukhari 9:508)

 

Narrated 'Abdullah:

A Jew came to the Prophet and said, "O Muhammad! Allah will hold the heavens on a Finger, and the mountains on a Finger, and the trees on a Finger, and all the creation on a Finger, and then He will say, 'I am the King.' " On that Allah's Apostle smiled till his premolar teeth became visible, and then recited:--

'No just estimate have they made of Allah such as due to him... (39.67) 'Abdullah added: Allah's Apostle smiled (at the Jew's statement) expressing his wonder and believe in what was said. (Sahih al-Bukhari 9:510)

 

Narrated 'Abdullah:

A man from the people of the scripture came to the Prophet and said, "O Abal-Qasim! Allah will hold the Heavens upon a Finger, and the Earth on a Finger and the land on a Finger, and all the creation on a Finger, and will say, 'I am the King! I am the King!' " I saw the Prophet (after hearing that), smiling till his premolar teeth became visible, and he then recited: -- 'No just estimate have they made of Allah such as due to him... (39.67) (Sahih al-Bukhari 9:511)

 

Allah Actually Writes

 

The following is taken from the Forty Hadith Qudsi:

 

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

When Allah decreed the Creation He pledged Himself by writing in His book which is laid down with Him: My mercy prevails over my wrath.

It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah). (Hadith Qudsi 1 - see the following link <http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/hadithqudsi.html>.)

 

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "When Allah created the Creation, He wrote in His Book--and He wrote (that) about Himself, and it is placed with Him on the Throne--'Verily My Mercy overcomes My Anger.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 9:501)

 

The following hadiths are taken from Al-Ahadith Al-Qudsiyyah - Divine Narratives translated by Dr. Abdul Khaliq Kazi & Dr. Alan B. Day, published by Dar Al Kitab Arabi - USA, 1995:

 

Allah Has A Waist

 

Hadith 34:

Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet said: Allah created mankind and when He had finished, the womb stood up and took hold of Allah's waist. Allah: Stop! The womb said: I seek Thy refuge from being severed. Allah said: Would you not be happy if I do good to one who does good to you and sever links with one who severs links with you. The womb said: Yes my Lord. Allah said: And so shall it be.

Abu Hurayra said: Read if you like the following verse:

Would ye then, if ye were given the command, work corruption in the land sever your ties of kinship? Qur'an: 47.22 [Bukhari] (p. 65)

 

Allah Has A Visible Form

 

Hadith 43:

Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet said: My Lord came to me in the best form, whilst I was asleep, and said: O Muhammad, do you know what the angelic assembly is disputing about? I said: I do not!

Then Allah placed His Hand between my shoulders until I felt Its coolness in my chest and I became aware of what was happening in Heaven and on earth... [Al-Tirmidhi] (pp. 82-83)

 

Hadith 134:

Jabir b. Abdullah narrated that the Prophet said: Whilst the people of Paradise were enjoying their blissful state, a light will appear above them. They will raise their heads and lo! The Lord has risen above them and would say: Peace be upon you, O people of Paradise! That would be in accordance with the Qur'anic verse "Peace! A word from the Merciful Lord" (Qur'an: 36:58). The Prophet said: Then Allah would look at them and the people will look at Him, and they will not be distracted by the joys of Paradise as long as they were looking at Him, until Allah became veiled from them. His Light and Blessing over them will remain in their dwellings. [Ibn Majah] (p. 191)

 

Interestingly, this hadith indicates that Allah is not visibly present in Paradise. Only his light and blessings are present with believers. The fact that Allah appears to Paradise dwellers and then disappears from their sight implies that Allah is also not omnipresent.

\

Hadith 113:

Abu Hurayra narrated that some people said to the Prophet:

O Messenger of Allah, shall we see our Lord on the Day of Judgement?
He said: Do you have any doubt about seeing the sun when it is not covered by the clouds?
They said: No, O Messenger of Allah!
Do you have any doubt about seeing the moon on the night of the full moon, when it is not covered by clouds?
They said: No, O Messenger of Allah!
Then likewise you shall see Him on the Day of Judgement...

And this nation will remain along with its hypocrites, and Allah would come to them IN A FORM OTHER THAN THE ONE THEY KNOW, and would say "I am your Lord". They would say: We seek refuge in Allah from you. This is our place until our Lord comes to us. And when our Lord comes to us, WE SHALL RECOGNISE HIM.

Then Allah will come to them IN THE FORM THAT THEY KNOW, and would say "I am your Lord". They would say: "You indeed are our Lord", and they would follow Him...

The man would say: O my Lord, do not make the most unfortunate of your creatures! And he will continue to supplicate until Allah laughed. When Allah laughed, He gave him permission to enter... [Bukhari] (pp. 158-161)

 

According to this hadith Allah has a form in which Muslims are expected to know and recognize on the Day of Judgment. Furthermore, Allah is said to have laughed, which implies that he either assumes a form where he gives off the impression that he is actually laughing or Allah in fact has a mouth! In fact, one hadith claims that Muhammad laughed at Allah laughing:

 

"... Man would say: 'O my Lord, do you mock me, and You are the Lord of the Universe?'

"Ibn Mas'ud (the narrator) laughed and said: 'Do you not want to ask me what makes me laugh?' The listeners then said: 'What makes you laugh?' He said: 'This is how the Prophet laughed and the Companions asked: "What made you laugh, O Apostle of Allah?" The Prophet said: "I laughed on the account of the laughter of the Lord of the Universe at the man asking: Do you mock me and You are the Lord of the Universe?"

"'Allah would then say: "I do not mock you; I have power over what I will"'..." (Hadith 117, p. 169)

 

What is most disturbing is not that Allah laughed, but that someone could actually stand before the Holy God and accuse him of mockery.

 

 

In a book commonly held to be authored by Sunni Muslim scholar, Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal, "Kitab Al-Sunnah," we find the following interesting narrations:

 

... when He Most Blessed and Exalted sits on the Kursi [throne], a squeak is heard like the squeak of a new leather saddle. (Ibid., Volume 1, p. 301 - Ibn al-Qayyim Publishing House, published in two volumes, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, 1986; bold emphasis ours)

 

Allah wrote the Torah for Moses with His hand while leaning back on a rock, on tablets of pearl, and the screech of the quill could be heard. There was no veil between Him and him, ... (Ibid., Volume 1, p. 294; bold emphasis ours)

The angels were created from the light of His two elbows and chest, ... (Ibid., Volume 2, p. 510; bold emphasis ours)

 

(The preceding quotes taken from the "Understanding Islam" website: Source <http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=discussion&did=548>)

 

Note what the following Muslim translator states in relation to Allah having a face, hands etc.:

 

[1] All that has been revealed in Allah's Book [the Qur'an] as regards the [Sifat...] Qualities of Allah..., the Most High,- like His Face, Eyes, Hands, Shins, (Legs), His Coming, His Istawa (rising over) His Throne and others; His Qualities or all that Allah's Messenger... qualified Him in the true authentic Prophet's Ahadith (narrations) as regards His Qualities like [Nuzul... His Descent or His laughing and others etc. The religious scholars of the Qur'an and the Sunna believe in these Qualities of Allah and they confirm that these are really His Qualities, without Ta'wil... (interpreting their meanings into different things etc.) or Tashbih... (giving resemblance or similarity to any of the creatures) or Ta'til... (i.e. completely ignoring or denying them i.e. there is no Face, or Eyes or Hands, or Shins etc. for Allah). These Qualities befit or suit only Allah Alone, and He does not resemble any of (His) creatures. As Allah's Statements (in the Qur'an): (1) "There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer" (V.42:11). (2) There is none comparable unto Him (V.112:4). (Al-Imam Zain-ud-Din Ahmad bin Abdul Lateef Az-Zubaidi, The Translation of the Meanings of Summarized Sahih Al-Bukhari Arabic-English, Translated by: Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan [Maktaba Dar-us-Salam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh Saudi Arabia], p. 842)

 

This next quote is quite interesting. After mentioning those who seek the face of Allah, the author writes:

 

... Meaning they want to see Allah's face (because that is the greatest pleasure for the people of Paradise). The Qur'an and the Sunnah affirm that Allah has a face, two hands, fingers, and two eyes. Some people deny these attributes because they incorrectly suppose that by affirming them they are humanizing Allah. Such an argument is only valid for those who would say, for example, "Allah has hands like ours (?)" Such a statement is not allowed because it qualifies Allah's attributes without evidence from the Qur'an or the Sunnah. It would also be in contradiction to the Qur'anic verse: <There is nothing that is like Him, and He is The Ever-Hearing, The Ever-Seeing>. Thus we must affirm the attributes that Allah, and/or his Messenger have affirmed; we must believe that these attributes befit the Magnificence, and Glory of Allah; and we are not allowed to qualify these attributes unless Allah, and/or his Messenger have done so for us. (Waleed K.S. Al-Essa, Authentic Supplications Of the Prophet [A Daar of Islamic Heritage Publication, P.O. Box 831415, Miami, FL. 33283, 1993], p. 59, n. 145; bold emphasis ours)

 

Therefore, according to these Islamic sources a Muslim cannot just claim that the Qualities of Allah, His Face, Hands etc. are simply metaphorical. A Muslim must affirm that these things are actual. Yet, at the same time a Muslim must not assume that Allah's Face, Hands, Feet etc. are anything like what we see and find in creation.

In light of these preceding factors we are left with two possibilities:

 

Allah has an actual body. If so, this either makes Allah an exalted and glorified man.

Or, Allah's body is spiritual not material. If so, then this implies that Allah cannot be omnipresent, spaceless or timeless. Hence, the dimensions of time, space and matter become binding upon Allah. This being the case we end up with a Greek pagan concept where both God and matter are eternal!

 

Allah assumes a visible body without this actually being his form. If so, then Muslims have no basis to reject the OT theophanies of God and the Incarnation of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. If Allah can appear visibly, then the God of the Bible can appear as a man and actually take on human nature at the Incarnation without Muslims having a legitimate basis to argue against this fact.

 

In either case, Muslims have no valid objection against the doctrine of the Trinity and the Deity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Seeing that Islam poses more problems than solutions we invite Muslims to embrace the truth of God as recorded in the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible is the only inspired and inerrant Word of God for all times and for all men, leading everyone to the knowledge of God's complete truth.

 

Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

 

NOTE -

Muslims might object at our uncritical use of certain hadiths in this article, which they may feel are not sound. In case such an argument is presented we simply would like to point out that the reliability of the Hadith is not the issue. The issue is that both the Quran and early Islamic scholarship affirm the visible and bodily nature of Allah. Hence, even if some of the hadiths were questionable this still would not refute our arguments. This is due to the fact that it is Muslims who wrote down even these weaker hadiths, affirming that these Muslims had no problem in attributing a body to Allah. Hence, no matter from what angle one looks at it the conclusion that Allah has a body becomes inescapable.

 

 

My Response:

 

To correct Shamoun, Islam poses no problems but solutions. It is in fact his own Bible and belief that poses more problems with no answers. I find it very funny that Shamoun has the audacity to say that he finds it disturbing that Allah laughs, yet Shamoun himself believes his God went to the bathroom, slept, cried, and came out of a women's private parts! Shamoun obviously does not think before he makes a comment, hence if he finds this very disturbing about Allah making Allah a fake God then on the same token Jesus is not God and Shamoun's entire belief is thrown out the window.

 

Now Shamoun was basically showing Quranic verses and hadiths showing Allah has hands, eyes, moves etc. I would like to ask Shamoun what exactly is wrong with that? Shamoun makes the biggest mistake when he assumes that just because Allah may indeed have a hand, may indeed move, may indeed have an eye, that this makes or places Allah in a human form! Shamoun believes if Allah has a hand, it must be like a human hand, so just because an animal has a form or shape and eyes and ears etc, does that make the animal a human? Or does it make us the human the animal?

 

The fact is Allah having hands or bodily features which us humans have, does not mean that Allah has a human form or looks like us.

 

Secondly the Quranic verses could be metaphoric and not literal. Shamoun himself in several articles has stated that the verses are metaphorically and not literally. I will wait for Shamoun to ask me for proof of him saying it and then I will show it. ;). Either way metaphorically or literally, the verses pose no problems.

 

It is obvious Shamoun has written this silly article up in attempt to silence Muslim critics. Muslim critics who often criticize the Bible on the fact that God became a human and that God is above that. The argument still stands, Shamoun has assumed since Allah has a shape and form, this automatically makes him human. So the fact of the matter is that Shamoun has done nothing much in this article of his but wasted our time in making us read such a silly article, which provides nothing.