World's oldest Bible, the Codex Sinaiticus

Assalaamu Alaykum all,

For any Christians who might read this, peace be upon those who follow righteous guidance (the greeting our prophet told us to use with the people of the book, the Jews and the Christians)

Many brothers and sisters who come across Christians on a regular basis, either in their lives or in Da'wah activities might have heard them mention in response to Muslim allegations of the Bible being corrupted and from differing, contradictory manuscripts, that there is an old version of the Bible that has been found and so therefore this allegations are incorrect and can no longer be used.

So lets examine this claim, regarding this 'bible,' the world's oldest and see if it does indeed hold true that this disproves the claims of Islamic scholars on the Bible, that it is from contradictory and fragmented sources and therefore cannot be relied upon for guidance and salvation.

The Codex Sinaiticus is indeed very old, much older than any other Bible, and was set down sometime around or just before 350 CE. (So could easily be corrupted before then anyway)

Like the Bible, it is a collection of earlier works, scrolls which were copied from other scrolls, copied from other scrolls, etc, etc, going back 300 years to the time of Jesus Christ (upon him be peace), with no recorded chain of narration, i.e you don't know who passed on the information and indeed whether they were reliable or liars, or people with bad memories etc.

However this is where the similarity ends, and where the claims of the Christians to hold an 'original Bible' come seriously unstuck.

As already mentioned, the Codex Sinaiticus comes from the time of about 350CE, the time the Bible was also being put down but contains serious differences with the modern Bible, whole different books added which were stuck out by the people who put together the Bible.

So rather than having the world's oldest Bible, what the Christians really have is yet another version of the Bible, to put alongside their 5600 scraps and scrolls, another set of more contractions to sort through and decide whether to keep or discard from their book. The Bible and the Codex seem to be rival manuscripts, not at all similar in the detail.

'The Shepherd of Hermas,' a book supposedly from the 2ND century CE is included in the Codex, but this is struck out of later Bibles. One whole section, are the Christians gong to restore this book now? even though they struck it out for disagreeing with their doctrine later?

The wording of the lord's prayer is different once again, from the 5600 fragments and scrolls which exist, as well as now the codex the Christians don't even have an agreed upon version of the Lord's prayer, the only line all versions agree upon is "Our Father who art in heaven," every line there after being up for dispute and argument.

Yet this book full of contradictions, where the last words that Jesus is supposed to have spoken is also up for dispute when he was supposedly on the Cross, and even the modern Bible has two different version of his last words, is held up as the word of God! As if the almighty creator of the heavens and the earth makes mistakes in what the Christians consider to be his last guidance to mankind.


How can they possibly compare such a book to the Quran? Unchanged and unchangeable by the hands of man. How can the Muslims let such a claim to go unchallenged?

Could Muslims imagine following a Quran, where we were not even sure of the wording of al-Fatihah? Never mind the rest of the book.

This is what the Christians ask you to follow, this book, full of flaws and contradictions, lies and mistakes which they pass off as the word of Allah, blaspheming against him as if he was unable to preserve his word if he wished it.

So next time the Christians tell you about this oldest bible they have found be ready, challenge them, don't let them keep telling people these lies.

Remember, the codex differs in the text in each book and in the books included, the codex is therefore not a world's oldest bible, but a different version of the bible, a rival to the bible, with different wordings and meanings to it but just as flawed and contradictory as later Bibles.

The codex itself is contradictory, both to itself and to the later Bibles used today, so in fact rather than destroying only reinforces our argument of the Bible being corrupted and from differing and contradictory texts.

Explain to the Christians the problems with the Bible, whether it be the codex or modern version, that these contradictions show this book is not protected by Allah, unlike the Quran, that it therefore cannot be the word of almighty Allah as Allah does not lie, nor does he make mistakes.

Finally call them to Allah, show them the Quran, a book unchanged for 1400 years, a book that has no flaws and no contradictions and challenge them, challenge them by saying "if I can prove to you that the Bible has contradictions and flaws, will you agree with me it is not from God? and if you can prove to me the Quran has one single flaw or contradiction it is not from God?"

Get them to agree to this challenge, don't be afraid, the Quran has no flaws and no Christian out of the hundreds I have spoken to has ever, EVER been able to produce one. Whereas the bible is so full of flaws it is easy to show them the errors and problems with it.

Once you have shown them the Bible is flawed and contradictory, whereas the Quran has been preserved without contradictions and flaws then ask them which is truly God's word? which should be followed therefore and relied upon for guidance so we can be saved?

Assalaamu alaykum,
Abu Abdillah

Uber busy lately!

Assalaamu Alaykum all,

Apologies for the lack of blogging recently, I've been uber busy lately and didn't have time.

First news is we have managed to organise an excellent and successful Masjid Open Day, 51 people coming to learn about Islam as well as one young woman who said her shahadah and was then welcomed into Islam by her sisters who were helping out in the sisters section.

The number one point of interest and dispute we have from non-Muslims when giving them Da'wah is that they say we oppress our women, now if we are going to argue back the easiest way of doing this is to get a sister to say it. I could argue 1000 times that I don't oppress my wife and never be believed, but my wife has to say it only once to be believed.

Unfortunately due to cultural jahil reasons, many Muslims DO forbid their women from going to the masjid, not even providing prayer and wudhu facilities for them, Shame on them for disobeying Rasoolullah (saws) who said "do not forbid the women from going to the masjid even though their houses are better for them." (Abu Dawud) And also, shame on them for giving such a bad impression of Islam and ammunition to those who will attack Islam any way they can.

The Scholars have clarified five reasons for men talking to women and visa versa,

1. Trade and Business - a man buying from a woman or a woman buying goods from her man. Yes it is better for women to get their menfolk to go to the shops for her, but if she cannot or has no husband or father to help her?

2. Medical help - if the injury is serious, not small and no female doctor of sufficient ability available then there is an allowance for the women to go to a male doctor, but should if possible to accompanied by a mahram and not exposing any more of the body than necessary.

3. Jihad - Yes the women of the past used to go in Jihad, to tend the wounded soldiers and even fighting, look at the stories of the women from the sahabah, many of them fought and killed the kuffar.

4. Teaching matters of the Deen - If the most qualified person in a given matter of the deen is a women than there is no harm of the man learning from her, as long as certain etiquette's are observed. But this allowance is for matters of the deen, not for other affairs as some people try to use it to allow mixed sex secular education.

5. Da'wah - Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil - If a woman sees an evil it is obligatory for her to forbid it if she can, and if she has an opportunity to enjoin the good then it is obligatory for her to do so. The sisters from Lal Masjid who were going around closing the brothels and bollywood music shops and beating those who refused were doing the right thing, and the sisters who talk to non-Muslims and tell them about Islam are doing the right thing.

Allah says in the Quran, that we are the best of nations because we invite to the good and forbid people from the evil. Elsewhere he says those who invite to the good and forbid the wrong, they are the ones who are successful. These verses are general, not particular to men and men should well remember that.

I hope that helps a little to dispel some peoples notions of it being allowed to stop women doing da'wah, which is what some men and women try to do.

Another matter of interest lately that has kept me busy and stopped me blogging is that I've finally got a job! I am sure any non-Muslim reading this will be upset thinking how dare this extremist preach to us when he doesn't even work?

But I have been looking hard and finally alhamdulillah I found a job, one major problem though being its in another city so not only do I have to work for 8 hours, but have 2 hours travelling time each end of that as well.

I must admit it is hard, as this means I don't see my wife and kids in the morning, and only get to see my son for a couple of hours in the evening when I come home. This is heartbreaking sometimes when I have had so long with him before but inshallah if i get the money I need I can get out of here sooner and look after him and my daughter better in the future by taking them from this filthy land to one better suited to Muslims.

Assalaamu alaykum,
Abu Abdillah

Former spy Glen Jenvey embraces Islam at the hands of one of the Islamists he used to slander and attack

Assalaamu alaykum all,

Allahu Akbar! excellent news, the slanderer of Islam, the one who used to run to the press attacking Islam and inciting hatred has now embraced Islam. He would sit on Islamic discussion forums, taking notes of anything which could be taken badly and then go the tabloids and sell these stories onto them.

For those who don't know, Glen Jenvey was amongst the most severe in his hatred of Islam but Allah can change the hearts of whomever he wills, and he has now embraced Islam.

So if any of you see our new brother, Omar Hamza Jenvey, remember to give him a big hug and offer him whatever help he needs, Allah is the flipper of hearts and we love brother Omar for the sake of Allah, just as we used to hate him for the sake of Allah when he was the enemy of Islam.

We had a similar story in my city, when one of the people who had been most severe in their hatred of Islam, whose face would go red as he shouted filth and obscenities about Islam, Allah and our beloved Rasool (saws), embraced Islam and now instead of coming up to the Dawah tables and attacking us and trying to pull people away, comes up and talks to us and tries to help.

Just goes to show, everyone can change, Islam is coming back and inshallah more enemies of Islam will come into the fold, become our brothers and we will go from strength to strength, Inshallah.

Assalaamu alaykum,
Abu Abdillah

Do not forbid them from going to the Masjid... kids that is.

Assalaamu alaykum all,

I have been helping out in a new masjid here recently so not had much time for the blogg, we are basically organising a masjid open day where we throw open the doors of the masjid and invite all the kuffar in to take a look around, take a tour, listen to short talks and long Q and A sessions and recieve free food and literature.

Alhamdulillah has been going very well, the local brothers there are learning a lot about Dawah and us brothers who do Dawah who are normally kept at arms length due to be vocal on certain topics around the rulers in the Muslim lands have been welcomed in and are being helped and listened to as well so win-win for us, win because gets more people out giving Dawah and win as more trusted in the community also.

Anyway... this masjid has always let kids in, who are generally well behaved, sit still or join in during salaat and then might play a little after but nothing too bad and anyway I always think it is great to see kids playing and Abdullah loves it, running and playing with other kids his age and older when the masjid is empty.

So we are stuffing envolopes, sending out to churches, doctors surgeries etc and Abdullah is playing, when a committee member comes up and tells me not to bring children to the masjid. I tried to politely point out I am trying to help the masjid but he said ok, but don't bring your kids next time.

It is so wrong and frustrating, did the Prophet (saws) not have children climbing all over him once in salaah? did Umar ibn Al-Khattab not rebuke a man not kissing his son when he came to see him in the Masjid?

This is far removed from the Sunnah, turns the masaajid into cold lifeless places, subhanallah we should allow the kids to wrestle and the men as well in the masjid as this also is a sunnah but instead we are making them into churches instead.

I'll write some more posts on the open day when I get chance and let you all know how it goes.

Assalaamu alaykum,
Abu Abdillah

Excerpt from "The path to guidance"

By Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Produced by Ibn Il-Qayyim (d.751H) who said, "And mankind, with regard to their performance of prayer are in five levels:

The First: The level of the one who is negligent and wrongs his soul. He is the one who falls short in performing ablution properly, performing the prayer upon its time and within its specified limits, and in fulfilling its essential pillars.

The Second: The one who guards his prayers upon their proper times and within their specified limits, fulfils their essential pillars and performs his ablution with care. However, his striving (in achieving the above) is wasted due to whisperings in his prayer so he is taken away by thoughts and ideas.


The Third: The one who guards his prayers within the specified limits, fulfils their essential pillars and strives with himself to repel the whisperings, thoughts and ideas. He is busy struggling against his enemy (shaytaan) so that he does not steal from the prayer. On account of this he is engaged in (both) prayer and jihaad.


The Fourth: The one who stands for the prayer, completes and perfects its due rights, its essential pillars, performs it within its specified limits and his heart becomes engrossed in safeguarding its rights and specified limits, so that nothing is wasted from it. His whole concern is directed towards its establishment, its completion and perfection, as it should be. His heart is immersed in the prayer and in enslavement to his Lord, the Exalted.

The Fifth: The one who stands for the prayer like the one mentioned above. However, on top of this, he has taken and placed his heart in front of his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, looking towards Him with his heart with anticipation, (his heart) filled with His love and His might, as if he sees and witnesses Allaah. The whisperings, thoughts and ideas have vanished and the coverings which are between him and his Lord are raised. What is between this person and others with respect to the prayer, is superior and greater than what is between the heavens and the earth. This person is busy with his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, delighted with Him.


The first type will be punished, the second type will be held to account, the third will have his sins and shortcomings expiated, the fourth will be rewarded and the fifth will be close to his Lord, because he will receive the portion of one who makes his prayer the delight and pleasure of his eye.

Whoever makes the prayer the delight and pleasure of his eye, will have the nearness to his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, made the delight and pleasure of his eye in the hereafter. He will also be made a pleasure to the eye in this world since whoever makes Allaah the pleasure of his eye in this world, every other eye will become delighted and pleased with him.

From: The Path to Guidance

Why do the Christians always run away when things get difficult?

Assalaamu alaykum all,

Been a while since last posted, still doing our research into Yemen, still keeping up with preparations to go but in the mean time doing a little Da'wah work and thought would share an observation with you all.

Why do Christian missionaries run away when you ask them difficult questions?

They come up to us all the time on the Da'wah stall, they claim they are upon the truth, bring forth all sorts of 'proofs' but as soon as you show them the falsehood of the bible, its many flaws and contradictions they panic and run.

The best they can come up with is silly arguments, well your Quran must have contradictions also but I have challenged dozens of them to bring me some proof of the Quran having flaws and contradictions and not one has ever come back, all have failed, every single one. I even tell them, bring me one, just one contradiction and I promise I will leave Islam, I am that certain there isn't even one.

Over 20 more, whom I have given a Quran translation to, challenging them to find a flaw or contradiction and if cannot find it then accept admit it is from Allah, never once have they come back or come back to me even though it is always accompanied with my E-mail and telephone number.

I mean its a simple challenge isn't it? If the creator does not lie, does not make mistakes then his word, his book is without flaw or contradiction so bring your proof o christians if you are truthful or otherwise prepare to be challenged.

But when challenged, they run away, or sometimes when you start to get through using ration to one of these misguided people then the elder of the group comes up and pulls them away but if the 'truth' of christianity was so good and clear surely it should defeat the arguments of Islam everytime?

No, the truth always smashes falsehood and everytime the truth of Islam destroys the false arguments of the Christians and they run away and retreat to blind faith, not faith based upon rational contemplation like the Muslims.

Assalaamu alaykum,
Abu Abdillah

What a Shallow Society we live in...

Assalaamu alaykum all,

I am just doing my latest assignment for the Open University, OK lets just explain what that is first of all.

the OU is a higher education Establishment based in the UK where you do all your courses online and require almost no contact with tutors, fellow students etc unless you wish to do so. The plus side of this is little or no mixing, the downside is little or no support and all on your own shoulders.

So anyway, was doing my assignment and is on the subject of identity, so reading all this stuff from people, some long dead with lots of letters after their name and it is all about how others see us, how they believe our identity is made up by ourselves to give a certain impression to others and is in effect all show.

It just struck me how such an approach is totally true of non-Muslims and non-practicing brothers and sisters, it is all show, all the lesser shirk of showing off to others, the shirk which might not be as bad as major shirk but will however destroy your good deeds.

As Muslims we are different, we do things only to please Allah, our structural (society or nature determined) identity should therefore only be simply matters of sex, race, things we cannot alter.

Where as our agency (personal ideas) identity should only be shaped by ourselves to please Allah, not others.

I therefore need to try to put this across to the lecturer in the assignment, show them how for all their fancy theories and ideas, we Muslims don't fit into their secularised boxes.

I am hoping to do this in the discussion upon Gender roles in shaping identity, how the industrialised west views the male breadwinner and father as better than the female mother and wife, subhanallah how many times are we told to value our mother more than our father? three times! in Islam the wife is the one who nourishes, nurters, educates and emotionally shapes our children, how can such a role be less than simply doing a bit of physical or mental work?

Assalaamu Alaykum,
Abu Abdillah