Debate Challenge: The Absence of “Islam” and “Muslims” in Pre-Quranic Scriptures

Proposed by: Dr. Maxwell Shimba

Shimba Theological Institute

Topic: Do the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel mention Islam or Muslims as claimed by Islam?

Opening Statement:

Muslims claim that prophets such as Moses, David, and Jesus were all Muslims and preached Islam. However, upon examination of the scriptures that existed before the Quran — namely the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel — it becomes clear that:

1. In the Torah of Moses, there is no mention of the word “Islam” or “Muslims.”

2. In the Gospel of Jesus, there is no mention of the word “Islam” or “Muslims.”

3. In the Psalms of David, there is no mention of the word “Islam” or “Muslims.”

Debate Questions:

A. Why do Muslims claim that Moses was a Muslim when the Torah that predates the Quran neither contains the word Islam nor refers to Muslims?

B. Why do Muslims claim that Jesus was a Muslim when the Gospel that existed before the Quran neither contains the word Islam nor refers to Muslims?

C. Why do Muslims claim that David was a Muslim when the Psalms that predate the Quran neither contain the word Islam nor refer to Muslims?

If Muslims dispute this, then I respectfully challenge them to produce:

1. A preserved, authentic copy of the original Torah, allegedly revealed by Allah to Moses, along with a verse declaring Moses was a Muslim.

2. A preserved, authentic copy of the original Gospel, allegedly revealed by Allah to Jesus, along with a verse declaring Jesus was a Muslim.

3. A preserved, authentic copy of the original Psalms, allegedly revealed by Allah to David, along with a verse declaring David was a Muslim.

Quranic Acknowledgment:

The Quran itself asserts in Surah 15:9 that Allah has preserved the previous scriptures — the Torah and Gospel.
It also references them in Surah 16:43, 21:7, 21:48, 21:105, and 40:53-54.

If the Quran’s claims are true:

• Where is the preserved copy of the original Torah before the Quran?

• Where is the preserved copy of the original Gospel before the Quran?

• Where is the preserved copy of the original Psalms before the Quran?

Final Challenge:
If any Muslim scholar or apologist can present these preserved scriptures with the specified content, I, Dr. Maxwell Shimba, will publicly accept Islam and become a Muslim today.

Thank you.
Shalom,
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

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