Response to Muhammad Amin Alhassan

Response to Muhammad Amin Alhassan

By Max Shimba

Brother Muhammad Amin, with all due respect — it seems you’ve misunderstood my point. I did not ignore Qur’an 20:10. In fact, I clearly stated that you cannot fully grasp the entire account of Moses’ calling if you isolate one verse, which is precisely what you attempted when quoting Qur’an 20:11-12 while overlooking the context in Qur’an 20:10.

You accused me of disregarding the mention of the fire, yet ironically, it was your own citation that left out Q 20:10 — the very verse that references Moses seeing a fire. I merely pointed out that if your claim is that the Qur'an omits the burning bush narrative found in the Bible, you need to be consistent in presenting the whole context when quoting from your own scripture.

Let’s be clear:

Qur’an 20:10
“When he saw a fire, he said to his family, ‘Wait here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I can bring you a torch or find guidance at the fire.’”

This corresponds to the biblical account in Exodus 3:2, where Moses encounters a bush that burns without being consumed. The difference, however, is that the Qur’an omits the miraculous detail of the bush not being consumed, which is central to the biblical narrative — a detail that powerfully signified God’s holy presence.

So my argument was never that the Qur'an didn’t mention fire — it was that the Qur'an presents a different, less detailed, and theologically less significant account compared to the Torah. That was my point, and it remains valid.

If we are to engage in honest comparison, both scriptures should be read in full context — and when we do so, the Bible offers a clearer, richer, and historically attested account of Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush.

Respectfully,
Max Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

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