The Quran’s Inconsistencies and Contradictory Claims: A Theological and Scholarly Inquiry

 Title: The Quran’s Inconsistencies and Contradictory Claims: A Theological and Scholarly Inquiry

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
Published: July 21, 2015

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Abstract

This article critically examines several internal inconsistencies and scientifically questionable claims found within the Quran. While many Muslims assert that the Bible has been corrupted and that the Quran alone remains the unaltered word of God, this study argues that the Quran itself contains numerous contradictions that challenge its claim to divine authorship. Through a comparative textual and theological analysis, this paper presents key contradictions and scientific errors as evidence of the Quran’s human origin rather than divine inspiration.

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Introduction

Muslims have often endeavored to demonstrate that the Holy Bible has been corrupted, seeking to establish the Quran as the only true and unaltered word of God. However, such claims are not only historically unfounded but also internally inconsistent when examined alongside the Quran’s own text. The following analysis presents several passages within the Quran that raise serious theological, logical, and scientific concerns. Each example is discussed to highlight the textual contradictions that undermine the claim of Quranic inerrancy.

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1. The Destruction of the People of ‘Ād

• Surah 54:19 states that the city of ‘Ād was destroyed “in one day”.

• Surah 69:6–7, however, claims that they were destroyed over “seven nights and eight days.”

This contradiction presents a chronological inconsistency. If the Quran is the literal word of an all-knowing deity, there should not be such disparity in describing the same event.

Reference:

• Qur’an 54:19

• Qur’an 69:6–7

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2. The Angelic Visitation to Mary

• Surah 19:17 depicts a single angel appearing to Mary.

• Surah 3:42 mentions multiple angels addressing her.

The contradiction raises questions about whether the visitation involved one or several angels. Such inconsistencies in divine revelation challenge the notion of a perfect and consistent message from God.

Reference:

• Qur’an 19:17

• Qur’an 3:42

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3. The Death of Pharaoh

• Surah 28:40 states that Pharaoh drowned and perished in the sea.

• Surah 10:92 indicates that Pharaoh survived, as God preserved his body as a sign for future generations.

This presents a theological paradox—did Pharaoh die, or was he saved? Both cannot simultaneously be true.

Reference:

• Qur’an 28:40

• Qur’an 10:92

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4. The Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring

• Surah 18:86 claims that the sun sets in a spring of murky water.

From a scientific perspective, this assertion is untenable. The sun, with a surface temperature exceeding 6,000°C, cannot physically set into any earthly spring. This description contradicts the established understanding of celestial mechanics.

Reference:

• Qur’an 18:86

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5. The Shape of the Earth

• Surah 15:19 describes the earth as “spread out flat.”

Modern astronomy and physics confirm that the Earth is spherical. Thus, this Quranic description reflects pre-scientific cosmology rather than divine omniscience.

Reference:

• Qur’an 15:19

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6. The Origin of Semen

• Surah 86:6–7 claims that semen originates from between the backbone and the ribs.

Modern biology conclusively demonstrates that semen is produced in the testes, not between the spine and the ribs. This statement reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of human anatomy, suggesting a human rather than divine source.

Reference:

• Qur’an 86:6–7

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7. Mary as the Sister of Aaron

• Surah 19:27–28 identifies Mary (the mother of Jesus) as the “sister of Aaron.”

Historically, Aaron, the brother of Moses, lived approximately 1,300 years before Mary. This conflation of two distinct individuals named Mary reveals a significant historical and genealogical error.

Reference:

• Qur’an 19:27–28

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8. Pharaoh and Haman as Contemporaries

• Surah 28:8 claims that Pharaoh and Haman lived and worked together.

Historical and archaeological evidence, however, shows that Pharaoh (of Egypt) and Haman (of Persia, during the time of Esther) lived approximately a millennium apart and in entirely different empires. Such historical inaccuracies further discredit the Quran’s claim to divine revelation.

Reference:

• Qur’an 28:8

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Conclusion

The inconsistencies and scientific errors identified within the Quran raise serious doubts about its divine origin. If a text attributed to an omniscient God contains demonstrable contradictions and factual inaccuracies, then its claim to inerrancy cannot stand. Instead, these internal discrepancies suggest human authorship influenced by the cultural, historical, and scientific limitations of seventh-century Arabia.

This analysis underscores the need for honest theological reflection and comparative scriptural study. The Quran, while a significant historical and religious text, cannot be upheld as the flawless word of God when examined through critical, rational, and empirical inquiry.

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References

1. The Qur’an, Surah 54:19; 69:6–7; 19:17; 3:42; 28:40; 10:92; 18:86; 15:19; 86:6–7; 19:27–28; 28:8.

2. Ali, A. Y. (1989). The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary. Amana Publications.

3. Pickthall, M. (1930). The Meaning of the Glorious Koran. Alfred A. Knopf.

4. Sarwar, S. (2002). Qur’anic Studies: Sources and Methods of Scriptural Interpretation. Islamic Research Institute.

5. Watt, W. M. (1970). Bell’s Introduction to the Qur’an. Edinburgh University Press.

6. Shimba, M. (2015). Quran Imejaa Shaka na Maswali ya Kutatanisha. Shimba Theological Institute.

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