The True Furqan
Encyclopedia
The True Furqan, al-Furqan al-Haqq is a book written in Arabic mirroring the Qur'an
but incorporating elements of traditional Christian
teachings.
According to Baptist News, Al-Mahdy, a member of the executive committee of "Project Omega 2001" released The True Furqan in April of 1999 saying that Muslim
s "have not received the true message of the gospel.". The book is attributed to authors who go by the pseudonyms of "Al Saffee" and "Al Mahdee", and was translated into English by Anis Shorrosh
, who calls it "a tool to liberate Muslims", and who believes that Muhammad is "the antichrist
". It contains 77 numbered chapters, plus a prologue and epilogue. According to Shorrosh, The True Furqan is an attempt to respond to the challenge in the Quran that none can create a work like it, and incorporates a Christian rather than Islamic message.
Christian missionary Dr. Ray Register characterized the book as an effective tool for "pre-evangelism" to help "critique the Quran and popular Muslim attitudes toward Jesus
and ethical living." American Thinker editor and publisher Thomas Lifson wrote that the book "presents Christian theology in a way that it can be understood and digested by Muslims." but says that some Muslims are offended by the book because they feel that the work mocks Islam and tries to deceive Muslims into accepting The True Furqan.
It has been described as "Christian propaganda" since its second verse "starts talking about the Holy Trinity, a thoroughly un-Islamic concept." and The American Muslim
called the book a "hoax", saying it represented "a desperate measure to find some way to convert the infidel Muslims since a few hundred years of concerted effort have brought so little success". Other critics called it "poor in quality and ridiculous in content" and "a pathetic attempt to distort the Quranic teaching by reproducing what looks like Quranic verses."
Some Islamic
believers feel The True Furqan was created by the American or Israel
i governments as part of a conspiracy. The Egyptian newspaper Al-Usbūc claimed in its December 6, 2004 edition that "The True Koran [sic] was drafted with direct Israel
i participation and with direct instructions from U.S. President George Bush
." The US State Department strongly rejects allegations of any US government participation in the creation of The True Furqan. According to the translator Anis Shorrosh, "there was no Israeli involvement in the preparation of the book."
The importation of the book into India
is prohibited.
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
but incorporating elements of traditional Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
teachings.
According to Baptist News, Al-Mahdy, a member of the executive committee of "Project Omega 2001" released The True Furqan in April of 1999 saying that Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s "have not received the true message of the gospel.". The book is attributed to authors who go by the pseudonyms of "Al Saffee" and "Al Mahdee", and was translated into English by Anis Shorrosh
Anis Shorrosh
Anis Shorrosh is a Palestinian Evangelical Christian, who has published many books and has debated with the late Ahmad Deedat.Shorrosh served as pastor and evangelist in the Middle East from 1959-1966. In September 1995, Dr.Shorrosh was guest lecturer at NCI Bible College, Auckland, New Zealand...
, who calls it "a tool to liberate Muslims", and who believes that Muhammad is "the antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
". It contains 77 numbered chapters, plus a prologue and epilogue. According to Shorrosh, The True Furqan is an attempt to respond to the challenge in the Quran that none can create a work like it, and incorporates a Christian rather than Islamic message.
Christian missionary Dr. Ray Register characterized the book as an effective tool for "pre-evangelism" to help "critique the Quran and popular Muslim attitudes toward Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and ethical living." American Thinker editor and publisher Thomas Lifson wrote that the book "presents Christian theology in a way that it can be understood and digested by Muslims." but says that some Muslims are offended by the book because they feel that the work mocks Islam and tries to deceive Muslims into accepting The True Furqan.
It has been described as "Christian propaganda" since its second verse "starts talking about the Holy Trinity, a thoroughly un-Islamic concept." and The American Muslim
The American Muslim
The American Muslim began as a quarterly print journal, in print from 1989 to 1995. Founded by Editor Sheila Musaji, The American Muslim featured original art, Islamic calligraphy, diverse articles and prose...
called the book a "hoax", saying it represented "a desperate measure to find some way to convert the infidel Muslims since a few hundred years of concerted effort have brought so little success". Other critics called it "poor in quality and ridiculous in content" and "a pathetic attempt to distort the Quranic teaching by reproducing what looks like Quranic verses."
Some Islamic
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
believers feel The True Furqan was created by the American or Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i governments as part of a conspiracy. The Egyptian newspaper Al-Usbūc claimed in its December 6, 2004 edition that "The True Koran [sic] was drafted with direct Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i participation and with direct instructions from U.S. President George Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
." The US State Department strongly rejects allegations of any US government participation in the creation of The True Furqan. According to the translator Anis Shorrosh, "there was no Israeli involvement in the preparation of the book."
The importation of the book into India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
is prohibited.