Two simple textual variants in the Qur’an

Whenever I mention that there are different versions of the Qur’an, I’m asked for examples. Here are my three favourites:

Qu’ran 10:16

Would it have been made known to you, or not?

If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, He would have made it known to you… (Qunbul)

If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, He would NOT have made it known to you… (Hafs)

Qu’ran 37:12

Who was surprised?

“But I (Allah) wonder, while they mock” (Khalaf from Hamza)

“But YOU (Muhammad) wonder, while they mock” (Hafs)

Qu’ran 2:184

If you skip a fast, how many poor people do you have to feed? One or more?

For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding a needy person (Hafs)

For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding needy people (Warsh)

Where are the Apostles today?

I seem to have been inundated with Mormon apologists on Twitter recently and one thing I’ve seen them often ask is “Where are the Apostles today?”

I always answer “In Heaven, praying for us!”

The Argument

The argument the Mormon Apologist is trying to make is that the modern Church doesn’t have Apostles, but the LDS Church does because Jesus came to Joseph Smith and restored the Church, including the office of Apostle.

The Problem

There’s a line of argumentation which I don’t see other people using in response to this:

  1. James the Great was martyred in AD 44, yet he wasn’t replaced.
  2. Years later the Apostles gathered for the Council of Jerusalem, yet James wasn’t replaced.
  3. The Apostles then die one-by-one, with the John departing in AD ~100, yet James still wasn’t replaced!

If the Mormon narrative is true, the Apostles have FIFTY years to ordain new Apostles and thereby prevent their authority from being lost from the earth… yet not a single one of them thought to do it…. Why?! Why didn’t one of their disciples like Clement, Ignatius, and Polycarp point out the disastrous state in which the Apostles were going to leave the world?

Jesus prayed like a Muslim?

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying,
“My FATHER…”
– Matthew 26:39

Are Muslims *really* allowed to pray like this?

“There is NONE in the heavens and the earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a SLAVE…”
Qur’an 19:93–95

Jesus also prayed looking towards Heaven:

“When Jesus had spoken these words, HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES TO HEAVEN and said, ‘FATHER, the hour has come; glorify YOUR SON that the Son may glorify you.’”

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