The Qur'an teaches that men and women were created from a single soul (Sura 4:1) and that God will reward both men and women (Sura 16:97; 33:35; 43:70). However, Muhammad the prophet of Islam said, "Amongst the inmates in Paradise the women would be in the minority." (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 6600). Elsewhere he is mentioned to have said, "Had it not been for women, God would have truly, truly been worshipped" (Kanz-el-'Ummal, Vol. 21, H. 825). About ritual prayer Muhammad said, "Prayer is annulled by a dog, a donkey and a woman (if they pass in front of a praying person" (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, 135). So why is there such a contradiction?

We are living in a time where in the name of tolerance we try to find something good anywhere and everywhere and whatever the situation may be. Mindful people claiming to be from various faiths in the USA, have established themselves into what is known as Interfaith dialogue. On the surface, when you look at it, you find that in the forefront Judaism, Christianity and Islam as ‘Abrahamic faiths’ and not as Judeo-Christian faith is presented. They claim that ‘The Torah, the New Testament, and the Quran all contain exceptional teachings instructing us to love God, to love one another, and to care for all people.’ 

On one hand, the majority of Muslim scholars reject the integrity of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures and, yet on the other, they quote from it to support Muhammad’s message and him as being the prophet sent by the same God who sent Jesus.

An Ex-Christian convert to Islam, at a Muslim-Christian gathering, quoted the following Biblical passage to support Muhammad’s prophethood:

In their conversations many Muslims tell their Christian neighbors and friends that they believe in Jesus and love him more than Christians. So where does such an acceptance come from? The source for a Muslim is primarily the Qur’an and what Muhammad said about Jesus.  The Qur’an affirms Jesus’ supernatural birth. The miracle starts with Mary the Virgin being ‘dedicated to God’s service from the womb’.

When Christians use the testimony of the Qur’an in support of the Bible’s integrity, some Muslims argue that the references in the Qur’an do not relate to present day versions of the Torah and the Gospel. They say that the “Scriptures” of the Jews, as well as the “Scriptures” of the Christians at the time of Muhammad, 571-632 CE, were different than those available today.