Hello Raymond Ibrahim,

I have done a study comparing the Bible and the Qur'an,

comparing them in terms of Literature supporting positive character formation.

As might be expected, when the books are so evaluated, the Bible is much better than the Qur'an.

I can show a clear correspondence between the Qur'an's literary deficiencies and problems of Islamic societies.

No one that I know has done this comparison. It seems that in trying to compare the two books, people are mislead by there being too many details.

However, if one knows where to look, and what to look for, things become clear.

My material is too much give more the a little here.

Just 2 small examples to illustrate:

1 Joseph, Yusuf; Qur'ans text leads to Islamic lack of forgiveness and fragmentation of Islamic societies:

2 Nathan, David & Accountable Leadership; vs Qur'an's text is a weak example, leading to unaccountable leadership

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1 Joseph, Yusuf, Islamic lack of forgiveness and fragmentation of Islamic societies:

It is well known that the story of Yusuf is where the Qur'an is closest to the Bible (story of Joseph)

What is not nearly so well known, is that in the Bible (Joseph story), forgiveness and reconciliation are emphatic.

While in the Qur’an version (Yusuf), forgiveness and reconciliation are low key / downplayed.

It is not hard to relate this weak demonstration of forgiveness in the Qur'an, to fragmentation of Islamic societies.

A brief example of the differences:

Who weeps, and why?

· In the Bible, Joseph weeps. It’s genuine, giving emphasis to his emotions as he forgives and reconciles with his brothers (also Joseph weeps over his father at father’s death).

· In the Qur’an, Joseph’s brothers weep. It’s fake, giving emphasis to their attempt to deceive their father.

Evidently, the author of the Bible was more focused on forgiveness and reconciliation, while the author of the Qur’an was more focused on deception.

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2 Nathan, David & Accountable Leadership; vs Qur'an's text is a weak example, leading to unaccountable leadership

In the Bible, Prophet Nathan confronts David over his Adultery with Bathsheba,

David swallows his pride and acknowledges his sin. Setting a good example of accountable leadership.

The Qur'an also has a story involving David, a rich man with many sheep and a poor man with one, and the rich man wanting the poor man's sheep. Qur'an 38:21-26, 30

However as a retelling of the Bible story, the Qur’an story is very weak, losing almost all of the power and dramatic merit of the Bible story. As an example of being held accountable for a failing, it is very weak.

We can expect the Qur'an version to contribute to the lack of accountability of leadership in Islamic countries. And husbands not listening to their wives.

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I hope I have at least got your attention that my material is worth more assessment.

regards,

David Cohan