| The True Furqan | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Al Saffee, Al Mahdee |
| Original title | al-Furqān al-ḥaqq |
| Translator | Anis Shorrosh |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English, Arabic |
| Genre(s) | Religion |
| Publisher | Wine Press Publishing, Enumclaw, WA |
| Publication date | June 1999 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback), Online edition |
| Pages | 366 |
| ISBN | ISBN 1579211755 9781579211752 |
| OCLC Number | 52725049 |
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 1999 saying that Muslims "have not received the true message of the gospel.".[1] 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",[2] and who believes that Muhammad is "the antichrist".[3] It contains 77 numbered chapters, plus a prologue and epilogue.[4] 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,[5] and incorporates a Christian rather than Islamic message.[6]
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." [7] 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."[8] 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."[9] and The American Muslim called the book a "hoax", saying it represented "a desperate measure to find some way to convert the Muslims since a few hundred years of concerted effort have brought so little success".[10] 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."[11]
Some Islamic believers feel The True Furqan was created by the American or Israeli 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 Israeli participation and with direct instructions from U.S. President George Bush."[12] The US State Department strongly rejects allegations of any US government participation in the creation of The True Furqan.[12] According to the translator Anis Shorrosh, "there was no Israeli involvement in the preparation of the book."[12]
The importation of the book into India is prohibited.[13]