Ahmed Deedat founded the Islamic Propagation Center Is the Quran the Word of God?

Home » Ahmed Deedat

Ahmed Deedat

This page is also available in: German, Indonesian

Ahmed Deedat

: Sheikh Ahmed Deedat (1918–2005), Muslim writer and debater

Ahmed Deedat (1918-2005) was one of the most influential Muslim missionaries and polemicists of the 20^th century. He founded the Islamic Propagation Center in 1957 and his debates and writings continue to circulate around the world. Deedat’ss methodology and argumentation have influenced other prominent Muslim polemicists in the 21^st century. According to one writer, “He [Deedat] can hardly qualify as a ‘thinker’ in an elitist, academic sense. As a rule, however, his influence is probably much greater than that of academically trained intellectuals…” (David Westerlund, “Ahmed Deedat’s Theology of Religion: Apologetics through Polemics”; Journal of Religion in Africa, 33(3) 2003).

Although Deedat was not from the Ahmadiyya sect, he argued like the Ahmadiyya saying that Jesus was crucified on the cross but did not die. This has led to some Muslims criticizing Deedat because many Muslims believe Jesus was never nailed to the cross. Deedat’s view also led to an interesting insight made by the Christian John Gilchrist during a symposium. John Gilchrist reportedly asked the Muslim audience,

… we have heard the Islamic viewpoint put forth by Mr Ahmed Deedat. Now I want to ask first something, this: Do you believe what Mr Ahmed Deedat said? (Loud roar: YES).

I am going to go so far as to ask every Muslim here tonight that if you believe what Mr Deedat said (Another loud roar : YES), you don’t believe what the Qur’an says (YES!?)

I ask any Muslim to stand up here tonight and to tell me that the Qur’an does not say that Christ was never put on a cross, that in fact it was someone else, am I not right? Does the Qur’an not say that God took Jesus up to Himself? Does the Qur’an not say that God protected him? Does the Qur’an not say that God made someone else look like him? Does the Qur’an not say that God put that man on the cross? What do you believe? Mr Deedat or the Qur’an? (Loud answer: the Qur’an).

Having realized the contradiction between believing the Qur’an and believing Ahmed Deedat’s argument,

…the huge Muslim audience was struck to silence and to defeat, which the Muslim did not readily accept. So the Muslim audience at one moment in their frenzy roared that Mr Deedat was right, and the next when the truth was pointed out to them from the Qur’an, then they answered that the Qur’an was right, which in fact shows in what a humiliating position they were put through the crucifixion arguments put forward by Mr Deedat. (Muslim Digest, March 1977; quoted in “Deedat in the Balance”).

EMAIL FROM A MUSLIM:

I am pleased to get your prompt response. In order to read about how the two topics discussed in detail by a Muslim scholar [Ahmed Deedat] and an expert in Christianity and the Bible, I refer you to these links below about crucifixion and the Bible [CRUCIFIXION OR CRUCI-FICTION and IS THE BIBLE GODS WORD?]. The writer studied Christianity and the bible for thirty years before he wrote the two booklets and others. I met the man. He passed away a few years ago.

MY CHRISTIAN RESPONSE: …

To read the rest of the book purchase the e-book (PDF):

Price: $4.95
(available for immediate download in PDF format; 180 pages)