Misreading the Bible: A Muslim Critic’s Failed Attempt to Discredit Scripture

When the Scripture is misinterpreted—especially publicly—it creates confusion, fuels division, and spreads misinformation.

In a recent exchange between a Haitian preacher and popular Muslim speaker Sheikh Uthman Ibn Farooq, he attempted to discredit the Bible by citing Deuteronomy 22, claiming it promotes injustice and rewards sinful behavior.

But when we take a deeper look at the text and the context, his argument quickly unravels.

Let’s unpack the Biblical truths at the heart of that exchange, explore related Scriptures, and highlight why we must interpret God’s Word with wisdom, not surface-level assumptions.

Deuteronomy 22: What Does the Law Really Say?

The heart of Sheikh Uthman’s argument was Deuteronomy 22:28–29, which reads:

“If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.” – Deuteronomy 22:28–29

At face value, this passage seems troubling, but there’s far more happening here than the critic acknowledged.

First, many scholars believe this law refers to premarital sex through persuasion or seduction, not rape, because the Hebrew verb used differs from the one used earlier in Deuteronomy 22:25–27, which explicitly refers to violent assault and mandates death for the offender.

But let’s explore this argument, even if it did mean what Uthman thinks it means.

Matthew 19: God’s Heart Behind the Law

Jesus Himself addresses this type of tension between divine ideal and human behavior in Matthew 19, during a conversation about divorce.

“He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” – Matthew 19:8 

Jesus makes it clear: some Old Testament laws were concessions for a sinful people—not commands that reflect God’s perfect will.

In the same way, Deuteronomy 22 doesn’t represent God endorsing injustice, but offering social protections in a fallen world.

The law functioned to shield women from total abandonment or disgrace in an honor-based culture, where a woman who lost her virginity—even through seduction—might be unmarriageable and socially outcast.

2 Samuel 13: Tamar’s Tragic Story

The story of Tamar, King David’s daughter, tragically illustrates why laws like Deuteronomy 22 existed.

In 2 Samuel 13, Tamar was violated by her half-brother Amnon. Afterward, she pleads with him:

“And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. – 2 Samuel 13:16

Tamar’s reaction shows us the devastating consequences of assault in that culture. Her plea wasn’t rooted in affection but in desperation. If Amnon didn’t marry her, she faced a lifetime of shame, loneliness, and societal rejection.

This helps us understand the emotional and cultural backdrop of Deuteronomy 22. The law wasn’t ideal—it was damage control in a broken world.

Judges 17: How Much Is 50 Shekels?

Another critical flaw in Sheikh Uthman’s argument was his assumption that 50 shekels equals about $50 in modern money—a massive misrepresentation.

Let’s turn to Judges 17:10:

“And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.” – Judges 17:10

In this passage, a Levite agrees to an annual salary of 10 shekels. That means 50 shekels equals 5 years’ wages—not pocket change. Even if we take a conservative approach, some scholars estimate it as equal to at least 6 months’ income.

Either way, this was not a light punishment. It was a significant consequence, especially in an agrarian economy with limited liquidity.

Interpreting Scripture Responsibly

We live in a time where it’s easy to pluck a verse out of context and create viral content. But responsible interpretation requires humility, study, and a willingness to explore the text with cultural, linguistic, and theological insight.

The Haitian preacher in this exchange used a brilliant metaphor: he compared God’s law to a TV with a lock. God gave people the gift of love and life, but they misused it.

The “lock” was the law—a restriction that came after sin entered the picture, not before.

This echoes what Paul wrote in Galatians 3:24:

“So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. – Galatians 3:24

The law points out our sin and restrains it, but it’s Christ who fulfills it with grace and truth.

Truth Is in the Context

The Haitian preacher and Sheikh Uthman ibn Farooq didn’t just debate—they revealed what happens when people pull Scripture out of its cultural, linguistic, and spiritual context.

Those who try to weaponize the Bible without understanding its heart risk misleading not only themselves but everyone listening.

When we rightly divide the truth, clarity shines through. Share on X

Jesus never dismissed the Law. He fulfilled it. And in doing so, He gave us a lens through which we should read every command, statute, and principle: love.

This means that every law—whether about divorce, sexual ethics, restitution, or worship—has to be understood in light of loving God fully and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

That love isn’t soft or permissive; it’s just, sacrificial, and holy.

When Jesus addressed issues like divorce in Matthew 19, He wasn’t undermining Moses. He was correcting the human heart that seeks loopholes rather than transformation.

Likewise, when critics today raise objections to the Old Testament, they often do so from a place of unfamiliarity with its purpose and power.

But when we dig deeper, as we did in Deuteronomy 22, 2 Samuel, and Judges, we see a consistent God—one who meets people in their brokenness, not to leave them there, but to lead them into something greater.

It’s not enough to know a few verses. We must know the story—the entire redemptive narrative from Genesis to Revelation. And that takes study, humility, and the Spirit of truth.

If you found this article insightful and want to see more of Sheikh Uthman’s shaky claims—this time in an even more eye-opening exchange—watch this powerful follow-up. 

Let the Word of God shape your view, not the soundbites of skeptics. Keep seeking, keep asking, and trust that when you do, truth will always reveal itself. God bless.

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