When public figures speak on topics outside their expertise, the results can be misleading — and even harmful. In this powerful episode of The Deen Show, renowned Muslim scholar and debater Muhammad Hijab sits down to deliver a thorough, evidence-based rebuttal of Steven Crowder’s recent claims about Islam, the Quran, and the teachings of Jesus. What unfolds is a masterclass in contextual scholarship, exposing how cherry-picked verses and confident delivery can distort the truth about one of the world’s great faiths.
Steven Crowder’s Claims About the Quran — Debunked
Steven Crowder cited Quran 8:39 in isolation to argue that Islam commands violence against all non-Muslims simply for their disbelief. Muhammad Hijab methodically dismantles this claim by restoring the full context of Surah Al-Anfal (Chapter 8), which describes the Battle of Badr — a defensive conflict in which Muslims, already exiled from their homes in Mecca, were forced to respond to an offensive attack. Hijab walks through multiple verses from the same chapter that make the defensive nature of the conflict unmistakable, including verse 30, which states that the disbelievers were the ones planning to seize, kill, or exile the Prophet, and verse 61, which commands Muslims to incline toward peace if the enemy does the same.
“You don’t just check chapter 8 verse 39 without checking chapter 8 verse 1 up until whatever verses are in the chapter. The context starts around verse 8 or 9, and it is very clear this was a defensive war. Verse 61 even says: if they incline to peace, then you should also incline to peace.” — Muhammad Hijab
Islam Forbids the Killing of Non-Combatants
One of the most damaging claims in Crowder’s presentation was that Islam gives Muslims a green light to kill non-Muslims purely because of their disbelief. Hijab refutes this with a cascade of Quranic evidence and prophetic tradition that leaves no room for doubt:
- Quran 22:39 — Permission to fight was granted to Muslims specifically “because they have been oppressed,” not because of someone else’s faith.
- Quran 60:8 — God does not forbid Muslims from being kind and just to non-believers who do not fight them or drive them from their homes. In fact, God loves those who act justly.
- Quran 5:32 — Whoever kills a person unjustly, it is as if they have killed all of humanity — a verse that applies universally to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
- Prophetic Hadith — The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever kills a non-combatant non-believer will not smell the fragrance of Heaven,” a narration authenticated and explained by the greatest scholars of hadith interpretation.
Jesus in Islam — A Bridge, Not a Barrier
“Without belief in Jesus, you cannot be a Muslim — period. We believe he is the Messiah, that he was born of the Virgin Mary, and that he raised the dead and cured the blind and the leper with God’s permission.” — Muhammad Hijab
Common Ground Over Conflict
- Muslims revere Jesus (peace be upon him) as one of the mightiest messengers ever sent by God. Denying Jesus disqualifies a person from the Islamic faith entirely.
- The Quran affirms that Christians are the closest people in affection to Muslims (Quran 5:82).
- Jesus himself declared monotheism: “This is life eternal, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus whom You have sent” (John 17:3) — a statement that aligns perfectly with the Islamic understanding of pure worship of the Creator.
- Historical consensus among scholars of every background confirms the existence of Jesus as a matter of fact, something Islam has affirmed for over 1,400 years.
An Open Invitation to Honest Dialogue
Rather than returning insult for insult, Muhammad Hijab and The Deen Show extend a sincere, standing invitation to Steven Crowder: come to the table, bring your questions, and let us have an honest, educated conversation about Islam. The Quran teaches believers to respond to hostility with what is better, and that is exactly the spirit of this rebuttal — pursuing truth through knowledge, context, and mutual respect. Christians are not going anywhere, and Muslims are not going anywhere. The path forward is education, understanding, and the courage to step outside an echo chamber in search of genuine faith and truth.
