The Bible According to the Koran

The Light Shines in the Darkness...

The Koran itself claims to be a continuation of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures (Surah 2:136). However, this presents a problem. The Koran contradicts the Bible in history and theology at just about every point! Muslims can’t say that the Bible has been corrupted after Muhammad because of the enormous weight of evidence (i.e. the Dead Sea Scrolls, manuscripts, etc.). Thus, modern Muslims must claim that the Bible had been corrupted by the Jews and Christians before Muhammad. This article deals with how the Koran views Scripture.

The Koran’s View of the Bible

Contrary to the claims of modern Muslims, the Koran actually affirms the accurate transmission of the Bible (i.e. it hadn’t been corrupted). In the Koran, Muhammad constantly appeals for his followers to ask the Christians and Jews if what he preaches is in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. After each quote, I will make comments to get the point across. Unless stated otherwise, all Koran quotes are from Pickthall’s translation (emphasis mine):

And believe in that which I reveal, confirming that which ye possess already (of the Scripture), and be not first to disbelieve therein, and part not with My revelations for a trifling price, and keep your duty unto Me.

-Sura 2:42

Comments:

How can Allah say that Muhammad’s preachingconfirms that “which ye possess already” if “that which ye possess already” has been corrupted? This passage from the Koran only makes sense if the Scriptures had not been corrupted.

And when there cometh unto them a scripture from Allah, confirming that in their possession - though before that they were asking for a signal triumph over those who disbelieved - and when there cometh unto them that which they know (to be the truth) they disbelieve therein. The curse of Allah is on disbelievers.

-Sura 2:89

Comments:

The Koran is supposed to be a revelation from God which confirms “that [the Bible] which is already in their [Jews and Christians] possession.” This verse makes no sense if one tried to say that the Bible had been corrupted.

And when it is said unto them: Believe in that which Allah hath revealed, they say: We believe in that which was revealed unto us. And they disbelieve in that which cometh after it, though it is the truth confirming that which they possess. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Why then slew ye the prophets of Allah aforetime, if ye are (indeed) believers?

-Sura 2:91

Comments:

[Same as 2:89]

Say (O Muhammad, to mankind): Who is an enemy to Gabriel! For he it is who hath revealed (this Scripture) to thy heart by Allah's leave, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, and a guidance and glad tidings to believers;

-Sura 2:97

Comments:

[Same as 2:89]

And when there cometh unto them a messenger from Allah, confirming that which they possess, a party of those who have received the Scripture fling the Scripture of Allah behind their backs as if they knew not…

-Sura 2:101

Comments:

Again, Muhammad appeals to the Scriptures which the Jews and Christians already possess. In the last sentence, Muhammad is not arguing that the Scriptures have been tampered with, but rather, he is saying that the Jews and Christians deny or hide the true meaning of what is in the Scriptures.

When Allah made (His) covenant with the prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and knowledge. And afterward there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which ye possess. Ye shall believe in him and ye shall help him. He said: Do ye agree, and will ye take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter)? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear ye witness. I will be a witness with you.

-Sura 3:81

Comments:

One translation (i.e. Arberry) says, “…confirming what is with you” (italics mine). Muhammad was appealing to that which the Jews and Christians currently possessed.

O ye unto whom the Scripture hath been given! Believe in what We have revealed confirming that which ye possess, before We destroy countenances so as to confound them, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers (of old time). The commandment of Allah is always executed.

-Sura 4:47

Comments:

Again, Muhammad was appealing to that which the Jews and Christians currently possessed.

Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are evil-livers.

-Sura 5:47

Comments:

Muhammad tells the Christians to judge the Koran by the Gospel which they currently possess.

And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So vie one with another in good works. Unto Allah ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.

-Sura 5:48

Comments:

Muhammad was appealing to that which the Jews and Christians currently possessed. He then tells them to “judge between them” (i.e. compare the two) to make sure that the Koran is indeed in line with the Bible. [Same as 2:89]

And this is a blessed Scripture which We have revealed, confirming that which (was revealed) before it, that thou mayst warn the Mother of Villages and those around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe herein, and they are careful of their worship.

-Sura 6:92

Comments:

[Same as 2:89]

And this Qur'an is not such as could ever be invented in despite of Allah; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it and an exposition of that which is decreed for mankind - Therein is no doubt - from the Lord of the Worlds.

-Sura 10:37

Comments:

[Same as 2:89]

And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before thee. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers.

-Sura 10:94

Comments:

Muhammad is told that if he is in doubt of whether what is revealed in the Koran is true or not to ask the Jews and Christians.

In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.

-Sura 12:111

Comments:

According to Muhammad, the Koran is supposed to be a confirmation of the “existing” (i.e. current at that time period) Bible.

As for that which We inspire in thee of the Scripture, it is the Truth confirming that which was (revealed) before it. Lo! Allah is indeed Observer, Seer of His slaves.

-Sura 35:31

Comments:

[Same as 2:89]

Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed those sent (before him).

-Sura 37:37

Comments:

[Same as 2:89]

When before it there was the Scripture of Moses, an example and a mercy; and this is a confirming Scripture in the Arabic language, that it may warn those who do wrong and bring good tidings for the righteous.

-Sura 46:12

Comments:

[Same as 2:89]

They said: O our people! Lo! we have heard a scripture which hath been revealed after Moses, confirming that which was before it, guiding unto the truth and a right road.

-Sura 46:30

Comments:

[Same as 2:89]

Some Muslims point to Sura 2:106 which they believe proves that the Bible was corrupted by the Jews and Christians. However, both the context and the Hadith (Bukhari: vol. 6, hadith 527, p. 489; book 61) say that this only refers to the Koran.

On the Decrees of God

According to the Koran, none of God’s Word (which would include the Bible) can ever be altered:

Messengers indeed have been denied before thee, and they were patient under the denial and the persecution till Our succour reached them. There is none to alter the decisions of Allah. Already there hath reached thee (somewhat) of the tidings of the messengers (We sent before).

-Sura 6:34

Perfected is the Word of thy Lord in truth and justice. There is naught that can change His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

-Sura 6:115

Theirs are good tidings in the life of the world and in the Hereafter - There is no changing the Words of Allah - that is the Supreme Triumph.

-Sura 10:64

Robert Morey comments:

“It must also be pointed out that the Muslims argue that the Quran must be perfect because God would preserve His Word infallibly. Yet if God failed to do this for the Bible, as they claim, why should He do this for the Quran?”

-Robert Morey, The Islamic Invasion (Las Vegas, NV: Christian Scholars Press, 1992), p.137.

Early Muslim Theologians

Almost all of the early Muslim theologians interpreted the Koran’s meaning of the above passages as saying that the Bible of Muhammad’s day was accurate. Go to these places for the documentation: http://www.answeringislam.org/Shamoun/tahrif.htm or

http://www.anwering-islam.org/Bible/jrwhy.html

Conclusion

As Sam Shamoun rightly puts it:

“The author of the Quran believed that the Revelation which the Jews and Christians of his time had in their very own possessions, which would have been the Holy Bible, was God’s true and preserved Word, and that the function of the Quran was to confirm them. But as anyone reading the Holy Bible and the Quran readily sees, the Quran does anything but confirm the previous Scriptures. This leads to the inevitable conclusion that the Quran is not God’s Word. The Quran fails to do what it claims it was sent out to do, namely confirm the previous Scriptures. The Quran thereby falsifies itself since it testifies that the Holy Bible is God’s Word while contradicting its core, essential doctrines at the same time.”

-Sam Shamoun, Answering Islam, “The Quran as a Confirmation of the Holy Bible”.

http://www.answeringislam.org/Quran/Bible/list.html

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Some helpful online reading can be found here:

http://www.answeringislam.org/Quran/Bible/index.html

http://www.answeringislam.org/Authors/Khaled/quran_preserved.htm

http://www.answeringislam.org/Authors/Farooq_Ibrahim/trustworthy1.htm

http://www.carm.org/islam/Bibletokoran.htm