Muslims and Christians
believe in the infallibility of the original biblical manuscripts. But many
adherents of Islam think that today's Bible has undergone substantial changes
with regard to its early manuscripts and their translated versions. However,
the Qur'an does not support this claim. In fact, it makes it clear that the
Bible, known as the Torah and the Injil, was found reliable in Muhammad's time,
the sixth century. To prove that the twentieth century Bible is still authentic
it only has to be compared with a copy from the sixth century.
The Testimony of the
Qur'an about the Reliability of the Bible:
“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. …” (Surah 10, Yunus, verse 94).
"those who read
the Scripture (that was) before thee" are Jews and Christians who
read the Torah and the Injil (Gospel)! If they were reading corrupted holy
books, their minds would have been influenced by many misconceptions. It would
therefore make no sense for Allah to command His messenger Muhammad if he is in
doubt to ask Jews and Christians who allegedly were misled by changed
Scriptures! In order to follow the mandate in this verse it is absolutely
necessary to believe that the Scriptures before Islam are uncorrupted!
Several verses in Qur'an
bear witness to the truth that the Torah was unchanged at the time of Jesus.
In Chapter 19, verse 12,
Yahya, who lived at the time of Jesus, was told "to take hold of the
Book, (the Torah)." Chapter 3, verse 48 tells us that Jesus was
also taught in the Torah.
“Numerous verses, such as
Chapter 34, verse 31, Chapter 35, verse 31, attest to the truth that the Torah
was uncorrupted in the time of Muhammad in the sixth century A.D. The Arabic
phrase "bain yadaihi" which is used in these references to the Torah
literally means "between his hands.” (Dr. W. Campbell writes in his book
The Quran and the Bible in the Light of History and Science -Middle East
Resources: 1994- page 37) "...usually it is an idiom for "in his
presence", or "in his power", or "in his possession,"
or "at his disposal..." (see also Chapter 34, verse 12)
One argument made by some
against the accuracy of the Bible involves this verse:
"All food was lawful
to the Children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for itself, before
the Law (of Moses) was revealed. Say, 'Bring ye the Law and study it, if ye be
men of truth.'" (Chapter 3, verse 93)
In this specific
incident, the Jews are asked to bring their own Law, the Torah. They are
commanded by God to study it in order to find the right answer to a particular
question.
"But why do they
come to thee for decision, when they have (their own) Law before them? -Therein
is the (plain) command of Allah; yet even after that, they would turn away. For
they are not (really) people of faith" (Chapter 5, verse 43).
This shows clearly that
even corrupted Jews would never change the written Torah! They were only
prepared to conceal the meaning of it. In spite of their wickedness, they did
not dare to change the written form of the Torah! That is why, according to the
Qur'an, Allah told them to look up their own law in which is the plain command
of God!
"Let the People of
the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge
by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who
rebel" (Chapter 5, verse 47).
This command is given to
Muhammad's contemporaries. It is written in the "present" tense,
which in the Arabic language can also refer to the future! If the Gospel
(Injil) was corrupted at that time, then surely Allah would never have asked
the people of the Gospel, the Christians, to believe in it!
“Say: 'O People of the
Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the
Gospel and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord...'” (Chapter
5, verse 68).
"If only they had
stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them
from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side.
There is from among them a party on the right course: But many of them follow a
course that is evil" (Chapter 5, verse 69).
“They are not all alike.
Of the People of the Scripture there is a staunch community who recite the
revelations of Allah in the night season, falling prostrate (before Him).”
(Chapter 3. verse 113).
The fact that there were
Jews and Christians "on the right course" in Muhammad's time confirms
the Torah and the Gospel to be unchanged in the 6th century A.D.! Certainly,
they could never have been described in such an honorable way if they had
"stood fast" by corrupted Holy Books!
“No change can there be
in the Words of Allah. This is indeed the supreme Felicity.” (Chapter 10, verse
64).
No Muslim should doubt
that the Torah and the Injil are words of Allah too! Therefore, it is
impossible for man to change them. God has the power to watch over His word and
to preserve it.
The passages above attest
to the fact that the Bible, consisting of the Torah (Old Testament) and the
Injil (New Testament) was unchanged and trustworthy in the time of Muhammad,
that is in the 6th century A.D!
Is only part of the
Bible trustworthy?
Many Muslims have the
mistaken idea that parts of the Bible have been unchanged. Faith is only put in
those statements which are supposed to confirm one's own opinions. Some Jews
did the same in the days of Muhammad. The verse that was revealed to him on
that occasion is still relevant for all those who make the same error:
"...Then is it only
a part of the Book that ye believe in, and do ye reject the rest? But what is
the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this
life?--And on the Day of Judgement they shall be consigned to the most grievous
penalty. For Allah is not unmindful of what ye do" (Chapter 2, verse 85).
Does the Qur'an
declare that the Bible has changed?
First of all, it needs to
be noted that the Qur'an nowhere states the Injil (Gospel) was changed!
But what about the Torah?
History shows that whenever God revealed Himself, most of His people fell into
disobedience after a period of time. So it was with the Jews. In spite of this
sad fact, there were always, up to this very day, good Jews who remain true to
the book God gave them:
“Of the people of Moses
there is a section who guide and do justice in the light of truth” (Chapter 7,
verse 159).
God's word is truth and
good Jews surely would never have changed the meaning or even the words of
their Holy Book! Let us now examine what bad Jews did to the Torah:
“There is among them a
section who distort the Book with their tongues: (as they read) you would think
it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, 'That is
from Allah,' but it is not from Allah: It is they who tell a lie against Allah
and (well) they know it!" (Chapter 3, verse 78).
In the verse quoted
above, the Jews are reading parts of their Book wrongly, while the written
words remain unchanged.
“But because of their
breach of their Covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard: They
change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the
Message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them- barring a few-
ever bent on (new) deceits: But forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds):
For God loveth those who are kind” (Chapter 5, verse 13).
The phrase, "They
change the words from their (right) places" could mean that they tampered
with the text of the Book. However, the second possibility, that the true
meaning was distorted, not the text itself, (see also Chapter 5, verse 44) will
have to be given preference in the light of the wider context (see above) which
clearly shows that:
-The unchanged Torah was
with the Jews of Muhammad's time. (Chapter 5, verses 43,68)
-It was referred to by
the Prophet in matters of dispute. (Chapter 3, verse 93)
In Chapter 2, verses
75-79 (in verse 75, Jews are listening to the Qur'an being recited); Chapter 4,
verse 46; the Jews are accused of changing, writing down wrongly, what Muhammad
said. After checking all these references it becomes clear that the Torah
remained unchanged!
Here few verses from
Qur’an CONFIRMING the Torah and the Gospel.
2:41. 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.
2:91. 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?
2:101. And when there
cometh unto them a messenger from Allah, CONFIRMINGthat 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,
3:3. He hath revealed
unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, CONFIRMING that which was
(revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel
5:48. To thee We sent the
Scripture in truth, CONFIRMING the scripture that came before
it, and GUARDING it in safety: …
6:92. 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.
10:37. 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.
12:111. 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.
16:102. Say: The holy
Spirit hath revealed it from thy Lord with truth, that it mayCONFIRM (the
faith of) those who believe, and as guidance and good tidings for those who
have surrendered (to Allah).
35:31. 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.
46:12. 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.
In every text I quote we
find this word “CONFIRMING” why Allah would insist so much on
this, that Quran confirming what was revealed before it if Allah knew and He is
the all knowing one, if Allah knew that the Bible falsified or was to be
falsified will He have said that over and over and over again?
Muslims believes that
today's Bible has undergone substantial changes with regard to its early
manuscripts and their translated versions. However, All I can say is:
“then bring ye your book
if ye be truthful!” (Al-Saffat 37:157)
When ever Muslims claim
that the Bible has been corrupted then we must ask them to bring their Book the
Qur’an and study it. When Allah again and again says that The Qur'an confirming
the Bible how come the Muslims believe that the Bible corrupted? Is the Qur'an
confirming a corrupted book?
“No change can there be
in the Words of Allah. This is indeed the supreme Felicity.” (Chapter 10, verse
64).
No Muslim ever can doubt
that the Torah and the Injil are words of Allah! Therefore, it is impossible
for man to change them.
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