Queries and Allegations About The Bible and The Quran

31 July, 2019
Q Hello. I study religion. I am a Christian from birth. I have 5 questions about Islam. Can you answer? 1. Quran. This book was sent down because old writings such as the Torah, the Bible, according to Muslims, were lost or changed by people. What is the evidence of the immutability of the Qur'an? 1 my Muslim friend told me that it would be better if I studied the Christian texts before the Qur'an. Because the information about the prophets in the Quran is not fully disclosed. Muslims do not know a single book of the Old Testament, with the exception of the books of Moses and David. They are amazed when they find in the New Testament the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the multitude of the Epistles and the mysterious book called The Revelation of John the Divine (Apocalypse). For them, the fact that the Bible consists of 66 books is completely unexpected. Therefore, it is especially important to explain to them with love and patience that the Word of God includes two parts: 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament. Among the treasures of Christians there are ancient manuscripts that belong to the historical era, many generations preceding the emergence of Islam. Among them: The Code of Alexandria, named after the city in which it was written. This was presented to the English King Charles I by the Patriarch of Constantinople Cyril in 1628 AD. Cyril brought him with him from Alexandria, where he had previously been the patriarch. Written in Greek, it contains all the books of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. On the first page, in the margins, it is indicated that the entire book was entirely copied by hand from a noble Egyptian woman named Takla in about 325 AD. On this remark, Patriarch Kirill personally noted that, in his opinion, the date is correct. The document is written in clear handwriting on parchment, each sheet is divided into two columns, and each column contains 50 lines. It is currently in the British Museum in London. The Vatican Codex is named so as it is stored in the Vatican library. It is written on excellent parchment in a small clear standard font. Each page has three columns with 42 lines in each. This list contains all the books of the Bible in Greek. Scientists believe that it is written about 300 AD. The Sinai Code, competing with the Vatican in age and perhaps even slightly older than the latter. Comparison of these texts is very important. This is called Sinai due to the fact that it was found on Mount Sinai in the monastery of St. Catherine by the scientist Tischendorf in 1844. The list is written in large, clear standard handwriting on thin parchment, with four columns on each page. It was presented to scientists as a gift to the Russian monarkh Alexander and remained in Russia until the revolution, when it was sold to the British Museum in London, in which it is kept until now. The Efremov manuscript is located in the National Library of Paris. It contains all the books of the Bible in Greek. It is written on parchment with beautiful handwriting without punctuation and spaces, the first letter of each line more than any other. It refers to approximately 450 AD. All these ancient manuscripts give an answer to those who would like to consider the Holy Scriptures of Christians as fakes, and show that it is authentic because it is written before the Koran. The Bible that we use today is no different from ancient copies. The Koran confirms the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures. Those who read it are amazed by its so clear evidence that no explanation is required. This testimony is repeated several times in the suras of the Qur'an, as can be seen from the passages below: Surely We revealed the Taurat in which was guidance and light; with it the prophets who submitted themselves (to Allah) judged (matters) for those who were Jews, and the masters of Divine knowledge and the doctors, because they were required to guard (part) of the Book of Allah, and they were witnesses thereof; therefore fear not the people and fear Me, and do not take a small price for My communications; and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the unbelievers. (5.44) And We sent after them in their footsteps Isa, son of Marium, verifying what was before him of the Taurat and We gave him the Injeel in which was guidance and light, and verifying what was before it of Taurat and a guidance and an admonition for those who guard (against evil). (5.46) And We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what is before it of the Book and a guardian over it, therefore judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires (to turn away) from the truth that has come to you; for every one of you did We appoint a law and a way, and if Allah had pleased He would have made you (all) a single people, but that He might try you in what He gave you, therefore strive with one another to hasten to virtuous deeds; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will let you know that in which you differed. (5.48) In the first place it says about the authenticity of the Torah, that it provides us with the correct guide against errors and light in the analysis of the cases to be disassembled by the prophets, in accordance with God's Book entrusted to them, whose veracity they are witnesses. In the second place, it is said that Christ confirmed the authenticity of the Torah and that His teaching — guidance, light and warning — confirms what was previously recorded in God's books. In the third, the Qur'an states that Revelation was announced to Muhammad, thereby proving that Holy Scripture existed before him and that he had to be his keeper, and that he should execute judgment on the basis of God's instructions, thereby confirming the authenticity of both Covenants. In confirmation of the Torah and the Gospel, the Quran continues to urge its followers to carry them further: Say: O followers of the Book! you follow no good till you keep up the Taurat and the Injeel and that which is revealed to you from your Lord; and surely that which has been revealed to you from your Lord shall make many of them increase in inordinacy and unbelief; grieve not therefore for the unbelieving people. (5.68) The Koran also admonishes believers in the Gospel to obey the commandments contained in their books, and describes those who neglect them as unjust and wicked. And the followers of the Injeel should have judged by what Allah revealed in it; and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the transgressors. (5.47) O you who believe! believe in Allah and His Apostle and the Book which He has revealed to His Apostle and the Book which He revealed before; and whoever disbelieves in Allah and His angels and His apostles and the last day, he indeed strays off into a remote error. (4.136) From the foregoing, it becomes clear that: a) The Koran calls upon the people to carry on the commands of the Torah and the Gospel. This is an unconditional recognition of the authenticity of these books and their integrity, asserting the believer in salvation, which is righteousness, and containing authoritative instructions about human behavior. b) The Koran tells all believers, including Muslims, to trust the Koran and the Book, which was a revelation to people before him, that is, the Torah and the Gospel. It contains a clear call for Muslims to accept and trust the Torah and the Gospel, this is contained in the following verses: These are they to whom We gave the book and the wisdom and the prophecy; therefore if these disbelieve in it We have already entrusted with it a people who are not disbelievers in it. These are they whom Allah guided, therefore follow their guidance. Say: I do not ask you for any reward for it; it is nothing but a reminder to the nations. (6,89.90) The Qur'an recognizes the competence of the Bible in properly assessing things in the spiritual field: And how do they make you a judge and they have the Taurat wherein is Allah's judgment? Yet they turn back after that, and these are not the believers. (5.43) This verse shows that one who obeys the commandments of the Bible does not need any other book. And accordingly, who turned away from God's book, knowing that it contains truth, is called infidel. I am convinced that the Bible is unchanged. Prove to me the opposite of what was said in the Quran, and prove to me the immutability of the Quran! 2. Everything in our world, all our actions, are predetermined by Allah. And Allah has created you and what you make. (37.96) Indeed, all things We created with predestination. (54.49) What is the point of living if we know that our actions are predetermined by Allah and we do not have the right to freedom of action? 3. Allah does not want a man to know him. In Islam, a person should not seek to seek the knowledge of God Himself. Why live for God, if the meaning of life in Islam is observance of Sharia? 4. How can Islam wage wars and still be a religion of peace? Allah does not want a man to know him. In Islam, a person should not seek the knowledge of God Himself. Why live for God, if the meaning of life in Islam is the observance of Sharia? How can Islam be the religion of peace, if at the very beginning Islam was spreading in merciless bloody wars? 5. Reincarnation. Why does Islam reject reincarnation if Allah can do everything? Thanks in advance!

Answer

Short Answer: Queries and Allegations About The Bible and The Quran: You have quoted several verses from the Quran to prove that the Quran approves of the present-day Bible in its entirety. But the Quran does not say so. It emphasizes the point that it came to confirm the truths contained in the earlier books, such as the Torah and Injeel. Just the truths; and not everything you find there. And you know that the present-day Old Testament contains a lot more material than the Torah, and the modern New Testament contains a lot more than the Gospel according to Jesus. All the above manuscripts were written at least three centuries after Jesus (i.e sufficient time for corruption or interpolation to distort the original), and they reflect the beliefs of the major Christian sects that flourished at that point of time in history. There is no trustworthy record to prove that these manuscripts actually presented the books of the Old and New Testaments as they existed say when Jesus completed his mission. Moreover, Moses preached in Hebrew and Jesus in Aramaic – both Semitic languages. But the above manuscripts are in Greek, which is a western language. 

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Salam dear brother,

Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.

The Codex

You have given some details meant to prove the authenticity of the Codices of Alexandria, Vatican etc.

But note the dates of composition, as well as the language in which these codices were written: 

  1. The Codex of Alexandria…about 325 AD
  2. The Vatican Codex … about 300 AD. 
  3. According to the site: http://www.codexsinaiticus.org/en/codex/date.aspx 

The Codex Sinaiticus is generally dated to the fourth century, and sometimes more precisely to the middle of that century.

  1. The Efremov manuscript is located in the National Library of Paris. It contains all the books of the Bible in Greek. …It refers to approximately 450 AD.

Queries and Allegations About The Bible

All the above manuscripts were written at least three centuries after Jesus (i.e sufficient time for corruption or interpolation to distort the original), and they reflect the beliefs of the major Christian sects that flourished at that point of time in history. There is no trustworthy record to prove that these manuscripts actually presented the books of the Old and New Testaments as they existed say when Jesus completed his mission. Moreover, Moses preached in Hebrew and Jesus in Aramaic – both Semitic languages. But the above manuscripts are in Greek, which is a western language. 

Our question is about the reliability of the truths obtained in the existing Biblical books. We need to check and validate every new idea especially in the later books of the Bible with the basic concepts given in the earlier books. For instance, the first and foremost commandment of the Torah is: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”

Anyone who calls Jesus “the Lord our God” breaks the First Commandment of God cited above. If someone claims that this is a Jewish or Muslim objection, they can check what Jesus himself said about it:

“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

The foregoing means that all the verses misquoted and misinterpreted to support the Pauline idea of Jesus as God’s only begotten Son meaning God Himself, should either be rejected or reinterpreted to agree with the First Commandment. 

Queries and Allegations About The Quran

You have quoted several verses from the Quran to prove that the Quran approves of the present-day Bible in its entirety. But the Quran does not say so. It emphasizes the point that it came to confirm the truths contained in the earlier books, such as the Torah and Injeel. Just the truths; and not everything you find there. And you know that the present-day Old Testament contains a lot more material than the Torah, and the modern New Testament contains a lot more than the Gospel according to Jesus.

It is worthwhile to note the following Quranic verse too: 

“Woe, then, unto those who write down, with their own hands, [something which they claim to be] divine writ, and then say: “This is from God,” in order to acquire a trifling gain thereby; woe, then, unto them for what their hands have written, and woe unto them for all that they may have gained!” (Quran 2:79)

You have quoted the Quranic verse: 

“And how do they make you a judge and they have the Taurat wherein is Allah’s judgment? Yet they turn back after that, and these are not the believers.” (Quran 5:43)

This verse was revealed in a particular context, which is explained by the well-known translator of the Quran, Muhammad Asad: 

“This verse illustrates the strange mentality of the Jews, who despite the fact that they believe the Torah to contain all of the Divine Law – surreptitiously turn to a religious dispensation in which they do not believe; in the hope that its verdict on certain ethical questions might confirm some of their own wishful beliefs which happen to run counter to the Torah.

In other words, they are not really prepared to submit to the judgment of the Torah-although they assert their belief in it -nor the judgment of the Qur’an, which confirms some of the laws of the Torah and abrogates others: for, as soon as they come to realize that the Qur’an does not agree with their preconceived ideas, they turn away from it.” (The Message of the Quran by Muhammad Asad)

Facts

The foregoing points to the following facts:

  1. The Quran demands Muslims to believe all the books revealed to the earlier prophets, such as the original Torah, the original Psalms, and the original Injeel.
  2. It confirms the truths in all the earlier scriptures.
  3. But the present-day books of the Bible were compilations based on disparate documents of doubtful authenticity, or just translations of some of these to cater for new believers. For this reason, it is unreasonable to claim that the Quran ratifies all the modern versions of the Bible. The Quran claims to be the Furqan or a Criterion for judging the truth and offers a sort of a quality control mechanism to separate the truth from falsehood.

You write: “I am convinced that the Bible is unchanged.”

Our question is: What version of the Bible are you speaking of? The Catholic Bible or the Protestant one? The King James Version or the Revised Standard Version?

Our answer is admittedly a concise one, but hopefully, it suffices to prove that your claims about the Bible are untenable. 

And Allah knows best.

Salam and please keep in touch.

Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links:

Where Does the Bible Agree with the Quran?

Could the Quran Be a Copy of the Bible?!

6 Reasons Qur’an Cannot Be a Copy of Bible

 

About Professor Shahul Hameed
Professor Shahul Hameed is an Islamic consultant. He also held the position of the President of the Kerala Islamic Mission, Calicut, India. He is the author of three books on Islam published in the Malayalam language. His books are on comparative religion, the status of women, and science and human values.