RoparnaWhat does the Qur’an say about the Bible?
Introduction
Few Muslims question that the Qur’an is inspired by God. But in regards to the Bible, most Muslims think that it is given only for the Christians, and that it is either uninspired or corrupted by them. Many are afraid of reading the Bible. It may come as a surprise for them to learn what the Qur’an says about the Bible.
Let us begin in An-Nisa’, surah 4 and verse 163-164…
Qur’an 4:163-165
Who inspired Noah, Abraham, Job, Moses, Aaron, Solomon, David, Jesus and the other Biblical Prophets? According to Islam there are four holy books: Tawrat (Torah/OT), Zabur (Psalms), Injil (Gospels/NT) and the Qur’an (3:84, 2:136).
Al-’Imran makes it even clearer: Surah 3, verses 3-4…
Qur’an 3:3-4
Who sent down the Torah (Law) and the Gospel (Injil)? For what purpose? What will happen to the rejecters of the Old and New Testament?
This is no exception in the Qur’an. Please turn to Al-Ma’idah: surah 5, verses 44 and 46…
Qur’an 5:44, 46
Who revealed the Torah to Moses? Is there light and guidance in it? Are the rest of OT prophets inspired by God? (cf Luke 24:44). What are you if you fail to judge by the light of the Old Testament? Whom did God send after the OT prophets? Is there guidance and light in the Injil (Gospel/NT)? Would Jesus abolish the Old Testament (Law/Torah) or confirm it?
This agrees well with what Jesus Himself said in the Injil (Gospel) …
Matt 5:17-18
Did Jesus come to destroy the Law (Torah) or the Prophets?
New light never replaces old light, it only brightens it. Jesus made this clear…
Luke 24:25-27
What did Jesus think of those who refused to believe in all the Old Testament prophets? (2 Tim 3:16). In the same way, the Qur’an claims to have been revealed, not in order to replace or abolish the Torah or the Gospel, but in order to confirm the revelations therein.
Alright, but is not the Bible of today corrupted by the Christians? What does the Qur’an say of this?
Qur’an 5:47, 48
By what standards should the Christians judge? The Qur’an or the Gospel? (5:68-69, 10:94, 3:110-115) If the text of the Gospel would have been changed, how can the Qur’an tell the Christians to judge by it? What was the Qur’an to guard? If the Bible is corrupted by Christians has it succeeded? There are texts in the Qur’an that speak of Jews and Christians changing the meaning of the Bible and misrepresenting it (3:78, 2:75, 4:46, 5:13 and 5:41). But they say nothing about a change in the written text. There must have been a pure version of the Bible at the time of Muhammad since God would not refer men to a corrupt book. And we know for fact that the Bible we have today is the same as the one existing in the 7th century.
IE: Dead Sea Scrolls 1947. OT from 3rd century BC. 99 % identical.
IE: NT – 230 mss. prior to 7th century. 97-99 % identical to modern mss.
The idea that a good muslim should only believe in and read the Qur’an contradicts the Qur’an itself…
Qur’an 2:4-5
Who has assurance of the Hearafter and are on guidance from the Lord?
What happens to Muslims that deny that the Old and the New Testament are God’s Inspired Word?
Qur’an 4:136
How far astray have they gone who deny the Bible?
This is a serious warning for every Muslim, which agrees with the New Testament…
2 Tim 3:15-17
How much of the Holy Scriptures are inspired by God? Word of God.
APPEAL
Do you wish to be assured of the Hearafter? Are you willing to accept the Bible as the Inspired Word of God? Are you willing to study all of God’s Revelations?
