The books – Stories for your Muslim friend

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Have the Bible and the Qur’an been corrupted?

A very brief overview of the Bible and the Qur’an.

The Bible, which means “book,” consists of 66 “books,” each of which has a name, and which are composed of “chapters,” which are divided into “verses.” The Old Testament, which has 39 books, was written in Hebrew and Aramaic and comprises about 75% of the Bible. The Qur’an divides the Old Testament into two parts: the Psalms (Arabic Al-Zabur and the rest of the Old Testament (Arabic Al-Tawrat). The New Testament has 27 books and was written in Greek. The Qur’an calls this Al-Injil in Arabic. In this book, we will use the English names for these books.

The Qur’an, which means “recitation,” consists of 114 chapters (surah, plural suwar), which are divided into verses (ayah, plural ayat). The Qur’an is about 80% of the size of the New Testament.

The Bible with Reference to the Qur’an

The Bible was complete before the Qur’an, and so of course does not mention the Qur’an, which did not yet exist. Therefore, the Bible says nothing about the Qur’an or its alleged corruption.

Some Muslims claim that there are some verses in the Bible that could refer to the coming Qur’an. For example,

וַתְּהִי לָכֶם חָזוּת הַכֹּל, כְּדִבְרֵי הַסֵּפֶר הֶחָתוּם, אֲשֶׁר-יִתְּנוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל-יוֹדֵעַ הספר (סֵפֶר) לֵאמֹר, קְרָא נָא-זֶה; וְאָמַר לֹא אוּכַל, כִּי חָתוּם הוּא. וְנִתַּן הַסֵּפֶר, עַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדַע סֵפֶר לֵאמֹר–קְרָא נָא-זֶה; וְאָמַר, לֹא יָדַעְתִּי סֵפֶר.

And the vision of all this is become unto you as the words of a scroll that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying: ‘Read this, I pray thee’; and he saith: ‘I cannot, for it is sealed’; and the scroll is delivered to him that does not know the scroll, saying: ‘Read this, I pray thee’; and he saith: ‘I do not know the scroll.’ (Isaiah 29:11-12)

Whether or not this and other verses refer to the Qur’an, nothing in this verse or any other verses refers to alleged changes to the Qur’an, even if this verse did refer to the Qur’an. Since the Bible does not say anything about the Qur’an being changed, there is no scriptural basis for Christians to say that the Qur’an has been changed.

The Bible also includes quotations and allusions from many other sources. The New English Translation Novum Testamentum Graece New Testament (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft and Net Bible Press, Stuttgart and Dallas, 2004 ISBN 0-7375-0060-3) pages 802-808 lists over 500 New Testament quotations and allusions to books that are not in the Old Testament. So the Bible affirms that there is truth outside of itself, which can include the Qur’an.

The Qur’an with Reference to the Bible

However, the Qur’an, which came after the Bible, has a lot to say about the Bible. There are literally hundreds of verses in the Qur’an that refer to the Bible.

Many Muslims believe that the Bible has been changed. Let us look to see whether this belief is based in the Qur’an itself, or if it comes from somewhere else. The sheer quantity of Qur’anic verses provides us with an in-depth look at the question of whether or not the Qur’an states that the Bible has been changed. Let us start with the Qur’an itself, to see what it says about whether or not the Bible is valid and can be used as a reference.

//// Can we use the Bible as a reference?

What does the Qur’an say about the Bible as a whole?

وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَكِنْ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آَتَاكُمْ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ

And we revealed the book to you with truth, confirming what he had of the book before it and protecting it, so judge among them according to what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their desires concerning the truth that has come to you. We made a law and a program for each one of you. If Allah had willed, he would have made you one nation, but he wanted to test you regarding what he gave you. So compete in goodness. You will all return toward Allah, and he will proclaim to you your differences. (Al-Maida 5:48)

This verse refers to the book that was before the Qur’an: the Bible, which is composed of the Tawrat, the Zabur, and the Injil. It says that the Qur’an confirms it and protects it. Though some Muslim traditions say that the real meaning of protect (مهيمنا على muhayminan 3alaa) is “controlling,” most translations and commentaries of the Qur’an say that the word means “protecting,” “guarding,” or “watching over.” Both ancient Arabic-Arabic dictionaries like Fairuzabadi’s المحيط Al-Muhit and modern Arabic-Arabic dictionaries like المنجد Al-Munjid give the following synonyms: رقيبا watching over, and حافظا preserving. Thus the Qur’an protects, watches over, and preserves the book that preceded it, the Bible.

كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ فَهَدَى اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Mankind was all one nation, and Allah sent prophets bearing good news and warnings, and He sent the book with them in truth, to judge between men in the matters in which they differ. The only ones who differed about it were those who received it after miracles came to them, acting insolently. Allah guides believers regarding the truth they differ about with his permission. Allah guides those he wills to a straight path. (Al-Baqara 2:213)

This verse confirms that God sent the previous book with the prophets he sent, and that the book was to serve as the judge in matters in which men differed.

فَإِنْ كَذَّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَ رُسُلٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ جَاءُوا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُنِيرِ

And if they reject you, the messengers who came before you, bringing miracles, books, and the book of enlightenment, were also rejected. (Aal Imran 3:184)

وَإِنْ يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَبِالزُّبُرِ وَبِالْكِتَابِ الْمُنِيرِ

If they reject you, those before you rejected. Their messengers brought them miracles, books and the enlightening book. (Al-Fatir 35:25)

Thes verses affirm that the previous messengers brought books from God, which would be the components of the Bible.

وَقَالُوا لَوْلا يَأْتِينَا بِآَيَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ أَوَلَمْ تَأْتِهِمْ بَيِّنَةُ مَا فِي الصُّحُفِ الأُولَى

They said, “If only he would give us a sign from his Lord.” Has a miracle of what was in the earliest books not come to them? (Taha 20:133)

This verse confirms that the earliest books are signs and miracles.

فَإِنْ كُنْتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ لَقَدْ جَاءَكَ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكَ فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

So when you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, ask those who are reading the book that was before you. Truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be a doubter, (Yunis 10:94)

This verse addresses Muhammad (ص) and tells him to confirm doubts by asking people who read the previous book, which existed at that time, and which included the Tawrat, the Zabur, and the Injil. This also implies that verses of the Qur’an should be understood in such a way that they agree with the previous book.

Thus there are many verses in which the Qur’an affirms the validity of the Bible as a whole.

What does the Qur’an say about the New Testament?

The Qur’an says the following about the New Testament:

وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آَثَارِهِمْ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَآَتَيْنَاهُ الْإِنْجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ وَمُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

We made Isa son of Mariam follow in their footsteps, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, as guidance and an admonition to the godly. (Al-Maida 5:46)

This verse affirms that God gave the New Testament, that the New Testament has guidance, light, and an admonition, and that the New Testament confirms the Old Testament that existed at that time.

وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِنْجِيلِ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

So let the people of the Injil judge by what Allah has revealed in it. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are unbelievers. (Al-Maida 5:47)

This verse affirms that the New Testament, as it existed at the time of the Qur’an, was valid for the followers of the New Testament to judge by, and warns those who do not judge by it that they are unbelievers.

نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنْجِيلَ

He revealed the book to you in truth, confirming what is in his possession, and he revealed the Tawrat and the Injil (Aal Imran 3:3)

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ وَالإِنْجِيلُ إِلاَّ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ

People of the book, why do you protest about Ibrahim, since the Tawrat and Injil were not revealed until after him? Do you not comprehend? (Aal Imran 3:65)

These verses confirm that God revealed the New Testament.

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ حَتَّى تُقِيمُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنْجِيلَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا فَلاَ تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

People of the book, you have no foundation unless you uphold the Tawrat and Injil and what was revealed to you by your Lord. What was revealed to you will certainly increase many of them in trangression and disbelief. Do not sorrow over disbelieving people. (Al-Maida 5:68)

This verse says that “the people of the book” must uphold the Old Testament and New Testament. Generally, when the Qur’an uses the phrase “people of the book,” it refers to Jews and/or Christians, and this is how this verse has been traditionally understood. However, there are some who say that “the people of the book” who are addressed here are those who received the Qur’an (what was revealed to you by your Lord). If this is correct, it would mean that the Qur’an is telling Muslims that they have no foundation unless they uphold the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Qur’an. For our purposes, though, in either understanding of the phrase “people of the book,” this verse affirms the validity of the New Testament.

ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آَثَارِهِمْ بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَآَتَيْنَاهُ الإِنْجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ابْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَاهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلاَّ ابْتِغَاءَ رِضْوَانِ اللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا فَآَتَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

Then we made our messengers follow them. We made Isa son of Mariam follow them, and we brought the Injil to him, and put compassion and mercy into the hearts of those who followed him. They invented monasticism. We did not ordain it for them, but only seeking Allah’s pleasure, and they were not careful to do that. We gave the believers among them their reward, but most of them were unbelieving. (Al-Hadid 57:27)

This verse confirms that God gave the New Testament to Jesus.

We see clearly from these verses that the Qur’an not only allows us, but also directs us to use not only the Bible in general, but the New Testament in particular, as a reference for truth.

What does the Qur’an say about the Old Testament?

The Qur’an says the following about the Old Testament:

وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِنْدَهُمُ التَّوْرَاةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ وَمَا أُولَئِكَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And how can they make you their judge, when they have the Tawrat, which contains Allah’s judgment? Then they turn away after that! They are not believers. (Al-Maida 5:43)

This verse confirms that the Old Testament contains God’s judgment and is superior to the opinions of human judges.

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَكَانُوا عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاءَ فَلاَ تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ وَلاَ تَشْتَرُوا بِآَيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ

We revealed the Tawrat, in which is guidance and light. The prophets who submitted, the rabbis, and the priests judge the Jews according to the portion of Allah’s book with which they have been entrusted. They were witnesses of it. So do not fear people, but fear me, and do not sell my verses for a small price. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers. (Al-Maida 5:44)

This verse confirms that the Old Testament has guidance and light, that God revealed the Old Testament, and that those who do not judge by it are disbelievers.

وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالْأَنْفَ بِالْأَنْفِ وَالْأُذُنَ بِالْأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ … وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

And we wrote for them in it, ‘A life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and punishment for wounds, so if someone forgoes it, it will be expiation for him. Those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are wicked. (Al-Maida 5:45)

This verse has a quotation from the Old Testament, saying that God himself wrote it, and warns again that those who do not judge by it are wicked.

We made Isa son of Mariam follow in their footsteps, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, as guidance and an admonition to the godly. (Al-Maida 5:46)

This verse says that Jesus followed in the footsteps of the prophets, that he confirmed the validity of the Old Testament as it then existed, and that the New Testament also confirmed the validity of the Old Testament as it then existed.

The word الذكر al-dhikr (the reminder) in the Qur’an refers to both the previous books and to the Qur’an, as we will see below, especially in Al-Nahl 16:43-44. Let us look at what the Qur’an says:

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ

We have written in the Zabur after the reminder, “My righteous servants will inherit the earth.” (Al-Anbiya 21:105)

This verse clearly says that the Zabur was written after the reminder. In other words, the reminder was written before the Zabur. So in this verse, the reminder refers to the book that was before the Psalms, the books of Moses.

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ الْفُرْقَانَ وَضِيَاءً وَذِكْرًا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

We gave Musa and Harun the criterion, shining, and reminder to the godly, (Al-Anbiya 21:48)

This verse is even more specific and says that the reminder was what was given to Musa and Harun.

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Those we sent before you were men we inspired, so ask the people of the reminder if you do not know about the miracles and books. We reveal the reminder to you so you could show people clearly what has been revealed to them, and so that they may consider. (Al-Nahl 16:43-44)

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ

All we sent before you were men whom we inspired, so ask the people of the reminder if you do not know. (Al-Anbiya 21:7)

In both these verses, those who follow the Qur’an are told to ask the “people of the reminder” when they do not know something. Obviously they were not supposed to ask themselves, so the “people of the reminder” were other people who had a book (the Jews and the Christians), and this “reminder” in this passage refers to the Bible. Also, this shows that the reminder existed at the time of the Qur’an in the possession of the Christians and Jews. This clearly shows that the previous book (the Bible) existed and was accurate, valid, and true at the time of the Qur’an, and that it was to be used as a reference to supplement the knowledge of the people of the Qur’an. In Al-Nahl 16:43, “reminder” refers to the Bible, while in verse 44, it refers to the Qur’an.

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

We ourselves revealed the reminder, and we are its protectors. (Al-Hijr 15:9)

Verse 9 refers back to verses 4 and 5, which mention the book that was given to villages that God had destroyed, and to verse 6, which mentions their rejection of the person who brought the reminder to them. Here, God himself says he is the protector of the reminder. So whether the reminder refers to the Bible, the former scriptures, or whether it refers to both the Bible and the Qur’an, God protects the Bible. Does God ever fail in doing something he says he will do? Of course not. God said he would protect the Bible, and he did so. So the reminder has not been changed.

وَمُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَلأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَجِئْتُكُمْ بِآَيَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

And [I am] a confirmer of the Tawrat that is in my possession, and [I came] to permit for you some of what was forbidden to you, and I have brought you a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. (Aal Imran 3:50)

This verse shows that Jesus confirmed the Old Testament that existed at his time.

He revealed the book to you in truth, confirming what is in his possession,and he revealed the Tawrat and the Injil (Aal Imran 3:3)

People of the book, why do you protest about Ibrahim, since the Tawrat and Injil were not revealed until after him? Do you not comprehend? (Aal Imran 3:65)

These verses confirm that the Old Testament was revealed by God.

We see clearly from these many verses that the Qur’an not only allows us, but also encourages us to use the Old Testament as a reference for truth.

What does the Qur’an say about the Psalms?

The Qur’an says the following about the Psalms:

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ

We have written in the Zabur after the reminder, “My righteous servants will inherit the earth.” (Al-Anbiya 21:105)

This verse, which we have seen before, confirms that God wrote the Psalms. This verse in the Qur’an is a quotation of Psalm 37:29, as it existed in the days of the Qur’an, which is the same as it still exists today.

צַדִּיקִים יִירְשׁוּ-אָרֶץ; וְיִשְׁכְּנוּ לָעַד עָלֶיהָ.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. (Psalms 37:29)

This is a direct quotation from the Zabur, and shows that the Zabur was accurate in the days of the Qur’an. It also shows that the Zabur as it exists today is also accurate. In fact, the words for “inherit” and “land/earth” in Hebrew and Arabic are words that come from the same source.

This is a common theme in several other verses in the Zabur as well:

מְרֵעִים, יִכָּרֵתוּן; וְקֹוֵי יְהוָה, הֵמָּה יִירְשׁוּ-אָרֶץ.

For evil-doers shall be cut off; but as for those that wait for the LORD, they shall inherit the land. (Psalms 37:9)

וַעֲנָוִים יִירְשׁוּ-אָרֶץ; וְהִתְעַנְּגוּ, עַל-רֹב שָׁלוֹם.

But the humble shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psalms 37:11)

כִּי מְבֹרָכָיו, יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ; וּמְקֻלָּלָיו, יִכָּרֵתוּ.

For such as are blessed of Him shall inherit the land; and they that are cursed of Him shall be cut off. (Psalms 37:22)

קַוֵּה אֶל-יְהוָה, וּשְׁמֹר דַּרְכּוֹ, וִירוֹמִמְךָ, לָרֶשֶׁת אָרֶץ ;בְּהִכָּרֵת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶה.

Wait for the LORD, and keep His way, and He will exalt thee to inherit the land; (Psalms 37:34)

In addition, the New Testament also has the same theme.

μακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς, ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσιν τὴν γῆν.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. (Matthew 5:5)

So we see that the Qur’an affirms the validity of the Zabur as it existed in the days of the Qur’an and also up until today.

إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَى وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ وَآَتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا

We inspired you just as we inspired Nuh and the prophets after him. We inspired Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub, the tribes, Isa, Ayyub, Yunus, Harun, and Sulayman. We brought Dawud the Zabur. (Al-Nisa 4:163)

وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَآَتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا

Your Lord knows everyone in the heavens and the earth. We preferred some prophets above others, and we brought Dawud the Zabur. (Al-Isra 17:55)

These two verses confirm that God brought the Psalms to David, and the second one implies that this is a reason that God preferred David above other prophets.

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ

Those we sent before you were men we inspired, so ask the people of the reminder if you do not know about the miracles and psalms. (Al-Nahl 16:43-44)

As we have seen above, the word “reminder” in this verse refers to the previous reminder, the Bible. The Psalms is thus presented as a reference book for the people of the Qur’an.

وَإِنَّهُ لَفِي زُبُرِ الأَوَّلِينَ

It is in the psalms of the men of old. (Al-Shuara 26:196)

This verse says that the Qur’an’s content is in the psalms of the ancient people, affirming the validity of the Psalms.

And if they reject you, the messengers who came before you, bringing miracles, books [psalms], and the enlightening book, were also rejected. (Aal Imran 3:184)

This verse affirms that the previous messengers brought books (psalms).

If they reject you, those before you rejected. Their messengers brought them miracles, books [psalms] and the enlightening book. (Al-Fatir 35:25)

These verse also confirm that the previous messengers brought them books, specifically the Psalms.

We see clearly from these verses that the Qur’an encourages us to use the Zabur as a reference, because it is accurate.

Clearly the Bible is highly esteemed in the Qur’an, and recommended to followers of the Qur’an. So the Qur’an allows and encourages Muslims to use the Bible as a reference

Was this the Bible that existed in the days of Muhammad (ص)?

Many Muslims believe that the verses in the previous sections, even though they are very positive and affirming to the Tawrat, Zabur, and Injil, refer to books only as they were originally revealed, and that by the time of Muhammad (ص), they had been corrupted. So a key question is: Do these verses refer only to the Bible as originally revealed, or also to the Bible that existed in the days of Muhammad (ص)?

Let us examine the verses that talk about this carefully.

People of the book, you have no foundation unless you uphold the Tawrat and Injil and what was revealed to you by your Lord. What was revealed to you will certainly increase many of them in trangression and disbelief. Do not sorrow over disbelieving people. (Al-Maida 5:68)

Here the people of the book in the days of Muhammad (ص) are told to uphold the Old Testament and New Testament. This shows that they could do so. If the Old Testament and New Testament had been corrupted or changed or lost, the people of the Book could not have upheld them.

فَإِنْ كُنْتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ

So when you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, ask those who are reading the book that was before you. Truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be a doubter. (Yunis 10:94)

The key point here is that Muhammad (ص) was told to ask people who were reading the previous book at that time. The book was to be used as a reference to check any doubts that Muhammad (ص) had. God would not have told Muhammad (ص) to ask the people of the book unless the book they had was accurate in his day. So the book existed in the days of Muhammad (ص), people were reading it, and it was true.

We saw in the previous section that the reminder includes the Bible.

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

We revealed the reminder, and we are its protectors. (Al-Hijr 15:9)

God here says that He would protect the reminder. God said he would protect the Bible, and he has done so. So neither the Bible nor the Qur’an has been changed.

Those we sent before you were men we inspired, so ask the people of the reminder if you do not know the miracles and the psalms. (Al-Nahl 16:43)

We saw in the previous section that the people of the Qur’an are told to ask the people of the reminder (the Bible in this case) when they do not know something. This shows that the people of the reminder possessed the reminder, the previous book, and that it was accurate, valid, and true at the time of the Qur’an.

وَإِنَّهُ لَفِي زُبُرِ الأَوَّلِينَ

It is in the psalms of the men of old. (Al-Shuara 26:196)

This verse says that the content of the Qur’an is (not was) in the psalms of the men of old.

They said, “If only he would give us a sign from his Lord.” Has a miracle of what was in the earliest books not come to them? (Taha 20:133)

This verse says that what was in the earliest books had come to them. This also affirms the truth that the books of the men of old were accurate at the time of the Qur’an.

צַדִּיקִים יִירְשׁוּ-אָרֶץ; וְיִשְׁכְּנוּ לָעַד עָלֶיהָ.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. (Psalms 37:29)

We examined this verse in the previous section, and saw that it affirmed that the Bible as it existed in the days of the Qur’an, and still exists today, is accurate.

And how can they make you their judge, when they have the Tawrat, which contains Allah’s judgment? Then they turn away after that! They are not believers. (Al-Maida 5:43)

This verse is the beginning of a passage which affirms over and over the accuracy of the Bible (the book) in the days of Muhammad (ص). The people of the book here are said to have the Old Testament (not that they previously had it and no longer had it), and that it contains God’s judgment (not that it used to contain God’s judgment).

We revealed the Tawrat, in which is guidance and light. The prophets who submitted, the rabbis, and the priests judge the Jews according to the portion of Allah’s book with which they have been entrusted. They were witnesses of it. So do not fear people, but fear me, and do not sell my verses for a small price. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers. (Al-Maida 5:44)

Again, this verse says the Old Testament has guidance and light, not that it used to have it. Furthermore, it is presented as the standard of judgment for prophets (Muhammad (ص) is called a prophet in the Qur’an, so this would include him). So if prophets judge by the Old Testament, the Old Testament that existed in the days of the Qur’an was accurate.

And we wrote for them in it, ‘A life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, …Those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are wicked. (Al-Maida 5:45)

This verse references verses that God wrote in the Old Testament, and rebukes those who would try to judge by other things instead of what God has revealed. Furthermore, it affirms validity of the Book which contains the verses which refer to ‘life for life, and eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth. Indeed, the Old Testament that we now have today still contains these words in several verses:

וְאִם-אָסוֹן, יִהְיֶה–וְנָתַתָּה נֶפֶשׁ, תַּחַת נָפֶשׁ. עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן, שֵׁן תַּחַת שֵׁן, יָד תַּחַת יָד, רֶגֶל תַּחַת רָגֶל. כְּוִיָּה תַּחַת כְּוִיָּה, פֶּצַע תַּחַת פָּצַע, חַבּוּרָה, תַּחַת חַבּוּרָה.

But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. (Exodus 21:23-25)

שֶׁבֶר, תַּחַת שֶׁבֶר, עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן, שֵׁן תַּחַת שֵׁן–כַּאֲשֶׁר יִתֵּן מוּם בָּאָדָם, כֵּן יִנָּתֶן בּוֹ.

breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath maimed a man, so shall it be rendered unto him. (Leviticus 24:20)

לֹא תָחוֹס, עֵינֶךָ: נֶפֶשׁ בְּנֶפֶשׁ, עַיִן בְּעַיִן שֵׁן בְּשֵׁן, יָד בְּיָד, רֶגֶל בְּרָגֶל.

And thine eye shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Deuteronomy 19:21)

So the Qur’an affirms what the Old Testament says and quotes from both the Old Testament and the Psalms, affirming its accuracy not just in the days of the Qur’an, but also as it exists today.

وَآَمِنُوا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَكُمْ

And believe in what I revealed, confirming what is with you. (Al-Baqara 2:41)

This verse also affirms that the people of the Book had the Book in those days, and that it was accurate, true, and valid.

وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ كِتَابٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَهُمْ

And when a book comes to them from God confirming what they have. (Al-Baqara 2:89)

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آَمِنُوا بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا نُؤْمِنُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَيَكْفُرُونَ بِمَا وَرَاءَهُ وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَهُمْ قُلْ فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنْبِيَاءَ اللَّهِ مِنْ قَبْلُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ

If they are told, believe in what God has revealed, they said, we believe in what was revealed to us, and they disbelieve in what was behind it, though it is the truth, confirming what was with them. Say, then why do you kill God’s prophets beforehand, if you are true believers? (Al-Baqara 2:91)

وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ

And when a messenger comes to them from God confirming what they have, a group of those who were given the book rejected the Book of God behind their backs as if they did not know. (Al-Baqara 2:101)

نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ

We revealed to you the book with truth, confirming what he has, and he revealed the Tawrat and the Injil. (Aal Imran 3:3)

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آَتَيْتُكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنْصُرُنَّهُ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ إِصْرِي قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

Since God made a covenant with the prophets, I would not have brought a book and wisdom, and then a messenger came to you confirming what you have, you would believe in him/it and certainly aid him. He said: Have you agreed and made my covenant binding upon you? They said, We agreed. He said, then testify and I will testify with you. (Aal Imran 3:81)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ آَمِنُوا بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَكُمْ

O you who were given the book, believe in what we have revealed, confirming what you have. (Nisa 4:47

) وَمُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَلأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَجِئْتُكُمْ بِآَيَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

These verses all contain the same phrase, “confirming what they/he/you have.” This is even further evidence that the Qur’an confirms the book which the people of the book possessed at the time of the Qur’an was accurate, true and valid.

Confirming the Tawrat that is in my hands, and to permit for you some of what was forbidden to you, and I have brought you a miracle from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. (Aal Imran 3:50)

Here in the Qur’an, Jesus says the same thing, using slightly different words.

وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الإِنْجِيلِ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

So let the people of the Injil judge by what God has revealed in it, and whoever does not judge by what God has revealed are truly sinners. (Al-Maida 5:47)

Here the Qur’an directs the people of the New Testament to judge by what God revealed in it. God wouild not tell the people of the New Testament to judge by a corrupted book.

وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ

And we revealed to you the Book with truth, confirming the Book in his possession and guarding it. (Al-Maida 5:48)

This verse states that the Book (Bible) existed in the days of the Qur’an.

وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ مُصَدِّقُ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلِتُنْذِرَ أُمَّ الْقُرَى وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآَخِرَةِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَهُمْ عَلَى صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

And this is a blessed book we revealed, confirming that which is in his hands. (Al-Anaam 6:92)

كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَى وَلَكِنْ تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

It was not an invented saying, but a confirmation of what is in his hands, an explanation of everything, guidance, and mercy to believing people. (Yusif 12:111)

وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ هُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِعِبَادِهِ لَخَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ

What we revealed to you of the book is truth, confirming what is in his hands. God is aware and all-seeing of his servants. (Al-Fatir 35:31)

قَالُوا يَا قَوْمَنَا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَابًا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُوسَى مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَإِلَى طَرِيقٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

They said: O our people, we have heard a book that was revealed after Moses, confirming that which is in his hands, guiding to the truth and the straight path. (Al-Ahqaf 46:30)

All these verses say that the Bible which Muhammad (ص) had access to in his day was true and confirmed. The Qur’an could not be any clearer. The Qur’an confirms the truth of the Bible that existed at that time.

Since the Bible that existed at the time of the Qur’an was accurate, the Bible we have today is also accurate, because we still have copies of the Bible from that time and before then in museums around the world.

What else does the Qur’an say about these Books?

God has revealed these books

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآَخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

They believe in what we revealed to you and what we revealed before you and they are certain of the hereafter (Al-Baqara 2:4)

Mankind was all one nation, and Allah sent prophets bearing good news and warnings, and he sent the book with them in truth, to judge between men in the matters in which they differ. The only ones who differed about it were those who received it after miracles came to them, acting insolently. Allah guides believers regarding the truth they differ about with his permission. Allah guides those he wills to a straight path. (Al-Baqara 2:213)

قُولُوا آَمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ

Say, we believe in God and what he revealed to us and what he revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them, and we are surrendered to him. (Al-Baqara 2:136)

We revealed the Tawrat and the Injil. (Aal Imran 3:3)

O people of the Book, why do you argue about Abraham, since the Tawrat and Injil were not revealed until after him? (Aal Imran 3:65)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا آَمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآَخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا

O you who believe, believe in God and his messenger and the book he revealed to his messenger, and the book he revealed beforehand, and whoever disbelieves in God and his angels and his books and his messengers and the last day has gone far astray. (Al-Nisa 4:136)

We revealed the Tawrat, in which is guidance and light, by which the prophets judge, those who submitted to the Jews and the clergy and the priests what they had been entrusted with of the Book of Allah. They were witnesses of it. So don’t fear man, but fear me, and don’t sell my verses for a small price. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers. (Al-Maida 5:44)

وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالْأَنْفَ بِالْأَنْفِ وَالْأُذُنَ بِالْأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

And we revealed to them in it, ‘life for life, and eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth…And whoever does not judge by what God has revealed are truly unjust. (Al-Maida 5:45)

So let the people of the Injil judge by what God has revealed in it, and whoever does not judge by what God has revealed are truly sinners. (Al-Maida 5:47)

O people of the Book, you have no foundation unless you uphold the Tawrat and Injil and what was revealed to you by your Lord. (Al-Maida 5:68)

ثُمَّ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ تَمَامًا عَلَى الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ وَتَفْصِيلاً لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ أَنْ تَقُولُوا إِنَّمَا أُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابُ عَلَى طَائِفَتَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا وَإِنْ كُنَّا عَنْ دِرَاسَتِهِمْ لَغَافِلِينَ أَوْ تَقُولُوا لَوْ أَنَّا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْكِتَابُ لَكُنَّا أَهْدَى مِنْهُمْ فَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ كَذَّبَ بِآَيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَصَدَفَ عَنْهَا سَنَجْزِي الَّذِينَ يَصْدِفُونَ عَنْ آَيَاتِنَا سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْدِفُونَ

Then we gave Moses the book, complete for him who does good, an explanation of everything, and guidance and mercy, so that they might believe in a meeting with their Lord. And this is a blessed book which we revealed, so follow it and be godly, so that you may receive mercy. That you say “Truly the book was revealed to two groups before us and we were unaware of studying them,” or say, “If the book had been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they,” and a proof has come to you from your Lord, and guidance and mercy, and who is more unjust than he who denies God’s miracles, and turns from them? We will repay those who turn from our miracles awful torture because of what they turned from. (Al-Anaam 6:154-157)

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

We revealed the Reminder, and we are its protectors. (Al-Hijr 15:9)

Those we sent before you were men we inspired, so ask the people of the reminder if you do not know about the miracles and books. We reveal the reminder to you so you could show people clearly what has been revealed to them, and so that they may consider. (Al-Nahl 16:43-44)

وَلاَ تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ وَقُولُوا آَمَنَّا بِالَّذِي أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَأُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَإِلَهُنَا وَإِلَهُكُمْ وَاحِدٌ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ

Do not argue with the people of the book but [speak] in a fair manner, except with the wicked among them. Say, “We believe in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to you. Our god and your god is one, and we submit to him.” (Al-Ankabut 29:46)

God has given these books

وَإِذْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And we gave Moses the Book and the Criterion, so that you may be guided. (Al-Baqara 2:53)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ بِالرُّسُلِ وَآَتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَى أَنْفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ

We gave Musa the book and made messengers follow him. We brought Isa son of Mariam miracles, and aided him with the Holy Spirit. Whenever a messenger comes to you with a message you do not like, are you proud, calling some of them liars, and murdering some of them? (Al-Baqara 2:87)

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَإِنْ تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا

God owns what is in heaven and earth, and We commanded those who were given the book before you, and you also, to fear God. If you disbelieve, God owns what is in heaven and earth and God is rich and Praised. (Al-Nisa 4:131)

We inspired you just as we inspired Nuh and the prophets after him. We inspired Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub, the tribes, Isa, Ayyub, Yunus, Harun, and Sulayman and we gave David psalms. (Al-Nisa 4:163)

وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آَثَارِهِمْ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَآَتَيْنَاهُ الإِنْجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ وَمُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

We made Isa son of Mariam follow in their footsteps, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, as guidance and an admonition to the godly. (Al-Maida 5:46)

ثُمَّ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ تَمَامًا عَلَى الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ وَتَفْصِيلًا لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Then we gave Moses the book, complete for him who does good, an explanation of everything, and guidance and mercy, so that they might believe in a meeting with their Lord. (Al-Anaam 6:154)

وَالَّذِينَ آَتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ مَنْ يُنْكِرُ بَعْضَهُ قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلَا أُشْرِكَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُو وَإِلَيْهِ مَآَبِ

And those whom we gave the book rejoice at what was revealed to you in it. And some of he factions deny some of it. Say, “I was commanded to serve God and no others. I call to him, and will return to him. (Al-Raad 13:36)

وَآَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَلاَّ تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِي وَكِيلاً

And we gave Moses the book and made it guidance to the people of Israel, not to take any other guardian than me (Al-Isra 17:2)

Your Lord knows everyone in the heavens and the earth. We preferred some prophets above others, and we gave Dawud the Zabur. (Al-Isra 17:55)

قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آَتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا

He said, I serve Allah. He gave me the book and made me a prophet. (Mariam 19:30)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ الْفُرْقَانَ وَضِيَاءً وَذِكْرًا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

We gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion and a light and reminder to the godly. (Al-Anbiya 21:48)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ

And we gave Moses the book so that they would be guided (Al-Muminun 23:49)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا مَعَهُ أَخَاهُ هَارُونَ وَزِيرًا

We gave Moses the book and made his brother Aaron a minister with him. (Al-Furqan 25:35)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَهْلَكْنَا الْقُرُونَ الأُولَى بَصَائِرَ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

We gave Musa the book after we destroyed the first generations as insight to men, guidance, and mercy, so that they may remember. (Al-Qasas 28:43)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ فَلاَ تَكُنْ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِنْ لِقَائِهِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

And we gave Moses the Book, so do not be in doubt of meeting him, and we made it guidance for the people of Israel. (Al-Sajda 32:23)

وَآَتَيْنَاهُمَا الْكِتَابَ الْمُسْتَبِينَ

And we gave Moses the clear Book. (Al-Safat 37:117)

And we made our messengers follow them, and then we made Jesus son of Mary follow, and gave him the Injil (Al-Hadid 57:27)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْهُدَى وَأَوْرَثْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْكِتَابَ هُدًى وَذِكْرَى لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ

We gave Musa guidance and gave the book as an inheritance to the people of Israel, guidance, and a reminder to thinkers. (Al-Mumin or Ghafir 40:53-54)

God has commanded mankind through these books

شَرَعَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلاَ تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يُنِيبُ

He has made your religion what he commanded Noah and what we inspired to you and what we inspired to Abraham and Moses and Jesus, to uphold religion and don’t be divided in it. Those who worship other gods think what you call them to is big Allah chooses for himself those he wills, and guides those who repent to himself. (Al-Shora 42:13)

God Himself has written these books

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ

And we wrote in the Zabur after the Remembrance, ‘My righteous servants will inherit the earth.’ (Al-Anbiya 21:105)

وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالأَنْفَ بِالأَنْفِ وَالأُذُنَ بِالأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

And we wrote to them in it, ‘life for life, and eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth…And whoever does not judge by what God has revealed are truly unjust. (Al-Maida 5:45)

God has inspired people through these books

And we inspired you just as we inspired Noah and the prophets after him and we inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon and we brought David a Zabur. (Al-Nisa 4:163)

وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّينَ أَنْ آَمِنُوا بِي وَبِرَسُولِي قَالُوا آَمَنَّا وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ

And since we inspired the disciples to believe in me and in my messenger, they said we believe. Witness that we surrender. (Al-Maida 5:111)

Those we sent before you were men we inspired, so ask the people of the reminder if you do not know about the miracles and books. We reveal the reminder to you so you could show people clearly what has been revealed to them, and so that they may consider. (Al-Nahl 16:43-44)

Those we sent before you were men to whom we revealed, so ask the people of the Reminder if you don’t know. (Al-Anbiya 21:7)

وَلَقَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

(And you and those before you we inspired, ‘if you are polytheists, your work will fail, and you will be a loser.’ (Al-Zumar 39:65)

كَذَلِكَ يُوحِي إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

Thus he reveals to you and to those before you. God is powerful and wise. (Al-Shora 42:3)

These books have guidance, light, a sermon, a remembrance, and God’s judgment in them

وَإِذْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And we gave Moses the Book and the Criterion, so that you may be guided. (Al-Baqara 2:53)

نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنْجِيلَ مِنْ قَبْلُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَأَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآَيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ

And he revealed the Book to you in truth, confirming what is in his hands and he revealed the Tawrat and the Injil beforehand, guidance to people and he revealed the Criterion. Those who reject the signs of God have a strong punishment and God is Strong and Avenging .)Aal Imran 3:3-4)

وَيُعَلِّمُهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالإِنْجِيلَ

And he will teach him the Book and the Wisdom and the Tawrat and the Injil (Aal Imran 3:48)

And how can they make you their judge, when they have the Tawrat, which contains God’s judgment? (Al-Maida 5:43)

We revealed the Tawrat, in which is guidance and light, by which the prophets judge, those who submitted to the Jews and the clergy and the priests what they had been entrusted with of the Book of Allah. They were witnesses of it. So don’t fear man, but fear me, and don’t sell my verses for a small price. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers. (Al-Maida 5:44)

We made Isa son of Mariam follow in their footsteps, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, as guidance and an admonition to the godly. (Al-Maida 5:46)

أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ آَتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ فَإِنْ يَكْفُرْ بِهَا هَؤُلاءِ فَقَدْ وَكَّلْنَا بِهَا قَوْمًا لَيْسُوا بِهَا بِكَافِرِينَ

Those are they whom we gave the book and the judgment and the prophethood. (Al-Anaam 6:89)

وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ إِذْ قَالُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى بَشَرٍ مِنْ شَيْءٍ قُلْ مَنْ أَنْزَلَ الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ مُوسَى نُورًا وَهُدًى لِلنَّاسِ تَجْعَلُونَهُ قَرَاطِيسَ تُبْدُونَهَا وَتُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا وَعُلِّمْتُمْ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنْتُمْ وَلاَ آَبَاؤُكُمْ قُلِ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِي خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

They did not give Allah the honor he deserves, for they said, “Allah has not revealed anything to men.” Say, “Who revealed the book which Musa brought as light and guidance to men? You make it sheets of paper to show off, and you hide much, and were taught much that neither you nor your fathers knew.” Say, “Allah.” Then let them play in their discussions. (Al-Anaam 6:91)

ثُمَّ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ تَمَامًا عَلَى الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ وَتَفْصِيلاً لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Then we gave Moses the book, complete for him who does good, an explanation of everything, and guidance and mercy, so that they might believe in a meeting with their Lord. (Al-Anaam 6:154)

Those we sent before you were men we inspired, so ask the people of the reminder if you do not know about the miracles and books. We reveal the reminder to you so you could show people clearly what has been revealed to them, and so that they may consider. (Al-Nahl 16:43-44)

أَفَمَنْ كَانَ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَيَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِنْهُ وَمِنْ قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَى إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً أُولَئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الأَحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ فَلَا تَكُ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِنْهُ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ

And before it the book of Moses as a leader and mercy. (Hud 11:17)

And we gave Moses the book and made it guidance to the people of Israel, not to take any other guardian than me (Al-Isra 17:2)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ الْفُرْقَانَ وَضِيَاءً وَذِكْرًا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

We gave Musa and Harun the criterion, shining, and reminder to the godly, (Al-Anbiya 21:48)

We gave Musa the book after we destroyed the first generations as insight to men, guidance, and mercy, so that they may remember. (Al-Qasas 28:43)

And we gave Moses the Book, so do not be in doubt of meeting him, and we made it guidance for the people of Israel. (Al-Sajda 32:23)

وَآَتَيْنَاهُمَا الْكِتَابَ الْمُسْتَبِينَ

And we gave Moses the clear Book. (Al-Safat 37:117)

We gave Musa guidance and gave the book as an inheritance to the people of Israel, guidance, and a reminder to thinkers. (Al-Mumin or Al-Ghafir 40:53-54)

وَمِنْ قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَى إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِسَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِيُنْذِرَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Before it the book of Musa [was] a leader and mercy. This is a confirming book in an Arabic language, to warn the wicked and give good news to those who do good deeds. (Al-Ahqaf 46:12)

They said: O our people, we have heard a book that was revealed after Moses, confirming that which is in his hands, guiding to the truth and the straight path. (Al-Ahqaf 46:30)

These books enlighten man and show them truth

And if they reject you, the messengers who came before you, bringing miracles, books [psalms], and the enlightening book, were also rejected. (Aal Imran 3:184)

They said, “Our people, we have heard a book that was revealed after Musa, confirming what is in his possession, guiding to the truth and the straight path. (Al-Ahqaf 46:30)

If they reject you, those before you rejected. Their messengers brought them miracles, books and the enlightening book. (Al-Fatir 35:25)

Every person must judge according to what is in these books, just as the prophets did, and if he does not, he is an unbelieving, unjust sinner

Mankind was all one nation, and Allah sent prophets bearing good news and warnings, and he sent the book with them in truth, to judge between men in the matters in which they differ. The only ones who differed about it were those who received it after miracles came to them, acting insolently. Allah guides believers regarding the truth they differ about with his permission. Allah guides those he wills to a straight path. (Al-Baqara 2:213)

And how can they make you their judge, when they have the Tawrat, which contains God’s judgment? (Al-Maida 5:43)

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالْأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَكَانُوا عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاءَ فَلَا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآَيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ

We revealed the Tawrat, in which is guidance and light, by which the prophets judge, those who submitted to the Jews and the clergy and the priests what they had been entrusted with of the Book of Allah. They were witnesses of it. So don’t fear man, but fear me, and don’t sell my verses for a small price. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers. (Al-Maida 5:44)

And we revealed to them in it, ‘life for life, and eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth…And whoever does not judge by what God has revealed are truly unjust. (Al-Maida 5:45)

So let the people of the Injil judge by what God has revealed in it, and whoever does not judge by what God has revealed are truly sinners. (Al-Maida 5:47)

فَإِنْ كُنْتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ لَقَدْ جَاءَكَ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

So when you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, ask those who are reading the book that was before you. Truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be a doubter, (Yunis 10:94)

يَا يَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ وَآَتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا

O John, take the book with power and we gave him the judgment as a boy. (Mariam 19:12)

وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ الَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ

And Mary daughter of Imran who protected her vulva, and we breathed into it of our spirit and she believed the words of her Lord and his books and she was obedient. (Al-Tahrim 66:12)

These books are truth from the Lord of all being

كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ فَهَدَى اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Mankind was all one nation, and Allah sent prophets bearing good news and warnings, and he sent the book with them in truth, to judge between men in the matters in which they differ. The only ones who differed about it were those who received it after miracles came to them, acting insolently. Allah guides believers regarding the truth they differ about with his permission. Allah guides those he wills to a straight path. (Al-Baqara 2:213)

So when you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, ask those who are reading the book that was before you. Truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be a doubter (Yunis 10:94)

The Qur’an and God himself preserve these books

And we revealed to you the Book with truth, confirming the Book in your possession and guarding it. (Al-Maida 5:48)

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

We revealed the Reminder, and we are its protectors. (Hijr 15:9)

Believers in God must obey the Old Testament, the New Testament and what was revealed to them by God

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا آَمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآَخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالاً بَعِيدًا

O you who believe, believe in God and his messenger and the book he revealed to his messenger, and the book he revealed beforehand, and whoever disbelieves in God and his angels and his books and his messengers and the last day has gone far astray. (Al-Nisa 4:136)

O people of the Book, you have no foundation unless you uphold the Tawrat and Injil and what was revealed to you by your Lord. (Al-Maida 5:68)

He has made your religion what he commanded Noah and what we inspired to you and what we inspired to Abraham and Moses and Jesus, to uphold religion and don’t be divided in it. Those who worship other gods think what you call them to is big. Allah chooses for himself those he wills, and guides those who repent to himself. (Al-Shora 42:13)

The correct understanding of the Qur’an agrees with the Holy Book (Injil, Tawrat, and Zabur)

So when you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, ask those who are reading the book that was before you. Truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be a doubter, (Yunis 10:94)

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Those we sent before you were men we inspired, so ask the people of the reminder if you do not know about the miracles and books. We reveal the reminder to you so you could show people clearly what has been revealed to them, and so that they may consider. (Al-Nahl 16:43-44)

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Those we sent before you were men to whom we revealed, so ask the people of the reminder if you don’t know. (Al-Anbiya 21:7)

شَرَعَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يُنِيبُ

He has made your religion what he commanded Noah and what we inspired to you and what we inspired to Abraham and Moses and Jesus, to uphold religion and don’t be divided in it. Those who worship other gods think what you call them to is big. Allah chooses for himself those he wills, and guides those who repent to himself. (Al-Shora 42:13)

The content of the Qur’an is in the previous books

وَإِنَّهُ لَفِي زُبُرِ الأَوَّلِينَ

Truly it is in the books (psalms) of the men of old. (Al-Shuara 26:196)

They said, “If only he would give us a sign from his Lord.” Has a miracle of what was in the earliest books not come to them? (Taha 20:133)

مَا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلاَّ مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ وَذُو عِقَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

Everything that is told to you was told to the messengers before you. Your Lord has forgiveness and painful punishment. (Fussilat 41:43)

Mohamed (pboh) and his followers should consult with the people of the Book to complete their knowledge

We revealed the Tawrat, in which is guidance and light, by which the prophets judge, those who submitted to the Jews and the clergy and the priests what they had been entrusted with of the Book of Allah. They were witnesses of it. So don’t fear man, but fear me, and don’t sell my verses for a small price. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers. Al-Maida 5:44)

Those we sent before you were men we inspired, so ask the people of the reminder if you do not know about the miracles and books. We reveal the reminder to you so you could show people clearly what has been revealed to them, and so that they may consider. (Al-Nahl 16:43-44)

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ

Those we sent before you were men to whom we revealed, so ask the people of the reminder if you don’t know. (Al-Anbiya 7)

سَلْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَمْ آَتَيْنَاهُمْ مِنْ آَيَةٍ بَيِّنَةٍ وَمَنْ يُبَدِّلْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

Ask the people of Israel how many miraculous signs we brought them. Allah is severe in punishment to those who exchange Allah’s blessings after receiving them. (Al-Baqara 2:211)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى تِسْعَ آَيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ فَاسْأَلْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذْ جَاءَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي لأَظُنُّكَ يَا مُوسَى مَسْحُورًا

We gave Musa nine miraculous signs, so ask the people of Israel, because he came to them. Pharaoh told him, “I think you are bewitched, Musa.” (Al-Isra 17:101)

So when you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, ask those who are reading the book that was before you. Truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be a doubter. (Yunis 10:94)

The last verse mentioned above is a verse addressed to Mohamed (pboh):

Let us examine this verse carefully and ask, “Why was Muhammad (ص) supposed to ask “those who are reading the Book” when he was “in doubt?” Why? Because “the Book” (the New Testament and Old Testament) is a source of “guidance and light,” as the Qur’an says:

We revealed the Tawrat, in which is guidance and light, by which the prophets judge, those who submitted to the Jews and the clergy and the priests what they had been entrusted with of the Book of Allah. They were witnesses of it. So don’t fear man, but fear me, and don’t sell my verses for a small price. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers. (Al-Maida 5:44).

We made Isa son of Mariam follow in their footsteps, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, as guidance and an admonition to the godly. (Al-Maida 5:46)

We also notice that the Qur’an does not say ‘ask the Christians and Jews’ but “ask those who are reading the Book before you.” The difference between these two is immense. Why was he to ask “those who are reading the Book” and not others? The reason is because not all who call themselves Christians read the Book. And truly we find that the vast majority of Christians are Christians in name only, and do not read the Book.

Why, then, this command to Mohammad (pboh) to ask ْكِتَابَ “those who are reading the Book” for clarification? There are at least two reasons.

First, because “those who are reading the Book” know their Book “in which is guidance and light” and understand it.

Second, because “those who are reading the Book” are honest and do not lie.

So in summary, the Qur’an confirms to us the accuracy of the previous books, and encourages us to use them as a reference.

What about the verses in the Qur’an that talk about corruption?

Let us examine the verses which some people quote to claim that the Bible has been corrupted as well.

Before we begin with a discussion on corruption, we need to define exactly what we are talking about. First of all, there are two different kinds of corruption in Islamic theology. One is corruption of the meaning of the text. Very few people would claim that the meaning of Scripture is never changed or misrepresented by some people. The second kind of corruption is corruption of the actual text of Scriptures.

Let us look at the Qur’an verses that some people use to teach that the Bible has been corrupted, and see what kind of corruption is actually supported by the Qur’an.

Those who allege that the Qur’an teaches the Bible is corrupted twist a few verses to try to make them say what they do not say. There are six such verses that people twist in this way.

وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُونَ أَلْسِنَتَهُمْ بِالْكِتَابِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Among them is a group of those who distort the Book with their tongues, so that you would think that it is from the Book, when it is not from the Book. They say, it is from God, when it is not from God, and they knowingly tell lies about God. (Aal Imran 3:78)

This verse tells us that some people twisted their tongues around the Book, (or said that which is not suitable about it.)
This does not mean that they changed the actual text of the Book, but that they were sly to deceive people by falsely speaking regarding the true contents of the Book.
This was oral twisting (distort… with their tongues, say it is from God… knowingly tell lies about God), or corruption of the meaning.
This does NOT affect the text of the Book itself.

أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلاَمَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Do you hope that they will be true to you when some of them heard the word of God and then knowingly altered it after they understood it? (Al-Baqara 2:75)

What the Jews corrupted in this verse is what they heard and understood and not the Book itself.
They heard the word of God and then knowingly altered what they heard in their speech after they understood it.

مِنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَاسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَاعِنَا لَيًّا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِي الدِّينِ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَاسْمَعْ وَانْظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَكِنْ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً

Some Jews distort the words out of their context and say: We heard and disobeyed; hear without hearing and listen to us. They distort with their tongues and slander religion. If they had said: We heard and obeyed; hear and look at us, it would have been better and more upright for them. God has cursed them for their unbelief, for they only believe a little. (Al-Nisa 4:46)

The Jews in this verse take the words out of their context and say another meaning with their tongues.
Jews distort with their tongues… they slander.

فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِمْ مِيثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ وَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ وَلاَ تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى خَائِنَةٍ مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِنْهُمْ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Because they broke their covenant, we cursed them and hardened their hearts. They twist the words from their context, and have forgotten part of what they were reminded of. You will constantly discover new treacheries from most of them. Pardon them and forgive them, for God loves those who do good. (Al-Maida 5:13)

Here also we see that the kind of corruption which the Jews did was oral corruption of the meaning, and not corrupting the Book itself.
Here God said that the Jews take the words without regard for their context and forget part of what God reminded them of.

يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لاَ يَحْزُنْكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا آَمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِنْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آَخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَاحْذَرُوا وَمَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَنْ تَمْلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

O messenger, don’t be sad about those among the Jews who have said with their mouths, “We have believed,” and who have not believed in their hearts, but hasten to disbelief, listening to a lie, and listening to another people. They have come to you twisting words out of their contexts, saying, “You have been given this, so take it.” You have not been given it, so beware. Whoever Allah wants to tempt, you will not be able to get anything from Allah for him. Those whose hearts Allah does not want to purify will have shame in this world and in the hereafter great torture. (Al-Maida 5:41)

Here also we see that the Jews said something with their mouths, and they listened to lies and then changed the meaning of the Book, by taking it out of its context and changing its meaning.

فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَذَا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً فَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ

Woe to those who write the book with their hands and then say, “This is from Allah,” to sell it for a paltry sum. Woe to them for what they wrote and woe to them for their gain. (Al-Baqara 2:79)

The situation is not clear from this verse.

Some have suggested that the book they wrote was the Talmud, which is a book of teachings about the Tawrat. Saying that this book of teaching was from God when it was actually written by men justly brought this criticism on them.
Others see this verse merely as a criticism of making money by selling God’s Word.
Yet others see this as someone taking a verse out of its context and representing the meaning differently than the verse in context says. This we have dealth with above.

But even if someone wanted to change the words of God, would he be able to?

وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا عَلَى مَا كُذِّبُوا وَأُوذُوا حَتَّى أَتَاهُمْ نَصْرُنَا وَلاَ مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكَ مِنْ نَبَإِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

Messengers before you were rejected, and they were patient with the rejection and were harmed, until our salvation came. There is no altering of God’s words, and news of the messengers has come to you. (Al-Anaam 6:34)

وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًا وَعَدْلاً لاَ مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

And the word of your lord was fulfilled, a just promise. There is no altering his words, and he is all-hearing and all-knowing. (Al-Anaam 6:115)

وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ لاَ مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا

And chant the part of the Book that you were inspired with. There is no altering of his words, and you will not find any refuge besides him. (Al-Kahaf 18:27)

لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَى فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ لاَ تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

They have good news in this world and in the hereafter, and there is no altering the words of God. That is the great victory. (Yunis 10:64)

Summary

The Jews are accused of changing the meaning of words ( (تحريف معنويthat they had heard.
Jews are never accused of changing the actual text of the Scriptures (تحريف لفظي)
Christians are never accused of any kind of corruption of their Scriptures
No one can ever change a single word of God’s Word. This truly is good news in this world and in the hereafter.

Professor Abdullah Said, a Muslim professor at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, has written a very interesting article which discusses the claim of corruption and the problems associated with that. “The Charge of Distortion of Jewish and Christian Scriptures,” The Muslim World, Volume 92, Fall 2002, pages 419-436. Dr. Said basically says that all Muslims believe that the Bible has been corrupted, but that the Qur’an does not support this belief.

One more point needs to be addressed. The Bible and the Qur’an have a different view of revelation of these books.

It is commonly believed by Muslims that the Qur’an was literally dictated by the angel Gabriel to Muhammad, indicated by the use of the Arabic word نزّل nazzala. This is implied by thte following verse:

قُلْ مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Say, “Who is Jibril’s enemy?” He revealed it to your heart by Allah’s permission, confirming what is in his possession, guidance and good news to believers. (Al-Baqara 97)

The same word نَزَّلَ nazzala “revealed” is in the following verse, referring to God revealing the Qur’an.

He revealed the book to you in truth, confirming what is in his possession,and he revealed the Tawrat and the Injil (Aal Imran 3:3)

The second time the English word revealed is used in this verse, it represents a different Arabic word أنزل anzala It is used for the Old Testament and the New Testament, which implies a different kind of inspiration, inspiration of the meaning. So the Qur’an contrasts the means of revelation of the Bible and the Qur’an in this verse.

The Bible expresses that it is inspired in the sense that God spoke by the Holy Spirit through humans, using their words and ways of expression.

καὶ ἔχομεν βεβαιότερον τὸν προφητικὸν λόγον, ᾧ καλῶςποιεῖτε προσέχοντες ὡς λύχνῳ φαίνοντι ἐν αὐχμηρῷ τόπῳ,ἕως οὗ ἡμέρα διαυγάσῃ καὶ φωσφόρος ἀνατείλῃ ἐν ταῖςκαρδίαις ὑμῶν: τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες, ὅτι πᾶσα προφητεία γραφῆς ἰδίαςἐπιλύσεως οὐ γίνεται: οὐ γὰρ θελήματι ἀνθρώπου ἠνέχθη προφητεία ποτέ, ἀλλὰὑπὸ πνεύματος ἁγίου φερόμενοι ἐλάλησαν ἀπὸ θεοῦ ἄνθρωποι.

Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:19 –21)

This idea of men being carried along by the Holy Spirit is very similar to the Qur’anic description of the inspiration of the Bible in the verse above.

Chapter 2 Does the New Testament annul the Old Testament?

Many people have the idea that when a new book comes, it annuls the previous books, because the new book is best. Does this idea come from God’s word, or is this a human idea people have come up with to avoid doing what God says?

First of all, there are about 2800 verses from the Old Testament that are quoted or alluded to in the New Testament as standards or proofs of accuracy, and they are quoted approximately 3880 times. This means there are thousands of affirmations in the New Testament not only of the accuracy but of the authority of the Old Testament.

In addition to all the verses from the New Testament that affirm the Old Testament, we have mentioned in Chapter 1 many verses that talk about this subject. However, let us quote just one verse from each of the Qur’an and the Bible about whether the Injil (New Testament) annuls the Tawrat (Old Testament):

We made Isa son of Mariam follow in their footsteps, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, as guidance and an admonition to the godly. (Al-Maida 5:46)

This verse is quite clear, and shows that the New Testament confirms the validity of the Old Testament, rather than denying it. This is also very clear in the words of the New Testament itself:

Μὴ νοµίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόµον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι. ἀµὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑµῖν, ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ µία κεραία οὐ µὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόµου ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται. ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ µίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν· ὃς δ’ ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος µέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Tawrat or the books of the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the Tawrat until everything takes place. So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

So both the Bible and the Qur’an are clear that the New Testament does not annul or abolish the Old Testament. Chapter 1 has many other verses from the Qur’an that affirm this. For those who would like to see other verses from the New Testament that affirm the Old Testament, they can look up Matthew 22:36-40, Luke 16:17, Acts 7:53, Romans 2:27, 7:12-25, 8:4, 1 Corinthians 14:34, Hebrews 8:10, 1 John 5:3, and Revelation 12:17, 14:12.

Chapter 3 Does the Qur’an annul the Bible?

We have seen in Chapter 1 that the Qur’an confirms the truth, validity, and accuracy of the Bible, and that there is no support for the idea that the Bible has been corrupted. This chapter, however, deals with a slightly different question. Some Muslims believe that the Qur’an annuls the Bible. Do the Qur’an and the Bible support this idea?

The verses in the previous chapter make it very clear that the Old Testament has not been annulled. The New Testament also states clearly that it can not be annulled.

ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ παρελεύσεται, οἱ δὲ λόγοι µου οὐ µὴ παρέλθωσιν

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35)

οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ παρελεύσονται, οἱ δὲ λόγοι µου οὐ µὴ παρελεύσονται.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Mark 13:31)

Μαρτυρῶ ἐγὼ παντὶ τῷ ἀκούοντι τοὺς λόγους τῆς προφητείας τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου· ἐάν τις ἐπιθῇ ἐπ’ αὐτά, ἐπιθήσει ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ὁ θεὸς τὰς πληγὰς τὰς γεγραµµένας ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· 19 καὶ ἐάν τις ἀφέλῃ ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων τοῦ βιβλίου τῆς προφητείας ταύτης, ἀφελεῖ ὁ θεὸς τὸ µέρος αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς καὶ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως τῆς ἁγίας, τῶν γεγραµµένων ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ.

I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

Clearly the Bible says it cannot be annulled. What does the Qur’an say?

Judge by it

يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

So let the people of the Injil judge by what God has revealed in it, and whoever does not judge by what God has revealed are truly sinners. (Al-Maida 5:47)

Here the people of the New Testament are told to judge by the New Testament. If the Qur’an had annulled the Bible, there would be no need for the New Testament, but here, the Qur’an commands those who have the New Testament to judge by it, showing that it has not been annulled.

And how can they make you their judge, when they have the Tawrat, which contains Allah’s judgment? Then they turn away after that! They are not believers. (Al-Maida 5:43)

In this verse, addressed to Muhammad (ص) the validity of the Old Testament as a standard for judgment is contrasted to the judgment that Muhammad (ص) could provide.

Guidance and Light

Let us look at the contents of the Bible, according to the Qur’an. As we saw in Chapter 1,

We revealed the Tawrat, in which is guidance and light. The prophets who submitted, the rabbis, and the priests judge the Jews according to the portion of Allah’s book with which they have been entrusted. They were witnesses of it. So do not fear people, but fear me, and do not sell my verses for a small price. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers. (Al-Maida 5:44)

We made Isa son of Mariam follow in their footsteps, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, as guidance and an admonition to the godly. (Al-Maida 5:46)

The Qur’an here says that both the Tawrat (Old Testament) and Injil (New Testament) have guidance and light in them. This phrase “guidance and light” in the Qur’an is used only of the Bible. So the Qur’an could not mean that it had annulled them, but rather shows that the Bible is the source of guidance and light to those who seek them.

Other characteristics

In addition to what the above verses say about the Bible having guidance and light, the Qur’an says the Bible contains several other things:

Then we gave Moses the book, complete for him who does good, an explanation of everything, and guidance and mercy, so that they might believe in a meeting with their Lord. (Al-Anaam 6:154)

The Bible is confirmed in these verses as complete, an explanation of everything, mercy, and leading to faith. Since it is complete and an explanation of everything, obviously the Qur’an does not annul it.

وَإِذْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

We gave Musa the book and the criterion, so that you may be guided. (Al-Baqara 2:53)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ الْفُرْقَانَ وَضِيَاءً وَذِكْرًا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

We gave Musa and Harun the criterion, shining, and reminder to the godly. (Al-Anbiya 21:48)

وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْهُدَى وَأَوْرَثْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْكِتَابَ هُدًى وَذِكْرَى لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ.

We gave Musa guidance and gave the book as an inheritance to the people of Israel, (53) guidance, and a reminder to thinkers. (Al-Ghafir 40:53-54)

These verses confirm again that the Bible has guidance, and call the Bible the criterion (the standard of distinguishing good and evil), shining, an inheritance, and a reminder. If the Bible is the criterion of good and evil, then the Qur’an does not annul it.

We gave Musa the book after we destroyed the first generations as insight to men, guidance, and mercy, so that they may remember. (Al-Qasas 28:43)

We made Isa son of Mariam follow in their footsteps, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, as guidance and an admonition to the godly. (Al-Maida 5:46)

These verses again confirm the Bible as guidance, light, and mercy, and calls it insight and an admonition (or sermon), and the means of their remembering. Since the Qur’an so highly exalts the Bible that it calls it the means of their remembering and the source of insight, it certainly does not annul it.

Mankind was all one nation, and Allah sent prophets bearing good news and warnings, and he sent the book with them in truth, to judge between men in the matters in which they differ. The only ones who differed about it were those who received it after miracles came to them, acting insolently. Allah guides believers regarding the truth they differ about with his permission. Allah guides those he wills to a straight path. (Al-Baqara 2:213)

And how can they make you their judge, when they have the Tawrat, which contains Allah’s judgment? Then they turn away after that! They are not believers. (Al-Maida 5:43)

So let the people of the Injil judge by what Allah has revealed in it. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are unbelievers. (Al-Maida 5:47)

These verses show that the Bible is true and is the standard of judgment. Since it is the standard of judgment, clearly the Qur’an does not annul it.

وَآَتَيْنَاهُمَا الْكِتَابَ الْمُسْتَبِينَ

We gave them the clear book. (Al-Safat 37:117)

And if they reject you, the messengers who came before you, bringing miracles, books, and the enlightening book, were also rejected. (Aal Imran 3:184)

If they reject you, those before you rejected. Their messengers brought them miracles, books and the enlightening book (Al-Fatir 35:25)

These last three verses call the Bible the clear book and the enlightening book. Everyone needs enlightenment, so the Qur’an thus does not annul it.

All these verses together are very powerful evidence that the Qur’an does not annul the Bible

Mention / Remember what it says

Another indication that the Qur’an does not annul the Bible are the verses in which the Qur’an instructs people to remember (or mention) what the Bible says. If the Qur’an had annulled the Bible, there would be no need of this. Here are some of the verses that the Qur’an uses to instruct Muhammad (ص) to remember (literally mention) what the book says. The Qur’an does not give the stories referenced below in full, so Muhammad was told to tell people to remember the original stories that the Bible relates.

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ مَرْيَمَ إِذِ انْتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًا شَرْقِيًّا

Remember Mariam in the book, when she withdrew from her family to an Eastern place. (Mariam 19:15)

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَبِيًّا

Remember Ibrahim in the book. He was a righteous prophet. (Mariam 19:41)

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ مُوسَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ مُخْلَصًا وَكَانَ رَسُولاً نَبِيًّا

Remember Musa in the book. He was a sincere messenger and prophet. (Mariam 19::51)

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولاً نَبِيًّا

Remember Ismail in the book. He kept his promise and was a messenger and prophet. (Mariam 19:54)

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِدْرِيسَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَبِيًّا

Remember Idris (Enoch) in the book. He was a righteous prophet (Mariam 19:56)

So the Qur’an makes reference to Bible characters and stories that are not mentioned in the Qur’an. It obviously considers the Bible indispensable.

وَاسْأَلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رُسُلِنَا أَجَعَلْنَا مِنْ دُونِ الرَّحْمَنِ آَلِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ

Ask the messengers we sent before you, “Did we set up other gods to be worshiped besides the most gracious?” (Al-Zukhruf 43:45)

The only way to ask a messenger who was sent beforehand is to read his book, since he himself is dead. This is another strong contradiction to the idea that the Qur’an had annulled the Bible.

In fact, these verses show that the Qur’an was never intended as a stand-alone book. This is another piece of evidence that the Qur’an has not annulled it.

Abrogation

Another evidence that the Bible has not been annulled is how the Qur’an uses the word abrogation (or annulment). The word is used only once in the Qur’an in reference to verses, and it is universally understood to refer the Qur’an, not the Bible.

مَا نَنْسَخْ مِنْ آَيَةٍ أَوْ نُنْسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

We will replace a verse that we abrogate or cause to be forgotten with another one like it or better. Do not you know that Allah can do anything? (Al-Baqara 2:106)

Since the Qur’an uses the word abrogation or annulment about itself, but never about the Bible, this is yet more evidence that the Bible has not been annulled.

Confirmation

In contrast, here are the verses that the Qur’an uses to describe the Bible. The Qur’an never says the Bible has been annulled, but on the contrary, that it is confirmed.

وَآَمِنُوا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَكُمْ وَلاَ تَكُونُوا أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍ بِهِ وَلاَ تَشْتَرُوا بِآَيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً وَإِيَّايَ فَاتَّقُونِ

And believe in what I revealed, confirming what is with you. (Al-Baqara 2:41)

This verse also affirms that the people of the Book possessed the Book in those days, and that it was accurate, true, and valid.

وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ كِتَابٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَهُمْ

And when a book comes to them from God confirming what they have. (Al-Baqara 2:89)

(And when a messenger comes to them from God confirming what they have, a group of those who were given the book rejected the Book of God behind their backs as if they did not know. (Al-Baqara 2:101)

We revealed to you the book with truth, confirming what he has, and he revealed the Tawrat and the Injil. (Aal Imran 3:3)

Confirming the Tawrat that is in my hands, and to permit for you some of what was forbidden to you, and I have brought you a miracle from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. (Aal Imran 3:50)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ آَمِنُوا بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَكُمْ

O you who were given the book, believe in what we have revealed, confirming what you have. (Nisa 4:47)

We made Isa son of Mariam follow in their footsteps, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, as guidance and an admonition to the godly. (Al-Maida 5:46)

And we revealed to you the Book with truth, confirming the Book in his possession and guarding it. (Al-Maida 5:48)

And this is a blessed book we revealed, confirming that which is in his hands. (Al-Anaam 6:92)

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَى وَلَكِنْ تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

It was not an invented saying, but a confirmation of what is in his hands. (Yusif 12:111)

What we revealed to you of the book is truth, confirming what is in his hands.God is aware and all-seeing of his servants. (Al-Fatir 35:31)

They said: O our people, we have heard a book that was revealed after Moses, confirming that which is in his hands, guiding to the truth and the straight path. (Al-Ahqaf 46:30)

وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ

When Isa son of Mariam said: “People of Israel, I am Allah’s messenger to you, confirming that of the Tawrat which is in my possession, and giving good news of a messenger coming after me, whose name is most highly praised.” When he came to them with the miracles, they said, “This is clear magic.” (Al-Saff 61:6)

The Qur’an could not be any clearer. The Bible is confirmed, not annulled.

This is why the Qur’an says:

O you who believe, believe in God and his messenger and the book he revealed to his messenger, and the book he revealed beforehand, and whoever disbelieves in God and his angels and his books and his messengers and the last day has gone far astray. (Al-Nisa 4:136)

آَمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آَمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِير

The messenger believes in what was revealed to him by his Lord, and so do the believers; they all believe in Allah and his angels and his books and his messengers. We do not distinguish between any of his messengers. They said, “We have heard and obeyed. Our Lord, [we seek] your forgiveness. You are [our] destiny. (Al-Baqara 2:285)

فَلِذَلِكَ فَادْعُ وَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ وَقُلْ آَمَنْتُ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَأُمِرْتُ لأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ لاَ حُجَّةَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ اللَّهُ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ

So pray and be upright, just as you were commanded. Do not follow their desires, but say, “I believe in every book Allah revealed, and I was commanded to be just among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. We have our works and you have your works. There is no argument between us and you. Allah gathers us together, and he is our destiny.” (Al-Shawra 42:15)

So in conclusion, the Qur’an does not annul the Bible.