Monday, 31 October 2022

More on the Islamic Witness to the Incorruptibility of the Holy Bible

 The Quran is emphatically clear that there isn’t anyone or anything that can change the words of Allah:

[Say (O Muhammad)] “Shall I seek a judge other than Allah while it is He Who has sent down unto you the Book (The Qur’an), explained in detail.” Those unto whom We gave the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] know that it is revealed from your Lord in truth. So be not you of those who doubt. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. S. 6:114-115 Hilali-Khan

And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him. S. 18:27 Yusuf Ali

Both the Quran and Islamic tradition classify all of the previous Scriptures, such as the Book of Moses or the Torah and the Gospel given to Jesus, as the Word of Allah:

ALLAH said, `O Moses, I have chosen thee above the people of thy time by MY Messages and by MY Word. So take firm hold of that which I have given thee and be of the grateful.’ S. 7:144 Sher Ali

And:

42 Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)

(1698) Chapter: The Qur’an, The Word Of Allah

‘Amir b. Shahr said:

I was with the Negus when his son recited a verse of the Gospel. So I laughed. Thereupon he said: Do you laugh at THE WORD OF ALLAH, the Exalted?

Grade: SAHIH (Al-Albani)

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4736

In-book reference: Book 42, Hadith 141

English translation: Book 41, Hadith 4718 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/abudawud/42/141; capital, italic and underline emphasis ours)

The following reply is taken from an online Salafi website, which seeks to provide scholarly answers to questions sent in by both Muslims and non-Muslims:

Secondly:

Nothing of the words of Allah is created. He, may He be glorified, spoke the Torah, the Gospel, the Qur’an and the Zaboor in a real sense. Similarly, not a single letter of the Qur’an is created. It is all the words of Allah in a real sense. The same is also true of the Torah, the Gospel and the Zaboor. We do not differentiate between the Messengers of Allah, and we do not differentiate between the revealed Books; all of them are the words of Allah.

Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Do you (faithful believers) covet that they will believe in your religion in spite of the fact that a party of them (Jewish rabbis) used to hear the Word of Allah (the Tawraat (Torah)), then they used to change it knowingly after they understood it?”

[al-Baqarah 2:75].

What they used to distort is the Torah, but here Allah, may He be exalted, calls it the “Word of Allah”.

Muslim (2652) narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah said: “Adam and Moosa debated. Moosa said: O Adam, you are our father but you caused our doom and caused us to be expelled from Paradise. Adam said to him: You are Moosa, Allah chose you to speak to and wrote (the Torah) for you with His own hand. Are you blaming me for something that Allah decreed for me forty years before He created me?” The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Adam got the better of Moosa, Adam got the better of Moosa.”

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: The view of the early generations and leading scholars of the ummah, the Sahaabah and those who followed them in truth, and all the leading scholars of the Muslims, such as the four imams and others, is that which is indicated by the Qur’an and Sunnah, which is what is in accordance with the clear rational evidence: that the Qur’an is the word of Allah that was revealed and not created; it comes from Him and will return to Him. He is the One Who spoke the Qur’an, the Torah and the Gospel, and other words; they are not created and separate from Him. He, may He be glorified, speaks by His will and power, and His word is within His Essence, and is not a creation separate from Him… The words of Allah have no end, as Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “Say (O Muhammad): ‘If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely, the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished, even if we brought (another sea) like it for its aid’” [al-Kahf 18:109]. Allah, may He be glorified, spoke the Qur’an in Arabic and the Torah in Hebrew.…

Whoever regards His words as created must say: Is that which is created the One Who spoke to Moosa: “Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) for My Remembrance” [Ta-Ha 20:14]. This is impossible; these cannot be anything other than the words of the Lord of the Worlds. As Allah spoke the Qur’an, the Torah, and other Scriptures, with their meanings and words which consist of letters, none of that is created; rather that is the words of the Lord of the Worlds. End quote.

Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (12/37-41). See also: Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (12/355-356) (Islamqa.com, 197537: The Torah, Gospel and Zaboor are truly the words of Allah https://islamqa.info/en/197537; bold and underline ours)

Thus, Islam teaches that the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel are the very uncreated Word of Allah! As such, these Scriptures are incorruptible and therefore must still be in the possession of the Jews and Christians which received them. Note how this logically works out:

1.       None can change any of the words of Allah.

2.       The Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel are the eternal Word of Allah.

3.       Therefore, no one has the power to change these Scriptures.

4.       This means that these Scriptures must still be in existence till this very day.

This explains why we find passages in the Quran which speak of the Jews and Christians possessing the Torah, the Gospel and all the other revelations that Allah sent down to them at the time of Muhammad, and why it commands them to live in accord with the teachings of these inspired Scriptures:

“those who follow the Messenger, ‘the Prophet of the common folk, whom they find written down WITH THEM in the Torah and the Gospel…” S. 7:157 Arberry

But how would they avail decisions from you, while WITH THEM (is available) the Taurat (Torah); in it (is written) the ordainment (verdict) of Allah, yet they will turn away after that. And they are not on the side of the Believers. Verily, We! We sent down the TauratIn it (is) guidance and light. The Prophets who submitted to Islam, pronounce judgement based on this (Taurat) for those who Haadoo (became Jews). And likewise do those who are attached to the Nourisher-Sustainer; and (also) those who are scholars — because they have been entrusted the protection of Kitab-ullahe (Allah’s Book), and they are, thereto (as) witnesses. So fear not mankind, but fear Me. And do not purchase with My Verses a meagre sum. And whoever did not pronounce judgement in accordance with what Allah has sent down, then those people: they (are the ones who are) Al-kafirun. And We have written for them in this (‘Taurat’): verily, nafs (life) for nafs (life), and an eye for an eye, and a nose for a nose, and an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth, and for (all) the wounds (is) qisas (equal retaliation). And whoso waives the right thereto, it shall be an expiation (of sins) for him. And whoever did not pronounce judgement in accordance with what Allah has sent down, then those people: they (are the ones who are) Az-Zalimun. S. 5:43-45 Dr. Kamal Omar https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/5/st48.htm

And We sent as a follow-up, on their tracks, Iesa, son of Maryam, as one who confirms and verifies for what is in his two hands as At-Taurat, and We gave him Al-Injeelin it (is) guidance and light and (it is the) one which confirms and verifies for what is in his two hands as At-Taurat, and a guidance and an admonition for Al-MuttaqunAnd Ahl-ul-Injeel must base judgement in accordance with what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever did not pronounce judgement in accordance with what Allah has sent down, then those people: they (are the ones who are) Al-Fasiqun. S. 5:46-47 Omar

Here is another version of the above citation:

And We sent, following in their footsteps (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which was before him in the Torah, and gave him the Gospel, in which there is guidance and light, confirming that which was before him in the Torah, a guide and an admonition to the cautious. Therefore, let the people of Gospel judge in accordance with that which Allah has sent in it. Those who do not judge according to that which Allah has sent down are the evildoers. Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/5/st16.htm

And:

If they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto them from their Lord, they would surely have been nourished from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them there are people who are moderate, but many of them are of evil conduct… Say O People of the Scripture! Ye have naught (of guidance) till ye observe the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto you from your Lord. That which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) from thy Lord is certain to increase the contumacy and disbelief of many of them. But grieve not for the disbelieving folk. S. 5:66, 68 Pickthall

The ahadith concur in that they testify that the Jews and Christians still possessed the genuine, uncorrupt Scriptures from their Lord:

41 Chapters on Knowledge

(5) Chapter: What Has Been Related About Knowledge Leaving

Narrated Jubair bin Nufair:

from Abu Ad-Darda who said: “We were with the Prophet when he raised his sight to the sky, then he said: ‘This is the time when knowledge is to be taken from the people, until what remains of it shall not amount to anything.” So Ziyad bin Labid Al-Ansari said: ‘How will it be taken from us while we recite the Qur’an. By Allah we recite it, and our women and children recite it?’ He said: ‘May you be bereaved of your mother O Ziyad! I used to consider you among the Fuqaha of the people of Al-Madinah. The Tawrah and Injil ARE WITH THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS, but what do they avail of them?‘” Jubair said: “So I met ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit and said to him: ‘Have you not heard what your brother Abu Ad-Darda said?’ Then I informed him of what Abu Ad-Darda said. He said: ‘Abu Ad-Darda spoke the truth. If you wish, we shall narrated to you about the first knowledge to be removed from the people: It is Khushu’, soon you will enter the congregational Masjid, but not see any man in it with Khushu’.'”

Grade: SAHIH (Darussalam)

Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2653

In-book reference: Book 41, Hadith 9

English translation: Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 2653 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/41/9; capital, italic and underline emphasis ours)

Other narrations even speak of a Christian relative of Khadijah, Muhammad’s first wife, reading and rendering the Gospel in Hebrew and Arabic respectively:

Narrated ‘Aisha… Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin ‘Abdul ‘Uzza, who, during the Pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write… (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=1&translator=1&start=0&number=3)

And:

Narrated ‘Aisha: The Prophet returned to Khadija while his heart was beating rapidly. She took him to Waraqa bin Naufal who was a Christian convert and used to read the Gospels in Arabic. Waraqa asked (the Prophet), “What do you see?” When he told him, Waraqa said, “That is the same angel whom Allah sent to the Prophet) Moses. Should I live till you receive the Divine Message, I will support you strongly.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 605 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=55&translator=1&start=0&number=605)

Finally:

Narrated Aisha… Khadija then took him to Waraqa b. Naufal b. Asad b. ‘Abd al-‘Uzza, and he was the son of Khadija’s uncle, i. e., the brother of her father. And he was the man who had embraced Christianity in the Days of Ignorance (i.e. before Islam) and he used to write books in Arabic and, therefore, wrote Injil in Arabic as God willed that he should write… (Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0301 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=001&translator=2&start=0&number=0301)

Waraqa wasn’t the only one said to have access to the previous revelations such as the Gospel:

39 Battles (Kitab Al-Malahim)

(1598) Chapter: Signs of the hour

Abu zur’ah said:

A group of people came to Marwan in Medina, and they heard him say that the first of the signs to appear would be the coming forth of the Dajjal (Antichirst). He said: I then went to Abd Allah b. ‘Amr and mentioned it to him. He did not say anything (reliable). I heard the Messenger of Allah say: The first of the signs to appear will be the rising of the sun in its place of setting and the coming forth of the beast against mankind in the forenoon. Whichever of them comes first will soon be followed by the other. ’Abd Allah who used to read the scriptures (Torah, GOSPEL) said: I think the first of them will be the rising of the sun in its place of setting.

Grade: SAHIH (Al-Albani)

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4310

In-book reference: Book 39, Hadith 20

English translation: Book 38, Hadith 4296 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/abudawud/39/20; capital, italic and underline emphasis ours)

And:

(And We know well that they say: Only a man teacheth him. The speech of him at whom they falsely hint is outlandish…) [16:103]. Abu Nasr Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Muzakki> Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Hamdan al-Zahid> ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz> Abu Hisham al-Rifa‘i> Ibn Fudayl> Husayn> ‘Abd Allah ibn Muslim who said: “We owned two Christian youths from the people of ‘Ayn Tamr, one called Yasar and the other Jabr. Their trade was making swords but they also could read the Scriptures in their own tongue. The Messenger of Allah used to pass by them and listen to their reading. As a result, the idolaters used to say: ‘He is being taught by them!’ To give them the lie, Allah, exalted is He, revealed (The speech of him at whom they falsely hint is outlandish, and this is clear Arabic speech)”. (Alī ibn Ahmad al-Wahidi, Asbabal-Nuzul http://www.altafsir.com:80/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=86&tSoraNo=16&tAyahNo=103&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; bold, italic and underline emphasis ours)

The foregoing obviously leaves Muslims in a dilemma since the only Torah, Psalms and Gospel which the Jews and Christians have always possessed, especially at the time of Muhammad, are the inspired writings contained within the Holy Bible. Therefore, if the Quran is correct than these must be the very sacred books which Allah revealed or sent down.

This explains why the oldest extant biography on Muhammad’s life identifies John’s Gospel as the written record of the Gospel which Jesus received from God,

“Among the things which have reached me about what Jesus the Son of Mary stated in the Gospel which he received from God for the followers of the Gospel, in applying a term to describe the apostle of God, is the following. It is extracted FROM WHAT JOHN THE APOSTLE SET DOWN FOR THEM WHEN HE WROTE THE GOSPEL FOR THEM FROM THE TESTAMENT OF JESUS SON OF MARY: ‘He that hateth me hateth the Lord. And if I had not done in their presence works which none other before me did, they had not sin: but from now they are puffed up with pride and think that they will overcome me and also the Lord. But the word that is in the law must be fulfilled, “They hated me without a cause” (i.e. without reason). But when the Comforter has come whom God will send to you from the Lord’s presence, and the spirit of truth which will have gone forth from the Lord’s presence he (shall bear) witness of me and ye also, because ye have been with me from the beginning. I have spoken unto you about this that ye should not be in doubt.’

“The Munahhemana (God bless and preserve him!) in Syriac is Muhammad; in Greek he is the paraclete. (The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah, with introduction and notes by Alfred Guillaume [Oxford University Press, Karachi, Tenth impression 1995], pp. 103-104; bold and capital emphasis ours)

And why Muhammad honored and testified to the authority and inspiration of the copy of the Torah which the Jews of his day handed to him:

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar:

A group of Jews came and invited the Messenger of Allah to Quff. So he visited them in their school.

They said: AbulQasim, one of our men has committed fornication with a woman; so pronounce judgment upon them. They placed a cushion for the Messenger of Allah who sat on it and said: Bring the Torah. It was then brought. He then withdrew the cushion from beneath him and placed the Torah on it saying: I believed in thee and in Him Who revealed thee.

He then said: Bring me one who is learned among you. Then a young man was brought. The transmitter then mentioned the rest of the tradition of stoning similar to the one transmitted by Malik from Nafi'(No. 4431).

Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani)

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4449

In-book reference: Book 40, Hadith 99

English translation: Book 39, Hadith 4434 (sunnah.com http://sunnah.com:80/abudawud/40/99; italic and underline emphasis ours)

Yet these are the same Scriptures which proclaim that Jesus Christ is the unique, divine Son of God, as well as the Creator and Sustainer of all things that became flesh for the purpose of dying on the cross as a vicarious sacrifice for the sins of the world, who then rose from the dead and ascended physically, bodily into heaven to sit enthroned alongside the Father as the sovereign Lord of all creation (cf. Luke 24:36-47; John 1:1-5, 9-18; 20:24-31; Acts 2:29-36; 3:12-26; Colossians 1:13-20; 2:2-3, 9-10; Hebrews 1:1-3, 6, 8-13).

Therefore, since the Islamic sources confirm the incorruptibility and textual reliability of the Holy Bible, Muslims have no choice but to reject Muhammad and abandon Islam altogether. This is because Muhammad stands condemned as a false prophet and antichrist by the very inspired writings he praised and bore witness to, since he denied the biblical revelation of who Christ is and what he came to accomplish:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned. But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God… He who believes in the Son has eternal life. He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:16-18, 36

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel, which is not a gospel. But there are some who trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Although if we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than the one we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so I say now again: If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than the one you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9 Modern English Version (MEV)

“Little children, it is the last hour. As you have heard that the antichrist will come, even now there are many antichrists. By this we know that it is the last hour… Who is a liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? Whoever denies the Father and the Son is the antichrist. No one who denies the Son has the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father.” 1 John 2:18, 22-23 MEV

Related Articles

What the Quran Says About the Bible https://www.answeringislam.net/Quran/Bible/index.html

The Quran’s Confirmation of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures https://badmanna.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/the-qurans-confirmation-of-the-judeo-christian-scriptures-a-post-by-sam-shamoun/

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/more-on-the-islamic-witness-to-the-incorruptibility-of-the-holy-bible/

IHS

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