The Quranic Affirmation of the Holy Bible Revisited Pt. 1

Addressing the objections of a Muslim greenhorn

I am going to be responding to some of the objections that a particular Muhammadan polemicist raised in the following “rebuttal”: https://mustafasahin33.wordpress.com/2016/08/26/does-the-quran-approve-the-bible-vs-does-christians-approve-the-bible/

The neophyte writes:

Point 2:

If Christians want to assert that the Quran does not assert the Bible is Contaminated with false information. Then why do Christian Apologist and Scholars them selves attest that there are ” Un-Authentic Narrations attached to todays New Testament? So it is clear that Christians are not even consistent with there own argument’s. Why then do Christians not accept everything as Canonical inspired and Authentic?

For instance have a look at this:

Christian Apologist “David Wood” says; Every Scholar in the World agree the last part of Marks Gospel ” Un -Authentic” Proof: Forward to 3 Minute 42 seconds.

In this Video Debate with Ali Ataie admits that the last part of Marks Gospel is Un-Authentic.
Watch: https://youtu.be/Uko0Saf-orQgg

It is now evidently clear that Both Muslims and Christians agree ” Not Everything in the Bible is Authentically Realiable [sic]. So if Christians want to accuse Muslims for misinterpreting the Quran for speaking corruption on the Bible, why then do Modern Day Christian Scholars attest to Fabrications and Alterations in the Bible?

RESPONSE

The foregoing is brimming with so many logical fallacies that it almost makes me feel sorry for this greenhorn… almost!

Some of the fallacies committed by this Muhammadan include strawman, red herrings, non-sequitur, fallacy of distraction, fallacy of false effect, smoke and mirrors etc.

We are now going to help the greenhorn see how he committed these fallacies in order to prevent him from writing any more rebuttals that are so bad that they even make the Quran look coherent and logical by comparison.

In the first place, bringing up the issue of textual corruptions or variant readings of the Holy Bible does absolutely nothing to refute the fact that Muhammad confirmed the Scriptures in the possession of the Jews and Christians as the uncorrupt, preserved words of God. The only thing that the neophyte’s argument proves (if correct) is that Muhammad was a false prophet who didn’t know what he was talking about, since he mistakenly thought that the Holy Bible had been perfectly preserved, when in fact it had been corrupted beyond restoration.

I will simplify this even further so that the neophyte can see his blunder.

The Bible can be an unreliable source even though Muhammad believed it to be the perfectly preserved Word of God. As such, there is no correlation between the Bible being changed and Muhammad’s belief that the biblical Books in the possession of the Jews and Christians were the uncorrupt, preserved words of God.

The greenhorn is, therefore, operating under the false assumption that if he can show that the Bible has been changed then this somehow proves that Muhammad and his Quran do not bear witness to the textual reliability and authority of the Holy Bible. Yet, as we stated, all this proves is that Muhammad was a false prophet (and he was but for other reasons) for erroneously thinking that the Holy Bible is the perfectly preserved revelation that God had given to the Jews and Christians.

I will put this in the form of a syllogism in order to further assist the greenhorn in comprehending this argument:

1.       Muhammad thought that the biblical Books which the Jews and Christians possessed at his time were the uncorrupt revelations that God had originally sent down through the prophets and messengers.

2.       The manuscript tradition of the Holy Bible shows that the Books of Holy Scripture have been changed and tampered with, so that God’s original revelations have not been perfectly preserved.

3.       Muhammad was, therefore, mistaken for thinking otherwise, which in turn proves he was a false prophet since he obviously didn’t know what he was talking about.

This leads us to our second point. The neophyte’s objection fails to tell us what are the Torah and Gospel, which the Quran and ahadith testify were in existence at Muhammad’s time?

Note, for instance, what the proceeding verses say:

“… A promise binding upon Him in truth; It IS IN the Torah [of Musa (Moses)], THE GOSPEL [of Isa (Jesus)], and the Quran (revealed to the Prophet Muhammad)…” S. 9:111 Syed Vickar Ahamed https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/9/st28.htm

“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

Here is another rendering:

“Those who follow the Rasul, the Ummi (unlettered) Nabi (whose natural disposition has not been corrupted and original purity is preserved) who has been stated in the Torah and the Gospel IN THEIR HANDS…” Ahmed Hulusi https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/7/st63.htm

Finally:

Yet how will they make thee their judge seeing THEY HAVE THE TORAH, wherein IS God’s judgment, then thereafter turn their backs? They are not believers. Surely We sent down the Torah, wherein IS guidance and light; thereby the Prophets who had surrendered themselves gave judgment for those of Jewry, as did the masters and the rabbis, following such portion of God’s Book as they were given to keep and were witnesses to. So fear not men, but fear you Me; and sell not My signs for a little price. Whoso judges not according to what God has sent down — they are the unbelievers. And therein We prescribed for them: ‘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 for wounds retaliation’; but whosoever forgoes it as a freewill offering, that shall be for him an expiation. Whoso judges not according to what God has sent down — they are the evildoers. And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus son of Mary, confirming the Torah before him (Ar. musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi minal-tawrati–confirming that which is between his hands of the Torah) and We gave to him the Gospel, wherein IS guidance and light, and confirming the Torah before it (Ar. wa’musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi minal-tawrati), as a guidance and an admonition unto the godfearing. So let the People of the Gospel judge according to what God has sent down THEREIN. Whosoever judges not according to what God has sent down — they are the ungodly. S. 5:43-47

And now pay close attention to the following narrations:

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar:A group of Jews came and invited the Apostle 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 Apostle 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) (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 38. Kitab al Hudud (“The Book of Prescribed Punishments”), Number 4434 https://sunnah.com/abudawud/40/99; capital and underline emphasis ours)

36 Tribulations

(26) Chapter: The disappearance of the Quran and Knowledge

It was narrated that Ziyad bin Labid said:

“The Prophet mentioned something and said: ‘That will be at the time when knowledge (of Qur’an) disappears.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how will knowledge disappear when we read the Qur’an and teach it to our children, until the Day of Resurrection?’ He said: ‘May your mother be bereft of you, Ziyad! I thought that you were the wisest man in Al- Madinah. Is it not the case that these Jews and Christians READ THE TAWRAH AND THE INJIL, but they do not act upon anything of what is in them?’”

Grade: Da’if (Darussalam) 

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 4048

In-book reference: Book 36, Hadith 123

English translation: Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4048 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah/36/123; capital and underline emphasis ours)

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 and underline emphasis ours)

With the foregoing in view, here are some questions that this neophyte needs to answer, which he has thus far failed to address.

What Torah and Gospel did the Jews and Christians have and read from in Muhammad’s day?

What Torah and Gospel were the Jews and Christians to judge by, and what Torah did Muhammad hold, praise and employ to judge the Jews of his day?

And how could the Quran speak of what the Torah and Gospel contained if these Books did not exist at Muhammad’s time?

Now the only answer to these questions is that the Torah and Gospel that existed during Muhammad’s life are the very Books which Jews and Christians read till this very day, since these are the only Scriptures that these respective communities would have possessed at that time.

Therefore, it is now up to the greenhorn to show us whether the copies of Mark’s Gospel at the time of his false prophet contained the longer ending, since there is no doubt on textual, historical grounds, that Mark is part of the very Gospel that the Christians of that time would have been reading, a fact that is confirmed by the following Quranic verse:

“… and their likeness IN the Gospel: as a seed that puts forth its shoot, and strengthens it, and it grows stout and rises straight upon its stalk, pleasing the sowers, that through them He may enrage the unbelievers. God has promised those of them who believe and do deeds of righteousness forgiveness and a mighty wage.” S. 48:29 Arberry

Compare this with what Mark wrote:

“He said, ‘The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he does not know how. For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the head, then the full seed in the head. But when the grain is ripe, immediately he applies the sickle because the harvest has come.’” Mark 4:26-29

The following Muslim translators had no problem acknowledging that Q. 48:29 is actually referring to the foregoing Markan passage:

The similitude in the Gospel is about how the good seed is sown and grown gradually, even beyond the expectation of the sower: “the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how; for the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the earth”; MARK, iv 27-28 … (Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’an – Meaning and Translation, p. 1400, n. 4917; bold and capital emphasis mine)

This parable is found in a sermon of the Prophet Jesus that has been reported in the New Testament, thus:

“And he said, So is the kingdom of God as if a man should east [sic] seed into the ground: And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come [This is taken from Mark 4:26-29]. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it [This comes from Mark 4:30-32].”

The last portion of this sermon is also found in Matthew, 13:31-32. (S. Abul A’la Maududi, Meaning of the Qur’an, Volume V, English rendering by A.A. Kamal, M.A. [Islamic Publications (Pvt.) Limited, 13-E, Shahalam Market, Lahore-8 Pakistan], p. 67, fn. 56; underlined emphasis and comments within brackets ours)

We, thus, have Muslims recognizing that the Quran refers to a parable found only in Mark, which the Islamic scripture calls the Gospel!

That’s not all. One of the earliest sources on the life of Muhammad goes so far as to identify John’s Gospel as the written record of the very Gospel which God gave Jesus to pass on to his followers!

“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)

Ibn Ishaq cites John 15:23-16:1 and claims that it is taken from the Gospel of Christ which John wrote down for Jesus’ followers!

Notice that Ibn Ishaq never once says that this particular Gospel is corrupt or unreliable, which is rather ironic since this is the very Gospel that Muslim polemicists are constantly attacking, even going as far as to cite liberal critics to cast doubt on this Gospel’s historical reliability!

All of this now places the neophyte in a major dilemma. The data we have thus far presented from the greenhorn’s most authoritative Islamic sources prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the Gospel, which the Quran confirms, can only be the fourfold Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, since these are the writings that the Christians of Muhammad’s day read and classified as the Gospel. As such, it is now the responsibility of the neophyte to tell us whether the variant readings such as Mark’s longer ending are genuine by examining the manuscript tradition to see if such readings were part of the Gospels that the Christians were reading at Muhammad’s time.

After all, since Muhammad claimed that the Gospels that the Christians of his day possessed are the uncorrupt revelations of God, he basically confirmed whatever those copies of the Gospels contained. And if those copies included readings such as Mark’s longer ending, or John’s pericope of the woman caught in adultery (cf. John 7:53-8:11), then the greenhorn must accept these readings as genuine revelations that God inspired, since his prophet confirmed them as such!

With that said, it is time now to turn the tables on this Muhammadan in order to show him what happens to his own religious (satanic) beliefs if and when he applies his own objections consistently. Please proceed to the second part of our rebuttal https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/01/the-quranic-affirmation-of-the-holy-bible-revisited-pt-2/.

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/01/the-quranic-affirmation-of-the-holy-bible-revisited-pt-1/

IHS

The Quran’s Confirmation of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures

In this somewhat lengthy article we are going to cite some of the many verses of the Quran which acknowledge and testify that the original, uncorrupt Scriptures that God had given to the Jews and Christians were still in existence during the lifetime of Muhammad. The purpose of doing so is to help Christians refute and silence the oft-repeated Muslim charge that the Quran does not acknowledge the textual reliability and authority of the books of the Holy Bible.

1.       Muhammad refers to the previous revelations such as the Torah and the Gospel as still being extant during his lifetime.

“those who follow the Messenger, ‘the Prophet of the common folk, whom they find written down WITH THEM IN THE TORAH AND THE GOSPEL, bidding them to honour, and forbidding them dishonour, making lawful for them the good things and making unlawful for them the corrupt things, and relieving them of their loads, and the fetters that were upon them.” S. 7:157

God has bought from the believers their selves and their possessions against the gift of Paradise; they fight in the way of God; they kill, and are killed; that IS a promise binding upon God IN THE TORAH, AND THE GOSPEL, and the Koran; and who fulfils his covenant truer than God? So rejoice in the bargain you have made with Him; that is the mighty triumph. S. 9:111

They say, ‘Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?’ Has there not come to them the clear sign of WHAT IS IN THE FORMER SCROLLS? S. 20:133

Truly it is the revelation of the Lord of all Being, brought down by the Faithful Spirit upon thy heart, that thou mayest be one of the warners, in a clear, Arabic tongue. Truly IT IS IN THE SCRIPTURES OF THE ANCIENTS. Was it not a sign for them, that it is known to the learned of the Children of Israel? If We had sent it down on a barbarian and he had recited it to them, they would not have believed in it. S. 26:192-197

Thou seest them bowing, prostrating, seeking bounty from God and good pleasure. Their mark is on their faces, the trace of prostration. That is their likeness IN THE TORAH, and their likeness IN THE GOSPEL: as a seed that puts forth its shoot, and strengthens it, and it grows stout and rises straight upon its stalk, pleasing the sowers, that through them He may enrage the unbelievers. S. 48:29

Or has he not been told of what IS in the scrolls of Moses, and Abraham, he who paid his debt in full? S. 53:36-37

Note the use of the present tense, i.e. “IS,” “IN,” when speaking of the previous revelations.

2.       The Quran confirms the Scriptures that were in the possession of the Jews and Christians of Muhammad’s time.

Children of Israel, remember My blessing wherewith I blessed you, and fulfil My covenant and I shall fulfil your covenant; and have awe of Me. And believe in that I have sent down, confirming that WHICH IS WITH YOU, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And sell not My signs for a little price; and fear you Me. And do not confound the truth with vanity, and do not conceal the truth wittingly. And do not confound the truth with vanity, and do not conceal the truth wittingly. And perform the prayer, and pay the alms, and bow with those that bow. Will you bid others to piety, and forget yourselves WHILE YOU RECITE THE BOOK? Do you not understand? S. 2:40-44

And they say, ‘Our hearts are uncircumcised.’ Nay, but God has cursed them for their unbelief; little will they believe. When there came to them a Book from God, confirming WHAT WAS WITH THEM — and they aforetimes prayed for victory over the unbelievers — when there came to them that they recognized, they disbelieved in it; and the curse of God is on the unbelievers… And when they were told, ‘Believe in that God has sent down,’ they said, ‘We believe in what was sent down on us’; and they disbelieve in what is beyond that, yet it is the truth confirming WHAT IS WITH THEM. S. 2:89, 91

When there has come to them a Messenger from God confirming WHAT WAS WITH THEM, a party of them that were given the Book reject the Book of God behind their backs, as though they knew not, S. 2:101

You who have been given the Book, believe in what We have sent down, confirming WHAT IS WITH YOU, before We obliterate faces, and turn them upon their backs, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-men, and God’s command is done. S. 4:47

3.       The Quran claims that the Jews and Christians of Muhammad’s time were studying and reciting the Book, thereby implying that they possessed the original, uncorrupt Scriptures.

The Jews say, ‘The Christians stand not on anything’; the Christians say, ‘The Jews stand not on anything’; YET THEY RECITE THE BOOK. S. 2:113

Those to whom We have given the Book and who recite it WITH TRUE RECITATION, they believe in it; and whoso disbelieves in it, they shall be the losers. S. 2:121

It belongs not to any mortal that God should give him the Book, the Judgment, the Prophethood, then he should say to men, ‘Be you servants to me apart from God.’ Rather, ‘Be you masters in that YOU KNOW THE BOOK, and in that YOU STUDY.’ S. 3:79

Those are they to whom We gave the Book, the Judgment, the Prophethood; so if these disbelieve in it, We have already entrusted it to a people who do not disbelieve IN IT. Those are they whom God has guided; so follow their guidance. Say: ‘I ask of you no wage for it; it is but a reminder unto all beings.’ They measured not God with His true measure when they said, ‘God has not sent down aught on any mortal.’ Say: ‘Who sent down the Book that Moses brought as a light and a guidance to men? YOU OUT IT INTO PARCHMENTS, REVEALING THEM, AND HIDING MUCH; and you were taught that you knew not, you and your fathers.’ Say: ‘God.’ Then leave them alone, playing their game of plunging. This is a Book We have sent down, blessed and confirming that which was before it (Ar. musaddiqu alathee bayna yadayhi – lit. confirming that which is between his/its hands), and for thee to warn the Mother of Cities and those about her; and those who believe in the world to come believe in it, and watch over their prayers. S. 6:89-92

Of the people of Moses there is a nation who guide by the truth, and by it act with justice… and there succeeded after them a succession who inherited the Book, taking the chance goods of this lower world, and saying, ‘It will be forgiven us’; and if chance goods the like of them come to them, they will take them. Has not the compact of the Book been taken touching them, that they should say concerning God nothing but the truth? AND THEY HAVE STUDIED WHAT IS IN IT; and the Last Abode is better for those who are godfearing. Do you not understand? And those who hold fast to the Book, and perform the prayer — surely We leave not to waste the wage of those who set aright. S. 7:159, 169-170

4.       Muhammad calls the Jews and Christians to judge by their respective Scriptures, which again presupposes that these communities possessed the original, genuine revelations of God.

Hast thou not regarded those who were given a portion of the Book, being called to the Book of God, THAT IT MIGHT DECIDE BETWEEN THEM, and then a party of them turned away, swerving aside? S. 3:23

Here is how the Muslim expositors explained this particular text:

Have you not seen those who were given a portion, a share, of the Book, the Torah, being called to the Book of God (yud‘awna, ‘being called’, is a circumstantial qualifier), that it might decide between them, and then a party of them turned away, opposed? to the acceptance of its rulings. This was revealed concerning the Jews: two of them fornicated and they [the Jews] asked the Prophet to adjudicate the case. He ruled that they be stoned, but they [the Jews] refused to do so. WHEN THE TORAH WAS BROUGHT AND CONSULTED, the same verdict was found, and so the two were stoned, but they [the Jews] became wrathful. (Tafsir al-Jalalayn: http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=3&tAyahNo=23&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; bold, capital and underline emphasis ours)

(Hast thou not seen how those who have received a portion of the Scripture…) [3:23]. There is a difference of opinion about this verse’s occasion of revelation. Al-Suddi said: “When the Prophet called the Jews to embrace Islam, al-Nu‘man ibn Awfa said to him: ‘Come, O Muhammad, and let the rabbis judge between us’. He said: ‘Let the Scripture of Allah be judge between us’. They said: ‘No! Let the rabbis judge’. And so Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse”. On the other hand, Sa‘id ibn Jubayr and ‘Ikrimah reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The Messenger of Allah entered in on a group of Jews in a Jewish place of study and called them to Allah. Nu‘aym ibn ‘Amr and al-Harith ibn Zayd said to him: ‘O Muhammad, which religion are you on?’ He said: ‘The religion of Abraham’. They said: ‘But Abraham was a Jew’. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘In that case, let us go to the Torah and let it judge between us’. They refused. And Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse”. Said al-Kalbi: “This was revealed about those who committed fornication in Khaybar and the Jews who asked the Prophet about the legal punishment of fornication”. The elaboration on this will come in Surah al-Ma’idah, Allah, exalted is He, willing”. (‘Alī ibn Ahmad al-Wahidi, Asbab Al-Nuzul, trans. Mokrane Guezzou: http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=86&tSoraNo=3&tAyahNo=23&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; bold and underline emphasis ours)

Other Quranic verses which command the Jews and Christians to judge by their respective books include the following:

All food was lawful to the Children of Israel save what Israel forbade for himself before the Torah was sent down. Say: ‘Bring you the Torah now, and recite it, if you are truthful.’ Whoso forges falsehood against God after that, those are the evildoers. S. 3:91

Yet how will they make thee their judge seeing THEY HAVE THE TORAH, wherein IS God’s judgment, then thereafter turn their backs? They are not believers. Surely We sent down the Torah, wherein IS guidance and light; thereby the Prophets who had surrendered themselves gave judgment for those of Jewry, as did the masters and the rabbis, following such portion of God’s Book as they were given to keep and were witnesses to. So fear not men, but fear you Me; and sell not My signs for a little price. Whoso judges not according to what God has sent down — they are the unbelievers. And therein We prescribed for them: ‘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 for wounds retaliation’; but whosoever forgoes it as a freewill offering, that shall be for him an expiation. Whoso judges not according to what God has sent down — they are the evildoers. And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus son of Mary, confirming the Torah before him (Ar. musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi minal-tawrati–confirming that which is between his hands of the Torah) and We gave to him the Gospel, wherein IS guidance and light, and confirming the Torah before it (Ar. wa’musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi minal-tawrati), as a guidance and an admonition unto the godfearing. So let the People of the Gospel judge according to what God has sent down THEREIN. Whosoever judges not according to what God has sent down — they are the ungodly. S. 5:43-47

The obvious question to ask at this point is, why in the world would Muhammad exhort the Jews and Christians to judge by corrupted texts that no longer reflected what the original revelations actually taught? Doesn’t this refute the common Muslim assertion that the previous Scriptures had been corrupted, and that the Jews and Christians therefore no longer had them in their possessions?

In light of this fact, notice how Ibn Kathir, one of the greatest Muslim scholars that ever lived, interpreted this specific text:

“… The Prophet recited…

<<Bring here the Tawrah and recite it, if you are truthful.>> So they brought the Tawrah and read from it until the reader reached the verse about stoning. Then he placed his hand on that verse and read what was before and after it. `Abdullah bin Salam, who was with the Messenger of Allah , said, “Order him to remove his hand,” and he removed his hand and under it was the verse about stoning. So the Messenger of Allah commanded that the adulterers be stoned, and they were stoned. `Abdullah bin `Umar said, “I was among those who stoned them and I saw the man shading the woman from the stones with his body.” Abu Dawud recorded that Ibn `Umar said, “Some Jews came to the Messenger of Allah and invited him to go to the Quff area. So he went to the house of Al-Midras and they said, ‘O Abu Al-Qasim! A man from us committed adultery with a woman, so decide on their matter.’ They arranged a pillow for the Messenger of Allah and he sat on it and said…

<<Bring the Tawrah to me.>> He was brought the Tawrah and he removed the pillow from under him AND PLACED THE TAWRAH ON IT, saying…

<<I TRUST YOU and He Who revealed it to you.>> He then said…

<<Bring me your most knowledgeable person.>> So he was brought a young man… and then he mentioned the rest of the story that Malik narrated from Nafi`. These Hadiths state that the Messenger of Allah issued a decision that conforms with the ruling in the Tawrah, not to honor the Jews in what they believe in, for the Jews were commanded to follow the Law of Muhammad only. Rather, the Prophet did this because Allah commanded him to do so. He asked them about the ruling of stoning in the Tawrah to make them admit to what the Tawrah contains and what they collaborated to hide, deny and exclude from implementing for all that time. They had to admit to what they did, although they did it while having knowledge of the correct ruling… (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Q. 5:41: http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=776&Itemid=60; bold, capital and underline emphasis ours)

Pay careful attention to Muhammad’s reverential treatment of the copy of the Torah that the Jews had in their possession. Instead of telling the Jews that what they had was a defective, corrupt copy of the original Torah, Muhammad actually praises their very own copy by confessing his complete trust in its textual veracity and authority!

Here is a final passage:

But had the People of the Book believed and been godfearing, We would have acquitted them of their evil deeds, and admitted them to Gardens of Bliss. Had they performed the Torah and the Gospel, and what was sent down to them from their Lord, they would have eaten both what was above them, and what was beneath their feet. Some of them are a just nation; but many of them — evil are the things they do… Say: ‘People of the Book, you do not stand on anything, until you perform the Torah and the Gospel, and what was sent down to you from your Lord.’ And what has been sent down to thee from thy Lord will surely increase many of them in insolence and unbelief; so grieve not for the people of the unbelievers. S. 5:66-68

Muslim biographer Ibn Ishaq provides the supposed historical context behind the “revelation” of the foregoing verses:

Rafi b. Haritha and Sallam b. Mishkam and Malik b. al-Sayf and Rafi b. Huraymila came to him [Muhammad] and said: ‘Do you not allege that you follow the religion of Abraham and believe in the Torah WHICH WE HAVE and testify that it is the truth from God?’ He replied, ‘CERTAINLY, but you have sinned and broken the covenant CONTAINED THEREIN and concealed what you were ordered to make plain to men, and I dissociate myself from your sin.’ They said, ‘We hold by WHAT WE HAVE. We live according to the guidance and the truth and we do not believe in you and we will not follow you.’ So God sent down concerning them: ‘Say, O Scripture folk, you have no standing until you observe the Torah and the Gospel and what has been sent down from your Lord. What has been sent down to thee from they Lord will assuredly increase many of them in error and unbelief. But be not sad because of the unbelieving people.’ (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], p. 268; bold and capital emphasis ours)

Here was Muhammad’s chance to plainly tell the Jews that they had corrupted the text of the Torah. Instead, Muhammad tells them quite clearly that he fully believed the Torah which they possessed.

We now add a few more citations from Ibn Ishaq which further corroborate this fact:

The apostle wrote to the Jews of Khaybar according to what a freedman of the family of Zayd b. Thabit told me from ‘Ikrima or from Sa‘id b. Jubayr from Ibn ‘Abbas: ‘In the name of God the compassionate the merciful from Muhammad the apostle of God friend and brother of Moses WHO CONFIRMS WHAT MOSES BROUGHT. God says to you O scripture folk, and you will find it in your scripture “Muhammad is the apostle of God; and those with him are severe against the unbelievers, merciful among themselves. Thou seest them bowing, falling prostrate seeking bounty and acceptance from God. The mark of their prostrations is on their foreheads. That is their likeness in the Torah and in the Gospel like a seed which sends forth its shoot and strengthens it and it becomes thick and rises straight upon its stalk delighting the sowers that He may anger the unbelievers with them. God has promised those who believe and do well forgiveness and a great reward.” I adjure you by God, AND BY WHAT HE HAS SENT DOWN TO YOU, by the manna and quails He gave as food to your tribes before you, and by His drying up the sea for your fathers when He delivered them from Pharaoh and his works, that you tell me, DO YOU FIND IN WHAT HE SENT DOWN TO YOU that you should believe in Muhammad? IF YOU DO NOT FIND THAT IN YOUR SCRIPTURE THEN THERE IS NO COMPULSION UPON YOU. “The right path has become plainly distinguished from error” so I call you to God and His Prophet’ (313). (Ibid., p. 256; bold and capital emphasis ours)

According to what I heard from ‘Ikrima, freedman of Ibn ‘Abbas or from Sa‘id b. Jubayr from Ibn ‘Abbas, Jews used to hope that the apostle would be a help to them against Aus and Khazraj before his mission began; and when God sent him from among the Arabs they disbelieved in him and contradicted what they had formerly said about him. Mu‘adh b. Jabal and Bishr b. al-Bara’ b. Ma‘rur brother of B. Salama said to them: ‘O Jews, fear God and become Muslims, for you used to hope for Muhammad’s help against us when we were polytheists and to tell us that he would be sent and describe him to us.’ Salam b. Mishkam, one of the B. al-Nadir, said, ‘He has not brought us anything we recognize and he is not the one we spoke of to you.’ So God sent down about that saying of theirs: ‘And when a book comes to them from God CONFIRMING what they have, though beforehand they were asking for help against those who disbelieve, when there came to them what they knew, they disbelieved in it, so God’s curse rests on the unbelievers.’

Malik b. al-Sayf said when the apostle had been sent and they were reminded of the condition that had been imposed on them and what God had covenanted with them concerning him, ‘No covenant was ever made with us about Muhammad.’ So God sent down concerning him: ‘Is it not that whenever they make a covenant a party of them set it aside? Nay most of them do not believe.’

Abu Saluba al-Fityuni said to the apostle: ‘O Muhammad, you have not brought us anything we recognize and God has not sent down to you any sign that we should follow you.’ So God sent concerning his words, ‘We have sent down to thee plain signs and only evildoers disbelieve in them.’ (Ibid., p. 257; bold, capital and italic emphasis ours)

These citations illustrate what Muhammad meant when he said in the Quran that his scripture confirms the books in the possession of the Jews and Christians. By confirmation he didn’t intend to convey the notion that the Quran accepts only certain parts of the Judeo-Christian books, as some Muslim polemicists would have us believe, but that it testifies to the fact of these texts being completely reliable and fully authoritative. If Muhammad believed that the Jewish-Christian Scriptures were corrupted he could have stated it here by simply telling the Jews that he didn’t fully believe that the Torah which they had was completely reliable. Instead of denouncing the textual purity of the Torah he confirms his belief in its authenticity and textual accuracy.

5.       Quranic passages where Muhammad commands the people to consult the previous Scriptures in order to verify his claims and stories.

So, if thou art in doubt regarding what We have sent down to thee, ask those who recite the Book before thee. The truth has come to thee from thy Lord; so be not of the doubters, S. 10:94

And We gave Moses nine signs, clear signs. Ask the Children of Israel when he came to them, and Pharaoh said to him, ‘Moses, I think thou art bewitched. S. 17:101

Surely it is a Reminder to thee and to thy people; and assuredly you will be questioned. Ask those of Our Messengers We sent before thee: Have We appointed, apart from the All-merciful, gods to be served? S. 43:44-45

The two Jalals, considered some of Islam’s greatest commentators, explain Muhammad’s exhortation to his contemporaries to ask the Messengers that came before him for verification of his assertion:

And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you: Did We [ever] appoint, besides the Compassionate One, that is to say, [any] other than Him, gods to be worshipped? It is said that this is to be understood literally, in other words, that God gathered for him all the messengers on the Night [of the] Journey; but it is also said that this meant [that he should ask] any communities belonging to either of the two Peoples of the Scripture. According to one of the two opinions, he never asked [anyone] since the point of this command to ask is to affirm to the idolaters of Quraysh that no messenger or scripture ever came from God with the command to worship [any] other than God. (Tafsir al-Jalalayn: http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=43&tAyahNo=45&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; bold and underline emphasis ours)

The foregoing citations conclusively prove that Muhammad believed in the inspiration and textual reliablility of the biblical books since these were the only Scriptures that the Jews and Christians had in their possessions during his time. As such, this thoroughly refutes the Muslim claim that the Quran does not confirm the inspiration, preservation, reliability and authority of the Scriptures which the Jews and Christians have always possessed.

Further Reading

Part 1: The Quran and the Bible (http://answeringislam.net/Campbell/s2c1.html)

Part 2: The Hadith and the Sunna (http://answeringislam.net/Campbell/s2c2.html)

What the Quran says about the Bible (http://answeringislam.net/Quran/Bible/index.html)

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2018/08/26/the-qurans-confirmation-of-the-judeo-christian-scriptures/

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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 Taurat. In 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-Injeel; in 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-Muttaqun. And 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/

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