Muslims are often told that the previous scriptures have been corrupted and replaced by the Quran.
But is that really what the Quran teaches? A closer look reveals that the Quran actually affirms the inspiration, preservation and authority of the previous Scriptures—the Torah (Taurat), Psalms (Zabur), and Gospel (Injil). No where in the Quran does Allah declare they were changed. In fact, Allah unequivocally states that no one can change his revelations. Ironically, it is Muslims themselves who refute Allah by claiming that his revelations HAVE been changed, corrupted and lost.
Islam is the only religion in the world and in history that shames its deity by insisting that their God failed to preserve and protect his own books.
Here are 10 critical questions about the Quran’s view of the Bible that Muslims must answer.
1. If the previous Scriptures was corrupted, why did the Quran honour it?
“Indeed, We revealed the Torah, containing guidance and light…We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light and confirming what was revealed in the Torah…” (Sura 5:44,46)
The Quran refers to the Torah and the Gospel as containing guidance and light. Why would Allah praise books that were supposedly corrupted? This shows the Quran treats the earlier Scriptures as valid and authoritative at the time of Muhammad.
2. Why does the Quran command Jews and Christians to judge by the Torah and the Injil and not the Quran?
So let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed in it. (Sura 5:47; see also 5:44)
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O People of the Book! You have nothing to stand on unless you observe the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord. (Sura 5:68)
Christians and Jews are instructed to believe and judge by the Torah and the Gospel. If these books were no longer reliable at the time of Muhammad, why would the Quran issue such a command? Why didn’t Allah tell them to forget the “corrupted” Torah and Injil and turn to the Quran instead?
3. Why did Muhammad say he believed in all the Books?
They ˹all˺ believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (Sura 2:285)
Muhammad affirmed belief in all previous Scriptures. If they were corrupted, wouldn’t he have excluded them? Why did he not warn against them? Instead, he included them as part of the faith Muslims must affirm.
4. If the Bible was changed, when did it happen, who did it—and where is the proof?
Muslims claim the Bible was changed or lost, but no Muslim can tell you when or how this occurred. The Bible had spread across three continents long before Muhammad was born. How would it have been possible to change all the books in every part of the world? There’s no historical evidence of such a massive alteration. If such an event occured, there would be records of it happening. Uthman burned numerous Quran manuscripts. It happened in Islam. No such thing happened in Christianity. The Bible has thousands of manuscript copies proving its consistency and authenticity over centuries before Muhammad was even born.
“How could there be any alteration in the Book whose words’ sharpness has reached a great level of circulation in the East and in the West? … For no change can occur in a book that is well circulated among men. Every wise man can see that the alteration of the Bible was impossible for it was well circulated among men of different faith and backgrounds.”
Al-Razi (865 – 925 AD)
And who corrupted it? If Christians were involved, why did no Jew oppose it? If Jews were involved, why did no Christian oppose it? If someone did corrupt one, two or even a hundred copies, why didn’t anyone produce the uncorrupted copies?
5. Why does Allah call Christians and Jews People Of The Book if they no longer possessed a Book?
Why did Allah address Christians and Jews as People of the Book? Because they had a Book! If they had lost or did not have a Book, it does not make sense for Allah to honour them as People of the Book!
6. Why do Muslims claim that Christians do not possess their book when the Quran explicitly states that the book is WITH them?
“˹They are˺ the ones who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whose description they find in their Torah and the Gospel with them. (7:157; see also 2:41, 42, 89, 91)
In numerous verses, the Quran states that the Book is in the possession of the Jews and Christians present at the time of Muhammad.
7. Why was Muhammad told to accept the testimony of Jews and Christians?
If you ˹O Prophet˺ are in doubt about ˹these stories˺ that We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Scripture before you. (Sura 10:94)
Muhammad was told to ask the People of the Book to allay any doubts about the Quran. This shows the previous Scriptures had authority over the revelations to Muhammad. He could have doubts about the Quran but he could not have doubts about the previous Scriptures. Allah’s proof to Muhammad for the validity of the Quran was to point to the previous Scriptures.
Muhamad often copied the Jews and Christians.
The Prophet used to copy the people of the Scriptures in matters in which there was no order from Allah. (Sahih Bukhari 5917)
8. Why is there no clear verse in the Quran stating the Bible was altered?
Muslims can only point to vague verses about distortion. For example:
There are some among them who distort the Book with their tongues to make you think this ˹distortion˺ is from the Book—but it is not what the Book says. (Sura 3:78)
The Quran only claims some Jews distorted words with their tongues, not changed the Scriptures
It refers to oral misrepresentation, not textual corruption. The Quran never says the actual text of the Torah or Gospel was altered.
9. Muhammad submitted to the authority of the previous Scriptures
But why do they come to you for judgment when they ˹already˺ have the Torah containing Allah’s judgment.. (Sura 5:43)
Some Jews came to Muhammad for him to make a judgment concerning a transgression. Allah revealed to Muhammad the above verse questioning why they should come to Muhammad when they already have their Torah for judgements. In other words, the Quran does not apply to 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.
Sunan Ai Dawud 4449
Muhammad gave up his seat of judgement and submitted to the authority of the Torah. Note that they brought a Torah. That means they had it. It was not lost. It was not corrupted. And Muhammad acknowledged it. What a wonder then, that modern Muslims still cry that the Torah is lost. It existed from the time of Moses. It existed in the time of Jesus. It existed in the time of Muhammad. Somehow Muslims today believe it no longer exists in the time of Zakir Naik. Makes no sense at all.
10. Why does the Quran say “no one can change the words of Allah”?
If no one can change Allah’s Word, and the Torah and Gospel were the words of Allah, then they must still be valid. Muslims who claim the Torah and Gospel were corrupted contradict Allah and the Quran itself.
Conclusion
Despite the claims of Muslim apologists, the Quran never cancels or condemns the Bible. Instead, it affirms it. This is disastrous to Islam. It is known as the Islamic Dilemma. Let me spell it out for you.
Can you trust the Quran?
If you trust the Quran, then you must affirm what it says regarding the inspiration, preservation and authority of the previous Scriptures. That means you acknowledge that Islam is false since Islam contradicts the previous Scriptures.
If you do not trust the Quran, then you acknowledge that Islam is false anyway.
Either way Islam is false.
Here is the bottom line.
The Quran and the Bible disagree about Jesus. Which will you trust?
The Bible is not just a book. It is the unfolding revelation that leads us to God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. And the Quran itself urges seekers to ask those who read the Book.
“Ask the people of the Reminder, if you do not know”
— Surah 16:43
Ask us. We will help you find the Truth Himself.