THE BIBLE IN THE QUR'AN
Islamic teaching reveals that there are four Holy Books according to the Qur’an. The Qur’an affirms the revelation from God that came before it in the Tawrat (Books of Moses or Old Testament), the Zabur (the Psalms of David) and the Injil (the Gospel or the New Testament). Often though there is a difference between what Muslims believe and what the Qur’an actually affirms. Many Muslims believe that the Bible that can be bought at any bookstore today is a corrupted version of the original Scriptures as revealed by God. While this belief became popular during the Crusades (for obvious reasons… “Don’t believe anything that they believe is true!”), this is a teaching that is not consistent with the Qur’an. The Qur’an has much to say about the previous revelations of God:
Muslims, if you don’t understand the Qur’an ask Christians because they understand:
“If you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, ask those who read the Book before you; the truth has come to you from your Lord: therefore do not be a doubter. Nor shall you be one who rejects the signs of Allah, for then you shall be lost.” Yunis 10:94-95
“Those we sent before you were men to whom we revealed, so ask the people of the Book of Remembrance if you don’t know.” Anbiya 21:7
“Those we sent before you were men to whom we inspired, so ask the people of the Book of Remembrance if you don’t know.” Nahl 16:43
God’s Word/Revelation/Scripture cannot be changed:
“Those that have faith and keep from evil shall rejoice both in this world and in the next: the word of Allah cannot be changed. That is the supreme triumph.” Yunis 10:64
“And the word of your lord was fulfilled, a true promise. There is no altering his words, and he is all-hearing and all-knowing.” Anaam 6:115
(see also Anaam 6:34 and Kahf 18:27)
One of the names of the Scriptures is the (Book of) Remembrance:
“We have written in the Zabur after the Book of Remembrance, “My righteous servants will inherit the earth.” Anbiya 21:105
“We gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion and a light and Remembrance to the godly.” Anbiya 21:48
“Those we sent before you were men to whom we inspired, so ask the people of the Book of Remembrance if you don’t know.” Nahl 16:43
The (Book of) Remembrance is preserved by God:
“We revealed the Book of Remembrance, and we are its protectors.” Hijr 15:9
“And We revealed the Book to you with truth, confirming the Book in his hands and guarding it, so judge among them by what Allah has revealed.” Maida 5:48
The Scriptures are revealed by God:
“O you who believe, believe in Allah and his messenger and the book he revealed to his messenger, and the book he revealed beforehand, and whoever disbelieves in Allah and his angels and his books and his messengers and the last day has gone far astray.” Nisa 4:136
“And he revealed the Book to you in truth, confirming what is in his hands and he revealed the Tawrat and the Injeel.” Al Imran 3:3
(see also: Baqara 2:4, 136, 213, Al Imran 3:65, Maida 5:44, 45, 47, 68, Anaam 6:154-157, Hijr 15:9, Nahl 16:43-44, Ankabut 29:46)
All three parts of the Scriptures are brought by God:
“ Then we brought 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..” Anaam 6:154
“And we preferred some prophets above others, and We brought David a Zabur.” Isra 17:55
“We made Issa son of Mariam follow them, a confirmer of the Tawrat in his possession, and we brought Him the Injeel, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and guidance and a sermon to the pious.” Maida 5:46
(see also: Baqara 2:87, Nisa 4:131, 163, Raad 13:36, Isra 17:2, Maryam 19:30, Anbiya 21:48, Muminun 23:29, Furqan 25:35, Qasas 28:43, Sajda 32:23, Safat 37:117, Ghafir 40:43-44, Hadid 57:27)
There is a blessing for believing in the Scriptures:
“And they believe in what we revealed to you and what we revealed before you and they are certain of the hereafter.” Baqara 2:4
“And we gave Moses the Book and the Criterion, so that you may be guided.” Baqara 2:53
“They did not give God the honor He deserves, for they said: God has not revealed anything to men. Say: Who revealed the Book which Moses 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: God, then let them play in their discussions.” Anaam 6:91
“Who had a proof from his lord and who chants it is a witness from him, and before it the Book of Moses as a leader and mercy. They believe in it, and he among the parties who disbelieves in it has an appointment with Hellfire. So don’t be in doubt about it, since it is the truth from your Lord. But most people do not believe.” Hud 11:17
(see also: Baqara 2:213, Nisa 4:131, Maida 5:44, 47, 68, Anaam 6:154, Nahl 16:43-44, Isra 17:2, Anbiya 21:48, Muminun 23:49, Qasas 28:43, Sajda 32:23, Safat 37: 117, Ghafir 40:43-44)
Other names are sometimes given to the Scriptures:
“We gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion and a light and Remembrance to the godly.” Anbiya 21:48
“And he will teach him the Book and the Wisdom and the Tawrat and the Injeel” Al Imran 3:48
“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.” Maida 5:44
“And we gave Moses the clear Book.” Safat 37:117
“And we gave Moses the guidance and gave the book as an inheritance to the people of Israel, guidance and a remembrance to those who understand.” Mumin or Ghafir 40:53-54
(see also: Baqara 2:53, 87,213, Al Imran 3:3, 50, 65, 184, Nisa 4:47, 131, 136, 163, Maida 5:43, 46, 47, 68, Anaam 6:91, 154, Yunis 10: 94, Hud 11:17, Raad 13:36, Nahl 16:43-44, Isra 17:2, 55, Anbiya 21:105, Muminun 23:49, Furqan 25:35, Qasas 28:43, Sajda 32:23, Fatir 35:25, Ahqaf 46:12, Hadid 57:27, Saff 61:6, etc.)
The Scriptures have light, guidance, and sermons:
We made Issa son of Mariam follow them, a confirmer of the Tawrat in his possession, and we gave him the Injeel, in which is guidance and light, confirming the Tawrat in his possession, and guidance and a sermon to the pious.” Maida 5:46
“They did not give God the honor He deserves, for they said: God has not revealed anything to men. Say: Who revealed the Book which Moses 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: God. Then let them play in their discussions .” Anaam 6:91
(see also: Baqara 2:53, 213, Al Imran 3:3-4, 50, 65, 184, Nisa 4: 136, 163, Maida 5:43, 45, 47, Anaam 6:154, Hud 11:17, Nahl 16:43-44, Isra 17:2, Anbiya 21:48, 105, Muminun 23:49, Shuara 26:196, Qasas 28:43, Sajda 32:23, Fatir 35:25, Safat 37:117, Ghafir 40: 53-54, Hadid 57:27)
The Scriptures have example, mercy, insight, completion, and explanation:
“And we gave Moses the Book after we destroyed the first centuries, insight to men and guidance and mercy, so that they would remember.” Qasas 28:43
“And before it the book of Moses as a leader and mercy and this is a certified book in an Arabic language.” Ahqaf 46:12
“ 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. Anaam 6:154
(see also: Hud 11:17)
The Scriptures are the standard of God’s judgment:
“Mankind was all one people, and Allah sent prophets carrying good news and warnings, and He sent the Book with them in truth, to judge between men.”… Baqara 2: 213
And how can they make you their judge, when they have the Tawrat, which contains Allah’s judgment? Maida 5: 43
We revealed the Tawrat, in which is guidance and light, by which the prophets judge… Maida 5:44
So let the people of the Injeel judge by what Allah has revealed in it, and whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are sinners.” Maida 5:47
(see also: Maida 5:45, Anaam 6:89)
The Scriptures are confirmed by the Qur’an:
“O you who were given the book, believe in what we have revealed, confirming what you have.” Nisa 4:47
“What we revealed to you of the book is truth, confirming what is in his hands.” Fatir 35:31
“And he revealed the Book to you in truth, confirming what is in his hands and he revealed the Tawrat and the Injil.” Al Imran 3:3
(see also: Baqara 2:41, 89, 101, 50, Maida 5:46, 48, Anaam 6: 92, Yusif 12:111, Ahqaf 46:12, 30, Saff 61:6)
The proper understanding of the Qur’an agrees with the Scriptures, since they are inspired:
“If you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, ask those who are reading the Book before you. The has come to you from your Lord, so do not doubt. Don’t be one who denies God’s revelations, and are lost.” Yunis 10:94-95
“Those we sent before you were men to whom we inspired, so ask the people of the Book of Remembrance if you don’t know the clear signs and psalms.” Nahl 16:43
“And ask the messengers whom we sent before you: Did we give you gods to be worshipped besides the Most Merciful?”
(see also: Nisa 4:163, Shora 42:13, Anbiya 21:7)
A true follower of God must believe in all the Scriptures:
“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.” Nisa 4:136
“The messenger believes in what was revealed to him by his Lord, and the believers all believe in God and his angels and his books and his messengers. We do not distinguish between any of his messengers. And they said, We have heard and obeyed. We seek your forgiveness, our Lord. We shall return to you.” Baqara 2:285
“Therefore call (men), and be straight as you are bidden. Do not be led by their desires, but say: I believe in all the scriptures that Allah has revealed.” Shora 42:15
(see also: Maida 5:45, Anbiya 21:105)
Those who reject the Scriptures are…
Astray:
“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.” Nisa 4:136
Disbelievers:
“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.” Maida 5:44
Unjust:
“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, and a tooth for a tooth, and wounds are a punishment, so whoever donates it, it is propitiation for him. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are unjust.” Maida 5:45
Sinners:
“So let the people of the Injeel judge by what Allah has revealed in it, and whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are sinners.” Maida 5:47
Believe in all the Scriptures or perish:
“Do you not see how those who dispute the revelations of Allah turn away from the right path? Those who have denied the Book and that with which we have sent our apostles shall know the truth hereafter, when with chains and shackles round their necks they shall be dragged through boiling water and burn in the fire of Hell.” Ghafir 40:69-72
Summary:
- There are hundreds of verses that support the Bible in the Generous Koran.
- The Koran supports the Bible because of the light, guidance, insight, judgment, and mercy in it.
- The Generous Koran confirms it and commands belief in it and warns against rejecting it.
Other names are sometimes given to the Scriptures:
“We gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion and a light and Remembrance to the godly.” Anbiya 21:48
“And he will teach him the Book and the Wisdom and the Tawrat and the Injeel” Al Imran 3:48
“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.” Maida 5:44
“And we gave Moses the clear Book.” Safat 37:117
“And we gave Moses the guidance and gave the book as an inheritance to the people of Israel, guidance and a remembrance to those who understand.” Mumin or Ghafir 40:53-54
(see also: Baqara 2:53, 87,213, Al Imran 3:3, 50, 65, 184, Nisa 4:47, 131, 136, 163, Maida 5:43, 46, 47, 68, Anaam 6:91, 154, Yunis 10: 94, Hud 11:17, Raad 13:36, Nahl 16:43-44, Isra 17:2, 55, Anbiya 21:105, Muminun 23:49, Furqan 25:35, Qasas 28:43, Sajda 32:23, Fatir 35:25, Ahqaf 46:12, Hadid 57:27, Saff 61:6, etc.)