Should Muslims believe the Bible as the Word of Allah?

By Mucahit S.

Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi (In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful)

 

Some Christians have said that the Qur’an commands Muslims to read and obey the 4 Gospels and rest of the Bible. The Noble Qur’an says the following of the books that came before it:

 

The Holy Qur'an 2:77-78 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

"Know they not Allah Knoweth what they conceal and what they reveal? And there are among them illiterates, who know not the Book but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture. Then woe to those who WRITE the Book with their own hands, and then say: 'This is from Allah,' to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.”

 

The Book refers to the book of the People of the Book, which section 9 in Chapter 2 talks about. The Noble Qur'an clearly says that the Book was corrupted by men, “those who WRITE the Book with their own hands, and then say: 'This is from Allah,” [1]. It can’t get any clearer then that!

 

Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Holding Fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 461

Narrated Ubaidullah:  "Ibn 'Abbas said, 'Why do you ask the people of the scripture about anything while your Book (Quran) which has been revealed to Allah's Apostle(Prophet Muhammad) is newer and the latest? You read it pure, undistorted and unchanged, and Allah has told you that the people of the scripture (Jews and Christians) changed their scripture and distorted it, and wrote the scripture with their own hands and said, 'It is from Allah,' to sell it for a little gain. Does not the knowledge which has come to you prevent you from asking them about anything? No, by Allah, we have never seen any man from them asking you regarding what has been revealed to you!”

 

 

Now, as you can see from the above verses the Qur'an claims the Book of the People of the Book have corrupted their own books. With that in mind let’s move on;

 

The following verses are in question:

 

The Holy Qur'an 5:48 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

 To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what God hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If God had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to God; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;

 

Answer:

I’ve bolded the points Christians use to show their point. Without knowing that the Noble Qur'an claims that the scriptures before it were corrupted by men(2:77-78), you can easily come to the conclusion that the Noble Qur'an confirms the Bible.

 

However, the Qur’an talks about the True scriptures He has sent to the prophets before Muhammad(pbuh), not the corrupted Bible.

 

What exactly is the Qur'an confirming? Some might think a prophecy, the prophets, and the knowledge of Allah.

 

Next:

The Holy Qur'an 5:82 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

 Nearest among them in love to the believers will thou find those who say "We are Christians" because amongst these are men devoted to learning.

 

Answer:

This verse is out of context. Let’s look at the whole context;

 

The Holy Qur'an 5:82 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.

 

The Holy Qur'an 5:83 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth: they pray: "Our Lord! We believe; write us down among the witnesses.

 

The first verse says that the you will find Jews and Pagans hate the believers(Muslims) the most. Next it says Christians are devoted to learning and they are not arrogant. The next verse says the Christians listen to the revelation(Qur'an) received by the Messenger(Prophet Mohammed(pbuh)) and “thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth: they pray: "Our Lord! We believe; write us down among the witnesses. “

 

To sum those verses up, some of the Jews and Pagans are arrogant and harder to show the Truth and only some care to learn about the Truth, but among Christians there are defiantly those who want to learn the Truth. The critic has removed the verse out of context and changed its real meaning.

 

Next:

The Holy Qur'an 42:15 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

 I believe in the Book (of the People of the Book) which God has sent down...

 

Answer:

Again, Qur’an makes it clear that it is talking about what Allah has sent down, and not the corrupted Bible or certain books of the Bible. We can clearly see “which God has sent down”. This definatly does not fit the description of the NT books because they were supposedly “inspired”.

 

Next:

The Holy Qur'an 5:46 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

 And in their footsteps we sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the Law that had come before him. We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law.

 

Answer:

Now, what is interesting is, does the NT actually fit this description? That is of course to the opinion of the reader. Anyways, “We sent him(Jesus) the Gospel”, the NT talks about the Gospel of Jesus but they are not the Gospel of Jesus. Does this mean the NT contains any thing related to the Gospel? Whatever matches the Qur'an is probably from the Gospel of Jesus.

 

Next:

The Holy Qur'an 5:47 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

 Let the People of the Gospel judge by what God has revealed therein

 

Answer(by brother Ron):

The first verse is referring to the Gospel and that basically the truth of the Qur'an can be found in their very book. They would ask the Prophet(pbuh) to decide between their matters but would be hypocritical about it. Then they are told to look into their very books which correspond with the very judgments of the Prophet. So how could they reject his decisions when their own books contained that very judgment they asked for? For something related please see this link: http://understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=445

 

Next:

The Holy Qur'an 10:94 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

If thou (Muhammad) are in doubt as to what We have revealed, then ask the People of the Book.

 

Answer:

Firstly, you could be referring to anyone. Only one translation has translated it similar to that the one in question:

 

The Holy Qur'an 10:94 – Muhammad Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan

So if you (O Muhammad SAW) are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed unto you, (i.e. that your name is written in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) then ask those who are reading the Book (the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So be not of those who doubt (it).

 

It is interesting that they interpreted as such. Although the “you” can be referring to anyone. Anyways, let’s look at it in context:

 

The Holy Qur'an 10:90-94 – Translation by Yusuf Ali

We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: "I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to God in Islam)."

 

 (It was said to him): "Ah now!- But a little while before, wast thou in rebellion!- and thou didst mischief (and violence)!

 

"This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! but verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!"

 

We settled the Children of Israel in a beautiful dwelling-place, and provided for them sustenance of the best: it was after knowledge had been granted to them, that they fell into schisms. Verily God will judge between them as to the schisms amongst them, on the Day of Judgment.

 

If thou wert in doubt as to what We have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before thee: the Truth hath indeed come to thee from thy Lord: so be in no wise of those in doubt.

 

For more explanations visit: http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=304&sscatid=151

 

 

In Conclusion

 

The Noble Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) clearly refute this claim.

 

Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Holding Fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 460

Narrated Abu Huraira: "The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah's Apostle said (to the Muslims). 'Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, 'We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.”

 

Allah knows best!

 

Footnotes:

1.      Some Muslims like to refer to people like Paul when using this verse.