Muslims believe Islam began when the angel Gabriel (Jibril) spoke to a man named Muhammad. One of Muhammad’s companions, Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood, wrote that Muhammad “saw Jibreel in his true form. He had six hundred wings, each of them covered the horizon. There fell from his wings jewels, pearls and rubies, only Allah knows about them.” (Islam Question & Answer)
The Qur’an
The “Night of Decree” (Laylat-ul-Qadr) is the night Muslims believe Gabriel first appeared to Muhammad. They say Muhammad was meditating in a cave (Cave of Hira) when Gabriel came to him and began to give him words from Allah that were part of Islam’s Qur’an. Muslims believe the first words Gabriel gave Muhammad are what we read in Qur’an 96:1-5 —
Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- Taught man that which he knew not.
Surat Al-`Alaq (The Clot), Translated by Yusuf Ali
Muslims believe the Angel Gabriel gave Muhammad the Qur’an between between 610 and 632 AD, a period of 22 years. Muhammad was living in Mecca in 610 AD. He moved to Medina in 622 AD. It is helpful to know which chapters (surah) in the Qur’an were written in Mecca (Meccan surah) and which were written in Medina (Medinan surah). The verses (ayah) and chapters of the Meccan surahs are generally shorter than the Medinan surahs. Since the Qur’an is arranged (generally) from the longest to the shortest surah, you will find the Medinan surahs toward the front of the Qur’an and the Meccan surahs toward the back. The Qur’an has 114 surahs. Muslim scholars differ on the number of surah revealed and recorded in each location, but there are many more Meccan surah than Medinan surah.
The Meccan surah, which Gabriel reportedly revealed to Muhammad first, deal with the authenticity of the revelation, Allah’s personal communication with Muhammad, Allah’s power, eschatology and polemics. Christians and Jews are not mentioned in the Meccan surah. The emphasis is more about the foundation of belief in Allah, unity of the faithful, opposition to polytheism, and the importance of morality.
While jihad (struggle, striving) is not mentioned in the Meccan surah, it is mentioned in the Medinan surah. Christians and Jews (People of the Book) are mentioned in the Medinan surah as are verses about hypocrites. The Medinan surahs are generally critical of Christians and Jews. Other themes in the Medinan surah include laws (legislative) and justice (jurisprudence) which govern issues like relationships and property.
Muhammad was illiterate (Surah 7:157-158), so he did not write the revelations Gabriel reportedly gave him. Traditional accounts are that Muhammad recited verses of the Qur’an to his followers and they memorized what he said. Some also recorded (wrote) the verses. Many verses had not been written when Muhammad died and many of his followers had also been killed during battles. Abu Bakr, father-in-law and close friend of Muhammad, brought together a council of Muslims to record the text based on what had already been written and the memories of what had not been written. The council included Zayd Ibn Thabit, Muhammad’s scribe. The recitations were codified about 20 years after Muhammad’s death.
The Bible
The Bible is much different than the Qur’an. At least 40 people were involved in the writing of the Bible over a period of 1,500 years. That compares to just one person being involved in receiving the Qur’an over a period of 22 years. The Old Testament was completed about 400 BC. The New Testament was completed about 100 AD. The Qur’an was completed in 632 AD. That means the Old Testament was completed about 1,000 years before the Qur’an and the New Testament a little more than 500 years before the Qur’an.
Scores of people and events mentioned in the Bible are also mentioned in the Qur’an. The Bible’s record is often referred to in the Qur’an. However, that does not mean the Qur’an says the same thing about those people and events. That is part of the problem Christians, Jews and Muslims have with their different ‘Sacred Scripture.’ Why would an angel of God say something different to Muhammad than what we read in the Bible? Shouldn’t the message be the same if it comes from the same God?
Muslims believe the Jewish and Christian Scriptures are corrupt. This belief is called tahrif and asserts that transmission of the Bible texts are unreliable because Jews and Christians altered the text for immoral purposes.
But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard; they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them- barring a few – ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind. From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the day of judgment. And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done.
Surah 5:13-14, Ali
Quite a number of the People of the Book wish they could Turn you (people) back to infidelity after ye have believed, from selfish envy, after the Truth hath become Manifest unto them: But forgive and overlook, Till Allah accomplish His purpose; for Allah Hath power over all things.
Surah 2:109, Ali
However, the Qur’an also says that Allah sent the Torah (Mosaic Law) and Gospels and that the words of Jesus should be believed.
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 that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah … O Messenger! proclaim the (message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord. If thou didst not, thou wouldst not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission. And Allah will defend thee from men (who mean mischief). For Allah guideth not those who reject Faith … Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve … They thought there would be no trial (or punishment); so they became blind and deaf; yet Allah (in mercy) turned to them; yet again many of them became blind and deaf. But Allah sees well all that they do.
Surah 5:46, 67, 69, 71, Ali
O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not “Trinity” : desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.
Surah 4:171, Ali
Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses.
Surah 5:78, Ali
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.
Surah 10:94, Ali
Question. Why would the Qur’an call Muslims to read, listen to and obey a corrupt text?
Another question. When did Jews and Christians corrupt the text of the Bible? Jews finished writing the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) a thousand years before Muhammad received the Qur’an. Christians finished writing the New Testament 500 years before Muhammad received the Qur’an. How could documents that the Qur’an called the words of Allah have been corrupted when those documents were centuries old when Muhammad received the text of the Qur’an? Even if Muslims believe the Bible was corrupted through translations and copying during the centuries leading up to Muhammad receiving the Qur’an, why would the Qur’an call on Muslims to listen to the text of the Bible?
It doesn’t make sense. How can a text be both trustworthy and corrupt at the same time? Muslims believe in both the corruption of biblical text (taḥrīf lafẓī) and corruption of interpretation of the biblical text (taḥrīf ma‘nawī). It would seem from reading the Qur’an and Hadiths that Muslims view themselves as best able to determine which biblical texts are corrupt and which interpretations of biblical texts are right or wrong.
Qur’an on the Bible
Muslims believe Jews and Christians corrupted the Bible, so it is not to be trusted. However, the Qur’an seems to support a trustworthy Bible. We’ll let the Qur’an speak about the Bible to see what it says.
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.
Surah 10:94, Yusuf Ali
The Qur’an has Allah telling Muhammad to ask Jews and Christians “who have been reading the Scripture before you” if he (Muhammad) is in “doubt.” Why would Allah tell the Muslim prophet to ask Jews and Christians when he has doubts? Does that sound like Jews and Christians are corrupters of sacred texts?
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 Allah 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 Allah 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 Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute.
Surah 5:48, Ali
The Qur’an states that Allah confirmed the Bible and guarded it “in safety.” How could Muslims believe the Bible is corrupt if Allah both confirmed and guarded “the scripture that came before” the Qur’an?
Rejected were the messengers before thee: with patience and constancy they bore their rejection and their wrongs, until Our aid did reach them: there is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of Allah. Already hast thou received some account of those messengers.
Surah 6:34, Ali
The word of thy Lord doth find its fulfilment in truth and in justice: None can change His words: for He is the one who heareth and knoweth all.
Surah 6:115, Ali
For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present and in the Hereafter; no change can there be in the words of Allah. This is indeed the supreme felicity.
Surah 10:64, Ali
In these verses from the Qur’an we see Allah telling Muhammad to ask Jews and Christians questions to help him with “doubt” and use the Bible as verification of truth claims in the Qur’an. The Qur’an also states the Word of God cannot be altered. How could Muslims use a biblical text that had been corrupted to verify the text of the Qur’an? How could the Bible be altered if God’s Word can’t be altered? It doesn’t make sense.
If a Muslim believes that the Qur’an is eternal and perfect (which they do), then they must also believe that the Bible is eternal and perfect (which they don’t). This issue of corruption of the Bible by Jews and Christians when the Qur’an explicitly states the opposite is something Muslims should look into further. Many who have looked into it have become Christians (e.g. Nabeel Qureshi, Abdu Murray).
For Further Consideration
Moreover, We gave Moses the Book, completing (Our favour) to those who would do right, and explaining all things in detail,- and a guide and a mercy, that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord. And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy.
Surah 6:154-155, Ali
There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe.
Surah 12:111, Ali
Seest thou not those that dispute concerning the Signs of Allah? How are they turned away (from Reality)?- Those who reject the Book and the (revelations) with which We sent our messengers: but soon shall they know.
Surah 40:69-70, Ali
And before this, was the Book of Moses as a guide and a mercy: And this Book confirms (it) in the Arabic tongue; to admonish the unjust, and as Glad Tidings to those who do right.
Surah 46:12, Ali
That which We have revealed to thee of the Book is the Truth,- confirming what was (revealed) before it: for Allah is assuredly- with respect to His Servants – well acquainted and Fully Observant.
Surah 35:31, Ali
Behold, We turned towards thee a company of Jinns (quietly) listening to the Qur’an: when they stood in the presence thereof, they said, ‘Listen in silence!’ When the (reading) was finished, they returned to their people, to warn (them of their sins). They said, “O our people! We have heard a Book revealed after Moses, confirming what came before it: it guides (men) to the Truth and to a Straight Path.
Surah 46:29-30, Ali
It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong).
Surah 3:3, Ali
Next Time
If the Qur’an says Allah confirmed the text of the Bible, would the angel Gabriel give Muhammad anything that would contradict biblical teaching and ‘dis-confirm’ it? We will look at what may be the number one difference between the Bible and Qur’an in the next part of our special series, When Angels Speak.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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