Islamic Dilemma

 Understanding Quran's view on the Bible 

If I could change one thing at all in the realm of Christian apologetics, it would be getting Christians and Muslims to understand what the Quran says about the Bible, about the Jewish and Christian scriptures. This would change the course of history and make the world a much better place. And I'm not exaggerating. Your average Muslim has no clue what the Quran says about the Bible. He thinks he knows what the Quran says about the Bible but the Quran actually says the opposite of what he thinks. It says, if he knew what the Quran actually says about the Bible conversations between Christians and Muslims would go very very differently. As things are now you're talking to your Muslim friend, he says he believes in Allah and Muhammad and the Quran. You say you believe that Jesus is Lord, that he died on the cross for sins and rose from the dead. And at some point your Muslim friend is going to have to say, well, you believe that because your Bible's been corrupted. So he asked to declare that the Bible's been corrupted. He says the Bible's been corrupted because that's what he's been told by his  sheikhs (an honorific title in the Arabic language, الشيخ ; alshaykh literally meaning "elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim scholar.) and imams (imam, in a general sense, one who leads Muslim worshippers in prayer. In a global sense, imam is used to refer to the head of the Muslim community (ummah). The title is found in the Qurʾān several times to refer to leaders and to Abraham.)   So the conversation then turns to the preservation of the Bible and textual criticism and stays on the those kinds of issues forever. But if you could show your Muslim friend that according to the Quran he has to believe in the inspiration the preservation and the authority of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, you would have some very interesting common ground to build upon. 

You and your Muslim friend would agree that the Bible is authoritative for you and for him and you could then move on to showing him what the Bible says. And eventually you could show him that since the Quran affirms the inspiration and the preservation and the authority of the Bible. And yet contradicts the Bible on basic doctrines. The Quran self-destructs. And he should leave Islam. Wouldn't that be fun. So why don't we do that. l'II show you how most Muslims again are convinced that according to the... they're convinced that according to the Quran, Jews and Christians corrupted our scriptures. And that, this is one of the main reasons Allah had to send the Quran. The Quran is supposed to correct the false teachings inserted into the Torah and the gospel by Jews and Christians. But this is simply a myth. The Quran never even hints that the Torah and the gospel are no longer reliable. So if the Quran doesn't claim that the Torah and the gospel have been corrupted, what is the Quran's view of the Christian scriptures. In a nutshell, the position of the Quran is that Allah sent prophets into various parts of the world. In fact, everyone had their prophet and he inspired scriptures for different groups of people around the world. These scriptures, these  different scriptures are reliable and authoritative for the groups that they were revealed to. Some members of these groups obey their scriptures and others don't, as of the early 7th Century. Arabs didn't have a revelation in their own language. But these Arabs couldn't simply trust what Jews and Christians were telling them. Couldn't trust what Jews and Christians were just saying about the Torah and the gospel because some Jews and Christians misinterpret and misrepresent what is in the Torah and the gospel. So the Arabs needed a revelation in Arabic. That's why Allah sent Muhammad. Now that Arabs have the Quran, a revealed book that they can understand for themselves in their own language. They're supposed to judge by the Quran. Other groups are supposed to judge by their own books. Jews are to judge by the Torah. Christians are to judge by the gospel and so on. That's the real position of the Quran. And it's very different from what most Muslims believe. But don't take my word for any of this. Let's turn to the Quran, go through the Quran and see if we can put together a true picture of the   actual Islamic perspective on the Christian scriptures. In ver 16 verse 36 of the Quran, Allah says, and certainly we have raised in every nation an apostle saying, serve Allah and shun false gods. An apostle was sent to every nation. The Arabs were the last to receive guidance. So Muhammad was the last of the ...  

[The Quran emphasizes the belief in all revelations from Allah.]

... prophets. Counting Muhammad, the Quran names 25 of them. We find some examples in Surah 3 verse 84 say, "we believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us and in what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes. And in what was given to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We do not make any distinction between any of them and to him do we submit." Muslims are required to believe in the revelations given to all of Allah's prophets and Messengers. They are not to make any distinction between any of these Revelations. I can't help but point out that if someone says all of the revelations are corrupted except mine, that's a pretty big distinction. Everyone else's Revelations have been corrupted but not mine. That would be the  distinction of all distinctions. The Quran commands Muslims to make no distinction between these various Revelations around the world. Allah also names some of the books that he revealed, for instance the Quran, affirms the inspiration of the Torah and the gospel in Surah 3: 3 to 4. He Allah has revealed to you the book with truth verifying that which before it and he revealed the Torah and the gospel aforetime ( Aforetime definition: in time past; in a former time; previously) a guidance for mankind. And he revealed the criterian, the Quran. So Allah gave the Torah and the gospel as a guidance for mankind. What happened then. Did the Jews corrupt the Torah and did the Christians corrupt the gospel? Not according to the Quran. The Quran says that Jews and Christians still had the Torah and the gospel in the 7th century when Muhammad was preaching in Arabia. The Quran affirms the preservation of the Torah and the  gospel in a variety of ways. Some of which aren't very clear in Translation,   like right here, even here, in sa 3 verses 3 to 4 where the inspiration of the Torah and the gospel is obviously affirmed. The preservation of these texts is somewhat obscure in the English translation. The Quran is said to verify that which is before it. Does this mean before it in time . 

The Quran only saying that the Torah and the gospel were reliable when they were originally revealed but not necessarily later. Or does it mean something much more significant. Well, the Arabic phrase translated as before it here which literally means is bb and literally means between his hands or between its hands. When it's used as an idiom, BYi means in his presence or in its presence. So the Quran isn't verifying books that came before it, but were corrupted at some point in the past. The Quran is verifying books that were still available as it was being revealed. And since the Quran specifically refers to the Torah and the gospel here, and the gospel still existed and were verified as the word of Allah during the time of Muhammad, let's read the  commentary of Muhammad Assad, was some translator and commentator, just so you don't think I'm making stuff up. His commentary on the phrase B, most of the commentators are of the opinion that Ma Yi literally that which is between its hands denotes here the revelations which came before it I.E before the Quran. This interpretation is not however entirely convincing, although there is not the least doubt that in this context the pronominal ma refers to earlier Revelations and particularly the Bible as is evident from the parallel use of the above expression in other  Quranic passages. The idiomatic phrase ma Yi does not in itself mean that which came before it IE in time but rather that which lies open before   it. Since however ever the pronoun it refer relates here to the Quran, the metaphorical expression between its hands or before it cannot possibly refer to knowledge but must obviously refer to an objective reality with which the Quran is confronted that is something, that was coexistent in time with the revelation of the Quran. So when the Quran refers to the Torah and the gospel before the Quran, it's not saying before the Quran in time, it's saying the Torah and the gospel are there before the Quran as I would say I here I stand before you. Interestingly, Muhammad Assad again dra translator and commentator believed that the Torah and the gospel had been corrupted because he knew that the Torah and the gospel contradict the Quran. But he was forced just based on the language to acknowledge that the Quran is affirming something that was still available as Muhammad was receiving his Revelations.

[Quran confirms the Bible and Torah] 

The Quran uses this phrase Mai between his hands or in its hands or in its presence over and over again to show that it's confirming texts that   were still present in the 7th Century, Surah 6: 92. And this the Quran is a blessed book which we have sent down confirming that which is BYi between its hands or in its presence Surah 10:37. And this Quran is not such as could ever be produced by other than Allah, but it is a confirmation of that which is  B between its hands or in its presence again the these passages are referring to the earlier scriptures sah 35:31 and that which we have revealed to you of the book that is the truth verifying that which is between its hands or in its presence, Surah 46:30 they said "Oh Our People verily we have heard a book the Quran sent down after Moses verifying what is B between its hands or in its presence." ( Details here)  It's as if Allah is saying, how can I make it any clearer to you that I'm talking about texts that are still around, not about texts that were corrupted centuries ago. Not surprisingly since the Quran verifies the Torah and the gospel still in existence in the 7th Century, it also declares that 7th Century Jews and Christians were stil reading the Torah and the gospel. Surah 7 verse 157  ( details here) we read those who follow the messenger the unlettered prophet.  Most Muslims believe this is talking about Muhammad, those who follow the messenger the unlettered prophet whom they find written down with them in the Torah and the gospel, it is they who will prosper. How can we he talking about Jews and Christians who find Muhammad mentioned in our book. How can we find Muhammad in the Torah and the gospel if we don't have the Torah and the gospel. Quran saying that there are parts of the Torah and the gospel that are about Muhammad. These are reliable even though the rest of it has been corrupted. How would you know that the parts about Muhammad weren't also corrupted. Seems like the argument wouldn't work very well. What's the point of appealing to a book to validate your profit, if you're simultaneously claiming that the book you're appealing to as evidence and proof of your Prophet has been corrupted. Contrary to charges of corruption, the Quran asserts that no one can change Allah's words. Surah 6: 114 to 115  ( details here) shall I then seek a judge other than Allah and he it is who has revealed to you the book made plain and those to whom we have given the book know that it is revealed by your Lord with truth therefore you should not be of the disputers and the word of your Lord has been accomplished truly and justly, there is none who can change his words and he is the hearing, the knowing. There is none who can change Allah's words Surah 18: 27, and recite what has been revealed to you of the book of your Lord, there is none who can alter his words and you shall not find any Refuge, besides him there is none. Who can alter his words, who can corrupt Allah's words? Can the Apostle Paul or people at the Council of Nicene, can Christians, can Jews ? Quran says no one. This point, my Muslim friends usually say, well this is just referring to the Quran. No one can corrupt his words in the Quran. Just doesn't say no one can corrupt his words in the Quran. It says no one can alter his words. And as we've seen according to the Quran, the Torah and the gospel are Allah's words. In case anyone's wondering whether I'm interpreting these verses correctly, I should point out that in Islam,   Muhammad is considered the greatest interpreter of the Quran. And Muhammad was certainly in disputably convinced that Jews and Christians still had reliable scriptures. In Said Abu Daud 4449, Muhammad is judging a dispute among the Jews. Here's what happens. They set out a cushion judge would sit on the Judgment cushion. They set out a cushion for the messenger of Allah and he sat on it. Then he said bring me the Torah. It was brought and he took the cushion from beneath him and placed the Torah on it. Notice the imagery. He's setting the Torah on the Judgment cushion as the judge of this dispute. He placed the Torah on it and ... [ Muhammad confirms the accuracy of the Bible and Torah. ] ... said, I believe in you and in the one who revealed you. So the Jews have a copy of the Torah 7th Century Muhammad speaks to it and says I believe in you and in the one who revealed you. This goes far beyond confirming the initial inspiration of the Torah 2,000 years earlier. Muhammad confirms the Torah that the Jew still had in his time but Jews weren't the only ones whose scriptures had been accurately preserved. In Jamia chapter 2653 ( details here) Muhammad's companion Abu reports 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 zad bin laid Al anari said, how will it be taken from us while we recite the Quran words, Muhammad says knowledge is going to be taken away from my community someone objects what are you talking about we recite the Quran how's knowledge going to depart from us so he says how will it be taken away from us while we recite the Quran by Allah we recite it and our women and children recite it he Muhammad said may you be bed of your mother hose yet it's pretty harsh response l used to consider you among the fukah those are Islamic jurists of the people of al-Medina the Torah and the gospel are with the Jews and Christians but what do they avail of them. Zad wants to know how it's possible for knowledge to depart from the Muslim Community when they still have the Quran Muhammad points to the Jews and Christians and says they still have the Torah and the gospel don't they Muhammad's response makes no sense if he thought the Torah and the gospel had been corrupted because he's only bringing them up to show that just because you have reliable scriptures and you teach them and quote them this doesn't mean you're on the right track. So Muhammad certainly didn't believe that the Torah and the gospel had been corrupted. Muslims who maintain that the Christian scriptures have been corrupted are therefore claiming to understand what Allah says in the Quran better than their own Prophet did. That's presumptuous. But the Quran goes even further than defending the inspiration and preservation of the Torah and the gospel. The Quran insists that these texts are still authoritative S 5 verse 43 some Jews come to Muhammad to settle a dispute watch Allah's response this is how Allah responds to them why do they come to you for judgment oh Muhammad when they have the Torah before them wherein is the Judgment of Allah yet they turn back after that and these are not the believers. Why are they coming to you Muhammad. They've got they've got their own Revelation. What are they doing with you, for according to the Quran, do Jews need the Quran. No. They got their own book. According to Muslims today, do Jews need the Quran. According to Muslims today, Jews need the Quran because the Torah has been corrupted. Notice they're saying the exact opposite of what their Quran says what about Christians sah 5 verse 47 this is just a few verses later it's a few verses after Allah tells the Jews they don't need Muhammad. Allah commands Christians Surah 5:47, let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein if any do fail to judge by the light of what Allah hath revealed they are no better than those who rebel. According to the Quran should Christians judge by the gospel absolutely we're rebels if we don't according to your Muslim friends  should Christians judge by the gospel of course not it's been corrupted they're say saying the exact opposite of what their God says. See the difference, if the Torah and the gospel have been corrupted, Jews and Christians have nowhere else to turn, because in Surah 5: 68, Allah tells Muhammad to say, oh people of the book, you have no ground to stand upon unless you stand fast by the Torah, the gospel and all the Revelation that has come to you from your Lord. We have no ground to stand upon unless we stand fast by what corrupt scriptures. That wouldn't make any sense. Wouldn't make any sense to say you have no ground to stand upon unless you stand upon corrupt ...

[The Torah and Bible are authoritative even for Muhammad]

... scriptures interestingly the Torah and the gospel were authoritative even for Muhammad. When Muhammad was having doubts about his Revelations and he certainly had some doubts, he was commanded to go to the people of the book, Jews and Christians, for confirmation. So that we would confirm his Revelations, Allah tells Muhammad. Surah 10:94, ( details here) but if you are in doubt as to what we have revealed to you ask those who read the book before you, certainly the truth has come to you from your Lord, therefore you should not be of the disputers. Why would Allah tell Muhammed to verify his Revelations by checking with people who have corrupt Revelations. The only way his Revelations would line up with corrupt Revelations was if his Revelations were also corrupt. So the Torah and the gospel are authoritative not only for Jews and Christians but even for Muhammad himself. Our book (Bible ) is the standard. On whether his book (Quran) is from God, now if the Torah and the gospel are the inspired preserved authoritative word of Allah, why did Allah need to send the Quran. It tells us Surah 46:12 (details here)  and before this Quran was the book of Moses as a guide and a mercy and this book the Quran confirms it in the Arabic language to admonish the unjust and as Glad Tidings to those who do right. The Quran confirms the Torah in Arabic. Why Arabic. So that Muhammad could warn the Arabs surah for 2: 7 (details here) and thus we have revealed to you Muhammad an Arabic Quran that you may warn the mother City Mecca and those around it and that you may give warning of the day of gathering together wherein is no doubt, party shall be in the garden and another party shall be in the burning fire. If Allah hadn't given a revelation in Arabic, the Arabs would have had an excuse on the day of judgment. In other words, if you didn't have a revelation in your own language, you could say, I didn't know what I am supposed to do. Surah 6: 155 to 157 and this Quran is a book we have revealed as a blessing. Therefore follow it and guard against evil so that Mercy may be shown to you, lest you should say the book was only revealed to two parties before us and we were truly unaware of what they read or lest you should say if the book had been revealed to us we would certainly have been better guided than they. So Allah doesn't reveal the Quran because all other Revelations have been corrupted. He reveals the Quran so that Arabs can't complain that they don't have a book in their own language. By the way, my Muslim friends tell me that the Quran is the book for all people, all languages. That the Quran can only be understood in Arabic. But if the point of revealing the Quran in Arabic, according to the Quran itself, was for a particular group of people to have a revelation in their own language so that they could understand it. What sense does it make to say that the Quran is the book for all people when the vast  majority of the world's population can't understand Arabic. What Muslims say over and over again completely contradicts what their own God and their own Prophet say. So the Quran's view both of itself and of the Jewish and Christian  scriptures is quite different from the view held by Muslims today. But how do Muslims respond when we show them that their book (Quran) affirms the inspiration and the preservation and the authority of our book (Bible). We'll quickly go through the four most common things they say. They can say other things but these are the ones I you'll hear over and over again. 

 First, Muslims state the obvious. They'Il say, but the Bible contradicts the Quran and they'll conclude that the Quran can't possibly be affirming a book that it contradicts. Sorry but we know that the Bible contradicts the Quran. That's part of the lslamic dilemma. The Quran affirms a book that contradicts. The fact that the Quran contradicts the Bible doesn't change the fact that the Quran affirms the Bible. If I were to say that I affirm the inspiration and the preservation and the authority of the Quran and then I contradict it that would be a problem for me, thinking would be incoherent on this issue and that's the point. The Quran is incoherent. It is affirming scriptures that contradict it. So that doesn't help. They'll also say when the Quran talks about the gospel it's referring to a book that Jesus ...

[Contradiction in the Quran.] 

... brought. Not to the gospels Christians have today. Very common. They say this because of Surah 5 verse 46 of the Quran which says that Allah gave Jesus the gospel. So they think that Allah gave Jesus a book that Jesus then gave to his followers. And they say that the Quran is only affirming this book that Allah gave to Jesus and not the gospels. But that just doesn't work because the Quran says that Christians still have the gospel. Quran says that Christians were still reading the gospel during the time of Muhammad. The Quran says that Christians have to judge by the gospel and that we're rebels if we don't. The Quran says that Christians have no ground to stand upon if we don't stand upon the gospel. 

So if the Quran is saying all of this about a book that we don't have and that we've never even heard of, then the Quran is even more incoherent than we thought. We don't have a book that was given to Jesus we can't read a book that we don't have, we can't judge by a book that we don't have. The Quran affirms a book that we have. Here's the book that we have, do the math. One third of Muslims will quote Surah 2 verse 79 of the Quran and claim that this verse is about the corruption of the Bible. The verse reads, then woe to those who write the book with their own hands and say this is from Allah, to purchase with it a little price, woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn thereby. See, it's talking about your Bible being