Does the Quran Confirm the Bible?
The relationship between the Quran and the Bible has been a subject of significant theological and scholarly discussion. In particular, the question arises whether the Quran affirms the Bible as the final and complete revelation of God. While the Quran does speak of certain scriptures—such as the Torah (Tawrat), the Psalms (Zabur), and the Gospel (Injeel)—the actual relationship between these scriptures and the Bible as we have it today is far more complex. This paper will examine what the Quran says about the scriptures, how it views previous revelations, and whether the Bible, as it exists today, is confirmed by the Quran.
1. The Quranic References to the Scriptures
The Quran mentions several scriptures, each associated with a prophet who was divinely appointed to deliver God’s message. These include:
The Scrolls of Abraham (Suhuf Ibrahim): These are not detailed in the Quran, but they are mentioned as an early revelation given to the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim, AS). The Quran does not elaborate much on these scrolls, but they are understood to be an earlier form of divine scripture, lost to history.
The Torah (Tawrat): This was revealed to Prophet Moses (Musa, AS). The Torah is regarded in the Quran as a divine revelation given to Moses, and it contains guidance for the Children of Israel. However, the Quran also alludes to the fact that parts of the Torah were distorted over time (Quran 5:13).
The Psalms (Zabur): The Psalms are attributed to Prophet David (Dawood, AS). While the Quran mentions the Psalms as a scripture given to David, it does not provide much detail about its content or its preservation. The Psalms in the Bible, as we have them today, are generally seen as a collection of songs, prayers, and hymns rather than a codified law or prophecy like the Torah.
The Gospel (Injeel): The Gospel was given to Prophet Jesus (Isa, AS). In the Quran, the Injeel is described as a single book given to Jesus, providing guidance and light. However, the Gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) were written by unknown authors, long after Jesus’ time, and reflect the theological developments of early Christianity. The Quran does not refer to these four Gospels and is clear that they were written by individuals who were not prophets.
The Quran: Finally, the Quran itself is the last and final scripture, revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Muslims believe that the Quran is the preserved word of God, without alteration, and serves as the final guidance for humanity.
2. The Relationship Between the Quranic Scriptures and the Bible
It is important to note that the Quran does not explicitly mention the Bible as it exists today. While it refers to the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel, it is clear from Islamic theology that these references are to the original scriptures revealed to the respective prophets, not the corrupted versions that exist in the Bible. This is a crucial point that differentiates the Quran’s perspective on the Bible from the views held by many Christians.
The Bible is a Human Construct
The Bible, as it exists today, is a collection of texts written by various authors over centuries. These texts were passed down through multiple translations, edits, and redactions. The Old Testament books were not written by Moses or any other specific prophet, but rather by various authors over several centuries, often based on oral traditions or earlier texts. The New Testament Gospels, likewise, were written decades after Jesus’ death by individuals who were not eyewitnesses to the events they describe.
Furthermore, the Bible has undergone numerous translations and revisions over time, including the removal and addition of certain books in different Christian traditions (e.g., the Protestant Bible vs. the Catholic Bible). This process of translation and transmission makes the Bible today a human construct, rather than the original, unaltered scripture that the Quran refers to.
The Quran and the Bible’s Corruption
The Quran makes it clear that previous scriptures were not preserved in their original form. There are verses that indicate that the scriptures given to earlier prophets were altered or distorted by the people who received them. The Quran says:
“Woe to those who write the scripture with their own hands and then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn!”
(Quran 2:79)
This verse indicates that some of the scriptures that were revealed to earlier prophets were corrupted by human hands. This corruption did not necessarily involve the complete destruction of the scriptures, but rather the alteration of their contents or the addition of falsehoods.
In another verse, the Quran states:
“But those who follow the Jewish religion and those who follow the Christian religion and the Sabians—whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does righteousness—will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
(Quran 2:62)
This verse suggests that the previous scriptures had some truth and that those who followed them in sincerity could still be rewarded by God. However, the message is clear that the scriptures themselves had been altered, as indicated by the subsequent call for the final revelation, the Quran, to correct these deviations.
The Quran also highlights the distortion in the teachings of the previous prophets:
“And the Jews say, ‘The hand of Allah is chained.’ Their hands are chained, and they are cursed for what they say. Rather, His hands are extended. He spends however He wills.”
(Quran 5:64)
Here, the Quran criticizes the alteration of teachings by certain groups, suggesting that they have misinterpreted or misrepresented the true message.
3. The Injeel vs. The Four Gospels
The Quran refers to the Injeel as the scripture given to Jesus (Isa, AS). However, it is important to note that the Quran speaks of the Injeel as a single revelation, not the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) found in the New Testament. The Gospels we have today were written by various authors, none of whom were direct disciples of Jesus, and they were written decades after his death, during a time when the early Christian church was developing its theology and understanding of Jesus’ life and message.
The Quran’s Injeel is a direct revelation to Jesus, offering guidance and wisdom. The four Gospels, however, represent the theological perspectives of early Christian communities and reflect the growing influence of the Church in shaping the narrative of Jesus’ life. Over time, these Gospels were edited, redacted, and sometimes changed to fit particular theological agendas, making them significantly different from the original message that Jesus would have conveyed.
4. The Torah and the Old Testament
The Torah, as mentioned in the Quran, was given to Moses (Musa, AS). However, the Torah in the Quran is not the same as the Old Testament that exists in the Bible. The Torah in the Quran is understood to be the original revelation given to Moses, containing the guidance and laws for the Children of Israel. The five books of Moses in the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) are understood to be later compilations based on oral traditions and earlier texts. These books, in their current form, are not the original Torah that the Quran refers to.
Moreover, the Quran acknowledges the existence of these earlier scriptures but emphasizes that the true teachings were lost or altered over time.
“And [recall] when Allah took the covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], ‘You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it.'”
(Quran 3:187)
This indicates that the scriptures were meant to be preserved and made clear, but due to human intervention, much of the original content was lost or corrupted.
5. The Bible is Not Confirmed by the Quran
Although the Quran speaks highly of the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel as originally revealed, it does not confirm the Bible as it is understood by Christians today. The Bible, with its multiple versions and translations, is a human product, influenced by various theological and political factors over centuries. The Quran itself does not affirm the Bible’s authenticity, particularly because the Quran mentions that previous scriptures were altered.
Furthermore, Christians, while believing in the Bible, do not accept the Quran as the final revelation from God. Yet, some attempt to use the Quran as evidence that the Bible is God’s confirmed word. This is a contradiction, as the Quran, in fact, suggests that the Bible has undergone distortion and alteration.
Conclusion
The Quran does refer to divine scriptures given to the prophets, including the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel. However, these references are to the original scriptures revealed to the respective prophets, not the Bible in its present form. The Quran makes it clear that these scriptures were corrupted over time, and thus, the Bible cannot be considered the definitive, unaltered word of God. While the Quran acknowledges the existence of earlier revelations, it does not confirm the Bible as it is today. The Bible, as a human construct, reflects centuries of translation, editing, and theological influence, and thus cannot be seen as the final, unaltered word of God. The Quran remains, for Muslims, the preserved and final revelation of God’s truth.