Mr Tickle
24-05-02, 05:33 PM
Integrity of the Bible
It is supposed by many Muslims that the Bible that Christians have today is a corruption of an original text, which has been lost. They charge Christians with distorting the Bible. Yet, on the other hand, their "holy" book, the Qur'an, upholds this same Bible, calling it the word of God.
God Caused Them to Descend
(He Revealed Them)
In the Qur'an the following terms are used with reference to parts of the Bible:-
Tawrat - Torah, the first five books of the Bible
Zabur - the Psalms
Injil - the Gospel
Sahaif - the books of the prophets
The Torah, the Psalms and the Sahaif are called the Holy Scriptures of the Jews, which Christians call the Old Testament. The Injil is called the Holy Scripture of the Christians which Christians call the New Testament. The Qur'an states that all these Scriptures were revealed by God: "...confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel" (Qur'an 3:3).
A Guidance for Mankind
The Qur'an emphasizes that the Tawrat, the Zabur, the Injil, and the Sahaif are God's books, his word, light, and "Furqan" that is, a criterion for judgment.
Tawrat
is the book of Allah (Qur'an 2:101, 3:23, 5:44).
is a guidance and reminder for men of understanding (Qur'an 40:53-54).
is light and guidance (Qur'an 5:44).
is "the criterion" (Qur'an 2:53, 21:48).
Injil
"has clear proofs" (Qur'an 2:87).
was "bestowed on him (Jesus)"
has "guidance and light" and
is "confirming . . . the Torah" (Qur'an 5:46).
The Universality of the Torah and the Injil
The Qur'an insists that the Injil and the Torah are guidance for all mankind, "clear testimonies for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy" (Qur'an 28:43, cf 3:3-4, 6:92).
The Holy Injil as a Standard
Christians are told to judge according to the Injil, "Let the people of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed, such are evil livers" (Qur'an 5:47).
The Qur'an would hardly command Christians to judge by their book if there were any reason to believe that it had been changed, even in the slightest degree. Yet, many Muslims today allege that the Holy Gospel has been grossly distorted. Either Muslims who cast doubt on the veracity of the Bible are wrong or Muhammad was wrong!
God's Word Never Changes
The Qur'an claims that no one can alter the word of God. It says, "It is the law of Allah which hath taken course aforetime. Thou wilt not find the law of Allah aught of power to change". (Qur'an 48:23) In another place the Qur'an says, "There is no changing the word of Allah - that is the Supreme Triumph" (Qur'an 10:64, 6:34).
The Qur'an as a Guardian
The Qur'an not only claims to confirm the previous Scriptures but also claims the responsibility of being, "the watcher over it" (Qur'an 5:48). Al-Baidhawi explains that "watch over it" means, "The Qur'an is the protector of all the sacred books to preserve them from any kind of change" [Qazi Nasiruddin Abusaeed Abudullah bin Umar al-Baidhawi (1300 A.D.) wrote a well known commentary on the Qur'an, originally called "Anwar-al-tunzeel" but now known as "Tafsir-e-Baidhawi"].
The Qur'an Does Not Suggest "Alteration"
In the Qur'an there is no suggestion of alteration or corruption of the biblical text by use of the word "tahrif". The Qur'an, using the word "tahrif", occasionally accuses the Jews (but not the Christians) of concealing the truth, but it in no way implies that the text had been corrupted.
Different kinds of "Tahrif"
In the Qur'an the word "tahrif" is used with the following meanings:
To pervert words from their meaning by distorting them with the tongue. For example, the Qur'an accuses certain Jews of deliberately mispronouncing words spoken by Muhammad: "Some of those who are Jews change words from their context . . . distorting with their tongues and slandering religion" (Qur'an 4:46, cf. 3:78). The Imam Fakr al Din Al Razi (d.1228) believed that the tahrif" referred to in the Qur'an was in meaning, not in text. He wrote the voluminous commentary on the Qur'an which is properly known by many Muslims as "The Great Tafsir".
To misinterpret verses. For example, they "used to listen to the Word of Allah then used to change it, after they had understood it, knowingly" (Qur'an 2:75). In his book, "Alfouz al kabeer fi Osulal tafsir", Shalh Waliullah states that in the Qur'an "tahrif" refers to the Jews misquoting or mistranslating the Torah and he asserts that the original was not and cannot be altered, it being the word of God.
The Facts
Accusations by Muslim apologists that the text of the Injil and the Torah had been corrupted before the coming of the prophet of Islam. If that were so, why does the Qur'an affirm that the message revealed to Muhammad was simply a confirmation of the previous Scriptures?
According to the Qur'an, which was written approximately seven hundred years after the writing of the Injil, the Torah and the Injil were in pure form in Muhammad's time. Had the Injil not been genuine and totally accurate in the time of Muhammad, then the Qur'an would not have instructed Christians to judge by that which God had revealed in the Gospel.
After Muhammad
Others charge that the Torah and the Injil were changed sometime after Muhammad began preaching. However, this charge contradicts the Qur'an since it claims to be the guardian of the previous inspired books. Thus, anyone who claims that there has been corruption of the text of the Torah or the Injil also, inevitably, charges the Qur'an with failure in its role as Guardian!
If the pre-Islamic Scriptures had been corrupted, why does the Qur'an order Muslims to believe them? For it is written in the Qur'an:
"Say (O Muslims): 'We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob, and the tribes and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered" (Qur'an 2:136)
Documentary Evidence
Numerous manuscript copies of all parts of the Bible written centuries before the time of Muhammad are available today. For example, the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were written before 68A.D. contain most of every book of the Old Testament except Esther. (F.F. Bruce, "Second Thoughts on the Dead Sea Scrolls", London, Paternoster Press, 1956, p.31).
Also, one of the oldest Greek manuscripts of the entire New Testament that is available for research is Codex Alexandrius. This manuscript dates form the fifth century A.D. and may be seen daily and studied in the British Museum in London. Manuscripts of portions of the New Testament which date back to the second century may also be studied.
The reliability if the present-day Bible may be verified by comparison with such documents as these. Modern bonafide translations are basically the same in content as those current in Muhammad's time. They do not differ in any item of doctrine that Muslims call to question. We Christians believe that God who preserved his Word in the past is able to preserve it always in the future.
Has the Bible Really Changed?
If the Bible and the Qur'an do disagree they cannot both be right. Has, then, the Qur'an made a mistake in vindicating the Bible? No! For reference has been made to the historical documents which substantiate the Bible.
We urge Muslims to follow the Qur'an's clear advice to Muhammad and his followers:
"If thou art in doubt concerning that We reveal unto thee, then question those who read Scripture (that was) before thee" (Qur'an 10:94).
Why?
Because it is truly "a guidance to all mankind" (Qur'an 3:4).
It is supposed by many Muslims that the Bible that Christians have today is a corruption of an original text, which has been lost. They charge Christians with distorting the Bible. Yet, on the other hand, their "holy" book, the Qur'an, upholds this same Bible, calling it the word of God.
God Caused Them to Descend
(He Revealed Them)
In the Qur'an the following terms are used with reference to parts of the Bible:-
Tawrat - Torah, the first five books of the Bible
Zabur - the Psalms
Injil - the Gospel
Sahaif - the books of the prophets
The Torah, the Psalms and the Sahaif are called the Holy Scriptures of the Jews, which Christians call the Old Testament. The Injil is called the Holy Scripture of the Christians which Christians call the New Testament. The Qur'an states that all these Scriptures were revealed by God: "...confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel" (Qur'an 3:3).
A Guidance for Mankind
The Qur'an emphasizes that the Tawrat, the Zabur, the Injil, and the Sahaif are God's books, his word, light, and "Furqan" that is, a criterion for judgment.
Tawrat
is the book of Allah (Qur'an 2:101, 3:23, 5:44).
is a guidance and reminder for men of understanding (Qur'an 40:53-54).
is light and guidance (Qur'an 5:44).
is "the criterion" (Qur'an 2:53, 21:48).
Injil
"has clear proofs" (Qur'an 2:87).
was "bestowed on him (Jesus)"
has "guidance and light" and
is "confirming . . . the Torah" (Qur'an 5:46).
The Universality of the Torah and the Injil
The Qur'an insists that the Injil and the Torah are guidance for all mankind, "clear testimonies for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy" (Qur'an 28:43, cf 3:3-4, 6:92).
The Holy Injil as a Standard
Christians are told to judge according to the Injil, "Let the people of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed, such are evil livers" (Qur'an 5:47).
The Qur'an would hardly command Christians to judge by their book if there were any reason to believe that it had been changed, even in the slightest degree. Yet, many Muslims today allege that the Holy Gospel has been grossly distorted. Either Muslims who cast doubt on the veracity of the Bible are wrong or Muhammad was wrong!
God's Word Never Changes
The Qur'an claims that no one can alter the word of God. It says, "It is the law of Allah which hath taken course aforetime. Thou wilt not find the law of Allah aught of power to change". (Qur'an 48:23) In another place the Qur'an says, "There is no changing the word of Allah - that is the Supreme Triumph" (Qur'an 10:64, 6:34).
The Qur'an as a Guardian
The Qur'an not only claims to confirm the previous Scriptures but also claims the responsibility of being, "the watcher over it" (Qur'an 5:48). Al-Baidhawi explains that "watch over it" means, "The Qur'an is the protector of all the sacred books to preserve them from any kind of change" [Qazi Nasiruddin Abusaeed Abudullah bin Umar al-Baidhawi (1300 A.D.) wrote a well known commentary on the Qur'an, originally called "Anwar-al-tunzeel" but now known as "Tafsir-e-Baidhawi"].
The Qur'an Does Not Suggest "Alteration"
In the Qur'an there is no suggestion of alteration or corruption of the biblical text by use of the word "tahrif". The Qur'an, using the word "tahrif", occasionally accuses the Jews (but not the Christians) of concealing the truth, but it in no way implies that the text had been corrupted.
Different kinds of "Tahrif"
In the Qur'an the word "tahrif" is used with the following meanings:
To pervert words from their meaning by distorting them with the tongue. For example, the Qur'an accuses certain Jews of deliberately mispronouncing words spoken by Muhammad: "Some of those who are Jews change words from their context . . . distorting with their tongues and slandering religion" (Qur'an 4:46, cf. 3:78). The Imam Fakr al Din Al Razi (d.1228) believed that the tahrif" referred to in the Qur'an was in meaning, not in text. He wrote the voluminous commentary on the Qur'an which is properly known by many Muslims as "The Great Tafsir".
To misinterpret verses. For example, they "used to listen to the Word of Allah then used to change it, after they had understood it, knowingly" (Qur'an 2:75). In his book, "Alfouz al kabeer fi Osulal tafsir", Shalh Waliullah states that in the Qur'an "tahrif" refers to the Jews misquoting or mistranslating the Torah and he asserts that the original was not and cannot be altered, it being the word of God.
The Facts
Accusations by Muslim apologists that the text of the Injil and the Torah had been corrupted before the coming of the prophet of Islam. If that were so, why does the Qur'an affirm that the message revealed to Muhammad was simply a confirmation of the previous Scriptures?
According to the Qur'an, which was written approximately seven hundred years after the writing of the Injil, the Torah and the Injil were in pure form in Muhammad's time. Had the Injil not been genuine and totally accurate in the time of Muhammad, then the Qur'an would not have instructed Christians to judge by that which God had revealed in the Gospel.
After Muhammad
Others charge that the Torah and the Injil were changed sometime after Muhammad began preaching. However, this charge contradicts the Qur'an since it claims to be the guardian of the previous inspired books. Thus, anyone who claims that there has been corruption of the text of the Torah or the Injil also, inevitably, charges the Qur'an with failure in its role as Guardian!
If the pre-Islamic Scriptures had been corrupted, why does the Qur'an order Muslims to believe them? For it is written in the Qur'an:
"Say (O Muslims): 'We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob, and the tribes and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered" (Qur'an 2:136)
Documentary Evidence
Numerous manuscript copies of all parts of the Bible written centuries before the time of Muhammad are available today. For example, the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were written before 68A.D. contain most of every book of the Old Testament except Esther. (F.F. Bruce, "Second Thoughts on the Dead Sea Scrolls", London, Paternoster Press, 1956, p.31).
Also, one of the oldest Greek manuscripts of the entire New Testament that is available for research is Codex Alexandrius. This manuscript dates form the fifth century A.D. and may be seen daily and studied in the British Museum in London. Manuscripts of portions of the New Testament which date back to the second century may also be studied.
The reliability if the present-day Bible may be verified by comparison with such documents as these. Modern bonafide translations are basically the same in content as those current in Muhammad's time. They do not differ in any item of doctrine that Muslims call to question. We Christians believe that God who preserved his Word in the past is able to preserve it always in the future.
Has the Bible Really Changed?
If the Bible and the Qur'an do disagree they cannot both be right. Has, then, the Qur'an made a mistake in vindicating the Bible? No! For reference has been made to the historical documents which substantiate the Bible.
We urge Muslims to follow the Qur'an's clear advice to Muhammad and his followers:
"If thou art in doubt concerning that We reveal unto thee, then question those who read Scripture (that was) before thee" (Qur'an 10:94).
Why?
Because it is truly "a guidance to all mankind" (Qur'an 3:4).