refuting the christian claim that the quran testifies the bible to be uncorrupted

8/14/2019 Refuting the Christian Claim That the Quran Testifies the Bible to Be Uncorrupted

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1. Introduction

In this paper we will only analyze the Quranic Verses given by the Christian missionaries

claiming that the Quran testifies that the entire Bible is the uncorrupted Word of God.The Quran being the Last and Final Testament mentions the revelations sent to Moses

(Torah), David (Zabur) and Jesus (Injeel). It is obligatory on a Muslim to believe thatthese books were revealed onto these prophets (pbut) who were chosen and sent by Allah(swt). Today our Christian brothers claim that the books which they possess are in the

pristine form just the way they were revealed from Allah (swt) to Moses (as), David (as)

and Jesus (as). They then try to prove using the Quran that even the Quran testifies thatwhich they possess is the uncorrupted Word of God. However, when we read the Quran

we see that it clearly teaches that these books in fact got corrupted.

2. List of Verses in Ascending Order

The list is given in the format Chapter:Verse (Section of Paper it appears in). Example

Chapter 2 Verse 41 appears in the section 4b and hence is written in the list as:2:41 (4b)

The List

2:41 (4b); 2:89 (4b); 2:91 (4b); 2:97 (4b); 2:101 (4b); 2:113 (4c);3:3 (4b); 3:39 (4b); 3:50 (4b); 3:81 (4b);4:47 (4b);5:43 (4a) 5:46-48 (4b); 5:66 (4a); 5:68 (4c);

6:92 (4b);10:37 (4b); 10:94 (4c);12:111 (4b);16:43-44 (4c, 4d);

21:7 (4d); 21:105 (4d);28:48-49 (4e);29:46 (4a);35:31 (4b);37:52 (4b);40:53-54 (4d);46:12 (4b); 46:30 (4b);

61:6 (4b)


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3. The Muslim Belief

Before I begin with the analysis of all the verses in the Quran which the Christians quote

in their defense, let me in short state the basic Muslim belief regarding the Bible whichChristendom possesses.

Muslims do not believe that from cover to cover, the Bible is the complete Word of God.The Muslims also do not believe that from cover to cover the Bible is corrupted. What

the Muslims do believe is that while there is part of the Word of God in the Bible, the

other part is corrupted. To explain it in simpler terms; for example if the Bible has ascientific or historic accuracy, the Muslim will be open to accept that this probably could

be the preserved Word of God but on the other hand a Muslim will never accept that the

scientific or historic inaccuracies in the Bible are also from God.

4. Explaining Verses Quoted by Christians

I will use the translation of Abdullah Yusuf Ali throughout this article unless stated

otherwise.

4a. General Verses Quoted

This is a list of the general verses quoted by the Christians to try and prove that the Quran

confirms the entire Bible which the Christians used to have in those days.

These verses are:

Chapter 29 Verse 46

Chapter 5 Verse 66

Chapter 5 Verse 43

Chapter 29 Verse 46And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere

disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "Webelieve in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down toyou; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam)."

This verse is often quoted by the Christians to prove that the Quran teaches that the Bibleis uncorrupted. When we read this verse we see that Allah (swt) tells us to say that we

believe in the revelation which has come to the People of the Book. As stated before, it is

an article of faith for a Muslim to believe that the Torah, Zabur and Injeel are Books


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revealed onto the respective prophets (pbut) but no where does this verse say that we

believe in what the Christians and the Jews possessed at that time. It is a generalstatement that a Muslim is to believe that Torah, Zabur and Injeel were revealed by Allah

(swt).

Moreover as one can see, in the beginning of the verse, Allah (swt) encourages us todebate and have dialogue with the People of the Book. Now if the Quran was testifying

that the Books which they have at that point in time were in their pure form and that theywere on the right path then why would the Muslims be encouraged to have a dialogue and

debate with the People of the Book? Obviously the dialogue was to help them realize the

wrong which they were doing so that they could come onto the right path. The path asprescribed by Allah (swt). The path one can walk on only by accepting the uncorrupted

Book The Quran.

Chapter 5 Verse 66

If only they had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent tothem from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is fromamong them a party on the right course: but many of them follow a course that is evil.

This noble verse of the Quran informs us that the People of the Book are not holding onto the Torah and the Injeel. Allah (swt) says that if they were following the Torah and the

Injeel then they would have enjoyed happiness. Now the Christian missionaries claim

that the Quran certifies that the entire Bible is uncorrupted. As we can see in this verse

the Quran is actually telling us that they are not following the Torah and the Injeel. Underwhat circumstances would they not be following it? The only reason why they would not

be following it is if they would not have the complete original books. So this verse

actually informs us that they do not have the uncorrupted version of the books. Now thelatter part of the verse states that among the People of the Book there are a few who are

on the right course.

To explain the latter part of the verse, notice in the initial part it says and all the

revelation that was sent to them from their Lord. This phrase includes the revelation that

Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the Messenger of Allah (swt) and all that was revealed tohim. So the verse not only talks about them following the Torah and the Injeel in its pure

form, but also talks about them following Prophet Muhammad (saw). Now in the latter

part of the verse it says that there are some who are on the right course, which means that

there are some who are from among the people of the Book who believe in ProphetMuhammad (saw).

Some might say that those from the People of the Book who have accepted Islam wouldbe referred to as Muslims and not as among the People of the Book. However that claim

of theirs is based on nothing but misinterpretations and misinformation. The Quran gives

similar messages throughout. One such similar message is seen in the following verse:


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And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book, those who believe in Allah, in the

revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to Allah: They will

not sell the Signs of Allah for a miserable gain! For them is a reward with their Lord,

and Allah is swift in account. [Chapter 3 Verse 199]

Notice how this verse also uses the phrase among the People of the Book whenreferring to those from among them who believe in Allah (swt) and in the revelation sent

to Prophet Muhammad (saw). Hence they would be Muslims as well but the Quran yetrefers to them as among the People of the Book. Thus it becomes apparent what Allah

(swt) is referring to in Chapter 5 Verse 66.

Chapter 5 Verse 43Before we read 5:43, we should glance at the context of the verse and read 5:41. I will

quote the concerned part:

.They change the words from their (right) times and places: they say, If ye are giventhis, take it, but if not, beware! - [Quran 5:41]

This was regarding these Jews who had committed adultery and were seeking a

punishment other than stoning to death (rajam) which the Torah prescribed. What theywere seeking was a punishment lesser than that i.e. flogging. They came to Prophet

Muhammad (saw), changing and misrepresenting the Torah, in hope that he would

prescribe flogging and not rajam.

So Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked them to bring the Torah and read. And a person fromamong the Jews was brought forth to read it. However he hid the verse regarding rajam at

first with his hand but then later after he was told to remove his hand, he read it out.

Hence stoning was carried out.

It was in this context that 5:43 was revealed:

But why do they come to thee for decision, when they have (their own) law before

them?- therein is the (plain) command of Allah; yet even after that, they would turn

away. For they are not (really) People of Faith. - [Quran 5:43]

Here in context it is clear that they came with deception in order to gain a favorable

ruling from Prophet Muhammad (saw). Hence Allah (swt) says in the Quran that why do

they come to the Prophet for decision when they do not even believe in him and theyhave a book with laws which they consider Divine. The Torah does have some Divine

laws in it and rajam is one of the preserved Divine laws.

The Jews did not come to Prophet Muhammad (saw) saying something like: O

Muhammad judge between us using the Quran to which Allah said that they should use

the Torah. That was not the case. The Jews came with a deception to Muhammad (saw),changing the law of the Torah, hoping that he would not know the real law and thus they


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would get a favorable ruling or that he would get pleased that they have come to him and

thus accept their word that in the Torah the ruling for adultery is flogging.

In fact the context of this verse exposes how the Jews did change, misinterpret and

misrepresent their books. This verse in no way suggests that the Torah is 100%

uncorrupted Word of God.

4b. Verses with Saddaqa

The Christian Missionaries quote the following verses claiming that these verses containthe root word of confirm i.e. Saddaqa and thus establish that the Bible from cover to

cover is uncorrupted.

The verses they quote are as following:

Chapter 35 Verse 31 Chapter 10 Verse 37

Chapter 12 Verse 111

Chapter 3 Verse 3

Chapter 5 Verse 46 48

Chapter 2 Verse 41

Chapter 2 Verse 89

Chapter 2 Verse 91

Chapter 2 Verse 97

Chapter 2 Verse 101

Chapter 3 Verse 39

Chapter 3 Verse 50

Chapter 3 Verse 81

Chapter 4 Verse 47

Chapter 6 Verse 92

Chapter 37 Verse 52

Chapter 46 Verse 12

Chapter 46 Verse 30

Chapter 61 Verse 6

The word Saddaqa means:

To say (tell, speak) the truth; to be true, truthful, sincere. [Al Mawrid Arabic to English

Dictionary, pg 691]

So here we see that the Quran is speaking the truth about the previous revelations. What

the Christians had with themselves in those days was corrupted and the Quran is speaking

the truth regarding those scriptures. In almost all the verses it is stated that the Quran is


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confirming the previous revelations. So it confirms that which was revealed previously

by speaking the truth regarding it. The Quran verifies that which is preserved in the Bibleto be true. It is truthful and sincere to the previous revelations by Allah (swt) and

not to the corruptions made by man. An analysis of all these verses will show that the

Quran only confirms that which was revealed not that which is corruption. By

confirming that which was revealed then Quran by default exposes the corruption.

Chapter 35 Verse 31That 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 acquaintedand Fully Observant.

This is another verse quoted by the Christian missionaries a lot. However we see that this

verse again does not state that the Bible in the hands of the Jews and the Christians of thattime was in its pristine form. What the Quran states is that it is confirming that which was

revealed before not the Bible that they hold but confirming only that which wasrevealed before it by Allah (swt). Hence do note that the Quran is speaking of onlyconfirming that which was revealed before by Allah (swt) and it is not confirming the

corrupted part of the Bible.

So how does the Quran confirm what was revealed before? It does so simply by stating or

repeating that what was revealed to the concerned prophets and correcting that which has

been corrupted. For example, in the story of the Original Sin as seen in the Bible, the

blame is put on the woman and not the man. The Quran however corrects this mistakeand says that both of them are equally responsible.

Chapter 10 Verse 37This Qur'an is not such as can be produced by other than Allah; on the contrary it is a

confirmation of (revelations) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book -wherein there is no doubt - from the Lord of the worlds.

This verse is seen to again carry the same meaning as Chapter 35 Verse 31. This meaningis further enhanced when we read the verse preceding it which I will quote below:

But most of them follow nothing but fancy: truly fancy can be of no avail against truth.

Verily Allah is well aware of all that they do. [Chapter 10 Verse 36]

We see that the Quran is referring to those know follow fancy which Allah (swt) states isof no avail against the truth. After that Allah (swt) reveals that the Quran is from Him and

it confirms the previous revelations. This, as explained earlier, means that the Quran

confirms it by repeating that which was revealed in their respective times i.e. repeats

what was revealed, the way it was revealed onto Moses, David and Jesus (pbut).


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Chapter 12 Verse 111There 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.

Notice again in this verse of the Quran, the message that what the Jews and Christians ofthose times read is uncorrupted, is simply missing. The name of the Surah in which this

verse exists is Surah Yusuf (Joseph) and it mainly deals with the stories of the past. Nownotice the Quran stats that in the stories of the prophets (pbut), there is an instruction. Itstates that it is a confirmation of what was before it. How is the Quran confirming? Using

what methodology? The methodology of narrating the stories in their pristine forms andinforming the People of the Book that this is how the story went and this is what was

revealed. So whatever is true in the Bible is confirmed and whatever is not is

automatically corrected. This is the simple methodology used by Allah (swt). He simply

repeats the events as they occurred thus confirming the truth in the Bible and correctingthe errors. The Quran never states that it is confirming the Bible which the Christians

read. It is stating over and over again that it is only confirming that which was revealedbefore by Allah (swt) only that part.

Chapter 3 Verse 3It 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 andwrong).

This is a really interesting verse and actually proves to the contrary what the Christian

missionaries wish to prove. This verse also proves the above explanations which I havebeen giving regarding how the Quran confirms and the methodology it uses to confirm

the previous scriptures.

Notice that Allah (swt) states in this verse that the Quran has been sent as a Criterion.

When one has a criterion then one judges according to it. So the Quran confirms what

was sent down before it by becoming the Criterion to judge. Hence Muslims are to judgethe Bible according to the Criterion. That which is attested by the Quran (The Criterion)

that is accepted by the Muslims as to be the Word of God in the Bible. That what is

corrected, we consider it to be a human fabrication.

Chapter 5 Verses 46 48And 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.


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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.

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 youhave 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 ina 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;

Taking verse 46 into consideration we see that Allah (swt) only talks about Jesus (pbuh)

being sent as a prophet. This verse itself does not prove that the Bible is uncorrupted.

However the Christian missionaries say that they have same Torah today as it was during

the time of Jesus and the evidence they give is the existence of the Septuagint.According to the Catholic Encyclopedia:

The three most celebrated manuscripts of the Septuagint known are the Vatican, "Codex

Vaticanus" (fourth century); the Alexandrian, "Codex Alexandrinus" (fifth century),now in the British Museum, London; and that of Sinai, "Codex Sinaiticus" (fourth

century) , found by Tischendorf in the convent of St. Catherine, on Mount Sinai, in 1844

and 1849, now part at Leipzig and in part in St. Petersburg; they are all written in

uncials.

Hence we see that the Septuagint today is not from during the time of Jesus. The earliestmanuscript dates to the fourth century some 300 years after Jesus. Thus no Christian can

claim that the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers) which

they have today in the Bible is the same as to what was present in the Septuagint duringthe time of Jesus.

Now in verse 47 we find that the verse says let the people of the Gospel judge by whatAllah hath revealed therein. Any person having the slightest comprehension skills would

be able to tell that the verse is talking about what Allah (swt) has revealedin the Gospel

not the entire Bible. However if we take into consideration that the verse is referring to

the Bible, even so the verse talks of letting them judge according to what Allah (swt) hasrevealed and not according to the corruption made by man.

Now if the Quran meant to preach that the Bible which the Christians hold in their handsis pure from corruption then it would have said let the Christians judge by the Gospel

(or Bible whichever of the two words; it does not matter in the present context).

However notice that the verse does not state that but says judge by what Allah hathrevealed therein. In other words do not judge by what the human hands have written but

only by what Allah (swt) has revealed.

The key to these two verses rests in the next verse i.e. verse 48. In this verse we can see

that Allah (swt) states that the Quran is sent in truth, confirming that what came before it


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and guarding it in safety. The Arabic word used here is Muhaymin which means

Guardian, Protector and Trustworthy. According to Al-Mawrid Arabic to Englishdictionary the word means dominant, dominating, predominant, preponderant,

prevailing, controlling, commanding, governing, reigning, ruling; (absolute) master,

ruler, overlord [Al Mawrid Arabic to English Dictionary pg. 1135].

Allah (swt) thus says that the Quran is a guardian over the previous scriptures. It is

guarding them. What is it guarding it against? It is guarding it from the corruptions thatthe human hands have done in the Bible. It is correcting the corruptions made in the Bible

and thus protecting it. The role of a guardian is to guide and correct the errors.

Many Christian missionaries falsely claim that muhaymin was understood by Muslims

of the past and present to mean that the Bible in the form it was in those days was

uncorrupted. We will check some of the sources of the past and present to see whether

they really believed the Bible in those days to be uncorrupted.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir:(and Muhayminan over it) means entrusted over it, according to Sufyan Ath-Thawri

who narrated it from Abu Ishaq from At-Tamimi from Ibn Àbbas. Àli bin Abi Talhah

reported that Ibn Àbbas said, "Muhaymin is, the Trustworthy. Allah says that the

Quran is trustworthy over every Divine Book that preceded it.'' This was reported from

Ìkrimah, Saìd bin Jubayr, Mujahid, Muhammad bin Ka`b, Àtiyyah, Al-Hasan,

Qatadah, Àta' Al-Khurasani, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd. Ibn Jarir said, "The Quran is

trustworthy over the Books that preceded it. Therefore, whatever in these previous

Books conforms to the Quran is true, and whatever disagrees with the Qur'an is false.'' Al-Walibi said that Ibn Àbbas said that Muhayminan means, Witness. Mujahid,

Qatadah and As-Suddi said the same. Al-Àwfi said that Ibn Àbbas said that

Muhayminan means, dominant over the previous Scriptures. These meanings aresimilar, as the word Muhaymin includes them all. Consequently, the Quran is

trustworthy, a witness, and dominant over every Scripture that preceded it. This

Glorious Book, which Allah revealed as the Last and Final Book, is the most

encompassing, glorious and perfect Book of all times. The Quran includes all the good

aspects of previous Scriptures and even more, which no previous Scripture ever

contained. This is why Allah made it trustworthy, a witness and dominant over all

Scriptures.

Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas:

(And unto the have We revealed the Scripture) We have sent you Gabriel with the

Qur'an (with the Truth) to make plain the Truth and falsehood, (confirming) the

statement of Allah's divine Oneness and some laws (whatever Scripture was before it)

whatever Scriptures were before it, (and a watcher over it) a witness upon all theScriptures before it; it is also said: a witness upon the ruling of stoning; and it is alsosaid: a watcher over all previous Scriptures.


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It is thus seen that Allah (swt) has kept the Quran as a guardian over the previous

scriptures so as to guard what was revealed originally thus showing to us that which iscorruption in the Bible.

I will now quote some of the Muslims of the present times to see whether they understand

that this verse states that the Bible was uncorrupted or that is got corrupted overtime.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali:

Afterthe corruption of the older revelation , the Quran comes with a twofold purpose:(1) toconfirm the true and original Message and (2) toguard it or act as a check to its

interpretation. The Arabic word Muhaymin is very comprehensive in meaning. It means

one who safeguards, watches over, stands witness, preserves and upholds. The Quran safeguards the Book , for it has preserved within it the teachings of all the former

Books. It watches over these Books in the sense thatit corroborates the Word of Allah

which has remained intact in them. Itstands as a witness because it bears testimony to the Word of Allah contained in these Books and helps to sort it out from the

interpretations and commentaries of the people which were mixed with it; what is confirmed by the Quran is the Word of Allah and what is against it is that of thepeople.

Muhammad Asad (His translation is often quoted by Christian missionaries):The participle muhaymin is derived from the quadrilateral verb haymana, he

watched [over a thing] or controlled [it], and is used here to describe the Quran as

the determinant factor in deciding what is genuine and what is false in the earlier

Scriptures.

Maariful Quran:

The address is to the Holy Prophet (saw) saying that to him Allah has revealed the

Quran which confirms the Torah and Injeel, Books previous to it, and is their custodian

as well. This is because, after the people of the Torah altered the Torah and the people of

the Injeel made changes in the Injeel, it was the Quran alone which turned out to be the kind overseer and protector which exposed the alterations made by them, lit up truthand reality in their proper perspective. Even today the true teachings of the Torah and

Injeel still survive through the Quran.

So we see the whether we look at the Muslims of the past or the present, they understood

the term muhaymin to mean the same and the interpretation of the verse has always

been the same without any changes.

Some Christian missionaries bring to notice that one of the names of Allah (swt) is AL-

MUHAYMIN. So let us see whether the meaning and explanation of the wordmuhaymin fits with harmony in both the verse and as one of the attributes of Allah

(swt).


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Muhaymin, according to early Muslims as taken from Ibn Kathir, means the following:

Witness and Trustworthy. This word also means Guardian, Supervisor or Protector.Now do these fit Allah (swt) and the verse in harmony? Yes!

Allah (swt) is our Guardian and hence has given us guidelines to correct ourselves just

the way the Quran is the guardian over the Bible, correcting it. Allah (swt) is theProtector and has given us a way to protect ourselves by correcting our mistakes just as

the way the Quran corrects the Bible in order to protect what was revealed in the previousscriptures. Allah (swt) is Witness to all that is being done just like the Quran is a witness

to the changes made in the Bible thus correcting them.

Hence we see that the definition fits perfectly to Allah (swt) as well as the Quran thus

refuting any claims that would suggest otherwise. The Quran is now a guardian over what

was revealed before and thus people can learn the truth in the previous scriptures by

looking at those parts which the Quran confirms and those which the Quran rejects.

Chapter 2 Verse 41And believe in what I reveal, confirming the revelation which is with you, and be not the

first to reject Faith therein, nor sell My Signs for a small price; and fear Me, and Me

alone.

When we read the verse preceding this, we find that these verses refer to the Children of

Israel where Allah (swt) asks them to fulfill the Covenant. Then in this verse Allah (swt)

is telling them to believe in what He reveals which confirms the revelation which is withthem. So the Quran again is confirming that which is a revelation and not that which is

corrupted by human hands. Then we read the next verse:

And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is).

Thus it becomes apparent that the Quran is telling the Jews not to conceal the Truth. Howwould the Truth be concealed? The Truth would be concealed by following human

corruptions rather than following what Allah (swt) has revealed.

Chapter 2 Verse 89And when there comes to them a Book from Allah, confirming what is with them,-although from of old they had prayed for victory against those without Faith,- when there

comes to them that which they (should) have recognized, they refuse to believe in it butthe curse of Allah is on those without Faith.

Once again this verse is seen to hold the same meaning as that of Saddaqa explained

above. The Quran which is from Allah (swt) is confirming the truth that which is with the

People of the Book. Over and over again we find that the Noble Quran tells us that it isconfirming the truth in the previous revelations. The Quran is speaking the truth about

what is with the People of the Book. Therefore it is clear that the Quran is not testifying


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that the entire Bible is preserved but is only confirming the truth that is with the People of

the Book thus naturally correcting the corrupted part.

Chapter 2 Verse 91

When it is said to them, "Believe in what Allah Hath sent down, "they say, "We believein what was sent down to us:" yet they reject all besides, even if it be Truth confirming

what is with them. Say: "Why then have ye slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by,if ye did indeed believe?"

This verse is connected to the one explained above. The Quran says that the People of theBook reject the Truth which is confirming that which is with them. What does the Truth

confirm? The Truth would but natural confirm that which is the truth. Thus as explained

above many times in this section, the Quran, being the Truth, confirms the Truth that is

with the People of the Book and not that which is falsehood created by humanintervention.

Chapter 2 Verse 97Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel-for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by

Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for thosewho believe,-

This verse is from the same Surah as the previous two verses and talks about those whoare enemies to Gabriel. Gabriel is an angel who brought the revelations to Prophet

Muhammad (saw). The revelation is referred to as a confirmation of what went before.

This means that this revelation (Quran) confirms what actually happened before thus

exposing the falsehood that might be there in the minds or the scriptures of the People ofthe Book. Further the Quran is called guidance for those who believe and if the purpose

of the Quran was to state that the entire Bible is uncorrupted then it would not refer to

itself as guidance to those who believe because the Bible would still be guidance to thosewho do not believe.

Chapter 2 Verse 101And when there came to them a messenger from Allah, confirming what was with them,

a party of the people of the Book threw away the Book of Allah behind their backs, as if(it had been something) they did not know!

We find that again the same word is used in this verse of the Quran. Thus when Allah(swt) sent his Messenger (saw) to confirm the truth in what was with the People of the

Book (here the verse refers to the Jews), some of them who realized that it was by default

exposing the falsehood, refused to consider what the Messenger (saw) was saying by

pretending as if they do not even know what their books had in it. If the Quran wastestifying that their scripture is in its pristine form then the Jews would not have

pretended as if they knew not what was in their scriptures. The reason why they


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pretended as such was because they saw that an unlettered Prophet (saw) was bringing

out the truth in their books and by default exposing the falsehood. The Jews knew that ifthey would look at the truth in their books then it would prove that Prophet Muhammad

(saw) was the Messenger of Allah (swt) and thus they chose to ignore their books

completely.

Chapter 3 Verse 39While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: "Allah dothgive thee glad tidings of Yahya, witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah, and (be

besides) noble, chaste, and a prophet,- of the (goodly) company of the righteous."

Basically this verse has nothing to do with whether the Quran testifies that the entire

Bible is in its pristine form or not. However Christians use this verse to state that the

word Saddaqa in this verse means to confirm and thus they try to derive a conclusionthat the Quran confirms the entire Bible.

Let us apply the same explanation which I have been giving regarding this root wordSaddaqa to this verse and see if the meaning of this verse changes. Yahya (as) or John

the Baptist as the Christians call him was supposed to confirm the truth of a Word from

Allah. So he was supposed to confirm the truth not the falsehood just as Quran confirmsthe truth and not the falsehood in the Bible.

Chapter 3 Verse 50(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you

part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your

Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.

This verse again has nothing to do with the Quran confirming anything. However the

Christians quote it due to the same root word Saddaqa in it. Once again if we use thesame application of the word Saddaqa in this verse, it only means that Jesus (as) was

confirming the truth which came before him and not the falsehood, if any, in the Torah at

that time.

Chapter 3 Verse 81Behold! Allah took the covenant of the prophets, saying: "I give you a Book and

Wisdom; then comes to you a messenger, confirming what is with you; do ye believe inhim and render him help." Allah said: "Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant asbinding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness, and I am with you

among the witnesses."

Once again this verse is quoted by the Christian missionaries due to the root word. Ifagain we apply the same definition of Saddaqa i.e. to speak the truth, to be true etc

to this verse, we will find that it fits in most appropriately. Here Allah (swt) is telling the


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prophets that He will give to them a Book and Wisdom and then later a messenger will

confirm (speak the truth, be true, sincere) that which is with the prophets then will theybelieve in him or not. Again the deception which the missionaries are trying to create

falls apart.

Chapter 4 Verse 47O ye People of the Book! believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming what was(already) with you, before We change the face and fame of some (of you) beyond allrecognition, and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers,

for the decision of Allah Must be carried out.

This is yet another verse with the root word Saddaqa in it. So is the Quran stating that it

confirms the entire Bible? Not in the least. The Quran yet again speaks the truth and

confirms the truth in that which was with them. In the next verse we see that Allah (swt)states Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him.

As we all know the Bible does ascribe partners to Allah (swt) and Allah (swt) iscondemning such an act labeling it as unforgivable. Now if the Quran was suggesting that

the entire Bible was uncorrupted then the Quran would not condemn their fundamental

belief. The fact that the Quran is condemning it means that the Quran confirms the truthin the Bible and by default exposes the falsehood.

Chapter 6 Verse 92And this is a Book which We have sent down, bringing blessings, and confirming (the

revelations) which came before it: that thou mayest warn the mother of cities and all

around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in this (Book), and they areconstant in guarding their prayers.

This verse again like the numerous verses above says that the Quran confirms (speaks thetruth regarding, is true, sincere) to what came before it. Hence it only confirms that which

was actually revealed by Allah (swt) during the time of Moses (as) and during the time of

Jesus (as). It in no way means that it is to confirm that the entire Bible is a hundredpercent the Word of God.

Chapter 37 Verse 52

Who used to say, what! art thou amongst those who bear witness to the Truth (of theMessage)?

Similar to the previous verses this again talks of confirming the Truth not the falsehood.

By confirming the Truth, falsehood by default gets exposed. That is exactly what the role

of the Quran is to confirm the truth in the Bible and thus by default expose thefalsehood present in it.


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Chapter 46 Verse 12And 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 doright.

The Quran again declares that it confirm the Book of Moses and its methodology to do so

is that it speaks of that which was revealed at the time of Moses (in the Arabic languagei.e. language of the Quran), thus correcting by default that which is corrupted.

Chapter 46 Verse 30They 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.

This verse is regarding the Jinns. The Jinns who heard the Quran went to their people and

told them about the Quran which was revealed after Moses. They tell them that itconfirms what came before it and that it guide to the Truth. The fact that it guides to the

Truth means that the Quran confirms that which is true. But natural, Truth confirms the

truth only. Truth can never confirm the falsehood hence the Quran is a guide to the Truth

and thus will bring out what is true in the Bible while by default exposing that which is acorruption.

Chapter 61 Verse 6And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the messenger ofAllah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad

Tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when hecame to them with Clear Signs, they said, "this is evident sorcery!"

Due to the usage of the root word Saddaqa the Christian missionaries try to use this

verse as a support for their misinterpretation of the Quran. By Jesus saying that he is here

to confirm the Law, it does not mean that everything is true. By confirming again we see

that it means that Jesus is speaking the truth regarding what was revealed to Moses.Hence let us assume that the Torah was uncorrupted at that time. If so, Jesus would speak

that which was revealed in the Torah and it would naturally confirm what was in the

scriptures. If now we assume that the Torah was corrupted, Jesus would still speak thatwhich was revealed during the time of Moses, thus confirming what was revealed to

Moses and by default exposing the falsehood.

4c. Verses where Quran tells Prophet Muhammad (saw) about the Bible

The following are the verses in which the Quran asks Prophet Muhammad (saw) to

refer to the People of the Book.


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These verses are:

Chapter 10 Verse 94

Chapter 16 Verse 43 44

Chapter 2 Verse 113

Chapter 5 Verse 68

Chapter 10 Verse 94If thou wert in doubt as to what We have revealed unto thee, then ask those who havebeen 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.

When we read the verse preceding this we find that Allah (swt) is telling Prophet

Muhammad (saw) in the Quran regarding the Children of Israel and how much Allah

(swt) blessed these people.

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 Allah will judge between them as to the schisms amongst them, on

the Day of Judgment. [Chapter 10 Verse 93]

Then in this verse Allah (swt) tells Prophet Muhammad (saw) to ask them if he does notbelieve in what is revealed. So Prophet Muhammad (saw) is instructed to ask regarding

this particular information if he does not believe what Allah (swt) has revealed to him.

Hence he would ask the Children of Israel whether they were blessed by Allah (swt) or

whether disputes did occur between them. This therefore does not prove that the Quran

endorses the entire Bible to be the complete Word of God.

Chapter 16 Verses 43 44And before thee also the messengers We sent were but men, to whom We granted

inspiration: if ye realize this not, ask of those who possess the Message.

(We sent them) with Clear Signs and Books of dark prophecies; and We have sent down

unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent forthem, and that they may give thought.

Again we see a similar message in the Quran. In verse 43, the Quran mentions that Allah(swt) sent messengers before Prophet Muhammad (saw) who were none but men andthey were given the inspiration. Then in the latter part of the verse it tells Prophet

Muhammad (saw) that he can confirm with the People who possess this Message. So

what is Prophet Muhammad (saw) to confirm? Simply, that whether men were sent asmessengers or not. Further one can ask whether these men were granted any inspiration.

So for a moment if we assume that the Bible in those days was corrupted, then does this


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verse fall apart? No! The Bible being corrupted has this Message in it that men with

inspiration were sent in the past.

In verse 44 we find that again a similar message is given. Allah (swt) states that these

messengers of the past were sent with clear signs and books. Then Prophet Muhammad

(saw) is told that he is also given the Message so that he can explain clearly to men whatis sent for them. This proves that the Bible was corrupted and its message was distorted

hence the Quran has been sent to explain clearly to mean what is sent for them.

Also see the this verse 16:43 under the next section titled Quran calls the Bible al-

Ththikra

Chapter 2 Verse 113The Jews say: "The Christians have naught (to stand) upon; and the Christians say: "TheJews have naught (To stand) upon." Yet they (Profess to) study the (same) Book. Like

unto their word is what those say who know not; but Allah will judge between them intheir quarrel on the Day of Judgment.

This verse of the Quran refers to Christians and Jews saying that they read the Scripture

yet they argue that they are right and the other is wrong. In simpler terms, they both readthe same books and yet they fight accusing each other for being on the wrong path. So

this verse has nothing to do with the Quran testifying that the entire Bible is the

uncorrupted word of God.

Chapter 5 Verse 68

Say: "O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by theLaw, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord." It is the

revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of them their

obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow thou not over (these) people without Faith.

The message in this verse is very clear. The People of the Book are told that they should

follow the Law and the Gospel and all the revelation that has come to them. Thisincludes the Quran. Now if the Quran is testifying that the entire Bible is uncorrupted

then why would they be required to stand fast by the Quran? However if the message in

the Quran is that the Bible indeed get corrupted then by holding fast to the Quran theycan hold fast to the Law and the Gospel because the Quran confirms the truth in these

books and thus the true revelations of the Law and the Gospel are preserved in the Quran.

4d. Quran calls the Bible al-Ththikra

The Christians quote Chapter 15 verse 9 and say that God says that He has sent the

Message and will guard it. The Arabic word used for Message is ththikra. This verse

refers to the Quran but the Christian missionaries say that in the Quran the Bible is also


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referred to as ththikra and hence the Quran in a wider context means that the Bible can

also not get corrupted.

The verses quoted by Christians in the Quran that refer to the previous messages as

ththikra are as follows:

Chapter 16 Verse 43

Chapter 21 Verse 7

Chapter 21 Verse 105

Chapter 40 Verses 53 54

In all these verses, we find that the previous messages are referred to as ththikra. So

does the Quran include these messages in Chapter 15 Verse 9?

Not at all! In all of these verses the message is referred to in the past tense. In none of

these verses does it state that the People of the Book possess the message (ththikra).

Chapter 15 Verse 9 only refers to the present context and thus excludes the doings of menin the past.

Moreover in a much wider context, the Quran safeguards the true revelations of the Torahand the Injeel and thus Allah (swt) is saying that He will guard it from corruption. Thus

by guarding the Quran, He is also guarding the true revelations of the Torah and theInjeel.

4e. Bring forth like Quran and Torah

Now the Christian missionaries quote two verses of the Quran and claim that the Quranpresents the challenge to bring forth something like the Quran and Torah.

Chapter 28 Verses 48 49But (now), when the Truth has come to them from Ourselves, they say, "Why are not

(Signs) sent to him, like those which were sent to Moses?" Do they not then reject (the

Signs) which were formerly sent to Moses? They say: "Two kinds of sorcery, eachassisting the other!" And they say: "For us, we reject all (such things)!"

Say: "Then bring ye a Book from Allah, which is a better guide than either of them, that I

may follow it! (do), if ye are truthful!"

As we have seen in all the previous verses, the Quran is confirming the truth in the Torahover and over again by repeating the truth which was still present in the Torah and

correcting by default that which was corrupted. Hence people said that both these books

are assisting each other as whatever truth the Quran confirmed, was found to be true inthe Torah. Thus people labeled these two as sorcery and thus rejected it. Then in the

next verse Allah (swt) tells them to bring a book from Allah (swt) which is a better guide


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than either of the two i.e. Quran and Torah. Note that the verse uses the phrase better

guide thus it does not mean that the entire Torah was uncorrupted. Guidance in theTorah is seen to be much better than what is found even in the New Testament. While the

laws in the Torah are similar to those found in the Quran, the corruption by the scribes,

have introduced completely new laws in the New Testament. Thus in general no doubt

the guidance in the Torah is better and thus the Quran tells them to bring a book fromAllah that is a better guide than the Quran and Torah. Further, because the Quran kept

on confirming the truth in the Torah, the people knew of what was part of the originalscripture and thus as a better guide either of the two books could be placed as a challenge.

The challenge is yet not to produce a book which is a better guide than these two but to

bring from Allah a book which is a better guide than these two. This statement isdifferent from the challenge of the Quran to produce a book like, or a Surah like the

Quran. That challenge is for men to sit and produce like a book like Quran. Over

here the challenge is to bring a book from Allah that is a better guide.

5. ConclusionWe went through all the verses that the Christians give to present their case that the

Quran testifies that the entire Bible is the uncorrupted word of God. After going throughthese verses, the deception which the Christendom tries to create was exposed. It was

seen that the Quran does not in any way testify that the Bible is completely uncorrupted.

The Quran acts like a guardian over the Bible (5:48) and preserves the true revelationssent to Moses (as) and Jesus (as). It confirms the truth in the Bible thus by default

exposing the falsehood in them. This paper was only to refute the verses they quote. In

another article I will give evidence from the Quran to prove that the Bible indeed was

corrupted.

refuting the christian claim that the quran testifies the bible to be uncorrupted

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