By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
I recently came across a post by Muhammad Amin Alhassan claiming that when Jesus referred to the Law in Matthew 5:17, He wasn’t referring to the Bible we have today, but to an imagined "true Torah" supposedly lost and replaced by scribes — a claim often repeated in Islamic theology. Muhammad Amin then uses Qur’an 5:48 to assert that the Qur'an was sent to correct these alleged corruptions.
Let’s set the record straight with the evidence of Scripture and history.
What Did Jesus Mean in Matthew 5:17?
Jesus said:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” — Matthew 5:17
At the time of Jesus, the Torah was the written Scriptures of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy), carefully preserved by Jewish scribes and religious leaders, read aloud in synagogues, and recognized by every Jew, including Jesus Himself.
If Muhammad Amin claims this was a "corrupted" Torah, then he faces a serious problem:
Where is this so-called true Torah?
Neither Muhammad nor his followers have ever produced this alleged original Torah. No ancient manuscripts, no textual witnesses, no preserved divine book other than the one historically recognized by Jews and early Christians — the same Old Testament that still exists today.
Did the Qur'an Affirm or Replace the Bible?
Muhammad Amin cites Qur’an 5:48, claiming the Qur'an was revealed to correct the so-called corruptions. However, this very verse contradicts the Islamic assertion of corruption. Notice it says:
“...confirming the Scripture that came before it...”
How can the Qur'an confirm a text it claims is corrupted? You can’t confirm what’s been falsified. Either the Torah and the Gospel were reliable at Muhammad’s time or they weren’t. The Qur'an repeatedly affirms the Torah and Gospel that existed in the 7th century — long after the time of Christ:
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Qur’an 5:43: “But how do they make you their judge while they have the Torah, in which is the judgment of Allah?”
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Qur’an 5:47: “Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein.”
These verses prove that the Torah and Gospel were intact and authoritative when the Qur'an was revealed. Islam’s later claim of textual corruption is a desperate backpedal when the Qur'an’s own words contradict that narrative.
The Biblical Verdict
The Bible warns against anyone trying to bring a different gospel or alter God’s Word:
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” — Galatians 1:8
Muhammad's teachings, which contradict the message of Jesus' death, resurrection, and divine identity, fall under this warning.
Conclusion: A Fabricated Claim
Muhammad Amin’s assertion that Jesus referred to a Torah different from the one preserved in the Bible is historically baseless and theologically bankrupt. The Qur'an affirms the Scriptures that existed in its time, and those are the same Torah and Gospel we have today. The claim that the Qur'an corrects previous revelations is an invention of Islamic apologetics, not a truth supported by evidence.
Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone — the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets. No later revelation can nullify what God has accomplished through His Son.
Shalom,
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
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