Allah and Muhammad Declared That the Bible Is Truth: A Theological Examination
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Abstract
Muslim apologists often claim that the Bible has been corrupted over time. However, a careful examination of the Qur'an and early Islamic traditions reveals that both Allah and Muhammad acknowledged the Torah and the Gospel (Injeel) as divine revelations and sources of truth. This paper presents a systematic compilation of Qur'anic verses and Hadith references affirming the authenticity of the earlier Scriptures, thereby challenging the popular claim of biblical corruption within Islamic polemics.
1. Affirmation of Earlier Revelations in the Qur'an
The Qur'an repeatedly emphasizes the continuity of divine revelation, placing the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel within the same sacred lineage as the Qur'an. Several passages explicitly command belief in the Scriptures given to previous prophets.
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Qur'an 2:136
“Say [O believers], ‘We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.’”
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Qur'an 2:4
“And who believe in what has been sent down to you [Muhammad], and in what was sent down before you, and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter.”
These verses affirm the revealed status of the earlier Scriptures and command Muslims to believe in them without distinction.
2. Qur'anic Testimony to the Validity of the Torah and Gospel
The Qur'an not only acknowledges the previous Scriptures but also presents them as ongoing authorities for the People of the Book.
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Qur'an 3:2–3
“Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. He has sent down upon you [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.”
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Qur'an 4:136
“O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before.”
These passages confirm both the Qur'an and the prior Scriptures as authoritative revelations from the same divine source.
3. Command to Judge by the Torah and Gospel
In a striking affirmation, the Qur'an instructs the People of the Book to judge by their Scriptures, implying their reliability and authority at the time of Muhammad.
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Qur'an 5:47
“And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.”
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Qur'an 5:68
“Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, you have no ground to stand upon unless you uphold the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.’”
These verses would have been meaningless if the Scriptures had been corrupted, for no Prophet of God would command judgment by a falsified text.
4. The Qur'an’s Recognition of the People of the Book
Several Qur'anic passages acknowledge the People of the Book and recognize the unity of God worshipped by both communities.
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Qur'an 29:46
“And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best… and say, ‘We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.’”
This intertextual acknowledgment presumes the Scriptures of the People of the Book retained their validity.
5. Confirmation of the Torah by Muhammad
The Hadith literature provides a remarkable episode where Muhammad personally affirmed the truth of the Torah.
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Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 38, Number 4434
“A group of Jews came and invited the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) to Quff. They said: AbulQasim, one of our men has committed fornication. They placed a cushion for the Apostle of Allah who sat on it and said: ‘Bring the Torah.’ It was then brought. He then withdrew the cushion from beneath him and placed the Torah on it saying: ‘I believed in thee and in Him Who revealed thee.’”
This authentic narration affirms Muhammad’s recognition of the Torah’s authority.
6. Waraqa bin Nawfal and the Gospel
Another significant testimony comes from the early Islamic tradition, which records the involvement of Waraqa bin Nawfal, a Christian relative of Khadijah, in translating the Gospel into Arabic.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 4953
“Waraqa had been converted to Christianity in the pre-Islamic period and used to write the Gospel in Arabic as much as Allah wished him to write.”
The reverence shown to the Gospel here reflects its perceived sacred status in early Islamic narratives.
7. Jesus’ Confirmation of the Torah
Even within the Qur'anic portrayal of Jesus, he is presented as confirming the Torah and announcing further divine guidance.
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Qur'an 61:6
“And when Jesus son of Mary said: ‘O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who shall come after me, whose name is Ahmad.’”
This testimony reflects continuity, not corruption, of the previous Scriptures.
Conclusion
The Qur'anic affirmations and early Islamic traditions reveal a consistent acknowledgment of the Torah and Gospel as authentic, divine revelations. These texts are portrayed as valid during the lifetime of Muhammad and even commanded as legal authorities for their respective communities. This evidence fundamentally challenges the later Islamic polemic that the Bible has been irredeemably corrupted. A faithful reading of the Qur'an and Hadith requires acknowledging the Torah and Gospel as reliable Scriptures within the Islamic prophetic tradition.
References
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The Qur'an: Surahs 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 21, 29, 61
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Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4953
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Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 38, Number 4434
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