The Incompleteness of the Qur'an in Its Account of the Disciples of Jesus: A Critical Examination
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute
Abstract
This article examines the Qur'an's treatment of the disciples of Isa bin Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary), assessing its claims of affirming previous scriptures while demonstrating significant omissions and inconsistencies when compared to the Biblical record. The absence of crucial historical, theological, and narrative details regarding Jesus’ disciples, including their names, actions, and key events like the Last Supper, raises critical concerns about the Qur'an’s reliability as a purported continuation and confirmation of earlier divine revelation. This analysis contends that the Qur'an is neither a complete nor a dependable source for understanding the life and mission of Jesus and His disciples and consequently undermines its own claim of safeguarding and affirming the Torah and the Gospel.
Introduction
Muslim theology, grounded in Qur'anic claims, posits that the Qur'an was revealed to confirm and preserve the integrity of prior divine revelations — namely the Torah (Tawrat), the Psalms (Zabur), and the Gospel (Injil). Yet, a critical comparative textual analysis reveals profound gaps and narrative inconsistencies, particularly in its account of Isa bin Maryam (Jesus) and His disciples. Unlike the Bible, which provides a historically traceable and theologically rich account of Jesus' followers, including their names, deeds, and interactions, the Qur'an is strikingly silent on essential details, leaving foundational elements of the Christian narrative either absent or ambiguously rendered.
This paper systematically reviews the Qur'anic references to the disciples of Jesus, examines their shortcomings, and interrogates the implications for the Qur'an's claim of confirming prior scriptures.
1. Who Are the Disciples of Isa bin Maryam in the Qur'an?
The Qur'an refers to the disciples of Jesus using the Arabic term al-Hawariyyun (الحواريون) in a few scattered verses:
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Surah Al-Imran 3:52:
"But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, 'Who are my supporters for the cause of Allah?' The disciples said, 'We are supporters for Allah. We have believed in Allah and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].'"
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Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:111:
"And [remember] when I inspired to the disciples, 'Believe in Me and in My messenger.' They said, 'We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims [in submission to Allah].'"
Nowhere in the Qur'an are the names of the disciples given. In stark contrast, the Bible lists them clearly (Matthew 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:13–16), identifying the Twelve Apostles as Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot. The Qur'an’s failure to preserve these names is a significant omission if it claims to affirm prior revelation.
2. The Denial and Betrayal of Jesus: Absent in the Qur'an
The Qur'an contains no account of a disciple denying Jesus three times — a pivotal event recorded in all four canonical Gospels regarding Peter (Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–27). Nor does the Qur'an record the betrayal by Judas Iscariot, who sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, as described in Matthew 26:14–16.
Though Surah An-Nisa 4:157 makes a vague reference to the alleged crucifixion:
"And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but it was made to appear to them so."
This cryptic statement lacks detail — it neither names Judas nor explains the betrayal. Early Islamic traditions and apocryphal sources attempted to fill this void, but the Qur'an itself offers no information, leaving a significant historical and theological gap.
3. The Number of Jesus' Disciples in the Qur'an
The Qur'an does not specify how many disciples Jesus had. The Bible, on the other hand, is explicit, affirming the number twelve (Luke 6:13; Matthew 10:1-4). For a text that claims to safeguard previous revelation (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:46–48), the absence of such a basic historical fact is both puzzling and problematic for its credibility.
4. The Qur'an and the Last Supper
One of Christianity’s most foundational events, the Last Supper, is entirely missing in narrative form from the Qur'an. The closest passage is Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:112–115, which references a request by the disciples for a table spread with food from heaven:
"When the disciples said, 'O Jesus, Son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven?'..."
While this incident is sometimes interpreted by Muslim commentators as a parallel to the Last Supper, it fundamentally differs in context and content. The biblical Last Supper involved Jesus foretelling His betrayal and instituting the Eucharist, symbolizing His imminent sacrifice — none of which is acknowledged or preserved in the Qur'an.
5. Implications for the Qur'an’s Claim of Confirming Previous Scriptures
The Qur'an repeatedly asserts its role as a guardian and confirmer of previous scriptures:
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Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:48:
"And We have revealed to you the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it."
However, as demonstrated above, the Qur'an fails to preserve or affirm the most basic elements of Jesus’ narrative and ministry. Essential details such as the names of the disciples, the betrayal by Judas, Peter’s denial, the exact number of the disciples, and the institution of the Last Supper are either absent or altered.
This disconnect exposes a severe theological and historical inconsistency: if the Qur'an was divinely intended to validate the Torah and the Gospel, how can it neglect such core historical facts, known and cherished across Jewish and Christian traditions for centuries before Islam?
Conclusion
The Qur'an’s scant and incomplete treatment of the disciples of Isa bin Maryam reveals significant deficiencies in its historical preservation and theological affirmation of earlier scriptures. Its failure to name the disciples, recount foundational events such as Peter’s denial, Judas' betrayal, and the Last Supper — coupled with ambiguous and altered narratives — undermines its claim as a reliable and complete continuation of divine revelation.
From an academic and theological standpoint, these omissions reinforce the view that the Qur'an, while borrowing selectively from biblical tradition, does not meet the evidentiary standards required to authenticate or supersede prior scriptures. As such, it cannot credibly position itself as a confirming revelation of the Torah and the Gospel, having neglected essential historical and theological knowledge enshrined within them.
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
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