THE ISLAMIC DILEMMA: If the Bible Is True, the Qur'an Is False; If the Bible Is Corrupt, the Qur'an Is Still False
A Biblical and Qur'anic Examination of the "Confirmation" Problem
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Abstract
One of the central theological claims of Islam is that the Qur'an confirms the Torah (Tawrat), Psalms (Zabur), and Gospel (Injil) that preceded it. At the same time, the Qur'an presents teachings that differ from, and in many cases directly contradict, the doctrines found in the Bible. This creates what Christian apologists often describe as an "Islamic dilemma." If the biblical Scriptures available today faithfully preserve God's revelation, then the Qur'an cannot be God's final revelation because it contradicts them. If, on the other hand, the biblical Scriptures were corrupted before Muhammad, then the Qur'an appears to affirm books that would already have been corrupted, raising questions about its own claims.
This article examines that dilemma by comparing biblical and Qur'anic texts and presenting the discussion in a debate format.
The Islamic Dilemma
The dilemma can be summarized as follows:
Option One
The Bible is God's preserved Word.
If true:
The Qur'an contradicts the Bible.
Therefore the Qur'an cannot be a confirmation of previous revelation.
Option Two
The Bible was corrupted before Muhammad.
If true:
The Qur'an repeatedly commands people to believe, judge by, and confirm those Scriptures.
Therefore the Qur'an appears to endorse corrupted books as divine revelation.
Either position presents a significant theological challenge.
Debate Dialogue
Muslim
"The Bible has been corrupted."
Christian
"Where does the Qur'an clearly say the Torah and Gospel were textually rewritten before Muhammad?"
Muslim
"The Qur'an came to correct the Bible."
Christian
"The Qur'an repeatedly says it came to confirm previous Scriptures—not replace corrupted ones."
Qur'anic References
Surah 2:41
Surah 2:89
Surah 3:3
Surah 5:46
Surah 5:48
Surah 6:92
Surah 10:37
Each passage describes the Qur'an as confirming earlier revelation.
Muslim
"The Jews and Christians changed God's Word."
Christian
The verses commonly cited (such as Surah 2:75, 4:46, and 5:13) primarily speak of people distorting, concealing, or misrepresenting God's words in speech or interpretation. Whether these verses also imply alteration of the written text is debated among Muslim scholars. They do not explicitly state that the entire Torah and Gospel manuscripts were rewritten.
Muslim
"The Gospel Jesus received is not today's New Testament."
Christian
The Qur'an never identifies another Gospel different from the one known among Christians during Muhammad's lifetime. Instead it repeatedly addresses the "People of the Gospel."
Surah 5:47
"Let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein."
If the Gospel had already disappeared or become entirely corrupted, this command would raise an obvious question: what were they expected to judge by?
The Qur'an Commands Christians to Judge by the Gospel
Surah 5:47
Let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein.
Notice:
It does not say:
"Judge by the original Gospel that no longer exists."
"Judge by the Gospel before it was corrupted."
"Judge only after correcting it."
Instead, it instructs Christians living during Muhammad's lifetime to use the Gospel they possessed.
Muhammad Was Told to Consult Previous Scripture
Surah 10:94
If you are in doubt concerning what We have revealed unto you, ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you.
Question:
Why would Allah direct Muhammad to consult allegedly corrupted Scriptures?
Allah's Word Cannot Be Changed
The Qur'an repeatedly declares:
Surah 6:115
"No one can change His words."
Surah 18:27
"There is none who can alter His words."
Question:
If no one can change Allah's words,
how could the Torah and Gospel become completely corrupted?
Biblical Evidence of Preservation
The Bible consistently teaches that God preserves His Word.
Isaiah 40:8
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."
Psalm 119:89
"For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
Matthew 24:35
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
1 Peter 1:24–25
"The word of the Lord endures forever."
Historical Evidence
The Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrate that the Old Testament was copied with remarkable fidelity centuries before Christ.
Likewise, thousands of Greek New Testament manuscripts, many dating to the second and third centuries, attest to the widespread preservation of the New Testament text long before the rise of Islam in the seventh century. While textual variants exist, the manuscript tradition is extensive and allows scholars to reconstruct the text with a high degree of confidence.
Major Contradictions
The Crucifixion
Bible
Jesus died on the cross.
Matthew 27
Mark 15
Luke 23
John 19
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
Qur'an
Surah 4:157
"They did not kill him, nor crucify him."
One says Jesus died.
The other says He did not.
Both cannot be true in the same sense.
Jesus as Son of God
Bible
John 3:16
Matthew 16:16
Hebrews 1
Qur'an
Surah 112:3
"He begets not."
These teachings are fundamentally different.
The Trinity
Bible
Matthew 28:19
2 Corinthians 13:14
John 1:1
Qur'an
Surah 5:73 rejects saying "Allah is the third of three." Christians, however, understand the Trinity as one God in three persons, not three gods. The Qur'an's characterization is therefore viewed by many Christian apologists as addressing a formulation different from classical Trinitarian doctrine.
Salvation
Bible
Ephesians 2:8–9
Romans 5:1
John 3:16
Salvation is by grace through faith.
Qur'an
Numerous passages emphasize faith together with righteous deeds (for example, Surah 2:25; 23:102–103).
The systems of salvation differ substantially.
The Bible Predicted False Prophets
Jesus warned:
Matthew 7:15
"Beware of false prophets."
Galatians 1:8
"If we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel... let him be accursed."
Muhammad reported that revelation came through the angel Jibril (Gabriel). Christian apologists often compare this claim with Paul's warning in Galatians when evaluating later religious movements.
The Gospel Cannot Be Changed
Paul writes:
Galatians 1:6–9
Even if an angel preaches another gospel,
let him be accursed.
The Qur'an presents a message that differs from key New Testament teachings regarding the identity, death, and resurrection of Christ, which is why Christian theologians argue that it does not merely "confirm" the apostolic Gospel.
Questions for Debate
If the Bible was corrupted before Muhammad, why does the Qur'an repeatedly call it guidance and light?
Why does Surah 5:47 instruct Christians to judge by the Gospel?
Why does Surah 10:94 tell Muhammad to consult those reading earlier Scripture?
If no one can change Allah's words (Surah 6:115; 18:27), how could God's previous revelation be completely corrupted?
Where does the Qur'an explicitly state that the Torah and Gospel manuscripts were entirely rewritten before the seventh century?
If the Qur'an confirms previous Scripture, why does it contradict the Bible concerning the crucifixion, the Sonship of Christ, and the resurrection?
Why has no manuscript of a supposedly "uncorrupted" Gospel matching the Qur'an ever been discovered?
Why are Christians addressed as possessing the Gospel in Muhammad's day if that Gospel had already been lost?
Conclusion
From a Christian apologetic perspective, the relationship between the Bible and the Qur'an presents a significant theological challenge. The Qur'an repeatedly describes itself as confirming earlier revelation while also differing from the Bible on central doctrines such as the crucifixion, the identity of Jesus Christ, and the way of salvation. This leads to a dilemma often expressed in Christian-Muslim dialogue:
If the Bible faithfully preserves God's revelation, then the Qur'an's contradictory teachings cannot simultaneously be a confirmation of it.
If the Bible had already been corrupted before Muhammad, then questions arise as to why the Qur'an speaks of the Torah and Gospel as revelation, guidance, light, and a standard by which their followers should judge.
These issues continue to be discussed by Christian and Muslim scholars, who offer different interpretations of the relevant texts. Careful engagement with the primary sources, historical evidence, and theological arguments remains essential for informed dialogue.
Selected References
The Holy Bible (KJV)
Isaiah 40:8
Psalm 119:89
Matthew 5:17–18
Matthew 24:35
Matthew 27
John 1:1–18
John 3:16
1 Corinthians 15:1–8
Galatians 1:6–9
Ephesians 2:8–9
1 Peter 1:24–25
The Qur'an
Surah 2:41
Surah 2:75
Surah 2:89
Surah 3:3
Surah 4:46
Surah 5:13
Surah 5:46–48
Surah 6:92
Surah 6:115
Surah 10:37
Surah 10:94
Surah 18:27
Surah 112:1–4
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