Every Muslim knows about the heavenly books without any hesitation. They are even capable of describing (prophets to whom the books were given) which book was revealed to which prophet and what message it bore. But hardly anyone is capable of saying why we neither read nor take into cognizance the three other books namely, Torah (Pentateuch), Zabur (Sacerdotal) and Injeel (Gospel), of the four heavenly books, including the Holy Quran. The fact is a little bit enigmatic.
If there are four heavenly books that we know about, then why have we been practising merely one, namely the Holy Quran, while neglecting the rests? Although, many would find strange ways to take refuge in plenty of irrelevant responses to cover up the truth in this regard. It is pretty much easy to claim with the whim that the rests of the books had been abrogated or withheld by God after the revelation of the Holy Quran.
But it is also pretty tough to bring forth any quranic statement or verse to defend the claim. In fact, there is no single verse exists to support the claim in the Holy Quran. This can only be traced to some rhetorical amateurish scholars of the sub-continent. They produce laws at their whim which contradicts the Holy Quran.
Consequently, people are being taken away from the truth and are forced to submit to their spectre. We should rather obey God’s words as He has been guiding the human race time and again by sending prophets. His message went down from generation to generations. His message was disseminated throughout the earth through the mouth of His prophets. Even history and ancient Arabian myth included that for thousands of years.
Now the question is why and by whose direction have we been kept away from reading other heavenly books such as the Pentateuch, sacerdotal and the gospel or the Holy Bible combinedly? Why then, the books are being not taught in any Islamic schools, especially in Bangladesh?
Whatever may be the probable reason, we can easily grasp the significance of the books of the Bible solely in the light of the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran undeniably bears the witness that His (God’s) Word is immutable and none can change it, meaning that the question of supersession is a contradictory one and goes against the text of the Holy Quran. We rather air empty words always in saying their supersession.
The Holy Quran declares, “There is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of Allah. Already hast thou received some account of those messengers (Chapter, The Cow or Surah An-aam, verse 34).
Then who dares to alter or supersede His word? Notwithstanding, we have been refuting that statement by misqu0ting the Holy Quran. Let us see what the chapter Jonah (Yunus), verse 64, says.
لَهُمُ ٱلۡبُشۡرَىٰ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَفِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِۚ لَا تَبۡدِيلَ لِڪَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٲلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ (64)
Translation: Theirs are good tidings in the life of the world and in the Hereafter – there is no changing the Words of Allah – that is the Supreme Triumph.
We have the same citation in chapter 18, The Cave (Surah Ka-af) verse 27.
وَٱتۡلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن ڪِتَابِ رَبِّكَۖ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مُلۡتَحَدً۬ا (27)
Translation: And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt finds no refuge beside Him.
This has been repeated many times in the Holy Quran and the same is seen in the chapter The Family of Imran ( Al-Imran).
Furthermore, the chapter The Table Spread or Sura Al-Maidah declares the same: 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 (chapter 5, verse 48).
وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ ۖ …(48)
The verse indisputably declares that the Holy Quran was revealed to Muhamad (PBUH) to ascertain and preserve (as supportive) the legality and existence of the previous books (e.g., Torah, Zabur and the Injeel), not to bypass them. Despite the fact that the Quran bears witnesses supporting the previous books’ effectiveness, has anyone pleaded with the truth to date? We do not even know why there are some delusive minds who prefer delusion or deception over the facts. We may consider ourselves pious or God-fearing but have been denying the very Truth for hundreds of years, perhaps. We fail to realise that we have been ignoring God’s word by ignoring the truth. Let us explore the following verse from chapter 3, The Family of Imran (Surah Al-Imran).
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ (3)
Translation: He has revealed to you this Book with the Truth, confirming the scripture which preceded it, as He revealed the Torah (Torah) and Injeel (Gospel).
Citations of the verses provide evidence that God does not alter or supersede His words and none in the world is capable of doing so. Then who ordered to overlook and alter or supersede the previous books?
Questions of the sort never provided with proper answer. Undeniably, God has equipped His highest creation, men, with wisdom, intellect and power of discretion and longing to seek the truth. We have nothing but to take refuge in that. We cannot afford to be in the darkness only to find ourselves counting the beads (to please God) of self-fulfilling religiosity. We can rather hold on to the Word of God in a view to discover the truth and live in the truth.
It is known that 75% of the total content that occupied the Holy Quran is filled by the description and teaching of the people of the book (Ahle Kitab, Torah, Zabur and Injeel) although they are not arranged in chronicle order. On the contrary, as the Holy Quran does not contain any such statement to support the common claim of alteration, interpolation and abrogation of the heavenly books, it demands our sole attention to unearth the root cause of confusions regarding that. The chapter (Al-Baqarah) The Cow, verse 53-
وَإِذْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ (53)
Translation: We gave Musa (Moses) the Holy Book (Torah) and the criterion of right and wrong so that you might be rightly guided.
If we acknowledge Muses as a prophet sent by God, then why can we not acknowledge the book that was given or confer to him? What intended fear factor does consist in it that we are forbidden to read it? Does the Holy Quran not bear the testimony of what God said about the Torah? God declares in the chapter The Table Spread (5:44):
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَا ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ فِيہَا هُدً۬ى وَنُورٌ۬ۚ يَحۡكُمُ بِہَا ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡلَمُواْ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَٱلرَّبَّـٰنِيُّونَ وَٱلۡأَحۡبَارُ بِمَا ٱسۡتُحۡفِظُواْ مِن كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ وَڪَانُواْ عَلَيۡهِ شُہَدَآءَۚ فَلَا تَخۡشَوُاْ ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱخۡشَوۡنِ وَلَا تَشۡتَرُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنً۬ا قَلِيلاً۬ۚ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَحۡكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ (44)
Translation by Pickthall : Lo! We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light, by which the prophets who surrendered (unto Allah) judged the Jews, and the rabbis and the priests (judged) by such of Allah’s Scripture as they were bidden to observe, and thereunto were they witnesses. So, fear not mankind, but fear Me. And barter not My revelations for a little gain. Whoso judged not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are disbelievers.
A similar text is found in verse 46 of the same chapter:
وَقَفَّيۡنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم بِعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةِۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ ٱلۡإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدً۬ى وَنُورٌ۬ وَمُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةِ وَهُدً۬ى وَمَوۡعِظَةً۬ لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ (46)
Translation (by Muhammad Hijab): We had Jesus, the son of Mary, follow in their footsteps in order to confirm what had come before him from the Torah and We gave him the Gospel which contains guidance and Light (God’s rules), to confirm what he already had in the Old Testament, and as guidance and a lesson for those who are righteous.
Importance of reading the Pentateuch (Torah) seen in another verse of chapter The Family of Imran (3:93):
۞ كُلُّ ٱلطَّعَامِ ڪَانَ حِلاًّ۬ لِّبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ إِلَّا مَا حَرَّمَ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلُ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِهِۦ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن تُنَزَّلَ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةُۗ قُلۡ فَأۡتُواْ بِٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةِ فَٱتۡلُوهَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ (93)
Translation by Ruwwad Center: All food was permissible for the Children of Israel except what Israel [Jacob] made impermissible for himself before the Torah was sent down. Say, “Bring the Torah and recite it, if you are truthful.”
I have no grudge if someone reads the concerned verses supportive of the books and dubs as ‘old days’ stories. At least I dare say, that we all will have to stand in front of the judgment throne of God to give account. We will be judged of our wisdom and on account of obedience.
Citation of another verse from chapter 5, The Spread of Table (Al-Maidah ) is necessity bound. Here it duly states:
قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَسۡتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ حَتَّىٰ تُقِيمُواْ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةَ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡۗ
وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنۡہُم مَّآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغۡيَـٰنً۬ا وَكُفۡرً۬اۖ فَلَا تَأۡسَ عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (68)
Translation by Dr Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran: Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O People of the Book! You have nothing to stand on unless you observe the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.” And your Lord’s revelation to you ˹O Prophet˺ will only cause many of them to increase in wickedness and disbelief. So do not grieve for the people who disbelieve.
If it is so clearly stated that we do not have any guidance or foundation of faith, then what evidence do we have to disprove what God says about the books or people of the Scripture or the people of the Book?
We may obtain answers to numerous such queries from our own consideration. But it is not up to us to differ or alter His words. And no one has the rights to change His word. He bestowed us with His guidance knowing our circumstances. We are allowed only to follow His words or deny them to the core. We are fortunate with that privilege. But we should not forget that we will be justified in the afterlife by our actions in the world. No scholar or lawgiver or Sufi-saint will be able to protect us from His wrath. In fact, they will be invoking their own destiny. For, ‘there is none without sin’ and the consequence is destined to death, spiritual death.
The book of Romans 3:23 (Gospel) says- For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
I had been struggling to observe all Islamic teaching very strictly, practicing regularly numerous religious rites from my childhood. Many a time questions surfaced deep in my heart, about the teaching of many Islamic clerics and the significance of the word of God. Daunting it was to find answers to many concentrated questions of the sort, and again I was stopped/ threatened to discover the way of the truth. I devoured many Islamic messages with deep concentration by many Islamic scholars and got surprised by their ethical degradation and moral bankruptcy. Many, in the country, never hesitated to capitalise the word of God and stabbing common people’s naïve trust in religion for their personal gain in order to term themselves better fellows.
As I could remember, hundreds of thousands of common people were forced to flee from the country during the country’s liberation war in 1971. That too, because of many pro-Pakistani clerics of Islam. Islamic clerics put decree after decree and justified their stand to crime against humanity and the country with Islam. Today, they would undoubtedly acknowledge the fact that whatever they tried, they had forsaken the word of God, for their personal and pollical gains. They led astray the sincere God-fearing people all the time. Nothing different is happening across the world, today. They have been subduing and forfeiting by whimsical fatwa or decree one after another.
We all are responsible to know God Almighty and His characteristics. But a vested quarter merely scrutinizes everyone’s step towards religious practice. It seems we too, eagerly wait on their mercy. God almighty examines and loves all His creation without any favouritism. It’s His will that we, the best creation, may surrender to Him intuitively, not methodologically or clockwise.
We are talking about ‘The heavenly books and our deception’. In fact, the deception about the heavenly books has created by religiously blind people. We should know that God’s words are not dependent on the teaching of some particular religious sect, clan or race.
And we are not to be obelised to agree with whatever they preach to us. The confusion begins when we believe them and follow them wholeheartedly.
Moreover, nobody is blameless. The world has seen the advent of many prophets, saints and pious men to date. None of them was either beyond spiritual constrain or wrongdoings. They too had the influence of Satan over them, time and again, and disobeyed God Almighty, fell short of glory.
The first man Adam was privileged to encounter God the moment he was given life. He lost that privilege by disobeying His commands. Sinful nature crept in, making life calamitous from that very moment. The human race (Adamic race) still commits sins and tries to conceal them with great contravene. But God’s eye roams everywhere, around the world.
He is omniscient and must be saddened to see His words altered and modification done by men in order to establish religious injunction to rule.
Is it not better to declare the above-mentioned verses from the Holy Quran ‘abrogated’ if it is to be validated as the only word of God? If so, the confusion exists no more.
I am well aware of those who are ever ready with a firm fist to categorically distort my reasoning. And I also know it is quite easy to be confused by their version of interpretation of the Holy Quran. Hence, standing by their side, is it not wise to say ‘let God’s Words be justified or validated’?
God Almighty is capable of establishing His word. He does not require our assistance. Those who wage holy war in order to establish His word through destructive means must know what He says in the word in chapter 8, The Spil of War (Al-Anfal)
وَإِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ إِحْدَى ٱلطَّآئِفَتَيْنِ أَنَّهَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّونَ أَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ ٱلشَّوْكَةِ تَكُونُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُحِقَّ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ (7)
Translation by Yusuf Ali: Behold! Allah promised you one of the two (enemy) parties, that it should be yours: Ye wished that the one unarmed should be yours, but Allah willed to justify the Truth according to His words and to cut off the roots of the Unbelievers;
Can we not stop even then? No, we indeed cannot, we tend to swop on others in reckless madness to disgrace the creation of the Creator.
We’d better discuss the ‘people of the Book’ or the previous books. What are the contents of the books for which reason they are withheld (kept) from teaching in any educational institution? It is even more confusing why the books are not being taught in any Islamic schools or universities. Thereby, we have been floating around with the theoretical preaching of clerics instead of holding on to the word of God. Therefore, we can hardly realise the destination we are running toward. We have become restless runners after faulty idiotic ideas of the clerics. Now is the time to investigate the truth. Are you ready to discover a new horizon?
Chapter The Family of Imran (al-Imran: 3:65) remarks:
يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تُحَآجُّونَ فِىٓ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَتِ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةُ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلُ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦۤۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ (65)
Translation by Muhammad Hijab: People of the Book, why do you argue about Abraham when Torah and the Gospel were not sent down until after him? Do you not use your reason?
It is pretty much obvious that God himself revealed the Torah and the Gospel. He commanded us to obey them, not to disobey and did tell us not only to prescribe and preserve them but also to obey them. Then, why have we been abandoning and deserting them? On this, God almighty announced-
وَءَامِنُواْ بِمَآ أَنزَلۡتُ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا مَعَكُمۡ وَلَا تَكُونُوٓاْ أَوَّلَ كَافِرِۭ بِهِۦۖ وَلَا تَشۡتَرُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنً۬ا قَلِيلاً۬ وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱتَّقُونِ (41)
Translation by Muhammad Hijab: Believe in what I have sent down (the Quran) to confirm what you already have (the Torah as revealed from Allah (God)), and do not be the first to disbelieve in it. Do not sell My signs for a paltry price. I am the One you should heed!
In a footnote, the scholar remarked that the ‘the scripture’ in fact refers to the Torah and the Gospel (Al-Quran- ul Karim, published by Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh).
Certain verses can be cited about it to clear the cloud of confusion in our mind. Chapter4, The Women (An-Nisa) verse 163 declares:
۞ إِنَّآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ كَمَآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ۬ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦۚ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ وَإِسۡمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَـٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَٱلۡأَسۡبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَـٰرُونَ وَسُلَيۡمَـٰنَۚ وَءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُ ۥدَ زَبُورً۬ا (163)
Translation by Abdul Haleem: We have sent revelation to you [Prophet] as We did to Noah and the prophets after him, to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon- to David We gave the book [of Psalms]
Furthermore said “We gave Dawūd the Zabūr (the Psalms)”-Chapter 17, The Night Journey, 55 and resilience too is seen in Bukari verse 4355, page 653. Notwithstanding, who decried the books to be abrogated? And whose command came in effect and declared the books not to be studied???
What all I hope is we ought to try to read and comprehend the heavenly books or ‘the scriptures of the people’ in a view to fathom the depthness of the word of God and His revelation.
If God Almighty had invalidated the books, then why would He have told us to establish them in the above-mentioned verses? Still, where has it been recorded in the Quran that the previous books to be counted as invalid? The facts need to be checked. Besides, we must consider the social state and context along with other historical anthropological evidence of the contemporary people during the revelation or word from God. For depending merely on pantheism is irrational.
Clamour about the authenticity of ‘the books’ is heard frequently. They claim that the genuineness of ‘the books (Pentateuch, sacerdotal and the gospel) do not exist anymore. Having said that, their claim is unfounded, and they claim it without any proper understanding (when they claim, claim it without proper knowledge of the Scriptures). We must not forget that God is capable of protecting His word. No one has any right or able to interpolate, insert, and edit His word. In fact, our rebellion regarding invalidation and inauthenticity of ‘the book of the people’ is sometimes paradoxical to our belief in the Holy Quran.
Apparently, Prophet Muhammad (Sm.) learnt numerous affairs from the Pentateuch. He was seen to cite from the Pentateuch, the Sacerdotal and the gospel enormously in his teaching during his time. Therefore, any attempt to misinterpret His word through unfounded quant logic is tantamount to disobedience.
Prophet Muhammad (Sm.) was advised by God to go to ‘the people of the books’ for wisdom if he is doubtful or undecided. The Holy Quran declares-
فَإِن كُنتَ فِى شَكٍّ۬ مِّمَّآ أَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ فَسۡـَٔلِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقۡرَءُونَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكَۚ لَقَدۡ جَآءَكَ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمُمۡتَرِينَ (94)
Translation by Saheeh International: So if you are in doubt, [O Muḥammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters. (Chapter 10, Jonah (Yunus: 94)
Clarification on the above-mentioned verse is demanding indeed. Because Muhammad (Sm.) was asked to approach ‘the people of the books’ who recite and follow -the Pentateuch, the sacerdotal and the gospel–them for advice if he is doubtful. Evidently, the question arises – was prophet Muhammad (Sm.) doubtful about the scripture revealed to him?
Yes, he was. He would get upset frequently as the people of Mecca demanded and put pressure on him for signs and worders from him, and would doubt the revelation that came on him. But that God asked him to approach the followers of the Scripture for a solution at such a time of confusion is noteworthy. Now the question is: Why would God do such a thing? Because they are the true followers of the word of God and know the distinction between truth and falsehood.
Accordingly, God had chosen them to show the straight path to those who disbelieve and doubt. On the other hand, regardless of what the Holy Quran states, we never stop crying at the top of our lungs to make a fuss about the invalidation of the Scriptures of the people. In contrast, if the Scriptures are invalidated then why would God contradict His statement?
Furthermore, the Holy Quran was revealed supporting the previous scriptures—chapter Jonah, verse 37. Given the context, it is crystal clear that God advised prophet Muhammad (Sm.) to approach ‘the people of the books’ to be free from his confusions and doubts. Not only that, God further commanded to establish the glories of ‘the Scriptures’. Chapter Al-Ankabut and verse 46 is suggestive to that:
۞ وَلَا تُجَـٰدِلُوٓاْ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنۡهُمۡۖ وَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡنَا وَأُنزِلَ إِلَيۡڪُمۡ وَإِلَـٰهُنَا وَإِلَـٰهُكُمۡ وَٲحِدٌ۬ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ ۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ (46)
Translation by Muhammad Hijab: Do not argue with the People of the Book (the Bible) unless It is in the kindest manner, except for those of them who do wrong. SAY: “We believe in what has been sent down to us and what has been sent down to you. Our Allah (God) and your Allah (God) is [the Same] One, and we are committed to Submit to Him.
Can we still expect the books of the people to be invalidated? Why God did not know if the Scriptures are changed? Is God wrong to advise repeatedly to Prophet Muhammad (Sm.)? Is Allah wrong and we are right? Has Allah ever mentioned that those previous books have been changed or abrogated?
That to say, is there any Muslim scholar capable of finding the change and interpolation that they categorically demand to have taken place in the Scriptures? I wonder. Or is it just common hearsay? And to whom the original scriptures belong? The answers are always opaque or almost non-existent; for we cannot expect any scholars to be born yet, who would give or gives proper answers readily.
Chapter An-aam testifies: ‘Then We gave Moses the Book (the Torah) as a fulfilment for someone who acts kindly and an analysis of everything”…. And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy. (155)
Nevertheless, if anyone alleges interpolation of the scriptures after revelation then consequently, we will have to make the argument that prophet Muhammad (Sm.) failed to preserve the Holy Quran. Because the Holy Quran had been revealed as a protector of the previous books and to establish them firmly. Chapter The Family of Imran, verses 3, 4 rightfully states: “He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. ….previously, as guidance for people”.
Is there any scope left to ignore the Pentateuch (Torah), the Sacerdotal (Zabur) and the Gospel (Injeel)? Therefore, such claims are nothing but an inadvertent immature voice in the wilderness.
Even if the scriptures had been changed then why was God pointing a finger at Prophet Muhammad (Sm.)? In fact, the people of the Scriptures have been protecting the Scriptures among themselves for ages, and have been translating into hundreds of languages to date.
Another fact worth note is that ‘people’s claim about the Pentateuch, the Sacerdotal and the Gospel to bear witness of Prophet Muhammad (Sm.)’. If that so, then how could Muhammad fail to preserve that book? The following verses are prescribed to those who prefer to put the ideas of biblical (Scriptural) interpolation. God’s word is immutable, as such.
سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلُۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبۡدِيلاً۬ (23)
Translation by Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi: Such is Allah’s Way that has come down from the past. Never shall you find any change in the Way of Allah. (Chapter48, The Victory, verse: 23)
I simply cannot figure out how the verses are interpreted by the naysayers. The Chapter Cow, verse 4 and 5 announce:
َٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبۡلِكَ وَبِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ هُمۡ يُوقِنُونَ (4) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ عَلَىٰ هُدً۬ى مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ (5)
Translation: those who believe in the revelation sent down to you [Muhammad], and in what was sent before you, those who have firm faith in the Hereafter. (4) They are on (true) guidance, from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper. (5) (Yusuf Ali and Abdul Haleem).
Now, the subsequent verse from the same chapter weighs even more:
قُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَـٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَٱلۡأَسۡبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيۡنَ أَحَدٍ۬ مِّنۡهُمۡ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ ۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ (136)
Translation by Pickthall: Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him, we have surrendered.
Above mentioned verses must be taken into consideration without overlooking if they exist in the Holy Quran. How can we still allege to say the scriptures have been changed?
Notable instances are aplenty on the page of the history of how ‘the people of the Scriptures’ have been endured barbaric persecution by the Jewish for centuries and succumbed to their demise. They never let the word of God from them even in the face of such atrocious punishment. Historians give many such accounts of the people who had accepted death with a smiling face simply because of their unwavering obedience to the word of God.
They would rather opt to accept glorious death than deny Christ Jesus. Many chose death with excruciating pain as a result of their resolute stand for Christ and His word. None of them was able to be departed from the Good News they were holding on to. Biographies written on them is one such: By Their Blood: Christians Martyrs of Twentieth Century, Published by Mott Media. Dr James Hefly & His wife Marti authored the book. And “Liberated Palestinian”– by Dr Anis A. Shorrosh is also full of such information. The book authored by Dr Kenneth Lourett is too of the notables.
Can anyone deceive the believers of the Holy Bible saying it has been changed? No, not at all. Why? Because the reason is written in their book itself:
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be eternally be condemned”! (Galatians 1:8)
Moreover, one must consider the motive and exegeses behind any changes. The consequence of such action is clearly stated in their book itself-‘I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will strike him with the plagues that are written in this book. If anyone takes away any words from the book of this prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book. [(The Bible), Injeel, Revelation 22:18-19)]
To conclude, we must bear in mind that no human being is qualified to alter His word. Of course, God shall judge the people who run the baseless stories of alteration of the word of God to delude upright minds, and shrewd interpreter who produces false interpretation will face God’s wrath and will have to give an account.
If you want to come out of deception and to live a holy life, it is the best time for you to acknowledge the truth and confess your sin to God to be saved. He is indeed willing to save your life as Jesus Christ (Isa Al Mashe) paid the price for all of our sins in order to set us free. You too can enjoy the life of godliness with the eternal destination. May the love of God capture your heart and show you the His divine light.
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