"The Qur'an and the Bible: Distinct Revelations and Preservation"

 How the Qur'an Differs From the Bible

It is a common allegation by some Christians that the Qur'an is a mere copy of the Bible, claiming that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) plagiarized "his" book from the pages of the Bible. While it is true that the Qur'an was revealed after the Bible came into existence and that both the Qur'an and the Bible share some common ground, the conclusion that Prophet Muhammad simply copied the Bible is both historically and logically untenable. Below are several reasons why this claim is unfounded.


Arabic Bible and Lack of Translations

First, it is essential to note that during the time of Prophet Muhammad, no Arabic translations of the Bible existed. Ernst Würthwein informs us in his book, The Text of the Old Testament, that:

"With the victory of Islam, the use of Arabic spread widely, and for Jews and Christians in the conquered lands, it became the language of daily life. This gave rise to the need for Arabic versions of the Bible, which appeared independently and focused primarily on interpretation" (Würthwein, 104).


Thus, the first Arabic translations of the Hebrew Bible appeared only after the advent of Islam, with the oldest known manuscript of the Old Testament in Arabic dating from the 9th century. Similarly, the earliest dated manuscript of the Gospels in Arabic, Sinai Arabic MS 72, was written by Stephen of Ramleh in 897 AD (Griffith, 131–132). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away in 632 CE, long before these translations existed.


The Unlettered Prophet

Second, it would be highly ironic if the unlettered Prophet Muhammad could have studied and assimilated the sources of Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Hanif, and pre-Islamic Arabian beliefs in order to fabricate the Qur'an. The Prophet's illiteracy was acknowledged even by his enemies during his lifetime, and there is no record of the pagan Arabs in Makkah accusing Muhammad of pretending to be illiterate while secretly being literate. Allah addresses this in the Qur'an:


{And thou wast not [able] to recite a Book before this [Book came], nor art thou [able] to transcribe it with thy right hand: in that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted. Nay, here are signs self-evident in the hearts of those endowed with knowledge; and none but the unjust reject Our signs} [Al-`Ankabut:48–49].


The Qur'an's message was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over 23 years, during which he transmitted the words of Allah to his companions, many of whom memorized and wrote them down. The Prophet's illiteracy is not a flaw but rather an essential feature that strengthens the argument that the Qur'an is divinely revealed, not a human creation.


The Qur'an's Original Language

The Qur'an was revealed in Arabic, and it is the Arabic text that is universally considered to be the Qur'an. Translations of the Qur'an, while helpful, are always considered secondary to the original Arabic. In contrast, the Bible's Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek—languages far removed from the Arabic of the Qur'an. The Gospels, for instance, were written several decades after the events of Jesus’ life and were composed in Greek, not in the Aramaic spoken by Jesus. 

This difference in language highlights a key distinction: the Qur'an has always been preserved in its original form, while the Bible has undergone numerous translations and versions, often influenced by theological and political developments.


The development of the Christian Bible itself was a complex and lengthy process. The canonization of the New Testament, which defines which books are considered authoritative, did not reach its final form until the 4th century. Furthermore, the earliest manuscripts of the Bible are copies of earlier copies, with the original manuscripts lost to history.


Biblical Disputes and Inconsistencies

There are significant debates surrounding the authorship of the Bible's texts, particularly the Gospels. The earliest Gospel, Mark, was written between 57-75 CE, and the last Gospel, John, was likely written between 85-100 CE. The Gospels are not direct eyewitness accounts, but rather accounts written by others based on oral traditions. As Rudolf Bultmann noted, "We can now know almost nothing concerning the life and personality of Jesus, since the early Christian sources show no interest in either, and are moreover fragmentary and often legendary" (Jesus and the Word, 1958).


Moreover, the Bible contains multiple versions and interpretations, leading to differences in doctrine across Christian denominations. These inconsistencies further challenge the claim that the Bible represents a unified, unaltered revelation.


The Qur'an's Self-Reference

The Qur'an consistently refers to itself as the word of Allah. It claims that it is divinely revealed and preserved in its entirety, with no alterations or corruption. The Qur'an explicitly refers to itself as the Book and uses the term Qur'an (meaning "recitation") repeatedly. It also emphasizes its own divine preservation, as Allah states in the Qur'an:

{Certainly, it was We Who revealed the Reminder (the Qur'an) and certainly We shall preserve it} [Al-Hijr:9].


In contrast, the Bible does not contain the term "Bible" and does not make any claim of a singular, unbroken revelation from God. The diversity of Christian views on the canon of Scripture further complicates any claim to a unified, divinely inspired text.


Preservation and Memorization

The Qur'an's preservation is one of its most remarkable features. The verses of the Qur'an were revealed over 23 years, and as soon as they were revealed, Prophet Muhammad dictated them to his companions, who wrote them down and committed them to memory. There were so many people who had memorized the Qur'an that from the very first day of its revelation, it was firmly embedded in the hearts and minds of the Muslim community.


By the time of Prophet Muhammad's death, the entire Qur'an was compiled, verified, and preserved. During the caliphate of Abu Bakr, a standardized written compilation of the Qur'an was prepared under the guidance of Zayd ibn Thabit. This process ensured that no alterations could be made, and the text of the Qur'an remained protected from corruption. The Qur'an's preservation through both memorization and written documentation has allowed it to remain unchanged for over 1,400 years.


The Qur'an’s Linguistic Miracle

Another significant aspect of the Qur'an is its preservation of the Arabic language. Despite the passage of time, the classical Arabic of the Qur'an has remained intact and continues to be understood by Arabic speakers today. Every language evolves over time, yet the Qur'an's linguistic style has not only been preserved but also continues to influence the Arabic language.


The Qur'an’s eloquence and inimitability (I'jaz al-Qur'an) are viewed as miracles in themselves. Scholars have long studied the Qur'an's language and its impact on Arabic literature, further affirming that the Qur'an's linguistic beauty and depth remain unmatched.


 Incorruptibility and Continuity

The Qur'an's preservation in its original language and its consistent transmission through memorization and written records provide compelling evidence of its authenticity. In contrast, the Bible has undergone numerous translations, edits, and canonizations, leading to varying interpretations across denominations. The Qur'an remains the same today as it was when it was first revealed, making its authenticity and preservation unique among religious texts.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

{This is the Book; in it is Sure Guidance, no doubt, for those who are God-conscious} [Al-Baqarah:2].


In another verse, He says:

{And say: "The Truth has arrived, and Falsehood perished; for Falsehood is bound to perish"} [Al-Israa':81].


The Qur'an's claim to be the final revelation of God, unaltered and preserved, remains unchallenged by the evidence presented in its history and continued recitation.


References:

  • Bultmann, Rudolf. Jesus and the Word. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1958.

  • "Canon of the New Testament." Catholic Encyclopaedia.

  • Griffith, Sidney H. The Gospel in Arabic: An Enquiry into Its Appearance in the First Abbasid Century. Oriens Christianus, volume 69, pp. 131-132.

  • Würthwein, Ernst. The Text of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988.


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