Is the injil and the Torah mentioned in the Quran the current Bible as it is erroneously believed by the Christians?

Is the injil and the Torah mentioned in the Quran the current Bible as it is erroneously believed by the Christians?

Written by Aboo mohammad jamal Dookhy

03/28/2023

All praise is due to Allah and may the peace and blessings of Allah be on the prophet Mohammad.

When it comes to understanding the references to the Injil and Torah in the Quran, it is important to delve deep into the historical and cultural context of the time. The Quran refers to the Injil, which is the Arabic term for the Gospel, and the Torah, which is the Arabic term for the Jewish scripture known as the Pentateuch. Both of these texts are revered by Muslims as holy scriptures, but what do the references to them in the Quran really mean?

To begin with, it is helpful to understand that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the early 7th century CE. At that time, the Arabian Peninsula was a mosaic of religious and tribal affiliations, and Islam emerged as a response to the need to unite the tribes and establish a new socio-religious order. In this context, the Quranic references to the Injil and Torah were meant to establish a connection between the new religion and the existing religious traditions in Arabia.

One of the key messages of the Quran is the continuity of the message of the Prophets, and it views itself as the culmination of this message. As such, the Quran acknowledges the existence of earlier revelations, including the Torah and the Injil. Muslims believe that the Torah was revealed to Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and the Injil was revealed to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). Moreover, the Quran recognizes Jesus as a prophet and messenger of Allah who was sent to guide the children of Israel. The Quran shares some similarities with the Bible regarding Jesus, such as his miraculous birth, teachings, and miracles. However, it differs with the Bible in some aspects, such as the belief in the Trinity and Jesus' crucifixion, which the Quran denies. The Quran presents Jesus as a human prophet, not as the divine son of God, as believed by Christians.

Similarly, the Quran acknowledges Moses as a prophet and messenger of Allah who was sent to deliver the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt and guide them towards righteousness. The Quran shares some similarities with the Bible regarding Moses, such as the Ten Commandments and the parting of the Red Sea. However, there are differences too. For example, the Quran provides more details about the events surrounding the encounter with the Pharaoh and the exodus from Egypt that are not found in the Bible.

Another common misconception among Christians is that the current Bible is unchanged from its original text. It is widely recognized by academics and religious scholars that the current Bible has been subjected to additions, omissions, and changes over time, resulting in various versions and translations. The original language of the Bible, Hebrew and Greek, has also been lost and replaced by translations, which came centuries after. However, the Quran also emphasizes that these earlier revelations have been corrupted and distorted over time. Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed as a corrective to these distortions and as a final and authoritative revelation from Allah, meant to guide mankind for all time to come. This view is based on several verses of the Quran:

“And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.” (Quran 5: 48)

This verse establishes the Quran as a criterion, or a standard, over the earlier scriptures. It instructs Muslims to use the Quran to judge between the different religious traditions and to follow what Allah has revealed in the Quran. This view is supported by other verses, which highlight the distortions that have been introduced into the earlier revelations:

“Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, "This is from Allah," to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.” (Quran 2: 79)

This verse warns against those who change the text of a scripture and attribute it to Allah. Muslims believe that this is precisely what happened to the earlier revelations, as they were altered by their followers over time.

Another verse that highlights the changes made to the earlier revelations is:

“Among them are unlettered ones who do not know the scripture except in wishful thinking, but they are only assuming.” (Quran 2: 78)

This verse suggests that there were people who claimed to know the scriptures but were actually ignorant of their true teachings. This ignorance led them to make assumptions about the content of the scriptures, leading to distortions.

The Quranic view of the Torah and the Injil raises an important question: how do the Quranic texts differ from the Bible of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? The answer lies in the fact that the Quran and the Bible have different historical and cultural contexts. The Bible was written in the Roman Empire in Greek and Aramaic, while the Quran was revealed to the Arabian Peninsula in Arabic.

Moreover, the Bible was written over a period of several centuries by different authors with different perspectives and agendas, while the Quran was revealed to one person over a period of 23 years. The Quran is therefore more consistent in its message and less susceptible to distortions over time.

However, it is important to note that the Quranic view of the earlier revelations does not imply a rejection of the people who follow those traditions. Rather, the Quran states that all true believers, regardless of their religious affiliation, will be rewarded by Allah:

“Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad] - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (Quran 2: 62)

This verse emphasizes the importance of belief in Allah and righteousness, rather than adherence to a particular religious tradition.

It is also important to acknowledge that there have been instances of tampering with the Bible over time. Some scholars have suggested that the Bible has been altered by its followers to fit their own agendas.

For example, the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) is absent from some early manuscripts of the Gospel of John. This suggests that the story was added later, possibly to promote a particular moral message.

Similarly, there are differences between the Old Testament books in the Jewish and Christian canons. Some books, such as Tobit and the Wisdom of Solomon, are included in the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but are not part of the Jewish Bible. This suggests that the canons were shaped by the different religious traditions and their agendas.

In conclusion, the Quranic references to the Injil and Torah are meant to establish a connection between the new religion of Islam and the existing religious traditions in Arabia. The Quran views itself as the culmination of the message of the Prophets, and as a corrective to the distortions that have been introduced into the earlier revelations. The Quranic texts differ from the Bible of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John due to their different historical and cultural contexts and the fact that the Quran is less susceptible to distortions over time. However, the Quranic view of the earlier revelations does not imply a rejection of the people who follow those traditions, and Muslims acknowledge the importance of belief in Allah and righteousness. It is important to be aware of the historical evidence of tampering with the Bible and to approach religious texts with a critical perspective. When it comes to understanding the references to the Injil and Torah in the Quran, it is important to delve deep into the historical and cultural context of the time. The Quran refers to the Injil, which is the Arabic term for the Gospel, and the Torah, which is the Arabic term for the Jewish scripture known as the Pentateuch. Both of these texts are revered by Muslims as holy scriptures, but what do the references to them in the Quran really mean? So we can gather that the gospels and  books that the Christians and Jews have in their hand which is called the bible is not what was revealed to prophet Jesus and prophets before him. So when the Quran refers to the injil it’s not in anyway shape or form referring to Matthew' mark, Luke and John as Christians like to believe. So next time a Christians says that Allah in in the Quran says that Muslims must refer to the bible they can be corrected with these facts