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Corruption of Previous Scriptures: Difference between revisions
Corruption of Previous Scriptures (view source)
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[[File:Quran 2-79.png|290px|right|thumb]] | [[File:Quran 2-79.png|290px|right|thumb]] | ||
This article analyzes the claim that the [[Qur'an]] states the previous [[Islam and Scripture|scriptures]] (the [[Taurat]] and [[Injil]]) were physically corrupted. | This article analyzes the claim that the [[Qur'an]] states the previous [[Islam and Scripture|scriptures]] (the [[Taurat]] and [[Injil]]) were physically corrupted. | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
While early Islamic scholars such as Ibn al-Layth, Ibn Rabban, Ibn Qutayba, Al-Ya'qubi, Al-Tabari, Al-Baqillani, Al-Mas'udi, and Al-Bukhari would disagree,<ref>Camilla Adang (1996), ''Muslim Writers on Judaism & the Hebrew Bible from Ibn Rabban to Ibn Hazm'', Leiden: Brill. ISBN 90-04-10034-2.</ref><ref> G. Parrinder, ''Jesus in the Qur'an'', Faber and Faber, London 1965; Dutch translation, Ten Have, Baarn 1978, p. 124.</ref> today it is a common belief among Muslims that the Qur'an states that the previous scriptures (the Taurat and Injil) have been | While early Islamic scholars such as Ibn al-Layth, Ibn Rabban, Ibn Qutayba, Al-Ya'qubi, Al-Tabari, Al-Baqillani, Al-Mas'udi, and Al-Bukhari would disagree,<ref>Camilla Adang (1996), ''Muslim Writers on Judaism & the Hebrew Bible from Ibn Rabban to Ibn Hazm'', Leiden: Brill. ISBN 90-04-10034-2.</ref><ref> G. Parrinder, ''Jesus in the Qur'an'', Faber and Faber, London 1965; Dutch translation, Ten Have, Baarn 1978, p. 124.</ref> today it is a common belief among Muslims that the Qur'an states that the previous scriptures (the Taurat and Injil) have been textually corrupted by those who were charged with safeguarding it (ie the Jews and Christians). Thus, the Qur'an is the 'return' to the true message of the God of the Bible. | ||
{{Quran|2|79}} is often presented as evidence for this claim. | {{Quran|2|79}} is often presented as evidence for this claim. | ||
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'''Shakir:''' Woe, then, to those who write the book with their hands and then say: This is from Allah, so that they may take for it a small price; therefore woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.}} | '''Shakir:''' Woe, then, to those who write the book with their hands and then say: This is from Allah, so that they may take for it a small price; therefore woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.}} | ||
This verse alone | This verse alone, taken by itself, may appear to indicate that the Qur'an indeed holds this view. Examining what the Qur'an<ref>All verses are from Shakir's translation.</ref> otherwise says about Taurat and Injil reveals a different picture. | ||
==What the Qur'an says about corruption== | ==What the Qur'an says about corruption== | ||
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*{{Quran|5|41}} The Jews ''"alter the words from their places."'' | *{{Quran|5|41}} The Jews ''"alter the words from their places."'' | ||
Evidently, the Qur'an charges that the Jews and Christian's corrupted their scriptures; but only in their oral recitations. Qur'an 2:77 charges that the Jews deliberately "keep secret" parts of their Taurat from the people who do not know the Jewish scriptures. If the | Evidently, the Qur'an charges that the Jews and Christian's corrupted their scriptures; but only in their oral recitations. Qur'an 2:77 charges that the Jews deliberately "keep secret" parts of their Taurat from the people who do not know the Jewish scriptures. If the textual copies of the scriptures have been corrupted, this begs the question of how would the Jews knew what was in it. One answer is it that there are 'original' Taurat's still in existence, accessibly by an elite clerical class. These elite Jews are supposedly literate people because they 'knew what their book said but hid it behind their backs.' This could indicate that they keeping the information from the illiterate people (like Muhammad). This would fit with the Qur'an's charge that the Jews 'distorted the book with their tongues.' | ||
The Jews 'altered the words from their places' and 'forgot a good part of the message'; this also does not speak to physical scriptural corruption, but (alleged) corruption in their recitations to those who did not know the Jewish scriptures. Consider the claims made in Qur'an 5:15, where the Qur'an alleges that Muhammad 'made clear' what the Jews had 'concealed'; Muhammad also made clear that which they had 'passed over.' If the actual text was corrupt, this would presumably have been some kind of miracle, but there's no indication that this was the case. If the physical corruption claim is true, the Qur'an should be using words like "the parts that the Jews removed from their books" or "the parts which have been omitted." | The Jews 'altered the words from their places' and 'forgot a good part of the message'; this also does not speak to physical scriptural corruption, but (alleged) corruption in their recitations to those who did not know the Jewish scriptures. Consider the claims made in Qur'an 5:15, where the Qur'an alleges that Muhammad 'made clear' what the Jews had 'concealed'; Muhammad also made clear that which they had 'passed over.' If the actual text was corrupt, this would presumably have been some kind of miracle, but there's no indication that this was the case. If the physical corruption claim is true, the Qur'an should be using words like "the parts that the Jews removed from their books" or "the parts which have been omitted." | ||
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(a) The Jews were literate - they knew their scriptures; they 'threw the book of Allah behind their backs as if they knew nothing." They could not know the book of Allah if it was corrupted.<BR> | (a) The Jews were literate - they knew their scriptures; they 'threw the book of Allah behind their backs as if they knew nothing." They could not know the book of Allah if it was corrupted.<BR> | ||
(b) The Jews and Christians both had intact (alleged) revelations from Allah when the Qur'an was revealed. Since manuscripts that pre-date Muhammad's time are extant, | (b) The Jews and Christians both had intact (alleged) revelations from Allah when the Qur'an was revealed. There is no indication in the text that a lost textual tradition is being referred to here. Since manuscripts that pre-date Muhammad's time are extant, this refers to the same Bible as the Bible that exists today, the same one(s) Jews and Christians still use in their own worship. | ||
==Referrences to both the Taurat and Injil?== | ==Referrences to both the Taurat and Injil?== | ||
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===Analysis=== | ===Analysis=== | ||
In the above Qur'an verses Allah claims to have revealed both the Taurat (to Musa) and Injil (to Isa). Qur'an 5:47 confirms also that the Injil was intact during Muhammad's time, when it says "and the | In the above Qur'an verses Allah claims to have revealed both the Taurat (to Musa) and Injil (to Isa). Qur'an 5:47 confirms also that the Injil was intact during Muhammad's time, when it says "and the followe/rs of the Injeel should have judged by what Allah revealed in it". This shows, that, in order to judge Muhammad's truthfulness on his prophetic claim, the Christians should have gone to the Injil which they ''had with them'' in order to 'confirm' his claim. Allah is inferring that their scripture, as well as that of the Jews, is uncorrupted. | ||
==Qur'an 2:79 in Context== | ==Qur'an 2:79 in Context== | ||
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It is most likely that Qur'an 2:78-79 is referring to the people who took up this challenge to produce a surah like it. However, since the Qur'an does not elaborate, we can only say for certainty that it is ''not'' referring to the Jews and Christians. | It is most likely that Qur'an 2:78-79 is referring to the people who took up this challenge to produce a surah like it. However, since the Qur'an does not elaborate, we can only say for certainty that it is ''not'' referring to the Jews and Christians. | ||
== | ==The Qur'anic View of the Corruption of the Scriptures== | ||
Taken as a whole, the Quranic view of the corruption of the previous scriptures is as follows: | |||
#The Qur'an never charges that the Jews and Christians have physically corrupted their scriptures. It states that they have 'changed words from their right places (with their mouths)' and 'concealed parts of the message given to them'. | #The Qur'an never charges that the Jews and Christians have physically corrupted their scriptures. It states that they have 'changed words from their right places (with their mouths)' and 'concealed parts of the message given to them'. | ||
#The Qur'an claims to verify the books that they have with them. This precludes the possibility that the People of the Book had corrupted scriptures in their possession at the time of Muhammad. The language used in the Qur'an confirms that the whole texts were intact and 'verified' by the Qur'an. Since we have Biblical texts that pre-date Islam, that match what we have today, we know that today's scriptures are the same as they were in and before Muhammad's time. | #The Qur'an claims to verify the books that they have with them. This precludes the possibility that the People of the Book had corrupted scriptures in their possession at the time of Muhammad. The language used in the Qur'an confirms that the whole texts were intact and 'verified' by the Qur'an. Since we have Biblical texts that pre-date Islam, that match what we have today, we know that today's scriptures are the same as they were in and before Muhammad's time. | ||
#Allah in the Qur'an | #Allah in the Qur'an 'verifies' both the Taurat and Injil; telling Christians and Jews to check their specific scriptures to 'judge by what Allah has revealed' and thus confirming that their scriptures are still valid. | ||
#Both the Jews and Christians were literate peoples who knew their scriptures. | #Both the Jews and Christians were literate peoples who knew their scriptures. | ||
#Qur'an 2:79 when read in context clearly states that the ''illiterate'' people were writing the book 'with their own hands' and claiming it was from Allah. Since the people of the Book were literate, these verses are not referring to them. | #Qur'an 2:79 when read in context clearly states that the ''illiterate'' people were writing the book 'with their own hands' and claiming it was from Allah. Since the people of the Book were literate, these verses are not referring to them. | ||
The Qur'an never says the physical scriptures of the previous revelations are corrupt (since we have precluded 2:79). | The Qur'an never says the physical scriptures of the previous revelations are corrupt (since we have precluded 2:79). Since the previous scriptures are not corrupt, the Qur'an has this to say about its own relationship with the previous scriptures of the People of the Book: | ||
{{quote | {{Quran|10|94}}|But if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to you, '''ask those who read the Book before you'''; certainly the truth has come to you from your Lord, therefore you should not be of the disputers.}} | {{quote | {{Quran|10|94}}|But if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to you, '''ask those who read the Book before you'''; certainly the truth has come to you from your Lord, therefore you should not be of the disputers.}} | ||
{{quote | {{Quran|21|7}}|And We did not send before you any but men to whom We sent revelation, '''so ask the followers of the reminder''' if you do not}} | {{quote | {{Quran|21|7}}|And We did not send before you any but men to whom We sent revelation, '''so ask the followers of the reminder''' if you do not}} | ||
Qur'an 2:79 is not referring to the previous scriptures | Qur'an 2:79 is not referring to the previous scriptures but rather to an (unknown) set of fake scriptures fabricated by a group of "illiterates." | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||