The Qur'an teaches that the Scriptures of the Jews and the Christians were intact and authentic at the time of Muhammad and there was no suggestion during his lifetime that these texts had been altered. It was only in the succeeding generation, when the Muslims ventured into neighbouring Christian lands, that they found that the Bible itself was the authority for Christian beliefs about Jesus and not that these beliefs had risen contrary to its teaching as Muhammad had supposed. There were only two possible responses to this discovery - they either had to accept that their prophet had erred or to work on the presupposition that the text itself had been changed and interpolated. Unfortunately they chose the latter course.
The Muslim position thus begins with a hypothesis which is beyond proof or disproof, a hypothesis which ends where it begins. The Qur'an is the infallible Book. All other true Scriptures agree with it. The Biblical Scriptures, as they are, do not agree. Therefore these are corrupted. (Cragg, The Call of the Minaret, p. 282).
Muslims thus base their attitudes on a presupposition and evidences are sought to justify it. Before a Muslim ever picks up a Bible he is led to believe it is no longer an authentic book. How many there are who, when they obtain a copy, do not read it to discover and understand its teaching but only to find fault. That their attitude is purely presumptuous can be seen from a study of the evidences themselves for, when these are honestly and objectively considered, the only conclusion that can be reached is that the Bible is a remarkably intact book and one of certain authenticity. We shall begin by considering some of the basic principles underlying its integrity and shall then press on to a brief study of the evidences that exist for its textual history in the oldest manuscripts available to us. We shall see just how strong the evidences are in favour of its authenticity.
Quran never says that it only confirms certain portions of the Holy Bible, but quite expressly states that it affirms all of the previous revelation, the entirety of the previous Scriptures:
Quran claims none can change, alter the books of Allah and Bible is supposed to be allah's book
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6:34
Islam made perfected by allah Surah 5:3 .... This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
(completed? but isn't the last verse of Quran, he had 109 chapters left including rest of verses of chapter 5 -- Isn't this a confused mixed corrupted book ?)
Produce a Torah like this Challenge of Quran.
Say: Then bring some (other) book from Allah which is a better guide than both of them, (that) I may follow it, if you are truthful.
O children of Israel! call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and be faithful to (your) covenant with Me, I will fulfill (My) covenant with you; and of Me, Me alone, should you be afraid. And believe in what I have revealed, VERIFYING THAT WHICH IS WITH YOU, and be not the first to deny it, neither take a mean price in exchange for My communications; and Me, Me alone should you fear. S. 2:40-41 Shakir
And when there came to them a Book from Allah VERIFYING THAT WHICH THEY HAVE, and aforetime they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieve, but when there came to them (Prophet) that which they did not recognize, they disbelieved in him; so Allah's curse is on the unbelievers. S. 2:89 Shakir
And when they were told, 'Believe in that God has sent down,' they said, 'We believe in what was sent down on us'; and they disbelieve in what is beyond that, yet it is the truth CONFIRMING WHAT IS WITH THEM. Say: 'Why then were you slaying the Prophets of God in former time, if you were believers?' S. 2:91
Say: 'Whosoever is an enemy to Gabriel -- he it was that brought it down upon thy heart by the leave of God, CONFIRMING WHAT IS BETWEEN HIS HANDS (musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi), and for a guidance and good tidings to the believers. S. 2:97
And when there cometh unto them a messenger from Allah, CONFIRMING THAT WHICH THEY POSSESS, a party of those who have received the Scripture fling the Scripture of Allah behind their backs as if they knew not, S. 2:101 Pickthall
He has sent down upon thee the Book with the truth, CONFIRMING WHAT IS BETWEEN HIS HANDS (musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi), and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel. S. 3:3
"Allah! There is no God but He, - the Living, the Selfsubsisting, Eternal ... He sent down Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) Before this as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the Criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). Then those who reject Faith in the Signs of Allah will suffer the severest chastisement and Allah is Exalted in Might, Lord of Retribution.." (S. Al-i-Imran 3:3-4).
"Say ye: 'We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ismail, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses, and Jesus, and that given to all prophets from their Lord: WE MAKE NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE AND ANOTHER OF THEM." (S. Baqara 2:136).
PickthallO ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His messenger and the Scripture which He hath revealed unto His messenger, and the Scripture which He revealed aforetime. Whoso disbelieveth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers and the Last Day, he verily hath wandered far astray.. (S. Nisaa 4:136).
This is a Book We have sent down, blessed AND CONFIRMING THAT WHICH IS BETWEEN HIS HANDS (musaddiqu allathee bayna yadayhi), and for thee to warn the Mother of Cities and those about her; and those who believe in the world to come believe in it, and watch over their prayers. S. 6:92
And this Quran is not such as could be forged by those besides Allah, but it is A CONFIRMATION THAT WHICH IS BETWEEN HIS HANDS (tasdeeqa allathee bayna yadayhi) and a clear explanation of the book, there is no doubt in it, from the Lord of the worlds. S. 10:37
In their histories there is certainly a lesson for men of understanding. It is not a narrative which could be forged, BUT A CONFIRMATION THAT WHICH IS BETWEEN HIS HANDS (tasdeeqa allathee bayna yadayhi) and a distinct explanation of all things and a guide and a mercy to a people who believe. S. 12:111
And that We have revealed to thee of the Book is the truth, CONFIRMING WHAT IS BETWEEN HIS HANDS (musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi); God is aware of and sees His servants." S. 35:31
They said: O our people! we have listened to a Book revealed after Moses CONFIRMING THAT WHICH IS BETWEEN HIS HANDS (musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi), guiding to the truth and to a right path: S. 46:30
And He will teach him the Book and the wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel… "attesting to WHAT IS BETWEEN MY HANDS (Wamusaddiqan lima bayna yadayya) OF THE TORAH, and to make lawful to you a part of that which is forbidden to you." S. 3:48, 50
And in their footsteps (of Moses and the Jews) We sent Jesus the son of Mary, attesting to the Torah WHICH WAS BETWEEN HIS HANDS (musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi); and We gave him the Gospel - therein is guidance and light and attesting to the Torah WHICH WAS BETWEEN HIS HANDS (wamusaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi): a guidance and an admonition to the righteous. S. 5:46
Then will God say, "O Jesus son of Mary! Recount my favor to you and to your mother when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so that you spoke to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel…" S. 5:110
And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: ‘Oh Children of Israel! I am the apostle of God to you, CONFIRMING THAT WHICH IS BETWEEN MY HANDS from the Torah (musaddiqan lima bayna yadayya mina al-tawrati)…" S. 61:6
If thou wert in doubt as to what We have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before thee: the Truth hath indeed come to thee from thy Lord: so be in no wise of those in doubt. S. 10:94 Y. Ali
Where is the Stoning to Death Quranic verse ?
'Abdullah b. 'Abbas reported that 'Umar b. Khattab sat on the pulpit of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Verily Allah sent Muhammad (may peace be upon him) with truth and He sent down the Book upon him, and the verse of stoning was included in what was sent down to him. We recited it, retained it in our memory and understood it. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) awarded the punishment of stoning to death (to the married adulterer and adulteress) and, after him, we also awarded the punishment of stoning, I am afraid that with the lapse of time, the people (may forget it) and may say: We do not find the punishment of stoning in the Book of Allah, and thus go astray by abandoning this duty prescribed by Allah. stoning is a duty laid down in Allah's Book for married men and women who commit adultery when proof is established, or it there is pregnancy, or a confession. (Sahih Muslim ,Book #017, Hadith #4194)
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
'Umar said, "I am afraid that after a long time has passed, people may say, "We do not find the Verses of the Rajam (stoning to death) in the Holy Book," and consequently they may go astray by leaving an obligation that Allah has revealed. Lo! I confirm that the penalty of Rajam be inflicted on him who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if he is already married and the crime is proved by witnesses or pregnancy or confession." Sufyan added, "I have memorized this narration in this way." 'Umar added, "Surely Allah's Apostle carried out the penalty of Rajam, and so did we after him." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 816: See also: Vol. 8, No. 817 and Vol. 9, No. 424; Sahih Muslim, No. 4194)
