By: Abdullah Ghazi
Ironically, an atheist, in his attempt to discredit the Qur’an, has tried to use the Qur’an itself to argue for the uncorrupted nature of the Bible.
﴿قُلْ مَنْ أَنْزَلَ الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ مُوسَى... يُبْدُونَهَا وَيُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا﴾
"Say, who sent down the Book that Moses brought, a light and guidance for the people, which you copied onto parchments, revealing some of it while hiding much of it..."
— [al-An‘ām: 91]
He argues that this verse does not accuse the Jews of altering the text but only of hiding parts of it, comparing it to different interpretations of the Qur’an.
﴿إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ...﴾
"Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light..."
— [al-Mā’idah: 44]
He claims the Qur’an validates the authenticity of the Torah.
و الله أعلم
(And Allah knows best)
❀ Introduction
The corruption (taḥrīf) of the Bible is a well-established reality—one not even denied by Christian scholars themselves. The Bible is perhaps the only "divine" book that has undergone countless revisions and alterations, a phenomenon unparalleled in any other scripture.Ironically, an atheist, in his attempt to discredit the Qur’an, has tried to use the Qur’an itself to argue for the uncorrupted nature of the Bible.
❖ The Atheist’s Arguments and Their Analysis
◈ Interpretation of Surah al-An‘ām and the Notion of "Hiding Verses"
The atheist refers to Surah al-An‘ām, verse 91:﴿قُلْ مَنْ أَنْزَلَ الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ مُوسَى... يُبْدُونَهَا وَيُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا﴾
"Say, who sent down the Book that Moses brought, a light and guidance for the people, which you copied onto parchments, revealing some of it while hiding much of it..."
— [al-An‘ām: 91]
He argues that this verse does not accuse the Jews of altering the text but only of hiding parts of it, comparing it to different interpretations of the Qur’an.
✿ Response:
- Qur’anic Evidence of Distortion: The Qur’an identifies multiple forms of taḥrīf, both literal and interpretive.
- Qumran Scrolls: Discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm that the current Torah differs significantly from ancient manuscripts.
- Anonymous Authors: The authors of the Torah are unknown, and the Book of Deuteronomy includes an account of Moses’ death, indicating post-Mosaic additions.
❖ Reference to Surah al-Mā’idah (5:44)
The atheist cites:﴿إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ...﴾
"Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light..."
— [al-Mā’idah: 44]
He claims the Qur’an validates the authenticity of the Torah.
✿ Response:
- The Qur’an acknowledges that the original Torah and Gospel were sources of light and guidance, referring to their initial unaltered forms revealed to Moses and Jesus (عليهما السلام)—not the current texts.
- The verse underscores that Jews were entrusted to safeguard the scripture, but they failed in this responsibility, as corruption crept into the text over time.
❖ The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and His Dealings with the Jews
The atheist alleges that the Prophet ﷺ treated Jews harshly and expelled them from Madinah, citing the execution of Banu Qurayẓah and enslavement of captives.✿ Response:
- Repeated Breach of Pacts: Jewish tribes in Madinah were punished due to repeated breaches of treaties and conspiracies against the Muslim state.
- Fair Judgment: The judgment against Banu Qurayẓah was delivered by their own selected leader, Sa‘d ibn Muʿādh, in accordance with Jewish law. Women, children, and elders were spared.
❖ The Atheist's Contradictory Use of the Qur’an
The atheist claims that the Qur’an cannot be used to prove corruption in the Bible since it itself is a claimed revelation. He also asks: Where is the original Torah that can be compared with the current one?✿ Response:
- Even Jewish scholars admit that the current Torah lacks sufficient authenticity to be accepted as legal evidence.
- The Qur’an testifies to the authenticity of the original Torah and Gospel, not the corrupted versions produced later.
❖ The Inconsistency of the Atheist's Position
While the atheist uses the Qur’an to defend the Bible, he simultaneously rejects the Qur’an as man-made. This inconsistency indicates that his arguments are not sincere inquiries but rather recycled claims of Christian missionaries who attempt to protect the Bible while attacking the Qur’an.و الله أعلم
(And Allah knows best)
