The Islamic Dilemma
The Quran repeatedly states it confirms the previous scriptures (Torah/Tawrat, Psalms/Zabur, Gospel/Injil) that were with the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) at the time of Muhammad. This appears multiple times in the Quran, shown below. However, there are two possibilities:
- If the Bible (Torah & Injil) available in Muhammad's time was true and uncorrupted, then Islam is false because the Quran contradicts core teachings of the Bible while saying that it is true - for example, that Jesus is God, which Islam denies
- If the Bible available in Muhammad's time was already corrupted, then Islam is false because the Allah confirms a corrupted book and tells people to obey a corrupted book
Regardless of whether the Bible has been corrupted or not, Islam and its teachings are false. We are in possession of copies of the Torah/Injil before, during and after Mohammad's time and are able to compare and see verify no corruption has occurred. That said, the Quran is explicitly clear that it confirms the previous scripture, and Muslims must believe it in its entirety:
Quran 2:85
But here you are, killing each other and expelling some of your people from their homes, aiding one another in sin and aggression; and when those ˹expelled˺ come to you as captives, you still ransom them—though expelling them was unlawful for you. Do you believe in some of the Scripture and reject the rest? Is there any reward for those who do so among you other than disgrace in this worldly life and being subjected to the harshest punishment on the Day of Judgment? For Allah is never unaware of what you do.
This shows up multiple times in the Quran. Another example directly relating to the previously revealed scriptures, which is the Torah/Gospel:
Quran 2:41
And believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is [already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear [only] Me.
This is explicitly mentioned later in the Quran:
Quran 3:3
He has revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ the Book in truth, confirming what came before it, as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel
The Quran confirming the previous scriptures appears in many other locations, such as Quran 5:46-48, Quran 5:68, and Quran 10:94, and others. Regardless of whether the Bible has been corrupted in your own opinion, Islam is false. There is no answer from Islamic apologists for this problem.
Still not convinced? See common rebuttals
The Quran only confirms the original uncorrupted Torah/Injil, not the version that the Christians have today.
Response: The Quran is explicitly clear that it confirms the books that are currently with them, that is, what is with the Jews & Christians. We have copies of the scriptures before Mohammad's time, during, and after. The common argument for this is that it is said that the Quran says the Jews/Christians have corrupted their own scriptures, however this is actually not the case. Quran 3:78 states:
Quran 3:78
There are some among them who distort the Book with their tongues to make you think this ˹distortion˺ is from the Book—but it is not what the Book says. They say, "It is from Allah"—but it is not from Allah. And ˹so˺ they attribute lies to Allah knowingly.
In this case, it argues that Jews/Christians were distorting it with their tongues - not that the actual scriptures have been corrupted.
A Christians View
Christians believe the first option is true: the Bible was not corrupted, and it remains the trustworthy inspired Word of God today. He is the living Word of God. The Bible doesn't just contain rules; it points to a person, Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled all the prophecies of the previous scriptures and offers a real relationship with God.
How many prophesies did Jesus fulfill? Over 300. Jesus didn't just fulfil several - He fulfilled hundreds. These were prophesies given to previous prophets about the Messiah hundreds to thousands of years before Jesus birth.