4. Explaining Verses Quoted by Christians
I will use the translation of Abdullah Yusuf Ali throughout this article unless stated otherwise.

4a. General Verses Quoted
This is a list of the general verses quoted by the Christians to try and prove that the Quran confirms the entire Bible which the Christians used to have in those days.
These verses are:
Chapter 29 Verse 46
Chapter 5 Verse 66
Chapter 5 Verse 43


Chapter 29 Verse 46
And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam)."
This verse is often quoted by the Christians to prove that the Quran teaches that the Bible is uncorrupted. When we read this verse we see that Allah (swt) tells us to say that we believe in the revelation which has come to the People of the Book. As stated before, it is an article of faith for a Muslim to believe that the Torah, Zabur and Injeel are Books revealed onto the respective prophets (pbut) but no where does this verse say that we believe in what the Christians and the Jews possessed at that time. It is a general statement that a Muslim is to believe that Torah, Zabur and Injeel were revealed by Allah (swt).
Moreover as one can see, in the beginning of the verse, Allah (swt) encourages us to debate and have dialogue with the People of the Book. Now if the Quran was testifying that the Books which they have at that point in time were in their pure form and that they were on the right path then why would the Muslims be encouraged to have a dialogue and debate with the People of the Book? Obviously the dialogue was to help them realize the wrong which they were doing so that they could come onto the right path. The path as prescribed by Allah (swt). The path one can walk on only by accepting the uncorrupted Book – The Quran.

Chapter 5 Verse 66
If only they had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course: but many of them follow a course that is evil.
This noble verse of the Quran informs us that the People of the Book are not holding on to the Torah and the Injeel. Allah (swt) says that if they were following the Torah and the Injeel then they would have enjoyed happiness. Now the Christian missionaries claim that the Quran certifies that the entire Bible is uncorrupted. As we can see in this verse the Quran is actually telling us that they are not following the Torah and the Injeel. Under what circumstances would they not be following it? The only reason why they would not be following it is if they would not have the complete original books. So this verse actually informs us that they do not have the uncorrupted version of the books. Now the latter part of the verse states that among the People of the Book there are a few who are on the right course.
To explain the latter part of the verse, notice in the initial part it says ‘and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord’. This phrase includes the revelation that Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the Messenger of Allah (swt) and all that was revealed to him. So the verse not only talks about them following the Torah and the Injeel in its pure form, but also talks about them following Prophet Muhammad (saw). Now in the latter part of the verse it says that there are some who are on the right course, which means that there are some who are from among the people of the Book who believe in Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Some might say that those from the People of the Book who have accepted Islam would be referred to as Muslims and not as ‘among the People of the Book’. However that claim of theirs is based on nothing but misinterpretations and misinformation. The Quran gives similar messages throughout. One such similar message is seen in the following verse:
And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book, those who believe in Allah, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to Allah: They will not sell the Signs of Allah for a miserable gain! For them is a reward with their Lord, and Allah is swift in account. – [Chapter 3 Verse 199]
Notice how this verse also uses the phrase ‘among the People of the Book’ when referring to those from among them who believe in Allah (swt) and in the revelation sent to Prophet Muhammad (saw). Hence they would be Muslims as well but the Quran yet refers to them as ‘among the People of the Book’. Thus it becomes apparent what Allah (swt) is referring to in Chapter 5 Verse 66.

Chapter 5 Verse 43
Before we read 5:43, we should glance at the context of the verse and read 5:41. I will quote the concerned part:
“….They change the words from their (right) times and places: they say, “‘If ye are given this, take it, but if not, beware!’” - [Quran 5:41]
This was regarding these Jews who had committed adultery and were seeking a punishment other than ’stoning to death’ (rajam) which the Torah prescribed. What they were seeking was a punishment lesser than that i.e. flogging. They came to Prophet Muhammad (saw), changing and misrepresenting the Torah, in hope that he would prescribe flogging and not rajam.
So Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked them to bring the Torah and read. And a person from among the Jews was brought forth to read it. However he hid the verse regarding rajam at first with his hand but then later after he was told to remove his hand, he read it out. Hence stoning was carried out.
It was in this context that 5:43 was revealed:
“But why do they come to thee for decision, when they have (their own) law before them?- therein is the (plain) command of Allah; yet even after that, they would turn away. For they are not (really) People of Faith.” - [Quran 5:43]
Here in context it is clear that they came with deception in order to gain a favorable ruling from Prophet Muhammad (saw). Hence Allah (swt) says in the Quran that why do they come to the Prophet for decision when they do not even believe in him and they have a book with laws which they consider Divine. The Torah does have some Divine laws in it and rajam is one of the preserved Divine laws.
The Jews did not come to Prophet Muhammad (saw) saying something like: ‘O Muhammad judge between us using the Quran’ to which Allah said that they should use the Torah. That was not the case. The Jews came with a deception to Muhammad (saw), changing the law of the Torah, hoping that he would not know the real law and thus they would get a favorable ruling or that he would get pleased that they have come to him and thus accept their word that in the Torah the ruling for adultery is flogging.
In fact the context of this verse exposes how the Jews did change, misinterpret and misrepresent their books. This verse in no way suggests that the Torah is 100% uncorrupted Word of God.

4b. Verses with “Saddaqa”
The Christian Missionaries quote the following verses claiming that these verses contain the root word of ‘confirm’ i.e. ‘Saddaqa’ and thus establish that the Bible from cover to cover is uncorrupted.
The verses they quote are as following:
Chapter 35 Verse 31
Chapter 10 Verse 37
Chapter 12 Verse 111
Chapter 3 Verse 3
Chapter 5 Verse 46 – 48
Chapter 2 Verse 41
Chapter 2 Verse 89
Chapter 2 Verse 91
Chapter 2 Verse 97
Chapter 2 Verse 101
Chapter 3 Verse 39
Chapter 3 Verse 50
Chapter 3 Verse 81
Chapter 4 Verse 47
Chapter 6 Verse 92
Chapter 37 Verse 52
Chapter 46 Verse 12
Chapter 46 Verse 30
Chapter 61 Verse 6


The word Saddaqa means:
To say (tell, speak) the truth; to be true, truthful, sincere. – [Al Mawrid Arabic to English Dictionary, pg 691]
So here we see that the Quran is ‘speaking the truth’ about the previous revelations. What the Christians had with themselves in those days was corrupted and the Quran is speaking the truth regarding those scriptures. In almost all the verses it is stated that the Quran is ‘confirming the previous revelations’. So it confirms that which was revealed previously by speaking the truth regarding it. The Quran verifies that which is preserved in the Bible ‘to be true’. It is ‘truthful’ and ‘sincere’ to the previous revelations by Allah (swt) and not to the corruptions made by man. An analysis of all these verses will show that the Quran only confirms that which was revealed – not that which is corruption. By confirming that which was revealed then Quran by default exposes the corruption.

Chapter 35 Verse 31
That which We have revealed to thee of the Book is the Truth,- confirming what was (revealed) before it: for Allah is assuredly- with respect to His Servants - well acquainted and Fully Observant.
This is another verse quoted by the Christian missionaries a lot. However we see that this verse again does not state that the Bible in the hands of the Jews and the Christians of that time was in its pristine form. What the Quran states is that it is confirming that which was revealed before – not the Bible that they hold but confirming only that which was revealed before it by Allah (swt). Hence do note that the Quran is speaking of only confirming that which was revealed before by Allah (swt) and it is not confirming the corrupted part of the Bible.
So how does the Quran confirm what was revealed before? It does so simply by stating or repeating that what was revealed to the concerned prophets and correcting that which has been corrupted. For example, in the story of the Original Sin as seen in the Bible, the blame is put on the woman and not the man. The Quran however corrects this mistake and says that both of them are equally responsible.

Chapter 10 Verse 37
This Qur'an is not such as can be produced by other than Allah; on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book - wherein there is no doubt - from the Lord of the worlds.
This verse is seen to again carry the same meaning as Chapter 35 Verse 31. This meaning is further enhanced when we read the verse preceding it which I will quote below:
But most of them follow nothing but fancy: truly fancy can be of no avail against truth. Verily Allah is well aware of all that they do. – [Chapter 10 Verse 36]
We see that the Quran is referring to those know follow fancy which Allah (swt) states is of no avail against the truth. After that Allah (swt) reveals that the Quran is from Him and it confirms the previous revelations. This, as explained earlier, means that the Quran confirms it by repeating that which was revealed in their respective times i.e. repeats what was revealed, the way it was revealed onto Moses, David and Jesus (pbut).
Chapter 12 Verse 111
There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe.
Notice again in this verse of the Quran, the message that what the Jews and Christians of those times read is uncorrupted, is simply missing. The name of the Surah in which this verse exists is Surah Yusuf (Joseph) and it mainly deals with the stories of the past. Now notice the Quran stats that in the stories of the prophets (pbut), there is an instruction. It states that it is a confirmation of what was before it. How is the Quran confirming? Using what methodology? The methodology of narrating the stories in their pristine forms and informing the People of the Book that this is how the story went and this is what was revealed. So whatever is true in the Bible is confirmed and whatever is not is automatically corrected. This is the simple methodology used by Allah (swt). He simply repeats the events as they occurred thus confirming the truth in the Bible and correcting the errors. The Quran never states that it is confirming the Bible which the Christians read. It is stating over and over again that it is only confirming that which was revealed before by Allah (swt) – only that part.

Chapter 3 Verse 3
It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the 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).
This is a really interesting verse and actually proves to the contrary what the Christian missionaries wish to prove. This verse also proves the above explanations which I have been giving regarding how the Quran confirms and the methodology it uses to confirm the previous scriptures.
Notice that Allah (swt) states in this verse that the Quran has been sent as a Criterion. When one has a criterion then one judges according to it. So the Quran confirms what was sent down before it by becoming the Criterion to judge. Hence Muslims are to judge the Bible according to the Criterion. That which is attested by the Quran (The Criterion) that is accepted by the Muslims as to be the Word of God in the Bible. That what is corrected, we consider it to be a human fabrication.

Chapter 5 Verses 46 – 48
And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.
Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.
To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;
Taking verse 46 into consideration we see that Allah (swt) only talks about Jesus (pbuh) being sent as a prophet. This verse itself does not prove that the Bible is uncorrupted. However the Christian missionaries say that they have same Torah today as it was during the time of Jesus and the evidence they give is the existence of the ‘Septuagint’. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia:
“The three most celebrated manuscripts of the Septuagint known are the Vatican, "Codex Vaticanus" (fourth century); the Alexandrian, "Codex Alexandrinus" (fifth century), now in the British Museum, London; and that of Sinai, "Codex Sinaiticus"(fourth century), found by Tischendorf in the convent of St. Catherine, on Mount Sinai, in 1844 and 1849, now part at Leipzig and in part in St. Petersburg; they are all written in uncials.”
Hence we see that the Septuagint today is not from during the time of Jesus. The earliest manuscript dates to the fourth century some 300 years after Jesus. Thus no Christian can claim that the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers) which they have today in the Bible is the same as to what was present in the Septuagint during the time of Jesus.
Now in verse 47 we find that the verse says “let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein”. Any person having the slightest comprehension skills would be able to tell that the verse is talking about what Allah (swt) has revealed in the Gospel – not the entire Bible. However if we take into consideration that the verse is referring to the Bible, even so the verse talks of letting them judge according to what Allah (swt) has revealed and not according to the corruption made by man.
Now if the Quran meant to preach that the Bible which the Christians hold in their hands is pure from corruption then it would have said “let the Christians judge by the Gospel” (or “Bible” – whichever of the two words; it does not matter in the present context). However notice that the verse does not state that but says “judge by what Allah hath revealed therein”. In other words do not judge by what the human hands have written but only by what Allah (swt) has revealed.
The key to these two verses rests in the next verse i.e. verse 48. In this verse we can see that Allah (swt) states that the Quran is sent in truth, confirming that what came before it and guarding it in safety. The Arabic word used here is “Muhaymin” which means ‘Guardian’, ‘Protector’ and ‘Trustworthy’. According to Al-Mawrid Arabic to English dictionary the word means ‘dominant, dominating, predominant, preponderant, prevailing, controlling, commanding, governing, reigning, ruling; (absolute) master, ruler, overlord’ – [Al Mawrid Arabic to English Dictionary pg. 1135].
Allah (swt) thus says that the Quran is a guardian over the previous scriptures. It is guarding them. What is it guarding it against? It is guarding it from the corruptions that the human hands have done in the Bible. It is correcting the corruptions made in the Bible and thus protecting it. The role of a guardian is to guide and correct the errors.
Many Christian missionaries falsely claim that “muhaymin” was understood by Muslims of the past and present to mean that the Bible in the form it was in those days was uncorrupted. We will check some of the sources of the past and present to see whether they really believed the Bible in those days to be uncorrupted.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir:
“(and Muhayminan over it) means entrusted over it, according to Sufyan Ath-Thawri who narrated it from Abu Ishaq from At-Tamimi from Ibn `Abbas. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "Muhaymin is, ‘the Trustworthy’. Allah says that the Quran is trustworthy over every Divine Book that preceded it.'' This was reported from `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Mujahid, Muhammad bin Ka`b, `Atiyyah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd. Ibn Jarir said, "The Quran is trustworthy over the Books that preceded it. Therefore, whatever in these previous Books conforms to the Quran is true, and whatever disagrees with the Qur'an is false.'' Al-Walibi said that Ibn `Abbas said that Muhayminan means, ‘Witness’. Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi said the same. Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said that Muhayminan means, ‘dominant over the previous Scriptures’. These meanings are similar, as the word Muhaymin includes them all. Consequently, the Quran is trustworthy, a witness, and dominant over every Scripture that preceded it. This Glorious Book, which Allah revealed as the Last and Final Book, is the most encompassing, glorious and perfect Book of all times. The Quran includes all the good aspects of previous Scriptures and even more, which no previous Scripture ever contained. This is why Allah made it trustworthy, a witness and dominant over all Scriptures.”