Assalam
Regarding the absurd claims made by the team of “answering-islam” that verses of Qur’aan in question contradicts the alleged word of God in “Psalms” and Isaiah or else. Well, the entire Bible is not word of God. Let us read the Divine verdict on Bible, which is as follows:
The Glorious Qur’aan explicitly states that Prophets Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus) [PBUT] both received “Books” from Allaah, which are called “Tawret or Tawrat” and “Injil or Injeel” respectively. These two divine books must not be equated and/or confused with the Old and New Testaments, which contain very small fragments derived from the formers.
Glorious Qur’aan informs us that the Tawrat and the Injeel were the word of Allaah, which He revealed to Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus) [PBUT].
Glorious Qur’aan 3:3!
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ
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).
Glorious Qur’aan also points out the dispute between Jews and Christians in 2:113 stating:
وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى لَيْسَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ فَاللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
The Jews say: "The Christians have naught (to stand) upon"; and the Christians say: "The Jews have naught (to stand) upon." Yet they (profess to) study the (same) Book. Like unto their word is what those say who know not; but Allah will judge between them in their quarrel on the Day of Judgment.
أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنْسَوْنَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ َ
Do ye enjoin right conduct on the people, and forget (to practice it) yourselves. And yet ye study the Scripture? Will ye not understand? (Glorious Qur’aan 2:244)
Glorious Quraan further says in Surah Al-Maidah, Ayah 68 (Chapter 5 verse 68):
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ حَتَّى تُقِيمُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
Say: "O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord. "It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow thou not over (these) people without Faith.
Jewish and Christian accounts about the Old and New Testament tells us that both have been classified books and/or documents not available to lay people, especially the respective followers of Judaism and Christianity. These books remained in the secrecy and possession of religious authorities of each religion. It has been a hallmark of prestige and the positions of Rabbis and Church Fathers. As stated earlier that these authorities were thus, able to dictate and enforce that portions of the book they liked and conceal those parts that did not serve their interests. This has now been widely acknowledged by the historians and scholars of both religions. There is voluminous work out in form of books and articles etc. However, the Glorious Qur’aan exposes this in many Ayaat (verses):
Glorious Qur’aan 2:140!
أَمْ تَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطَ كَانُوا هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَى قُلْ أَأَنْتُمْ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ كَتَمَ شَهَادَةً عِنْدَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Or do ye say that Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do ye know better than Allah? Ah! who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah? But Allah is not unmindful of what ye do!
Note: The word “tribe” in the above translations refers to twelve descendants of Abraham, i.e., the sons of Prophet Israel (Jacob).
In Surah Al-Imraan, Ayah 187 and Surah Al-Baqaraah, Ayah 159, Glorious Qur’aan again explicitly states (Qur’aan 2:159 & 3:187):
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُولَئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ
Those who conceal the Clear (Signs) We have sent down, and the Guidance, after we have made it clear for the People in the Book, on them shall be Allah's curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse.
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ
And remember Allah took a Covenant from the People of the Book, to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! and vile was the bargain they made!
We further read in Glorious Qur’aan 2:174 and 3:71!
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَشْتَرُونَ بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَئِكَ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ إِلَّا النَّارَ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit, they swallow into themselves Naught but Fire; Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify them: grievous will be their Penalty.
يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تَلْبِسُونَ الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Ye People of the Book! why do ye clothe Truth with falsehood, and conceal the Truth, while ye have knowledge?
The most important reason for concealing portions of the Books has always been that these portions contained and/or still contain the references to the arrival of a (non-Jewish) great Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Religious authorities of Judaism and Christianity saw the new Prophet (Muhammad) and Islaam as a serious threat to their power, prestige and worldly gains. If they were to accept the Prophethood of Muhammad (SAW) that would have meant relinquishing their claim of being the highest religious authorities and also giving up other privileges that comes with their position as a total package.
They also experienced that the new religion did expose their improper practices and concepts which has become part s of Judaism and Christianity, as the religious authorities of Judaism and Christianity were following the foot-steps of their predecessors but not of their Prophets Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus). Islaam, in fact exposed the religious authorities’ corrupt teachings of Judaism and Christianity. Last but not least Islaam did not give Israelites and/or Jews a special status (so-called myth of chosen people) among other ethnic groups. Islaam is an all-inclusive religion for mankind contrary to corrupted and racist form of Judaism. Glorious Qur’aan simply vouch that Israelites were the privileged people among other ethnic groups, not chosen. These facts beside others resulted in the spearheaded campaign against Islaam by the authorities of Judaism and Christianity since the birth of Islaam to discredit the message of Prophet Muhammad by hook, nook, and crook.
Many Qur’aanic Ayaat precisely states that Prophet Muhammad was explicitly mentioned with detailed description in the Tawrat and Injeel. In fact Allaah has preserved some proof of that in Old Testament and New Testament as well, to expose the plot of Jews and Christians. Some of the Ayaat are 2:76-77, 5:15, 7:157, 48:29, and 61:6, which are as follows:
وَإِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ قَالُوا أَتُحَدِّثُونَهُمْ بِمَا فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لِيُحَاجُّوكُمْ بِهِ عِنْدَ رَبِّكُمْ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ (76) أَوَلَا يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ (77)
Behold! when they meet the men of Faith, they say: "We believe": but when they meet each other in private, they say: "Shall you tell them what Allah hath revealed to you, that they may engage you in argument about it before your Lord?" Do ye not understand (their aim)? (77) Know they not that Allah knoweth what they conceal and what they reveal?
يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِمَّا كُنْتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُبِينٌ
O People of the Book! There hath come to you Our Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book.
الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ مَعَهُ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) whom they find written with them in the Taurât (Torah) (Deut, xviii 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John xiv, 16) {1} , - he commands them for Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Tayyibât (i.e. all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods), and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khabâ’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allâh’s Covenant with the children of Israel), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur’ân) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful {2} .
{1} (V.7: 157) There exists in the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), even after the original text has been distorted, clear prophecies indicating the coming of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, e.g. Deut. 18: 18,21:21; Psl. 118:22-23; Isa. 42: 1-13; Hab.3: 3-4; Matt. 21:42-43; Jn.14: 12-17, 26-28, 16: 7-14.
{2} (V.7: 157): A) "O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what We have revealed (to Muhammadصلى الله عليه وسلم) confirming what is (already) with you, before We efface faces (by making them (faces) like the backs of the necks; without nose, mouth and eyes), and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath -breakers. And the Commandment of Allâh is always executed." (V.4: 47). B) See (V.57: 28), and its footnote.
مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ذَلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَى عَلَى سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is the Messenger of Allâh. And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allâh and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of prostration (during prayers). This is their description in the Taurât (Torah). But their description in the Injeel (Gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, and becomes thick and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers, that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allâh has promised those among them who believe (i.e. all those who follow Islâmic Monotheism, the religion of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم till the Day of Resurrection) and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (i.e. Paradise).
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ
And (remember) when ‘Îsâ, son of Maryam, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allâh unto you, confirming the Taurât ((Torah) which came) before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad. {1} But when he (Ahmad i.e. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) came to them with clear proofs, they said: "This is plain magic." {2}
{1} (V.61: 6) i.e. the second name of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and it (Ahmad) literally means: "One who praises Allâh more than others".
{2} (V.61: 6) A) Narrated Jubair bin Mut‘im رضي الله عنه: Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "I have five names: I am Muhammad and Ahmad; I am Al-Mahî through whom Allâh will eliminate Al-Kufr (infidelity); I am Al-Hashir who will be the first to be resurrected, the people being resurrected thereafter; and I am also Al-‘Âqib (i.e. there will be no Prophet after me)." ( Sahih Al-Bukhari , Vol. 4, Hadîfh No.732). B) Narrated Abû Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "By Him (Allâh) in Whose Hand my soul is, surely, the son of Maryam (‘Îsâ) عليهما السلام * will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims), and will judge mankind justly by the Law of the Qur’ân (as a just ruler), and will break the Cross and kill the pigs and abolish the Jizyah (a tax taken from the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians), who are under the protection of a Muslim government. This Jizyah tax will not be accepted by ‘Îsâ عليه السلام and all mankind will be required to embrace Islam with no other alternative). Then there will be abundance of money and nobody will accept charitable gifts." (See Fath Al-Bari, Page No. 304 and 305, Vol. 7), (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadîth No.425). * ‘Îsâ, the son of Maryam عليهما السلام will descend as a leader of the Muslims and it is a severe warning to the Christians who claim to be the followers of ‘Îsâ and he will break the Cross and kill the pigs, and he will abolish the Jizyah (tax); and all mankind will be required to embrace Islam with no other alternative.
The name of the Book Isa (Jesus) is “Injeel” which is equivalent to the Greek word “Euaggelion” (pronounced as Euangelion) means “good news.” But in Glorious Quraan Ayah 6 (Quraan 61:6 cited above) reveals the truth that Injeel the Book of Isa acquired its name based on the fact that it brought the “good news” about the arrival of Prophet Muhammad. I will elaborate further in coming chapters using Old & New Testaments. Besides this confirming the divine origin of Tawrat was also one of the main mission of Isa (Jesus). But the former was so important that the Book was named after it. This Book whose name effectively and rightfully meant “the good news about Prophet Muhammad” must have contained great details about Muhammad.
The Mighty One Has Come!
In addition to Glorious Qur’aan 2:77, 5:15, 7:157, and 48:29 we read in many Ayaat (verses) in Glorious Quraan describing the commission of Prophet Muhammad confirming the divine origin of Tawrat and Injeel:
Glorious Qur’aan 2:91!
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آمِنُوا بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا نُؤْمِنُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَيَكْفُرُونَ بِمَا وَرَاءَهُ وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَهُمْ قُلْ فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنْبِيَاءَ اللَّهِ مِنْ قَبْلُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ
And when it is said to them (the Jews), "Believe in what Allâh has sent down," they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us." And they disbelieve in that which came after it, while it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to them): "Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allâh aforetime, if you indeed have been believers?"
Glorious Qur’aan 4:47!
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ آمِنُوا بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ نَطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَى أَدْبَارِهَا أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّا أَصْحَابَ السَّبْتِ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا
O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what We have revealed (to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) confirming what is (already) with you, before We efface faces (by making them like the back of necks; without nose, mouth) and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers {1} . And the Commandment of Allâh is always executed. {2}
{1} (V.4: 47) This Verse is a severe warning to the Jews and Christians, and an absolute obligation that they must believe in Allâh’s Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمand in his Message of Islâmic Monotheism and in this Qur’ân.
{2} (V.4: 47) See the footnote of the (V.3: 85), and see (V.3: 116), (V.8: 39 and its footnote).
Prophet Muhammad’s message was to confirm the claims of Tawrat and Injeel to be the divine Books of Allaah for two certain reasons:
First and foremost is the striking similarity between what is mentioned in Tawrat and Injeel. In these (Books) there is a precise description of long waited “ Spirit of Truth”, “The Mighty One”, “The Prophet”, “The Comforter” etc. all such names giving the good news of arrival of Prophet Muhammad who will establish the Kingdom of God, and about whom Jesus told his followers to wait to be guided to the truth which they cannot handle it at the time of the departure of Jesus.
Second the Glorious Qur’aan itself mentioned with clear description in the Tawrat and Injeel in the following verses (beside others) and the ones already mentioned earlier:
Glorious Qur’aan 26:192-197!
وَإِنَّهُ لَتَنْزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (192) نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ (193) عَلَى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنْذِرِينَ (194) بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِيٍّ مُبِينٍ (195) وَإِنَّهُ لَفِي زُبُرِ الْأَوَّلِينَ (196)
Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the worlds: (193) With it came down the Spirit of Faith and Truth, (194) To thy heart and mind, that thou mayest admonish (195) In the perspicuous Arabic tongue. (196) Without doubt it is (announced) in the revealed Books of former peoples. (197) Is it not a Sign to them that the Learned of the Children of Israel knew it (as true)?
Glorious Qur’aan 2:101!
وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And when there came to them a messenger from Allah, confirming what was with them, a party of the People of the Book threw away the Book of Allah behind their backs. As if (it had been something) they did not know!
Glorious Qur’aan 2:146!
ًَ الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
The people of the Book know this as they know their own sons; but some of them conceal the truth, which they themselves know.
The Tawrat and Injeel were not only partially concealed but both were tempered with, which Jewish and Christians scholars have acknowledged as well. This issue is also addressed in Glorious Qur’aan, following are few Ayaat (verses) that refers to changes, which were made in Torah and Injeel before the revelation of Glorious Qur’aan, and many were being made while Glorious Qur’aan was being revealed:
Glorious Qur’aan 2:75!
أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلَامَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُون
Can ye (O ye men of Faith) entertain the hope that they will believe in you? Seeing that a party of them heard the Word of Allah, and perverted it knowingly after they understood it.
Glorious Qur’aan 2:78-79!
وَمِنْهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا أَمَانِيَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ (78) فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَذَا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ (79)
And there are among them illiterates, who know not the Book, but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture. (79) Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: "This is from Allah," to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.
Glorious Qur’aan 2:146!
الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
The people of the Book know this as they know their own sons; but some of them conceal the truth, which they themselves know.
Glorious Qur’aan 3:78-79!
وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُونَ أَلْسِنَتَهُمْ بِالْكِتَابِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ (78) مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَادًا لِي مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنْ كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ (79)
There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (as they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, "That is from Allah," but it is not from Allah: it is they who tell a lie against Allah, and (well) they know it! (79) It is not (possible) that a man, to whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the Prophetic office, should say to people: "Be ye my worshippers rather than Allah's": on the contrary (he would say): "Be ye worshippers of Him Who is truly the Cherisher of all: for ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly."
For all fairness to the readers it is important to mention the fact about “Torah” that it was completely destroyed at the time when the first temple was destroyed. Thereafter it was rewritten by many ascribes based on memory and legends of that time.
Facts about New Testament
At first the books of the New Testament were not published in a single volume but rather as separate codices. By the 3rd century CE several gospels or letters were occasionally bound together. But the production of volumes containing many different types of works (gospels, letters, acts, apocalypses) did not occur until after the council of Nicea in 325 CE (In which Bishops decided by votes for what is to be in New Testament while emperor Constantine used his power and money to get the desired results). Thus, New Testament is the work of men not word of God, which contains very small fragments of what Jesus preached.
There is no universally recognized church authority that has officially fixed the contents of the New Testament. Eusebius classified Christian scriptures in three groups:
· 20 that were generally accepted (4 gospels, 13 letters of Paul, Acts, 1 John & 1 Peter);
· 5 that were disputed (James, 2 Peter, Jude, 2 & 3 John; Hebrews & Revelation are not even mentioned); &
· Others that were regarded as spurious (including the gospels of Thomas & Peter).
Throughout the 4th c. CE various bishops published differing canonical lists of Christian scripture. The list that Athanasius of Alexandria issued in his festal letter 39 (367 CE) --- including all the works in Eusebius' first two groups, plus Hebrews & Revelation --- was eventually accepted as the standard NT by most Greek & Latin churches. Still the contents of manuscripts of the New Testament continued to vary for more than 1000 years. Many lacking some material (from a portion of a canonical book to one and/or more whole works); and/or including other non-canonical material; and/or presented canonical works in different sequences.
There was no standard text of the New Testament before the invention of the printing press. But even after that biblical scholars & theologians continued to dispute the canonical status of various NT books (especially James, Hebrews, Revelation & the pastoral letters).
In 1546 the Roman Catholic Council of Trent affirmed the doctrinal authority of all 27 books on Athanasius' canonical list. While generally asserting the authority of the New Testament, Protestant & Orthodox churches have still not officially defined its contents.