Do Muslims Believe in the Bible?

To believe in something entails having faith and trust in it, and it is plenty to say that no Muslim puts any faith or trust in the Bible. In essence, Muslims do not believe in the Bible. There are misconceptions out there that Muslims believe in parts of the Bible, and that would mean the Muslims would have to assume that one part of the Bible or the other is true - simply because it agrees with what the Quran says. On the contrary we are taught in the Quran not to assume and our faith can never be based upon assumption. The revelations that once were the Torah and the Gospel, were time-specific and tribe-specific revelations and therefore it was not necessary for them to be preserved.

And among them there are those who are uneducated and know not the Book, but only lies, and they do but conjecture. Woe, then, to those who write the book with their own hands and then say: This is from Allah (2:78-79)

This verse clearly depicts the Muslim perspective on the Bible, that those without knowledge know not “al-Kithab” – the Book, but all that they know is deception, and they do put faith in nothing but conjecture.

And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them as so and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt concerning it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. (4:157)

What are the Christians following that have them believe that Jesus was killed on a cross? They’re following the conjecture taught to them from the Bible! What people have “written with their own hands and then say: This is from God” (2:79)

It is a misconception that Muslims believe the Bible ‘became’ corrupted. Nor does the Muslim believe the Torah and Gospel are corrupt. These revelations of God that existed prior to any so called inscription were pure. On the contrary, we don’t take the stance that the New Testament eventually was fabricated, even though it is possible and probable that it did deteriorate from its original also, rather, it is more adequate to say that the New Testament upon its very and initial inscription by Luke, by Matthew, by John, and by Paul, etc. was tainted by the hearsay, perceptions, beliefs, opinions, and interpretations of the author. Therefore, erroneous of preservation, the New Testament writings were always fabricated from the very initial inscription. The “Gospels According To” are not the words of God – they are the perceptions of men.

What does “al-Kithab” – “the Book”, mean?

“And verily We gave Moses “al-Kithab” - the Book and caused Messengers to follow in his footsteps after him.” (2:87)

“Jesus said, 'I am a servant of Allah. He has given me “al-Kithab” - the Book, and has made me a Prophet.” (19:30)

“We gave to the children of Abraham “al-Kithab” - the Book and wisdom and We gave them a great kingdom.” (4:54)

“Have you not seen those who were given a portion of “al-Kithab” - the Book? They buy error and desire that you too may lose the way.” (4:44; 3:23; 4:51)

“He it is Who has raised among the unlettered people (Arabs) a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book – “al-Kithab” and Wisdom though before that they were in manifest error.” (62:2)

One will notice a repetitive reference in the Qur’an to the Ahlul Kithab – or People of the Book, generally interpreted as being the Jews and Christians, however, when one studies the use of “al-Kithab” in the Qur’an, one will notice that within the context of the Qur’an, those who received al-Kithab, or portions of it, did not receive a physical material with pages that were actually bind by a cover. On the contrary, it is the Message of God that is being referred to in this statement – “al-Kithab”. Therefore whosoever received the Message of God, received “al-Kithab” - an unwritten heavenly truth. One can easily notice that the Qur’an states Jesus was given “al-Kithab”, however the New Testament began inscription decades after his departure from this world. So clearly, “the Book” that was given to Jesus could not have been the New Testament.

“And We had Jesus, son of Mary, follow them (the Prophets), and We gave to him the Gospel.” (57:27)

Ok. Al-Kithab was given to Jesus. The Gospel was given to Jesus. Yet the New Testament was written decades after. So ‘the Book’ and the ‘Injeel’ that was given to Jesus simply can not be the New Testament of the Bible. This is sufficient evidence which proves the fact that Muslims are not required to accept the Bible.

Narrated Ubaidullah:  "Ibn 'Abbas said, 'Why do you ask the people of the book about anything while your Book (Quran) which has been revealed to Allah's Apostle is newer and the latest? You read it pure, undistorted and unchanged, and Allah has told you that the people of the book (Jews and Christians) changed their scripture and distorted it, and wrote the scripture with their own hands and said, 'It is from Allah,' to sell it for a little gain. Does not the knowledge which has come to you prevent you from asking them about anything? No, by Allah, we have never seen any man from them asking you regarding what has been revealed to you!'  (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 461)"