Dear Muslim friends,

I know that one of the main claims by Islam against the Christian faith is that the Bible has been changed.  It has been corrupted.

I know you have been taught this all your life.

But is it true?  Is there evidence for it?

Below is an article – I did not write it but revised (mostly shortened) it a bit – for you to really think about.

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If such an accusation about the corruption/changing of the Bible is to be considered, then the following questions must be addressed:

Question #1 – “WHO Changed The Bible?”

Jesus himself never accused the Jews of his day of altering the Scriptures, but instead, drew their attention to them because they pointed ultimately to him as their only real way of having eternal life in Paradise. Had changes been made by the Jews of his day, Jesus certainly would have exposed them because of his complete belief in the absolute importance and trustworthiness of the Scriptures.  He believed an all powerful God had preserved them.

It is often alleged that the Jews and Christians later jointly altered the Scriptures in order to hold back the spread of Islam. But this is highly unlikely since the Jews and Christians themselves disagreed on the identity of Jesus – and some other doctrines.

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.  Surat-ul Baqara (2):113

Had the Scriptures been changed to alter doctrines about Jesus death and resurrection, early church historians would have known about it and mentioned it.  But there is no credible mention of an effort by either Jews or Christians to change the Scriptures in this way.  Someone would have recorded such a momentous event!

Finally, the true Christian scholars during the time of Muhammad who befriended the Muslims would certainly have exposed any attempted changes in the Scriptures.

Nearest among them in love to the believers will thou find those who say “We are Christians” because amongst these are men devoted to learning.
Surat-ul Maida (5):82

Question #2 – “WHEN Was The Bible Supposedly Changed?”

If the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians were changed or corrupted before the death of Muhammad, then surely he would not have been instructed by God to recite the following:

I believe in the Book (of the People of the Book) which God has sent down…
Surat-ush Shura (42):15

We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord. We make no difference between one and another of them.
Surat-ul Baqara (2):136

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.
Surat-ul Maida (5):68

Let the People of the Gospel judge by what God has revealed therein.
Surat-ul Maida (5):47

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.
Surat-ul Maida (5):46

If thou (Muhammad) are in doubt as to what We have revealed, then ask the People of the Book.
Surat-u Yunus (10):94

         These verses are clear in teaching that the Qur’an came to confirm the                                 previous Scriptures; not to correct them or replace them,                        as many believe!

Nowhere does Al-Qur’an say it came upon man to save him from the corruption, alteration, or disappearance of the previous Holy Books,       namely the Tawrat (writings of Moses) and the Injil (New Testament).

It is highly unlikely that the Scriptures could have been altered after the death of Muhammad for the following reasons:

  • By 600 A.D., Christianity had spread into Asia, Africa, and Europe. There is no evidence of a worldwide council that met for the purpose of altering the Scriptures.
  • Bible manuscripts still exist from the fourth and fifth centuries (Muhammad lived in the sixth century). These manuscripts line up with today’s translations of the Scriptures (and any variant readings are noted, but no credible variant affects the meaning of the text).

Question #3 – “HOW Was The Bible Supposedly Changed?

Since Judaism and Christianity spread throughout the world, it would have been impossible for anyone to collect all the Holy Books, manuscripts, and writings containing Scriptural references from all churches, synagogues, libraries, schools, and homes, and make the changes, and then return them all without anyone knowing!

Al-Qur’an itself says no one can alter the Word of God:

The Word of thy Lord doth find its fulfillment in truth and in justice. None can change His Words.
Surat-ul An’am (6):15

No change can there be in the Words of God.
Surat-u Yunus (10):64

Dear Muslim friends, if you claim from these verses that God has been able to protect the Qur’an from any corruption, then it should be possible for you to believe that God is powerful enough to preserve all the previous Holy Books as well!

(This article is largely adapted from: https://answering-islam.org/Morin/changed.html)