If thou wert in doubt as to what We have
revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before
thee.... (Surah, 10, Yunus, verse 94)
QURAN CONFIRMS: BIBLE HAS NOT
BEEN ABROGATED!
Rev. Andrew Abraham
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1. INTRODUCTION
2. VIEW OF MUSLIM SCHOLARS
EXAMINED
3. DOES THE QURAN ANNUL THE
BIBLE?
4. CONTRADICTIONS WITHIN
THE QURAN?
5. THE MESSAGE OF GOD STAYS
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME FOR EVER
6. CONCLUSION
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1. INTRODUCTION
Some Muslims believe that
the Bible is not needed any more since the advent of Islam. God allegedly
introduced a newer version of his will, which effectively cancels the old one.
The object of this short article is to show from within the pages of the Quran and the Bible that this view is wrong.
2. VIEW OF MUSLIM
SCHOLARS EXAMINED
Most of the Islamic
scholars agree that either the Quran abrogates
certain revelations within the Quran only, or, in addition to that also parts of the Sunna. Other scholars hold the view that the Sunna can abolish the Quran as
well as the Sunna. Only a few, among them the Ahmadiyyas, teach that the Quran
actually annuls the Bible. (For more details see "'Ulum
al-Quran" by Ahmad von Denffer,
Islamic Foundation
3. DOES THE QURAN ANNUL
THE BIBLE?
The minority who believes
so is wrong for two main reasons: In Surah 5, Al Ma'idah, verse 48, the Quran is
spoken of as confirming the Scripture that was before it and as a watcher
over it. The Arabic meaning of the word "watch" (Muhaimin) can also be rendered "one who
safeguards", "stands witness", "preserves" and
"upholds". This clearly contradicts the view that the revelations
given to the prophet of Islam allegedly abrogated the Bible! If this were the
case there would be no need to confirm the Torah and the Gospel or even to
watch over them in such a determined way.
In Surah
2, Al Baqarah, verse 106 the principle of abrogation
is explained: For every revelation that is abrogated something better or
similar is substituted. If this verse would refer to the abrogation of the
Gospel through the Quran it would mean that the
teaching of the former book would be inferior or at least similar to the latter
one.
The essence of Christianity
consists of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is totally
rejected by Islam. (See also 1 Corinthians 15:14) The Bible teaches that
through faith in Jesus' work the assurance of forgiveness of sin, of
eternal life in God's presence through grace (God's undeserved favour) is available
to everyone! He who puts his faith into practice by obeying what the
Gospel says will benefit from all these blessings.
Surely this wonderful
teaching can not be called inferior or similar to the doctrines of the Quran! There we read about how people may get
forgiveness from God mainly through their good works and, if He is willing,
by His mercy.
4. CONTRADICTIONS WITHIN
THE QURAN?
In Surah
58, Al Mujadilah, verse 12, the believers are commanded
to give alms before a private consultation with the Messenger. In verse 13
they are told that it is no longer necessary.
In Surah
33, Al Ahzab, verses 50-51 Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) is allowed to marry and divorce an unlimited
number of women. In verse 52 he is prohibited to continue to do so.
In Surah
73, Al Muzzammil, verses 2-4, the prophet of Islam is
commanded to spend about half of the night in prayer and reading of the Quran. In verse 20 of the same Surah
this is changed into what is easy for him and those who followed his
example.
5. THE MESSAGE OF GOD
STAYS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME FOREVER
Christianity has got its
roots firmly established in the Jewish teachings of the Old Testament and
agrees in principal with the following areas: God reveals his plans for the
redemption of the whole world in the Jewish Scriptures also known as Torah and Zabur by Muslims. There we learn that a sovereign Creator
chooses people, families, tribes, and eventually the Jewish nation out of which
the Messiah was to come, to bless the whole world. In no case the selection
took place according to their goodness alone, but most importantly because they
respond to God's love by faith, a simple trust that what he said he would do.
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him
as righteousness." (quote from Gen 15:6)
Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture
foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel
in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."
(quote from Genesis 12:3,
The law was not given to
the Jews so that they could become God's chosen people by keeping its
commandments. Rather it was to enable them to express their gratitude towards
God for the fact that they were already chosen. The law taught them
about God's perfect and holy standards and at the same time created an
awareness of their own sinfulness. The moral part of it, mainly
expressed in the 10 commandments of Exodus, chapter 20, kept them away from
descending into the detestable practices of the surrounding nations. The ceremonial
part of the law, the regulations regarding sacrifices, offerings, washings
and food also separated the Jews from all the other nations of idol
worshippers. Most importantly it reminded them that salvation was not based
firstly on what human beings do but on God's ultimate provision in terms of the
animals to be sacrificed in a unique, divinely ordained way. The writings of
the prophets also contained in the Old Testament make it clear that the
ceremonial law was only a shadow (Hebrews 9:1-10) of things to come:
You have no desire for an offering or I would give it; you have no
delight in burned offerings. The offerings of God are a broken spirit; a broken
and sorrowing heart, O God, you will not put from you. (Psalms 51:16-17, see
also 1 Samuel 15:22, Hosea 6:6, Isa,
The prophet Isaiah
announced that sacrifices and offerings for sins pointed to the coming Messiah,
the redeemer.
'Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered
him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for
our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment
that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.....
For he was cut off from the land of the living....He was assigned a grave
with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no
violence,... After the suffering of his soul, he
will see the light [of life] and be satisfied;...'
(excerpts from Isaiah 53:4-11)
Once the Messiah had come, the
ceremonial law which had granted exclusive access to God for the Jewish
nation only would become fulfilled in him. From that time onwards the way to
the temple, symbolizing God's presence, would be granted to all nations by
faith.
'This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw
concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the LORD'S
temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised
above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will
come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the
house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in
his paths." The law will go out from
The identity of the Messiah
(Hebrew 'anointed one', Greek 'Christ') is the only area of disagreement
between the two faiths. While the Jews are still waiting for the one who
according to the Bible would deliver
6.
CONCLUSION
As has been seen, the
Islamic attempt to declare the Bible as being abrogated creates unsolvable
problems when it comes to the interpretation of their own scripture. The Bible
is not just valid for today but also superior in its message. No wonder Jesus
himself said:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth,
until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke
of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law
until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of
these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in
the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practises and teaches these commands will be
called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that
unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of
the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew
5:17-20)
Jesus is clearly saying
that the Bible is not going to be annulled until the end of time. He
furthermore speaks out against the legalistic, hypocritical, external keeping
of the letter of the law, ignoring the spirit, the full meaning of it. The
Pharisees, the religious leaders of his day, treated God's word in a
superficial way and were most severely rebuked for it. Only through faith in
him who has come to fulfil the complete requirements of the law in a perfect
way can we be acceptable to a perfect God:
'That in the time to
come he might make clear the full wealth of his grace in his mercy to us in
Christ Jesus: Because by grace you have salvation through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is given by God: Not by works, so that no man may take glory
to himself. For by his act we were given existence in Christ Jesus to do
those good works which God before made ready for us so that we might do them.'
(Ephesians 2:7-10)
'Being conscious that a
man does not get righteousness by the works of the law, but through faith in
Jesus Christ, we had faith in Christ Jesus, so that we might get
righteousness (right standing
before God) by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law:
because by the works of the law will no flesh get righteousness.' (Galatians
2:16)
Salvation by faith in
Jesus is believing with the intellect
that the Bible is right about our sinful condition, about who Jesus is and
about what he did on the cross for us. Passages that speak about judgement
according to works have to be read in the light of what true faith means. This
is confirmed when their immediate context is considered. (e.g.
Joh 5:28-29, compare with verses 23-24, Mat
1.
Out of thankfulness followers of Jesus do what he
tells them: To love God and man. This is the essence and test of true
obedience. They desire to follow the moral law set out in the Old Testament
and summarized in what is known as ‘the 10 commandments.’ (Exo 20:1-17)
2.
Genuine faith in Jesus produces a desire to become
more like him, to do what is right and just.
3.
Saving faith creates the awareness that this
new obedience can only come through faith in Christ. It does not come
from focusing on the law, the desperate attempt to meet its demands. Instead it
comes from continually fixing one’s eyes on Jesus and his work, by
remaining connected to him through being in his presence with one’s
thoughts.
4.
Lastly, Biblical faith generates a constant
abiding in and reliance on Jesus by faith. In this way only the Holy
Spirit of God supplies the power for a changed life and lasting fruit. (Rom
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Copyright © 2001, 2003
by Rev. Andrew Abraham. This publication may be
reproduced in part or in full in any form or by any means under the condition
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