What Muslims Believe About The Gospel
Belief in the Past Scriptures (Divine Books)
Belief in the Holy Quran and all of God’s past scriptures, sent to guide humanity through His prophets, is a fundamental article of faith in Islam. Every Muslim is obligated to believe in all of God’s inspired books. The Holy Quran emphasizes this belief, stating:
Say, [O believers], “We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him” (Quran 2:136).
The Role of Prophets and Revelation
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reported that over 124,000 prophets and 315 messengers were sent to humanity throughout history. Divine inspiration, or revelation, was delivered to these prophets either directly by God or through Angel Gabriel. Some of these revelations were later compiled into larger scriptures, with some explicitly named in the Quran, such as the Torah, Zabur (Psalms of David), Injeel (Gospel), and the scriptures of Prophet Abraham.
Divine Books as Guidance for Humanity
God’s revelations served as guides, offering instruction on how to lead a righteous life and draw closer to Him. These scriptures acted as comprehensive manuals for humanity, addressing both spiritual and worldly matters. The Quran affirms:
“He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel” (Quran 3:3).
However, previous scriptures were revealed to specific nations and intended for their time. Only the final revelation—the Holy Quran—and the final prophet, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), were meant for all of humanity until the end of time.
The Quran’s Confirmation and Preservation
Each divine book predicted the arrival of the next revelation. When a new scripture was revealed, it became obligatory for followers of previous scriptures to accept it. Rejection of any one of God’s revelations equates to rejecting them all.
Past nations entrusted with the preservation of divine scriptures often failed in this duty. Over time, these books were altered, distorted, and corrupted through human additions and omissions. In His mercy, God sent new scriptures to restore guidance for humanity, culminating in the final revelation—the Holy Quran.
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian” (Quran 15:9).
Unlike previous scriptures, the Quran’s preservation was not entrusted to any nation. God Himself assumed responsibility for safeguarding it. Today, the Quran remains the only scripture that exists in its original language and form. Millions around the world, regardless of age or background, have memorized it entirely. This ensures that even if all physical copies were lost, the Quran would remain intact.
The Corruption of Previous Scriptures
While Muslims respect past scriptures, they believe the current versions of the Old and New Testaments are not in their original, God-given forms. These texts have been influenced by human ideas and innovations, leading to corruption. The Quran warns:
“And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, ‘This is from Allah,’ but it is not from Allah. And they speak untruth about Allah while they know” (Quran 3:78).
The modern Bible, including the New Testament, was written after Prophet Jesus (PBUH) by individuals such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Paul. It includes contributions from other authors, some of whom remain anonymous.
The Injeel: The Gospel Muslims Believe In
The Injeel in which Muslims believe refers to the revelation given to Prophet Jesus (PBUH) directly from God. Christians, however, do not believe in a divine book revealed to Jesus. Instead, they acknowledge that the Bible was written by various individuals over time.
The modern Bible contains myths, philosophical ideas, and idol worship alongside remnants of truth. The Quran criticizes this alteration:
“So woe to those who write the ‘scripture’ with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn” (Quran 2:79).
The Quran Abrogates All Previous Scriptures
Since previous scriptures were intended for specific nations and not preserved in their original forms, they are no longer applicable. Muslims believe that the Quran has abrogated all previous scriptures, canceling their rulings and rendering them inapplicable.
The Holy Quran, as God’s final testament, will remain the ultimate guide for humanity until the Day of Judgment.
Belief in the Past Scriptures (Divine Books)
Belief in the Holy Quran and all of God’s past scriptures, sent to guide humanity through His prophets, is a fundamental article of faith in Islam. Every Muslim is obligated to believe in all of God’s inspired books. The Holy Quran emphasizes this belief, stating:
Say, [O believers], “We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him” (Quran 2:136).
The Role of Prophets and Revelation
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reported that over 124,000 prophets and 315 messengers were sent to humanity throughout history. Divine inspiration, or revelation, was delivered to these prophets either directly by God or through Angel Gabriel. Some of these revelations were later compiled into larger scriptures, with some explicitly named in the Quran, such as the Torah, Zabur (Psalms of David), Injeel (Gospel), and the scriptures of Prophet Abraham.
Divine Books as Guidance for Humanity
God’s revelations served as guides, offering instruction on how to lead a righteous life and draw closer to Him. These scriptures acted as comprehensive manuals for humanity, addressing both spiritual and worldly matters. The Quran affirms:
“He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel” (Quran 3:3).
However, previous scriptures were revealed to specific nations and intended for their time. Only the final revelation—the Holy Quran—and the final prophet, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), were meant for all of humanity until the end of time.
The Quran’s Confirmation and Preservation
Each divine book predicted the arrival of the next revelation. When a new scripture was revealed, it became obligatory for followers of previous scriptures to accept it. Rejection of any one of God’s revelations equates to rejecting them all.
Past nations entrusted with the preservation of divine scriptures often failed in this duty. Over time, these books were altered, distorted, and corrupted through human additions and omissions. In His mercy, God sent new scriptures to restore guidance for humanity, culminating in the final revelation—the Holy Quran.
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian” (Quran 15:9).
Unlike previous scriptures, the Quran’s preservation was not entrusted to any nation. God Himself assumed responsibility for safeguarding it. Today, the Quran remains the only scripture that exists in its original language and form. Millions around the world, regardless of age or background, have memorized it entirely. This ensures that even if all physical copies were lost, the Quran would remain intact.
The Corruption of Previous Scriptures
While Muslims respect past scriptures, they believe the current versions of the Old and New Testaments are not in their original, God-given forms. These texts have been influenced by human ideas and innovations, leading to corruption. The Quran warns:
“And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, ‘This is from Allah,’ but it is not from Allah. And they speak untruth about Allah while they know” (Quran 3:78).
The modern Bible, including the New Testament, was written after Prophet Jesus (PBUH) by individuals such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Paul. It includes contributions from other authors, some of whom remain anonymous.
The Injeel: The Gospel Muslims Believe In
The Injeel in which Muslims believe refers to the revelation given to Prophet Jesus (PBUH) directly from God. Christians, however, do not believe in a divine book revealed to Jesus. Instead, they acknowledge that the Bible was written by various individuals over time.
The modern Bible contains myths, philosophical ideas, and idol worship alongside remnants of truth. The Quran criticizes this alteration:
“So woe to those who write the ‘scripture’ with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn” (Quran 2:79).
The Quran Abrogates All Previous Scriptures
Since previous scriptures were intended for specific nations and not preserved in their original forms, they are no longer applicable. Muslims believe that the Quran has abrogated all previous scriptures, canceling their rulings and rendering them inapplicable.
The Holy Quran, as God’s final testament, will remain the ultimate guide for humanity until the Day of Judgment.
Who Is the Author of the Bible?
Revelation and Divine Books in Islam
Muslims are obligated to believe in all divine books sent by God to serve humanity. These include the Torah revealed to Prophet Moses (PBUH), the Psalms (Zabur) revealed to Prophet David (PBUH), and the Gospel (Injeel) revealed to Prophet Jesus (PBUH). However, none of these scriptures exist today in their original form as they were not preserved. The final and only fully preserved divine book is the Holy Quran, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Divine revelation came to prophets directly or through Angel Gabriel, serving as guidance for humanity. These scriptures taught the purpose of life, God’s attributes, commandments, prohibitions, and moral values. They addressed aspects of life including the afterlife, kindness to parents, and God’s creation of the universe.
The Current Bible vs. Original Revelation
Muslims believe in the original revelation given to Jesus Christ (PBUH), referred to as the Injeel (meaning “Glad Tidings”), but this revelation is no longer in existence. The current Bible, including the Gospels attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, is not the same as the divine Injeel. It contains contributions from unknown authors, additions, and distortions made over centuries for various agendas.
“So woe to those who write the ‘scripture’ with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn” (Quran 2:79).
Composition and Evolution of the Bible
The Bible consists of two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament details events from the creation of the universe to just before Jesus Christ’s birth. The New Testament, written after Jesus’ departure, contains accounts of his birth, teachings, and prophecies.
Christian denominations differ on the number of books in the Bible. Protestants recognize 66 books, while Catholics include 73. It wasn’t until centuries after Jesus’ departure that the Church finalized which books were included in the Bible. This means early Christians lived without the current New Testament.
Questioning the Bible’s Authorship
No Christian biblical scholar claims that God or Jesus Christ wrote the Gospels. Scholars acknowledge that the Gospels were authored by unknown individuals after Jesus’ departure. For instance:
Many Christian scholars admit that the Gospels were not written by their attributed authors:
- The Gospel of Matthew, for instance, is written in the third person, suggesting it wasn’t authored by Matthew himself.
- Matthew and Luke extensively copied from Mark, with approximately 85% of their content derived verbatim or paraphrased.
Furthermore, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were first-century Aramaic-speaking individuals who were illiterate. Yet, the Gospels were written in scholarly Greek, a language they were unlikely to know.
Contradictions and Plagiarism in the Bible
The Bible contains contradictions and evidence of plagiarism. For example, Isaiah 37 and 2 Kings 19 are nearly identical but attributed to different authors. Additionally, manuscripts found over time reveal significant variations, making it difficult to ascertain their original meaning.
The Quran: The Perfectly Preserved Word of God
Unlike the Bible, the Holy Quran is the verbatim word of God, revealed in Arabic—a language still widely spoken today. God Himself has promised to safeguard the Quran from corruption:
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an, and indeed, We will be its Guardian” (Quran 15:9).
While translations of the Quran help non-Arabic speakers understand its meaning, they are interpretations and not the Quran itself. Only the Arabic Quran remains the unchanged, divine word of God.
Historical Preservation in Islam
In Islam, the prophetic traditions (Hadith) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) have been preserved through a rigorous science of authentication, known as Isnad. Each narrator in the chain of transmission is meticulously evaluated for trustworthiness, ensuring the reliability of Hadith.
In contrast, the Bible lacks a similar system for verifying its authenticity. The absence of a clear chain of narrators and the involvement of unknown authors raise doubts about its credibility.
Differences in Translation and Theology
The Bible was not revealed in English and is a translation of ancient manuscripts, some of which date only to the fourth century. These manuscripts were written in Greek, not Aramaic, the language of Jesus and his disciples. Translators have struggled with the nuances of these texts, leading to contradictions and errors.
For example, the terms “son” and “lord” in Greek and Aramaic have different connotations than in English, contributing to misunderstandings about Jesus’ identity as “the son of God.”
The Quran vs. the Bible
While the Bible is a compilation of man-made efforts to translate and interpret ancient manuscripts, the Quran is unique in its authenticity and preservation. The Quran remains the unchanged word of God, free from human distortion or error.
Translations of the Quran serve as interpretations to help non-Arabic speakers, but they do not replace the original Arabic text. Unlike the Bible, the Quran is supported by God’s promise to protect it from corruption for all of humanity until the end of time.
While Muslims disagree with aspects of Christian theology, such as the Trinity and the concept of redemption, the Holy Quran praises sincere Christians. It highlights their humility, love, and closeness to Muslims in faith:
“You will certainly find that the closest of them in friendship with the believers are those who say, ‘We are Christians.’ That is because among them there are priests and monks, and because they are not arrogant. When they hear what has been sent down to the Messenger, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized. They say, ‘Our Lord, we have come to believe. So, record us along with those who bear witness.’” (Quran 5:82-83)
Modern Christianity vs. the Teachings of Jesus Christ
Divergence from the Original Message
Muslims believe that modern Christianity has deviated from the original teachings of Jesus Christ (PBUH). Concepts such as the Trinity and Jesus’ divinity were never preached by Jesus himself but were later additions to the faith.
The Bible in its current form is viewed as a compilation of writings by various authors, including prophets, historians, and unknown individuals, interspersed with human alterations for political and financial gain. Muslims believe the original revelation given to Jesus was never preserved, leading to deviations from God’s intended message.
The Quranic Challenge to the People of the Book
The Holy Quran challenges Jews and Christians to present proof for their claims about salvation and Paradise:
“They say that no one shall ever enter Paradise unless he is a Jew or a Christian. These are their fancies. Say, ‘Bring your proof, if you are truthful.’” (Quran 2:111)
A Call for Common Ground
The Quran invites people of all faiths to unite on the shared belief in the worship of one God:
“Say: ‘O People of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Allah).’” (Quran 3:64)
Evidence Against Christian Doctrines
Jesus as a Creation of God
Islam rejects the worship of Jesus Christ as God or part of a Trinity. Jesus was a human prophet sent to deliver God’s message.
Tampering with Scripture
Muslims believe the original revelation given to Jesus was altered after his departure. To address this, God sent the Quran as His final, preserved Book:
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an, and indeed, We will be its guardian.” (Quran 15:9)
The Quran as the Final Revelation
Unlike previous scriptures, which were meant for specific communities and times, the Quran is a universal and eternal guide for all humanity. It remains unchanged since its revelation, free from human tampering.
Immoral Content in the Bible
The Bible contains stories that Muslims believe are unsuitable for divine scripture, including:
- Incestuous Relationships: Genesis 19:30-38, Genesis 38:15-18, Genesis 35:22
- Explicit Language: Ezekiel 23:20, 2 Kings 18:27
Muslims believe such content cannot be from God, who is Pure and Merciful.
Is Jesus God, Son of God, or Prophet of God?
The Quranic View of Jesus
The Quran clearly states that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was a human prophet, not divine:
“The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; other messengers had passed before him; his mother was a virtuous woman; both ate food [like other mortals].” (Quran 5:75)
Biblical Evidence of Jesus as a Prophet
- Jesus’ Own Words: John 14:28, John 17:3
- Acts of Submission: Matthew 26:39, Luke 6:12
- Dependence on God: John 5:30, John 12:49
Conclusion
Islam’s perspective on the Bible and other past scriptures emphasizes respect for their divine origin while acknowledging the human alterations they have undergone over time. Muslims believe in the original revelations sent to Prophets, including the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel, but affirm that these scriptures no longer exist in their unaltered form. The Quran, as the final and perfectly preserved revelation, is regarded as the ultimate and eternal guide for humanity.
