INVESTIGATING ISLAM

Undermining the Foundation:

How Islam Simultaneously Affirms and Undermines the Torah and Injil

Introduction: The Dual Narrative of Islam

Islam presents itself as the final and perfected revelation of the Abrahamic faith, claiming to affirm and complete the messages of the Torah (Tawrat) and the Gospel (Injil). The Quran asserts that it confirms these earlier scriptures, honoring the prophets of Judaism and Christianity, including Moses and Jesus. Yet, this apparent affirmation is coupled with a parallel narrative that systematically undermines the authority, authenticity, and theological integrity of these same scriptures.

This two-pronged approach—affirmation and simultaneous undermining—is not a mere theological quirk. It is a deliberate strategy within Islamic doctrine that enables Islam to claim the heritage of the Abrahamic faiths while dismissing the foundational teachings of these faiths whenever they conflict with the Quran. This analysis will demonstrate how Islam employs this dual strategy, focusing on two core aspects:

The Quran’s denial of the crucifixion of Jesus (Quran 4:157).
The evolving claim that the Torah and Injil were corrupted.

Part 1: The Quran’s Affirmation of the Torah and Injil—An Empty Gesture

Quranic Verses That Affirm the Torah and Injil

Islamic theology begins by affirming the Torah and Gospel as divine revelations:

Quran 5:46-47:
"And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the Torah that had come before him. And We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light, confirming that which preceded it in the Torah... Let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein."
Quran 5:68:
"Say, 'O People of the Book! You are upon nothing until you uphold the Torah and the Gospel and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.'"
Quran 10:94:
"So if you are in doubt, [O Muhammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you."
Quran 7:157:
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel..."

What These Verses Imply:

Authenticity: The Torah and Injil are presented as true, divinely revealed scriptures.
Authority: Jews and Christians are commanded to follow their scriptures, which suggests these texts are trustworthy.
Confirmation: The Quran claims to confirm the previous scriptures, presenting itself as a continuation of the same divine message.

Part 2: The Quran’s Denial of Crucifixion—Undermining the Gospel

Despite this apparent affirmation, the Quran directly denies the foundational event of the Christian faith: the crucifixion of Jesus.

The Crucifixion Denial (Quran 4:157)

"And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them..."

Why This is Problematic:

Contradicts All Historical Records: Every historical source—Roman (Tacitus), Jewish (Josephus), Christian (Gospels), and even hostile accounts (Talmud)—affirm that Jesus was crucified.
Denies the Core of the Gospel Message: Christianity is founded on the death and resurrection of Jesus. By denying the crucifixion, the Quran not only rejects a historical event but also the entire foundation of the Christian faith.
Replaces Historical Fact with Ambiguity: The Quran does not provide a clear alternative account of what happened, using the vague phrase "it was made to appear so" without explanation.
Aligns with Gnostic Heresies: The Quran’s denial resembles certain Gnostic texts (e.g., the Second Treatise of the Great Seth) that also deny the crucifixion—texts that were rejected by mainstream Christianity as heretical.

Implications:

The Quran’s denial of the crucifixion is not a minor doctrinal difference. It is a direct assault on the central tenet of Christianity, rendering the Gospel invalid. This contradicts the Quran’s claim of confirming the Gospel and respecting Jesus as a prophet.

Part 3: The Evolution of the Corruption Narrative—Undermining the Torah and Injil

While the Quran claims to confirm the Torah and Gospel, Islamic theology gradually developed the doctrine that these scriptures were corrupted (taḥrīf). This claim evolved over centuries and was not an original Quranic teaching.

1. What the Quran Actually Says About Corruption

Accusations of Concealment:
"Among them are those who distort words from their [proper] usages..." (Quran 4:46)
"They conceal the truth while they know it." (Quran 3:71)
Accusations of Misinterpretation:
"They distort words after they were properly understood." (Quran 5:13)

What the Quran Does NOT Say:

It never explicitly states that the text of the Torah or Gospel was changed (taḥrīf al-lafẓī).
The accusations are directed at certain groups among the Jews and Christians for hiding, misinterpreting, or forgetting parts of their scriptures—not for altering the text.

2. The Shift to Full Textual Corruption (taḥrīf al-lafẓī)

Early Islamic Scholars (7th-9th Century): Early exegetes (e.g., Ibn Abbas) understood corruption as interpretive (taḥrīf al-ma‘ānī), not textual.
Medieval Islamic Scholars (9th-12th Century): Figures like Ibn Hazm began asserting that the text of the Torah and Gospel had been completely corrupted, turning the accusation into a polemical weapon against Jews and Christians.
Reasons for the Shift:
- Polemical Response: As Muslim-Christian debates intensified, claiming the Bible was corrupted became a way to dismiss Christian arguments.
- Theological Necessity: The clear contradictions between the Quran and the Bible made it necessary to argue that the Bible had been altered to preserve the Quran’s authority.

3. Why This Undermines the Quran’s Claim

If the Torah and Gospel were corrupted, the Quran’s command for Jews and Christians to "judge by what Allah has revealed therein" (Quran 5:47) is meaningless.
If the Quran confirms the Torah and Gospel, yet contradicts them (denying the crucifixion, altering Jesus’ nature), then it does not truly confirm them.
The claim of corruption directly opposes the Quran’s assertion that God’s words cannot be altered (Quran 6:115; 18:27).

Part 4: The Self-Destructive Nature of the Dual Narrative

By affirming the Torah and Gospel while simultaneously undermining their integrity:

Islam claims to inherit the Abrahamic tradition but rejects its foundational teachings.
It claims to confirm the Torah and Gospel but contradicts their most fundamental doctrines.
It accuses Jews and Christians of corrupting their scriptures while offering no historical evidence of such corruption.

The Logical Contradiction:

If the Torah and Gospel were true (as the Quran claims), then the Quran’s contradictions with them cannot be reconciled.
If the Torah and Gospel were corrupted, the Quran’s command to follow them is irrational.
The Quran cannot simultaneously confirm and deny the core teachings of the Torah and Gospel without self-destructing.

Final Analysis: The Double-Edged Sword of Affirmation and Undermining

The Islamic narrative seeks to claim the authority of the Abrahamic faiths while rejecting their teachings. This dual approach:

Allows Islam to claim a connection to the heritage of Judaism and Christianity.
Enables it to reject any doctrine it disagrees with by declaring it "corrupted."
Creates an internally contradictory theological framework that collapses under scrutiny.

🚨 Final Verdict: Islam’s attempt to affirm and simultaneously undermine the Torah and Gospel is a self-defeating strategy that reveals its inherent theological instability.