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Dear Muslim friend, do you believe the words and teachings of your holy Qur’an? Or have you unknowingly rejected the testimony of the Qur’an about Jesus (or Isa) and about the prior revelations that God sent to bear witness to him? If you trust the Qur’an and have an open and prayerful heart, you may be surprised at what it says about the prophet Jesus.
The Testimony of the Qur’an
The Qur’an declares many wonderful things about the prophet Jesus. Three surahs (or chapters) are named after references to him, and he is spoken of in fifteen surahs (ninety-three verses) altogether, more than any other person in the entire Qur’an.
The Qur’an teaches that Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead (3:49; 5:113), was born of the virgin Mary (3:45-47; 23:50; 19:16-22), brought the gospel to the Jewish people (3:49-51; 13:38), and was an apostle and prophet of God (3:49; 6:85-90). In the Qur’an, Jesus alone is supported by the Holy Spirit (2:87, 253). Jesus alone is called “the Word of God” (3:45; 4:171) and “the Messiah” (“Christ,” 3:45; 4:157, 172, etc). Yet the Qur’an is not the only testimony to Jesus. Nor is it the primary one. The Qur’an repeatedly states that God sent prior revelations to the Jews and the Christians: The Torah (Taurat), the Psalms (Zabur), and the Gospel (Injil). Have you ever read what these prophetic words say about Jesus?
The Qur’an’s Testimony to God’s Prior Revelations
But you may wonder if the Jewish and Christian Scriptures are really trustworthy revelations from God.
Perhaps you have been told that they have been corrupted or lost. What does the Qur’an say about this?
God Sent Other Scriptures Prior to the Qur’an
In numerous places the Qur’an testifies that God gave the Jews and the Christians revelations in the past: “He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind” (3:3-4); “Say, ‘We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you’” (29:46; cf. 6:89; 2:136; 5:46-47; 7:157).
These Revelations Existed During Muhammad’s Time
In other passages the Qur’an is clear that these Scriptures existed during Muhammad’s lifetime: “Say ‘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’” (5:68; cf. 4:136; 10:94 3:93; 5:46, 59, 68-69).
It would be impossible for Christians and Jews (the People of the Book) to “stand fast” by these revelations unless they were still in their possession at that time. Many ancient copies exist of both the Torah and the Gospel that are dated centuries before Muhammad. These are entirely consistent with the books known in the Bible as the Old and New Testament.
The Qur’an Was Sent to Confirm These Scriptures
Other verses claim that the Qur’an was sent to “confirm” the scriptures that God had sent beforehand: “This is a Book which We have sent down, bringing blessings, and confirming (the revelations) which came before it” (6:92, emphasis added; cf., 2:40-41, 89, 91; 3:3).
If, however, the Bible had become so thoroughly corrupted that it was no longer capable of guiding the people, as many Muslims now assert, how could the Qur’an be said to “confirm” it?
God’s Revelations Can Never Be Changed by Men
According to the Qur’an it is impossible for anyone to change or corrupt God’s revelations: “There is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of God” (6:34; cf. 6:115); “No change can there be in the words of God” (10:64; cf. 18:27).
In fact there is not a single verse in the entire Qur’an stating that the former Scriptures have ever been changed by men or abolished by God. True followers of Jesus believe that God is able to protect his word from all attacks and slanders. All people, including Muslims, are commanded to believe and obey these unchangeable revelations.
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