Qur'an and Other Divine Books: An Exposition

BY

Attahir Shehu Mainiyo1

Department of Islamic Studies,
Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
shehu.mainiyo@udusok.edu.ng
+234 8060060197
+234 8094069941

Abstract:

1
Mainiyo is a Lecturer I in the Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, Usmanu
Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
1
 An attempt was made in this paper to discuss Qur'an as a book of guidance which was
sent down to the Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW1) with a view to guiding people to the
happiness of both lives. The Qur'an, admittedly, occupies an important position among the world
religious books, of guiding the entire people of the world through the path of salvation. This
position the Qur’an has makes it to be the Divine message from Allah to mankind and is of
utmost importance to us in the sense that reciting and reflecting over its teachings will no doubt
bring us new meanings and implication to our lives. Indeed, Muhammad (SAW) was the last
messenger from Allah to mankind, and he brought the final revelation from Allah to mankind.
The scripture containing this efficacious revelation is therefore the last of the Divine Scriptures 2.
It is, however, in line with this that this paper intends to study and discuss the Qur'anic
revelation, revelation of Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad, authorship of the Qur'an as well as its
relationship with other religious books. Then, finally, conclusive part of the paper and Endnotes
follow.

KEY WORDS: Qur'an, Divine Books, an Exposition

Introduction:

2
 The Qur'an, which is the central divine manifestation of Islam, is written in Arabic, which

is Islam's sacred language. Because of Arabic's sacred status, the Qur'an remains Arabic though

the text has been rendered into nearly every other language. It is believed that the Glorious

Qur'an is inimitable and unsurpassable not only in its meaning, substance but also in its message.

It is, however, an incomparable book which yields to no abrogation or distortion, and unto which

no falsehood could find a way from whatever source3, be it of past or future events mentioned

therein. It is a message from the Wise Lord, which is neither a history nor a biography. A book

of this nature therefore needs to be properly studied with keen interest so as to explore its

varying benefits to the Muslim Ummah.

The Glorious Qur’an serves as a mediator among the earlier revelation. The teachings of

all other scriptures remain in active since the revelation of Qur’an. This could only mean that the

Qur’an is a universal book containing a universal message. It therefore takes care of other

scriptures whose teachings cease to exist. However, the role and position Qur’an occupies among

other divine revelations makes it supersedes them in all aspects-be it religious or other-wise.

Distortions and manipulations that earlier revelations witnessed could only be remedied by the

Qur’an who serves as a judge between them. Thus, the Qur’an is the only divine book which

outlived other scriptures with no distortion, falsehood or manipulation of whatever kind. In this

write-up therefore, the Qur’anic revelation, authorship of the Qur’an, differences and similarities

between the Qur’an and the earlier scriptures would be addressed by analyzing proofs from the

Qur’an and other sources where necessary.

Definitions of Al-Qur'an:
3
 Scholars of varying degree of knowledge define the word al-Qur'an on the understanding

of the word. Giving such definitions, the root word should be taken into cognizance so that the

meaning will be adequately grasped. The Qur'an has long been considered by the Muslim elites

and even non Muslims the supreme standard of eloquence in the Arabic language and signifies

revelation to Prophet Muhammad. It infers that the word al- Qur’an is derived from the verbal

source ‘Qara’a’ which has various meanings, such as to read 4, to recite5. However, it is a verbal

noun which means 'reading’ or 'recitation'. As used in the Qur'an itself, the word refers to the

revelation from Allah in the broad sense 6 and is not always restricted to the written form in the

shape of a book, as we have it before us today 7. The term Qur'an refers to either a fragment of the

revelation or the entire collection of revelations. The word Qur’an therefore derived from the

root ‘Qara’a’ with the meaning as to read as elucidated in the Qur'an itself 8 Some eminent

scholars such as Al-Sayyid, Khalid and Muhammad gave detailed meanings of the word al-

Qur'an. One of such meanings is thus:

The words of Allah sent down to Prophet Muhammad through the

intermediary of angel Gabriel (AS9) composed in the hearts of men,
written in the book, transmitted to us in continuity, whose recitation is
worship, beginning with chapter one and ending with chapter 11410.
The 'words', here, refer to all speeches. But when attributed to Allah, it excludes

the speech of humankind, Jinn and angels. Words of Allah ‘sent down’ excludes all other words

of Allah that He kept for himself or addressed to the angels. Similarly, the phrase ‘sent down to

Prophet Muhammad excludes all what was sent down to earlier Prophets. The last phrase

describes recitation of Qur’an as a form of worship and this means that the Qur’an is the only

part of revelation that Muslims were commanded to read in prayers as part of their worship.

Other scholars define it as:-

4
 The book in which Allah (SWT) revealed in His speech to His
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in Arabic and this has been transmitted
to us by continuous testimony or tawatur. In it there are 114 Surahs of
unequal length. The larger part of the Qur’an was revealed in Makkah
(about 19/30th) and the rest in Madinah11.
The Qur’an was brought down by one who is powerful and trust-
worthy in the heavens- the angel Jibril. Its first abode was that pure
and sublime heart, the like of which man has never had- the heart of
the Prophet Muhammad12.
Ibn Kathir, in his Tafsir,13 who debunked the claim of the unbelievers who falsified the

authenticity of Al-Qur'an, defined it as the speech of Allah and His revelation to Prophet

Muhammad (SAW). This definition has also been maintained by Al-Shanqitiy 14 who explained

that the Qur'an is the speech of Allah sent down to His chosen Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Abu

Shubha,15 an eminent scholar, however stressed that it is the speech of Allah, the most truthful,

the foundation of the religion and the rope of Allah, the strongest.

Al-Shuhud, in his definition, emphasized that it is Allah's words, miraculous in nature

revealed to Prophet Muhammad written in the books and received through unanimous narration

and the recitation of which is rewardable 16. Similarly, Ibn Hazm opined that it refers to the

speeches of Allah the most high, written in books, preserved in the chests of Huffaz.17 The Qur'an

is the living miracle given to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) till the day of requital, the status which

makes other miracles given to various Prophets extinct with the advent of Muhammad (SAW) 18.

Muslims believe that it came from Allah with no atom of doubt and reject the view that it was

authored by Prophet Muhammad. That is why Allah (SWT) challenged the opponents of Islam to

produce something similar to the Qur'an, then ten chapters of its similar pattern or even the

smallest chapter but they all failed and the challenge is still in force till the Day of Judgment 19.

5
 Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has never been the author of the Qur’an, rather, he is

regarded as the chosen transmitter of the revelation and the ideal implementer of principles and

commandments contained therein. In line with this the Prophet (SAW) used the meaning of the

verses revealed to him to invite people to believe in One God. These instructions from Allah

(SWT) to His messenger are known as the Prophecy, or the message. Prophet Muhammad

(SAW) transmitted this message without making any addition to it in any way.

Qur'anic Revelation and Its Types (wahy):

The word Awha from which the Wahy (revelation) is derived, occurs in a number of

meanings in the Glorious Qur'an each of them indicating the main underlying idea of inspiration

directing or guiding someone20. The forms of the root word of Wahy can be seen below:

a. Guidance in natural human intuition: - This type of wahy is used in reference to Prophet
Musa's mother as explained in the Glorious Qur'an.

And We inspired the mother of Musa (Moses), (saying):

"Suckle him [Musa (Moses)], but when you fear for him,
then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily!
We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of
(Our) Messengers21.
b. Guidance in natural Instinct: - It refers to inspiration to an animal as viewed in the
following verse:

And your Lord inspired the bee, saying: "Take you

habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they
erect22.
c. Guidance by signs or flash and hasty suggestion: - The best example of this type is
referenced to Prophet Zakariyya (AS) in the following Qur'anic verse.

Then he came out to his people from Al-Mihrab (a praying

place or a private room, etc.), he told them by signs to glorify
Allah's Praises in the morning and in the afternoon23.

6
d. Guidance from evil/whispering of Satan and his beautifying evil in person's heart: - In
this type of inspiration instances were found in this verse:

And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies -

Shayatin (devils) among mankind and jins, inspiring one
another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of
deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have
done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications24.
e. Guidance from Allah /Allah's inspiration to angels for a command to execute:- We have
the best examples in the verse below.

(Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels, "Verily, I am

with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast
terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike
them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes25.
Revelation of Qur'an to Muhammad (SAW):

Almighty Allah speaks and inspires to His angels devoid of any intermediary. He speaks

to them with what they understand. This was corroborated by the tradition of the Prophet

Muhammad (SAW) when he said:

Whenever Allah (SWT) intends to reveal a command He speaks

through inspiration. And the sky will be made to shiver for the fear of
Allah. If the people of the sky listen to this they would immediately fell
down prostrating before Allah, and Jibril (AS) will be the first to rise up
his head. And Allah speaks to him with that which He wills. Jibril (AS)
then passes through the angels whenever he passes they ask him 'what
did our Lord say?' Jibril would say He says the truth! Every one of
them will then say what angel Jibril has told them. He moves on with
the inspiration to where ever Allah commands him to take it.
The quoted Hadith had clearly illustrated the nature of Wahy thus, its speech from Allah

to the hearing of the angels and its subsequent strong influence on them.

7
Authorship of the Qur'an:

There has been an apparent proof that Prophet Muhammad had never authored the

Qur'an. This is believed by Muslim scholars including the Orientalists. Despite the global

acceptance of the Muslims on this issue, there are still group of people who claimed that the

Prophet Muhammad authored the Qur'an. They were proved wrong in the following points:

a. Whenever a verse of the Qur'an is being recited, the generality of the Muslim Ummah
would say it is the speech of Allah. If it were the words of other than Allah, they would
have certainly say Jibril (AS) says or Muhammad says.

b. The entire Muslim Ummah (Ahl al-Sunnah) in the world have the conviction that the
Qur'an we have today is referred to as the 'Book of Allah' and not the book of Jibril or
Muhammad (SAW).

c. Almighty Allah discarded the claim of those who denied the Prophet and what he brought
to them and answered them with what He answers the polytheists (Mushrikun) when He
states that:

The Event (the Hour or the punishment of disbelievers and

polytheists or the Islamic laws or commandments), ordained by
Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it. Glorified and
Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him.
He sends down the angels with inspiration of His Command to
whom of His slaves He pleases (saying): "Warn mankind that La
ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so fear
Me (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds26).
More over, Almighty Allah (SWT) reveals to His chosen Prophets either through:

a. The intermediary of angel Jibril (AS)

b. And without the agent of revelation.

b (i) Through a good dream: It was reported by Aisha (RA) that the first thing the Prophet

(SAW) begins with is the form of good dream.

8
 The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Apostle was in the form of good
dream which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed
upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah
alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take
with him the provision for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadijah to take his
food like-wise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was meditating
in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, "I
do not know how to read. The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and
pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again
asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me
again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me
and again asked me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read (or what shall I
read)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me
and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord27, hence the first five verses of the Glorious
Qur'an.

This situation comes to him abruptly and occasionally. And this type of good dream was

believed by Muslims as revelation. More related to this is a story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) when

he saw, in a dream, slaughtering his son Isma'il 28 as explained in the Glorious Qur'an 29. It is

pertinent here to state that this type of good dream has not been restricted to Prophets only, it

was also extended to pious believers but however, it could not be regarded or recognized as

revelation hence the statement of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on this respect.

Abu Huraira (RA) said: He heard the Apostle of Allah saying there was
nothing remained in the prophethood except glad tidings. They (the
Sahaba) say what are the glad tidings? Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said
good dreams30.

The good dream stressed above can further be comprehended in this verse as one of the
divine speech.
9
 It is not given to any human being that Allah should speak to him
unless (it be) by Inspiration, or from behind a veil, or (that) He sends
a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His Leave. Verily, He is Most
High, Most Wise31 .

b (ii) Through behind a veil: This type of inspiration was similar to the one associated with

Prophet Musa (AS) as mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an:

1
SAW means Sallal Lahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam. Where ever it is mentioned in this article carries same meaning.
2
A.V., Denffer, Introduction to the Science of the Qur'an, (ND), (NP), P. 5
3
Qur'an 41:42
4
Qur'an 17:93
5
Qur'an 75:18 and 17:46
6
Qur'an 17:82
7
A.V, Denffer, Op. Cit, P. 5
8
Qur'an 17:93
9
A.S. means ‘Alaihis-Salam. Where ever it appears in this article denotes same meaning
10
Al-Sayyid Mukhtar, Al-Tafsir Bayn Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Shi'ah al-Ithnay al-Ashriyyah, Vol. 1, P. 31 (np). See
also Khalid Kabir, Al-Azmat al-Aqidiyyat Bayn al-Asha'irat wa Ahl al-Ahadith, Dar Imam Malik, 1st ed, 1426 AH,
Vol. 1, P. 172. And Manna'i al-Qattan, Mabahith Fi 'Ulum al-Qur'an, Maktabat al-Ma'arif, P. 17, 1421AH.
11
Muhammad Rashid bn Ali Rida, Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Hakim, Al-Hay'at al-Misriyyah, 1990, Vol. 9, P. 282. See
also Wahhab bn Mustapha al-Zuhayliy, Al-Tafsir al-Munir, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut, 1418 AH, Vol. 1, P. 13
12
Ibid, P. 2730.
13
Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azeem, Dar al-Taybah, 2nd ed, Vol, 8, 1999, P. 350. See also Lubab al-Ta'wil fi
ma'aniy al-Tanzeel of Aliy bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim, Dar-al-Fikr, Beirut, Vol, 7 and Tafsir al-Fakhr al-Raziy, by
Muhammad bin Umar bin al-Hussain al-Raziy, Vol, 1,P. 16, (ND), Dar al-Nashr.
14
M. A. Al-Shanqitiy, Adwa'u al-Bayan fiy Idahi al-Qur'an bi al-Qur'an, 1995, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut, Vol, 56, P. 5
15
Muhammad bin Muhammad Abi Shubha, Al-Isra'iliyyat wa al-Maudu'at fiy Kutub al-Tafsir, 4th ed, Vol, 1, P. 33,
Maktabat al-Sunnah.
16
Ali bn Nayif Al-Shuhud, Al-Mufassal Fi al-Radd 'ala Shubuhat a'da'al Islam, Vol. 7, P. 252.
17
Those who committed the Qur'an into heart
18
Qur'an 41:42
19
Qur'an 2:23, 11:13 and 17:88.
20
Manna' al-Qattan, Mabahith Fi 'Ulum al-Qur'an, Maktabat al-Ma'arif, Pp. 15-17, 1413 AH.
21
Qur'an 28:7
22
Qur'an 16:68
23
Qur'an 19:11
24
Qur'an 6:112
25
Qur'an 8:12
26
Qur'an 16:1-2
27
Muhammad bn Isma'il bn Ibrahim al-Bukhari, Jami' al-Musnad al-Sahih al-Mukhtasar min Umur Rasulillahi wa
Sunanihi wa Ayyamihi, Dar Tauq al-Najah, 1st ed, 1422 AH, Book 1, Volume 1, Hadith No 3.
28
This is the truth which is contrary to what many believe to be Is'haq. The glad tiding was, in the first place, for
Isma'il before Is'haq. Jews for instance believed that he is Is'haq just for envy and hatred and for the reason that he is
the father of the Jews; whereas Isma'il is the father of the Arabs. See Manna' al-Qattan's Mabahith fi Ulum al-Qur'an
P. 35 for more details.
29
Qur'an 37:101-122
30
Ibn Hajar al-Athqalani, Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Dar al-Fikr, Vol. 14, P. 401, Hadith No. 6990. See
also Tahdhib al Tahdhib of the same author, Vol. 3, P. 328, Hadith No. 4192. And Isma'il Haqi's Tafsir Rauh al-
Bayan, Vol. 10, P. 115 available at http//www.altafsir.com
10
 And when Musa (Moses) came at the time and place appointed by Us,
and his Lord spoke to him, he said: "O my Lord! Show me
(Yourself), that I may look upon You." Allah said: "You cannot see
Me, but look upon the mountain if it stands still in its place then you
shall see Me." So when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He made
it collapse to dust, and Musa (Moses) fell down unconscious. Then
when he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to You, I turn to You
in repentance and I am the first of the believers32.
In another verse He says:

And Messengers We have mentioned to you before, and Messengers

We have not mentioned to you, - and to Musa (Moses) Allah spoke
directly33.
a. Intermediary of angel Jibril (AS): Mentioned was made previously with regard to Allah's

revelation to His prophets either through good dream or behind a veil devoid of agent of

revelation. Here, discussions will be made on the revelation of al-Qur'an through the agency of

angel Jibril (AS). This type occurs in two ways as spelled out below:

1. It comes like the ringing of a bell and this is the hardest form of revelation to Prophet

Muhammad (SAW). This is where the changing form from human body structure to the

angelic form occurs as pointed out by Ibn Khaldun 34. This form of revelation is captured

in the following Hadith:

Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah's Apostle "O Allah's Apostle! How
is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?" Allah's Apostle replied,
"Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of
Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes ' off after I
have grasped what is inspired35.

31
Qur'an 42:51
32
Qur'an 7:143
33
Qur'an 4:164
34
Quoted in Mabahith Fi 'Ulum al-Qur'an of Manna' al-Qattan, P. 37
35
Muhammad bn Isma'il al-Bukhari, Op. Cit, Book. 1, Vol. 1, Hadith No. 2
11
2. Here the agent of revelation comes to Prophet in human form and revealed to him

whatever Allah wills. And the wisdom behind this type of revelation is to relieve the

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and find rest in his mind over the Prophetic missions

reposed in him. The part of the above Hadith sheds more light.

Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I
grasp whatever he says." 'Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet being
inspired divinely on a very cold day and noticed the Sweat dropping
from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over)36.
It indicates that revelation is a kind of divine utterance beyond the understanding of

material world. It is unperceived by sense or intellect but apprehended by other faculties which

are present in certain individuals. Through revelation, instructions from the unseen are received

and their acceptance and implementation is known as prophethood. Summarily, we discover

three different ways of divine utterance (s). Firstly, Almighty Allah speaks without any veil

between Him and man. Secondly, He speaks from behind a veil; like the tree on the Tur

Mountain from behind which Moses heard Him speaking. Thirdly, Allah's speech is brought to

man by an angel who had previously heard the revelation from Him. More so, it shows that the

Qur'an has reached us by means of the third of the three possible ways. From these we

understand that the Qur'an was transmitted by way of an angel named Gabriel, and that the

Prophet received the revelation from him with all his being and all his perception.

Qur'an's Authenticity and its Relationship with other Revealed Books:

The Glorious Qur'an has been proved to be authentic and preserved divinely since the

time of its revelation37. This authenticity was however greeted by the effort of Prophet

Muhammad (SAW) so much that whenever he receives a revelation, he would first memorize it

36
Ibid.
12
himself and later declares the revelation and instructs his Companions (R.A) to memorize it 38. As

soon as the revelation is over he would immediately ask the scribes to write it down and he

would reconfirm and recheck it himself. Taking this into consideration, one has to believe that

had the Qur'an came from other than Allah surely there would have been much discrepancy in it.

The Qur'an was neither produced by Prophet Muhammad nor had he copied it from other sources

as suggested by Orientalists39.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was an unlettered that could neither read nor write 40. After

receiving each revelation, the Prophet would repeat it to his Companions who would write it

down, and he would recheck by asking them to read what they had written. If there was any

mistake, he would immediately point it out and have it corrected and rechecked. Similarly he

would even recheck and authenticate the portions of the Qur’an memorized by the Companions.

In this way, the entire Qur’an was written down under the personal supervision of the Prophet

(SAW). However, if one carefully studies the contents and the messages contained in the Qur’an

one would admittedly assert that the Qur'an came directly from Allah to Prophet (SAW) 41.

Similarity between Qur’an and Bible:

As for the similarity between the Qur'an and other revealed Books - Torah, Zabur and

Injil revealed to Ibrahim, Musa, Dawud and Isa (AS), one as a Muslim believes that they

contained , in their original form, the same basic message from Allah to mankind as was

mentioned in the Qur'an42. But these books particularly the Bible has been tampered with by its

37
Qur'an 15:9
38
: http://www.drzakirnaik.com/pages/qanda/22.php as at 22/October/2014
39
Qur'an 4:82
40
http://www.islam101.com/quran/preservedQ.htm as at 22/October/2014
41
Harun Yahya, Op. cit, P. 24
42
Qur'an 16:36
13
adherents. Distortions and manipulations were carried out by the adherents of other religion just

to satisfy their personal interest. These alterations may not be unconnected with the fact that all

the divine books-with the exception of Qur'an- have not been granted the divine protection

against alteration and distortion. The Qur'an is unique and wonderful Book among earlier Books

because it is the permanent miracle for all generations to see 43. In order to prove, without shadow

of a doubt, that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah and his prophethood is not limited to time

and place the Scripture he was sent with must be all-encompassing one. We therefore accept the

message and the messenger. The similarity between Qur'an and other divine books, particularly

in the areas of basic belief and other devotional duties would have to be properly understood.

That is why the belief in Allah and prophethood of Muhammad (SAW) became the

central foundation in Islam. The Qur'an, in many verses emphasizes that there is only one true

God and declares the idea or concept of Trinity obtained in the Bible false and baseless.

Almighty Allah confirms His Oneness in the following Qur'anic verse:

Say, "He is Allah [who is] One, Allah , the Eternal Refuge, He
neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent44.

He also elucidates in another verse saying:

And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship]

except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful45.

The following corresponding verses in the Bible confirm the belief in the Oneness of
Allah.

Hear O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord, and the Lord your
God is to be loved with all your heart and with all your soul and
43
For detail see 'Who Wrote the Qur'an published by Memphis Dawah E-Books, P. 2-10 available at
www.MemphisDawah.com as at 22/October/2014.
44
Qur'an 112:1-4
45
Qur'an 2:163
14
 with all your strength46
Which law is the first of all?” Jesus said in answer, “The first is,
Give ear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you are
to have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your
strength47.
In yet another verse both confess that Jesus Christ was only a messenger and never God.
Almighty Allah told us in the Qur’an that:

That they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus the son of
Mary, the Messenger of Allah,” but they killed him not, nor
crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those
who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain)
knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they
killed him not48.

The Bible has this to say:

I (Jesus) by myself can do nothing – as I hear I judge, and my

judgment is just, because I seek not my will, but the will of thy
who has sent me49.

This is eternal life, so that you may know there is one true God,
and Jesus Christ, who Thou have sent50.

One of the persons approaches Jesus, and says ‘Good Master,

what good things shall I do, that I shall attain eternal life.’ And
Jesus said unto him, ‘Why do you call me good? For there is
none good, except One, that is God – And if you want to enter
life, keep the commandments51.

As regard the prostration (Sujud) in prayers Almighty Allah explains in the Qur'an:

O you who believe! Bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore

your Lord; and do well; that you may prosper52.

46
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
47
Mark 12:28-30
48
Qur'an 4:157
49
John 5:30
50
John 17:3
51
Mathew 19:16-7
52
Qur'an 22:77
15
 Only those believe in Our Signs, who, when they are recited to
them, fall down in prostration, and celebrate the praises of their
Lord, nor are they (ever) puffed up with pride53
Bible has it that:

Then Moses quickly went down on his face in worship54.

...the Joshua, falling down with his face to the earth in worship55

‘And he (Jesus) went forward a little and falling down on his

face in prayer56
Wearing Hijab is an obligation for women. Regarding this, the Qur'an sheds more light:

O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the

women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-
garments (veil); this will be more proper, that they may be
known, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful57.
The Bible says on its part:

For if a woman is not veiled, let her hair be cut off; but if it is a
shame to a woman to have her hair cut off, let her be veiled58.
On the prohibition of Pork, the Qur'an enunciates as in the following verse:

Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine,

and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah , and
[those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a
head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a
wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter
[before its death59]
On its part, the Bible mentions that:

53
Qur'an 32:15
54
Exodus 34:8
55
Joshua 5:14
56
Matthew 26:39
57
Qur'an 33:59
58
Corinthians 11:6-10
59
Qur'an 5:3
16
 And the pig is unclean to you, because though it has a division
in the horn of its foot, its food does not come back; their flesh
may not be used for food or their dead bodies touched by you60.
However, on the issue of polygamy61 the Qur'an sheds more light as in the following

verse:

…marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and
four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them),
then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is
more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course62.

The Bible relates that:

And while he was living in Jerusalem, David took more wives

and became the father of more sons and daughters63.

Differences/Disagreement between Qur’an and the Bible:

There are Islamic foundational principles that clear the ground for the better

understanding of the religion. These foundations should be maintained to order to practice the

religion as revealed by Allah. Thus, anything that contradicts or goes contrary to them would be

dropped. Most of the time, it is from these foundational principles that the born of contention

between Islam and Christians arises. In Islam Muslims believed that Almighty Allah never and

will never rest nor sleeps and that He has power over everything. But on the contrary, the

Christians have dogmatic belief, which in essence is blatant falsehood against Almighty Allah.

Almighty Allah guides the Muslims in the following Qur'anic verse:

60
Deuteronomy 14:8
61
The practice of polygamy is allowed by Islam but limited to only four wives.
62
Qur'an 4:3
63
Chronicles 14:3
17
 We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in
Six Days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us64.

Allah. There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting,

Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep…65

But in the Bible the belief is that God sleeps as was reported in the Biblical belief:

Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Awake! And come to our help
do not give us up forever66.

Moreover, it was a Christians' belief that Almighty Allah can be seen on earth67 a belief

which has been clearly spelled out in the Bible.

And Jacob gave that place the name of Penile, saying, “I have
seen God face to face, and still I am living68

Muslims believe that He will only be seen on the Day of Requital as explained in verses

of the Qur'an:

Vision comprehends Him not, and He comprehends (all) vision;

and He is the Knower of subtleties, the Aware69.

Muslims upheld Prophets dearly, love them and believe in their good manners that are

beyond suspicion. This is not so in the Bible, because Prophets mentioned in the Bible were

accused of great sins such as adultery, incest & blasphemy. Taking this into account, the Bible

enunciates:

And the older daughter said to her sister, “Our father is old, and
there is no man to be a husband to us in the natural way. Come,

64
Qur'an 50:38
65
Qur'an 2:255
66
Psalm 44:23
67
Seeing Allah on this transient world is never possible by any one! But however Muslims believed that He will be
seen on the Day of judgement.
68
Genesis 32:30
69
Qur'an 6:103
18
 let us give our father much wine, and we will go into his bed, so
that we may have offspring by our father70.

But the Qur'an differentiates in the following words:

And (as for) Lot, We gave him wisdom and knowledge, and We
delivered him from the town which wrought abominations;
surely they were an evil people, transgressors; And We admitted
him into Our mercy; surely he was of the good71

Muslims are however required to respect their parents and family members, but on the

contrary Jesus Christ, according to the Bible did not respect his own mother and instead exhorts

his disciples to hate their fathers and mothers as in the following Biblical statements.

‘While he (Jesus) was still talking to the people, his mother and
his brothers came, desiring to have talk with him. And one said
to him, ‘See, your mother and your brothers are outside,
desiring to have talk with you.’ But he in answer said to him
who gave the news, “Who my mother is and who my brothers
are?” And he put out his hand to his disciples and said, “See, my
mother and my brothers! For whoever does the pleasure of my
Father in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother72.

But the Glorious Qur'an contradicts this belief when it clarifies that:

Jesus said: Surely I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the

Book and made me a prophet; And He has made me blessed
wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and poor
rate so long as I live; And dutiful to my mother, and He has not
made me insolent, unblessed73.

And We have enjoined on man doing of good to his parents;

with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she
bring him forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him
was thirty months…74

70
Genesis 19:31-6
71
Qur'an 21:74-5
72
Matthew 12:47-50
73
Qur'an 19:30-32
19
 The Qur’an was distinctively promised protection by Almighty Allah from any change,

even a single word or letter, and will continue to enjoy the divine protection until the end of time.

But the disciples of other Divine Books had made several distortions, alterations and

manipulations of information in what they falsely regard as their books, similar of which will

never take place in respect of the Qur’an. Indeed, the Qur’an brought down the last and final

commands of Allah (SWT) and then cancelled those of the previous Books.

Miraculously, Qur’an is the only religious scripture in the world that is compatible with

modern established scientific facts. These scientific facts were mentioned in the Qur’an more

than 1400 years, but only to be discovered by man in the recent past, probably 100 years. 75

Similarly, Qur’an stands to be distinct in the sense that it is only the revealed Book that its

original language of revelation is still alive. This status gives chance for millions of people to

still speak, write and communicate in the language same way as it was during the prophetic era.

Religiously, Qur’an is the only revealed Book whose teachings and commandments have been

preserved in action by its followers-Muslims- the status which other books lack. More

importantly, unlike other revealed Books, there existed only one single copy of the Qur’an

complete, authentically standard and collectively attested to by the whole Ummah76

Conclusion:
74
Qur'an 46:15
75
www.imanway1.com/message?p112 as at 23rd September, 2009
76
S.K. Montreal, Op.cit, p.5

20
 By way of analysis, we have seen areas of similarity and differences between the Qur’an

and the Bible. As was discussed, the Qur'an had been assured of preservation and protection till

the end of time, whereas the Bible had underwent distortions and various editions something that

makes it loss the original and divine messages contained therein. However, the Islamic Shari'ah

contained in the Glorious Qur'an superseded all that were found in the earlier revelations. This

therefore means those injunctions are no longer applicable and practicable since the Qur'an is in

our midst. Most of these distortions, found in other world religious books, relate to the Oneness

and uniqueness of Allah and other related Aqidah issues.

Endnotes

21