Muhammad and the Torah

Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 38 (Kitab al Hudud, ie. Prescribed Punishments), Number 4434 states:


Does this not mean the Torah was uncorrupted in Muhammad's days?

From this hadith we learn the following lessons:

1. That prophet Muhammad had an authentic copy of the Torah which was widely used in his times ... The Jews did not protest that Muhammad's copy was any different than their own. In fact, it probably was a copy from the Jews, since Muhammad or the Arabs could not read it themselves. This copy was God's infallible word. There was no corruption in the Scriptures, Allah's inerrant Word. (cf.Yunus 94)

2. The very fact that he called the Scripture for reference should be an example to every Muslim today. We notice that the prophet withdrew the cushion from beneath him and put the Torah on it. This is how every devout Muslim should treat Allah's holy Scriptures.

3. The very fact that the prophet said, "I believed in thee and in Him Who revealed thee" should be an exhortation to all of us to believe in all the Bible, following his example. Don't get silly on me and say, "But Timothy, we don't have the authentic original Torah". Do you know better than prophet Muhammad? He himself asserted his belief in the Holy Scriptures which were handed down from generation to generation, until his own time. And that our scriptures are faithful copies of those at Muhammad's time is easy to demonstrate with archeological and manuscript evidence.

All references in the Qur'an about the earlier scriptures are found in Dr. Campbell's book.


Islamic views about the Bible
Authenticity of the Bible
Answering Islam Home Page