What is the Islamic dilemma? Muslims often say that the Bible is corrupted, but the Quran says otherwise. And that’s the Islamic dilemma.
Surah Al-Ma’idah(5) 47
Surah 5:47
So let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed in it. And those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are ˹truly˺ the rebellious.
Tafsir’s (Commentary’s)
Abbas – Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn
(Let the People of the Gospel judge) such that the people of the Gospel elucidate (by that which Allah hath revealed therein) that which Allah has elucidated in the Gospel regarding the traits and description of Muhammad (pbuh) and the legal ruling of stoning. (Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed) He says: whoever does not show that which Allah has elucidated in the Gospel; (such are evil-doers) transgressing disbelievers.
Maududi – Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi – Tafhim al-Qur’an
This means that Jesus did not bring any new religion but followed the same way that was followed by all the Prophets before him and invited the people to the same. He believed in what was intact in his time from among the original teachings of the Torah, and the Gospel also testified to the same.(Matthew, 5: 17-18). The Qur’an reiterates the fact that each and every prophet, who was sent by Allah to any part of the world, confirmed the Message of all the Prophets who had gone before him and exerted his utmost to complete the work which they had left as a holy heritage, for he did not come to refute them or efface their religion and establish his own religion instead. Likewise Allah did not send down any of His Books to refute any of His own previous Books, but to support and confirm them.
Me Speak
There are a couple of things that are important about this verse.
- “People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed in it”. Here, it makes it very clear for people of the Gospel(Christians) to judge by the Gospel. So the question is, why should Christians read the Quran?
- “Those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are ˹truly˺ the rebellious.” And the rest of the verse makes it very clear that if we don’t judge by the Gospel, then we are truly rebellious.
Surah Yunus(10) 94
And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before thee. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers.
Tafsir’s (Commentary’s)
Abbas – Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs
(And if thou) O Muhammad (art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee) concerning that with which We sent Gabriel, i.e. the Qur’an, (then question those who read the Scripture) i.e. the Torah ((that was) before you) ‘Abdullah Ibn Salam and his followers. The Prophet (pbuh) did not ask nor was he ever in doubt about the Qur’an. Rather, Allah was addressing with these words the people of the Prophet. (Verily the Truth from thy Lord) i.e. Gabriel with the Qur’an from your Lord, containing the events of past nations (hath come unto thee) O Muhammad. (So be not thou of the waverers) be not of the doubters.
Me Speak
There is one really important thing in this verse. “(Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before thee.”
This verse makes it very clear that Muhammad should go to the Jews and the Christians when he is in doubt about what Allah has revealed to him. Which I find an issue, because why would Allah tell Muhammad to ask jews and Christians about their book to confirm with what Allah told him? And this would not be an issue if the Quran and the Bible had the same theology. But they don’t have the same theology; they disagree on far more than the basics. For some small examples, the Bible says God is a father (Romans 8:15-16), but in the Quran, it makes it very clear that Allah is not a father (Surah 19:88-89, Surah 17:111). So there are some big differences between the Bible and the Quran.
Small recap: In this verse, Allah tells Muhammad to ask Jews and Christians to read their books to confirm what Allah is saying to Muhammad. But the Bible and Tora disagree with what Allah is telling Muhammad. So if Allah was all knowing, why would he tell Muhammad to go to books that disagree with Himself? And if the Bible was corrupted then, why would Allah tell Muhammad to find people to read it to him?
Ali ‘Imran(3) 3
He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.
Tafsir’s (Commentary’s)
Abbas – Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs
(He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture) He sent you Gabriel with the Scripture (with truth) in order to show truth from falsehood, (confirming) corroborating Allah’s divine Oneness (that which was (revealed) before it) of scriptures, (even as He revealed the Torah) in one go to Moses the son of Amran (and the Gospel) in one go to the Jesus the son of Mary.
The End
Now that is the Islamic dilemma. That’s all I have to say about the Islamic dilemma but here are some videos you can watch to help understand it. (Click on the links to watch the videos)
Testify: The Islamic Dilemma Just Got Stronger (Learn These 4 Verses!)
Solving God: Islamic Dilemma – EXPLAINED IN 7 Minutes
Cross Examined: The Quranic Dilemma + Frank’s Top Resources for Answering Muslims
