• Many Muslim brothers claim that the Bible (Torah and Gospel) is corrupted.
• This is not a debate but a respectful discussion based on:

The Qur'an

Historical facts

Textual evidence

Logical reasoning

When Did the Alleged Corruption Occur?

 Before Islam?

• If the Bible was corrupted before Islam, why does the Qur'an describe it positively?
• Surah Al-Baqarah (2:87): "We gave Moses the Scripture and followed him up with a succession of messengers. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit."
• Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:46): "We sent Jesus, son of Mary, confirming the Torah that had come before him. We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Torah."
• Logical question: How could the Qur'an call a corrupted book "guidance and light"?

 After Islam?

• If corruption occurred after Islam, where is the original Bible from Muhammad’s time?
• Why was it not preserved by Muslims?
• The Bible existed in Greek, Latin, Syriac, and Coptic with thousands of copies globally.
• Coordinated corruption would have been impossible.
• Ancient manuscripts like the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus (4th century) match today's Bible. These predate Islam.

[i]Is There Any Evidence of Corruption?

• Anyone making such a claim must answer:

Where is the original text?

Who changed it?

When and how?

• No historical evidence exists of any conspiracy or global corruption.

Textual Evidence:

• Over 5,800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament exist, plus thousands in other languages.
• The science of textual criticism confirms the accuracy of the Bible.
• [ii]Bart Ehrman (an agnostic critical scholar) admits no major doctrines were changed.
• [iii]Bruce Metzger stated the abundance of manuscripts makes verifying accuracy straightforward.
• Jewish scribes used strict counting methods when copying the Old Testament.
• The early church distributed manuscripts across cities like Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome making coordinated alteration implausible.

The Qur'an Commands the People of the Book to Follow Their Books

• Surah Yunus (10:94): "If you are in doubt about what We have revealed to you, ask those who read the Scripture before you."
• Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:68): "O People of the Book, you have no ground to stand upon unless you uphold the Torah and the Gospel."
• These verses show the Qur'an considered the Torah and Gospel reliable in Muhammad’s time.

 Do We Have the Original Bible?

• We do not have the original manuscripts of the Bible or of the Qur'an.
• According to Islamic tradition, the Qur'an was compiled after Muhammad's death by Abu Bakr and Uthman. Uthman even ordered variant copies to be burned.
• If Muslims trust this process, why deny the Bible's transmission, especially when more manuscript evidence exists?
• Psalm 12:6–7 (NIV): "The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked."

Ancient Manuscripts Confirm Today’s Bible

• Dead Sea Scrolls (2nd century BC), Contain large parts of the Old Testament.
• Isaiah scroll is 95% identical to today’s Hebrew Bible.
• Codex Vaticanus (4th century AD), Matches modern Old and New Testament texts.
• Codex Sinaiticus (4th century AD), Complete New Testament, consistent with current versions.
• Irenaeus (2nd century AD): "The sacred writings are perfect, having been spoken by the Word and the Spirit of God." (Against Heresies 2.28.2)

 [iv]The Qur'an Testifies That God Preserves His Books

• Surah Al-Hijr (15:9): "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder, and indeed, we will be its guardian."
• Some commentators like Al-Tabari include the Torah and Gospel as part of the Reminder.
• Isaiah 40:8 (NIV): "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."
• If God preserves His Word, it makes no sense to claim He allowed earlier Books to be lost or corrupted without trace.

Responding to Specific Objections

 Distortion of Meaning vs. Text

• Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:13):"they distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that which they were reminded."
• This may refer to misinterpretation or selective quoting not changing the actual text.
• Christians also warn against false teachers, but this does not mean the Bible was changed.

Writing Scripture by Hand

• Surah Al-Baqarah (2:79): "Woe to those who write the Scripture with their own hands and then say, 'This is from God,' to sell it for a small price."
• This refers to individuals forging texts, not a wholesale corruption of the Torah or Gospel.
• No historical evidence shows that the biblical canon was ever rewritten this way.

Archaeology Confirms the Bible’s Accuracy

• [v]The Cyrus Cylinder confirms the decree in Ezra 1:1–4: "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms... and he has appointed me to build a temple."
• City of Jericho: Excavations confirm the city walls fell just as described in Joshua 6:20.
• These findings and the other finds in previous chapter confirm that the Bible is historically accurate, not legendary.

Conclusion: What Does the Evidence Show?

• The Quran calls the Torah and Gospel “guidance and light” (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:46).
• It instructs the People of the Book to follow their own Scriptures (Surah 5:68) and tells Muhammad to ask them if in doubt (Surah 10:94).
• There is: No lost “original” Bible. No historical proof of universal corruption.
• Thousands of manuscripts confirming today's text.
• Isaiah 40:8 (NIV): "The word of our God endures forever."
• Psalm 119:89 (NIV): "Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens."
• If God is wise and powerful, would He allow His Word to vanish without preserving it?
• If the Bible were truly corrupted, why does the Qur'an never say so explicitly, but instead affirms its authority?

[i] Where to Start with Islam: A New Approach to Engaging with Muslim Friends by Samuel Green

[ii] The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration by Bruce M. Metzger and Bart D. Ehrman

[iii] IBID

[iv] Understanding Islam and Christianity: Beliefs That Separate Us and How to Talk About Them by Josh McDowell and Jim Walker

[v] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Cyrus