Explore the intriguing question: Does the Quran confirm the Bible? Our article delves into a thorough analysis of the Quran’s teachings, contrasting them with biblical doctrine to evaluate the consistency and authenticity of its claims. Uncover the theological intersections and divergences in this compelling read.

Introduction

The Quran’s claim to be a divine revelation, confirmatory of prior Scriptures, necessitates an in-depth examination. This analysis scrutinizes the Quran’s alignment with the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the Greek New Testament, focusing on the consistency of its teachings with those found in the Bible.

The Name of God: A Fundamental Discrepancy

The Hebrew Scriptures consistently emphasize the name of God as Jehovah (יהוה, YHWH), appearing 6,823 times. This unique identification of God is central to the biblical narrative. The Greek New Testament, through ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint, demonstrates early Christians’ use of Jehovah. However, the Quran lacks any reference to Jehovah, instead introducing Allah as the supreme deity. This absence presents a fundamental inconsistency with the Bible’s portrayal of God’s identity.

The Concept of Sin and Its Consequences

Biblically, the consequence of sin is death, as stated in Genesis 3:19, Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10, and Ezekiel 18:4. The New Testament reinforces this in Romans 6:23. Contrarily, the Quran introduces a different doctrine, emphasizing hell-fire and eternal punishment (Sura 2:206; 4:56; 25:13, 14). This portrayal of post-mortem torment contrasts starkly with the Bible’s teaching of death as the penalty for sin, raising critical theological differences.

Christ Jesus: Sonship and Sacrifice

The Bible presents Jesus Christ as the Son of God, highlighting his divine Sonship and sacrificial role for humanity’s salvation. Psalms 82:6, 7, 2:7, and Isaiah 9:6 prophesy about this unique Sonship, and the New Testament confirms Jesus as fulfilling these prophecies (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 10:34; Hebrews 1:5). The Quran, however, denies God having a son (Sura 2:110; 6:101; 19:19-22, 36, 91-93; 72:3; 112:3), and negates the crucifixion and death of Jesus (Sura 4:157). This denial directly contradicts the biblical account, undermining the Quran’s claim of confirming previous Scriptures.

The Atonement and Sacrificial System

The Bible’s entire narrative from Genesis to Revelation underscores the necessity of a sacrificial system for atoning for sin, culminating in Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. This principle is deeply rooted in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus chapters 4-7, 16) and confirmed in the New Testament (Hebrews chapters 9 and 10). The Quran’s rejection of Jesus’ sacrificial death as atonement for sin diverges significantly from this foundational biblical doctrine.

Historical Discrepancies: The Case of Noah’s Son

The account of Noah in Genesis 7:13; 10:1 is clear: Noah and all his sons survived the Flood. This is confirmed by 2 Peter 2:5. However, the Quran presents a conflicting account, stating that one of Noah’s sons perished in the Flood (Sura 11:36-47). This inconsistency highlights a broader issue of differing historical narratives between the Quran and the Bible.

The Status of Angels in Relation to Man

The Bible describes humans as created a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7, 9). In contrast, the Quran elevates humans above angels (Sura 2:30-34), presenting another theological divergence from biblical teachings.

The Allegation of Biblical Corruption

To reconcile these discrepancies, some Muslim scholars argue that the Quran confirms the original Scriptures, which they claim have been corrupted over time. However, historical evidence, including numerous ancient manuscripts predating Muhammad, strongly supports the integrity and preservation of the biblical texts. Notably, the Quran itself does not explicitly claim the Bible’s corruption but criticizes Jews and Christians for misinterpreting or misapplying their Scriptures (Sura 2:38, 39, 70-73; 3:63, 64, 72; 4:50, 135; 5:16, 47, 50-52, 70, 72; 10:94). The assertion of biblical corruption, therefore, lacks both scriptural and historical support.

The initial examination reveals significant theological and historical inconsistencies between the Quran and the Bible. The Quran’s claim to corroborate prior Scriptures is challenged by its divergent teachings on God’s identity, sin and its consequences, Jesus’ sonship and sacrificial role, and other key doctrinal aspects. These discrepancies raise fundamental questions about the Quran’s role as a confirmatory text to the Bible, which will be further explored in the subsequent parts of this analysis.

Prophetic Narratives: Consistency with Biblical Accounts

The Quran references many biblical prophets yet often presents their stories differently than the Hebrew Scriptures. For example, the account of Abraham in the Quran diverges significantly from the biblical narrative. The Quranic version of the sacrifice of Abraham’s son (Sura 37:100-113) does not specify which son was involved, leading to differing interpretations within Islam. This contrasts with the clear biblical narrative in Genesis 22, where Isaac is identified as the son to be sacrificed.

Furthermore, the story of Joseph in the Quran (Sura 12) differs in details and emphasis compared to the Genesis account. While both narratives convey Joseph’s righteousness and God’s providence, the Quranic version omits key elements such as Judah’s significant role and the covenantal aspects pertinent to Israel’s history.

Doctrine of Sin and Redemption

The Bible presents a comprehensive doctrine of sin originating from Adam’s disobedience, resulting in a fallen human nature (Romans 5:12-21). It emphasizes the need for redemption through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection. The Quran, however, portrays Adam’s sin as a mere mistake, forgiven and without lasting impact on humanity (Sura 2:37). This perspective lacks the depth of the biblical understanding of sin and the necessity of redemption, a cornerstone of Christian theology.

The Trinity and the Nature of God

A crucial doctrinal difference is the concept of the Trinity. The New Testament reveals God as a Triune being—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—co-existing in unity (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The Quran, however, rejects the Trinity (Sura 4:171; 5:73), misunderstanding it as polytheism. This rejection is not merely a different interpretation but a fundamental disagreement with a core Christian doctrine.

Prophecies and Their Fulfillment

The New Testament is replete with prophecies from the Hebrew Scriptures fulfilled in Christ (e.g., Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 53; Luke 24:25-27). The Quran, however, does not engage with these prophecies, neither affirming nor providing alternative fulfillments. This omission is significant, as biblical prophecy is a key element in demonstrating the continuity and reliability of Scripture.

Ethical Teachings and Moral Law

The Bible’s ethical teachings, particularly in the New Testament, emphasize love, forgiveness, and grace (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27; Ephesians 2:8-9). The Quran’s moral guidance, while sharing some similarities in promoting justice and compassion, also includes legalistic prescriptions and penalties not found in the New Testament. This difference in approach to ethics and moral law illustrates a divergence in the understanding of God’s nature and human relationship to the divine.

Part Two of Our Examination

This second part of our examination reveals further discrepancies between the Quran and the Bible in the portrayal of prophetic narratives, the understanding of key doctrines such as sin and redemption, and the nature of God, particularly regarding the Trinity. Additionally, the differences in the treatment of prophecies and ethical teachings further question the Quran’s claim to be in harmony with and confirmatory of the Bible. The final part of this analysis will delve deeper into the theological implications of these findings and their impact on the Quran’s claim as a confirmatory text to the Bible.

Theological Continuity and Covenantal Promises

The Bible presents a narrative of theological continuity through its covenantal promises. Key covenants, such as those with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), Moses (Exodus 19:5-6), and David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), are central to biblical theology. The New Testament affirms and fulfills these covenants in Christ (Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16; Hebrews 8:6-13). The Quran, however, does not uphold these covenantal themes, nor does it provide an alternative fulfillment, leading to a theological disconnection from the biblical narrative.

Eschatology and the Afterlife

Biblical eschatology, particularly in the New Testament, outlines a clear vision of the end times, the return of Christ, judgment, resurrection, and the establishment of a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The Quran’s eschatological teachings differ markedly, focusing on a distinct concept of judgment and the afterlife (Sura 56; 82). These differences underscore divergent understandings of God’s ultimate plan for humanity.

The Role of Jesus Christ

Central to Christian theology is the person and work of Jesus Christ—His divine nature, atoning death, resurrection, and role as the mediator between God and humanity (John 1:1-14; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The Quran acknowledges Jesus as a prophet and a righteous servant of Allah but denies His divinity and crucifixion (Sura 4:157; 5:75). This fundamental difference cannot be reconciled with the Bible’s presentation of Christ as the Savior and Son of God.

Divine Revelation and the Role of Scripture

The Bible claims to be the inspired Word of God, authoritative and sufficient for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). It presents a God who reveals Himself progressively and consistently through the Scriptures. The Quran’s claim to be a confirmatory revelation from the same God raises questions due to its inconsistencies with biblical teachings. These differences challenge the Quran’s role as a continuation or confirmation of the biblical revelation.

Preservation and Integrity of the Scriptures

The Quran’s contention that the Bible was corrupted is not supported by historical or archaeological evidence. Extensive manuscript discoveries, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, affirm the Bible’s textual integrity. The Quran’s claims of confirmation and correction of the biblical narrative are thus weakened by the well-established preservation of the biblical texts.

Final Assessment

In light of the analysis across theological doctrines, prophetic narratives, ethical teachings, and the nature of divine revelation, the Quran’s claim to be confirmatory of previous Scriptures faces significant challenges. The disparities in the portrayal of God’s nature, the role of Jesus Christ, the understanding of sin and redemption, and the eschatological outlook present fundamental theological divergences.

The Quran emerges as a distinct religious text with its own theological framework rather than a continuation or confirmation of the biblical narrative. This conclusion is critical for understanding the relationship between Islam and Christianity, as well as for interfaith dialogue. It underscores the importance of discerning and respecting the unique theological perspectives and historical contexts of these two major world religions.

In summary, while the Quran holds a place of profound significance in Islamic faith, its claim of being a confirmatory revelation to the Bible is not supported when examined through a close comparative analysis of their respective teachings and narratives. This assessment provides a basis for further exploration and dialogue on the distinctiveness of these two foundational religious texts.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).