Qur’an and Previous Revelations
In this article, the author intends to explore all the references of the Qur’an related to previous Divine Revelations (ie. Torah, Gospel) and try to find an unified understanding.
It seeks to answer few critical questions:
- What are the Previous Revelations specified in the Qur’an?
- Are previous Revelations still available in their original form?
- Is believing in previous scripture also means those scriptures still exist?
- Does God appreciate diverse law? or is it monolithic?
- Is Torah, Gospel partially forgotten or lost?
Few Questions to find answer from Qur’an only
Having faith in all previous revelations as revelations from God is a requirement of faith.
People of faith are told to testify the following:
Say: We believe in God and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. 2:136
So a believer of God, believes in all revelations, universally.
What are the previous Revelations mentioned in the Qur’an?
Quran mentions about words revealed to Adam (2:37), the scrolls of Abraham (87:19), the revelation to Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and tribes (2:136), the scrolls of Moses (87:19), Zabur / Psalms (21:105), the Gospel of Jesus (5:46,47).
It is worth to note that Qur’an reminds that God only mentions few Prophets, not all (40:78). So it’s possible that many other revelations were revealed before hand that remains unknown.
Is believing in previous scripture also means those scriptures still exist?
No. These are two different things. We are told to believe in all revelations as revealed by God. But that doesn’t mean they still survive or exist. For example the Words revealed to Adam are not known to us, but we believe in the fact that God revealed Words of Inspirations to Adam. Scrolls of Abraham probably are also lost or partially surviving within Jewish body of works.
Is Qur’an an update over previous Law / Kitab / Books?
Yes.
O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking / pardoning much. There has come to you from God a light and a clear Book. 5:15
And We have revealed to you, the Book in truth, confirming that which was in hand (available) of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what God has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a way of life. Had God willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To God is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ. 5:48
Does God appreciate diverse law? or is it monolithic?
Diverse.
To each of you We prescribed a law and a way of life. 5:48
Successive generations who received different revelations will be tested by what they are given.
To each of you We prescribed a law and a way of life. Had God willed, He would have made you one nation, but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. 5:48
Different communities were given Laws, and all are from God. These laws didn’t necessarily had to be same. In fact they were different. Confirmed by 5:48.
Does God duplicate signs? Does God send same or similar command over time? Does God allow past revelations to be forgotten?
Yes.
We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar / equivalent (misliha) to it. Do you not know that God is over all things competent? 2:106
Have people altered the words of God consciously?
Yes.
Do you still fancy that they will believe you, although a group of them used to hear the word (kalam)of God, and then, having understood it, used to distort it knowingly? 2:75
Are all people of the book wicked or misguided? Can we blame them all?
No.
They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of God during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer] 3:114
The believers in the Qur’an are commanded to reflect on Qur’an, not previous Scriptures. See 38:39, 42:15, 4:82.
The Messenger of commanded to convey this final revelation. See 5:67, to warn mankind only with Qur’an. And this conveyance of message is called the greatest of struggle.
Had We willed, We could have easily sent a warner to every society. So do not obey the rejector of truth, and strive against them with the Qur’an, that is the greatest struggle (jihadan kabira). 25:51–52
The Messenger is commanded to follow only what is revealed to him.
Follow, what has been revealed to you from your Lord. 6:106
And to judge with the Qur’an.
And judge between them by what God has revealed, and do not follow their desires. And beware, so they do not lure you away from some of what God has revealed to you. 5:49
Note that the Last Prophet is particularly told to warn and remind using the Qur’an. Not Gospel or Torah. Read 50:45.
Are we told explicitly to follow the Quran?
Yes.
And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy. 6:155
Is Torah forgotten?
Yes, at least partially.
They (The Children of Israel) distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. 5:12–13
Is Gospel forgotten?
Yes, at least partially.
And from those who say, “We are Christians” We took their covenant; but they forgot a portion of that of which they were reminded. 5:14
During the lifetime of Jesus, not all of Torah was surviving. Hints, Jesus is saying “what is between hands” ie. indicating that which has survived or reached to him at that point in time.
And when ‘Iesa, son of Maryam, said: “O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of God unto you confirming that which is in my hand from Torah..61:6
The term, bayna yadayya meaning ‘between my hands’ or ‘before my hand’ is critical to pay attention to. It can also be translated as that which “is available at hand.” When Jesus is quoted as saying, confirming from Torah what is available to me, it is also like a ‘disclaimer’.
This term bayna yadayya is a term we find in the Bani Israeli tradition as well. In Hebrew it’s: v’yadeinu ^and we can find it among the 13 principles of the Jewish faith attributed to Maimonides.
Also note the repeated use of the term whenever Torah is mentioned:
And We made to supervene on their tracks (Children of Israel) Iesa son of Maryam, sincerely verifying whatever of the Torah was before him, (Literally: between: between his hands) and We brought him the Injil, wherein there is a guidance and a light, and sincerely verifying whatever of the Torah was before him, (Literally: between: between his hands) and a guidance and an admonition to the pious. 5:46
And this Qur’an is such that it could not be composed by any unless it be revealed from God. In fact, it is a confirmation of what came before, and an explanation of the Scripture. It is, without a doubt, from the Lord of all worlds. 10:37
Jesus is quoted in another place:
And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey me. 3:50
The disclaimer of what was before Jesus of the Torah is a point of note. Jesus doesn’t say I am to confirm the Torah. And given the economic use of Qur’an, “confirming what was before me of Torah” is more likely to be a qualification than not. It is more of an indicator that what was revealed to Moses is not what was left before Jesus or Muhammad. And God knows the best.
The Qur’an is the continuation of the same stream of Divine revelation as a promise of God to our father Adam when he was placed on earth (2:38). God’s creation is diverse and different Prophet and Message bearers had to face different communities with different challenges across time and space.
In the Qur’an we see that God encourages that different community uphold the Law sent to them. God’s promise believe in God and Last Day and race to good.
Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. 2:62
For, every community faces a direction of its own, of which He is the focal point. Vie, therefore, with one another in doing good works. Wherever you may be, God will gather you all unto Himself: for, verily, God has the power to will anything. 2:148
