Introduction
Shaykh Muḥammad Owais Nadwī Nagrāmī (d. 1976) belonged to a distinguished family of learning and scholarship from the fertile and intellectually vibrant township of Nagrām, in the district of Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). Within this family, the traditions of preaching, daʿwah, authorship, and scholarly composition had remained firmly established for at least four generations.
His great-grandfather, Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAlī Nagrāmī رحمة الله, was a highly accomplished scholar of his era. He was an active participant in the reformist and jihād movement launched by Sayyid Aḥmad Shahīd رحمة الله. In addition to several treatises written in refutation of prevailing innovations (bidʿāt), he left behind a significant work titled Aḥkām al-Qurʾān, which remains a scholarly legacy.
According to Shaykh Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī Nadwī رحمة الله, “Sayyid Sulaymān Nadwī رحمة الله greatly valued the talented graduates and capable young scholars of Dār al-ʿUlūm. He wished that their scholarly and literary abilities should flourish, so that they might emerge as teachers, authors, and researchers, eventually taking the place of the elders. His discerning gaze fell upon Shaykh Muḥammad Owais, whom he summoned to Dār al-Muṣannifīn and personally took under his training.”
In June 1946, Sayyid Sulaymān Nadwī departed for Bhopal to serve as Qāḍī al-Quḍāt, and Shaykh Muḥammad Owais Nadwī was appointed Shaykh al-Tafsīr at Nadwat al-ʿUlamāʾ. For approximately 28 to 30 years, alongside his teaching responsibilities, he committed to writing the intellectual fruits of his reflections on the Qurʾānic sciences.
Shaykh Owais رحمة الله authored works spanning Arabic, Urdu, and Farsi. In addition, his marginal notes and his numerous articles published in the monthly journal Maʿārif (Azamgarh) stand as clear testimony to his analytical precision and intellectual depth. Following his passing, the condolence issue of Maʿārif wrote, “There is a pressing need for a compiled collection of Mawlānā’s articles to be published. A valuable exegetical treasure, consisting of references and marginalia attributed to Sayyid Sulaymān Nadwī, remains preserved with him, and its publication would constitute a significant addition to the sciences of the Qurʾān.”
However, like many other unrealised aspirations, this project too never reached completion. Today, we present one of Shaykh Muḥammad Owais Nadwī Nagrāmī’s رحمة الله writings extracted from the bound volumes of Maʿārif. If Allah grants the ability, perhaps some further writings relating to Muslim–Christian relations may also be translated and published in the future.
The following is a translation of Shaykh Owais Nadwī Nagrāmī's رحمة الله article on the Bible in light of the Qur'an and Sunnah that was originally published in December 1940. Maʿārif is a century-old Urdu monthly scholarly journal published from Azamgarh by Dar al-Musannefīn (Shibli Academy), founded in 1916 to advance rigorous Islamic scholarship, history, and literary thought. It remains one of the most authoritative periodicals in the intellectual tradition of South Asian Islam.
The present article is a short comparative study of the Qur’an, Prophetic Hadith, and the Bible. In this article, the author clarifies the fundamental claims of the Qur’an concerning earlier divine scriptures. The Qur’an establishes three foundational principles for the believers:
- Belief in the previous heavenly scriptures is obligatory for Muslims.
- These scriptures have undergone distortion and alteration and no longer remain in their original, revealed form.
- Whatever truths and sound teachings existed in those scriptures have been preserved in the Qur’an, and the Qur’an stands as a witness and guardian over them all.
The Qur’anic Position on Earlier Divine Scriptures
The first principle stated by the Qur’an regarding earlier heavenly scriptures is that they were revealed by Allah, and that faith in them is mandatory for Muslims. Allah the Exalted says:
قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ
“Say, (O believers), ‘We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Ibrāhīm, Ismāʿīl, Isḥāq, Yaʿqūb, and his descendants, and what was given to Mūsā and ʿĪsā, and what was given to all prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them. And to Him we submit.’” [Surah al-Baqarah, 2:136]
Secondly, the Qur’an then declares that these earlier scriptures did not remain intact in their original form, but were subjected to distortion and alteration. Allah says:
يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ
“They distort the words from their proper places.” [Surah al-Mā’idah, 5:13]
And in another place, Allah states:
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ
“So woe to those who write the Scripture with their own hands and then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ in order to exchange it for a fleeting gain.” [Surah al-Baqarah, 2:79]
Thirdly, the Qur’an does not merely announce the occurrence of distortion; rather, it also explicitly refutes and corrects distorted narratives at multiple places. For example, the Bible states regarding Prophet Sulaymān عليه السلام that his wives turned his heart toward other deities.
“And his wives turned away his heart; for when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart after other gods.” [1 Kings, 11]
The Qur’an categorically refutes this accusation and declares:
وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ
“And Sulaymān did not disbelieve.” [Surah al-Baqarah, 2:102]
Similarly, in the Gospel of Mark, a statement is found regarding Prophet ʿĪsā عليه السلام that suggests indifference toward his mother:
“They said to him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.’ He replied, ‘Who is my mother and my brothers?’” [Gospel of Mark, 3]
The Qur’an fully corrects this portrayal through the very words of Prophet ʿĪsā عليه السلام:
وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي
“And (Allah has made me) kind to my mother.” [Surah Maryam, 19:32]
Fourthly, the Qur’an further declares that whatever truths and sound teachings existed in earlier scriptures have been preserved within it, and that the Qur’an stands as a witness and protector over them:
وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ
“We have revealed to you (O Prophet) this Book with the truth, as a confirmation of previous Scriptures and a guardian over them.” [Surah al-Mā’idah, 5:48]
The same reality is stated elsewhere in the Qur’an:
وَإِنَّهُ لَفِي زُبُرِ الْأَوَّلِينَ
“And indeed, it is mentioned in the Scriptures of earlier peoples.” [Surah ash-Shuʿarā’, 26:196]
Numerous places across the Qur’an explicitly identify core teachings that were already present in earlier scriptures.
أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّىٰ أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ
“Or has he not been informed of what is in the Scriptures of Mūsā, and of Ibrāhīm, who fulfilled (his duty)? That no soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another.” [Surah an-Najm, 53:36–38]
And Allah further states:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ - وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّىٰ - بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا - وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ - إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَفِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَىٰ - صُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ
“Successful indeed are those who purify themselves, remember the Name of their Lord, and pray. But you (deniers) prefer the life of this world, even though the Hereafter is far better and more lasting. Indeed, this is (all) mentioned in earlier Scriptures—the Scriptures of Ibrāhīm and Mūsā.” [Surah al-Aʿlā, 87:14–19]
Likewise, the Qur’an refers to a promise already recorded in the Zabūr:
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ
“And We have already written in the Zabūr, after the Reminder, that the land will be inherited by My righteous servants.” [Surah al-Anbiyā’, 21:105]
ʿAllāmah Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭī (رحمه الله) has cited numerous reports in al-Itqān (al-nawʿ al-khāmis ʿashar) which demonstrate that many of the themes found in the Qur’an were also present in the earlier revealed scriptures. For example:
It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه) that when Sūrat Sabbih Isma Rabbika al-Aʿlā was revealed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “This entire sūrah is contained in the Scriptures of Ibrāhīm and Mūsā.” [al-Ḥākim]
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنهما) states that among the attributes of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned in the Qur’an in the verse Innā arsalnāka shāhidan wa mubashshiran wa nadhīrā, some of those attributes are also found in the Torah. [al-Bukhārī]
It is also reported from Kaʿb (رحمه الله) that the Torah used to begin with the following verse:
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ وَٱلنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
“(All) praise is (due) to Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made the darkness and the light. Then those who disbelieve equate (others) with their Lord.” [Surah al-Anʿām, 6:1]
ʿAllāmah al-Rāghib al-Iṣfahānī (رحمه الله), while explaining the etymology of the name Qur’an in al-Mufradāt, writes:
إِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ قُرْآنًا لِكَوْنِهِ جَامِعَ ثَمَرَاتِ الْكُتُبِ السَّابِقَةِ
“It was named ‘Qur’an’ only because it is a compendium that gathers together the fruits of the previous scriptures.”
From all of these authoritative statements and evidences, it becomes fully clear that the Qur’an preserves the authentic and original teachings of the earlier heavenly scriptures. It stands as their trustee (amīn), witness (shāhid), and guardian (ḥāfiẓ), safeguarding divine truth from distortion and loss.
Ovinf forward, by aligning certain verses of the Bible with corresponding Qur’anic passages, we seek to demonstrate that despite textual alteration and distortion, the present-day Bible itself still fully corroborates the Qur’an’s third claim.
Doctrinal Beliefs (ʿAqāʾid)
1. Tawḥīd (Absolute Oneness of Allah)
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا آخَرَ
“And do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity.” [Surah al-Dhāriyāt, 51:51]
The Bible states: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” [Exodus 20]
2. Avoidance of Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah)
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا
“But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them.” [Surah Luqmān, 31:15]
The Bible states: “If your brother, or your son, or your wife, or your close friend entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ … you shall not consent to him or listen to him.” [Deuteronomy 13]
3. Prohibition of Idolatry
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ
“And stone altars and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it.” [Surah al-Māʾidah, 5:90]
The Bible states: “You shall not make idols for yourselves, nor carve an image or a sacred pillar, nor set up a sculptured stone in your land to bow down to it.” [Leviticus 26]
4. Existence of Angels
Allah says in the Qur’an:
جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ
“(Allah is) the One who makes the angels messengers having wings—two, three, or four.” [Surah Fāṭir, 35:1]
The Bible states: “Seraphim stood above Him; each one had six wings.” [Isaiah 6]
5. Prophethood and Revelation
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْأَقَاوِيلِ - لَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِينِ - ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِينَ
“And if he had made up about Us some (false) sayings, We would have seized him by the right hand; Then We would have cut from him the aorta.” [Surah al-Ḥāqqah, 69:44–46]
The Bible states: “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name that I have not commanded him to speak… that prophet shall die.” [Deuteronomy 18]
6. The Raising of ʿĪsā عليه السلام
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ
“And I will raise you to Myself.” [Surah Āl ʿImrān, 3:55]
The Bible states: “He was lifted up while they were looking on.” [Acts 1]
7. The Blessings of Paradise
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ reported that Allah the Exalted said, “I have prepared for My righteous servants that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever imagined.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
The Bible states: “God has prepared for those who love Him what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what has never entered the human heart.” [First Epistle to the Corinthians]
Ethics (Akhlaq)
1. Rights of Parents
Allah says in the Qur’an:
فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ
“So do not say to them [so much as], ‘uff.’” [Surah al-Isrāʾ, 17:23]
The Bible states: “Each of you shall respect his mother and his father.” [Leviticus 19]
2. Rights of Orphans and the Weak
Allah says in the Qur’an:
فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ
“So as for the orphan, do not oppress (him).” [Surah al-Ḍuḥā, 93:9]
The Bible states: “You shall not mistreat any widow or orphan.” [Exodus 22]
3. Chastity and Moral Integrity
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَلَا تُكْرِهُوا فَتَيَاتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَاءِ
“And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution.” [Surah al-Nūr, 24:33]
The Bible states: “Do not prostitute your daughter, to make her a harlot.” [Leviticus 19]
4. Individual Moral Responsibility
Allah says in the Qur’an:
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ
“That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.” [Surah al-Najm, 53:38]
The Bible states: “Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.” [Genesis 18]
5. Justice and Fair Dealing
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ
“And establish weight in justice.” [Surah al-Raḥmān, 55:9]
The Bible states: “You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small.” [Deuteronomy 25]
6. The Creation of Humanity
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allah created Ādam in His image.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
The Bible states, “God created mankind in His own image.” [Genesis 9]
Clarification: This means that Allah bestowed upon humanity the capacity to reflect certain perfect attributes, such as knowledge, will, and moral responsibility, without any likeness or resemblance to His Divine Essence.
7. Serving Humanity as Serving Allah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah the Exalted will say on the Day of Resurrection, “O son of Ādam, I fell ill, but you did not visit Me.” The servant will reply, “O my Lord, how could I visit You, when You are the Lord of all the worlds?” Allah will say, “Did you not know that My servant so-and-so fell ill, and you did not visit him? Had you visited him, you would have found Me with him.” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]
The Bible states: Then He will say to those on the left: “Depart from Me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you did not give Me food; I was thirsty, and you did not give Me drink; I was a stranger, and you did not take Me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe Me; I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me.”
They will then answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?”
Then He will reply to them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” [Gospel of Matthew, 25:41–45]
Fiqh (Legal Rulings)
This section compares legal rulings (aḥkām fiqhiyyah) found in the Qur’ān and Sunnah with their counterparts in the Biblical tradition, demonstrating that, despite later distortions, core legal principles remain recognisable.
1. Prohibition of Blood and Pork
Allah says in the Qur’an:
أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ
“Or blood poured out, or the flesh of swine—for indeed, it is impure.” [Surah al-Anʿām, 6:145]
The Bible states: “But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life.” [Deuteronomy 12:23]
2. Prohibition of Animals Slaughtered for Other Than Allah
Allah says in the Qur’an:
أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ
“Or (that which is) sinful—slaughtered in the name of other than Allah.” [Surah al-Anʿām, 6:145]
The Bible states: “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world.” [First Epistle to the Corinthians]
3. Prohibition of Strangled Animals
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَالْمُنْخَنِقَةُ
“And (prohibited to you are) animals strangled…” [Surah al-Mā’idah, 5:3]
The Bible states: “You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.” [Acts of the Apostles 15:29]
4. Prohibition of Usury (Ribā)
Allah says in the Qur’an:
لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا
“Do not consume interest.” [Surah Āl ʿImrān, 3:130]
The Bible states: “If you lend money to any of My people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not charge him interest.” [Exodus 22:25]
5. Marriage Restrictions Related to Fornication
Allah says in the Qur’an:
الزَّانِي لَا يَنكِحُ إِلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً وَالزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنكِحُهَا إِلَّا زَانٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ
“The fornicator does not marry except a fornicatress or an idolatress, and the fornicatress—none marries her except a fornicator or an idolater.” [Surah al-Nūr, 24:3]
The Bible states: “Do not marry a woman who is a prostitute or defiled.” [Leviticus 21:7]
6. Punishment for Unmarried Fornication
Allah says in the Qur’an:
الزَّانِيَةُ وَالزَّانِي فَاجْلِدُوا كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا مِائَةَ جَلْدَةٍ
“The woman and the man guilty of fornication—flog each of them with a hundred lashes.” [Surah al-Nūr, 24:2]
The Bible states: “If a man lies with a woman who is a slave betrothed to another man but has not been redeemed or given her freedom, they shall be punished.” [Leviticus 19:20]
7. Law of Retaliation (Qiṣāṣ)
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالْأَنْفَ بِالْأَنْفِ وَالْأُذُنَ بِالْأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ
“And We ordained for them therein: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution.” [Surah al-Mā’idah, 5:45]
The Bible states: “Anyone who kills a human being shall be put to death. Whoever kills an animal shall make restitution for it, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbour, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” [Leviticus 24:17–20]
8. Prohibition of Partial Head Shaving (Qazaʿ)
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه narrated, “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbidding al-Qazaʿ.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
(Qazaʿ refers to shaving parts of the head while leaving other parts.)
The Bible states: “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head.” [Leviticus 19:27]
9. Prohibition of Artificial Hair, Tattooing, and Gender Imitation
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah has cursed the woman who adds hair and the one who has it added, the one who tattoos and the one who is tattooed.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah has cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
The Bible states: “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.” [Leviticus 19:28]
“A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.” [Deuteronomy 22:5]
10. Apostasy and Rebellion Against Divine Authority
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever changes his religion, kill him.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
The Bible states: “Whoever blasphemes the Name of the Lord shall surely be put to death.” [Leviticus 24:16]
11. Obligation of Tithes / Zakāh on Produce
The Prophet ﷺ said, “On land irrigated by rainwater, natural springs, or flowing channels, one-tenth (ʿushr) is due; and on land irrigated by artificial means (such as wells or waterwheels), half of one-tenth (i.e., one-twentieth) is due.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
The Bible states: “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.” [Deuteronomy 14:22]
12. Postnatal Bleeding (Nifās)
Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها, the Mother of the Believers, said, “During the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, women would refrain from prayer for forty nights due to post-natal bleeding, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not command them to make up the prayers they missed during that period.” [Sunan Abū Dāwūd]
The Bible states: “If a woman gives birth to a son, she shall be ceremonially unclean for seven days… on the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then she must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding.” [Leviticus 12]
13. Punishment for Adultery After Marriage
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Take from me, take from me. Allah has ordained a way for them. For an unmarried man committing adultery with an unmarried woman: one hundred lashes and exile for one year. And for a married man committing adultery with a married woman: one hundred lashes and stoning.” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]
The Bible states: “If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die.” [Deuteronomy 22:22]
14. Prohibition of Soothsaying, Divination, and Occult Practices
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and believes him, his prayers will not be accepted for forty nights.” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]
The Bible states: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, casts spells, or is a medium or spiritist.” [Deuteronomy 18:10–11]
History
1. Divine Curse upon the Disbelievers among Banī Isrāʾīl
Allah says in the Qur’an:
لَعَنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ
“Those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of Dāwūd and ʿĪsā, the son of Maryam. That was because they disobeyed and were transgressing.” [Sūrat al-Māʾidah, 5:78]
The Bible states: “Hear, O My people, and I will testify against you, O Israel, if you would listen to Me! There shall be no strange god among you, and you shall not bow down to a foreign god. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. But My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel would not submit to Me. So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their hearts, to walk in their own counsels.” [Psalms, 81]
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” [Matthew, 23]
2. Killing of Prophets and the Righteous
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّۢ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
“And they kill the prophets without right and kill those who order justice among the people—give them tidings of a painful punishment.” [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān, 3:21]
The Bible states: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus, you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers! How are you to escape being sentenced to Hell?” [Matthew, 23]
3. The Covenant with Banī Isrāʾīl
Allah says in the Qur’an:
يَٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ
“O Children of Israel, remember My favour which I have bestowed upon you and fulfil My covenant that I may fulfil your covenant, and fear only Me.” [Sūrat al-Baqarah, 2:40]
Reaffirmation of the Covenant
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ إِنِّى مَعَكُمْ ۖ لَئِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَيْتُمُ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَءَامَنتُم بِرُسُلِى وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ
“And Allah said, ‘Indeed, I am with you. If you establish prayer and give zakāh and believe in My messengers and support them and loan Allah a goodly loan, I will surely remove from you your misdeeds and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow.’” [Sūrat al-Māʾidah, 5:12]
The Bible states: “If you walk in My statutes and observe My commandments and do them, then I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will establish My covenant with you.” [Leviticus, 26]
4. Justice, Covenant, and Divine Dealing
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ
“And establish the measure with justice.” [Surah al-Raḥmān, 55:9]
The Bible states: “You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small.” [Deuteronomy, 25]
The Bible states: “If you walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments and perform them, then I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will establish My covenant with you.” [Leviticus, 26]
5. Fear, Defiance, and Refusal to Enter the Sacred Land
Allah says in the Qur’an:
قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا
“They said, ‘O Moses, indeed within it is a tyrannical people, and indeed we will never enter it until they leave it. But if they leave it, then we will enter.’” [Surah al-Mā’idah, 5:22]
The Bible states: “And they reported that the land they had explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people they saw there were of great stature. We saw the giants there—the descendants of Anak, who come from the Nephilim—and we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we were in their eyes.” [Numbers, 13]
And they said: “Where can we go up? Our brothers have discouraged our hearts, saying: ‘The people are greater and taller than we are.’” [Deuteronomy, 1]
6. Divine Punishment: Forty Years of Wandering
Allah says in the Qur’an:
قَالَ فَإِنَّهَا مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً يَتِيهُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ
“[Allah] said, ‘Then indeed it is forbidden to them for forty years, during which they will wander aimlessly through the land.’” [Surah al-Mā’idah, 5:26]
The Bible states: “Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land which I swore to give to your fathers.” [Deuteronomy 1]
“And your children shall wander in the wilderness for forty years.” [Numbers, 14]
7. Divine Mercy During the Wilderness
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَمَامَ
“And We shaded you with clouds.” [Surah al-Baqarah, 2:57]
The Bible states: “Your cloud stood over them.” [Numbers, 14]
8. Repentance and Severe Atonement
Allah says in the Qur’an:
فَتُوبُوا إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ
“So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves (the guilty among you).” [Surah al-Baqarah, 2:54]
The Bible states: “Let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.” [Exodus, 32]
9. Water from the Rock
Allah says in the Qur’an:
فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ فَانفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ
“So We said, ‘Strike the stone with your staff,’ and there gushed forth from it twelve springs. Each person knew their drinking place.” [Surah al-Baqarah, 2:60]
The Bible states: “Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, and abundant water came forth, and the congregation drank, and their livestock as well.” [Numbers, 20]
10. The Description of the Cow
Allah says in the Qur’an:
إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا
“Indeed, it is a cow neither trained to plough the land nor to water the fields; sound, without blemish or spot.” [Surah al-Baqarah, 2:71]
The Bible states: “A red heifer, without blemish, in which there is no defect and upon which a yoke has never come.” [Numbers, 19]
11. The Appointed Forty Nights
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً
“And We appointed for Moses thirty nights and completed them with ten, so the appointed time of his Lord was forty nights.” [Surah al-A‘rāf, 7:142]
The Bible states: “And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights.” [Exodus, 34]
12. Casting Down the Tablets
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَأَلْقَى الْأَلْوَاحَ
“And he cast down the tablets.” [Surah al-A‘rāf, 7:150]
The Bible states: “And Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands.” [Exodus, 32]
13. The Sacred Valley of Ṭuwā
Allah says in the Qur’an:
نُودِيَ يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنِّي أَنَا رَبُّكَ فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ إِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى
“He was called, ‘O Moses, indeed I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Ṭuwā.’” [Surah Ṭā Hā, 20:11–12]
The Bible states: “And God called to him from within the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Do not come near. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’” [Exodus, 3]
14. Lawful and Unlawful Foods
Allah says in the Qur’an:
كُلُّ الطَّعَامِ كَانَ حِلًّا لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِلَّا مَا حَرَّمَ إِسْرَائِيلُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تُنَزَّلَ التَّوْرَاةُ
“All food was lawful to the Children of Israel except what Israel made unlawful for himself before the Torah was revealed.” [Surah Āl ‘Imrān, 3:93]
The Bible states: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.” [Leviticus. 11]
This is followed by detailed dietary laws, indicating that prior to the revelation of the Torah, such animals were lawful.
Allah further says:
وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ هَادُوا حَرَّمْنَا كُلَّ ذِي ظُفُرٍ
“And to those who were Jews We made unlawful every animal with claws.” [Surah al-An‘ām, 6:146]
The Bible states: “Nevertheless, these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves.” [Leviticus, 11]
15. Hospitality of Abraham
Allah says in the Qur’an:
فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ
“Then he brought a roasted calf.” [Surah Hūd, 11:69]
The Bible states: “So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.’” [Genesis, 18]
16. The Parable of Growth and Strength
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْـَٔهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ
“And their example in the Gospel is like a seed that sends forth its shoot, then strengthens it, then grows thick and stands firm upon its stalk, delighting the farmers.” [Surah al-Fatḥ, 48:29]
The Bible states: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is greater than the garden plants.” [Matthew, 13]
17. The Inheritance of the Righteous
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ
“And indeed We have written in the Psalms after the Reminder that the land will be inherited by My righteous servants.” [Surah al-Anbiyā’, 21:105]
The Bible states: “The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell in it forever.” [Psalms, 37]
