What are the differences between the Torah and the Quran?

As for Torah and Quran, Monotheism is the belief in one God, shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Each religion has a sacred text: the Hebrew Bible for Judaism, the Bible for Christianity, and the Quran for Islam. These texts describe God's relationship with humanity and provide guidance for living a religious life. In Islamic belief, the four books refer to the revelations given to four of God's prophets: 

• the Torah to Moses, 
• the Psalms to David, 
• the Gospel to Jesus, and 
• the Quran to Muhammad. 

These books are also known as the Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, and Quran, respectively.

The Torah and the Quran are two distinct sacred texts of two different religions, Judaism and Islam, respectively. Here are some of the differences between the two:

Origin: 

The Torah is believed to have been revealed by God to the prophet Moses, while the Quran is believed to have been revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad. 

According to Jewish tradition, the Torah was revealed to the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai, around 3,300 years ago. It is believed that God spoke directly to Moses and dictated the contents of the Torah, including the Ten Commandments and other laws and teachings. The Torah is considered the foundational text of Judaism, and its contents are studied and interpreted by Jewish scholars and religious leaders.

The Torah was not written by any human author, but was directly revealed to the prophet Moses by God. The word "Torah" in Hebrew means "instruction" or "teaching," and it is believed that God dictated the contents of the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Jewish belief is that Moses transcribed the divine words onto parchment scrolls, which were then passed down through the generations and studied and interpreted by Jewish scholars.

The Torah is comprised of the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books contain stories of creation, the patriarchs and matriarchs, the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Ten Commandments, and the laws and commandments that God gave to the Israelites. The Torah is considered the foundational text of Judaism, and its teachings and laws are still followed by Jews today.

Muslims also hold that the Quran is the actual word of God, given to the Prophet Muhammad over a 23-year period. According to Islamic tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad in a cave outside Mecca in 610 CE and began revealing to him the words of the Quran. Muhammad then recited these words to his followers, who memorized and wrote them down.

The compilation of the Quran occurred during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, and the first official written compilation was created under the order of the first caliph, Abu Bakr, after Muhammad's death in 632 CE. The final version of the Quran, as we know it today, was compiled during the reign of the third caliph, Uthman, in the mid-7th century CE. Muslims believe that the Quran has been preserved in its original form and is the final and complete revelation from God.

"Say, [O Muhammad], "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants." (Quran 17:88)

This verse emphasizes the uniqueness of the Quran and the impossibility of replicating it, even with the combined efforts of all humans and jinn (supernatural creatures in Islamic belief). Muslims interpret this verse to mean that the Quran is a divine revelation, and that its content and style cannot be matched by any human or supernatural source.

Content: 

The Torah is primarily focused on the history of the Jewish people, their laws, and their relationship with God. According to Jewish tradition, the Torah was revealed to the Israelites, who are also referred to as the Children of Israel or the Jewish people. The story of the revelation of the Torah is an important part of Jewish history and belief. It is believed that God revealed the Torah to the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai, and that Moses then transmitted its teachings and laws to the Israelites. The Torah contains the story of the Jewish people, their covenant with God, and the laws and commandments that God gave them to follow. The Torah is considered the foundational text of Judaism, and its teachings are still studied and followed by Jews today.

The Quran, on the other hand, contains a wider range of topics, including stories of prophets, moral teachings, laws, and guidance for living a righteous life. In Islamic belief, the Quran is considered to be a message not only for human beings but also for the jinn (supernatural beings) and the entire universe. The Quran itself contains several verses that emphasize this idea. Here are a few examples:

"And [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur'an. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen quietly." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners." (Quran 46:29-30)

This verse describes how a group of jinn listened to the recitation of the Quran by the Prophet Muhammad, and were so moved by its message that they became believers and went on to warn their own people about the truth of Islam.

"Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand. And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom." (Quran 43:3-4)

This verse highlights the universal nature of the Quran, and emphasizes that it was revealed in Arabic so that the Arabs (the primary audience of the Prophet Muhammad) could understand it, but its message is intended for all people.

"And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds." (Quran 21:107)

This verse describes the Prophet Muhammad as a mercy to all the worlds (meaning all of creation), emphasizing the universal scope of his message and the Quran.

Overall, the Quran's message is meant to be relevant and applicable to all of creation, and Muslims believe that it contains guidance for all aspects of life, both spiritual and material, and the last book from the same God.

Structure: 

The Torah is composed of the Five Books of Moses, while the Quran is divided into 114 chapters, known as surahs.

Language: 

The Torah was originally written in Hebrew, while the Quran was revealed in Arabic.

Interpretation: 

Jewish scholars have developed various methods of interpreting the Torah over the centuries, while Islamic scholars have developed a rich tradition of Quranic interpretation, known as tafsir.

Tafsir is the Islamic scholarly tradition of interpreting the Quran. It involves the detailed analysis and commentary on the Quranic verses, exploring their meaning, context, and significance. The purpose of tafsir is to help Muslims better understand the teachings of the Quran and apply them to their daily lives. Tafsir can be approached from different perspectives, including linguistic, historical, theological, and legal, and there are many different methodologies and approaches used by Islamic scholars. The practice of tafsir has developed over centuries and continues to be an important field of Islamic scholarship today.

Despite their differences, both the Torah and the Quran are revered as sacred texts by their respective followers and contain valuable teachings and guidance for living a meaningful and ethical life by the same God.

What are the differences between the Bible and the Quran?

As for Bible and Quran, Monotheism is the belief in one God, shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Each religion has a sacred text: the Hebrew Bible for Judaism, the Bible for Christianity, and the Quran for Islam. These texts describe God's relationship with humanity and provide guidance for living a religious life. In Islamic belief, the four books refer to the revelations given to four of God's prophets: 

• the Torah to Moses, 
• the Psalms to David, 
• the Gospel to Jesus, and 
• the Quran to Muhammad

These books are also known as the Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, and Quran, respectively.

The Bible and the Quran are two of the most widely known and influential religious texts in the world. Both are considered to be holy scriptures and are revered by millions of people around the world. However, there are several key differences between the Bible and the Quran that are worth noting:

Origin: 

The Bible is a collection of texts that were written by different authors over a period of several centuries. The Old Testament, for example, was written between the 12th and 2nd centuries BCE, while the New Testament was written between the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. The authors of the Bible were mostly Jews and early Christians, and their texts were eventually compiled and canonized by different Christian communities over time.

The process of canonization was a gradual one and varied across different communities. For example, the canon of the Old Testament was not standardized until the 2nd century CE, and there were different canons in use among different Jewish communities. The New Testament canonization process was also gradual, with different communities accepting different texts as authoritative.

There were many authors who contributed to the books that make up the Bible. Here are a few examples of some of the authors and the books they wrote:

1. Moses - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
2. David - Psalms
3. Solomon - Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
4. Isaiah - Isaiah
5. Jeremiah - Jeremiah, Lamentations
6. Ezekiel - Ezekiel
7. Matthew - Gospel of Matthew
8. Mark - Gospel of Mark
9. Luke - Gospel of Luke, Acts of the Apostles
10. John - Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Revelation

These are just a few examples of the many authors who contributed to the books of the Bible. It's important to note that in many cases, the authorship of certain books is debated among scholars, and some books may have been written by multiple authors or edited over time.

In contrast, the Quran is believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. According to Islamic tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad in a cave outside Mecca in 610 CE and began revealing to him the words of the Quran. Muhammad then recited these words to his followers, who memorized and wrote them down.

The compilation of the Quran occurred during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, and the first official written compilation was created under the order of the first caliph, Abu Bakr, after Muhammad's death in 632 CE. The final version of the Quran, as we know it today, was compiled during the reign of the third caliph, Uthman, in the mid-7th century CE. Muslims believe that the Quran has been preserved in its original form and is the final and complete revelation from God.

"Say, [O Muhammad], "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants." (Quran 17:88)

This verse emphasizes the uniqueness of the Quran and the impossibility of replicating it, even with the combined efforts of all humans and jinn (supernatural creatures in Islamic belief). Muslims interpret this verse to mean that the Quran is a divine revelation, and that its content and style cannot be matched by any human or supernatural source.

Language: 

The Bible was originally written in Syriac, and then was translated to Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. 

The Syriac version of the Bible known as Peshitta—which means "simple" or "common"—became the official Bible of Syrian Christian churches at the end of the third century. Moses bar Kepha initially used the term "Peshitta" in the ninth century to imply (as did the name of the Latin Vulgate) that the text was widely used. Some Muslims believe that Bible (holy book) Gospel by Barnabas was written in the original language Syriac.

While the Quran was written in Arabic.

Structure: 

The Bible is divided into two main parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains books that were written before the birth of Jesus, while the New Testament contains books that were written after his death and resurrection. The Quran, on the other hand, is not divided into parts or sections, but is organized into 114 chapters called surahs.

Content: 

The Bible and the Quran contain many similarities, but there are also significant differences in their content. The Bible focuses primarily on the history and teachings of the Jewish people and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Quran, on the other hand, focuses primarily on the teachings of Islam and the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

In Islamic belief, the Quran is considered to be a message not only for human beings but also for the jinn (supernatural beings) and the entire universe. The Quran itself contains several verses that emphasize this idea. Here are a few examples:

"And [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur'an. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen quietly." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners." (Quran 46:29-30)

This verse describes how a group of jinn listened to the recitation of the Quran by the Prophet Muhammad, and were so moved by its message that they became believers and went on to warn their own people about the truth of Islam.

"Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand. And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom." (Quran 43:3-4)

This verse highlights the universal nature of the Quran, and emphasizes that it was revealed in Arabic so that the Arabs (the primary audience of the Prophet Muhammad) could understand it, but its message is intended for all people.

"And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds." (Quran 21:107)

This verse describes the Prophet Muhammad as a mercy to all the worlds (meaning all of creation), emphasizing the universal scope of his message and the Quran.

Overall, the Quran's message is meant to be relevant and applicable to all of creation, and Muslims believe that it contains guidance for all aspects of life, both spiritual and material, and the last book from the same God.

Interpretation: 

The Bible and the Quran are interpreted differently by their respective followers. Christians and Jews interpret the Bible in a variety of ways, depending on their denomination and personal beliefs. Similar to this, Sunni and Shia Muslims interpret the Quran in different ways, but it is advised to accept the concept of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and refrain from causing divisions.

In summary, the Bible is a collection of texts written by various authors over several centuries, mostly Jews and early Christians, and canonized by different Christian communities over time. The Old Testament was written between the 12th and 2nd centuries BCE, while the New Testament was written between the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. The authors include Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Quran, on the other hand, is believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. The Quran was compiled during Muhammad's lifetime and finalized in the mid-7th century CE. Muslims believe that the Quran is a unique divine revelation that cannot be replicated by humans or supernatural beings. Overall, while there are similarities between the Bible and the Quran, the two texts are fundamentally different in terms of their origin, language, structure, content, and interpretation.

How can we know which religion, if any, is the correct one?

In Islam, it is believed that the correct religion is the one that is based on the belief in one God, submission to His will, and the teachings of the prophets and messengers that He sent to guide humanity. Muslims believe that all prophets, from Adam to Muhammad, were sent by Allah to convey His message and to guide people towards the right path.


Chronological order in Islam:

• Adam - 1st man and 1st prophet in Islam
• Noah - 1st Messenger in Islam
• Muhammad - Last Messenger in Islam
• Messages (books) -around 314 books in Islam. That means, there were around 314 Messengers.
• Prophets - It is believed in Islam, that there were around 124,000 prophets.

While 314 messages came down to those Messengers, there were 124,000 prophets to carry out Allah's message over the years since the 1st man and Prophet Adam.

Muslims are instructed to embrace the final message from Allah, one God, in terms of religion. For instance, up until the year 609 AD, Jesus served as both their Prophet and Messenger. (pbuh). Nonetheless, it would be Muhammad after 610 AD. (pbuh).

Besides, in order to determine the correct religion, Muslims are encouraged to seek knowledge and understanding of different beliefs and to use their reason and intellect to make informed decisions. Muslims believe that the Quran, as the final revelation from Allah, provides guidance and clarity on matters of faith and morality, and that it is a criterion by which all other religions and beliefs can be judged.

Muslims also believe that sincere supplication and prayer can help one to discern the truth and to seek guidance from Allah. Ultimately, it is believed that Allah is the only one who can guide a person to the correct path, and that He will reward those who sincerely seek the truth and strive to do what is right according to His will.

Here are some Quran verses related to the topic:

"Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account." (Quran 3:19)

"And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers." (Quran 3:85)

"Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]." (Quran 3:64)

Islam's confirmation of other religions, and choices of Prophets or Messengers:

Say, [O believers], "We have believed in Allāh and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants [al-Asbāṭ]1 and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him." (Quran Surah Al Bakarah 2:136)

This verse from the Quran states that believers have faith in Allah and in all the revelations that were sent down to various prophets, including Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the descendants, Moses, and Jesus. It emphasizes that believers do not discriminate between these prophets and their teachings, and they submit to Allah's will. This verse also emphasizes the importance of believing in all of the prophets and the divine revelations they received. Rejecting even one of them would mean rejecting the message and guidance of all prophets, as they all preached the same message of monotheism and obedience to Allah.

Another verse in the Quran that speaks to the idea of rejecting prophets is found in Surah An-Nisa (4:150-151):

"Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to discriminate between Allah and His messengers and say, 'We believe in some and disbelieve in others,' and wish to adopt a way in between - those are the disbelievers, truly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment."

This verse emphasizes that those who pick and choose which prophets to believe in and which to reject are in fact disbelievers, and will be punished accordingly. It stresses the importance of accepting all of the prophets and their message as a whole, without discrimination or deviation.

 

Islam is a monotheistic religion based on the belief in one God, Allah, and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, as conveyed through the Quran, the holy book of Islam. The central belief of Islam is that there is only one God, who is just, compassionate, and merciful. Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Islam, which include the declaration of faith, prayer, giving to charity, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if possible. Islam also emphasizes the importance of good deeds and moral behavior, and encourages the pursuit of knowledge and education. The overall goal of Islam is to lead its adherents to a life of piety, humility, service to others, ultimate success, and a way to achieve peace.

In conclusion, Muslims are persuaded that Islam is the oldest religion since it is the only one with sufficient evidence for the existence of the First Man and the Prophet, Adam (pbuh), and the Last Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from one God, Allah. The question now is, since nearly all religions believe that Allah is the only God and that monotheism exists, then why is it necessary to accept the most recent or the last religion and why not continue practicing the faith your parents taught you growing up? As Zakir Naik stated in one of his lectures, if you have different versions of the same author, we are asked to follow the last version, since the last version will have all the details. In the same way, there were 314 Messengers who talked about and given messages from one God. Since Allah, the one God, is the same Author, we should believe the Quran, which is the final edition and the last book given to Muhammad (pbuh), and Islam is the final Religion.