Scripture Confirmation Dilemma
This focused form of the Islamic Dilemma asks what the Qur'an confirms when it speaks of the Torah, the Gospel, and prior Scripture. If the referent includes the texts read by Jews and Christians in the seventh century, the Christian critic compares their central claims with the Qur'an. If the referent is limited to pristine revelations no longer represented by those texts, the critic asks where the Qur'an makes that limitation while addressing the People of the Book.
Why it matters
This version isolates the referent of 'Torah,' 'Gospel,' and 'Scripture' before debating corruption. It prevents both sides from assuming the identity of the texts that the disputed verses are about.
Perspective note
This is a Christian apologetics analysis. Muslim interpretations are identified as replies and should be read from their cited Qur'anic and tafsir sources before evaluation.
Key points
- Qur'an 5:46 calls the Gospel given to Jesus guidance and light.
- Qur'an 5:47 tells the People of the Gospel to judge by what God revealed in it.
- Qur'an 5:48 both confirms prior Scripture and calls the Qur'an muhaymin over it.
- The two sides disagree about whether these claims validate the canonical texts, only their surviving truth, or the original revelations alone.
Primary sources
Read Qur'an 5:47 in Pickthall's translation:
This commands judgment by what was revealed in the Gospel. Identifying the precise historical referent and its relation to the four canonical Gospels requires additional evidence.
Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein.
Passage context and translation
This commands judgment by what was revealed in the Gospel. Identifying the precise historical referent and its relation to the four canonical Gospels requires additional evidence.
After the excerpt
Whoso judgeth not
Read Qur'an 5:48 in Pickthall's translation:
Pickthall renders muhaymin as watcher. The confirmation and supervisory language belong together; this excerpt alone does not settle which historical texts are confirmed in their entirety.
confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it.
Passage context and translation
Pickthall renders muhaymin as watcher. The confirmation and supervisory language belong together; this excerpt alone does not settle which historical texts are confirmed in their entirety.
Before the excerpt
with the truth,
After the excerpt
So judge between