Why do Muslims believe the Quran was not copied from the Bible?

Muslims believe the Quran was not copied from the Bible for several reasons: Prophet Muhammad was unlettered, no Arabic translation of the Bible existed in his time, and the Quran corrects what Islam considers to be errors in the Bible. The similarities are attributed to a shared divine source. [1, 2]

How does Islam explain the similarities between the Quran and the Bible?

Islam explains the similarities between the Quran and the Bible by stating they share the same divine source: God (Allah). The Quran is seen as confirming the original, unaltered revelations given to previous prophets like Moses and Jesus, while also correcting human-introduced changes in the Bible. [6]

What does the Quran say about accusations of it being 'tales of the ancients'?

In Surah Al-Furqan (25:4-6), the Quran acknowledges the accusation of being 'tales of the ancients' written down by the Prophet. It refutes this by declaring its source to be God, 'Who knows the secret of the heavens and the earth,' thus positioning it as divine knowledge, not human fabrication. [13, 19, 26]

The Quran's Originality: Refuting Claims of Biblical Copying

not copied from the Bible

Explore Verses Related to not copied from the Bible

🕋Al-Furqan25:4 🕋Al-Furqan25:5 🕋Al-Furqan25:6

At a Glance

The Islamic position on the Quran's origin is that it is a direct and final divine revelation from God (Allah), and not copied from the Bible or any other source. This belief is rooted in several key arguments: the illiteracy of Prophet Muhammad, making it impossible for him to have read and copied previous texts; the absence of an Arabic Bible during his lifetime; and the Quran's own claims to be a divine revelation that corrects perceived alterations in earlier scriptures. [1, 2] Verses 25:4-6 of the Quran directly address the accusation made by disbelievers at the time, who called the revelation 'tales of the ancients' that the Prophet had written down. The Quran's response is a definitive statement of its divine authorship. [13, 19, 26] While acknowledging shared prophets and stories, Islamic theology attributes these similarities to the continuity of the divine message throughout history, with the Quran being the final, preserved, and complete version of that message. [6]

📖 Quranic Context

The Quran's divine origin is a central theme, distinguishing it from human works and altered scriptures.

The Quran is presented as the direct and unadulterated word of God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad.

References: 25:4, 25:5, 25:6

💭 Theological Perspective

The topic addresses the human capacity to receive and transmit divine guidance, and the tendency of others to disbelieve.

It distinguishes between divine revelation and human inspiration or fabrication.

The Quran's originality is presented as a proof of its status as the final and complete guidance for humanity.

Belief in the Quran's divine origin is essential for a Muslim's faith (Iman).

📜 Hadith Perspective

The Prophet Muhammad's life, particularly his illiteracy, is presented as a proof against the claim of him authoring or copying the Quran.

The unlettered nature of the Prophet.
The challenge (tahaddi) to produce a chapter like the Quran.
The meticulous process of receiving and transmitting revelation.

There is a universal consensus among Islamic scholars on the divine and original nature of the Quranic revelation.

💎 Deeper Insights

The Quran's own text documents the exact accusations of plagiarism (25:5) that are still used today, and provides the divine response (25:6). This demonstrates that the challenge to its originality was anticipated and addressed from the moment of its revelation, embedding its own defense within its verses. [13, 19, 26]

— Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi

A key argument for the Quran's originality is historical: the first Arabic translation of the Bible appeared centuries after the Prophet Muhammad's death. This makes the idea of him 'copying' it a historical impossibility, a point strongly emphasized by modern scholars but rooted in the classical understanding of the Prophet's context. [1, 2]

— Contemporary Islamic Historians