Now that most people with at least two functioning brain cells have seen through the "Obey the messenger means to obey Bukhari" sophistry, a new line of attack on the "meaning" of Quran is being witnessed. This new game although not orchestrated by the Hadith peddling crowd, has the exact same potential for distortion of Islam. Since the bulk of distortions in the sect scene's version of Islam can be traced to Jewish and Christian secondary sources, it is impossible to not note the similarities. So now it's all about referring to the "uncorrupted" Tawrah and Injil.
The disturbing thing to notice is that it is coming from those who claim to be reading the Quran "carefully". Let’s get one thing out of the way since their claim mirrors the Orientalist's claim that Quran does not say that previous scriptures are in a corrupted state, let us see what the Quran actually says. Here is the verse which clearly says that the Children of Israel يحرفون twist/distort/corrupt and forgot the words of the Dhikr and if we read the very next verse it says exactly the same thing about the Christians.
So for their breaking of the covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort (يحرفون) words from their proper places usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. And you will still observe deceit among them, except a few of them. But pardon them and overlook [their misdeeds]. Indeed, Allah loves the doers of good. Quran 5:13
So what exactly is the Dhikr in both Quran 5:13 and 5:14 which was forgotten and whose words were moved from its places?
And Quran 5:15 just nails it :)
If concealing and rearranging parts of the scripture is not corrupting it then what is?
Then this;
The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of God. And God does not guide the wrongdoing people. Quran 62:05
After the above verses are brought to one's attention, if one still keeps on insisting that these verses are not enough or the more illogical position that they are not referring to the Towrah and Injil just because the words Towrah and Injil are not used then it will be easy to conclude that it is nothing but a case of intellectual dishonesty, especially when the whole narration of the chapter has to do with Children of Israel.
Actually, you don't need quotes from the Quran to prove that the previous scriptures are tampered with and thus corrupted. As far as evidence of Quran being the very word of God goes, there is plenty. Just because somebody hasn't taken the trouble to discover it doesn't mean it is not there by the truckload. Both these positions can be independently verified by applying the test of non-contradiction, a Quranic standard.
Then there is the bizarre position that since Muslims also distort the Quran it is acceptable that those who distorted the previous scripture were not any different. There is a huge difference between people trying to distort the meaning of well preserved audible/visible words of the Quran and the actual removal and addition to the audible/visible words of the previous scriptures
The issue is not who distorted what, the issue is that the previous scriptures stand distorted irrespective of whether the Quran is distorted or not. And the Quran says that they are distorted and when we apply the various tools at our disposal it confirms the distortions. One can play the semantics game but anything not in its original form is distorted Period.
And that is the difference!!!
If one still insists on this impossible position then the only logical conclusion is they are not interested in getting to the truth of the matter. If I were to insist that show me a verse in the Quran by name that says that we should read, yes it should say read the Tawrah before we can understand the Quran, again by name then what will be your reaction?
Quran is what it is and nobody can demand how it should convey a point. Furthermore, in spite of the clear failure to understand the facts behind the impossible to carry the argument that Quran cannot be proved to be the very word of God and yet insist on it. In fact, it can be proved to a high degree of believability. Once again there is plenty of evidence to support this claim. And there nothing that matches it with the same degree of certainty for any other claims of Revelations currently in circulation. None whatsoever
Allow me to try and put the verses where it is stated that we should refer to those who had previously received the message in perspective. The first thing we note in all the related verse is that not once we were asked to refer to a previous message, it is always to the people who were given the message. And the repeated use of the past tense to qualify it to be a guide and a reminder is important. Because Quran 15:9 is in the present tense and it is an unqualified declaration. It is also clear as to what happened in the past to those who were given the message and, in fact, made the custodian of the message and they very well know what happened. As to what happened is also very clear from the following verse;
Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers. Quran 5:44
Of course, God has given an additional indication to clarify for us the picture. When it comes to the people of the Book, their obligations have been considerably reduced, in fact, they have been reduced to the bare minimum, which reflects what has clearly survived in the previous messages in spite of the "words moved" that is.
Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans - those who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. Quran 2:62
In contrast, the Muslims have been given much more responsibilities in relation to the current status of the people of the Book. We also note that previously when they had the uncorrupted version of the message their responsibilities were even more than the Muslims of today. Why would God do that?
As to the issue of different versions of the Quran, it is also very clear that with the exception of two or possibly three words that alter the meaning of verse all other changes has to do with the written variation in terms of spelling and pronunciations. Not only that but these two to three instances does not touch on either the core theological positions nor change any Hukum. In fact, it is even possible to choose from the two possible versions resulting from these changes rather easily by putting the verse in context. To now compare this with hundreds of verses and words of the previous scripture moved and hidden and changed is simply not wanting to understand the issue.
I will add more later but the objective of my post is not to malign other faiths but to point out what the Quran's position is on the issue ....
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