The Islamic Dilemma: A Logical Examination of Quranic Claims About Previous Scriptures

Introduction

In interfaith dialogues between Christians and Muslims, one recurring point of contention centers on the status of previous scriptures—the Torah, Psalms (Zabur), and Gospel (Injīl)—in relation to the Quran. This has given rise to what is known as the "Islamic Dilemma" or "Quranic Dilemma": a profound logical problem stemming from the Quran's simultaneous affirmation and denial of the content of earlier revelations. In this article, we will undertake a comprehensive, step-by-step analysis of this dilemma, its theological implications, and why it poses a significant challenge to the coherence of Islamic doctrine.

Part I: What the Quran Says About Previous Scriptures

The Quran makes repeated and emphatic affirmations regarding the authenticity and divine origin of the Torah and the Gospel:

• Surah 3:3: "He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel."

• Surah 5:46: "And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light."

• Surah 5:47: "Let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein."

• Surah 10:94: "So if you are in doubt, [O Muhammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you."

These verses suggest that:

1. The Torah and Gospel were genuine revelations from God.

2. These scriptures were present and accessible during the time of Muhammad.

3. Believers were encouraged to judge by them and even consult their adherents for confirmation.

Part II: The Contradiction

Despite affirming the truth of previous scriptures, the Quran also directly contradicts key doctrinal and historical claims made by those very texts. For example:

• Surah 4:157: "And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them."

This directly contradicts the New Testament accounts of Jesus' crucifixion, which are affirmed by both Christian tradition and secular historical sources like Josephus and Tacitus.

Part III: The Logical Dilemma

We now arrive at the core of the Islamic Dilemma:

• Premise 1: The Torah and Gospel were revealed by Allah (as stated in the Quran).

• Premise 2: Allah's words cannot be changed or corrupted (Surah 6:115, 18:27).

• Premise 3: The Torah and Gospel contradict the Quran on fundamental doctrines (e.g., the crucifixion and divinity of Christ).

• Premise 4: Therefore, either the Torah and Gospel have been corrupted (which contradicts Premise 2), or the Quran is in error for contradicting them.

Conclusion: Either way, Islam faces a theological inconsistency.

Part IV: Muslim Responses and Their Shortcomings

Some Muslim scholars have attempted to reconcile this dilemma by asserting that:

1. The Quran only affirms the original Torah and Gospel, not the versions available today.

2. The texts were corrupted over time (Tahrif).

However, these explanations are problematic for several reasons:

• Surah 5:47 explicitly commands Christians at the time of Muhammad to judge by the Gospel they currently possessed, implying it was still reliable.

• The Quran claims no one can alter the words of Allah (Surah 6:115, 18:27).

• If the scriptures were already corrupted by Muhammad's time, it makes no sense for the Quran to instruct Christians and Jews to refer to them.

Part V: The Historical Evidence

The Gospels, as we have them today, were already widespread and standardized centuries before Muhammad. Manuscript evidence such as the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus predate Islam and contain the same core teachings found in modern New Testaments.

Moreover, secular historians like Josephus (a Jewish historian) and Tacitus (a Roman historian) confirm the crucifixion of Jesus, lending historical credibility to the Gospel accounts.

Part VI: Why This Matters

The Islamic Dilemma is more than a theological curiosity; it has far-reaching implications:

• For Muslims: It challenges the internal consistency of the Quran and its reliability as a final revelation.

• For Christians: It provides a strong apologetic tool to defend the integrity of the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Quran presents itself as a confirmation of prior scriptures, yet contradicts their core messages. If the previous scriptures are valid, the Quran must be rejected for opposing them. If the previous scriptures are corrupted, the Quran is flawed for affirming and commanding adherence to them.

Conclusion

The Islamic Dilemma poses a serious challenge to the theological coherence of Islam. It forces a choice:

• Accept the Bible as uncorrupted, and reject the Quran for contradicting it.

• Claim the Bible is corrupted, and reject the Quran for affirming it.

Either way, Islam cannot escape the trap created by its own claims. As Christians, we are invited to stand firm on the historically grounded, theologically consistent truth of the Gospel—that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was crucified, died, and rose again, offering salvation to all who believe.

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." — Isaiah 40:8