What is the Torah?

Assalamu Alaikum

 

A common polemic by Christian apologist is the Qur’an confirms the bible. Christians often challenge Muslims on the revelations of the previous scriptures specifically the Torah and Injeel. They believe the Torah is the first five books written by Moses and the Injeel is the Good News given to Jesus thus, whenever they read Torah or Injeel in the Qur’an they automatically assume its referring to their Bible.

 

For this paper I want to just focus on the Torah not Gospel. In Shaa Allah for the Gospel a separate paper will be written. Now before we exorcise their understanding of these revealed scriptures, let us first find out what Torah means.

 

The Hebrew word torah literally means direction or instruction. The root, yod-resh-hey (ירה), originally likely meant to throw or shoot an arrow. The noun torah is rendered in a causative conjugation, which is just a way of saying that it literally means to cause something (or someone) to move straight and true. A torah is therefore something that directs, having connotations of offering strong and virtuous guidance.

Beyond instruction or teaching, torah can also mean law or statute — something one is not just guided to do, but required to do. And it can also refer to a custom, a kind of loose, unwritten law.

 

In other words “Torah” means laws instructions, doctrines, a set of rules and regulations given by God Almighty. It is often understood the Torah is also the first five books attributed to Moses known as the Pentateuch or Chumash.

 

Notice both Jews and Christians would say “Moses wrote in the Torah” indicating the very text was penned by Moses himself. So the question is, what is the Muslim position for the first five books attributed to Moses? It is part of our faith to accept those books? How do we reconcile the Christian position when the Qur’an makes mention of the Torah which they claim they have access to?

After all the Qur’an does say the scripture “Torah” was revealed to Moses Pbuh so, where do we stand?

 

Let us read from the Qur’an what it says about the Torah

 

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. Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Criterion [i.e., the Qur’an]. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah will have a severe punishment, and Allah is Exalted in Might, the Owner of Retribution. [Surah 3:3-4]

 

But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.

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 [i.e., worldly gain]. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers. [Surah 5:43-44]

 

From the above verses we can establish the Torah wherein is light and guidance was scripture given to Moses Pbuh. The Torah in which is the judgement of Allah Swt. The million-dollar question did Moses write the Torah? Let us find out.

 

[Allah] said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful."

And We wrote for him on the tablets [something] of all things – instruction and explanation for all things, [saying], "Take them with determination and order your people to take the best of it. I will show you the home of the defiantly disobedient." [Surah 7:144-145]

 

Notice for the above verse we read Moses Pbuh was given The Tablets الْأَلْوَاحِ that Allah Swt wrote on them all things, instructions and explanations for all things. The Arabic word كُلِّ شَيْءٍ meaning “ALL THINGS”. This would include the laws, doctrine, instruction, rulings making it the Torah. All inclusive as part of the revelation.

 

We must also point out nowhere does the Qur’an say Moses Pbuh wrote his own book, nor is there any mention of five books attributed to him, the Qur’an is clear Moses Pbuh was given The Tablets الْأَلْوَاحِ That had all the laws within it.

 

Before we move on let us address a contention which could be raised. We read in Surah 87 Allah Swt making mention of former scriptures given to both Abraham and Moses Pbut

Indeed, this is in the former scriptures,. The scriptures of Abraham and Moses. [Surah 87:18-19]

 

 

The word used for scripture in this verse is Suhufi صُحُفِ.

When its used in the Quran in the revelation: This is in the first scriptures, the scriptures of Abraham and Moses. 87:18-19 Meaning the revelations revealed to them. This is not speaking of a book they wrote rather a revelation given to them.

This is from Lisan -al-arab

On a side note whenever book is mentioned in the Qur’an does not necessarily mean a physical book. For example:

Ha, Meem. The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. [Surah 46:1-2]

We should also note Surah 2:53 reads Moses Pbuh was given the kitaab, here kitab does not mean a physical book rather a revelation. The verse does not say Moses Pbuh had a Mushaf or Masahif which would mean physical book or books.

However, there are other instances in the Qur’an where it is speaking of a physical book In Shaa Allah as we shall see.

 

Did Moses Pbuh write a book and call it the Torah? Firstly, there is no text which reads Moses Pbuh wrote his own book. Secondly, even if Moses Pbuh wrote a book and called it Torah this wouldn’t make the bible any true. Nevertheless, let us find out what the Qur’an says of the book the Jews call Torah.

And they did not appraise Allah with true appraisal when they said, "Allah did not reveal to a human being anything." Say, "Who revealed the Scripture that Moses brought as light and guidance to the people? You [Jews] make it into pages, disclosing [some of] it and concealing much. And you were taught that which you knew not – neither you nor your fathers." Say, "Allah [revealed it]." Then leave them in their [empty] discourse, amusing themselves. [Surah 6:91]

Surah 6 explicitly tells us the Jews made the “Scripture, i.e., revelations, The Tablets” into pages, parchments, scrolls revealing little and concealing much. As you can see the verse does not say Moses Pbuh wrote rather it as the Jews who did all the writing. Hence, we read in Surah 2.

 

So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn [Surah 2:79]

 

Here we read the Jews would write the book with their own hands and say its from Allah Swt as a given revelation. This is further elaborated in other form of corruption in Surah 3.

 

And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. And they speak untruth about Allah while they know. [Surah 3:78]

 

Surah 3 further continues to inform us how not only did the Jews break the covenant, but the threw the word of God behind their backs.

 

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear [i.e., explain it] to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased. [Surah 3:187]

 

Not only did the Jews write the book with the own hands Surah 2 they also distorted it with the tongues Surah 3 they also broke the covenant throwing the book, the revelation given to Moses Pbuh behind their backs. There is a hadith from Prophet Muhammed Pbuh where it is said the jews left the Torah for a book they wrote themselves.

 

  إن بني إسرائيل كتبوا كتابا فاتبعوه, و تركوا التوراة

The Bani Israel wrote a book, they followed it and left the Torah. (This hadith was reported in Tabarani's Al Mu'jam Al Awsat and was authenticated by Sheikh Nasr Al Deen Al Albani in hisSilsila Al Ahaadeeth Al Saheeha, hadith no. 2832.)

 

let us break all this down to get a clearer understating.

Moses Pbuh received The Tablets which contained all thing, instructions, explanations, laws [TORAH], doctrines ALL THINGS as mentioned in Surah 7:144-145. Moses Pbuh did not write his own book.

 

The Jews being well aware of the revelation given to Moses Pbuh on The Tablets copied the laws into pages, parchments, scrolls concealing the truth as mentioned in Surah 6:91

 

The Jews wrote a book with their own hands and claimed it to be from Allah Swt as mentioned in Surah 2:79

 

The Jews also distorted the message with the tongues as mentioned in Surah 3:78

 

The Jews broke the covenant and threw the laws [Torah, revelations inscribed on The Tablets] behinds their backs and claimed they had the book from Allah Swt which they wrote themselves as mentioned in Surah 3:187. Note authentic hadith also supports this [silsila Al Ahaadeeth Al Saheeha, hadith no. 2832.]

 

Conclusion:

It is fair to conclude from the Islamic standpoint the Torah the Jews and Christians read is no way affiliated with the Torah mentioned in the Quran. The Torah are the laws inscribed on The Tablets given to Moses Pbuh as a revelation. Moses Pbuh did not write any books as the Jews and Christians claim. In fact, it is the opposite, according to the Qur’an and Hadith it is the Jews who wrote a book and attributed it to Allah Swt claiming it’s a revelation from Him.  

JazakhAllahu Khair to my dear brother Adnan who helped me investigate this matter more and motivated me to write this paper.