Ask those who have read the Kitāb ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ

 

The claim that Muslims should turn to the People of the Book and consult them whenever they are in doubt is both untenable and absurd. Although our scholars have explained the meaning of this verse and whom it applies to, I will take a simpler approach by examining it from a different angle. What follows is my personal analysis of the text and is not intended to be a scholarly exegesis.

So if you are in doubt, about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters. [Surah 10:94]

Note that the word "Scripture" is translated as Kitāb (ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ) in Arabic. Now, let's go to Surah 2:79.

So woe to those who write the “scripture” with their own hands, then say, “This is from God,” 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]

Again, the Arabic word used for "Scripture" is Kitāb (ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ). When the Qur'an refers to previously revealed Scriptures, it consistently points to the revelations given to the Prophets, which were conveyed to their respective nations and peoples. Hence, Scripture has a purpose to provide guidance for mankind.

Surah 2:79 is speaking about a book that some of the Children of Israel wrote themselves and then falsely claimed was from God. Therefore, this book is not presented as a divine revelation or as Scripture given to a Prophet.

When the Qur'an speaks about the Kitāb, Scripture in Surah 10:94, it is not referring to the book that some of the Children of Israel wrote themselves, as mentioned in Surah 2:79. The two uses of Kitāb are not synonymous; rather, a distinction is made between them. One refers to true divine revelation, while the other refers to a book falsely attributed to God.

Therefore, Surah 10:94 could not be referring to the "Bible" as read by the Jews and Christians, since it is not the revealed Scripture given to the Prophets of the past. In fact, a hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (7363) explicitly states that the Jews changed the Kitāb "Book" of Allah, "بَدَّلُوا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَغَيَّرُوهُ"  "They altered the Book of Allah and changed it.". Therefore, the Kitāb referred to in Surah 10:94 cannot be equated with a text that, according to the Qur’an and  hadith.

Narrated Ubaidullah:

 

Ibn `Abbas said, "Why do you ask the people of the scripture about anything while your Book (Qur'an) which has been revealed to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) is newer and the latest? You read it pure, undistorted and unchanged, and Allah has told you that the people of the scripture (Jews and Christians) changed their scripture and distorted it, and wrote the scripture with their own hands and said, 'It is from Allah,' to sell it for a little gain. Does not the knowledge which has come to you prevent you from asking them about anything? No, by Allah, we have never seen any man from them asking you regarding what has been revealed to you!"

 Sahih al-Bukhari 7363

In every instance, the Kitāb is presented either as divine revelation or as a false narrative. In Surah 10:94, the Kitāb refers to divine revelation, whereas in Surah 2:79 it refers to a false narrative that was falsely attributed to God. Therefore, the two references to Kitāb are distinct and should not be treated as synonymous.

The claim made by some Christians that the Qur'an directs believers to seek confirmation from a false, man-made book is absurd. As we have just demonstrated, this cannot be the case.

Surah 2:79: The Children of Israel are described as having written their own book Kitāb, "Scripture" and falsely claimed that it was from God.

 

Surah 10:94: The people are instructed to ask those who have read the Kitāb "Scripture", referring to the divine revelations given to the Prophets of the past.

 

Therefore, the Kitāb mentioned in Surah 10:94 is not the same Kitāb mentioned in Surah 2:79. As demonstrated earlier, the two are not synonymous; they refer to two different books. One refers to divine revelation, while the other refers to a man-made book falsely attributed to God. Likewise, the hadith distinguishes between the revealed Scriptures and man-made writings that were falsely presented as "scripture."

 

Without a doubt, we can conclude that the Qur'an is not instructing those who are in doubt to seek guidance from the people who wrote a book with their own hands and cast the Torah behind their backs. Furthermore, notice that the verse says, "Ask those who have been reading the Scripture," not "Ask the Ahl al-Kitāb (People of the Book)." This distinction is significant and should not be overlooked.

 

"Ask those who have been reading the Scripture," referring to those who possess knowledge of the divine Scriptures revealed to the Prophets. It does not say, "Ask the People of the Book."

Furthermore, this verse is not encouraging Muslims to ask Jews or Christians about a man-made book. Rather, it is addressing the pagan Arabs: if they are in doubt, they are told to ask those who have been reading the revealed Scripture before them. The verse also instructs them not to be among those who doubt. Therefore, this verse is not addressed to Muslims as an instruction for seeking religious guidance.

Nowhere does the Qur’an or ahadith state Moses wrote five books? In fact it’s the contrary, Surah 6:91 recalls the children of Israel copying from the revealed scripture of Moses, i.e. the tablets given to him at mount Sinai, putting it into parchments, scrolls where they would show little, but hide much. The Israelites are the ones to be blamed for such treachery.