The Muslims try to use certain Bible verses to say that the Bible foretells of Muhammad. For example: Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 – “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.  Him you shall hear… (The LORD said) I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren…”  The context is talking about an Israelite. The reference is to Jesus (Acts 3:22-23), and not to Muhammad.  However, the point I am making is that they are reliant on the Bible when they think it helps them.

However, when one appeals to the Bible to defend what he believes as a Christian, Muslims will quickly dismiss such, claiming that the Bible has been corrupted.  They do not tell you when it was corrupted.  They do not provide you with evidence of the passage in question being corrupted.  They simply assert such without proof.  This is actually a relatively new approach.

What do you say?  (1) Ask them, if they believe that the Bible was God’s word, but has now been corrupted.  They will affirm such.  Then read from the Quran 18:27, “Proclaim what is revealed to you in the Book of your Lord.  None can change His words.”  Can man change His words?  (2) Ask them if they would agree to view the Bible as Muhammad and the Quran does.  Most likely they will not object.  Then read from the Quran 5:46-47, “We sent forth Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the Torah already revealed, and gave him the Gospel, in which there is guidance and light, corroborating what was revealed before it in the Torah, a guide and admonition to the righteous.  Therefore, let those who follow the Gospel judge according to what God has revealed there-in.  Evil doers are those that do not base their judgments on God’s revelation.”  5:68, “Say ‘People of the Book, you will attain nothing until you observe the Torah and the Gospel and that which is revealed to you from the Lord.”  6:48, “We send forth apostles only to give good news to mankind and to warn them.  Those that believe in them and mend their ways shall have nothing to fear or to regret.  But those that deny our revelations shall be punished for their misdeeds”  Muhammad did not view the Bible as corrupted.

Do not misunderstand.  The Bible and the Quran have irreconcilable differences.  Consider a couple of differences: (1) The Bible indicates that the Messiah was God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14).  The Quran denies this (5:17, 75).  (2) The Bible indicates that He was crucified for us (1 Peter 2:24).  The Quran denies the crucifixion (4:157).

However, Muhammad did not attack the Biblical text.  The only way around this is to say that it was corrupted after Muhammad.  However, such will not hold up to the textual evidence.

Why should one believe the Quran?  Consider: (1) According to the Quran Jesus provided sign, miraculous evidence (5:114; 19:29-f; 61:1-8).  This evidence confirmed that Jesus’ message was from God.  However, the Quran seems to deny such evidence for Muhammad.  Quran 29:46: “They ask: ‘Why have no signs been given  him by his Lord?  Say: ‘Signs are in the hands of God.  My mission is only to give plain warning.'” (cf. 17:90-91).  (2) The Quran claims that Jesus prophesied of Muhammad (61:1-8).  However, all we have is the Quran’s word for this.  The Bible never mentions such a prophecy from Jesus. Extra-Biblical writings from near the time of Christ do not mention this.  (3) The Old Covenant spoke of a coming New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34 cf. Hebrews 8:7-13). Where does the New Covenant ever speak of another system to come?  The Bible is complete.  The apostles were “guided into all truth” (John 16:13).  Hundreds of years before Muhammad the Bible indicates that man had been given “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).