What do Muslims know and believe about the Bible?

Since its beginning in the 7th century, Islam has claimed to be an extension of God’s revelation that started from creation through many prophets, including Moses and Isa (Jesus). When Muhammad founded Islam, he declared that Islam, through the Quran, was Allah’s final and complete revelation to humanity. He also made sure to try to discount the validity of the Jewish and Christian books, the Torah and the Injil (Gospel), so that Islam’s followers would not trust them.

Islam teaches certain things about the Bible in the Quran, but there are more factors that impact what Muslims know or believe about the Bible.

Since childhood, Muslims are told to respect, adhere to, memorize, and follow the Quran. They are taught by their families, communities, and religious leaders, and these beliefs instilled in them are hard to release.

What are Muslims taught about the Bible?

Most Muslims do not know much about the Bible except what their imams (religious leaders) and parents teach them. They are told it is an old revelation from Allah that he has since replaced with the Quran.

They believe the Bible that exists today is not the original revelation that Allah gave to the Jews and Christians. In fact, they don’t acknowledge the Bible as a whole but believe that the Jews were given the Torah from Allah through Prophet Moses and the Christians were given the Injil that was written by Prophet Isa (Jesus).

Regardless of what the Torah and the Injil say, Muslims are told the Jews and Christians corrupted them, and Allah has replaced them both with the newer and final revelation, the Quran. You can learn more about this corruption theory here.

When Muslims grow older and are exposed to more Western content through media, they might grow curious about the Bible and what it says. However many active forces work against letting any Muslim read the Bible.

What is keeping Muslims from reading the Bible?

Fear of Evil Spirits 

Folk Islam, which is a subsect that is particularly superstitious and built on folklore, warns Muslims that even touching the Bible might cause them to be filled with an evil spirit. 

This message of warning is reinforced in all Muslim media and even repeated at their regular Friday khutbahs (sermons) by their imams and older family members. This helps keep Muslims from investigating the Bible for fear that they’ll attract an evil presence.

Fear of Allah’s anger 

Religious leaders and parents warn young Muslims that Allah will be very angry if a person considers reading any sacred book other than the Quran. They warn of Allah's wrath, including getting ill, failure in their exams, getting hurt in commute accidents, and much more. 

Fear of Confusion 

Religious leaders also tell Muslims that reading the Bible will confuse their minds and lose their sanity and this will lead them to go astray spiritually and also in their careers and family lives. They affirm to them that the Bible has been corrupted and changed, that it has immoral stories and evil accounts, therefore it is not approved by any of their leaders for a Muslim to read.

This is all in spite of the fact that there are verses in the Quran (Surah 10:94) instructing Muslims to ask questions from the “People of the Book” – meaning the Jews and Christians if they are in doubt or have any spiritual questions. Muslim scholars argue that the scriptures the Quran is referring to no longer exist, so these verses are null. This is how they keep Muslims from reaching out to Jews and Christians or from studying the Bible.

In fact, over 20 years ago a Christian journalist in Egypt asked one of the major newspapers to give him one small area to write an article from the Bible once a week. The Muslim leader of the newspaper reached out to the government to see what they advised, and this is what the government leaders said:

“If you start to do this, how long do you think it will take for all of Egypt to leave Islam and follow Christ?”

Those who are against God and His Word know the power the Bible has in transforming hearts, and they fear it. It is truly living and active, and changes lives even in one verse!

One believer left Islam and accepted Christ after hearing the words of Jesus: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:26-28) These words gave him the courage to secretly read the Bible and follow this amazing Jesus.

The spiritual warfare keeping Muslims from reading the Bible

Not only are there many social and religious reasons that prevent the Muslims from reading the Bible but there is also a spiritual force working against them. In many stories that have come through our ministry, we hear of Muslims who were curious about the Bible, but they would struggle to even touch the book or open it for months or years.

The spiritual warfare of the enemy against those who want to escape Islam is not to be understated. Many Muslim converts have stories from the beginning of their search for the True God of feeling a strong dark spirit impacting them and a deep fear overwhelming them. Even as they’ve tried to open the Bible and read, they feel as if they are suffocating.

If you have a Muslim friend who is curious about the Bible, you need to pray for them, because they are going to go through a spiritual battle when they try to even open the Word of God. Offer to read the Bible with them, pray before and after each session, and encourage them if they are anxious.

You can learn more about reading the Bible with your Muslim friend here.

Remember that every Muslim is taught different things from their families and imams. Ask your Muslim friend what they’ve specifically heard and read about the Bible, and pray for God to give you wisdom in talking about it.

What are the best places for a Muslim to start reading the Bible?

The Gospel of Luke

A Muslim seeking to know about Christ should start reading the gospel of Luke, because it starts with the Christmas story, holds the most stories and accounts of Jesus, and introduces Him as the compassionate healer. Then they should move on to the gospel of John.

John chapter 1

John chapter 1 has changed thousands, even tens of thousands of Muslims’ lives when they realized the Word, Jesus, exists from eternity and He is not a mere prophet.

The Sermon on the Mount

Another specific passage that helps Muslims meet the true Jesus is the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5 to 7. The teachings of Jesus here are  contrary to any teachings in the Quran. They bring hope and peace to Muslims who are used to an oppressive, aloof, and uninterested god. As a ministry, we’ve encountered stories of the Sermon on the Mount making radical changes not only in Muslim lives but in entire families and villages.

The Book of Psalms

It is also helpful for Muslims or Muslim background believers reading the Bible for the first time to read the Book of Psalms. This serves as a stepping stone to teach them the personal way they can pray and talk to their Creator.

Make no mistake, the enemy is actively working against Muslims, doing everything in his power to keep them from reading the Living Word of God. It is an old long spiritual battle Satan uses to prevent those under the oppression in Islam from finding freedom in Christ.  

But we know that God’s Spirit is stronger, and He has never allowed Satan to win when a soul is searching for Him.  So let us not lose heart!

Instead, let us actively and fervently pray for those who are under the oppression of Islam. Pray for strength and courage when Muslims feel the Holy Spirit pulling on their heart to read God’s word, and they enter a spiritual battle. Pray for them to dare and step into the Truth and the Way as they discover who Jesus Christ is and His love for them.

Prayer for Muslims who want to read the Bible

Dear Lord, please protect those who are curious about opening up your Word but have spiritual forces working against them. Give them the courage to seek the Truth, because You will answer those who seek you! Amen.