Why the Quran Includes Biblical Narratives — and How to Use This When Sharing the Gospel with Muslims

Readers of both the Bible and the Quran are often surprised by how many biblical narratives and allusions to the Old and New Testaments appear in the Quran. The Quran references more than fifty people who are also found in the Bible — among them Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Joseph. The stories overlap significantly, though almost always with important differences. Understanding why these stories appear in the Quran gives us a natural and loving way to begin conversations with the Muslims in our lives, inviting and encouraging them to explore the biblical scriptures for themselves.

How the Bible Entered Muhammad’s World

The most important context for Muhammad’s exposure to Jewish and Christian Scripture is his life as a merchant trader. When Muhammad was 25 years old, he married Khadijah, one of the most successful merchants in Mecca — her trading caravans reportedly rivaled those of all the other Quraysh traders combined. For the next fifteen years, Muhammad oversaw her caravans and traveled throughout the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Syria, and surrounding regions. Along the way, he regularly encountered Jewish and Christian communities. Muhammad himself recounted that “the people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7362).

Another influence of Muhammad appears to be the Nestorian and/or Ebionite pseudo-Christians of the time, based on the theological development in the Quran. Nestorianism placed unusual theological emphasis on Mary, which would explain why the Quran describes the Christian Trinity as consisting of God the Father, Mary, and Jesus the Son (Quran 5:116) — a belief no orthodox Christian has ever held. Ebionites, on the other hand, were a Jewish-Christian sect that stressed strict monotheism, Jesus as a human prophet (not divine), and adherence to the Torah.  This is exactly the theology we find in the Quran. These distortions reflect the traditions of that region and era, not biblical Christianity.

Muhammad also understood from the Hebrew Scriptures that a prophet like Moses was coming (Deuteronomy 18:15–18) and that Jesus had promised a coming advocate/helper (John 14–16). He claimed to be the fulfillment of both.

But the New Testament writers clearly point to Jesus as the fulfillment. Deuteronomy 18 is quoted by both Peter and Stephen in reference to Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophet like Moses (Acts 3:22–26; 7:37). The advocate Jesus promised in John 14–16 is clearly referenced as the Holy Spirit, sent after His ascension (John 14:26). This distinction matters when speaking with Muslim friends, because it moves the conversation toward what is alluded to in the Quran, directing them to what the previous Scriptures of the Bible actually say.

Because Muhammad was, by his own account, illiterate, his knowledge of the Torah and the Gospels came entirely through oral transmission. He gained a partial understanding of the Bible through conversations with traders, community members, and teachers like Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a priest (Muslims claim he was a Nestorian) who was an older cousin of Muhammad’s wife Khadijah. As a conclusion, Muhammad’s allusions to the biblical accounts may reference what he understood, but they are filtered, incomplete, and are largely inconsistent with biblical texts.

An Incomplete Picture — and the Opportunity It Creates

This history gives us a natural point of entry. We can begin by comparing what the Bible says with what the Quran describes. We are not out to win an argument, but to extend an invitation to our Muslim friends. Here are four bridges you can use:

Bridge 1: Invite Them to Do What Muhammad Did — Listen to the Scriptures

Muhammad himself sat with Christians and Jews and listened to explanations of the biblical texts. Instead of relying on what others learned from them, encourage the Muslim to do a firsthand journey of knowledge through the Bible.

Bridge 2: Start with Jesus as the Quran Describes Him

The Quran gives Jesus titles it gives to no other prophet. He is:

• Sinless — while all other prophets are described as having sinned

• The Word of God and a Spirit of God (Quran 4:171)

• The Messiah (al-Masih)

• The only One who creates life, heals the sick, casts out demons, and raises the dead (Quran 3:49; 5:110)

You can ask your Muslim friends, “Why is Jesus called the Word of God? Why is He the only sinless prophet? Why is He called the Messiah? The Bible explains what these titles mean in much fuller detail — and Jesus Himself helps us understand the significance of His miracles and claims. Would you like to explore this?”

Simple questions become bridges of invitation. They can provoke curiosity and create an atmosphere of exploration.

Bridge 3: Show That the Quran Affirms the Bible as God’s Word

The Quran affirms the Bible’s divine authority in a number of places. For example, Quran 3:3 says:

“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.”

Use this as a foundation for exploring the Bible’s authority with your Muslim friend. Ask them:

• According to Quran 3:3, was the Torah revealed by God?

• Does this verse say the Quran confirms what came before it?

• Can the words of God be corrupted? (See Quran 6:115; 18:27.)

The goal is not debate — it is an invitation to explore what those confirmed Scriptures actually teach. In fact, the Quran even instructs believers to hold fast to the Scriptures that were sent before (Quran 4:136).

Bridge 4: Point to Allah’s Own Instruction to Muhammad — Consult the Earlier Scriptures

Perhaps the most personal and direct bridge of all is found in Quran 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.”

If Allah himself instructed Muhammad to consult the previous Scriptures, you can simply ask your friend: “Would you like to know what those Scriptures say? Would you like, in particular, to hear what Jesus Himself taught and claimed about who He is?”

If the Muslim argues that today’s Bible is corrupted or has been changed, use this resource to respond. 

An Open Door

More and more Muslims are becoming curious about the Bible. With Scripture available online, in audio, through Bible apps, and via online churches, we can meet people exactly where their curiosity is leading. We can point to the example of Muhammad, who himself explored the Scriptures from the People of the Book. And we can offer to read the Bible together with them, discovering the rest of the story. It is a story that points, from beginning to end, to the redemption made possible through Jesus Christ.

Don’t forget, it is never your job to convert or save anyone. You are just called to be obedient to sharing the gospel, and it is the Holy Spirit’s job to change hearts!

Prayer for sharing the gospel with Muslims

Dear Heavenly Father, please keep me filled with the truth of your Word to share with my Muslim friends. Give me wisdom to talk about the Bible and share your goodness. Amen.