A typical Muslim objection is that the Quran nowhere confirms the Bible since the term Bible is never mentioned within the Islamic scripture. Nothing could be further from the truth since the Quran repeatedly makes reference to the Book (Arabic – kitab) given to the Jews and Christians. What Muslims and Christians may be unaware of is that the term Bible is the transliteration of the Latin term Biblia, meaning Book!

Latin Biblia is derived from the Greek Biblia, meaning books, being the plural of Biblos, which is simply Greek for B/book. Hence, any reference to the Book of the Jews and Christians is in fact a reference to the Bible since that is all the term Bible means, namely, the Book!

In this post I will establish this point by appealing to the word that the Greek version of the Quran employs to translate the Arabic term for the Book given to the Jews and Christians. The readers will see that that term is Biblos, from which we get the word Bible!

The readers can verify this for themselves by accessing the following online Greek version of the Quran: Holy Quran with Greek Translation – Al Islam.

I will be quoting from Arthur J. Arberry’s English version of the Quran.

S. 2:2: That is the Book (Biblio), wherein is no doubt, a guidance to the godfearing

S. 2:44: Will you bid others to piety, and forget yourselves while you recite the Book (Biblio)? Do you not understand?

S. 2:53: And when We gave to Moses the Book (Biblio) and the Salvation, that haply you should be guided.

S. 2:87: And We gave to Moses the Book (to Biblio), and after him sent succeeding Messengers; and We gave Jesus son of Mary the clear signs, and confirmed him with the Holy Spirit; and whensoever there came to you a Messenger with that your souls had not desire for, did you become arrogant, and some cry lies to, and some slay?

S. 2:101: When there has come to them a Messenger from God confirming what was with them, a party of them that were given the Book (to Biblio) reject the Book of God behind their backs, as though they knew not,

S. 2:105: Those unbelievers of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) and the idolaters wish not that any good should be sent down upon you from your Lord; but God singles out for His mercy whom He will; God is of bounty abounding.

S. 2:109: Many of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) wish they might restore you as unbelievers, after you have believed, in the jealousy of their souls, after the truth has become clear to them; yet do you pardon and be forgiving, till God brings His command; truly God is powerful over everything.

S. 2:113: The Jews say, ‘The Christians stand not on anything’; the Christians say, ‘The Jews stand not on anything’; yet they recite the Book (to idio Biblio). So too the ignorant say the like of them. God shall decide between them on the Day of Resurrection touching their differences.

S. 2:121: Those to whom We have given the Book (to Biblio) and who recite it with true recitation, they believe in it; and whoso disbelieves in it, they shall be the losers.

S. 2:144-146: We have seen thee turning thy face about in the heaven; now We will surely turn thee to a direction that shall satisfy thee. Turn thy face towards the Holy Mosque; and wherever you are, turn your faces towards it. Those who have been given the Book (to Biblio) know it is the truth from their Lord; God is not heedless of the things they do. Yet if thou shouldst bring to those that have been given the Book (to Biblio) every sign, they will not follow thy direction; thou art not a follower of their direction, neither are they followers of one another’s direction. If thou followest their caprices, after the knowledge that has come to thee, then thou wilt surely be among the evildoers whom We have given the Book (to Biblio), and they recognize as they recognize their sons, even though there is a party of them conceal the truth and that wittingly.

S. 2:177: It is not piety, that you turn your faces to the East and to the West. True piety is this: to believe in God, and the Last Day, the angels, the Book (sto Biblio), and the Prophets, to give of one’s substance, however cherished, to kinsmen, and orphans, the needy, the traveller, beggars, and to ransom the slave, to perform the prayer, to pay the alms. And they who fulfil their covenant when they have engaged in a covenant, and endure with fortitude misfortune, hardship and peril, these are they who are true in their faith, these are the truly godfearing.

S. 2:213: The people were one nation; then God sent forth the Prophets, good tidings to bear and warning, and He sent down with them the Book (to Biblio) with the truth, that He might decide between the people touching their differences; and only those who had been given it were at variance upon it, after the clear signs had come to them, being insolent one to another; then God guided those who believed to the truth, touching which they were at variance, by His leave; and God guides whomsoever He will to a straight path.

S. 2:285: The Messenger believes in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and the believers; each one believes in God and His angels, and in His Books (sta Biblia Tou) and His Messengers; we make no division between any one of His Messengers. They say, ‘We hear, and obey. Our Lord, grant us Thy forgiveness; unto Thee is the homecoming.’

S. 3:19: The true religion with God is Islam. Those who were given the Book (to Biblio) were not at variance except after the knowledge came to them, being insolent one to another. And whoso disbelieves in God’s signs. God is swift at the reckoning.

S. 3:23: Hast thou not regarded those who were given a portion of the Book (tou Bibliou), being called to the Book of God, that it might decide between them, and then a party of them turned away, swerving aside?

S. 3:48: And He will teach him the Book (tou Bibliou), the Wisdom, the Torah, the Gospel,

S. 3:64-65: Say: ‘People of the Book (tou Bibliou)! Come now to a word common between us and you, that we serve none but God, and that we associate not aught with Him, and do not some of us take others as Lords, apart from God.’ And if they turn their backs, say: ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’ People of the Book (tou Bibliou)! Why do you dispute concerning Abraham? The Torah was not sent down, neither the Gospel, but after him. What, have you no reason?

S. 3:69-72: There is a party of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) yearn to make you go astray; yet none they make to stray, except themselves, but they are not aware. People of the Book (tou Bibliou)! Why do you disbelieve in God’s signs, which you yourselves witness? People of the Book (tou Bibliou)! Why do you confound the truth with vanity, and conceal the truth and that wittingly? There is a party of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) say, ‘Believe in what has been sent down upon those who believe at the beginning of the day, and disbelieve at the end of it; haply they will then return;

S. 3:75: And of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) is he who, if thou trust him with a hundredweight, will restore it thee; and of them is he who, if thou trust him with one pound, will not restore it thee, unless ever thou standest over him. That, because they say, ‘There is no way over us as to the common people.’ They speak falsehood against God and that wittingly.

S. 3:78-79: And there is a sect of them twist their tongues with the Book (tou Bibliou), that you may suppose it part of the Book (tou Bibliou), yet it is not part of the Book (tou Bibliou); and they say, ‘It is from God,’ yet it is not from God, and they speak falsehood against God, and that wittingly. It belongs not to any mortal that God should give him the Book (to Biblio), the Judgment, the Prophethood, then he should say to men, ‘Be you servants to me apart from God.’ Rather, ‘Be you masters in that you know the Book (to Biblio), and in that you study.’

S. 3:81: And when God took compact with the Prophets: ‘That I have given you of Book (to Biblio) and Wisdom; then there shall come to you a Messenger confirming what is with you — you shall believe in him and you shall help him; do you agree?’ He said. ‘And do you take My load on you on that condition?’ They said, ‘We do agree.’ God said, ‘Bear witness so, and I shall be with you among the witnesses.’

S. 3:98-100: Say: ‘People of the Book (tou Bibliou), why do you disbelieve in the signs of God? Surely God is witness of the things you do.’ Say: ‘People of the Book (tou Bibliou), why do you bar from God’s way the believer, desiring to make it crooked, yourselves being witnesses? God is not heedless of the things you do.’ O believers, if you obey a sect of those who have been given the Book (to Biblio), they will turn you, after you have believed, into unbelievers.

S. 3:110: You are the best nation ever brought forth to men, bidding to honour, and forbidding dishonour, and believing in God. Had the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) believed, it were better for them; some of them are believers, but the most of them are ungodly.

S. 3:113: Yet they are not all alike; some of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) are a nation upstanding, that recite God’s signs in the watches of the night, bowing themselves,

S. 3:184: But if they cry lies to thee, lies were cried to Messengers before thee, who came bearing clear signs, and the Psalms, and the Book (to Biblio) Illuminating.

S. 3:186-187: You shall surely be tried in your possessions and your selves, and you shall hear from those who were given the Book (to Biblio) before you, and from those who are idolaters, much hurt; but if you are patient and godfearing — surely that is true constancy. And when God took compact with those who had been given the Book (tou Bibliou): ‘You shall make it clear unto the people, and not conceal it.’ But they rejected it behind their backs and sold it for a small price — how evil was that their selling!

S. 3:199: And some there are of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) who believe in God, and what has been sent down unto you, and what has been sent down unto them, men humble to God, not selling the signs of God for a small price; those — their wage is with their Lord; God is swift at the reckoning.

S. 4:44: Hast thou not regarded those who were given a share of the Book (tou Bibliou) purchasing error, and desiring that you should also err from the way?

S. 4:47: You who have been given the Book (tou Bibliou), believe in what We have sent down, confirming what is with you, before We obliterate faces, and turn them upon their backs, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-men, and God’s command is done.

S. 4:51: Hast thou not regarded those who were given a share of the Book (tou Bibliou) believing in demons and idols, and saying to the unbelievers, ‘These are more rightly guided on the way than the believers’?

S. 4:54: Or are they jealous of the people for the bounty that God has given them? Yet We gave the people of Abraham the Book (to Biblio) and the Wisdom, and We gave them a mighty kingdom.

S. 4:123: It is not your fancies, nor the fancies of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou). Whosoever does evil shall be recompensed for it, and will not find for him, apart from God, a friend or helper.

S. 4:131: To God belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. We have charged those who were given the Book (to Biblio) before you, and you, ‘Fear God.’ If you disbelieve, to God belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth; God is All-sufficient, All-laudable.

S. 4:136: O believers, believe in God and His Messenger and the Book He has sent down on His Messenger and the Book which He sent down before. Whoso disbelieves in God and His angels and His Books (sto Biblio Tou), and His Messengers, and the Last Day, has surely gone astray into far error.

S. 4:153: The People of the Book (tou Bibliou) will ask thee to bring down upon them a Book from heaven; and they asked Moses for greater than that, for they said, ‘Show us God openly.’ And the thunderbolt took them for their evildoing. Then they took to themselves the Calf, after the clear signs had come to them; yet We pardoned them that, and We bestowed upon Moses a clear authority.

S. 4:159: There is not one of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) but will assuredly believe in him before his death, and on the Resurrection Day he will be a witness against them.

S. 4:171: People of the Book (tou Bibliou), go not beyond the bounds in your religion, and say not as to God but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God, and His Word that He committed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers, and say not, ‘Three.’ Refrain; better is it for you. God is only One God. Glory be to Him — That He should have a son! To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth; God suffices for a guardian.

S. 5:5: Today the good things are permitted you, and the food of those who were given the Book is permitted to you, and permitted to them is your food; Likewise believing women in wedlock, and in wedlock women of them who were given the Book (to Biblio) before you if you give them their wages, in wedlock and not in licence, or as taking lovers. Whoso disbelieves in the faith, his work has failed, and in the world to come he shall be among the losers.

S. 5:15: People of the Book (tou Bibliou), now there has come to you Our Messenger, making clear to you many things you have been concealing of the Book (tou Bibliou), and effacing many things. There has come to you from God a light, and a Book Manifest

S. 5:44: Surely We sent down the Torah, wherein is guidance and light; thereby the Prophets who had surrendered themselves gave judgment for those of Jewry, as did the masters and the rabbis, following such portion of God’s Book (to Biblio tou Allach) as they were given to keep and were witnesses to. So fear not men, but fear you Me; and sell not My signs for a little price. Whoso judges not according to what God has sent down – they are the unbelievers.

S. 5:59: Say: ‘People of the Book (tou Bibliou), do you blame us for any other cause than that we believe in God, and what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down before, and that most of you are ungodly?’

S. 5:65: But had the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) believed and been godfearing, We would have acquitted them of their evil deeds, and admitted them to Gardens of Bliss.

S. 5:68: Say: ‘People of the Book (tou Bibliou), you do not stand on anything, until you perform the Torah and the Gospel, and what was sent down to you from your Lord.’ And what has been sent down to thee from thy Lord will surely increase many of them in insolence and unbelief; so grieve not for the people of the unbelievers.

S. 5:77: Say: ‘People of the Book (tou Bibliou), go not beyond the bounds in your religion, other than the truth, and follow not the caprices of a people who went astray before, and led astray many, and now again have gone astray from the right way.’

S. 5:110: When God said, ‘Jesus Son of Mary, remember My blessing upon thee and upon thy mother, when I confirmed thee with the Holy Spirit, to speak to men in the cradle, and of age; and when I taught thee the Book (to Biblio), the Wisdom, the Torah, the Gospel; and when thou createst out of clay, by My leave, as the likeness of a bird, and thou breathest into it, and it is a bird, by My leave; and thou healest the blind and the leper by My leave, and thou bringest the dead forth by My leave; and when restrained from thee the Children of Israel when thou camest unto them with the clear signs, and the unbelievers among them said, “This is nothing but sorcery manifest.”

S. 6:20: Those to whom We have given the Book (to Biblio) recognize it as they recognize their sons. Those who have lost their own souls, they do not believe.

S. 6:83-89: Those are they to whom We gave the Book (to Biblio), the Judgment, the Prophethood; so if these disbelieve in it, We have already entrusted it to a people who do not disbelieve in it.

S. 6:91: They measured not God with His true measure when they said, ‘God has not sent down aught on any mortal.’ Say: ‘Who sent down the Book (to Biblio) that Moses brought as a light and a guidance to men? You put it into parchments, revealing them, and hiding much; and you were taught that you knew not, you and your fathers.’ Say: ‘God.’ Then leave them alone, playing their game of plunging.

S. 6:154: Then We gave Moses the Book (to Biblio), complete for him who does good, and distinguishing every thing, and as a guidance and a mercy; haply they would believe in the encounter with their Lord.

S. 6:156: lest you should say, ‘The Book (to Biblio) was sent down only upon two parties before us, and we have indeed been heedless of their study’; those who turn away from Our signs with an evil chastisement for their turning away.

S. 7:169-170: And there succeeded after them a succession who inherited the Book (to Biblio), taking the chance goods of this lower world, and saying, ‘It will be forgiven us’; and if chance goods the like of them come to them, they will take them. Has not the compact of the Book (tou Bibliou) been taken touching them, that they should say concerning God nothing but the truth? And they have studied what is in it; and the Last Abode is better for those who are godfearing. Do you not understand? And those who hold fast to the Book (sto Biblio), and perform the prayer — surely We leave not to waste the wage of those who set aright.

S. 10:94: So, if thou art in doubt regarding what We have sent down to thee, ask those who recite the Book (to Biblio) before thee. The truth has come to thee from thy Lord; so be not of the doubters,

S. 11:17: And what of him who stands upon a clear sign from his Lord, and a witness from Him recites it, and before him is the Book of Moses (to Biblio tou Moouse) for an ensample and a mercy? Those believe in it; but whosoever disbelieves in it, being one of the partisans, his promised land is the Fire. So be thou not in doubt of it; it is the truth from thy Lord, but most men do not believe.

S. 11:110: And We gave Moses the Book (to Biblio); and there was difference regarding it, and but for a word that preceded from thy Lord, it had been decided between them; and they are in doubt of it disquieting.

S. 13:36: And those to whom We have given the Book (to Biblio) rejoice in what is sent down unto thee; and of the parties some reject some of it. Say: ‘I have only been commanded to serve God, and not to associate aught with Him. To Him I call, and to Him I turn.’

S. 13:43: The unbelievers say, ‘Thou art not an Envoy.’ Say: ‘God suffices as a witness between me and you, and whosoever possesses knowledge of the Book (to Biblio).’

S. 17:2: And We gave Moses the Book (to Biblio), and made it a guidance to the Children of Israel: ‘Take not unto yourselves any guardian apart from Me.’

S. 17:4: And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Book (to Biblio): ‘You shall do corruption in the earth twice, and you shall ascend exceeding high.’

S. 19:12: ‘O John, take the Book (sto Biblio) forcefully’; and We gave him judgment, yet a little child,

S. 19:30: He said, ‘Lo, I am God’s servant; God has given me the Book (to Biblio), and made me a Prophet.

S. 23:49: And We gave Moses the Book (to Biblio), that haply they would be guided;

S. 25:35: We gave Moses the Book (to Biblio), and appointed with him his brother Aaron as minister

S. 27:40: Said he who possessed knowledge of the Book (to Biblio), ‘I will bring it to thee, before ever thy glance returns to thee.’ Then, when he saw it settled before him, he said, ‘This is of my Lord’s bounty that He may try me, whether I am thankful or ungrateful. Whosoever gives thanks gives thanks only for his own soul’s good, and whosoever is ungrateful — my Lord is surely All-sufficient, All-generous.’

S. 28:43: And We gave Moses the Book (to Biblio), after that We had destroyed the former generations, to be examples and a guidance and a mercy, that haply so they might remember.

S. 29:27: And We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and We appointed the Prophecy and the Book (to Biblio) to be among his seed; We gave him his wage in this world, and in the world to come he shall be among the righteous.

S. 29:46: Dispute not with the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) save in the fairer manner, except for those of them that do wrong; and say, ‘We believe in what has been sent down to us, and what has been sent down to you; our God and your God is One, and to Him we have surrendered.’

S. 32:23: Indeed, We gave Moses the Book (to Biblio); so be not in doubt concerning the encounter with him; and We appointed it for a guidance to the Children of Israel.

S. 33:26: And He brought down those of the People of the Book (tou Bibliou) who supported them from their fortresses and cast terror in their hearts; some you slew, some you made captive.

S. 35:25: If they cry thee lies, those before them also cried lies; their Messengers came to them with the clear signs, the Psalms, the Illuminating Book (Biblio);

S. 35:31-32: And that We have revealed to thee of the Book is the truth, confirming what is before it; God is aware of and sees His servants. Then We bequeathed the Book (to Biblio) on those of Our servants We chose; but of them some wrong themselves, some of them are lukewarm, and some are outstrippers in good works by the leave of God; that is the great bounty.

S. 40:53: We also gave Moses the guidance, and We bequeathed upon the Children of Israel the Book (tou Bibliou).

S. 41:45: And We gave Moses the Book (to Biblio); and there was difference concerning it, and but for a Word that preceded from thy Lord, it had been decided between them; and they are in doubt of it disquieting.

S. 42:14: They scattered not, save after knowledge had come to them, being insolent one to another; and but for a Word that preceded from thy Lord until a stated term, it had been decided between them. But those to whom the Book (to Biblio) has been given as an inheritance after them, behold, they are in doubt of it disquieting.

S. 42:15: Therefore call thou, and go straight as thou hast been commanded; do not follow their caprices. And say: ‘I believe in whatever Book God (sto Biblio) has sent down; I have been commanded to be just between you. God is our Lord and your Lord. We have our deeds, and you have your deeds; there is no argument between us and you; God shall bring us together, and unto Him is the homecoming.’

S. 45:16: Indeed, We gave the Children of Israel the Book (to Biblio), the Judgment, and the Prophethood, and We provided them with good things, and We preferred them above all beings.

S. 46:12: Yet before it was the Book of Moses (to Biblio tou Moouse) for a model and a mercy; and this is a Book confirming, in Arabic tongue, to warn the evildoers, and good tidings to the good-doers.

FURTHER READING

Does the Holy Bible Call Itself the Holy Bible?

Does the Holy Bible claim to be the inspired Word of God?

What the Qur’an says about the Bible (overview page)

Does the Quran confirm the Bible and the Canonical Gospels?

The Quran’s Confirmation of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures

Does Taurat Refer Only to the Revelation Given to Moses?

The Muhammadan Fraud That Was Ahmed Deedat: Which Bible?

THE QURAN’S CONFIRMATION OF THE HOLY BIBLE REVISITED

AN OPEN CHALLENGE TO MUSLIMS CONCERNING THE BIBLE

NOTES FOR THE LIVESTREAM ON ADNAN RASHID AND HIS MISUSE OF Q. 5:48

Refuting One Muhammadan’s Rabbit Trails

• Uncategorized