Introduction
Before we talk about contradictions, manuscripts, or corruption, we need to begin with something more basic.
What happens when God speaks?
Can His words fail?
Can they be erased?
Can they be altered by human hands?
Both Muslims and Christians believe that God has revealed His word. Both traditions speak of Scripture as divine revelation. And both traditions speak strongly about the permanence of God’s word.
So this is where we must begin.
The Bible on the Permanence of God’s Word
The Bible repeatedly teaches that God’s word is enduring and unchangeable.
Isaiah 40:8 says:
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Psalm 12:6–7 declares:
“The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24:35:
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
In the biblical worldview, God’s word is not fragile. It is not dependent on human protection. It stands because God stands.
If God speaks, His word endures.
The Qur’an on the Permanence of God’s Word
The Qur’an speaks in very similar terms.
Surah 6:34 says:
لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ
“There is none that can alter the words of Allah.”
Surah 10:64 declares:
لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ
“No change can there be in the words of Allah.”
Surah 18:27 states:
لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ
“And recite what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. None can change His words.”
This is strong language.
Not “most of His words.”
Not “His final revelation only.”
But “the words of Allah.”
The principle is clear: God’s speech cannot be altered.
A Shared Foundation
At this point, there is remarkable agreement.
Both the Bible and the Qur’an teach:
God speaks.
His words are true.
His words are pure.
His words cannot be changed.
This shared belief is important. It means that when we discuss Scripture, we are not starting from completely different foundations.
We both affirm that divine revelation is stable, not unstable.
The Question That Follows
But here is where an important question emerges.
The Qur’an teaches that God revealed:
The Torah (Tawrat)
The Gospel (Injil)
The Qur’an
If God revealed those books, and if His words cannot be changed, then what happened to the earlier revelations?
Were they preserved?
Were they altered?
If they were altered, how does that fit with the repeated claim that no one can change God’s words?
This is not yet the dilemma itself. But it is the doorway into it.
If God’s word cannot be changed, then either:
The Torah and Gospel still exist in reliable form,
Or the claim about God’s unchangeable word requires explanation.
We cannot move forward until we wrestle with this principle honestly.
Why This Matters
This is not just an academic discussion.
If God’s word can be changed, then no Scripture is secure.
If God’s word cannot be changed, then we must take seriously whatever He previously revealed.
The strength of divine revelation depends on the strength of the One who reveals it.
So before examining specific verses about the Torah and Gospel, we must hold firmly to this central question:
When God speaks, can His words truly be altered?
In the next article, we will define clearly what is meant by “The Islamic Dilemma” and lay out the logical tension step by step.
This series will move slowly and carefully. Each step matters.