Historical Interpretations of Surah 2:79
Surah 2:79 has been widely debated, and historical Islamic scholars did not interpret it as a claim that the entire Torah and Gospel were corrupted. Instead, they understood it as referring to specific forgeries, distortions in interpretation, or additional writings falsely attributed to divine revelation.
1. Early Tafsir (Exegesis) Interpretations
A. Tafsir Ibn Kathir (14th Century)
Ibn Kathir, one of the most respected medieval Islamic scholars, interpreted 2:79 as referring to Jewish rabbis and religious leaders who fabricated rulings to justify personal gain. His tafsir states:
"This verse refers to some Jews who wrote falsehood and claimed it was from Allah. But the real Torah, as revealed to Moses, was not corrupted."
Thus, he never claimed that the entire Torah was changed. Instead, he focused on certain individuals creating false laws and misrepresenting the divine message.
B. Tafsir Al-Tabari (9th Century)
Al-Tabari, an earlier scholar, also did not say the Torah was corrupted. Instead, he explained that some people fabricated a book, falsely claiming it was divine revelation:
“This refers to those who altered the meanings of their scriptures and wrote things with their own hands, then falsely claimed that it was from God.”
This is not an argument that the Torah itself was corrupted, but rather that some people misrepresented or misused divine guidance.
2. Key Points from Classical Scholars
It does not say the Torah or Gospel were changed—it condemns a group of people who wrote a separate book and falsely claimed it was divine.
The verse speaks of individual dishonesty, not the corruption of the original revelations given to Moses, David, or Jesus.
The Quran itself affirms the authenticity of previous scriptures in multiple verses (e.g., Surah 5:47, 5:68, 10:94), making it contradictory to suggest that 2:79 claims full corruption.
3. Alternative Theories About "The Book" Mentioned in 2:79
If "the book" in 2:79 does not refer to the Torah or Gospel, then what does it refer to? Here are three historical possibilities:
A. The Talmud
Some scholars argue that this verse refers to the Jewish Talmud, an extensive collection of oral traditions and rabbinic teachings written down centuries after Moses.
The Talmud contains legal opinions, folklore, and interpretations but is not the same as the Torah.
This aligns with the accusation in 2:79: people wrote religious rulings and falsely claimed they were divine.
B. A False Book of Religious Laws
Others argue that some religious leaders wrote a separate book of rulings and presented it as divine law, misleading the public.
This fits the context of the verse, which describes people fabricating religious texts for personal gain.
C. Political or Social Manipulation of Scripture
Some rulers and religious elites may have altered minor laws or interpretations to suit their needs.
However, this does not mean the entire Torah or Gospel was corrupted—only that some people misrepresented divine teachings.
4. Conclusion: Surah 2:79 Does Not Prove Corruption of the Torah or Gospel
✅ Surah 2:79 does not say the Torah or Gospel were changed—it only condemns a group of people who wrote something falsely claiming it was divine.
✅ Islamic scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari never argued that the Torah was corrupted based on this verse.
✅ The Quran repeatedly affirms that previous scriptures were still valid at the time of Muhammad (Surah 5:47, 5:68, 10:94).
✅ The "book" in 2:79 is likely the Talmud, a forged religious text, or political distortions—not the Torah or Gospel.
Final Thought
Many modern Muslim apologists who claim that Surah 2:79 refers to the corruption of the Torah and Gospel are contradicting their own scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari. In doing so, they effectively throw their own respected tafsir scholars under the bus, distorting scripture to fit a narrative that was never part of early Islamic thought.
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