Suzan Haneef, a former Christian who converted to Islam, wrote the following:
The Holy Qur’an is the only divinely-revealed scripture in the history of mankind which has been preserved to the present time in its exact original form. For although parts of earlier revelations, such segments of the Torah (Taurat) given to Moses, the Psalms (Zaboor) revealed to David, and the Evangel (Injeel) revealed to Jesus still remain, they are so heavily intermixed with human additions and alternations that it is very difficult to determine what part of them constitutes the original Message. (Suzanne Haneef, What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims [Lahore, Pakistan: Kazi Publications, 1979], 18)
This is a very common modern Islamic claim. The problem is that, if true, this falsifies, not supports, the Qur'an, as the Qur'an affirms the preservation and authority of the Bible at the time of its reception (610-632). Note the following examples from the Qur'an (I am using the M.A.S. Abdel Haleem translation):
Except for what Israel made unlawful for himself, all food was lawful to the Children of Israel before the Torah was revealed. Say, ‘Bring the Torah and read out [the relevant passage] if you are telling the truth. Those who persist in making up lies and attributing them to God after this are the wrong doers.’ (3:93-94)
We sent Jesus, son of Mary, in their footsteps, to confirm the Torah that had been sent before him: We have him the Gospel with guidance, light, and confirmation of the Torah already revealed—a guide and lesson for those who take heed of God . . . We sent to you [Muhammad] the Scripture with the truth, confirming the Scriptures that came before it, and with final authority over them . . . (5:46, 48)
Once again, We gave Moses the Scripture, perfecting [Our favour] for those who do good, explaining everything clearly, as guidance and mercy, so that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord. This, too, is a blessed Scripture which We have sent down—follow it and be conscious of your Lord, so that you may receive mercy—lest you say, ‘Scriptures were only sent down to two communities before us: we were not aware of what they studied,’ or ‘If only the Scripture had been sent down to us, we would have been better guided than them.’ (6:154-57)
Now could this Qur’an have been devised by anyone other than God. It is a confirmation of what was revealed before it and an explanation of Scripture. Let there be no doubt about it, it is from the Lord of the Worlds. (10:37)
Truly, this Qur’an has been sent down by the Lord of the World: the Trustworthy Spirit brought it down to your heart [Prophet], so that you could bring warning in a clear Arabic tongue. This was foretold in the scriptures of earlier religions. Is it not proof enough for them that the learned men of the Children of Israel have recognized it? (26:192-97)
Even now that Our truth has come to them, they say, ‘Why has he not been given signs like those given to Moses?’ Did they not also deny the truth that was given to Moses before? They say, ‘Two kinds of sorcery, helping each other,’ and, ‘We refuse to accept either of them.’ Say [Muhammad], ‘Then produce a book from God that gives better guidance than these two and I will follow it, if you are telling the truth.’ (28:48-49)
We gave Moses the Scripture—so [Muhammad] do not doubt that you are receiving it—and We made it a guide for the Children of Israel. (32:23)
The Scripture We have revealed to you [Prophet] is the Truth and confirms the scriptures that preceded it. God is well informed about His servants, He sees everything. (35:31)
Yet the scripture of Moses was revealed before it as a guide and a mercy, and this is a scripture confirming it in the Arabic language to warn those who do evil and bring good news for those who do good. (46:12)
[Prophet], consider that man who turned away: he only gave a little and then he stopped. Does he have knowledge of the Unseen so he can see [it]? Has he not been told what was written in the Scriptures of Moses and of Abraham, who fulfilled his duty: that no soul shall bear the burden of another. (53:33-38)
For a book-length discussion, see Gordon D. Nickel, The Gentle Answer to the Muslim Accusation of Biblical Falsification (Calgary: Bruton Gate, 2015) which documents the positive view of early Islamic exegetes and the Qur'an itself on the authority and preservation of the Bible.
Evangelical Protestant apologist David Wood debated Shabir Ally, a leading Islamic apologist, on this particular issue:
Elsewhere, Haneef attempts to argue that the Qur'an is scientifically accurate in ways only God could be its author:
[W]as there anyone during [Muhammad’s] time who understood the detailed stages and processes by which a drop of sperm become a human infant? (p. 29, square brackets added for clarification)
The problem is that the Qur’an discussion of human reproduction is one of the biggest errors. Note what the Qur’an affirms:
Man should reflect on what he was created from. He is created from spurting fluid, then he emerges from between the backbone and breastbone. (86:5-6)
As William Campbell notes:
Since the verse is speaking of the moment of adult reproduction it can't be talking about the time of embryonic development. Moreover, since "sulb" is being used in conjunction with "gushing fluid", which can only be physical; and "tara'ib" which is another physical word for chest or thorax or ribs, it can't be euphemistic. Therefore, we are left with the very real problem that the semen is coming from the back or kidney area and not the testicles. (William Campbell, The Qur'an and the Bible in the light of history and science, taken from the section "Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics"—see this portion for a fuller discussion of Surah 86:5-6)
If there is anything one should take out of this post is that it is essential that one check the claims of any author (yes, even me!) and the importance of ensuring one checks the primary sources (in this instance, the text of the Qur'an itself).
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