'Imran, 72), not the actual text. Another explanation which Ar Razi gives is that the
Jews used to ask Muhammad questions and then falsely report his reply. If so, it was not
the words of the Taurat but Muhammad's words that they are accused of shifting from
their places. Hence we see that the Qur'an does not state that the Scriptures were
corrupted before Muhammad's time.
8. M. Well then, if the Bible was not corrupted before Muhammad's time, it was
certainly corrupted in his time, as some of the verses I have quoted prove.
C. In saying this you contradict your leading commentators, and your controversy is
with them, not with me. Besides, you must remember that the Qur'an asserts that it was
"sent down" to "attest the Scriptures preceding it, and to act as guardian
to them" (Surah II., Al Baqarah, 38; Surah IV., An Nisa’, 50; Surah V., Al Maidah,
50; Surah III., Al 'Imran, 75). It is strange for a Muslim to accuse the Qur'an of attesting
corrupted Scriptures, and still stranger for him to assert that the guardianship of
the Qur'an was of no avail to hinder their corruption even in Muhammad's own time.
9. M. By "attesting the Scriptures which preceded it" is meant that
the Qur'an agrees with the genuine teaching of previous prophets, and shows the fulfilment
of the prophecies regarding Muhammad contained in their books, that is to say, in the