To say that Muslims believe in the Torah is true, but it’s only half the truth. The other, more critical half lies in understanding precisely which Torah Islam refers to and why the Quran is now the sole source of divine law.
We will explain exactly what Islam affirms about the Torah’s divine origin, what its sacred texts teach about the book’s subsequent alteration, and why the Quran stands as the final, protected criterion for truth.
Does Islam Believe In The Torah?
Yes, Islam believes in the Torah, but this belief is precise and must be correctly understood.
We must begin with the pillars of faith. Belief in the books of Allah is a core, non-negotiable component of a Muslim’s creed.
1 Belief in the Torah is an Article of Islamic Faith
Belief in the divine scriptures revealed before the Quran is a foundational article of Islamic faith (iman).
A Muslim must believe that Allah sent revelations to His prophets, including the Torah (At-Tawrah) revealed to Moses (Musa, peace be upon him), the Psalms (Az-Zabur) to David (Dawud), and the Gospel (Al-Injeel) to Jesus (Isa).
To deny the divine origin of any of these is to step outside the fold of Islam.
The Qur’an is explicit on this matter, commanding the believers to declare their faith in all these sacred texts:
“Say, [O believers], ‘We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.'”
This comprehensive belief is further cemented in the definitive statement of the Prophet Muhammad when the angel Gabriel came to him in the form of a man to teach the companions about their religion. When asked to define faith (iman), the Prophet listed six essential articles:
“It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in the divine decree, both its good and its evil.”
Thus, the denial of the divine origin of any of these revealed books, including the Torah, is considered a rejection of a fundamental tenet of Islam itself.
2. The Quran’s Confirmation of the Torah’s Divine Origin
The Quran explicitly speaks of the Torah as a revelation from Allah, containing guidance and light for the Children of Israel.
Torah was their primary source of law and spiritual direction.
“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.”
How Does Islam Believe In Torah?
This “Belief in the Torah” principle requires careful clarification, as belief in the Torah is not an endorsement of every word in the versions existing today.
The Islamic belief is specific to the original revelation given to Prophet Moses.
1. Belief in the Original, Unaltered Revelation of Torah
The faith of a Muslim is directed towards the pristine, uncorrupted Torah that was revealed by Allah to His Prophet Moses (peace be upon him).
This original text is what Islam honors as a book of divine guidance. This distinction is crucial for understanding the complete Islamic viewpoint on the matter.
2. The Torah as a Precursor to the Quran
The Torah carried the same essential monotheistic message found in all of God’s revelations.
This core message—to worship Allah alone—was later renewed and completed by the Quran.
For instance, the fundamental call to the Oneness of God (Tawhid) is the central theme of both the original Torah and the final revelation, the Quran.
Allah affirms Quran’s role as a confirmation of the true teachings of the earlier scriptures.
“He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.”
How Islam Affirms the Original Torah
The Quran speaks of Torah with great reverence, and describes its function and purpose for the people to whom it was sent.
1. Torah as a Source of Law and Guidance for its Time
The Quran acknowledges that the Torah was the primary source of religious law and judgment for the Children of Israel.
The prophets who came after Moses judged by its statutes, and the rabbis and scholars were entrusted to preserve its teachings.
“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto…”
2. Prophecies of Prophet Muhammad in the Torah
Torah, in its original form, contained clear prophecies about the coming of the final Prophet, Muhammad.
The Quran states that the People of the Book would recognize him from the descriptions they found in their own scriptures.
“Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel…”
The Islamic Belief of the Torah’s Alteration
This brings us to a critical aspect of the Islamic position: the concept of Tahrif, or alteration.
This concept explains why Muslims do not follow the present-day texts of the Torah.
1. What is Tahrif?
Tahrif is an Islamic term that refers to the human alteration of divine scripture.
Over centuries, the original text of the Torah underwent changes. These alterations included changes to the wording and, just as significantly, distortions of the original meaning and interpretation.
2. Quran Affirms the Alteration of the Torah
The Quran directly addresses this issue, stating that some among the People of the Book would distort the words of their scripture.
This was done to conceal certain truths or to serve worldly interests.
“So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded…”
A breach of their sacred covenant led to a spiritual hardening, which in turn manifested as the audacity to “distort words from their proper usages”.
The methods and motivations for these alterations are further detailed in the Qur’an. In Surah Al-Baqarah, it speaks of a group who would hear the word of Allah and then consciously corrupt it:
“Do you covet [the hope, O believers], that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allah and then distort the Torah after they had understood it while they were knowing?”
This verse highlights the deliberate nature of the act, done with full knowledge and understanding. It also points to a more egregious form of forgery:
“So woe to those who write the ‘scripture’ with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.”
The Qur’an exposes the act of fabricating texts and falsely attributing them to Allah for material gain. This was a clear act of changing the substance of the revelation.
Why Muslims Believe in and Follow the Quran Alone
Yes Islam commands belief in the Torah’s divine origin, but a Muslim’s sole guide for faith and law is the Quran.
This is due to the Quran’s unique status as the final and perfectly preserved revelation.
1. The Quran as the Final and Protected Revelation
The Quran is Allah’s last testament to humanity, confirming the timeless truths of previous revelations and completing the divine message.
Allah Himself has guaranteed its absolute preservation from any form of corruption or alteration until the end of time.
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an, and indeed, We will be its guardian.”
2. The Quran as the Muhaymin (The Guardian)
Beyond being the final revelation, the Qur’an designates itself as Muhaymin—a Guardian and a watchful Witness over the preceding scriptures.
This vital role means the Qur’an accomplishes two critical tasks: it confirms the original, untainted truths that remain in scriptures like the Torah and the Gospel, and it simultaneously acts as a corrective, exposing and rectifying the human-introduced alterations and misinterpretations that have crept into them over the centuries.
The Qur’an articulates this defining attribute:
“And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth.”
Therefore, the Qur’an serves as the ultimate criterion, the final standard against which the authenticity of any remaining teachings from earlier traditions is measured.
That Brings Us to the Conclusion That…
The Islamic position is one of profound respect for the Torah as a divine book revealed to Prophet Moses.
Islam commands belief in its sacred origin, but it also maintains that the text has undergone human alteration over time.
For this reason, Muslims turn exclusively to the Quran as the final, perfectly preserved, and superseding revelation for all of humanity.
We strongly encourage every sincere seeker of truth to explore the principles of Islam from its authentic, primary sources (Quran and Sunnah). It is crucial to be cautious of biased, non-primary sources, particularly those influenced by Western propaganda that often obscure or manipulate facts about Islam to serve a particular agenda.
To continue your journey of learning, you can explore more authentic and in-depth articles on our blog.
