What Is The Difference Between The Bible And The Quran? 8 Facts Explained!

Addressing the difference between the Bible and the Quran is a challenging topic, as it appeals to human reasoning intertwined with emotions that often influence decisions and beliefs in a complex manner, sometimes unnoticed by the individual. It’s not merely about presenting compelling evidence to persuade someone to embrace the ultimate truth or alter their ideas. However, I am confident that sincere truth seekers will find what they are searching for.

This guide is a humble effort from a truth seeker who aims to guide others toward eternal happiness—someone who believes in the original Bible as a divine book and in Jesus (peace be upon him) as one of the greatest Messengers of the Almighty One God.

In this guide, we explore a range of key differences between the Quran and the Bible, beginning with their preservation status, as reflected in their authorship and transmission systems. Additionally, we examine their contrasting descriptions of God, the portrayal of prophets and messengers, the concept of salvation, linguistic meaning, and scientific facts. Keep reading for more!

What Is The Difference Between The Bible And The Quran?

When comparing the preservation of the Bible and the Quran, their histories reveal significant differences. Christian scholarly circles widely acknowledge the distortion of the Bible and the impossibility of retrieving its original manuscripts—an admission supported by critics such as Eldon Epp and David Barker. In contrast, the Quran’s preservation stands as a testament to Almighty God’s promise to protect His final guidance for humanity, evidenced by a consistent and reliable oral and written transmission system.

Below are the key aspects of comparison between the Bible and the Quran:

• Level of Authenticity in the Transmission System
• Authorship of the Bible vs. the Quran
• Description of God in the Two Books
• Linguistic Meaning of the Bible and the Quran
• Stories of Prophets and Messengers in Both
• Concept of Salvation
• Crucifixion of Jesus
• Scientific Facts

Let’s explore these significant differences in detail.

1. Different Transmission And Authenticity Of The Quran Vs. The Bible

The Quran and the Bible differ significantly in their systems of transmission and preservation. While the Quran has maintained a highly authentic and consistent state, the Bible faces challenges stemming from lost original texts, unknown authors, and discrepancies in its transmission.

What Is the Quran’s System of Transmission?

Out of His mercy to humanity, Almighty God has preserved His last divine message, the Quran, ensuring its authenticity until the end of the world. This preservation is based on the following system:

• Continuous Oral Transmission: Beginning with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and continuing to this day, the Quran has been transmitted orally, supported by written manuscripts as a secondary system.
• Millions of Memorizers of the Same Text: The oral transmission has resulted in millions of Muslims across generations memorizing the entire Quran.
• Official Scribes with Top Qualities: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) selected trusted scribes to document the divine text as it was revealed. These scribes laid the foundation for compiling the Quran into one official version, known as the Uthmani script.
• No human words included in the Quran: The quran is a pure divine book with no intervention of human additions.

Thus, the divine promise is fulfilled, as stated in the Quran: “We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly Guard it (from corruption).” (Quran 15:9)

Read more:

• Quran Mistakes: How Many Mistakes Are There In The Quran? 
• How Many versions of the Quran are there?

How Was the Bible Transmitted Throughout Generations?

In contrast to the Quran, the Bible faces significant challenges in its transmission, stemming from the loss of the original text, unknown authors, and various discrepancies in its preservation:

• Scribes Altering the Words: “How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.” (Jeremiah 8:8)
• Lack of Eyewitnesses: The Bible, A to Z, translated by the Jesuit Fathers, notes, “All these observations lead to the assertion that the gospel of John is not merely the testimony of an eyewitness recorded all at once on the day following the events but everything suggests otherwise … Some of the swifts are loose and some of the paragraphs seem unrelated to the context.”
• Contradictions Between the Four Gospels: The New Testament, which forms the basis of modern Christian doctrine, has undergone radical changes, with every edition differing from the previous ones. For example, contradictions exist regarding the time and place of Prophet Jesus’s birth, making it difficult to reconcile the accounts.
• Different Language of Transmission: The Gospels were written in the Greek language while Jesus was Aramaic.

Read also: 

• Who wrote the Bible?
• Who Wrote the Gospel of Matthew?
• Who Wrote The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? The New Testament

To conclude, the Quran’s flawless transmission reflects the fulfillment of God’s divine promise to guard His final message from corruption. In contrast, the Bible’s transmission reveals significant gaps and inconsistencies, raising questions about its authenticity over generations.

2. The Difference In The Authorship Of The Bible And The Quran

Christians trace the earliest version of the Gospel to the teachings of Jesus’ followers, which changed over time. This was later followed by the writing of the four Gospels, which are further complicated by issues of authorship. In contrast, the Quran is the word of the Almighty One God preserved by its exact wording till today.

Bible history of authorship:

The Bible’s authorship reveals significant uncertainties, with books revealed through dreams, visions, or direct communication from God to prophets, and some based on historical accounts or personal reflections. The Gospels were written by different individuals, with scholars suggesting they were written in the second century. These texts were later attributed to famous figures for approval. 

• Lost original text: Christian scholars admit that the original text, often referred to as the “Q source,” is lost and has undergone significant changes through various developmental layers over time. Burton Mack, in his book The Lost Gospel, highlights this evolution:

“Before the advent of the four gospels we know today, the earliest followers of Jesus composed their own book. … Q was not a stable text, just as the earliest Christians did not live in stable times, and so over the course of the first century people living under desperate circumstances appended different layers of text to Q.”

• Unknown Authors of the Gospels: Christian resources have also questioned the true authorship of the four gospels. For instance, regarding the Gospel of Matthew, it is stated that Christians “don’t know who the real author of the gospel is, and that the author is definitely not Matthew, the disciple of Christ.” (The Bible: A History – The Making and Impact of the Bible, a book by Stephen M. Miller & Robert V. Huber).

Quran history of divine preservation:

In contrast, the Quran’s history is marked by unparalleled accuracy in preservation. The Quran had been written in the Sacred Tablet, then descended to the House of Honor, and then it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad via the Angel Jibriel during, approximately, twenty-three years. From the time of its revelation, it has been memorized by millions of Muslims, known as hafiz, who ensure its oral transmission. This oral tradition is further supported by meticulously preserved written manuscripts based on rigorous methods that safeguarded the Quran’s authenticity across generations.

The authorship of the Quran is discussed in detail in this article: Who Is The Author Of The Quran?

3. The Difference In God’s Description In Quran Vs Bible

Let’s explore a group of verses from teh Quran and the bible to see how each book refers to Almighty One God:

What Does the Holy Quran Say About God?

In Islam, the concept of God is unique and perfect. God is one, without partners, and not an idol, trinity, or man. He is eternal, all-powerful, all-wise, and the Creator of the universe. The Quran emphasizes several key aspects of God’s nature:

• God’s Creation and Power: “And verily We created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them in six periods, and no fatigue touched Us.” (Quran 50:38)
• God’s Eternality: “Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him.” (Quran 2:255)
• God’s Knowledge and Sovereignty: “To Him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth… His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth.” (Quran 2:255)
• God’s Uniqueness: “There is nothing like Him. He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” (Quran 42:11)

God in Islam is beyond human understanding, with attributes that reflect His majesty and power.

Read more about God in Islam:

• The Concept of God’s Mercy in Islam and Christianity
• Who Is The Real & True God In The World? 
• Is There More Than One God?

What Does the Bible Say About God?

The Bible presents a view of God that includes negative attributes and actions that can never attributed to a creator and confirms the distortion of the Bible.

• God’s Rest after Creation: “By the seventh day God had finished His work that He had been doing, so on the seventh day He rested from all His work…” (Genesis 2:2)
• God’s Regret and Repentance: “It repented me that I have set up Saul to be king… and it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.” (1 Samuel 15:11)
• God’s Anger and Intervention: “Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.” (Psalms 78:65)

These biblical verses depict God with negative aspects such as fatigue, regret, and anger, presenting a more human-like portrayal compared to the Islamic view of God’s perfection and transcendence.

4. Linguistic Meaning Of The Bible And The Quran

The word Bible is derived from the Latin word “bíblia” which means “books”, therefore the current Bible is a group of collected books. The Bible contains 86 books in the Orthodox version, 81 books in the Ethiopian version, 76 books in the Charismatic version, 73 in the Catholic version, 66 in the Protestant version.

The word Quran literally means “recitation”. Muslims believe that the words of the Quran are the words of Allah that were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) by the Angel Gabriel in Arabic and then transferred by the Prophet (PBUH) and recited to his companions and followers.

5. Status Of Prophets And Messengers In The Bible And The Quran

Following are examples of the portrayal of Prophets and Messengers in the Bible and the Quran, highlighting the differences in their depiction of character and behavior.

Prophets descriptions in the Bible:

The Bible’s depiction of certain Prophets and Messengers often includes actions that contradict their noble character, attributing false and improper behavior to them. For instance:

• Lot is portrayed as committing incest with his daughters: “Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.” (Genesis 19:30-37)
• Solomon is said to have married seven hundred wives and worshiped idols: “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned away his heart.” (1 Kings 11:3-5)
• Noah is depicted as a drunkard who lay naked: “And he drank of the wine, and was drunk; and he was uncovered within his tent.” (Genesis 9:20-21)

Prophets in the Quran

In contrast, the Quran presents Prophets and Messengers as paragons of goodness, kindness, patience, piety, faith, and high moral standards. For example:

• Noah is honored with the title: “Peace be upon Noah among all people.” (Quran 37:79)
• Ibrahim is described as: “Abraham was gentle, kind, penitent.” (Quran 11:75)
• Lot is praised: “And Lot—We gave him judgment and knowledge, and We saved him from the town that practiced abominations. They were wicked and perverted people.” (Quran 21:74)

6. Salvation In The Bible And The Quran

Christianity teaches that all humans are born with a sinful nature and that salvation is achieved solely by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. However, several verses in the Bible challenge the common belief of original sin, such as Luke 1:47, Matthew 27:46, and Matthew 26:39, where Mary rejoices in God as her Savior and Jesus prays to God to be saved from death. Hebrews 5:7 further emphasizes that God saved Jesus from death.

In contrast, Islam teaches that everyone is born innocent and that individuals accumulate either good or bad deeds throughout their lives. The Quran presents salvation as a matter of good deeds outweighing bad ones based on justice: “No soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another.” (17:15)

To know more about original sin and repentance you may refer to the following articles:

• Did Jesus Die for Our Sins? – The True Meaning of Original Sin
• The Original Sin In Islam – Who Sinned First?
• Does Allah Forgive All Sins? – I Have Sinned!

7. Crucifixion of Jesus (PBUH)

The crucifixion of Jesus is a key point of divergence between Christian and Islamic beliefs, with differing perspectives found in the Bible and the Quran.

A. Christian Belief mentioned in the Bible

Christians believe Jesus was crucified and died for humanity’s sins as atonement for Adam’s sin. According to the Bible, Jewish leaders and the crowd demanded Jesus’ crucifixion:

• “The chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.” (Luke 24:20)
• “They cried out, saying, ‘Crucify him, crucify him.’” (John 19:6)

B. Islamic Perspective on the Crucifixion from the Quran

The Quran rejects the crucifixion of Jesus, stating he was not killed but raised to Heaven by Allah:

“And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. … Rather, God raised him up to Himself.” (Quran 4:157-158)

Indeed, there is no rational or divine need to sacrifice the beloved Messenger Jesus (PBUH) for others’ sins!

8. Scientific Facts In The Two Books

The Holy Quran corrects biblical errors and aligns with modern scientific understanding. Let’s take two examples of scientific issues as mentioned in the Bible and the Quran:

A. Movement of Celestial Bodies

The Quran’s discussion of astronomical facts refers to the divine source of this Book since there is no way to know this information at that time. In contrast, as distorted by human writings, the Bible has many scientific errors:

• Bible Says: The Earth is fixed and immovable, and the Sun hurries back to its place of rising:

“The Lord set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.” (Psalm 104:5, NIV)
“The Sun rises and the Sun sets and hurries back to where it rises.” (Ecclesiastes 1:5, NIV)

• Quran Says: The Sun, Moon, and celestial bodies move in orbits:

“It is He who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its orbit with its own motion.” (Quran 21:33)

This Quranic description aligns with modern science, which confirms the motion of celestial bodies.

B. Shape of the Earth

Another example of a scientific issue mentioned in the Quran and the Bible in different aspects with the Quran correcting the human insertions happened in the Bible is the shape of the Earth:

• Bible Says: The Earth is flat and has four corners:

“He will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:31, KJV)

• Quran Says: The Earth is geospherical in shape:

“And We have made the earth egg-shaped.” (Quran 79:30)

The Arabic word dahaha specifically refers to the egg of an ostrich, resembling the Earth’s geospherical shape. This matches modern scientific understanding.

Although the Quran is a book of guidance for humanity, it has some scientific facts confirming its divine source, unlike the Bible which has human additions aligned with the widespread scientific misconceptions during early generations.

Conclusion: How Is The Quran Different From The Bible?

In conclusion, significant differences exist between the Bible and the Quran, emphasizing that the Quran is the final divine message to humanity, preserved from any human distortion or alteration, unlike earlier scriptures such as the Bible. This article explores several key aspects of the two books, supported by evidence found within them, which can be summarized as follows:

• Preservation: The Quran’s transmission history is based on a continuous chain of narration, starting from the divine message revealed to Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel, and continuing to the present day, supported by an official, standardized manuscript memorized by millions of Muslims. In contrast, Christian references state that the original text of the Bible is lost, followed by many unknown authorships with no eyewitness accounts of the Prophet Jesus, containing significant contradictions and continuous modifications.
• God’s Description: The Quran attributes the highest level of majesty and uniqueness to Almighty God, while the Bible contains descriptions that diminish God’s grandeur, often likening Him to humans.
• Prophets: In the Quran, prophets are presented as role models for humanity, portrayed with dignity and respect, encouraging us to emulate their positive qualities. However, the Bible portrays many prophets negatively, highlighting false shameful actions.
• Salvation & Crucifixion: In the Quran, human salvation is based on justice, with no soul burdened by the sins of others. In contrast, the Bible presents salvation through the crucifixion of a beloved figure for the sins of others. In this context, Islam denies the crucifixion of Jesus, stating that Almighty God saved him, raised him alive, and that he will return at the end of the world.
• Scientific Facts: While the Bible contains scientific errors, revealing its human origin and reflecting the knowledge of its time, the Quran corrects these errors and presents scientific facts unknown at the time of its revelation, proving its divine nature. These include insights into embryonic development and the shape of the Earth.

Thus, all these facts prove one thing: the Quran is the only preserved divine book today on earth out of Almighty God’s promise, “Nay, this is a Glorious Quran, (inscribed) in a Tablet Preserved!  (Quran: 85:21-22).

Belief in the quran and Islam means to believe in all the previous Prophets including Jesus and all divine scriptures including, the original Bible. Read the Quran today and see what it will tell you and how it will answer your questions. Also, our supporting team is ready to help you take the simple steps to become a Muslim!