From: jodar@aludra.usc.edu (Nicholas Jodar)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: Bible (Prophet Muhammad) -- Qumran Scrolls
Summary: Let us not be proud of our ignorance....
Keywords: Qumran Scrolls
Date: 28 Sep 92 23:47:41 GMT
Article-I.D.: aludra.1a85cbINNamu
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Originator: gwydion@wookumz.gnu.ai.mit.edu

In article <717708647@ramm.cs.duke.edu> ag3l+@andrew.cmu.edu 
(Arun K. Gupta) writes:

>Since the Qu'ran itself mentions that Jesus came as announced in the
>Torah; 

True...

>the Torah in the Prophet Muhammad's time is what it was in
>Jesus's time 

Probably...

>and in modern times 

More likely...

>(we can prove that from the Dead Sea
>Scrolls); 

False.

The Qumran (or Dead Sea) Scrolls present us with evidence of
several things:

- That the Taurat (the Book given to Moses - PBUH) had already
  been edited, altered, and added to, resulting in the Pentatuch
  current at the time the Scrolls were written;

- That the Taurat used by modern Jews has undergone even more
  changes, and that the Old Testament used by modern 
  Christianity bears even less resemblence to the original
  Taurat than does that of modern Jews;

- That the Gospel of Barnabas, the only Gospel to identify itself
  as having been written by an Apostle of Jesus (PBUH), and the
  only one to have withstood the testing of such a claim, has 
  all the markings of authenticity as supported by the Qumran 
  Scrolls.

The Qumran Scrolls, however, do not provide evidence of the
condition of the Taurat in circulation at the time of Muhammed 
(SAW), nor do they provide evidence that the Taurat of 670AD is
the same as that found in 1970AD.

>therefore a Muslim must decide which biblical prophesies
>apply to Jesus before trying to find evidence for the Prophet Muhammad
>in the Bible.

This is also true.  It is important for our Brothers and Sisters
to realize that:

- The Qur'an includes all the relevant material from all previous
  revelations, thereby negating any need for the study of other
  scripture for the purpose of Guidance;

- The Qur'an is the only scripture given to humanity which has
  remained in the pristine condition it was given; and

- The disemination of accurate information within the Bible is an
  arduous task, requiring intense research before even beginning.

As our duty to Allah (SWT), those of us who can pursue such a
course of study should do so, as the understanding of previous
scripture is beneficial to all.  (Especially to those professing
to follow Christ Jesus (PBUH)....)  

However, rather than tackling the morass which is the Bible, (an 
effort similar to picking the sheep with birthmarks out of the 
flock) most students of scripture would find it more expedient to 
study both the Jewish Taurat and the Gospel of Barnabas.  (In the 
original language, if possible.)



-AQ

[I beg Allah's forgiveness for my weakness and insufficiency in ]
['His' service, and I ask for his protection from Shaitan and   ]
[from my own Desires.  None can protect me except Allah.  If I  ]
[have made any errors, I beg Allah to bring them to my attention]
[so that they may be corrected.  If I have made none, then it is]
[only through the Grace of Allah and all praise is due only to  ]
['Him.'                                                         ]