The Tawrat (Arabic: التوراة), or the Torah, holds a pivotal and revered position in Islamic theology as one of the major divine scriptures and holy books revealed by Allah (God) before the Quran. It is a fundamental article of faith for Muslims to believe in all the Books of Allah, and the Tawrat stands as the sacred Book given to the great Prophet Musa (Moses), peace be upon him, for the guidance and light of the Children of Israel.
This extremely detailed guide explores the essential understanding of the Tawrat from an Islamic perspective, incorporating crucial Quranic verses and Hadith references to provide a comprehensive and faith-affirming resource. We will delve into its acknowledged divine origin, its primary purpose as a source of law and morality, the concept of its confirmation by the Injil and the Quran, and the theological doctrine of its subsequent alteration (Tahrif).
The Tawrat as a Divine Book
In Islam, the belief in the Divine Books is the third pillar of faith (Iman). The Tawrat is unequivocally affirmed as one of these sacred scriptures, revealed as a source of guidance and light (Hudan wa Nur) for the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab).
The Quranic Affirmation
Allah confirms the Tawrat’s divine origin, stating that it was sent down directly to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him).
Arabic: إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ
Transliteration: Inna anzalna al-Tawrata fiha hudan wa nur.
English Translation: “Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.” – (Quran, Surah Al-Maidah, 5:44)
This verse highlights the Tawrat’s primary purpose: to illuminate the path of righteousness for its followers, containing God’s law and wisdom. The Quran unequivocally confirms the divine origin of the Tawrat, recognizing it as a direct revelation from Allah to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him). This scripture is characterized by God as possessing both Hudan (guidance) and Nur (light), establishing its sacred authority and purpose. This affirmation is essential to the Islamic faith, as it places the Tawrat within the continuum of God’s perfect, original monotheistic message.
Prophet Musa
The initial and most potent instance of the Tawrat’s revelation occurred when Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) ascended Mount Sinai (Jabal Musa) to receive direct commandments from Allah. This seminal event underscores the divine, miraculous origin of the scripture. The Tawrat was not initially revealed as a bound book, but inscribed upon sacred Tablets (Alwah).
The Source of Guidance
The Quran details this momentous occasion, emphasizing the nature of the Tablets as containing every kind of instruction and detailed clarification, thus serving as a complete code of conduct for the Children of Israel.
Arabic: وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا بِأَحْسَنِهَا سَأُرِيكُمْ دَارَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
Transliteration: Wa katabna lahu fi al-alwahi min kulli shayin mawidhatan wa tafsilan li-kulli shayin fakhudhha bi-quwwatin wa mur qawmaka yakhudhu bi-ahsaniha sa’urikum dara al-fasiqin.
English Translation: “And We wrote for him upon the tablets [some instruction] of everything – as instruction and explanation for all things. [Say], ‘Take them with firmness and order your people to take the best of it. I will show you the home of the defiantly disobedient.'” – (Quran, Surah Al-A’raf, 7:145)
This verse confirms that the original Tawrat, as inscribed on the Alwah, was comprehensive (tafsilan li-kulli shayin) and required firm adherence (fakhudhha bi-quwwatin). The commandments included the fundamentals of Tawhid (Oneness of God) and moral laws, representing the pure, unadulterated divine message. Belief in these divinely inscribed Tablets is a core component of the Islamic understanding of the Tawrat.
The Purpose of the Tawrat
The Tawrat contained essential principles of monotheism (Tawhid) and laid down a comprehensive legal code for the Children of Israel. It was the law by which the Prophets and scholars judged.
Justice and Retribution
One of the most well-known commandments affirmed in both the Tawrat and the Quran is the principle of equal retribution, demonstrating a consistent theme of justice in God’s divine law across different dispensations.
Arabic: وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالْأَنفَ بِالْأَنفِ وَالْأُذُنَ بِالْأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ
Transliteration: Wa katabna alayhim fiha anna al-nafsa bil-nafsi wal-ayna bil-ayni wal-anfa bil-anfi wal-udhuna bil-udhuni wal-sinna bil-sinni wal-juruha qisas.
English Translation: “And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution.” – (Quran, Surah Al-Maidah, 5:45)
The Tawrat contained a detailed legal code for the Children of Israel, prominently featuring the principle of equal retribution, or Qisas, as a fundamental tenet of divine justice. The Quran confirms this specific law, known as “an eye for an eye,” revealing a consistent and universal standard of fairness across God’s revelations. This shared commandment ensures that punishment strictly corresponds to the injury committed, reinforcing the sanctity of life and body in the divine law given to Prophet Musa.
Confirmation by Later Scriptures
A key concept in understanding the Tawrat in Islam is that the subsequent revelations, the Injil (Gospel) given to Prophet Isa (Jesus) and finally the Quran given to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), came to confirm the preceding Books.
The Injil Confirms the Tawrat
Prophet Isa (peace be upon him) was sent to the Children of Israel to confirm the truth of the Tawrat and clarify certain legal matters.
Arabic: وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آثَارِهِم بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ
Transliteration: Wa qaffayna ala atharihim bi-Isa ibni Maryama musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi min al-Tawrat.
English Translation: “And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah.” – (Quran, Surah Al-Maidah, 5:46)
Prophet Isa (Jesus), the son of Mary (peace be upon him), was sent specifically to the Children of Israel, not to abolish the divine law contained in the Tawrat, but to confirm its essential truth (musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi min al-Tawrat). The revelation of the Injil (Gospel) served to re-affirm the core principles of monotheism and the law of Moses, while also bringing clarifications and making permissible some things that were previously forbidden to the Israelites. This relationship illustrates the continuity of prophetic missions and divine guidance.
The Quran Confirms All Divine Books
The Quran, as the final revelation, also confirms the original truth of the Tawrat and the Injil, standing as a witness over them.
Arabic: نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ
Transliteration: Nazzala alayka al-kitaba bil-haqqi musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi wa anzala al-Tawrata wal-Injil.
English Translation: “He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book [the Quran] in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.” – (Quran, Surah Al-Imran, 3:3)
The Quran, as the final and complete revelation (al-Kitab), does not negate the previous scriptures; rather, it confirms the original truth and core monotheistic message of both the Tawrat (Torah) and the Injil (Gospel). It serves as a Musaddiq (confirming witness) over them, restoring any truths that may have been altered and finalizing the divine law for all of humanity. This relationship establishes the continuity of God’s universal message across different prophets and eras.
The Matter of Alteration (Tahrif)
The Islamic belief regarding the currently existing Torah (Jewish Tanakh/Pentateuch) is complex, centering on the concept of Tahrif (alteration or corruption). Muslims believe that while the original Tawrat was a perfect, uncorrupted divine revelation, over time, certain passages were either misunderstood, misinterpreted, or deliberately altered by some of its custodians.
This is why the Quran is necessary, it restores and confirms the original truth of God’s message.
The Prophetic Description in the Tawrat
One of the most powerful references to the Tawrat in Hadith literature is the assertion that it contained clear signs and descriptions of the final Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Hadith Reference (Sahih al-Bukhari 2125, partial quote):
Arabic (Partial): إِنَّهُ لَمَوْصُوفٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ بِبَعْضِ صِفَتِهِ فِي الْقُرْآنِ
Transliteration (Partial): Innahu la-mawsufun fi al-Tawrati bi-badi sifatihi fi al-Qur’an.
English Translation (Concept derived from the Hadith): “He [the Prophet Muhammad] is surely described in the Torah with some of his descriptions found in the Quran…” (The full Hadith narrates the Prophet’s characteristics of gentleness and forgiveness).
A pivotal Islamic belief is that the original, true Tawrat contained unequivocal prophecies concerning the arrival of the final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This assertion is powerfully affirmed in Hadith, confirming that the characteristics of the Prophet, such as his gentleness and forgiveness, were described within the text revealed to Moses. This acts as crucial evidence of the continuity of God’s message and the prophethood of Muhammad, confirming his status to the People of the Book.
Conclusion
The Tawrat is an inseparable part of the Islamic understanding of divine history. It is revered as a sacred book of guidance, containing the divine law revealed to Prophet Musa, a messenger chosen by God. The Muslim faith requires belief in the Tawrat’s original, pure form as part of the continuity of God’s message, which reached its final, preserved form in the Holy Quran. It serves as a testament to the unchanging monotheistic message sent through all the prophets, from Musa to Isa to Muhammad (peace be upon them all).
This deep theological appreciation for the Tawrat makes it a vital topic for religious study and interfaith dialogue today, and a high-value search term for individuals exploring the origins of Abrahamic religions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Tawrat mentioned in the Quran?
Yes, the Tawrat is mentioned multiple times in the Quran. It is explicitly named and affirmed as one of the divine books revealed by Allah. The Quran establishes the Tawrat’s status as a source of “guidance and light” (Hudan wa Nur) for the Children of Israel.
Is the Tawrat the same as the Jewish Torah today?
Muslims believe the original Tawrat is not exactly the same as the Torah that exists today. Islamic theology asserts the doctrine of Tahrif (alteration or corruption). While the core message of monotheism remains, Muslims believe the text has undergone changes, including misinterpretations, omissions, and additions over time. The Quran and the Sunnah serve as the final standard for truth.
Who was the Prophet given the Tawrat?
The Tawrat was revealed to the great Prophet Musa (Moses), peace be upon him. He received the original text inscribed on the Alwah (Tablets) on Mount Sinai, as described both in the Quran and the preceding religious texts.
What was the purpose of the Tawrat?
The primary purpose was to provide divine law, moral instruction, and comprehensive guidance to the Children of Israel. It established the strict rules of Tawhid (monotheism) and laid down detailed legal codes, including principles of justice like Qisas (retribution), as confirmed in Surah Al-Maidah (5:45).
Does the Quran confirm or reject the Tawrat?
The Quran confirms the original, true message of the Tawrat. The Quran refers to itself as a musaddiq (confirming witness) for the scriptures that came before it, including the Tawrat and the Injil (Gospel). This signifies a continuity of the essential message of submission to God.
Are there prophecies about Prophet Muhammad in the Tawrat?
Yes, according to Islamic belief, the original Tawrat contained clear prophecies about the coming of the final Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him). Both the Quran and the Hadith assert that the People of the Book recognized his description in their scriptures, demonstrating that all divine revelations point toward the ultimate truth of Islam.
