Answered by: Maulana Mujahid Hussain
Question
I have a question regarding a verse within Surah Yunus Verse 94 (10:94). The verse states that if we (as Muslims) are in doubt with what is revealed, we should read the scriptures that came before us (e.g. the Torah and Gospel) and ask the “People of the Book” to confirm our faith, yet we know that the Jews and Christians are misled and that their holy books have been corrupted. So how are we meant to do this, since we don’t have the original Torah and Gospel?
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
The verse talks about asking them with regards to the stories and lives of the previous prophets mentioned both in the Quran and previous scriptures.
You will find most of the lives of the prophet are agreed upon broadly.
Notice just before the verse in question(10:94) Allah ( s.w.t. ) is speaking about The story of Musa ( a.s) and Haroon (a.s.) and before that, the story of Nuh ( a.s). Have a read of the translation below from verse 71 until verse 96
71. And relate to them the story of Noah, when he said to his people, “O my people, if my presence among you and my reminding you of God’s signs is too much for you, then in God I have put my trust. So come to a decision, you and your partners, and do not let the matter perplex you; then carry out your decision on me, and do not hold back.”
72. “But if you turn away, I have not asked you for any wage. My wage falls only on God, and I was commanded to be of those who submit.”
73. But they denounced him, so We saved him and those with him in the Ark, and We made them successors, and We drowned those who rejected Our signs. So consider the fate of those who were warned.
74. Then, after him, We sent messengers to their people. They came to them with the clear proofs, but they would not believe in anything they had already rejected. Thus We set a seal on the hearts of the hostile.
75. Then, after them, We sent Moses and Aaron with Our proofs to Pharaoh and his dignitaries. But they acted arrogantly. They were sinful people.
76. And when the truth came to them from Us, they said, “This is clearly sorcery.”
77. Moses said, “Is this what you say of the truth when it has come to you? Is this sorcery? Sorcerers do not succeed.”
78. They said, “Did you come to us to divert us from what we found our ancestors following, and so that you become prominent in the land? We will never believe in you.”
79. Pharaoh said, “Bring me every experienced sorcerer.”
80. And when the sorcerers came, Moses said to them, “Throw whatever you have to throw.”
81. And when they threw, Moses said, “What you produced is sorcery, and God will make it fail. God does not foster the efforts of the corrupt.”
82. “And God upholds the truth with His words, even though the sinners detest it.”
83. But none believed in Moses except some children of his people, for fear that Pharaoh and his chiefs would persecute them. Pharaoh was high and mighty in the land. He was a tyrant.
84. Moses said, “O my people, if you have believed in God, then put your trust in Him, if you have submitted.”
85. They said, “In God, we have put our trust. Our Lord, do not make us victims of the oppressive people.”
86. “And deliver us, by Your mercy, from the disbelieving people.”
87. And We inspired Moses and his brother, “Settle your people in Egypt, and make your homes places of worship, and perform the prayer, and give good news to the believers.”
88. Moses said, “Our Lord, you have given Pharaoh and his chiefs splendour and wealth in the worldly life. Our Lord, for them to lead away from Your path. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth, and harden their hearts, they will not believe until they see the painful torment.”
89. He said, “Your prayer has been answered, so go straight, and do not follow the path of those who do not know.”
90. And We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. Pharaoh and his troops pursued them, defiantly and aggressively. Until, when he was about to drown, he said, “I believe that there is no god except the One the Children of Israel believe in, and I am of those who submit.”
91. Now? When you have rebelled before, and been of the mischief-makers?
92. Today We will preserve your body so that you become a sign for those after you. But most people are heedless of Our signs.
93. And We settled the Children of Israel in a position of honour and provided them with good things. They did not differ until the knowledge came to them. Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection regarding their differences.
94. If you are in doubt about what We revealed to you, ask those who read the Scripture before you. The truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be of those who doubt.
This is what Tafseer Al-Baydawawi says :
فإن كُنتَ فِي شَكّ مّمَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ} من القصص على سبيل الفرض والتقدير. {فَاسْأَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقْرَءونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكَ} فإنه محقق عندهم ثابت في كتبهم على نحو ما ألقينا إليك، والمراد تحقيق ذلك والاستشهاد بما في الكتب المتقدمة وأن القرآن مصدق لما فيها، أو وصف أهل الكتاب بالرسوخ في العلم بصحة ما أنزل إليه، أو تهييج الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم وزيادة تثبيته لا إمكان وقوع الشك له ولذلك قال عليه الصلاة والسلام: «
{ لا أشك ولا أسأل }
“. If you are in doubt about what We revealed to you, from these stories..what is meant is if you were to be in doubt, not that the prophet was in doubt ask those who read the Scripture before you for indeed these stories are known to them, established in their books similar to how we have revealed to you. The purpose is to establish the authenticity of these stories and using the previous scriptures as proof for that. and that the Quran confirms these stories. The prophet said about this verse “ I don’t doubt and I will not ask “ .”
This is what Tafseer- Jalalain says
فإن كُنتَ} يا محمد {فِي شَكٍّ مّمَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ} من القصص فرضاً {فَسْئَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ} التوراة {مِن قَبْلِكَ} فإنه ثابت عندهم يخبروك بصدقه قال صلى الله عليه وسلم
لا أشك ولا أسأل
If you O Muhammed are in doubt about what We revealed to you from the stories, ask those who read the Scripture The Torah before you. For these stories are established amongst them. They will confirm the stories to be true The truth has come to you from your Lord, so do not be of those who doubt. The Prophet said “ I DONT DOUBT AND I WILL NOT ASK”
Only Allah Knows best
Written by Maulana Mujahid Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham