Understanding the Difference Between the Jewish Torah and the Islamic Tawrah
Introduction to the Torah
The Torah, often referred to as the lsquo;Five Books of Mosesrsquo; in Judaism, is a fundamental text that serves as a cornerstone of Jewish religious, cultural, and historical identity. It is regarded as the embodiment of divine law and wisdom, containing narratives, moral commandments, and legal ordinances.
Structure and Content of the Torah
The Torah is structured primarily as narrative prose, interwoven with poetry, legal instructions, genealogies, and prophetic passages. It narrates the beginning of the world, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, and their journey towards the Promised Land. These stories are told through the lens of historical events and important figures like Moses. Law and moral teachings are interwoven throughout the text, making it crucial for both religious and ethical guidance.
For example, the legal sections of the Torah provide detailed instructions concerning social conduct, religious practices, and civil law. The narrative passages recount the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness and their encounters with God. Prophetic passages offer insights, warnings, and guidance to future generations. The traditional viewpoint is that Moses is the narrator, and the text is primarily written in the third person. However, there are instances where the text directly quotes Moses as speaking or relaying divine messages.
The Islamic Perspective on the Tawrah
In Islam, the concept of the Tawrah is closely linked to the belief in the direct revelation from Allah to Prophet Moses. Muslims believe that the Tawrah, or rather, the original unaltered version of the Torah, was divinely revealed. However, according to Islamic orthodoxy, human corruption and misinterpretation have significantly altered the original text, rendering it no longer reliable for doctrine or practice.
Corruption of the Tawrah in Islam
Islamic texts often assert that the original Torah was pristine and infallible. According to the Qur'an, this pristine version is akin to the Qur'an itself, bearing the exact words of Allah in prose form. This belief is supported by several verses, such as Qur'an 2:79, which warns against altering the divine texts.
The Qur'an frequently criticizes the Jews for straying from the true path. It accuses them of corruption, idolatry, and false worship, including the worship of Ezra (known as ldquo;Uzairrdquo;) as a divinity. This accusation is particularly problematic since there is no historical evidence of such worship practices. Although scholars often identify Ezra as a reference to the biblical Ezra, the Qur'an's portrayal is inconsistent with established historical records.
Quotations and Allegations
One of the most prominent examples of the Qur'an referencing the Tawrah is found in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:45). This verse is purported to reflect a principle found in the Torah concerning retribution and justice: ldquo;an eye for an eyerdquo;. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the Qur'an has paraphrased and adapted this concept rather than quoting it verbatim.
A closer look at the source, Leviticus 24:17-20, reveals the original text and its context. The sentence structure and wording in the Qur'an diverge significantly, indicating a lack of direct citation. This leads to the conclusion that the Qur'an is not reproducing divine revelation but rather adapting a familiar concept for its own theological purposes.
This discrepancy becomes even more pronounced in the case of Surah Al-Maidah (5:32), where the Qur'an claims a divine decree enshrining the principle of retribution and justice. Upon closer examination, this principle originates from the Talmud, specifically the Mishnah. The Qur'an is again adapting and misattributing a concept without a proper corroborated source.
Furthermore, the Qur'an introduces a more violent legal framework in Surah Al-Maidah (5:33), suggesting that earlier principles of retribution were inadequate. This new law, however, stands in sharp contrast to the peace-promoting spirit of the original source. The Qur'an's claim of adopting such a principle from a divine source is therefore highly dubious.
Conclusions and Reflections
The study of both the Jewish Torah and the Islamic Tawrah reveals significant differences in their structure, content, and the way they are viewed. While the Torah is a historical text with divine and historical credibility, the Tawrah as presented in the Qur'an is a more complex and often conflicting portrayal.
This paper concludes that the Tawrah in Islam is not a direct continuation or verbatim representation of the original Torah. Instead, it is a reinterpretation that serves the theological and ideological goals of the early Muslim community. The discrepancy in the references and the adapted principles suggest that the Tawrah as understood in Islam is more a reflection of Muhammad's own interpretation and imagination, rather than a direct divine revelation.
Ultimately, the understanding of both texts remains important for understanding the religious and cultural heritage of Judaism and Islam, as well as the historical and theological development of these faiths.