Qur'an's Affirmation of Previous Divine Books
The Qur'an was sent as affirmation to all the previous books. (Baqarah, 2/97; Ali 'Imran, 3/3; Ma'idah, 5 /48) Because all divine books came from the same source. The belief of tawhid and the true religion have continued since Prophet Adam and reached perfection with Islam. Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the last link of the chain of prophets. Therefore, it is natural that the Qur'an informs the same basic truths that were revealed to the previous prophets.
From the Qur'an's affirmation of the previous books, it is understood primarily the faith in the oneness of Allah (swt) (tawhid) and the other aspects that are necessary for this belief. Secondly, the Qur'an affirms the moral principles contained in the previous books, such as justice, goodness, chastity, righteousness, halal earnings. Universal provisions, which are for the benefit of all humanity and do not change with the change of nations and time, are among the ones affirmed by the Qur'an. Apart from these, the Qur'an corrects the defects of holy books such as the Torah and the Gospels, which has been partially falsificated over time, and affirms their original state and presents them to humanity in new forms of expression.
The Qur'an also affirms the news of the previous books about the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). Because the previous books foretold the coming of a great prophet in the future. If the Prophet Muhammad (saw) had not come, this news they gave would have been unfounded. By acknowledging these news, the Qur'an affirms and proves the prophethood of not only the Prophet Muhammad (saw) but also all previous prophets.
The Qur'an contains many similar topics with other books. Since He is Allah (swt) who has sent down all the divine books, it is natural to find similarities between them. For example, many of the subjects in the Gospels are also mentioned in the Qur'an. Qur'an mentions Zakariya (Zechariah), Yahya (John), Maryam (Mary) and Isa and the apostles; events such as the heralding of the birth of Isa to Maryam and the miracles of Isa. The similarity of expressions in the following two sections in the Qur'an and the Gospel is remarkable:
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him and their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers- so that Allah (swt) may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah (swt) has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Fath, 48/29)
“He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and planted in his field. though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree. so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew, 13/31-32). Tahir ibn Ashur states that there are similarities between the 29th verse of Surah Fath and some passages of Torah. (Ibn Ashur, XXVI, 207.)
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