Question
Isn’t Islam related to the Bible? I know they have the Qur’an to go off of but where did they get the information about the prophets in the first place? And if they believe in those propherts why don’t they believe in the Bible if the information is the same?
Answer
Islam contains some of the information that is found in the Bible. The relationship is – from a believer’s perspective – that whatever coincides with the Qur’an in the Bible is agreeable. Islam is the continuation of God’s message to humanity and whatever came before it, if it was corrupted, was corrected. Since Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the word of God then the source of information about the Prophets is from God. The Bible and the Qur’an are very different books even with the similarities of personalities, circumstances and message. Thus, the source of the Qur’an is not the Bible and the information is not all the same. In fact, there are some very significant divergent points that affect the overall doctrine of the religions. So while Islam reinforces the belief in the Prophets of the Bible it does not allow certain ideological concepts found in it.
It should be emphasized that both the Quran and the (original) Bible were revealed by God. However, the Quran – according to Muslim beliefs – has not been corrupted like parts of Bible therefore the Quran is the criteria to understand what parts of Bible seem to be original and reliable.
To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. – Al Ma’idah 5:48
A closer examination will reveal that the general theme of the New Testament is parallel to the concept of Hikmah (belief and morals) in the Qur’an; the Old Testament’s general theme, on the other hand, corresponds to the Kitab (Shari’ah/Islamic Law) of the Qur’an.
Please keep in mind that Muslims do believe that the Bible too was a revelation of God. However, being a later revelation the Muslim’s follow the Qur’an. Also, that the Muslims believe that religion in its final shape, as preferred by God, is given in the Qur’an. The similarities, primarily relate to historical events which obviously should not change even in a new revelation.
I hope this helps.
God knows best.