Quran 2.4 — Distortion of Revelation and the Trial of Faith (2:74–101)

Quran 2:74–82

74. Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allāh. And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.

75. Do you covet [the hope, O believers], that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allāh and then distort it [i.e., the Torah] after they had understood it while they were knowing?

76. And when they meet those who believe, they say, “We have believed”; but when they are alone with one another, they say, “Do you talk to them about what Allāh has revealed to you so they can argue with you about it before your Lord?” Then will you not reason?

77. But do they not know that Allāh knows what they conceal and what they declare?

78. And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except [indulgement in] wishful thinking, but they are only assuming.

79. So woe to those who write the “scripture” with their own hands, then say, “This is from Allāh,” in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.

80. And they say, “Never will the Fire touch us, except for [a few] numbered days.” Say, “Have you taken a covenant with Allāh? For Allāh will never break His covenant. Or do you say about Allāh that which you do not know?”

81. Yes, [on the contrary], whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him – those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.

82. But they who believe and do righteous deeds – those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally. ^*

Eternal Punishment and the Measure of Mercy

The verse is true, except for the final additions that speak of eternal burning in hell and endless idle bliss in paradise. The Almighty is absolute mercy and justice. Eternal torment does not correspond to that nature.

If a person believes that eternal reward is guaranteed, or that eternal punishment is imposed without end, conscience becomes silent. When fear replaces discernment, and reward replaces growth, faith is distorted.

Salvation is not secured by belonging to a particular people or religion, nor by the mechanical repetition of prayers. It is determined by the state of the soul.

Quran 2:83–86

83. And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], “Do not worship except Allāh; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakāh.” Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.

84. And [recall] when We took your covenant, [saying], “Do not shed your [i.e., each other’s] blood or evict one another from your homes.” Then you acknowledged [this] while you were witnessing.

85. Then, you are those [same ones who are] killing one another and evicting a party of your people from their homes, cooperating against them in sin and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their eviction was forbidden to you. So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.

86. Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.

Partial Faith and Blind Repetition

After falsifying the truths of the Holy Quran, they write:
“Is it that you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part?”

In one verse, violence is invoked in the name of Moses; in another, killing is condemned. Yet people are instructed to believe in everything that is written.

Many servants of religion do not recognize the light of truth within the distortions. They repeat what is written without discernment.

Darkness and light can only be understood by analyzing the texts through the voice of the Creator — conscience. The level of the soul determines the strength of faith and the understanding of good and evil.

Quran 2:87–92

87. And We did certainly give Moses the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel]. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.

88. And they said, “Our hearts are wrapped.” But, [in fact], Allāh has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is it that they believe.

89. And when there came to them a Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] from Allāh confirming that which was with them – although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved – but [then] when there came to them that which they recognized, they disbelieved in it; so the curse of Allāh will be upon the disbelievers.

90. How wretched is that for which they sold themselves – that they would disbelieve in what Allāh has revealed through [their] outrage that Allāh would send down His favor upon whom He wills from among His servants. So they returned having [earned] wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.

91. And when it is said to them, “Believe in what Allāh has revealed,” they say, “We believe [only] in what was revealed to us.” And they disbelieve in what came after it, while it is the truth confirming that which is with them. Say, “Then why did you kill the prophets of Allāh before, if you are [indeed] believers?”

92. And Moses had certainly brought you clear proofs. Then you took the calf [in worship] after that, while you were wrongdoers.

Mercy Instead of Curse

The Almighty does not curse and does not turn away. He grants time — until the Day of Judgment. He remains absolute mercy and justice.

Threats from an allegedly angry Creator do not generate true faith. Fear may enforce obedience, but it does not cultivate understanding.

True faith arises from learning to listen to the voice of the Creator — conscience.

Ritual acts performed without discernment do not restore the teaching. When sacrifice replaces understanding, distortion persists.

Quran 2:93–101

93. And [recall] when We took your covenant and raised over you the mount, [saying], “Take what We have given you with determination and listen.” They said [instead], “We hear and disobey.” And their hearts absorbed [the worship of] the calf because of their disbelief. Say, “How wretched is that which your faith enjoins upon you, if you should be believers.”

94. Say, [O Muḥammad], “If the home of the Hereafter with Allāh is for you alone and not the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful.”

95. But never will they wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And Allāh is Knowing of the wrongdoers.

96. And you will surely find them the most greedy of people for life – [even] more than those who associate others with Allāh. One of them wishes that he could be granted life a thousand years, but it would not remove him in the least from the [coming] punishment that he should be granted life. And Allāh is Seeing of what they do.

97. Say, “Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel – it is [none but] he who has brought it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down upon your heart, [O Muḥammad], by permission of Allāh, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers.”

98. Whoever is an enemy to Allāh and His angels and His messengers and Gabriel and Michael – then indeed, Allāh is an enemy to the disbelievers.

99. And We have certainly revealed to you verses [which are] clear proofs, and no one would deny them except the defiantly disobedient.

100. Is it not [true] that every time they took a covenant a party of them threw it away? But, [in fact], most of them do not believe.

101. And when a messenger from Allāh came to them confirming that which was with them, a party of those who had been given the Scripture threw the Scripture of Allāh [i.e., the Torah] behind their backs as if they did not know [what it contained].

Two Truths and the Historical Layer of Distortion

This verse is true, yet it contains another dimension. Often truth consists of two opposing truths. If one is hidden, the other can lead down a false path.

And here is the second truth: just as lies were invented in the name of Moses, so too were lies later invented in the name of Muhammad.

There was a time when the true Scripture was preserved in Judea. It was later lost when members of the original priesthood were killed and their writings destroyed. After political upheaval, Roman authority reshaped the region. Herod I (Herod the Great), a Roman citizen, was installed as ruler over Judea. Religious leadership became intertwined with imperial power, and the original teaching was no longer faithfully preserved.

For a broader historical discussion of Herod I and the Roman political context:
Revelation 13:18 — Herod and Rome and Truth About Christianity.

In that era, John the Baptist and later Jesus (Isa) were sent to restore the true teaching. Yet corruption within religious structures persisted. Later, Muhammad came with the same goal, but his teaching, like that of Isa, was also later altered.

Thus, distortions can be found within the Bible, the Quran, and the Tanakh. The Almighty permitted this so that humanity might learn to distinguish darkness from light.

* The text of the Quran is quoted from the Surah Al-Baqarah – 1-286 – Quran.com (Translation by Saheeh International) ↑ back