Muslims often assert that the Qur’an continues or corrects the earlier Scriptures—especially the Old Testament. But a careful comparison shows the Qur’an diverges significantly in authorship, content, theology, and purpose. These are not merely two different books; they represent two distinct theological worlds. Below are several contrasts that highlight why Christians affirm the uniqueness of the Old Testament and question the Qur’an’s claim to be part of its legacy.

Authorship and Origin

The Old Testament was written by a wide array of authors—Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Agur, Lemuel, and many others, some unknown. This diverse authorship reflects a multi-generational and multi-contextual engagement with God’s revelation. The Qur’an, on the other hand, was recited solely by Muhammad, and Muslims believe it was delivered to him by the angel Jibril over 23 years. The OT is a record of God’s covenantal dealings with His people through many voices; the Qur’an is the monologue of a single man claiming to speak for God.

Time Span of Composition

The Old Testament took shape over nearly 900 years, from roughly the 15th to 5th centuries BC. This long development allowed for historical depth, theological reflection, and cultural interaction. The Qur’an was completed within just a few decades—beginning around 610 AD and ending with Muhammad’s death in 632. This contrast in timeframes gives the Old Testament a historical and literary richness the Qur’an does not match.

Structure and Volume

The Old Testament is a library of 39 books, encompassing various literary forms and theological themes. The Qur’an is a single book, divided into 114 surahs. In terms of size, the Old Testament is at least five times longer than the Qur’an, and it spans far more topics and voices. Christians and Jews read it as a collection of texts that together form a comprehensive witness to God’s redemptive plan in history.

Literary Diversity

The Old Testament includes historical narrative, covenant law, poetry, proverbs, worship songs, prophetic oracles, wisdom literature, and love poetry. Books like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon highlight its literary depth and emotional breadth. The Qur’an, by contrast, is mostly composed of exhortations, commands, repeated warnings to unbelievers, and brief allusions to stories with minimal context. It lacks the narrative and reflective qualities that give the Old Testament its richness.

Narrative Framework

The Old Testament is framed within a unified, overarching narrative: creation, fall, covenant, redemption, exile, and restoration. This metanarrative allows for deep theological reflection and historical continuity. The Qur’an, however, does not have a continuous storyline. It consists mostly of non-chronological revelations. As a result, Muslims depend heavily on Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) and Sira (biographies of Muhammad) to contextualize the Qur’an’s verses—something not needed for the Bible.

The Central Figure

In the Old Testament, God is the central character. Though human figures like Moses, David, and Elijah play important roles, the narrative consistently directs attention to God’s character, purposes, and covenant with His people. In the Qur’an, however, Muhammad is the focal point. Entire passages seem to exist primarily to vindicate or justify his personal life and actions. Surah 66, for example, records God reprimanding Muhammad’s wives and affirming Muhammad’s right to override his own oaths. According to some Muslim scholars, this refers either to staying too long with Zaynab due to her honey or sleeping with a slave girl in one of his wives’ quarters. Either way, the divine approval of Muhammad’s domestic preferences contrasts sharply with the prophetic self-restraint and accountability depicted in the Old Testament.

Theological Depth and Portrait of God

The God of the Old Testament reveals Himself through dialogue, action, covenant, and presence. He speaks in thunder at Sinai, walks with Adam in the garden, and wrestles with Jacob. His character is complex—merciful and just, holy and loving. In contrast, Allah in the Qur’an is distant, mainly defined by power, will, and judgment. His commands are often repetitive, and his relationship to humanity lacks the covenantal warmth found in Scripture. The portrayal is more formulaic than personal.

Human Nature and Moral Transparency

The Old Testament presents its heroes with all their flaws. Moses disobeys and is barred from the Promised Land. David commits adultery and murder. Aaron helps build a golden calf. These moral failings are not hidden but used to show the need for grace, repentance, and divine redemption. The Qur’an, by contrast, presents Muhammad as the “uswa hasana”—the perfect model (Surah 33:21)—and rarely acknowledges any flaws. Even actions that might be morally questionable (e.g., marrying his adopted son’s ex-wife in Surah 33:37) are justified by divine command. The contrast could not be starker.

Use (and Misuse) of Shared Stories

The Qur’an contains partial retellings of stories from the Bible, but often they are decontextualized and theologically altered. For example, the Qur’an includes the parable Nathan tells to David about the rich man and the lamb, but omits the crucial backstory: David’s sin with Bathsheba. Likewise, Moses’ exclusion from the Promised Land is absent. The Qur’an often removes the narrative depth and moral complexity that give these stories their full meaning in Scripture.

Language and Accessibility

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, and was translated early into other languages—most notably the Septuagint in Greek. In Nehemiah 8:8, the Levites interpret and explain the Scriptures to the people in a language they can understand. Christianity and Judaism have always embraced translation as a means of spreading God’s Word. Islam, however, insists that the Qur’an can only truly be read in Arabic. Translations are considered interpretations, not the Qur’an itself. This theological attachment to Arabic limits the Qur’an’s accessibility and universality.

Final Reflections: Not Two Sides of the Same Coin

The Old Testament and the Qur’an may share superficial similarities—monotheism, prophets, references to Abraham—but they emerge from entirely different worldviews. The Old Testament presents a God who reveals Himself over centuries, enters into covenant with His people, holds even His chosen leaders accountable, and prepares the way for a coming Redeemer. The Qur’an presents a god who speaks largely to endorse Muhammad’s authority, with a far less developed theology of sin, grace, or redemption.

For Christians, these differences are not merely stylistic. They speak to the heart of who God is, how He relates to humanity, and how we are to understand revelation itself.

Further Reading

  • Gordon Nickel, The Gentle Answer to the Muslim Accusation of Scriptural Falsification (2020)
  • James R. White, What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur’an (2013)
  • Mark Durie, The Qur’an and Its Biblical Reflexes (2018)
  • Kenneth Cragg, The Call of the Minaret
  • William Lane Craig, “Revelation and Authority in Islam” – Reasonable Faith