Quora Answer: Did Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) Read the Bible?

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Did Muhammad (s.a.w.) read the Bible or other books?  How did he narrate the stories of Noah (a.s.), Adam (a.s.), Moses (a.s.), and others?” 

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was ummi, meaning that he was unlettered.  He could neither read, nor write, at the beginning of his prophethood.  As such, he was not in a position to read any books.  That being said, the Arabs of Makkah were not unfamiliar with the Christian and Jewish traditions, and stories.  There was a sizeable Jewish community in Yathrib, to the north.  There was a sizeable Christian community in Najran, to the south.  All these settlements were along the trade route that paralleled the coast, through the oasis on the higher lands.  The polytheist Arabs were certainly familiar with the stories from the Jews, particularly their wait for the eschatological prophet.  The Christians were a significant presence, whether Nestorian, Ethiopian Orthodox or other groups driven there by the Eastern Roman Empire. 

Within the context of Islam, Muhammad (s.a.w.) did not set out to create a new faith.  Islam was always viewed as a continuation of the Abrahamic tradition, and as such, looked to the same prophets and other personalities.  The Arabs themselves were descended from one of these very personalities mentioned in the Torah, Ishmael (a.s.).  The Qur’an is interesting that it Mentions many of these stories and events in passing, assuming that the reader is already familiar with the Old Testament, and the Gospels.  It does not recount them in detail, except to point out corrections, where the Muslims contend the Christians and the Jews were mistaken.  An example would be the details shown in the story of Joseph (a.s.).  Another example is the sacrifice of Abraham (a.s.): the Book of Genesis states that Abraham (a.s.) attempted to sacrifice his firstborn, Isaac (a.s.); the Qur’an States his firstborn was Ishmael (a.s.). 

Islam understand that there are many prophets, but only one prophethood.  This is the same with Judaism and Christianity.  Where they disagree here is in the identity of the eschatological recipient of Revelation.  Islam claims it is Muhammad (s.a.w.), Christianity claims it is Jesus (a.s.), and Judaism claims he is yet to come, in fulfillment of the prophecy in the Book of Daniel.