it is true that prophet muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) received his first revelation in his fortieth year. and it is true that both the books of the bible and the qur’an cover much common ground. it is also true that in the course of 23 years, verses were revealed to prophet muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) on different occasions and that he asked his followers to put these verses in particular places in different chapters. all this is true. but the conclusion of the christian critics that the prophet had been memorizing biblical verses during the first 40 years of his life in order to fabricate the qur’an is untenable for the following reasons:

1. there was no arabic translation of the bible available during the prophet’s time.

ernst würthwein informs us in his book is the bible really the source of the qur’an?, the text of the old testament:
“with the victory of islam the use of arabic spread widely and for jews and christians in the conquered lands it became the language of daily life. this gave rise to the need of arabic versions of the bible, which need was met by a number of versions mainly independent and concerned primarily for interpretation.” (ernst würthwein, the text of the old testament (grand rapids, michigan: william b. eerdmans publishing company, 1988, pp. 104.)

thus, the first translations of the hebrew bible in arabic appeared after the advent of islam. in fact, the oldest dated manuscript of the old testament in arabic dates from the first half of the ninth century.

what about the new testament?
sidney h griffith, who has done extensive research on the appearance of arabic and the new testament says:
“the oldest dated manuscript containing the gospels in arabic is sinai arabic ms 72. here the text of the four canonical gospels is marked off according to the lessons of the temporal cycle of the greek liturgical calendar of the jerusalem church. a colophon informs us that the ms was written by stephen of ramleh in the year 284 of the arabs, i.e., 897 ad.” (sidney h griffith, the gospel in arabic: an enquiry into its appearance in the first abbasid century, oriens christianus, volume 69, p. 131-132.)

2. it is well-known that the prophet did not know how to read or write: he was illiterate. so there was no question of his plagiarizing the bible, even if an arabic copy did in fact exist in his time. what then of the charge that he was taught by some christians?

allah the almighty answered the criticism fourteen centuries ago in these verses, which say what means:

*{your companion is neither astray nor being misled. nor does he say [aught] of [his own] desire. it is no less than inspiration sent down to him. he was taught by one mighty in power.}* (an-najm 53:2–5)

*{and thou wast not [able] to recite a book before this [book came] nor art thou [able] to transcribe it with thy right hand: in that case indeed would the talkers of vanities have doubted. nay here are signs self-evident in the hearts of those endowed with knowledge: and none but the unjust reject our signs.}* (al-`ankabut 29:48–49).

*{god doth wish to lighten your [difficulties], for man was created weak [in flesh].}* (an-nisaa’ 4:28)