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Fatwa CenterMuslim girl with Christian friends wants to read Bible
Question
I'm a Muslim girl and I'm now in USA and I have Christian friends. I want to know more about their religion so I bought a bible and I want to ask you if it is ok if i read it! I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Do not read that book (Bible); it has been changed and corrupted. The Prophet did not allow Umar (
) to read this book as Imams Ahmad and Ad-Darimi narrated that Umar Ibn al-Khattab brought to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) a copy of the Torah and said: "Allah's Messenger, this is a copy of the Torah. He (Allah's Messenger) kept quiet and he (Umar) began to read it. The (colour) of the face of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) underwent a change, whereupon AbuBakr said: Would that your mother mourn you, don't you see the face of Allah's Messenger? Umar saw the face of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) and said: I seek refuge with Allah from the wrath of Allah and the wrath of His Messenger. We are well pleased with Allah as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with Muhammad as Prophet. Whereupon Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: By Him in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad, even if Moses were to appear before you and you were to follow him, leaving me aside, you would certainly stray into error; for if (Moses) were alive (now), and he found my prophetical ministry, he would have definitely followed me".
Imam Ibn Taymiyah said: 'It is not permissible to rely on what the People of the Book narrate or to trust those who narrate from them. This is a consensus of all Muslims. Because the Prophet said: "When the People of the Book tell you something neither accept what they say as a fact nor deny completely as they might tell you something true and you deny it and they might tell you something wrong and you accept it".
If you want details about the changes which have happened in that Book you may refer to the books of Sheikh Deedat and the like. There are two known books on this subject in Arabic language.
1. Al-Jawab al-Sahih Liman Bddala al-Den al-Maseeh (The correct answer to the one who changed the religion of Jesus) written by Ibn Taymiyah.
2. Izhar al-Haq. (Bringing the truth to light). Compiled by the Indian scholar Rahmatullah. Allah has sent us the Qur'an which is the best of all books. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {Is it not sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur'ân) which is recited to them? Verily, herein is mercy and a reminder (or an admonition) for a people who believe.}[29:51].
On the other hand, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that living in a non-Muslim country is not permissible. Read the Fatawa:81464 and 81642.
Know also that befriending males is not permissible whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. If a woman is in dire need to meet a man it should be in the limits of necessity, taking into consideration all the manners of Shariah such as not being in seclusion with him, covering her whole body and not being soft in speech, etc.
Allah knows best.
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