Demystifying TANAKH

A. Background:

1. I have no pretension to accept that my knowledge of TANAKH is very limited and to

be sure it was only on these TOPIX threads that I heard this name.

2. In my early days, like all Muslims of my age, I thought that Jews were given the book
of Torah and David was given the book of ZABUR (Psalm) and Jesus was given the book
of INJEEL (Gospel).

3. I was also told that these books do not exist any more in their original forms and have
been corrupted and changed by their followers. To what extent, I had no knowledge, but
enough to make them unreliable to be dogmatic about them.

4. I studied in class 8 to 12 in a Christian Missionary School and one of the subjects they
taught us was “Bible Study”. It was not compulsory and no exams were taken. Each
year they will give us one “Gospel” to study…I went thru Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and
Luke in my first three years….

5. I used to think that since I am not Christian, they are not giving me the “Gospel of
Jesus”, I did not know who were there Matthew, Mark and Luke… and how can they
write INJEEL, which was the “Book” given by Allah to Jesus.

6. I distinctly remember that before the “general assembly” of students which started at
09:50 AM, our Christian Teachers used to gather in a hall and recite some songs in a joint
voice. Each of them had a book in his hand and would read from it. It made a good
impression…..I do not know from which book they all read , but now my hunch is, that it
must be from book of Psalms.

7. After coming out from that Christian School , I went to University and got busy in my
Science and Engineering degrees … having no time or intention to learn about
Christianity or Bible….

8. No one discussed about religion with any body else. Hindus, Muslims , Christians and
Sikhs they were all in one class and being friends with each other and not talking or
asking about their religions. We all seem to “Know” that we are on right path and the
other guy is “Going to hell for worshipping false gods or by making partners with god)

9. Any religious studies during my college and my education days were restricted to my
own religion, knowledge about other religion was only from hearsay and what we picked
up from our books.
10. After serving for six years in India, I got an opportunity to get job in Saudi Arabia
and there I heard for the first time Mr. Ahmad Deedat about Christianity and Bible. It got
me excited and I ordered his tapes from Saudi Arabia and then I got Urdu Translation of
IZHARUL HAQ (The Book often referred to by Mr. Deedat is his lectures).

11. The original book is in Arabic and written almost 150 years back by Maulana
Rahmatullah Keeranvi of India after his famous debate with Rev. Founders. The Urdu
Translation is called “From Bible to Quran”, it is in three volumes and notes and
commentaries are done by Maulana Taqi Usmani of Pakistan.

12. After reading that book, I really got to know what is Bible and how it is divided into
two main parts and who wrote what and what is its status as a source and as a foundation
of religion. Then I got to know about history of Biblical Canon, how it “evolved” and
then ‘Devolved” after the protestant movement.

13. In 1988, I purchased my own copy of RSV and read it page by page and compared it
with the books that I read…slowly and slowly I built up my knowledge and
understanding of Bible
B. Bible Division into OT and NT:

1. Any revelation before Jesus is considered Old Testament and Books written after Jesus
were called New Testament.

2. I came to know for the first time that numbers of books in Roman Catholics and
Protestant Christians are different. Protestants accept only 39 books and Roman
Catholics accept 46 books belonging to their Canon.

3. I also came to know that how different Christian Councils decided as to what part to
include in the Canon….and how the protestants went back on the decision of these
Councils and threw away those 7 books from their Bible.

4. I also came to know that Roman Catholics base their translation on Greek Translation
of OT Books (it is also called Septuagint Translation and was one time considered very
reliable by the Jews, but when Christians started using it, they discarded it and started
using Hebrew manuscripts.)

5. Protestants also used Hebrew manuscripts for their OT portion and they also stopped
using Greek and Latin Manuscripts of these books.

6. There are bound to be contradictions and errors when Hebrew Manuscripts and Greek
Manuscripts are compared verses by verses. That is understandable, but what is not
understandable is the mistakes, errors and confusion between different Hebrew
manuscripts. I was told that no two ancient manuscripts of ANY OT or NT books are
identical with each other!!.

7. Whenever anyone looks at the English Bible, he sees that many verses have foot notes
saying that “Some Old Manuscripts” or “Some Very Old Manuscripts” or “Other ancient
manuscripts” use such and such word in place of the words used in translation. These are
technical terms and their actual meanings are hidden from the common man, who does
not know what they actually mean.

8. Then there is something called “Errata” which we also see in footnotes after many
verses. It means that manuscript has clear error in this passage, but the translators have
no answer as to how to account for it. Some of the mistakes and errors are very evident
and any average reader can detect it, some are hidden and only experts can find out what
is the mistake.

9. I was quite content with my knowledge of OT books when I came to these threads and
a totally New Word came into my ears.
C- TANAKH : What it is?

1. I had heard the world like Talmud, MITHNA etc as Jewish books of laws and oral
laws and commentary of those OT books….but then some one on these threads
mentioned the name TANAKH, as Jewish Scriptures, and I was taken by surprise. I had
not heard this word before, and from where a “New set of Scriptures” came into being.

2. Then some one on the thread de-mystified the situation by telling that TANAKH is
actually an acronym. Now people in this modern age are familiar with acronyms and
wonder what the world would become if these acronyms were replaced by their actual
long worded equivalents.

3. So TANAKH is acronym for Torah + Prophets + Scriptures (In Jewish language Torah
+ Nevie’m + Ktuvim) , In Arabic language it is TORAH + NABIEEIEN + KUTUB (In
words of Jesus, Torah, prophets and Books). The original books are in Hebrew, the Same
or Almost same manuscripts which Protestants Used for their OT books.

4. So I looked on Internet site and found that in content TANAKH is same as protestants
OT books. The total number of books in TANAKH is also 39 as number of books in
Protestant OT. They use the same or similar Hebrew Manuscripts. Only the ORDER in
which these books are placed is different.

5. In Jewish Canon they firs have 5 books of Torah, then they have 21 books of prophet
followed by 14 Books of Scripture and the total is 39 books.

6. In the Protest Canon they have 5 Book of Torah , then 2 books of prophets (Joshua and
Judges), then 1 book of Scripture (Ruth), and then 4 books of Prophets (1& 2 Sam, 1 & 2
Kings), then 10 Books of Scriptures (1 & 2 Chronicles , Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job…)
followed by 16 books of Prophets and sandwiched is the Book of Daniel called as
scripture by Jews and the sum total is again 39 books.

7. Now as to which arrangement is as per God’ direction, I reserve my judgment, but my

hunch is that, it has nothing to do with God’ instructions. It was made by Jewish scholars
and Christian priests. They just followed the particular manuscripts they had with them
followed the arrangement of books as in that manuscript.

8. In following pages I will highlight some of the commonalities between Protestant’ OT

and Jewish TANAKH
D. Comparing OT and TANAKH Texts :

The first point is about the numbers of chapters and number of verses in each of the book
and each of the chapter of that book. This will show how these two sets of documents
differ with each other. I have verified these books and my report on completeness is as
below:

1 The First Five Books (The Pentateuch or Torah of Jews):

a. The First Book -Genesis (Called BERIESHT): It has 50 chapters in both versions.
The number of versions are exactly same in the two versions, except the last verse of
Chapter 31 of OT is the first verse of Chapter 32 of TANAKH, so total number of verses
are same i.e. 1535

b. The second book - Exodus (called SHEMOS): Both versions have 38 chapters and
number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly with each other, except the same
phenomenon for Chapter 21 & 22 where the last verse of TANAKH is the first verse of
OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are same i.e. 1207

c. The Third Book -Leviticus: (called VAIKRA): Both versions have 27 chapters and
number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly with each other, except the same
phenomenon for Chapter 5 & 6 where the last 7 verse of TANAKH are the first 7 verses
of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are same i.e. 859

d. The fourth Book -Numbers (called BAMIDBARS): Both versions have 36 chapters
and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly with each other, except the
same phenomenon for Chapter 16 & 17 where the last 15 verses of OT are the first 15
verse of TANAKH in the next chapter. And similar phenomenon is observed for the last
verse and opening verse of Chapters 29 & 30 . So total number of verses are same i.e.
1288

e. The fifth book - Deuteronomy (Called DEVARIM): Both versions have 34 chapters
and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly with each other, except the
same phenomenon for Chapter 12 & 13 and Ch 28 & 29 where the last verse of
TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter.

In Chapter 5, OT splits the verse 17 of TANAKH into 3 parts calling each

Commandment as a separate verse. This is minor problem in numbering as the text is
exactly same in the two scriptures.

So total number of verses are 955 in TANAKH and 957 in OT

2. The books of Prophets (called NEVI’M or NABIEEOON in Arabic)

a. The first book - Joshua (Called YEHESHUA):

Both versions have 24 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except that OT versions have two verses extra in Ch 21. But these verses
are dealing with only minor matters (lands allotted to each tribe). Total number of verses
are 656 in TANAKH and 658 in OT.

b. The second book - Judges (called SHAFTIM):

Both versions have 21 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, total number of verses are same i.e. 618

c. The Third Book- 1Sam (Called SHMUEL1):

Both versions have 31 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 23 & 24 where the last verse
of TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are
same i.e. 807

d. The Fourth Book- 2 Sam: (called SHMUEL2):

Both versions have 24 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 18 & 19 where the last verse
of TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are
same i.e. 695

e. The Fifth Book -1 King (called MELACHIM 1 or MALAK in Arabic):

Both versions have 22 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 4 & 5 where the last 14 verses
of TANAKH are the first verses of OT in the next chapter. And one verse is split into
two in the last chapter. So total number of verses are 817 in TANAKH and 816 in OT.

f. The Sixth book- 2 King (Called MELACHIM-2):

Both versions have 25 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 11 & 12 where the last verse
of TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are
same i.e. 719.
g. The Seventh Book- Isaiah (called YESHAYAHU):

Both versions have 66 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 8 & 9 where the last verse of
TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are same
i.e. 640.

h. The Eighth Book- Jeremiah (called YIRMIYAHU):

Both versions have 52 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 8 & 9 and 30 & 31 where the
last verse of TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of
verses are same i.e. 1356.

i. The Ninth Book- Ezekiel (called YECHEZKEL):

Both versions have 48 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 20 & 21 where the last FIVE
verses of TANAKH are the first five verses of OT in the next chapter. So total number of
verses are same i.e. 1273.

j. The Tenth Book- Hosea: (Called HOSHEA):

Both versions have 14 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 1 & 2 and 12 & 13 where the
last verse of TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. In the last chapter one
verse of OT is split into two in TANAKH, So total number of verses as per TANAKH is
197 and 196 as per OT, but this is a minor difference and the texts are same.

k. The Eleventh Book - Joel (Called YOEL):

The last five verses of Ch2 of OT are split to make Ch3 of TANAKH , so there is an
extra chapter in TANAKH, but the total numbers of verses are same i.e. 73 in the two
versions.

l. The Twelfth book- Amos (Called Amos):

Both versions have 9 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, total number of verses are i.e. 146.

m. The Thirteenth Book- Obadiah (Called OVADIAH):

It is a small one chapter book having 21 verses in both Versions.

n. The Fourteenth book- Jonah (Called YONAH):

Both versions have 4 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 1 & 2 where the last verse of
TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are same
i.e. 48.

o. The Fifteenth book- Micah (Called MICHAH):

Both versions have 7 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 4 & 5 where the last verse of
TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are same
i.e. 105.

p. The Sixteenth book- Nahum (called NACHUM):

Both versions have 3 chapters and the last verse of 1st chapter is the first verse of 2nd
chapter in the other version, but the total number of verses are same i.e. 47.

q. The Seventeenth Book- Habakkuk (Called CHAVAKEEM):

Both versions have 3 chapters and number of verses corresponding exactly with each
other. Total verses are 56.

r. The Eighteenth Book- Zephaniah (called TZEFANIAH):

Both versions have 3 chapters and number of verses corresponding exactly with each
other. Total verses are 53.

s. The Nineteenth Book - Haggai (called CHAGGAI):

Both versions have 2 chapters and number of verses corresponding exactly with each
other. Total verses are 38.

s. The Twentieth Book- Zechariah: (called ZECHARIAH)

Both versions have 14 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 1 & 2 where the last three
verses of TANAKH are the first three verses of OT in the next chapter. So total number
of verses are same i.e. 211

u. The Twenty First book- Malachi (called MALACHI or MALAKI in Arabic meaning
My Angel or My prophet):

Total number of verses in the two versions are same i.e. 61, but the last 6 versus of Ch 3
in TANAKH are made a new chapter 4 in OT version. It is only a minor rearrangement..
Comparing OT and TANAKH Texts

3. The books of Scriptures or KTUVIM or KUTUB (i.e. Books in Arabic)

a. The First Book- the Book of Psalms (called TEHILIM):

This is the book with 150 chapters and they tally in numbers between OT and TANAKH.
Total number of verses in TANAKH is 2584.

However in 59 chapters (or Individual Psalms) we find that the last verse of OT has been
divided into two separate verses in the TANAKH. Since this is the ending verse, it does
not cause much confusion.

Then in Chapter 51 & 52 we find that opening statements are not counted as verses in OT
while they are counted as two verses in TANAKH, so it may cause some confusion when
one wants to cross check the quotations, but text wise they are same.

b. The Second book- Proverbs (called MISHLEI or MITHAL in Arabic):

Both versions have 31 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, total number of verses are same i.e. 915

c. The Third Book- Job (called IYOU or AYYUB in Arabic):

Both versions have 42 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 40 & 41 where the last two
verses of TANAKH are the first two verses of OT in the next chapter. So total number of
verses are same i.e. 1064.

d. The Fourth Book - Song of Songs (called SHIR HASHIRIM):

Both versions have 8 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 6 & 7 where the last verse of
TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are same
i.e. 117.

e. The Fifth Book - Ruth (Called RUT):

Both versions have 4 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, total number of verses are 85.
f. The Sixth book - Lamentation (Called EICHAH) :

Both versions have 5 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, total number of verses are 157.

g. The Seventh Book- Ecclesiast (called KOHALET) :

Both versions have 12 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 4 & 5 where the last verse of
TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses are same
i.e. 221

h. The Eighth Book - Esther:

Both versions have 10 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, total number of verses are 167.

j. The Ninth Book - Daniel :

Both versions have 12 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 3 & 4 where the last 3 verses
of TANAKH are the first 3 verses of OT in the next chapter. Verse 26 of Ch 6 of OT is
split into two verses in TANAKH, So total number of verses 357 in TANAKH and 356 in
OT. But the texts are same.

k. The Tenth Book- Ezra:

Both versions have 10 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, total number of verses are 281

l. The Eleventh Book - Nehemiah (called NECHMIAH):

Both versions have 13 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 3 & 4 AND 9 & 10 where the
last verses of TANAKH are the first verses of OT in the next chapter. So total number of
verses are same i.e. 406

m. The Twelfth Book- 1 Chronicles (called DIVERI HAYAMIN 1) :

Both versions have 29 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 5 & 6 where the last 15 verses
of TANAKH are the first 15 verses of OT in the next chapter. So total number of verses
are same i.e. 944.
n. The Thirteenth Book - 2 Chronicles (called DIVERI HAYMIN 2) :

Both versions have 36 chapters and number of verses in each chapter correspond exactly
with each other, except the same phenomenon for Chapter 1 & 2 and 13 and 14 where the
last verse of TANAKH is the first verse of OT in the next chapter. So total number of
verses are same i.e. 822

E. Summary of books and Verses in TANAKH and some quiz:

If we summarize the details presented in Chapters 3, 4 and 5 we get the following:

1. Torah :

a. Total Number of Books 5

b. Total number of Chapters: 187

c. Total Number of Verses: 5, 844

2. Prophets or NEVE’IM:

a. Total Number of books: 21

b. Total Number of Chapters: 381

c. Total Number of verses: 8, 634

3. Scriptures or KTUVIM:

a. Total Number of books:13

b. Total number of Chapters: 342

c. Total number of verses:8, 120

4. The Complete TANAKH:

a. Total number of books: 39

b. Total Number of Chapters:910

c. Total Number of verses: 22, 598

Note: And that corresponds almost exactly with what we find as OT in the Protestants
Bible!! So TANAKH is nothing but OT in its content (Minus small rearrangement in the
books and numbering of verses in a few books and in a few chapters)
A Small Quiz on TANAKH:

While searching for above details, I noticed some interesting points, which I would like
to ask from my correspondents.

For “experts and Great scholars” of TANAKH they may seem trivial or childish, but for
“novices” like me they seem like fun:

1. Which is the book in TANAKH or OT that has most number of chapters?

2. Which is book in TANAKH or OT that has second most number of Chapters?

3. Which is the book and Chapter that has largest number of verses in it?

4. Which is the book that has second largest number of verses in it?

5. Which is the book and chapter that has LOWEST number of verses in it?

5A. Which is the book and chapter that have second LOWEST number of verses in it?

6. Which is the book and chapter where same statement is repeated maximum number of
times?

7. Which is the book and chapter that says “There is no peace for the Wicked”?

8. In which book we find the word “HELLELUJAH” (believe me, I thought that it was
the word concocted by the Christians, I was surprised when I noticed that it is in
TANAKH!!).

9. How Many Times, Israel and Jews and Jerusalem and the land of Israel have been
cursed in TANAKH by Jewish prophets ? (And why should Jews and Christians object if
Quran curses Jews and Christians in a few places?)

10. Why do Jews try to convince that TANAKH is different from OT of Protestant
Christians?
Answers to the “Small Quiz on TANAKH”:

1. Which is the book in TANAKH or OT that has most number of chapters?

Answer: The book of Psalms what else which has 150 Chapters, no one comes close to it.
And many songs are prayers are not from the lips of David.

2. Which is book in TANAKH or OT that has second most number of Chapters?

Answer: That is the book of Isaiah with 66 chapters

3. Which is the book and Chapter that has largest number of verses in it?

Answer: Book of Psalms, Chapter # 119 which has 176 verses, no one comes even close
to it.

4. Which is the book that has second largest number of verses in it?

Answer: That is Book of Numbers Chapter 7, which has 89 verses.

5. Which is the book and chapter that has LOWEST number of verses in it?

Answer: That is the book of Psalms Chapter 117 that has only Two Short verses

1. Praise the Lord, all nations, laud Him, all peoples.

2. For His kindness has overwhelmed us, and the truth of the Lord is eternal. Hallelujah!

5A. Which is the book and chapter that have second LOWEST number of verses in
it?

Answer: There are Chapters in the book of Psalms (# 131) and in Esther (# 10) that have
only three verses in it.
6. Which is the book and chapter where same statement is repeated maximum
number of times?

Answer: In the Book of Psalms Chapter 136, this statement is repeated 26 times (in each
verse) “His Kindness is Eternal”

7. Which is the book and chapter that says “There is no peace for the Wicked”?

Answer: It is repeated two times in the Book of Isaiah , Chapter 48 and Chapter 57, last
verses. So the peace is not for the wicked people and why should the wicked people
complain if they receive no peace?

8. In which book we find the word “HELLELUJAH” (believe me, I thought that it
was the word concocted by the Christians, I was surprised when I noticed that it is
in TANAKH!!).

Answer: It is mentioned many times in the book of Psalms. I am not sure if it is

mentioned in any other book of TANAKH….the “experts” should provide more details.

9. How Many Times, Israel and Jews and Jerusalem and the land of Israel have
been cursed in TANAKH by Jewish prophets ? (And why should Jews and
Christians object if Quran curses Jews and Christians in a few places?)

Answer: Countless times, it is really a waste of time if we start counting the warnings
which God gives to jews to repent and turn back and follow in the ways and paths of
God. But after each warning, their hearts grew harder and harder till they became even
harder than stone (and such are the people who generally infest these threads and spew
hate against other people)

And then these “Hard hearted” people try to convince others that it is Quran and Muslim
who curse or admonish these Jews for their opposition to truth and walking in the ways of
their Lord and Creator.

10. Why do Jews try to convince that TANAKH is different from OT of Protestant
Christians?

Answer: Only because of their stupidity and using jargon names and mystery looking
phrases. If you start checking, you will find that TANKH in content is nothing more than
OT, having minor differences in arrangement of books and divisions into chapter and
verses.

And this division is by no way dogmatic and was done at a later date. The old
manuscripts have no such division and numbering of verses.
E. TANAKH and OT: Integrity of Translation:

a. Now we come to the most sensitive part of this TANAKH versus OT debate, as we
have seen that manuscript wise there is hardly any difference in TANAKH and OT
books.

b. OT books have been translated from Hebrew Manuscript to English by Christian

Scholars who have knowledge about Hebrew and TANAKH has been translated to
English by Jewish Scholars who have knowledge about both these languages.

c. Whose translation should be considered as “More authentic and as close to original as

it can”? This is a tricky question, if the translators were honest and were merely
translating the Hebrew text to the best of their abilities, the two translations would
convey the “same” message with different choice of words.

d. But where the people have bias and want to try to “prove” their own dogmas and
article of faiths from Scriptures, the translations some time become dishonest. Unless
one is expert in Hebrew and English language, then only one can decide whose
translations are more accurate.

e. We can see this in prophesies about Jesus in OT books, according to Christians there
are hundreds of prophesies about Jesus and his life in almost ALL the books of OT, and
according to Jews there is not even a single clear cut prophesy about Jesus in the entire
39 books of their TANAKH.

f. Similar approach from Jews and Christians we see, when we raise the question of Last
and Final Prophet (prophet Mohammad) being prophesized in OT books. Now both Jews
and Christians join together and see that “No, we have read every word of entire
TANAKH and / or OT books and we find NO mention of any Last and Final Prophet in
these books”!! They seem to forget that a few moments back, Jews and Christians were
fighting about Jesus being prophesized in OT and TANAKH!!

g. So there is no end to such arguments, peoples mind get programmed from what they
hear from their parents, their society and from their religious scholars. So that a “very
clear verse and prophesey” to one group looks “muddled up and out of context and
downright wrong” to another group.

h. Coming back to the right of translation, it is Jews who have the first right to translate
their books into English…..however if Christians feel that Jews have been dishonest in
their translations, they should point out their mistake verse by verse and word by word.
But for rest on “Non controversial” parts we should accept Jewish translation of these
Hebrew Manuscripts.

J. The truth cannot be hidden by these gimmicks and it is bound to come out. There will
be honest and learned men in each group who will come forward and clarify the true
position.
Conclusion:

After all these arguments let me conclude by saying:

1. TANAKH is nothing more than Protestant’ OT.

2. Both these match content wise more than 99.9 %., as for as Hebrew Manuscripts are
concerned.

3. The translations from both these parties are dishonest. Each trying to prove their case
and disprove the case of their opponent by mistranslation of twisting and turning certain
key words is some verses.

4. It is not possible to solve these differences thru arguments and counter arguments. We
should try to be honest and then leave the matter for God, who will do justice between us
on the last day.

This is the demystification of TANAKH from me….and Allah Knows best.

PS:

There is a very interesting anecdote about “Ancient Manuscript of Jewish, Christian

Scriptures and Quranic text”. It is recorded that during the reign of Abbasid Caliphate (3rd
Century of Hegira) One learned Jew scholar came to Baghdad. He was very conversant
in Hebrew, Greek and Arabic language and very knowledgeable.

When the Caliph talked to him, he was much impressed with his knowledge and invited
him to become a Muslim. But the Jewish Scholar declined the offer and left the court.

After two or three years, he came back to Baghdad and started speaking about Islam and
its good points, Caliph recognized him and asked “are you not the same person who came
a few years back, how come you are now a Muslim?”

The man replied, I had some doubts about the authenticity and preservation of Quran and
texts of Jewish and Christian Scriptures. So I wanted to test my theories.

First I made a few copies of the texts of Jewish Scriptures and did some changes
deliberately in the text, I bound the volume and decorated it and then presented it to
Jewish Scholars, to verify and buy them. They appreciated my efforts and bought the
books at a handsome price (Those were the days when there was no press, so each book
had to be handwritten-MUQ).

I did the same thing with Christian scriptures, I made a few copies, made some deliberate
changes, decorated them and bound them beautifully and gave it to Christian priests, they
also commended me and bought those books at handsome prices.
Then I wanted to do the same thing with Quran, I made a few copies of Quran, made
some changes in the text and bound them and decorated them and gave it to Muslim rich
men to buy them….after a few days, all the copies were returned to me saying that we
cannot buy it as they have some grave mistakes in the text.

This convinced me that it in only the text of Quran which is protected and preserved as
no other religious scripture, so I became a Muslim