The Availability of Biblical Manuscripts in 7th-Century Arabia:A Critique of Orientalist Hypotheses on Quranic Origins

Abstract

The geographical and cultural milieu of 7th-century Arabia, while lacking a unified political structure, was intellectually vibrant and religiously diverse. It served as a crossroads for ancient tribal beliefs and monotheistic influences. Orientalist scholars have long argued that the Quranic narratives and legal frameworks were derived from pre-existing Arabic translations or detailed oral/written versions of the Torah and the Gospels available in the Hejaz.This research critically evaluates this hypothesis by addressing two fundamental questions: Were physical manuscripts of the Torah and Gospels present during the Prophetic era, and did Arabic translations of the Bible exist at that time? Through a rigorous analysis of Quranic verses, Hadith literature (specifically from Sahih Bukhari), and the historical insights of scholars like Sidney Griffith and Richard Bell, this study demonstrates that while Hebrew and Syriac manuscripts existed among the Jewish and Christian communities of Medina and Mecca, they were often fragmentary or sectarian in nature. Furthermore, historical and linguistic evidence refutes the existence of a standardized Arabic Bible during the 7th century. The study concludes that the Quranic discourse on previous scriptures serves as a divine confirmation and guardian (Muhaymin) rather than a product of contemporary literary borrowing, as suggested by the Orientalist tradition.