The main difference between the Quran and the Bible is that the Quran is a single book that Muslims believe was revealed by God to one prophet, Muhammad, in Arabic over about 23 years, while the Bible is a collection of many books written by many authors over many centuries in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. They also share a great deal: belief in one God, many of the same prophets and many of the same moral teachings.
This guide is a factual Quran vs Bible comparison for Christians, Jews, Muslims and anyone curious, written without arguing for one side.
Key takeaways
- The Quran has 114 chapters (surahs) and 6,236 verses and is about 77,000 words in Arabic; the Protestant Bible has 66 books and is several times longer.
- The Bible's books were written over many centuries before Christ and in the first century CE; the Quran was revealed between 610 and 632 CE.
- Muslims believe the Quran is the direct, word-for-word speech of God, while most Christians believe the Bible was inspired by God and written through human authors.
- The Quran names three earlier scriptures: the Tawrat (Torah) given to Moses, the Zabur (Psalms) given to David and the Injil (Gospel) given to Jesus.
- Both scriptures tell of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jonah, Mary and Jesus, but they differ on key beliefs such as the nature of Jesus.
What is the Quran vs the Bible?
The Quran is the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe the angel Jibril (Gabriel) brought it from God, called Allah in Arabic, to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning in 610 CE in the Cave of Hira near Makkah. It was memorised and written down during his life, gathered into one volume under the first caliph Abu Bakr, and standardised into one official copy under the third caliph Uthman. For a full introduction, see What is the Quran.
The Bible is the holy book of Christianity. It has two main parts. The Old Testament corresponds to the Hebrew Bible, which Jews call the Tanakh, and the New Testament contains the Gospels about Jesus, the letters of early Christian leaders and the Book of Revelation.
Quran vs Bible: structure and language
The Quran is one continuous book divided into 114 surahs of very different lengths. Apart from the short opening chapter, the surahs are arranged roughly from longest to shortest, not in the order they were revealed. It also mixes topics within a chapter, moving between belief, stories, law and reminders.
The Bible is a library of books. Protestant Bibles have 66 books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New), Catholic Bibles have 73 and Eastern Orthodox Bibles include a few more. Its books include history, law, poetry, prophecy, Gospels and letters, and they are largely arranged by type.
On language:
- The Quran was revealed in Arabic, and Muslims recite it in Arabic in prayer. Translations are seen as explanations of its meaning, not the Quran itself.
- The Hebrew Bible was written mainly in Hebrew with some Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in Koine Greek. Christians commonly read and worship from translations.
The Quran stresses its Arabic form:
Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand.
How long is the Quran vs the Bible?
The Quran is much shorter. In Arabic it has about 77,000 words, and a typical English translation such as Sahih International runs to roughly 160,000 words, a little shorter than the English New Testament. A complete English Bible such as the King James Version has about 780,000 words, so the whole Bible is around five times longer than an English Quran.
Because of its size, many Muslims memorise the entire Quran. A person who does so is called a hafiz. For exact counts, see How many surahs and verses are in the Quran.
Quran vs Bible: which came first?
The Bible came first. The books of the Hebrew Bible, including the Torah, were written and gathered over many centuries before Christ, and most scholars date the New Testament books to the first century CE. The Quran was revealed about six centuries after Jesus, between 610 and 632 CE.
Muslims do not see the Quran as a new or rival message, though. They believe it confirms the same truth God revealed to earlier prophets:
He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Qur'an. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah will have a severe punishment, and Allah is exalted in Might, the Owner of Retribution.
Quran vs Bible vs Torah: the Tawrat, Zabur and Injil
The Quran names three scriptures revealed before it. Believing that God revealed them is part of Muslim faith.
- Tawrat (Torah) – the revelation given to Moses. In Jewish and Christian usage, the Torah is the first five books of the Bible, Genesis to Deuteronomy.
- Zabur (Psalms) – the scripture given to David. "to David We gave the book [of Psalms]" (Quran 4:163).
- Injil (Gospel) – the revelation given to Jesus. Muslims understand the Injil as the message God gave Jesus, which is not exactly the same as the four Gospels of the New Testament written about him.
The Quran describes the Torah with respect:
Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.
What does the Quran say about the Bible?
The Quran honours the earlier scriptures as revelations from God containing "guidance and light." At the same time, it presents itself as the final revelation that confirms them and serves as "a criterion over" them:
And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.
The mainstream Muslim belief is that the original revelations were true but that, over time, parts of the texts people now hold were changed, lost or mixed with human interpretation (for example, Quran 2:79). For that reason Muslims treat the Quran as the reference point. In a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions not to simply accept or reject reports from the People of the Book, but to say, "We believe in Allah and what was revealed to us."
Christians and Jews, of course, hold that their scriptures have been faithfully preserved. The Quran asks Muslims to discuss such differences "in a way that is best" (Quran 29:46), and our guide to Christians and Jews in the Quran explores this further.
Quran vs Bible similarities and differences
Similarities
The two scriptures share far more than many people expect.
- One God who created the universe, hears prayer, and is just and merciful.
- Shared prophets and figures, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elijah, Jonah, Job, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Mary and Jesus.
- Shared stories, such as the creation of Adam, the flood, Abraham's test, Joseph and his brothers, and Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
- Angels, including Gabriel, and a Day of Judgement followed by heaven and hell.
- Moral teachings such as honouring parents, caring for the poor, honesty, prayer and fasting.
Mary is a special example. She is the only woman named in the Quran, and chapter 19, Surah Maryam, carries her name.
Differences
The key differences are best stated plainly.
- God's nature. The Quran teaches strict oneness of God and rejects the Trinity. Most Christians believe in one God in three persons.
- Jesus. Both call Jesus the Messiah born of a virgin. The Bible presents him as the Son of God who died on the cross and rose again; the Quran presents him as a human prophet who was not crucified but raised to God. See Jesus in the Quran.
- Sin and forgiveness. The Quran says Adam repented and God "accepted his repentance" (Quran 2:37), and that "no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another" (Quran 6:164). Islam therefore has no doctrine of inherited original sin.
- Style. Much of the Bible is narrative history told in sequence. The Quran usually speaks in God's voice, retells stories briefly and focuses on their lessons. The long story of Joseph in Surah Yusuf is a notable exception.
Read the Quran on Quran Universe
If you know the Bible, a good way to compare is to read the Quran's versions of familiar stories directly. On Quran Universe, each verse comes with Arabic, the Sahih International translation, word-by-word meanings, a short verse card and Tafsir Ibn Kathir. Try Surah Yusuf or the story of Moses in Surah Taha.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between the Quran and the Bible?
The Quran is one book that Muslims believe was revealed word for word by God to the Prophet Muhammad in Arabic between 610 and 632 CE. The Bible is a collection of many books by many authors written over centuries in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. They also differ on beliefs such as the Trinity and the crucifixion of Jesus.
What does the Quran say about the Bible?
The Quran says God revealed the Torah to Moses, the Psalms to David and the Gospel to Jesus, and it describes them as containing guidance and light. It presents itself as confirming those earlier scriptures and as a criterion over them. Mainstream Muslim belief holds that the earlier texts were partly changed over time.
Which came first, the Quran or the Bible?
The Bible came first. The Hebrew Bible was written over many centuries before Christ and the New Testament in the first century CE. The Quran was revealed about six hundred years after Jesus, from 610 to 632 CE.
How long is the Quran compared to the Bible?
The Quran has 114 surahs and about 77,000 Arabic words, or roughly 160,000 words in a typical English translation. A full English Bible has around 780,000 words, so it is about five times longer than an English Quran.
Is the Torah part of the Bible?
Yes. The Torah is the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, and it begins the Hebrew Bible. The Quran calls it the Tawrat and describes it as a revelation given to Moses.
Do the Quran and the Bible share the same prophets?
Many of the same prophets appear in both, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jonah and Jesus. A few prophets in the Quran, such as Hud and Salih, do not appear in the Bible. Both scriptures tell some of the same stories, though often with different details and emphasis.