The Problem of Written Criticism throughout History and the Founding Role of Muslims

Abstract

This research aims to discuss the problem of written criticism throughout history and the founding role of Muslims. It is divided into an introduction and five chapters. The first chapter discussed the definition of the Arabic Bible and its copies. The second chapter dealt with biblical criticism from within the Bible. The third chapter deals with Islamic criticism of the Bible from its inception to the beginning of the Middle Ages. The fourth chapter discussed the Jewish criticism of the Bible in the Middle Ages. The fifth chapter deals with written criticism during the Renaissance and the beginnings of the modern era. The research concluded that the criticism of the Hebrew Bible included different historical stages, starting with the Old Testament and the exegetical efforts of Talmud scholars, who were sometimes stopped by some contradictions and differences. However, the matter did not go beyond raising questions which are not real criticism. Regarding  early Christianity, it did not practice real criticism towards the Old Testament. The real beginning of criticism of the Old Testament was by Muslims.