Short answer
Not as it stands today. God (﷾) gave the Torah to Moses, and Muslims must believe that. But the five books that now carry his name were finished by other hands. They tell of Moses' death and burial, and say that no one knows his grave "unto this day". They list kings of Edom who reigned "before there reigned any king" over Israel. Israel had no king until long after Moses. They call a town Dan, a name it got only after his death. An evangelical study Bible, the NIV Study Bible, admits this later editing. The Qur'an honours the Torah given to Moses, and says men later changed the words.
Full explanation
Why Jews and Christians credit Moses
Deuteronomy says Moses wrote "this law" in a book. He gave it to the priests to keep beside the ark, the sacred chest of the covenant. Jesus speaks of "the book of Moses" and says Moses "wrote of me". On this basis Jews and Christians have long called the first five books of the Bible the books of Moses.
“And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel.”
“And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.”
“And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?”
“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”
The book records Moses' death
The last chapter of Deuteronomy tells how Moses died and how he was buried. It says Israel mourned him for thirty days, and that Joshua took his place. It then says that no one knows his grave "unto this day", and that no prophet like him has arisen "since". Moses did not write the account of his own death and burial. The words "there arose not a prophet since" look back on prophets who came after him. The book of Joshua does the same, recording Joshua's own death.
“So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth–peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses. And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,”
“And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old.”
Names and kings from after Moses
Genesis lists the kings of Edom, a neighbouring nation, who reigned "before there reigned any king over the children of Israel". Only someone who knew Israel's kings could write that. Israel's first king, Saul, came centuries after Moses. Genesis also says Abraham chased his enemies "unto Dan". The book of Judges says the city was called Laish until the tribe of Dan took it and renamed it. That was long after Moses died.
“And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.”
“And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.”
“And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.”
| Passage | Why it comes from after Moses |
|---|---|
| Deuteronomy 34 | It tells of his death and burial, and says no one knows his grave "unto this day" |
| Genesis 36:31 | Kings of Edom reigned "before there reigned any king" over Israel; Saul came centuries after Moses |
| Genesis 14:14 | Abraham pursues "unto Dan", a name the city got only after Moses died |
What Christian study Bibles admit
Evangelical scholars who hold that Moses was the main author still allow later hands. The NIV Study Bible is one of the best-selling study Bibles. It points to later updating in Genesis. It says parts of Numbers were probably added by scribes or editors. It says the report of Moses' death was almost certainly written by someone else. Jewish tradition says the same about the last verses. One opinion in the Talmud, the old collection of Jewish teaching, gives them to Joshua.
This evangelical study Bible holds that Moses was the main author of the five books, but its introductions grant later hands. On Genesis it says some later editorial updating appears to be indicated, pointing to the notes on 14:14 and 36:31. On Numbers it says the book need not have come from Moses complete and in final form, that portions were probably added by later scribes or editors, and that the praise of Moses' humility in 12:3 would hardly convince if it came from his own mouth. On Deuteronomy it says the report of Moses' death in chapter 34 was almost certainly written by someone else.
The rabbinic tradition says Moses wrote his own book, but asks how he could write "So Moses died there". One opinion given is that Joshua wrote the last eight verses of the Torah, from the death of Moses onwards; another holds that Moses wrote them at God's dictation, in tears.
Noticed nearly a thousand years ago
This is not a modern or a Muslim objection. In the eleventh century Isaac ibn Yashush, a Jewish scholar in Muslim Spain, said the list of Edomite kings was written long after Moses. The Jewish commentator Abraham ibn Ezra, of the twelfth century, recorded his view. Ibn Ezra said Ibn Yashush's book deserved to be burned. Later scholars noticed the account of Moses' death and the phrase "unto this day". Modern scholarship holds that the five books were put together from earlier sources by later editors.
Ibn Ezra reports that an earlier Spanish Jewish scholar, Yitzhaki (Isaac ibn Yashush, 11th century), held that the list of Edomite kings in Genesis 36 was written in the days of King Jehoshaphat, long after Moses. Ibn Ezra rejects the view, saying the book that contains it deserves to be burned.
Traces how readers noticed that the five books could not all be Moses' work: in the eleventh century Isaac ibn Yashush pointed out that the Edomite kings of Genesis 36 lived long after Moses, and later scholars noted the account of Moses' death and phrases such as "unto this day". Sets out the view of modern biblical scholarship that the Pentateuch was combined from several earlier sources by later editors, and links Deuteronomy to the "book of the law" found in the Temple in King Josiah's reign (2 Kings 22), in the late seventh century BCE.
The book found in Josiah's day
Centuries after Moses, King Josiah ruled in the late seventh century BCE. In his reign the high priest reported that he had "found the book of the law" in the Temple. Many scholars link this scroll to Deuteronomy. A widely held view is that Israel's books were heavily edited in this period. On that view the editing began under King Hezekiah and continued under Josiah.
“And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.”
Traces how readers noticed that the five books could not all be Moses' work: in the eleventh century Isaac ibn Yashush pointed out that the Edomite kings of Genesis 36 lived long after Moses, and later scholars noted the account of Moses' death and phrases such as "unto this day". Sets out the view of modern biblical scholarship that the Pentateuch was combined from several earlier sources by later editors, and links Deuteronomy to the "book of the law" found in the Temple in King Josiah's reign (2 Kings 22), in the late seventh century BCE.
The book of the ITV series tests the Bible's history against archaeology. It reports the view, widely held among archaeologists and biblical scholars, that Israel's scriptures were heavily edited in the late eighth and seventh centuries BCE: first under King Hezekiah, and then under King Josiah, in whose reign a scroll presented as Moses' book of Deuteronomy was found in the Temple and used to back his reforms.
The Torah the Qur'an honours
The Qur'an says God (﷾) revealed the Torah to Moses, with guidance and light. He gave it to the prophets and the rabbis (Jewish teachers) to protect. It also says some wrote the book with their own hands and called it God's (﷾) word, and that they changed words from their places. Jeremiah, a prophet of Israel, also accused the scribes of his day. He answered those who said the law was with them that the false pen of the scribes had made it a lie. So the Torah God (﷾) gave Moses is real, but the five books printed today are not that revelation as he received it.
“It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.”
“Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:"This is from Allah," to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.”
“But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard; they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them- barring a few - ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind.”
““ ‘How do you say, “We are wise, and Yahweh’s law is with us?” But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has made that a lie.”
Verse by verse
Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b-15a
The rabbinic tradition says Moses wrote his own book, but asks how he could write "So Moses died there". One opinion given is that Joshua wrote the last eight verses of the Torah, from the death of Moses onwards; another holds that Moses wrote them at God's dictation, in tears.
Cited for
Jews and Christians reply that Joshua added the last eight verses about Moses' death, soon after it.
The response
Deuteronomy 34:6 says no one knows his grave "unto this day". That is a writer looking back long after, when the grave had been forgotten. It is not Joshua writing soon after. Whoever wrote the last verses, Joshua or Moses at God's (﷾) dictation, the later passages are not only at the end. Genesis 36:31 needs Israel's kings, and Genesis 14:14 needs the later name Dan.
Where it lands — Later passages are spread through the books and reach centuries past Moses, so the whole cannot be his.
Genesis 36:31 — Torah, Bereshit, chapter 36, verse 31
“And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.”
Cited for
Moses knew God had promised Israel kings (Genesis 35:11), so he could write "before there reigned any king" looking forward.
The response
The verse opens a finished list of eight Edomite kings. Each king reigns after the one before him died (Genesis 36:32-39). 1 Chronicles 1:43 repeats the same list as history. Only someone who could look back on Israel's monarchy dates Edom's kings by it.
Where it lands — A completed king-list dated by Israel's monarchy was written after that monarchy existed.
Deuteronomy 31:9 — Torah, Devarim, chapter 31, verse 9
“And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel.”
Cited for
Christians read "Moses wrote this law" as proof that Moses wrote the Pentateuch.
The response
It says Moses wrote "this law" and gave it to the priests to keep beside the ark. It does not say he wrote five books that include his own death.
Where it lands — Moses wrote down a book of the law; the Pentateuch as it now stands is a later book that contains more.
John 5:46 — Gospel of John, chapter 5, verse 46
“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”
Cited for
Christians say that when Jesus says Moses "wrote of me", he confirms that Moses wrote the whole Torah.
The response
Muslims agree that Moses received the Torah and that it foretold the prophets to come. Jesus' words confirm that Moses wrote. They do not say that every sentence in today's five books is his. Those books themselves show that some are not.
Where it lands — Jesus' words support the Torah given to Moses, not the later edited text.
Perspectives
Traditional Jewish and Christian
Moses wrote the five books of the law. Scripture says he wrote the law in a book, and Jesus calls it the book of Moses. At most a few lines, such as the account of his death, were added by Joshua.
Deuteronomy says Moses wrote the words of the law in a book, and Jesus refers to the book of Moses.
Rebuttal
Islam agrees that God (﷾) gave Moses the law. But Deuteronomy says Moses wrote "this law" and gave it to the priests. It does not say he wrote five books that tell of his own death. Jesus' words name the book after Moses. They do not say every sentence in today's five books is his.
Christians read these verses as showing that Moses wrote the whole Pentateuch, apart from small additions such as his obituary.
Rebuttal
The NIV Study Bible and one opinion in the Talmud already grant that others wrote the account of his death. But the later material is not only at the end. Genesis 36:31 needs Israel's kings, and Genesis 14:14 needs the later name Dan.
The Islamic perspective
God (﷾) revealed the Torah to Moses, and a Muslim must believe it. But the five books now printed under his name are not that revelation as he received it. Other hands wrote parts of them, long after he died.
The Pentateuch records Moses' death and burial and says no one knows his grave "unto this day".
Genesis 36:31 speaks of a time when Israel already had kings, which was long after Moses.
Genesis 14:14 uses the name Dan, which Judges says the city received only after Moses' time.
Modern biblical scholarship holds that the Pentateuch was compiled from earlier sources by later editors.
Many scholars hold that Israel's scriptures were heavily edited under Kings Hezekiah and Josiah, centuries after Moses. A scroll of the law was found in the Temple in Josiah's reign.
The Qur'an teaches that God (﷾) revealed the Torah to Moses as guidance and light. It also teaches that people later wrote with their own hands and changed words from their places.