The Jews Alter Allah's Words
Allah states that some Jews, may Allah's curses descend on them, distort Allah's Words with their tongues, change them from their appropriate places, and alter their intended meanings. They do this to deceive the ignorant people by making it appear that their words are in the Book of Allah. They attribute their own lies to Allah, even though they know that they have lied and invented falsehood. Therefore, Allah said,
﴿æóíóÞõæáõæäó Úóáóì Çááøóåö ÇáúßóÐöÈó æóåõãú íóÚúáóãõæäó﴾
(and they speak a lie against Allah while they know it.)
Mujahid, Ash-Sha`bi, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that,
﴿íóáúæõæäó ÃóáúÓöäóÊóåõã ÈöÇáúßöÊóÜÈö﴾
(who distort the Book with their tongues,) means, "They alter them (Allah's Words).''
Al-Bukhari reported that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah means they alter and add although none among Allah's creation can remove the Words of Allah from His Books, they alter and distort their apparent meanings. Wahb bin Munabbih said, "The Tawrah and the Injil remain as Allah revealed them, and no letter in them was removed. However, the people misguide others by addition and false interpretation, relying on books that they wrote themselves. Then,
﴿æóíóÞõæáõæäó åõæó ãöäú ÚöäÏö Çááøóåö æóãóÇ åõæó ãöäú ÚöäÏö Çááøóåö﴾
(they say: "This is from Allah,'' but it is not from Allah;)
As for Allah's Books, they are still preserved and cannot be changed.'' Ibn Abi Hatim recorded this statement. However, if Wahb meant the books that are currently in the hands of the People of the Book, then we should state that there is no doubt that they altered, distorted, added to and deleted from them. For instance, the Arabic versions of these books contain tremendous error, many additions and deletions and enormous misinterpretation. Those who rendered these translations have incorrect comprehension in most, rather, all of these translations. If Wahb meant the Books of Allah that He has with Him, then indeed, these Books are preserved and were never changed.
﴿ãóÇ ßóÇäó áöÈóÔóÑò Ãóä íõÄúÊöíåõ Çááøóåõ ÇáúßöÊóÜÈó æóÇáúÍõßúãó æóÇáäøõÈõæøóÉó Ëõãøó íóÞõæáó áöáäøóÇÓö ßõæäõæÇú ÚöÈóÇÏðÇ áøöì ãöä Ïõæäö Çááøóåö æóáóÜßöä ßõæäõæÇú ÑóÈøóÜäöíøöíäó ÈöãóÇ ßõäÊõãú ÊõÚóáøöãõæäó ÇáúßöÊóÜÈó æóÈöãóÇ ßõäÊõãú ÊóÏúÑõÓõæäó - æóáÇó íóÃúãõÑóßõãú Ãóä ÊóÊøóÎöÐõæÇú ÇáúãóáóÜÆößóÉó æóÇáäøóÈöíøöíúäó ÃóÑúÈóÇÈðÇ ÃóíóÃúãõÑõßõã ÈöÇáúßõÝúÑö ÈóÚúÏó ÅöÐú ÃóäÊõã ãøõÓúáöãõæäó ﴾
(79. It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allah has given the Book and Al-Hukm and prophethood to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allah's.'' On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbaniyyun, because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it.'') (80. Nor would he order you to take angels and Prophets for lords. Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to Allah's will)