Short answer
Muslims believe Allah revealed the Tawrah (Torah) to Moses and the Injil (Gospel) to Jesus, but that the texts people have today are not preserved as revealed. Reading the Bible for study, comparison or dialogue is allowed for someone grounded in their own faith. For guidance and law, Muslims follow the Quran.
Belief that Allah revealed the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospel is part of faith. Reading the present Bible for knowledge, comparison or da'wah is permitted for one firm in Islamic knowledge and makruh for a person likely to be confused by it. It is not read as worship, and its rulings are not followed where the Quran and Sunnah differ.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Quran mentions the Torah and the Gospel many times. It says Allah revealed them, that they contained guidance and light, and that the Quran came confirming the truth in them and as a criterion over them. Belief in all of Allah's books is one of the articles of faith.
At the same time, Muslims believe these scriptures were not preserved word for word. The Bible we have was written down and compiled by people over centuries, in translation, with books and readings that Christian churches themselves differ over. So when something in it matches the Quran, it may well be from the original revelation; when it contradicts the Quran, Muslims do not accept it; and for the rest, the Prophet ﷺ taught us neither to affirm nor deny it. The four schools agree on these principles.
- For study and dialogue: reading the Bible helps Muslims understand Christian friends and family and see what the faiths share. Many scholars read it for this purpose.
- For new Muslims: you may keep a family Bible and treat it with respect. Build your Quran knowledge first so that you read it with a clear frame.
- Respect: do not throw it away carelessly or mock it, since it contains the names of Allah and the prophets.
See Quran 5:46 on Jesus and the Gospel, 5:48, and our Islam and Christianity guide.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:3
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ ﴿٣﴾
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.
Allah revealed the Torah and the Gospel before the Quran.
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:48
وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ ۖ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ لِكُلٍّۢ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةًۭ وَمِنْهَاجًۭا ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۖ فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًۭا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾
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 Quran confirms the earlier scriptures and is the measure over them.
Sahih al-Bukhari 4485
Sahih... لا تصدقوا أهل الكتاب ولا تكذبوهم ...
"Do not believe the People of the Book and do not deny them, but say: we believe in Allah and what was revealed to us."
The method for reports in earlier scriptures that the Quran neither confirms nor rejects.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3461
Sahih... وحدثوا عن بني إسرائيل ولا حرج ...
"Narrate from the Children of Israel, and there is no harm in it."
Learning and relating material from earlier scriptures is allowed within limits.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Taharah, the discussion of touching the Torah and Gospel. Notes that the earlier scriptures were altered, while what remains of Allah's speech in them is respected.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.