Q&A 1665—Is something missing from the Old Testament?

According to Qur’an 5:32, God had “ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.” I found these words nowhere in the Jewish scriptures. Did Jews forget a portion of the teaching imparted to them by God? — L. W.

Please take a look at Lieve Teugels’ article. That should answer your question well. But no, the Old Testament isn’t missing a precept. After all, Muhammad’s purported messages from Allah (the Qur’an) came in the 7^thcentury AD, more than five centuries after the NT was written, and nearly 1000 years after the OT was finished! Muhammad often displays only an indirect (and sometimes garbled) knowledge of Torah and Injil. We can have confidence that nothing was lost. The message in your Bible—both testaments—is trustworthy.