Has the Law been Superseded?

[User25]

Peace,

What thoughts do you have regarding the replacement of the Law or previous scriptures by the Quran? In this, there is contention among the scriptures.

A Baha'i friend told me that God brings forth revelation depending on the developmental level of mankind and that each new revelation invalidates the preceding and that all preceding scriptures were corrupted. I do not believe in the Baha'i scriptures because I believe Muhammad was the seal of the prophets; yet, I base this on a corrupted preceding scripture from the Baha'i view. Oftentimes, Quran defenders write off much of the previous scripture precepts on the basis that they are corrupted and are not to be heeded. Many holders of the previous scripture then deny the Quran based on their own scriptural precepts which we ourselves may view as corrupted. It is much too easy to avoid the issue of scripture compatibility based on the corruption doctrine; but, there must still be some interconnection among scripture. I usually lurk here and read what others write, but this issue has been on my mind continually and I hope to learn your thoughts.

The Biblical verses below are from the King James Version and the Quranic verses are from the Muhammad Asad translation.

The Hebrew scriptures ordain that the Law shall be kept forever; but, this may be binding upon only the Israelites.

Deuteronomy 79
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

1 Chronicles 1615
Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations ... an everlasting covenant

Psalm 119160
Thy word is true from the beginning and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Quran 568
O followers of the Bible! You have no valid ground for your beliefs -unless you observe the Torah and the Gospel, and all that has been bestowed from on high upon you by your Sustainer!" Yet all that has been bestowed from on high upon thee by thy Sustainer is bound to make many of them yet more stubborn in their overweening arrogance and in their denial of the truth. But sorrow not over people who deny the truth.

Matthew's account of the Gospel says that Jesus did not alter the Law but the Quranic account shows that he lifted some restrictions. According to Matthew's account, the Law is rigid and cannot be altered.

Matthew 517-19
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.

Quran 350
And to confirm the truth of whatever there still remains of the Torah, and to make lawful unto you some of the things which were forbidden to you. And I have come unto you with a message from your Sustainer; remain, then, conscious of God, and pay heed unto me.

The Quran also lifts the dietary restrictions imposed on the followers of previous scripture. Because the dietary laws of the Hebrew scriptures regarding clean and unclean animals constitute part of the Law, how can then this restriction be lifted if the Law is forever and not one jot or tittle shall be passed from it?

55
Today, all the good things of life have been made lawful to you. And the food of those who have been vouchsafed revelation aforetime is lawful to you, and your food is lawful to them. And , in wedlock, women from among those who believe , and, in wedlock, women from among those who have been vouchsafed revelation before your time -provided that you give them their dowers, taking them in honest wedlock, not in fornication, nor as secret love-companions. But as for him who rejects belief - in vain will be all his works for in the life to come he shall be among the lost.

Asad's translation of 548 does not suggest supersedence; while Khalifa's translation does.

Quran 548 (Asad)
And unto thee have We vouchsafed this divine writ, setting forth the truth, confirming the truth of whatever there still remains of earlier revelations and determining what is true therein. Judge, then, between the followers of earlier revelation in accordance with what God has bestowed from on high, and do not follow their errant views, forsaking the truth that has come unto thee. Unto every one of you have We appointed a law and way of life. And if God had so willed, He could surely have made you all one single community but in order to test you by means of what He has vouchsafed unto, you. Vie, then, with one another in doing good works! Unto God you all must return; and then He will make you truly understand all that on which you were wont to differ.

Quran 548 (Khalifa)
Then We revealed to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming previous scriptures, and superseding them. You shall rule among them in accordance with God's revelations, and do not follow their wishes if they differ from the truth that came to you. For each of you, we have decreed different ?Shira?a wa minhaja? (laws and rites). Had God willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He thus puts you to the test through the revelations He has given each of you. You shall compete in righteousness. To God is your final destiny-all of you-then He will inform you of everything you had disputed.

God here says that he puts us to the test through the individual scriptures he gave us. He may have given scripture to communities now unknown to us; however, both the Hebrew scriptures and the Gospel were given to Israel.

Matthew 1524
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

The "he" talking above is Jesus.

Then, there are scriptures revealed for the sons of Jacob, and there is the Quran for all other humanity.