Swisscast With Suhaib Webb

Recently, while appearing on Tucker Carlson, Ted Cruz, in defense of his blind support for Israel, committed one of the very distortions the Qur’an accuses Christians of: the manipulation of sacred texts. The Arabic word for Cruz’s act is taḥrīf, from the root ḥarf. Harf literally means “an edge”—to push something from the center to the margin. In this context, it implies twisting the meaning of a verse from its balanced center toward an extreme—for worldly gain.The Qur’an describes people like Cruz:“يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَوَاضِعِهِ”“They distort the word from its rightful place.” (Qur’an 5:13)For context: Cruz, when asked about his support for Israel, claimed that the Bible teaches God curses those who curse Israel—implying the modern state. This is a textbook example of the Qur’anic charge: interpretation for material or political gain. The verse he misquoted is Genesis 12:3, which reads in early Jewish translations:“I will bless those who bless you, and he who curses you, I will curse; and in you sha