The Book Before Quran

In this short post we shall be looking at S 46:12.

And before it is Musa's book as a guideline and a mercy. And this is a book confirming in Arabic to warn those who have done wrong and good news for the good-doers.

The Book of Musa

The Jalalayn for this verse say:

Yet before it that is before the Qur’ān there was the Book of Moses that is the Torah as a guidepost and a mercy for those who believed in it imāman wa-rahmatan are two circumstantial qualifiers and this Qur’ān is a Book that confirms scriptures before it in the Arabic tongue lisānan ‘arabiyyan is a circumstantial qualifier referring to the subject of musaddiqun ‘that confirms’ to warn those who do wrong the idolaters of Mecca and it is good tidings for the virtuous the believers.

The Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs says:

(When before it) before the Qur'an (there was the Scripture of Moses) the Torah, (an example) to be emulated (and a mercy) shielding from chastisement for those who believe in it. But they did not believe in it nor took it as an example to be emulated; (and this) Qur'an (is a confirming Scripture) it confirms the Torah in the call to belief in Allah's divine Oneness and in the attributes and description of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (in the Arabic language) in the Arabic usage, (that it may warn those who do wrong) the idolaters (and bring good tidings for the righteous) bring the good tidings of Paradise for the believers. altafsir.com

If 'it' refers to quran, whatever Musa's book is supposed to be was BEFORE it. Therefore quran had a beginning.

Note that there is no 'was' in the text. "And before it IS Musa's book as a guideline and a mercy."

Further reading:

The Book Given to Musa and the Tablets

The Uncreatedness of the Quran and the Unity of Allah: A Brief Critique of Islamic Monotheism