Did the Quran copy the Bible? - Quranic verse on Similarities in accounts between the Quran and the Bible - Surah 46:10

بِسۡمِ اللهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ

Often times, we find our Christian/Jewish brothers telling us the Quran was copied/borrowed/plagiarised from the Bible. Meaning that certain stories/passages and ideas have been taken from the Old and New Testament.

Since the Old and New Testament precede the Quran, their claim might have some basis.

Some of the stories that are similar to the Quran that come to mind are the Story of Adam and Eve, The story of Ain and Cabel, the story of Abraham and the sacrifice, the creation of the heavens and earth in six days/periods, David and Goliath, Moses and the Exodus and many others.

But did Allah the Almighty address this thought in the Quran? In Surah 46:10, Allah mentions...

(In Various Translations)

Sahih International

Say, "Have you considered: if the Qur'an was from Allah , and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant... ?" Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Muhsin Khan

Say: "Tell me! If this (Quran) is from Allah, and you deny it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel ('Abdullah bin Salam) testifies that this Quran is from Allah [like the Taurat (Torah)], so he believed (embraced Islam) while you are too proud (to believe)." Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, disbelievers and wrong-doing). 
 

Pickthall

Bethink you: If it is from Allah and ye disbelieve therein, and a witness of the Children of Israel hath already testified to the like thereof and hath believed, and ye are too proud (what plight is yours)? Lo! Allah guideth not wrong-doing folk.
 

Yusuf Ali

Say: "See ye? If (this teaching) be from Allah, and ye reject it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel testifies to its similarity (with earlier scripture), and has believed while ye are arrogant, (how unjust ye are!) truly, Allah guides not a people unjust."

The Arabic word that is used is "Mithlihi". The meaning according to the Arabic dictionary by Abdul Mannan Omar is as below:

So we see the words (to it's like/to it's similarity) being mentioned in this verse.

Implying that the similarities in the Bible and Quran are a means to acquire faith in the Quran. Allah is showing that this is a continuation and perfection of the stories mentioned in the Bible. 

Whereas on one hand, the Jews and the Christians are telling us that because there are similar stories in the Quran and the Bible, and the Quran came later, so it is natural to assume that the Quran copied the Bible. But Allah SWT on the other hand is telling us, that the very reason to believe in this Quran is because of this similarity in accounts. That these books have come from the same divine source.

One such example of continuation and perfection of the stories can be witnessed in the creation of the heavens and earth in 6 days. Both the Quran and the bible speak about it. But the difference is that in the book of Genesis, God 'rested' after the creation whereas in the Quran, Allah highlights that 'no weariness touched Him'.

A counter question that can be asked of the critics of Islam is that, if there were no similar accounts in the Quran in relation to the Bible, would the critics than accept it as the word of God or will be more skeptical in their approach?

In conclusion, for the Quran to be a divine revelation, it is not necessary for it to be different or unique from the previous scriptures which it claims to be a continuation of. 

Anything wrong that I have said are from the evils of my own self. Anything good from this is from Allah Subhanawa Taala the Highest of the High and Purest of the Pure.