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4 Subtopics
Holy Book
Holy Book is a category that refers to holy books and other religious texts that are mentioned in the Quran.

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the concept of the Holy Book (al-Kitab) refers to the divinely revealed scriptures sent by Allah to guide humanity through His prophets. Belief in these books is a cornerstone of Islamic faith. The Quran explicitly mentions several holy books, including the Tawrat (Torah) revealed to Musa, the Zabur (Psalms) to Dawud, the Injeel (Gospel) to Isa, and the Suhuf (Scrolls) to Ibrahim and Musa. Islamic theology, as explained by scholars like Ibn Kathir, asserts that while the original revelations were pure, previous scriptures have undergone alteration (tahrif). The Quran is held as the final, complete, and perfectly preserved revelation, confirming the core truths of its predecessors and serving as the ultimate guidance for all humanity. This unified understanding is derived from numerous Quranic verses and the consensus of Islamic scholars.

📖 Quranic Context

Belief in all revealed books is a fundamental article of Islamic faith (Iman).

The Holy Books are a primary means of divine guidance (hidayah) from Allah to humanity.

References: Key verses include 2:285, 3:3-4, 4:163, 5:44, 5:46, 57:25, 87:18-19.

💭 Theological Perspective

Humanity's need for divine guidance is fulfilled through the revealed books.

The scriptures provide a framework for understanding the human condition and purpose.

The Holy Books are a source of law (Sharia), wisdom (hikmah), and spiritual light (nur).

Engagement with the holy scriptures, particularly the Quran, is essential for spiritual growth.

📜 Hadith Perspective

The Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of adhering to the Quran as the final and complete scripture.

  • The Quran as an intercessor on the Day of Judgment.
  • The virtues of reciting and studying the Quran.
  • The confirmation of the core message of previous prophets.

There is a universal consensus among Islamic scholars on the obligation to believe in all the holy books mentioned in the Quran.

💎 Deeper Insights

The Quran's role as 'Muhaymin' (Guardian) over previous scriptures (5:48) implies not just a passive confirmation, but an active, divine function of preserving the core truths of all revelations within itself. According to Ibn Kathir, the Quran acts as the ultimate criterion, safeguarding the eternal divine message from the corruptions that affected earlier books.

Ibn Kathir, Al-Tabari

The Islamic concept of 'tahrif' (corruption) of scriptures, as detailed by scholars like Al-Qurtubi, is nuanced. It includes both 'tahrif al-lafz' (alteration of the text) and 'tahrif al-ma'nawi' (alteration of the meaning). This distinction is crucial, as it explains why the Quran can command the People of the Book to judge by their scriptures (5:47, 5:68), referring to the remaining original truths, while also acknowledging that the overall texts have been altered.

Al-Qurtubi, Ibn Taymiyyah

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