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Torah
التوراة
Torah (التوراة) is the name of the holy book of law given by God to Musa (Moses), according to Islamic belief.

At a Glance

The Torah, known in Islam as the **Tawrat** (التوراة), is the sacred scripture that Muslims believe was revealed by God (Allah) to the Prophet Moses (Musa). As one of the holy books of Islam, the Quran mentions the Tawrat 18 times, affirming its divine origin and describing it as containing “guidance and light” for the Children of Israel. Classical Islamic scholars, such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, explain that the Torah was a comprehensive code of law and ethics for its time. A central tenet of Islamic belief is that while the original Tawrat was a divine revelation, the present-day Torah has undergone alterations and is not in its pristine form. The Quran is considered to be the final and preserved revelation that confirms the essential teachings of the Tawrat while also abrogating some of its rulings. The Islamic perspective on the Torah is one of reverence for its original divine message and for the Prophet Moses, while upholding the Quran as the ultimate and universal guidance for all humanity.

📖 Quranic Context

A foundational scripture that is confirmed by the Quran, yet also subject to critique regarding its preservation.

A divine revelation from Allah to Prophet Musa for the guidance of the Children of Israel.

References: Referenced in 17 unique verses, highlighting its importance in the Quranic narrative.

💭 Theological Perspective

A divine law meant to guide human conduct and establish justice.

The study of the Children of Israel's relationship with the Torah provides lessons on faith, obedience, and the consequences of deviating from divine guidance.

A significant link in the chain of divine revelations, preceding the Gospel and the Quran.

Upholding the principles of the Torah is presented as a path to spiritual and worldly well-being for its intended community.

📜 Hadith Perspective

The Prophet Muhammad engaged with the Torah and its followers, using it as a point of reference in discussions and judgments.

  • Confirmation of the Torah's original divine message.
  • Critique of how its followers sometimes deviated from its teachings.
  • The story of the Prophet referring to the Torah for the law of stoning.

Universal agreement among Islamic scholars on the divine origin of the Torah revealed to Moses.

💎 Deeper Insights

The Quran's command for the People of the Book to 'uphold' the Torah (5:68) is interpreted by classical scholars not just as a call to follow its laws, but as a challenge to find the prophecies of the Prophet Muhammad within it, which they believed were a key part of its original message.

Al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir

The parable of the donkey carrying books (62:5) is not just a critique of knowledge without action, but a subtle commentary on the rabbinic traditions that, in the Islamic view, had burdened the original message of the Torah with complex interpretations that obscured its essential guidance.

Contemporary Islamic thinkers on comparative religion.

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