In Islam, holy books and sacred texts are divine revelations sent by Allah to His prophets and messengers to guide humanity towards happiness in this world and the hereafter. Belief in these books is a fundamental pillar of faith, encompassing the conviction that they are truly from Allah, acknowledging by name those specified in the Quran (like the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the Quran), affirming their authentic narratives, and acting upon their un-abrogated rulings. The Quran is considered the final and most superior of these books, superseding all previous scriptures and serving as a comprehensive guide for all mankind until the Day of Judgment.
These divine books serve multiple crucial purposes: they reveal Allah's profound care for His creation by providing guidance to every nation, demonstrate His wisdom in legislating laws suitable for each community, and inspire gratitude for these immense blessings. The Quran, in particular, is preserved by Allah Himself, unlike previous scriptures whose preservation was entrusted to people, and it is a clear exposition of everything, a guidance, and a mercy for believers. Rejecting any part of these divinely revealed texts, whether a specific book or even a word within the Quran, is considered an act of disbelief, as faith requires accepting all of Allah's revelations without differentiation.
Scholarly Analysis
Introduction to Divine Books in Islam
The concept of divine books and sacred texts holds a foundational position within Islamic belief, constituting one of the essential pillars of faith. These books are understood as direct revelations from Allah (God) to His chosen prophets and messengers, intended to provide guidance, mercy, and a clear path for humanity to achieve well-being in both this life and the hereafter. The belief in these scriptures is not merely an intellectual assent but a comprehensive conviction that encompasses their divine origin, specific identification of named books, affirmation of their authentic narratives, and adherence to their un-abrogated laws. This understanding is deeply rooted in the Quran and the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition), which emphasize the continuous nature of divine revelation and its ultimate culmination in the Quran.
The Concept of Divine Revelation and its Significance
The divine books are fundamentally the word of Allah, revealed to His messengers to clarify His rights and to invite people to Him. This is affirmed in the Quran, which states that Allah sent messengers with clear proofs and revealed with them the Book and the Balance so that humanity might uphold justice. Another verse highlights that humanity was once a single community, then Allah sent prophets as bearers of good tidings and warnings, and sent down with them the Book in truth to judge between people concerning their differences. These verses underscore the primary purpose of divine revelation: to guide humanity, resolve their disputes, and establish justice on Earth.
The act of sending down these books is a manifestation of Allah's mercy towards His creation, addressing the inherent limitations of human intellect. Human reason, though capable of discerning general good and harm, is restricted in comprehending the intricate details of benefit and detriment. Furthermore, human intellect is often swayed by desires, whims, and personal agendas. Without divine guidance, humanity would inevitably stray and become lost. Thus, Allah's wisdom and mercy necessitated the revelation of these books to His chosen messengers, who, in turn, elucidated their meanings, just rulings, beneficial commandments, and prohibitions, all designed to rectify human affairs.
Pillars of Belief in Divine Books
Belief in divine books entails four crucial aspects:
Affirmation of Divine Origin: This involves a firm conviction that these books were truly sent down by Allah.
Specific Belief in Named Books: Muslims are required to believe by name in those books explicitly mentioned by Allah, such as the Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Torah revealed to Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), the Gospel (Injil) revealed to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), and the Psalms (Zabur) given to Prophet David (peace be upon him). For books not specifically named, a general belief in their divine origin is sufficient.
Verification of Authentic Narratives: This includes believing in the true accounts found in the Quran and in those parts of previous scriptures that have remained unaltered and uncorrupted.
Adherence to Un-abrogated Rulings: Muslims must act upon the rulings of these books that have not been abrogated, accepting and submitting to them whether their wisdom is fully understood or not.
It is imperative to believe in all divine books without differentiation. Rejecting any single book, or even a part of a book, is considered an act of disbelief. The Quran explicitly condemns those who believe in some parts of the scripture and disbelieve in others, stating that their recompense will be disgrace in this life and a severe punishment on the Day of Judgment. This principle extends to the Quran itself; one must believe in and act upon its entirety, without selectively choosing what aligns with personal desires.
The Quran: The Final and Preserved Revelation
The Quran stands as the most superior and final of all divine books. It is the abrogator and guardian over all previous scriptures, meaning that its rulings supersede those of earlier revelations. Consequently, it is obligatory for the entire Muslim community to follow and implement the Quran, alongside the authentic Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet Muhammad was sent as a messenger to all of humanity and jinn, and the Quran was revealed to him to govern by, serving as a cure for what is in the hearts, a clear explanation of everything, a guidance, and a mercy for believers.
A critical distinction between the Quran and previous scriptures lies in their preservation. While the preservation of earlier books like the Torah was entrusted to the people who received them, Allah Himself undertook the preservation of the Quran. This is because the Quran was revealed for all generations and nations until the Day of Judgment, and its function will not cease until the end of human life on Earth. Allah states in the Quran, "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Dhikr (the Quran), and indeed, We will be its guardian." This divine guarantee ensures that falsehood cannot approach the Quran from before it or from behind it.
The Quran is the uncreated word of Allah, from Him it originated and to Him it will return. This is a fundamental tenet of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah. The belief that the Quran is created, as espoused by groups like the Jahmiyyah and Mu'tazilah, is considered a dangerous innovation that undermines the very foundation of Islamic law. Such a view, which originated from Jewish influences, aims to invalidate the Quran's authority by claiming it is not the direct speech of Allah. The Ash'ari school, while differing from the Jahmiyyah, also holds a nuanced view, asserting that the "speech" of Allah is an internal meaning (Kalam Nafsi) and that the recited Quran is merely an expression or narration of that internal meaning, thus implying its created nature. However, the orthodox position maintains that Allah spoke the Quran literally, and Gabriel heard it from Him, conveying it to Prophet Muhammad, who then conveyed it to his Ummah. The attribution of the Quran to Gabriel or Muhammad is an attribution of conveyance, not of origination.
The Quran must be the ultimate arbiter in all disputes, and resorting to any other judgment is considered a form of seeking judgment from taghut (false deities or oppressive powers). Those who claim faith in divine books but abandon their rulings for man-made laws are seen as contradicting their own claims. The Quran is indivisible; its entire framework, encompassing beliefs, acts of worship, transactions, personal status, criminal law, and ethics, must be applied. The Quran describes those who do not rule by what Allah has revealed as disbelievers, wrongdoers, and defiantly disobedient.
Previous Divine Books and their Status
While the Quran is the final and most comprehensive revelation, Muslims are required to believe in the previous divine books that Allah sent down. These include:
The Torah (Tawrat): Revealed to Prophet Moses.
The Gospel (Injil): Revealed to Prophet Jesus.
The Psalms (Zabur): Given to Prophet David.
The Scrolls of Abraham (Suhuf Ibrahim): Mentioned generally.
The belief in these previous books is general, involving an affirmation of their truth in the heart and by the tongue. However, the belief in the Quran is detailed, requiring not only affirmation but also adherence to its teachings and governance by its laws in all aspects of life. It is important to note that the previous scriptures, unlike the Quran, were subject to alteration and corruption by their custodians. For instance, evidence suggests that the Torah has been subjected to distortion, as indicated by narratives within it that contradict divine attributes, such as the notion that Allah "repented" of creating the heavens and the earth. Therefore, while the original revelations were from Allah, the versions available today are not considered entirely authentic. Consequently, it is not permissible to act upon any ruling from previous books unless its authenticity is confirmed and it is affirmed by the Quran.
Fruits of Belief in Divine Books
Belief in divine books yields several profound benefits:
Awareness of Allah's Care: It demonstrates Allah's immense care for His servants, as He sent a book to every nation to guide them.
Understanding Divine Wisdom: It reveals Allah's wisdom in His legislation, as He prescribed laws suitable for the conditions of each community, indicating that "for each (community) We have made a law and a way."
Gratitude for Blessings: It fosters gratitude for this great blessing of divine guidance.
Conclusion
In summary, the holy books and sacred texts in Islam are divine revelations from Allah, integral to the faith of a Muslim. These scriptures, including the Torah, Gospel, Psalms, and the Quran, were sent to guide humanity, establish justice, and clarify the path to happiness. The Quran, as the final and most comprehensive revelation, abrogates and supersedes all previous books, and its preservation is divinely guaranteed. Belief in these books is multifaceted, requiring acknowledgment of their divine origin, specific identification of named books, affirmation of their authentic narratives, and adherence to their un-abrogated rulings. This belief cultivates an understanding of Allah's profound care and wisdom, fostering gratitude and providing a clear framework for human conduct in all aspects of life. The rejection of any part of these divine revelations is considered a grave act of disbelief, emphasizing the holistic nature of faith in Islam.
