Which Revealed Books Does the Quran Name, and Must We Believe in Them?
ما الكتب المنزلة التي ذكرت في القرآن الكريم؟
The Divine Books mentioned are: The Book of Psalms, the Torah, the Gospel, the Scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa PBUT and the Noble Quran.
The Holy Quran
(Ramaḍân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺.) [Al-Baqarah 2:185]
(Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would have certainly found in it many inconsistencies.) [An-Nisa 4:82]
(When the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and be silent, so you may be shown mercy.) [Al-A'raf 7:204]
(Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran so that you may understand.) [Yusuf 12:2]
(Alif-Lãm-Ra. These are the verses of the Book; the clear Quran.) [Al-Hijr 15:1]
(˹It is˺ a Quran We have revealed in stages so that you may recite it to people at a deliberate pace. And We have sent it down in successive revelations.) [Al-Isra 17:106]
(We have not revealed the Quran to you ˹O Prophet˺ to cause you distress,) [Taha 20:2]
(Had We sent down this Quran upon a mountain, you would have certainly seen it humbled and torn apart in awe of Allah.) [Al-Hashr 59:21]
The Book of Psalms (Scriptures)
(Surely, following the ˹heavenly˺ Record, We decreed in the Scriptures: “My righteous servants shall inherit the land.”) [Al-Anbiya' 21:105]
The Torah and the Gospel
(He has revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.) [Al Imran 3:3]
(And He will teach him writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel) [Al Imran 3:48]
(And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me.) [Al Imran 3:50]
(O People of the Scripture, why do you argue about Abraham while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after him? Then will you not reason?) [Al Imran 3:65]
(All food was lawful to the Children of Israel except what Israel had made unlawful to himself before the Torah was revealed. Say, [O Muhammad PBUH], "So bring the Torah and recite it, if you should be truthful.") [Al Imran 3:93]
(But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.) [Al-Ma'idah 5:43]
(Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.) [Al-Ma'idah 5:44]
(And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous) [Al-Ma'idah 5:46]
(And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.) [Al-Ma'idah 5:47]
(And if only they upheld [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed [provision] from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them are a moderate community, but many of them, evil is that which they do) [Al-Ma'idah 5:66]
(Say, "O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord." And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. So do not grieve over the disbelieving people.) [Al-Ma'idah 5:68]
([The Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, "This is not but obvious magic.") [Al-Ma'idah 5:110]
(Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him, it is those who will be the successful.) [Al-A'raf 7:157]
(Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.) [At-Tawbah 9:111]
(Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers, so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.) [Al-Fath 48:29]
(And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic.") [As-Saff 61:6]
(The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.) [Al-Jumu'ah 62:5]
(Then in the footsteps of these ˹prophets˺, We sent Our messengers, and ˹after them˺ We sent Jesus, son of Mary, and granted him the Gospel, and instilled compassion and mercy into the hearts of his followers. As for monasticism, they made it up, We never ordained it for them, only seeking to please Allah, yet they did not ˹even˺ observe it strictly. So We rewarded those of them who were faithful. But most of them are rebellious.) [Al-Hadid 57:27]
الكتب المنزلة التي ذكرت في القرآن هي: الزبور والتوراة والإنجيل وصحف إبراهيم وموسى والقرآن.
القرآن الكريم
(شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ) [البقرة 2: 185]
(أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّـهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا) [النساء 4: 82]
(وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ) [الأعراف 7: 204]
(إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ) [يوسف 12: 2]
(الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ وَقُرْآنٍ مُّبِينٍ) [الحجر 15: 1]
(وَقُرْآنًا فَرَقْنَاهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ عَلَىٰ مُكْثٍ وَنَزَّلْنَاهُ تَنزِيلًا) [الإسراء 17: 106]
(مَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَىٰ) [طه 20: 2]
(لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّـهِ) [الحشر 59: 21]
الزبور
(وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ) [الأنبياء 21: 105]
التوراة والإنجيل
(نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ) [آل عمران 3: 3]
(وَيُعَلِّمُهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ) [آل عمران 3: 48]
(وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَلِأُحِلَّ لَكُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَجِئْتُكُم بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ) [آل عمران 3: 50]
(يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَا أُنزِلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ وَالْإِنجِيلُ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ) [آل عمران 3: 65]
(كُلُّ الطَّعَامِ كَانَ حِلًّا لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِلَّا مَا حَرَّمَ إِسْرَائِيلُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تُنَزَّلَ التَّوْرَاةُ ۗ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِالتَّوْرَاةِ فَاتْلُوهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ) [آل عمران 3: 93]
(وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ التَّوْرَاةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ اللَّـهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَا أُولَـٰئِكَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ) [المائدة 5: 43]
(إنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ) [المائدة 5: 44]
(وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِم بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ) [المائدة 5: 46]
(وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِنجِيلِ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ) [المائدة 5: 47]
(وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِم مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ لَأَكَلُوا مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِم ۚ مِّنْهُمْ أُمَّةٌ مُّقْتَصِدَةٌ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ سَاءَ مَا يَعْمَلُونَ) [المائدة 5: 66]
(قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ تُقِيمُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۗ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا ۖ فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ) [المائدة 5: 68]
(إذْ قَالَ اللَّـهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِي وَتُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنكَ إِذْ جِئْتَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَـٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ) [المائدة 5: 110]
(الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ) [الأعراف 7: 157]
(إنَّ اللَّـهَ اشْتَرَىٰ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّـهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُوا بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ) [التوبة 9: 111]
(مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَرِضْوَانًا سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ وَعَدَ اللَّـهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا) [الفتح 48: 29]
(إِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّـهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَـٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ) [الصف 61: 6]
(مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ) [الجمعة 62: 5]
(ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْإِنجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ابْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَاهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ رِضْوَانِ اللَّـهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا فَآتَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ) [الحديد 57: 27]
1. Believing in All the Books | الإيمان بالكتب كلها
Allah says: O believers! Have faith in Allah, His Messenger, the Book He has revealed to His Messenger, and the Scriptures He revealed before (4:136). Ibn Kathir explains that the Book revealed to His Messenger is the Quran, and the Scriptures revealed before is a general word covering all the earlier books. He notes that Allah says nazzala (sent down in parts) of the Quran, because it came down in stages according to events and to what people needed, while He says anzala (sent down) of the earlier books, because each came down all at once. On 2:285 he explains that the believers affirm all the prophets, messengers and books sent down from heaven, without believing in some and rejecting others: to them all are truthful and rightly guided. In the hadith of Jibril the Prophet said: Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers and the Last Day, and to believe in destiny, its good and its evil (Sahih Muslim 8). Where each book is named in the Quran is set out in which divine books are mentioned in the Quran.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا آمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ مِن قَبْلُ (سورة النساء: 136)
قال تعالى: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا آمنوا بالله ورسوله والكتاب الذي نزل على رسوله والكتاب الذي أنزل من قبل) (النساء 4: 136)، وبين ابن كثير أن المراد بالكتاب المنزل على رسوله القرآن، وأن الكتاب المنزل من قبل جنس يشمل جميع الكتب المتقدمة، وقال في القرآن: نزل؛ لأنه نزل مفرقا منجما على الوقائع، بحسب ما يحتاج إليه العباد في معادهم ومعاشهم، وأما الكتب المتقدمة فكانت تنزل جملة واحدة، وقال في آية البقرة 285: يصدقون بجميع الأنبياء والرسل والكتب المنزلة من السماء على عباد الله المرسلين والأنبياء، لا يفرقون بين أحد منهم، فيؤمنون ببعض ويكفرون ببعض، بل الجميع عندهم صادقون بارون راشدون مهديون هادون إلى سبل الخير، وعن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه في حديث جبريل أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال في الإيمان: "أن تؤمن بالله وملائكته وكتبه ورسله واليوم الآخر، وتؤمن بالقدر خيره وشره" (صحيح مسلم 8).
2. The Book Allah Preserves | إنا نحن نزلنا الذكر وإنا له لحافظون
Of the Quran Allah says: It is certainly We Who have revealed the Reminder, and it is certainly We Who will preserve it (15:9). Ibn Kathir explains that He revealed the Reminder, which is the Quran, and He preserves it from change and alteration. Of the Torah, by contrast, Allah says that the rabbis and scholars judged by it because they were entrusted with the Book of Allah (5:44); Ibn Kathir explains: entrusted with the Book of Allah, which they were commanded to make known and to act upon.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ (سورة الحجر: 9)
قال تعالى في القرآن: (إنا نحن نزلنا الذكر وإنا له لحافظون) (الحجر 15: 9)، قال ابن كثير: قرر تعالى أنه هو الذي أنزل الذكر، وهو القرآن، وهو الحافظ له من التغيير والتبديل، وقال في التوراة: (والربانيون والأحبار بما استحفظوا من كتاب الله) (المائدة 5: 44)، قال ابن كثير: أي: بما استودعوا من كتاب الله الذي أمروا أن يظهروه ويعملوا به.
3. Neither Believe Nor Deny Them | لا تصدقوا أهل الكتاب ولا تكذبوهم
Abu Hurayrah reported that the People of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and explain it in Arabic to the Muslims, and the Messenger of Allah said: Do not believe the People of the Book and do not deny them, but say: We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us (Sahih al-Bukhari 4485). The words he taught are from the verse: Say, We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us; and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants; and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them (2:136).
قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا (سورة البقرة: 136)
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: كان أهل الكتاب يقرءون التوراة بالعبرانية، ويفسرونها بالعربية لأهل الإسلام، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "لا تصدقوا أهل الكتاب ولا تكذبوهم، وقولوا: (آمنا بالله وما أنزل إلينا) (البقرة 2: 136)" (صحيح البخاري 4485).
4. The Prophet Described in the Torah | موصوف في التوراة
Allah describes those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written in their Torah and Gospel (7:157). Ata ibn Yasar asked Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As to tell him the description of the Messenger of Allah in the Torah, and he said: Yes, by Allah, he is described in the Torah with some of his description in the Quran: O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good news and a warner (33:45), and a refuge for the unlettered people (Sahih al-Bukhari 2125).
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا (سورة الأحزاب: 45)
قال تعالى: (الذين يتبعون الرسول النبي الأمي الذي يجدونه مكتوبا عندهم في التوراة والإنجيل) (الأعراف 7: 157)، وعن عطاء بن يسار قال: لقيت عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما، قلت: أخبرني عن صفة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في التوراة، قال: "أجل، والله إنه لموصوف في التوراة ببعض صفته في القرآن: (يا أيها النبي إنا أرسلناك شاهدا ومبشرا ونذيرا) (الأحزاب 33: 45)، وحرزا للأميين" (صحيح البخاري 2125).
Scholarly Insight: Ibn Kathir explains that Allah commands belief in the Quran and in all the books revealed before it (4:136), and that He Himself preserves the Quran from change and alteration (15:9). Read more in the tafsir of Surah An-Nisa.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which divine books are named in the Quran?
The Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms (Zabur), the Scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa, and the Quran.
Is believing in the earlier books part of faith?
Yes. Allah commands belief in the Book revealed to His Messenger and the Scriptures revealed before (4:136), and the Prophet named belief in His books in the pillars of faith (Sahih Muslim 8).
How should a Muslim treat what the People of the Book narrate?
The Prophet said: Do not believe the People of the Book and do not deny them, but say: We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us (Sahih al-Bukhari 4485).
Is the Prophet Muhammad described in the Torah?
Abdullah ibn Amr said he is described in the Torah with some of his description in the Quran: a witness, a bearer of good news and a warner (Sahih al-Bukhari 2125).
Prepared by Eng. Ghada Homad, founder of IslamFAQ, researched and written in consultation with qualified scholars, reviewed by Professor Khaled Jassem Al-Houli, Associate Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence and Islamic Politics, Faculty of Sharia and Islamic Studies, University of Kuwait. Read more about the authors and this project →