Belief in the Holy Books (Kutub) in Islam

Belief in the Holy Books (Kutub) in Islam 

Belief in the Holy Books (Kutub) is one of the Six Articles of Faith (Iman) in Islam. It refers to the belief that Allah revealed divine scriptures to His prophets to guide humanity. These books contain instructions, commandments, and guidance on how to worship Allah and live a righteous life. Belief in the Holy Books is essential for being a Muslim, as rejecting any of them constitutes disbelief (kufr). 

1.      Meaning of Kutub (Books)

The Arabic word "Kutub" (كتب) is the plural of "Kitab" (كتاب), which means "book" or "scripture." In Islamic theology, Kutub refers to the divine revelations or scriptures that Allah sent down to guide people through His chosen prophets. 

2.      Purpose of the Holy Books

The primary purpose of the Holy Books is to provide: 

1.         Divine Guidance: Teach humanity how to worship Allah and lead a moral life. 

2.         Clarification of Tawhid: Reinforce the belief in the oneness of Allah and warn against shirk (polytheism). 

3.         Moral and Ethical Teachings: Instruct people on the principles of justice, compassion, and good character. 

4.         Law and Legislation: Provide laws (Shari'ah) that govern individual, social, and legal aspects of life. 

5.         Warning and Glad Tidings: Warn people of the consequences of sin and disbelief, while promising rewards for righteousness and belief. 

3.      The Four Main Revealed Books in Islam

Muslims believe that Allah revealed several divine scriptures, but the four most prominent Holy Books mentioned in the Qur'an are: 

1.            The Torah (Tawrat)

·         Revealed to: Prophet Musa (Moses, AS) 

·         Purpose: It served as the primary guidance for the Children of Israel (Bani Israel). 

·         Content: Laws (Shari'ah) and moral guidelines for living a righteous life. 

·         Current Status: Muslims believe that the original Torah was altered and no longer exists in its pure form. 

·         Qur'anic Reference: 

Ø  "Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light." (Qur'an 5:44) 

2.      The Psalms (Zabur)

o   Revealed to: Prophet Dawud (David, AS) 

o   Purpose: It contained supplications, praises, and spiritual wisdom to strengthen faith and devotion to Allah. 

o   Content: Focused on worship, remembrance of Allah, and moral teachings. 

o   Current Status: Like the Torah, the original Zabur is believed to have been lost or altered. 

o   Qur'anic Reference: 

Ø  "And to David We gave the book of Psalms (Zabur)." (Qur'an 4:163) 

3.      The Gospel (Injeel)

o   Revealed to: Prophet Isa (Jesus, AS) 

o   Purpose: It served as guidance and confirmation of the Torah's message, emphasizing faith, love, and worship of Allah. 

o   Content: It included teachings about Tawhid, spirituality, and righteous conduct. 

o   Current Status: Muslims believe that the original Injeel was distorted or altered by people, resulting in the modern-day Gospels (found in the New Testament), which are not identical to the Injeel given to Isa (AS). 

o   Qur'anic Reference: 

Ø  "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." (Qur'an 5:46) 

4.      The Qur'an

·         Revealed to: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) 

·         Purpose: It serves as the final and complete guidance for all of humanity, abrogating previous scriptures. 

·         Content: It contains laws (Shari'ah), theology, moral teachings, and the stories of past nations. 

·         Current Status: The Qur'an is unique because it has been preserved in its original form. Allah promised to protect it from alteration or corruption. 

·         Qur'anic Reference: 

Ø  "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an, and indeed, We will be its guardian." (Qur'an 15:9) 

The Qur'an is the final and most comprehensive book of guidance. Unlike previous books, it applies to all of humanity and remains unchanged. 

4.      Belief in Other Scriptures

Besides the Torah, Zabur, Injeel, and Qur'an, Muslims believe that other scriptures were revealed to earlier prophets. Some of these scriptures are: 

Scrolls of Ibrahim (Suhuf Ibrahim) – Revealed to Prophet Ibrahim (AS) 

Scrolls of Musa (Suhuf Musa) – Revealed to Prophet Musa (AS) before the Torah 

While these earlier revelations were significant for their time, they are no longer in use since the Qur'an has abrogated all previous scriptures. 

5.      Key Beliefs About the Holy Books

1.         All Books Came from Allah: Muslims believe that all revealed books originated from the same divine source — Allah. 

2.         All Books Taught Tawhid: Each book reinforced the call to the oneness of Allah and emphasized worshiping Him alone. 

3.         Qur'an as the Final Revelation: The Qur'an confirms, corrects, and completes previous scriptures. 

4.         Preservation of the Qur'an: Unlike previous books, the Qur'an has been preserved in its original form, without alteration. 

5.         Respect for All Books: Muslims respect all the previous scriptures, even if they believe that the original texts have been altered. 

6.      Qur'anic Verses on Belief in the Books

The Qur'an emphasizes the importance of belief in the Holy Books: 

1.         "O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before." (Qur'an 4:136) 

2.         "Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms]." (Qur'an 4:163) 

7.      The Importance of Belief in the Books

·         Belief in the Holy Books is essential for the following reasons: 

·         Foundation of Iman (Faith): Without belief in the books, a person's Iman is incomplete. 

·         Source of Guidance: The Qur'an serves as a guide for all human beings in every aspect of life. 

·         Moral and Ethical Compass: The Qur'an teaches honesty, compassion, justice, and patience. 

·         Evidence of Allah's Mercy: Allah did not leave humanity unguided; He sent books with clear instructions for success in this world and the Hereafter. 

·         Proof of the Finality of Islam: The Qur'an abrogates previous books and serves as the eternal source of divine guidance. 

8.      Consequences of Denying the Books

·         Denying any of the divine books, even one, is a form of disbelief (kufr). For example: 

·         Rejecting the Torah or Injeel – Denying that Allah revealed these books is disbelief. 

·         Rejecting the Qur'an – Anyone who rejects the Qur'an is not a Muslim. 

Ø  "And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray." (Qur'an 4:136) 

Conclusion

Belief in the Holy Books (Kutub) is a fundamental aspect of Islam. These books served as divine guidance for various nations throughout history. While the earlier scriptures were altered, the Qur'an remains preserved, comprehensive, and universally applicable. For Muslims, belief in the Qur'an is central to faith, as it contains the complete guidance needed to live a successful life in this world and the Hereafter.