Belief in the Holy Books of Islam is a fundamental cornerstone of the Islamic faith, representing one of the six Articles of Faith (Eemaan). These sacred scriptures are believed by Muslims to be the literal, infallible Word of Allah (God), revealed to various prophets throughout history to guide mankind to His straight path. The final and complete revelation is the Holy Quran, which acts as a testament and culmination of all previous Divine messages.
Understanding the role of these books, i.e., from the Scrolls of Abraham to the final Quran, is crucial for any follower of Islam and for anyone seeking to understand the core tenets of this major world religion. This detailed guide explores the essential scriptures, their prophets, and their significance in Islamic theology.
The Holy Books Among the Six Articles of Muslim Faith
The Islamic creed (Aqeedah) requires belief in:
- Allah
- His Angels
- His Books
- His Messengers
- The Day of Judgment
- Divine Decree (Qada and Qadar).
The belief in the Divine Books necessitates accepting that God revealed authentic scripture to His messengers. This belief is clearly established in the Holy Quran:
The 4 books of Allah and their Prophets
In this article, we will discuss the 3rd article of Islamic belief (Four Holy Books) in detail, including the Quran, Tawrat, Zabur, and Injil.
Arabic: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا آمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ مِن قَبْلُ
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo aminoo bi Allahi wa rasoolihi wa alkitabi allathee nazzala ala rasoolihi wa alkitabi allathee anzala min qablu.
English Translation: “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.” – Quran, Surah An Nisa (4:136)
This verse underscores the dual requirement: belief in the final revelation (the Quran) and belief in the original divine scriptures revealed previously.
1. The Quran (The Recitation)
The Quran (Al Quran Al Kareem) is the central and most significant Islamic holy book. It is the verbatim, unaltered Word of Allah, revealed to the final prophet, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), through the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) over approximately 23 years. The word Quran in Arabic literally means “the recitation.” The Quran serves multiple roles:
- It is a complete guidebook for life (Divine Guidance).
- It is a criterion for judging right from wrong (Al Furqan).
- It is the final, preserved message to all mankind, superseding all previous texts.
Muslims firmly believe the Quran is preserved in its original Arabic form, as God promised its protection:
Arabic: إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
Transliteration: Inna nahnu nazzalna alththikra wa inna lahu lahafithoona.
English Translation: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Quran], and indeed, We will be its guardian.” – Quran, Surah Al Hijr (15:9)
2. The Tawrat
The Tawrat (The Torah) is the Arabic name for the holy book revealed by Allah to the Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) for the guidance of the Children of Israel. In its original form, the Tawrat contained guidance and light from God. While generally equated with the Torah or Pentateuch of the Old Testament, Muslims believe the current version has undergone corruption (tahrif), and only the original, divinely revealed text is affirmed as a true Holy Book of Islam. The Quran attests to its divine origin:
Arabic: إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ
Transliteration: Inna anzalna alttawrata feeha hudan wa noorun.
English Translation: “Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light…” – Quran, Surah Al Ma idah (5:44)
3. The Zabur
The Zabur (The Psalms) is the divine scripture revealed by Allah to the Prophet Dawud (David, peace be upon him). Scholars commonly understand the Zabur as primarily containing songs of praise, supplication, and divine remembrance, similar to the Book of Psalms. The Zabur did not contain a new comprehensive law but reinforced the message of worshipping the One God (Tawhid). The revelation of the Zabur is mentioned alongside other messengers’ revelations:
Arabic: …وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا
Transliteration: …wa atayna Dawuda zabooran.
English Translation: “…and to David We gave the Book [of Psalms] (Zabur).” – Quran, Surah An Nisa (4:163)
4. The Injil
The Injil (The Gospel) is the holy book revealed by Allah to the Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him). The term Injil in Islam refers to the single, original Gospel imparted to Isa as the Word of God, not the four Gospels (New Testament) compiled centuries later. Like the previous scriptures, Muslims believe the original Injil confirmed the preceding messages, particularly the Tawrat, and announced the coming of the final prophet, Muhammad. The Quran confirms its purpose of guidance:
Arabic:وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِم بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ
Transliteration: Wa qaffayna ala atharihim bi Isa ibni Maryama musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi mina alttawrati wa ataynahu al Injeela feehi hudan wa noorun…
English Translation: “And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him of the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel (Injil), in which was guidance and light…” – Quran, Surah Al Ma idah (5:46)
Additional Revealed Scriptures
In addition to the four major books, the Quran also mentions other early revelations, though they are often referred to as ‘Scrolls’ (Suhuf), suggesting a different form or scope than the main books:
- Scrolls of Abraham (Suhuf Ibrahim): Revealed to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him).
- Scrolls of Moses (Suhuf Musa): Some scholars view these as part of the Tawrat, while others consider them separate early revelations to Musa before the full Tawrat.
These scrolls are mentioned together in the final surah of the Quran:
Arabic:صُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ
Transliteration: Suhufi Ibraheema wa Musa.
English Translation: “The Scriptures of Abraham and Moses.” – Quran, Surah Al Ala (87:19)
Comparison of Major Holy Books of Islam
| Arabic Name | English Name | Prophet (Nabi) | Purpose / Role | Status in Islam |
| Al-Quran | The Quran | Muhammad (PBUH) | Final, complete, and uncorrupted code of life. | Ultimate Authority (Preserved) |
| Al-Injil | The Gospel | Isa (Jesus) | Guidance and light; confirmed the Tawrat. | Original text believed to be altered. |
| Az-Zabur | The Psalms | Dawud (David) | Songs of praise and supplication (Dhikr). | Original text believed to be altered. |
| At-Tawrat | The Torah | Musa (Moses) | Guidance and light; Divine Law for the Children of Israel. | Original text believed to be altered. |
The Preservation of the Quran and the Hadith
A key distinction in Islamic belief is the status of the Quran versus the previous books. Muslims believe that over time, the earlier scriptures were either lost, partially forgotten, or altered by their followers (tahrif), losing their original divine perfection.
The Holy Quran, however, remains perfectly preserved, acting as the ultimate criterion and reference point for all Divine Law.
Arabic: وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ
Transliteration: Wa anzalna ilayka alkitaba bilhaqqi musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi mina alkitabi wa muhayminan alayhi…
English Translation: “And We have sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book [the Quran] in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it.” – Quran, Surah Al Ma idah (5:48)
The teachings of the Quran are further elaborated and practiced in the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) recorded in the Hadith. The Hadith is not a holy book itself, but a record of Prophet Muhammad’s sayings, actions, and approvals, which provides the practical application of the Quranic revelation for Muslims.
One famous Hadith confirms the importance of following the final guidance:
Arabic: لَوْ كَانَ مُوسَى حَيًّا مَا وَسِعَهُ إِلاَّ اتِّبَاعِي
Transliteration: Law kana Musa hayyan ma wasi ahoo illa ittibaaee.
English Translation: “Had Moses been alive, he would have no option but to follow me [Muhammad].” – Reference: Narrated on the authority of Jabir ibn Abdullah and others.
Final Message
The belief in the Holy Books of Islam signifies belief in a continuous stream of Divine communication from Allah to mankind, all carrying the core message of Tawhid (Islamic monotheism), i.e., worshiping God alone. The Quran is the final and perfect embodiment of this message, providing the complete legal and spiritual guidance for all people until the Day of Judgment.
Absolutely, here are the answers to those frequently asked questions, shortened for conciseness and quick readability, perfect for a blog’s FAQ section:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do Muslims believe the Quran is the final and only preserved holy book?
The Holy Quran is believed to be the only preserved scripture because Allah promised its protection (Quran 15:9). Earlier books (Tawrat, Zabur, Injil) were meant for specific communities and times, and their original texts are believed to have been corrupted or altered (Tahrif).
What does the term ‘Ahl al-Kitab’ mean in relation to the Holy Books?
Ahl al-Kitab translates to “People of the Book.” It refers primarily to Jews and Christians, whose faiths originated from the divinely revealed scriptures (Tawrat and Injil), recognizing their shared monotheistic heritage.
What is ‘Tahrif’ and how does it relate to the earlier scriptures?
Tahrif is the Arabic term for corruption or alteration. It refers to the belief that the original divine texts of the Tawrat (Torah) and Injil (Gospel) were lost or changed by humans, resulting in inaccuracies in their current versions.
What are the Suhuf (Scrolls)?
The Suhuf are the smaller, early divine revelations, such as the Scrolls of Abraham (Suhuf Ibrahim) and the Scrolls of Moses (Suhuf Musa), which contained foundational spiritual and moral teachings.
Is the Hadith considered a Holy Book in Islam?
No, the Hadith is not a Holy Book or Divine Revelation like the Quran. It is the recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (Sunnah), which provides practical application and explanation of the Quranic laws.
What is the core message of all the Holy Books of Islam?
The core message of all divine scriptures (Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, and Quran) is Tawhid (strict monotheism): the singular worship of the One God, rejection of polytheism, and establishment of morality.
Who is considered the last prophet to receive a Holy Book?
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final prophet in Islam, and he was the recipient of the last and final Holy Book, the Quran.
