Islamic theology is built upon the belief in all the prophets and the scriptures they brought, as this belief forms a cornerstone of a Muslim’s faith. Among these scriptures are the Torah (Taurat) and the Gospel (Injil), which were revealed to Prophet Musa (Moses) and Prophet Isa (Jesus), respectively. This article delves into how Islam views these previous scriptures, their relevance to Muslims, and the doctrinal standpoint on how these texts are perceived in light of the final revelation, the Quran.
Islamic Creed on Belief in Scriptures
Belief in divine books is a fundamental part of Islamic faith. The Quran emphasizes this belief in several verses, notably in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:177), where Allah mentions that righteousness involves believing in God, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets. This indicates that accepting the previous scriptures as part of the divine revelation is essential for Muslims.
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The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), when asked about faith by the angel Jibril (Gabriel), included belief in the divine scriptures as one of the six pillars of faith. This underscores the importance of acknowledging that the Torah and the Gospel, like the Quran, originated from Allah.
The Authenticity and Preservation of Previous Scriptures
Despite the reverence Islam holds for the Torah and the Gospel, Islamic teachings assert that these texts have undergone changes and distortions over time. According to Islamic belief, the original messages given to Moses and Jesus were true and pure, but human interference has altered these texts.
The Quran mentions this alteration explicitly. For instance, in Surah Al-Maidah (5:13), it is stated that some of the followers of earlier scriptures deliberately changed the words from their rightful places. This concept of distortion (tahrif) is crucial in understanding why the Quran is viewed as the final and preserved word of God, which rectifies the alterations made in the earlier scriptures.
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The Role of the Quran as a Criterion
The Quran is considered by Muslims as the final and most complete revelation, serving as a criterion (muhaimin) over previous scriptures. In Surah Al-Maidah (5:48), Allah describes the Quran as confirming the truth of previous scriptures while also acting as a judge over them. This means that Muslims view the Quran as the ultimate guide, which confirms the truth in earlier revelations and corrects the errors that crept into them.
Can Muslims Read the Torah and the Gospel?
The question of whether Muslims are allowed to read the Torah and the Gospel is nuanced. The general advice given by Islamic scholars is that Muslims should not engage with these texts unless they are well-versed in Islamic theology. This caution stems from the potential confusion that could arise due to the distortions present in the current versions of these scriptures.
Islamic scholars, including Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz, have advised against keeping or reading these texts unless for scholarly purposes, particularly for defending Islam against misconceptions propagated by those who follow the earlier scriptures. The Prophet Muhammad’s reaction to seeing Umar ibn al-Khattab with a part of the Torah illustrates this point. The Prophet expressed displeasure, emphasizing that the Quran should be the primary source of guidance, even for those texts that retain some of the original revelations.
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The Doctrine of Abrogation
A critical concept in Islamic theology is that of abrogation (naskh), where a later revelation supersedes an earlier one. This doctrine is essential when discussing the relevance of the Torah and the Gospel in Islam. The Quran, being the final revelation, is believed to abrogate all previous scriptures, meaning that while the earlier texts were divinely revealed, their legal and moral rulings have been superseded by the Quranic revelation.
The Quran itself speaks to this in Surah Al-Maidah (5:48), where it is stated that the Quran acts as a final judge over previous scriptures. Thus, while Muslims believe in the original revelations of the Torah and the Gospel, they follow the Quran as the ultimate guide.
Current Status of the Torah and the Gospel in Islam
Islamic scholars have extensively discussed the status of the Torah and the Gospel that are available today. The consensus is that the existing versions of these texts are not the same as those originally revealed to Moses and Jesus. This belief is based on several factors:
- Lack of Original Manuscripts: The Torah and the Gospel available today are not in their original languages and have been subject to numerous translations and interpretations, leading to changes in the text.
- Inconsistencies and Contradictions: Scholars have pointed out inconsistencies within the texts, which suggest that human hands have altered them over time.
- Additions and Omissions: Islamic belief holds that significant portions of the original messages have been lost, and human additions have been made to the texts.
Given these points, while Muslims respect the Torah and the Gospel as part of the chain of divine revelation, they do not follow them as they do the Quran. Instead, they rely on the Quran to confirm what is true from the previous scriptures and to correct what has been altered.
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