The holy books are a number of religious scriptures that are regarded byMuslims as having valid divine significance, in that they were authored by God (Allah) through a variety ofprophets and messengers, all of which predate theQuran. Among scriptures considered to be valid revelations, three that are named in the Quran are: theTawrat (Arabic forTorah), received by prophets and messengers amongst theIsraelites; theZabur (Psalms), received byDavid; and the Injil (Arabic for theGospel), received byJesus. Additionally, the Quran mentions theScrolls of Abraham and theScrolls of Moses, as well as individual revelations and guidance to specific Messengers.
Muslims hold theQuran, as it was revealed toMuhammad, to beGod's final revelation to mankind, and therefore a completion and confirmation of previous scriptures, such as theBible.[1] Despite the primacy that Muslims place upon the Quran in this context, belief in the validity of earlier Abrahamic scriptures is one of the sixIslamic articles of faith. However, for most self-identified Muslims, the level of this belief is restricted by the concept oftahrif.
The Islamic methodology oftafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab (Arabic:تفسير القرآن بالكتاب) refers to interpreting the Quran with/through the Bible.[2] This approach adopts canonicalArabic versions of the Bible, including the Tawrat and the Injil, both to illuminate and to add exegetical depth to the reading of the Quran. Notable Muslimmufassirun (commentators) of the Bible and Quran who weaved biblical texts together with Quranic ones includeAbu al-Hakam Abd al-Salam bin al-Isbili ofal-Andalus,Ibrahim bin Umar bin Hasan al-Biqa'i,[2]Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani, and theBrethren of Purity.[3]
The Quran is the centralreligious text ofIslam, whichMuslims believe to be arevelation fromGod (Arabic:الله,Allah).[4] The Quran is divided into chapters (surah), which are then divided into verses (ayah). Muslims believe the Quran was verbally revealed by Allah toMuhammad through the angelGabriel (Jibril),[5][6] gradually over a period of approximately 23 years, starting in late 609, when Muhammad was 39, and concluding in 632, the year of his death.[4][7][8] Muslims regard the Quran as the most important miracle of Muhammad, a proof of his prophethood,[9] and the culmination of a series of divine messages that started with the messages revealed toAdam and ended with Muhammad. It is widely regarded as the finest work inclassical Arabic literature.[10][11][12][13]
The "Tawrat" (also Tawrah or Taurat;Arabic:توراة) is the Arabic name for the Torah within its context as anIslamic holy book believed byMuslims to have been given byGod to theprophets and messengers amongst theChildren of Israel. When referring to traditions from theTawrat, Muslims have not only identified it with thePentateuch, but also with the other books of theHebrew Bible as well as withTalmudic andMidrashim writings.[14]
The Quran mentions the Zabur, interpreted as being theBook of Psalms,[15] as being the holy scripture revealed toKing David (Dawud). Scholars have often understood the Psalms to have been holy songs of praise, and not a book administering law.[16] The current Psalms are still praised by many Muslim scholars.[17]Quran21:105 andPsalm 37:29 are direct counterparts.[18]
The Injil was the holy book revealed toJesus (Isa), according to the Quran. Most scholars and Muslims believe that it refers not to theNew Testament but to an original Gospel given to Jesus as the word of Allah.[19]
The Quran also mentions several additional scriptures in the form of books, revelations, guidance and wisdom.
TheScrolls of Abraham (Arabic:صحف إبراهيم,Ṣuḥuf ʾIbrāhīm)[20] are believed to have been one of the earliest bodies of scripture, which were given toAbraham (Ibrāhīm),[21] and later used byIshmael (Ismā‘īl) andIsaac (Isḥāq).[citation needed] Although usually referred to as "scrolls", many translators have translated theArabicsuhuf as "books".[22][23] The verse mentioning the "Scriptures" is in Quran87:18-19 where they are referred to, alongside theScrolls of Moses, to have been "Books of Earlier Revelation".
TheScrolls of Moses (Arabic:صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ,Ṣuḥuf Mūsā) are an ancient body of scripture mentioned twice in theQuran. They are part of the religious scriptures ofIslam. Jordanian scholar and professor of philosophyGhazi bin Muhammad mentions that the "Scrolls of Moses" are identical to the Torah ofMoses.[24] Others have stated that they could possibly refer to theBook of the Wars of the Lord,[22] a lost text spoken of in theOld Testament orTanakh in theBook of Numbers.[25] The verse mentioning the "Scriptures" is in Quran87:18-19 where they are referred to, alongside theScrolls of Abraham, to have been "Books of Earlier Revelation".
"Its outstanding literary merit should also be noted: it is by far, the finest work of Arabic prose in existence."
"It may be affirmed that within the literature of the Arabs, wide and fecund as it is both in poetry and in elevated prose, there is nothing to compare with it."
