Islamic holy books
Islamic holy books are scriptures revealed by God through prophets before Muhammad.
Islamic holy books are a number of religious scriptures regarded by Muslims as having valid divine significance, authored by God (Allah) through a variety of prophets and messengers, all of which predate the Quran. These include the Tawrat (Torah), revealed to prophets and messengers amongst the Children of Israel; the Zabur (Psalms), revealed to Dawud (David); and the Injil (Gospel), revealed to Isa (Jesus). The Quran also mentions the Scrolls of Abraham and the Scrolls of Moses. Muslims hold the Quran, revealed to Muhammad, as God's final revelation, completing and confirming previous scriptures. Belief in the validity of earlier Abrahamic scriptures is one of the six Islamic articles of faith, though for most self-identified Muslims this belief is restricted by the concept of tahrif.
- Central text
- Quran
- Previous revelations
- Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, Scrolls of Abraham, Scrolls of Moses
- Key concept
- Tahrif (restriction on belief in earlier scriptures)
- Interpretive method
- Tafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab (interpreting Quran with/through Bible)
- Notable commentators
- Abu al-Hakam Abd al-Salam bin al-Isbili, Ibrahim bin Umar bin Hasan al-Biqa'i, Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani, Brethren of Purity
Lore & Background
The Islamic holy books are a number of religious scriptures that are regarded by Muslims as having valid divine significance, in that they were authored by God (Allah) through a variety of prophets and messengers, all of which predate the Quran. Among scriptures considered to be valid revelations, three that are named in the Quran are: the Tawrat (Arabic for Torah), received by prophets and messengers amongst the Israelites; the Zabur (Psalms), received by David; and the Injīl (Arabic for the Gospel), received by Jesus. Additionally, the Quran mentions the Scrolls of Abraham and the Scrolls of Moses, as well as individual revelations and guidance to specific Messengers.
Reader's Guide
The Islamic holy books form a foundational element of Islamic theology, establishing a continuum of divine revelation from Adam to Muhammad. Muslims hold the Quran, as it was revealed to Muhammad, to be God's final revelation to mankind, and therefore a completion and confirmation of previous scriptures, such as the Bible. Despite the primacy that Muslims place upon the Quran in this context, belief in the validity of earlier Abrahamic scriptures is one of the six Islamic articles of faith. However, for most self-identified Muslims, the level of this belief is restricted by the concept of tahrif. The Islamic methodology of tafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab refers to interpreting the Quran with/through the Bible, adopting canonical Arabic 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 Muslim mufassirun (commentators) of the Bible and Quran who weaved biblical texts together with Quranic ones include Abu al-Hakam Abd al-Salam bin al-Isbili of al-Andalus, Ibrahim bin Umar bin Hasan al-Biqa'i, Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani, and the Brethren of Purity.
Did You Know?
- The Quran mentions the Zabur, interpreted as being the Book of Psalms, as the holy scripture revealed to Dawud (King David).
- The Scrolls of Abraham and the Scrolls of Moses are mentioned in Quran 87:18-19 as 'Books of Earlier Revelation'.
- The Islamic methodology of tafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab refers to interpreting the Quran with/through the Bible.
- Belief in the validity of earlier Abrahamic scriptures is one of the six Islamic articles of faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Islamic holy books?
They are the divine scriptures God revealed to earlier prophets before the Quran, including the Tawrat for the Children of Israel, the Zabur for Dawud, the Injil for Isa, plus the Scrolls of Abraham and the Scrolls of Moses. All are recognized as originally sacred revelations that preceded Muhammad's final message.
How do the Islamic holy books relate to the Quran?
The Quran is held as God's final, complete revelation that both confirms and supersedes the earlier scriptures. While the previous books are acknowledged as originally divine, the Quran stands as the ultimate standard of truth in Islamic belief.
What is Tahrif and why does it matter for Islamic holy books?
Tahrif is the doctrinal position that earlier scriptures were altered or corrupted over time, which limits how fully Muslims affirm their current textual form. This concept shapes the way pre-Quranic texts like the Bible are treated as historical documents rather than as presently authoritative scripture.
What is Tafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab?
It is an interpretive method in which scholars draw on the content of the earlier revealed books—the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel—as a contextual lens for explaining Quranic passages. The approach treats the Bible as a tool for Quranic exegesis rather than as an independent source of authority.
Who are some notable commentators on Islamic holy books?
Figures such as Abu al-Hakam Abd al-Salam bin al-Isbili, Ibrahim bin Umar bin Hasan al-Biqa'i, Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani, and the Brethren of Purity all produced significant works engaging the relationship between the Quran and earlier revelations. Their writings form a key part of the broader Islamic theological tradition on divine scripture.
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