Belief in the Divine Books

What is the proof that Muslims must believe in all the Divine Books?

• Believing in all the Divine Books sent by Allah ﷻ is one of the pillars of Iman. One of the characteristics of a Muslim is that he/she believes in all the Divine Books. Allah ﷻ describes these people in the Qur’aan:

وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ( سورة البقرة : ٢٨٥ )

All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers (Soorah Al-Baqarah:285)

• Muslims firmly believe in all the Divine Books that Allah ﷻ sent down to His Messengers. In the Qur’aan, Allah ﷻ instructs the believers:

قُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ ( سورة البقرة : ١٣٦ )

Say, (believers), “We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Ibraaheem and Ismaa’eel and Ishaaq and Ya’qoob and the Descendants (Al-Asbaat) and what was given to Moosaa and ‘Eesaa and what was given to the Prophets from their Rabb. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims (in submission) to Him.” (Soorat al-Baqarah:136)

• The above mentioned verse confirms that Muslims must believe in all the Divine Books. Muslims should believe that Allah ﷻ has revealed these books to His Messengers. They are, however, not required to act upon the contents of any other book besides the Qur’aan. The message contained in these books were either lost or changed over time. Most of the revealed books do not exist anymore; not even their names have remained.
• It is important for Muslims to have faith in the previous Divine Books. It proves that Islam is the same religion which Allah ﷻ chose for all the Prophets and nations that came before Muhammad. His message contained in the Qur’aan is a continuation of the message from all the other Messengers of Allah ﷻ . Islam did not begin with the arrival of Muhammad, but rather with the first man, Aadam.

نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ  ( سورة آل عمران : 3 )

“He has sent upon you [O, Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.” (Soorah Aali Imraan: 3)

• This verse shows that the Qur’aan was revealed to validate the books that were revealed to previous Messengers and as a continuation of them. Muslims must accept these books as revelation from Allah ﷻ .
• The Qur’aan is the final revelation; it contains no errors or mistakes. It was revealed perfectly and it has remained unchanged. The meaning of the Qur’aan has not been changed or distorted in any way. The Qur’aan is perfect in every way as it is Allah’s Book revealed to humankind as a guide until the Day of Judgment.

What we learn from the lesson:

1. Believing in the Divine Books is the third pillar of Iman.
2. Denying any of the Divine Books puts a person outside the fold of Islam.
3. Muslims who believe in the ghayb will be rewarded with Paradise.

“Discussion:”

1. What is the proof that Muslims must believe in all the Divine Books?