What Does the Quran Say About the People of the Book اہل کتاب کے بارے میں قرآن کیا کہتا ہے؟

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What Does the Quran Say About the People of the Book

Assalamu Alaikum sisters, brothers, friends and elders:
We welcome you to Statement Number 56 in our series of statements. We will explain in it that: (What Does the Quran Say About the People of the Book), our aim is to learn and teach from the Quran and Sunnah, reflect on history and seek solutions to problems with divine guidance.

The Quran is the final revelation of Allah to mankind, and within its verses it addresses not only Muslims but also other communities, including the People of the Book. This term in the Quran refers primarily to Jews and Christians, as they were given earlier scriptures such as the Torah and the Gospel. The Quran speaks about the People of the Book in a balanced way, recognizing the truth contained in their scriptures, acknowledging their prophets, but also pointing out the distortions, alterations, and deviations that had crept into their practices and beliefs over time. Through this discussion, the Quran calls the People of the Book to return to the pure worship of Allah and to accept the final messenger, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

The Quran affirms that the People of the Book were originally given divine revelations. In Surah Aal-e-Imran verse 3, Allah says, He has sent down upon you the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. This verse shows that the previous scriptures were genuine revelations, meant to guide their communities. However, the Quran also makes it clear that these scriptures were later altered by human hands, and thus could no longer serve as complete guidance. In Surah Al-Baqarah verse 79, Allah warns, So woe to those who write the Scripture with their own hands, then say, This is from Allah, in order to exchange it for a small price.

The Quran does not condemn all People of the Book equally but distinguishes between those who are sincere and those who knowingly conceal the truth. In Surah Aal-e-Imran verse 113, Allah says, They are not all the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing in obedience, reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating. This verse acknowledges that some among them are righteous and sincere in their devotion to Allah, showing that the Quran treats individuals with fairness rather than generalizing.

The Quran also calls the People of the Book to unite with Muslims on the common ground of pure monotheism. In Surah Aal-e-Imran verse 64, Allah instructs the Prophet to say, O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you, that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah. This verse demonstrates the Quran’s invitation to dialogue, focusing on shared beliefs such as the worship of the One God while rejecting shirk, the act of associating partners with Allah.

At the same time, the Quran is firm in addressing the distortions and false claims made by some among the People of the Book. For instance, the claim that Isa, or Jesus, is the son of God is rejected strongly. In Surah Al-Maidah verse 72, Allah declares, They have certainly disbelieved who say, Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary. While the Quran honors Isa as a Prophet and Messenger, it condemns elevating him to divinity, stressing that worship belongs only to Allah. Similarly, the Quran criticizes those who denied or killed their Prophets unjustly, as mentioned in Surah Aal-e-Imran verse 181.

The Quran also highlights the hostility some People of the Book showed towards Muslims, especially in the early days of Islam. In Surah Al-Baqarah verse 120, Allah states, Never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. This verse reminds Muslims that they should not seek the approval of others at the expense of their faith, but rather remain firm in the guidance revealed by Allah.

Despite these criticisms, the Quran maintains a principle of justice and coexistence with the People of the Book. In Surah Al-Mumtahanah verse 8, Allah says, Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes, from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. This verse encourages fairness and good treatment toward those among the People of the Book who live peacefully with Muslims.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, also gave practical examples of dealing with the People of the Book. In Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith number 3156, it is narrated that the Prophet accepted gifts from Christians and had treaties with Jews, showing kindness and fairness. At the same time, he made it clear that final guidance is only through the Quran. In Sahih Muslim Hadith number 1699, he said, Do not believe the People of the Book nor disbelieve them, but say, We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us. This Hadith reflects the balanced approach of Islam, respecting their scriptures while affirming the completeness of the Quran.

On the Day of Judgment, the Quran says that the People of the Book will be judged based on their acceptance or rejection of the truth. In Surah Aal-e-Imran verse 199, Allah praises some among them, saying, And indeed, among the People of the Scripture are those who believe in Allah and what was revealed to you and what was revealed to them, being humbly submissive to Allah. They will have their reward with their Lord. This verse shows that those who embrace the truth and sincerely worship Allah will be rewarded, regardless of their background.

In conclusion, the Quran’s message about the People of the Book is one of balance and clarity. It acknowledges the divine origin of their scriptures, respects the righteous among them, but also critiques distortions and false beliefs. The Quran invites them to return to pure monotheism and recognize the finality of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. For Muslims, the teachings about the People of the Book are a reminder to uphold justice, engage in respectful dialogue, and remain steadfast in the truth of the Quran while avoiding compromise in matters of faith.

We conclude today's discussion with this humble supplication: O Allah, purify our hearts, accept our deeds, forgive our sins, and include us among Your grateful servants. Amen

Allah Hafiz

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