The 4 Major Books of Islam: Quran, Torah, Zabur & Injil Explained
What Are the Four Holy Books in Islam?
The four great books of Islam are the Quran, Torah (Tawrat), Zabur (Psalms), and Injil (Gospel). Muslims believe that Allāh gave guidance to His Prophets throughout the course of human history for the sake of teaching mankind about the Oneness of Allāh, righteous living, moral responsibility and accountability in the Hereafter.
These have been revealed scriptures which are very significant to the Islamic faith. Faith in Allah’s books is one of the pillars of iman (faith). The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Torah to Prophet Musa (Moses), the Zabur to Prophet Dawud (David) and the Injil to Prophet Isa (Jesus), according to the Quran.
Allah says:
نَزَّلَ عَلَيۡكَ الۡـكِتٰبَ بِالۡحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ وَاَنۡزَلَ التَّوۡرٰٮةَ وَالۡاِنۡجِيۡلَۙ ٣
He has revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ the Book in truth, confirming what came before it, as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel Ali ‘Imran 3:3
This verse is the link between the Qur’ān and the previous scriptures. Muslims believe that the prophets were tasked by Allah and brought guidance to each of their communities at their own times and that each prophet brought the guidance that was meant for his own time and community.
This article covers the four major books of Islam, the prophets to whom they were revealed, their importance, the differences and similarities between the books and what the authentic Islamic sources say about previous revelations. AlQuranDesk UK offers a chance to learn and deepen your knowledge of Islamic scripture through the web while in the comfort of your own house.
The four major books connected to prophets:
The Quran:is the last revelation in Islam that was revealed to the prophet Muhammad (saws) via the angel Jibril (Gabriel). It supports the initial message of earlier scriptures and offers direction in the areas of faith, worship, morality, family relations, justice and human responsibility. Allah has been in charge of keeping the Quran as the book that provides authoritative guidance for humanity.
The Tawrat (Torah): Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) – Allah gave the Tawrat to Prophet Musa for the Children of Israel. It is said that the Quran is a book of guidance and light (Quran 5:44). It was originally revealed with the blessings of Allah, moral accountability and obedience to Allah.
The Zabur (Psalms): Its revelation to Prophet Dawud AS In the Quran 17:55. It is usually linked with the Psalms and is linked with praises and remembrance of Allah as well as devotion to Him.
The Injil (Gospel) is the Book of God that was revealed to Prophet Isa, peace be upon him. Muslims believe that Isa AS summoned his people to serve Allah and obey His instructions.
What Are the Main Differences Between the Four Holy Books in Islam?
In terms of their divine origin in Islamic belief, the four major books are linked together, but they vary in the prophets with which they are associated, their community of history, and their status in Islamic theology.
|
Holy book |
Prophet |
Main identification in Islam |
|
Quran |
Muhammad ﷺ |
The final revelation and primary scriptural authority for Muslims |
|
Torah (Tawrat) |
Musa (Moses) |
Earlier divine scripture containing guidance and light |
|
Zabur |
Dawud (David) |
Scripture explicitly given to Dawud |
|
Injil |
Isa (Jesus) |
Earlier divine revelation containing guidance and light |
1. The Quran: The Final Divine Revelation
Allah revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) through the angel Jibril (Gabriel). It is considered as Allah’s last revelation to man, the main source of Islamic faith, worship, ethics and guidance by Muslims. The Quran was revealed in about 23 years starting with the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira. It is a call for people to worship Allah and to be just, merciless, responsible and ready for the afterlife.
What does the Quran say?
The Quran covers many topics such as:
Tawheed: Monotheism – Worshiping Allah alone without making any partners.
Worship: Prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage, remembering Allah and sincere devotion.
Character and morality: Honesty, patience, justice, forgiveness, compassion and promise-keeping.
Social responsibility: To care for parents, orphans, neighbours, the poor and vulnerable.
Stories about the prophets: about Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Dawud, Isa etc.
The Hereafter: Resurrection, judgment, Paradise and responsibility for actions.
The Quran is not a mere record of history, or a kind of moral aphorisms. For Muslims, this is a means of divine guidance to be recited, understood, reflected upon, and put into practice in daily life.
Quranic evidence for the revelation of the Quran
Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah:
شَهۡرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِىۡٓ اُنۡزِلَ فِيۡهِ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَيِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الۡهُدٰى وَالۡفُرۡقَانِۚ فَمَنۡ شَهِدَ مِنۡكُمُ الشَّهۡرَ فَلۡيَـصُمۡهُ ؕ وَمَنۡ کَانَ مَرِيۡضًا اَوۡ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنۡ اَيَّامٍ اُخَرَؕ يُرِيۡدُ اللّٰهُ بِکُمُ الۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيۡدُ بِکُمُ الۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُکۡمِلُوا الۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُکَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰٮكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡكُرُوۡنَ ١٨٥
Ramaḍân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful. Al-Baqarah
2:185
This verse relates the Quran to guidance and difference between truth and falsehood.
اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا الذِّكۡرَ وَاِنَّا لَهٗ لَحٰـفِظُوۡنَ ٩
Surah Al-Hijr 15:9 is another important verse where Allah has stated that He sent down the Reminder and will keep it safe. Muslims know this as a basis for the preservation of the Quran.
The Quran has been passed on through recitation and memorisation, as well as written manuscripts, from generation to generation. The early tradition of the manuscript tradition of the Qur’ān, the development of the written text and the importance of recitation in the Muslim community are also the subject of academic study. The knowledge of the Quran is not just about memorizing the words, but understanding and using it in real life. AlQuranDesk Online Quran Classes allows individuals to delve into the world of online Quran learning and cultivate a deeper relationship with the Quran and its message.
2. The Torah (Tawrat): The Book Revealed to Prophet Musa AS
The Torah links to heavenly directives, ethical responsibilities and directions for the community to which it was given. Prophets and religious scholars have been mentioned in the Quran to have the duty of judging based on the guidance of the Torah in its historical context. This question involves making a distinction between Islamic theology and Jewish religious tradition, so it’s important that it be answered carefully.
The Five Books of Moses are the Torah, also known as the books of Moses, from the Judaism tradition, which includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In other contexts, the term can have other meanings when used in Jewish religious contexts.
The tawrat is used to talk about the revelation given to the prophet Moses by Allah. Muslims make the affirmation of its original divine source. But there are also times when some people hidden and distorted and/or changed religious teachings, as discussed in the Quran. The original revelation given to Musa should not always be assumed to be the same in all of its aspects as the full and complete set of textual traditions that we have regarding the Torah today.
Quranic evidence for the revelation of Torah
Allah says:
اِنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا التَّوۡرٰٮةَ فِيۡهَا هُدًى وَّنُوۡرٌ ۚ يَحۡكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّوۡنَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَسۡلَمُوۡا لِلَّذِيۡنَ هَادُوۡا وَ الرَّبَّانِيُّوۡنَ وَالۡاَحۡبَارُ بِمَا اسۡتُحۡفِظُوۡا مِنۡ كِتٰبِ اللّٰهِ وَكَانُوۡا عَلَيۡهِ شُهَدَآءَ ۚ فَلَا تَخۡشَوُا النَّاسَ وَاخۡشَوۡنِ وَلَا تَشۡتَرُوۡا بِاٰيٰتِىۡ ثَمَنًا قَلِيۡلًا ؕ وَمَنۡ لَّمۡ يَحۡكُمۡ بِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الۡكٰفِرُوۡنَ ٤٤
Indeed, We revealed the Torah, containing guidance and light, by which the prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah, made judgments for Jews. So too did the rabbis and scholars judge according to Allah’s Book, with which they were entrusted and of which they were made keepers. So do not fear the people; fear Me! Nor trade my revelations for a fleeting gain. And those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are ˹truly˺ the disbelievers. — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran Al-Ma’idah 5:44
This verse is proof of the divinely origin and importance of the Torah from an Islamic perspective.
Lessons from Prophet Musa
When Musa recounts the same story in the Quran, the lesson for the believers is that they must rely on Allah when things are difficult, that they must resist oppression, that they should speak the truth and that they should be patient when they are faced with strong opposition. His tale also is one of responsibility that comes with divine guidance, people must do the right thing and not just have a scripture.
3. The Zabur: The Scripture Revealed to Prophet Dawud
Prophet Dawud AS (David) was given it by Allah. It is believed to have been connected to the Psalms, but no attempt should be made to infer a perfect correspondence between the original revelation and the extant book of psalms. Prophet Dawud is honoured in the Quran as a prophet and king. Gratitude, devotion, wisdom, justice and remembrance of Allah are all connected to his life.
What does the Quran say about the Zabur?
Allah says:
وَرَبُّكَ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَنۡ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِؕ وَلَقَدۡ فَضَّلۡنَا بَعۡضَ النَّبِيّٖنَ عَلٰى بَعۡضٍ وَّاٰتَيۡنَا دَاوٗدَ زَبُوۡرًا ٥٥
Your Lord knows best all those in the heavens and the earth. And We have surely favoured some prophets above others, and to David We gave the Psalms. — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran, Al-Isra 17:55
The Quran also references the Zabur in Surah An-Nisa 4:163 where it is a list of prophets that were given revelation by Allah.
۞ اِنَّاۤ اَوۡحَيۡنَاۤ اِلَيۡكَ كَمَاۤ اَوۡحَيۡنَاۤ اِلٰى نُوۡحٍ وَّالنَّبِيّٖنَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِهٖ ۚ وَاَوۡحَيۡنَاۤ اِلٰٓى اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ وَاِسۡمٰعِيۡلَ وَاِسۡحٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوۡبَ وَالۡاَسۡبَاطِ وَعِيۡسٰى وَاَيُّوۡبَ وَيُوۡنُسَ وَهٰرُوۡنَ وَسُلَيۡمٰنَ ۚ وَاٰتَيۡنَا دَاوٗدَ زَبُوۡرًا ۚ ١٦٣
Indeed, We have sent revelation to you ˹O Prophet˺ as We sent revelation to Noah and the prophets after him. We also sent revelation to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants, ˹as well as˺ Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon. And to David We gave the Psalms. — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran An-Nisa 4:163
These verses make a direct link between Prophet Dawud and the Zabur. They also show that not only was there no limitation on revelation in the communities connected to Musa or Isa.
Is the Zabur in Islam the same as the Torah today?
The description of the original Zabur is not complete in the Quran, chapter-wise. Hence, it is not accurate to state that it was originally a certain length or a certain structure or that it contained all of this.Therefore, it is not valid to claim anything about its length or its structure or the completeness of its content as a fact of the Quran.
4. The Injil: The Gospel Revealed to Prophet Isa
The Injil is the good news that Allah gave to Prophet Isa (Jesus), may Allah have mercy on him. The Muslims believe that Isa was the messenger of Allāh and was the son of Maryam (Mary). They accept him as one of the great prophets, but at the same time consider Allah to be the only God-worthy of worship.
According to the Quran, Allah blessed upon Isa with the Injil and it is called a Guidance and a Light.
وَقَفَّيۡنَا عَلٰٓى اٰثَارِهِمۡ بِعِيۡسَى ابۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ التَّوۡرٰٮةِ وَاٰتَيۡنٰهُ الۡاِنۡجِيۡلَ فِيۡهِ هُدًى وَّنُوۡرٌ ۙ وَّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ التَّوۡرٰٮةِ وَهُدًى وَّمَوۡعِظَةً لِّـلۡمُتَّقِيۡنَ ؕ ٤٦
Allah says:
Then in the footsteps of the prophets, We sent Jesus, son of Mary, confirming the Torah revealed before him. And We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light and confirming what was revealed in the Torah—a guide and a lesson to the God-fearing. — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran, Al-Ma’idah 5:46
This verse emphasizes the connection of Torah and Injil. The Quran states that Isa confirmed the revelation given in advance of him, and was given additional guidance by Allah.
The message of the original Injil
The Quran doesn’t repeat the entire content of the original Injil or give a detailed report of the chapters. It does not, however, say that it is revelation that is an instruction or a light.
Islamic faith considers Isa to be in the same line of Prophethood as Musa, Ibrahim, Dawud and Muhammad ﷺ. Their main message was to bow down to Allah, seek His guidance, and to live the right way.
The Quran also mentions Isa saying that He would have a messenger after Him in Surah As-Saff 61:6. Muslims know that this is a reference to the Prophet Muhammad (saw).
وَاِذۡ قَالَ عِيۡسَى ابۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ يٰبَنِىۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِيۡلَ اِنِّىۡ رَسُوۡلُ اللّٰهِ اِلَيۡكُمۡ مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ التَّوۡرٰٮةِ وَمُبَشِّرًۢا بِرَسُوۡلٍ يَّاۡتِىۡ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِى اسۡمُهٗۤ اَحۡمَدُؕ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ بِالۡبَيِّنٰتِ قَالُوۡا هٰذَا سِحۡرٌ مُّبِيۡنٌ ٦
And ˹remember˺ when Jesus, son of Mary, said, “O children of Israel! I am truly Allah’s messenger to you, confirming the Torah which came before me, and giving good news of a messenger after me whose name will be Aḥmad.” Yet when the Prophet came to them with clear proofs, they said, “This is pure magic.” — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran, As-Saf 61:6
The importance of Prophet Isa in Islam
The Quran celebrates the honor of Isa and his mother Maryam, and recounts a few aspects of his prophetic mission. Muslims believe that he was born with miracles, he was a prophet, and that Miracles were granted to him by Allah. The Quran describes Isa calling people to worship Allah. This is indeed at the core of the Islamic teaching of his mission and the common message of the prophets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the difference between the Injil and the Bible?
Not like the Islamic word, anyway. The Injil is the revelation that Allah gave to Isa. The Bible consists of scriptures from Jewish and Christian traditions, and the Christian NT contains 4 gospels that are considered canonical. Muslims affirm the original divine revelation, but not equal to the whole of the modern New Testament.
2.Are Muslims convinced that God has given them Torah and Gospel?
Yes. Muslims state that the Torah had been given at first to Musa and the Injil to Isa. This does not imply that all the current interpretations or the claims of the texts are accepted as Islamic teachings.
3. The last of the Muslim books of religion is called?
In Islam the Quran is the last book that was revealed. Muslims believe that it validates previous revelations and that it is the final word in Islamic faith and action.
4. What was the reason for Muslims to accept the earlier scriptures?
Faith in the books revealed to Allah is a part of the Islamic religion. Muslims confirm that Allah sent guidance through previous prophets, and the Quran confirms the divine origin of previous guidance and that the Quran is the final guidance for Muslims.
Conclusion: Understanding the Four Major Books of Islam
An important position is held by the four major books of Islam – the Quran, Torah, Zabur and Injil. Muslims believe that Allah gave the Torah to Musa, the Zabur to Dawud, the Injil to Isa and the Quran to Muhammad ﷺ. These scriptures are related to each other in a larger context of prophetic call to worship Allah and live according to His guidance. The Quran is the final book and Muslims’ main source of belief and practice, and it affirms the divine origin of previous scriptures.
It will be necessary to make some distinctions between the revelations that have been preserved and those accepted as the Word of God in Judaism and Christianity and those that are missing but affirmed as the Word of God in Islam. By using the Quran and authentic Islamic sources, readers can engage this topic confidently and with nuance, supported by accurate knowledge and respectful dialogue. In the end, it’s a chance to marvel at the history of God’s direction and consider the obligation of being guided by God. The Quran for Muslims is more than just a book to read and memorise; it is a guide for them to understand, reflect on, and apply in their practice of faith, worship, justice and good character. Whether you are beginning your Quran learning journey or seeking to improve your recitation and understanding, choosing an appropriate online learning resource can support consistent study. AlQuranDesk worldwide offers an online starting point for learners worldwide who want to make Quran education part of their daily routine.
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