The Quran, which is considered the holy book of Islam, acknowledges the existence and significance of previous scriptures, including the Torah, Zabur, and Injil. It recognizes these scriptures as divine revelations sent by God to His prophets, such as Moses, David, and Jesus. The Quran regards itself as the final and complete revelation, confirming and superseding the earlier scriptures.
1. The Torah (Tawrat):
The Quran affirms the Torah as a divine revelation given to the prophet Moses. It acknowledges the importance of the laws and teachings contained in the Torah, such as the Ten Commandments. Muslims believe that the original message of the Torah was corrupted over time, and thus, the Quran was sent as a guide to rectify and supersede any previous distortions.
2. The Psalms (Zabur):
The Zabur, attributed to the prophet David, is also recognized by the Quran as a scripture revealed by God. It is believed to contain divine guidance, prayers, and songs of praise. While the Quran does not provide specific details about the content of the Psalms, it acknowledges their significance and their role in guiding people towards righteousness.
3. The Gospel (Injil):
The Injil, associated with Jesus, is mentioned in the Quran as a revelation from God. It is important to note that the Quran does not refer to the entire New Testament as the Injil but rather the original message revealed to Jesus. Muslims believe that the Injil, like the Torah, has undergone changes and distortions over time, leading to the need for the final revelation, the Quran, to clarify and validate the original teachings.
The Quran emphasizes the commonalities between these scriptures and its own message of monotheism, righteousness, and ethical conduct. It portrays Islam as the natural progression and culmination of the earlier revelations, affirming the continuity of God’s message throughout history.
Muslims are encouraged to respect and revere the earlier scriptures but are also cautioned about blindly following them in their present form. They are advised to refer to the Quran as the ultimate criterion for truth and guidance. The Quran’s role, as Muslims believe, is to correct any errors or discrepancies that might have occurred in the previous scriptures.
In my personal experience, growing up in a Muslim household, I was taught to have reverence for all the prophets and the books they brought. The Quran was always considered the final authority, and we were encouraged to seek guidance from it. While I did not extensively study the Torah, Zabur, or Injil, I was taught that they contained valuable lessons and wisdom from God. The emphasis was always on the Quran as the most comprehensive and complete source of divine guidance.