Kutubullah (Arabic: كتب الله), meaning “Books of Allah,” refers to the divine scriptures revealed by Allah to guide humanity. These books were sent to various prophets throughout history as sources of guidance, law, and wisdom, reflecting Allah’s will.
The Role of Divine Books in Islam
- Guidance for Humanity:
- These books were revealed to guide people to worship Allah, establish moral behavior, and follow a righteous path.
- Clarification of Divine Commands:
- They provided communities with laws and regulations, tailored to their time and circumstances.
- Confirmation of Tawhid:
- All revealed books emphasized the oneness of Allah (Tawhid) and rejected polytheism.
- Continuation of Revelation:
- Each scripture affirmed the messages of previous prophets and books, culminating in the Quran as the final and complete revelation.
Major Books Revealed by Allah
The Quran specifically mentions four main divine books, although Islamic tradition holds that there were many other scriptures revealed to other prophets:
- The Quran (Al-Qur’an):
- Revealed to: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
- Language: Arabic
- Purpose: The Quran is the final and complete revelation for all humanity, addressing spiritual, moral, and legal guidance. It remains unchanged and preserved in its original form.
- Distinction: The Quran supersedes all previous scriptures and serves as the ultimate criterion (al-Furqan) for distinguishing truth from falsehood.
- The Torah (Tawrat):
- Revealed to: Prophet Musa (Moses)
- Language: Likely ancient Hebrew
- Purpose: It provided laws and commandments for the Children of Israel and served as a comprehensive code of conduct.
- Status: While the Torah’s core message of monotheism aligns with Islam, Muslims believe that over time, it was altered and is not preserved in its original form.
- The Psalms (Zabur):
- Revealed to: Prophet Dawud (David)
- Language: Likely ancient Hebrew or Aramaic
- Purpose: The Zabur is believed to be a collection of hymns, praises, and moral lessons, emphasizing gratitude and worship of Allah.
- Status: Its original text is considered lost, though its themes survive in parts of the current Biblical Psalms.
- The Gospel (Injil):
- Revealed to: Prophet Isa (Jesus)
- Language: Likely Aramaic
- Purpose: The Injil conveyed guidance and the message of Tawhid to the Children of Israel. It also foretold the coming of Prophet Muhammad.
- Status: Muslims believe the original Injil has been altered over time and that the present-day Gospels do not represent the unaltered revelation.
Other Mentioned Scriptures
Islam also recognizes the existence of earlier scriptures, though not much detail is provided about them in the Quran:
- Scrolls of Ibrahim (Suhuf Ibrahim):
- Revealed to: Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).
- Described as containing wisdom and moral guidance.
- Scrolls of Musa (Suhuf Musa):
- Possibly separate from the Torah, these scrolls were another revelation given to Prophet Musa.
The Quran as the Final Revelation
The Quran holds a unique position among the divine books:
- Final Kitab:
- It is the last scripture from Allah, meant for all of humanity until the Day of Judgment.
- Preserved in Original Form:
- Unlike previous scriptures, the Quran has remained unchanged since its revelation, as promised by Allah in the Quran (15:9).
- Universal Guidance:
- While earlier books were specific to their communities, the Quran is universal, addressing the needs of all people across time and place.
- Criterion of Truth:
- The Quran confirms the truth in earlier scriptures and corrects distortions or errors introduced into them.
Status of Earlier Scriptures in Islam
Muslims respect the original forms of all divine books as they were revealed by Allah. However:
- They believe that only the Quran has been preserved in its pure form.
- The current versions of the Torah, Psalms, and Gospels are considered altered and no longer fully represent Allah’s original words.
- Muslims are encouraged to rely on the Quran for ultimate guidance while respecting the historical significance of earlier scriptures.
Conclusion
The Kutubullah represent Allah’s continuous effort to guide humanity through revelation. They highlight the shared foundation of monotheism across religions and emphasize the need for moral and spiritual guidance. While earlier scriptures served specific communities, the Quran stands as the comprehensive, unaltered guide for all people, ensuring that Allah’s message remains accessible to humanity.
Written by AI. A more correct, God given, explanation can be found here.