Islamic holy books
Islamic holy books are scriptures revealed by God through prophets before Muhammad.
In Islam, certain scriptures are understood to have been divinely revealed by Allah through various prophets and messengers, all of them appearing before the Quran. These holy books include the Tawrat (the Torah), given to the prophets and messengers among the Children of Israel; the Zabur (the Psalms), given to Dawud (David); and the Injil (the Gospel), given to Isa (Jesus). The Quran itself names these three, along with the Scrolls of Abraham and the Scrolls of Moses, as earlier revelations. For Muslims, the Quran—revealed to Muhammad—is the final and complete message from God, confirming and fulfilling what came before it. Accepting the truth of these earlier Abrahamic scriptures is one of the six core articles of Islamic faith, though most Muslims hold this belief with the understanding that those texts have undergone tahrif (alteration).
The Quran, Islam’s central religious text, is believed to be a verbal revelation from Allah delivered to Muhammad through the angel Jibril (Gabriel) over roughly 23 years, beginning in late 609 and concluding in 632, the year of Muhammad’s death. It is regarded as the most important miracle of Muhammad and the culmination of a series of divine messages from Adam onward. Comprising 114 chapters (surahs) formed from verses (ayah), it is widely considered the finest work in classical Arabic literature. The study of the Quran includes tafsir (exegesis), which provides explanation, context, and interpretation of God’s will. Tafsir is divided into two main categories: tafsir bi-al-ma’thur, transmitted from Muhammad and his companions, and tafsir bi-al-ra’y, arrived at through personal reflection. The science of asbāb al-nuzūl describes the reasons and circumstances surrounding the revelation of specific verses.
Among the earlier revelations, the Tawrat is identified not only with the Pentateuch but also with other Hebrew Bible books and Talmudic and Midrashim writings. The Zabur is understood as holy songs of praise revealed to David, while the Injil refers to an original Gospel given to Jesus, not the New Testament. The Islamic methodology of tafsir al-Quran bi’l-Kitab involves interpreting the Quran through canonical Arabic versions of the Bible, including the Tawrat and Injil, to add exegetical depth. Notable Muslim commentators who wove biblical and Quranic texts together include Abu al-Hakam Abd al-Salam bin al-Isbili
- Central text
- Quran
- Previous revelations
- Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, Scrolls of Abraham, Scrolls of Moses
- Key concept
- Tahrif (restriction on belief in earlier scriptures)
- Interpretive method
- Tafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab (interpreting Quran with/through Bible)
- Notable commentators
- Abu al-Hakam Abd al-Salam bin al-Isbili, Ibrahim bin Umar bin Hasan al-Biqa'i, Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani, Brethren of Purity
Lore & Background
The Islamic holy books are a number of religious scriptures that are regarded by Muslims as having valid divine significance, in that they were authored by God (Allah) through a variety of prophets and messengers, all of which predate the Quran. Among scriptures considered to be valid revelations, three that are named in the Quran are: the Tawrat (Arabic for Torah), received by prophets and messengers amongst the Israelites; the Zabur (Psalms), received by David; and the Injīl (Arabic for the Gospel), received by Jesus. Additionally, the Quran mentions the Scrolls of Abraham and the Scrolls of Moses, as well as individual revelations and guidance to specific Messengers.
Reader's Guide
The Islamic holy books form a foundational element of Islamic theology, establishing a continuum of divine revelation from Adam to Muhammad. Muslims hold the Quran, as it was revealed to Muhammad, to be God's final revelation to mankind, and therefore a completion and confirmation of previous scriptures, such as the Bible. Despite the primacy that Muslims place upon the Quran in this context, belief in the validity of earlier Abrahamic scriptures is one of the six Islamic articles of faith. However, for most self-identified Muslims, the level of this belief is restricted by the concept of tahrif. The Islamic methodology of tafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab refers to interpreting the Quran with/through the Bible, adopting canonical Arabic versions of the Bible, including the Tawrat and the Injil, both to illuminate and to add exegetical depth to the reading of the Quran. Notable Muslim mufassirun (commentators) of the Bible and Quran who weaved biblical texts together with Quranic ones include Abu al-Hakam Abd al-Salam bin al-Isbili of al-Andalus, Ibrahim bin Umar bin Hasan al-Biqa'i, Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani, and the Brethren of Purity.
Did You Know?
- The Quran mentions the Zabur, interpreted as being the Book of Psalms, as the holy scripture revealed to Dawud (King David).
- The Scrolls of Abraham and the Scrolls of Moses are mentioned in Quran 87:18-19 as 'Books of Earlier Revelation'.
- The Islamic methodology of tafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab refers to interpreting the Quran with/through the Bible.
- Belief in the validity of earlier Abrahamic scriptures is one of the six Islamic articles of faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Islamic holy books?
They are the divine scriptures God revealed to earlier prophets before the Quran, including the Tawrat for the Children of Israel, the Zabur for Dawud, the Injil for Isa, plus the Scrolls of Abraham and the Scrolls of Moses. All are recognized as originally sacred revelations that preceded Muhammad's final message.
How do the Islamic holy books relate to the Quran?
The Quran is held as God's final, complete revelation that both confirms and supersedes the earlier scriptures. While the previous books are acknowledged as originally divine, the Quran stands as the ultimate standard of truth in Islamic belief.
What is Tahrif and why does it matter for Islamic holy books?
Tahrif is the doctrinal position that earlier scriptures were altered or corrupted over time, which limits how fully Muslims affirm their current textual form. This concept shapes the way pre-Quranic texts like the Bible are treated as historical documents rather than as presently authoritative scripture.
What is Tafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab?
It is an interpretive method in which scholars draw on the content of the earlier revealed books—the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel—as a contextual lens for explaining Quranic passages. The approach treats the Bible as a tool for Quranic exegesis rather than as an independent source of authority.
Who are some notable commentators on Islamic holy books?
Figures such as Abu al-Hakam Abd al-Salam bin al-Isbili, Ibrahim bin Umar bin Hasan al-Biqa'i, Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani, and the Brethren of Purity all produced significant works engaging the relationship between the Quran and earlier revelations. Their writings form a key part of the broader Islamic theological tradition on divine scripture.
More in Abrahamic Religions & Criticism 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record