The Third Article of Faith
As the third article of faith, Muslims must believe in Allah’s ﷺ Books (Divine Scripture) sent to guide humanity. These Scriptures, delivered through His messengers throughout history, direct people toward Allah ﷺ. This chapter explores the significance of believing in divine scriptures in Islam and delves into the concept of divine revelation.
Understanding Divine Revelation (Waḥī) in Islam
The term Waḥī (Revelation) in Islamic terminology refers to Allah ﷺ informing His chosen prophets of His guidance, laws, and messages in a manner that is unique and direct, distinguishing it from common human inspiration. It is the speech of Allah ﷺ conveyed to His messengers in a way befitting His Majesty.
Divine revelation, or Waḥī, serves as the channel through which Allah ﷺ communicates His message to humanity. This divine wisdom is conveyed through chosen human messengers, who then relay these teachings to their people.
Belief in All Divine Revelation (Scriptures)
Muslims are required to believe in all revelations sent by Allah ﷺ to His prophets. All revelation given to the prophets was from Allah ﷺ, and the revealed scriptures are the Speech of Allah ﷺ. Some of this revelation was preserved in written form as Books, while other revelation was conveyed to the prophets without being preserved as scripture. The Quran emphasizes belief in all prophets and the original revelations sent to them:
Say, (O believers): ‘We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims (in submission) to Him.’
This verse highlights the continuity of divine guidance throughout human history and the unity of the message across different prophets and scriptures.
The Primary Scriptures Mentioned in the Quran
- The Scrolls (Ṣuhuf): Revealed to Prophet Abraham and Prophet Moses, as mentioned in the Quran (87:18–19)
- The Torah (Tawrat): Revealed to Prophet Moses
- The Psalms (Zabūr): Given to Prophet David
- The Gospel (Injeel): Revealed to Prophet Jesus
- The Quran: Revealed to Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ as the final revelation for all of humanity
The Torah, Psalms, and Gospel were sent to the Children of Israel, while the Quran was revealed for all of humanity.
Purpose and Content of Divine Scriptures
These scriptures serve as a guiding light for humanity, illuminating the path toward a righteous and fulfilling life.
The content of these divine books includes:
- Divine commandments and prohibitions
- Moral and ethical teachings
- Stories of previous prophets and nations
- Descriptions of the afterlife, including Paradise and Hell
- The purpose of life and creation
- Guidance on worship and devotion to Allah ﷺ
- Importance of good character and social conduct
Islamic Perspective on Previous Scriptures
Muslims believe that the original Torah and Gospel were true divine revelations from Allah ﷺ. However, the current versions of these scriptures in the hands of Jews and Christians have been subjected to alteration (taḥrīf), distortion, and interpolation over time. This alteration includes both textual corruption (changing words) and interpretive distortion (misinterpreting meanings). The Quran itself, however, has been divinely preserved from any such alteration.
The Quran warns against those who have tampered with divine scripture:
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. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.
This verse condemns those who falsely attribute writings to Allah ﷺ, which is among the ways corruption of scripture occurred.
The Quran: Allah’s Final Revelation
The Quran holds a special place among divine scriptures in Islam for several reasons:
Preservation
Muslims believe that Allah ﷺ has guaranteed the Quran’s preservation, unlike previous scriptures.
Comprehensiveness
The Quran is viewed as Allah’s ﷺ final and complete message, suitable for all times and places.
Abrogation
Islamic theology holds that the Quran abrogates (supersedes) the laws of previous revelations, making it—together with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ—the binding source of divine guidance for Muslims until the Day of Judgment. The core creed of Tawhīd (monotheism), however, has always been the same and is reaffirmed in the Quran.
Impact of Belief in Divine Scriptures on Muslim Faith
Believing in all Divine Books is essential to the Islamic faith. This belief:
- Reinforces the continuity of Allah’s ﷺ message across history
- Encourages respect for earlier prophets and their followers
- Strengthens a Muslim’s connection to Allah’s ﷺ guidance in daily life
- Promotes the pursuit of knowledge and guidance from divine sources
Conclusion
Belief in Allah’s ﷺ Books affirms that humanity has never been left without guidance. Through divine revelation, Allah ﷺ conveyed His wisdom, laws, and mercy to His prophets, leading people toward truth, justice, and devotion to Him alone.
While Islam teaches respect for all original scriptures revealed by Allah ﷺ, it also affirms that the Quran stands as the final, complete, and perfectly preserved revelation—intended for all people until the end of time. Understanding this pillar of faith deepens appreciation for Tawhīd, strengthens trust in Allah’s ﷺ guidance, and anchors a believer’s life in the truth revealed in the Quran.
This belief transforms scripture from historical knowledge into living guidance, calling the believer to reflect, obey, and walk consciously upon the path set by Allah ﷺ.
Watch: Do Muslims Believe in the Bible and Torah? | God’s Books in Islam Explained
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