6 Articles of Faith in Islam: Pillar 3 – Belief in Divine Books
Lesson 3: Belief in Divine Books
Introduction to the Belief in Divine Books
Allah ﷻ is the Creator of the entire universe — including human beings. Just like every machine or device comes with a manual that explains how it works, what it should do, and what it must avoid — human beings were also given a “manual” by Allah!
These special manuals are known as the Divine Books — revealed by Allah to guide mankind. They help us understand how to live a happy and good life!
Purpose of the Divine Books
The Divine Books were revealed with clear and important purposes:
To Teach Us About Our Creator
The books explain who Allah is, His beautiful names and amazing attributes, His mercy, His power, and why He is the only one we should worship.
To Teach Us How to Worship Allah
They guide us on acts of worship like prayer (Salah), fasting (Sawm), giving charity (Zakat), and how to live as good Muslims, pleasing to Allah.
To Show Us What Is Right and Wrong
The books clearly show us the difference between what is good (halal) and what is not good (haram), what is kind and what is mean, and what is true and what is false.
To Prepare Us for the Hereafter
The Divine Books include special knowledge that we could never discover on our own. They tell us about:
- Angels
- Heaven (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam)
- The Day of Judgment
- Life after death
- The rewards and lessons in the grave
To Establish Laws and Morals for Society
These Books taught us about being fair (justice), being honest, how families should live together, rules for our communities, and how to be good to everyone around us.
To Continue the Message of the Prophets
After a Prophet passed away, his people still needed guidance. So Allah made sure His message stayed with us through His Book!
Remember, these books were not just meant to be read, but to be understood and followed in our daily lives!
Muslim Belief in Divine Books
As Muslims, we believe in all the books that Allah sent to His Prophets before the Qur’an.
Key Points to Understand
All Divine Books Were from Allah
These books include the Tawrah, Zabur, Injeel, and many others. They all came from Allah!
Table of Major Divine Books in Islam
| Book Name | Prophet It Was Revealed To | Language | Main Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tawrah (Torah) | Prophet Musa (A.S.) | Hebrew | Laws for Bani Isra’il (Children of Israel), guidance about worship, justice, family life |
| Zabur (Psalms) | Prophet Dawood (A.S.) | Hebrew | Beautiful praises of Allah, duas (supplications), advice about patience and faith |
| Injeel (Gospel) | Prophet Isa (A.S.) | Aramaic | Worship of one Allah, kindness, good character, helping the poor |
| Qur’an | Prophet Muhammad ﷺ | Arabic | Tawheed (Oneness of Allah), rules for life, worship, stories of Prophets, hereafter, morals |
Each Book Was Revealed to a Prophet
Every Divine Book was sent down to a special Prophet chosen by Allah to guide his people.
Each Book Was True at the Time of Revelation
When they were first revealed, they contained Allah’s pure commands, truth, and perfect guidance.
People Changed the Previous Books
Over a long time, sadly, some people added things, took things out, or changed verses in the older books. So, the original message got lost or hidden.
Qur’an Confirms and Completes All Previous Books
The Qur’an doesn’t say the original messages of previous books were wrong. Instead, it corrects any changes and makes the guidance complete for everyone!
What Is the Role of Previous Books Now?
Muslim View Today
We believe in the original books as they were revealed by Allah. But we do not follow the previous books now because:
- They have been changed over time.
- Their teachings were meant for a specific group of people or a specific time.
- They have been replaced (abrogated) by the Qur’an, which is the final and complete guide.
The Qur’an is the only book we follow now — it is final, complete, and protected by Allah from any changes!
The Qur’an – The Final Book of Allah
The last and most complete book revealed by Allah is the Qur’an, revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Introduction to the Qur’an
- The Qur’an is the Word of Allah, not written by any human being.
- It was revealed over 23 years through the Angel Jibreel (A.S.).
- It is in the beautiful Arabic language, and it has been preserved without any change since the time it was revealed!
Purpose of the Qur’an
The Qur’an has these important purposes:
To Be the Final Guide for All Humanity
Unlike previous books that were sent to certain nations, the Qur’an is for everyone — for all people, all races, and all times!
To Correct the Changes in Previous Books
People had changed the earlier books. The Qur’an came to confirm the truth and fix any falsehood that was added.
To Establish a Clear Way of Life (Shari’ah)
The Qur’an talks about everything — our personal lives, how we interact with others, good manners, how to govern, and how to connect with Allah. It’s a complete guide for living!
To Connect People to Allah Directly
The Qur’an speaks directly to our hearts, reminding us of Allah’s mercy, His fairness, and what He expects from us.
Main Topics in the Qur’an
The Qur’an teaches us about many important things, including:
Tawheed
The Oneness of Allah.
Stories of the Prophets
Amazing stories of the Prophets.
Rules for Daily Life
Like marriage, money, and being fair.
Worship and Commands
How to worship Allah and His commands.
Good Character
Developing good character and being kind.
Jannah and Jahannam
Heaven (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam).
Belief in the Unseen
Like angels, and what happens in the grave and after death.
Rights of the Qur’an Upon Us
As Muslims, we owe the Qur’an five major rights:
Belief
We must believe that it is 100% the true word of Allah.
Recitation
We should read it regularly with proper tajweed (the correct way to read it).
Understanding
We must try our best to understand what Allah is saying to us.
Acting Upon It
We should practice its teachings in our daily lives.
Spreading Its Message
We should share the wonderful message of the Qur’an with others!