The Torah and the Gospel and the previous books: are they abrogated by the Qur'an? What is the evidence from the Qur'an, if any, and from the pure Sunnah? And what is the ruling on reading them?
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The questioner : He also asks about the Torah and the Gospel and the previous books: are they abrogated by the Qur'an? What is the evidence from the Qur'an, if any, and from the pure Sunnah? And what is the ruling on reading them for the scholar for the purpose of research?
The Shaykh : The previous books are abrogated by the Noble Qur'an, by the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:48]. The word implies that the Noble Qur'an is the judge over all previous books, and that authority belongs to it; it is the abrogator of all books that came before it.
As for reading the previous books, if it is for guidance and seeking direction from them, it is forbidden and not permissible, because that is a criticism of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, as this person who seeks direction believes that they—meaning the previous books—are more complete than what is in the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
And if it is to look into them to know what truth is in them, in order to refute those who opposed Islam, then there is no harm in it, and it may even be obligatory.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because knowing the ailment is what enables one to diagnose the disease and attempt to cure it. As for one who is not a scholar and does not wish to look into them to refute, he should not read them.
So the categories of people are thus three.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : One who reads them to seek guidance from them: this is forbidden and not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because it is a criticism of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : O Allah, send blessings and peace upon him.
The Shaykh : And one who reads them to know what truth is in them, in order to refute those who held onto them and abandoned Islam: this is permissible, and it may even be obligatory. And one who reads them merely for the sake of reading, not to be guided by them and not to refute with them: this is permissible, but it is better to stay away from it, lest Satan deceive him with them.
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : A letter also, this one is from Ta'if, from S.A.
The Shaykh : The previous books are abrogated by the Noble Qur'an, by the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it
وأنزلنا عليك الكتاب بالحق مصدقاً لما بين يديه من الكتاب ومهيمناً عليهand a guardian over it
ومهيمناً عليهAs for reading the previous books, if it is for guidance and seeking direction from them, it is forbidden and not permissible, because that is a criticism of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, as this person who seeks direction believes that they—meaning the previous books—are more complete than what is in the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
And if it is to look into them to know what truth is in them, in order to refute those who opposed Islam, then there is no harm in it, and it may even be obligatory.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because knowing the ailment is what enables one to diagnose the disease and attempt to cure it. As for one who is not a scholar and does not wish to look into them to refute, he should not read them.
So the categories of people are thus three.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : One who reads them to seek guidance from them: this is forbidden and not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because it is a criticism of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : O Allah, send blessings and peace upon him.
The Shaykh : And one who reads them to know what truth is in them, in order to refute those who held onto them and abandoned Islam: this is permissible, and it may even be obligatory. And one who reads them merely for the sake of reading, not to be guided by them and not to refute with them: this is permissible, but it is better to stay away from it, lest Satan deceive him with them.
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : A letter also, this one is from Ta'if, from S.A.