What is the ruling on reading the heavenly books, given that we know they have been distorted?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on reading the heavenly books, given that we know they have been distorted?
The Shaykh : First, it is obligatory for us to know that there is no heavenly book in which one worships Allah by reading it, and there is no heavenly book in which a person worships Allah the Exalted by what is legislated in it, except for one book, which is the Qur'an.
It is not permissible for anyone to look into the books of the Gospel or the books of the Torah. It is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a sheet of the Torah with 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), so he became angry and said:Sahih Muslim 1479e, 1475b Although there is a concern regarding the authenticity of this hadith, it is true that there is no guidance except in the Qur'an.
Then, are these books that are in the hands of the Christians now, or in the hands of the Jews, the ones that were sent down from the sky?
They have distorted, altered, and changed them, so it cannot be trusted that what is in their hands are the books that Allah Mighty and Majestic sent down. Furthermore, all previous books have been abrogated by the Qur'an, so there is absolutely no need for them.
Yes, if we suppose there is a student of knowledge who has zeal for his religion and insight in his knowledge, and he looks into the books of the Jews and Christians in order to refute them from them, then there is nothing wrong with him looking into them for this benefit. But as for the general people, no.
And I see it obligatory upon everyone who sees any of these books to burn them. The Christians are under the curse of Allah until the Day of Resurrection. They are now spreading among people what they call the Gospel in the exact form of the mushaf, properly formatted, with separators like the separators of the surahs. A person who does not know the mushaf, such as a Muslim man who does not read, if he sees this, thinks it is the Qur'an. All of this is from their wickedness and their plotting against Islam. So if you, my Muslim brother, see such a thing, hasten to burn it, and you will have a reward, because this is part of defending Islam.
The Shaykh : First, it is obligatory for us to know that there is no heavenly book in which one worships Allah by reading it, and there is no heavenly book in which a person worships Allah the Exalted by what is legislated in it, except for one book, which is the Qur'an.
It is not permissible for anyone to look into the books of the Gospel or the books of the Torah. It is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a sheet of the Torah with 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), so he became angry and said:
Ibn Khattab, do you doubt
أفي شك أنت يا ابن الخطابThen, are these books that are in the hands of the Christians now, or in the hands of the Jews, the ones that were sent down from the sky?
They have distorted, altered, and changed them, so it cannot be trusted that what is in their hands are the books that Allah Mighty and Majestic sent down. Furthermore, all previous books have been abrogated by the Qur'an, so there is absolutely no need for them.
Yes, if we suppose there is a student of knowledge who has zeal for his religion and insight in his knowledge, and he looks into the books of the Jews and Christians in order to refute them from them, then there is nothing wrong with him looking into them for this benefit. But as for the general people, no.
And I see it obligatory upon everyone who sees any of these books to burn them. The Christians are under the curse of Allah until the Day of Resurrection. They are now spreading among people what they call the Gospel in the exact form of the mushaf, properly formatted, with separators like the separators of the surahs. A person who does not know the mushaf, such as a Muslim man who does not read, if he sees this, thinks it is the Qur'an. All of this is from their wickedness and their plotting against Islam. So if you, my Muslim brother, see such a thing, hasten to burn it, and you will have a reward, because this is part of defending Islam.