The Ruling on a Muslim Reading from the Books of the People of the Book
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Question:
This questioner is Muhammad Muhammad Hijazi, an Egyptian residing in the Kingdom. He says: Your Eminence, we request a response to these questions, including this one: Is it permissible for a Muslim to read from the books of the People of the Book?
Give us your ruling, may Allah reward you.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, and all praise is due to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
Allah has made us self-sufficient in the great Qur'an from the books of the People of the Book, so it is not permissible to read in their books; because this may lead to doubt, suspicion, and fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). It is narrated that he (peace and blessings be upon him) saw 'Umar ibn al-Khattab reading from something of the Torah, so he disapproved of that and said: or as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said.
The point is: It is obligatory for the believer to turn to what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought in the great Qur'an, to reflect on its meanings, and to increase in its recitation. One should not look into the books of the People of the Book except scholars and those with insight, if the need arises to respond to them from their books. Scholars, those with insight, and understanding; this is permissible when there is a need, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and a group did. Otherwise, the general public and the general students should not look into them or pay attention to them; because that may harm them, it may cause them problems, fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and doubts.
So it is obligatory to be cautious of that, to care for the Qur'an, to turn to it, and to be content with it along with the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
This questioner is Muhammad Muhammad Hijazi, an Egyptian residing in the Kingdom. He says: Your Eminence, we request a response to these questions, including this one: Is it permissible for a Muslim to read from the books of the People of the Book?
Give us your ruling, may Allah reward you.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, and all praise is due to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
Allah has made us self-sufficient in the great Qur'an from the books of the People of the Book, so it is not permissible to read in their books; because this may lead to doubt, suspicion, and fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). It is narrated that he (peace and blessings be upon him) saw 'Umar ibn al-Khattab reading from something of the Torah, so he disapproved of that and said:
Are you in doubt, O son of al-Khattab? Indeed, we have brought it to you pure and clear. And by Allah, if Moses were alive and you followed him, you would have gone astray.
أفي شك يا ابن الخطاب، لقد جئتكم بها بيضاء نقية، والله لو كان موسى حيًا ثم اتبعتموه لضللتمThe point is: It is obligatory for the believer to turn to what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought in the great Qur'an, to reflect on its meanings, and to increase in its recitation. One should not look into the books of the People of the Book except scholars and those with insight, if the need arises to respond to them from their books. Scholars, those with insight, and understanding; this is permissible when there is a need, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and a group did. Otherwise, the general public and the general students should not look into them or pay attention to them; because that may harm them, it may cause them problems, fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and doubts.
So it is obligatory to be cautious of that, to care for the Qur'an, to turn to it, and to be content with it along with the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.