Are the Tawrat, Zabur, and Injil important today?
Almighty Allah has revealed his Word to mankind through the holy prophets. People who
want to worship Allah correctly must believe what the prophets have said. It is commanded
by Allah that we believe the Tawrat, Zabur, and Injil, along with all that Allah has
revealed. But what are these books really? Are the Tawrat, Zabur, and Injil which exist
today reliable? Is their message important for us today? The answer is--yes. Here are
three reasons why:
- They are Ancient Scriptures from Allah -- Beginning at about 1500 B.C.,
continuing on until about 100 A.D., these Scriptures were bit-by-bit given for the benefit
and guidance of mankind. The Tawrat was revealed first, then the Zabur, and finally the
Injil. These three holy books are also known today by other names. For example, the Tawrat
(or Torah) is sometimes called "Pentateuch". The Zabur is known also by the
title "Psalms". The three books are usually printed together in one volume,
along with the books of other prophets as the "Holy Bible". The word
"Bible" came originally from the Greek language, with the simple meaning,
"book". So when you say "the Holy Bible", you are actually saying
"the holy book". In this "holy book", there are two large divisions,
commonly called the "Old Testament" and the "New Testament". The Old
Testament division includes the Tawrat of Musa (a:), the Zabur of Dawud (a:), and the
books of other prophets such as Hazrat Yusha (Joshua), Samuel, Uzair (Ezra), Sulayman
(Solomon), Ayub (Job), Ishaya (Isaiah), Irmiya (Jeremiah), Zul-Kifl (Ezekiel), Yunus
(Jonah) and Daniel (a:). The New Testament division is the exact same thing as the Injil
of Isa Masih. The word "Injil" comes from a Greek word meaning "good
news", giving us the English word "evangel". And so the Injil is the
"good news" of Hazrat Isa Masih. The Injil is the book which the Jews rejected
as false, but which both Christians and Muslims believe as true. Today many very ancient
copies of these books exist in museums and libraries. These ancient copies agree with the
newly printed copies available in bookstores today.
- They are Reliable Scriptures -- That which Allah gives us is good and perfect.
When these books were revealed, they were without error and completely true. These books
were still in existence when Al-Koran came into this world, for the Koran states again and
again that Tawrat, Zabur, and Injil must be believed. The ancient manuscripts in libraries
and museums previously mentioned predate the Koran by hundreds of years. Millions of
people all over the world believe and cherish these books. Some people claim that the
Tawrat, Zabur and Injil have been changed and so have become false and unreliable.
Assuming this to be true, let us ask the question, "When were they changed? Before
the coming of Al-Koran, or after?" Some might say, "Before". If
"before", then why does the Koran command the people to believe all the heavenly
books, including those which came before the Koran? (See surah Bakara 2:136 for example).
Would the Koran command people to believe something that had been corrupted? Certainly
not! If these heavenly books were changed beforehand, the corrupted versions should not be
believed at all. Some people might say, "The books were changed after the Koran was
given." But if that is true, then what is the meaning of Koran's statement that no
man can change Allah's words? (See surah An-Aam 6:34, 115).
Shall we say that Allah would allow some of his eternal words to be changed, while he
protected others? But we know that the message of Allah's Word stays the same no matter
what men try to do. As it says in the holy Injil:
For, "All men are like grass, and their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And
this is the word that was preached to you. holy Injil, 1 Peter 1:24,25
Is man greater than Allah? Of course not! Allah's Word, including Tawrat, Zabur, and
Injil, "stands forever".
- They are Necessary Scriptures -- Some people believe that books such as the
Tawrat, Zabur, and Injil are unnecessary today because there is a new and improved, latest
edition of truth available in Al-Koran. Without realizing it, people who say such things
are making a distinction between the heavenly books. Will any man dare to say that Allah
gave us something that is useless and unnecessary? In school, we might say that class four
is better than class three, two, or one. But does that mean that class three, two, or one
are unnecessary? No, of course not. They are essential for anyone who wishes to go to
class four and pass his tests. Class one, two, and three lay a necessary foundation in
order to understand class four. In the same way, Tawrat, Zabur, and Injil, lay a necessary
foundation for anyone who wishes to understand Allah's will. They must not only be
believed, but read and obeyed by anyone who wishes to please Allah. Listen to what is said
in the Zabur about these holy Scriptures:
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are
trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the
heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the
Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether
righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than
honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Zabur
19:7-11)
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