The Divine Books

What is a Divine Book?

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What was the basic message of the Divine Books?

Allah ﷻ revealed Divine Books to His Messengers.

• A Divine Book is Allah’s ﷻ communication sent down, through revelation, to the Messengers to support them in their da’wah. These Divine Books were revealed to the Messengers by the Angel Jibreels (عليه السلام) . The Divine Books contained guidelines, and rules and laws that people were ordered to follow to gain everlasting life in Paradise.
• Allah ﷻ communicated with People from the beginning of their existence on this planet. When Allahﷻ expelled them from Paradise he promised to guide them.

قُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِنْهَا جَمِيعًۭا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًۭى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( سورة البقرة : ٣٨ )

“We said, Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them nor will they grieve.” (Soorat al-Baqarah: 38)

• The basic message of all the Divine Books was the same: to worship Allah ﷻ and to avoid all forms of shirk and innovated practices of worship. The things that differed in the Divine Books were the rulings on what is forbidden or enjoined. These legislations and rules changed from one Messenger to another, according to the Wisdom and Mercy of Allah ﷻ .
• Many Divine Books were sent to the Messengers, but only a few of them are mentioned in the Qur’aan and authentic Sunnah: for example, the Scriptures sent to Ibraaheem (عليه السلام) ; the Psalms sent to Daawood; the Torah sent to Moosaa (عليه السلام) , and the Gospels sent to ‘Eesaa (عليه السلام)
• However, we know from the Qur’aan that Allah ﷻ sent a Divine Book to every Messenger:

لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ( سورة الحديد : ٢٥)

We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture (Soorat al-Hadeed:25)

• These ‘Scriptures’ were revealed as a guide for the people to whom they were sent. They contained the same basic message of Tawheed as well as information that related to that particular group of people, which they were meant to guide. As the condition of people changed, Allah ﷻ sent new Messengers with new revelation to support the previous books and to give new instructions where they were needed.
• Allah ﷻ mentions the contents of the Scriptures of Ibraaheem (عليه السلام) and Moosaa (عليه السلام) in the following verse.

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ(١٤) وَذَكَرَ ٱسْمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ(١٥) بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا(١٦) وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ(١٧) إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَفِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ(١٨) صُحُفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ(١٩) ( سورة الأعلى ١٤ – ١٩)

“He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself. And mentions the Name of his Lord and prays. But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more enduring. Indeed this is in the former – scriptures, the scriptures of Abraham and Moses.” (Soorat al-A’laa: 14-19)

The Qur’aan also mentions some of the contents of the Torah, and the Psalms. Below is a verse in which Allah ﷻ mentions the contents of the Psalms.

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلذِّكْرِ أَنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ ( سورة الأنبياء : ١٠٥ )

“And we have already written in the Zaboor [book of Psalms] after [previous] mention that the land [of Paradise] is inherited by My righteous servants.” (Soorat al-Anbiyaa: 105)

What we learn from the lesson:

1. All Divine Books were sent by Allah ﷻ .
2. The Divine Books supported the Messengers and Prophets when they practiced da’wah.
3. The basic message of the Divine Books was that of Tawheed.

“Discussion:”

1. What is a Divine Book ?
2. What was the basic message of the Divine Books ?