Who exactly are the People of the Book?
Question:
This is a letter that reached us from a listener named Abd al-Hamid al-Barbari, an Egyptian residing in Riyadh. He asks in his letter: Is a Christian considered among the ranks of the disbelievers, bearing in mind that he is from the People of the Book? And who exactly are the People of the Book? Please advise us, may Allah bless you.
Answer:
The People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) are the Jews and the Nazarenes (Nasara)—those who call themselves Christians. They are named the “People of the Book” because Allah, the Exalted, revealed scriptures to His messengers. He revealed the Torah to Moses (peace and blessings be upon him), which the Jews follow, and He revealed the Gospel to Isa (Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him), which the Nazarenes—who now call themselves Christians—follow.
The religion of the Jews was abrogated by the religion of the Nazarenes; meaning, it was obligatory for the Jews to follow the religion of the Nazarenes. Subsequently, the religion of the Nazarenes and all other religions were abrogated by the religion of Islam, with which the Prophet (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) was sent.
Thus, the religion of Islam became the abrogator of all previous religions, and no religion is accepted by Allah except Islam. Allah, the Exalted, says: “Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Aal Imran:19). This phrasing implies exclusivity—that there is no religion recognized by Allah other than Islam.
He, the Exalted, also says : “And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.” (Aal Imran:85). This serves as evidence that all religions other than Islam are not acceptable to Allah, and that their adherents will be losers in the Hereafter, having no share [of reward] in the afterlife; this status belongs only to the disbelievers.
Accordingly, neither the Christians nor the Jews follow a religion that is acceptable to Allah. If they do not follow an acceptable religion, they are considered disbelievers (kuffar). However, their disbelief is removed by believing in the Prophet (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) and following him. If they believe in the Prophet (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him), this would be in accordance with what their own books indicate, as Allah, the Exalted, says:
“…but My mercy encompasses all things. So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakāh and those who believe in Our verses-Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad) whom they find written with them in the Taurât (Torah) (Deut, xviii 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John xiv, 16)1, - he commands them for Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Tayyibât (i.e. all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods), and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khabâ’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allâh’s Covenant with the children of Israel), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur’ân) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful. Say (O Muhammad): “O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allâh - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad), who believes in Allâh and His Words [(this Qur’ân), the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allâh’s Word: “Be!” - and he was, i.e. ‘Îsâ (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)], and follow him so that you may be guided.” (Al-A’raf 156-158)
These two verses prove that the Prophet (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) is mentioned and known in the Torah and the Gospel, and that it is obligatory for them [the People of the Book] to believe in him and follow him.
Indeed, Jesus, the son of Mary (peace and blessings be upon him), said to his people, the Children of Israel: “And (remember) when ‘Îsâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: “O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allâh unto you, confirming the Taurât [(Torah) which came] before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad. But when he (Ahmad i.e. Muhammad) came to them with clear proofs, they said: “This is plain magic.’“ (As-Saf: 6). Thus, Jesus’s (peace and blessings be upon him) announcement of the glad tidings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) proves that it is obligatory for his followers to follow him. If that were not the case, there would be no benefit in his glad tidings. In fact, a person only gives glad tidings of that which brings about good.
Therefore, anyone among the Jews, Christians, and others who disbelieves in the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is a disbeliever in Allah. This is because Allah, the Exalted, commanded all servants to believe in Him and in His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, and He clarified that this is the path of success, guidance, and righteousness—and that anything other than this is misguidance - we ask Allah for well-being and guidance.