Islam, as the final divine religion revealed to humanity, upholds the belief in divine scriptures as one of its core articles of faith. Among these scriptures, the 4 holy books of Islam hold particular significance. These sacred texts were revealed to various prophets by Allah (ﷻ) as guidance for their respective communities, and they form the spiritual foundation for divine instruction before the revelation of the final book, the Qur’an.
In our article, we will address the question of what are the four holy books of Islam, and how they make sense, and associate the prophets with references to the Quran and Hadith in Arabic and English to provide a better understanding of their significance.
Belief in the Holy Books of Islam
Islam has six pillars of Iman (faith), including belief in the holy books. Muslims should have faith that Allah, through his chosen prophets, gave scriptures. These books acted as a form of divine guidance until the revelation of the Quran, which is the final revelation and complete.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ”
“The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers – all of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:285)
This verse highlights that true faith includes belief in all the books revealed by Allah (ﷻ), not only the Qur’an.
What Are the 4 Holy Books of Islam?
The four holy books of Islam and their respective prophets are as follows:
1. The Tawrat (Torah)
Revealed to: Prophet Musa (Moses, عليه السلام)
The Tawrat is the divine scripture given to Prophet Musa and was intended to guide the Children of Israel. The Qur’an acknowledges this book and confirms its truth.
“إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ”
“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:44)
Though altered over time, Muslims believe the original Tawrat was a revelation from Allah.
2. The Zabur (Psalms)
Revealed to: Prophet Dawud (David, عليه السلام)
The Zabur was revealed to Prophet Dawud and is known for its lyrical and devotional content. It is often referred to as a book of praises to Allah.
“وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا”
“And We gave Dawud the Zabur.”
(Surah An-Nisa, 4:163)
This book emphasized worship, remembrance, and moral guidance.
3. The Injil (Gospel)
Revealed to: Prophet Isa (Jesus, عليه السلام)
The Injil is the book given to the Prophet Isa (Jesus). It preached monotheism, piety, and compassion. The Qur’an speaks of it as a book of mercy and light.
“وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِم بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۖ وَآتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدٗى وَنُورٌ”
“And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:46)
However, Muslims believe that the current versions of the Gospel do not reflect the original Injil revealed by Allah due to alterations by men over time.
4. The Qur’an
Revealed to: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
The Qur’an is the final and most complete revelation, sent to all of humanity through the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It serves as a confirmation and completion of all previous scriptures and is preserved in its original form.
“تَنزِيلُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ”
“The revelation of the Book – there is no doubt about it – from the Lord of the worlds.”
(Surah As-Sajdah, 32:2)
The Qur’an is the ultimate guide for all aspects of life, from personal ethics to social justice, legal principles, and spiritual development.
The Purpose and Preservation of the Holy Books
Each of the holy books of Islam came as divine guidance relevant to a particular time and people. However, with time, the earlier scriptures were subject to alteration, either through loss, translation errors, or deliberate changes. This is why the Qur’an was revealed with a divine guarantee of preservation:
“إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ”
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an, and indeed, We will be its guardian.”
(Surah Al-Hijr, 15:9)
This verse assures Muslims that the Qur’an will remain unchanged until the Day of Judgment.
Why Muslims Believe in All the Books
Every Muslim must believe in all the previous books in their original revealed form. Denial of even one is considered disbelief (kufr). However, belief in the current versions does not mean acceptance of their accuracy unless they conform to the teachings of the Qur’an.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“الأنبياء إخوة لعلاّت، أمهاتهم شتى ودينهم واحد”
“The Prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different but their religion is one.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
This hadith emphasizes that all prophets came with the same core message — to worship Allah alone — and their scriptures were centered around this monotheistic call.
Conclusion: The Final Word from Allah
The 4 holy books of Islam constitute the basis of the divine teaching that was sent over various periods and countries. The Tawrat, the Zabur, and the Injil were acceptable to their respective times; the Qur’an has now become the absolute and universal message of Allah to mankind, guiding believers in all aspects of life. We pay respect and tribute to all the prior revelations as a Muslim; however, the Quran is our source of ultimate and unchanged truth.
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