If God is one, why would He send multiple books instead of just one? Muslims believe that each new scripture came to restore the original message that had been forgotten or altered. The books revealed to prophets in Islam include the Suhuf (Scrolls), the Torah, Zabur (Psalms), the Injeel, and finally the Quran.
In this article, you will learn about each divine book, which prophet received it, and how Muslims view them today. You will also learn what makes the Quran so special compared to other divine scriptures.
Books Revealed to Prophets in Islam
In Islam, books revealed to prophets are divine scriptures that Allah sent to different messengers throughout history. These books contain guidance for humanity on how to worship God alone and live a righteous life. The following sections explain each major book in some detail.
1. The Suhuf (Scrolls) Revealed to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham):
The Suhuf are the scrolls given to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, to guide his people. These are considered the earliest scriptures mentioned in the Quran. Although no original copies exist today, Muslims believe the Suhuf were a genuine revelation from Allah to one of His greatest prophets.
These Scrolls are referred to in the Quran as:
“صُحُفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ”
“The Scriptures of Abraham and Moses”
2. The Torah Revealed to Prophet Musa (Moses):
The Torah was revealed to Prophet Musa (Moses), peace be upon him. It contained laws and guidance for the Children of Israel. The original Torah was a complete book of divine law, including the Ten Commandments.
Muslims respect the Torah as a holy book, but they believe the existing Old Testament contains human alterations.
In this regard, Allah says in the Quran:
“إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ فِيهَا هُدًۭى وَنُورٌۭ”
“Indeed, We revealed the Torah, containing guidance and light”
To learn more about Islam’s view of the Torah, we invite you to read the article “Does Islam Believe In The Torah” at Explore Islam.
3. The Psalms (Zabur) Revealed to Prophet Dawud (David):
The Zabur is the book of Psalms given to Prophet Dawud (David), peace be upon him, to guide the Children of Israel. Unlike the Torah, the Zabur primarily contained prayers, praises, and wise sayings rather than legal rulings. Muslims believe the original Zabur was a beautiful collection of divinely inspired hymns.
Allah says in the Quran:
“وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورًۭا”
“And to David We gave the Psalms”
4. The Injeel Revealed to Prophet Isa (Jesus):
The Injeel was revealed to Prophet Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him. It was a message of compassion, humility, and monotheism. The original Injeel called the Children of Israel to worship one God, not to deify Jesus himself.
Muslims believe the four New Testament gospels contain some original teachings but are not the verbatim word of God as revealed to Jesus.
Allah says in the Quran:
“ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ”
“We sent Our messengers, and ˹after them˺ We sent Jesus, son of Mary, and granted him the Gospel”
You can learn more about how Islam views the Bible (Old and New Testaments) in the article entitled: “What does the Quran say about the Bible?“ at Explore Islam.
5. The Quran Revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
The Quran is the final book revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, over 23 years. It confirms the truths in previous scriptures while correcting the human alterations and falsehoods that were later added to them.
The Quran remains unchanged since its revelation 14 centuries ago. Muslims believe it is the literal word of Allah, preserved in Arabic without any alteration.
In this regard, Allah says:
“إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ”
“It is certainly We Who have revealed the Reminder (the Quran), and it is certainly We Who will preserve it.“
Muslims’ Belief in All Revealed Books
Muslims must believe in all original divine books as part of their faith. Denying any one of them is considered disbelief. They respect the Torah, Zabur, and Injeel as former revelations, but they believe these books have undergone various layers of human corruption and thus do not rely on their current texts.
For example, the Quran confirms the prophethood of Moses and Jesus while rejecting later theological concepts—such as attributing divinity to Jesus—that Muslims believe were not part of their original messages.
This balanced position explains why Muslims honor all previous prophets and revelations while taking the Quran alone as their ultimate source of guidance in matters of faith, worship, and law.
Rather than viewing the Quran as a completely new religion, Islam presents it as the final chapter in the same divine message preached by all prophets: the worship of one God alone and sincere submission to His will.
You can learn more, at Explore Islam, about Islam’s view about previous revelations by reading articles such as “Does Islam Believe in the Ten Commandments?”, “Does Islam Believe In The Old Testament?” and “Does Islam Believe In The Torah”.
What Makes the Quran So Special Compared to Other Scriptures?
The following points explain why the Quran holds a unique position among all books revealed to prophets of God.
1. The Quran is the Last and Final Scripture
The Quran is the last of all divine books sent by Allah. No further revelation will come after it, which means its teachings are binding until the end of time.
2. The Quran Has Never Been Changed or Altered
Unlike the Torah and the Injeel, which were modified by human hands, the Quran remains exactly as it was revealed more than 1,400 years ago.
Allah Himself promised to preserve it, as He says:
“إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ”
“It is certainly We Who have revealed the Reminder [the Quran], and it is certainly We Who will preserve it”
3. The Quran is the Guardian of Previous Scriptures
The Quran confirms the original messages of the Torah, Zabur, and Injeel. It also acts as a guardian, verifying what is true and rejecting false additions. When the Quran agrees with earlier texts, Muslims accept that part. When it disagrees, Muslims follow the Quran because it is the uncorrupted standard.
This point is clear in the Quran where Allah says:
“وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ”
“We have revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ this Book with the truth, as a confirmation of previous Scriptures and a supreme authority on them”
4. The Quran Is Sent for All Humanity, Not Just One Nation
Previous scriptures were sent to specific groups, such as the Children of Israel. The Quran, however, is directed to all people everywhere, Arabs and non-Arabs, from the 7th century until the last day.
You can explore what Muslims think about the Quran in the article, “What Do Muslims Believe About the Quran?” at Explore Islam.
Start Your Learning Journey with Explore Islam
Ready to deepen your understanding of Islam? Visit https://explore-islam.com today. Explore Islam offers hundreds of free educational materials, including articles, video lectures, and free downloadable e-books.
Whether you are a new Muslim or simply curious about Islamic beliefs, you will find trustworthy answers. Join thousands of learners who have used Explore Islam to learn about many Islamic topics.
Conclusion
The story of divine books is really the story of God’s mercy. From the Scrolls of Abraham to the final Quran, every scripture called to the same truth: worship one God and live righteously. The books revealed to prophets in Islam remind us that guidance has always been available to those who seek it.
Today, only the Quran remains in its original form, totally unchanged. If you are searching for a book you can trust completely, the Quran invites you to read it, question it, and discover its message for yourself.
FAQs
1. Why were The Previous Books Sent, and How Did They Change?
Allah sent previous books to specific nations for limited time periods. Each book addressed the needs of its particular community. Over centuries, scribes and religious leaders altered these scriptures. They added, removed, or changed words. That is why Allah sent the Quran as the final, protected revelation.
2. What are the Common Themes Across All Divine Books?
All books revealed to prophets in Islam share core themes: the oneness of God, the need for sincere worship, moral accountability, and the reality of the afterlife. They all call people to justice, mercy, and compassion. Despite differences in laws, every book taught that Allah alone deserves worship.
In this regard, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“…وَالأَنْبِيَاءُ إِخْوَةٌ لِعَلاَّتٍ، أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ شَتَّى، وَدِينُهُمْ وَاحِدٌ.”
“…The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.”
In this hadith, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ refers to the fact that the religion (faith) of all prophets of Allah is the same, even though their legislations may be different.
3. Do Muslims believe the Bible is corrupt?
Yes. Muslims believe the original Injeel revealed to Jesus (peace be upon him) was pure and true. However, they believe the modern Bible contains human additions, deletions, and changes. That’s why Muslims do not rely on it as the verbatim word of God.
To dig deeper into this issue, you can read an article entitled “How do Muslims believe in the Gospel while it’s corrupted?!” at Explore Islam.
4. How many holy books are mentioned in the Quran?
The Quran explicitly mentions four books by name: the Torah, the Psalms (Zabur), the Gospel (Injeel), and the Quran itself. It also refers generally to the Scrolls (Suhuf) of Abraham and Moses. So a total of five divine books are clearly indicated in the Quran.
5. Are there any other books sent to people by God?
Yes, in addition to the five major scriptures, Muslims believe there may have been other prophets who received written revelations not mentioned by name in the Quran. However, these scriptures no longer exist in their original form. Only the Quran remains as the complete, preserved word of God for all humanity.
6. Why did Allah send multiple books instead of just one?
Allah sent multiple books because each new scripture restored the original message. Previous books were sent to specific nations for limited periods. As those scriptures were lost or altered, Allah sent a new revelation. The Quran is the final book because Allah promised to preserve it forever.
7. Is the Quran the only book Muslims must follow today?
Yes. Muslims believe the Quran is the final and only scripture they must follow as divine law. They respect earlier books but do not base their religious practices on them, because they believe these scriptures have undergone significant human alteration over time. The Quran itself says it supersedes previous revelations.
8. Can non-Muslims read the Quran?
Yes. Non-Muslims are encouraged to read the Quran, as it is Allah’s final revelation sent as guidance for all humanity, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or background. The Quran repeatedly invites people to reflect on its message and consider its teachings with an open mind and heart.
Today, high-quality translations are widely available in English and many other languages, making it accessible to anyone interested in learning about Islam and its core beliefs.
Explore Islam offers free access to the Quran’s translation and explanation. For example, you can download this e-book “Translation of the Meaning of Quran“ which is available in 12 languages, including English.
