Allah has sent Prophets to the world to guide mankind. The first Prophet is Hazrat Adam and the last prophet is Hazrat Muhammad ( people believe that Allah is one, invited to worship only Him, ordered to do good deeds and stopped from doing bad deeds. Allah Almighty sent many heavenly books and Sahaif (scriptures) on Prophets for the guidance of human beings.The short books that were revealed on the Prophets () other than the four famous books are known as scriptures. The scriptures that were revealed on Hazrat Ibrahim () and Hazrat Musa () are specially mentioned in the Holy Quran.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
Translation:
Indeed this is (written) in the earlier divine scripts, the scripts of Ibrahim and Musa. (Surah Al-A'la: 18-19)
In the same way, it is mentioned that the heavenly scriptures were revealed to Hazrat Sheth (S) and Hazrat Idrees (). Hazrat Ibrahim () was a great Prophet. He was also called Khalilullah, which means the friend of Allah. He was born in Iraq. The last Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad, is one of the descendants of Hazrat Ibrahim . Hazrat Ibrahim () is mentioned many times in the Holy Quran. All the Prophets who came after Ibrahim were from the descendants of Ibrahim . That is why he is known as Jadd-ul-Anbiya (i.e. the father of the Prophets). Hazrat Ibrahim (), in the three inspired religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is considered highly respected and esteemed. Even the polytheists of Makkah used to call themselves Ibrahimi. Hazrat Yaqub , the grandson of Hazrat Ibrahim c) is known with the title of Israel, so his children are called Bani Israel. Among the Prophets upon whom the heavenly books were revealed, the four Prophets () and the names of the heavenly books revealed on them are:
i. Torah
The name of the book revealed to Hazrat Musa is Torah. After the Holy Prophet the prophet who is mentioned the most in the Holy Quran is Hazrat Musa. Hazrat Musa () bravely faced Pharaoh and raised the words of truth. He freed his nation Bani Israel from the slavery of Pharaoh.
ii. Psalms (Zuboor)
The name of the book that was revealed to Hazrat Dawood is Zaboor. Hazrat Dawood is one of the descendants of Hazrat Yaqoob . Besides Prophethood, Allah also blessed him with a huge kingdom. He established a mighty and vast empire. Before Hazrat Dawood the Prophethood and kingship was divided in separate families of Bani Israel but Hazrat Dawood was the first man from Bani Israel who was bestowed with bothProphethood and kingship.
iii. Bible
The name of the book revealed to Hazrat Essa is Bible. He was the last Prophet sent to Bani Israel. No other Prophet came after Hazrat Essa and before Hazrat Muhammad . The name of the mother of Hazrat Essa is Hazrat Maryam bint Imran. The title of Hazrat Essa is Messih, Abdullah and Rooh Ullah and Surname was Ibn-e-Maryam. One of his titles is Kalimat Ullah also.
iv. The Holy Quran
The name of the book revealed to Hazrat Muhammad() is the Holy Quran. This is the last heavenly book. Allah has completed the teachings of the religion of Islam on Hazrat Muhammad (s). Therefore, the only way for the success and salvation of human beings is to follow the Holy Quran and obey the Holy Prophet (s) because with the arrival of the Holy Prophet (s) in this world, all the previous Shariahs were annulled. So, the only way to become successful is to follow the teachings and Shariah of the Holy Prophet.
The three beliefs have been present in all the heavenly books: belief in monotheism, belief in prophethood and belief in the hereafter. All these previous heavenly books have laid great stress on these three beliefs, but the descendants who came later distorted these books, they also changed these teachings and a large number of people became involved in polytheism. Along with these beliefs, prayer, fasting and Zakat have also been mentioned in previous heavenly books, however, there has been a difference in their methods of offering. Moreover, all the moral values and the teaching of good manners were mentioned in the previous heavenly books as well.
People who are followers of a religion that was invited by a Prophet and the Book was also sent to guide them, then such people are called Ehl-e-Kitaab such as Jews and Christians. However, those people who do not believe in the teachings of any prophet, nor do they have any heavenly book and they worship nature or idols, then such people are known as polytheists.
For a Muslim - it is necessary to believe in all the heavenly books, believing in the heavenly books means that all those books were also revealed on the Prophets for the guidance of human beings and the teachings of all those books were correct, but later people distorted them and they did not remain in their original form. It is necessary for a Muslim to respect the divine books.
The Quran is the last book revealed by Allah. After the revelation of the Holy Quran, all previous heavenly books and their rulings were annulled and their teachings were collectively put together in the Holy Quran. Allah Almighty has revealed this book for all the human beings till the Day of Judgement. Allah Almighty has taken the responsibility of the protection of the Holy Quran Himself.
For a Muslim, it is necessary to believe in all the heavenly books. Quran alone is enough among all the heavenly books for the guidance of human beings until the Day of Resurrection. Man's success lies in the fact that he believes in the books revealed before the Holy Prophet and should also believe in the Holy Quran that was revealed on the Holy Prophet .
If a person follows the Holy Quran, it is as if he followed all the heavenly books. Therefore, we should recite the Holy Quran, try to understand it, follow its teachings and spread its message to others.
We should mantain an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and kindness with all the people in the world by strictly following the teachings of our religion. Remember, our religion does not forbid us to have good social relations and business with non-Muslims, rather we should stick to our religion and should have relationships with them in moderation.
