Editing People of the Book (section)

== In the Quran ==
=== Meaning of the term ===
When used in conjunction with a person, the term {{transliteration|ar|ahl}} identifies the members of that person's household, including their fellow tribesmen, relatives and all those who share a family background with them. However, it may also be used with place names to refer to people living in a certain locality (e.g., {{transliteration|ar|ahl al-Madīna}} in Quran 9:101, 'the people of [[Medina]]'), or with more abstract nouns, as in {{transliteration|ar|ahl madhhab}}, 'the people of a certain {{transliteration|ar|[[madhhab]]}} or school of thought'.<ref name="Sharon 2004">{{harvnb|Sharon|2004}}.</ref>

The word {{transliteration|ar|kitāb}}, meaning 'writing' or 'book', occurs very often in the Quran, generally in the sense of a divine rather than a human activity, which consists in writing down and recording everything that is created. More than just referring to a 'book', it conveys meanings of divine knowledge, divine authority, and divine revelation.<ref name="Madigan 2001">{{harvnb|Madigan|2001}}.</ref>

The term {{transliteration|ar|ahl al-kitāb}}, then, refers to those who have been given access to such knowledge and revelation:<ref name="Madigan 2001"/> they are the people to whom God has 'sent down' (see {{transliteration|ar|[[Tanzil|tanzīl]]}}) his wisdom by means of a [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|prophet]], as an act of [[divine grace]].<ref name="Sharon 2004"/> However, the revelations given to the People of the Book, taking the form of the [[Torah]] ({{transliteration|ar|al-Tawrāt}}), the [[Psalms]] ({{transliteration|ar|al-Zabūr}}), and the [[Gospel]] ({{transliteration|ar|al-Injīl}}),<ref name="EI" /> were all partial, and it is precisely by already being familiar with the books ({{transliteration|ar|kutub}}) previously sent down that the People of the Book were expected to be able to recognize Muhammad as a prophet, and the Quran as the final and most complete revelation.<ref name="Madigan 2001"/>

=== Identity ===

Several verses in the Quran are commonly understood as identifying the [[Jews]], the [[Christians]], and the [[Sabians]] as People of the Book. Thus for example [[Al-Ma'idah|{{transliteration|ar|Sūrat al-Māʾida}}]] 5:68–69, which mentions these groups along with the Muslims ("the believers") as being safe from fear and grief:<ref>{{harvnb|De Blois|2004}}.</ref>

{{blockquote|[68] Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O People of the Book! You have nothing to stand on unless you observe the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.” And your Lord’s revelation to you ˹O Prophet˺ will only cause many of them to increase in wickedness and disbelief. So do not grieve for the people who disbelieve. [69] Indeed, the believers, Jews, Sabians and Christians—whoever ˹truly˺ believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good, there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.<ref>{{qref|5|68–69|b=y}} (tr. [[Mustafa Khattab]], ''The Clear Quran'').</ref>}}

[[Al-Baqara|{{transliteration|ar|Sūrat al-Baqara}}]] 2:62 is similar to this,<ref>{{harvnb|De Blois|2004}}. It reads: "Indeed, the believers, Jews, Christians, and Sabians —whoever ˹truly˺ believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good will have their reward with their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve."{{qref|2|62|c=y}} (tr. [[Mustafa Khattab]], ''The Clear Quran'').</ref> but there is also a verse ([[Al-Hajj|{{transliteration|ar|Sūrat al-Ḥajj}}]] 22:17) which lists the same groups in another context, that of how God will judge them on the [[Judgement Day in Islam|Day of Resurrection]], but now adding two more groups to the list:<ref name="Darrow 2003">{{harvnb|Darrow|2003}}.</ref>

{{blockquote|Indeed, the believers, Jews, Sabians, Christians, Magi, and the polytheists—Allah will judge between them ˹all˺ on Judgment Day. Surely Allah is a Witness over all things.<ref>{{qref|22|17|c=y}} (tr. [[Mustafa Khattab]], ''The Clear Quran'').</ref>}}

The last named group, "the polytheists" (the {{transliteration|ar|[[Shirk (Islam)|mushrikūn]]}}, {{lit|those who associate}}), are the opposite of the first named, "the believers" (the Muslims). What is less clear, however, is the status of the groups mentioned in between, who now also include the "Magi" ({{transliteration|ar|al-majūs}}), that is to say, the [[Zoroastrians]] (who are named only once in the Quran, in this verse). This was a matter of dispute among medieval Muslim scholars, who questioned whether the Zoroastrians had a clear prophet and scripture, as well as whether their doctrines on the nature of God and creation were in accordance with those of Islam and the other religions recognized as having received a revelation.<ref name="Darrow 2003"/> Ultimately though, most Islamic jurists granted the Zoroastrians partial status as a People of the Book,<ref name="Darrow 2003"/> while still disagreeing on the extent to which legal privileges such as intermarriage with Muslims should be allowed.<ref>{{harvnb|Nasr|Dagli|Dakake|Lumbard|Rustom|2015|p=834}} (verse 22:17).</ref>

=== Usage ===

The Quran emphasizes the community of faith between possessors of monotheistic scriptures, and occasionally pays tribute to the religious and moral virtues of communities that have received earlier revelations, calling on Muhammad to ask them for information.<ref name="EI">{{harvnb|Vajda|1960–2007}}.</ref> More often, reflecting the refusal of Jews and Christians in Muhammad's environment to accept his message, the Quran stresses their inability to comprehend the message they possess but do not put into practice and to appreciate that Muhammad's teaching fulfills that message.<ref name="EI" />

The People of the Book are mentioned several times in the 98th chapter of the Quran, {{transliteration|ar|[[al-Bayyina|Sūrat al-Bayyina]]}} ('The Clear Proof'):

{{blockquote|[1] The disbelievers from the People of the Book and the polytheists were not going to desist from disbelief until the clear proof came to them: [2] a messenger from Allah, reciting scrolls of utmost purity, [3] containing upright commandments. [4] It was not until this clear proof came to the People of the Book that they became divided about his prophethood— [5] even though they were only commanded to worship Allah alone with sincere devotion to Him in all uprightness, establish prayer, and pay alms-tax. That is the upright Way. [6] Indeed, those who disbelieve from the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the Fire of Hell, to stay there forever. They are the worst of all beings. [7] Indeed, those who believe and do good—they are the best of all beings. [8] Their reward with their Lord will be Gardens of Eternity, under which rivers flow, to stay there for ever and ever. Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. This is only for those in awe of their Lord.<ref>{{qref|98|1–8|c=y}} (tr. [[Mustafa Khattab]], ''The Clear Quran'').</ref>}}

According to [[Islamic]] studies scholar [[Yvonne Haddad]], this short chapter condemns all those who reject the 'clear proof' ({{transliteration|ar|bayyina}}) of the Prophet to the eternal fire of hell, whether they are People of the Book or disbelievers ({{transliteration|ar|[[kuffār]]}}).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Haddad |first1=Yvonne Yazbeck | date=1977 | title=An Exegesis of Sura Ninety-Eight| journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume = 97 |issue = 4 |pages=519–530 | jstor = 598634 | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/598634|doi=10.2307/598634}}</ref>

The People of the Book are also referenced in the ''[[jizya]]'' verse ([[Q9:29]]),<ref name="EI" /> which has received [[Jizya#In the Qur'an|varied interpretations]].

The Quran permits marriage between Muslim men and women who are People of the Book (Jews and Christians).<ref name="Ahmed2013" />