Editing People of the Book (section)

=== 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>