(Mohammad Masood Ahmed (2025), Would You Like To Know Something About Islam, Second Edition, Crescent Books Inc., New York, USA. Pg. 373-377)

Allah reveals in the Holy Quran about the taking of an oath from every soul about His Lordship and states that all Creatures are His servants. This is the central message conveyed by all Prophets, urging humanity to worship the One true Lord, Allah. Additionally, Allah gathered and took a special oath from the arwah (souls) of all the Prophets to come, committing them to have faith in, assist, and follow the Last Prophet, Muhammad , should he appear in their era. ¹ They all accepted this pledge unconditionally.

Every Prophet who appeared warned his people about the future arrival of Prophet Muhammad. Allah reveals in the Holy Quran how previous nations distorted the teachings and sacred texts given to them. When Prophet Muhammad arrived, those who had faith in Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus) , namely Jews and Christians, dismissed their Prophets’ messages by rejecting Prophet Muhammad . Nevertheless, many Jews and Christians recognized him and accepted Islam, thereby honoring the teachings of their Prophets .

The teachings and commandments revealed to Prophets Musa and ‘Isa guided Jews and Christians, respectively. These constituted the Shariah of Musa and the Shariah of Isa for their respective times. Their rules and practices were applicable during the periods when they were enforced. Since not all times and conditions were the same, their revealed laws and teachings also had to differ; however, the fundamental beliefs of each Shariah remained consistent throughout.

As the teachings of Prophet Musa and Prophet ‘Isa were corrupted by human intervention, some Jews and Christians who wanted to adhere to their original teachings sought refuge in seclusion and separated from their societies. They understood that the coming of the Last Prophet would renew their commitment to Allah and grant them comfort and eternal peace. ²

In the Holy Quran, Allah reminds Jews and Christians of the teachings of Musa and ‘Isa and commands that, if they are truthful to them, they must have faith in the final Prophet Muhammad for ultimate success. ³ Many honest scholars of Jews and Christians knew, through their respective books, the signs of Prophet Muhammad ; they recognized in him all the signs they had knowledge of, so upon his arrival, they embraced Islam. ⁴

With the coming of Prophet Muhammad , those Jews and Christians who believed in him finally found the comfort and relief they had awaited for so long. Allah lifted from them the burdensome commandments and practices found in their Shariah, establishing Islam as the religion for mankind. Now, salvation and ultimate success are only attainable through Islam. ⁵

To inform my fellow readers of the Jewish and Christian faiths, I present a few of the many verses Allah revealed in the Holy Qur’an that address them. In numerous places, they are referred to as the Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book), Yahudi (Jews), Nasrani (Christians), Bani Isra’il, and Ahl al-Ya‘qub (Family of Prophet Ya‘qub (Jacob) ). Another title of Prophet Ya‘qub is Isra’il.

Allah reveals :

وَمَا كَانَ النَّاسُ إِلَّا أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَاخْتَلَفُوا وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِنْ رَبِّكَ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِيمَا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ 19⁶

And the past peoples were not, but one Ummah, then they began to differ. And had Allah not already determined one thing, so indeed it would be decided for them, in which they used to differ.

Allah also informed us and affirmed that:

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَكِنْ كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ 67⁷

Neither was IbrahIm (Abraham) a Yahudi (Jew), nor a NasranI (Christian); but (he) was a believer of truth, a Muslim. And nor was he of the polytheists.

Prophet Ibrahim was the forefather of many prophets and the grandfather of Yaqub (Jacob) . Yaqub took an oath from his children, of which the Holy Quran informs us:

وَوَصَّى بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَابَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ 132⁸

and Ya‘qub () said, “O children! Certainly, Allah chose for your benefit the din (religion; complete way of life). So do not, at all, die, but in the state that you are Muslim.”

The Holy Quran presents the fundamental history of Bani Isra’il and the prophets sent to them. Numerous surahs (chapters) in the Holy Quran, including al-Baqarah, Ale-Imran, al-Maida, an-Nisa, BanI Isra’il, Maryam, and others, provide detailed narratives about Jews and Christians, the devotion and purity of the revered Maryam (Mary) , as well as the miraculous birth and ascension of ‘Isa (Jesus) to the heavens. The Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad repeatedly invite the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) to accept Islam. Allah states:

قُلْ يَاأَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ 64⁹

Say, “O People of the Book, come to that which is common between us and you, which is that we worship none except Allah and do not believe in anything to be His partner, and may any of us not make anyone their lord, leaving aside Allah. So if they turn their face, then you people say, “Bear witness that we all are Muslims.”

Allah commanded the Holy Prophet :

فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَنِسَاءَنَا وَنِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَنْفُسَنَا وَأَنْفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَلْ لَعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ 61¹⁰

So whoever raise an objection concerning him (‘Isa/Jesus ), now that the knowledge has reached you, then say, “So, come on now, let us call our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and our own and your own, then let us imprecate and ask for Allah’s curse upon the liars.”

But they never showed up. Allah then asked them:

يَاأَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تَلْبِسُونَ الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ 71 وَقَالَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ آمِنُوا بِالَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَجْهَ النَّهَارِ وَاكْفُرُوا آخِرَهُ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ 72¹¹

O People of the Book! Why do you mix truth with falsehood and conceal the truth deliberately? O People of the Book! Why do you deny Allah ’s verses, even though you yourself are witnessing them?

But again, they never responded. Then Allah said:

...وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ...     ۝  ¹²

…and had the People of the Book brought faith, then definitely it would be better for them…

Nevertheless, the Holy Quran recognizes:

...مِنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ 110¹³

…among them, some had brought faith, and many of their people are all disobedient.

وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَاشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ لَا يَشْتَرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ 199¹⁴

And certainly, there are some People of the Book that believe in Allah, and that which is revealed upon you, and that which is revealed upon them, humbly cowering in front of Allah; they do not take in return for Allah’s verses a demeaning amount. They are those for whom there is reward with their Lord. Certainly, Allah is to take account soon.

The Holy Quran further acknowledges:

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَكَفَّرْنَا عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَأَدْخَلْنَاهُمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ 65¹⁵

And if the People of the Book had brought faith and feared Allah, so We would have relieved them of their sins, and We would definitely admit them into gardens of bliss.

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لَأَكَلُوا مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ...    ۝  ¹⁶

And had they held to the Tawrah (Torah) and to the Injil (gospel), and that which (Qur’an) was revealed towards him (Muhammad ) from his Lord, so definitely they would eat from above their head and from below their feet…

قُلْ يَاأَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ حَتَّى تُقِيمُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ...    ۝  ¹⁷

Say that “O People of the Book! You are nothing, until you behold the Tawrah (Torah) and Injil (gospels), and whatever has been revealed to you from your Lord.…

Allah’s invitation in the Holy Quran is still open for everyone:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالصَّابِئُونَ وَالنَّصَارَى مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 69¹⁸

Verily, from among those who brought faith (in Muhammad and what was revealed to him from Allah) or be they those who are the Hadu (Jews), Sabi’un, or Nasara (Christians), whoever truly and sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good, righteous deeds (as per the Islamic Shari’ah) – they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.

We have also come to know from the Holy Quran that on Judgment Day, Allah will ask ‘Isa :

وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَاعِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ إِنْ كُنْتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ 116 مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ وَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِي كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ 117¹⁹

And when Allah will say, “O ‘Isa (Jesus ) son of Maryam (Mary), did you tell people to make me and my mother deities, leaving aside Allah? He will say, “Glory be to Allah! I have no right to say that for which I have no right. If I had said that, certainly, You would have known it. You know whatever I have in my heart, and I do not know what is in Your knowledge. Certainly, You are the knower of all secrets. I did not say to them, except of what You commanded me to say: ‘Worship Allah, my Lord and your Sustainer.’ I kept watching them while I was among them. Then when you completed my duration of stay among them, then it was You Who remained the Overseer, and You are everyone’s Guardian.

Because of their disbeliefs, Allah states:

لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَابَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ 72 لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَهٍ إِلَّا إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهُوا عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 73 أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ 74 مَا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُ صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ الطَّعَامَ انْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ الْآيَاتِ ثُمَّ انْظُرْ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ 75²⁰

Certainly, they transgressed who said, “Masih (Messiah) son of Maryam (Mary) is indeed Allah.” And Masih said, “O Bani Israil, worship Allah, my Lord and your Sustainer.” Certainly, he who does shirk (make partners) with Allah, so certainly Allah has prohibited Heaven for him, and his destination is Hell. And there is no helper for the oppressors. Certainly, they transgress, who say Allah is ‘a third of the three.’ There is no deity, but one Deity. And if they do not repent for this nonsense, so definitely a tormenting punishment will reach those who committed this transgression. So why do they not finally repent to Allah and ask forgivenesss for that (shirk). And Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful. Masih son of Maryam, is indeed a prophet. Certainly, before him passed many Prophets 1. And his mother was truthful. Both used to eat food (like any mortal human). Look, how clearly we explain to them the Signs; then look how they have been deceived.

To learn more about the People of the Book, one should refer to the Holy Quran. While I cannot include all relevant verses here, I have highlighted a few above to demonstrate Islam’s perspective on Jews and Christians. My aim is not to dishonor or disrespect anyone’s beliefs. I hope to make the Lord’s words known through any means, allowing those who wish to inform themselves to have a complete understanding of Islam’s stance on the People of the Book.

• ¹  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 81-82
• ²  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 89
• ³  Holy Quran, Al-Maidah, 5: 12
• ⁴  Holy Quran, As-Saff, 61: 6
• ⁵  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 85
• ⁶  Holy Quran, Yunus, 10: 19
• ⁷  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 67
• ⁸  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 132
• ⁹  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 64
• ¹⁰  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 61
• ¹¹  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 71-72
• ¹²  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 110
• ¹³  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 110
• ¹⁴  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 199
• ¹⁵  Holy Quran, Al-Ma'idah, 5: 65
• ¹⁶  Holy Quran, Al-Ma'idah, 5: 66
• ¹⁷  Holy Quran, Al-Ma'idah, 5: 68
• ¹⁸  Holy Quran, Al-Ma'idah, 5: 69
• ¹⁹  Holy Quran, Al-Ma'idah, 5: 116-117
• ²⁰  Holy Quran, Al-Ma'idah, 5: 72-75