Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi (Rahimahullah)
«قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ»
"Say, O People of the Book! Come to a word that is equitable between us and you—that we will worship none but Allah, and we will not associate anything with Him."
[Aal-e-Imran: 64]
[Al-Lajnah Al-Daimah: Fatwa No. 7150]
Who are the People of the Book?
The term "People of the Book" (Ahl al-Kitab) refers to the Jews and Christians, despite their association with shirk (polytheism). This shirk was present among them even at the time when the Qur’an was being revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.Their Beliefs in the Light of the Qur’an:
- Christians’ Belief in the Divinity of Jesus:
Allah mentions their belief that Jesus (Isa, peace be upon him) is God and rebukes them for this statement:
«لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ»
"Indeed, they have disbelieved who say, 'Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary.'”
[Al-Ma'idah: 17] - Jews’ Belief in 'Uzair as the Son of God:
Allah informs us of their false statement regarding 'Uzair (Ezra, peace be upon him) being the son of Allah:
«وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللَّهِ»
"The Jews say, 'Ezra is the son of Allah,' and the Christians say, 'The Messiah is the son of Allah.'”
[Al-Tawbah: 30]
Both groups imitated the polytheistic beliefs of the disbelievers who came before them:
«ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ يُضَاهِئُونَ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن قَبْلُ»
"That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the statement of those who disbelieved before them."
[Al-Tawbah: 30] - Their Scholars and Religious Leaders as False Lords:
The People of the Book took their religious leaders and scholars as lords besides Allah by following their rulings blindly, even when they contradicted divine commands:
«اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ»
"They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah."
[Al-Tawbah: 31]
Call to Return to Monotheism (Tawhid):
The Qur’an invites them to abandon their polytheism and return to pure monotheism:«قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ»
"Say, O People of the Book! Come to a word that is equitable between us and you—that we will worship none but Allah, and we will not associate anything with Him."
[Aal-e-Imran: 64]
Warning Against Exceeding Limits in Religion:
- Excessive Reverence for Religious Figures:
Allah warns them against exaggerating their beliefs regarding prophets and religious figures:
«يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ»
"O People of the Book! Do not exceed the limits in your religion."
[Al-Nisa: 171] - Rejection of the Doctrine of Trinity:
Allah strictly prohibits belief in the Trinity:
«وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ»
"Do not say, 'Three.' Desist—it is better for you. Allah is but one God."
[Al-Nisa: 171]
Conclusion:
The Qur’an provides numerous verses indicating the shirk and disbelief present among the People of the Book during the time of revelation. Despite being referred to as "Ahl al-Kitab" due to their association with earlier revelations, their deviation from monotheism and their incorporation of polytheistic beliefs make their practices incompatible with the true teachings of Islam.[Al-Lajnah Al-Daimah: Fatwa No. 7150]