Why Did Allah Reveal 4 Holy Books?

The question “Why did Allah reveal 4 holy books” is a fundamental topic in understanding the continuity of revelation and divine guidance throughout human history in Islamic belief. In the Qur’an, Allah says, “For every nation We have appointed a law and a path” (Al-Ma’idah, 48), indicating that divine messages were sent to every community in a manner suitable to them. Allah did not leave mankind unguided; in every era, He sent prophets to show the right path. The four holy books the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel, and the Qur’an are links in this chain of revelation. According to Imam Maturidi, these books were sent to convey moral and legal principles that human intellect alone could not reach and to establish faith on a firm foundation. Each addressed the people of its own time, but the core message never changed: the oneness of Allah, justice, truth, and mercy.

Why did Allah send 4 books instead of one

In a narration from Ibn Abbas, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The prophets are brothers; their religion is one” (Bukhari, Prophets, 48). This hadith explains that even though the four holy books were revealed in different periods, they all carried the same monotheistic belief. The Tawrat was revealed to Prophet Musa (Moses), the Zabur to Prophet Dawud (David), the Injil to Prophet Isa (Jesus), and the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Each book addressed the needs of its era but contained the same unchanging divine law. In the Qur’an, Allah states, “Then, We sent following their footsteps Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming what came before him in the Torah, and We gave him the Gospel” (Al-Hadid, 27), emphasizing this continuity. Imam al-Ghazali described this chain as “the gradual manifestation of divine mercy.” As humanity advanced in knowledge, culture, and social structure, Allah’s message was renewed in scope and expression to match human understanding.

The meaning of the Qur’an as the final revelation

The Qur’an is the last of the four holy books. Allah declares, “Indeed, We sent down the Qur’an, and surely We will guard it” (Al-Hijr, 9), affirming that unlike the previous scriptures, it will remain protected. Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi stated that this verse shows the revelation had reached a universal stage. The Qur’an confirmed the previous scriptures (Al-Baqarah, 41), corrected altered rulings, and was sent as guidance for all mankind. From this perspective, the answer to “Why did Allah reveal 4 holy books” lies in the idea that revelation was a process of divine education. Humanity matured step by step through prophets and finally reached universal guidance through the Qur’an.

Thus, in the light of the Qur’an and Hadith, the reason Allah revealed four holy books was to ensure that human intellect was never left without divine guidance, maintaining faith and justice through revelation. Each book served as a source of light for its era, while the Qur’an remains the guide for all ages. As Ibn Taymiyyah said, “The Qur’an is the final word of Allah, a guide to salvation until the Day of Judgment.” Therefore, the Qur’an is not merely a continuation of the earlier books but their completion and perfection. / 2025-11-04 01:21:24