What you'll learn
This topic examines Muslim beliefs about holy books revealed by Allah, focusing on the Qur'an as the final revelation alongside earlier scriptures. Understanding how Muslims view these texts as divine guidance and their relationship to one another is essential for answering WJEC GCSE exam questions on Islamic beliefs and teachings.
Key terms and definitions
Qur'an — The final and complete revelation from Allah, revealed in Arabic to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Jibril over 23 years.
Revealed books — Scriptures sent by Allah to earlier prophets to guide humanity, including the Torah, Psalms and Gospel.
Tawhid — The fundamental Islamic belief in the oneness of Allah, which underpins the unity of His messages across all revealed books.
Surah — A chapter of the Qur'an (there are 114 surahs of varying lengths).
Torah (Tawrat) — The holy book revealed to Prophet Musa (Moses) containing guidance for the Jewish people.
Psalms (Zabur) — The book of wisdom and prayers revealed to Prophet Dawud (David).
Gospel (Injil) — The original revelation given to Prophet Isa (Jesus), distinct from the four Gospels in the Christian New Testament.
Hafiz — A person who has memorised the entire Qur'an, preserving the text through oral tradition.
Core concepts
The Qur'an as the final revelation
The Qur'an holds supreme authority in Islam as the literal word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad between 610-632 CE. Muslims believe it is the final, complete and uncorrupted message from Allah to all humanity.
Key beliefs about the Qur'an include:
- Divine authorship: Every word comes directly from Allah, making it infallible and eternal
- Revealed in Arabic: The original Arabic text is considered the true Qur'an; translations are interpretations
- Preserved perfectly: Unlike earlier scriptures, the Qur'an remains unchanged since revelation
- Universal guidance: It provides comprehensive guidance for all aspects of life (spiritual, moral, legal, social)
- Final scripture: No further revelations will come after Muhammad, the "Seal of the Prophets"
The Qur'an confirms and corrects earlier revelations. Where it differs from the Torah or Gospel, Muslims believe the Qur'an presents the accurate version, as earlier texts were altered over time.
Exam relevance: Questions frequently ask students to explain why the Qur'an is important to Muslims or how it differs from other holy books. Precise knowledge of its characteristics and status is essential.
Structure and content of the Qur'an
Understanding the Qur'an's organisation helps students appreciate how Muslims interact with their scripture:
Physical structure:
- 114 surahs (chapters) arranged roughly by length, longest to shortest
- Each surah contains ayahs (verses)
- Divided into 30 equal parts (juz) for reading during Ramadan
- Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening) is recited in every prayer cycle
Content themes:
- Tawhid: The oneness and nature of Allah
- Akhirah: Teachings about the afterlife, resurrection and judgement
- Prophets: Stories of earlier messengers and their communities
- Guidance: Moral principles, laws (Shariah), and worship practices
- Signs of Allah: References to nature as evidence of the Creator
The Qur'an is not arranged chronologically. Meccan surahs (revealed before migration) emphasise belief in Allah and the Day of Judgement, while Medinan surahs focus more on community organisation and law.
Treatment and respect for the Qur'an
Muslims demonstrate profound reverence for the Qur'an through specific practices:
- Physical purity: Performing wudu (ritual washing) before touching the text
- Elevated position: Keeping the Qur'an on the highest shelf, never below other books
- Recitation etiquette: Using proper tajwid (rules of pronunciation) when reading aloud
- Memorisation: Many Muslims learn portions or the entire text; hafiz status brings honour
- Disposal: Worn copies are buried or burned respectfully, never discarded as rubbish
The Qur'an is recited in Arabic during salah (prayer), even by non-Arabic speakers, preserving the original revelation. Translations are used for understanding but are not considered "the Qur'an" itself.
Exam tip: Questions about Muslim practices often connect to beliefs about the Qur'an's sacred nature. Explain the theological reason behind each practice.
The Torah (Tawrat)
Muslims believe the Torah was revealed to Prophet Musa (Moses) to guide the Children of Israel. It contained Allah's laws and instructions for righteous living.
Islamic perspective on the Torah:
- Original revelation was divine: The true Tawrat came from Allah and shared the same core message as the Qur'an — worshipping one God
- Current version is corrupted: Muslims believe the Torah available today (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) has been altered from its original form through human changes over centuries
- Historical importance: The Torah represents a crucial stage in Allah's communication with humanity
- Continuity of message: Core teachings about monotheism, justice, and morality were preserved in Allah's revelations
The Qur'an refers to the "People of the Book" (Ahl al-Kitab), acknowledging Jews and Christians as recipients of earlier revelations. This creates a special relationship while asserting the Qur'an's supremacy.
The Psalms (Zabur)
The Zabur was revealed to Prophet Dawud (David), containing prayers, hymns and wisdom literature.
Key points about the Zabur:
- Nature of content: Focused on praising Allah and spiritual reflection rather than legal codes
- Limited detail in Islamic sources: The Qur'an mentions the Zabur but provides fewer specifics than about the Torah or Gospel
- Relationship to Biblical Psalms: Muslims believe the current Book of Psalms contains elements of the original Zabur but has been altered
- Prophet Dawud's role: Recognised as a righteous king and prophet who received divine revelation
The Zabur demonstrates Allah's pattern of sending guidance through different prophets to various communities throughout history.
The Gospel (Injil)
Muslims distinguish between the Injil revealed to Prophet Isa (Jesus) and the four Gospels in the Christian New Testament.
Islamic beliefs about the Injil:
- Original revelation: Allah gave Isa a book of guidance that confirmed the Torah and contained good news (the meaning of "Injil")
- Content differences: The original Injil, like all Allah's revelations, taught pure monotheism (Tawhid)
- Christian Gospels not the Injil: The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) were written decades after Jesus by his followers, not by Jesus himself
- Alterations and additions: Muslims believe concepts like the Trinity and Jesus as God's son were added later and contradict the original message
The Qur'an affirms Isa as a great prophet but rejects his divinity. This explains why Muslims honour the concept of the Injil while disagreeing with Christian scripture.
Surah 3:3-4 states: "He has sent down upon you the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel before, as guidance for the people."
Why earlier revelations matter to Muslims
Understanding Muslim beliefs about the Torah, Psalms and Gospel is crucial for exam success because it shows:
- Continuity: Islam sees itself as completing a chain of revelations, not starting a new religion
- Respect with correction: Muslims honour earlier prophets and their messages while believing the Qur'an provides the accurate, preserved version
- Universal message: All revelations shared core truths about Allah, despite being sent to different communities
- Need for the Qur'an: Earlier scriptures were altered or incomplete, making Allah's final revelation necessary
This explains Muslim attitudes toward Jewish and Christian communities — acknowledging their scriptural heritage while inviting them to the Qur'an's message.
Revelation through Jibril (Gabriel)
The process of revelation connects all these holy books. Muslims believe the angel Jibril (Gabriel) served as the messenger who transmitted Allah's words to prophets:
- The Torah came through Jibril to Musa
- The Injil came through Jibril to Isa
- The Qur'an came through Jibril to Muhammad
This consistent method of revelation emphasises the divine source of all these scriptures. The first revelation Muhammad received in the Cave of Hira came when Jibril commanded him to "Recite!" (Iqra).
Worked examples
Example 1: Part (a) question (2 marks)
Question: Outline Muslim beliefs about the Qur'an.
Model answer: Muslims believe the Qur'an is the exact word of Allah revealed in Arabic to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Jibril. They believe it is the final and complete revelation that has been perfectly preserved without any changes or corruption since it was revealed.
Mark scheme notes: 2 marks for two developed points or four brief points about Qur'anic beliefs. Accept: divine authorship, Arabic revelation, preservation, finality, superiority to other books, guidance for life.
Example 2: Part (c) question (4 marks)
Question: Explain Muslim teachings about earlier holy books such as the Torah and the Gospel.
Model answer: Muslims believe that Allah revealed the Torah (Tawrat) to Prophet Musa and the Gospel (Injil) to Prophet Isa as guidance for their communities. These earlier revelations contained the same core message about worshipping one God (Tawhid) and living righteously.
However, Muslims believe these earlier scriptures have been changed or corrupted over time by human alterations, so they no longer exist in their original, pure form. This is why Allah sent the final revelation, the Qur'an, to Prophet Muhammad — to provide a complete and perfectly preserved message that confirms the truth in earlier books while correcting any errors that had crept in.
Muslims show respect to Jews and Christians as "People of the Book" because their ancestors received genuine revelations from Allah, even though Muslims believe the Qur'an supersedes these earlier scriptures.
Mark scheme notes: Level 2 (3-4 marks) requires detailed explanation showing understanding of continuity between revelations, belief in corruption of earlier texts, and the Qur'an's corrective role. Use of specialist terminology (Torah/Tawrat, Gospel/Injil, Tawhid) strengthens answers.
Example 3: Part (d) evaluation question (6 marks + 3 SPaG)
Question: "The Qur'an is the only holy book Muslims need to study." Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.)
Model answer structure:
Arguments supporting the statement: Muslims could agree because the Qur'an is the final, complete revelation from Allah that contains everything needed for guidance in life. Unlike earlier scriptures like the Torah and Gospel which Muslims believe have been corrupted, the Qur'an has been perfectly preserved in its original Arabic form. As it confirms and corrects earlier revelations, studying the Qur'an alone gives Muslims access to Allah's true message. The Qur'an itself contains stories of earlier prophets and references to earlier books, so Muslims learn about these through the Qur'an.
Arguments against the statement: However, Muslims also study Hadith collections alongside the Qur'an, as these record Prophet Muhammad's sayings and actions (Sunnah) which explain how to apply Qur'anic teachings practically. While the Qur'an is supreme, understanding it fully benefits from scholarly commentary (tafsir) and studying Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). Some Muslims might also study earlier scriptures to understand interfaith relationships or for academic purposes, recognising that Allah originally revealed these books even if current versions are altered.
Conclusion with justified personal opinion: While the Qur'an is undoubtedly the most important text and Muslims could theoretically rely on it alone, in practice most Muslims also study Hadith to understand their faith fully, making the statement too simplistic.
Mark scheme notes: Level 3 (5-6 marks) requires well-developed arguments on both sides with religious reasoning, specialist terminology, and a justified conclusion. SPaG marks awarded for accurate spelling of Islamic terms, varied sentence structures and clear paragraphing.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: Stating that Muslims reject the Torah, Psalms and Gospel entirely. Correction: Muslims respect the original revelations given to earlier prophets but believe current versions have been changed. The Qur'an confirms truths from these earlier books.
Mistake: Calling the Qur'an "the Muslim Bible" or saying it was "written by Muhammad." Correction: Muslims believe the Qur'an is the literal word of Allah revealed to Muhammad, who was illiterate. The term "Bible" applies only to Jewish and Christian scriptures.
Mistake: Confusing the Injil (original Gospel to Isa) with the four Gospels in Christian scripture (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Correction: Muslims believe the Injil was a single revelation to Prophet Isa, while the Christian Gospels were written later by followers and are not the original Injil.
Mistake: Suggesting the Qur'an replaces earlier revelations by contradicting them entirely. Correction: The Qur'an confirms core truths from earlier revelations (monotheism, prophets, judgement) while correcting alterations. Muslims see continuity, not complete contradiction.
Mistake: Failing to explain why Muslims believe earlier scriptures were corrupted. Correction: Mention that these books were transmitted orally before being written down centuries later, creating opportunities for human error or deliberate changes. The Qur'an was memorised immediately and written during Muhammad's lifetime.
Mistake: Only describing what the Qur'an contains without explaining its significance to Muslims. Correction: Always connect factual information to beliefs — explain how the Qur'an's characteristics (Arabic, preserved, final) affect Muslim practices and attitudes.
Exam technique for Islamic holy books
Command word awareness:
- "Outline" (2 marks): Two simple points or one developed point about basic beliefs
- "Explain" (4 marks): Show understanding of why Muslims hold these beliefs, not just what they believe. Link ideas together with connecting phrases
- "Discuss/Evaluate" (6 marks): Present contrasting viewpoints with religious reasoning before giving a justified personal conclusion
Structuring answers effectively:
- Always use correct Islamic terminology: Qur'an (not Koran), Musa (not Moses when discussing Islamic beliefs), Isa (not Jesus in Islamic context)
- For explanation questions, use connectives: "This is important because...", "This means that...", "As a result..."
- In evaluation questions, separate contrasting views into clear paragraphs with topic sentences
- Support points with Qur'anic references where known (e.g., "Surah 3:3 mentions Allah revealing the Torah and Gospel")
Maximising marks:
- Demonstrate knowledge of all four books mentioned in the specification, not just the Qur'an
- Show understanding of the relationship between scriptures (continuity and completion)
- Connect beliefs about books to wider Islamic concepts (Tawhid, prophethood, preservation)
- For 6-mark questions, aim for 2-3 developed points on each side of the argument
SPaG marks (3 marks available on evaluation questions):
- Spell key terms correctly: Qur'an, Jibril, Muhammad, Tawrat, Zabur, Injil
- Use varied sentence structures mixing simple and complex sentences
- Paragraph clearly with religious vocabulary deployed accurately
Quick revision summary
Muslims believe the Qur'an is Allah's final, perfect revelation in Arabic to Prophet Muhammad through angel Jibril, providing complete guidance for all humanity. Earlier revelations include the Torah (Tawrat) to Musa, Psalms (Zabur) to Dawud, and Gospel (Injil) to Isa. Muslims respect these original revelations as containing Allah's message of Tawhid but believe current versions have been corrupted over time. The Qur'an confirms truths from earlier books while correcting alterations, making it the supreme authority. Muslims treat the Qur'an with profound respect through memorisation, ritual purity before touching it, and recitation in original Arabic during prayers.