People of the Book

The term People of the Book (Hebrew: עַם הַסֵּפֶר, Am HaSefer; Arabic: أهل الكتاب, Ahl al-Kitab; Persian: اهل کتاب, Ahl-e Ketab) refers to those religions that are of revealed scriptures, most commonly referring to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The phrase originates from the Quran, where it is used to describe Jews, Christians, and Sabians as "People of the Book" because they possess revealed scriptures. In a broader sense, the term can also include other religions with sacred texts, such as Zoroastrianism, the Baháʼí Faith, and the Druze faith. The concept highlights the shared heritage and theological foundations among these religions, emphasizing their common roots and mutual recognition of divine revelation through scripture. This recognition has historically influenced interfaith relations, theological discourse, and cultural exchanges among these communities.

Wikipedia Information

People of the Book

Islamic term originally used to refer to Jews and Christians

People of the Book, or Ahl al-Kitāb, is a classification in Islam for the adherents of those religions that are regarded by Muslims as having received a divine revelation from God, generally in the form of a holy scripture. The classification chiefly refers to pre-Islamic Abrahamic religions. In the Quran, they are identified as the Jews, the Christians, the Sabians, and—according to some interpretations—the Zoroastrians. Beginning in the 8th century, this recognition was extended to other groups, such as the Samaritans, and, controversially, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs, among others. In most applications, "People of the Book" is simply used by Muslims to refer to the followers of Judaism and Christianity, with which Islam shares many values, guidelines, and principles.

Last modified: 2025-09-06T06:04:43ZView full article on Wikipedia