Previous Scriptures and Quran

You may come across a non muslim (from the people of books) who will try to tell you that since Quran speaks about bible, torah and zaboor (psalm), so you can also read them. The ruling of the shariah (based on Quran and Sunnah) does not allow us to read those books to seek guidance. There are many reasons but the two visible reasons are:

1: those books are no more in their real form. They were one the source of guidance but now they are tempered texts full of lies.

ALLh swt says in Quran:  4 : 46

Among those who are jews, there are some who displace words from (their) right places and say: �We hear your word (O Muhammad ) and disobey,� and �Hear and let you (O Muhammad ) �hear nothing.� And Raina with a twist of their tongues and as a mockery of the religion (Islam) And if only they had said: �We hear and obey�, And �Do make us understand,� it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not except a few.

The verse shows that the jews and Christians have not only tempered their books but also tried their level best to tease and stop Muhammad s.a.w.w to spread the message of Islam because they knew that if the truth spreads, their lies would be exposed, and it happened the same.

In another place ALLAH swt says:  5 : 13

So because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them. And you will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them. But forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds). Verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (good-doers).

The above verse indicates that the people of book has abandoned that what was meant to be beneficial for them and they adopted that what will not give them any benefit not in this world not in hereafter. Whatever these people have gained to date is only a quicksand for them from which they will never get out.

2: the second reason is that ALLAH swt has given us the hidayat and sent the different sharia for us to be fit for all humanity till the last day. So we do not need to look towards the people of book or to read their books for any guidance. Whatever Quran has, is the best and not any other book has even a billionth part of truth like Quran has in it.

ALLAH swt says I Quran: al-Maa�idah 5:48

 �And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur�aan) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Mohaymin (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures). So judge among them by what Allaah has revealed�

This verse is a clear proof that Quran is not only a divine message but also confirms what ALLAH swt sent before. At the time when Quran reveled, Christians and jews found the same message in Quran which they found in their books (any leftover part of truth in their books). So they understood that Quran is not a work of fiction but a divine word.

Thus, we do not have to read the previous scriptures or any other book to seek guidance or to learn goodness because whatever those books had in them, Quran contains much more than that. It is a new shariat and a simplest way to lead life.

We do not have to read any other book but the people of book, need to read Quran because this is the final version of hidayat came from the divine.