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People of the Book

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In Islam, People of the Book or ahl al Kitâb is a term for peoples who have, according to Islam, received divine guidance.

The only remaining people of the book are:

This status is based on a passage from the Quran, saying: "And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, 'We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam).'" (XXIX: The Spider: 46)"

There are a great many statements promoting tolerance towards Jews and Christians. However, there are also a number of statements that were written in chronologically later parts of the Quran which rescind these views, and instead promote a more adversarial relationship. For example:

"O you who believe! Fight those of the unbelievers (non-Muslims) who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil)." (Koran 9:123)

"O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people." (Koran 5:51)

"O ye who believe! Take not for friends Unbelievers (non-Muslims) rather than believers: Do ye wish to offer Allah an open proof against yourselves?" (Koran 4:144)

"Thou seest many of them turning in friendship to the Unbelievers (non-Muslims). Evil indeed are (the works) which their souls have sent forward before them (with the result), that Allah's wrath is on them, and in torment will they abide." (Koran 5:80)

"Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book (Christians and Jews), until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection." (Koran 9:29)

Many Muslims believe that the 'People of the Book,' if they are decent and good, regardless of the fact that they are not Muslim, will go to Heaven. They are seen as cousins in the family of believers. Muslims are encouraged to live on peaceful and equitable terms with them. Others Muslims view non-Muslims to be enemies of Islam. An example:


Question: One of the preachers in one of the mosques in Europe claimed that it is not allowed to consider Jews and Christians disbelievers. You know - may Allah preserve you - that most of the people who attend the mosques in Europe have very little knowledge. We fear that statements like this one will become widespread. Therefore, we request from you a complete and clear answer to this question.
Answer: I say: The statement that came from that man is misguidance. In fact, it can be blasphemy. This is because Allah has declared that Jews and Christians are disbelievers in His Book. Allah has said, "The Jews call Uzair a son of Allah and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouths; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the truth! They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah and (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary: Yet they were commanded to worship but one Allah: there is no god but He. Praise and glory to him: (far is He) from having the partners they associate (with him)." [Al-Taubah 9:30, 31]
That shows that they are polytheists who associate partners with Allah. In other verses, Allah has made it clear that they are disbelievers:
"in blasphemy indeed are they who say that Allah is the Christ, son of Mary." {Al-Maidah 5:17 and 72]
"They do blaspheme who say, God is one of three (in a Trinity)." {Al-Maidah 5:73]
"Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected faith by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary." {Al-Maidah 5:78]
"Those who reject (truth) among the People of the Book and the Polytheists will be in hellfire to dwell therein (for aye). They are the worst of creatures.." {Al-Bayyinah 98:6]
Many versus and Hadith express the same meaning. The one, who rejects the idea that the Jews and Christians who do not believe in Mohammed (peace be upon him) and deny him are disbelievers, is in fact denying what Allah has said. Denying what Allah has said is blasphemy. If anyone has any doubt concerning them being disbelievers, then he himself is also a disbeliever. This is a matter concerning which there is no room for doubt. And help is sought only with Allah.
Source Fatwa on Jews and Christians by Shaikh Ibn Uthaimin


Where people of the Book live in an Islamic nation under Sharia law, they are forbidden from being considerd free and equal citizens. By Islamic law they can only liv if they submit to living as a dhimmi (second class protected citizen). Once they giv up equal rights, they are then given a number of rights by the Islamic community, such as the right to freely practice their faith in private. They are also given additional responsibility and burdens, such as the payment of a special tax called jizyah ("skull tax"). If Jews or Christians refuse to accept dhimmi status, the Quran holds that Muslims may declare war on them.

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