قرآنی اصطلاح "اہلِ کتاب"کے مصداق مذاہب : مسلم مفکرین کی آراء کا تحقیقی جائزہ

The Qur’ānic Term Ahl al-Kitāb and Its Referent Religions: A Critical Study of Muslim Thinkers’ Views

Abstract

The Qur’ānic terminology holds fundamental significance in Islamic sciences, serving not only as a means to comprehend the depth of meanings but also as a foundation for dialogue with other religions and civilizations. Among these key terms, Ahl al-Kitāb (People of the Book) is one of the most frequently mentioned in the Qur’ān. It primarily refers to the Jews and Christians, regardless of whether they belong to the lineage of the Israelites or otherwise. The Qur’ān and Hadith, along with the views of early exegetes and Hadith scholars, support this interpretation. Although some other religious groups, such as Magians, Samaritans, and Sabians, have occasionally been associated with the category of Ahl al-Kitāb, the majority of Muslim jurists and later thinkers maintain that this designation cannot accurately be applied to them, as their scriptures and prophetic teachings no longer exist in an authentic form. The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ also distinguished between the Magians and the People of the Book, permitting only a similarity of treatment in legal rulings concerning jizyah, without granting them the full status of Ahl al-Kitāb. This article explores these debates, analyzing the arguments of classical and modern Muslim scholars to clarify the scope and implications of the term Ahl al-Kitāb.