REVISITING PERSPECTIVES AND INSIGHTS OF PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37231/mjis.2025.9.1.285Abstract
The inquiry regarding the People of the Book has long constituted a pivotal aspect of the comparative study of religion. Consequently, numerous Muslim and European scholars have devoted considerable attention to the People of the Book and their role as the custodians of sacred texts. This paper holds significance as it reassesses the nature of the People of the Book as understood within the Qur’an and Islamic religious tradition. The Quran identifies Jews and Christians as the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb), acknowledged as the guardians of the Torah and the Injil. Rather than being classified as polytheists (kāfir mushrik), they are classified as misbelievers (kāfir kitāb). They are thus subject to specific Islamic regulations relating to marriage (al-nikah), poll tax (jizyah), animal slaughter (dhabīhah), dietary provisions (ta‘ām), and greetings (salām). An analysis conducted by Muslim scholars provides a nuanced and intricate depiction of the People of the Book within the Quran, underscoring the necessity for further investigation into this subject. This paper incorporates both classical and contemporary Muslim scholarship to clarify this matter. The research ultimately posits that the People of the Book concept offers a valuable framework for innovative and substantial adaptation to local and regional societies.
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