Islam’s approach to the People of the Book—Jews and Christians—is rational, scholarly, and fair, standing in contrast to the biased views held by some within these communities. For instance, Jews declare that Christians and Muslims are entirely misguided, while Christians claim that Jews and Muslims are misguided, even if they adhere to their respective scriptures. Islam, however, does not issue a blanket judgment, declaring that “the Jews are on nothing” or that “the Christians are on nothing.” Instead, it differentiates based on adherence to the original and unaltered revelations.
According to Islam, a Jew who follows the original, unaltered Torah is aligned with the truth, while one who does not is in falsehood, because the original Torah embodies truth. Similarly, a Christian who follows the original, unaltered Gospel is aligned with the truth, while one who does not is in falsehood, as the original Gospel is also a source of truth. As the Qur’an states, “Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, you stand on nothing until you uphold the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord’” (Quran 5:68). Consequently, the Qur’an commends some People of the Book, describing them as an upright community that recites God’s verses sincerely: “Among the People of the Scripture is an upright community; they recite the verses of God” (Quran 3:113).
The Qur’an considers Jews and Christians to be following truth if they revive and adhere to the original Torah and Gospel, as these texts contain descriptions of the Prophet Muhammad and the believers who follow him. This acknowledgment would naturally lead them to accept Islam. The Qur’an describes the Prophet in both the Old and New Testaments, stating, “Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel” (Quran 7:157), and, “This is their description in the Torah and their description in the Gospel: like a plant…” (Quran 48:29). Jewish and Christian scholars recognized this Prophet as they would recognize their own sons: “Those to whom We have given the Scripture recognize him as they recognize their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it]” (Quran 2:146).
The Qur’anic verses challenge the People of the Book to bring forth their scriptures from their monasteries and churches and recite them publicly if they are sincere in their claims. This challenge underscores the need for authenticity and adherence to the truth: “So bring the Torah and recite it, if you should be truthful” (Quran 3:93). It also implies that many alterations in the Torah and Gospel may have occurred after Islam’s advent, although initial distortions and polytheistic influences entered Judaism and Christianity after their separation from the teachings of their prophets.
Additionally, there is another interpretation of the noble verse, “Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord’” (Quran 5:68). According to this view, the phrase “you are [standing] on nothing” (lastum ʿalā shayʾ) addressed to the People of the Book means: O People of the Book, you lack the intellectual and ideological foundation in monotheism necessary to uphold the Torah and Gospel and preserve your faith. Only those firmly grounded on a solid foundation can bear the weight of such responsibility. The dualistic belief of some Jews that “Ezra is the son of God” (Quran 9:30) and the trinitarian belief of some Christians that God is “…the third of three” (Quran 5:73) do not align with the monotheistic framework required to carry this heavy responsibility.
Reference: Tafsir al-Tasnim (under verse 2:135)
