What Are the Holy Books in Islam?

Muslims believe in one God who has spoken to humanity throughout history through chosen prophets, and that several of those prophets were given revealed scripture. The Quran itself names four earlier books, alongside the “Suhuf” (scrolls) of the earliest prophets. Understanding what they are — and how the Quran relates to them — is one of the basics of Islamic belief.

1. The Suhuf (Scrolls) of Ibrahim and Musa

The Quran mentions Suhuf, or scrolls, given to the Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham) and Musa (Moses), peace be upon them. No copy of these scrolls survives today; Muslims know of them only through the Quran’s brief references (Quran 87:19, 53:36–37).

2. The Tawrat (Torah) — given to Musa

The Tawrat is the scripture revealed to Prophet Musa, corresponding to the Torah of the Hebrew Bible. The Quran describes it as guidance and light, and speaks of Musa and the Children of Israel with deep respect. Muslims believe the message of the Tawrat was later altered over time, which is part of why the Quran was later revealed to restate and preserve God’s guidance.

3. The Zabur (Psalms) — given to Dawud

The Zabur, revealed to Prophet Dawud (David), corresponds to the Psalms. The Quran refers to it directly (Quran 4:163, 17:55) as a book of praise and devotion to God.

4. The Injil (Gospel) — given to Isa

The Injil is the revelation given to Prophet Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him — not the New Testament as it exists today, but the original message Isa taught: pure monotheism and guidance from God. Muslims honour Isa as a prophet and messenger, and believe elements of his original teaching were preserved, while others were changed or added to over the centuries that followed.

5. The Quran — the final revelation

Muslims believe the Quran, revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over 23 years, is God’s final and complete message — sent to confirm the truth of the earlier scriptures while correcting what had been altered in them. Uniquely among these books, Muslims believe the Quran has been preserved without change since its revelation, memorised word-for-word by millions of people in every generation, and it remains the central text of worship, law and daily life for over a billion Muslims today.

Why this matters

Believing in all of God’s revealed books — not only the Quran — is one of the six articles of Islamic faith. It reflects the Islamic view that God has guided humanity consistently throughout history, and that the Quran is the culmination and safeguard of that guidance rather than something entirely separate from it.

If you would like to read the Quran itself, you can read the full Quran online here — all 114 surahs in Arabic, with English translation, transliteration and audio recitation, free.