Did God Send a Book to Every Prophet from Adam to Muhammad?

It is often debated among scholars of religion whether God sent a scriptural message to every prophet from Adam to Muhammad. Delving into the teachings of the Quran, it becomes apparent that not all prophets were given the same level of communication and instruction. According to Quranic verses, scriptures and direct revelations were not uniformly distributed to all prophets.

Limited Distribution of Scriptures and Prophethood

According to the Quran, scriptures and the blessing of prophethood were primarily bestowed upon the descendants of Noah and Abraham. Specifically, the Quran states in verse 57:26: “And we gave not the scripture and the dominion to any before they attain to puberty and keen judgement.” Thereafter, from the descendants of Abraham, it is mentioned that only the descendants of Jacob/Israel received the scriptures.

Moreover, Quranic verse 29:27: “And indeed, We have sent messengers to every people before, with clear evidences and with the Book and the Balance, so that they would judge by them in their disputes.” And in 37:100-112:, God distinguished Ishmael and Isaac, indicating their unique roles in the religious history.

Special Cases and the Unlettered

Notably, the Quran mentions the existence of prophets who were unlettered, thus receiving divine revelations without the traditional form of a scriptural book. The Quran explicitly acknowledges this in verses such as 62:2: “And there is not any one of the people of the book that would believe in him (Muhammad) before (his people) twist their necks in insolence: But you (O Muhammad) are on a Clear Way from your Lord.” And in 34:44:, it is mentioned, “And warn them and thyself; and your Lord will give who believeth in him and doeth right good final happiness and a noble provision.”

Scriptures and Prophecies of the Children of Israel

Among the children of Israel, only specific prophets received scriptures:

2:87: “And He gave authority and wisdom to David (saying): Assuredly, I have put you as a caliph (leader) to people, so judge rightly between them, and follow not the heart, lest it should mislead you from the way of Allah. 3:3: “It is He who sent down to you (Muhammad) the Book; in it is the judgement of Allah in detail, and also what is sent down concerning the Hereafter, that the people of the book may know that it has been sent down to you from your Lord; that (Muhammad) is not forged, but truth from your Lord to make (you) warners of Him (again). 4:136: “And We gave the Children of Israel the scripture, in which was guidance and light, and confirmation of the scripture that went before it, and a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.

Furthermore, in 3:184: and 4:163:, the Quran states that even among specific prophets, only some received scriptures, while others received Divine revelations. For example, to Jesus, the Quran mentions, 5:110: “To him (Muhammad) We sent the scripture written in truth confirming that came before it as He sent the Injeel to Jesus, son of Mary…”

The Main Message - Monotheism and Worship of Allah

Regardless of whether a prophet received a scripture or not, the central message remained the same: the worship of the One God, Allah. The Quran emphasizes that God possesses unparalleled power and is not to be confounded with any other deity. According to 3:19:, “He is Allah; besides Him there is none worthy of worship, the Creator, the Caretaker, the Cherisher of all that exist. To Him belonged all that is in the heavens and in the earth. And enough are Allah and His apostle (Muhammad) as witnesses among the believers.”

The conclusion of the Quranic teachings indicates that Allah sent only one final and complete book to humankind, the Holy Quran. This is evident in verse 57:25: “Indeed We sent our messengers with clear signs and revealed to them the Book and the balance so that the people may conduct themselves with equity.”

The Significance of the Holy Quran

The Holy Quran is described as the final and comprehensive revelation from Allah, encompassing all previous scriptures as it is the ultimate source of guidance. The phrase “Book” in the singular form is consistently used in the Quran, further emphasizing its unique and definitive status. According to 57:25:, “We sent Our messengers with clear proofs and with them We sent down the “book” and the balance of justice…” and in 2:121:, “Whoever obeyed the messenger, obeyed Allah; but if they turned away, We have not sent you as a keeper over them.”

Legislation and Guidance

The Torah and the Injeel (Gospels) were specific legislative and religious texts given to the children of Israel, but they were not referred to as books in the same manner as the Quran. In verse 3:3:, while the Quran refers to its previous revelations, it does so in the context of confirming the truth of these texts: “It is He who sent down to you (Muhammad) the scriptures, in which is guidance and light, and whatever of the precepts of the Torah and the Injeel is corrected.”

The central message of these texts is consistent with the teachings of the Quran: the sole worship of Allah and the recognition of Him as the only deity. This theme is reiterated in many verses of the Quran, such as 2:43: “Say (O Muhammad), 'Truly, my Lord has guided me to a straight path, (namely) the true religion, the one in accordance with truth, to Him belong all that is in the heavens and on earth. Indeed, it is He who is Exalted in Might, Wise.'" It is evident that the primary mission of all prophets, including Moses, David, and Jesus, was to guide people to the worship of the One True God, Allah.

The consistency in these messages from different prophets throughout history and the emphasis on monotheism highlight the timeless and essential lesson of believing in Allah alone and following His guidance as presented in the Holy Quran.