Injīl

The Injīl is the divine scripture revealed by Allah to Prophet ʿĪsā (AS) according to Islamic belief. The term derives from the Greek word euangelion, meaning “good news” or “gospel.” In the Qurʾān, the Injīl is mentioned as one of the heavenly books sent for the guidance of humankind, following the Tawrāh revealed to Mūsā (AS) and preceding the revelation of the Qurʾān to Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH). The Qurʾān describes it as a source of “guidance and light” and affirms that it confirmed the truths contained in the earlier revelation. Muslims therefore regard the Injīl as an authentic divine revelation originally granted to ʿĪsā (AS), although distinct from the canonical Gospels of the New Testament in their present textual form.

The Qurʾān refers to the Injīl in several passages, including Q. 3:3–4, 5:46–47, and 57:27. These verses emphasize its divine origin and its role in moral and spiritual guidance for the Children of Israel. Islamic exegetes explain that the original Injīl contained teachings centered on monotheism, righteousness, compassion, and obedience to Allah. It also reaffirmed the essential message conveyed by earlier prophets. The Qurʾān further states that some followers of previous scriptures altered or forgot portions of revelation over time, which led Muslim scholars to distinguish between the revealed Injīl and the later written Gospel accounts compiled by human authors.

Classical Muslim scholars devoted considerable attention to the Injīl within the disciplines of tafsīr, comparative religion, and theology. Scholars such as Ibn Ḥazm, al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, and Ibn Kathīr discussed the relationship between the Qurʾānic concept of the Injīl and the Christian Gospels. While acknowledging that elements of divine wisdom and prophetic teaching may remain within the extant Gospels, they generally maintained that the original revelation had undergone textual alteration (taḥrīf). Muslim theologians nevertheless recognized the importance of the Gospel tradition in understanding the historical mission of ʿĪsā (AS) and the religious heritage shared among the Abrahamic faiths.

In contemporary scholarship, the Injīl is studied both as a Qurʾānic concept and within the broader framework of Muslim-Christian relations. Modern researchers examine how the Qurʾān engages earlier scriptural traditions and how Muslims historically interpreted Christian scripture. The Injīl continues to hold significance in interfaith dialogue, as it reflects Islam’s recognition of earlier revelations and its affirmation of continuity in divine guidance through successive prophets. Within Islamic thought, belief in the revealed books—including the Tawrāh, Zabūr, Injīl, and Qurʾān—constitutes an essential article of faith