As for the followers of the messengers, they believe in every scripture Allah has revealed, drawing no distinctions between them.

Faith in the earlier books is of a general nature: it is expressed by acknowledging them with both heart and tongue. Faith in the Quran, by contrast, is specific and detailed: it requires affirming it inwardly and verbally, adhering to all that it contains, judging by it in matters great and small, and believing that it is the speech of Allah—sent down, not created; from Him it originated and to Him it shall return.

Divine wisdom dictated that the previous scriptures were meant for fixed terms and limited periods, and their preservation was entrusted to the human custodians charged with safeguarding them, as the Most High says: “Indeed, We sent down the Torah containing guidance and light. The prophets who had submitted judged by it for the Jews, as did the scholars and rabbis, because they had been entrusted to preserve Allah’s Book and were witnesses to it.” ⦗1⦘

The Noble Quran, however, was sent down for every generation in every land until the Day of Resurrection, and Allah Himself assumed its preservation, for the mission of this Book will end only when human life on earth ends. He says: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will surely guard it.” ⦗2⦘ And He says: “Falsehood can approach it neither from before it nor from behind it; it is a revelation from the All-Wise, Praiseworthy.” ⦗3⦘

This Quran must therefore be the arbiter in every dispute, and every contention must be referred back to it. Seeking judgment from anything other than Allah’s Book is, in Allah’s sight, seeking judgment from a ṭāghūt. The Exalted says: “Have you not seen those who claim to believe in what was sent down to you and what was sent down before you, yet they wish to seek judgment from the ṭāghūt, though they were commanded to reject it?” ⦗4⦘ Ṭāghūt is derived from ṭughiyān (transgression) and denotes one who exceeds all bounds.

Allah has censured those who profess faith in all the scriptures yet abandon judgment by the Book and the Sunnah, turning instead to certain forms of ṭāghūt, and the Prophet ﷺ said: “And …”