For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Allah.
(Holy Taurat, Shaya 55:8)
The above statement makes clear why mankind needs the guidance of Allah. If we just follow our own ideas and opinions, we will miss the path of Allah. For his ways are not our ways. Al-Kitab was written so that man might learn the ways of Allah. There are several important strands of teaching woven through the fabric of Al-Kitab, which we do well to learn and understand. One of these strands is seen in the following prophecy from the holy Zabur of Prophet Dawud (pbuh):
In the scroll of Al-Kitab it is written about me.
I delight to do your will, my God.
Yes, your Taurat is within my heart."
I have proclaimed the Injil of righteousness in the great assembly.
(Zabur 40:7-9)
Of whom is the prophet speaking in these verses--himself or someone else? This passage teaches several things about this unnamed individual. First, he delights to do God's will. Second, he has the Taurat within his heart, and third, he proclaimed the Injil. Who is this person? Perhaps Al-Kitab itself can answer the question. In all of Al-Kitab, there is only one person of whom all these things are explicitly taught. As it is written in the holy Quran:
Then Allah will say: "O 'Isa Ibn Maryam! Recount my favour to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so that you spoke to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you Al-Kitab and wisdom, the Taurat and the Injil... (5:110; also 3:45)
The unnamed individual mentioned in the Zabur passage above is undoubtedly Prophet 'Isa Ibn Maryam. Of him, the verse says, "In the scroll of Al-Kitab it is written about me." The Taurat, Zabur, Injil, and Quran all teach that 'Isa is a great prophet, but more than that--they teach that he is al-Masih, or the Messiah, the Chosen One of Allah. There have been many prophets and apostles, but only one who is called al-Masih.
All four of these holy books are collected here on this website so that you might learn about 'Isa Ibn Maryam, and how important he is in the plan of Allah as al-Masih, the Chosen One. As 'Isa himself says in the holy Injil,
You search Al-Kitab, because you think that in its writings you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. (Injil, John 5:39)
May Allah grant spiritual insight and wisdom as you read, compare, and search the writings found on this website.
Names of God
In this translation of Al-Kitab, names of God are used which are commonly known by Muslim readers as well as Arab Christians. In the Taurat and Zabur, which were originally written mostly in Hebrew, the personal covenant name for God often designated by the four letters YHWH (often pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah), is usually rendered "Allah" in this translation. This is not intended to indicate that "Allah" is God's personal name (any more than "the Lord" is, which is the usual English rendering of YHWH). Rather, it was decided that "Allah" was more fitting for Muslim readers than any other available option. The English word "God" is used often to render the Hebrew words el, eloah, and elohim. The couplet YHWH elohim is usually rendered "Allah Ta'ala" here.
Italics and Coloured Words
In this translation, italics are used to indicate certain words that have an Arabic flavour. These include the names of holy books as well as some other specialized terms. Often the reader will notice words that are coloured green. In the text of Al-Kitab, this is seen widely to help identify various people recognized as prophets. On the other hand, red is only used for Prophet 'Isa Ibn Maryam because of his special position as al-Masih, or God's promised Messiah. There are many prophets and messengers, but only one is al-Masih. Blue lettering signifies passages which are quotations from other parts of Al-Kitab. Often they are prophecies of events predicted in the Taurat, and then fulfilled in the Injil.