Who exactly are the 'people of the book?'
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I've been taught that they are jews and christians. But wasn't the message sent down to every nation. Wouldn't everyone be one of the people of the book?
do we have any proof from Quran that "people of book" are only Christians and Jews. ?
I think it is an interesting point to discuss.
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Peace,
"People of the Book" is an idiomatic phrase that refers to the people who are educated amongst a group of people.
The "educated people" is the correct translation in my view...
In almost all mentions of this idiom, you'll find a reference to knowledge as being important and the contrast will be the uneducated.
Look at these examples...
319 The true way with God is peace; and the educated people did not differ until knowledge had come to them, out of mutual opposition. But those who deny the signs of God (should remember) He is swift in the reckoning.
Until knowledge comes.
320 Even then if they argue, tell them "I have bowed in submission to God, and so have my followers." And tell the educated people and the unlearned among them "Do you submit?" If they do, they will find the right path; if they turn away, your duty is to deliver the message. And God keeps an eye on His votaries.
Contrasted with the unlearned or illiterate here.
365 O educated people, why dispute about Abraham? The Torah and the Gospel were sent down after him Do you not understand?
366 Remember you are those who disputed the things you knew; so wherefore dispute about things you do not know? And God has the knowledge, while you do not know.
God is saying He has the knowledge, while even the 'knowledge' of the educated people is fragile.
- The educated people demand of you to bring for them a book from heaven.
Bring a book - they crave knowledge.
981 Those among the educated people who disbelieve, and the idolaters, would not have been freed (from false beliefs) until the clear proof came to them.
Proof (ie. verifying knowledge) comes to them.
Regards.
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Peace be upon you Truth,
I have a question;
319 The true way with God is peace; and the educated people did not differ until knowledge had come to them, out of mutual opposition. But those who deny the signs of God (should remember) He is swift in the reckoning.
Until knowledge comes.
Yes, until knowledge comes, but it "seems" like they are stil being refered to as "people of the book" BEFORE knowledge comes. It says the "people of the book" DIFFERED when the knowledge came, implying the peolpe of the book not all agreeing with each other.
I take "people of the universal law" as the people who have awakened to the operating forces of the universe. Not all of the people of the universal law are the same (says Koran, and I agree).
(3113) They are not alike , from The Book's people (those who are awake to universal law), a nation maintaining/upright, they read/recite The God's signs the night's hours (put them in the subconscious), and they prostrate (hear and obey).
The reality is there are people who are awake to LAW, but since they dont implement the SCIENTIFIC METHODS of behavior changing (salaat) to input the right info, they keep responding in the wrong manner.
So in conclusion, I have "people of the book" to be people who are awake to Universal LAW, those who are asleep are referred to as "ommiyyeena".
When you are awake, you can use the LAW to benefit mankind or to control mankind (Iblis).
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Peace,
So basically the people of the book is a universal term used to describe any groups of people or class as being the educated ones of their time?
Makes a lot of sense.
Idolfree, I also like your explanation about being 'awakened', it is very similar to being 'educated' but is not the same, one can be awake and responsive to the the signs of the Most High whereas the educated people have bad people amongst them. I think educated fits the verse better because the term awake symbolically might be used to describe a purer state and this wouldn't fit the verse because it doesn't describe the group of people as accurately as the word educated.
Nural
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Peace be upon you Nural,
I find an error in "educated' because in 319;
...and the "People of the book" did not differ until knowledge had come to them
We see that they are already addressed as "people of the book" before knowledge comes, before education.
Let me know if there is something I in not taking into account.
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Peace be upon you Truth,
I have a question;
319 The true way with God is peace; and the educated people did not differ until knowledge had come to them, out of mutual opposition. But those who deny the signs of God (should remember) He is swift in the reckoning.
Until knowledge comes.
Yes, until knowledge comes, but it "seems" like they are stil being refered to as "people of the book" BEFORE knowledge comes. It says the "people of the book" DIFFERED when the knowledge came, implying the peolpe of the book not all agreeing with each other.
Peace Kyle,
The 'educated people' are not suddenly educated once new knowledge comes. They begin to differ in their opinions in relation to it. Some would accept and others would reject and yet others might be uncertain.
The 'educated people' are typically already scholars, well read and learned. However they require knowledge, they seek it and pursue knowledge to nourish them.
It stands to reason then that the 'educated people' were educated even before the knowledge - in this case the revelations came to them. Their problem was that they did not unanimously accept the new knowledge as truth and differed in it.
It still confirms that this segment of the people are the ones seeking knowledge. The educated - the well read - the learned.
I hope this answers your question (or objection).
Regards.
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Peace be upon you Truth,
Yes, you did answer my question. I want to look at all the verses one more time though before I respond. Thanks.