A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
Belief in the Divine Books is both general and detailed.
It is incumbent upon believers to hold a general belief,
affirming that Allah has revealed Books to His prophets and messengers,
and that all the reports and rulings contained therein are the truth.
It was mandatory for every nation to follow what was revealed to them in their Book,
provided it had not been subjected to distortion,
for Allah the Exalted does not abandon His creation;
rather, He clarifies the truth for them in the Books He reveals to them.
As for detailed belief, it encompasses several matters, including:
Belief in the names of the Books that Allah has made known to us,
which are six in number:
The Scrolls of Ibrahim, the Scrolls of Musa, and the Zabur of Dawud,
the Torah revealed to Musa,
and the Gospel revealed to 'Isa—peace be upon them all.
The final of these is the Noble Qur'an, revealed to our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
It also includes:
Belief in every report from these Books that has reached us through an authentic chain of transmission.
For example:
Belief that in the Scrolls of Ibrahim and Musa, peace be upon them both,
it was stated that no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.
“And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort,” (53:39)
Just as the Exalted says:
“Or hath he not had news of what is in the books of Moses” (53:36)
"And of Ibrahim who fulfilled [his obligations],"
"That no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another."
“And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort,” (53:39)
And also belief in what was mentioned therein from the words of Allah the Exalted:
“But ye prefer the life of the world” (87:16)
"While the Hereafter is better and more enduring."
“Lo! This is in the former scrolls.” (87:18)
[These are found in] the Scrolls of Ibrahim and Musa.
As for the rulings contained therein,
we also believe in what has been established and reached us through an authentic chain of transmission,
but with the following distinction:
Whatever contradicts our Shari'ah, we do not act upon,
because our Shari'ah abrogates it,
even if it was the truth in its own time.
Whatever conforms to our Shari'ah, we act upon,
because our Shari'ah has affirmed and legislated it.
Whatever is neither contradicted nor affirmed by our Shari'ah,
the preferred view is that we act upon it.
The principle regarding this is:
The law of those before us is a law for us,
provided it does not contradict our Shari'ah.
Among the aspects of detailed belief in the Books
is belief in the details of the Noble Qur'an,
and all that it contains and the rulings specific to it.