Al-Injil
Definition
Al-injil — the Gospel — is the divine revelation given by Allah to Isa, described in the Quran as confirming the Torah that came before it and bringing good news of a messenger who would come after him (Muhammad ﷺ). Ibn Kathir is careful to distinguish the Quranic Injil from the Gospels of the New Testament: the Injil was a specific revelation to Isa, preserved authentically only for a limited time before distortion began. The Gospels were written by various authors after Isa's ascension and reflect varying degrees of authentic tradition mixed with human additions. The Quranic Injil, if its original text were available, would be consistent with the Torah and the Quran in its monotheistic message — as the Quran says all divine revelations were, in their original forms.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Al-Injil.
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"Ramadan. The Zabur was revealed to David in 12 nights, 482 years after the Torah. The Gospel was revealed to Jesus in 18 nights, 1,150 years after the Zabur. The Quran was revealed to Muhammad, peace be upon him, on the 24th of Ramadan. In the exegesis of the verse about the Quran's revelation in Ramadan, it is mentioned that the gospel was revealed to Jesus when he was 30 years old, and he remained until he was taken up to heaven at 33. It is narrated that Abu Huraira said, Allah the Almighty revealed to Jesus, son of Mary, O Jesus, strive in my command and do not weaken. Listen and obey, O son of the pure,"
— Ibn Kathir, The Story of Isa
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"He added, "Whoever sends peace upon Muhammad, whether they have seen him or not, Muhammad will be an intercessor and a companion for them." The sweetness of the Gospel entered my heart. He stayed in his place for a year and then said: "O my son! You have loved me, and I have loved you. I came to your land because I had a relative who passed away, and I wanted to be near his grave, to pray for him and send peace upon him, for God has magnified the rights of kinship upon us in the Gospel."
— Imam al-Dhahabī, Volume 1
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"a messenger who will come after me. His name is Ahmad. In the Gospel, there is the glad tidings of the paraclete, referring to Muhammad, peace be upon him. Al-Bayhaqi narrated from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, It is written in the Gospel, He is neither harsh nor loud in the markets, and he does not repay evil with evil, but rather he forgives and overlooks."
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 2 — From the Israelite Prophets to Pre-Islamic Arabia
Appears in
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