Gospel in Islam facts for kids
Injil is an Arabic word. It means the Gospel of Jesus (who is known as Isa in Islam). The Qur'an describes the Injil as one of four Islamic holy books. Muslims believe these books were revealed by Allah (God). The other holy books are the Zabur (like the Psalms), the Tawrat (the Torah), and the Qur'an itself. The word Injil can mean a specific book or the messages God gave to Jesus.
Where Does the Word "Injil" Come From?
The Arabic word Injil is used in many Islamic writings. It comes from an older word, ewangellīōn, found in the Peshitta. The Peshitta is a Syriac (an ancient language) translation of the Bible.
That word, ewangellīōn, originally came from the New Testament in ancient Greek. In Greek, it meant "good news." This is why the word "gospel" in English also means "good news." The word Injil appears twelve times in the Qur'an.
What Do Muslims Believe About the Injil?
Muslim scholars do not believe the Injil is the same as the New Testament Gospels that Christians use today. They understand the Qur'an to warn Christians not to follow laws that go against what Allah sent.
Some people have suggested the Injil might be other ancient texts, like the Gospel of Barnabas or the Gospel of Thomas. However, most Muslim scholars believe the original Injil is either lost or has been changed over time.
For example, a scholar named Abdullah Yusuf Ali explained this idea. He said that the Injil mentioned in the Qur'an is not the New Testament. He believed it was a single Gospel that God revealed to Jesus, and which Jesus taught. He thought that parts of this original Injil might still be found in today's Gospels, or in other old writings.
See also
- Biblical and Quranic narratives
- Christianity and Islam
- Islamic view of the Christian Bible
- List of Christian terms in Arabic
- Scrolls of Abraham
