اہلِ کتاب کی تعیین: قرآن و سنت اور فقہی مذاہب کی روشنی میں قدیم و جدید آرا کا جامع تحقیقی مطالعہ

Identification of Ahl al-Kitāb: A Comprehensive Analytical Study of Classical and Contemporary Views in the Light of the Qur’ān, Sunnah, and the Juristic Schools

Abstract

This study explores the definition and scope of Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book) through a comprehensive analysis of Qur’anic usage and juristic interpretations. It examines the linguistic meaning of the term and the diverse positions of classical and contemporary scholars regarding its application. Linguistically, Ahl denotes followers or associates, while Kitab refers to a revealed scripture. In Islamic terminology, the Qur’an uses the term Ahl al-Kitab primarily for Jews and Christians, as indicated in the verse: “Lest you say, ‘The Scripture was sent down only to two groups before us’” (6:156). The classical jurists differed on the extent of this category. The Hanafi school adopted a broader interpretation, including all nations that received divine revelations, while the Maliki and Shafi‘i schools restricted it to the Israelites (Jews and Christians). The Hanbalis extended it slightly to include related sects such as the Samaritans. Modern scholars have revisited this concept in contemporary contexts, maintaining that the Qur’anic term fundamentally applies to Jews and Christians, though juristic elaborations introduced interpretive diversity.The study concludes that while the Qur’an defines Ahl al-Kitab with relative clarity, juristic interpretations across centuries reveal both restriction and expansion — reflecting the dynamic and adaptable spirit of Islamic jurisprudence.