What are the Scriptures of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him)?

What are the Scriptures of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him)?.

Praise be to Allaah.
The Scriptures of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) are the Scriptures that Allaah revealed to His Prophet Ibraaheem (peace be upon him); most of what they contain -- as the scholars said -- were exhortations, wisdom and lessons.

Our Lord, may He be glorified and exalted, has mentioned them in the Holy Qur’aan in a number of places, some of which refer to them in general terms and some in more specific terms.

As for the general terms, it is where Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“ Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allaah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibraaheem (Abraham), Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), Ishaaq (Isaac), Ya’qoob (Jacob), and to Al-Asbaat [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya’qoob (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Moosa (Moses) and ‘Eesa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam)”

[al-Baqarah 2:136]

And He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): We believe in Allaah and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibraaheem (Abraham), Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), Ishaaq (Isaac), Ya‘qoob (Jacob) and Al-Asbaat [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya‘qoob (Jacob)] and what was given to Moosa (Moses), ‘Eesa (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allaah) we have submitted (in Islam)”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:84].

As for the place where they are mentioned clearly and specifically, it is in Soorat al-Najm, where Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Did you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) observe him who turned away (from Islam).

34. And gave a little, then stopped (giving)?

35. Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees?

36. Or is he not informed with what is in the Pages (Scripture) of Moosa (Moses),

37. And of Ibraaheem (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (Allaah ordered him to do or convey):

38. That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.

39. And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad).

40. And that his deeds will be seen.

41. Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense”

[al-Najm 53: 33 – 41]

And in Soorat al-A’la, where Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Indeed whosoever purifies himself (by avoiding polytheism and accepting Islamic Monotheism) shall achieve success,

15. And remembers (glorifies) the Name of his Lord (worships none but Allaah), and prays (five compulsory prayers and Nawaafil __additional prayers).

16. Nay, you prefer the life of this world,

17. Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting.

18. Verily, this is in the former Scriptures —

19. The Scriptures of Ibraaheem (Abraham) and Moosa (Moses) (عليهما السلام)”

[al-A’la 87:14-19].

Ibn Jareer al-Tabari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

What is meant by Scriptures here is the books of Ibraaheem and Moosa. End quote.

Jaami’ al-Bayaan, 24/377

Al-‘Allaamah al-Ameen al-Shanqeeti (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“and what was sent down to Ibraaheem (Abraham)”: it is not explained here what this was that was sent down to Ibraaheem, but it is explained in Soorat al-A’la that it was Scriptures, and that among what it said in those Scriptures was: “Nay, you prefer the life of this world, Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting” and that is in the verse where Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, this is in the former Scriptures —

19. The Scriptures of Ibraaheem (Abraham) and Moosa (Moses) (عليهما السلام)”

[al-A’la 87:14-19].

Adwa’ al-Bayaan, 1/45

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) has told us about the history of its revelation, as it was narrated from Waathilah ibn al-Asqa’ that the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) said: The Scriptures of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) were revealed on the first night of Ramadan, the Torah was revealed on the sixth of Ramadan, the Gospel was revealed on the 13th of Ramadan, and the Qur’aan was revealed on the 24th of Ramadan. Narrated by Ahmad in al-Musnad (4/107) and classed as hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (1575).

In some weak hadeeths and in some reports from the Taabi’een there are quotations from the Scriptures of Ibraaheem, and it is most likely that they were narrated from the books of the children of Israel which -- even if it is sound -- indicates that the main subject matter of the Scriptures of Ibraaheem is wisdom and exhortation.

Dawood ibn Hilaal al-Nusaybi says:

It is written in the Scriptures of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him):

“O world (dunya), how insignificant you are to the righteous to whom you adorn yourself. I created in their hearts hatred towards you and dislike for you. There is nothing in creation that is more insignificant to Me than you. Everything about you is insignificant; you are bound to perish; I decreed the day I created creation that you would not last for anyone, and no one would last for you, and even if the one who loves you tried to hold on to you, glad tidings to the righteous who showed Me what they have of contentment in their hearts and they showed Me what they have of sincerity and righteousness. Glad tidings to them: I have no reward for them when they come to me out of their graves except light running ahead of them, and the angels surrounding them, until I grant them what they hope for of My mercy.

Al-Zuhd, by Ibn Abi’l-Dunya (no. 200).

It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (15/167): with regard to the Scriptures of Ibraaheem and Dawood, they were exhortations and proverbs, with no rulings in them, so they are not included among the books which contain rulings. End quote.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The Scriptures of Ibraaheem are Scriptures which Allaah revealed to Ibraaheem, in which there are exhortations and rulings. End quote.

Liqaa’aat al-Baab il-Maftoohah, (no. 176)

And Allaah knows best.