Fatwa No : 33343
Are nowadays' Jews and Christians of the people of the book?

Are nowadays' Jews and Christians of the people of the book?

I would like to know from the scholars of Islam it the Christians nowadays are considered as the people of the book, or not. The reason for asking this is that nowadays, the bible has been subjected to many changed. There are many different bibles available. Secondly, the belief of today's Christians is not similar to that of the Christians who were present in the time of the Holy Prophet (S.A).

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

The people of the book are those who adhere to any religion given by Allah, testify to the oneness of Allah, believe in any of his prophets, and that the heavenly books i.e. the Bible, the Torah etc. are the books of Allah, even if they may have changed their original religion, such as the changes that has been made in the Bible and the Torah. For this reason, it is correct to say that the Christians today are also of the people of the book.
And Allah knows best.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) : (قوله: مقرة بكتاب) في النهر عن الزيلعي: واعلم أن من اعتقد دينا سماويا وله كتاب منزل كصحف إبراهيم وشيث وزبور داود فهو من أهل الكتاب فتجوز مناكحتهم وأكل ذبائحهم(3/ 45) ۔