What does the Quran say about Christians and Jews?
The Qur’an calls Jews and Christians the People of the Book, and treats them as recipients of earlier revelation rather than as strangers. It states that those among them who believed in God and the Last Day and did righteousness have their reward Qur’an 2:62, describes a community among them standing in worship through the night Qur’an 3:113-114, names those who say “We are Christians” as nearest in affection to the believers Qur’an 5:82, and permits eating their food and marrying their women Qur’an 5:5. It also records sharp disagreement, including in that same verse, and this page carries both.
What does "People of the Book" mean?
It is the Qur’an’s term for communities that received earlier scripture — principally Jews and Christians, whose Torah and Gospel the Qur’an names and describes as containing guidance and light Qur’an 5:44 Qur’an 5:46. The term itself carries recognition. It marks them as recipients of revelation from the same source, which is why the Qur’an addresses them on shared ground rather than as outsiders.
Does the Qur’an speak well of Jews and Christians?
In several places, explicitly. Qur’an 3:113-114 states that they are not all alike — that among the People of the Book is an upright community reciting God’s verses through the night and prostrating, believing in God and the Last Day, enjoining good and forbidding wrong, and hastening to good deeds. Qur’an 3:115 adds that whatever good they do will not be denied them. Qur’an 5:82 should be read whole, because it holds two statements at once. It says that the most intense of people in animosity toward the believers are the Jews and those who associate others with God — and, in the same sentence, that the nearest of them in affection are those who say "We are Christians", giving the reason: among them are priests and monks, and they are not arrogant. Quoting only the second half would be a kindness that misleads, and quoting only the first would be the opposite. Both are the verse. What keeps them from being a blanket verdict on either community is the Qur’an’s own qualifier three chapters earlier: they are not all the same Qur’an 3:113 — a statement made specifically of the People of the Scripture, immediately before describing the upright among them. Qur’an 2:62 and Qur’an 5:69 both state that those among them who believed in God and the Last Day and did righteousness will have their reward with their Lord, with no fear upon them nor will they grieve.
What everyday relations does the Qur’an permit?
Ones that assume ordinary shared life. Qur’an 5:5 makes the food of those given the Scripture lawful for Muslims and Muslim food lawful for them, and permits marriage to chaste women from among them. Eating together and marrying into a community are not the provisions of a text seeking separation. Qur’an 29:46 instructs arguing with them only in the way that is best, and gives the words: we believe in what was revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is one.
What about 5:51, "do not take them as allies"?
It should be read with what surrounds it, and with attention to the word. Qur’an 5:51 instructs not to take Jews and Christians as awliyāʾ — a term covering protectors, guardians and political allies rather than friends in the ordinary sense — and states that they are allies of one another. Qur’an 5:52 describes those with disease in their hearts hastening into such alliances, fearing a turn of fortune. The passage addresses alliance-making under conditions of conflict. Read against Qur’an 60:8, which states that God does not forbid dealing kindly and justly with those who have not fought you over religion or expelled you, and Qur’an 5:5, which permits marriage, a blanket prohibition on friendship cannot be what is meant. Qur’an 60:9 identifies who is excluded: those who fought you over religion and drove you out.
Does the Qur’an protect other places of worship?
It names them. Qur’an 22:40 states that were it not for God checking some people by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques — in which the name of God is much mentioned — would have been demolished. Churches and synagogues are listed alongside mosques as places where God is remembered, and their protection is given as part of the reason permission to fight was granted Qur’an 22:39.
How does the Qur’an say disagreement should be handled?
Qur’an 2:256 rules out compulsion in religion altogether. Qur’an 29:46 requires that argument with the People of the Book be conducted in the best manner. Qur’an 5:48 gives the wider frame: to each community God appointed a law and a way, and had He willed He would have made them a single community — so compete with one another in good works. Difference is presented there as intended, with the response to it being good works rather than coercion.
Common questions
- Who are the People of the Book in the Qur’an?
- Principally Jews and Christians — communities that received earlier revelation, whose Torah and Gospel the Qur’an names and describes as containing guidance and light Qur’an 5:44 Qur’an 5:46.
- Can Muslims eat with or marry Christians and Jews?
- Qur’an 5:5 makes the food of those given the Scripture lawful and permits marriage to chaste women among them.
- What does 5:51 mean?
- It instructs against taking Jews and Christians as awliyāʾ — protectors or political allies — in a passage addressing alliances during conflict Qur’an 5:52. Qur’an 60:8 permits kindness and justice toward those who have not fought you, and Qur’an 5:5 permits marriage.
- Does the Qur’an say Christians and Jews can be rewarded by God?
- Qur’an 2:62 and Qur’an 5:69 both state that those among them who believed in God and the Last Day and did righteousness will have their reward with their Lord.
Sources cited on this page
Every claim above is traceable. Qur’an references open with several translations side by side, since translations differ. Where a point is not settled by the Qur’an itself, the narration is named so you can see what it rests on.
The Surahs this page draws on
Every verse quoted above comes from one of these chapters. Each is set out in full — why it was revealed, and what it teaches.