Question:

According to the Prophet Muhammad (s.), are the people of the book believers?

Answer:

Al-Hasan Al-Askari (a.) reported that Imam Al-Hasan (a.) said: “This verse (2:213) was sent down because there came to the Messenger (s.) a group of the Jews and Nazarenes, whereupon they said: “O Muhammad, judge between us!” He said: “Tell me your case.” The Jews said: “We believe in Allah, the One, the Wise, and in His near and dear ones, but the Nazarenes have nothing to do with either the religion or the truth.” The Nazarenes said: “Much rather we believe in God the One, the Wise and in His near and dear ones, but the Jews have nothing to do with either the religion or the truth.” The messenger (s.) said: “You all are attached to the falsehood, are wrong and transgress the religion of God and His command.” The Jews said: “How should we be disbelievers when the Torah is with us, the Book of God which we read?” The Nazarenes said: “How could we be disbelievers when the gospel is with us, the book of God which we read?” He said: “O you Jews and Nazarenes, you have opposed the Book of God (Qur’an) and have not followed it. If you had really followed the two scriptures (Torah and Gospel), you would not have accused each other without proof of disbelief, because the Book of God was sent down as a healing from blindness (17:82) and as clear proof against misguidance (2:185), by which the inhabitants of the world are guided to the straight path.” [Al-Burhan of Al-Bahrani, Volume 1 Page 310]

عن هاشم بن سليمان عن أبي محمد العسكري عليه السلام عن الحسن بن علي عليه السلام قال: إنما أنزلت الآية لأن قوما من اليهود وقوما من النصارى جاءوا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله فقالوا: يا محمد اقض بيننا فقال صلى الله عليه وآله: قصوا علي قصتكم فقالت اليهود: نحن المؤمنون بالإله الواحد الحكيم وأوليائه وليست النصارى على شي‏ء من الدين والحق وقالت النصارى: بل نحن المؤمنون بالإله الواحد الحكيم وأوليائه وليست اليهود على شي‏ء من الدين والحق فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: كلكم مبطلون مخطئون فاسقون عن دين الله وأمره فقالت اليهود: كيف نكون كافرين وفينا كتاب الله التوراة نقرؤه؟ وقالت النصارى: كيف نكون كافرين ولنا كتاب الله الإنجيل نقرؤه؟ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: إنكم خالفتم أيها اليهود والنصارى كتاب الله (القرآن) ولم تعملوا به فلو كنتم عاملين بالكتابين لما كفر بعضكم بعضا بغير حجة لأن كتب الله أنزلها شفاء من العمى وبيانا من الضلالة يهدي العاملين بها إلى صراط مستقيم