People of the book

[keiv]

Pardon the ignorance here but, I just wanted some clarification on who the "people of the book" really are. As I understand it, Ahl al-Kitab refers to the people of the previous scriptures but, weren't they considered to be Muslim anyways? If all the messengers, prophets, and their followers were considered to be Muslim, are we really supposed to consider the Christians and Jews of today to be "Ahl al-Kitab"?

[Ümit]

Pardon the ignorance here but, I just wanted some clarification on who the "people of the book" really are. As I understand it, Ahl al-Kitab refers to the people of the previous scriptures but, weren't they considered to be Muslim anyways? If all the messengers, prophets, and their followers were considered to be Muslim, are we really supposed to consider the Christians and Jews of today to be "Ahl al-Kitab"?

no.
People of the book are the followers of Tawrat, Zabur and Injil, and a few other scrolls. Those books are not in existence anymore. a person who knows about the Quraan but still follows another book is not "people of the book".

most christians do not follow the Injil...they follow the Bible which is full of alterations. Besides they believe in a trinity rather than in one God.
and they know about Muhammed sas and the Quraan but ignore that. the same with Jews.

[Iceee]

Salaam brother Keiv. Praise be to Allah.
People of the Book consist of both believers and disbelievers, as indicated in the Qur'aan, where Allaah (AWJ) mentions the disbelievers among them (interpretation of the meaning):
"O people of the Scripture!: Why do you disbelieve in the verses [about Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him)] of Allaah, while you (yourselves) bear witness (to their truth)". (Aala Imraan, 3:70)
And:
"Say: O people of the Scripture! Why do you stop those who believe from the path of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you (yourselves) are witnesses? And Allaah is not unaware of what you do". (Aala Imran, 3:99)
And Allah (AWJ) said about the believers among them, making clear the difference between them and the aforementioned (interpretation of the meaning):
"Not all of them are alike; a party of the people of the Scripture stand for the right, they recite the Verses of Allaah during the hours of the night, prostrating themselves in prayer. They believe in Allaah and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right and forbid evil and they hasten in good works; and they are among the righteous. And whatever good they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for Allaah knows well those who are the pious". (Aala Imran, 3:113-115)
These people also believe in our Prophet (S) and the Quran which was revealed to him as mentioned (approximate translation of meanings is):
"And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture, those who believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before Allah. They do not sell the Verses of Allah for a little price, for then is a reward their Lord. Surely, Allah is Swift in account". (Aal Imran, 3:199)
The disbelief of the disbelieving People of the Scripture, that include Jews and Christians, in our times does not expel them from being People of the Scripture. So, the rules and regulations related to them regarding permissibility of eating their food and marrying their chaste women, in the Qur'aan and Sunnah, are still applicable to them.

[keiv]

When "People of The Book" is mentioned, most people link that phrase with Christians and Jews (I understand there are others) but, we as Muslims believe the followers of those respective prophets were always Muslim. So the idea that the people of those previous scriptures being anything but Muslim is a little confusing to me.