Magians With "People of the Book"?

[snakelegs]

for legal stuff, such as jizyah, magians (zoroastrians) are included with jews and christians.
i am curious as to what is the historical or religious reason why zoroastrians would be lumped with "people of the book" for some purposes.
i came across this in
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=34770&ln=eng
thanks in advance.

 

[lolwatever]

heya snakelegs,

from what i read long ago was that Ali (the prophets cuz) was quoted saying that they had a prophet who had given them a scripture just like the jews and christians, so they kinda has the same foundings as the jews n christians which is why they're "lumped" with ppl of the book....

i'll look it up when i get a moment n c if i can fidn the reference online.

take care all the best!

 

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

Greetings,

The Majus [Zoroastrians] are the persian fire-worshippers whose religion traces back to the Zarasthur whom they regard as a Prophet and who preached the belief in strict monotheism and worship of Ahura Mazda alone, the uncreated creator of the universe. However, the Majus made the dark spirit Angra Mainyu a god of evil and so they had two gods:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angra_Mainyu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism

Their religious scripture is the Avesta:
http://www.avesta.org/sitemap.htm

As for why they are considered by most scholars to be people of the Book, it is because they believe in following a scripture and a prophet, and Allah knows best.

As an aside, this article answers the issue of verse abrogation:
http://www.load-islam.com/artical_d...ection=wel_islam&subsection=Misconceptions#10

 

[snakelegs]

thanks for your answers! will check out those links.
this was the first time i'd come across this verse abrogation thing, so it will be good to read more about it.