People of the Book


People of the Book

pl.n. Islam The followers of Abrahamic religions, especially Jews and Christians, considered in Islamic theology and jurisprudence to practice monotheism, to share certain fundamental beliefs with Islam about life after death and the Day of Judgment, and to possess a revelation from God in a book. The People of the Book are usually entitled to the status of dhimmis in Muslim lands, and the term has at times been extended to include followers of non-Abrahamic religions, such as Zoroastrians and Sikhs.
[Translation of Arabic 'ahl al-kitāb : 'ahl, family, people, followers + al-, the + kitāb, book.]