Sabuur

Sabuur (Arabic: زبور) is the name of the Islamic scripture that God is believed to have revealed to the prophet David. It is one of the named scriptures mentioned in the Quran, alongside the Torah (revealed to Moses), the Gospel (revealed to Jesus), and the Quran itself. Belief in the revealed scriptures forms one of the six pillars of faith as defined in Sunni Islamic doctrine.

The word 'zabur' is etymologically related to the Arabic root meaning writing or book. Most Muslim scholars interpret Sabuur as a book of hymns or prayers (mazmuur in Arabic), comparable to the 'Psalms' known from the Hebrew Bible. For this reason, the title in other languages such as English—'Psalms in Islam'—refers to the same subject matter.

Quranic References

The Quran mentions Sabuur in a few places. One verse states that David was given Sabuur, appearing among descriptions of the prophets God sent. Another passage mentions that the earth will be inherited by God's righteous servants. The Quran does not provide detailed information about the structure of the book or the number of its sections.

David in Islamic Understanding

In Islam, David is regarded as both a prophet and a king, combining leadership of faith and state. The Quran indicates that the mountains and birds sang in praise when God honored him, and that he was granted judgment and wisdom. The relationship between David and Sabuur has been understood to mean that the book was one of praise and supplication, not a newly revealed legal code.

Connection to the Book of Psalms

Many Muslim scholars equate Sabuur with the Psalms found in the Hebrew Bible, but they note important differences with the text as it now exists. The concept of tahrif (alteration—that earlier scriptures were changed or lost) is a standard framework by which scholars explain the gap between what the Quran describes and the versions of Psalms available today. Nevertheless, in Islamic practice, reading the Psalms is not considered forbidden, nor is it treated as an independent legal source.