Final answer:
Jews and Christians are called "People of the Book" in Islam because they have sacred scriptures given by God. The term signifies respect and certain legal status within Islamic law. The shared recognition of prophets in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity forms the basis of this designation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jews and Christians are referred to as "People of the Book" in Islam because they have holy writings given by God. In Islamic tradition, these groups, along with Zoroastrians, are recognized as monotheists who possess a revealed scripture, such as the Torah for Jews and the Bible for Christians. The term ahl al-kitab implies respect and denotes a certain legal status within Islamic societies, where they were granted protection, allowed to practice their faith, and given other rights under Muslim rule as long as they paid taxes and acknowledged Muslim governance.
While Islam considers the holy scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity as divinely inspired, Muslims believe that these texts were corrupted over time. The Qur'an, the sacred text of Islam, is viewed by Muslims as the unaltered and final revelation from God, confirming but also correcting previous scriptures.
Despite differences in doctrine, the shared heritage and recognition of important prophets such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus in all three faiths, creates a bond referred to as the Abrahamic traditions. Recognizing the shared tradition, Islam accords Jews and Christians a special status as People of the Book.