What is the meaning of "words from the book of the Jews" mentioned in the Hadith narrated by Zayd ibn Thabit: "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded me to learn for him words from the book of the Jews. He said: 'Indeed, by Allah, I do not trust the Jews with my book.' He said: 'Not half a month passed until I had learned it for him.' He said: 'When I had learned it, whenever he wrote to the Jews, I would write to them, and when they wrote to him, I would read their letter to him'"?
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded Zayd ibn Thabit to learn the language and writing of the Jews (Syriac) so that he could read and write their letters for him, because he did not trust them with his correspondence. So Zayd learned it in a short period, and he used to write for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he wanted to correspond with them, and read to him when they wrote to him, fearing their distortion or concealment of the content of the messages.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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