Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
Out of 211 instances, 58 instances of kitaabun found in 52 verses of 2 surahs are detailed below to better understand the messages in these verses of the Quran:
[2:2] That is the scripture (dhaalika al-kitaabu) having no doubt in it is a guidance for the righteous.
[2:44] Do you enjoin the people of the righteousness, and you forget for yourselves, while you recite the scripture (wa-antum tatluuna al-kitaaba)? Then do you not understand?
[2:53] And when we had given Moses the scripture and the statute book (aataynaa muusaa al-kitaaba wa-al-furqaana) that you would be guided.
[2:78] And among them there are gentiles who do not know the scripture (ummiyyuuna laa-ya’lamuuna al-kitaaba), except wishful thinking, nor do they do except guess.
Note: God has spelled out the meaning of the Arabic word, ummiy in the verse to be gentile who does not know the scripture.
[2:79] So, woe to those who write the scripture (lilladheena yak’tubuuna al-kitaaba) with their hands, then say, “This is from God,” that they trade with it for a small price. Woe to them for what has written their hands and woe to them for what they earn.
[2:85] Then you are those who kill yourselves and evict a party of you from their homes to support one another against them in the sin and the transgression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, while it was forbidden for you of their eviction. So, do you believe in part of the scripture (a’fa-tu’minunna bi-ba’da al-kitaabi) and disbelieve in part? Then what should be a recompense for whoever does that among you, except a disgrace in the life of the world, and on a day of the Resurrection they will be sent back to the most severe punishment? And God is not unaware of what you do.
[2:87] And that certainly, we had given Moses the scripture (aataynaa muusaa al-kitaaba), and we had followed up from after him the messengers, and we had given Jesus, son of Mary, the clear proofs and had supported him with the Holy Spirit. Is it so whenever has come to you a messenger with what does not desire your egos you had been arrogant? Then a party of you had denied, and a party of you killed.
[2:89] And when has come to them (Jews and Christians) a scripture (Quran) from God (kitaabun min `indi allahi) confirming that which (Torah and Injeel) was with them, and they have been before to pray for victory over those who had disbelieved, then when has come to them which (Quran) they have recognized have disbelieved in it. So, a curse of God is upon the disbelievers.
[2:101] And when has come to them a messenger from God confirming that which was with them, has thrown away a party of those who have been given the scripture (alladheena uutuu al-kitaaba) (Torah and Injeel), a scripture of God (kitaabun allahi) (Quran) behind their backs as if they do not know (it).
[2:105] Do not like those who have disbelieved from a people of the scripture (min ahli al-kitaabi) (Jews and Christians), nor the idol worshipers that there should be sent down upon you (people) any good from your Lord, while God chooses of His mercy whomever He wills and God is Possessor of the great bounty.
[2:109] There had wished many from a people of the scripture (min ahli al-kitaabi) (Jews and Christians) if they could turn you back to disbelief from after of your faith out of jealousy on behalf of themselves from after what has become clear to them the truth. Then you shall pardon and shall overlook until God brings of His command. Indeed, God has power over everything.
[2:113] And said the Jews, “It has not been the Christians is on anything,” and said the Christians, “It has not been the Jews is on anything,” even they recite the scripture (wa-huwa yatluuna al-kitaaba). Like that said those who do not know, is similar to their saying. So, God will judge between of them on a Day of the Resurrection about what they had done to differ in it.
[2:121] Those whom we have given them the scripture (alladheena aataynaahumu al-kitaaba) to recite it as right as should be of its recitation. Those (people) will believe in it, and whoever will disbelieve in it, then those – they are the losers.
[2:129] “Our Lord, and raise among them a messenger to recite to them Your revelations, and to teach them the scripture and the wisdom (wa-yu`allimuhumu al-kitaaba wa-al-hik’mata), and to purify them. Indeed, You are the Almighty, the Wise.”
[2:144] Certainly, we see turning of your face towards the sky. So, we surely turn a direction of prayer you will be pleased with it. So, you shall turn your face to a direction of the Sacred Masjid, and wherever that you have been that you shall turn your faces to its direction. And indeed, those who have been given the scripture (alladheena uutuu al-kitaaba) surely know that it is the truth from their Lord. And God is not unaware of what they do.
[2:145] And that if you (prophet) had come to those who have been given the scripture with every kind of sign (alladheena uutuu al-kitaaba bikulli aayatin), they would not follow your direction of prayer, nor would you be of follower their direction of prayer. And not of them are of followers a direction of prayer to other. And that if you (prophet) had followed their wishes, after the knowledge what has come to you, indeed, you would then be surely with the wrongdoers.
[2:146] Those whom we have given them the scripture (alladheena aataynaahumu al-kitaaba) recognize it (Quran) like that they recognize their children. And indeed, a group of them surely conceal the truth, while they know.
[2:151] Like that we have sent a messenger from among you to recite our revelations to you, and to purify you, and to teach you the scripture and the wisdom (wa-yu`allimuhumu al-kitaaba wa-al-hik’mata), and to teach you what you had not done to know.
[2:159] Indeed, those who conceal what we have sent down with the clear proofs and the guidance, after what we have made clear it to the people in the scripture (maa bayyannaahu lil’nnaasi fee al-kitaabi), those God curses them and the cursers curse them.
[2:174] Indeed, those who conceal what God has sent down from the scripture (maa anzala allahu mina al-kitaabi), and they purchase a small gain with it. Those they do not eat into their bellies except the fire. And God will not speak to them on a Day of the Resurrection, nor will He purify them. For them there is a painful punishment.
[2:176] That is of that God has sent down the scripture with the truth (allaha nazzala al-kitaaba bil-haqqi), and indeed, those who have disputed in the scripture are surely in strong opposition.
[2:177] It has not been the righteousness that you turn your faces towards the east and the west, but the righteousness is whoever has believed in God, and the Last Day, and the angels, and the scripture (wa-al-kitaaba), and the prophets, and has given the wealth in love of it to those who are near relatives, and the orphans, and the needy, and of the traveling alien, and the beggars, and in freeing the slaves, and has established the salat prayer and has given zakah, and those who fulfill their covenant when they have made it, and the steadfast during the suffering and the hardship, and at time of the stress. Those are the ones who have been truthful and these – they are the righteous.
[2:213] Mankind has been a single community as God has raised up the prophets as bearers of good news and bearers of warning, while He has sent down with them the scripture (wa-anzala ma`ahumu al-kitaaba) with the truth to judge between of the people in what they have disputed in it. And there has not disputed in it except for those who have been given it after what has come to them the clear proofs out of jealousy between of them. So, God has guided those who have believed that which they have differed in it of the truth with His permission. And God guides whomever He wills to a straight path.
[2:231] And when you have intended to divorce the women, then they have reached their term, then you shall keep them in a fair manner, or you shall release them in a fair manner. And you do not keep them for hurting that you transgress. And whoever does that then certainly, he has wronged for himself. And do not take God’s revelations in mockery, and you shall remember God’s blessings upon you, and what He has sent down to you of the scripture and the wisdom to instruct you with it (mina al-kitaabi wa-al-hik’mati ya`izukum bihi). And you shall fear God and shall know that God is Knower of everything.
[2:285] The messenger has believed in what has been sent down to him from his Lord and the believers. Everyone has believed in God, and His angels, and His scriptures (wa-kutubihi), and His messengers: “We do not make distinction between any of His messengers.” They said, “We have heard and we have obeyed. Have us Your forgiveness our Lord and to You is the return.”
[3:3] He has sent down to you (prophet) the scripture (Quran) with the truth (al-kitaaba bil-haqqi) confirming that which was before of it (Gospel), and He has sent down the Torah and the Gospel.
[3:7] He is the One who has sent down to you (prophet) the scripture (Quran) (huwa alladhee anzala `alayka al-kitaaba), of it there are clarified verses, which are foundation of the scripture (hunna ummu al-kitaabi) and others are allegories. So, as for those in their hearts there is perversity, then they follow what has made allegorical representation of it for seeking the discord and seeking of its interpretation, while its interpretation does not know except God, and those who are well-founded in the knowledge – they say, “We have believed in it. All is from our Lord.” And none will take heed except possessors of the understanding.
[3:19] Indeed, the religion near God is the Submission. And it has not differed those who have been given the scripture (alladheena uutuu al-kitaaba) except for after what has come to them the knowledge out of jealousy between of them. And who disbelieves in revelations of God, then indeed, God is swift in the reckoning.
[3:20] So, if they argue with you (prophet), then say, “I have submitted myself to God and whoever has followed me.” And you shall say to those who have been given the scripture (lilladheena uutuu al-kitaaba) and the gentiles (those who have not been given the scripture), “Have you submitted yourselves?” Then if they have submitted, then certainly, they have been guided, but if they have turned away, then only upon you (prophet) is the conveyance (of the message), while God is Seer of the servants.
[3:23] Do you not notice towards those who have been given a part of the scripture (alladheena uutuu naseeban minal al-kitaabi)? They are invited to a (complete) scripture of God (yud’`awna ilaa kitaaba allahi) to judge between of them, then a party of them turn away, and they are averse ones.
[3:48] And He (God) will teach him (Jesus) the scripture and the wisdom (wa-yu`allimuhu al-kitaaba wa-al-hik’mata), and the Torah and the Gospel.
[3:64] Say, “O people of the scripture (yaa’ahla al-kitaaba), come to a fair agreement between of us and between of you that we do not worship except God, nor do we associate partner anything with Him, nor does it take of us to others as lords other than God.” Then if they have turned away, then say, “You shall bear witness of that we are Submitters.”
[3:65] O people of the scripture (yaa’ahla al-kitaaba), why do you argue about Abraham, while there had not been sent down the Torah and the Gospel except after of him? Do you not then use intelligence?
[3:69] A group from a people of the scripture (taaifatun min ahli al-kitaabi) had wished if they could lead you (believers) astray, and they do not lead astray except themselves, while they do not perceive.
[3:70] O people of the scripture (yaa’ahla al-kitaaba), why do you deny in revelations of God, while you bear witness?
[3:71] O people of the scripture (yaa’ahla al-kitaaba), why do you mix the truth with the falsehood, and conceal the truth, while you know?
[3:72] And said a group from a people of the scripture (taaifatun min ahli al-kitaabi), “You shall believe in what has been sent down to those who have believed at beginning of the day, and shall reject at end of it that they may return.
[3:75] And from a people of the scripture (wa-min ahli al-kitaabi), there is whoever, if you entrust him with a lot, he will return it to you, and from them there is whoever, if you entrust him with a single dinar, he will not return it to you except that you have kept standing over him. That is of that they said, “It has not been any obligation upon us in the gentiles.” And they say the lie about God, while they know.
[3:78] And indeed, among them there is surely a group, they distort the tongues of them with the scripture that you (people) may think it is from the scripture (litahsabuhu mina al-kitaabi), while it is not from the scripture (wa-maa huwa mina al-kitaabi); and they say it is from God, while it is not from God, and they say the lie about God, while they know.
Note: There are 3 instances of kitaabun in the verse, and of them 2 instances refer to the scripture from God but the other instance does not.
[3:79] It has not been for a human that God gives him the scripture and the wisdom and the prophethood (an yu’tiyahu allahu al-kitaaba wa-al-hik’mata wa-al-nubuwata), then he says to the people, “You shall be worshipers of me other than God, except you shall be worshipers of Lord of what you have been to teach the scripture (kuntum tu’`allimuuna al-kitaaba) and of what you have been to study (it).”
[3:81] And when God had taken a covenant of the prophets: “Surely, whatever I have given you from scripture and wisdom (lamaa aataytukum min kitaabin wa-hik’matin), then there has come to you a messenger confirming that which is with yourselves. You must believe in him and you must support him.” He said: “Have you affirmed and taken My covenant on that?” They said: “We have affirmed.” He said: “So, you shall bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”
[3:98] Say, “O people of the scripture (yaa’ahla al-kitaaba), why do you disbelieve in revelations of God, while God is a Witness over what you do?”
[3:99] Say, “O people of the scripture (yaa’ahla al-kitaaba), why do you prevent whoever has believed from God’s path desiring it crooked while you are witnesses?” And God is not unaware of what you do.
[3:100] O you who have believed, if you obey a group of those who have been given the scripture (fareeqan mina alladheena uutuu al-kitaaba), they will turn you back to disbelievers after your belief.
[3:110] You have been a best community has been raised among the people to enjoin with the just, and to forbid from the evil, and to believe in God. And if a people of the scripture had believed (wa-law aamana ahlu al-kitaabi), surely, it would have been better for them. Of them there are the believers, while most of them are the disobedient.
[3:113] They have not been the same; from a people of the scripture there is a community of righteousness (min ahli al-kitaabi ummatun qaaimatun) that recites God’s revelations in hours of the night, while they prostrate.
[3:119] Lo! You are those – you love them, while they do not love you, and you believe in the scripture all of it (wa-tu’minuuna bil-kitaabi kullihi). And when they have meet you, they said, “We have believed,” and when they have gone away, they have bitten the fingers upon you out of the rage. Say, “Die with your rage.” Indeed, God is Knower of what is in the breasts.
[3:164] Certainly, God has favored upon the believers as He has raised messenger in them from themselves to recite His revelations to them, and to purify them, and to teach them the scripture and the wisdom (wa-yu`allimuhumu al-kitaaba wa-al-hik’mata), even though they have been before surely in clear straying.
[3:184] So, if they have denied you (prophet), then certainly, there had been denied messengers from before of you (prophet) who had come with the clear signs, and the Psalms, and the enlightening scripture (bil-bayyinaati wa-al-zuburi wa-al-kitaabi al-muneeri).
[3:186] That you will certainly be tested with your wealth and your lives, and that you will certainly hear a lot of insult from those who have been given the scripture (mina alladheena uutuu al-kitaaba) from before of you and from those who have associated partners (with God); and if you be patient and fear (God), then indeed, that is a matter of the determination.
[3:187] And when God had taken a covenant of those who have been given the scripture (alladheena uutuu al-kitaaba) that you will certainly make it clear to the people, and will not conceal it. Then they have thrown it behind their backs and have purchased with it a small price. So, it has been miserable for what they purchase.
[3:199] And indeed, among people of the scripture (wa-inna min ahli al-kitaabi), whoever surely believes in God, and what has been sent down to you (people) and what has been sent down to them are humbles to God. They do not exchange of God’s revelations for a small price. Those – for them there is reward of them with their Lord. Indeed, God is swift in the reckoning.
Review indicates that God has favored the believers raising messengers from them to recite His revelations to them, and to purify them, and to teach them the scripture and the wisdom as they were in clear straying before. Those whom He has given the scripture should recite it as right as it should be that the people will believe in it, but whoever will disbelieve in it will be the losers. Thus, those who have been given the scripture that they will make it clear to the people and will not conceal what is in it. But they have made a miserable trade for a small price throwing it behind their backs, even they have not only disbelieved in it but also killed a messenger. However, among them those who have believed in God, and what has been sent down to them and what has been sent down before of them, and they do not trade God’ revelations for a small price, for them there is reward with their Lord.
God has sent down a scripture, the Quran followed by the Torah and the Gospel confirming them that everyone should believe in it and follow it. In it there are clarified verses being the foundation of the scripture as well as allegorical verses, and those who are well founded in the knowledge know and believe that all are from God without any perversity in their hearts. It has clearly defined both the terms: prophet and messenger so that we do not have any confusion between these two terms including who are the gentiles. The prophets are consistently associated with the scripture and the wisdom to judge with the truth between the people they have disputed, while He has told us not to make any distinction between any of them whether a prophet or a messenger. God has informed us in it about His covenant with His prophets that He will send a messenger down the generation when all the scriptures are delivered, and all the followers of the scripture must believe and support him taking a confirmation from all the prophets as well as being them as witnesses and God himself being a Witness of it.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (05/23/2025).