Up until now you have probably been encouraged to only read the Towrat (Torah), Zabur (Psalms) and the Injil (Gospel of Isa). Although the true Arabic words mean the all of the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) and the Good News about Isa (New Testament) some teachers hold a very narrow view of these Scriptures. They include only the first 5 books (Torah) of the old Testament, all of the Psalms and the first 4 books of the New Testament (Gospels). This is the reason you have probably been encouraged to read this short list in order to save arguments early on and mudding the waters.
The fact of the matter is that no matter how any teacher interprets these terms ‘Towrat’, ‘Zabur’ and ‘Injil’ the Qur'an clearly has the final word on the matter avoiding any specific definition of terms.
See for yourself. Please read Q3 1-3:
Q3 1 Alif Lam Mim.
Q3 2 Allah, (there is) no god but He, the Ever living, the Self-subsisting by Whom all things subsist.
Q3 3 He has revealed to you the Book with truth, verifying that which is before it, and He revealed the Tavrat and the Injeel aforetime, a guidance for the people, and He sent the Furqan.
The phrase “verifying that which is before it” or “confirming what was before it” is usually translated as something similar in any version you read but it has to be translated from Arabic ‘thought for thought’ and not ‘word for word’ as it is an Arabic idiom. It can not be translated word for word and get the same original meaning. Only a true speaker of a language can understand an idiom. In this case the word for word direct translation of the phrase would be “everything between His hands”. A closer English equivalent would be “all that is at hand”. A better understanding would be “Every Scripture available to the Prophet at that time of dictation.”
The Prophet had the entire Before Books available to him at that time and the Qur'an confirms that they were, at least at that time, not corrupted in any way.
So despite what anyone may suggest the entire collection of the Before Books came before the Qur'an and the Qur'an (Allah) confirmed what was in them. Therefore all of the Before Books are available for our guidance! So that there is absolutely no doubt as to what collection of pre-existing things are being talked about here the Qur'an gives two specific examples of this set. Thus telling us it is the Before Books that it is talking about and not a shopping list or a set of cooking books.
As a final thread of this current discussion we read in Q 1 that we are instructed to pray for and seek guidance. Where better place to start than where we are told again and again there is guidance and light for us to find?
Interestingly on a future topic, this ayah says that the three groups of Allah’s words should all agree completely. Now that's an interesting thought!