Belief in the Divine Scriptures...

The Holy Quraan !

The Holy Quraan is the Divine Book - the miracle revealed to Muhammad (saws) from Allah.

As Muslims, we say: “There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.” The Quraan is a book that could not have been compiled by any human being, nor could it have been revealed by anyone but Allah. Therefore, anyone who alleges that Muhammad (saws) produced the Quraan is attributing divinity to him, refusing to acknowledge him as a Prophet and is virtually describing him as ‘God’. Allah states in the Quraan: "And you did not recite before it (i.e., the Quraan) any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Then (i.e., otherwise) the falsifiers would have had cause for doubt." [29:48] 

Muhammad (saws) was unlettered. He never went to school and could not read or write; in fact, there was no school in his town at that time. Furthermore, the country he was born in had not known much of civilization or progress. How, then, could such a person produce a work like the Holy Quraan? He came from a village surrounded by dark mountains and the wilderness of the desert – a remote place, unheard of at that time. No one in that village had any knowledge of the philosophy of Greece and Rome, or of the literature of India and Persia. It was a village, devoid of any academic tradition and activity. There was no one there with even a minimum level of education and knowledge.

The Holy Quraan excels in both its literary values and its unique treatment of law. It contains an entire legal system which is perfect in every detail. As for the theology therein, and the knowledge of the unseen, it gives information which is not known to anyone - information which the human intellect is unable to perceive. It reveals laws and phenomena on the subject of nature which were previously unknown, and not only during the time of the Prophet (saws) - some of these laws were discovered thirteen hundred years later, while others still remain undiscovered.

The Holy Quraan challenges all humanity. Humanity and jinn are asked to produce ten chapters, or at least one, like the chapters of the Holy Quraan, but they failed to produce even one chapter, as Allah says: "Or do they say: 'He (i.e., Muhammad) invented it?' Say: 'Then bring ten chapters like it that have been invented and call upon (for assistance) whomever you can besides Allah, if you should be truthful.'" [11:13] 

There are more facts and information that still remain undiscovered, yet are written about in the Holy Quraan. Every now and then scholars extract new information from it, and contribute to human knowledge in general and to the better understanding of Islam in particular. 

Faith in other revealed Books !

Muslims believe in the Holy Quraan and all the other revealed Books mentioned in it. These are: the Scrolls (of Ibraheem), the Psalms (revealed to Prophet Dawood), the Torah (revealed to Prophet Moosa) and the Gospel (revealed to Prophet 'Eesaa).

The Holy Quraan was revealed to confirm the true and original message, as well as to expose the distortions made to the earlier messages; Allah says: “And We have revealed to you, (O Muhammad), the Book (i.e., the Quraan) in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. …” [5:48]

We therefore believe in the other revealed books where they tie in with what is said in the Holy Quraan but reject all that is contrary to it. 

1- The Scrolls of Ibraheem 

Allah informs us about what is mentioned in the Scrolls of Ibraheem and is repeated in the Scrolls of Moosa; Allah says: “That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.” [53:38] The Quraan refers to the Scrolls of Ibraheem in the verse: "But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more lasting. Indeed, this is in the former scriptures, the scriptures of Ibraheem and Moosa.” [87:16-18] 

2- The Psalms (Zaboor) 

Allah says: “…And to Dawood We gave the book (of Psalms).” [4:163]

It was mentioned in the Psalms that the righteous will inherit the earth. Allah says in the Holy Quraan: “And We have already written in the book (of Psalms) after the (previous) mention (i.e., the Torah) that the righteous will inherit the earth.” [21:105]

The earth in this verse may perhaps mean Paradise, as is understood from another verse: "And they will say: 'Praise to Allah, who has fulfilled for us His promise and made us inherit the earth (so) we may settle in Paradise wherever we will. And excellent is the reward of (righteous) workers.'” [39:74] 

3- The Torah 

The Torah is also a book revealed by Allah. It contained guidance for people as well as Divine commandments; Allah says: “But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah?...” [5:43]

He also says: “Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.” [5:44]

And among the Divine commandments it contained were, as Allah informs us in the Quraan: “And We ordained for them therein (i.e., in that Torah): a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, and an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution …” [5:45]

The Torah also contained glad tidings about the coming of our Prophet Muhammad (saws). Allah says: "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written (i.e., mentioned) in what they have of the Torah…" [7:157]

The Torah described the believers, as Allah gave reference in the Quraan saying: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful amongst themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating (in prayer), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) pleasure. Their mark (i.e., sign) is on their faces (i.e., foreheads) from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah...” [48:29] 

4- The Injeel (Gospel) 

Regarding the Injeel, Allah says: “…And We gave him (i.e., 'Eesaa Son of Maryam) the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah…” [5:46]

Allah also confirms that the Injeel contained Divine Laws by saying: “And let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein.” [5:47]

We are also informed that the Injeel comprises the amended laws of the Torah; Allah says: “And (I have come) confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you…" [3:50] The Injeel, like the Torah, conveyed glad tidings of the advent of Muhammad (saws) and a description of the believers. Thus, we believe in all the books that the Almighty has revealed and we respect all the Prophets and believe that the only one of all Divine Books that remained preserved in its original form is the Quraan.