Sources of Islam - Part Two

The Quran: A Timeless Miracle of Divine Knowledge

In the Quran, there is a call to belief in the Oneness of Allah and mention of His Names, Attributes, and deeds. It calls to faith in the authenticity of what the Prophets and Messengers brought. It affirms the resurrection, reward, and reckoning, and establishes evidence and proofs for that. It narrates the stories of past nations, the punishment meted out to them in this world, as well as the torment and exemplary punishment that awaits them in the Hereafter.

It also contains many proofs and signs that dazzle the scientists, and that is suitable for all generations and ages, and in which many scholars and researchers find what they are looking for. God Almighty says:

• “And it is He Who has left free the seas: one palatable and sweet and the other salty and bitter; and He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them.” (Holy Quran 25:53)

• “Or is it like the darkness in a vast deep sea, overwhelmed with waves, topped by dark clouds, (layers of) darkness upon darkness: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! And he for whom Allah has not appointed light, for him there is no light.” (Holy Quran 24:40)

Scientific Insights Embedded in the Quran

It is well-known that Muhammad never traveled by sea, nor were there in his time the material instruments that could have helped to discover the depths of the sea. Who else could have provided Muhammad (PBUH) with this data if not Allah? The Good Lord also says the following:

"And indeed, We created man out of clay (water and earth), therefore, We made him (the offspring of Adam) as a mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge (and lodged it) in a safe lodging (womb), then We made the mixed drops into a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood) then We made the clot into a little lump of flesh, then we made out that little lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bone with flesh and We brought it forth as another Creation. So, blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.” (Holy Quran 23:12-14)

The scientists did not discover these subtle details about the stages of embryonic development until recently. Allah Almighty also says: “And with Him are the keys of all that is hidden, none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and the sea; not a leaf falls but He knows it. There is not a grain of the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry but is written in a Clear Record.” (Holy Quran 6:59)

Mankind did not know this all-encompassing thought and had never thought about these things, let alone having the ability to do it. If a group of scientists observe a plant or insect and they record their findings and discoveries, we all become dazzled by that, though we know that what is hidden from these scientists in this plant or insect is more than what they observe in it.

The French scholar Maurice Bucaile has made a comparison between Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran, and between modern scientific discoveries concerning the creation of the heavens, the earth, and man, and found out that these modern discoveries agree with what is in the Quran.

On the other hand, he found out that the Torah and the Gospel that are in circulation today contain much erroneous information about the creation of the heavens, the earth, man, and animals. (see ‘The Torah, The Bible and The Quran in the light of modern science’ by Maurice Bucaile, pp. 133-283. He was a Christian revert.)

The Prophetic Sunnah: A Living Explanation of the Quran

Allah revealed the Quran to the Messenger (PBUH) and revealed to him, along with thereof, the Prophetic Sunnah that explains the Quran. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Indeed, I am given the Quran and its like with it.” (Ahmad 17174 and Abu Dawood 4604)

Allah has permitted him to explain the general and particular verses of the Quran. Allah says: "And We have also sent down to you (O Muhammad) the reminder, that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought.” (Holy Quran 16:44)

The Sunnah is the second source of the religion of Islam. It means all that is reported from the Prophet with a well-connected and authentic claim of transmitters of his sayings, deeds, confirmations, and qualities. IT is also a revelation from Allah to His Messenger, Muhammad (PBUH), for the Prophet did not speak of his desire. Allah says: “Nor does he speak of (his own) desire, it is only a Revelation revealed. He has been taught by one mighty in power (Gabriel).” (Holy Quran 53:3-5)

The Prophet only conveys to people what he is commanded to convey. Allah says about him: “I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am but a plain warner.” (Holy Quran 46:9)

Obedience to the Quran and Sunnah: Foundation of Islamic Faith

The pure Sunnah is the practical implementation of the rules, beliefs, acts of worship, kinds of relationship, and manners that Islam enjoins. The Messenger of Allah exemplified what he was commanded, explained it to the people, and commanded them to do as he did. He says, for instance, “Pray as you see me praying.” (Al-Bukhari)

God Almighty has commanded the believers to emulate him in all his deeds and sayings so that their faith might be complete. He says, “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.” (Holy Quran 33:21)

The Prophet’s noble companions transmitted his sayings and deeds to those who came after them, and these also transmitted them to those who came after them. It was then recorded in the books of Sunnah. The Sunnah transmitters had been strict with those from whom they transmitted it and would make a condition that they be contemporaries of those from whom they reported that Sunnah, till the chain of transmission would be connected right from the narrator to the Messenger of Allah.

They also made it a condition that all the men involved in the transmission might be trustworthy, just, sincere, and people of integrity. The Sunnah, as it is regarded as the practical implementation of Islam, also explains the Quran, makes comments on it, and explains verses that have general meanings.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to do all this, sometimes with his words, sometimes with his deeds, and sometimes with both. The Sunnah may, in some cases, give independent explanations of some rules and legislations that are not in the Quran.

Conclusion

One must have a belief in the Quran and Sunnah that they are the most basic sources of the religion of Islam that must be followed and turned to. The command of both must be obeyed, their prohibitions must be abstained from, and their contents must be believed.

One must also believe in what both contain of the Names, Attributes, and Works of Allah; what He has provided for His believing friends and that which He threatened his disbelieving enemies. He says,

1. “But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions and accept (them) with full submission.” (Holy Quran 4:65)

2. The Good Lord also says: “And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).” (Holy Quran 59:7)