The Second degree of Islam - Part Two

Introduction to Belief in the Books

Allah revealed books to his prophets and messengers to explain the truth and call to it.

“Indeed, We have sent our Messengers with clear proofs and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice), that mankind may keep up justice.” (Holy Quran 57:25)

Numerous books exist. Among them are the Scripture of Prophet Ibrahim, the Torah of Prophet Musa, the Psalms given to Prophet David, and the Gospel, which Prophet Jesus Christ brought; may peace be upon all of them.

Divine Revelation Across Time from Abraham to Jesus

The belief in the previous books lies in the understanding that it is Allah who revealed them to His messengers and that they contained the law that Allah wanted to convey to people at that time.

All these books that Allah informs us about have all become instinct. The scripture of Abraham no longer exists in the world. The Torah, the Gospel, and the Psalms do exist by name among Jews and Christians; however, they have been altered, interpolated, and adulterated, resulting in much missing original content.

They are attributed to those who did not write them, and what is not theirs is now theirs. The Old Testament, for instance, has forty books, and none of them is attributed to Moses. As for the existing gospels of today, none of them are attributed to Jesus.

The Quran: Allah's Eternal and Protected Word

The last book revealed by Allah is the Quran, which has been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It has always been and still is protected and preserved by Allah. No change or alteration has crept into any of its letters, words, vowels, or meanings.

The Quran is different from all previous books in many ways.

First, the old books are lost; they have been altered and misattributed; many commentaries and exegeses have been added; and they contain many things that contradict Divine Revelation, reason, and nature.

As for the Quran, it is still being protected by Allah, with its letters and words in which Allah Almighty revealed them to Muhammad (PBUH). No alteration or addition has crept into it, for Muslims have been eager to let the Quran remain free from all defects. They do not mix it with anything from the Prophet’s life history, or the history of his companions, or commentaries of the Quran, or rules about acts of worship and human relations.

Today, there is no known historical authority for the ancient books. Nothing is known about the individuals to whom some of these books were revealed. Some of them are even attributed to others besides those who brought them.

As for the Quran, Muslims have transmitted it from Muhammad (PBUH) in a successive manner, verbally and in written form. In every age and country, thousands of Muslims know this book by heart, and there are thousands of copies. If the oral copies do not agree with the written copies, the divergent copies will not be recognized, for what is in people's memories should always agree with what is in the written copies.

Above all, the Quran was transmitted orally in a way that nothing of the books of this world had enjoyed. Even this particular method of transmission cannot be found except among Muslims alone. The methodology of preserving the Quran goes this way. The student learns the Quran by heart from his teacher, who learned it by heart from his teacher.

The teacher also provides the student a certificate called ‘Ijaazah’ in which the teacher testifies that he taught the student while he learned from his teachers one after another; each and every one of these teachers will name his teacher from whom he learned the Quran in succession until the chain reaches the Messenger of Allah himself. This is how the chain of teachers goes in oral succession until it reaches the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

There exists much stronger evidence and historical proof, with connected chains of transmitters, of the knowledge of every Surah and every verse of the Quran as regards where it was revealed and when it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The languages in which past books were revealed had become extinct a long time ago.

No one in this age speaks the languages, and very few people can now understand them. As for the language in which the Quran was revealed, it is a living language spoken today by tens of millions of people. It is taught and studied in every country of the world. Even the one who does not study it will find everywhere those who can teach him the meaning of the Quran.

The Quran: A Universal Message for all Humanity

Each of the previous books was meant for a particular time and sent to a particular nation; that was why it contained rules that were peculiar to that nation and that time. Whatever book that has these characteristics is not suitable for all mankind.

As for the Great Quran, it is a book meant for all times and places. It comprises ordinances, rules on how humans should relate to one another, and manners that are suitable for every age, for it is addressed to mankind in general.

Given the above, it becomes clear that Allah’s proof against humanity can’t be in books whose original copies no longer exist and whose languages no one in the world of today speaks after they have been altered.

Allah Almighty’s proof against His creation should be in a book, protected and safe from addition, defect, or alteration. Its copies should be spread in every place and written with a living language that is read by millions of people, who can convey the Message of Allah to all mankind.

The Quran, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by Allah, is the magnificent witness to all previous books, confirming them before they were altered. It is the book that all mankind must follow so that it can be for them light, healing, guidance, and mercy. Allah Almighty says:

• “And this is a blessed book which We have sent down, so follow it and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” (Holy Quran 6:155)

• “Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.” (Holy Quran 7:158)