Belief in the divine scriptures

The Holy Quran is the Divine Book - the miracle revealed to Muhammad from Allaah.

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

Muhammad 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 civilisation or progress. How, then, could such a person produce a work like the Holy Quran? 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 Quran 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 - some of these laws were discovered thirteen hundred years later, while others still remain undiscovered.

The Holy Quran challenges all humanity. Humanity and jinn are asked to produce ten chapters, or at least one, like the chapters of the Holy Quran, but they failed to produce even one chapter, as Allaah Almighty Says (what means): "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 Allaah, if you should be truthful.'" [Quran 11:13]

There are more facts and information that still remain undiscovered, yet are written about in the Holy Quran. 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 Quran and all the other revealed Books mentioned in it. These are: the Scrolls (of Ibraaheem ), the Psalms (revealed to Prophet Daawood ), the Torah (revealed to Moosa ) and the Gospel (revealed to 'Eesaa ).

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

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

1- The Scrolls of Ibraaheem

Allaah informs us about what is mentioned in the Scrolls of Ibraaheem and is repeated in the Scrolls of Moosaa ; Allaah, the Most Exalted, Says (what means): “That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.” [Quran 53:38]

The Quran refers to the Scrolls of Ibraaheem in the verse (which means): “But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more lasting. Indeed, this is in the former scriptures, the scriptures of Ibraaheem and Moosaa.” [Quran 87:16-18]

2- The Psalms (Zaboor)

Allaah Says (what means): “…And to Daawood We gave the book [of Psalms].” [Quran 4:163]

It was mentioned in the Psalms that the righteous will inherit the earth. Allaah Almighty Says in the Holy Quran (what means): “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.” [Quran 21:105]

The earth in this verse may perhaps mean Paradise, as is understood from another verse (which means): "And they will say: 'Praise to Allaah, 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.'” [Quran 39:74]

3- The Torah

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

He Almighty also Says (what means): “Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.” [Quran 5:44]

And among the Divine commandments it contained were, as Allaah informs us in the Quran (what means): “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 …” [Quran 5:45]

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

The Torah described the believers, as Allaah gave reference in the Quran Saying (what means): “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful amongst themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allaah 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...” [Quran 48:29]

4- The Injeel (Gospel)
Regarding the Injeel, Allaah Says (what means): “…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…” [Quran 5:46]

Allaah also confirms that the Injeel contained Divine Laws by Saying (what means): “And let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allaah has revealed therein.” [Quran 5:47]

We are also informed that the Injeel comprises the amended laws of the Torah; Allaah Says (what means): “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…" [Quran 3:50]

The Injeel, like the Torah, conveyed glad tidings of the advent of Muhammad and a description of the believers. Thus, we believe in all the books that the Almighty has revealed and we respect all the prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, and believe that the only one of all Divine Books that remained preserved in its original form is the Quran.

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Facts & misunderstandings about the Bible

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