Belief in the Heavenly Books

 

 In the cave of Hiraa’ and away from people, Jibreel (Gabriel) came down to our Prophet Muhammad  while he was worshiping Allah The Almighty The One Who Has no partner and said to him: "Recite." Muhammad  said, "I cannot recite,". Jibreel pressed him hard and repeated the order ‘Recite.’ ‘I cannot recite’ said he trembling and terrified, and once again he pressed him hard and said: ‘Recite.’ Again he answered while shaking and trembling ‘I cannot recite.’ Jibreel held him for the third time then released him and said: {Recite in the name of your Lord who created.} [Quran 96: 1]

Then this situation comes to an end and Jibreel disappears. Muhammad hurries back home, trembling and sweating profusely. He enters upon his wife Khadeejah and says to her: Cover me, cover me. [Al-Bukhari] She covers him with wool covers, and wipes the sweat from his forehead.

The Will of Allah The Almighty has been fulfilled and the seal prophet on earth was chosen to convey the call of Allah The Almighty to His slaves. The verse mentioned above was the first verse that Allah The Almighty revealed to His Messenger from the Noble Quran which is the book that Allah The Almighty chose to be the ever-lasting miracle and clear argument with the seal of the Prophets. This book is not the only book that Allah The Almighty has sent down; rather, there are other books such as Tawraah (Torah) Injeel (Gospel), Zaboor (Psalms), and Suhuf (Scriptures).

The Muslim individual believes in all books that Allah The Almighty revealed to His Prophets and Messengers in much the same way as he believes in the Noble Quran which Allah The Almighty revealed to Muhammad . Allah The Almighty mentioned some of these books in the Noble Quran and did not mention some others. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed.} [Quran 2: 213]

Amongst the books that Allah The Almighty mentioned in the Noble Quran are:

1. The Scriptures of Ibraaheem (Abraham) and Moosa (Moses), may Allah exalt their mention:

They are the Scriptures that Allah The Almighty sent down to Ibraaheem and Musa, may Allah exalt their mention. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

• {Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses. And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations]} [Quran 53: 36-37]

• {Indeed, this is in the former scriptures, The scriptures of Abraham and Moses} [Quran 87: 18-19]

Abu Tharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I said: O Messenger of Allah! How were the Scriptures of Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention? He said: They were full of examples; O Arrogant tested domineering king! I have not sent you to collect the vain gains of this world, but rather I sent you to respond to the supplication of the wronged person on my behalf for I never reject it even if it is from a disbeliever. Every sane person must – as long as his mind is not absent - take time to invoke his lord, time to bring himself to account, time to contemplate the creation of Allah The Almighty, and time to seek his needs from food and drinking.
Every sane person must not move except for three things: preparing the provision for the appointed time, improving his life and enjoying a lawful pleasure. Also, every sane person must be mindful of his time, must look after his affairs and protect his tongue (from obscene speech). Whoever thinks of his speech as part of his deeds, he will not speak except in what is beneficial for him.
Then I said: O Messenger of Allah! How were the Scriptures of Moosa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention? He said: “They were full of wisdoms: I am amazed at the one who is certain of death and then he feels happy. I am amazed at the one who is certain of Hell and then he laughs. I am amazed at the one who is certain of preordainance and then he exhausts himself. I am amazed at the one who has seen the world and how the fortunes of its people change and then he feels reassured. I am amazed at the one who is certain of Reckoning tomorrow and then he does not work.”

2. Tawraah (Torah)

It is the book that Allah The Almighty revealed to Moosa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, and ordered the prophets who came after him to establish and fulfill its rulings, for Allah The Almighty sent them and did not send any books with them; rather, He made Tawraah their book and religion. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah ] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah , and they were witnesses thereto.} [Quran 5: 44] Allah The Almighty called he Tawraah “Al-Furqaan” in the Noble Quran.

3. Az-Zaboor (Psalms)

It is one of the heavenly books. Allah The Almighty revealed it to Daawood (David), may Allah exalt his mention. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And to David We gave the book [of Psalms].} [Quran 17: 55] Daawood, may Allah exalt his mention, used to read a great deal in Az-Zaboor which the Messenger of Allah  named Quran because of its similarity to the Noble Quran in their miraculousness. He  said: “The reciting of the Zaboor (i.e. Psalms) was made easy for Daawood. He used to order that his riding animals be saddled, and would finish reciting the Zaboor before they were saddled. And he would never eat except from the earnings of his manual work.” [Al-Bukhari]

Allah The Almighty sent down in Az-Zaboor precious wisdoms and praises of Him. Allah The Almighty did not reveal in it any rulings of the permissible and prohibited actions for they were enjoined to take their rulings from the Tawraah.

4. Injeel (Gospel)

Allah The Almighty revealed it to ‘Eesa (Jesus), may Allah exalt his mention. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

• {And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.} [Quran 5: 46]
• {Then We sent following their footsteps Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel} [Quran 57: 27]

Wisdom behind revealing Books

The Muslim individual believes that these books were revealed by Allah The Almighty. They called to At-Tawheed (monotheism) and to associating nothing with Him. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut.} [Quran 16: 36]

The Muslim believes that the wisdom behind revealing books is to guide human beings to the straight path of Allah The Almighty, eliminate disagreement and discord from among them, bear for them the glad tidings of the pleasure of Allah The Almighty if they obeyed Him and warn them against His punishment if the disobeyed Him; and that the heavenly books – other than the Noble Quran – have not remained in their original state in which Allah The Almighty sent them down; rather, they were exposed to alteration and distortion and the words of humans have mingled with the Words of Allah The Almighty in them.

Forms of the distortion of the Divinly Revealed Books

Distortion of the divinely revealed books took different forms. The Noble Quran mentioned some of them such as:

1- Hiding some verses, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much.} [Quran 5: 15]
2- Misinterpretation of the intended meanings of the verses, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. And they speak untruth about Allah while they know.} [Quran 3: 78]
3- Displacing verses from their original places. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Among the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] usages and say, "We hear and disobey.} [Quran 4: 46]
4- Adding what is not from the Book to it; Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except in wishful thinking, but they are only assuming. So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah ," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.} [Quran 2: 78-79]

Distortion of the Tawraah (Torah)

Belief in the Tawraah that Allah The Almighty revealed to Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention, is one of the main pillars of the religion of Islam. Muslims believe that it included all goodness, called for the worship of Allah Alone and it was a light and guidance. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.} [Quran 5: 44]

However, the Tawraah that was revealed to Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention, does not exist anymore in its original state. The claimed Tawraah of nowadays was written by many writers and in different times. It was distorted and altered.

Amongst the material proofs of its distortion is that the Tawraah that is in the hands of Christians is different from the one that is in the hands of Jews. The Noble Quran recorded that distortion and rebuked the Jews for their distortion and alteration of the Tawraah. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Do you covet [the hope, O believers], that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allah and then distort the Torah after they had understood it while they were knowing?} [Quran 2: 75]

They had the nerve to distort and alter the Book of Allah The Almighty to hide the truth that it contained and all that can prove the prophethood of Muhammad  although they knew him well. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it].} [Quran 2: 146] Though they knew him well, they did not believe in him and were too arrogant to do so. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Among the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] usages.} [Quran 4: 46]

Amongst the evidences that prove the distortion of the current Tawraah are the descriptions mentioned in it which do not befit the Majesty and Perfection of Allah The Almighty such as: And the LORD God said, Behold, the man has become as one of us, to know good and evil.” [Genesis 3: 22] and “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. [Genesis 6: 6].”

Can these be the Words of Allah The Almighty? Can grief and regret be attributed to Allah The Almighty? In fact, such malicious claims entail that Allah The Almighty did not have knowledge of the results of His actions. No, Allah The Almighty is high above any defect and shortcoming. Allah The Almighty has comprehensive knowledge that encompasses everything. Exalted is He and high above what they say by great sublimity.

Another proof of the distortion of the current Tawraah is what is mentioned in it of describing prophets in a way that negates the infallibility that Allah The Almighty granted them. They mentioned that Ibraaheem (Abraham) is a liar, that Haroon (Aaron) called Banu Israa’eel (Children of Israel) to worship the Calf, and that Sulaymaan (Solomon) worshiped idols to please his wife. Can any human being who has a sound mind say such words; let alone being revealed by Allah The Almighty to guide humans with it?

Distortion of the Injeel (Gospel)

The Injeel was also distorted and altered and is not in its original state in which Allah The Almighty revealed it. Christians contintued altering and changing its facts so as to attain their desired worldly gains.

The distortion of the current versions of the Injeel can simply be proved if we know that they are four versions of the Injeel selected from many more versions. Such versions reported the words of Prophet ‘Eesa, may Allah exalt his mention. Their writers are known and their names are written on them. In the library of one of the princes in Paris, a version of the Injeel – Injeel (Gospel) of Barnabas - was found. It differed greatly from the other four selected versions of the Injeel and agreed with the Noble Quran in many beliefs and principles.

After we have known for certain that those books have been distorted, then what is the meaning that the Noble Quran came to confirm in the divine books that preceded it? This simply means that the Noble Quran came to enhance and support the truth which was mentioned in the books that came before it, mainly worshiping Allah The Almighty Alone, believing in His Messengers, believing in the reward, observing rights and justice, enjoining good and forbidding evil, and adhering to noble moral standards. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, "O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord."} [Quran 5: 68]

Consequently, the Quran is the only way with which we can know the sound divine teachings. It is the book whose fundamental principles are preserved, its teachings are not distorted, and the Ummah received it from the angel who brings down the Revelation to the Messengers - Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention - who came down to the Messenger . This preservation was not granted to any book other than the Noble Quran. In fact, the Quran comprises the most sublime principles, methods and systems. It has all that humans need of beliefs, acts of worship, morals, and transactions. It befits all times and places. It is sufficient to create a Muslim individual, a virtuous family and a righteous society. Truthful is the one who speaks with it. Just is the one who passes judgment according to it. Guided to the right path is the one who adheres to its teachings. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path.} [Quran 5: 15-16]

The Previous Divinely Revealed Books Were not Universal

The books that Allah The Almighty revealed, other than the Quran, addressed certain people in certain times and they agreed with the Noble Quran in some rulings and laws. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution.} [Quran 5: 45]
Muslims believe in what is mentioned in these books as long as it does not contradict with the Quran. They also believe that the Noble Quran is the main constitution for all people.

Characteristics of the Noble Quran

The Noble Quran has many characteristics that distinguish it from the books that came before it. Amongst such characteristics are:
• It has all the divine instructions that Allah The Almighty revealed in the Tawraah, the Injeel, and all the teachings that Allah The Almighty revealed.

• It supports the truth which was mentioned in these books regarding worshiping Allah The Almighty Alone, believing in His Messengers, believing in reward, observing and establishing rights, enjoining good and forbidding evil, and adhering to noble moral standards. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method.} [Quran 5: 48]

That is to say, Allah The Almighty revealed the Noble Quran which is truthful in all that is mentioned in it and it confirms the preceding Scriptures that were revealed by Allah The Almighty. It is a witness over them. It explains the distortion and alteration that inflicted them. Then Allah The Almighty ordered His Prophet  to judge between all people, Muslims and non-Muslims, by what Allah The Almighty has revealed in the Noble Quran and not to follow them in disobeying Allah The Almighty.

• Allah The Almighty prescribed a law for every nation with its rulings and different interactions that befit its nature and inclinations in the best way. The main pillars of creeds are the same in all messages. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus - to establish the religion and not be divided therein.} [Quran 42: 13]
Then when Islam came, it abrogated all other laws and methods. It established only one creed and method for all people.

• The original versions of the books that were revealed before the Quran were lost. Nothing remained of them except their translations, unlike the Noble Quran which was preserved as a whole with its Soorahs, verses, words, and letters exactly as Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, recited it to the Messenger of Allah . In the previous books, the words of humans were mixed with the Words of Allah The Almighty. No one can recognize the words of Allah The Almighty from those of humans. As for the Noble Quran, all of its words are from Allah The Almighty and they were never mixed with the Hadeeths of the Messenger or the speeches of the companions or any other person.

• None of those books can in any way be attributed to the Messenger to whom it was revealed. The Tawraah (Torah) was not written by Moosa (Moses). In fact, it was written many centuries after Moosa. The Noble Quran is the only book that was proved to be decisively attributed to the Messenger  (even if he did not write it down himself, for he ordered the writers of the revelation to record every verse immediately after it was revealed to him).

• The teachings of the Noble Quran are the Words of Allah The Almighty that can achieve happiness to all humanity. So Allah The Almighty Willed for it to last forever. He preserved and protected it from distortion. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

• {And indeed, it is a mighty Book Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; [it is] a revelation from a [Lord who is] Wise and Praiseworthy.} [Quran 41: 41-42]

• {Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian} [Quran 15: 9]

The wisdom behind that is to make the Quran the argument of Allah The Almighty over people. The Quran is for all worlds and all people. It is not for a specific people unlike the previous heavenly books. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.} [Quran 34: 28]

• The Quran is the guidance that leads to all that is good. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Alif, Lam, Meem. This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah} [Quran 2: 1-2] Allah The Almighty wants His word to spread and reach minds and ears everywhere. This will not be attained except if the Quran is easy to memorize and understand. Nothing in the Quran is difficult for people to understand or fulfill. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We have certainly made the Quran easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?} [Quran 54: 17]

• The Quran is also the miracle of the Messenger . In fact, if the whole world gathered in order to produce something like what is mentioned in the Quran, they could not produce the like of it for it is as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And indeed, it is a mighty Book. Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; [it is] a revelation from a [Lord who is] Wise and Praiseworthy.} [Quran 41: 41-42]

• The Quran is an invitation to every good matter and forbids every vice. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts.} [Quran 10: 57]

• The Quran is a cure for souls. It purifies them from their diseases. It is a remedy from disbelief, misguidance, hatred and envy. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.} [Quran 17: 82] - islamweb.net