The Style of the Quran

 

What topics does the Quran discuss?  It covers various subjects.  Most importantly, it talks about the unity of God and how to live a life which accords to His Will.  Other topics include religious doctrine, creation, criminal and civil law, Judaism, Christianity, polytheism, social values, morality, history, stories of past prophets, and science.

The Quran calls the great human exemplars of the past prophets and mentions their great sacrifice in spreading the message of God, the most important of them being Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.  The Quran elaborates on the ways in which the followers of the prophets, specifically the Jews and the Christians, have or have not lived up to the prophetic messages.  It also discusses the fate of past nations who rejected their Prophets, such as Noah and Lot.  It issues instructions on how to live a life pleasing to God.  It commands people that they should pray, fast, and take care of the needy.  It discusses matters of human interrelationships, sometimes in great detail - such as laws of inheritance and marriage - in a manner reminiscent of parts of the Hebrew Bible but foreign to the New Testament.  The Quran tells people that they should observe God’s instructions purely for God’s sake, not for any worldly aims.  It warns those who deny God’s messages that they will be thrown into the fire of Hell, and it promises those who accept the messages that they will be given the bliss of Paradise.

The Quran retells in their original form many of the stories from the Biblical heritage, especially that of Moses (mentioned by name more than any other person, followed by Pharaoh, his great enemy, who is the Quranic archetype of human evil).  However, it does not offer a sustained narrative of the kind found in the Book of Exodus.  It has much to say about the moral and legal duties of believers, but contains nothing like the law-code which is the centerpiece of the Book of Deuteronomy.  Many Quranic passages could aptly be described as preaching; but where the voice of the preacher in the Gospels is that of Jesus during his ministry on earth, in the Quran it is that of the ever-living God.

Also, the Quran repeats certain verses and themes at times, shifts topics, and often relates narratives in summarized form.  We can see two reasons for this characteristic.  First, it serves a linguistic purpose and is one of the powerful rhetorical techniques of classical Arabic.  Second, all themes of the Quran, no matter how varied, are wrapped around one common thread running through the entire book: that all types of worship rendered to others besides or alongside God is false, and that obedience to Him and His prophets, Muhammad being one of them, is a must.  The Quran, unlike the Bible, does not mention genealogies, chronological events, or minute historical details, but rather uses events from both past and present to illustrate its central message.  So, when the Quran is discussing the healing properties of honey or the life of Jesus, neither topic is an end in itself, but each is related in one way or another to the central message – unity of God and unity of the prophetic message.  No matter what the topic may be, it finds occasion to refer the discussion back to this central theme.

Another important point to keep in mind is that the Quran was not revealed in one sitting, but was revealed in parts over a span of 23 years.  Like the previous scriptures, many passages were revealed in response to specific events.  Often, Quranic revelation would come from the angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad as a response to questions raised by those around him, whether believers or unbelievers.  The Quran addresses the People of the Scripture (a term used by the Quran for Jews and Christians), humanity at large, believers, and, finally, it addresses the Prophet himself, commanding him what to do in certain situations or supporting him and giving him solace in the face of ridicule and rejection.  Knowing the historical and social context clarifies the text.

Some other notable features of Quran’s style are the following:

(1)  The use of parables to stir curiosity of the reader and explain deep truths.

(2)  More than two hundred passages begin with the Arabic word Qul - ‘Say’ - addressing Prophet Muhammad to say what follows in reply to a question, to explain a matter of faith, or to announce a legal ruling.  For example,

“Say: ‘O People of the Scripture!  Do you disapprove of us for no other reason than that we believe in God, and the revelation that has come to us and that which came before (us), and because most of you are rebellious and disobedient?’” (Quran 5:59)

(3)  In some passages of the Quran, God takes oaths by His marvelous creation to strengthen an argument or to dispel doubts in the mind of the listener,

“By the sun and its brightness,

by the moon when it follows it,

by the day when it displays it,

by the night when it covers it,

by the sky and He who constructed it,

by the earth and He who spread it,

by the soul and He who proportioned it…” (Quran 91:1-7)

Sometimes God takes an oath by Himself:

“But no, by your Lord, they will not (truly) believe until they make you, (O Muhammad), judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in (full, willing) submission.” (Quran 4:65)

(4)  Lastly, the Quran has what is called ‘the disjointed letters,’ composed of letters of the Arabic alphabet which taken together do not have a known meaning in the Arabic lexicon.  Their meaning is only known to God.  They appear at the beginning of twenty nine surahs, and upon recital, each letter is pronounced and not the words they form.  For example, the first aayah of Surat-ul-Baqara appears as Alif-Lam-Mim, three letters of the Arabic alphabet pronounced individually.

A person unfamiliar with the Quran may find it a little difficult to read, especially at the start, but if they keep these points in mind, they will become more accustomed to it, and they will indeed find that even though it is a translation, it is truly profound book incomparable to any other. - islamreligion.com

The Importance of Prayer

 

The importance of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated.  It is the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, mentioned after mentioning the Testimony of Faith, by which one becomes a Muslim.  It was made obligatory upon all the prophets and for all peoples.  God has declared its obligatory status under majestic circumstances.  For example, when God spoke directly to Moses, He said,

“And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you.  Verily, I am God! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance.” (Quran 20:13-14)

Similarly, the prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet Muhammad during his ascension to heaven.  Furthermore, when God praises the believers, such as in the beginning of the chapter entitled ‘al-Muminoon’ (the Believers), one of the first descriptions He states is their adherence to the prayers. 

Once a man asked the Prophet about the most virtuous deed.  The Prophet stated that the most virtuous deed is the prayer.  The man asked again and again and for the first three times, the Prophet answered, “The prayer,” then on the fourth occasion he stated, “Jihad in the way of God.”[1]

The importance of prayer is demonstrated in many of the Prophet’s statements.  For example, the Prophet said,

“The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer.  If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound.  And if it is incomplete, then the rest of his deeds will be incomplete.”[2]

The importance of the prayers lies in the fact that no matter what actions one performs in his life, the most important aspect is one’s relationship to God, that is, one’s faith (imaan), God-consciousness (taqwa), sincerity (ikhlas) and worship of God (ibaadah).  This relationship with God is both demonstrated and put into practice, as well as improved and increased, by the prayer.  Therefore, if the prayers are sound and proper, the rest of the deeds will be sound and proper; and if the prayers are not sound and proper, then the rest of the deeds will not be sound and proper, as the Prophet himself stated. 

In reality, the prayer is performed properly – with true remembrance of God and turning to Him for forgiveness – it will have a lasting effect on the person.  After he finishes the prayer, his heart will be filled with the remembrance of God.  He will be fearful as well as hopeful of God.  After that experience, he will not want to move from that lofty position to one wherein he disobeys God.  God has mentioned this aspect of the prayer when He has said,

“Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds” (Quran 29:45)

Nadwi has described this effect in the following eloquent way,

Its aim is to generate within the subliminal self of man such spiritual power, light of faith and awareness of God as can enable him to strive successfully against all kinds of evils and temptations and remain steadfast at times of trial and adversity and protect himself against the weakness of the flesh and the mischief of immoderate appetites.[3]

The overall affect that the properly performed prayers should have upon humans is described in other verses in the Quran:

“Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him and ungenerous when good touches him.  Except for those devoted to prayer those who remain constant in their prayers…” (Quran 70:19-23)

As for the Hereafter, God’s forgiveness and pleasure is closely related to the prayers.  The Messenger of God said,

“God has obligated five prayers.  Whoever excellently performs their ablutions, prays them in their proper times, completes their bows, prostrations and khushu[4], has a promise from God that He will forgive him.  And whoever does not do that has no promise from God.  He may either forgive him or punish him.”

The prayers are a type of purification for a human being.  He turns and meets with his Lord five times a day.  As alluded to above, this repeated standing in front of God should keep the person from doing sinful acts during the day.  Furthermore, it should also be a time of remorse and repentance, such that he earnestly asks God for forgiveness for those sins that he committed.  In addition, the prayer in itself is a good deed that wipes away some of the evil deeds that he performed.  These points can be noted in the following hadith of the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him:

“If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?” The people said, “No filth would remain on him whatsoever.” The Prophet then said, “That is like the five daily prayers: God wipes away the sins by them.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)

In another hadith, the Prophet said,

“The five daily prayers and the Friday Prayer until the Friday prayer are expiation for what is between them.” (Saheeh Muslim)

- islamreligion.com

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Footnotes:

[1]This is form a hadith recorded by Ahmad and ibn Hibban.  According to al-Albani, the hadith is hasan.  Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani, Sahih al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb (Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami, 1982), vol.  1, p.  150

[2]Recorded by al-Tabarani.  According to al-Albani, it is Sahih.  Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p.  503.

[3]Nadwi, p. 24

[4]Khushu` in the prayer is where the person’s heart is attuned to the prayer.  This feeling in the heart is then reflected on the body.  The person remains still and calm.  His gaze is also lowered.  Even his voice is affected by this feeling in the heart.  For more details on this concept (as well as the difference between it and khudhu`), see Muhammad al-Shaayi, al-Furooq al-Laughawiyyah wa Atharahaa fi Tafseer al-Quran al-Kareem (Riyadh: Maktabah al-Ubaikaan, 1993), pp.  249-254.  

Who are the Strangers?

 

Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said, “Islam began as something strange, and it shall return to being something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers.”[1]  It was asked, “Who are those strangers, O Messenger of God?”  He replied, “Those that correct the people when they become corrupt.”[2]  In another narration he said in response to the same question, “They are a small group of people among a large evil population.  Those who oppose them are more than those who follow them.[3]

Just who are the strangers?  Is it me or you or the neighbours; is it the people at the mosque, or the other mosque?  Is it all of us or none of us?  Are the strangers those who have converted to Islam? Or the born Muslim who suddenly grows a beard, or puts on a scarf for the first time?  I think that many of you would agree that being Muslim in the 21st century makes you well acquainted with being strange.  It might even be a metaphor for random, as in you have been randomly selected.

Seriously though, many converts to Islam will tell you about feeling as if they were strangers, before finding Islam.  They will speak of feeling that they belonged somewhere else, that their lives were just slightly off centre.  They often speak about a vague sense of knowing they were not like everyone else around them, feeling like a stranger in a strange land.  Converting to Islam gives one a sense of coming home, of finally being normal, albeit sometimes still in a strange land.

It does not take long though before some converts begin to feel that they are still strangers and they start to wonder if this feeling of never quite being at ease, or  at home, will ever end.  Some conclude that it will not, at least not until they are in their true home – al Jennah, the Paradise.  This feeling is not restricted to converts; often those who were born into the religion of Islam feel a sense of not belonging, of being out of place, of not fitting in, of being strange.

We are not the first or only Muslims to ponder our strangeness.  The first Muslims in Mecca must have looked to their sisters, fathers and aunts and wondered why they just couldn’t see the truth.  Why didn’t they see that Muhammad was the messenger of God?  Finding and accepting the truth is a wonderful blessing but often the feeling of strangeness remains.  And that is not such a bad thing.

Noted Islamic scholar Ibnul Qayyim said, Muslims are strangers among mankind; the true believers are strangers among Muslims; and the scholars are strangers among the true believers.  And the followers of the Sunnah, those that abandon all forms of innovation, are likewise strangers.

The strangeness we feel is a sensation that was shared by the prophets and messengers before Prophet Muhammad.  Prophet Noah preached the word of God to his people for 950 years yet he was rejected and mocked.  Prophet Lot, Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Jonah, were abused, persecuted and humiliated.  Prophet Moses was rejected not only by the Pharaoh but also by his own people when they rejected his call and worshipped the golden calf instead of God alone.  Prophet Jesus and his disciples were ridiculed when they chose to worship God Alone and must surely have felt the strangeness that we feel today.

Imam Ibnul Qayyim suggested that there were three degrees of strangeness.[4]  The first one he called ‘praiseworthy strangeness’, which is the result of adhering to the belief in One God.  It is the strangeness of those who say, there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.  It is a comforting strangeness, that comes from knowing that there is no help except from God.  He (God) says that most of mankind will not follow the truth.  Those that worship God truly and correctly will be the strangers from among mankind.

And if you obey most of the people on Earth, they will lead you astray. (Quran 6: 116)

And most of mankind will not believe, even if you (O Muhammad) desire it eagerly. (Quran 12: 103)

And truly, most of mankind are rebellious and disobedient (to God). (Quran 5: 49)

But nay, most of mankind are ungrateful. (Quran 12: 38)

As to the second type of strangeness, ‘blameworthy strangeness’, Ibnul Qayyim said more than 600 years ago, words that are pertinent even today.  “Their strangeness is due to their refusal to follow the correct and straight path of God.  This strangeness is the strangeness of not conforming to the religion of Islam and, as such, it will remain strange even if its followers are numerous, its power is strong and its existence is widespread.  These are the strangers to God.  May God keep us from becoming one of them.”

The third category is the strangeness a traveller feels.  It is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy.  It does however have the potential to become praiseworthy.  When  a person who lives in a place for a short period of time, knowing that he has to move on he feels strange, as if not belonging anywhere.

We are all strangers in this world, for we will all go one day to our permanent abode in the Hereafter.  Understanding this means that we understand and embrace what Ibnul Qayyim called praiseworthy strangeness.

Prophet Muhammad said, “Live in this world as though you are a stranger or a wayfarer.”  The strangeness that is felt by many Muslims is usually a good thing.  It can be that praiseworthy strangeness that confirms our love for God and His Messenger.  It reminds us to live our lives as if we are travellers at a way stop, waiting for God to call us home to our final abode. 

 islamreligion.com

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Footnotes:

[1]Saheeh Muslim, At Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad.

[2]Reported by Abu Amr al-Dani, from the hadith of ibn Masoud

[3]Reported by ibn Asaakir.

[4]Al  Ghurbathu wa al Ghuraba, a booklet by Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah.

Life after Death : An Argument & Its Fruits

 

Life after Death (part 1 of 2): An Argument

The question of whether or not there is life after death does not fall into the field of science, because science is only concerned with the classification and analysis of recorded data.  Moreover, man has been busy with scientific enquiries and research, in the modern sense of the term, only for the last few centuries, while he has been familiar with the idea of life after death since time immemorial.  All the prophets of God called their people to worship God and to believe in life after death.  They laid so much emphasis on the belief in life after death that even a slight doubt concerning the actuality of it meant denying God, and made all other beliefs meaningless.  Prophets of God have come and gone, the epochs of their advent being spread over thousands of years, yet life after death was proclaimed by them all.  The very fact that they have all dealt with this metaphysical question so confidently and uniformly goes to prove that the source of their knowledge of what to expect after death was the same: Divine revelation.

We also know that these prophets of God were greatly opposed by their people, mainly on the issue of resurrection to life once a person had died, since their people thought it to be impossible.  But in spite of that opposition, the prophets won many sincere followers.  The question of what made those followers forsake their earlier belief systems arises.  What led them to reject the established beliefs, traditions and customs of their forefathers even though they risked being totally alienated from their own community?  The simple answer is that they made use of their faculties of mind and heart, and realized the truth.  Did they realize the truth through experiencing it?  It cannot be so, as the perceptual experience of life after death is impossible. 

Actually, God has given man, besides perceptual consciousness, rational, aesthetic and moral consciousness too.  It is this consciousness that guides man regarding realities that cannot be verified through sensory data.  That is why all the prophets of God, while calling people to believe in God and the life hereafter, appealed to the aesthetic, moral and rational sides of man.  For example, when the idolaters of Mecca denied even the possibility of life after death, the Quran exposed the weakness of their stand by advancing very logical and rational arguments in support of it:

“And Man has coined for Us a similitude, and has forgotten the fact of his creation, saying: ‘Who will revive these bones when they have rotted away?’  Say: ‘He will revive them who produced them at the first, for He is the Knower of every creation, Who has appointed for you fire from the green tree, and behold!  You kindle from it.  Is it not He who created the heavens and the earth, able to create the like of them?  Yes, and He is indeed the Supreme Creator, the All-Knowing.” (Quran 36:78-81)

At another occasion, the Quran very clearly says that the disbelievers have no sound basis for their denial of life after death.  It is based on pure conjecture:

“They say, ‘There is nothing but our present life; we die, and we live, and nothing but time destroys us.’  Of that they have no knowledge; they merely conjecture.  And when Our revelations are recited to them, their only argument is that they say, ‘Bring us our father, if you speak truly.’” (Quran 45:24-25)

Surely God will raise all the dead, but not at our whim or for our idle inspection in the mundane world; God has His own plan of things.  A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed, and then again will the dead be resurrected to stand before God.  That day will be the beginning of the life that will never end, and that Day, every person will be rewarded by God according to his good and evil deeds.

The explanation that the Quran gives about the necessity of life after death is what the moral consciousness of man demands it.  Actually, if there is no life after death, the very belief in God becomes irrelevant, or, even if one believes in God, that would be an unjust and indifferent God.  He would have been a God who once created man, only to be unconcerned with his fate thereafter.  Surely, God is just.  He will punish the tyrants whose crimes are beyond count: having killed hundreds of innocent persons, created great corruption in the society, enslaved numerous persons to serve their whims, and so forth.  Man, having a very short span of life in this world, and this physical world also not being eternal, the punishments or rewards equal to the evil or noble deeds of persons are not possible here.  The Quran very emphatically states that the Day of Judgment must come and God will decide about the fate of each soul according to his or her record of deeds:

“Those who disbelieve say: The Hour will never come unto us.  Say: Nay, by my Lord, but it is coming unto you surely.  (He is) the Knower of the Unseen.  Not an atom’s weight, or less than that or greater, escapes Him in the heavens or in the earth, but it is in a clear Record.  That He may reward those who believe and do good works.  For them is pardon and a rich provision.  But those who strive against our revelations, challenging (Us), theirs will be a painful doom of wrath.” (Quran 34:3-5)

The Day of Resurrection will be the Day when God’s attributes of Justice and Mercy will be in full manifestation.  God will shower His mercy on those who suffered for His sake in their worldly life, believing that an eternal bliss was awaiting them.  But those who abused the bounties of God, caring nothing for the life to come, will be in the most miserable state.  Drawing a comparison between them the Quran says:

“Is he, then, to whom we have promised a goodly promise the fulfillment of which he will meet, like the one whom We have provided with the good things of this life, and then on the Day of Resurrection he will be of those who will be brought arraigned before God?” (Quran 28:61)

Life after Death (part 2 of 2): Its Fruits

The Quran also states that this worldly life is a preparation for the eternal life after death.  But those who deny it become slaves of their passions and desires, and make fun of virtuous and God-conscious persons.  Such people realize their folly only at the time of their death and wish in vain to be given a further chance in the world.  Their miserable state at the time of death, the horror of the Day of Judgment, and the eternal bliss guaranteed to the sincere believers are very beautifully mentioned in the following verses of the Quran.

“Until, when death comes unto one of them, he says, ‘My Lord, send me back, that I may do right in that which I have left behind!’  But nay!  It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is a barrier until the day when they are raised.  And when the Trumpet is blown there will be no kinship among them that day, nor will they ask of another.  Then those whose scales are heavy, they are successful.  And those whose scales are light are those who lose their souls, in hell abiding, the fire burns their faces and they are glum therein.” (Quran 23:99-104)

The belief in life after death not only guarantees success in the Hereafter, but also makes this world full of peace and happiness. This is through making individuals exceedingly responsible and dutiful in their activities due to their awe of God: the fear of His punishment and hope for His reward.

Think of the people of Arabia.  Gambling, drinking, tribal feuds, plundering and murdering were the main traits of their society when they had no belief in a life hereafter.  But as soon as they accepted the belief in One God and life after death, they became the most disciplined nation of the world.  They gave up their vices, helped each other in hours of need, and settled all their disputes on the basis of justice and equality.  Similarly, the denial of life after death has its consequences not only in the Hereafter, but also in this world.  When a nation as a whole denies it, all kinds of evil and corruption become rampant in that society and ultimately it is destroyed.  The Quran mentions the terrible end of  the ‘Aad, Thamud and the Pharaoh in some detail:

“(The tribes of) Thamud and ‘Aad disbelieved in the judgment to come.  As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning, and as for ‘Aad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind, which he imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days, so that you might see the people laid prostrate in it as if they were the stumps of fallen down palm trees.

“Now do you see remnant of them?  Pharaoh likewise and those before him and the subverted cities.  They committed errors and those before him, and they rebelled against the Messenger of their Lord, and He seized them with a surpassing grip.  Lo, when the waters rose, We bore you in the running ship that We might make it a reminder for you and for heeding ears to hold.

“So when the Trumpet is blown with a single blast and the earth and the mountains are lifted up and crushed with a single blow, then on that day, the Terror shall come to pass, and the heaven shall be split, for upon that day it shall be very frail.

“Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he shall say ‘Here, take and read my book!  Certainly I thought that I should encounter my reckoning.’  So he shall be in a pleasing life in a lofty garden, its clusters nigh to gather.  Eat and drink with wholesome appetite for what you did long ago, in the days gone by.

“But as for him who is given his book in his left hand, he shall say: ‘Would that I had not been given my book and known my reckoning!  Would it had been the end!  My wealth has not availed me, my authority is gone from me.’” (Quran 69:4-29)

Thus, there are very convincing reasons to believe in life after death.

First, all the prophets of God have called their people to believe in it.

Secondly, whenever a human society is built on the basis of this belief, it has been the most ideal and peaceful society, free of social and moral evils.

Thirdly, history bears witness that whenever this belief is rejected collectively by a group of people in spite of the repeated warning of their Prophet, the group as a whole has been punished by God, even in this world.

Fourthly, moral, aesthetic and rational facilities of man endorse the possibility of life after death.

Fifthly, God’s attributes of Justice and Mercy would have no meaning if there is no life after death. - islamreligion.com

Is the Quran Authentic?

 

The Quran, sometimes called the Holy Quran or the Noble Quran is the divine scripture or sacred text of the religion of Islam.  Muslims believe that the Quran is the literal word of God.  It was revealed to God’s final messenger Muhammad, to bring humankind out of the darkness of polytheism and ignorance and into the light of Islam.  Quran confirms the books that were sent before it, including the Jewish Torah and the Gospels of Jesus.  It became the book of guidance for all humankind.  Quran abrogates all scriptures before it.  It contains signs of God’s greatness, miracles, parables, and lessons.  The Quran explains the names and attributes of God and His creation.  It calls us to believe in God, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and in in fate or the divine decree.

“And We have sent down to you the Book (the Quran) as an exposition of everything, guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves.” (Quran 16:89)

“The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord and (so do) the believers.  Each one believes in God, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers.  (They say)  ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers’ — and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey.  (We seek)  Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)’”. (Quran 2:285)

“And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Quran) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and trustworthy in highness and a witness over it (old Scriptures).” (Quran 5:48)

The Quran is the greatest of all scriptures.  Through it, God speaks to humankind.  He shows us His mercy, His love, His justice, and His wisdom.  It is guidance, and a comfort to the heart.  It is a most important book indeed.  How then can we be sure that God’s words have not be changed or lost?  How can we be sure that the Quran we hold in our hands today is authentic? 

Muslims have no doubt that Quran is exactly the same today as it was more than 1400 years ago when it was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad.  The authenticity of Quran is  established in several ways.  The most important way we can be sure that the Quran is authentic is the fact that when God revealed the Quran, He promised to preserve it.

“It is We Who have sent down the remembrance (i.e. the Quran) and surely, We will guard it from corruption.” (Quran 15:9)

In the time of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, the Arabs, although predominantly illiterate, were masters of the spoken word. Their poetry and prose were considered outstanding, and a model of literary excellence. When Prophet Muhammad recited the Quran – the words of God – the Arabs were moved tremendously by its sublime tone, eloquence, and extraordinary beauty. The Quran was Prophet Muhammad’s miracle from God.

The Quran was also preserved by the people around Prophet Muhammad, they  memorised the words of the Quran as they were revealed and  paid careful attention to each word. Until today there are people who memorize the Quran with direct chains of memorization that span back to the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, himself. Besides this record of memorization there is the written record as well, whereby trustworthy scribes wrote down the revelation. They wrote on flat stones, bark, bones, and even animal skins.

Prophet Muhammad himself supervised the memorisation and writing of the Quran.  The preservation of Quran was also a major priority for the four men destined to follow Muhammad as leaders of the Muslim nation.  Through their extraordinary effort and by the permission of God the Quran came to be written in book form.  Generation after generation, one after the other, went to great lengths to preserve the word of Quran exactly as they were revealed.

This process is called Tawatur in the Arabic language.  It means that  historical continuity and perpetuation is achieved by transfer from one generation to the next.  What is implied is that so many people in each generation conveyed it that there can be no doubt about its authenticity.  Quran was not transmitted by a handful of people in one generation to a few persons in the next.  It was passed  by each entire generation to the next generation.  More about how the early Muslims preserved Quran can be found in The Story of Quran, Parts 1-4. 

One of Quran’s most remarkable qualities and another reason for believing its authenticity is the complete consistency between the Quran and many of the discoveries of modern science.  Quran even pre-empts facts only discovered in the last 50 years or less.  More information about the marvellous symbiotic relationship between the Quran and scientific discoveries can be found on this website in the section entitled The Scientific Miracles of the Holy Quran.  Dr Maurice Bucaille, a French medical doctor specialising in gastroenterology had the following words to say about the scientific information contained in Quran.

“The Quran follows on from the two Revelations that preceded it,  and it  is not only free from contradictions in its narrations, but provides a quality all of its own for those who examine it objectively and in the light of science, i.e. its complete agreement with modern scientific data.  What is more, statements are to be found in it (as has been shown) that are connected with science: and yet it is unthinkable that a man of Muhammad’s time could have been the author of them.  Modern scientific knowledge therefore allows us to understand certain verses of the Quran which, until now, it has been impossible to interpret.”

The Quran used by more then 1.5 billion Muslims throughout the world today is known as the Uthmani Quran.  It was compiled by the third leader of the Islamic nation, Uthman ibn Affan, and copies were distributed throughout the Caliphate.  Each book is a copy of the original and it is believed that two of these original copies exist to this day in Turkey and Uzbekistan.

The words of Quran have remained unchanged. Over the centuries Muslims and non Muslims alike have examined copies of Quran more than 1000 years old and found that they are all identical, apart from the introduction of vowel marks in the 7th century CE. These marks were introduced to further guard the authenticity of Quran by demanding strict adherence to pronunciation rules.

The preservation of Quran is a tale of wonder and amazement. It is a testament of God's love for humankind, a book of guidance and a source of comfort. Muslims around the globe bear witness that it is the divinely revealed words of God.  Words from the Most Merciful to His slaves.  From the moment it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad it has been protected and preserved by God from the corruption of mankind and generations of men, women, and children have stood guard over Quran with their hearts, minds and lives. - islamreligion.com

The Struggle for One God

 

At the time of Prophet Muhammad – may God praise him-  there was a powerful and influential tribal leader by the name of Musaylamah.  For those who know his history, I challenge you to tell me who his father was.  Ask anyone in the world and they will say, "Al kadhdhab – the liar!" Even if we were to search out his descendants in the present day and ask them who was your ancestor Musaylimah’s father, they would say, "The liar!"  Why?

Musaylimah had all the earthly ingredients to launch a new religion.  He had exquisite knowledge of the language, was a magical public speaker, had wealth beyond imagination, and a tribal army crazy about him, ready to die for his safety.  He took all these ingredients and proclaimed to all that he was a Prophet of God just like Muhammad. 

He missed one ingredient though, that sunk his ship – the ingredient of truthfulness.  That is why today, over 1400 years later, there is not a single human soul on earth who thinks Musaylamah was the Prophet of God.  Alas, God did not give him the authority to make this claim. 

On the other hand, not a second ticks by in 24 hours, 7 days a week, except that there is a Muslim caller to prayer somewhere in the world in the millions of mosques announcing Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-Allah – I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. 

This is so because human beings did not give him this authority, nor did he himself proclaim this to himself.  As the emperor of Rome, Heracles, asked the Muslim messenger in the year 679 after he had presented Islam to him, "Which King gave [Muhammad] this authority?" The reply was so simple, so profound, "God did! God gave [him] this authority!"

I grew up in central Canada, in a city called Winnipeg; a city so synonymous with the term cold that local folk call it "Winterpeg".  It’s so cold that people in Canada say, "Man, you’re from Winnipeg, isn’t it cold there?"

I went to grade school in Winnipeg in the early 80’s.  My family and I lived in an environment where we would be giggled at and insulted at the mall and by passing cars.  Not uncommon were random shouts of, "Hey Ninja lady!" or "Look what came out of the Desert!"

At that time, we were the only colored children in the school.  I remember once telling a friend to guess what the most popular name in the world was.  When I told him it was Muhammad, he told me, "Get lost! You’re the only one in the school with that name.  It must be John or something."

I don’t blame him; a lot of people in North America have not travelled and experienced the treasures of culture and flavour that the nations of the world have to offer humanity.

Reverend Billy Graham once said something so profound.  He said, "I travelled the world and came to the realization that perhaps America does not have in its palm all the truths of the world."

Reverend Billy Graham deserves a standing ovation for a statement like that and the modesty to announce that to millions of viewers.  But although America may not have all the truths, it is blessed with a nation of truth seekers, for it is never a shame to be mistaken.  The only thing shame lies in after the truth has come is to persist in one’s mistake.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in America, rather in the world.  In the past 50 years, Muslims have increased by 233%.  And across the earth, from every nation, Muslims number over 1 billion.

The key to Islam is the statement laa ilaaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul-Allah – there is no (true) deity except God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of God. 

This statement takes only a few seconds to pronounce, but it is the transformation point of the lives of billions of Muslims around the world.  Only the Creator deserves to be worshipped.

Let’s take an example from the lives of such people whose lives changed with this call to worship only one God.  Bilal - may God be pleased with him - was an Abyssinian slave for the aristocracy of Makkah in the year 623.  When Muhammad the Messenger of God, may God praise him, came with this message of ‘No (true) deity except God (Allah)’, Bilal - may God be pleased with him - denounced the 360 statues and idols that the tribes of Makkah were worshipping and believed in only God.

His enraged slave master Umayyah would take Bilal out in the sizzling noon heat because of his beliefs, and burn away Bilal’s back on the sand.  To intensify the pain, Umayyah would bring a boulder and place it on his stomach to press him down on the grilling sand, burning the skin away.

All Bilal would whisper was, "He is only One (God), He is only One (God)," infuriating Umayyah who would only intensify the torture. 

Bilal was freed by one of Muhammad’s closest friends and followers, Abu Bakr, and Bilal became the first mu’adhdhin (the one who calls others to prayer) of Islam. 

Another example is that of the Muslim woman Sumayyah - may God be pleased with her.  She was also a slave and because they had accepted that no created thing deserved worship, only the Creator, she, her husband, and her son were subjected to physical beatings. 

Her torturer Abu Jahl became infuriated one day with her soft voice repeating, "There is no (true) deity except God!" He became so infuriated that he took a spear through her mid section and made Sumayyah the first Muslim to die in the name of "There is no (true) deity but God!" May God be pleased with her!

Although it was permissible for the Muslims to lie to save themselves from the torture, you’ll see example after example of Muslims who would rather die than surrender their right to believe that only God deserves to be worshipped. 

Amongst the tyrants of Makkah there was a man by the name of Umar ibn Al-Khattab.  He was so vicious with the Muslims that he would volunteer to torture Muslim slaves.  One day, he just had enough and unsheathed his sword and set on his way to the home of Muhammad to slit his throat once and for all.  On the way a Muslim who had been hiding his Islam, Nu’aym ibn Abdullah, inquired about Umar’s haste.  "I’m off to Muhammad, that one who cut up our tribe, belittled our gods, and mocked our religion, to kill him!"

Nu’aym became afraid for the Messenger of God so he quickly thought and said, "Why don’t you start with your family first!  Your sister and her husband have accepted Islam!"

Umar became enraged and changed direction to his sister’s home.  At that time, a Muslim teacher, Khabbab ibn Al-Arat, was at their home teaching them the word of God, the Qur’an, and for a few moments Umar stood there listening.  Then he shouted for them to open the door.  Khabbab hid in an adjacent room and Umar’s sister Fatimah hid the scroll that had the Qur’an written on it.

Umar entered and walked right up to his brother-in-law.  "I heard you both have accepted Muhammad, and are following him." Then Umar pounded his brother-in-law in the face.  Fatimah, his sister, stood to protect her husband, and when she came in the way, Umar slapped the face of his sister with all his might. 

She fell to the ground, her cheek split and the blood spilt all over her clothes.  She looked up at her brother and said from behind her tears, "Yes Umar we are Muslim and yes, we have believed in God and His Messenger.  Maybe you don’t have all the truth like you think you do?"

Umar was ashamed at the sight of his sister’s blood and desisted.  He asked, "What was that sound I heard, that recitation?"

His sister replied, "I fear for that scroll to fall in your hands." But Umar swore by the idols that he would do no harm.  She handed him the scroll after he had cleansed himself and he recited:

Taha.  We did not send down to you the Qur’an that you be distressed.  But only as a reminder for those who fear (God).  A revelation from He who created the earth and the highest heavens. (God) the Merciful (who is) above the Throne established.  To him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil.  And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is (even) more hidden.  Allah - there in no god except Him, to Him belong the best names (Quran  20:1-8)

Umar later that day visited the Messenger of God.  When he met him, the Messenger of God took the coat of Umar and said, "Hasn’t the time come for you to become Muslim?" And Umar replied, "I’ve only come for that reason.  Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illa Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-Allah (There is no god but God (Allah) and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.)"

The Prophet shouted Allahu Akbar (God is Great), and everyone that heard it knew that Umar had become Muslim!

I’ve been in large crowds in my life, both in the West and in the Middle East. 

In Winnipeg, the biggest crowds I experienced were at hockey games.  Like I said before, Winnipeg has a lot of ice.  Maybe 20 thousand Winnipeggers would gather at night for a hockey game.  Hey that’s a lot for Winnipeg!

In Makkah, at the Grand Mosque, I have been in a crowd of 3 million worshippers in one prayer!  These people were not from one nation, nor were they from one language background, and no, they didn’t gather to see the Winnipeg Jets beat the Washington Capitols!

As you’ll see today when we line up for prayer, in Makkah 3 Million people lined up in perfect circles around the Grand Mosque to worship God! I once stood in the window of a hotel across from the Grand Mosque and watched down below the swarming crowd of 3 million Muslims.  Then, when the call to prayer began, that entire crowd stood in perfect circles in less than 50 seconds.  Who gathered these hearts? Only God!

A consistent crowd of 3 million from every nation, class, and color came about with pain and struggle to assert humanity’s right to worship nothing but the one true God, Allah. 

There were times in that very same valley of Makkah when Muhammad would prostrate only to God, avoiding all the false idols that surrounded him.  The polytheists of Makkah sat there staring at him and loathed the scene.  They said to themselves, "How can we sit here and allow Muhammad to prostrate to God in your midst.  Who amongst us will humiliate him?"

"I shall," said a man by the name of Utbah.

He took the intestines of a fresh lamb that had been sacrificed to the idols and dumped it on the head of Muhammad.  The polytheists fell off their seats in hysterical laughter.  Muhammad did not come up from his prostration. 

News reached his daughter Fatimah, who at that time was still a young girl, that her father was being ridiculed at the Ka’bah (the sacred House of God)[1].  She raced there, and when she saw her father, she cried and removed the filth and swore through her tears at the polytheists. 

This is just an example of the ridicule the Messenger of God and the Muslims went through to teach humanity that nothing deserves worship except God!

The polytheists of Makkah used their media – poetry and word of mouth – to sway public opinion against this call that there was no (true) deity but God. 

A doctor by the name of Damaud from the tribe of Azd made pilgrimage to Makkah and when he arrived in the Holy valley the news media of Makkah flash warned him not listen to a word Muhammad says.  "He is a magician," they said, "He’s mad."

Damaud recalls, "They frightened me so much that I considered putting cotton in my ears.  But then I said to myself, ‘I am a doctor and have healed mad men before, perhaps I may be able to cure Muhammad."

So after completing his circumambulation around the Ka’bah, he saw Muhammad sitting peacefully in the courtyard.  He approached him and said softly, "Muhammad, I administer treatment for this illness and God has allowed me to heal many people, would you wish that I nurse you?"

Muhammad, may God praise him, turned and said, "Verily all praise belongs to God; we thank God and seek his protection from everything; whoever God guides none can misguide them and whoever God leaves to go astray none can guide them aright.  I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except God (Allah) and that (I) Muhammad am the Messenger of God."

Damaud’s mouth gapped open.  He swallowed and said, "Could you repeat that for me?"  Muhammad the Messenger of God repeated it.

Then Damaud smiled and announced, "By God, I have heard the words of soothsayers, and have heard the words of magicians, and have heard the words of poets, but I have never heard words like this! Give me your hand for I am pledging allegiance to Islam.  There is no (true) deity except God and Muhammad is His Messenger!"

You’ll find in the Qur’an verse after verse opening the eyes of humanity to the reality that there is a God and He is only One. 

Jubayr ibn Mut’em stood quietly behind the Messenger of God at Maghrib prayer one day and listened to the verses of the Qur’an.  The Messenger of God was reciting Chapter At-Toor and in it he heard him recite:

Were they created by nothing or were they the creators of (themselves)? Or, did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain. Or have they (in their hands) the treasures of your Lord? Or do they control it? (At-Toor 52:35-37)

Jubayr ibn Mut’em said, "When I heard these verses, it was as if my heart had wings flying swiftly and in bliss to the truth that I had found in Islam."

Brothers and sisters, where will you be in 100 years? You’ll be dead.  And where were you 100 years ago? Nowhere.  You were nothing.  God says in the Qur’an:

Has there not come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing (even) mentioned? Indeed, We created man from a sperm - drop mixture (i.e.  combination of male and female substance) that We may test him and We made him hearing and seeing.  Indeed, We guided him to the way, to be thankful or to be ungrateful.  (Al-Insan 76/1-3)

In those early days of Islam, the Messenger of God would go from tent to tent, tribe to tribe, announcing to them, "Say there is no (true) deity except God and success will be yours!"

Today, over 1400 years later as the followers of Muhammad, believers in God (Allah), we extend those words of our Messenger to all our guests today: Say there is no (true) deity except God (Allah) and success will be yours!

 - islamreligion.com

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Footnotes:

[1]To learn more about the Ka’bah, please see:  http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/3282/