AL-QURAN — THE FINAL REVELATION

The Quran is the Holy Book of the Muslims. It was revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad through the Archangel Jibrail within 23 years of his prophethood.  

Besides the Quran Muslims also believe that Allah spoke to the prophets before Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them) and revealed to them scriptures to guide mankind towards the Truth. He revealed the Torah (Taurat in Arabic) to Prophet Musa (Moses), the Gospel (Injeel in Arabic) to Prophet Isa (Jesus), the Psalms (Zaboor in Arabic) to Prophet Daud (David), and the Scrolls (Suhuf in Arabic) to Prophet Musa, Ibrahim (Moses and Abraham) and many others (peace and blessings be upon them).

Allah says in the Quran chapter al-Baqarah verse 136, “Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered”. (al-Baqarah 2:136)

Thus the Quran is the final revelation and can be considered as the Final Testament revealed by Allah.

Commenting on the Quran, Harry Gaylord Dorman correctly said in Toward Understanding Islam that, “It is a literal revelation of God, dictated to Muhammad by Gabriel, perfect in every letter. It is an ever-present miracle witnessing to itself and to Muhammad, the Prophet of God. Its miraculous quality resides partly in its style, so perfect and so lofty that neither men nor jinn could produce a single chapter to compare with its briefest chapter, and partly in its content of teachings, prophecies of the future, and amazingly accurate information such as the illiterate Muhammad could never have gathered of his own accord”. (Harry Gaylord Dorman (1948), ‘Toward Understanding Islam’ New York)

Preservation And Authenticity Of The Final Revelation

As mentioned earlier, the Quran is the Final Revelation revealed by God (Allah) to the last messenger, Prophet Muhammad. Quran is an Arabic word. It is derived from the root word qa-ra-a which means ‘reading’ or ‘recitation.’ It was transmitted to us both verbally and in writing by numerous persons starting from the time of the prophet and his companions. It is inimitable, infallible and unique and is protected by God from corruption.

Allah promises in the Quran chapter al-Hijr verse 9 that, “Verily, We have revealed the Reminder (Quran), and verily We shall preserve it.” (al-Hijr 15:9)

The Quran had been preserved in four different ways during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad.

1. 1. The Holy Prophet had the whole text of the Divine message committed to writing from the beginning to the end by the scribes of revelations.
   2. Many Companions of the Prophet learned and memorized the whole text of the Quran, every syllable of it, by heart. Besides that, they recited the Quran everyday which strengthened their memorization.
   3. All the illustrious Companions, without exception, had memorized at least some portions of the Quran, for the simple reason that they had to recite part of it during their daily prayers.
   4. A considerable number of the literate Companions kept a private record of the text of the Quran for their private readings.

After the demise of the Holy Prophet, the first Caliph, Abu Bakar as-Siddiq, with the help of the Companions who had memorized the Quran, collected all the written records of the Quran, and collated them in book form. This copy was later kept by the second Caliph, Omar al-Khattab, and later by his daughter, Hafsah. In the era of the fourth Caliph, Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be please with them), many copies were prepared from this single copy and distributed to the major Islamic cities. These copies became the standard manuscripts of the Quran. The Standard Manuscripts also known as Mushaf Uthmani in fact constitutes the ijmak (consensus) of the Companions of the Prophet, all of whom agreed that it contained what Prophet Muhammad had received in the form of revelation from Allah.

Since then, these manuscripts became the basis of production of all the Quranic books, word by word, until modern times. One of these manuscripts was removed from Madinah by the Turkish authorities and was sent to Berlin but after the Treaty of Versailles which concluded the first world war, it was returned and kept in Istanbul, Turkey, until the present moment. Another manuscript which was believed to be originally kept by Caliph Uthman, was found in Andalusia before reaching Samarkand in 1485 CE and remained there till 1869. This manuscript is now kept in Tashkent in the Museum of the City of Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Central Asia. According to Memory of the World Program, UNESCO, an arm of the United Nations, “it is the definitive version, known as the Mushaf of Uthman.” A facsimile of the mushaf in Tashkent is available at the Columbia University Library in the USA. (Refer: Ahmad Von Denffer (1983), ‘Ulum Al-Quran,’ The Islamic Foundation, UK)

In other words, the manuscripts of the Quran which were originally prepared in the era of Caliph Uthman, are still available to us today. Thus, as mentioned by Ahmad Von Denffer in Ulum Al-Quran, if anyone cares to compare their text and arrangement with any other copies of the Quran, be it in print or handwriting, from any place or period of time, they will be found identical.

Many more ancient manuscripts from all periods of Islamic history can be found in the Library of Congress in Washington, the Chester Beatty Museum in Dublin (Ireland) and the London Museum, and they have been compared with those in Tashkent and Turkey confirming that there have not been any changes in the text from its original time of writing.

Thus, the Quran as we have it today is recited in the same manner as it was revealed.  This makes it the only religious scripture that is still completely retained and understood in its original language.  Indeed, the learned Professor Laura Veccia Vaglieri said in her An Interpretation of Islam, “We have still another proof of the divine origin of the Quran in the fact that its text remained pure and unaltered through the centuries from the day of its delivery till to this day and will remain so, God willing as long as the universe continues”.(Laura Veccia Vaglieri, ‘Apologia dellâ Islamismo’, translation by Dr. Aldo Caselli. ‘An Interpretation of Islam,’ Goodward books, 2004)

Infallibility Of The Quran

The Quran clearly is the only Holy Scripture that is infallible, inimitable, inerrant and unaltered through the centuries, from the day of its delivery until today. Adrian Brockett in his article, The Value of Hafs and Warsh Transmission for the Textual History of the Quran, said, “The transmission of the Quran after the death of Muhammad was essentially static rather than organic. There was a single text, and nothing significant, not even allegedly abrogated material, could be taken out nor anything be put in”. (Adrian Brockett, ‘The Value of Hafs And Warsh Transmissions For The Textual History Of The Qur’an’ in ‘Approaches of The History of Interpretation of The Qur’an’ (1988), Clarendon Press, Oxford)

Dr. Gary Miller in his The Amazing Quran said, “Calling the Quran amazing is not something done only by Muslims, who have an appreciation for the book and who are pleased with it. It has been labelled amazing by non-Muslims as well. In fact, even people who hate Islam very much have still called it amazing. One thing which surprises non-Muslims who are examining the book very closely is that the Quran does not appear to them to be what they expected. What they assume is that they have an old book which came fourteen centuries ago from the Arabian desert and they expect that the book should look something like that – an old book from the desert. And then they find out that it does not resemble what they expected at all. Additionally, one of the first things that some people assume is that because it is an old book which comes from the desert, it should talk about the desert. Well the Quran does talk about the desert, but it also talks about the sea – what it’s like  to be in a storm on the sea….

Many centuries before the onset of Muhammad’s prophethood, there was a well-known theory of atomism advanced by the Greek philosopher, Democritus. He and the people who came after him assumed that matter consists of tiny, indestructible, indivisible particles called atoms. The Arabs too, used to deal in the same concept. In fact, the Arabic word dharrah referred to this smallest particle known to man. Now, modern science has discovered that this smallest unit of matter (i.e., the atom) can be split into its component parts. This is a new idea yet, interestingly enough, this information had already been documented in the Quran which states, ‘He (i.e. Allah) is aware of an atom’s weight in the heavens and on the earth and even anything smaller than that,’ (Chapter Yunus 10:61). Undoubtedly, fourteen centuries ago that statement would have looked unusual, even to an Arab. For him, the dharrah was the smallest thing. This proves that the Quran is not outdated”. (Dr Gary Miller, ‘The Amazing Quran’ (1992), Abul-Qasim Publishing House)

Pearls and Gems From the Quran

Greatness is based on piety: “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most pious amongst you.” (Chapter al-Hujurat 49:13)

Importance of faith and good deeds: “Except those who have faith (in Allah) and do righteous deeds, for they shall have a reward unfailing.” (Chapter at-Tin 95:6)

Sincerity for the sake of Allah: “Say, O Muhammad: Indeed my Prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are all purely and solely for Allah, Lord of all the Worlds. He has no partner. That is what my Lord ordered me, and I am the first of this nation to submit to Allah as a Muslim.” (Chapter al-An’am 6:162-163)

To commit no evil on earth: “O my people! Give full measure and weight in justice and reduce not the things that are due to the people, and do not commit mischief in the land, causing corruption.” (Chapter Hud 11:85)

Not to shun responsibilities: “O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger nor betray knowingly your responsibilities. And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely, with Allah is a mighty reward.” (Chapter al-Anfal 8:27-28)

Importance of chastity: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (when seeing women) and to be mindful of their chastity: verily this will be most conductive to their purity (and) verily Allah is aware of all that they do.” (Chapter an-Nur 24:30)

Justice to non Muslims: “Allah forbids you not, with regard to those (non Muslims) who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.” (Chapter al-Mumtahanah 60:8)

No compulsion in religion: “Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error.” (Chapter al-Baqarah 2:256)

Equity between men and women: “So their Lord responded to them: “I will never deny any of you — male or female — the reward of your deeds. Both are equal in reward.” (Chapter Ali Imran 3:195)

Treating wives with love and care: “Among His signs is the fact that he has created spouses from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquillity with them; and he has put love and mercy between you. In that are signs for people who reflect.” (Chapter ar-Rum verse 21) “O you who believe! It is not lawful for you to inherit women by force. Nor may you treat them harshly so that you can make off with part of what you have given them, unless they commit an act of flagrant indecency. Live together with them correctly and courteously. If you dislike them, it may well be that you dislike something in which Allah has placed a lot of good.” (Chapter an-Nisak 4:19)

Treating parents with kindness: “Your Lord has decreed that you should worship none but Him, and that you should show kindness to your parents. When one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say ‘Ugh!’ to them out of irritation, and do not be harsh with them; rather, speak to them with gentleness and generosity. Take them under your wing, out of mercy, with due humility and say: O Lord, show mercy to them as they did in looking after me when I was small”. (Chapter al-Israk 17:23-24)

Sanctity of life: “Say: ‘Come, and I will recite to you what your Lord has made forbidden to you: that you do not associate anything with Him, that you be good to your parents, that you do not kill your children because of poverty – We will provide for you and them, that you do not approach indecency – outward or inward, and that you do not kill any person Allah has made inviolate – except with the right to do so (based on law). That is what He instructs you to do so that, hopefully, you will use your intellect’.” (Chapter al-An’am 6:151)

Importance of gentleness: “By the Mercy of Allah you behaved with gentleness towards them (the non Muslims), and had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have left you and departed”. (Chapter Ali-Imran 3:159)

Ethics even during war: “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.” (Chapter al Baqarah verse 190)  “But if the enemy incline towards peace, then incline to it (also) and trust in Allah: for He is One that heareth and knoweth (all things).” (Chapter al-Anfal 8:61)

The Amazing Quran

The Quran is indeed a great book, as mentioned by Dr. Jeffrey Lang, an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Kansas. He converted to Islam in 1982 and wrote a few books including Even Angels Ask, A Journey to Islam in America. Before this he was a Christian and then an atheist. He had these to say about the Quran, “For those whom Islam has embraced, the greatest witness to God’s unremitting, pursuing, sustaining, and guiding love is the Quran. Like a vast and magnificent ocean, it lures you deeper and deeper into its dazzling waves until you are swept into it. But instead of drowning in a sea of darkness, you find yourself immersed in an ocean of divine light and mercy.. As I read the Quran and prayed the Islamic prayers, a door to my heart was unsealed and I was immersed in an overwhelming tenderness. Love became more permanent and real than the earth beneath my feet; its power restored to me and made it so that even I could feel the love.. I was happy enough to have found faith in a sensible religion. But I never expected to be touched by such intoxicating mercy.” (https://themuslimtimes.info/2022/11/20/dr-jeffrey-lang-about-the-quran-from-an-atheists-perspective-3/ – extracted 10-2-23)

Al-Quran guides human beings towards achieving excellence in this world and the hereafter. The formula of excellence in the Quran is based on two very important ingredients, first is acquiring knowledge and second is attaining takwa or piety.

As of knowledge, Allah says in the Quran chapter al-Alaq verse 1-5, “Read! In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood. Read! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful. He Who taught (the use of) the pen, He taught man that which he knew not”. (al-Alaq 96:1-5) 

The importance of knowledge is again expressed in chapter Ali Imran verse 79, “Be ye worshippers of Him (Allah) Who is truly the Cherisher of all, based on what ye taught from the Book and on what ye studied from it earnestly”. (Ali Imran 3:79) 

Knowledge should be followed with acts of worship, and these acts of worship should be done with full sincerity. This will result in takwa or piety. As of takwa or piety, Allah says in the Quran chapter at-Talaq verse 2-3, “And for those who are pious (takwa) He (ever) prepares a way out; And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose, Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion”. (at-Talaq 65:2-3) 

Based on the strength of knowledge and piety taught by the Quran, Muslims changed the world and created history. Indeed, this episode became the most significant episode in the history of mankind. Philip K. Hitti in his History of the Arabs observed, “Moslem Spain wrote one of the brightest Chapters in the intellectual history of mediaeval Europe. Between the middle of the 8^th and the beginning of the 13^th centuries, as we have noted before, the Arab speaking peoples were the main bearers of the torch of culture and civilization throughout the world. Moreover, they were the medium through which ancient science and philosophy were recovered, supplemented and transmitted in such a way as to make possible to renaissance of western Europe in all this Arabic Spain had a large share”. (Philip K. Hitti, ‘History of the Arabs,’ Macmillan, London, 1964)

To sum up let us read about the experience of Dr Maurice Bucaille (the eminent French surgeon, scientist, scholar and author) concerning the Quran. In The Origin of Man he said, “Mistaken ideas regarding the Qur’an have been common in Christian countries for a very long time. They still persist, as far as the history and content of the Qur’an are concerned. Because of this, the data in the Qur’an on the subject of man’s origins must be preceded by a description of the way in which the Qur’an was communicated to man. The assertions on the origins of man to be found in the Qur’an will undoubtedly astonish many people, just as they astonished me when I first discovered them. The comparison of the Biblical and Qur’anic texts is moreover highly revealing – Both of them speak of God the Creator, but the scientifically unacceptable detail in the Biblical description of the Creation is absent from the Qur’an. In fact, the Qur’an contains statements concerning man that are astounding. It is impossible to explain their presence in human terms, given the  state of knowledge at the time the Qur’an was communicated. In the West, such statements had never before formed the subject of a scientific communication until November 9, 1976, when I presented a paper to the French National Academy of Medicine on the physiological and embryological data present in the Qur’an, roughly fourteen centuries ahead of modern discoveries”.  (What  is  the  Origin  of  Man? by Dr  Maurice Bucaille, translated  from  French by  Alastair  D.  Pannel and the Author, New Delhi, 1983)

Yes, the Quran is a revelation from God (Allah). It is a Holy Book just like the Injeel, Taurat, and the Zaboor. Indeed it is the final revelation.

Written by:

Dato Dr. Danial Zainal Abidin,

Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.

1/2/2023

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