In today's fast-paced world, it is a must for manufacturers of almost every product - from state-of-the-art microwave ovens to space age automobiles, from sophisticated sewing machines to powerful fighter jets, and from highly functional refrigerators to intelligent mainline computer systems - to provide a manual for the users' benefit. In light of that, it is impossible to conceive that the Maker of mankind did not equip him with any form of guidance for his life on earth
It is unlikely that early man, with his limited knowledge about anything, groped about the planet and endeavored to understand his alien surroundings and circumstances. We know for a fact that a child is always full of questions, and never stops asking to satisfy his/her curiosity.
Without an adult's aid, he/she is helpless. The same applies in the case of the first man, Adam may Allah exalt his mention. His Creator, Almighty Allah, became his Teacher. After him, Divine inspiration continued to be revealed upon selected human beings with the command to guide their brethren towards enlightenment and truth.
These revelations were sent to many different nations in many different tongues, and formulated according to the needs of the times and the understanding of the people.
Almighty Allah revealed those Divine Books to His messengers as proof against mankind and guidance for the righteous workers. They purified and taught them wisdom by these books.
Allah, the Most Exalted, sent down a book with every messenger, because He Says (what means): "Indeed We sent down Our messengers with the clear signs, and We sent down with them the book and the balance, so that people may uphold justice" [Quran 57:25]
Books Known:
Among the books that were revealed, we know:
1) The Torah, which was revealed to Prophet Moosa (Moses) may Allah exalt his mention. It is the greatest among the Israelites' books: Almighty Allah 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]
2) The Gospel, which Allah revealed to Prophet 'Eesa (Jesus) may Allah exalt his mention. It is a confirmation of the Torah and a complement to it, as Almighty Allah Says (what means): "…and We gave him ('Eesaa) 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]. Allah also Says (what means): "…and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you." [Quran 3:50]
3) The Psalms, which Allah gave to Prophet Dawood (David) may Allah exalt his mention. Almighty Allah Says (what means): "… And to Daawood (David) We gave the Psalms]." [Quran 17:55]
4) The Tablets of Ibraheem (Abraham) and Moosa may Allah exalt their mention.
5) The Glorious Quran, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) the final Prophet. Allah Almighty Says (what means): "…guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion." [Quran 2:185].
The Quran Is Protected from Change:
As Allah, the Most Exalted, Says (what means), The Quran: "…confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it." [Quran 5:48] Thus, by means of the Quran, Allah abrogated all the previous revealed books. Allah has also guaranteed its protection from any play or mischievous distortion. He states (what means): "Indeed, We sent down the message and We will guard it." [Quran 15:9], for the Quran is a proof against mankind till the Day of Judgment.
Previous Scriptures Changed:
The previous scriptures were meant for a limited period. Their use ended with the revelation of the Quran, which abrogated them and exposed their distortions and changes done by the people. That is why they were not protected from corruption. They underwent distortion, addition, and omission. The Quran referred to this fact in the verses (which mean): "Some of the Jews pervert words from their meanings…" [Quran 4:46];
Allah also Says (what means): "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 2:79];
Allah also Says (what means): "Say (O Muhammad), 'Who revealed the Scripture that Moosaa (Moses) brought as light and guidance to the people? You [Jews] make it into pages, disclosing [some of] it and concealing much." [Quran 6:91];
Allah also 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];
And He also 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. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book [i.e. the Quran]. By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darkness into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path." [Quran 5:15-16].
The preservation of the Quran: The Quran is the Book of Allah and the last revelation which abrogated the previous divine books. There is no doubt that this book is preserved from any alteration and falsification. It was transmitted to the Muslims, generation by generation, by absolute evidences. Since its revelation it was kept intact in its written form and memorized [by millions of Muslims], young and old people, males and females, Arabs and non-Arabs. No one could add a letter to it or remove a letter from it. The differences that might happen in the interpretation of the Quran does not mean that it was falsified, as interpreting the meaning of the Quran is not considered as adding to it or taking out anything from it. The difference in the interpretation of the verses is of two kinds
Similar interpretations: [Different interpretations but similar in meaning], like when there is a difference in the term. Example: The true path is interpreted to mean the Quran or Islam. Both interpretations are correct. This kind of interpretation is not a difference in reality.
Second interpretation: Contradiction in the interpretation, in a way that the first meaning contradicts the second meaning. So this is the real difference. For instance the interpretation of menses in the verse of Allah (which means): "And divorced women shall wait (as regards their marriage) for three menstrual periods." [Quran 2:228]. Some interpreters of the Quran interpreted it to mean the beginning of menses and some interpreted it to mean the beginning of being pure from the menses. This is because the word in the Arabic language accepts both meanings. So when this kind of difference of interpretation occurs, then in order to favor one meaning over the other, one resorts to another text in the Quran or in the sayings of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) and the like.
The verses of the Quran are interpreted by other verses or by a saying of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ). If there is no other verse to interpret the first verse and no Prophetic narration, then one has to resort to the sayings of the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, as they witnessed the revelation. If there is nothing of the above at all, then one interprets the verse according to the meaning of the words in the Arabic language as the Quran was revealed in Arabic. Therefore, there are some requirements when interpreting the Quran and there is even a science called the Usool Al-Tafseer (Principles of interpretation). As regards people who use verses from the Quran, if they can find any [that could apply to them], to justify their conduct, then we cannot rule by this conduct that the deficincy is in the Quran. Rather it is by the Quran that we judge whether the conduct of people is proper or not.
The Quran remained preserved in its original form through the centuries despite the weakness that the Muslim nation underwent, the vanishing of the Muslim caliphate, and the dispute and difference amongst the Muslims. Despite all this, the Quran remained preserved and protected by Allah, which is one of its miracles.
The Bible: Many people refer to the Injeel (the book that was revealed to prophet 'Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention) by the term "The Bible". But one can surely say, and without any doubt, that the Injeel has been altered and changed by human beings throughout history and the original copy no longer exists.
On the other hand, some people use the term "The Bible" to refer the book used by the Christians, and to those people we say the following:
In the Quran Allah informs us that He revealed a number of books, including the pages of Prophet Abraham (Ibraheem may Allah exalt his mention), the Psalms of Prophet David (Dawood may Allah exalt his mention), the Torah of Prophet Moses (Moosa may Allah exalt his mention), the Injeel (Gospel) of Prophet Jesus ('Eesa may Allah exalt his mention), and finally, the Quran of Prophet Muhammad, sallalaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. Of these revealed texts only the Quran remains intact in its original form. All of the others (as complete books) have been lost, their remains have survived only as fragments or tampered with in some way so as to make their authenticity doubtful.
Nowhere in the Quran is the Bible even mentioned, to say nothing of its being among the revealed texts of Allah, or as Christian claim "The Word of God." Further, we know from respected scholars that although some fragments of the Psalms, the Torah, and the Injeel (the teachings of Prophet 'Eesa may Allah exalt his mention) may be found in the Bible, comprised of the Old and New Testaments, the Bible cannot rightfully be called "The Word of God." Why is this so?
As one publisher (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois) stated: 'The Bible may look like one book, but it is actually sixty-six books in one. Thirty-nine books make up what we call the Old Testament, and twenty-seven make up the New Testament. It is possible that more than forty writers were used by God to write all sixty-six books.' (Quoted from the "Holy Bible" – New Living Translation, Gift and Award Edition, l997, p. vii)
So if the Bible is neither narrated by God nor written by Him, and, as such, is not ‘the word of God,' then what is it? By any objective criteria, the Bible is a book containing a compilation of stories, legends, folk tales, folk lore, myths, sagas, narratives, poetry, fragments of scriptures (fragments from the Psalms, the Torah, and the Injeel as already mentioned), letters (esp. in New Testament), visions, dreams, accounts of events from doubtful sources (not eye witnesses), editors’ or scribes’ notes, as well as human errors.
For those who believe in it, it is a book that has historical, cultural, moral and ethical values, and a source of spiritual teaching and guidance. It is a book held in high esteem, primarily by Christians who see it as a divine book and the source of their religious beliefs. But, in the final analysis it is only a book with many limitations and imperfections which disqualify it from being called "The Word of God." Whoever makes such a claim then the burden of proof rests with him. On the contrary, the Glorious Quran is the Speech of Allah and, through the Angel Gabriel, was revealed to Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ); later compiled into a book more than 14 centuries ago it remains in its original form until today.
Common misunderstandings about the Bible: Some common misunderstandings about the Bible include the following:
* The Bible is one book, the Old Testament. The Bible contains sixty-six books (or more depending upon the denomination one belongs to).
* The Old Testament (OT) is the Torah followed by the Jews. The OT contains some fragments of the Torah which was lost and the Psalms, but the Talmud is the book followed by the Jews and is totally unrelated to the Bible.
* The New Testament (NT) is the Gospel of Prophet Jesus, or the Injeel. It is neither. It is made up of twenty-seven books, none of which was narrated or written by Prophet 'Eesaa although the NT may contain fragments of the Injeel (sayings and teachings of Prophet 'Eesaa). The Injeel as revealed through Prophet Jesus has been lost. The fragments which may be cited in the NT may not be authentic or in their proper context. So it is erroneous to equate the NT with the Injeel mentioned in the Quran.
* The Bible is a holy book, narrated, dictated by God and is infallible. While this is a claim, this misconception has already been addressed. Since the Bible is 'only' a book, there is no need to call it a forgery, a corrupted text, etc. The Quran is the only authentic "Word of God," His Speech, and Allah has promised to protect it from distortion of any kind until the Day of Judgment and He has kept His promise. Not one letter or syllable has been changed over the past l4 centuries.
