9.3. BELIEF IN THE SCRIPTURES
This article of faith refers to belief in all the scriptures revealed in their original form by Allah to His messengers. Revealed scriptures form the enlightenment which the messengers received to show the right path of Allah to their people. All the revealed books call to the worship of Allah alone and forbid the worship of anything other than Him or besides Him. They contain guidance for humankind in all aspects of life. They define right and wrong, and offer human beings a complete system of beliefs and practices governing all their affairs. The Creator alone knows best what is beneficial for His creation and what is not. Thus, the divine laws contained in those scriptures command and prohibit various acts and substances to protect the human spirit, the human body, and human society from harm. Human beings definitely need to abide by His commandments documented in His revealed books in order to fulfil their potential by living a righteous life.
The original texts of revealed books do not differ from each other in their main doctrinal principles. However, due to the differences between nations in time and space, there were some differences in the practical teachings (laws) of the scriptures, according to the wisdom of Allah. Their basic message, however, remains the same.
Muslims believe in the previous books as mentioned in the Qur’an: the Scripture of Abraham (peace be upon him), the Torah of Moses (peace be upon him), the Psalms of David (peace be upon him) and the Gospel of Jesus (peace be upon him). The following verse from the noble Qur’an emphasizes the fact that belief in all the previous scriptures sent by Allah is an integral part of the Islamic belief system: {Say, [O believers]: We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.} (Qur’an 2: 136)
However, long before the advent of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him), all these scriptures had been either lost or irretrievably corrupted by later generations over the centuries with myths, superstitions, idolatry and irrational philosophical beliefs, carrying contradicting thoughts. Hence, the existing forms of those scriptures cannot be described as Allah’s revelation.
The Bible for example, is one of the remaining books in the hands of its followers. Ever since it was revealed to Jesus (peace be upon him), it has undergone so many changes that today, there are four well-known Bibles instead of one: the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John comprise the Bible (The New Testament), along with other documents.
These were written between 40 and 115 years after Jesus (peace be upon him) had left and are based on documents that have been lost. The Gospel according to Mark, was the first one written in Rome, at least 40 years after the disappearance of Jesus (peace be upon him). The Gospel according to Matthew was written in the Greek Language about 90 years after Christ. The Gospel according to Luke was written in Greece
approximately 80 years after Christ. These three Gospels are called Synoptic because they originate from the same lost document and they have a lot in
common. The Gospel according to John, on the other hand, has deep differences with the Synoptic Gospels.
It is in this Gospel of John where the Divinity and pre- existence of Jesus (peace be upon him) was mentioned, even though Jesus himself never claimed this. This Gospel was written between 110 and 115 years CE.
Analysis of these Gospels reveals the following:
1. During the lifetime of Jesus (peace be upon him), there was no written document containing his sayings, acts or lectures.
2. The first records of the sayings of Jesus (peace be upon him), which were made close to the time of his disappearance, have been lost.
3. The Gospels were written between 40 and 115 years after Jesus’ ‘disappearance’, and were based on lost documents. As a consequence, there was a loose manipulation of the content.
4. None of the Gospel writers knew, saw or heard Jesus (peace be upon him).
5. The Gospels were written in Greek while Jesus (peace be upon him) spoke Aramaic.
6. For at least one hundred years after the Gospels were written, they did not have any canonical authority, and were changed by the writers of the different sects in order to adapt them to their own needs.
7. The present Gospels, seen as a whole, are full of contradictions.
These factors have been brought up here in order to demonstrate that the Gospel of Jesus (peace be upon him), his original message that was revealed by Allah, has not reached us in its original form. In this way, it can be affirmed that the four Gospels, included in today’s Bible, cannot be considered similar or equivalent to the inspired Gospel of Jesus (peace be upon him).
3.1 Biblical proofs of the Bible’s distortion
1. The Old Testament clearly testifies that it was altered by humans. God (Allah) is quoted in Jeremiah 8:8 as saying, “How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law is with us?” But behold, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.
2. Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips has explained: About five years after the end of Jesus’ ministry, a young rabbi by the name of Saul of Tarsus, who claimed to have seen Jesus in a vision, began to change Jesus’ way. Paul (his Roman name) had considerable respect for Roman philosophy and he spoke proudly of his own Roman citizenship. His conviction was that non-Jews who became Christians should not be burdened with the Torah in any respect. The author of Acts 13:39 quotes Paul as saying: And by him every one that believes is freed from everything which you could not be freed by the Law of Moses. It was primarily through the efforts of Paul that the Church began to take on its non-Jewish character. Paul wrote most of the New Testament letters (epistles), which the Church accepts as the official doctrine and inspired Scripture. These letters
do not preserve the Gospel of Jesus or even represent it, instead, Paul transformed the teachings of Christ into a Hellenic (Greco-Roman) philosophy.
3. The clearest evidence of biblical distortion is the revision of the Bible, to the extent that it can be said that every edition is different from the previous one.
3.2 Distorting revelations is the biggest sin
The Qur’an has emphasized, in more than one verse, that distorting Allah’s revelation is a severe sin. Allah has said in the Qur’an: {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.} (Qur’an 2: 79)
An important note: It shall be noted that those who followed the scriptures when they were in their pure and unadulterated forms are considered to be on the right religion, and will have nothing to fear on the Day of Judgement.
3.3 Revelation of the Qur’an
Following the distortion of the previous scriptures, Allah, the Most Compassionate, did not leave human beings to go astray without an unadulterated reference. Indeed, He revealed the Qur’an and promised to preserve it as the final revelation to humankind for all times. It is the Word of Allah which He revealed to Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel (peace be upon him). It was revealed in parts (fragments) of different lengths over a period of 23 years. Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) recited the Revelation to his Companions, who wrote it down during his lifetime on palm leaves, parchment, animal bones (the shoulder-blades of camels made a good writing surface), and flat stones. At the same time, he indicated the precise location where each revealed section belonged in the body of the complete volume of the revelation. In addition, the Qur’an was memorized by hundreds of Prophet Muhammad’s Companions. One year after the death of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him), the first Caliph, Abu Bakr (radiya Allâhu ‘anhu – may Allah be pleased with him), instructed the Prophet’s Companions to collect the whole Qur’an in one volume. Later, the third Caliph ‘Uthmân (may Allah be pleased with him), prepared several copies from the original text and sent them to the major centres of the Islamic civilization. One of these seven reproductions still remains, and is kept in Istanbul, Turkey.
From that time onwards, more than 1400 years ago, the same Qur’anic text has been in use with the exact wording, order and language (Arabic). Not a single word from its 114 chapters, 6200 verses, and approximately 80,000 words has been changed since it was revealed. Indeed, Allah has promised in the Qur’an to preserve it forever. He has said: {Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.} (Qur’an 15: 9)
Just ponder over the fact that the Qur’an, in its entirety, is memorized by millions of people, regardless of age, sex, social class, or ethnicity! It is the only book that has been thus preserved, not only on the shelf but in the hearts of humankind.
The Qur’an supersedes all previous scriptures. Allah has said to Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) about the Qur’an: {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…} (Qur’an 5: 48)
An essential point to understand about the Qur’an is that it is a miracle in terms of both its revelation and its content. At the time of the revelation and since, there have been those who have denied the divine and miraculous nature of the Qur’an saying that Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) was either taught by others or that he wrote it by himself! In order to counteract this claim, Allah has presented a challenge to the whole of humankind saying: {And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our slave [Muhammad], then produce a chapter the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful.} (Qur’an 2: 23)
These are some of the prophecies which the Qur’an has foretold, as no one from the time of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him), until this day, has been able to produce the like of one chapter or even a verse of the Qur’an. As such, Muslims do not need any other scriptures to base their faith on, either fully or partially. The Qur’an remains clear and easily understood by anyone who has a good command of the Arabic language. All its legal injunctions and instructions are clear when the meanings of its words are translated into any of the world’s languages.
3.4 The entire Qur’an is a proclamation of monotheism
1. Some of the verses inform about Allah: His names, attributes, acts and speech. Those verses indicate the Unity and Oneness of Allah with respect to His most excellent names, essence, and perfect attributes.
2. Other verses point to the necessity of worshipping Allah alone, without any associate or partner, and the renunciation of the worship of anything other than Him. These verses indicate the focus of worship and the necessity for people to single out their Lord in their intentions, requesting His aid, and in turning to Him in repentance.
3. The Qur’an also contains injunctions and prohibitions; doing something that has been enjoined or refraining from what has been prohibited is the fulfilment and perfection of the affirmation of the Oneness of Allah.
4. The Qur’an includes stories and information about people of true and sincere belief and tells about their immediate reward in the life of this world as well as the immense reward reserved for them in the hereafter.
5. The Qur’an also contains stories about those who associate partners with Allah. It describes their punishment in this life and the punishment they are promised in the hereafter. These are the just desserts of those who deviate from the affirmation of Allah’s Oneness.
3.5 The Prophet’s teachings
The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) are the second source of the Islamic knowledge after the Holy Qur’an. They explain and elaborate the Qur’anic verses. They also explain, in minute detail, the manner of worship as performed by the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him). The Prophet’s statements provide further clarification and details as to how to fulfil what Allah has ordered and refrain from what He has forbidden. These teachings have been meticulously collected and reported by the Prophet’s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
3.6 Preservation of Islamic teachings
Preventing Islamic teachings from alteration does not stop at the preservation of the Qur’anic text; rather, it is also forbidden to introduce into the Prophet’s guidance (by saying or writing) anything that is contrary to its premise, values or Teachings.
The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) said:
<<Whoever introduces into this matter (the Islamic teachings) something that does not belong to it, shall find it rejected.>> (Bukhari and Muslim)
<<One of the Prophet’s Companions said: The Prophet gave us a highly effective admonition, such that many of us were tearful and felt our hearts shudder.
Someone said to him: O Messenger of Allah! This sounds like the admonition of someone bidding his audience farewell. Please outline for us what you recommend.
The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) said: I urge you to always remain conscious of Allah (God-fearing), and to listen to and obey your leaders, even if the leader is an Abyssinian slave. Anyone of you who will live long will witness much strife and conflict. Therefore, hold tight to my way and the way followed by the Rightly-Guided Rulers. Hold on to it and bite onto it with your molars,
and steer away from any invented thing (in religious affairs and laws), for such inventions are deviations (from the right path).>> (An authentic hadithrecorded by Ibn Hibbân, Abu Dâwood and at-Tirmidhi)
Thus, in matters of religion, one is not permitted to change Islamic teachings. Whatever is contrary to it is wrong and unacceptable. With this strict protection, Islam, as it was revealed, has been kept pure from myths and superstitions as well as changes that reflect the whims of people and leaders.
Source: (THE PURPOSE OF CREATION)
Compiled by Majed S. Al-Rassi
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