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Chapter One: TRUSTWORTHINESS OF AL-KITAB
Our intention in this course is to study the Word of Allah.
We will be looking at the various Scriptures that Allah has given
to man through the prophets. We will look first at the
given through . This contains the history
of creation of the world and man. It also contains the history
of man's fall into sin, and the giving of the first law to Prophet
. We will be looking also at the given through
prophet (pbuh). In the we will read beautiful passages on
the greatness and majesty of Allah. We shall also see the intimate
relationship the man of faith can have with Allah. We shall examine
also the holy containing the life and teachings of
Isa . We will also be looking at
other books given by Allah at different times through different
prophets. However, before we actually begin our study, we have
some other very important matters to deal with.
First comes the question, Why should we study the Word of
Allah? What benefits are there and what can be gained from such
study? The answer to this is simple. First of all, Allah has
commanded such study. As written in the ,
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your
hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you
sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down
and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6,7)
Thus, Allah has given us the direct command to study His Word,
to meditate on it and to teach it to our families. To fail to
study the Word of Allah would be disobedience to His clear command.
Yet, Allah has also made a beautiful promise to those who study
His Word and follow it. Allah has said that the one who meditates
on his Word and does it will be prosperous in all he does and
Allah will give him success (Book of the Prophets, Joshua 1:8).
Thus, we see the teaching of the Word of Allah that he who ignores
Allah's Word brings on himself Allah's curse while he who studies
and follows the Word of Allah will receive Allah's blessing.
Another matter that demands our attention before we go on
to the actual study of Scriptures is the question whether the
Word of Allah is trustworthy and reliable or not. It is sometimes
stated that one or more of Allah's revealed Scriptures, once
pure and reliable, has been corrupted and its original meaning
lost. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Allah
has preserved all those books pure and uncorrupted in the original
languages. We will be spending the rest of this study looking
at the various reasons why this is unquestionably the truth.
First and most importantly, this is the clear teaching of
the Word of Allah itself. Allah the all-powerful and almighty
has stated plainly in His Word that He Himself will protect and
preserve His own Word from change or corruption. In the
it is written "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words
will never pass away." (Mt.24:35). Similar statements are
found elsewhere in other books of Scripture such as that in the
prophet 's book,
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our
Allah stands forever. ( 40:8)
"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the
LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have
put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the
mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants
from this time on and forever," says the LORD. ( 59:21)
Moreover, Allah has given terrible warning in His Word concerning
the curse that would fall on any man that did try to corrupt
His Word. Thus, we find in the that following written
" Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from
it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you."
(Deuteronomy 4:2). In Proverbs given to the Prophet
, we find similar words, "Do not add to
his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
(Prov.30:6). Finally, in the we see the following warning
written.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this
book: If anyone adds anything to them, Allah will add to him
the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words
away from this book of prophecy, Allah will take away from him
his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are
described in this book. (Revelation 22:18,19)
The commands and warnings against changing the Word of Allah
is also corroborated by the Quran. It is clearly stated that
Allah is all-powerful and His Word cannot be changed. The following
verses are examples of such statements:
The word of thy Lord doth find its fulfilment in truth and
in justice: None can change His words: for He is the one who
heareth and knoweth all. (Surah 6:115)
For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present and in
the Hereafter; no change can there be in the words of Allah.
This is indeed the supreme felicity. (10:64)
And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the
Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou
find as a refuge other than Him. (18:27)
Because the Word of Allah cannot be changed it is also written
in the Quran that the true believer is enjoined to believe in
all the Scriptures,
Now then, for that (reason), call (them to the Faith), and
stand steadfast as thou art commanded, nor follow thou their
vain desires; but say: "I believe in the Book which Allah
has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you.
Allah is our Lord and your Lord: for us (is the responsibility
for) our deeds, and for you for your deeds. There is no contention
between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him
is (our) Final Goal. (42:15)
Lo! We did reveal the , wherein is guidance and a light,
by which the prophets who surrendered (unto Allah) judged the
Jews, and the rabbis and the priests (judged) by such of Allah's
Scripture as they were bidden to observe, and thereunto were
they witnesses. So fear not mankind, but fear Me. And My revelations
for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath
revealed such are disbelievers. (5:44)
Say: "O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon
unless ye stand fast by the Taurat, the , and all the revelation
that has come to you from your Lord." It is the revelation
that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of
them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow thou
not over (these) people without Faith. (5:68)
Indeed, the Prophet is even told to go to those who have received
Scripture before him when he is in doubt about any matter,
And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which
We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture
(that was) before thee. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come
unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers. And be not thou of
those who deny the revelations of Allah, for then wert thou of
the losers. (10:94,95).
Such would certainly not be the case if those receiving the
Scriptures before him had corrupted them. Thus, it is clearly
seen that at the time the Quran was written the previous Scriptures
were held as reliable for guidance and faithful as Allah's revealed
Word. Let us look next at the history of the Word of Allah.
As we have seen, at the time of the Hijra the previous Scriptures
were yet intact and uncorrupted. At that time the had been
600 years in existence, the 1600 years and the 2000
years. It is an example of the power and mercy of Allah that
these Scriptures were able to remain pure for such a long period.
During that period of hundreds of years the various Scriptures
were not only preserved in the original languages but also translated
into many other languages. These copies and translations were
carried to different countries throughout the world and were
carefully memorized and preserved.
Many of these early copies of Scripture still exist in museums
and libraries throughout the world. Indeed, there are over 5,000
ancient copies still extant today. These copies are both in the
original languages and in various translations. Many of these
are open for public viewing in such places as the British Museum
(Dept. of Manuscripts) as well as in museums and libraries in
Palestine, Scotland, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Russia
and the U.S.A. As would be expected, most of the manuscripts
were discovered close to the places where the Scriptures were
actually given, such as Palestine, Egypt, Turkey, Greece and
Italy.
It is another witness to the power and might of Allah that
these thousands of ancient manuscripts from all over the ancient
world agree with one another in all areas. These ancient manuscripts
have then served as the basis for modern translations of the
Scriptures. At present, the Scriptures have been translated into
over 1,000 languages, all translations being based on these ancient
manuscripts.
Many of the ancient manuscripts were written 300-400 years
before the Hijra. Thus, we see that by the mercy and grace of
almighty Allah, the same Scriptures that the Quran commands faith
in and calls trustworthy are available for our study today. Praise
Allah who is able to preserve and protect what He has given.
QUESTIONS:
Give two reasons why it is important that we study the Word of
Allah?
1.
2.
3. Who received the ?
4. The was revealed through which prophet?
5. According to the (Matthew 24:35) can the Word of
Allah be destroyed?
Yes No.
6. At the time of the Hijra the was how old?
7. The earliest manuscripts of the , and
still existing were written -
a. Hundreds of years before the Hijra
b.
About the time of the hijra
c.
Long after the hijra
8. The , and have been translated into how
many languages?
a. Under 100
b. About 500
c.
Over 1,000
9. According to the writings of prophet (Proverbs 30:6) what
will happen to anyone who tried to alter the Word of Allah?
10. Do you think Allah is powerful enough to preserve His
own Word?
Yes. No.
If you wish to answer the questions and do the entire course,
enroll as a member of Scripture Research Institute.
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