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Study 1: 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 Prophet (pbuh).
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 words telling how great Allah is
in majesty. 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 these Scriptures?
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 Allah says 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.
Secondly, 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 that he who ignores
Allah's Word brings on himself Allah's curse while he who studies
and follows will receive Allah's blessing.
Another matter that demands our attention before we go on
to the actual study of is the question whether it 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
the message of 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
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
God 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 the Proverbs given by inspiration to the Prophet
(pbuh), 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 , 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 .
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 available 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
(Department 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 message and substance. 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. Through which prophet was the revealed?
4. The was revealed through which prophet?
5. According to the (Matthew 24:35) can the Word of
Allah be destroyed?
a. Yes b. 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 scripture 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?
a. Yes. b. No.
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