The Holy Books

Qur'an: Revelation and Authority

• The Qur'an is the central and most sacred religious text in Islam, believed to be the literal word of Allah as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of approximately 23 years.
• Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the ultimate source of guidance and the final and complete revelation, superseding all previous scriptures.
• It is written in Arabic and is divided into 114 chapters called Surahs, each addressing various aspects of faith, morality, law, and guidance for humanity.
• The Qur'an is considered inimitable, meaning it cannot be replicated or imitated by anyone, serving as a unique and divine literary masterpiece.

Torah, Psalms, Gospel, Scrolls of Abraham, and their Authority

• In Islamic belief, Allah revealed several other holy books before the Qur'an to guide different communities and prophets.
• The Torah, revealed to Prophet Musa (Moses), is the religious scripture for Jews, containing divine laws and guidance for the Israelites.
• The Psalms (Zabur), revealed to Prophet Dawud (David), is a collection of hymns and prayers believed to be a source of spiritual guidance and consolation.
• The Gospel (Injil), revealed to Prophet Isa (Jesus), is the religious scripture for Christians, containing the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.
• The Scrolls of Abraham (Suhuf Ibrahim) are also mentioned in the Qur'an but their specific content is not fully known.

Authority of the Holy Books

• Muslims believe that all these previous scriptures were originally divine revelations but were subjectThe person, place, thing, or idea the clause is about; performs or experiences the verb. to human alterations over time, leading to discrepancies between the current versions and the original message.
• The Qur'an, as the final and complete revelation, is believed to be divinely protected (Tawatur) from any changes or corruption.
• While Muslims recognise the previous scriptures, they regard the Qur'an as the authoritative and unaltered word of Allah, making it the ultimate criterion for religious guidance.

Relationship between the Qur'an and Previous Scriptures

• The Qur'an acknowledges the authenticity of the original messages sent to previous prophets but asserts that the present-day versions may not fully reflect the true revelation.
• Muslims believe that the Qur'an serves as a confirmation, completion, and finalisation of the earlier divine messages.
• The Qur'an does not simply reiterate the content of previous scriptures but provides comprehensive guidance for all aspects of life and faith.

Conclusion

In summaryA concise account of the main points, focusing on key differences or similarities., the Qur'an holds a unique and central position in Islam as the ultimate source of divine guidance and authority. While Muslims recognise the authenticity of the earlier scriptures revealed to prophets like Musa, Dawud, and Isa, they consider the Qur'an to be the final and complete revelation that encompasses all previous teachings and serves as the ultimate criterion for religious beliefs and practices.