Lesson No 27

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

(The Books of Allah)

17. How did the people come to know that the Taurat (Torah), the Zabur (the Psalms of David) and the Injil (The New Testament) are Divine Books?

Ans. The Holy Quran affirms the fact of their being heavenly Books. Of Taurat Allah says:

(verily, we revealed the Taurat, and in it is true guidance and light). And of Zabur He says:

WA ATAINA DAVUDA ZABURA

(We bestowed the Psalms on David)

About Injil has been said:

WA QAF-FAINA BI-‘ISA-BNI MAR-YAMA WA ATAINAH-UL-INJIL.

(We sent ‘Isa (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary) and gave him the Injil (the Bible). Thus, Muslims came to know through the Holy Quran that these three Scriptures are divine in descent.

17. What about a man who refuses to acknowledge the Taurat, the Zabur, and the Injil as the Books of Allah?

Ans. Such a person is a Kafir (unbeliever), for the holy Quran testifies to their being Divine Scriptures. Anyone who denies their heavenly descent disbelieves the Holy Quran is a Kafir.

17. Are the texts now extant with us to be considered as genuine Taurat, Zabur and Injil?

Ans. No, the Holy Quran also testifies that men have tampered with these texts. The Old Testament and the New Testament now extant are not in their original forms. They have under-gone alterations. So, we should not have the belief that these three Scriptures are the originally revealed texts.

17. How did people come to know that some SAHIFAS (the Scrolls) were revealed to some of the prophets?

Ans. The Holy Quran affirms that the Scrolls were revealed to some of the prophets. We find mention of the Scrolls of Hadrat Ibrahim in the Surah

SAB-BIH-ISMA RAB-BIKA-L A’LA.

17. Is the Holy Quran the Book of Allah or His spoken word?

Ans. The Holy Quran is both the Book of Allah and His Word. The Quran itself refers to it as the Book and the Word.

17. Of the Old Testament, the Holy Psalms, the New Testament, and the Holy Quran, which one is superior?

Ans. The Holy Quran is superior to all others.

17. In what ways is the Holy Quran superior to other Scriptures?

Ans. It gains over others in innumerable ways. First, each and every word of the Holy Quran is preserved in its original form. Not even a dot has been subtracted from or added to it. Nor will there be any change in it till the Final Day, while the previous Scriptures have been tampered with by the people. The language of the Holy Quran is a miracle. The style is so incomparably sublime that it is beyond human faculty to compose anything like the smallest part of it in beauty. Thirdly, The Holy Quran has brought the final Divine Code. Hence, a number of its injunctions supersede those in the earlier Scriptures. Fourthly, the previous Scriptures were revealed, all at once. But the Holy Quran continued to be revealed for twenty-three years, bit by bit as and when necessity arose. On account of its being revealed in bits and according to the needs of the time, it found access to the hearts of the people and hundreds of thousands of people accepted its code and commands, and embraced Islam. Fifthly, the Holy Quran is preserved in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of Muslims. This preservation has continued right from the times of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and, if Allah wills, it will continue as such till the Final Day.

By virtue of its being passed on from heart to heart, the enemies of Islam have failed to get any opportunity to effect alterations in it or destroy it, nor will they ever be able to do it till the Final Day, if Allah so wills. Sixthly, and finally, the tenets and laws of the Holy Quran are so moderate that they suit all times, places, and conditions. No people on earth will find themselves hard put to it to act upon the dictates of the Holy Quran, since they suit all times and people. There is no need for any other code or Divine Scripture after the Holy Quran, and the prophethood of Hadrat Muhammad (peace be on him) has been proclaimed for all.