Human beings are the servants of Allah and His agents on earth who need guidance to carry out their various duties and responsibilities. This guidance is contained in the books of revelation sent to mankind through prophets and messengers. Belief in the reality of Allah’s guidance to mankind in the form of revealed books is an article of faith in Islam.
Allah, who has created for man all things that are on the earth and has made subservient to him all that is in the heavens and on the earth, has provided everything for man’s physical needs, has also provided him with spiritual guidance.
Revelation is the name given to the means of communication employed by Allah for conveying His command and messages to prophets and apostles.
Revelation is not due to the prophet’s own thoughts, intelligence or knowledge. lt is not acquired through study or learning nor is it earned through labour but it is a special gift from Allah. About the various methods employed by Allah for communicating His commandments to His apostles, the Quran says:
“It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil or by the sending of a messenger to reveal with Allah’s permission what Allah wills: …” (42:51)
The guidance sent by Allah from time to time to His messengers was basically the same. The principles of religion relating to the Unity of Allah, His Attributes, prayer, belief in prophethood, the Day of Judgement and the concept of reward and punishment for one’s deeds in the life Hereafter are common to all the revealed books. However, as the needs of the people differed in different periods, the details of the laws given in these books also varied.
Each of the previous apostles and prophets was sent to some particular nation, people or tribe and therefore, the revelation sent to each was intended for the guidance of his people. It was not intended to be universal because humanity had not yet reached the stage of readiness for such a comprehensive and final guidance from Allah. This is clear from what the Quran states concerning the messages given to various prophets.
Moreover, by the time of the Holy Prophet, the books revealed upto that time had either been totally lost, or their original message distorted. Allah therefore sent a final and complete revelation in the form of the Holy Quran.
The Holy Quran is the only revealed Scripture, Which has been preserved to the present time in its exact, original form and language. Although parts of the earlier revealed books still survive, they are so intermixed with additions and alterations that it is very difficult to determine what part of them actually forms the original message sent by AIlah. The Holy Quran does not mention all the prophets nor all the revealed books. It Only mentions revelations sent to Hazrat Nuh, Hazrat Ibrahim, Hazrat Ismail, Hazrat Ishaq, Hazrat Daud, Hazrat Musa, Hazrat Isa and the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH.
The revealed books mentioned by name in the Holy Quran are:
1) Sahifas revealed to Hazrat Adam, Hazrat ibrahim and other prophets.
2) Zabur granted to Hazrat Daud.
3) Taurat revealed to Hazrat Musa. About it, the Quran says:
“And before this was the book of Moses as a guide and a mercy… (46:12)
According to the Holy Quran, the book revealed to Hazrat Musa contained guidance, Allah’s commands and warnings for the Bani Israel who failed to act according to its teachings. They distorted and perverted Allah’s word. No copy of the original Taurat is now available.
4) Injeel, granted to Hazrat Isa. About this book, the Quran says:
“And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the șon of. Mary, confirming the law that had come before him: We sent him the gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the law that had come before him: a guidance and an adomonition to those who fear Allah.” (5:46)
The Injeel confirmed the Taurat and contained guidance and light for the Bani Israel. According to the Holy Quran, Allah took a covenant from those who call themselves Christians, but they forgot the message that was sent to them and failed to act according to its teachings.
5) The Holy Quran is the last and the most comprehensive book revealed by Allah to His last messenger, Hazrat Muhammad PBUH, through Hazrat Jibrael.
lt was not sent down by Allah all at once. Its revelation to the Holy Prophet PBUH was spread over a period of twenty-three years. The Holy Quran confirms the previous revelations, and points out and corrects some of the errors that had crept into the earlier revealed books. Thus, the Holy Quran perfects and completes Divine Revelation.
The Quran speaks of the attributes of Allah and His power, of mans relationship and responsibility to Him, of the certainty of the coming of the Last Day and the life hereafter. It contains instructions about the principles or Islam and the method of worship and guides mankind to the right path. It lays down moral and ethical principles to govern all aspects of human life, both individual and collective. It narrates the stories of some of the earlier Prophet’s and nations as an example and encouragement to the Prophet and his community and as a warning to those who deny Allah Its main theme, repeated again and again is the reality of Allah’s Supreme Power and man’s position as His slave and vicegerent who is accountable to Him in everything.
About the Holy Quran Allah says:
“This is the Book; in it is guidance Sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah: who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer and spend out of what we have provided for them; and who believe in the revelation sent to thee and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter; They are on (true guidance) from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper.” (2:2-5)
Quran is undoubtedly the only revealed book that remains in the same form today as it was fourteen hundred years ago. This is because Allah Himself promised to safeguard it from corruption and change. Allah says:
“We have, without doubt, sent down the message and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)'” (15:9)
The Holy Quran is a book for reading, reciting and learning. In fact, prayers cannot be complete without the recitation of some parts of the Quran. The Holy Prophet PBUH laid great emphasis on memorizing the Holy Quran.
There is authentic proof to show that as soon as the Holy Prophet PBUH received a revelation, he would ask his scribes to write it down. The Quran was commitied to memory as well as written down during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet PBUH.
The Quran was complete with the same arrangement of chapters and verses that we have now, at the time of the death of the Holy Prophet PBUH.
The Quran is not only a blessed book, but also a complete code of life. We must, therefore, study it with the object of acting in all matters according to it’s teachings. We must mould our lives according to the guidance contained in the Holy Quran and abstain from whatever is against its teachings. The success of human beings on this earth and in the life after death depends on obedience to the Quranic teachings and principles. These are as valid and binding today as when they were first revealed. Though the style and mode of human life have changed, the ultimate realities, the nature of good and evil and man’s own nature are unalterable and are not affected by the passing of time or changes in the world.
