The transmission of the Qur'an, from the day of its revelation up to the
present day, is flawless. The chapters and verses have been in constant use
amongst Muslims and have been passed on perfectly intact from one generation to
the other. The Qur'an we know today is the same Qur'an which was revealed to the
Prophet some fourteen centuries ago. The Qur'an does not stand in need of
historical proof for its identity or authenticity, (although history too
confirms its validity). Since a book which claims to be the actual unalterable
word of God and attests to this in its own text, does not need to resort to
others to prove its authenticity. The clearest proof that the Qur'an we have
with us today is the same that was revealed to the Prophet and that no
alteration has taken place in its text is that very superiority which the Qur'an
claimed for itself at the time of its revelation and which still exists.
The Qur'an says that it is a book of light and guidance, a book which shows man
the truth and reality of existence; it says that it explains all things, that
is, everything necessary for man to live in accordance with his own natural
character; it says that it is the word of God and challenges man and jinn to
produce similar words; -it invites them to find someone like the Prophet, who
could neither read nor write and grew up in an age of ignorance as an orphan
without instruction; the Qur'an challenges them to find any inconsistency in its
method, Sciences, or laws, such as one might find in any ordinary book. They
obviously cannot for the superiority of the Qur'an remains after its revelation.
Likewise, the guidance for man contained in the Qur'an is still valid; it still
expounds a complete world view which is in accord with the purest of
intellectual proofs and is the source of man's well being in this world and in
the next. By the benevolence and care shown by the Creator for His creation in
the Book, it still invites man to belief. The Qur'an cares for the needs of man
by giving him a vision of reality based on Divine Unity. All knowledge and
belief spring from this view of reality. At no point does the Qur'an fail to
explain in the most comprehensive fashion the reality of this oneness. It
devotes much attention to explaining the behavior and transactions expected of
the individual in society and shows how correct action is that which accords
with the natural character and capability (fitrah) of man. The Qur'an leaves the
detailed description of man's behavior to the Prophet whose daily life was an
example of how man was to apply what was contained in the Qur'an. Together the
Book of God and the example (or Sunnah) of the Prophet delineated an
astoundingly comprehensive life-pattern for man, namely, the way of living in
tune with the reality which is Islam. The Qur'an deals precisely with all
aspects of individual and social life and, despite having been revealed in
another age, does not contain the slightest inconsistency or in- compatibility
even today. It describes a din, a comprehensive way of life, whose program of
living is beyond the imagination of the world's most capable lawyers and
sociologists.
The miracle of the Qur'an has in it clarity and eloquence, rooted, as it is, in
the language of a nation famed for the purity and power of its language. The
Qur'an is a miraculous sun whose light shines far brighter than the finest
poetry of the time, indeed of any age. During the Islamic conquests of the first
century after Hijra, the resulting admixing of non-Arabic words with the Arabic
lessened the purity of Arabic language used in the Qur'an causing it to
disappear from the every-day speech of the people. The Qur'an does not merely
challenge man by the use of its language but also by the depth of its meaning.
Those familiar with the Arabic language (both prose and verse writings) are
reduced to silence and astonishment when they attempt to describe it. The Qur'an
is neither poetry nor prose but rather seems to draw qualities from both; it is
more attractive and dazzling than poetry and clearer and more flowing than
prose.
A single verse or phrase from the Qur'an is more illuminating, more penetrating,
and more profound than the complete speech of most eloquent speakers. The
profundity of meaning in the Qur'an remains as miraculous as ever; its complex
structure of beliefs, morals and laws stands as proof that the Qur'an is the
word of God. Man, and in particular someone who was born and raised in
circumstances similar to those of the Prophet, could never have created such a
system; the Qur'an is a harmonious whole despite having been revealed during
twenty-three years in greatly varying circumstances. God Himself confirms that
the Qur'an has been preserved from change; in chapter XV:9 He says:
"Indeed We, even We, reveal the Reminder and indeed We are truly its guardian,"
and in chapter (XLI:41-42)
He says:
"For indeed it is an unassailable Book. Falsehood cannot come to it from before
or behind it. (It is) a revelation from the Wise, the Praise one."
Only a divine Book could remain preserved for fourteen centuries in a world
where the enemies of truth and of Islam are numerous.
Comments posted are the sole opinion of the author and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of AIM. |
