The Quran - The Final and Complete Message from God

The Quran is the complete and one and only acceptable source of Islamic law. God first sent down the Torah to the Jews and gave Jesus the Gospel. The Quran is the last book from God.

THE QURAN AND THE PREVIOUS SCRIPTURES (E.G. THE JEWISH TORAH GIVEN TO MOSES AND CHRISTIAN GOSPEL GIVEN TO JESUS) ARE ALL FROM THE SAME, ONE AND ONLY GOD

What many Muslims don’t realize is that the Jewish book, the Torah, and the Christian scripture, the Gospel, are from the same God that revealed the Quran to Muhammad. The Torah was given to Moses and the Gospel to Jesus. The Torah came before the Gospel which came before the Quran.

3:2-3 God - there is no deity (god) except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.

5:46 And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.

61:6 And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic."

THE QURAN REPLACES PREVIOUS SCRIPTURES AND TELLS EVERYONE TO BELIEVE IN IT

The Quran tells the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) to believe in the Quran which confirms what was in their own books.

4:47 O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down [to Muhammad], confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the decree of Allah accomplished.

5:15 O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.

SOME VERSES ARE SPECIFIC AND OTHERS ARE UNSPECIFIC FOR A REASON

Some verses of the Quran are specific, e.g. to believe in one God, whereas others are intentionally unspecific. God tells people to follow the specific. The unspecific is a test for people to intentionally interpret them to suit their own desires.

3:7 It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.

For example, verse 24:31 clearly instructs women to cover their chests. Nowhere in the verse does it say women must cover their hair or face or neck. Clearly, many Muslims misinterpret the verse by saying that it is forbidden (haram) for women to not cover their hair. Another example is from verse 2:187 which instructs people to fast until “layl” which means “night’. However, most people interpret “layl” to mean “sunset” (maghrib / ghurub) which obviously is before night time. God knows the word “ghurub” (sunset) because He uses it in many verses throughout the Quran. Therefore, if He really wanted people to fast until sunset, He would have said so by using the word “ghurub” instead of “layl”.

GOD NEVER RUNS OUT OF WORDS

Many people seem to think that the Quran is incomplete and therefore, believe that Prophet Muhammad’s sayings (hadith) complete the Quran. According to verse 31:27, God never runs out of words. Therefore, God could have written more words in the Quran to explain things to people. But since God didn’t write more than what’s in the Quran, He must have considered the Quran complete.

31:27 And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens and the sea [was ink], replenished thereafter by seven [more] seas, the words of God would not be exhausted. Indeed, God is Exalted in Might and Wise.

THE QURAN IS WITHOUT A DOUBT CLEAR GUIDANCE (HUDA)

2:2 This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah

THE QURAN IS CLEAR PROOF (BURHAN) FROM GOD

4:174 O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.

THE QURAN IS COMPLETE

Fortunately, we don’t need to guess whether verse 31:27 suggests that the Quran is complete. God admits in verses 6:115 and 6:38 that the Quran is complete. Also, common sense says that God is perfect. Therefore, why would God send down an incomplete Quran? Was God too busy that He couldn’t finish the Quran? Obviously not. Did God say in the Quran that because the Quran is incomplete, we have to figure out the missing parts from Prophet Muhammad’s sayings (hadith)? Obviously not.

6:115 And the Word of your Lord is complete in truth and justice; there is none to change His Words; He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.

6:38 And there is not an animal moving in the earth nor a bird flying on its wings, but they are a nation like you; We have left out nothing in this Book – then towards their Lord they will be raised.

THE QURAN IS FULLY DETAILED (FUSSILAT) OF ALL THINGS

Not only is the Quran complete, it’s also detailed.

6:114 So shall I seek the command or law of other than that of Allah, whereas it is He Who has sent down the detailed Book to you?

12:111 There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur'an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.

41:3 A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur'an for a people who know,

11:1 Alif, Lam, Ra. [This is] a Book whose verses are perfected and then presented in detail from [one who is] Wise and Acquainted.

THE QURAN PROVIDES ITS OWN BEST EXPLANATION (AHSAN TAFSIR)

Not only is the Quran complete and detailed, it also provides its own explanation (tafsir) of things and it is the best explanation (tafsir).

25:33 وَلَا يَأْتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَحْسَنَ تَفْسِيرًا And they do not come to you with an argument except that We bring you the truth and the best explanation.

THE QURAN IS THE ULTIMATE SCALE (MIZAAN)

42:17 It is Allah who has sent down the Book in truth and [also] the balance. And what will make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near.

THE QURAN IS EVIDENCE (BAYYINAH)

20:133 And they say, "Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?" Has there not come to them evidence of what was in the former scriptures?

THE QURAN IS THE CRITERION (FURQAN) BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG

25:1 Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner -

GOD FORBIDS PEOPLE FROM FOLLOWING ANY LAW EXCEPT GOD’S LAWS IN THE QURAN

This is understandable and is proven in verse 6:114. The Quran is the word of God. Other books, e.g. the the book of Prophet Muhammad’s sayings (hadith), are not from God but from humans (e.g. indirectly via a chain of people who claim they heard Muhammad say something). Muhammad is not God. Muhammad has no right or authority to make Islamic law. And God never gave Muhammad the authority to make Islamic law as we will prove below.

6:114 So shall I seek the command or law of other than that of Allah, whereas it is He Who has sent down the detailed Book towards you?

WHOEVER JUDGES BY OTHER THAN THE QURAN, THEY ARE KAFIR (DISBELIEVERS)

Many people, usually very religious people, like to tell others that something is haram. Unfortunately, their justification of their statements is based on Prophet Muhammad’s sayings (hadith) and not the Quran. For example, some people tell others that men are forbidden from wearing gold and silk. This information is found in the hadith but you will never find it in the Quran. According to verse 5:44, these people who judge by the hadith think that they are doing the right thing and are very religious but in actuality, God considers them Kafir.

5:44 part … Whoever does not judge by that which God has revealed, they are disbelievers (Arabic: Kafirun)

THE BEST HADITH (STATEMENT) IS GOD’S STATEMENT (THE QURAN)

In verse 39:23, God says that the best saying / statement (hadith) is God’s hadith. So why would anyone want to follow some other hadith, e.g. via Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidzhi, etc?

39:23 part اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ Allah has sent down the best hadith (statement): a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. ….

THE QURAN FORBIDS YOU FROM FOLLOWING OR BELIEVING IN SOMETHING WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING IT

In verse 17:36, God clearly tells people not to follow and believe in what they have no knowledge of. For example, if someone tells you that Muslim men are forbidden from wearing gold and silk, then you shouldn’t just believe what they say, regardless of whether they are learned scholars or imams. You must know what you are doing so that you are not guilty of becoming a blind believer. Examples of blind believers are idol worshippers of the time of Prophet Abraham. When Abraham proved to them, including his own father, that the idols were not God, and told them to stop worshipping them, they refused saying that they wanted to continue worshipping whatever their forefathers worshipped, even though they had no proof that their idols were God.

17:36 And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.

THE QURAN EXPECTS YOU TO STUDY AND THINK DEEPLY ABOUT ITS VERSES

Since verse 17:36 forbids you from blindly following what people tell you without your own personal knowledge or proof of a matter, one obvious way to acquire knowledge of Islamic matters is by studying and thinking deeply about the Quran. God even tells you to do so in verse 47:24. Apparently, if you don’t study and try to understand the Quran, it is as if your hearts are locked up.

47:24 أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا Then do they not study / think deeply about / understand the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?

GOD PROTECTS THE QURAN FROM HUMAN TAMPERING / CORRUPTION

One might be inclined to think that at some point the Quran may have been tampered with and the information within it corrupted. God confirms that this is not the case as He states in verse 15:9 that He is the guardian of the Quran. In other words, God guards the Quran from becoming corrupted.

15:9 Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.

Furthermore, God confirms that falsehood will not reach the Quran.

41:41-42 "...Indeed, those who disbelieve in the reminder when it comes to them. And indeed, it is surely a mighty Book. Falsehood shall not come to it from before it nor from behind it; a revelation from the Wise, the Praiseworthy"

If one doesn’t believe that the Quran is preserved in its original form, God, in verse 4:82, welcomes you to research it to see if it contains any contradictions.

4:82 “Why don’t they research the Quran? (Arabic: Tadaburuna). Don’t they realise that if it was from someone other than God, they would have find many contradictions / discrepancies in it (Arabic: Fihi ikh-tilafan kathiran)”

NO ONE CAN ALTER GOD’S WORDS

As further support for verse 15:9, God confirms in verse 6:115 that no one can alter His words (the words in the Quran).

6:115 And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can alter His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

DON’T SPREAD FALSE INFORMATION / SAY A LIE AGAINST GOD

It is sad that many Muslims who consider themselves to be very religious like to go around telling people that what others are doing is forbidden (haram). You may have heard people tell unveiled Muslim women that it is forbidden (haram) for them to expose their hair. These people may appear as very religious but many of them cannot prove their claim of whether something is forbidden or not. You may have even seen many of them recite the Arabic Quran regularly yet not even understand most of what they are reading. In verse 16:116, God makes it very clear that you are not allowed to go around saying this or that is lawful or not when, in fact, the opposite it true. While you may not realize it, you may actually be spreading false information in the name of God. Therefore, before you go telling people whether something is permitted (halal) or forbidden (haram), you should get proof of your claims and understand it first.

16:116 And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, "This is lawful and this is unlawful," to invent falsehood about Allah. Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed.

5:87 O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.

THE QURAN IS IN ARABIC BUT ONLY DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES

Many people think that Arabic is a holy language because the Quran is in Arabic. The Quran clearly proves that this is not the case. In verse 62:2, God clearly states that He chose Prophet Muhammad (an Arab) as a messenger for his people (Arabs) so that he could recite God’s verses to them.

16:116 "It is He Who has raised amongst the gentiles a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His verses, and purifying them, and teaching them the scripture (book) and wisdom although before this they were surely in clear error"

Since Muhammad was an Arab who spoke Arabic, God made the Quran in Arabic so that it would be easy for Muhammad to understand, as indicated in verse 19:97.

19:97 “And We make (this Scripture) easy in your tongue, (O Muhammad) only so that you may bear good tidings with it to the righteous and warn with it a people hostile / contentious”

The purpose of the Quran being in Arabic so that Muhammad and his people could understand it is additionally confirmed in verses 12:2 and 43:3.

12:2 These are verses of the Scripture that make plain. Indeed! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic, so that you may understand it”

43:3 “Surely We have made it an Arabic Quran that you may understand”

Verse 42:7 indicates that the primary audience of the Arabic Quran was the immediate locale of Prophet Muhammad so that Muhammad could warn the people (Arabic-speaking Arabs) with it.

42:7 “And thus have We revealed to you an Arabic Quran, that you may warn the mother city and those around it (Arabic: waman hawlaha), and that you may give warning of the day of gathering together wherein is no doubt; a party shall be in the garden and (another) party in the burning fire”

Note that the words “waman hawlaha” means the “immediate vicinity” around the mother city. It does not mean the whole planet. If the message of the Quran needed to be passed to a Chinaman, it would need to be translated into Chinese.

There is no point in revealing the Quran in a language that one does not understand. This is proven in verse 41:44 and 26:198-199.

41:44 “Had We sent this as a Quran (in a language) other than Arabic, they would have said: "Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! (a Book) not in Arabic and (a Messenger) an Arab?" Say: "It is a Guide and a Healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness in their (eyes): They are (as it were) being called from a place far distant!"”

26:198-199 "Had We revealed it to any of the non-Arabs, And had he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it"

As stated in verse 14:4, all messengers (Moses, Jesus, etc) revealed God’s messages in their own languages for absolute clarity. Moses and Jesus did not speak Arabic.

14:4 “And We did not send any messenger but with the language of his people, so that he might explain to them clearly; then God lets go astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills and He is the Mighty, the Wise”

All languages are a blessing from God. Arabic is not a holy language. It just happened to be the language of the last Prophet (Muhammad) and his people.

30:22 “And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours: verily in that are Signs for those who know”

Although the Quran was written in Arabic and its primary target audience was Muhammad’s people, the Quran is a reminder for all nations.

68:52 "But it is nothing less than a Reminder to all nations (Arabic: Alameen)"

HOW THE QURAN WAS TRANSMITTED

The Quran was transmitted by numerous individuals from the time of Prophet Muhammad’s ministry by multiple sources and corroboration. This occurred generation after generation which helped ensure the Quran was error free. And as stated above, God preserves the Quran from corruption in verse 15:9.