Whereas there is a debate on who authored the Bible, the Qur'aan is very explicit on it’s authorship. A reader of the Qur'aan cannot help noticing how the Qur'aan introduces itself time and again like any confident speaker would do. These introductions include bold assertions that this is from the Creator Himself and none else. See for example: In The Chapter, Al-Sajda 32: 2 Allah says:

“(This is) the Revelation of the BOOK in which there IS NO DOUBT,- from the Lord of the Worlds”.

The Forgiver 40: 2-4 “The revelation of this Book is from Allah, Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge,- 3. Who forgives sin, accepts repentance, is strict in punishment, and hath a long reach (in all things). 4. There is none worthy of warship but He: to Him is the final goal”. The Troops 39:23. “Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises. Such is the guidance of Allah. He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide”. The Qur’aan even throws challenges to those who dispute the authorship to produce something similar, and also goes further to give an acid test of Devine authorship, by stating:

Al-Nisa 4:82 “Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? had it been from other Than Allah, they would surely have found therein Much discrepancy”.

This is a very strong test especially when one clearly sees that the Bible is found wanting in consistency and focus and full of ambiguities. Apart from the bold introductions, the Qur’aan also assures the reader that it is not just a book for amusement or to be read out of literary interest, but its purpose is guidance to the Creator and ultimate salvation. AlBaqara 2:2. “This is the BOOK, IN IT IS GUIDANCE SURE, WITHOUT DOUBT, to those who fear Allah”.

Notice, the words "sure" and "without doubt". This theme of confidence repeats in various forms in the Qur’aan. It is impossible for one to read this book with contemplation and go without guidance; except those who out of arrogance choose to remain astray and these are the sick in the heart and those with hard hearts.

Revelation through the Qur’aan is not a new phenomenon. The Qur’aan serves as a confirmation of previous revelations and a correction where they have been corrupted by man. To this point Allah says in Sura Aal Imraam 3:3.

“It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the BOOK, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong)”.

Thus, all the previous revelations including the Bible are to be matched with the Qur'aan for authenticity. Where there is conformity in the meaning, then it should be accepted as true. Where there is a difference in meaning, then there is a corruption without doubt. For example the idea that Jesus is God or son of God, is a total corruption because it has been refuted and condemned by the Qur'aan. This erroneous doctrine found its way into Christianity through Paganism. Sadly, unlike Islam which eradicates Paganism by strict Monotheism, Christianity compromised the true message when it came into contact with Paganism. The compromise was facilitated by Constantine the great, Roman Emperor 306-337. Also, "Saint" Paul – the Trojan horse of Paganism in Christianity, introduced the resurrection and doctrine of original sin into Christianity. Both doctrines are alien to the teachings of The Master himself and refuted in the Qur’aan.

Human beings are of different categories when it comes to accepting the light. There are the skeptics and there are those whose hearts easily see the light by the grace of The Almighty. To guide mankind, the Qur'aan uses different methods, one is by drawing the reader’s attention to the signs of the Almighty, which normally go unnoticed because they are a daily phenomena and thus taken for granted. Allah mentions this ignorant attitude, by saying;

Jeseph 12: 105. And how many Signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by? Yet they turn (their faces) away from them!

Allah sometimes also makes pronouncements in the Qur’aan that can trigger scientific curiosities, such as in Ar Ra'd Surah The Thunder, 13:4, Allah says

“ And in the earth are tracts of land near to each other (diverse though), and gardens of vines and fields sown with corn, and palm trees - growing out of single roots or otherwise: watered with the same water, yet some of them We make more excellent than others to eat. Behold, verily in these things there are signs for those who understand!”

A statement as the above will not be read by the intelligentsia without saying “wait a minute”. It asks you to think why the same soil, same water from which the plants grow, yet they have distinctive flavours and tastes. Who except Allah could have given each a distinctive colour flavor and taste.

The fruits of guidance though seen in this world, has its ultimate reward in the hereafter, and that brings about the issue of resurrection. Resurrection which is very remote to our thinking is made to sink in by hard hitting statements or arguments, again spoken with the same confidence.

Al-Jaathiya 45:26 Say: "It is Allah Who gives you life, then gives you death; then He will gather you together for the Day of Judgment about which THERE IS NO DOUBT": But most men Do not understand.

The forgiver 40:59 “The Hour will CERTAINLY come: Therein is NO DOUBT: Yet most men believe not”.

Again the confidence of the pronouncements is disarming and note that this is not only mentioned once but many times as a sign of further confidence.

In the passage below, to press home the point about resurrection again, Allah starts by calling the attention to the reader of the Book, on how he created you in stages until your final destination.

Al-Hajj 22:5 “O mankind! if ye have a doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (our power) to you; and We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term, then do We bring you out as babies, then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die, and some are sent back to the feeblest old age, so that they know nothing after having known (much), and (further), thou sees the earth barren and lifeless, but when We pour down rain on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells, and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs)”.

This beautiful chapter is to impress upon the skeptics that there will surely be a resurrection. But it starts by impressing upon the reader that he was created by Allah. Stating facts in embryology, which could not have been known by the time the Qur’aan was revealed. Allah explains how he created man developing him from one stage to the next until he comes out of his mother’s womb as a baby. By including the statement “We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term”, we are made to know that not all pregnancies end up with birth. Some end up as a miscarriage and some result in still births. The next stage is that we grow into youth where we have full strength and energy. We then proceed into old age where we lose much of our knowledge and strength. This old age as Allah points out is not even guaranteed for each and every soul. Some are not destined to reach the old age and die before getting there. Now, Allah in order to bring things closer to our imaginations on how he can create us and cause us to die and then resurrect us, directs us to what we see almost every year in our lives. We observe how the rains bring the green vegetation and all around is vibrant with life. After three months or so, the "foliage" becomes yellow and then withers and dies. It is Allah who sends down the rains, cause the buried seeds to germinate and the resulting plant to grow, to subsequently wither and die. If even when sometimes we have bush fires, the seeds are preserved by the Almighty Allah, for resurrection at the appointed time.

This verse also reveals our complete submission to the will of Allah even unwillingly. Graduating from a clot (zygote) to new born, to infancy, to youth and to old age, and death- which can come at any of the stages. A graduation that cannot be reversed or stopped; revealing our helplessness to the will and plan of Allah. By moving from one stage of creation until death, no one can decide that youth- for example being so exciting, he will continue forever in that stage. Everybody must move on. Nor can we say I have had a good life and have chosen not to die. All must die, as Allah says "All that is on earth will perish" " But will abide (for ever) the Face of thy Lord, - full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour" Yes, no one can defy death no matter how we advance in our sciences; death is what we know we cannot conquer. Allah is making the claim that it is his plan. Anyone who disputes it should reverse it.

But who is Allah?. The kingpin of all religious believes. The Qur’aan does not just guide to something undefined, but let you know the one you are being guided to. For one has the right to ask Who is Allah?. Who am I being guided to? The Qur’aan's simple answer removes all the ambiguities we find in Christianity and all isms, by telling you who God is in the simplest terms, and says. Surah 112. The Unity, Sincerity, Oneness Of Allah 1. Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; 2. Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; 3. He begs not, nor is He begotten; 4. And there is none like unto Him. This has been described as the acid test of divinity. Any being that claims to be God or claimed by men to be God should be put to this test. If he satisfies all the conditions then he has the right to be God. If he cannot satisfy all the conditions above then he cannot be God The Almighty. Putting Jesus to the above test, we know he was not absolute, he was begotten and there are many like unto him. The above verse is simple and straight forward, needing no further explanation. But compare it to the doctrine of Trinity which difficult in itself to understand and accept, becomes even harder to understand when explained! See a reproduction of the Athanasian Creed as reproduced below. For those who do not know, The Athanasian creed is the explanation of the Trinity by the Catholic Church.

"… That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity".

One can easily see the failed attempts of "yets' and buts' to explain the unexplainable. Compare with the Qur'aan as shown previously. Truly God says in The Qur'aan " LET THERE BE NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION: TRUTH STANDS OUT CLEAR FROM ERROR: WHOEVER REJECTS EVIL AND BELIEVES IN ALLAH HAS GRASPED THE MOST TRUSTWORTHY HAND-HOLD, THAT NEVER BREAKS. AND ALLAH HEARS AND KNOWS ALL THINGS". Allah does not only reveal himself in the Qur'aan, he also lets the reader know his attributes as in the verses below. The Qur’aan leaves nothing unexplained. Al-Hashr 59: 22-24 "Allah is He, Whom there is no other god but He;- Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He, is Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 23. Allah is He, Whom there is no other god but He;- the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah. (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.24. He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise". Here again, that Jesus is God falls flat to the test, considering Matthew 21:18-19; 20-22 and Mark 11:12-14; 20-25; Jesus did not know that a fig tree did not bear fruit at the time he was hungry and he had to curse the poor tree for bearing no fruits out of season. Allah mentions in the Qur'aan no less than 99 names attributed to Himself. This is one of the Miracles of the Qur'aan. A Miracle because no one can give more than maybe ten attributes to any know person, but the Qur'aan gives well over 100 attributes all with different meaning to the Al-Mighty. The Qur'aan consistently guides the reader to pure Monotheism, setting records straight on its way, and with sound arguments, removing the ambiguities and confusions that were corrupted into previous revelations. That is why one of the names of the Qur'aan is – The Guardian. The guardian of Allah’s revelations

And for those who argue that the world and by extension man was not created by God, God throws a very interesting challenge at them in the passage below. When He says 73. “O MEN! HERE IS A PARABLE SET FORTH! SO PAY HEED TO IT! Those on whom, you call besides Allah (Science, deities etc), cannot create (even) a fly, if they all combined effort for that purpose! And if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. Feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition! 74. No just estimate have they made of Allah. For Allah is He Who is strong and able to carry out His Will”. How true. If we challenge that Allah did not create us, we should only create a small creature like a fly to prove that man could have been created otherwise. The one who cannot create a fly and cannot retrieve what a fly takes from him still believes that he was not created by God. How absurd!.

For those who believe and see his signs all around, they show their humility to him by bowing down, putting the highest and respected part of their bodies to the ground – LIKE Jesus did, like Mohammad did and taught us and as done by all the Prophets before them; out of awe, love and respect for him. They also back up their love for the creator by doing good things that bring happiness to His creatures.

(76) “O ye who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that ye may prosper. (77) And strive for Allah with the endeavour which is His right. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of your father Abraham (is yours). He has named you Muslims of old time and in this (Scripture), that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may be witnesses against mankind. So establish worship, pay the poor-due, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protecting friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed Helper”!

No room is given for blind faith. Underscoring the importance of using your head Allah says again in the Qur’aan, in Saba (34) verse 45. " Say (unto them, O Muhammad): I exhort you unto one thing only: that ye awake, for Allah's sake, by twos and singly, and then reflect…."

Yes, one cannot receive guidance without reflecting on the message of the Qur’aan. Guidance without knowledge is like standing on shifting sand and guidance with knowledge is like standing on solid ground.

Saad 38:29 Allah also says about the Qur’aan' (1) “(Here is) a book which We have sent down unto thee, full of blessings, that they may mediate on its Signs, and that men of understanding may receive admonition”.

The utmost benefit one can derive from the Qur'aan is after one mediates on the words, reading it slowly and trying to understand what it is saying. Though reading the Qur’aan in itself is highly rewarding, benefit (blessings) can only be attained from it after pondering over its meaning. This is because The Qur'aan talks to each of us as individuals, as groups - believers, disbelievers and hypocrites and as people of the book. Each group or each fellow will have the Qur'aan speaking directly to him. So hearken to the word of Allah. There is no doubt; your ultimate salvation depends on how you take it.

Alaa hal Balagt?

i.alhassan

idris_alhassan@yahoo.com