RELIGIOUS STUDIES

The belief in Tawhid forms the central part the Shahadah; the declaration of faith which is the first of the five pillars of Islam (the duties that all Muslims have to perform as their religious practice):

I bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God

Scripture is the most important type of revelation for Muslims. The Qur’an is regarded as a special revelation from Allah to Prophet Muhammad. It was revealed to him in Arabic. The Qur’an is therefore different from any other book for Muslims because it contains the words of Allah.

In 611 CE the Prophet Muhammad was meditating in a cave when the Angel Jibril appeared to him. Muhammad could not read but three times Jibril ordered him to ‘recite’. The angel said:

"Proclaim! In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, who created – created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood. Proclaim! And thy Lord Is Most Bountiful! He who taught (the use of) the pen taught man that which he knew not."

Jibril then told Muhammad that he was to be the messenger of Allah. These revelations continued for the next 23 years and the final verse was:

"This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion."

Also to preserve the true words of God, the Qur’an is always read and studied in Arabic. Versions of the Qur’an in other languages are not called translations because the true meaning of the words can only be found in the Arabic. The Qur’an is Iman (faith), unchanging and unchangeable. It is the last and most complete book of guidance from Allah and applies to all people forever.

In his sermon on Mount Arafat, Muhammad made it clear that this was the final revelation:

"No prophet or messenger will come after me and no new faith will emerge."