Islam - The Qur'an

Why the Qur’an has absolute authority for Muslims…

1. The Qur’an is eternal.
2. Miracle Muhammad (SAW) performed.
3. Abul Ala Mawdudi: “Belief in the Qur’an should be of the nature that it is purely and absolutely God’s words, that every word of it is preserved, that everything mentioned therein is right…”
4. Qur’an was written down within 21 years. On the other hand, the Bible was revealed to many people over a period of 1500 years, and did not achieve its final written until 300 years. Muslims believe that this shows the Qur’an is the final word of God.
5. It was given to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in such a way that it can never be distorted.
6. “This is the book, in it is guidance. Sure without doubt to those who fear God.” (Surah 2 v 2)
7. Most holy thing a Muslim can possess.
8. “Earthly copy of heavenly origin.” (Montgomery Watt)
9. Muhammad (SAW) was illiterate, so he could not have written it himself.
10. The other books were distorted.
11. Basis of Shariah Law.
12. Route to enter Paradise.
13. The language of the Qur’an is so beautiful that the very sound of it can convert people.
14. No differences between the copies, it must be the word of God.
15. Surah 97 shows that the Qur’an came to earth on the Night of Power – Laylat-Ul_Qadr.
16. Muslim theologians say that the Qur’an came to a spiritual sphere above the earth called Bayt al –Izza, the House of Glory, where eternity meets the world of time, and that it was from there that Jibraeel brought it to the Prophet.
17. Qur’an comes from the Arabic qara’a – to read. The Qur’an is the ultimate authority in legal and religious matters and is infallible.
18. The longest Surah’s were later revealed in Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’s life so the earlier ones were put towards the end.
19. The Surah’s were then revealed in Madinah and reflect the issues with which Muhammad (SAW) was concerned when he migrated to Madinah.
20. Learning is an act of worship and therefore there have been commentaries on the Qur’an since the tenth century.
21. The commentaries or Tasfir seek to clarify the point in Muhammad (SAW)’s life when he received each verse.
22. The Surahs that were revealed in Makkah are called Makki and those which came after the Hijrah, when Muhammad (SAW) was in Madinah, are called Madani.
23. The Makki deal with Tawhid and the call for people to turn away from idolatry and to become Muslims.
24. Ayah means sign
    1. Revelations:

                                                               i.      Sahifah – Ibrahim (AS)

                                                             ii.      Tawrat – Musa (AS)

                                                            iii.      Zabur – Dawood (AS)

                                                           iv.      Injeel – Isa (AS)

1. The Qur’an was revealed over twenty years and as Jibraeel finished each revelation Muhammad (SAW) recited it to his companions.
2. They were then revealed down on ‘pieces of paper, stones, palm-leaves, shoulder-blades, ribs, and bits of leather’.
3. When Muhammad (SAW) died the Qur’an existed as separate Surahs which were not places together.
4. Zayd Ibn Thabit, a friend of Muhammad…