A19.0 BOOKS OF ALLAH (THE EXALTED)

A19.1 Allah (The Exalted) revealed to his Messengers His statement and message.

A19.2 Taurat was revealed to Sayyidina Musa, Zuboor was revealed to Sayyidina Dawud, Injeel was revealed to Sayyidina ‘Isa and many other books were revealed to many other Prophets (upon them all be peace).

A19.3 The followers of these Prophets altered these books, added or extracted statements and therefore changed the orders of Allah (The Exalted). Then Allah (The Exalted) revealed to our Master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) the Holy Qur’an

As Allah says: Indeed We have sent down the Qur’an, and indeed We Ourselves surely are its Guardians. (This is one of the miracles of the Qur’an – no one has been able to change even one letter of its text, despite every effort. It has remained in its original form since the 6th Century (A.D) and will remain so forever. Other Holy Books such as the Torah and the Bible have lost their originality.)1

A19.4 The Qur’an is such a unique book that no one can make another like it, whether the whole world tried together to make one, they couldn’t.

Proclaim, “If all mankind and jinns agree to bring an equivalent to the Qur’an, they will not be able to bring its equal – even if they were to help each other.”2

What! They dare say that “He has fabricated it”? Say “Therefore bring ten fabricated chapters like these, and call on everyone you can other than Allah, if you are truthful.”3

And if you are in any doubt concerning what We have sent down upon Our distinguished bondman (Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), bring forth a single surah (chapter) equal to it; and call upon all your supporters, other than Allah, if you are truthful.4

A19.5 The Qur’an is complete with all the knowledge and every aspect is enlightened. It is the same now, fourteen hundred years later as it was when it was revealed and will always remain the same.

A19.6 If the whole world wished, even then there would not a be a slightest letter difference to it.

A19.7 Those who say that someone has altered or increased or decreased it or the true Qur’an is kept by the Imam of the unseen, then they are a Kafir. This is the true Qur’an.

A19.8 It is necessary for all to bring faith on this Qur’an. There will now, not come a new Prophet nor a new book, those who believe against this are not Muslims.

A unique and perfect book sent to a unique and perfect Prophet. This proves the love of Allah (The Exalted) towards His beloved that I will take responsibility of the Book I give you.

Belief: It is necessary for revelation to descend upon a Nabi, be this through an Angel or without any means.

Belief: Almighty Allah revealed many scriptures (Sahifas) and Heavenly Books to numerous Nabis. Four from amongst them are very prominent: The Taurat, which was revealed to Sayyidina Musa , The Zaboor, which was revealed to Sayyidina Dawood, The Injeel, which was revealed to Sayyidina Esa, and the most exalted Book, The Holy Qur’an, which was revealed upon the most exalted Prophet, Sayyidina Ahmad-e-Mujtaba Muhammad Mustafa. All the Books of Allah are equally regarded as His Divine Word and there is no question of one being superior to the other except in the sense of one being a means of greater reward than the other. Allah is One and His Word is One. There is no room for more or less exalted in His Kalaam, as His Kalaam (Divine Word) is Qadeem. (This means that it is incumbent upon an individual to have this knowledge so that he may know what is proper to accept and what he should not accept in regards to Belief in Allah and His Divine Attributes.)

Belief: All the Heavenly books and scriptures are Haq (True), and all are the ‘Word of Allah’. It is necessary to bring Imaan in everything which has been mentioned in them. However, it must be noted that Almighty Allah entrusted the past books to the followers (Ummah) of that time, but they were not able to preserve or memorise it. The Word of Allah did not remain with them in the original form as it had been revealed to them, because the mischievous ones amongst them altered these books, making changes, additions and deletions to suit their own desires. This is known as Tahreef. Thus, if anything from these books are presented to us, and we find that it is in conformity with the Qur’an, then we should acknowledge it and if it is contrary to the Qur’an, then we should know for certain that it is one of those things which were altered, and if we are unable to establish whether it is in conformity with the Qur’an or contrary, then we should neither reject nor acknowledge it, but we should say:

“We believe in Allah, in His Angels, His Books and All His Prophets”

Belief: As this Religion (Islam) is to remain forever, Almighty Allah has taken upon Himself the responsibility of protecting and preserving the Qur’an. Almighty Allah says:

“Verily We have revealed this Qur’an (Divine Message), and indeed We are its Protector.” [Surah 15 Verse 9]

It is thus Muhaal (totally and absolutely impossible) to change even a single alphabet or dot in the Holy Qur’an. Even if all the people in the world come together with the intention of altering it, they will not be able to do so. Thus, anyone who says that any Chapter, Verse, Surah, or even a single alphabet of the Holy Qur’an has been altered, added or deleted; is undoubtedly a kaafir (unbeliever), for he has refuted the verse of the Qur’an which we have quoted above

Belief: The Holy Qur’an is by itself testimony of it being the Word of Allah, as it clearly announces:

“And if you have any doubt in that, which We have revealed upon our (Most Chosen) servant (Muhammad may Allah bless him and grant him peace), then present a Surah like it, and summon all your helpers except Allah, to assist you if you are on the right. Subsequently, if you fail to present it; and We declare that you will fail to present it; then fear the fire whose fuel is man and stone; which has been kept ready for the unbelievers.” [Surah 2, Verse 23-24]

The unbelievers tried their level best to do this but could not produce even a single verse equal to that of the Qur’an, and they shall never be able to do so.

Belief: The past books were only memorised by the Ambia-e- Kiraam عليهم السالم . The miracle of the Qur’an is that even little children amongst the Muslims have memorised it.

Belief: There are 7 Qirats (styles of recitation) of reciting the Holy Qur’an that are well known and continuous. (Allah Forbid) There is no difference in the actual meaning of the Qur’an when reciting any one of the 7 styles. All of them are correct. The uncomplicated way for the Ummah, is for each to recite in the style which is most convenient for him.

The ruling is that the style of recitation that is most prominent in a particular country is the style that should be recited in the gathering of the people there. Like in India (and many other countries) the Qir’at of Aasim on the narration of Hafs is recited. This should be done so that due to ignorance, the common people do not commit kufr by rejecting another style, which they have no knowledge of.

Belief: The Holy Qur’an has rendered many verses of the other books inapplicable. Likewise, some verses of the Qur’an make other verses of the Qur’an Mansookh (inapplicable).

Belief: Naskh (to become inapplicable) refers to certain verses which are applicable for a certain duration only, but it is not evidently mentioned that these verses only apply for that particular duration. When the stipulated duration elapses, then another command is revealed, from which it apparently seems that the earlier command has become inapplicable. However, in reality if it is carefully examined, then it becomes evident that what it really shows is that the duration for that particular command has elapsed. Some people interpret Mansookh (inapplicable) to mean nullified.

This is absolutely incorrect and extremely prohibited. All of Allah’s Commands are Haq (True) and always valid, and there is no question of any of them being nullified. 1

Belief: Some of the references in the Qur’an are Muhkam (i.e. they are clear and well understood) whereas there are other references in the Holy Qur’an which are Mutashabeh (i.e. not so clear and not understandable). The true meanings regarding these are only known to Allah and Allah’s Rasool _. To seek out Mutashabeh references in the Holy Qur’an and to try to decipher them is the way of a person who has scepticism in his heart.

Belief: The Wahi-e-Nabuiwat (Divine Revelation that descends on Prophets) is only unique to Nabis. To assign this uniqueness to any nonNabi causes one to become an unbeliever. Even that which is revealed to a Nabi in his dream is regarded as Wahi (Divine Revelation), and it can never be untrue. The things which are inspired upon the heart of a Wali (saintly personality), either in his dream or whilst he is awake, is known as Ilhaam. The wahi-e-shaitaan (evil whispering of the shaitaan), occurs to those with evil schemes, such as the soothsayers, conjurers and other unbelievers and open sinners

Belief: Nabuiwat (Prophethood) is not Kasbi i.e. it is not something that can be acquired through self effort and striving in worship. This is something which Almighty Allah, by His Grace bestows upon whom He Wills. Verily, He has bestowed it to those whom He has made worthy of this unique position. They are pure from all undesirable qualities and blessed with all the most exalted qualities and character traits even before being blessed with Nabuwwat. They have already surpassed the many levels of Wilaayat. His ancestry, lineage, body, words, actions and practices are free from anything which is abominable and undesirable. They are blessed with great wisdom and perfectly incomparable intelligence, which surpasses the intelligence of all others. The intelligence of any intellectual or philosopher cannot even come close to a hundred thousandth fraction of their intelligence.

“Allah knows well where to place (entrust) His Divine Message” [Surah 6, Verse 124]

‘It is Allah’s Grace; He bestows it to whom He Wills. And Allah is the Most Benevolent [Surah 62, Verse 4]

One who accepts Nabuiwat to be Kasbi, meaning that one who believes that a person can acquire Nabuiwat by his self-effort and striving in worship, is a kaafir (unbeliever).