What is the Qur’an?
The Holy Qur’an contains the wisdom of Sacred Books that were revealed before it. Those Books had been corrupted by man; therefore Allah revealed the Holy Qur’an to remove teachings that had corrupted the religions of the people. He also used it to give us the knowledge that was needed to complete His Message. No Muslim can uphold the Holy Qur’an and feel that he is upholding something which is against Jesus.
In upholding the Holy Qur’an he upholds Prophet Muhammad and every prophet who came before him. The Holy Qur’an says,
Those who believe[in the Holy Qur’an, and those who follow the Jewish [scriptures], and the Christians and Sabians, any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
The main purpose of scripture in both the Holy Qur’an and the Bible is to preserve the way of life that Allah created for the human being. Allah does not want us to stray from His Path, the path that He has made easy for us, so he inspires human messengers to guide us to the way He has made straight. Men who are inspired by Allah are given keys to resolve the problems and confusion that have taken over the lives of the people. When men receive this kind of knowledge from Allah, it is called Revelation. It comes to reform all people and to direct humanity in the best fashion, guaranteeing happiness now and in the Hereafter. In everything that Allah has created, He has established signs. These signs are to instruct and guide us.
Our knowledge of the signs of creation guides and sustains us materially and intellectually. In order for us to find spiritual guidance, our rationality and understanding must grow to a level where we can interpret and relate the spiritual meanings of these signs logically. When I read the Holy Qur’an I learn the order of creation. I learn how creation works to maintain a balance, to promote life, and to enlighten the human soul and mind. When I study the scriptures I get an assurance from Allah that I have a place in His Creation, and that my life has a real meaning.
The men to whom Allah revealed the scriptures had great minds and pure hearts. They were aware of the corruption around them, and they knew that unless the world returned to the way of Allah, it would soon come to its end. They knew that without Allah’s Guidance the world would soon submit to the forces of materialism, greed, vanity, selfishness, corruption and the life of sin.
The Books of Allah can aid us only when we sincerely intend to glorify Him. If we are not selfish in our motivations, we will be successful in understanding the message that was revealed to the prophets. The Holy Qur’an says,
Those to whom We have sent the Book study it as it should be studied; they are the ones that believe therein. Those who reject faith therein, the loss is their own.
We believe in the scriptures because we want to make ourselves acceptable to Allah. We want to learn the Holy Qur’an so we can please Allah by living the life of a Muslim more fully. We do not study Allah’s Books in order to stand an inch or so higher than any other person. If our motives are selfish, the knowledge we receive will become a fire to burn us up.
The Holy Qur’an contains the same great wisdom and more concerning the preservation of life, but it is free of the confusion and misguidance that has been put into the Bible by man. Prophet Muhammad is told in the Holy Qur’an that the Qur’an is a Book revealed to him in order that he might lead humanity out of the depths of darkness into light, to the Way of [Him] the Exalted in Power, Worthy of all praise, by the leave of their Lord.