Common Questions About Islam

The Islamic belief is that the Quran, the Holy Book of Islam, contains unaltered revelations from Allah to His Prophet Muhammad through Angel Gabriel. Although Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was illiterate and did not possess any formal education in reading or writing, Muslims believe that he memorized and transmitted these revelations to his Companions who then recorded them. 

Therefore, Muhammad is considered a conduit for conveying the divine message rather than an author of the Quran. The style and content of the Quran are unique and inconsistent with the known Arabic literature of its time, which further supports this belief.

The Quran is the central religious text of Islam and is considered by Muslims to be the literal Words of Allah. It was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) over 23 years and contains guidance for believers on how to live a righteous life. The Quranic scripture is divided into 114 chapters, or surahs, each comprising verses called ayahs. The Quran covers a wide range of topics, including faith, ethics, law, history, and stories of the prophets. 

It outlines core Islamic beliefs such as monotheism, submission to Allah’s Will (Islam), and the Day of Judgment. The Quran is not only read but also recited in prayer and revered in daily life as an ultimate source of moral and spiritual guidance. Its teachings form the basis for individual conduct as well as societal norms across countless Muslim cultures around the world.

While Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the central figure in Islam, Jesus holds great importance within Islamic theology as well. The frequent mention of Jesus (may the peace of Allah be upon him) in the Qur'an serves to emphasize his significance as a Prophet, Messenger of Allah, and precursor to Muhammad’s emergence. Moreover, the Qur'an mentions specific aspects of Jesus’ life including his miraculous birth and his ability to perform miracles by Allah’s Grace and Permission. Moreover, the message of Islam views itself as being in continuity with the messages of Judaism and Christianity.

It also takes on the extra role of correcting any distortions or alterations that had been made in them. Recognizing Jesus’ role therefore is part of the aim that Islam always has of serving as a completion and correction of previous monotheistic religions rather than entirely rejecting them. 

The evidence for the Quran stems from its unique literary style, its coherence, and its historical accuracy. The Arabic language used in the Quran is considered one of the most refined and sophisticated forms of the language, displaying incredible literary beauty and eloquence that is unmatched in any other book or text.

The consistent message, themes, and structure found throughout the entire book represent a coherent message that could not have been produced by an individual without divine intervention. Furthermore, the Quran contains a great deal of accurate information about historical events and places from different periods, which has been confirmed through archaeological discoveries. This consistency in both form and content provides substantive evidence that it is a divine revelation as claimed by Islamic tradition.

According to Islamic beliefs, the Quran is the revealed Word of Allah to Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Therefore, it has to be preserved in its original form. It is said that the Arabic language was chosen because of its significance in Islamic history and culture. Arabic was the common language among the people of Arabia who were the primary audience for Prophet Muhammad’s message.

Furthermore, it is a language rich in vocabulary and grammar with no other language able to encapsulate such depth and beauty. Thus, it would not have been appropriate or just for other languages to be superior or preferred over Arabic. The eloquence and expressiveness of the Quranic Arabic enable readers worldwide to have access to an intellectually engaging text that employs numerous styles, including storytelling, narration, rational arguments, and ethical guidance. This plays a significant part in why Arabic remains an integral importance to Islam today.