Some Distinctive Features of Islam — Page 6
6 A Universal Religion The very first leaf of the Holy Quran praises the Lord Who is the Sustainer of all the worlds, and its last passage urges us to pray to the Lord of mankind. Thus, both the first and the last words of the Holy Quran present the concept of the entire universe, and not merely that of a God of the Arabs or the Muslims. Verily, no one before the Holy Prophet sa of Islam had beckoned the wh ole of humanity, and no book before the Holy Quran had addressed the entire world. The first such claim was made in favour of the Holy Prophet sa of Islam in these words: And We have not sent thee but as a bearer of glad tidings and a Warner, for all mankind, but most men know not. 6 And then: Say, ‘O mankind! Truly I am a Messenger to you all. ’ 7 And when the Holy Quran calls itself a message for all the worlds 8 , it upholds itself as the guidance with which is linked the true development and advancement of mankind. The Holy Quran has repeatedly b een called the Verifier of other Books and Muslims are admonished to believe in all other Prophets as in exactly the same manner as they believe in their own Prophet sa. In our faith, it is forbidden to make a distinction among any of them, much less to believe in some and reject others. The Holy Quran says: