Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 117
117 the Holy Quran are agreed that it is an exact and accurate version of the verbal revelation that Muhammad (pbuh), the Prophet of Islam, claimed God had vouchsafed to him. The divine guarantee of safeguarding the Quran, which has just been set out, is not confined to preserving the integrity of the text alone. It extends to all the factors that bear upon the preservation of the Quran as the perfect source of divine guidance for the whole of mankind for all time. For instance, it is a guarantee that the language in which it was revealed, namely classical Arabic, would continue to be a living language in current use all the time, so that no difficulty might be encountered in determining and comprehending the meaning of the Quran. Classical Arabic is today spoken and written over a much larger area of the earth and by many times the number of people than was the case when the Quran was revealed. Besides, the Holy Prophet predicted that at the beginning of every century God Almighty would raise someone from among his followers who would set forth from the Quran the guidance that may be needed by mankind from time to time. In the case of no other scriptures has the integrity of its text, its language and its guidance been maintained. 4. There is the promise contained in the Quran, that in the latter days a prophet would be raised in Islam who would not only defend Islam against the concerted attacks of the followers and exponents of other faiths but would establish the superiority of Islam in every respect over all other religions, as is said: "He it is Who set His Messenger with guidance and the religion of Truth, that he may make it prevail over every other religion, even though those who associate partners with Allah may dislike it". 14 The commentators of the Quran agree that the promise contained in the above verse would be fulfilled through the Mahdi and the Messiah, whose advent in the latter days had been prophesied by the Holy Prophet himself. It is also agreed that he would be a spiritual reflection of the Holy Prophet. The promised prophet would fulfill the same mission for Muhammad (pbuh) as Jesus did for Moses namely to properly interpret the Divine message in its pristine form. Although God Himself has preserved the Quranic text in fulfillment of His promise made at the time of its revelation, many interpretations of the same text exist today. The existence of differing Quranic interpretations is also prophesied in the Quran 15 which categorizes its messages into two categories: (i) absolute commandments and (ii) allogerics. The first category forms the basis of Islam and is stated in absolute terms. This category is not subject to any human interpretation. The second category is subject to interpretation but can not contradict the first category. The Quran thus urges its readers to research and seek the correct interpretation which God will reveal through His chosen messenger. 5. Islam is the only faith that requires belief in all the Prophets wherever they might have appeared. The Quran affirms: 16 "Verily, we have sent thee with enduring truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and as a Warner; and there is no people whom a Warner has not been sent". This message is repeated more explicitly elsewhere in the Quran: 17