Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 116
116 had been prophesied by the Holy Prophet of Islam. Indeed, the Holy Quran sets forth a second spiritual advent of the Holy Prophet himself in the latter days: 5 "Among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise. That is God's grace; He bestows it on whom He pleases. God is the Master of immense grace". It is agreed among the Muslims that the Quranic prophecy will be fulfilled through the advent of the prophet in the latter days, that is to say, the Mahdi and the promised Messiah: 6 "He it is Who sent 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 God may dislike it". The following discussion helps elaborate this issue: 1. There is a very strong presumption that the great teacher of the latter days would appear within the dispensation of Islam. This presumption is upheld by many factors; a detailed exposition of which is beyond the scope of this book. It would be enough only to mention the outstanding ones. The first is that the scripture of Islam, the Holy Quran, proclaims the universality of the mission of the Holy Prophet. "Proclaim, O Prophet: O Mankind, verily I am God's messenger to you all". 7 "We have sent thee as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner for the whole of Mankind, but most people know not". 8 "We have sent thee only as a mercy for the universe" (9). 2. The scripture of Islam, the Holy Quran, contains comprehensive guidance for the whole of Mankind for all time, as is said: "A messenger from God, reciting pure scriptures, wherein are lasting commandments". 10 "The Quran is a source of honor for all the worlds ". 11 "Blessed is He who has sent down the Discriminating Book to His servant that he may be a Warner to all the peoples: 12 3. The Quran is the only scripture which has been safeguarded against the perversion under divine decree, as is said: "Surely, We Ourself have sent down this Exhortation, and We will, most surely safeguard it". 13 The Quran has the unique distinction that of all the scripture it is, from its beginning to end, an entirely verbal revelation. That in itself is a guarantee that it would not be perverted or twisted. All non-Muslim scholars who have made a research into the integrity of the text of