The Guiding Light — Page 141
S u rah al-Baqarah Chapter 2, Verses 1-8 141 intention is to point out that the Qur’ a nic teaching is suitable and appropriate for them and is meant for their good; and where the Qur’ a n is spoken of as having been sent to the Prophet sa , the intention is to emphasize that he is not merely the bearer of a message, but is the person best fitted to explain the message he has brought and to become an exemplar of the teaching contained in the message. Elsewhere God says, All a h knows best where to place His message (6:125), which is a clear proof of the fact that a Prophet is not merely the bearer of a message, but is selected by God for a higher purpose, i. e. , to become a model for his followers; otherwise, anybody can be sent as a bearer of a message and the question of special selection does not arise. The words, and that which was revealed before thee, illustrate a special characteristic of Islam, i. e. , it not only recognizes the truth of all previous Prophets but makes it obligatory upon its followers to believe in the Divine origin of the teachings they brought with them (see also 13:8; 35:25 of the Five Volume Commentary). But it must be remembered that Islam is a complete and final teaching which has superseded all previous teachings. Belief in them, therefore, is only in the sense of reverence for them