Islam and Human Rights — Page 20
Isl am and Hum an R ights 20 contained in the revelation and even contradict it. Attention is drawn to all this in the Quran, and yet the Quran emphasizes the unity of the fundamental teaching contained in all previous Scriptures and insisted upon by the Prophets, namely belief in the Existence and Unity of God and in the Hereafter, and conformity to God’s will through righteous action. Previous revelations were limited in their scope. Each was designed to meet the needs of the people to whom it was sent during the stage of development upon which that people was about to enter. Each contained fundamental truths, valid through the ages in respect of the whole of mankind, but it also contained guidance, directions, com mandments and prohibitions which were of a local or tem porary character. Moreover, in course of time, portions of those revelations were lost or forgotten. That which was of universal and permanent application in previous revelations is reaffirmed in the Quran. Such portions as had been lost or were overlooked or forgotten, but were still needed, are revived. That which was of purely local or temporary application and was no longer needed, is omitted. That which was not contained in previous revelations, the need for it not yet having arisen, but which would henceforth be needed by mankind, is added (2:107; 3:8).