The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page xxxi
GENERAL INTRODUCTION knowledge of Hebrew and translated the Hebrew Gospels into Arabic. We have in Bukhārī: Waraqah bin Naufal had accepted Christianity in the period of darkness; and used to translate the Gospels from Hebrew into Arabic (Bukhārī, ch. on Bad'ul Wahi). At the other end of Arabia lived the Iranians, and they also believed in a Prophet and a Book. Though the Zend-Avesta had suffered changes at human hands, it was yet held in reverence by many hundreds of thousands of believers and a powerful State was at its back. In India the Vedas had been adored for thousands of years. There was also the Gita of Sri Krishna and the teaching of the Buddha. Confucianism held sway in China but the influence of the Buddha was increasing. Need of the Quran In the presence of all these books and teachings, did the world need another book? This is the question which should occur to everyone who starts upon a study of the Quran. Its answer will take many forms: First, was not this division between religion and religion reason enough for the coming of yet another religion to unite all? Secondly, was not the human mind to undergo a process of evolution similar to that which the human body had already gone through? And, just as physical evolution had ultimately become established, were not mental and spiritual evolution destined towards an ultimate perfection which was the very end of human existence? Thirdly, had not earlier books become so defective that a new book had now become a universal necessity which was met by the Quran? Fourthly, did earlier religions regard their Messages as absolutely final? Did they not believe in continued spiritual progress? Did they not continuously assure their followers of a coming Message which would unite mankind and lead them to their ultimate objective? The answer to these four questions is the answer to the question concerning the need of the Quran in the presence of earlier Books and Messages. We proceed to answer these questions one by one. Was not division between religion and religion reason enough for the coming of a new Teaching which would unite all earlier teachings? God of the Bible-A National God Religion has a twofold purpose: (i) it enables man to meet his Maker; and (ii) it teaches him his duty towards his fellow men. All religions existing at the advent of Islam were not only different but mutually contradictory. The Bible V