Sources of Islam (2/3)
Dr. Muhammad bin Abdullah As-Suhaym
This unlettered man who has been described in the Torah and the Gospel that he would not read nor write, was visited by Jewish and Christian monks – who had some remnants of the Torah and the Gospel – and asked about issues by which they differed, and they would request for his arbitration in matters in which they contended. Allah says, explaining the description of Muhammad in the Torah and the Gospel,
"Those who follow the Message, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad) whom they find written with them in the Torah and the Gospel, he commands them to do all that is good and forbids them from all that is evil; he allows them as lawful all good things and prohibits them as unlawful all filthy things."[1]
Allah also says, while speaking about the question that the Jews and Christians asked the Prophet,
"The People of the Scripture ask you to cause a book to descend upon them from heaven."[2]
"And they ask you concerning the Spirit."[3]
"And they ask you about Dhul-Qarnayn."[4]
"Verily, this Qur’an narrates to the Children of Israel most of that in which they differ." [5]
Reverend Abraham Philips, has had a failed attempt, in his doctorate thesis to undermine the Qur’an. The Qur’an rather overwhelmed him with its proofs, evidences and signs. The man proclaimed his own weakness, surrendered to his Creator and embraced Islam.[6]
When one of the Muslims presented a translated copy of the meaning of the Noble Qur’an as a gift to the American doctor, Jeffrey Lang, he found that this Qur’an was addressing him, answering his questions and removing the barrier between him and His own soul. He said, "It seems that He Who revealed the Qur’an knows me more than I know myself." [7]
Yes, the One Who revealed the Qur’an is the Creator of man, and He is Allah, may He be Glorified. He says,
"Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most-Kind and Courteous, the All-Knower"[8]
So, the man's reading of the translation of the meaning of the Noble Qur’an led him to Islam and to the writing of his book from which I am quoting.
The Qur’an is comprehensive to all that man needs. It contains all fundamentals of faith, legislations, human interactions and manners. Allah says,
"We have neglected nothing in the book."[9]
In the Qur’an, there is call to belief in the Oneness of Allah, and mention of His Names, Attributes and deeds. It calls to belief in the authenticity of what the Prophets and Messengers brought. It affirms the Resurrection, reward and reckoning and establishes evidences and proofs for that. It narrates the stories of past nations, the punishment meted out to them in this world as well as the torment and exemplary punishment that awaits them in the Hereafter.
It also contains many proofs and signs that dazzle the scientists and that is suitable for all generations and ages; and in which many scholars and researchers find what they look for. I will give only three examples that reveal some of these facts.
1. His saying, "And it is He Who has let free the seas: one palatable and sweet and the other salty and bitter; and He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them." [10]
He also says,
"Or is like the darkness in a vast deep sea, overwhelmed with waves topped by waves, topped by dark clouds, (layers of) darkness upon darkness: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! And he for whom Allah has not appointed light, for him there is no light."[11]
It is well-known that Muhammad never travelled by sea on a sea neither was there in his time the material instruments that could have helped to discover the depths of the sea. Who else could have provided Muhammad with this data if not Allah?
2. Allah says, "And indeed, We created man out of clay (water and earth), therefore, We made him (the offspring of Adam) as a mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge (and lodged it) in a safe lodging (womb), then We made the mixed drops into a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood) then We made the clot into little lump of flesh, then we made out of that little lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bone with flesh and We brought it forth as another Creation. So, blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators." [12]
The scientists did not discover these subtle details about the stages of embryonic development until recently.
3. Allah also says, "And with Him are the keys of all that is hidden, none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record." [13]
Mankind did not know this all-encompassing thought and had never thought about these things let alone having the ability to do it. If a group of scientists observe a plant or insect and they record their findings and discoveries we all become dazzled with that, though we know that what is hidden from these scientists in this plant or insect is more than what they observe in it.
The French scholar Maurice Bucaile has made a comparison between Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’an and between modern scientific discoveries concerning the creation of the heavens, the earth and man and found out that these modern discoveries agree with what is in the Qur’an. On the other hand, he found out that the Torah and the Gospel that are in circulation today contain many erroneous information about the creation of the heavens, the earth, man and animals.[14]
(Continued)
[1] Surah Al-A'raaf 7:157.
[2] Surah An-Nisaa 4:153.
[3] Surah Al-Israa 17:85.
[4] Surah Al-Kahf 18:83.
[5] Surah An-Naml 27:76.
[6] See: Al-Mustashriqoon wal-mubashshiroon fil-'aalamil 'arabee wal Islaamee, Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad.
[7] “Struggle in the Cause of Faith”, by Dr. Jeffrey Lang; Arabic translation by Mundhir Al-‘Absee p34.
[8] Surah Al-Mulk 67:14.
[9] Surah Al-An'aam 6:38.
[10] Surah Al-Furqaan 25:53.
[11] Surah An-Noor 24:40.
[12] Surah Al-Mu'minoon 23:12-14.
[13] Surah Al-An'aam 6:59.
[14] See: "The Torah, the Bible and the Qur’an in the light of modern science" by Maurice Bucaile p. 133-283. He was a Christian revert.