Analysis and Criticism of Modernism in the Light of Islam (Part 21)

Author: Mohajer Azizi

Analysis and Criticism of Modernism in the Light of Islam (Part 21)

Quranic evidence for the authenticity of the Quran

There are many verses proving the authenticity of the Quran, but here we will suffice with mentioning a few verses that have comprehensive and major implications:

1. Allah Almighty says:

“وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ” Translation: “And We have sent down to you the Book (the Quran), a clarification for everything, and a guidance, a mercy, and good news for the Muslims.” [1]

This verse indicates that the Holy Quran is a complete book that contains all the rules and things in matters of religion and law. Therefore, it is known that the Quran is the main and fundamental source of religion and law.

2. In another verse, the Lord of the Universe says:

“إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ” Translation: “The command (and judgment) belongs only to Allah.” [2]

This verse also shows that the Quran is the main source of Islamic law. In this verse, the Lord of the Universe has considered ruling and law to be His own, and this ruling was revealed in the Quran.

3. Similarly, the Almighty Allah says:

“فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ” Translation: “So judge between them by what Allah has revealed.” [3]

In this verse, the Almighty Allah commands the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to rule and decide based on the Quran; therefore, the Quran is definitely the main source of legislation and law.

4.  “الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ أُولَئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِهِ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ”

Translation: “Those who have been given the Book [of Allah] recite it as it should be recited, those are the ones who believe in it. And those who disbelieve in it, it is they who are the losers.”

The meaning of «يتلونه حق تلاوته» is that they recite the Quran with its right recitation, that is, they follow and act upon it correctly. The authority of the Quran is that whoever disbelieves in it will be a loser in both this world and the Hereafter.

5. Allah Almighty has challenged people to produce the same of Quran if they can; but they could not do so. As Allah says:

“فَليَأتُواْ بِحَدِيثٖ مِّثلِهِۦ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ” Translation: “If they are truthful, then let them bring a statement like that.” [4]

And in another place He says: “قُل فَأتُواْ بِسُورَةٖ مِّثلِهِۦ وَٱدعُواْ مَنِ ٱستَطَعتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ” Translation: “Say: if you are truthful then bring a Surah like it and call upon whomever you can besides Allah for help.” [5]

Although there were sufficient motives and grounds to accept this challenge and try to produce a book like this, and there were no obstacles, those who were skilled in language and eloquence did not do so, because in reality they were incapable of doing so. And this in itself definitely indicates that this book is not the word of human (and this verse necessarily indicates the authority of the Quran.) [6]

Hadith evidence for the authenticity of the Quran

1. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“تَرَكْتُ ‌فِيكُمْ ‌أَمْرَيْنِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوا مَا تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِمَا: كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّةَ رَسُولِهِ” Translation: “I have left among you two things which, if you hold fast to them, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.” [7]

Reasoning: In this hadith, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has introduced the Quran and the Sunnah as the two main sources of guidance and Sharia.

2. Among the comprehensive sayings on the authenticity of the Qur’an and the need to adhere to it is the speech of Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

“سمعت رسول الله ^{صلى الله عليه وسلم} يقول: كتاب الله فيه خبر ما قبلكم، ونبأ ما بعدكم، وحكم ما بينكم، هو الفصل ليس بالهزل، هو الذي لا تزيغ به الأهواء، ولا يشبع منه العلماء، ولا يخلق عن كثرة رد، ولا تنقضي عجائبه، هو الذي من تركه من جبار قصَمه الله، ومن ابتغى الهدى في غيره أضله الله، هو حبل الله المتين وهو الذكر الحكيم، وهو الصراط المستقيم، هو الذي من عمل به أُجر، ومن حكم به عدل، ومن دعا إليه هدي إلى صراط مستقيم.”

Translation: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: ‘The Book of Allah (the Quran) contains the news of the past, the knowledge of the future, and judgment among you. It is a firm statement, not a joke or a vain thing. It is a Quran that is not distorted by selfish desires, and scholars do not get tired of it, and it does not become outdated by repeated repetition, and its wonders are endless. Whoever abandons it and is tyrant, Allah will break him; and whoever seeks guidance in other than it, Allah will mislead him. The Quran is the firm rope of Allah, a wise reminder, and a straight path. Whoever acts upon it will be rewarded, and whoever judges by it has acted justly, and whoever invites to it has been guided to the straight path.” [8]

3. “عَنْ مُعَاذٍ  ^{رضی‌الله‌عنه}، “إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ^{صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وسلم} لَمَّا بَعَثَ مُعَاذًا ‌إِلَى ‌الْيَمَنِ ‌قَالَ ‌لَهُ: كَيْفَ تَقْضِي إِنْ عَرَضَ لَكَ قَضَاءٌ؟ قَالَ: أَقْضِي بِكِتَابِ اللهِ، قَالَ: فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْهُ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ؟ قَالَ: أَقْضِي بِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ‌اللهِ ^{صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وسلم}، قَالَ: فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْهُ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ؟ قَالَ: أَجْتَهِدُ رَأْيِي لَا آلُو”

Translation: “When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent Mu’aaz ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen, he asked him: “How do you rule when a case comes to you?” Mu’aaz said: “By the Book of Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked: “What if you do not find it in it?” He said: “By the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.” He said: “What if you do not find it in the Sunnah?” He said: “I will try my best with my own opinion and Ijtihaad and I will not fail.” [9]

4. Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):

“قيل لرسول الله ^{صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وسلم}: إن أمتك ستفتن بعدك. فسأل رسول الله ^{صلى‌الله‌عليه‌وسلم} أو سئل ما المخرج منها؟ قال: «بكتاب الله العزيز [الذى لا يأتيه الباطل من بين يديه ولا من خلفه تنزيل من حكيم حميد][10] ، من ابتغى العلم فى غيره أضله الله، ومن ولى هذا الأمر من جبار فحكم بغيره قصمه الله.”

Translation: “It was said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): Your nation will be afflicted with tribulation after you. So either the Prophet asked himself or was asked: What is the way out of that tribulation? He said: By the Book of Allah [the Book that falsehood does not approach from before it or from behind it; it is a Book that has been sent down by Allah, the Wise and the Praiseworthy]. Whoever seeks knowledge in other than that, Allah will lead him astray; and every tyrant ruler who takes the reins of affairs and rules otherwise, Allah will break him to pieces.” [11]

Continues…

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References:

1. Nahl: 89.
2. Yusuf: 40.
3. Ma’idah: 49.
4. Al-Tur: 34.
5. Yunus: 38.
6. Qurtubi, Al-Jami’ li Ahkam Al-Qur’an, 1/76.
7. Mishkat al-Masabih, vol. 1, p. 66.
8. Musnaf Ibn Abi Shaibah, vol. 16, p. 415.
9. Musnad Abi Dawud al-Tayalisi, vol. 1, p. 454.
10. Fussilat: 42.
11. Sunan al-Darimi, vol. 4, p. 2099.