بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
We only know the names of a few Books. We believe there are other Books we do not know the Names of and that every Messenger was given a Book.
14-8-1438H
Our belief should be based on what Allah and the Prophet ﷺ told us.
#3 - Belief in the Books
Imagine there is a new device advertised in the market. You buy it without a manual. If you do not know how to operate it, what you need to be cautious of, how often you need to clean it; if you do not have guidance from the makers, you will spoil it.
The most complicated creatures are humans. Allah said in Surat at-Tin [95:4]:
"Verily, We created man of the best stature (mould),"
Allah created us on the فطرة (natural disposition). That is why children are pure. But we are the ones spoiling them.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ، فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ أَوْ يُنَصِّرَانِهِ أَوْ يُمَجِّسَانِهِ
Every child is born with a true faith of Islam (i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone) and his parents convert him to Judaism or Christianity or Magianism. [Al-Bukhari]
The environment can corrupt the human being. Allah will not leave people; He is رب العالمين (The Lord of the Worlds). He sent guidance, which comes in two forms:
1) الكتب - The Books
2) الرسل - The Messengers
The Messengers show you what is right and wrong; what is good for you and what is bad for you. Allah chose them to be with the people for a short time. They will not stay forever; they have a time to guide people and bring them back to purity, and then they will die. But they leave the Books behind with people.
If you cannot have a device without a manual, then how can a human being live in life without guidance?
What Books do we believe in?
The Books from the Heavens
The Religion of Allah is all from the heavens; it is not man made. What comes from the heavens is what reforms human beings, because as Allah said in Surat al-Mulk [67:14]:
"Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves) All-Aware (of everything)."
Our Creator is the only one who knows what is good for us and what is bad for us, what will make our lives better, what will reform us as people.
We need to believe that Allah revealed the Books. And belief entails that we do not question it.
To whom did Allah reveal the Books to?
Which Allah revealed upon His Messengers
Allah sent the Books upon His Messengers and they related it to the people. And Allah chose the Messengers; they are the creme of the crop, the best of all people.
They are the best of all people, so they do not change anything, add anything, delete anything.
Every Messenger has a Book
In Surah as-Shura [42:17]:
"It is Allah who has sent down the Book in truth and [also] the balance. And what will make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near."
"بالحق" - In truth
Allah sent the Book at the right time for the right people, with what is good for them. Sometimes you may have a good curriculum, but the level is too high for the students. When Allah sent the Books, it suits the people, because He is the All-Knower of what is best for the people.
There are Books we know and Books we do not know
Belief in the Books we know:
The Torah which was revealed upon Musa عليه السلام
Allah did not reveal this Book when Musa was in Egypt with Pharoah. He was given the book after Allah saved them and he was the leader of Bani Israeel and they were a community. Bani Israeels argumentative and rebellious nature did not appear with Pharoah, but after they were saved. And their Book suits them - they had many rules and instructions because of their nature. They used to ask too many questions, so they made their Religion difficult on themselves.
Allah set a special appointment with Musa عليه السلام to reveal the Book. He left the people early and appointed Harun to replace him, because he loved to have that special meeting with Allah. In Surah Ta-Ha [20:83-84]:
"And what made you hasten from your people, O Musa (Moses)?"
"He said: "They are close on my footsteps, and I hastened to You, O my Lord, that You might be pleased."
Allah then gave Musa عليه السلام the Torah, and it came in the form of tablets. When he returned to his people, they were worshipping a calf. Musa عليه السلام was so angry and upset, he threw the tablets on the floor.
When Bani Israeel has the Book, Allah said (as mentioned in Surat al-A'raf 7:171):
"And (remember) when We raised the mountain over them as if it had been a canopy, and they thought that it was going to fall on them. (We said): "Hold firmly to what We have given you [i.e. the Taurat (Torah)], and remember that which is therein (act on its commandments), so that you may fear Allah and obey Him."
They have the knowledge, but there is no application of it. In Surah Jum'ah [62:5]:
"The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah . And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."
Even if you put the best of books on the donkey, he will not benefit from it. The person who knows the Religion but does not apply it is like this donkey. He carries Books, but does not benefit from it. Bani Israeel had so much knowledge and Scholars but had no share in acting upon it.
The Injeel (Bible) which was revealed to Eesa عليه السلام
Bani Israeel had the Torah for many centuries until the time of Eesa عليه السلام. Eesa عليه السلام's mother is Maryam عليها السلام and her pregnancy and birth is a miracle, because she conceived without a husband. Eesa عليه السلام spoke when he was a baby, and the first words he said were (as mentioned in Surah Maryam 19:30-31)
"[Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah . He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet."
"And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive"
"إني عبد الله" - I am a slave of Allah
I.e. Do not worship me.
Eesa عليه السلام is telling the people beforehand that he is a slave of Allah. Whatever Eesa عليه السلام did after, of curing the people, etc. is because Allah made him a blessed person, not because he is a god.
Allah made the Religion easier with the Injeel. Many rulings which were previously difficult were made lighter, but Bani Israeel divided when it was revealed:
1) There were people who were loyal to the Torah; the Jews.
2) Those who followed the new Book; The Christians
At that time, the Books were unchanged, so those who followed the Bible were Muslims. Those who did not were disbelievers, because you have to follow what was revealed at that time. The matter of faith (the creed) in all the Books are the same, but the Shari'ah and the laws vary.
The Torah was more focused on instructions, and the Injeel was more spiritual.
Suhuf Ibraheem
Not much has been mentioned about this.
The Zabur which was revealed to Dawud عليه السلام
The Zabur is full of glorification. Dawud عليه السلام was known for his glorification.
We believe in the Books whose names were mentioned to us
We believe in the Books whose names were not mentioned
After all these Books, we have the Qur'an.
There was no Messenger between Eesa عليه السلام and Muhammad ﷺ. Mankind was in a time of ignorance before the Prophet ﷺ. There were so few believers, you could count them. Allah sent the Prophet ﷺ and sent the Qur'an with him, which abrogates all the Books before it. Those who stuck with the Injeel became disbelievers, because you have to follow the new book. The new book abrogates the Books before it.
The Qur'an is the best of all Books.
It is a Universal Book
There are instructions in the Qur'an, spirituality, glorification
It is very easy to recite, understand, act upon. In Surah Al-Qamar [54:17]:
"And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?"
Everyone can understand the Words of Allah (كلام الله). We do not follow the other Books now, just the Qur'an. The Qur'an is sufficient for us, because it is كلام الله.
This is a motivation to learn Arabic. We learn languages for the sake of the Dunya, but what about to go to Paradise and to understand كلام الله?
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