Trustworthiness of Al-Kitab
Our intention in this course is to study Al-Kitab, the Word of Allah. We will be looking at the various Scriptures that Allah has given to man through the prophets. We will look first at the Taurat (Torah or Law), given through Prophet Musa (Moses). This contains the history of creation of the world and man. It also contains the history of man's fall into sin, and the giving of the first law to Prophet Musa. We will be looking also at the Zabur (Psalms), given through Prophet Dawud (David). In the Zabur we will read beautiful words telling how great Allah is in majesty. We shall also see the intimate relationship the man of faith can have with Allah. We shall examine also the Injil (Gospel), containing the life and teachings of Isa al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah). We will also be looking at other books given by Allah at different times through different prophets. However, before we actually begin our study, we have some other very important matters to deal with.
First comes the question, Why should we study these Scriptures? What benefits are there and what can be gained from such study? The answer to this is simple. First of all, Allah has commanded such study. As Allah says in the Taurat,
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6,7)
Thus, Allah has given us the direct command to study His Word, to meditate on it and to teach it to our families. To fail to study the Word of Allah would be disobedience to His clear command. Secondly, Allah has also made a beautiful promise to those who study His Word and follow it. Allah has said that the one who meditates on his Word and does it will be prosperous in all he does and Allah will give him success:
This Book of the Taurat shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. (Yusha [Joshua] 1:8).
Thus, we see the teaching of Al-Kitab that he who ignores Allah's Word brings on himself Allah's curse while he who studies and follows Al-Kitab will receive Allah's blessing.
Another matter that demands our attention before we go on to the actual study of Al-Kitab is the question whether it is trustworthy and reliable or not. It is sometimes stated that one or more of Allah's revealed Scriptures, once pure and reliable, has been corrupted and its original meaning lost. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Allah has preserved the message of all those books pure and uncorrupted in the original languages. We will be spending the rest of this study looking at the various reasons why this is unquestionably the truth.
First and most importantly, this is the clear teaching of Al-Kitab itself. Allah the all-powerful and almighty has stated plainly in His Word that He Himself will protect and preserve His own Word from change or corruption. In the Holy Injil it is written,
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35).
Similar statements are found elsewhere in other books of Scripture such as that in the book of prophet Shaya (Isaiah),
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. (Shaya 40:8)
"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says Allah. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says Allah. (Shaya 59:21)
Moreover, Allah has given terrible warning in His Word concerning the curse that would fall on any man that did try to corrupt His Word. Thus, we find in the Taurat that following written:
"Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of Allah your God that I give you." (Deuteronomy 4:2).
In the Proverbs given by inspiration to the Prophet Sulayman (Solomon), we find similar words,
"Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar." (Proverbs 30:6).
Finally, in the Injil we see the following warning written.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, Allah will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, Allah will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18,19)
The commands and warnings against changing the Word of Allah is also corroborated by the Quran. It is clearly stated that Allah is all-powerful and His Word cannot be changed. The following verses are examples of such statements:
The word of your Lord finds its fulfilment in truth and justice: none can change his words: for he is the one who hears and knows all. (Surah 6:115)
For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present and in the hereafter. The word of Allah cannot be changed. This is indeed the supreme triumph. (Surah 10:64)
And recite what has been revealed to you of Al-Kitab of your Lord. None can change his words, and none will you find as a refuge other than him. (Surah 18:27)
Because the Word of Allah cannot be changed it is also written in the Quran that the true believer is enjoined to believe in all the Scriptures,
Now then, for that, preach and stand steadfast as you are commanded, nor follow their vain desires; but say: I believe in Al-Kitab which Allah has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord: For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to him is the final goal. (Surah 42:15)
It was we who revealed the Taurat: in it is guidance and light. By its standard the Jews have been judged, by the prophets who submitted to Allah’s will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s book, and they were witnesses to it: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If anyone fails to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are unbelievers. (Surah 5:44)
Say: “O people of Al-Kitab! You have no ground to stand upon unless you stand fast by the Taurat, the Injil and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.” It is the revelation that comes to you from your Lord, that increases in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow not over people without faith. (Surah 5:68)
Indeed, the Prophet is even told to go to those who have received Scripture before him when he is in doubt about any matter,
If you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading Al-Kitab before you. The truth has come to you from your Lord, so in no way should you waver. Nor be of those who reject the signs of Allah, or you shall be of those who perish. (Surah 10:94,95).
Such would certainly not be the case if those receiving the Scriptures before him had corrupted them. Thus, it is clearly seen that at the time the Quran was written the previous Scriptures were held as reliable for guidance and faithful as Allah's revealed Word. Let us look next at the history of Al-Kitab.
As we have seen, at the time of the Hijra the previous Scriptures were yet intact and uncorrupted. At that time the Injil had been 600 years in existence, the Zabur (Psalms) 1600 years and the Taurat 2000 years. It is an example of the power and mercy of Allah that these Scriptures were able to remain pure for such a long period. During that period of hundreds of years the various Scriptures were not only preserved in the original languages but also translated into many other languages. These copies and translations were carried to different countries throughout the world and were carefully memorized and preserved.
Many of these early copies of Scripture still exist in museums and libraries throughout the world. Indeed, there are over 5,000 ancient copies still available today. These copies are both in the original languages and in various translations. Many of these are open for public viewing in such places as the British Museum (Department of Manuscripts) as well as in museums and libraries in Palestine, Scotland, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Russia and the U.S.A. As would be expected, most of the manuscripts were discovered close to the places where the Scriptures were actually given, such as Palestine, Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Italy.
It is another witness to the power and might of Allah that these thousands of ancient manuscripts from all over the ancient world agree with one another in message and substance. These ancient manuscripts have then served as the basis for modern translations of the Scriptures. At present, the Scriptures have been translated into over 1,000 languages, all translations being based on these ancient manuscripts.
Many of the ancient manuscripts were written 300-400 years before the Hijra. Thus, we see that by the mercy and grace of almighty Allah, the same Scriptures that the Quran commands faith in and calls trustworthy are available for our study today. Praise Allah who is able to preserve and protect what He has given.
