Islam and the Qur'an (Cambridge International IGCSE Religious Studies)

The Qur'an as a source of authority

• Similar to the Christian Bible, the Qur’an contains a mixture of historical accounts and advice on how to follow Allah
• It is believed to be an infallible source of authority for all matters of doctrine, practice and law

blockquote “Falsehood shall never come into it” (Qur’an 41:42)

• The Qur’an mentions the revealed books that had come before it:

  • The Tawrat(Torah)
  • The Sahifah (Scrolls)
  • The **Zabur **(Psalms)
  • The Injil (Gospels)

• These revelations had also been given to Jews and Christians, which is why the followers of these faiths are also known as “people of the book”****(Ahl al-Kitab)

  • However, Muslims believe that all of these previous texts have become unreliable
  • God’s truth in the Qur’an takes priority over all of these
  • The Qur’an is considered to be an exact record for all people, not just one group, as previously

blockquote “We sent to you the scripture with the truth, confirming the scriptures that came before it and with final authority over them” (Qur’an 5:48)

• The Qur’an allows Muslims to know Allah

• Muslims need holy books to guide them through their lives

  • They help to explain the power and beneficence of Allah
  • The Qur’an is seen as proof of Muhammad’s (pbuh) prophethood
  • They help Muslims to understand the history of God’s followers

The Qur'an as a revelation from God

• The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) spent a lot of his time in prayer and meditation

• On one of these occasions, on Mount Hira’, he received the first revelation of the Qur’an from Allah

  • Muslims know this as the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr)

• Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the word of God, which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) via the angel Jibril

• The angel commanded him to recite the words before him

  • The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had never been taught to read or write, but he was able to recite the words
  • In this way, Allah’s message continued to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) over the next 23 years

• The name Qur’an means “the Recital”, as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) recited by heart each revelation that he received and passed it on to his followers

blockquote “He revealed to His Servant what he revealed. The heart did not lie (about) what it saw’’ (Qur’an 53:10–11)

• The Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) followers memorised the revelations, and scribes wrote them down
• This means the Qur’an is a complete and unaltered revelation from God

The Qur'an as a source of moral principles

• The Qur'an provides detailed guidance on moral principles for Muslims
• It tells Muslims what Allah requires and provides examples of historical figures who have acted in accordance with what is considered right
• The Qur’an is the basis of Shariah law
• It teaches that all humans are born with a pure nature and have free will to act in good or harmful ways
• It gives Muslims a list of requirements, or things they should do, and restrictions, or things they should not do
• For example:

blockquote “Give full measure and weigh with justice. We never require of any soul more than what it can afford. Whenever you speak, maintain justice — even regarding a close relative. And fulfil your covenant with Allah. This is what He has commanded you, so perhaps you will be mindful” (Qur’an 6:151–153)

• Surah 17 contains a long list of both requirements and restrictions

• This includes:

  • Being faithful to Allah
  • Honouring parents
  • Being kind to close relatives, the poor and needy travellers
  • It forbids spending wastefully
  • It forbids adultery and warns against arrogance

• This part of the Qur’an also warns:

blockquote “The violation of any of these commandments is detestable to your Lord” (Qur’an 17:38)

• The Qur’an teaches Muslims that there are rewards for good actions in Paradise:

blockquote “God will… give them radiance and greatness, and reward them for their steadfastness with a garden and silk robes… With shady branches spread over them and clusters of fruit hanging close at hand” (Qur'an 76:11-22)

The importance of this view in Muslim life

• Because the Qur’an was revealed directly by Allah to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), it is the most important of the holy books for Muslims

• The Qur’an is the final revelation of God and is meant for all times, all people and all places

• Muslims believe that the Qur’an contains information that could only have come from Allah

blockquote “Nor could this Qur’an have been devised by anyone other than God. It is a confirmation of what was revealed before it and an explanation of the scripture. Let there be no doubt about it, it is from the Lord of the Worlds (Qur’an Surah 10:37)

• The Qur’an is seen as different from any other book for Muslims

  • It is the direct and final revealed words of Allah
  • It has ultimate authority for Muslims
  • It contains Allah’s instructions on how to live and is a source of moral principles

• Muslims show the importance of the Qur’an in the way they treat it

  • Many Muslims study the Qur’an and learn it by heart
  • They learn Arabic to be able to read and understand the original language of the revealed words
  • They keep the Qur’an wrapped up to keep it clean
  • They wash their hands before touching it
  • They keep it on a higher shelf than any other book
  • They place it on a special stand to read from it

Worked Example Give two reasons why the Qur’an is important for Muslims

[2 marks]

Final answer: Answer:

It is the final revelation from Allah [1 mark]

It provides guidance on how Muslims should live their lives [1 mark]

Exam Hint Think about how you might answer a 6-mark question about the Qur’an. For example:

Explain the importance of the Qur’an for Muslims Make a list of the different points you could make in response to this question