
"God has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself,
(yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects), the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins
and their hearts do soften to the celebration of God's praises. Such is the guidance of God: He guides therewith
whom He pleases"
[Surah Zumar Verse 23, Translation Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
| Al-Quran | Al-Hadith | |
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The Quran, more than any other single phenomenon known to us, has fundamentally affected the religious,
social and political history of the world. No other sacred scripture has ever had a similarly immediate impact
upon the lives of the people who first heard its message and, through them and the generations that followed them,
on the entire course of civilization. It shook Arabia, and made a nation out of its perennially warring tribes;
within a few decades, it spread its world-view far beyond the confines of Arabia and produced the first
ideological society known to man; through its insistence on consciousness and knowledge,
it engendered amongst its followers, a spirit of intellectual curiosity and independent inquiry, ultimately
resulting in that splendid era of learning and scientific which distinguished the world of Islam at the height
of its cultural vigour….. .... and never has any other book supplied to so many, and over so long a span of time, a similarly comprehensive answer to the question, "How shall I behave in order to achieve the good life in this world and happiness in the life to come?" The Quran represents the ultimate manifestation of God's grace to man, the ultimate wisdom, and the ultimate beauty of expression: in short the true Word of God. [Muhammad Asad] |
You have indeed in the Apostle of God a beautiful pattern of (conduct) [Surah Ahzab 21] O mankind! The Apostle hath come to you in truth from God: believe in him: It is best for you. [Surah Nisaa 170] God did confer a great favour on the believers when He sent among them an Apostle from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the signs of God, sanctifying them, and instructing them in scripture and wisdom [Surah Al-i-Imran 164] Those who follow the Apostle, the unlettered prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures); In the Law and the Gospel; For he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him, it is they who will prosper. [Surah Araf 157] Thus speaks the Quran about the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), a "Mercy to all Creation". His sayings are an important source of information for interpreting the Quran. "Hadith" represent a study of the words and deeds of Prophet Muhammad, which Muslims consider as the second eternal source of guidance in their lives. |