THE Holy Qur'an is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is known to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact. Allah's final revelation to mankind – the Holy Qur'an – was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) over a period of 23 years. The Qur'an, in contrast to many other religious books, was always held to be the Word of Allah by those who believed in it, i.e. it was not something decreed by a religious council many years after being written. Also, the Qur'an was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim peoples during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The entire Qur'an was also completely written down in the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized the entire Qur'an word-for-word as it was revealed. So, unlike other scriptures, that could only be recited and interpreted by the clergy, the Qur'an was always accessible to the common believers, it was always held to be Allah's Word and, due to widespread memorization, it was perfectly preserved. In regards to the teachings of the Holy Qur'an, it is a universal Scripture, and it is addressed to all mankind, and not to a particular tribe or “chosen people.” The message that it brings is nothing new but the same message that was delivered by all Prophets--submit to Allah Almighty and worship Him alone. As such, Allah's revelation in the Qur'an focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the unity of Allah Almighty and framing their lives around the guidance, which He has sent. Additionally, the Qur'an contains the stories of the previous Prophets, such as Ibrahim, Nuh, Musa and Isa (peace be upon them all), as well as many commands and prohibitions from Allah Almighty. In modern times in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and “political correctness,” the Qur'an offers solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today. In the Qur'an, Allah Almighty teaches human beings that they have been created in order to worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. Since the teachings of Islam encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for Allah Almighty alone and in accordance with His divine law. As such, worship in Islam is not limited to religious rituals. The teachings of Islam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged. Additionally, Islam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Allah Almighty is the only judge of human righteousness. The Islamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. Allah Almighty has given people free will, and the measure of one's faith is one's deeds and actions. However, humans have also been created weak and inevitably fall into sin. This is the nature of the humans as created by Allah Almighty in His wisdom, and it is not inherently “corrupt” or in need for repair. This is because the avenue of repentance is always open to all human beings, and Allah Almighty loves the repentant sinner more than the one who does not sin at all. The true balance of an Islamic life is established by having a healthy fear of Allah Almighty as well as a sincere belief in His infinite mercy. A life without the fear of Allah Almighty leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that Allah Almighty will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In the light of this, Islam teaches that only the misguided despair of the mercy of their Lord. Additionally, the Qur'an, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) contains a great deal of teachings about the life Hereafter and the Day of Judgment. Due to this, the Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by Allah Almighty for their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Allah Almighty will be both merciful and just, and people will only be judged for what they were capable of. Suffice it to say that Islam teaches that life is a test, and that all human beings will be accountable before Allah Almighty. A sincere belief in the life Hereafter is the key to leading a well-balanced and moral life. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral. – The News (Concluded) __
