48 FEATURES OF THE HOLY QURAN (Bashir Ahmad Orchard) The Holy Quran was revealed piecemeal to the Holy prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him) during the course of his ministry in Arabia from 610 – 632 A.D. It is the sacred scripture of Muslims. Its original Arabic text has been preserved throughout the centuries in its pristine purity free of all change and alteration. It was not written by the Holy Prophet or any other person. It is pure revelation from God being the very words He spoke to the Holy Prophet in the same way as God spoke to the prophets in past ages. It might be asked what was the need for God to reveal a new scripture when there had been so many earlier ones including the Bible. One reason is that during the course of time they have suffered all manner of interpolation with the result that fact and fiction have become interwoven. It is an irrefutable fact that the Holy Quran which contains Divine guidance for all mankind, is the only revealed scripture preserved by God in its original language free of any kind of discrepancy. The Divine guidance and laws contained in earlier revealed scriptures were restricted to meet the needs and times of the particular people for whom they were sent. As man developed and matured he required a fresh law of guidance to meet the needs of the new times. Whereas other scriptures were meant only for chosen tribes and nations the Holy Quran was sent by God for the guidance and unification of all mankind. It has been memorised by thousands of Muslims in all ages and its literary standard and eloquence has remained unsurpassed, and will always remain so, in accordance with clear prophecies to this effect in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran lays much emphasis on the Unity of God. It states that He begets not nor is He begotten. He has no partner and there is none like Him. It contains commandments for all times. It gives good tidings to those who strive on the right path and warns those who persue the wrong path. The purpose of life is to win the pleasure of God through righteous conduct and self-purification by self-effort and prayer. God is the source of all blessings and favours. The Holy Quran mentions that God selects His messengers or prophets. They are all sinless and therefore, exemplars of all they teach. God foretells them things of the future. They bring glad tidings for their people. The REVIEW OF RELIGIONS ‘ 49 Holy Quran states that during the course of history there is no nation to whom a Prophet has not been sent with Divine guidance. The Quran mentions the names of only a few of them and exonerates them all from sinful acts which have been leveled at them in other scriptures. The Holy Quran clarifies right from wrong involving every aspect of life. It calls upon man to live a life of virtue requiring him to be humble, just, grateful, truthful, honest, forgiving, merciful, patient, kind, sympathetic, charitable, loving, prayerful, etc. It also calls upon him to avoid wrongdoing such as backbiting, pride, slander, envy, gambling, miserliness, untruthfulness, dishonesty, drinking alcohol, vengeance, ill-will, etc. The Holy Quran often refers to the next life although it states that paradise is something that the eye cannot see, something the ear has not heard about and the mind cannot conceive. It is something about which man has been given little knowledge. As it is beyond the ken of man to understand properly in this world the rewards of the next life. They are, therefore, not of a material nature and all descriptions of them in the Holy Quran likening them to various things of this world are not to be taken literally but metaphorically. Hell is not everlasting but a state similar to a reform prison where the soul undergoes its condign punishment to be later released on its heavenward journey. There are a multiple of prophecies in the Holy Quran. Many have come to pass during the ages and in more modern times. They are signs to think over. There are prophecies regarding the Holy Quran, the Battle of Badr in the early days of Islam when the idolaters outnumbered the Muslims three to one, defeat of the Persians by the Romans, the Suez and Panama canals, and so many more. The Holy Quran is a miracle in that its divine and holy influence completely transforms the lives of those who recognise its spiritual status and dedicate their lives towards adherence to its instructions. Most Arabians were idolaters, heavy drinkers, gamblers and debauchers at the time of the advent of the Holy Prophet, yet by the end of his ministry these very people became God fearing, teetotalers, prayerful people. This remarkable spiritual change was effected by the Holy Quran. Such changes are taking place even in this age among people of various nationalities who, through coming in contact with the Holy Quran, have completely changed for their spiritual betterment, whereas previously they were living Godless lives. The REVIEW of RELIGIONS The Review of Religions is the oldest magazine of its kind published in English language in the Indo-Pakistan Sub-Continent. Its first issue was published in 1902 and it has been continuously published since. It bears the distinction that it was initiated under the direction of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah himself. During more than eighty-six years the message of Islam has been conveyed through this magazine to millions of readers and many fortunate persons have recognized the truth of Islam and accepted it through its study. The articles published in it deal not only with the doctrines and teachings of Islam but also set forth a comparative appreciation of the teachings of other faiths. One of its outstanding features is the refutation of the criticism of Islamic teachings by orientalists and non-muslim scholars. It also presents solutions in the light of Islamic teachings of the problems with which the Islamic world is from time to time confronted. A study of this magazine is indispensable for the appreciation of the doctrines of the Ahmadiyya Movement and the teachings of its Holy Founder. Printed by Raqeem Press, Islamabad, Shwphatch Lane, Tilford, Surrey GU10 2AO, U.K. Published by The Review of Religions, The London Mosque, 16 Gressenhall Road, London SW18 SQL
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