The Last Revelation

The Glorious Qur’an is the Final Revelation (the Last Testament), revealed by God (Allah) to Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an is a divine constitution sent down to regulate and govern our human life. It speaks with the perfect knowledge of the Creator about His creation. It reveals the truth and invites humankind to the way of that truth. It contains important information about human destiny. It educates and raises people to the highest spiritual, moral, intellectual, and social levels as they strive to comprehend it and apply its teachings.
 
The Qur’an is an eternal miracle given to the final Prophet, Muhammad, as proof of his prophethood; as such, it is unique and incomparable. Although revealed fourteen centuries ago, it remains even today completely intact and unaltered (in its original Arabic form).

Also, Allah states in the Qur’an:

Beautiful and Magnificent Quranic Verses

I would like to share with you some beautiful and magnificent verses from the infinite oceans of God’s Word and Wisdom. To discover more about these beautiful and pure treasures of the Word of the One True God, I invite you to read the Qur’an for yourself. Try to get an authentic translation; you may access one online from a reliable Islamic website. (Please check the recommended Islamic websites at the end of this publication.)

In fact, all Qur’anic verses are God’s Words. Let us read and enjoy some magnificent texts of the Glorious Qur’an that reveal the Islamic view regarding some critical and significant teachings and concepts in Islam, like:

- One True God (Tawheed)

-  Forgiveness and Salvation

-  Justice 

-  Equality 

-  Universality and Unity of Message

-  Allah and His Messenger

-  Tranquillity and Paradise

-  Men and Women (in Islam)

-  Great Teachings 

-  Do’s and Don’ts 

One True God (Tawheed)

That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things.

Indeed, the pure and crystal clear concept of the Oneness of God (in Arabic, Tawheed) is the essential theme of the Qur’an.

Forgiveness and Salvation

When a soul repents and returns to Allah, Allah turns back to His servant with acceptance and forgiveness. Yes, Allah forgives all sins when we go back to Him sincerely. What a great deal!

Islam sees Allah as the source of peace, mercy, and forgiveness  ̶  not as a source of hate, bloodshed, violence, or terrorism.

So to attain salvation and eternal life, you simply turn back to Allah, believe in Him alone, and perform good deeds. There is no need for an innocent, virtuous person to be crucified or killed to pay for and erase sins committed by others. 

This has briefly explained the beautiful concept of salvation and forgiveness in Islam, which is indeed a religion of mercy and forgiveness.

Justice 

Islam teaches us to be just with everyone, whether friend or foe, at all times, whether at peace or at war. It teaches us to conduct ourselves with unconditional justice and morality, free from individual whims or the idea that moral values change over time due to changing social and cultural circumstances. 

As a practical manifestation of its beauty and its eternal values of mercy and justice, Islam commands us to protect what Muslim scholars call ‘The Five Necessities’:

1. Religion.

2. Soul.

3. Mind.

4. Honour (dignity).

5. Money and property.

Beautifully, the Glorious Qur’an points out that if one kills an innocent soul:

Concerning the freedom and protection of faith, the Glorious Qur’an states:

Thus, Islam honours humankind and does not accept forcing anyone to embrace its faith. This is the truth, beauty, justice, kindness, and tolerance of Islam when dealing with non-Muslims. In addition, Islam commands us to be honest, objective, and fair when judging others. Let’s remember what Allah tells us in the Glorious Qur’an:

Nonetheless, there are unfair political and religious leaders, writers, historians, and media people who accuse Islam and all Muslims of terrorism and claim that Islam was spread by the sword; there are also those who unjustly and disrespectfully depict Allah, the One True God, along with His last prophet, Muhammad, in the worst and ugliest images, films, and cartoons.

Consider these questions:

- Is this what is meant by freedom, and specifically freedom of speech? Is there not a double standard when it comes to Islam and Muslims? (For example, why are the terms ‘Christian terrorists’ or ‘Jewish terrorists’ never heard, although there is no shortage of atrocities committed by people of those faiths?)

- Is everyone free to insult, curse, and despise others and their beliefs, or to accuse them all of terrorism?

- Is this how civilization, democracy, and freedom are taught to the younger generation in schools, colleges, and society in general? 

- Is it really the sword of Islam that makes so many wise, objective, sincere, and open-minded men and women around the world embrace Islam nowadays? (There are many books, articles, stories, websites, videos, and social media materials that discuss why and how these brothers and sisters have reverted to Islam. For example, I would recommend Islam Our Choice: Portraits of Modern American Muslim Women, edited by Debra L. Dirks and Stephanie Parlove.)

Note: Despite the negative depictions, Western media nonetheless reports that Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. So why Islam?

Equality 

Confirming this ideal concept of equality in Islam, Prophet Muhammad declared in his last sermon:

O people, your God is One, and your father is One. You are all from Adam, and Adam is from dust. An Arab is not superior to a non-Arab, and a non-Arab is not superior to an Arab. A white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have superiority over a white. You are all equal. No one has superiority over others except through piety and good action

Islam teaches us not to hate or disparage others based on their race, skin tone or eye colour, or nationality. Islam is a practical remedy for the scourge of racial conflict and discrimination which the world witnesses. In Islam, blacks and whites are brothers and sisters in the same human race. We are all descended from the same father, Adam, who was created from dust; thus we are all from the earth and we will all go back to the earth and turn into dust again.
 
This important lesson is derived from the above quotes from the Qur’an and the Prophet’s last sermon. So why do some people feel false pride or act arrogantly towards others?

Universality and Unity of Message

Muslims love and believe in all God’s prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all).
 
Prophet Muhammad said, “I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Mary, for there was no other prophet between him and me. The prophets are just brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.”
 
What is this universal, one true religion of all God’s prophets?

Other Beautiful verses to think about

The beauty, sweetness, and purity of the Glorious Qur’an are limitless, so let me simply quote some Qur’anic verses without any commentary. I would love for you to ponder and think about them. Try to discover for yourself more treasures from the Final Testament, the Qur’an.

Allah and His Messenger

Tranquillity and Paradise

Men and Women (in Islam)

Great Teachings 

Do’s and Don’ts 

Remembrance and Rest

Indeed, the truths, benefits, and wonders of the Glorious Qur’an have no end. The more we read it, the more discoveries we make, and each time, we feel that we are reading the Qur’an for the first time.
 
There are many other fascinating aspects of the Qur’an, including the miracles of its authenticity, linguistic excellence, scientific knowledge, and medical remedies, which I have not discussed here to keep this booklet compact.

Basic Islamic Names and Terms 

Allah: In Arabic, Allah is the proper name of the One True God, the Creator. Islam teaches that Allah is the true God of all humankind. Christian Arabs use this name (Allah) to refer to God, and it is the word used for God in Arabic-language Bibles.

Muhammad ﷺ (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him): the last Prophet of the One True God (Allah); sent to all humankind.

The Glorious Qur’an: the final Word of the One True God (Allah), as revealed to Prophet Muhammad.

Islam: submission to the Will of the One True God (Allah), the Creator. 

Muslim: one who submits to the Will of the One True God (Allah), the Creator.