Page 41 - World Religions I - Islam

A Unique Physical Book
For Muslims, there is no book on earth its
equal.

• Roughly the size of the New Testament.
II. It claims to be the revelation of
Allah (God) to Muhammad. III. It was
revealed in the Arabic language.
o It is widely regarded as the
finest piece of literature in
the Arabic language.
 Native Arabic
speakers recognize a
beauty and power in
the poetic diction of the Qur'an, which some claim has never been equaled in the history of
human communication.
• Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the literal words of God, and therefore the physical book itself become an
object of veneration. Rules for handling or reading the Qur'an may differ from one Muslim society to the next.
Presumably, a jinn's unclean presence would greatly dishonor the Qur'an, and their increased knowledge of
Allah's word would enable them to cause more mischief.
o Elementary school children in Saudi Arabia are taught to wash before handling it.
 "[It is a Book] which none shall touch but those who are clean." - Al-Waqia (The Event) 56:79
o Menstruating women must not touch it.
o It is not to be left open or unattended, lest the devil or a jinn (mischievous spirit) come along and
read it.
o It must not be placed on the floor.
• It is a prescription that every Muslim must commit at least twelve verses or lines of the Qur'an to memory.

Punishment for Abuse of the Book
• Muslims believe that Allah will protect his book and will punish infidels who attempt to abuse it.
• The Qur'an contains many references to the dire fate of those who disbelieve Muhammad's claims.
o Unbelievers will be undone in the fires of hell, while God's revelations remain protected.
 "Surely those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book, and take for it a small price, they eat
nothing but fire into their bellies, and Allah will not speak to them on the day of resurrection,
nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful chastisement." - Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:174
• Hadith declarations claim divine protection of the Qur'an.
o A. "Uqbah heard Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) say, 'If the Qur'an were wrapped in a skin and
thrown into a fire, it would not burn.'"2 While most educated Muslims do not take such claims at face
value, less uneducated tend to believe in such supernatural interventions.

Muslim Presuppositions Concerning the Qur'an
• The honor of Allah is closely tied to the honor of the Qur'an, and he will do whatever is necessary to
defend his honor.
• The Qur'an confirms the prior scriptures (Torah or Tawrat, and the
o Gospel or Injil) sent by God.
o "He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was
(revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel." - Al-Imran (The Family of Imran) 3:3
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