Books - Kutub

Question 1

What are the written forms of the word of God, given to certain prophets? (specific)

Answer 1

• The Tawrat (Torah) of Musa contains Allah’s revelation to Moses
• The Zabur (Psalms) of Dawud contains Allah’s revelation to David
• The Injil (Gospel) of Isa contains Allah’s revelation to Jesus
• The Suhuf-I-Ibrahim (Scrolls of Abraham) contains Allah’s revelation to Abraham.

Question 2

What happened to Allah’s message over time?

Answer 2

Over time, Allah’s message and the written texts became distorted so they they were no longer the true word of God.

Question 3

What was Allah’s final revelation through?

Answer 3

The Qur’an

Question 4

What do Muslims believe about the Qur’an?

Answer 4

Muslims believe that this is a record of Allah’s words exactly as they were said and that they have not been changed by humans.

Question 5

When only is the Qur’an the true word of God?

Answer 5

When it is in Arabic, the language in which it was given to Muhammad.

Question 6

What does the Qur’an contain?

Answer 6

Guidance on what Muslims should believe and how they should live their lives.

Question 7

What do Sunnis believe about the Qur’an?

Answer 7

It has always been in existence, though not in its written form, and it is eternal like Allah.

Question 8

What do Shi’as believe about the Qur’an?

Answer 8

The Qur’an is not eternal: it was created by Allah. Believe that it can be added to by the Imams, who can also interpret its message.

Question 9

Who develop the Shari’ah law?

Answer 9

Muslim scholars

Question 10

When do the scholars look to other sources of wisdom to tell them how Muslims should behave?

Answer 10

When the Qur’an is too difficult to interpret, or if there are issues that it does not cover.

Question 11

What 2 sources of wisdom do the scholars look at? (apart from the Qur’an)

Answer 11

• The Sunna of the prophet which contains records on what Muhammad did
• The Hadith of the prophet which contains information on what Muhammad said.

Question 12

Why are those 2 sources used?

Answer 12

Looking at them can help Muslims lead a life like Muhammad.

Question 13

Why do some Muslims not use these sources?

Answer 13

They believe that these are not the exact word of God, so only the Qur’an should be followed.

Question 14

What other sources of wisdom may Shi’as refer to?

Answer 14

The Hadith of Ali, whom they believe was the first Imam after Muhammad, to help their decision making.

Question 15

Key quote: Surah 96

Answer 15

‘Recite in the name of your Lord who created.’

Question 16

Key quote: Surah 5:46

Answer 16

‘And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for righteous.’