4. Scriptures revealed earlier.

These verses(2:4, 4:60, 4:136, 4:162, 5:59, 10:94.) of the Quran speak about scriptures revealed earlier.

One needs to believe that scriptures were revealed to other messengers earlier.

Belief in the earlier scriptures should not be misconstrued as following those scriptures. It is reiterating the belief that scriptures were indeed bestowed upon prophets prior to Prophet Muhammad. 

Nevertheless ‘The Quran’ while speaking about belief in the earlier scriptures 2:75, 2:79, 3:78, 4:46, 5:13, 5:41, also talks of the interpolation of these scriptures by humans.

Also, one needs to believe that ‘The Quran’ is the only scripture in the world that had not undergone any change or interpolation otherwise.

There are certain misgivings about scriptures among the Muslims. They seem to nurture a belief that only four scriptures namely Torah, Zabor, Injeel, and Quran were revealed by God to humans.

This may be due to the fact we find only the names of these four mentioned in the Quran.

We find in verses 2:213, 14:4, 19:12, 57:25, 87:18,19 that all messengers were bestowed scriptures, hence the belief there are only four is wrong.

The Quran, Torah, Injeel, Zabor, were revealed respectively to Prophet Muhammad, Prophet Musa, Prophet Isa, and Prophet Dawood. These four scriptures are books that are considered big in nature by Muslims, and the rest revealed, were sheaves insignificant in size and known as Suhuf. 

This is also another misconception among Muslims about the scriptures. 

We do not find any substantiating evidence in the Quran or the sayings of Prophet Muhammad to prove this notion. 

Verse (98:2) of the Quran says Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) will read from the Suhuf. The scripture revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) though being referred in the Quran as kitab in many verses, is also mentioned as Suhuf in verse 98:2. Hence it is clear to us that Suhuf and the book (kitab) refer to one and the same. 

Although both the words (Kitab and Suhuf) carry the same meaning, they differ in the way they were compiled. 

Individual sheaf is known as Suhuf, and compiled together they get the name (kitab) ‘the book.’ 

During the days of Prophet Muhammad, the Quran was in loose sheaves known as Suhuf. Since it was revealed by Archangel Jibril from the safeguarded original register it is known as the book as well. 

3. Belief in the unseen, unknown.

Al-Quran says in verse(2:3) about belief in the hidden/unknown. Anything that does not come under the ambit of the five senses are known as hidden, nevertheless in Islamic tradition the word hidden/ unknown specifies certain beliefs.

Belief in Allah, belief in the existence of celestials, belief in paradise its pleasures, belief in hell its torments, belief in the day of judgment, the resulting cacophony, belief in the happenings of the hereafter is known as ‘belief in the hidden/unknown’ before witnessing all these.

2.The collection of Arabic letters in the start of some chapters that cannot be deciphered.

 In the beginning of certain chapters of the Quran we find individual letters of the Arabic alphabet. We are aware that individual letters of any language do not mean anything. 

 For example, the letters s u n put together forms a word and has a meaning, whereas the letters S.U.N. though collective does not have a meaning per se. Similarly, the Arabic word ‘Alm’ has meaning, but individual letters written as ALM do not carry any meaning other than that they are written as individual letters. In the Quran there are twenty-nine chapters that begin with individual letters. They are chapters 2, 3, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 50, and 68.

Hence ‘The Quran’ which outperforms all Arabic literatures put together, stood to challenge the whole mankind to create a similar one handling their style of expression.

The comrades of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who used to question him on even small matters did not venture to do the same in this regard, demonstrating the usage of undecipherable individual letters in the olden days' literature. 

 The enemies of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who worked overtime to disprove him and his religion did not question him on this aspect. 

 Since the usage of these kind of individual letters were common and accepted during those days, they were not made an issue. Or this would have made them remark “Look at Muhammad”, he is justifying meaningless words as God’s messages.

Although there were many opinions against Prophet Muhammad, no one dared to point out this aspect of ‘The Quran’ as a shortcoming and neither is there any evidence pointing to this.

This goes to prove the prevalence of such a practice in earlier days. 

Hence, we have carried on quoting the same Arabic individual letters in the beginning of some chapters of ‘The Quran’ as they appear. 

It is sufficient to understand that the practice was prevalent in the earlier days.

1.The Day of Judgment.

 The skies, the earth, the sun, the planets, the people who lived on earth, all other organisms, plants, everything gets destroyed except God the everlasting on a day yet to come known as the Judgment Day known by different names as, the day the Epoch ends, the final day, the day the bugle is sounded etc. 

 The whole universe gets decimated, and the resurrection of men takes place to be subjected for questioning and the judgment delivered. The good enjoy the benefits of their verdict and the evil subjected to various kinds of endless torments in accordance. The good are rewarded with endless happiness and endless life.

This day of judgment is also known as the hereafter, that world, the day of verdict, the day all are gathered, the day no one can be of help to another, the day of return, the day of wages, the day of questioning, the day of dividends, the day of resurrection, the day of meeting the creator, the day of losses, the day of facing the creator, the day of no escape, the day of awakening.

 The doubtless day, the great day, that day, that time, the assured day, the day without any doubt, are the general terms used to denote the day of destruction and the day of resurrection. When asked about the day of destruction and the day of resurrection Prophet Muhammad said no human being, including himself nor the angels are aware, and only the Great God has knowledge about it. The arrival of that day is known to Allah alone say the verses 7:187, 20:15, 33:63, 79:42 of the Quran. 

 It is necessary to believe in the existence of such a day to follow a good life in this world.

To know more about this day, please refer to the topic ‘The end day’ “Qayamat” in the contents table.