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CONGRUITIES AND INCONGRUITIES BETWEEN THE BIBLE AND THE QUR'AN |
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The Qur'an was revealed through inspiration:« Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds: With it came down the spirit of Faith and Truth- To thy heart and mind, that thou mayest admonish. »(Surah 26/192-194) The revelations came down by the intermediation of Gabriel who was commissioned by God to transmit His messages to his Messenger. The exact nature of vahy (revelation) cannot be described in human terms. It is not fitting for a man that « Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with Allah.s permission, what Allah wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise. » (Surah 42/51) It is not possible to communicate with God face-to-face, as illustrated by God's address to Moses.
Muhammad received the revelations both when awake and in his sleep. In general, Gabriel manifested in human form. He inculcated the words into Muhammad's brain in an indelible manner. « By degrees shall We teach thee to declare (the Message), so thou shalt not forget. »(Surah 87/6) In order that Muhammad may not forget them, the revelations came down in piecemeal in the course of 23 years. Those who reject Faith say: "Why is not the Qur'an revealed to him all at once? « Thus (is it revealed), that We may strengthen thy heart thereby, and We have rehearsed it to thee in slow, well-arranged stages, gradually.» (Surah 25/32)
The visit of the angel could not be witnessed by any other person present. At such occasions the words brought a warm flush to Muhammad's face and he profusely perspired. Those present took cognizance of the situation at seeing him under such a spell. There are many traditions that have come down describing this state.
MEMORIZING AND TRANSCRIBING THE REVELATION