“_It is He Who hath sent down unto you the book of the Quran,
distinguishing between good and evil; and they to whom We gave the
scripture know that it is sent down from thy Lord, with truth; Be not
therefore one of these who doubt thereof. The words of the Lord are
perfect in truth and justice; there is none who can change His words;
He both heareth and knoweth._”
[Sidenote: Quran]
The Will of God is supreme in His universe; Islam tells in one word the
relation of the Faithful to that Will; and the Will is revealed to men
in its final form the Quran. The Quran descended from highest heaven
complete, and was passed on by the Angel to the Prophet Sura by Sura,
as its message was required. The Quran supersedes all other scriptures,
it is the eternal Divine Word; there is no further truth to be
revealed, for this is literally the last word of God to man. The human
language medium is Arabic, and as each several word is an Act of God,
the very words are sacred. There cannot, therefore, be any authorized
translation of the Quran; and, as in its completeness it is one
undivided message, to issue it in parts would be grievous sin. The book
is published and used in many lands, and passes through many hands, but
so great has been the care that it should be preserved perfect, that
it is believed to be practically unchanged since the scattered leaves
were gathered reverently together after the Prophet’s death. There is
no doctrine of inspiration so high as this.