Originally posted by lee_merrill
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In Islam there are 2 concept words for "messenger"---Rasul (messenger who brings law) and Nabi (also used in Hebrew, is one who brings a message/guidance=Prophet) The task and intent of the Quran is not simply to convey (a)"Truth" (One God), but to serve as (b) guidance to humanity and (c)bring peace through justice and law. This aspect of justice through laws is spelled out in the story of Abel and Cain in the Quran. Lack of law/system of justice, resulted in violence. The Quran also speaks about manners/ettiquettes, marital relations, duties and rights between parent and child, commerce and economics, principles of governance and statecraft....etc Therefore it is a wholistic guide to humanity in building the self and the society. Further, the principle "Truth" throughout the Quran is that there is only ONE God.
Another difference might be in how the transmission of the "Message" is understood in Christianity and Islam. As I understand it, the Gospels and other writings of the NT are written by apostle (?) not Prophet---is this correct?
Apostle [N] [E] [S]
(Gk. apostolos [ajpovstolo"]). Envoy, ambassador, or messenger commissioned to carry out the instructions of the commissioning agent.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/apostle/
From my perspective---this involves human agency and intellect. The Quran is a message recited by the Prophet Muhammed, as revealed, without involvement of human agency or intellect. Therefore, the standard a Muslim expects from the Quran is much higher than that of other sacred writings. The Quran itself sets the criteria....if a human being cannot replicate even one surah of the Quran...then it is not from human.
Since the criteria for the Quran is much higher, a Muslim will use the Quran as a Guide to what is "Truth" in other sacred writings. "Truth" that aligns with One God in other sacred writings is "from" God and those that do not, have been corrupted by humans.
Quran quotes (6:34, 6:115)
6:33
We know indeed the grief which their words do cause you: It is not you they reject: It is the signs of God, which the wicked deny.
6:34
Rejected were the messengers before you: With patience and constancy they bore their rejection and their persecution until our aid did reach them: there is none that can alter the words (an decrees) of God. Already have you received some account of those messengers.
6:35
If their spurning is hard on you, yet if you were able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a sign,-(what good?) If it were God's will, he could gather them together to true guidance: so be not you among those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience).
-----these verses do not have anything to do with previous sacred writings...but are about encouragement to the Prophet Muhammed in his mission to relay the Quran
6:114
Say: "Shall I seek for judge other than God?- For he it is who has sent to you the Book, explained in detail. They know full well, to whom we have given the Book, that it has been sent down from your Lord in Truth. Never be then of those who doubt.
6:115
The word of your Lord does find its fulfillment in Truth and in justice: None can change his words: for he is the one who hears and knows all.
6:116
Were you to follow the common run of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of God. They follow nothing but conjecture: they do nothing but lie.
6:117
Your Lord knows best who strays from his way: He knows best who is rightly guided.
---These verses show the Prophet and his listeners that the criteria for "Truth" is not what other human beings decide---but what God decides---and this "Truth" is that there is only One God. And it is the sole right of God to Judge to what extent one is rightly guided or not.
---Verse 10:64---if you look at verse 10:61---you will see that the recitation of the Quran is mentioned.....
as explained earlier, Kun (Be) as in, decree or will of God, is also part of the range of understanding of the english translation as "Word"
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