How do we know that a revelation like the Qur’an is God’s work? The criteria for this truth is easily understood by the following:
1. SOUND LESSONS: Since God endowed man with reason and intellect, it is our duty to use them to distinguish truth from falsehood. The revelation of God must be understood rationally and can be reasoned to by impartial minds.
2. PERFECTION: Since God is absolutely perfect, His revelation must be perfect and accurate, free from errors, omissions, nterpolaciones and multiple versions. Must be free of inconsistencies in his story.
3. NO myths and superstitions: The true revelation of God is free from myths or superstitions that degrade human dignity or God.
4. SCIENCE: Since God is the creator of all knowledge, the true revelation is scientific and can reinforce the challenge of science at all times.
5. PROPHECY: God is the Knower of the past, present and future. So the word of prophecies in Revelation will be fulfilled as prophesied.
6. UNIQUE MAN: The true revelation of God is infallible and can not be imitated by man. The true revelation of God is a living miracle, an open book which challenges mankind to see and try for themselves.
Dear Reader:
No tax for the man to accept the TRUTH. But it is certainly a disgrace to the human intellect when man is not even interested in looking at what he called TRUTH!
Islam teaches that God has given man the faculty of reason and therefore expects man to reason things out objectively and systematically by himself. To reflect and ask, and then reflect.
No one should pressure you to make a hasty decision and accept any of the teachings of Islam, because Islam teaches that man must be endowed with freedom of choice. Although man has the Truth in front, you are not obliged to accept it.
But before you start to form an opinion about Islam, ask yourself if your knowledge of Islam is quite thorough. Ask yourself whether that knowledge has been obtained through a third party non-Muslims, who may have been exposed to information casual Islamic writings and have yet to think about Islam objectively and systematically for themselves.
Is it necessary that one should form an opinion about the taste of a particular dish, just to express it to others, without them having the need to prove it yet? Similarly you should find out for yourself about Islam from reliable sources and not just try it, but digest it well before I formed an opinion. That would be an intellect that is closer to Islam.
Is you who turn to make the next move.
When making your move, Islam constantly reaffirms your right to freedom of choice to use the powers of thinking and reasoning that God gave you and you will be respected. Each individual has the personal will. No one can take away that will and force you to surrender to the divine. You have to find and make the decision yourself.
May your intellectual journey towards TRUTH enjoyable.
