The Quran was the last of the Abrahamic Texts to be written. It was written over about 23
years from 610 a.d. to 632 a.d. Muslims believe the Quran is revelation Muhammad received
from God incrementally over time as God’s prophet.
The Quran actually consists of 114 individual books or chapters, each with a separate name,
which are then all compiled together.
The Quran describes God as merciful and just, all-powerful and all-knowing.
It tells of an existence before this life and a meeting where Satan was cast out by God.
It encourages all to believe in God, His Prophet Muhammad, and to obey Them. It recounts
numerous signs that God has given and thus encourages people to believe.
The Quran admonishes believers to pray, to give alms to the poor, and to make a journey to
Mecca during their lifetime.
The Quran often highlights sharp distinctions between believers and non-believers and teaches
believers how they should protect themselves from and how to interact with non-believers.
It speaks of the faith of ancient Israel, the Torah, and ancient Israel’s fall from God’s grace.
It relates many details regarding the events of Joseph, son of Israel, and his brothers.
The Quran speaks of multiple prophets, including Moses, Noah, Abraham and Jesus Christ. It
indicates that Muhammad also was a prophet, and that he was the “seal of the prophets.”
It speaks of Jesus Christ as a favored prophet of God, but indicates that He was not crucified
and that “that no soul shall bear the burden of another.” It speaks favorably of His gospel and
teachings.
It has detailed rules for inheritances, marriages, and women.
It states that all will be resurrected, judged, with the righteous placed in an eternal paradise
and the wicked cast into a fiery hell.
“The mercy of your Lord is all-encompassing…”
“[Y]our Lord is the Mighty One the Merciful…”
“He is the Compassionate, the Merciful…”
“God is most forgiving and merciful…”
“Your Lord is swift in retribution; yet surely He is most forgiving and merciful…”
“God is strong and all-powerful…”
“God has power over all things…”
“God has power over all things…”
“God who is the real Protector, He resurrects the dead, and He has power over all things…”
“God has the power to will anything…”
“God has full knowledge of all things…”
“God is all pervading and all knowing…”
“He hears all and knows all…”
“God is infinite and all knowing…”
“He knows everything you do…”
“We are never unjust…”
“God never does the least wrong to His servants…”
The Quran has a most interesting account of a meeting with God, Adam, angels, and Satan—
apparently before this world began.
The only other religious text to refer in some detail to this same meeting is Modern Prophets.
The two accounts differ in several ways.
1—There was an assembly of angels.
“I had no knowledge of the Exalted Assembly when they argued….”2—At this assembly, both Adam and Satan were present. God commanded all the angels to bow before Adam, which they did, but Satan refused.
“When We said to the angels, 'Bow down before Adam'…all bowed…except...[Satan].”
“Thereupon the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together, but not Satan.”3—In consequence of his refusal to bow before Adam, Satan was cast out of this Assembly.
“God said, 'Then get out of here; for you are accursed….'”
The Quran speaks of multiple prophets, including:
Aaron,
Abraham,
David,
Elijah,
Elisha,
Idris,
Isaac,
Ishmael,
Jacob,
Jesus Christ,
John,
Jonah,
Lot,
Moses,
Muhammad, and,
Zachariah.
It says that Muhammad is the “seal of the prophets.”
In multiple passages the Quran admonishes that people believe and have faith in God and
Muhammad, that they follow and obey Them:
“Have faith in God and His Messenger….”The Quran states that Muhammad is God’s Messenger, and that others before also were His messengers and that He gave revelations to them. It states that before God has brought destruction upon a town, He has always sent a messenger first to warn it.
“Obey God and obey the Messenger….”
“[I]f you love God, follow me and God will love you…”
“Muhammad is the Messenger of God….”
“God, the Powerful, the Wise, sends revelation to you….”
“[M]essengers We sent before you [Muhammad]…to whom We made revelations….”
“Never have We destroyed a town without sending down messengers to warn it….”
The Quran instructs all believers to pray. It encourages the faithful to do so morning and evening.
“[G]lorify your Lord with His praise, before the rising and before the setting of the sun…”Other times are also proscribed for prayer:
“Say your prayers from the decline of the sun, until nightfall….”Devout followers of the Quran will pray five times daily.
“Say your prayers morning and evening, and during parts of the night….”
“[S]ay your prayers and pay the prescribed alms.”
“Attend to your prayers and pay the zakat and obey the Messenger, so that you may be shown mercy.”
“[K]eep up prayer and to give alms secretly and openly out of what We have given them.”
“[D]o not chide the one who asks for help.”
“[S]pend in charity.”
“Perform the Hajj and the minor pilgrimage [umrah]….”During the pilgrimage one is encouraged to “fast three days” and “for seven days after his return.”
“Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to God for anyone who is able to undertake it….”
“Call mankind to the Pilgrimage….”
The Quran states that all should believe. They should believe in God, believe in Muhammad as
God’s prophet, and believe in the Quran as God’s revelation through Muhammad.
Many blessings are promised to those who believe, including mercy, a “great reward”,
forgiveness, and grace.
Also promised believers is an eternal habitation in Paradise, which includes Gardens through
which rivers flow, bracelets, reclining couches, fruits, drinks, and virgins.
The Quran states that, “[T]hose who have believed and do good works, they shall be given their
reward…full…”
The end of believers will be blissful.
In contrast, a “painful” and “grievous” punishment awaits those who do not believe.
How one believes is also spoken of in the Quran. It first states that,
“No soul can believe except by the will of God…”In addition, the Quran states the importance in believing, of reason, reflection, repentance, worship, praise, not being arrogant, serving His cause, bowing down, and observing limits set by God.
“Had your Lord pleased, all the people on earth would have believed in Him…”
“God heaps ignominy upon those who refuse to believe…”
The Quran states that God made a covenant with Israel.
“God made a covenant with the Children of Israel.”It tells of Israel’s time in the wilderness and also in Egypt. It speaks of Moses’ speaking with Pharaoh and Pharaoh’s refusal to let Israel go. It tells of the plagues brought upon Egypt as a result.
“[i]f they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto them from their Lord, they would surely have been nourished from above.”But in the end, the Quran tells of ancient Israel that,
“they disobeyed and were given to transgression”,And that,
“[e]vil indeed were their deeds”, and “they rejected the signs of God…put the prophets to death.”
The Quran speaking of Joseph, son of Israel, states that God gave him “right judgement and
knowledge.” It tells that,
that his brothers conspired to slay him, but Judah said to sell him. It states that,
The Quran speaks of multiple prophets and God giving scriptures to them. Among those named
are,
Abraham,
Elijah,
Elisha,
Idras,
Isaac,
Ishmael,
Jesus Christ,
John,
Jonah,
Lot,
Muhammad,
Moses, and,
Zachariah.
Referring to Jesus Christ, the Quran says,
“We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.”Referring to Muhammad, the Quran says that he is the
“We gave him the Gospel, which contained guidance and light.”
“seal of the prophets.”The Quran states that not all messengers are spoken of in the Quran, that,
“We have told you about some messengers sent previously, while We have not yet told you about others.”The Quran states that God does not “punish until We have sent forth a messenger to forewarn them.”
“Call on Me and I will answer your prayers.”The Quran encourages that we pray with humility, sincerity, and steadfastness:
“I respond to the call of one who calls.”
“Seek help with patience and prayer.”
“Call on your Lord with humility and in secret.”The Quran reminds us that truth comes from God.
“[C]all upon Him, making yourselves sincere.”
“[Be]…steadfast in their prayers.”
“It is God who guides to the truth.”
“No one can tell you [the Truth] like the One who is all knowing.”
“[T]ruth belongs to God alone.”
As already mentioned, in various passages the Quran speaks of Jesus Christ as a prophet:
“[T]he prophets, from you and Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus , the son of Mary….”Of Jesus Christ, it speaks of,
“We believe in what has been given to Moses, Jesus and the prophets from their Lord….”;B. miracles he would perform—healing the blind and raising the dead,
“[B]y God's leave I will heal the blind and the leper and bring the dead to life….”C. that He received the gospel from God,
“We gave him the Gospel, which contained guidance and light….”D. was strengthened by the Holy Spirit,
“Jesus…I strengthened you with the holy spirit….”E. was born of Mary, a virgin,
“Jesus, son of Mary….”It is not clear what is meant by one passage referring to Jesus Christ as the Messiah,
“How can I have a son when no man has touched me…neither…unchaste….”
“His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary…”What is clear are the Quran’s teachings that Jesus was not crucified, could not suffer for our sins, and is not the Son of God,
“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him….”
“No bearer of a burden can bear the burden of another….”
“Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of God." These are…baseless utterances….”
As to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Quran states,
1—It was given by God,
“We gave him the Gospel, which contained guidance and light….”2—The gospel should have been observed
“I taught you the Book, and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel….”
“If they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and what was revealed to them…surely have been nourished.”
“People of the Book, you have no ground to stand on until you observe the Torah and the Gospel and what is revealed to you.”
Regarding inheritances, the Quran teaches that,
Regarding marriages, the Quran teaches that,
Regarding women, the Quran teaches that,
The Quran states that all will be resurrected and return to God,
“[Y]ou shall all be resurrected….”The Quran also indicates that the Day of resurrection is a day of judgment, when angels shall descend, and every human being shall be judged for the good or evil he has done:
“[A]s for the dead, God w*+ill raise them up, and then they will all return to Him….”
“Day when the sky will split open with its clouds and the angels are sent down rank upon rank….”The earth itself will undergo great change,
“On the Day of Resurrection, God will judge between you regarding your differences….”
“Day when every human being will find himself faced with all the good…evil...has done….”
“[on that Day] you shall be divided into three groups…. Those on the Right--how blessed are those on the Right!...Those on the Left--how unlucky are those on the Left!...”
“[T]he mountains are totally shattered and crumble to pieces and become like scattered dust particles….
The Quran extensively refers to paradise. The Quran does not refer to a place where spirits go
awaiting the resurrection.85
The Quran’s use of the word paradise is to describe an ultimate place of final, favorable
judgment and residence.86
Paradise is described primarily as a place of very favorable surroundings.
Paradise includes all of the following:
It is not clear whether the virgins are women from mortality who never married and kept their
virginity, or whether they are newly created for the benefit of man. Although one passage
seems to indicate that they are newly created.106
The Quran also speaks of living with spouses.107
So seemingly the Quran indicates that marriage for the faithful can be continued into paradise.
It also is not clear whether the women of equal age include or refers to the virgins or the
spouses. Nor is it clear what the age of the man is in paradise—the age at the time of his death
or something else.
It speaks of inhabitants being honored and a place of bliss, peace, and security.
It does not specifically speak of any joy from personal ongoing change or progress. The
happiness from paradise seems primarily externally based and due to a satisfaction of the senses.
Being placed in paradise lasts for eternity.108
Those who are permitted to enter paradise include those who:
The Quran extensively speaks of hell. It describes it as a place of immeasurable and never-ending suffering. Specifically, it describes suffering due to,
Those to be cast into hell include any of the following individuals who:
or who were:
Those sent to hell will reside there forever.80
Protected from hell, however, will be those who