- Nabi: This is usually translated in English as prophet (one
who prophesies). This translation is again incorrect and misleading.
Nabi is not a derivative of nabaun which means “to inform”. In
olden times the word nabi was used for a special functionary in the
Jewish temple whose function was to prophesy future events. In its
Qur’nic connotation the word nabi is derived from nabwatun
which means an elevated place; it, therefore, means a person
standing on a pedestal; in other words, one who lives in this material
world but can also perceive the unseen world beyond, because he
(such a person) is endowed with Divine Revelation. The function or
office of the nabi is called nubuwwah that is, the function of
securing Divine Guidance through revelation. (See also Rasool.)
- Nubuwwah: the function of securing Divine Guidance
through revelation (for details see Nabi).
- Qur’an the Book that God gave to Muhammad (PBUH)
through revelation, and which he passed on to the Muslims in the
form in which we know it today. The internal evidence provided by
the Qur’an itself, as well as historical research, proves beyond a
shadow of doubt that not even a comma of the original Qur’anic
text has been changed or is likely to be altered in the future. This is a
unique attribute of the Qur’an and is not shared by any other
revealed Book now extant. The Qur’an embodies the deen revealed
to the earlier Anbiya in its true and perfect form. This Book does not
give us merely a code of ethics; it provides us with a code of life
which embodies guidance, principles and laws relating to every
sphere of human life and activity. The Qur’an according to Islam, is
the final authority in matters of deen. The injunctions and the
principles enshrined in the Book form the cornerstone of the
Islamic polity and the limits laid down by it provide the framework
within which the laws of the Islamic State may be formulated. These
principles, or limits, or framework, are immutable, but the statutes
made by the state within these four corners are open to modification
and change according to the needs of the times. The Qur’an is the
last of the Divine Books, because nubuwwah ended with Muhammad
(PBUH). No subsequent human opinion or pronouncement in
matters of deen, therefore, can be recognised as authoritative; nor
can any man-made law repugnant to the Qur’an be regarded as
binding upon the Muslims. The Qur’an is a book of guidance for all
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