Allah sent many Human User Manuals (Divine Books) and Messengers throughout history, particularly when His revelations were distorted, changed, or corrupted by false beliefs and practices. The preservation of the Torah and the Gospel was entrusted to rabbis, priests, and scholars, and they ultimately failed in their duty, resulting in distortions and alterations of these Divine Books over time. The Torah and the Gospel were sent to communities of people living in specific time periods.
In contrast, the Quran (The Final Human User Manual) is Allah's final and universal message, revealed to guide all humanity until the end of time. Since the Quran is the Final Revelation, no other Divine Message will follow it. Therefore, it was essential for the Quran to be preserved in its original, unaltered form to serve as guidance for all time. For this reason, Allah Himself took on the responsibility of protecting the Quran, ensuring that no power can ever alter it. As He says:
"Surely, it is Me, I, Allah the Almighty, Who sent down the Quran, and indeed, I am its Protector [from any substitution, distortion, additions, and omissions]." The Rocky Tract, 15:9
The Quran was revealed over twenty-three years and was preserved in several ways during the Prophet's time:
- aThe Prophet had many scribes who carefully recorded the verses, ensuring every letter was recorded accurately.
- bHundreds of the Prophet's Companions memorized the entire Quran word for word, and today that tradition continues as it is memorized by millions of Muslims worldwide.
- cThe Prophet and his Companions applied the Quran's message and teachings to daily life, demonstrating the optimum lifestyle set out by the Creator.
The Arabic text of the Quran we have now is the original version as revealed: unchanged, verbatim text passed down from generation to generation over the last fourteen hundred years thanks to the meticulous effort and diligence of the early Muslims and the generations that followed in their footsteps. Its message is current, rational, applicable, practical, relevant, and suitable for all ages and times.