A Common Prophetic Origin
The Islamic tradition does not view itself as an isolated religion, but as the culmination of divine guidance sent to humanity throughout history. It affirms that messengers and prophets were sent to every nation with the same core message of worshipping the one true God. From this perspective, faiths like Judaism, Christianity, and even older traditions may have originated from a divine source.
However, the passage of time presents a significant challenge to the integrity of any revealed message. Islam posits that while the original teachings were pure, many have been lost or altered through human intervention over centuries.
The Challenge of Historical Transmission
When examining ancient scriptures, a crucial factor is their traceability back to their original source. The further back one goes in history, the more difficult it becomes to verify the authenticity of a text. Over long periods, messages transmitted orally or copied by hand are susceptible to corruption, whether intentional or accidental.
This process can involve interpolation, where new ideas are inserted into the text; fabrication, where sections are invented; and additions that reflect the cultural or political context of a later time rather than the original revelation. Consequently, the texts available today may not accurately represent the message initially delivered by a prophet.
Examining the History of Religious Texts
A pertinent example can be found in the history of Zoroastrian scriptures. While Zoroastrianism is recognized as one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, historical and academic analysis reveals a complex textual history. Many of the primary texts that form the basis of the religion today were compiled, redacted, or committed to writing many centuries after its founder lived.
In fact, a significant portion of Zoroastrian literature was compiled in the Sasanian period and even later, with some important texts being written after the advent of Islam. This historical fact challenges the assumption that these scriptures have been perfectly preserved since their inception. It highlights that the antiquity of a faith does not guarantee the antiquity or purity of its current texts.
The Criterion of Preservation
For a divine message to serve as a timeless guide for humanity, its preservation is paramount. The Islamic worldview holds that the final revelation, the Quran, was divinely protected from the corruption that affected previous scriptures. Its text has been meticulously preserved through a dual method of mass memorization and written documentation, a process that began during the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) lifetime and has continued unbroken to this day.
This emphasis on textual integrity is not a dismissal of other religions’ origins, but rather a criterion for distinguishing the unaltered final message from those that have been subject to the vicissitudes of human history. It presents a logical framework for understanding why a new and final revelation was necessary to restore the original, pure monotheistic message for all of humanity.