How is the qur'an different from other holy books?

Answer 1

It is the holy book of Islam; no other book can claim that.

ANSWER

The Qur'an is indeed special in that it is the only holy book of Islam. Unlike other holy books eg. the Christian Bible, the verses of the Qur'an are believed to have been dictated directly to The Prophet Mohammed during his lifetime, by the Angel Gabriel. The Qur'an contains writings which cover every aspect of life which an Islamist may encounter and how they should react in any situation. The Qur'an is believed to have been completed during The Prophet's lifetime, although some Islamic scholars suggest that many of the verses were also transmitted orally. Islamic scholars agree that the Qur'an was committed to written form shortly after The Prophet's death in 623 AD.

By comparison, the Christian Bible is comprised of two testaments (the old and the new). Unlike the Qur'an, The Bible, apart from being presented in two testaments, is comprised of many books. The Old Testament contains books of Jewish law, history and prophecies. The New Testament also contains many books all of which were written after the death of Jesus.

Answer 2

Quran holy book is the revelations by God to Prophet Mohamed (peace upon him) through the Angel Gabriel (Jibril). These revelations of Quran by God to Prophet Mohamed was started in year 610 AD when prophet Mohamed was in Mecca (Makkah) and he was by that time 40 years old. The revelations continued since then and was completed by year 632 AD (year of death of the prophet).That means the revelation period of Quran continued over a period of around 22 years.

The following are the main issues explaining how Quran is different than other holy books:

• Other holy books revelations were accompanied by miracles that God supported the prophets with in order to convince their people with God message preached by those prophets. However, the holy book Quran is a miracle by itself. Quran revelation was in Arabic and was in a time the Arabs were in the flourishing era of language. They were competing in Arabic poetry and literature and were arranging festivals for Arabic language. They were challenged that they can't reproduce a single verse like that of Quran. even the disbelievers were listening to the reciting of Quran to enjoy it.

• The long period for full revelation of the Quran (around 22 years) allowed the Quran to be fully memorized and documented by many Muslims (which is not the case with other holy books). It was recited in the mosque by prophet Mohamed during the daily five prayers without single letter change. Many Muslims since then until now are memorizing Quran fully without single letter difference. This explains why Quran remains by God will, and will remain by God will, without single letter change.

• Quran is the only holy book that is still recited and read with its original revelation language (Arabic). The Quran revelation language is the only language of all other holy books that still a live language.

• Quran speaks about a variety of branches of science like: Astronomy, Embryology, Hydrology, Geology, Sociology, Psychology, Oceanography, Law etc. and is including lots of scientific statements (about the universe creation, clouds, mountains, embryology, rains, deep sea, difference between sun and moon, etc) that were validated only recently and were not known in the time of the prophet. No single contradiction found between any of Quran scientific statements and the current scientific findings or discoveries. Quran included correct scientific information on some incidents that are scientifically incorrect in other holy books (e.g. in the bible mentioned that sun was created after the creation of earth Genesis 1:9-19 and vegetation was created before the Sun-Genesis 1:11-13, 14-19).

• Quran as the last holy book remained without single letter change while other holy book texts were subject to alterations and changes.

• Quran, as the last holy book, covered almost all aspects of mankind life (e.g. marriage, divorce, inheritance, peace and war rules, etc.) not like other holy books.

As for the Gospel (Bible), Jesus Christ did not have the revelations that were sent to him written. He became a prophet when he was 30 and his prophethood ended when he was 33 years old. He traveled from village to village, from town to town in order to teach people in three years, which is a short time. He was always followed by the men of Roman administrators due to the provocation of Jews in his last year. He could not have enough time or opportunity to have the Gospel written. As a matter of fact, today the Gospels (Bibles) are called by the names of their authors and they are like biographies that include the preaches, lessons and the guidance of Jesus to his disciples. Besides, those who wrote them were not the disciples of Jesus, who were the first believers, but those who listened to the divine words that were sent down to Jesus from his disciples.

There are some differences in terms of narration and content in the Bibles that are present today. As a matter of fact those Bibles were approved by the council consisting of 1000 bishops that gathered in Nicaea in A.D. 325. That council inspected hundreds of Bibles and accepted the present four Bibles, which advocated the divinity of Jesus Christ, with the unanimity of 318 members and destroyed the others by burning them.

As it is seen, the principle that Jesus is the son of God was accepted by the decision of a council many years after the death of Jesus. Some Christian churches did not accept that decision. Therefore, it is impossible to say that the four Bibles that are present today are the same as the original Bible sent down to Jesus.

Answer 3

The qur'an different from other holy books in that it is the scripture followed by millions of Muslims. Like the Bible, it contains discrepancies and contradictions, such as the following:

Surah 7:54 (Yusuf Ali) Your Guardian-Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne (of authority): He draweth the night as a veil o'er the day, each seeking the other in rapid succession: He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, (all) governed by laws under His command. Is it not His to create and to govern? Blessed be Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds!

Surah 41:9-12 (Yusuf Ali)

9 Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two days And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds.
10 He set on the (earth), mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measured therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in four days in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (Sustenance).
11 Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together, willingly or unwillingly."
12 They said: "We do come (together), in willing obedience." So He completed them as seven firmaments in two days, and He assigned to each heaven [firmament] its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights, and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.

• In Surah 7:54, God created the heavens and the earth in six days, just as in the Book of Genesis.
  
• In Surah 41:9-12, not only do we have creation taking eight days (2 + 4 + 2 days), but we have seven heavens with what we now know to be these enormous bodies in the lower heaven, just above the earth. So, we get one discrepancy and two scientific impossibilities.

Other Holy books, such as the Dao de Ching, the Analects and the Rig Veda focus somewhat more on rules for good living and hymns to the gods.