What does Islam's authority rest with?

Answer 1

Answer 1

In the Islamic faith, Imams can offer spiritual guidance, however, authority rests with scripture, and the prophet. The Muslim holy book is called the Qur'an.

Answer 2

While it is certainly a romantic thought that Islam's authority rests solely on the Qur'an, this is certainly not the case. Half of the Islamic World is illiterate, so the beliefs and arguments of Imams and tribal Sheikhs often become the chief authorities on what Islam is for their congregations, even if they are dead-wrong on official religious doctrine.

Answer 2

Religions claim their religious authorities from their own traditions and beliefs - there is no central office that provides or confirms their "truthiness" of that of other religions.

In the case of Islam, the followers believe that infallible Word of God was revealed to Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel about 1400 years ago. He conveyed the Word to the Arabic world in an oral tradition through the Qur'an or Koran. The Qur'an has been discussed and commented on with Arabic scholars adding many books of interpretation.