Editorial

In the study of religion it is important to go back as close as possible to the original scriptures to understand the real meaning of the message. Among religious scriptures the Holy Qur’an is unique as the text has been preserved and is exactly the same as that revealed to the Holy Prophet of Islam(saw). The texts of other scriptures have changed over time (corruption and interpolation) and the original message may not be apparent from the versions of these texts that we currently have. The fact that the text of the Holy Qur’an has been safeguarded in this manner is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an itself: Verily, We Ourself have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian. (Ch.15:V.10) This is a testimony to the truth of the Message and the fact that Islam is a living religion. In this issue of The Review of Religions an extract from the writings of the Promised Messiah(as) is presented which discusses this fact: ‘There was a time when their number did not exceed the number of the members of one family and today they are counted in hundreds of millions. God had said He would safeguard His word, and is it not true that the teaching which the Holy Prophet(sa) conveyed as coming from God Almighty in His Word is still safeguarded in that Word …’ The purity of the Holy Qur’an is examined in detail in an article on page 54 which has been continued from the previous issue. Here it is explained how the text was preserved in written form during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet(saw). 2 The Review of Religions – March 2006 Mansoor Saqi – UK EDITORIAL History has shown that the spread of the message of the Prophets has always been through persuasion and reasoning and never through the use of force. This is the way that the spiritual reformation of people has come about in an article featured in this edition. ‘Even a cursory glance at history will reveal that for spiritual and moral revo- lutions God asks his servants to win over the people with truth and patience. Patience and prayer are the integral part of religious revolution and they should continue to be exhorted till God’s promise is fulfilled.’ And later And, above all, the Seal of the Prophets, the leading reformer of all time, our Master Muhammad(sa) was sent to bring about a universal spiritual revo- lution with nothing but persuasion and reasoning.’ The importance of persuasion, reasoning and of tolerance are particularly pertinent in these times, if the true meaning of the message of Islam is to be correctly conveyed to mankind. 3 EDITORIAL The Review of Religions – March 2006