Question:
Assalamu ‘alaykum.
What are some things to consider when asked if Islam has any flaws and/or contradictions? Also, what are some ways in which the Qur’an has been preserved, and are there negative effects of translating it to other languages?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
Islam Has No Flaws or Contradictions
The simple answer is to say the truth: Islam has no flaws or contradictions. Yes, you may find many red herrings on the internet about Islam, but none of them stand up to scrutiny.
Islam is not a manufactured religion. It has come from God. God is perfect. Everything from a perfect being designed for our benefit will be perfect too.
Can Muslims be flawed as individuals? Absolutely. Can their application of what Islam wants to be flawed? Yes. Does this mean Islam is flawed? Not at all.
Does Islam Make Sense?
Everything in Islam, when viewed with a fair, balanced, and rational mind, and a compassionate heart, makes perfect sense. It fulfills the needs of human beings individually and collectively. It guides us to what benefits us and closes the doors that lead to what is harmful to us.
This is the case for things in this life. The ultimate goal of Divine Revelation is to guide us to what is in our long-term best interest. That which lasts forever. Does it perfectly answer the questions humans have struggled with for centuries, such as the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything? And why is there suffering in this world? And much more…
Are the Rulings of Islam Not Unjust?
No. They are not. Any ruling you look at is suited to the long-term benefits of the Human Being. It is essential to contextualize those rulings, however. Taking something out of context is the quickest way to disfigure it.
I could tell you about a stranger who keeps throwing things in my letterbox every. Some of those things are very distressing… Such a description would easily make most people think badly of this individual. But if I then contextualized it and said it was the postman who posts distressing bills, suddenly he’s not the monster you might have assumed him to be.
Take a look at this answer. The questioner heard that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) told people to kill dogs. This sounds disturbing. Yet, when the context is understood, it’s a different story.
The Preservation and Translation of the Qur’an
You’ve asked a short question that requires a long answer. For this, we have been blessed with the opportunity to offer an entire course that addresses this matter in great detail. Please take the course and recommend it to others who may benefit from it.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani