From Doubt to Faith: Discovering Islam

Part 2: Prophets and Revelations

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This is the second part of the “From Doubt to Faith” series, where I share my earlier views about prophets and revelations, and how reading the Quran changed them.

I’m not a scholar and don’t aim to provide a comprehensive study of the scriptures. These are just my personal reflections and learnings. Perhaps they’ll encourage you to explore more on your own.

What I Used to Think (Part 2.1)

I used to think that divine scriptures were ancient legends written by men, and that prophets were fictional figures whose existence was questionable. The Quran, in particular, made an impression of a scripture relevant only to Arabs or to people shaped by Arab history and culture. For me to follow it meant adopting foreign customs and giving up my own cultural identity.

In the parts that follow, I share how these assumptions gradually fell away as I read the Quran. The most meaningful shift for me was moving beyond an inflated sense of national pride and learning to see myself and others through the lens of universal values that transcend culture and ethnic boundaries.

Ancient Fables?

I doubted whether the Quran, like other scriptures, was truly the word of God and suspected it was just a collection of ancient stories written by humans. Once, in the midst of my quest for meaning, I shared this doubt with someone close to me. They sent me a few thoughtful insights and resources, including an older essay by an English scholar (I no longer remember the name) that gave linguistic arguments for viewing the Quran as the unaltered direct speech of God. That nudged me to finally begin reading a translation.

As I read, one thing that struck me was how directly the Quran speaks to our questions and hesitations. It seems to anticipate them with unexpected precision. Here are just a few verses that echoed my assumption that the revelations were “ancient legends” written by people:

And when Our verses are recited to them, they say, ‘We have heard. If we willed, we could say something like this. This is nothing but legends of the former peoples.’ (8:31)

And when it is said to them, ‘What has your Lord revealed?’ They say, ‘Ancient fables!’ (16:24)

What? Are you really warning me that I will be raised alive from my grave, when so many generations have already passed and gone before me?” His parents implore God for help: ‘Woe to you! Believe! God’s promise is true,’ but he still replies, ‘These are nothing but ancient fables.’ (46:17)

These verses mirrored my doubts.  But as I continued reading the Quran as a whole, the impression of it being a human product naturally faded. Rereading these verses now, I find it compelling how these same assumptions about “ancient fables” already existed centuries ago – as if God were saying that such doubts are inherently human. Regardless of time and place, we tend to dismiss divine revelation as an outdated myth.

The Quran doesn’t argue anxiously to prove itself. It states the truth with unwavering authority and leaves belief to the reader’s choice. It is indeed full of stories and parables. What makes them fascinating though is how relevant they still are despite the ancient settings. The patterns of human nature haven’t changed. We struggle with the same moral dilemmas, weaknesses, and aspirations people lived with ages ago.

Many of today’s ‘modern times’ social issues echo those found in Quranic stories. One example is the incident involving the Prophet’s wife, ʿAisha (may God be pleased with her), when false rumours spread through the community until God revealed verses to clear her name. Through these verses, God condemns the destructive power of gossip and reckless accusations. We see similar harms every day in our times – in the media, tabloids, targeted disinformation, and online trolling. Slander and gossip are grave sins in the Quran and are strongly discouraged as incompatible with a God-conscious life. Believers are called to remove it from their social norms entirely.

In Part 2.2, I’ll share how the Quran reshaped my assumptions about prophets, God willing.

Foto credit: Andy Kennedy (Unsplash)