As regards to Islam’s distinctive and unique claim that the teachings of the Holy Quran are complete and perfect and fully capable of guiding humanity in all ages, this too, is also fully supported by reason. It is not possible in a brief space of time to deal with this subject in detail, and I must confine myself to a brief reference to some guiding principles and illustrative examples. First, we must consider how Islam succeeds in meeting the demands of changing times, thus forestalling the need for any revision in its teachings. It is indeed fascinating to study Islam’s practical guidance in this regard of which I shall now place a mere sample before you:
Islam only enunciates fundamental principles and refrains from stipulating such detail as would need to vary to cope with changing times and situations.
Islam is fully mindful of man’s intellectual, social and political evolution, and its teachings cater for all possible situations. It not only recognises the fact that there occurs continuous change and development among nations, but also the reality that not all people are at par in their state of development at a given point in time. For example, it is possible that the earth may still in part be inhabited by the people of the Stone Age, and some groups and tribes may still be a thousand years behind our age, even though we share the same time. Their intellectual, social and political state may really belong to an age left far behind. I am sure we would all agree that it would be the height of folly to force modern political ideologies upon the original inhabitants of Australia, or the pygmies of the Congo.
Islam is a religion that conforms to human nature and fulfils all human needs. No change in its teachings is necessary, unless there also occurs a fundamental change in human nature, a prospect we can dismiss outright.
These were a few facets of the principles of Islamic teachings. I shall now discuss them a little further so that my submission may be understood more fully.