format_quote Originally Posted by
panacea
In this regard, what was the name of the faith before Islam, Judaism, Christianity, but was also equally as valid as Islam in its own time for communicatoin between the heavens and humans?
format_quote Originally Posted by
panacea
I want to map the evolution of Adam's religion - Islam - but this is impossible without know what Allah gave to us as a religion, before Islam and other Abrahamic faiths. I also believe that if this exists (logically, I think it should), then there is much knowledge in this idea and knowledge is fun to learn! =)
To add to the above posts, here are translations of Allah's own words on the subject, where He tells us that we are following what was ordained on all the Prophets (peace be upon them) before, even those before Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), the same message they were all sent with:
He has ordained for you of religion that which He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and that which We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus - to establish the religion and not be divided therein. Difficult for those who associate others with Allah is that to which you invite them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him]. (42:13)
Not a messenger did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me. (21:25)
And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad SAW), as it was to those (Allah's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers." (36:95)
And ask those We sent before you of Our messengers; have We made besides the Most Merciful deities to be worshipped? (43:45)
Nothing is said to you, [O Muhammad], except what was already said to the messengers before you... (41:43, part)
Allah wants to make clear to you [the lawful from the unlawful] and guide you to the [good] practices of those before you and to accept your repentance. And Allah is Knowing and Wise. (4:26)
We sent no messenger save that he should be obeyed by Allah's leave. (4:64, part)
In fact the Qur'an doesn't state that it conflicts with the earlier scriptures, but that it confirms, continues, and is a culmination of the truth of what was in the original earlier scriptures sent by God, and that it comes clearing misconceptions and wrong beliefs that had been introduced and written by man in the earlier books. The core belief and creed, that we should submit wholeheartedly to the command of God, worship Him and Him alone without any associates in His Divinity, and that we should obey the Prophet, have always been the same, while small ancillary rules may have differed.
And when Jesus brought clear proofs, he said, "I have come to you with wisdom and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ, so fear Allah and obey me.
Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path."
But the denominations from among them differed [and separated], so woe to those who have wronged from the punishment of a painful Day. (43:63-65)
It is not (possible) for any human being unto whom Allah had given the Scripture and wisdom and the prophethood that he should afterwards have said unto mankind: Be worshippers of me apart from Allah; but (what he said was): Be faithful servants of the Lord by virtue of your constant teaching of the Scripture and of your constant study thereof. (3:79)
Nor would he order you to take angels and prophets for lords. Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to Allah's Will? (3:80)
Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him." (2:133)
But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, "Who are my supporters for [the cause of] Allah ?" The disciples said," We are supporters for Allah. We have believed in Allah and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]. (3:52)
Rather than trying to see/guess if there are fragments of truth in other religions, let us focus on the whole truth which we have. Going backwards to see what may/may not be from Allah is a dangerous thing, because you could get it wrong and attribute something to Allah that was not from Him, and you're spending time which you could be spending on actually learning and practising more of Islam, and inevitably a lot of distortion will be read on the way which has the potential to misguide. Thus there is no benefit in this. We have an unchanged message, a 100% divine message, a preserved message, a whole message, every word from Allah, no guessing involved, and it is the main source for our guidance and salvation. And it tells us what came before, and that we are following the same message.