Definition and Significance
The Preserved Tablet (Arabic: لوح محفوظ - Lauh al-Mahfuz) is a fundamental concept in Islamic theology. According to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, the Preserved Tablet is the divine record on which God inscribed everything that will ever happen, including all human actions and the entire content of the Qur’an, even before the creation of the universe.
Etymology
The term “Preserved Tablet” stems from Arabic:
- لوح (lauh): means “tablet.”
- محفوظ (mahfuz): means “preserved” or “protected.”
In Turkish, the concept is often referred to as Levhi Mahfuz.
Qur’anic References
The concept of the Preserved Tablet is mentioned in several Qur’anic verses:
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Sūrah 35:22:
<p>“And if they treat thee as a liar, so did those who were before them treat their Apostles who came to them with proofs of their mission, and with the Scriptures and with the clear Book (<a href="https://quran.com/35/22" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">لوح محفوظ</a>).”</p>
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Sūrah 36:11 (Imām Mubīn):
<p>“Indeed, We will resurrect the dead, and We record what they have sent forth and what they have left behind, and We have enumerated everything in a clear Register (<a href="https://quran.com/36/11" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">امام مبين</a>).”</p>
Theological Context
The Preserved Tablet is often discussed in relation to:
- Predestination (Qadar): This doctrine asserts that God has preordained all that will happen in the universe.
- Divine Knowledge and Record: Everything that occurs, from the grand events in history to the smallest actions of individuals, is recorded by God.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “The Book of Destiny” by Muhammad al-Ghazali - An in-depth look at how predestination is conceptualized in Islamic theology.
- “The Qur’an: A New Translation” by Tarif Khalidi - Accessible translations with annotations on significant theological concepts, including the Preserved Tablet.
- “Islam: Faith, Practice, and History” by William C. Chittick - Offers a comprehensive overview of Islamic beliefs and the contextual significance of the Lauh al-Mahfuz.
Takeaways
- The Preserved Tablet (Lauh al-Mahfuz) is an integral concept in Islam that underscores God’s omniscience and the pre-written destiny of all creation.
- This concept is closely tied to themes of predestination and divine record-keeping.
- It is mentioned in various Qur’anic verses, highlighting its theological importance.
Conclusion
Understanding the concept of the Preserved Tablet offers insight into broader Islamic teachings concerning divine preordainment and the omnipotent scope of God’s knowledge. It plays a crucial role in Islamic intellectual history and helps elucidate the Islamic worldview concerning fate and divine will.
For those interested, delving into further readings can enrich one’s comprehension and appreciation of this key element in Islamic doctrine.
