Allah SWT: The One Source Theory

There is a simple logic we often overlook when discussing religion: the logic of source consistency—or "The One Source Theory"—which can also be termed the "postulate of Tawhid (Divine Oneness)" and the "Theory of Revelation Consistency." Here is the explanation, outlined in six points:

1. A single source implies a single message

The premise is absolute: God is One (Tawhid). The logical consequence is that His teachings must be singular, consistent, and free from contradiction from the moment of creation to the present day.

If God is All-Perfect, it is impossible for Him to reveal a system of life guidance that clashes across different eras. So, if differences appear to exist today, it is not because the source differs, but because the transmission of the message has been distorted or because our depth of interpretation has not yet reached the necessary level. We simply haven't explored deeply enough, Bro!

2. Universality of guidance: no tribe or human group exists without a Messenger

This is the second postulate, based on the Quranic evidence: "...And there was no nation but that there had passed within it a warner" (Quran, Surah Fatir: 24).

Logically, then, every human cluster—whether on mountaintops, at the poles, in the Amazon rainforest, or on remote islands—must have received guidance. A Prophet or Messenger must have been sent to them. Hadith literature mentions that 124,000 Prophets and 313 or 315 Messengers were sent, with 25 of their names known to us. This means the distinction between "Abrahamic" (revealed) and "non-Abrahamic" religions does not exist. Fundamentally, all religions are Abrahamic—religions from the heavens, originating from the One God, Allah SWT. The only differences lie in the degree of their intactness versus the extent of their distortion. Some teachings remain original, while the majority have been subject to information bias—distorted, supplemented, or diminished—by the influence of power dynamics and the passage of time.

3. Islam as the generic name for that consistency

If all those messages are consistent, then the generic name for that body of consistent messages is ‘Islam’—signifying total submission to that Single Source.

In essence, the teachings of all the Prophets were Islam in their respective versions, varying in the completeness of their Sharia (religious law) according to the context of their times. Ultimately, all those versions were perfected, complemented, and brought to completion in the final version: the Qur'an.

“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion” (QS. Al-Maidah: 3). Thus, the Qur'an serves as the culmination. The teachings of Prophets and Messengers spanning thousands of years prior were consolidated, unified, and perfected within the Qur'an.

4. Intertextuality among the Messengers: mutual recognition and acknowledgment

A hallmark of a consistent system is that its actors are interconnected. The Messengers recognized and acknowledged one another rather than negating each other. The Gospel mentions Ahmad; the Qur'an mentions Moses, Jesus, Solomon, and Adam—all within the same lineage of revelation. They stood on equal footing as channels or conveyors of the message, not as competitors. The substance of the message was identical—exactly the same: Tawhid (Divine Oneness). If differences appear today, it is due to distortion.

In the sociology of religion, this is known as the "perennial chain" (an enduring chain of the same truth). It refers to the chain of transmission—encompassing values, knowledge, authority, and spiritual experience—that continuously links the present generation to the source of revelation or the sacred tradition of the past.

5. The Qur'an as the Final and Preserved Scripture

To resolve the confusion caused by millennia of distortion, a scripture is required that serves as a master copy—one that is comprehensive, structured, and whose permanence is intentionally safeguarded. It is guaranteed to be preserved—unlike other scriptures, regarding which God did not promise to maintain their authenticity.

The Qur'an defines itself in precisely this way: "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Dhikr (the Qur'an), and indeed, We will be its guardian" (QS. Al-Hijr: 9). It is the only scripture for which the claim of preservation holds that not a single letter has changed, thereby serving as the standard against which the consistency of earlier teachings is tested.

6. Epistemological Conclusion

Thus, if today we do not yet perceive that unity, interconnectedness, and consistency, the issue lies neither with God nor with His religion. The problem lies in the limitations of our own epistemology. Our task is not to defend the barriers of difference, but to keep learning and exploring until we discover that single, unifying thread of ultimate truth. Let us be enthusiastic about learning and discovering the truth !!

Wallahu ‘alam bissawab. And God knows best.

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