No man...

No man, or men, invented it, as is the case with pagan or philosophical concepts, despite their mutual differences. Man's action concerning the Islamic concept is to receive it with gratitude, to understand it, adapt to it, and apply it to all affairs of life. The Divine utterances constituting the Qur'an, which bring this concept to us, are all from Allah as a gift from Him and a mercy.

The thought of all the Messengers of Allah is the same, since all of them received the same Islamic concept in its original form but none of them shared in its origination. Rather they received this concept as a guide for them and through them for others. This guidance is a gift from Allah by means of which minds are opened.

The duty of a Messenger, any Messenger, with respect to this concept is to communicate it accurately to others and propagate it faithfully and diligently, without mixing any human ideas -referred to in the Qur'an as ahwa or "whims" -with Divine revelations. Whether the people are guided through his efforts and whether their minds are opened to its message are not the Messenger's concern. And thus have We by our command sent inspiration to you.

You did not know [before] what Revelation is and what is faith, but We have made the [Qur'an] a light, whereby We guide whom we deem suitable of our servants. And truly you guide [men] onto the straight path, the path of Allah, to whom belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and on earth. Surely unto Allah all things return. (Al- Shura 42: 52-53). By the star when it sets, your comrade (Muhammad) is not astray; neither does he err, nor does he speak out of whim.

This is nothing but a revelation revealed (Al-Nairn 53: 1-4). If he (Muhammad) were to invent any false sayings about Us, We would surely seize him by his right hand and cut off the artery of his heart, and not one of you could have defended him (Al-Haqqah 69:44-47). O Messenger, make known what has been sent down to you from your Lord, for if you do not do so, you will not have conveyed His message (Al-Ma'idah 5:67).

It is true that you will not be able to guide everyone you love, but Allah guides whomever He will. And He knows best those who receive guidance (Al-Qasas 28:56). If Allah wishes to guide anyone, He opens his breast to Islam, and if He wishes to let anyone go astray He makes his breast closed and narrow, as if he had to climb up to the skies. Thus does Allah inflict horror upon those who do not believe (Al-An'arn 7: 125).