Divine revelation was sent to many prophets throughout history and across the world, with one united message: God alone is worthy of worship, and believers must seek to do as much good as possible.
Divine revelation is consistent with Islam’s conception of people as innately wired for worship, and of God as the supreme source of love, mercy, and kindness.
God sent revelations throughout history to guide human beings to Him. While the fitrah—the natural human tendency towards good—leads people to many universal values, humans cannot know the full message of God or achieve spiritual fulfillment without revelation.
Revelation was given to the prophets and messengers, who were human beings elected by God due to their moral excellence. From Adam to Moses to Jesus (peace be upon them all), each messenger was sent to spread divine knowledge and act as a role model for how to live a pious, ethical life. Through the messages that were inspired into their hearts by God, the prophets and messengers were elevated to stations of self-enlightenment and holistic virtue. This is the essence of divine revelation in Islam.
The Qur’an is the last and final divine revelation from God to Earth. It addresses a global audience and guides them to God. In contrast to earlier revelations, such as the Psalms of David, which were intended for a specific time and place, the Qur’an is meant to be a clear message from God for humanity—a culmination of all the previously revealed scriptures throughout history.