What Distinguishes Truth from Falsehood
Hence, the Quran is the criterion for identifying the truth.
In those verses, there are different phrases used to describe the Quran as the distinguisher between the truth and falsehood. For example, in Verse 13 of Surah At-Tariq, God says: “Behold this is the Word that distinguishes (Good from Evil).”
In the first verse of Surah Al-Furqan, we read: “Blessed is He who has revealed the criteria (for discerning truth from falsehood).”
The significance of this criteria is such that God describes Himself as blessed for revealing it. Therefore, the best goodness and blessing is for man to have a criterion for distinguishing the truth from falsehood.
Imam Ali (AS) quoted the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as saying that “Soon a Fitna (sedition) will emerge among you.” Imam (AS) asked what would make them safe in the face of the Fitna. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said the Quran, which includes the news of the past and future and judgment among people, it is a word that distinguishes the truth from falsehood, it is serious and not funny, anyone who abandons it, God will crush him and anyone who seeks guidance in anything other than it will go astray.
According to this Hadith, this feature of the Quran is not limited for a certain time but is for the future generations as well. This shows that the content of the Quran is based on man’s Fitrat (nature) and fulfils humanity’s needs in the best way.
Fitrat is the divine creation of mankind that is common to all human beings. It is what makes people move toward perfection. God has given it to us and it cannot be destroyed.
For example, all human beings are interested in justice, and this is a divine gift embedded in human nature that is always with them.
The atmosphere in society is not always calm. Sometimes there are Fitnas when it becomes difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. In these cases, the role of the Quran, a book that shows the difference between truth and falsehood, becomes more vivid.
