– Dr. Waquar Anwar
The Qur’an is inimitable as it is extraordinary not only in the high quality of the Arabic language and particular style of literary expressions but also on account of its contents and the information it provides. So, it remains a book which is not possible to be equalled or rivalled. There are a number of aspects on which this Book revealed by Allah to His Prophet Muhammad, may Allah grant and bless him peace, is unique and incomparable. We intend to describe briefly some of those aspects.
Regarding Past Generations and Nations
The Qur’an discusses the history of many bygone nations. Prior to these deliberations in the Qur’an, most of those nations were known to the Christians and Jews as their stories also appeared in their revealed books. Prophet Muhammad, may Allah grant and bless him peace, did not know how to read and write and had no opportunity to be aware of the contents of those earlier books. So, this information fell in the category of unseen and unheard of for him. There was no way that the Prophet ﷺ could know anything about those past nations and events from any source other than Allah who revealed them to His servant. The Prophet ﷺ recited the stories about Prophet Musa and Khidr, Prophet Yusuf and his brothers, the men in the cave, Dhul Qarnain, Luqman and his sons and other Prophets, may Allah bestow peace to all the Prophets.
Furthermore, the story of the creation of Adam and Eve and their interaction with the Iblees, could not have been known to the Prophet from any source other than the Creator Himself. Many sincere Christians and Jews, particularly their scholars were astonished by these revelations and accepted the faith. Those who didn’t want to accept the faith tried their level best to disprove the Qur’an. They asked difficult questions but the Prophet ﷺ answered them after getting verses revealed by Allah.
The Qur’an also revealed the contents of Torah and Gospels available with the People of the Book, which were signs of the last Prophet in their scriptures.
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks….” [48:29]
There were many contents of the earlier revealed books which their scholars kept under the carpet and did not bring out. The Qur’an says: “All food was lawful for the children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for himself before the Torah was revealed. Say (O Prophet) ‘Bring the Torah and read it, if your claims are true.” (3:93)
Allah revealed their mischief in concealing the truth available in their own books by saying: “O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to much of what you used to conceal of the scripture and overlooking much.” (5:15)
A group of Christians, comprising their religious scholars and the gentry, from Najran visited Madinah to discuss the matters of the religion with the Prophet ﷺ. They stayed for several days and asked a number of questions which were replied. Finally, the Qur’an threw a challenge to them saying: “Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you – say, ‘Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars [among us].” (3:61). They chose not to accept the challenge, which was a testimony of their vulnerability regarding their own faith.
Regarding the Arabs Who Refused to Accept the Faith
There was no justification for the Arabs to refuse the message of the Prophet ﷺ who lived with them for forty years before announcing that he was a Messenger of Allah. They knew that he has not been taught to read and write and so whatever now he was revealing was really revelation from Allah. The Qur’an was being revealed in their own language, which they claimed to be master. And they were unable to accept the challenge of the Qur’an to produce anything like that. These Arabs included the People of the Scripture, Christians and Jews living there.
The Jews claimed that they are the chosen people and will surely go to the heaven. It meant that they should not have any fear of death as that would mean ultimate and everlasting success. Allah has addressed their fallacy in this regard by saying: “Say, (O Prophet,) ‘If the (eternal) Home of the Hereafter with Allah is exclusively for you (Israelites) out of all humanity, then wish for death if what you say is true! But they will never wish for that because of what their hands have done. And Allah has (perfect) knowledge of the wrongdoers.” (2:94-95). This was in fact turning the heat on them.
Regarding the Fear and Awe Aroused by the Qur’an
The impact of the Qur’an, which is on account of its divinity, is that it aroused feelings of fear and amazement in the person who heard its recitation. The impact on the persons, who do not accept the faith of unity of Allah, is described as under:
“And We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And when you mention your Lord alone in the Qur’an, they turn back in aversion.” (17:46)
The impact on the believers is different as the Qur’an describes: “Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray – for him there is no guide.” (39:23)
A man named Jubair, son of Mut’im, a leader and an eloquent man from Quraysh, visited a place in Makkah where Prophet Muhammad, may Allah grant and bless him peace, was reciting the following verses of the Qur’an.
“Or were they created by nothing, or are they (their own) creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? In fact, they have no certainty. Or do they possess the treasuries of your Lord, or are they in control (of everything)?” (52:35-37)
He was so much moved that the faith entered his heart at that moment and he said: “It was as if my heart was about to take flight.”
The story of Utbah, son of Rabiah, is also interesting. The Quraysh wanted to discourage the Prophet ﷺ from spreading his message. They chose Utbah, a wealthy, influential and well-travelled person, to negotiate with the Prophet. Utbah went to the Prophet and asked him if he felt he was better than their forefathers. If yes, then they also worshipped the idols. If no, then he wanted to hear what the Prophet had to say for himself. Utbah commented that they had never seen anyone more problematic for his people than him. He offered the Prophet ﷺ the best of wealth, women and status. Throughout Utbah’s speech, the Prophet remained silent. Asking if Utbah was done, he recited chapter 41 of the Qur’an that begins with “HaMeem.”
Utbah started screaming, and placed his hand on the mouth of the Prophet, asking him to stop. Utbah himself expressed fears that the punishment that the Prophet was speaking of would descend upon them, right then. Returning to the Quraysh, he reported, “By Allah, he recited some words to me, which I have never heard anything like, I just did not know what to say.”
There are several stories, even those relating to the period after the life-span of the Prophet ﷺ on this earth, that confirm the awe that the persons hearing the recitation of any part of the Qur’an felt.
The Promise of Allah to Protect the Qur’an
It is interesting to note that no other earlier divine book revealed to any other Prophet contained any promise by Allah that it shall be protected from any corruption. That is why none of them has remained uncorrupted. History of man, story of Prophets and nations, commentary and opinions of scholars and other things have been added and verses have been deleted. However, the Qur’an has remained intact, the way it was provided by the Prophet to his followers. The primary cause of the preservation of the Qur’an is the promise made by Allah.
“It is certainly We Who have revealed the Reminder, and it is certainly We Who will preserve it.” (15:9)
“It cannot be proven false from any angle, (It is) a revelation from the (One Who is) All-Wise, Praiseworthy.” (41:42)
“And recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words….” (18:27)
“But this (Qur’an) is (a set of) clear revelations (preserved) in the hearts of those gifted with knowledge.” (29:49)
The preservation of the Qur’an in its entirety, even after lapse of centuries, is one of the greatest miracles in its favour.
A Review of Various Aspects of the Inimitability of the Qur’an
The recitation of the Qur’an is always delightful as one never feels tired of or bored with the reading and re-reading of the verses. Although many verses and stories are repeated several times at various places in the Book, it always looks fresh and a new meaning flashes to the reader every time.
The Qur’an in the Arabic language is a delight to recite particularly when the reciter is in solitude. The reciters have developed, over the times, various styles of recitations whose beauty in rhythm is enchanting. No other book is read so beautifully in so many ways. Even a person who does not know the Arabic language is captivated after hearing the recitation of the Qur’an.
The lessons and the wonders of the Qur’an do not fade even to a frequent reader of this Book of Allah. When a group of Jinn first heard the Qur’an which the Prophet, while coming back from Taif, was reciting loud in a prayer, they were stunned and their exclamation is recorded by the Qur’an. They said, “Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’an.” (72:1)
The subject matter of the Qur’an is guidance and it brought up issues of faith and provided the information of the unseen which the Arabs and the Prophet himself was not aware of. The Qur’an discussed these aspects in a simple, direct and clear manner which were understood by its audience. This direct method of communication and its successful impacts is a miracle of the Qur’an and is something which makes this book inimitable. Some examples would suffice:
“Can the One Who created the heavens and the earth not (easily) resurrect these (deniers)?” Yes (He can)! For He is the Master Creator, All-Knowing.” (36:81)
“Say, (O Prophet,) ‘They will be revived by the One Who produced them the first time, for He has (perfect) knowledge of every created being.” (36:79)
“Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined.” (21:22)
The Qur’an discusses histories of the past nations, deriving lessons from their stories, and gives good and bad tidings in the hereafter, according to the good and bad deeds of human beings respectively. All aspects relating to the guidance of human beings have been provided in detail and with clarity.
“And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.” (6:38)
“(We sent them) with clear proofs and divine Books. And We have sent down to you (O Prophet) the Reminder, so that you may explain to people what has been revealed for them, and perhaps they will reflect.” (16:44)
“And We have certainly presented to the people in this Qur’an from every [kind of] example.” (30:58)
The Prophet has described the beauty of the Qur’an in Qudsi (Divine) tradition as a scripture, that will open blind eyes, deaf ears and sealed hearts. It encompasses command of Allah, prohibitions to abide by, promises and rewards for following and threats for ignoring. In that way it is a combination of proof and obligation at the same time.
The Qur’an is easy to understand and memorise. The Qur’an says: “And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance/understanding.” (54:17). Even a person of average intellect, a common man, can understand the message of his Lord. Further, this can be memorised with ease. No other book in the history of mankind of this much size has been memorised, and is being memorised every day, by a large number of persons, both males and females and children and grownups. This is a live miracle of the Qur’an and it is inimitable in this feature of ease of understanding and memorising, too.
