Is the Qur'an the Word of God?
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Preface
One day, during my discussion with a skeptic of the Qur'an, he excessively wanted to prove that the Qur'an is a book that a group of people brought to existence.
He said:
I do not even support the idea that Satan is the writer of the Qur'an because Satan is not so naive as to make a grave mistake, such as mentioning the verse "clothed the bones with flesh." It has been scientifically proven that flesh is formed before the bones.
I told him:
Yes, Satan is not naive because he has been able to play with many people's minds.
The Qur'an did not say that God created the bones before He created the flesh.
God said Surah (23) Al Mu’mimun:
then We developed the drop into a clinging clot ˹of blood˺, then developed the clot into a lump ˹of flesh˺, then developed the lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation. So blessed is God, the Best of Creators. (14)
For example, when you want to dress your daughter up, you certainly do not make the cloth while she is being dressed up, but the cloth should be already there.
Accordingly, the sentence "clothed the bones with flesh" does not mean that the flesh existed before the bones.
Instead, God covered the bones with flesh. Which is called scientifically:
"Wrapping of muscles around bones"1.
This process is presented in one of the development stages of the fetus, where the muscles are fixed to the bones by tendons.
From the Qur'anic rhetoric, the meaning of clothing is achieved simultaneously, so the skin becomes thicker and darker after it was transparent.
Thus, the process of covering the bones with the flesh, along with the process of covering them by making the skin opaque, is achieved simultaneously, expressed by the Qur'an with one expression, "clothed the bones". 1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10085/
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The bones would disappear behind the muscles and the opaque skin. Therefore, the intended meaning of clothing is achieved.
Embryologists say that most tissues are created in parallel rather than in series.
…So, the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment]… (258) (Surah 2 Al Baqara) Based on this story, I decided to write this summary to prove the Quranic source's divinity. I pray to God to make this Book a source of guidance for all.
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They believe in part of the Book and disbelieve in others Some people deny the entire Qur'an as a divine revelation. In contrast, some adherents of Islam reject some facts and rulings in the Qur'an. They claim that these provisions are not understood or not suited to their thoughts and lives. For example, they demand the suspension of the inheritance provisions due to lack of conviction in Qur'anic rulings, claiming that these rulings are not appropriate for our time, or demanding separating the provisions of religion from the life of society. God says in the Qur'an: …So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah2 (God) is not unaware of what you do. (85) (Surah 2 Al Baqara) Concerning this, the British Muslim Paul Williams says disapproving: "A secular Muslim is someone who believes that the Creator was sufficiently capable of creating exact mathematical and physical laws to control the motion of bodies, but was not sufficiently capable of creating laws regulating human society". What is the Qur'an?
● The Qur'an is the last revelation sent from the Creator. Unlike the Divine scriptures that preceded. Muslims did not keep the Qur'an in the hands of any particular group or Muslim clergymen, which could have led to its misinterpretation or alteration. No hierarchy in Islam. The Qur'an is in everyone's hands. Muslims recite the Qur'an in their prayers and refer to it in all life affairs, and it is a way of life.
● Muslims believe in all uncorrupted books that God sent before the Qur'an (the scriptures of Ibrahim, the Torah of Moses, and the Gospel of Jesus, etc.).
2Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Middle East use the word “Allah” to refer to God. The word “Allah” means “the only true God”. The word “Allah” was mentioned in the earlier version of the Old Testament 89 times. (Refer to Genesis 2:4, Book of Daniel 6:20 Hebrew and Arabic Bible). The word 'Allah' appears in the original Sanskrit text. (Reg Veda - Book 2 hymn 1, Verse 11).
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● Muslims believe that the true message of all books was pure monotheism: Believing in God (the Creator), that He has no partner or son. He does not incarnate in any of His creations or any idol. Also, humans need to have a direct connection with Him, not through any priest or saint.
● God revealed the Qur'an in the Arabic language, which is the tongue of Quraish (the tribe of Prophet Muhammad), as the Gospel of Jesus, for example, was in Aramaic, which is the tongue of his people. Therefore, God reveals His books in the language of the people of the place.
● The Quran is still in its original language (Arabic) without any change, distortion, or alteration. God preserved it until our time and will remain preserved, as God promised to do so. It is available to all Muslims. It's known by heart to a large number of Muslims.
● Current Qur'an translations in multiple languages are nothing but a translation of the Qur'an's meanings.
● The Holy Qur'an received unparalleled care during the life of the Prophet and after his death. Undoubtedly، the way of receiving the Qur'an was phonetical.
✓ Prophet Muhammad heard the Qur'an vocally from the angel Gabriel; peace be upon them.
✓ The scribes of revelation heard the Qur'an vocally from the Messenger.
✓ Listeners among all Muslims heard the Qur'an vocally from the scribes of revelation.
✓ Qur'an students heard the Qur'an vocally so far from the qualified memorizers. Therefore, vocally receiving the Qur'an is the principle from the beginning of the Qur'an revelation until the day of resurrection.
● Documenting the Qur'an in papers is not the standard, but knowing it by heart. Therefore, it is impossible to distort the Qur'an. If today someone burns all copies of the Qur'an, Muslims would collect it in a short period from the memories of children before adults.
● The Messenger left the Qur'an documented and written down by the Companions to recite it and teach it to others. When Abu Bakr - may God be pleased with him - assumed the caliphate, he ordered the collection of these papers to be in one place as a reference.
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● As for the era of the third caliph Uthman - may God be pleased with him - Companions in the countries had paper copies that existed in different dialects, and Uthman sent an order to burn these copies. He sent them new copies identical to the original, which the Prophet left and compiled by the first caliph "Abu Bakr", to ensure that all countries refer to the exact original copy, which is the only one left by the Prophet. Uthman compiled the Qur'an in one dialect, which is the tongue of Quraish, in which God revealed the Qur'an. He kept the letter structure of the Qur'an without punctuation which allowed various kinds of differences in vocal performance to some words that do not go beyond the form of letters, based on the divine permission to recite it in multiple dialects.
● Despite the existence of different sects, the Qur'an is one. The recitations are various ways in the vocal performance in a few well-known words in the Qur'an, which are a revelation from God.
● Multiple readings of the Qur'an are evidence that the Qur'an is the word of God, because, despite its plurality, it does not lead to a contradiction in content. It is not acceptable to create a new reading. Each recitation has a chain of transmission connected to the Messenger of God, with frequent chains of communication, from well-known narrators known for their sincerity. It is impossible to have a regular reading that contradicts another reading but rather complements its meaning. The diversity of Holy Qur'an recitations does not result in different religious principles. It is a variety of methods controlled by strict rules in vocal performance.
● God revealed the Holy Qur'an to the Prophet during twenty years in the tongue of
Quraysh. Throughout that period, the Prophet used to recite the Qur'an to his Companions with this dialect. Nearly two years before Prophet Muhammad's death, after the number of adherents to Islam increased, God's permission came to recite the Qur'an in multiple dialects so that tribes with different dialects would be able to understand the Qur'an and work according to it.
● The variety of the recitations is a variety of vocal performances. There is a valid origin of the Qur'an in all recitations. The frequent recitations are precise; not a single word differs from them. It is unacceptable to invent a new recitation. It is impossible to have a repetitive recitation that contradicts another recitation but rather complements its meaning. Each recitation has a chain of transmission linked to the Messenger with frequently transmitted chains of well-known and sincere narrators, which distinguished the Islamic nation from the rest of the nations in preserving its Book.
● Muslims in the entire world recite the Qur'an in the same way the Messenger and his companions recited, without changing, adding, or removing any of its letters.
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God says:
Indeed, upon Us3 is its collection [in your heart] and [to make possible] its recitation. (17) (Surah 75 Al Qiyama)
Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an, and indeed, We will be its guardian. (9) (Surah 15 Al Hijir)
The reality today bears witness to the infallibility of the Qur'an. Sir William Muir, an English orientalist who wrote: "The Biography of the Prophet and Islamic History," which is one of the reliable references in English and Indian universities, said: "The Qur'an collected by Uthman was transmitted from hand to hand until it reached us without any distortion. It has been preserved with great care so that there has been no change in it. Rather, we can say: it has not undergone any change at all in the unchangeable copies. It was only one Qur'an in the Islamic countries for all the conflicting Muslim sects. This collective use of the same text accepted by all even today is an argument and evidence for the correctness of the available text, which goes back to the era of Uthman". Collection of the Noble Qur'an and orientalist appeal - Volume 1 - Page 10 - The Collector of Islamic Books. Is the Prophet Muhammad the author of the Qur'an? God says to His Messenger: And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Otherwise, the falsifiers would have had [cause for] doubt. (48) (Surah 29 Al- Ankabut) 3 The reference of God to Himself as WE or US in many verses of the Qur’an denotes Grandeur and Power in Arabic. In the English language this is known as the royal WE, where a plural pronoun is used to refer to a single person holding a high office, such as a monarch. For the avoidance of doubt, the Qur’an has consistently reminded us of the SINGULAR pronoun in reference to God, when called upon by His servants.
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Did the Prophet know the Qur'an before the mission? God Almighty says: And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path - (52) The path of Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Unquestionably, to Allah, do [all] matters evolve. (53) (Surah 42 Al-Shura) Did the Prophet or his people know the news of other nations before the Qur'an? God says: That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. You knew it not, neither you nor your people, before this. So be patient; indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous. (49) (Surah 11 Hud) The Prophet Muhammad did not know the Torah and the Gospel, nor could he write or read, and he did not see anything of what he told. Are the Qur'an legends of the ancients? The enemies of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, claimed that the stories of the Noble Qur'an are nothing but legends and myths, similar to the stories and poems of the Persians, Indians, and the Romans. God said: When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples." (13 ) (Surah 83 Al mutaffin) God said: That is [deserved by them] because Allah has sent down the Book in truth. And indeed, those who differ over the Book are in extreme dissension. (176) (Surah 2 Al Baqara)
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He said also: And among them are those who listen to you, but We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve say, "This is not but legends of the former peoples." (25) (Surah 6 Al An'am) And said: And when Our verses are recited to them, they say, "We have heard. If we willed, we could say [something] like this. This is not but legends of the former peoples."(31) (Surah 8 Al- Anfal) And He said informing: And they say, "Legends of the former peoples which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon." (5) (Surah 25 Al Furqan) His reply was: Say, [O Muhammad], "It has been revealed by He who knows [every] secret within the heavens and the earth. Indeed, He is ever Forgiving and Merciful." (6) (Surah 25 Al Furqan) And He said: And those who disbelieve say, "This [Qur'an] is not except a falsehood he invented, and another people assisted him in it" … (4) (Surah 25 Al Furqan) The reply was: …But they have committed an injustice and a lie. (4) (Surah 25 Al Furqan) We understand here: ● It was in the science of ancient civilizations some truth, including many legends and myths. How could an illiterate prophet who grew up in a desolate desert copy only these civilizations' facts and leave the tales behind? ● The testimony of non-Muslims states that the Qur'an is distinguished from other books without human intervention and contains scientific miracles. Therefore, when the one who has a creed acknowledges the doctrine's validity that contradicts his ideology, it is the most excellent proof of its validity.
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● The similarities prove that God sent only one message, but the people of the previous books distorted their books. What the Prophet Muhammad brought is not evidence of his deception, so these similar stories are remnants of the truth. For example, when two people buy identical products from the same store, it does not indicate that one is stealing from the other.
Was the Qur'an translated from another language? When some polytheists claimed that one of the learned monks of the time had helped write the Qur'an, this learned monk was a non-Arabic speaking person, which completely refutes this claim. God says: And We certainly know that they say, "It is only a human being who teaches the Prophet." The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and this Qur'an is [in] a clear Arabic language. (103) (Surah 16 Al Nahl) And He says: And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Otherwise, the falsifiers would have had [cause for] doubt. (48) Rather, the Qur'an is distinct verses [preserved] within the breasts of those who have been given knowledge. And none reject Our verses except the wrongdoers. (49) (Surah 29 Al - Ankabut) We understand from the above:
● It is very well known to the experts of the Torah and the Gospel that the Qur'an is not a translation of them.
● God revealed the Qur'an in a clear Arabic tongue. If it was a translation from a foreign language, none of the Jews or Christians could translate it into Arabic with such accuracy and eloquence.
● The Qur'an is in eloquent Arabic, and everyone who has practiced translating between languages is aware of the problems that occur during Arabization and translation.
● The Qur'anic stories are evidence of the Prophet's sincerity and are evidence that he confirms the books that came before him. The existence of what ensures the first books is evidence that the Qur'an is from God.
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● None of the Arabs, not even the Jews - despite their vehement denial - claimed to attribute this Qur'an to itself. If the Qur'an was from the Jews, the Jews would be the quickest people to attribute it to themselves.
And they say, "Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?" Has there not come to them evidence of what was in the former scriptures? (133) (Qur’an 20 Ta-ha) The Qur'an tells the People of the Book (Christians and Jews) about things they know and others about which they differ. This Qur'an explains to the Children of Israel most of the matters concerning which they have disagreements. (76) (Surah 27 An-Naml) The Qur'an is a statement of the truth of Christ. The Messiah, son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger before whom many Messengers have passed away; and his mother adhered wholly to truthfulness, and they both ate food (as other mortals do). See how We make Our signs clear to them; and see where they are turning away! (75) (Surah 5 Al Ma'ida) God Almighty created Christ without a father, just as He created Adam without a father or a mother. He is God who creates and begets not. The Qur'an contains news and rulings in which they differed. All food (that is lawful in the Law revealed to Muhammad) was lawful to the Children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful to themselves before the revelation of the Torah. Tell them: 'Bring the Torah and recite any passage of it if you are truthful.' (93) (Surah 3 Al Imran) We have to understand that:
● The Prophet was known for his honesty and trustworthiness. His tribe nicknamed him Al-Sadiq Al-Amin (the truthful – the trustworthy).
● The language and style of the Qur'an are entirely different from the words of the Prophet in his sayings (hadiths). Despite the eloquence of the Prophet's sayings, they don't reach the eloquence of the Qur'an. The Prophet's sayings are not organized into a single book as smooth as the Qur'an.
● Assuming that the Messenger was not illiterate and copied from the books of other civilizations, such as the Greeks, Indians, Persians, and Pharaohs, that means he has surpassed the most potent global search engines in the amount of information compared to our time. He also beat all humans in language to formulate texts that could not come up with any creature.
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● The Prophet grew up among a pagan people isolated from Jews and Christians who replaced monotheism with the Trinity, except for a few of them. How can he collect this information?
● The challenge remains: whoever doubts the Qur'an, let him compose for us something like it.
We must also understand:
● The Prophet was not present among those whom the Qur'anic stories mentioned.
● The Qur'an was not identical to the Torah and the Gospel, but it was a validator and corrector for distorted books.
● The Prophet was illiterate. God sent him among a nation famous for eloquence in language. Still, an illiterate nation did not know how to read or write except a few of them, so it is not possible for the Prophet to collect stories from the East and the West.
It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom - although they were before in clear error. (2) (Surah 62 Al Jum'a)
● God revealed the Qur'an gradually to the Prophet Muhammad through Angel Gabriel over approximately twenty-three years. Yet, the entire Qur'an is well-narrated, solid in style, and this is the most significant evidence that it is the word of God.
● The Qur'an has narrated stories that are neither in the Torah nor in the Gospel. The Qur'an gives details of stories about which the Arabs know little.
And [We destroyed] 'Aad and Thamud, and it has become clear to you from their [ruined] dwellings. And Satan had made pleasing to them their deeds and averted them from the path, and they were endowed with perception. (38 ) (Surah 29 Al-Ankabut) Their dwellings were a witness to them. The dwellings of the people of Lot as well were a witness to the punishment that God had sent down on them. Indeed, he was of Our believing servants. (132) And indeed, Lot was among the messengers. (133) [So mention] when We saved him and his family, all, (134) Except his wife among those who remained [with the evildoers]. (135) Then We destroyed the others. (136) And indeed, you pass by them in the morning (137) And at night. Then will you not use reason? (Surah 37 As-Safat)
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Is the Qur'an poetry? The polytheists of Quraish claimed that the Qur'an is the saying of a poet. Indeed they, when it was said to them, "There is no deity but Allah," were arrogant (35) And were saying, "Are we to leave our gods for a mad poet?" (36) Rather, the Prophet has come with the truth and confirmed the [previous] messengers. (37) (Qur'an 37 As-Safat) God says in Sura (69) Al- Haqa: [That] indeed, the Qur'an is the word of a noble Messenger. (40) And it is not the word of a poet; little do you believe. (41) Nor the word of a soothsayer; little do you remember. (42) [It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. (43) And if Muhammad had made up about Us some [false] sayings, (44) We would have seized him by the right hand; (45) Then We would have cut from him the aorta. (46) And there is no one of you who could prevent [Us] from him. (47) And indeed, the Qur'an is a reminder for the righteous. (48) And indeed, We know that among you are deniers. (49) And indeed, it will be [a cause of] regret upon the disbelievers. (50) And indeed, it is the truth of certainty. (51) So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great. And He says in Surah (36) Yaseen: And We did not give Prophet Muhammad, knowledge of poetry, nor is it befitting for him. It is not but a message and a clear Qur'an. (69) And He says in Surah (26) Shu'ara: And the poets - [only] the deviators follow them; (224) Do you not see that in every valley they roam (225) And that they say what they do not do? - (226) Except those [poets] who believe and do righteous deeds and remember Allah often and defend [the Muslims] after they were wronged. And those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned. We understand from the above:
● In this verse, God Almighty denied that the Prophet Muhammad was a poet.
● The Messenger was the first to apply what he called others to do. His words matched with actions. He did not ask for a worldly wage for what he called for and lived poor, generous, merciful, and humble, and he was the most sacrificing and the most ascetic of people.
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● Concerning the Arabs, every poet left lying and committed truthfulness decreased the level of his poetry, and that is why it was said: "The best poetry is the most dishonorable," except that it was a formulation of wisdom. The Qur'an came eloquently with disregard for lying.
● Every poet improves speech in a specific field, becomes weak in other fields. The Qur'an came to be very eloquent in all areas, whether it was temptation or intimidation, or otherwise.
In the temptation God said in Surah (32) Al-Sajdah: And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do. (17) In the intimidation He said in Surah (14) Ibrahim: And they requested victory from Allah, and disappointed, [therefore], was every obstinate tyrant. (15) Before him is Hell, and he will be given a drink of purulent water. (16) We have to know that:
● The speech of the Arabs does not depart from poetry and prose. The Arabs do not know any other than them. Some scholars mention the existence of a third section, which is "al-saja'a'", that is included in the prose and is not a separate section. God Almighty revealed the Qur'an to His Prophet Muhammad, and it was not among these sections. The words of the Qur'an dazzled the minds of the Arabs, leaving them in confusion; neither is it the poetry that they organize nor is it the prose that they say.
● Whoever among the Arabs says that the Qur'an is "poetry" is arrogant, knowing that he is not honest or that he does not know poetry.
● If the Qur'an was poetry, what prevented the skeptics from bringing the like of it?
The Almighty said in Sura (74) Al-Muddathir: Indeed, he thought and deliberated. (18) So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. (19) Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. (20) Then he considered [again]; (21) Then he frowned and scowled; (22) Then he turned back and was arrogant (23) And said, "This is not but magic imitated [from others]. (24) This is not but the word of a human being." Al-Waleed bin Al-Mughirah one of the Quraysh leaders (enemy of Prophet Muhammad), said when he heard the Qur'an: "By God, I have just heard Muhammad's words, which for sure are neither a human's nor a jinn's. They are euphonious and relaxing, like a tree full of reachable fruits. They are of the highest quality and cannot be out-perfected".
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Are Demons and Jinn the authors of the Qur'an? What about the possibility that intelligent demons dictated and influenced Muhammad, peace be upon him, to write the Qur'an, what kind of demons that call for good manners, worship of God, reverence for Christ and his mother Mary, giving Alms to the poor, and warning from Satan. The Canadian researcher Miller was one of the very active missionaries in preaching Christianity, and he loved mathematics greatly, so he loved logic. He decided to read the Qur'an to find some errors in it that strengthen his position when calling Muslims to the Christian religion. Researcher Miller knows that some say: Demons wrote the Qur'an. By reading the Qur'an, he found in Surah (26) al-Shu'ara this verse: It was not the devils that revealed it. (210) It is not in their interests, nor in their power. (211) They are barred from hearing. God says in Surah (16) An- Nahl: So when you recite the Qur'an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy]. (98) Here the researcher said: "Is this Satan's way of writing any book? He writes a book and then says, before you read this book, you must seek refuge from me? These verses contain a logical response to those who claim this". The devils cannot compose the Qur'an because God expelled them from His mercy. The Qur'an is above the standing of humans and jinn, so neither jinn nor humans can do it. Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants." (88) (Surah 17 Al - Isra) The isolation of the jinn from hearing is evidence that the Messenger was not one of those possessed by demons. Still, instead, he speaks the word of God. … from [its] hearing, are removed. (Surah 26 Al – Shu'raa 212) Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend? (221) They descend upon every sinful liar. (222) They pass on what is heard, and most of them are liars. (Qur'an 26 Al – Shu'raa)
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Is the Prophet Muhammad a Priest or madman? God says in Sura (52) Al-Tur: So, remind [O Muhammad], for you are not, by the favor of your Lord, a soothsayer or a madman. (29) Or do they say [of you], "A poet for whom we await a misfortune of time?" By making a simple comparison between the Prophet Muhammad and any priest of the present day, we will recognize his sincerity. He refused all the privileges offered to him from money and prestige or even any priestly position. He did not listen to confession or forgive the sins of the believers; instead, he commanded his followers to resort directly to the Creator.
● If the Prophet's prophecy was false and the Qur'an was his creation, the Messenger would have attributed divine attributes to himself and called people to worship him, and made himself an authority, and claimed prophethood for his descendants.
● There is no interest for any sane person who hopes for leadership and challenges people with wonders and miracles to support his claim, then he attributes these miracles to others, even though he could have attributed them to himself, thus increasing his stature and greatness.
● A man, no matter how clever and pure his heart is, will not be able to mention the conditions of the past nations, the issues of beliefs and laws, and what is in Heaven and Hell of bliss and torment, then he tells us some of what will happen in the future.
● None of the historical sources spoke about joining the Prophet, Jewish rabbis, or Christian monks for study.
● The meeting of the Prophet with Buhaira-the monk who told that the characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad mentioned in the Bible - was sometime before the prophecy, and it was short in time; It is unreasonable to receive all this knowledge.
● The only meeting between Prophet Muhammad with Waraqah bin Nofal - the cousin of Khadija - the Prophet's wife, may God be pleased with her - was after the prophecy. He told the Prophet that what comes to him is what Moses received, and God will help him.
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● If the Qur'an was the Prophet's speech, it would not contain reproach to him. Humans, according to their habits, do not accept criticism and claim perfection. There is no human approach in which its owner blames or reproaches himself. Every speech developed by humans tries to delude himself and people that he is perfect. The Qur'an has not been altered or changed. If that happened, these verses would have been deleted or at least distorted. God rebuked His Prophet, and said to him in Sura (18) Al Kahf: And never say of anything, "Indeed, I will do that tomorrow," (23) Except [when adding], "If Allah wills." And remember your Lord when you forget [it] and say, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct." When some people rumored that the sun had eclipsed due to the death of Ibrahim- the son of the Prophet- the Prophet addressed them and said a phrase that gave a message to everyone who adopts countless myths about solar eclipses to this day. He said more than fourteen centuries ago: "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of someone's death or life but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah, so pray whenever you see them." (Narrated by al-Bukhari) Islam emphasizes the infallibility of the prophets from error in what they report about the Creator. There is no infallibility of a priest or saint. Islam completely forbad resorting to anyone besides the Creator to seek help even if the request is from the prophets themselves. Resorting to the Creator is an honor while resorting to others is humiliating. Is it reasonable to equate the king with the ordinary people by request? God said in Sura (13) Al Ra’d: To Him [alone] is the supplication of truth. And those they call upon besides Him do not respond to them with a thing. (14) God commanded His Messenger to say in Sura (7) Al-A'raf: Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe." (188) Surprisingly, they attribute such a wise book to someone other than God. And this [Qur'an] is a blessed message which We have sent down. Then are you with it unacquainted? ( 50) (Surah 21 Al-Anbia'a)
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God Almighty affirms that people's denial of their prophets was common as if they agreed on rejection: Similarly, there came not to those before them any messenger except that they said, "A magician or a madman." (52) Did they suggest it to them? Rather, they [themselves] are a transgressing people. (53) (Surah 50 Al-Dharyiat)
● Accusing the Messengers of God of insanity can only be done by the arrogant to follow the truth.
● Calling people to believe in the Creator of the universe and worship Him alone, without a priest or a saint, can only be done by a sane person. Is the Qur'an magic? Magic is a weak act, and there is no success in it. God said in Sura (10) Yunis: Then We sent after them Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his establishment with Our signs, but they behaved arrogantly and were a criminal people (75) So when there came to them the truth from Us, they said, "Indeed, this is obvious magic." (76) Moses said, "Do you say [thus] about the truth when it has come to you? Is this magic? But magicians will not succeed." (77) They said, "Have you come to us to turn us away from that upon which we found our fathers and so that you two may have grandeur in the land? And we are not believers in you." And Pharaoh said, "Bring to me every learned magician." (79) So when the magicians came, Moses said to them, "Throw down whatever you will throw." (80) And when they had thrown, Moses said, "What you have brought is [only] magic. Indeed, Allah will expose its worthlessness. Indeed, Allah does not amend the work of corrupters. (81) And Allah will establish the truth by His words, even if the criminals dislike it." The Prophet's miracle represented in the Holy Qur'an came from the type of eloquence for which the Arabs were famous. If it was magic, they would have tried to come up with the same, as we see in the story of Moses, peace be upon him, in Surat (20) Taha: They said, "O Moses, either you throw or we will be the first to throw." (65) He said, "Rather, you throw." And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes]. (66) And he sensed within himself apprehension, did Moses. (67) Allah said, "Fear not. Indeed, it is you who are superior. (68) And throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted. What they have crafted is but
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the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he is." (69) So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." We conclude with the testimony of Utbah bin Rabi'ah, one of the eminent and educated wise men and dignitaries of Mecca, where he tells his story upon hearing the verses of Sura (41) Fussilat: Ha, Meem. (1) [This is] a revelation from the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful - (2) A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur'an for a people who know, (3) As a giver of good tidings and a warner... Until he reached the verse: But if they turn away, then say, "I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt [that struck] 'Aad and Thamud. Utbah could not control himself from not listening. Terror and panic took him in every direction. His heart almost broke out, and he felt as if a thunderbolt would descend on him in a situation in which he forgot about his hostility and forgot about the matter of negotiations; instead, he forgot his position and prestige. He put his hand on the mouth of the Prophet Muhammad and said: I adjure you by God and mercy, I adjure you by God and mercy. Immediately after that, Utbah dragged his robe, scattering about it, running to his people, not looking behind him, his eyes turned astray, his breath was choppy until he reached the Quraysh leaders. The people saw him from afar and said: "By God! Utbab's face has changed. He does not look the same man that he was when he went from here." Then, when he came back and sat down, the people asked, "What have you heard?" Utbah began telling his experience. He began to speak as if he was one of the preachers of Islam and said: "By God! I have heard something the like of which I had never heard before. By God, it's neither poetry, nor sorcery, nor magic. O chiefs of the Quraish, listen to what I say and leave this man to himself. I think what he recites is going to have its effect. If the other Arabs overcome him, you will be saved from raising your band against your brother, and the others will deal with him.
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But if he overcome Arabia, his sovereignty would be your sovereignty and his honor your honor." The chiefs spoke out: "You too, O father of Walid, have been bewitched by his tongue." Utbah replied, "I have given you my opinion; now you may act as you please." (Ibn Hisham, vol. I, pp. 313-314). Qur'anic provisions: brutality or mercy? God says in Sura (21) Al-Anbia'a: And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. (107) Only criminals, bandits, and spoilers in the land will object these provisions due to their fear for themselves, which God set up to deter and punish those who intend to corrupt the community, with evidence that Muslims must disrupt these provisions in cases of murder or theft because of hunger, great need or suspicion.
Let's imagine together a mayor of a village declaring publicly: Your rights are reserved. Your money is under our strict guard. Whoever approaches it as a thief or a murderer, we will cut his hand off and end his life. You are in our eyes; your life is dear to us, and your money is safe.
Now, what can we call the ruler of this village? Can we call him barbaric?
Those who challenge Islamic punishments have considered the benefit of the criminal and forgotten the benefit of society. They pity the offender and neglect the victim. They overemphasize the penalty and diminish the severity of the crime.
If they compared the punishment and the crime, they would undoubtedly come out with the wisdom behind these penalties and their compatibility with these kinds of crimes.
When we recall the act of a thief walking in darkness, breaking the lock, raising the weapon, and terrifying people, violating the sanctity of homes to kill those who resist him, then we would realize the great wisdom of the Islamic Law's harshness.
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Why is the Qur'an not arranged chronologically according to events' time? Many people say: I tried to read the Qur'an and found the events not sequential. Why is the Qur'an not arranged chronologically according to the time of events? Why does each Surah contain topics that are not related to each other? The answer is:
● Each Surah has a particular focus and primary objective.
● God Almighty mentions the appropriate historical story for the goal that He chose for the Surah.
● The stories mentioned come to serve this purpose.
The Qur'an is not a book that narrates historical events but rather a book of guidance, so stories are mentioned in it to take caution and a lesson. for example: The focus of Surat Al-Baqarah is the succession on earth. God Almighty mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah different stories of different personalities and peoples to serve this goal.
● Adam's succession on earth (Introductory Experience):
And (remember) as your Lord said to the Angels, "Surely I am making in the earth a successor. (30)
● The Children of Israel, a story of succession on earth whose followers failed in the test. O Children of Israel! Remember My Blessing that I bestowed upon you and how I preferred you above all the worlds. (47)
● Prophet Ibrahim, the story of succession on earth for those who succeeded in their test. ˹Remember˺ when Abraham was tested by his Lord with ˹certain˺ commandments, which he fulfilled. Allah said, “I will certainly make you into a role model for the people.” Abraham asked, “What about my offspring?” Allah replied, “My covenant is not extended to the wrongdoers.”. (124)
