by Dr. Ali Shehata
The Quran - the Spoken Word of God
When we come to accept the existence of God, the next most important question to arise in the minds of many people is, what is our place in His grand plan? Is there a message that He wants to convey to us? Does He care about us or the world He created for us? What is the point of life and the tragedies and misfortunes we see and experience?
The good news though, is that God has indeed revealed a message to all of humanity to answer these questions, and other questions besides them; and that message is the Quran. God, addressing His Prophet pbuh, states in the Quran:
We have revealed to you, as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Tribes (of Israel), Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book of Psalms. And We sent messengers about whom We have related their stories to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And God spoke to Moses with [direct] speech. We sent messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against God after the messengers. And ever is God Exalted in Might and Wise. {4:163-165}
But what is the Quran?
The Quran is the most widely, and most frequently, read book in the world both today* , and over the last millennium. *McAteer, O. (2015, July 15). The most popular book of all time isn’t Harry Potter, it’s the Koran. Retrieved from: https://metro.co.uk/2015/07/15/themost-popular-book-of-all-time-isnt-harry-potter-5297319
Its slow, rhythmic recitation, with simultaneous reflection upon its profound meanings, is considered an act of worship in Islam. It is a book that has from its very inception changed the hearts and minds of many who have heard its magnificent verses as it forces you to think, forces you to choose. It is a book that is so miraculous, so venerated, that thousands of men, women, and children learn the entire book by heart—word by word, vowel by vowel. Each line is called “a sign” (ayah), instead of a verse, for every line is a miracle and filled with guidance and wonder. Additionally, the Quran holds the distinction of being the most authenticated book in the world. Kamsin, Amirrudin, et al. (2015). Developing the novel Quran and Hadith authentication system. 10.1109/ICT4M.2014.7020640.
Yet, the Quran is also among the most attacked books in history. Since its initial revelation to the Prophet Muhammad pbuh, many have sought to prevent others from hearing it or reading it. Some governments have even attempted to ban it from circulation in more recent times.*
* Parfitt, T. (2016, Aug 27). Favourite to be next Dutch PM vows to BAN the Koran and CLOSE all mosques. Retrieved from: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/704172/Geert-Wilders-Islamreligion-Muslim-Koran-PVV-Dutch-Freedom-Party Heffron, C. (2017, Sept 28).Chinese police order Muslims to hand in all copies of the Koran and prayer mats or face 'harsh punishment'. Retrieved from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/china/article-4929064/Chinesepolice-ask-Muslims-hand-copies-Koran.html
Why though has it invoked such a response, such vehement opposition?
Although a complete or in-depth study of the Quran is well beyond the scope of this introductory work, adequate answers to these questions will be provided to give the reader a good understanding from where they can then pursue further study. The word Quran, or more properly, al-Quran, is an Arabic word which means, “the Recitation”. It is God’s message and His prescribed code of life to all of humanity from the time of Muhammad pbuh, till the end of the world. Its most distinguishing feature is its purity; every word of it is the word of God, the Exalted. Although many people think that it was written by Muhammad pbuh, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Quran is not a book written by Muhammad pbuh, or any other human being. No, it is a collection of divine revelations—the spoken word of God exactly as it was revealed to Muhammad pbuh by the Archangel Gabriel. Indeed, God has described His Messenger Muhammad pbuh as being neither able to read or write, in the following passage:
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. {29:48}
And
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet... {7:157}
As such, this was one of the first miracles of the Quran, moreover a miracle given to the Prophet, that although he was known to be unable to read or write, that he brought forth verses from a Book whose eloquence and majesty were immediately acknowledged. Had he been a poet, or a scribe, prior to the revelation, then people could wonder if he wrote it himself.
The Prophet Muhammad’s role, similar to that of the other prophets of God before him, was to be the "medium" through which the words were passed on to mankind. He also served as a role model to illustrate their meanings and to demonstrate their applications—all through the divine inspiration.
As such, the Quran is known to be the miracle given to Muhammad pbuh; a miracle that was not only meant for the people of his era, but for all the generations to come. Indeed, it is well known to the Jews and Christians that whenever God sent a Messenger to the world in the past, He would aid that Messenger with various miracles to further validate that the message they carried was indeed from God, the Master of the Universe. For example, during the time of Moses pbuh, the people of Pharaoh were steeped in magic and felt they had reached the pinnacle of this dark art. Hence, the miracles of Moses pbuh—changing his wooden staff into a real snake, turning the river Nile to blood and parting the Red Sea (amongst other signs)—were meant to humble the people and to remind them that the power, control and might of God are true and not just sleight of hand tricks or optical illusions.
Similarly, Jesus was sent at a time when the Children of Israel and the Romans felt that they had uncovered all there was to know of medicine. Yet, when confronted with conditions like leprosy and blindness, their “knowledge” was truly powerless in comparison with the power and ability of God. It was God who not only provided Jesus the ability to heal the leper and give sight to the blind, but to even raise the dead! And again, all of these miracles were performed only by God’s permission. And so it became clear to those with perceptive minds and humble hearts that truly, God is the All-Powerful and the All-Mighty; anything and everything else only has power and ability by His permission and not in of itself.
So with this understanding, the coming of Muhammad pbuh confronted people with a similar situation. By the beginning of the seventh century of the Common Era (CE), the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula had believed themselves to have reached the peak of eloquence in their linguistic ability, exemplified mainly in their poetry. A study of Arabic poetry from this time yields a treasure of magnificent poetry demonstrating a profound understanding and skillful manipulation of Arabic grammar and linguistics. And then the Quran was revealed.
Countless men and women, even children, upon hearing its powerful and grand verses became Muslims immediately. They realized that these were not the words of any human. It was different. Stronger, more magnificent, more profound, and it made an enormous impact on their minds, as well as their hearts. It spoke to their very souls, appealing to them, challenging them, and transforming them. But the miracle didn’t stop there.
As Islam spread from the Arabian Peninsula into non-Arab territories, a different miracle soon impressed itself upon these new towns and societies. The effect of those words upon those who accepted Islam was unique. It produced a loyalty and level of adherence that people had not observed in other religions or ideologies. It also offered proofs and challenges that were absent in other books alleging to be from the One God. It reasoned with their hearts, answering their questions, as opposed to simply demanding “blind faith”. For example, after a long passage about the true nature of Jesus (specifically that he is among the noble and honored Messengers of God and that he is not in any way part of the essence of God), God states:
This is indeed the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt. And whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of sure knowledge, then say to them, “Come let us call our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then let us sincerely pray, and invoke the curse of God upon those who lie!” {3:60-61}
This very challenge was indeed put forth to a delegation of Christians from the north Yemeni town of Najran by the Prophet Muhammad pbuh himself, as commanded by God, and they declined after a long night wrought with consideration. Once again, this is a challenge—a proof of sorts—as to who is in doubt concerning their belief. If someone truly believes that Jesus is either God, or the begotten son of God, then surely they would accept this challenge and call the curse of God down upon themselves and their family or people if they are wrong. Such challenges are indeed unique in books of religion, and a number of other challenges and ultimatums can also be found in the Quran. But the miracle didn’t stop there.
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