Proofs of The Holy Quran

Dr Jamil Rahman

Bismillah hir Rahmanir Rahiim

All praise of for Allah (SWT), and may peace and blessings be upon his final messenger, Muhammad.

 The Prophet of Allah (saw), blessed in his creation, exhalted in character, and the best of  all mankind was sent to the people as a mercy, a guide and a warner. He like the previous messengers, came with a teaching and a way of life that was pure and true, and that would lead those who followed it to success in this life, and in the hereafter. In fact, he came to affirm those noble prophets and messengers who came before him, and their belief in the Oneness of Allah (swt), and to abrogate, update and complete their messages to mankind.

 With Muhammad (saw), as with all the previous prophets, many people would disbelieve in them, and deny the varacity of their claims. Allah (swt) sent as a proof against these false claims, clear ayat (signs) with his messengers, that would confirm the truth of what they conveyed. Thus, only those who were arrogant, ungrateful or insincere could deny.

To Musa (as), who brought the way of al-Islam to bani Israel and invited the Fir’aun (Pharoah), Allah (swt) gave among other things the staff, with miraculous powers of turning into a snake, causing water to flow from the rock, and splitting the sea into two.

“(Pharoah) said, ‘If indeed thou hast come with a sign, show it forth – if thou telleth the truth. Then (Moses) threw his rod, and behold! It was a serpent plain for all to see.” TMQ 7:106-7

These were clear proofs, and the first to believe were the very magicians whom Fir’aun had commissioned to challenge Musa (as).

“But the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration. Saying we believe in the Lord of the worlds (Rabbil ‘Aalamin)” TMQ 7:118-9

Likewise, Allah (swt) gave the porphet Isa (as), the ability to speak while yet a baby, and to return the dead to life. These gave clear evidence to the people of the time, that indeed, Isa (as) was an emissary from Allah (swt).

The Holy prophet Muhammad (saw), the master of the prophets, was similar to his predecessors. For he too, was denied by the people of Quraysh, such as Abu Lahab, Abu Jahl, and al-Waleed ibn al-Mughaira. And he too was sent with miracles that confirmed his case beyond all doubt.

However, the Prophethood of Muhammad (saw) was different from that of his predecessors, and so was the nature of the main miracle that Allah (swt) gave to him. For Muhammad (saw) was the final prophet for all mankind to come – his message was perfect and complete. Accordingly, his miracle was not transitory, like those of Musa (as)and Isa (as), which could only be believed in by those who directly saw them. For today, no Chirstian can bring the dead man brought to life, and no Jew can demonstrate the staff as a proof for their belief. Rather, we as Muslims believe in these miracles, because they are narrated in the Holy Book of Allah (swt) - al-Qur'an, which is itself the miracle that proves for all mankind the truth of the message of Islam.

For Allah (swt) says,

“And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Surah like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (if there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true. But if ye cannot – and of a surety ye cannot – then fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones, which is prepared for those who reject faith.” TMQ 2:23-4

In this way, the proof of Islam is complete for all time to come, for it lies in the Book itself. The challenge has been made clear, that if anyone denies that the Qur’an is true, all they have to do is produce one Surah (chapter) which is comparable in style (the shortest sized of which being Surat al-Kawthar, 3 lines long). For 1400 years, no-one has ever done this.

 The analogy is this : there are clear differences in the English language between poetry and prose. The poetry style is characterised by certain principles of rhythm, rhyme and grammar, which lead to a dilution of clarity, and make it prone to differing interpretation. The prose style, however, has different principles that sacrifice these attributes, but convey clearer meaning. One can clearly tell the difference between the two styles. 

The Qur’an, however, in Arabic language, combines all elements – one cannot tell if it is poetry or prose. This miracle of language is beyond the minds of men, which is proven by the fact that there is no other similar text, even of the smallest size in existence on the face of the earth.

Further, as compared to any prose or poetry that is existent, the Quran is far superior in its depth, eloquence and character. Indeed, throughout the ages, the Quran has been used as the measure and reference against which all works of Arabic literature have been guaged.

This challenge of the Qur’an stands just as well now, as it did at the time of the Prophet (saw). In those days when the mastery of Arabic language was at its peak, it was enough for the Arabs to simply hear the recitation of the Qur’an, and they would embrace Islam, as was the case with Umar ibn al-Khattab, Tufail ad-Dawsi and others. Even the disbelievers of the Quraysh acknowledged that this was an unnatural phenomenon.

In this way, we see that the proof of the Quran, which is the foundation of the deen of Islam, stands as a challenge for all mankind. The enemies of Islam, which these days number many, are well versed in the knowledge of our deen. But, they resort to twisting and manipulation of the Islamic teachings, to discredit them, or to physically suppressing and oppressing Muslims to subjugate them. Have these disbelievers never come across the challenge of the Qur’an? Of course they have, but they try to ignore it and cover it up, as they cannot match it! For if indeed they were able to, they would have publicised it throughout the world, instead of spending so much time and energy in suppressing Islam in other ways.

 We as Muslims, should we well versed with the Qur’an and the wonders contained therein. Only when we study it and acknowledge its truth with full proof, will we be able to really use it as a basis for our lives and the societies in which we live.

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