What is the true miracle of the Holy Quran? This has been a popular topic of discussion. Many people claim that the miracle is its eloquence. Other people contest that its eloquence is subjective.
Is there an element other than eloquence or language that could be considered the true miracle of the Holy Quran? Perhaps something that impacts our soul?
Sayyed Ahmed Al-Hasan responds to this question:
“The miraculous nature of the Quran was clear to its first listeners. The Messenger recited verses of the Quran to the people around him. The verses spiritually impacted those who listened and they began to have visions, miracles, and/or signs that led them to believe in the Quran.
Their belief did not stem from the Quran’s eloquence and articulation. These qualities are subjective and cannot be used to determine the level of miracle within the Quran.
The spiritual impact and visions the many listeners experienced led some people to say, “Muhammad is a sorcerer” and to prevent their women and youth from hearing or reading the Quran. Even today, anyone can try reading the Quran to experience this spiritual impact.”
We say that the miracle of the Quran lies in its spiritual impact. However, it is mentioned in the Quran that God challenges anyone to produce a statement similar to the Quran or even a chapter similar to its chapters. What does that mean?”
The meaning of God challenging anyone to produce a statement similar to the Quran
We say that the miracle of the Quran lies in its spiritual impact. However, it is mentioned in the Quran that God challenges anyone to produce a statement similar to the Quran or even a chapter similar to its chapters1. What does that mean?”
Indeed, the challenge still exists for all people of all languages, not just the Arabs and the Arabic language. Let anyone come up with a verse or a statement that has the same impact as the Quran on the human soul.
If the challenge was only meant for the Arabs, wouldn’t that mean the Quran doesn’t address the overwhelming majority of people who aren’t Arab?
📚- Quoted from the book (The Miracles of the Quran) P. 146
Footnotes:
1- The Quran says: {Or do they say, “He invented it?” Say, “Then come up with a chapter (surah) like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides God, if you should be truthful} Quran, Chapter “Joseph” 12:38.
{Or do they say, “He invented it”? Say, “Then bring ten chapters like it that have been invented and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides God, if you should be truthful} Quran Chapter “Hud,” 11:13.
{Say, “If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants”} Quran Chapter “The Night Journey,” 17:88.
Some scholars interpreted those verses as a challenge to bring an Arabic statement that is as eloquent as the Arabic of the Quran. However, Sayyed Ahmed Alhasan states that the challenge is not related to the eloquence of the Arabic language; the Quran speaks to people of all languages. What is meant by that challenge is to bring a statement in any language that can have the same spiritual impact as the statements of the Quran. The miracle lies in the spiritual impact, not the eloquence of the Arabic language.