Dear readers,

As I stated in my previous article, numerous atheists and enemies of Islam have been intensely desirous of altering Qur’an, distorting it, raising doubts in the hearts of Muslims because Qur’an is the fundamental and the securest source of Islam. But can the truth ever be hidden? One of those attacks is a claim which is allegedly based on some hadiths and which asserts that Satan has tempered with Qur’an by adding it some false statements. As you will remember, they also published a book entitled "The Satanic Verses". Certainly, such a claim can only be made by some impertinents who consider Allah (s.w.t.) to be incapable as themselves although Allah (s.w.t.) is free of all incomplete and deficient attributes. See the messages of the following verses:

"When He decreeth a matter, He saith to it: "Be," and it is." [Baqarah, 117]

"And Our Command is but a single (word),- like the twinkling of an eye." [Qamar, 50]

Does ever a Creator who is capable of fulfulling his command in the blinking of an eye allow Satan to temper with his book with fake statements? The following verses were given as an answer to such baseless claims 14 centuries ago:

"Never did We send a messenger or a prophet before thee, but, when he framed a desire, Satan threw some (vanity) into his desire: but Allah will cancel anything (vain) that Satan throws in, and Allah will confirm (and establish) His Signs: for Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom:" [Hajj, 52]

"That He may make the suggestions thrown in by Satan, but a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease and who are hardened of heart: verily the wrong-doers are in a schism far (from the Truth): " [Hajj, 53]

Therefore, I do not consider it necessary to dwell upon on this baseless matter.

Qur’an verses cannot have been fabricated

Dear readers, Qur’an has made no concessions from its literary beauty although it has offered effective solutions based on simple principles to material and spiritual illnesses of people and societies resulting from their self-indulgence. It cannot have been fabricated.

"Say: "If the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qurán, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support." [Isra, 88]

"There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed exposition of all things, and a Guide and a Mercy to any such as believe." [Yusuf, 111]

"This Qurán is not such as can be produced by other than Allah. on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book - wherein there is no doubt - from the Lord of the Worlds." [Yunus, 37]

"Or do they say, "He forged it"? Say: Bring then a Sürah like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can besides Allah, if it be ye speak the truth!" [Yunus, 38]

"Or do they say "He has forged it?" Say: "If I had forged it on me were my sin! And I am free of the sins of which ye are guilty! ay: He is your Lord." [Hud, 35]

Some characteristics of Qur’an

Dear readers,

The Holy Qur’an is a miraculous book in the strictest sense. In a hadith-i sharif which was reported by Haris el-A'ver and which states that the way to freedom from seditions is through following Qur’an, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said that:

"The Book of Allah (s.w.t.) is the way to salvation from troubles. It contains information regarding the circumstances of your predecessors and also information regarding the circumstances to occur after you and in the end of days. It also contains provisions regarding the circumstances that will happen among you. It is a measurement for separating truth from falsehood. Everything in it is significant, it does not contain any aimless statement."

"Whoever plays the fool by not believing in and acting based on it will be destroyed by Allah. Whoever searches for the right way except in it will be led away by Allah. It is the unbreakable rope of Allah. It is the dhikr full of wisdom, it is the straight path. It protects its followers from self-indulgence and confusion. Scholars can never get enough of it."

"Its frequent repetition does not bore, neither decreases its savor. Its astonishing excellent sides do not end or finish. It is such a book that whoever brings a knowledge from it tells the truth. Whoever acts based on it becomes successful. Whoever rules based on it rules justly. Whoever is called to it is called to the straight path. You, A'ver, should learn these beautiful words." [Tirmidhi]

Some formal characteristics of Qur’an

Allah (s.w.t.) has made Qur’an easier so that humans can learn and memorize it. That is to say:

• Similar expressions, statements, idioms and series of words are often repeated so that humans can memorize them easily.

• In order for new learners to not have much difficulty, the beginning sections are easier to read. In the ending sections, where social matters are addressed more, richness of vocabulary gradually increases. However, as learners reach a certain level when they get to these sections, they do not have much difficulty following them.

• Although Qur’an is revealed as a prose, its sentences and clauses often end in rhyming words and therefore the reading feels poetic and produces a pleasure as in reading poems.

• In some parts, not only sentence and clause endings but also whole sentences consist of rhyming words and this adds a certain joy to the reading.

• In Arabic, some syllables are pronounced shorter, some longer and some very long. And this contributes a great harmony to the recitation of Qur’an when reading it aloud. Especially when recited in some certain modes (maqams) such as Saba and Huzzam, both the reciter and listeners get a great spiritual pleasure of it.

These completely relate to the stylistic characteristics of Qur’an. As I occasionally mentioned in my previous articles, the main goal here is to understand Qur’an and follow its provisions, commands, recommendations and admonitions.

Allah (s.w.t.) commands in a verse:

"And We have indeed made the Qurán easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?" [Qamar, 17]

Qur’an was sent to an illiterate prophet

Dear readers, Allah (s.w.t.) descended Qur’an to an illiterate (ummi) prophet so that even those who pursued illegitimate goals would not doubt it. This situation is explained in the following verse:

"And thou wast not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came), nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: In that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted." [Ankabut, 48]

Although Qur’an descended in 23 years, there is no any inconsistency in its content. If it was a document created by the hands of an incapable human being who forgets in the morning what he ate in the previous evening, then there would be lots of conflicts and inconsistencies in this document which addressed so many subject matters in such a long time.

"Do they not consider the Qurán (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy." [Nisa, 82]

Be entrusted to Allah.