· The Qur’an is the rational inimitable miracle proving the truth of the Prophet’s message. Thus, it is an eternal miracle, unlike the previous prophets’ material miracles whose evidences were restricted to their contemporaries only.
· The inimitability of the Qur’an is:
a) elocutionary
b) scientific
c) legislative
The elocutionary inimitability
· The Arabs throughout time were unable to produce an equivalent to the Qur’an although:
a) The Qur’an challenged them to do so.
b) The early unbelievers and those of later generations had the motive for doing so.
c) Nothing prevented them from doing so, as they were known for their excellence in elocution and linguistics, and the Qur’an was written in their wording language, and styles.
· The elocutionary inimitability is exemplified in:
a) The perfection of the Qur’anic text and its being beyond any criticism.
b) Its distinctiveness from any other form of human elocution whether poetry or prose.
c) The great difference between the characteristics of the Qur’anic wording and that of the Prophet’s Hadith.
· Among the manifestations of the elocutionary inimitability are:
a) The eloquent cohesive diction.
b) The uniqueness in style, as seen in the harmony of words and meanings.
c) The rich variability of meaning, wording, and style according to each subject.
d) For instance, the elocutionary variability of the Qur’anic narratives.
e) The rhetoric in referring to reality, similitude, or allegory.
f) The rhetoric in elaboration or briefing.
g) The musical inimitability in composition and rhythm.
h) The rhetoric of the Qur’anic style in argument and evidence, which suits all levels of perception and intellect.[1]
Evidence from Qur'an and Sunnah
1 Elocutionary inimitability:
Allah says:
]أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُواْ بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِّثْلِهِ مُفْتَرَيَاتٍ وَادْعُواْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِين[ (هود: 13)
This means: “Or they say, "He (Prophet Muhammad SAW) forged it (the Qur'an)." Say: "Bring you then ten forged Surah (chapters) like unto it, and call whomsoever you can, other than Allah (to your help), if you speak the truth!"” (11, Hud: 13)
Allah says:
]أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَةٍ مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُواْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِين [ (يونس: 38)
This means: “Or do they say: "He (Muhammad SAW) has forged it?" Say: "Bring then a Surah (chapter) like unto it, and call upon whomsoever you can, besides Allah, if you are truthful!"” (10, Yunus: 38)
Allah says:
]وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُواْ شُهَدَاءكُم مِّن دُونِ اللّه إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِين[ (البقرة: 23)
This means: “And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'an) to Our slave (Muhammad (peace be upon him) then produce a Surah (Chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah, if you are truthful.” (2, Al-Baqarah: 23)
Allah says:
]قُل لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى أَن يَأْتُواْ بِمِثْلِ هَـذَا الْقُرْآن لاَ يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا[ (الإسراء: 88)
This means: “If the mankind and the jinns were together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another.” (17, Al-Isra`: 88)
Allah says:
]فَلْيَأْتُوا بِحَدِيثٍ مِّثْلِهِ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ[ (الطور: 34)
This means: “Let them then produce a recital like unto it (the Qur'an) if they are truthful.” (52, At-Tur: 34)
Allah says:
]أَفَلاَ يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللّهِ لَوَجَدُواْ فِيهِ اخْتِلاَفًا كَثِيرًا[ (النساء: 82)
This means: “Do they not then consider the Qur'an carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradictions.” (4, An-Nisa’: 82)
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