My interpretation of the "Produce a Surah (Chapter) like it" challenge of Allah Almighty to Mankind in the Noble Quran:
The sections of this article are:
1- My interpretation of the "Produce a Surah (Chapter)
like it" challenge of
Allah Almighty to Mankind in the Noble Quran.
2- So what type of challenge is Allah Almighty challenging us here?
3- A rebuttal by a Muslim brother to this article.
Let us look at Noble Verse 2:23 "And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides God, if your (doubts) are true."
Let us look at Noble Verse 17:88 "Say: 'If the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support.'"
In the above two Noble Verses we see two different challenges: One challenge in the first Noble Verse from Allah Almighty to the unbelievers from the Arabs to produce one Chapter similar to the one in the Noble Quran, and another challenge in the second Noble Verse from Allah Almighty to Mankind to produce a whole Book like the Noble Quran.
The challenge in Noble Verse 17:88 to Mankind proves that Allah Almighty is not limiting His challenge to the Arabic language only, because we see Him clearly challenging all of Mankind and the Jinns as well. Otherwise, He would've said "If the whole of Arabs were to gather together to....." We also see that the challenge is also not only limited to the Global languages that Mankind speaks, but also to the language or languages that the Jinns speak or communicate among themselves.
Important Point: It is true that the Arabic stylistic composition of the Noble Quran is miraculous, and is impossible to imitate. No one can really imitate it. Allah Almighty's challenge was never met by the strong Arabic poets 1500 years ago. In fact, the Arab pagans embraced Islam because of the strong poetry and stylistic miracle of the Noble Quran. Today, many Arab Christians who are affluent with the Arabic language poetry, structure, and grammar embrace Islam just by simply listening to the recitation of the Noble Quran on TV or radio. But like I said, I believe that the open challenge that Allah Almighty declared is not just limited to the Arabic speaking people, but to all of Mankind and the Jinns too for every time and every place.
Please visit: The scientific Miracles of the Noble Quran.
So what type of challenge is Allah Almighty challenging us here?
I believe that similar books to the Noble Quran can be produced in any other language than Arabic. But however, the miraculous imitation of the style, poetry and language is impossible. So a man-made book can sound ok or good, but it can never be miraculous. At least so far, no Arab was able to imitate the miracle of the Noble Quran.
The type of challenge that Allah Almighty is challenging us here is both physical and spiritual. The physical one is the imitation of the Noble Quran, and the spiritual one is the guidance and Divine Inspiration that should exist in the man-made book.
There are more than 1.4 billion Muslims today. Prophet Muhammad did not convert sticks to snakes, or split the sea in half, or raise the dead, or cure the blind, or perform any of the Miracles that Allah Almighty's Messengers did in the past peace be upon all of them. Prophet Muhammad came with a Book revealed to Him by Allah Almighty.
The miracle in inspiring the reader of the Noble Quran, and to make him accept the Divine Message of Islam, which is believing in Allah Almighty as the One True Living GOD Almighty, is the spiritual challenge that Allah Almighty declared on both Mankind and the Jinns combined together:
"Those whom God (in His plan) willeth to guide,- He openeth their breast to Islam; those whom He willeth to leave straying,- He maketh their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth God (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe. (The Noble Quran, 6:125)"
"Thy Lord knoweth best who strayeth from His way: He knoweth best who they are that receive His guidance. (The Noble Quran, 6:117)"
The miracle of the Noble Quran lives within it. All of the miracles that the Messengers of Allah Almighty before Muhammad had performed died when they died. The miracle that Prophet Muhammad brought to earth lived after his death, and will live until the Day of Judgment. This is the challenge of Allah Almighty that no Man or Jinn can meet.
Many can try to produce chapters that have similar literature that of the Noble Quran, as some already done so, but non of these man-made books can convert a single sincere person. Only Allah Almighty's Divine Revelations such as the Noble Quran can. This is the Miracle of the Noble Quran, and the Miracle of Islam.
"Who can be more wicked than one who inventeth a lie against God, or saith, "I have received inspiration," when he hath received none, or (again) who saith, "I can reveal the like of what God hath revealed"? If thou couldst but see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death! - the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying),"Yield up your souls: this day shall ye receive your reward,- a penalty of shame, for that ye used to tell lies against God, and scornfully to reject of His signs!" (The Noble Quran, 6:93)"
A rebuttal by a Muslim brother to this article:
Please be advised that the following rebuttal was sent to me before I made my modifications to this article. So while some of his points are valid, they're no longer applicable:
A rebuttal by a Muslim brother to this article.
Further sites to research:
What is the Wisdom of Islam? And how will Allah Almighty Judge Muslims and non-Muslims?
The Blessed Jesus and the place of the Jews and Christians in Islam?
The scientific Miracles of the Noble Quran.