Is the Quran Really Inimitable?

[Peace4All]

Is the Quran Really Inimitable?

By:Y.M.
2006/05/26


It is important to note that no where in the Quran itself is there a claim for it, to be a unique example of Arabic literature.

Generally, it is believed that the Quran is the example of all linguistic structure of Arabic. If you carefully read the passages of the Quran you will find inconsistencies and will note it is not in compliance with the Arabic grammar

For example in Sura.2:177.wa assabireena should be assabiruna. In Sura,5:69,sabiuna should be sabiina.Other examples occur in Sura,7:160-20:63- 3:39 -4:162- 7:16 -21:3- 22:19 -49:9 and 63:10.The Quran also has incomplete sentences and phrases that have been omitted. This obscures the meaning. Ali Dashti a Muslim scholar writes that the Quran contains sentences that are incomplete and not fully intelligible without the aid of the commentaries.

The Quran also contain foreign words, unfamiliar Arabic words, and words used with other than the normal meaning, adjectives and verbs inflected without observance of the concords of gender and number. Imam Suyuti in his Itqan discusses this matter.

If the text of the Quran had been so unique, obviously there would have been no need for witnesses, and the text would have been self authenticating. In fact we learn that there was quite a big disagreement between the companions of Mohd about several parts of the Quran.

Ibn Masood, a prominent companion of the prophet did not accept the first and the last two Suras as being the part of the Quran.So if the Quran had been unique in terms of its inimitability, Ibn Masood would not have had such reservations. On the other hand, Ubay b Kab included two extra Suras namly, Al-Hafd and Al-Khal.A version of these Suras though not part of the present Quran is still recited in the late evening prayer, ISHA.

If the Quran is unique then why do some sects of the Islam have doubts about part of the Quran? Islamists often rant about the uniqueness and inimitability of the Quran.

The Quran is the only book on the face of the Earth that you cannot understand without the help of the Tafsir (Commentary). The Tafsir is the opinion of the Muffasir (The Commentator). A Muffasir cannot claim that only his Taffsir is authentic.

Often Muslims claims that the best of Arab poets, rhetoricians, linguists of the time failed in reproducing an equivalent Quran. These are deliberate attempts to undermine the famous Arab poets. There were so many Arab poets who rejected the Quran on the base of linguistic features. One of them was Abdulah-bin-Zubery. He was one of the best poets in Mohd’s time.

This man was qualified critic of the Quran that the Ordinary Arabs were thinking that he had made Mohd speechless .His poetry was more realistic in Arabic grammar. People clapped their hands on his poetry. We find the reference in the Quran and the full detail in the commentary. For example in (Sura Ornaments of gold V: 57, to 58,) states and when the son of Mary is quoted as an example, “Behold! the folk laugh out, and say, are our Gods better, or is he? They raise not the objection save for argument. Nay! But they are contentious folk”.
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