The Holy Qur’an is a complete code of life that covers every aspect of human existence. It is a timeless intellectual miracle whose light will continue to guide humanity until the Day of Judgment. Its miraculous nature is not limited to its spiritual essence; rather, it is evident in its unique style, depth of knowledge, and comprehensive legal principles.
This living miracle silenced the masters of eloquence and rhetoric, and its arguments have consistently stood firm as proof of its truth throughout the ages.
Literary Miracle
The style of the Qur’an is unmatched and inimitable. Its language is woven with such harmony, eloquence, and depth of meaning that even the most skilled Arab poets and orators bowed before it.
Its words penetrate the hearts, its structure is beyond human imagination, and its verses carry an irresistible charm. At a time when the Arabs were at the peak of their literary excellence—having already achieved mastery in both prose and poetry—the Qur’an challenged them:
وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ (البقرہ: 23)
“And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a single surah like it.” (Al-Baqarah: 23)
After this divine challenge, the eloquent poets of Arabia—once so proud of their mastery over language—found themselves utterly helpless before the Qur’an’s unique style and miraculous eloquence.
Despite being a society immersed in poetry and literature, with orators and poets celebrated for their linguistic brilliance, no one could bring forth anything comparable. When the verses of the Qur’an were recited before them, their literary pride and linguistic dominance vanished. Even with all their skills, they were unable to match its magnificence.
Thus, the reaction of the pre-Islamic poets and the people of Arabia ranged from astonishment and open acknowledgment of their inability to envy, denial, and outright rejection.
The Humility of Walid ibn al-Mughirah
Walid ibn al-Mughirah, a renowned poet, eloquent speaker, and fierce opponent of the Prophet ﷺ, was left astounded when he heard the Qur’an. He admitted before the chiefs of Quraysh:
وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَسَمِعْتُ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ كَلَامًا مَا هُوَ مِنْ كَلَامِ الْإِنْسِ، وَلَا مِنْ كَلَامِ الْجِنِّ، وَإِنَّ لَهُ لَحَلَاوَةً وَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ لَطَلَاوَةً، وَإِنَّهُ لَمُثْمِرٌ أَعْلَاهُ، مُغْدِقٌ أَسْفَلُهُ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَعْلُو وَلَا يُعْلَى عَلَيْهِ
(Tafseer Ibn Kathir)
“By Allah, I have heard from Muhammad ﷺ words that are unlike the words of men or jinn. They possess a sweetness, they shine with brilliance. Their upper part is fruitful, and their lower part flows abundantly. It dominates, and nothing can dominate over it.”
Yet, driven by envy and arrogance, the Quraysh dismissed it as sorcery, even though they were already overwhelmed by its eloquence and majesty.
The Acknowledgment of Labīd ibn Rabīʿah
Labīd ibn Rabīʿah was regarded as one of the greatest poets of the pre-Islamic era. His poetry was considered so exceptional that it was displayed on the walls of Makkah. However, when he heard the recitation of the Qur’an, he was so deeply moved that he abandoned poetry altogether and embraced Islam.
On one occasion, when he was asked to recite some verses of poetry, he replied:
ما كنت لأقول شعرًا بعد أن قرأت القرآن
(Al-Istiʿāb fī Maʿrifat al-Aṣḥāb, Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr)
“I could never compose poetry after reading the Qur’an, for there is no longer any need for poetry.”
رضي الله تعالى عنه
The Amazement of Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt
Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt was a well-known poet during the pre-Islamic era who believed in monotheism and the Hereafter. He held the hope that he himself would be the awaited final Prophet. But when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent and he heard the Qur’an, he was deeply impressed by its eloquence and power. Yet, out of jealousy and pride, he was deprived of faith.
The Prophet ﷺ, however, appreciated the depth of his verses and would sometimes listen to them through his companions.
According to a narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Shurayd ibn Suwayd رضي الله عنه reported:
ردفت رسول الله ﷺ يوما، فقال لي: «هل معك من شعر أمية بن أبي الصلت شيء؟» قلت: نعم. قال: «هيه». فأنشدته بيتا، فقال: «هيه». ثم أنشدته بيتا، فقال: «هيه». حتى أنشدته مائة بيت
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Shiʿr)
“One day, I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he asked me, ‘Do you know any of the poetry of Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Recite some.’ So I recited a verse, and he said, ‘Continue.’ Then I recited another, and he again said, ‘Continue,’ until I had recited one hundred verses for him.”
The Helplessness of Quraysh
The chiefs of Quraysh saw that people were being captivated by the Qur’an’s powerful effect. Fearing its influence, they tried to stop people from listening to it and employed different tactics to prevent its spread.
Yet the Qur’an’s impact was so profound that even the leaders of Quraysh, despite their hostility, would secretly listen to the Prophet ﷺ reciting it at night.
History records that Abu Sufyan, Abu Jahl, and Akhnas ibn Shurayq would stealthily listen to the Qur’an in the darkness of night. Each time they encountered one another, they pledged never to return again—but their hearts could not resist. Driven by the irresistible attraction of the Qur’an, they returned repeatedly to hear its recitation.
(Sīrah Ibn Hishām)
The Acknowledgment of Naḍr ibn al-Ḥārith
Naḍr ibn al-Ḥārith, who was among the fiercest opponents of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, once heard the recitation of the Qur’an and could not restrain himself from admitting:
لقد سمعت منه كلامًا ما هو من كلام الإنس ولا من كلام الجن، وإن له لحلاوة، وإن عليه لطلاوة
(Dalā’il al-Nubuwwah, al-Bayhaqī)
“I have heard from Muhammad ﷺ words that are neither the words of humans nor of jinn. They have a unique sweetness and a radiant brilliance.”
The Collective Admission of Quraysh’s Orators
When the Qur’an issued its challenge—that if they considered it human speech, they should produce a surah like it—the most eloquent poets and orators of Arabia gathered to attempt this. Despite their combined efforts, they were utterly defeated and confessed:
والله ما هذا بكلام بشر
(Al-Ṭabarī)
“By Allah, this is not the speech of any human being.”
This challenge remains to this day. Centuries have passed, yet no one has been able to produce anything comparable to the Qur’an.
Rational and Scientific Evidences
The Holy Qur’an constantly invites human intellect to reflect and contemplate. It is not confined to matters of belief and law; rather, it also unveils mysteries of the universe and human creation—truths that were confirmed only centuries later through the discoveries of modern science.
Examples of Scientific Insights in the Qur’an
The Holy Qur’an not only addresses matters of faith and guidance but also points to scientific realities that were discovered only centuries later. These examples highlight its miraculous nature.
Stages of Human Creation
The Qur’an describes in detail the stages of human development in the mother’s womb:
ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا
(Al-Mu’minūn: 14)
“Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, then We made the clot into a lump of flesh, then We made the lump into bones, and then We clothed the bones with flesh.”
This description corresponds exactly with modern embryology. Renowned experts such as Dr. Keith Moore, a pioneer in the field, have acknowledged the striking accuracy of these Qur’anic verses in describing the process of embryonic development.
The Expanding Universe
Allah the Almighty states:
وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
(Al-Dhāriyāt: 47)
“And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.”
Modern astronomy has established that the universe is continuously expanding—an idea discovered in the 20th century by the scientist Edwin Hubble. Yet, the Qur’an revealed this reality more than 1,400 years ago.
The Role of Mountains
The Qur’an explains that mountains play a stabilizing role for the Earth:
وَجَعَلْنَا فِي الْأَرْضِ رَوَاسِيَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِهِمْ
(Al-Anbiyā’: 31)
“And We placed firm mountains within the earth so that it would not shake with them.”
This aligns with the modern theory of plate tectonics, which demonstrates how mountains act as stabilizers, anchoring the Earth’s crust and reducing seismic instability.
The Origin of Life in Water
Modern science confirms that life originated in water. The Qur’an, however, had already declared this fundamental truth centuries earlier:
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ
(Al-Anbiyā’: 30)
“And We made every living thing from water.”
This profound statement, simple yet encompassing, is universally recognized by biologists today as a scientific reality.
The Separation of Two Seas
The Qur’an describes a phenomenon in which two distinct seas do not merge, but a barrier exists between them:
مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ
(Al-Raḥmān: 19-20)
“He released the two seas, meeting [side by side]; between them is a barrier [so] they do not transgress.”
This aligns with discoveries in oceanography: when two bodies of water meet, differences in salinity, density, and temperature create a natural separation, preventing them from mixing immediately.
Qur’anic Invitation to Reflection
These scientific realities in the Qur’an stand as clear evidence of its divine origin. At a time when scientific knowledge was extremely limited, no human composition could describe such facts. The Qur’an repeatedly invites humans to observe, study, and contemplate:
سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ
(Fussilat: 53)
“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.”
Scientists Inspired by the Qur’an
Professor Keith L. Moore
Renowned Embryologist, Canada
“The descriptions of the human embryo in the Qur’an cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the 7th century… It is inconceivable that this information could have come from a human source.”
Professor E. Marshall Johnson
Professor of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, USA
These scholars, deeply impressed by the Qur’an’s accuracy, recognized that the details could not have originated from the limited scientific knowledge of the Prophet’s time.
Human Creation from “Altered Black Smooth Mud”
The Qur’an mentions that humans were created from “altered black smooth mud”:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ
(Al-Ḥijr: 26)
“And We created man from an extract of clay, molded and blackened.”
This description has intrigued modern scientists, as it aligns remarkably with findings in genetics and embryology.
Discovery of Pain Receptors in Human Skin
According to Saudi scholar Sheikh Abdul Hamid Zindani, a scientist researching pain receptors in human skin was astonished when he read Surah An-Nisa (4:56). The verse, revealed over 1,400 years ago, had already mentioned a concept directly related to the mechanisms of pain in the human body. This revelation led the scientist to embrace Islam, and through his guidance, more than 500 people also embraced Islam.
Unidentified Professor (USA/Germany) – Research on Pain Receptors
“We discovered that pain sensation is only possible due to nerve endings in the skin. The Qur’an mentioned this fact over 1400 years ago in Surah An-Nisa (4:56). How could this knowledge have been available at that time? I embraced Islam after learning this truth.”
The Legislative System: Based on Justice
The Qur’an also presents a comprehensive legal and social system that aims to reform both the individual and society. Its guidance covers every aspect of life—whether matters of justice, trade and economic principles, or marital and family regulations. In each area, the teachings of the Qur’an are complete, balanced, and practical.
Justice and Fairness
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَانِ
(Al-Nahl: 90)
“Indeed, Allah commands justice and good conduct.”
This principle became the foundation of Islamic law and judicial systems, introducing the world to the concept of impartial and fair justice.
Economic Principles
أَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟
(Al-Baqarah: 275)
“Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury (interest).”
Even in modern economics, the harmful effects of interest-based systems are now acknowledged, yet the Qur’an had already guided humanity to avoid them over 1,400 years ago.
The Qur’an: A Living Miracle
The miraculous nature of the Qur’an continues to manifest across all eras:
- Its eloquence and literary beauty astonished the greatest poets and orators.
- Its scientific insights amazed scholars and researchers.
- Its legal and ethical guidance illuminated societies with the light of justice and fairness.
The Qur’an is a speech full of illumination in its words, depth in its meanings, and comprehensiveness in its message. This is why it remains alive and enduring, a guiding lamp for humanity, and a source of instruction in every sphere of life until the Day of Judgment.
Eternal Guidance
The Qur’an’s message is timeless and universally applicable. Its teachings are not only spiritual but also rational, scientific, and legally sound, making them irrefutable and relevant for every generation.
May Allah grant us all the understanding and awareness of the true importance of the Qur’an.
Ameen.