_001.jpg)
The Style of the Quran
There is a world of difference between the style of the
Quran and Muhammad’s own style as recorded in the books of Ahadeeth. The
differences between the two in every respect – style and contents – are
immediately evident. The sayings of Muhammad (Ahadeeth) are
conversational, oratorical, and expository, of a kind the Arabs were already
familiar with. By contrast, the style of the Quran is authoritative:
“We created the heavens and the earth…” (Quran 15:85, 44:38,
46:3, 50:38)
Also,
“Say!...”[1]
Also,
“… had it (the Quran) been from any other than God, they
would have found therein much discrepancies.” (Quran 4:82)
Also,
“… Say then: ‘Bring a chapter like it and call, if you can,
on other than God…’”(Quran 10:38)
Also,
“… then bring a chapter like unto it… and if you can not —
for surely you cannot, then…” (Quran 2:23-24)
Which fallible human being would write a book and challenge
humanity to find discrepancies in it, as does the author of the Quran (Quran
4:82)? Would any sensible student after writing an exam paper add a note
to the lecturer saying “Read my answers with care and find any discrepancies or
mistakes in it if you can!”? The style of the Quran is simply that of the
All-Knowing Creator.
Furthermore, the Quran is a literary masterpiece of Arabic
which was and remains unrivaled in its eloquence. Its rhythmic style,
rhyme, near-haunting depth of expression, majesty, and “inimitable
symphony, the very sounds of which move men to tears and ecstasy”[2], shook the foundations of a society
which had prided itself on its oratory skills. Contests were held every
year in Mecca
for who could recite the longest and most eloquent pieces from memory.
When the Quran was revealed, all such contests were brought to a halt, as there
was no more competition.
Like the miracle of Moses’ stick turning into a real snake
which outdid the ability of all the Pharaoh’s magicians at a time when the
Egyptians were noted for their mastery of sorcery and magic, and the miracle of
Jesus’ healing of the blind and bringing the dead back to life which outdid the
ability of all the doctors at a time when the Jews were noted for their mastery
of medicine, the Quran was the Prophet Muhammad’s own miracle.[3] How could such magnificent
and unrivaled expressions emanate from a man who, for 40 years, was never known
for any such ability?
Similarities and Discrepancies between the Quran and the
Bible
The mere existence of similarities between any two books is
insufficient to prove that one must have been copied from the other. Both
could have drawn information from a third common source, thus accounting for
some similarities between them. This, in fact, is the argument of the
Quran that God is the Source of all authentic revelation (Quran 4:47).
Some scholars have noted that the only Christians the
Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him,, is recorded as having
been personally introduced to prior to his mission did not spend long enough
time with him to teach him of their scripture, and no other historical record
mentions anyone who taught the Prophet from among the Jews and Christian.[4] Furthermore, the Arabs of
his time were very eager to discredit him. Hence, if there was any secret
teacher, he would most likely have been exposed by them then.
Furthermore, could the Quran have been copied from the Bible
if they exhibit serious creedal differences? Regarding doctrines such as
the concepts of God and prophethood, sin and forgiveness, the Quran differs
significantly with the Bible. The Quran in fact addresses Jews and
Christians directly when correcting what it states are corruptions in their own
scriptures. Interestingly, Quranic revelations of doctrinal problems with
Christianity were sent largely in the Meccan period, prior to the Prophet’s
migration to Medina ,
where he would have encountered many more Jewish and Christian scholars.
Even in the case of narration common to both scriptures,
vital discrepancies can be observed. For example, the Quran, unlike the
Bible:
— does not blame women for the mistake committed by Adam and
Eve (may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) in disobeying God in the Garden
of Eden. (Compare Genesis 3:12-17 with Quran 91:7-8 and 2:35-37);
— emphasizes that Adam and Eve repented to God (Quran 7:23)
and were forgiven by Him (Quran 2:37);
— mentions that the eventual dwelling of Adam and Eve on
Earth was already part of God’s plan even before He created them (Quran 2:30),
and not a sort of punishment (Genesis 3:17-19).
Other significant variations can be seen in the stories of
Solomon[5], Abraham[6], Ishmael and Isaac, Lot, Noah[7], Moses and Jesus[8] (may the mercy and blessings of
God be upon him).
The Quran also mentions a good amount of historical
information about which the Bible is completely silent. From which
portion of the Bible were the following copied?
· The stories
of the people of ‘Ad and Thamud, and their Prophets, Hud and Saleh.
· The
dialogue between Prophet Noah and his son before the flood (Quran
11:42-43).
· The
dialogue between Abraham and his father (Quran 6:74), as well as between
he and a king (Quran 2:258), and between he and his people (Quran 22:70-102;
29:16-18; 37:83-98; 21:57).
· The mention
of the city of Iram
(Quran 89:7).
· The Pharaoh
of the Exodus having drowned, with his body preserved as a sign for people of
future generations (Quran 10:90-92).
· Jesus’
miracles of speaking from the cradle (Quran 3:46), and his producing (by God’s
will) a bird from clay (Quran 3:49), etc.
For further examples, see the following references from the
Quran: 21:69, 2:260, and 3:37.
Footnotes:
[1] This
is mentioned in too many places in the Quran to mention here. See. Quran
112,113,114 for an example (E).
[2] Marmaduke
Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Quran ,
New York
[3] Saheeh
Al-Bukhari Vol.6, Hadeeth No.504; Saheeh Muslim Vol.1, Hadeeth
No.283.
[4] Bilal
Philips, Usool at-Tafseer, Sharjah: Dar al-Fatah, 1997, p.127-128.
[5] eg.
the Quran rejects that this Prophet was ever a worshipper of idols – compare
Quran 2:102 with 1 Kings 11:4.
[6] eg.
the Quran describes the account of the story of God’s command to sacrifice his
son as occurring in a dream with his son as a willing participant before being
saved by God’s intervention, while the Bible speaks of God speaking directly to
him and his son as unaware of his plans - compare Quran 37:99-111 with Genesis
22:1-19
[7] The
Bible describes the Great Flood as covering the entire Earth whereas the Quran
describes the flood as a local event only, a description which is more
consistent which scientific evidence - compare Quran 25:37 with Genesis 7:23.
[8] A
critical difference is the Quran’s insistence that Jesus was never truly
crucified.
No comments:
Post a Comment