THE MIRACULOUS NATURE OF THE QURAN

The Quran is the eternal miracle of the Prophet, sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam. It is the Word of Allah which no human anywhere will ever be able to compose something like it at all times and everywhere. Allah challenged the Arabs, who were very eloquent and rhetorically skillful people, to compose something like it, ten chapters or even one chapter. Allah, the Almighty, says (what means):

“Say: "If the mankind and the Jinn were together to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another.”  [Quran 17:88]

 Allah also says (what means):

“Or they say: `He (Prophet Muhammad) forged it (the Quran).` Say: `Bring you then ten forged chapters like unto it, and call whomsoever you can, other than Allah (to your help), if you speak the truth!`”[Quran 11:13]

In another verse, He says (what means):

“Or do they say: `He (Muhammad) has forged it? ` Say: `Bring then a chapter like unto it, and call upon whomsoever you can, besides Allah, if you are truthful!"  [Quran 10:38]

It was normally expected that such challenge would urge some eloquent Arabs to try to mimic the Quran. Yet, they failed to do so although they were challenged to do a thing that they skillfully mastered. They avoided such challenge by turning round the bushes by accusing the Prophet, sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam, with madness, magic and falsifying the Quran.

Al-Waleed Ibn Al-Mugheerah testifies to the miraculous nature of the Quran:

 The non-believers of Makkah admitted, in their private talks about the Holy Quran, that it is miraculous and that it is not forged by a human being. Even though, they did not announce such opinion. It is reported that Al-Waleed Ibn Al-Mugheerah, one of the most unmitigated enemies of Islam, listened to the Prophet, sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam, reciting the following verses from chapter Ghaafir (which means):

 "Ha-Meem. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from Allah the All-Mighty, the All-Knower. The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment, the Bestower (of favors), La ilaaha illaa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), to Him is the final return."  [Quran 40:1-3]

After that, Al-Waleed said: "I swear by Allah, I listened to a speech never forged by a human being or Jinn. It is very sweet and heart-touching. It exalts (other speeches) and is never excelled (by them). It could never be forged by a human being."

 The miraculous nature of the Quran is attributed to several points. Its words are eloquent and its style is rhetorically elevated. It is easy to recite and it has a touching effect on listener. It takes the heart by thrilling storm. It foretells about future events. It preaches utopian high morals, and it contains scientific facts and all-comprehensive legal rulings that are just and valid for any time and everywhere. Besides, the Quran is free from any contradictions or disagreements, as Allah says (what means):

"Do they not then consider the Quran carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradictions."  [Quran 4:82]

 The Quran has such characteristics although it has been revealed to an illiterate man who could neither read nor write. Besides, the Prophet, sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was brought up in a polytheist environment and he never received education at the hands of a teacher, and he never wrote a single letter with his hand.

Hard breath

Modern science and specialized scientific researches proved the authenticity of the Quran which has been revealed fourteen centuries ago to the Prophet, sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam. Allah, the Almighty, says (what means):

"And whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam, and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky. Thus Allah puts the wrath on those who believe not."[Quran 6:125]   

 This holy verse contains many scientific facts that modern science proved. The study of the atmosphere, its layers and effect on the human body showed that it is divided into several zones. The first zone starts at sea level up to 10.000 feet. In this zone, man could lead a natural life because oxygen is enough to support man's life. The next zone starts from a height of 10.000 up to 50.000 feet. In this zone, scientists noticed the decrease in the amount of oxygen and atmospheric pressure.

This results in obviously detrimental effects on the human body. Above this zone starts another one at a height of 50.000 up to 633.000 feet. Man could not live in this zone, and if he ever went there, he must put on an astronaut's uniform which is provided with oxygen in order to cope with the decrease in the atmospheric pressure and oxygen in this high area.

When man reaches these heights, oxygen dramatically decreases to a level that endangers man's life and has harmful effects on his different body organs.

Thus, scientists figured out a clear explanation that accounts for man's suppressed breathing when he reaches these heights. This conforms with what the holy verse purports that man feels chest constriction when he climbs up to the sky; i.e. to the upper atmosphere layers. The holy verse states that chest constriction occurs when man climbs up to the sky and it increases as he goes higher. In their researches, scientists confirmed that in these high zones, man experiences overexertion, headache, drowsiness, breathing difficulties, and suppressed breathing. All this conforms with what the holy verse states.

The scientific facts in this holy verse have not been confirmed by physicians except after long research for tens of years.

Number 7 in the universe

The scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, are of the view that number 7 has many secrets and that it has significance, in the universe, in the Quran, and in the Prophetic narrations. Indeed this number has been mentioned in the Quran with a concise order. When we realize that the order of the universe is based on number 7, and discover that this number is frequently repeated in a Book which was revealed more than fourteen centuries ago, then this similarity indicates that the Creator of the universe is the One Who revealed the Quran. When Allah created the universe, He had chosen number 7 to be the number of the heavens and earths. Allah says (which means):

"It is Allah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven). His Command descends between them (heavens and earth), that you may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah surrounds (comprehends) all things in (His) Knowledge."  [Quran 65:12]

Even the atom, which is the basic unit of structure in the universe, consists of seven electronic layers. They cannot be more than that.

The week has seven days and the number of colors in the visible spectrum is also seven.