The Amazing Quran (part 4 of 9)

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Description: A series of articles compelling the reader to ponder over the marvels of the Quran.  Part 4: The burden of proof lies on the one who claims the Quran to be false.

  • By Dr.Gary Miller (edited by www.islamhouse.com)
  • Published on 24 Dec 2012
  • Last modified on 04 Dec 2014
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  • Viewed: 36,586 (daily average: 9)
  • Rating: 2.2 out of 5
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YouDidNotKnowThisBefore!

Undoubtedly,thereisanattitudeintheQuranwhichisnotfound anywhereelse.  Itisinteresting howwhentheQuranprovidesinformation,itoftentellsthereader,“Youdidnotknowthis before.” Indeed,thereisnoscripturethatexistswhichmakesthatclaimAllof theotherancient writingsand scripturesthatpeoplehavedogivea lotof information,butthey alwaysstate wheretheinformationcamefrom.

Forexample,whentheBiblediscussesancienthistory,itstatesthatthisking livedhere,thisone foughtinacertainbattle,anotheronehadsomany sons,etcYetitalwaysstipulatesthatifyou wantmoreinformation,thenyoushouldreadthebookofsoandsobecausethatiswherethe informationcamefromIncontrasttothisconcept,theQuranprovidesthereader with informationandstatesthatthisinformationissomethingnewOf course,therealwaysexiststhe advicetoresearchtheinformationprovidedandverifyitsauthenticityItisinterestingthatsuch a conceptwasneverchallengedby non-MuslimsfourteencenturiesagoIndeed,the MakkanswhohatedtheMuslims,and timeandtimeagainthey heardsuchrevelations claimingtobringnewinformation;yet,theynever spokeupandsaid,ThisisnotnewWeknow whereMuhammadgotthisinformation.  Welearned thisatschool.They couldnever challengeitsauthenticity becauseit really wasnew! 

Proof of Authenticity:AnApproach

ItmustbestressedherethattheQuranisaccurateaboutmany,many things,butaccuracy doesnotnecessarilymeanthatabookisadivinerevelationInfact,accuracyisonly oneof thecriteriafordivinerevelationsForinstance,thetelephonebookisaccurate,butthatdoes notmeanthatitisdivinelyrevealed.  Therealproblemliesinthatonemustestablish someproof of thesource of theQuransinformationTheemphasisisintheotherdirection,inthattheburden ofproofisonthereaderOnecannotsimplydenytheQuransauthenticity withoutsufficient proof.  If,indeed,onefindsamistake,thenhehastherighttodisqualifyitThisisexactly what theQuranencourages.

Onceamancameup tomeafteralectureI deliveredinSouthAfrica.  Hewasvery angry aboutwhatI hadsaid,andsoheclaimed,I amgoingtogohometonightandfindamistake intheQuran.Ofcourse,I said,CongratulationsThatisthemostintelligentthingthatyou havesaid.”Certainly,thisistheapproachMuslimsneedtotakewiththosewhodoubtthe Quransauthenticity,becausetheQuranitself offersthesamechallengeAndinevitably,after acceptingitschallengeanddiscoveringthatitistrue,thesepeoplewillcometobelieveit becausethey couldnotdisqualifyitInessence,theQuranearnstheirrespectbecausethey themselveshavehad toverify itsauthenticity.

Anessentialfactthatcannotbereiterated enoughconcerningtheauthenticity of theQuranisthatonesinabilitytoexplainaphenomenonhimselfdoesnotrequirehisacceptanceof the phenomenonsexistenceoranotherpersonsexplanationofit.  Specifically,justbecauseone cannotexplain something, it doesnotmeanthatonehastoacceptsomeoneelsesexplanationHowever,thepersonsrefusalofotherexplanationsrevertstheburdenofproofback onhimself tofindafeasibleanswerThisgeneraltheory appliestonumerousconceptsinlife,butfitsmost wonderfullywiththeQuranicchallenge,foritcreatesadifficulty foronewhosays,“I donot believeit.Attheonsetofrefusaloneimmediately hasanobligationtofindanexplanation himselfifhefeelsothers’answersareinadequate.

Thisfamiliaritywiththeinformationwillgivethepersontheedgewhenfuturediscoveriesare madeandadditionalinformationispresentedTheimportantthingisthatonedealswiththe factsanddoesnotsimply discardthem outof empathy anddisinterest.

ExhaustingtheAlternatives

Therealcertainty aboutthetruthfulnessoftheQuranisevidentintheconfidencewhichis prevalentthroughoutit;and thisconfidencecomesfrom a differentapproach-Exhausting thealternatives.Inessence,theQuran states,“Thisbookisadivinerevelation;if youdonot believethat,thenwhatisit?” Inother words,thereaderischallenged tocomeupwith some otherexplanationHereisa bookmadeof paperandink.  Wherediditcomefrom?Itsaysitisa divinerevelation;ifitisnot,thenwhatisitssource?Theinterestingfactisthatnoonehasyet comeup withanexplanationthatworksInfact,allalternativeshavebeenexhaustedAshas beenwellestablished by non-Muslims,thesealternativesbasicallyarereduced totwomutually exclusiveschoolsof thought,insistingononeortheother.

Ononehand,thereexistsalargegroup ofpeoplewhohaveresearchedtheQuranfor hundredsofyearsandwhoclaim,“Onethingweknowforsure-thatman,Muhammadmay the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, thoughthewasaprophetHewascrazy!Theyareconvinced thatMuhammad was fooledsomehowThenontheotherhand,thereisagroupwhichalleges,Becauseofthis evidence,onethingweknowforsureisthatthatman,Muhammadwasaliar!Ironically, thesetwogroupsneverseem togettogether withoutcontradicting.

Infact,many referencesonIslamusuallyclaimboththeoriesThey startoutbystatingthat Muhammadwascrazy and thenendby sayinghewasaliarTheynever seemtorealize thathecouldnothavebeenboth!Forexample,ifoneisdeludedandreallythinksthatheisa prophet,thenhedoesnotsituplateatnightplanning,“HowwillI foolthepeopletomorrowso thattheythinkI amaprophet?Hetruly believesthatheisaprophet,andhetruststhatthe answerwillbegiventohimby revelation.

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