Atheist Objection: Alleged Resemblance Between the Qur’an and the Poetry of Imru’ al-Qais
Written by: Mirza Ahmad Waseem Baig
Introduction
Some atheists and orientalists claim that certain verses of the Qur’an are copied from the pre-Islamic Arab poet Imru’ al-Qais. They particularly cite a resemblance between Surah al-Qamar, verse 1:
“اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانْشَقَّ القَمَرُ“
“The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split.”
and a line falsely attributed to Imru’ al-Qais, arguing that this indicates the Qur’an borrowed language or themes from earlier poets.
➊ Authenticity of the Attributed Verses is Dubious
Firstly, it is important to note that the Divan of Imru’ al-Qais exists in multiple classical versions, such as those compiled by:
- al-Aʿlam al-Shantamarī
- al-Ṭūsī
- al-Sukkarī
- al-Baṭalyawsī
- Ibn al-Nahhās
However, none of these authentic sources contain the verses in question that atheists cite to compare with the Qur’an. This alone casts serious doubt on the validity of the claim.
➋ Views of Literary Scholars
Scholars of Arabic literature agree that the poetry of Imru’ al-Qais is among the most carefully preserved in classical Arabic. Despite this, there is no record in any authentic work of Arabic literature of the verses alleged by atheists. This clearly suggests that these verses are fabricated, created as part of false propaganda.
➌ Examination of Orientalist Sources
Some orientalists, including William St. Clair Tisdall, raised similar comparisons between Imru’ al-Qais’s poetry and the Qur’an. However, even Tisdall himself admits in his book “The Original Sources of the Qur’an”:
“There seems good reason to doubt whether Imru’ al-Qais is the author of the lines in question. They may have been borrowed from the Qur’an instead of having been inserted therein from an author who lived before Muhammad’s time.”
Thus, the origin of these lines remains unproven, and even those critical of Islam do not confirm their authenticity.
➍ Eloquence of Arabic Expression in the Qur’an
If these alleged verses from Imru’ al-Qais had truly been well-known among the Arabs, the Quraysh and Jews of Makkah and Madinah—who sought every opportunity to discredit the Prophet ﷺ—would have immediately accused him of plagiarism. Yet, no such accusation exists in the historical record. This silence from the harshest critics of Islam proves that no such verses were known or attributed to the pre-Islamic poet at that time.
➎ Linguistic Weakness and Structural Inconsistency
The verses falsely attributed to Imru’ al-Qais are weak in style and uncharacteristic of his renowned poetry. The poetic eloquence and literary mastery found in Imru’ al-Qais’s authentic works is absent in these fabricated lines. Using phrases like “اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانْشَقَّ القَمَرُ” to praise a beloved’s beauty is completely inconsistent with the poetic traditions of Imru’ al-Qais, whose poetry typically centered on love, nature, and emotion, not eschatological or religious themes.
➏ Scholarly Investigation
Renowned scholars like ʿAllāmah Rashīd Riḍā (of Egypt) and ʿAllāmah Sayyid Sulaymān Nadwī conducted detailed investigations into these claims. Rashīd Riḍā stated:
“It is impossible that these lines belong to any skilled Arab poet; they seem to originate from a beginner or an elementary student.”
This further discredits the claim that such lines were authored by a literary master like Imru’ al-Qais.
Conclusion
All available evidence confirms that the alleged similarity between the Qur’an and the poetry of Imru’ al-Qais is baseless and fabricated. These verses are nonexistent in any authentic version of his poetry and reflect nothing more than an orientalist and atheist attempt to cast doubt on the authenticity and divine origin of the Qur’an
