❖ Compilation of the Old and New Testaments
Old Testament:
The compilation of the Old Testament spanned approximately 1,500 years, involving contributions from thousands of individuals. Its central component, the Torah, is considered to be a product of two distinct textual traditions (Elohist and Yahwist), and is filled with alterations and interpolations. Though it is attributed to Prophet Musa (Moses) ﷺ, it contains accounts of events that occurred after his time, contradicting that attribution.
New Testament:
The New Testament was composed by various unknown authors, each writing about different aspects of Prophet ʿĪsā (Jesus) ﷺ according to their own interpretations. None of these authors were direct eyewitnesses, and much of the content is based on oral traditions. Despite this, these texts were later canonized as divine scripture.
❖ The Uniqueness of the Noble Qur’an
Revelation and Preservation:
The Qur’an stands as the only divine scripture that was revealed to a single individual, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, through divine revelation (waḥy). From the very beginning, the Qur’an was preserved through:
✔ Written documentation during the Prophet’s ﷺ lifetime
✔ Oral memorization by thousands of companions
During the caliphate of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (رضي الله عنه), within two years of the Prophet’s ﷺ passing, the entire Qur’an was compiled into a single manuscript, which remains the basis of all Qur’anic copies worldwide today.
❖ Orientalists: Criticism and Confession
✘ Biased Criticism
Thomas Carlyle, although writing in partial defense of Islam, displayed clear bias against the Qur’an, describing it as:
"As toilsome reading as ever undertook, a wearisome confused jumble..."
(Thomas Carlyle, On Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in History, pp. 64–65)
✔ Confessions by Notable Orientalists
William Muir (a known critic of Islam):
"The preservation of the Qur’an during the life of Muhammad (SAW)… repeated with accuracy the entire revelation scrupulously."
(The Life of Muhammad, Vol. 1, p. 5, London, 1860)
Montgomery Watt:
"Most of [the Qur’an's contents] were probably written down during Muhammad’s lifetime."
(Bell’s Introduction to the Qur’an, p. 28, London, 2005)
Dr. Maurice Bucaille:
"The text of the Qur’an holds a unique place among the textbooks of revelation."
(The Bible, The Qur’an & Science, p. 13, London)
Rudi Paret (German Scholar):
"We have no reason to doubt that every verse of the Qur’an is genuinely attributed to Muhammad ﷺ."
Palmer:
He affirmed the reliability of the ʿUthmānī codex:
"ʿUthman’s recension has remained… from the time it was made until the present day."
❖ Munich University’s Research Project
In 1933, Munich University launched an extensive research project on the Qur’an, gathering 42,000 ancient manuscripts. After years of analysis, only two minor scribal errors were discovered—none affecting meaning.
In contrast, over 200,000 errors were identified in Greek Biblical manuscripts, underscoring the unmatched preservation of the Qur’an.
❖ Recognition of Qur’anic Infallibility
✔ The Qur’an has remained entirely intact since its revelation.
✔ Its text was documented during the Prophet’s ﷺ lifetime.
✔ Muslims have undertaken unparalleled efforts to ensure its preservation.
❖ Root of Orientalists’ Suspicions
Many Orientalists projected the historical issues in Biblical texts onto the Qur’an. However:
✘ The Qur’an was never lost.
✔ Its memorization and oral transmission by millions (ḥuffāẓ) have guarded it against any alteration.
❖ Dr. Maurice Bucaille’s Analysis
According to Dr. Bucaille, the Qur’an possesses two distinct and unrivaled qualities:
① Verified authenticity of origin
② The Qur’anic Arabic language as the foundation of Islamic theology and law
❖ Conclusion
The **Qur’an remains the only divine book preserved in its original form, and even Orientalists have acknowledged its purity and preservation. Their reluctant confessions serve as undeniable proof that the infallibility of the Qur’an is a reality even critics cannot deny.
