❖ Qur'anic Challenge and Refutation of Atheist Objections ❖
This article refutes the claims made by atheist writer Anderson Shaw (formerly known as "Maki"), who alleges that the style of the Qur'an is derived from the poetry of Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt. In light of Quranic evidence, history, and linguistic principles, this article demonstrates that the Qur'an is divine revelation and not a human composition.
The Qur'an boldly declares:
﴿فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا﴾
“But if you do not—and you will never be able to…”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:24)
This verse presents a timeless challenge: produce a chapter like it if you claim it is man-made. Despite centuries passing, no one has met this challenge, neither the Arabs of the Prophet’s time nor modern-day critics.
Ibn al-Rāwandī objected that eloquent individuals could match or surpass the Qur'an's linguistic beauty, and that the challenge is not applicable to non-Arabs.
Refutation:
Nadr ibn al-Ḥārith and his companions claimed they could produce something like the Qur'an. However:
✔ They failed to do so,
✔ Their efforts lacked substance,
✔ And today’s atheists merely repeat their claims without presenting any actual rival text.
Instead of meeting the challenge, they engage in irrelevant debates, avoiding direct literary and theological comparison.
The Qur'an reveals knowledge beyond human capability, such as:
This is not merely eloquence—it is revelation, confirming its divine origin.
Critics claim the Qur'an lacks coherence or contains unnecessary repetition. This is a misunderstanding of Arabic rhetoric. The Qur'an uses:
✔ "Iltafāt" – a shift in pronoun or address for emphasis and rhetorical beauty.
Example: In Surah al-Kawthar, the shift from “We” to “your Lord” intensifies the personal connection with the Prophet ﷺ.
This is a mark of high-level eloquence, not a flaw.
Some claim the Qur'an contains grammatical or stylistic flaws.
Response:
Repetition in the Qur'an is intentional and purposeful.
According to Shah Waliullah رحمه الله, repetition:
✔ Reinforces unfamiliar truths,
✔ Engraves divine concepts into the hearts,
✔ And transforms the audience through constant, divine messaging.
This is divine pedagogy, not redundancy.
Anderson Shaw claims the Qur'an resembles the poetry of Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt.
Reality:
So resemblance in themes does not imply plagiarism, especially when the style, structure, and depth remain inimitable.
The objections raised by atheists like Anderson Shaw stem from a failure to understand the Qur'an's linguistic and intellectual depth.
Despite centuries of challenges, the Qur'an remains unmatched in:
✔ Eloquence,
✔ Content,
✔ Prophetic knowledge,
✔ and Spiritual effect.
The divine challenge stands: “Bring a chapter like it—if you are truthful.”
No one has succeeded, and none ever will.
﴿وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ...﴾
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:23)
This article refutes the claims made by atheist writer Anderson Shaw (formerly known as "Maki"), who alleges that the style of the Qur'an is derived from the poetry of Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt. In light of Quranic evidence, history, and linguistic principles, this article demonstrates that the Qur'an is divine revelation and not a human composition.
❖ The Qur'anic Challenge
The Qur'an boldly declares:
﴿فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا﴾
“But if you do not—and you will never be able to…”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:24)
This verse presents a timeless challenge: produce a chapter like it if you claim it is man-made. Despite centuries passing, no one has met this challenge, neither the Arabs of the Prophet’s time nor modern-day critics.
❖ Ibn al-Rāwandī’s Objection and Its Refutation
Ibn al-Rāwandī objected that eloquent individuals could match or surpass the Qur'an's linguistic beauty, and that the challenge is not applicable to non-Arabs.
Refutation:
- The challenge is universal, extending beyond Arabs to all of mankind, as the Qur'an’s uniqueness is not solely in language but also in knowledge, guidance, and miraculous content.
- Its truths transcend culture and time, addressing questions even unknown to the Arabs themselves.
❖ Nadr ibn al-Ḥārith and the Failure to Respond
Nadr ibn al-Ḥārith and his companions claimed they could produce something like the Qur'an. However:
✔ They failed to do so,
✔ Their efforts lacked substance,
✔ And today’s atheists merely repeat their claims without presenting any actual rival text.
Instead of meeting the challenge, they engage in irrelevant debates, avoiding direct literary and theological comparison.
❖ Hidden Knowledge and the Qur'an
The Qur'an reveals knowledge beyond human capability, such as:
- Inner secrets of hearts,
- Stories like Aṣḥāb al-Kahf and Dhu’l-Qarnayn,
- And answers to questions even Arab scholars at the time could not answer.
This is not merely eloquence—it is revelation, confirming its divine origin.
❖ Eloquence Through "Iltafāt" (Rhetorical Shift)
Critics claim the Qur'an lacks coherence or contains unnecessary repetition. This is a misunderstanding of Arabic rhetoric. The Qur'an uses:
✔ "Iltafāt" – a shift in pronoun or address for emphasis and rhetorical beauty.
Example: In Surah al-Kawthar, the shift from “We” to “your Lord” intensifies the personal connection with the Prophet ﷺ.
This is a mark of high-level eloquence, not a flaw.
❖ Alleged Grammatical Errors
Some claim the Qur'an contains grammatical or stylistic flaws.
Response:
- Arabic grammar was formalized after the Qur'an, and
- The Qur'an became the standard upon which grammar was built.
- The so-called “errors” are actually advanced linguistic usages that critics misunderstand due to limited grasp of classical Arabic.
❖ Purpose Behind Repetition
Repetition in the Qur'an is intentional and purposeful.
According to Shah Waliullah رحمه الله, repetition:
✔ Reinforces unfamiliar truths,
✔ Engraves divine concepts into the hearts,
✔ And transforms the audience through constant, divine messaging.
This is divine pedagogy, not redundancy.
❖ The Claim about Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt
Anderson Shaw claims the Qur'an resembles the poetry of Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt.
Reality:
- Umayyah’s poetry contains monotheistic themes, but this was not uncommon in pre-Islamic Arabia.
- Belief in Allah existed before Islam, but it was tainted with shirk (polytheism).
- The Qur'an presented pure monotheism (tawḥīd), reforming their flawed beliefs.
So resemblance in themes does not imply plagiarism, especially when the style, structure, and depth remain inimitable.
❖ Conclusion
The objections raised by atheists like Anderson Shaw stem from a failure to understand the Qur'an's linguistic and intellectual depth.
Despite centuries of challenges, the Qur'an remains unmatched in:
✔ Eloquence,
✔ Content,
✔ Prophetic knowledge,
✔ and Spiritual effect.
The divine challenge stands: “Bring a chapter like it—if you are truthful.”
No one has succeeded, and none ever will.
﴿وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ...﴾
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:23)
