Hasan:The miraculous nature of the Noble Quran is embodied in its eloquence, fluency, poetic composition and purity of language. It is the miracle of the Wise for every aspect of life: socially, individually, law making, policy making, etc.
It includes all types of knowledge and sciences with all their deep meanings. It is free from contradiction, inconsistency disparity or disagreement. It is full of challenges as the Almighty Allah put it in the Noble Quran:
(Say: Verily, though mankind and the Jinn should assemble to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like thereof though they were helpers one of another)17;88.
(Or they say: He hath invented it. Say: Then bring ten Surahs, the like thereof, invented, and call on everyone ye can beside Allah, if ye are truthful۞And if they answer not your prayer, then know that is revealed only in the knowledge of Allah; and that there is no God save Him. Will ye then be of those who surrender?)11;13-14.
(Or say they: he hath invented it? Nay, but they will not believe۞Then let them produce speech the like thereof, if they are truthful)52;33-34.
After this explicit challenge, no one can deny His miracle. The people of Mecca, especially the most eloquent of the Arabian Peninsula, heard about this challenge. Three people tried to come out with something similar to the Noble Quran; they failed to do so. This story is mentioned in the books of history in detail.
Anwar:I understand from what you just said that this challenge is still on for those who want to try.
Hasan:Of course, the Noble Quran is eternal in this miraculous nature challenging all people over ages.
Anwar:I hope I did not tire you out as I have one more question here.
Hasan:I am all ears!
Anwar:I believe we better take a small break first. What do you say?
Hasan:As you wish. I don’t mind a cup of tea.
Symposium 40
Words on Fluency and Eloquence
of the Noble Quran
Anwar:Now that we enjoyed drinking the Iraqi tea, may I ask a question?
Hasan:Yes, go ahead.
Anwar:You mentioned ‘eloquence, fluency and poetic composition’. What does these terms mean?
Hasan:All right. I will give a definition for each of them.
Eloquence:the beauty of expression and the elegance of appearance.
Fluency:the beauty of presentation and the eminence
of meaning.
Poetic composition:comprehensive style and unified composition.
In other words, eloquence is a well-expressed speech that is effective in persuading people. Fluency is a correct enunciation in a sense that there would be no ambiguity in a speech. Poetic composition refers to setting words together in a way that sound harmonious.
Anwar:Did mankind actually fail to come up with something similar to the Noble Quran?
Hasan:Yes, they did fail and they still fail to compose something similar to it or something that can dispute it, not to mention that the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) challenged all the disbelievers as well as the people of the Book in this regard. We need to remember that eloquence and fluency were of huge significance at that point in time and that the message of the Prophet (PBUH) refuted their superstitions and distortions of religions.
Anwar:I read that there were a lot of eloquent poets and speakers at the time when the Prophet Mohammad
(PBUH) was sent, and that majority of them were known for their fanatic views and haughtiness.
Hasan:Very true.
Anwar:Could any of those who opposed his claim like Mosailama the liar and others come up with anything similar to the Noble Quran?
Hasan:My dear Brother, you are going to laugh at their nonsense and ridiculousness if you know what they invented.
Anwar:No harm in hearing some of it.
Hasan:Historically, Mosailama claimed sharing the prophethood with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and he began talking rhymed nonsense: “Allah blessed the pregnant with a walking human, stuffed in within the cavity” or “by the elephant, you be aware of the elephant; he has a harmful tail and a long trunk”.
There is another person called Tolaiha Bin Khowailid Al-Asadi who claimed the same as he invented these words: “By the pigeon and the dove. By the shrike and fasting, may our reign reach Iraq and Shaam”.
Two more people named Sojah Bint Al-Harith and Al-Aswad Al-‘Insi said even more ridiculous things that the two previous liars. The shallowness in meaning and the literary weakness is so obvious that you cannot possibly miss their false claims.
Anwar:You are absolutely right.
Hasan:Great! What else do you want to know?
Anwar:I would like you to give us, first, some Quranic examples on the eloquence, fluency and the poetic composition, and second, some evidence to the inability of even the most eloquent to challenge the Noble Quran.
Hasan:All right. Please, pay attention, my dear Brother. The Lord says:
(And of His portents are the ships, like banners on the sea)42;32.
This is an eloquent and obvious Surah recognized by all eloquent Arabs.
(Lo! We have given thee Abundance۞So pray unto thy Lord, and sacrifice۞Lo! It is thy insulter who is without posterity)108;1-3.
This Surah shows the wonderful fluency of the Noble Quran.
(The Beneficent۞Hath made known the Quran۞He hath created man۞He hath taught him utterance۞The sun and the moon are made punctual)55;1-5.
What a great poetic composition. The most eloquent and fluent of Arabs agrees on this.
Anwar:This is obviously beautiful although I am not an expert. Let’s move to the second issue.
Hasan:All right. Even the most eloquent people admitted that the Noble Quran is of a miraculous nature. It is said in the Prophetic history that Al-Walid Bin Al-Maghirah, one of the great eloquent Arabs, heard these following Holy Verses from the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH):
(Ha. Mim۞The revelation of the Scripture is from Allah, the Mighty, the Knower۞The Forgiver of the sin, the Accepter of the repentance, the Stern in punishment, the Bountiful. There is no God save Him. Unto him is the journeying۞None argue concerning
the revelations of Allah save those who disbelieve, so let not their turn of fortune in the land deceive thee۞The folk of Noah and the factions after them denied their messengers before these, and every nation purposed to seize their messenger and argued falsely, thinking thereby to refute the Truth. Then I seized them, and how awful was My punishment۞Thus was the word of thy Lord concerning those who disbelieve fulfilled: that they are owners of the Fire)40;1-6.
When he heard this, he went to his people, the tribe of Bani Makhzum, and said: “By the Lord, I have just heard Mohammad uttering words which neither man nor Jinn can produce. It has such a charm and beauty; it is graceful and fruitful. It rises above all and nothing can rise above it”. Then, he left home.
Moreover, it is said in that ‘Otbeh Bin Rabi’a heard this Holy Verse:
(And they say: Our hearts are protected from that unto which thou callest us, and in our ears there is a deafness, and between us and thee there is a veil. Act, then. Lo! We also shall be acting)41;5.