How can we trust the claims of Quran when they were written so long ago and by fallible human beings?

The Quran is the central religious text of Islam and is considered by Muslims to be the word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel over a period of 23 years. It is the final and complete revelation of God's message to humanity, and Muslims believe that it contains guidance and wisdom for all aspects of life, including spirituality, morality, law, and governance. It is considered a miraculous and inimitable work of literature in the Arabic language, and its recitation is an important part of Islamic worship.

The question of trust in the claims of the Quran is a complex one, and it requires an understanding of the historical context in which the Quran was revealed, as well as an examination of the evidence that supports its claims.

Not written by fallible human beings:

Firstly, it is important to note that the Quran was not written by fallible human beings. Muslims believe that the Quran is the direct word of Allah, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel over a period of 23 years. It is commonly believed by Muslims that Prophet Muhammad was illiterate and could not read or write. This is based on various historical reports and accounts of his life. The Quran itself also mentions that he was "ummi" (unlettered) in several verses, such as in Chapter 7, verse 157, which states: "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel." The verse you are referring to is from chapter 7 of the Quran, also known as Surah Al-A'raf. In this verse, Allah (God) is addressing the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) and telling them to follow the Prophet Muhammad, who is described as "the unlettered prophet". The term "ummi" in Arabic, which is translated here as "unlettered", can also mean "illiterate" or "uneducated". The phrase "whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel" is referring to the fact that the coming of Prophet Muhammad was prophesied in the previous scriptures, specifically in the Torah and the Gospel. In other words, the people of the Book could find descriptions of the Prophet Muhammad and his message in their own scriptures, if they were to study them carefully. This verse is significant because it emphasizes that the Prophet Muhammad was not only a prophet for the Arabs or for Muslims, but for all of humanity. It also highlights the continuity of the prophetic tradition and the connection between the previous prophets and the final Prophet of Islam. According to Islamic tradition, the Quran was preserved through oral transmission during the lifetime of the Prophet, and then compiled into a written form shortly after his death.

Consistent and coherent text:

Moreover, there are a number of reasons why the claims of the Quran should be considered trustworthy. Firstly, the Quran is a remarkably consistent and coherent text, despite being revealed over a period of more than two decades. This suggests that it was not the product of human invention, but rather a divine revelation that was carefully crafted and preserved.

Verse 2:255 of Surah Bakarah is one such instance.

Image credit - brother Nouman Ali Khan

After reading this text, many can recognize how the chronological arrangement, questions, and answers were carefully crafted and strongly suggest that it is God's word.

Scientific and historical facts:

The Quran contains a number of scientific and historical facts that were not known to people at the time of its revelation, but have since been confirmed by modern science and scholarship. For example, the Quran describes the development of the human embryo in a way that is strikingly similar to modern embryology, and it also contains accurate descriptions of the natural world, such as the water cycle and the orbit of the planets.

Thirdly, the Quran has been preserved in its original Arabic form for more than 1400 years, and its text has been meticulously transmitted from generation to generation through a system of memorization and written copies. This means that the text we have today is virtually identical to the text that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than a millennium ago.

In conclusion, while the question of trust in the claims of the Quran is a complex one, there are several reasons why its claims should be considered trustworthy. Whether we accept the premise that the Quran was written by human beings or believe that it is the direct word of God, its remarkable consistency and coherence, its accurate descriptions of scientific and historical facts, and its meticulous preservation over the centuries all point to its reliability as a source of knowledge and guidance.