Muslims believe that the Quran is a miraculous text in several ways, including its content, style, and preservation.
The content of the Quran consists of 114 chapters, or Surahs, which are composed of verses, or Ayat. The Quran is believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God, as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. Its content covers a wide range of topics, including the oneness of God, the prophets and their teachings, the Day of Judgment, and the moral and ethical code of Islam.
In terms of style, the Quran is written in classical Arabic and is considered to be a masterpiece of Arabic literature. Its language is poetic, and it employs a variety of literary devices such as metaphor, simile, and repetition. The Quran also features a unique style of narrative that is not found in any other book, with stories of prophets and historical events presented in a concise and powerful manner.
Here are some ways in which the Quran's preservation is considered to be miraculous:
- Oral transmission: The Quran was first revealed in Arabic to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the 7th century CE, and it was immediately memorized and recited by his followers. The oral transmission of the Quran continued for generations, with students memorizing the entire text and passing it down to their own students. This system of memorization and transmission has been so successful that even today, millions of Muslims around the world have memorized the entire Quran, word for word, without ever having seen the written text.
- Written preservation: In addition to oral transmission, the Quran was also written down in the early days of Islam. The first written copies of the Quran were made on various materials such as parchment, palm leaves, and bones. Over time, standardization of the Quranic text took place during the reign of the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, who ordered official copies of the Quran to be made and distributed to various regions of the Muslim world. These copies were based on the recitation of Prophet Muhammad and were written in the Arabic script that is still used today. This written preservation helped to ensure that the Quranic text remained consistent across different regions and generations.
- Modern printing: The advent of modern printing technology has made it possible to produce high-quality and widely available copies of the Quran. However, even with the use of modern printing techniques, the text of the Quran has remained unchanged, with no variations or discrepancies between different printed editions.
The preservation of the Quran is not only a historical fact but also a Quranic prophecy. The Quran itself claims to be a book that is "well-preserved" and protected from corruption. Here are some verses from the Quran that speak to its preservation:
- "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian." (Surah Al-Hijr 15:9)
- "And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?" (Surah Al-Qamar 54:17)
- "And recite the Qur'an with measured recitation. Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word." (Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:4)
- "Do they not then consider the Qur'an carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradiction." (Surah An-Nisa 4:82)
- "Verily, We, it is We who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e., the Qur'an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)." (Surah Al-Hijr 15:9)
These verses and others like them are cited by Muslims as evidence of the divine origin and preservation of the Quran.
Overall, the preservation of the Quran is considered to be a miracle because it has been passed down through generations of Muslims without any significant changes or alterations. This is seen as evidence of the divine origin of the Quran and as a testament to the power of God to protect His message.
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