Overview
Understanding Why the Quran?
summary
What Would Count as Evidence?
scripture
The Message at Its Center
Key passage
Quran
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا۟ فِيهِ ٱخْتِلَٰفًۭا كَثِيرًۭا
سورة النساء · الآية ٨٢
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.
Quran 4:82
Translation: Saheeh International
interpretation
Arabic Form and the Challenge of Inimitability
Key passage
Quran
قُل لَّئِنِ ٱجْتَمَعَتِ ٱلْإِنسُ وَٱلْجِنُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتُوا۟ بِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍۢ ظَهِيرًۭا
سورة الإسراء · الآية ٨٨
Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants."
Quran 17:88
Translation: Saheeh International
history
A Text Available for Examination
Key passage
Quran
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ
سورة الحجر · الآية ٩
Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.
Quran 15:9
Translation: Saheeh International
argument
Muhammad and the Quran's Emergence
sources
Historical and Predictive Claims
Key passage
Quran
غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ
سورة الروم · الآية ٢
The Byzantines have been defeated
Quran 30:2
Translation: Saheeh International
argument
A Book Recited and Lived
notes
How to Reach a Responsible Verdict
Key passage
Quran
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًۭى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
سورة البقرة · الآية ٢
This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah -
Quran 2:2
Translation: Saheeh International
summary
Key Takeaways: Why the Quran?
Sources
Sources and further reading
Primary texts and works cited in this article.
The Quran — Tanzil Uthmani text with Saheeh International translation
quran
Source linkUthmani-script Arabic text from Tanzil with the Saheeh International English translation.
The Holy Bible, World English Bible (public domain)
bible
Source linkPublic-domain English translation from the World English Bible.
The Qur'an: A Historical-Critical Introduction
book | Nicolai Sinai | Edinburgh University Press | 2017
An academic introduction to the Quran's historical setting, literary features, structure, and major scholarly debates.
The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an
book | Jane Dammen McAuliffe (editor) | Cambridge University Press | 2006
A multi-author scholarly guide to the Quran's formation, themes, interpretation, and reception.
The History of the Qur'anic Text: From Revelation to Compilation
book | Muhammad Mustafa al-A'zami | UK Islamic Academy | 2003
A traditional Muslim defense of Quranic transmission, useful to read alongside critical manuscript scholarship.
The Quran and the Secular Mind: A Philosophy of Islam
book | Shabbir Akhtar | Routledge | 2008
Source linkA philosophical engagement with Quranic claims and modern secular objections.