Exposing Islam

The Fabricated Miracle:

Why the Qur’an Is Not a Literary Masterpiece

Introduction: The Myth of the Qur’an’s Literary Perfection

Muslims are taught that the Qur’an is the literal word of Allah, a divine text that is not only a guide for life but also a literary miracle — the greatest Arabic text ever written. It is claimed that the Qur’an is unmatched in its eloquence, linguistic beauty, and rhetorical brilliance, surpassing all human literature. Islamic scholars assert that the Qur’an is free from any grammatical errors, contradictions, or incoherence, and that no human can produce anything like it.

But is this claim true? A critical examination of the Qur’an reveals a different reality — one filled with grammatical errors, contradictory verses, and passages so vague and incoherent that even Islamic scholars struggle to explain them. Far from being a divine masterpiece, the Qur’an is a deeply flawed text that fails even by the standards of classical Arabic literature.

This article will expose the myth of the Qur’an’s literary perfection by examining its grammatical errors, internal contradictions, incoherent passages, and the failed “challenge” for humans to produce something like it.

1. The Qur’an’s Claim of Literary Inimitability: A Challenge That Fails

A. The Qur’anic Challenge: Can Anyone Produce Something Like It?

The Qur’an repeatedly challenges humanity to produce a text like it, claiming that this is impossible:

“And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful.”
— (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:23)

But what does this challenge actually mean? It is a vague and subjective claim that cannot be objectively tested:

What is the standard for “like it”? Is it linguistic beauty? Rhetorical power? Poetic structure? Meaningful content?
Who decides if a text is “like it”? Islamic scholars claim that only they are qualified to judge, making the challenge circular — no text can be considered “like it” because Muslims simply declare it inferior.

B. Failed Attempts to Prove Inimitability

Over the centuries, many have responded to the Qur’anic challenge, producing texts in classical Arabic that rival the Qur’an in eloquence and content.
Works like the “Furqan al-Haqq” (The True Criterion) and “The True Furqan” have been written in classical Arabic, yet Muslims dismiss them without fair consideration.
Even famous Arab poets like Imru' al-Qais produced poetry that is considered more elegant and profound than the Qur’an.

C. The Circular Logic of the Challenge

The Qur’anic challenge is nothing more than a logical trap:
- The Qur’an claims to be inimitable.
- Any attempt to imitate it is dismissed as inferior because Muslims believe the Qur’an is inimitable.
This is not a testable claim — it is a circular argument designed to prevent any objective analysis.

2. Grammatical Errors in the Qur’an: A “Perfect” Text with Imperfections

A. Grammatical Errors Acknowledged by Islamic Scholars

Despite the claim that the Qur’an is the pinnacle of Arabic language, it contains multiple grammatical errors. Even classical Islamic scholars, such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Zamakhshari, acknowledged and attempted to explain these mistakes:

B. Examples of Grammatical Errors

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:177:
- “…But righteousness is in one who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Prophets, and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves...”
- Grammatical Issue: The phrase “wa-l-mala’ikati” (and the angels) is in the accusative case, while the other items in the list are in the nominative case. This is a clear violation of standard Arabic grammar.
Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:69:
- “Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews or Sabeans or Christians – those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness – no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
- Grammatical Issue: The structure of the verse is confused, and the syntax is awkward, making the meaning unclear.
Surah Al-Munafiqun 63:10:
- “And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, ‘My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.’”
- Grammatical Issue: The verb form “fa-as-saddaqa” (so I would give charity) is in the past tense but is used in a future context.

3. Contradictions in the Qur’an: A Divine Text at War with Itself

A. The Qur’an Claims to Be Free of Contradictions

The Qur’an boldly declares that if it were from any other than Allah, it would contain many contradictions:
- “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.”
  — (Surah An-Nisa 4:82)

B. Examples of Contradictions

Free Will vs. Predestination:
- “So whoever wills – let him believe; and whoever wills – let him disbelieve.” — (Surah Al-Kahf 18:29)
- “Indeed, Allah guides whom He wills and misguides whom He wills.” — (Surah Ibrahim 14:4)
- Contradiction: Is belief a matter of free will, or is it determined by Allah?
The First Muslim:
- “Say, [O Muhammad], ‘Indeed, I have been commanded to be the first [among you] of those who submit [to Allah].’” — (Surah Al-An’am 6:14)
- “And when I inspired to the disciples, ‘Believe in Me and in My messenger Jesus.’ They said, ‘We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims.’” — (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:111)
- Contradiction: Was Muhammad the first Muslim, or were the followers of Jesus also Muslims before him?
Peace or Violence?:
- “There is no compulsion in religion.” — (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256)
- “Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day… until they pay the jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.” — (Surah At-Tawbah 9:29)
- Contradiction: Is Islam a religion of peace, or does it mandate forced conversion and subjugation?

4. Incoherent and Vague Passages in the Qur’an

A. Passages with No Clear Meaning

The Qur’an contains numerous verses that are vague, confusing, or completely unintelligible:
- Surah Alif-Lam-Mim:
  - “Alif, Lam, Mim.” — (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:1)
  - Meaning: No clear explanation has ever been given for this phrase. Islamic scholars offer contradictory interpretations.
Surah At-Tin 95:1-3:
- “By the fig and the olive, and Mount Sinai, and this secure city.”
- Meaning: The symbolic significance of these objects is unclear, leading to wildly different interpretations among scholars.

B. The Problem of Abrogation (Naskh)

The Qur’an openly admits that some of its verses are abrogated (cancelled) by later revelations:
- “We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth one better than it or similar to it.” — (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:106)
This leads to confusion, as Muslims must determine which verses are still valid and which have been replaced.

5. Conclusion: The Qur’an — A Literary Miracle or a Fabricated Myth?

The claim that the Qur’an is a perfect, inimitable literary masterpiece collapses under scrutiny. Instead of a flawless text, we find a collection of grammatical errors, contradictions, and incoherent passages. The myth of the Qur’an’s literary perfection is a fabrication — a claim designed to prevent critical analysis.

The Qur’an is not a divine masterpiece. It is a deeply flawed text that fails even by the standards of classical Arabic literature.