An Invitation to Peace
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<strong>An</strong> <strong>Invitation</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Peace</strong><br />
8) The revelation should contain some sign or proof that<br />
it is from God.<br />
The Qur’an is unique among all the books in the world that claim <strong>to</strong> be<br />
from God in that it doesn’t expect you <strong>to</strong> believe it is from God just<br />
because it says so, but actually tells you what <strong>to</strong> do if you want <strong>to</strong> prove<br />
it isn’t from Him:<br />
“<strong>An</strong>d if you are in doubt in of what We have revealed un<strong>to</strong> Our<br />
slave then bring forward a chapter like it, and call (for your help) your<br />
witnesses apart from God if your (doubts) are true. But if you cannot –<br />
and of a surety you cannot – then save yourself from the Fire whose<br />
fuel is men and s<strong>to</strong>nes; it has been prepared for the rejecters of<br />
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faith.”<br />
What God is saying here is that the Qur’an is beyond the humanly<br />
possible – that is, it is miraculous by its very nature. The Prophet<br />
Muhammad (PBUH) once said, “There was none amongst the<br />
Messengers but had been given a sign upon which people would<br />
believe. That which I have been given is Revelation that God has<br />
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revealed un<strong>to</strong> me.” So, what is it about the Qur’an that makes it so<br />
amazing and unique that it can’t be imitated?<br />
Literary Masterpiece<br />
The Arabs at the time of Muhammad (PBUH) had no great civilization<br />
<strong>to</strong> speak of – no magnificent roads or architecture, no scientific or<br />
medical institutions. What they did excel in, though, was their<br />
language. The Arabs were a nation of such eloquence that they called<br />
the non-Arab world `Ajamiyy, meaning dumb. Linguistic grace and<br />
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Qur’an 2:23-24<br />
130<br />
Related by al-Bukhari v. 4 p. 1905<br />
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