By: Allama Mohammed Shihabuddin Nadvi

Qur’an’s Intellectual Distinction
The holy Qur’an has a distinct place among the world scriptures which has no parallel. It condemns blind following of predecessors, devotion to stagnant faiths and exhorts its readers to ponder over various manifestations of nature as well as on problems of life. Nor it imposes its views on others. Instead it advocates arguments on rational lines, and therefore demands the disbelievers to:

Bring me a Book (revealed) before this, or any remnant knowledge (Ye may have), if ye are telling the truth! (Qur’an, 46:4)

Tell me with knowledge if ye are truthful. (Qur’an, 6:143)

Say: “Have ye any (certain) knowledge? If so, produce it before us. Ye follow nothing but conjecture: ye do nothing but lie.” (Qur’an, 6:148)

Nay, the wrong-doers (merely) follow their own lusts.
(Qur’an, 30:29)

So it is not possible that it will be incompatible with the universal truths; and scientific facts are capable of being part of its eternally explicit verses. But the atheists mix up the facts and fiction while making whimsical interpretations. Therefore the Qur’an has sought arguments purely scientific and on logical lines with such kind of atheists. But the fact is that the materialism and polytheism cannot find any scientific support. This challenge of the Qur’an is eternal. Judged from positive and negative angles, the Qur’anic arguments have no wrinkles:

For We had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on knowledge, which We explained in detail — a guide and a mercy to all who believe.
(Qur’an, 7:52)

O Mankind! Verily there hath come to you a convincing proof from your Lord: For We have sent unto you a light (that is) manifest. (Qur’an, 4:174)

In fact in this material world there is nothing that could be a critique of the Qur’an. So the divine word and verses prevail over everything else.

Say: “with Allah is the argument that reaches home …” (Qur’an, 6:149)

Those who wrangle concerning the revelation of Allah without any warrant that hath come unto them, it is greatly hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who believe. (Qur’an, 40:35)

Or have We sent down authority to them, which points out to them the things to which they pay part-worship? (Qur’an, 30:35)

Yet they worship, besides Allah, things for which no authority has been sent down to them, and of which they have (really) no knowledge.
(Qur’an, 22:71)

Materialism is a Form of Polytheism
It would be evident that the polytheism is not merely worshiping some natural manifestation. The naturalism or materialism is also a form of polytheism as the materialists have placed matter in the place of God, and attribute divine qualities to it. The faith in naturalism is like committing polytheism. So the evolutionists have recognised several creators in this biological world in place of one master creator. The insistence on their verbal profession of recognising them as God is not necessary.

This universe has not been endowed with any proof or evidence of polytheism. Nothing in this universe points to the presence of several gods or partners of God.

(Can there be another) god besides God? Say, “Bring forth your argument, if ye are telling the truth! (Qur’an, 27:64)

Therefore Islam and the Qur’an cannot be accused of being illogical or irrational. Rather Islam and the Qur’an were fountainhead of rational arguments which continue till this day in the intellectual circles. The Qur’an has promoted true scientific enquiry. The foundations of science were laid by Muslims following inspiration from the Qur’an. So this unique Book cannot be dubbed as conservative.

No Contradiction Between Universe and Qur’an
Anyone who will harbour any doubt regarding any aspects of the Qur’an will make himself vulnerable to the suspicion in the absoluteness of the Qur’an. It often results in the weakness in faith.

(This is) the revelation of the Book in which there is no doubt, — from the Lord of the Worlds. Or do they say, He has forged it? Nay, it is Truth from thy Lord. (Qur’an, 32:1-3)

Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds: with it came down the Spirit of Faith and Truth — to thy heart and mind, that thou mayest admonish in the perspicuous Arabic tongue.
(Qur’an 26:192-95)

The revelation of this Book is from God, the Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom. Verily it is We Who have revealed the Book to thee in Truth.
(Qur’an, 39:1-2)

The Truth is from thy Lord: so be not at all in doubt.
(Qur’an, 2:147)

Follow thou the inspiration sent unto thee and be patient and constant, till Allah do decide: for He is the Best to decide. (Qur’an, 10:109)

Allah created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): verily in that is a Sign for those who believe. (Qur’an, 29:44)

And Allah blots out Vanity, and proves the Truth by His Words. (Qur’an, 42:24)

This Our Record speaks about you with truth.
(Qur’an, 45:29)

These verses should be enough to convince that there is no contradiction between the Qur’an and manifestations of the universe. Rather they are mutually complementary. Because the way Allah, the glorified has created the worlds and its contents, with truth, the Qur’an is also entirely based on truth, hence no contradictions between them. And nothing in this universe can ever falsify or refute its contents. The following verses verify these claims:

It is He, Who created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions). (Qur’an, 6:73)

Allah created not the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, save with truth. (Qur’an, 30:8)

We have sent down to thee the Book in truth, that thou mightest judge between men, as guided by Allah.
(Qur’an, 4:105)

Say: “O ye men! Now Truth hath reached you from your Lord.” (Qur’an, 10:108)

It is Allah Who has sent down the Book in truth, and the Balance (by which to weigh conduct). (Qur’an, 42:17)

Allah has revealed scale of justice along with this Book of Wisdom on which the truth and falsehood could be tested. From this angle, all manifestations of the material worlds are expressions of the scale of justice, confirming the truth of the holy Qur’an humbly. Nothing that has emerged on the horizons of knowledge since the revelation of the holy Qur’an, has ever contradicted the Qur’an. Therefore it will be a great misfortune if somebody ventures to “reform” the Qur’an in pursuance of whims and fancies of deviationists. The Qur’an is very clear on this aspect:

Were thou to follow their desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither Protector nor Helper against Allah. (Qur’an, 2:120)

Nor follow thou the vain desires of such as treat Our Signs as falsehoods, and such as believe not in the Hereafter: for they hold others as equal with their Guardian Lord.
Qur’an, 6:150)

So judge thou between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away, be assured that for some of their crimes it is Allah’s purpose to punish them and truly most men are evil-living. Is it a judgment of the time of (pagan) ignorance that they are seeking? Who is better than Allah for judgment to a people who have certainty (in their belief)? (Qur’an, 5:49-50)

These verses are a factual reflection of the modern day world and the mass psychology. This is also a miracle of this divine scripture which is capable of guiding the humanity in every age. It is why it is termed as the “Book of Guidance”.