In this episode we are going to discuss the opponents and proponents of the holy Qur’an.

Some people, due to devilish temptations and carnal desires, plunge in sins and do not accept any advice or logical word. The holy Qur’an says in ayah 41 of surah Isra, “Certainly We have paraphrased in this Qur’an so that they may take admonition, but it increases them only in aversion.”

Those who had lost the spirit of accepting the truth tried to question the authenticity of the Qur’an and tarnish its enlivening aspect via miscellaneous deceits. First they said that the Qur’an is not heavenly and it is just a magic work. Although the Qur’an had called on all the opponents to bring one surah like the Qur’an, the greatest literary figures failed to do so. Thus, they called the Prophet as poet and the Qur’an as a book of poetry. But God defended His Messenger, with several ayahs such as ayahs 40-43 of surah al-Haaqqa, “It is indeed the speech of a noble apostle and it is not the speech of a poet. Little is the faith you have! Nor is it the speech of a soothsayer. Little is the admonition that you take! Gradually sent down from the Lord of all the worlds.”

The deniers of Qur’an didn’t give up hostile measures against the Qur’an and the Prophet. Ayah 26 of surah Fussilat describes their behavior, “The faithless say, ‘Do not listen to this Qur’an and hoot it down so that you may overcome it.”

One of the false imaginations of the disbelievers is that they think they can be victorious over the divine will. Ayah 8 of surah Saff is a reply to these fruitless thoughts, “They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah shall perfect His light though the faithless should be averse.”

This is an undeniable fact throughout history and to the chagrin of all the efforts of enemies the radiant guidelines of the holy Qur’an have continuously shone to the hearts and minds of the seekers of truth. According to the statistics, the enthusiasts of knowing the Qur’an are on the rise with a rapid pace.

When the opponents of the Qur’an found all their hostile measures failed, they asked the Prophet to bring them another book rather the holy Qur’an as if this Qur’an was a fabrication of the Prophet himself. God answers them in ayah 15 of surah Yunus, “Say, ‘I may not alter it of my own accord. I follow only what is revealed to me.”

In the end the opponents of Qur’an expressed their enmity as they couldn’t tolerate the spread of this life-inspiring Book. They understood well that the promotion of the Qur’anic teachings would put their illegitimate interests at risk. Thus, they asked God a weird request as it is mentioned in ayah 32 of surah Anfal, “And when they said, ‘O Allah, if this be the truth from You, rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring us a painful punishment.”

By the way, what a great difference between the lovers of the holy Qur’an and the deniers of this heavenly Book! The former would tremble while listening to its ayahs, whereas the latter asked for a punishment not to witness the rightfulness of this Book!

RM/SS