the Qur’an, an-Nisa, 4:82

Could you explain this verse “Do they not contemplate the Qur'an (so that they may be convinced that it is from God)? Had it been from any other than God, they would surely have found in it much (incoherence or) inconsistency.” ( the Qur’an, an-Nisa, 4:82) Could you explain this verse “Do they not contemplate the Qur'an (so that they may be convinced that it is from God)? Had it been from any other than God, they would surely have found in it much (incoherence or) inconsistency.” ( the Qur’an, an-Nisa, 4:82

Dear Brother / Sister,

The Qur’an, was sent in parts in a twenty-three year period, either at night or day, in winter or summer, during settlement or travel, at hard times or in comfort, in scarcity or abundance and either at war or in peace. Its content is miraculously rich and various. It touches on every matter about human and humanity and other subjects as the beginning and the end of beings, creation and destruction, moral virtues, rules and regulations about human as an individual or a social being, and historical events and parables; and it contains pictures of advice and warning in order to teach humans. However, neither in its style ( its unique way of statement, literary value), nor among the subjects that it touches on and the regulations that it has brought and the information it gives, is there incoherence or contradiction or a difference – which can lead to a thought of its being collaborated from different sources. This consequence which anyone who can think with plain logic no matter if they believe or not, can come to by examining the Qur’an, stands as an unrefutable proof that it has been sent by Allah. 

Here are some reasons why contradictions occur :

1. No creature can describe the facts as the Qur’an does. Once they attempt to describe the facts, contradictions and changes surely appear in their speech.
2. The Qur’an recounts events of the past which Muhammad (pbuh) did not witness. And it informs about the events that happened and will happen hundreds or thousands of years later than the death of the Messenger of Allah. It tells about the events that happened in the –Era of happiness (the period during which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) preached). It lets us know about what a soul contains and what is covered in the hearts as if they were visible. It also reveals the intentions of this group which they decide on in the darkness of the night.
3. None of the people can set forth a point of view without a contradiction and conflict of opinion as the point of view of the Qur’an on the basis and principles of belief and its systems or on nations and communities.
4. No one was able to and never will be able to introduce a similar one to what the Qur’an has introduced by providing proof and examples on social matters, systems of prosperity or natures of nations and communities and by presenting one parable with various expressions.
5. No one was able to and never will be able to introduce a similar one to what the Qur’an has introduced about the various beings like the sky or earth or the matters of science and various examples ( that people can take lessons from) because under the expression of creating or form, the Qur’an categorizes all the classes of universe such as stars and their orders, winds, seas, animals, plants or wisdom and signs from the heavens and the earth. In all of these, the verses of the Qur’an support each other. They have no contradiction among them, they do not have any conflict in their meaning, either.
6. The Qur’an has informed us of the unknown and of the hereafter. It has also informed us of accounting for our deeds, fair reward or punishment as a result of accounting. In all of these, along with the harmony of the verses among each other, it became current because of sunnatullah, in ther words Allah’s customs in the impact of discretional deeds on spirits. Comprehension of its wisdom and addressing is deemed as the most exalted goal of all by those who could be able to analyse and acquaint its truth. In addition, the Qur’an had been sent part after part concerning the events and situations. When one or some verses were sent, the Prophet (pbuh) would say “ write them in this part in that surah”. And He himself used to memorize them. 

The custom became current this way: When a person makes a speech spontaneously, he cannot remember all of his former speeches. He cannot remember and thus he cannot make their ending appropriate for their beginning. In addition, some verses were sent during a war or at a moment of an unpleasant event. And some were sent at the moment of conflict between tribes and during a controversy between nations. Lapse of time over the Qur’an did not make it lose its quality but in contrast, it resulted in showing its pellucidity clearer to people. As the circle of knowledge and comprehension were expanding, people’s belief in he Qur’an were increasing because the Qur’an was strengthening the connection between religion and knowledge. The decrees in the Qur’an were becoming more apparent along with the development of social systems. To sum up, we can say that to think on the Qur’an and on the features of it is the path for guidance and the path toward the truth. Also this leads human to the fact that the Qur’an was sent by Allah and this gives them the message that entering the right path with His guidance is obligatory. The Qur’an leads people to the opinion that it is essentially suitable for “The perfect nature of innateness” and compatible with humans’ deeds; people can find happiness both in the world and in the hereafter in the Quran.

If Muslims had contemplated the Qur’an thoroughly and had always followed the right path with its guidance, their morals and good manner would not have become spoiled. And their administrators would not have tended to act unjustly and their rule would not have been eliminated. ( Ali Arslan, Büyük Kur’an Tefsiri)

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