THE CREATED QURAN

According to Sunni Islam, the Quran is believed to be one of the attributes (sifaat) of Allah, being the speech of Allah (kalamullah). Sunnis reason from this fact, since the attributes of Allah are not created, the Quran is, therefore, uncreated.

On the other hand, there have been other Islamic groups (such as the Shia) that reject this assertion, arguing, instead, that the Quran is a part of creation. They argue that the Quran was brought into existence, and therefore has a beginning.   

The evidence of the Quran itself supports the latter position, since we find plentiful verses which speak of Allah making or creating the Muslim scripture.

Note, for instance, the following ayat:

We have made it (jaalnahu) a Qur’an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom). S. 43:3 Y. Ali

Here’s how one lexicon defines the verb jaal:

Jiim-Ayn-Lam = He made a thing, he created/brought into being/existence. He made to be/become/constitute. He made to be in a altered state/condition. He pronounced a thing by a true judgement/decision/legal ordinance, his judgement. Described them as females, pronounced them to be females, He made known/plain, He exalted/ennobled/called/named (as in a nation) He inserted a thing into a thing (Ex: They put their fingers into their ears) He put into the heart/mind, He appointed/assigned/stipulated to give wages/pay/stipend. He set about/began/commenced/commenced/took to/betook himself to, doing such a thing; He persisted, a piece of rag with which a cooking pot is put down from the fire, short palm trees/shoots/offsets. (Project Roots List http://www.studyquran.co.uk/10_JIIM.htm; emphasis mine)

In fact, this specific Arabic term is used synonymously and/or interchangeably with the verb for create, khalaq, just as we see in the case of the next verse:  

Praise be God, Who created (khalaqa) the heavens and the earth, and made (wa’jaala) the darkness and the light. Yet those who reject Faith hold (others) as equal, with their Guardian-Lord. S. 6:1 Y. Ali  

Therefore, the Islamic text itself states plainly that it is something which Allah created/made. Nor is this the only place where it states this:

And thus have We, by Our Command, sent inspiration to thee: thou knewest not (before) what was Revelation, and what was Faith; but We have made (jaalnahu) the (Qur’an) a Light, wherewith We guide such of Our servants as We will; and verily thou dost guide (men) to the Straight Way, – S. 42:52 Y. Ali

Elsewhere, the Quran speaks of Allah making it a clear revelation:

Alif Lam Ra (This is) a Book, whose verses are made decisive (ohkimat), then are they made plain (thumma fussilat), from the Wise, All-aware: S. 11:1 Shakir

So have We made (yassarnahu) the (Qur’an) easy in thine own tongue, that with it thou mayest give Glad Tidings to the righteous, and warnings to people given to contention. S. 19:97 Y. Ali

A Book of which the verses are made plain (fussilat), an Arabic Quran for a people who know: S. 41:3 Shakir

And if WE had made it (jaalnahu) a Qur’an in a foreign tongue, they, surely, would have said, `Why have not its verses been made clear (fussilat)? What! a foreign tongue and an Arab Prophet?’ Say, `It is a guidance and a healing for those who believe.’ But as to those who believe not, there is a deafness in their ears and to them it is blindness. They are, as it were, being called from a far-off place.  S. 41:44 Sher Ali

And We have indeed made (yassarna) the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition? S. 54:17 Y. Ali

The question that arises is, how can an uncreated word/revelation be made anything? For it to be made into something implies that it didn’t always exist in that condition, and, therefore, cannot be without a beginning.

To make matters worse, the Muslim scripture speaks of that which existed before it:

Thus do We relate to thee some stories of what happened before: for We have sent thee a Message from Our own Presence. S. 20:99 Y. Ali

We did indeed aforetime give the Book to Moses: be not then in doubt of its reaching (thee): and We made it (wa’jaalnahu) a guide to the Children of Israel. S. 32:23 Y. Ali

Note how the same verb jaal is employed for the composition/compilation of the revelation give to/through Moses.

And:

The Unbelievers say of those who believe: “If (this Message) were a good thing, (such men) would not have gone to it first, before us!” And seeing that they guide not themselves thereby, they will say, “this is an (old,) falsehood!” And before this (qablihi), was the Book of Moses as a guide and a mercy: And this Book confirms (it) in the Arabic tongue; to admonish the unjust, and as Glad Tidings to those who do right. S. 46:11-12 Y. Ali

Again, there can be no “before” when speaking of an uncreated reality/entity. Thus, if the Quran were beginningless then there could be nothing that was before it, since it would atemporal, i.e., without any temporality/time.

These are just some of the many texts which show that, contrary to Sunni beliefs, the Muslim “revelation” is not an uncreated attribute of the Islamic deity.

FURTHER READING

BUKHARI & THE UNCREATED QURAN

THE UNCREATED CREATED QURAN

The Quran As A Model For the Incarnation and Hypostatic Union Pt. 1

Revisiting The Issue of the Uncreated Quran Pt. 1

ETERNALLY CREATED TABLETS?

 THE TALKING QURAN: UTHMAN IBN FAROOQ’S LIES EXPOSED

MUHAMMADAN JALAL’S CENTENARIANITY EXPOSED

DEBATE CHALLENGE TO MUSLIM METAPHYSICIAN PT. 2

A Critique of Shabir Ally’s Debate Tactics Pt. 2aPt. 2b

One thought on “THE CREATED QURAN

Leave a comment