The Qur’an established a mode of thought leading to the truth...

The Qur’an established a mode of thought leading to the truth, which is identified as thought that eschews all obstinacy, caprice and fanaticism. From the very first day that the Prophet began preaching his message of monotheism, he summoned people also to a realistic vision of the world. When inviting them to faith, he addressed their wisdom and intelligence and called on them to use their eyes and their ears to perceive the truth.

He unshackled them from custom and usage, from obstinately clinging to ancient heritages, and strove to convince them that they should not perversely insist on retaining the beliefs and loyalties that had been born of polytheism. Although these efforts earned him bitter harassment, he was not dismayed, and he did not give up before fulfilling the role that the Creator had given him in improving men's lives.

Many of the polytheists did not permit themselves to listen to the Qur’an for they were well aware of its remarkable effect and afraid that its profound and astonishing influence might conquer their hearts as well, drawing them ineluctably towards it.

Ibn Hisham writes in his life of the Prophet: "So strong was the heartfelt desire of the people to hear the Qur’an that even some of the unbelievers of the Quraysh would stealthily go near the Prophet's house at night, remaining there until dawn, in order to listen throughout the night to the pleasing melody of the Qur’an as recited by the Messenger of God.

This happened many times.”[^1] When the revelation of the Qur’an began, the Most Noble Messenger clearly proclaimed the Qur’an to be the Word of God, and said it was impossible for any human being to duplicate it; if anyone disagreed, he ought to make an attempt to copy it, and should feel free to seek help from any source in doing so. None was able to take up this challenge and produce even a short surah similar to the Qur’an.

Still more remarkable is the fact that the utterances of the Prophet, whose tongue would recite the Qur’an, bore no resemblance whatsoever to the Qur’an. This is in itself a convincing proof that the Qur’an originated from a source other than the mind of the Prophet. The Qur’an Modifies the Conditions of its Challenge The Qur’an issued a challenge not only to the contemporaries of the Prophet but also to men in all ages.