Mormons claim the Book of Mormon can't be replicated, the people during his time In the 1800s, particularly during the Romantic era, there was a heightened emphasis on poetry and language in various aspects of society.
They claim Joesph Smith couldn't read or write so it would be impossible for him to write such a book even exceeding poets of his time, even causing many to accept his religion he couldn't write such a book and therefore it is the inspired word of God which American prophets wrote.
If we deny such claims what makes the Quran's linguistic claims much different, we could even say no one tried to write something like Bom during Joe's time, but why does it prove actually?
Here are a few non-Mormon individuals who have acknowledged the Book of Mormon as a work that is difficult to replicate in terms of its style and impact:
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Carl Van Doren: Carl Van Doren, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer and literary critic, commented on the Book of Mormon's distinctive style. He recognized its unique narrative structure and described it as a "book of surprising literary power."
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Harold Bloom: Harold Bloom, previously mentioned for his praise of the Book of Mormon's literary qualities, was not a Mormon himself. He argued that the book's style and impact are difficult to replicate, emphasizing its originality within the context of American literature.
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Jan Shipps: Jan Shipps, a non-Mormon historian and scholar of American religion, has recognized the Book of Mormon's impact and significance. While she has expressed scepticism about its historical claims, she has acknowledged its enduring influence on Mormon culture and literature.
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Richard L. Anderson: Richard L. Anderson, a non-Mormon scholar and historian, has conducted extensive research on the Book of Mormon. While he has not explicitly commented on its style, his work emphasizes the book's complexity and the challenges faced in attempting to replicate or dismiss it.
The ridiculous level of Incoherence in the Quran
The Quran is so incoherent that thousands of the top commentators of the Quran of the last 14 centuries are trying to understand it, but are still unable to do it.
For example, the verses which were revealed during the Meccan period are present in the Medinan Surahs and vice versa, making it impossible for a normal person to understand which verse is talking about which incident.
This disorder is not limited to the Surahs (Chapter), but this disease goes beyond this issue. For example, even in a single verse, the first part is talking about one event, but the second part is talking about another event which took place years later, and then the 3rd part of the same verse starts talking about the 1st event again.
Look at this verse from the Quran:
Quran 5:3:
[1st part of the verse 5:3 about the EVENT 1] Forbidden to you are carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, the strangled animal, that beaten to death, that which has fallen from a height, that which has been gored by horns, and that which has been preyed upon by wild beasts, except for that which you have slaughtered [according to Islamic law], and that which has been sacrificed on [stone] altars. And forbidden to you is fortune-telling by arrows. This is transgression.
[2nd part of the verse 5:3 which starts talking about the EVENT 2, which happened many years later after the event 1] This day have those who disbelieve despaired of your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me. This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
[3rd part of the verse 5:3, which again starts talking about the EVENT 1] But whoever is compelled by severe hunger, neither inclining willfully to sin nor transgressing its limit, there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
All the commentators of the Quran are unanimous that:
- The first part of this verse is about Haram (prohibited) foods, and this order was revealed in the 6th Hijri year at the time of the Pact of Hudaybiyyah.
- But the 2nd (middle) part of this verse suddenly started talking about the "Perfection of Religion", and this part was revealed at a totally different time in the 10th Hijri year, about 81 days before the death of Muhammad. And this part has nothing to do with the previous part of the verse.
- And the 3rd and last part of the verse (i.e. sentence) again returns to the first incident about Haram foods, which was revealed at the incident of the Pact of Hudaybiyyah in the 6th Hijri year.
Maulana Modoodi wrote in his commentary of the Quran under this verse:
“According to authentic traditions, this 2nd part of the verse (about the perfection of religion) was revealed at the time of “Last Sermon” in the 10th Hijri year. But the initial part of the verse was about the Pact of Hudaybiyyah (which happened in the 6th Hijri year).
Maulana Taqi Uthmani wrote in his commentary of the Quran under this verse:
Some Jews said to Umar Ibn Khattab, had this verse “This day have I perfected for you your religion” revealed upon them, then they would have taken it as a day of Eid (celebration). Upon that Umar told the Jews that they didn't know that two Eids of Muslims were combined on this day. This verse was revealed in the 10 th Hijri year at the incident of "Last Sermon" at the place of "Urfa" at the time of "Asr Prayer". There were 40 thousand companions with prophet Muhammad. And the holy prophet remained alive for 81 days after this incident.
Is there any book other than the Quran which could be so much Incoherent?
For sure, even the Bible is also incoherent in many places, but still, it is tens of times better in incoherence than the Quran and even a normal person can understand it while reading it. But this thing is not possible with the Quran, and a normal person is absolutely not able to understand it, despite the big claims of Muslims and the Quran itself that Allah made the Quran easy to understand for the people.
Actually, the biggest miracle is how billions of Muslims could consider such an incoherent book like Quran to be a miracle.
What the native Arabic speakers (Meccans) thought of the Quran
Please note, the challenge in the Quran about bringing a chapter like this, was not about the EXCELLENCE of Poetry or Prose or Linguistic Eloquence. No, but it was only to bring Tales of ancient people like the Quran brought. Here are the verses about that Quranic challenge:
- "Or do they say he (i.e. Muhammad) has fabricated it? Say bring then a chapter like unto it, and call upon whom you can besides God, if you speak truly!" (10:38)
- "Or do they say he has fabricated it? Nay! They believe not! Let them then produce a recital like unto it if they speak the truth." (52:34)
- "And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down to our servant, then produce a chapter of the like." (2:23)
- "If men and Jinn banded together to produce the like of this Qur'an they would never produce its like not though they backed one another." (17:88)
- "Say, Bring you then ten chapters like unto it, and call whomsoever you can, other than God, if you speak the truth!" (11:13)
The Meccans responded to this challenge by saying:
- "When Our Signs are rehearsed to them, they say: 'We have heard this (before): if we wished, we could say (words) like these: these are nothing but tales of the ancients.'" (Quran 8:31)
They also accused Muhammad of fabricating these tales of ancient people with the help of others.
- "This [Quran] is not except a falsehood he fabricated, and another people assisted him in it. And they say: '(These are the) Tales of the ancients, which he has written down.'" (Quran 25:4-5)
As a result:
- The native Arabic-speaking Meccans never considered the Quran as a MIRACLE, either on the level of linguistic eloquence or on any other level.
- And for them, the Quranic Challenge was only limited to bringing the Tales of ancient people.
Please also read the article by Hasan Radwan: “Bring Something Like it!”
And also watch this video.
Hassan Radwan