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Quran 2:23

Quran 2:23

 

Arabic Text and Translation

وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ

Transliteration: Wa in kuntum fī raymim mimmā nazzalnā 'alā 'abdinā fa'tū bisūratim mim mithlihī wad'ū shuhadā'akum min dūnillāhi in kuntum ṣādiqīn
Easy Translation: "And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down [the Quran] upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a single chapter like it, and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful."

Easy Word-by-Word Meaning

This verse is one of the most famous in the Quran because it contains The Challenge (At-Tahaddi). After establishing the signs of Allah in creation, it now presents the ultimate proof of the Quran's divine origin.

  1. وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا (Wa in kuntum fī raymim mimmā nazzalnā 'alā 'abdinā): "And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down [the Quran] upon Our Servant..."

    • "Our Servant" refers to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This title shows his status as a human being chosen to deliver a divine message.

    • It directly addresses the doubters and skeptics.

  2. فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِۦ (fa'tū bisūratim mim mithlihī): "...then produce a single chapter like it..."

    • This is the challenge. Allah does not ask them to produce an entire book. He asks for just one Surah (chapter)—even the shortest one, like Surah Al-Ikhlas or Al-Kawthar—that matches the Quran's style.

    • "Like it" means matching its unique literary beauty, its profound meaning, its prophecies, and its scientific accuracy.

  3. وَٱدْعُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ (wad'ū shuhadā'akum min dūnillāhi): "...and call upon your witnesses other than Allah..."

    • They can get all the help they want—their poets, their linguists, their scholars—anyone they consider a witness or supporter besides Allah.

  4. إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ (in kuntum ṣādiqīn): "...if you should be truthful."

    • This is the conclusion. The challenge is a test of their truthfulness. If they are truly convinced that the Quran is a human-made book, then they should be able to meet this challenge easily.

Relevance in the Past, Present, and Future

1. Past Relevance: A Direct Challenge to the Masters of Arabic

When this verse was revealed, the Arabs were masters of their language. They took immense pride in their poetry and eloquence.

  • The Quran's language was so powerful and unique that it stunned them. They knew it was unlike any human speech they had ever heard.

  • This challenge left them powerless. They could not produce anything like it, even though they were the most skilled people for the task. Their failure was a silent admission of the Quran's miracle.

2. Present Relevance: The Everlasting Miracle

In our modern age of science and reason, this challenge is more relevant than ever. It is a living miracle that anyone can test.

  • The Challenge Still Stands: For over 1400 years, no one has been able to meet this challenge. Critics, poets, and linguists have tried and failed. This continuous failure is itself a proof of the Quran's divine origin.

  • It Appeals to Reason: In a skeptical world, the Quran does not ask for blind faith. It presents a rational, verifiable challenge. It invites people to use their intellect to investigate its claim.

  • Beyond Just Language: The challenge is not only about linguistic beauty. It also includes:

    • Scientific Accuracy: The Quran contains scientific facts that were unknown 1400 years ago (e.g., embryology, the expansion of the universe).

    • Historical Accuracy: Its stories of past nations are free from the myths common in other texts.

    • Prophetic Fulfillment: Its prophecies about the future have come true.

    • Consistency: It contains no contradictions, despite being revealed over 23 years in different situations.

3. Future Relevance: An Eternal Proof

This verse guarantees the Quran's status as the final proof for humanity until the Last Day.

  • A Proof for Every Generation: As long as the Quran exists, this challenge will be there for every future generation to consider. It is a timeless miracle, unlike the miracles of previous prophets which were confined to their time and place.

  • A Source of Confidence for Believers: It gives Muslims unshakable confidence in their faith. They know their holy book is not a product of its time but the literal word of God, protected from change.

  • The Ultimate Test: On the Day of Judgment, this verse will stand as a testimony against those who rejected the message. They were given a clear, rational test and they failed to meet it, proving that their rejection was based on arrogance, not a lack of evidence.

Conclusion

Quran 2:23 is the ultimate proof of Islam.

It teaches us that:

  1. The Quran is a verifiable miracle. Its divine origin is not a matter of blind faith but can be intellectually investigated through this challenge.

  2. Allah's proof is clear and accessible to anyone who is sincere in seeking the truth.

  3. The failure of humanity to meet this challenge for over 14 centuries is the strongest evidence that the Quran is from Allah.

This verse is an open invitation to all of humanity: if you doubt, then try. And in trying, you will discover the truth that millions have found—that this Book could only be from the Creator of the heavens and the earth.