The Preservation of the Qur’an: Divine Guidance and Unmatched Authenticity

Humanity has always received divine instruction through two inseparable channels: the direct Word of God (the Scripture) and the example of the Prophet chosen to convey it (the Sunnah). If either channel is neglected, the original clarity of God's will risks being compromised.

Historically, this dual reliance has been inconsistent. Some traditions, like the Hindu scriptures, focused solely on the sacred texts while gradually neglecting the role of their prophets, leading to confusion over meaning. Similarly, early Christians, by focusing intensely on the person of Jesus Christ while neglecting the original message and timely recording of the revelation, eventually lost the core essence of pure monotheism (Tawhīd) contained within the original teachings, ultimately deifying the Prophet himself.

The main scriptures revealed before the Qur'an—the Old and New Testaments—acquired their final form long after the era of the prophets. Critically, the New Testament was not recorded in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, but in Greek, because early followers made no immediate, collective effort to preserve the revelation in its original linguistic form.

In contrast, the preservation of the Holy Qur'an, as the final revealed word of God, is unique, guaranteed, and meticulously documented.

I. The Unmatched Preservation of the Qur'an

God Himself guaranteed the preservation of the Qur'an, ensuring it would remain the guide for all humanity without alteration. This protection was achieved through a comprehensive, two-fold method during the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) lifetime:

1. Written Preservation: The entire Qur'an was recorded in writing immediately upon its revelation by the Prophet’s designated scribes on available materials, such as palm leaves, parchment, and bone fragments.
2. Oral Preservation (Memorization): Tens of thousands of the Prophet's followers memorized the entire text perfectly. The Prophet himself recited the complete Qur'an to the Angel Gabriel once a year (twice in the year of his death), reinforcing the exact order and wording.

Following the Prophet’s passing, the process of authentication and standardization continued with unparalleled rigor:

• Initial Collection: Under the direction of the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s chief scribe, Zayd Ibn Thābit, collected all the authenticated written fragments into a single volume (Mushaf), verifying every verse against both written records and the memorization of companions.
• Final Standardization: Under the third Caliph, Uthmān Ibn Affān, several authoritative copies were prepared from this original volume and sent to all major Muslim territories. All other differing versions were then destroyed to ensure absolute unity of the text, a consistency that remains globally intact today.

II. The Universal and Practical Wisdom

The Qur'an was meticulously preserved because its guidance is universal and timeless, addressing humanity as a whole: “O Man! What has seduced you from your Lord?” It speaks to the core human condition.

The wisdom of the Qur'an is conclusive and practical:

• It does not condemn the physical body nor does it neglect the soul.
• It does not deify man, nor does it humanize God.
• Its instructions aim for the general welfare of humankind and are based on moral and ethical possibilities within human reach. Everything is placed precisely where it belongs in the total scheme of creation.

III. Arguments Against Human Authorship

The claim by some scholars that Muhammad wrote the Qur'an is often challenged by three key, compelling questions:

1. The Scientific Challenge: Is it humanly possible for a man living in the 7th century CE to utter scientific truths, such as the accurate description of the evolution of the embryo inside the uterus, that perfectly align with modern scientific findings? Scholars like Maurice Bucaille concluded that an objective examination of the Qur'an in light of modern knowledge reveals an "unthinkable" agreement with scientific data, making it impossible for a man of Muhammad’s time to be the author.
2. The Literary Challenge: Is it logical to believe that the Prophet, who was known as the "Unlettered Prophet" (al-nabī al-ummī) until the age of forty, suddenly authored a book that is recognized as being without equal in literary merit—a feat that the highest caliber of Arab poets and orators of the time could not surpass?
3. The Integrity Challenge: Is it justified to claim that Muhammad (peace be upon him), known to his people as al-Amīn (The Trustworthy) and still admired by non-Muslim scholars for his honesty, came forth with a false claim and, on the basis of that falsehood, trained thousands of individuals of impeccable character who established the most honest and disciplined human society the world has ever known?

IV. The Consensus of Western Scholars

The profound literary power and transformative effect of the Qur'an have been affirmed by countless non-Muslim scholars:

• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Poet and Statesman): Praised the Qur'an's effect on the reader: “However often we turn to it... it soon attracts, astounds, and in the end enforces our reverence... Its style, in accordance with its contents and aim, is stern, grand, terrible - ever and anon truly sublime. Thus this book will go on exercising through all ages a most potent influence.”
• George Margoliouth (British Orientalist): Acknowledged the Qur'an’s revolutionary power: “It has created an all but new phase of human thought and a fresh type of character. It first transformed a number of heterogeneous desert tribes of the Arabian peninsula into a nation of heroes, and then proceeded to create the vast politico-religious organizations... which are one of the great forces... to reckon today.”
• Dr. Steingass (German Orientalist): Was amazed by its effectiveness: “If it spoke so powerfully and convincingly to the hearts of his hearers as to weld hitherto centrifugal and antagonistic elements into one compact and well-organized body... then its eloquence was perfect, simply because it created a civilized nation out of savage tribes, and shot a fresh woof into the old warp of history.”
• Arthur J. Arberry (British Orientalist and Translator): Emphasized the Qur'an’s artistic quality: “...constitute the Koran's undeniable claim to rank amongst the greatest literary masterpieces of mankind... that inimitable symphony.”

These observations force the unbiased observer to conclude that the Qur'an is indeed the authentic, revealed book of God, providing enduring hope and guidance for humanity's perpetual challenges.