Question:

If the Qurʾān is a linguistic miracle of inimitability and quotes the supplications of Prophets, is this not self-refuting, since a Prophet was able to formulate exact like-wording to that of God?

al-Āyāt al-Mutashābihāt fī ‘l-Qurʾān is the science of closely worded Quranic verses. Ḥifẓ students are encouraged to familiarise the differences between mutashābihāt verses to better retain their memorisation of the Qurʾān. A variety of mutashābihāt works are available to accommodate different learning styles and progress amounts. Below is a discussion regarding two books from these works.

The Day of Judgement is the day appointed by Allāh to recompense good or evil deeds. The world is only the field of action, the place where one is required to perform one’s duty and not the place of receiving one’s reward. The mere fact that man happens to be healthy and wealthy or powerful does not necessarily mean that he has won the pleasure and favour of Allāh. Similarly, the mere fact that a man happens to be ill, poor or weak does not indicate that he is the object of Allāh’s wrath.

The Qur’ān is the speech of Allah, Most High. The word “Qur’ān” is grammatically a verbal noun (masdar) meaning “gathering” and “joining”, and also “reading”. Hence, a Qur’ān is that which gathers the chapters together and joins them; that is why it is called the Qur’ān. In this case the word holds a meaning of an active participle (ism al-fā’il). One can also interpret it as “that which is read” (al-maqrū’), since it is read and recited. In this case, the verbal noun takes the meaning of the passive participle (ism al maf’ūl).