The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 383
The Holy Qur'an 383 effect of the company of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him]. When we see what kind of people they were before they embraced Islām and what were their ways and habits, and then in consequence of keeping company with the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him] and following the Holy. Qur'an, how they changed from their low condition into a clean and pure condition in their beliefs, their morals, their conduct, their conversation, their behaviour and all their ways, we would have to confess that this great change, which invested their rusted personalities with a wonderful freshness and bestowed upon them light and brightness, was an extraordinary transformation brought about by the hand of God Almighty. . . . This transformation was so extraordinary as to deserve being called a miracle. . A third miracle of the Holy Qur'ān which is present before our eyes is its verities, insights and fine points with which its eloquent composition is replete. This miracle has been set forth very forcefully in the Holy Qur'ān. It is said that, if all men, high and low, were to combine together to produce its like, it would not be possible for them to do so. 229 This miracle is proved by the fact that during the last 1,300 years, although the Holy Qur'ān has been very widely published and challenges are being hurled right and left, yet no one has ever dared to take up the challenge. This proves clearly that all human faculties are unable to compete with the Holy Qur'ān. . Even if out of the hundreds of excellences of the Holy. Qur'an, only one is put forward and its match is de229 The reference is to Bani Isrā'il, 17:89. (Ed. )