The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 431
The Holy Qur'an 431 comprise all these perfect qualities. One is filled with awe by the contemplation at one time of all these overt and covert excellences, and a wise person is assured that it is beyond human reason and imagination to produce such a combination. A rose does not inspire such awe. . The Holy Qur'ān possesses this speciality that its qualities that have been mentioned as proof of its matchlessness are self-obvious. When an opponent finds that not one letter of it is out of place and not in accord with wisdom and appropriateness, and that not a single phrase of it is such as is not sorely needed for the reform of the age together with such perfection of eloquence that it is not possible to replace one line of its text with another, his heart is overcome by a great awe. . An ignorant person who has never considered these matters might perhaps ask what is the proof that all these qualities are to be found in the Surah Fātiḥah, and indeed in the whole of the Holy Qur'an. The proof is that those who considered the matchless excellences of the Holy. Qur'an and found its text possessing such eloquence that they failed utterly to produce its like, and found its verities and fine points of such high degree that they did not find their match in the whole world, and observed such wonderful effects in it as are not to be found in human words, and observed this holy quality in it that it was not revealed without purpose, but descended at a time of true need, they at once admitted its matchless greatness. . Those who on account of their eternal misfortune were deprived of the bounty of faith were yet so overawed by this matchless composition that in their confusion they announced that it was plain magic. A just person finds it a strong argument in support of the matchlessness of the. Holy Qur'an and a bright proof, that despite the fact that