Through Force or Faith? — Page 241
Chapter 6 — Islam: Knowledge, Wisdom, and Rationality 241 have its effect on the soul of the person, and his heart would change for the better, and you will see that the same person who was cruel and callous to you, his animosity is transformed into deep friendship. Study of the Quran makes it clear that it provides reasoning in support of every claim it makes; and it also demands a proof from the opponents in support of their claims. For example, the Quran claims that it is the Word of God, while its opponents said it was not and that it was composed by the Prophet himself. The Quran puts forward a proof in support of its claim, and says: ِهّٰللا ْنِا ْمُتْنُك َنْيِقِدٰصَو ْنِا ْمُتْنُك ْيِف ٍبْيَر اَّمِّم اَنْلَّزَن ىٰلَع اَنِدْبَع اْوُتْاَف ٍةَرْوُسِب ْنِّم ٖهِلْثِّم١۪ َو اْوُعْدا ْمُكَءٓاَدَهُش ْنِّم ِنْوُد And if you are in doubt as to what We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a chapter like it, and call upon your helpers besides Allah, if you are truthful ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:24). ْمَا َنْوُلْوُقَي ٗهَلَّوَقَت١ۚ ْلَب اَّل َنْوُنِمْؤُي اْوُتْاَيْلَف ٍثْيِدَحِب ٖۤهِلْثِّم ْنِا اْوُناَك َنْيِقِدٰص Do they say, ‘He has fabricated it?’ Nay, but they would not believe. Let them, then bring forth a narration like this, if they speak the truth ( S u rah a t - Tu r, 52:34–35). َنْيِقِدٰصْمَا َنْوُلْوُقَي ُهىٰرَتْفا١ؕ ْلُق اْوُتْاَف ٍةَرْوُسِب ٖهِلْثِّم َو اْوُعْدا ِنَم ْمُتْعَطَتْسا ْنِّم ِنْوُد ِهّٰللا ْنِا ْمُتْنُك Do they say, ‘He has forged it?’ Say, ‘Bring then a S u rah like unto it, and call for help on all you can, besides Allah, if you are truthful’ ( S u rah Y u nus, 10:39).