Conviction In The Holy Quran

[Syed KamiL Abbas Jafri]

Ibn Abil-‘Awjaa, Abu Shakir al-Daisani Zindeeq, ‘Abdul-Malik Basri and Abu Muqaffa’ once met near the Holy Ka’bah and started ridiculing the pilgrims and the Holy Quran.

Ibn Abil-‘Awjaa said, “There is nothing special about this Book. Let us each take a quarter of it and make verses like it. Then let us agree to meet again at the same place during the Hajj season and see what each of us has accomplished. If we are able to produce a book like Quran then the prophethood of Muhammad (saww) will automatically be nullified and this is what we desire to see”.

In the following year, all four atheists met up at the same place during the Hajj season.

Ibn Abil-‘Awja shook his head sadly and said, “I hope you guys succeeded. I got stuck in this verse: “When they had despaired of (moving) him, they withdrew to confer privately”. (12:80) I cannot make out its depth”.

‘Abdul-Malik Basri said, “Since I departed from you, I have been wondering about this verse: “O mankind! Listen to a parable that is being drawn: Indeed those whom you invoke besides Allah will never create (even) a fly and even if they all rallied to do so! And if a fly should take away something from them, they cannot recover that from it. Feeble is the seeker and the sought!” (22:73) I have not bee n successful in creating a verse like this!”

Abu Shakir al-Daisani said, “I am stuck in this verse: “Had there been gods in them (heavens and earth) other than Allah, they would surely have fallen apart”. (21:22)

Finally Abu Muqaffa’ said, “This is definitely not an ordinary book. I have been reflecting on this verse: “Then it was said: ‘O earth, swallow your water! O sky, leave off!’ The waters receded; the edict was carried out, and it (Noah’s Ark) settled on (Mount) Judi. Then it was said, ‘Away with the wrongdoing lot’”. (11:44) I have still not understood its depth and have been unsuccessful to produce a similar verse”.

At that instant, Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (as) passed by and he (as) recited,

“Say: ‘Should all humans and jinn rally to bring the like of this Quran, they will not bring the like of it, even if they assisted one another’”.(17:88)

Hearing this from Imam (as), the four atheists started accusing each other and admitted that Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (as) was indeed the truthful successor of Prophet Muhammad (saww). They also admitted their defeat in his presence. (Al-Ihtijaaj)