A Literary Challenge : " Bring Something similar "

A Literary Challenge :

" Bring Something

similar "

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Many people do not understand the literary challenge of Quran

in order to produce something like it

Assume that simply means writing something as " good"

as the Qur'an .

Because of this , many skeptics point out - correctly - that

literary value judgments are highly subjective . If someone

says he thinks a certain selection of prose or poetry better than

Quran , who could argue with him ? It's really

a matter of personal judgment and taste? Who would

referee?

The challenge of the Qur'an , however, is not simply write

something of equal literary merit , but to produce something like the Qur'an .

This can be seen in all the verses of challenge. god

says :

" Say (O Muhammad ) if mankind and jinn joined together

to produce something like this Qur'an , not be able to even

is to help one another . " (Quran 17:88 )

God says :

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" Or they say ." He has forged it ' Say: ' Then bring

ten suras forged , similar to him , and asked ( aid ) to

both , whom ye , besides Allah , if ye are truthful .

But if ye are not met , know , then, that this ( Qur'an )

was revealed by the permission of God, and that there is no god

besides Him . Ye then Muslims ? . ' " (Quran 11:13)

God says :

" Or they say, ' He has forged it . ' Say: ' Then bring a chapter like

this and call if you can , other than God , if you are truthful ' "

( Qur'an l0 : 38 )

God says :

" And if ye are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down on

Our servant , do you see a sura equal to a single chapter , and

call your witnesses besides God if you are truthful . "

But if ye do not - and will not that do you - beware of the fire whose

fuel is men and stones , prepared for the

. unbelievers " ( Qur'an 2 : 23-24 )

So it's not simply a matter of quality - not

even have to be of equal merit ! Similarity is all that matters .

What is required for the challenge is to reach at least a level

comparable literary beauty, nobility and sublimity of the Quran

while at the same time mimics the particular style

Quran .

You can superficially mimic the style of the Qur'an and many

people were successful in doing so - but all attempts

since the days of Musailimah to date proven to be silly and

absurd and often invoked laughter and derision . This is a

unanimous consent of all who heard or read those attempts .

Likewise , it is possible for a person writing in

Arabic to reach a high level of literary excellence and , in most

poignant poetry and prose, convey the thoughts and

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noblest sentiments - but nobody has ever done this using

Quran's particular style .

And what an elusive style it proved to be ! The Qur'an is neither

Arabic prose nor in what is acknowledged as Arabic verse .

It is not written in a combination of prose and poetry, but

none of these forms . It is unique . At the same time , the Qur'an is

internally consistent in maintaining your unique style .

Only the Qur'an has the highest level of literary excellence

- To the point of getting people to ecstasy and tears - while

maintaining this style .

This , then, is the acid test : Write something in the same style

Qur'an and in doing so produce something of quality and sublimity

similar .

Still, one could argue that the evaluation of

results is still grounded in subjective literary tastes . of

agreement. However , the second part of the challenge is to bring

witnesses to attest to the quality of this assessment , not only

to the claim.

Throughout history people have tried to write in style

the Quran . The results have always been so laughable that

nobody would venture to say that he believes the effort is

equates the Quran in literary merit . The reason why nobody

dared I do it is not fear of reprisal - as some skeptics

suggested - but the fear of looking like a complete idiot . one

early example was :

Al -Feel

Feel - bad

Wa maa adraaka feel ill

Dhanabun radheel Lahu , wa Taweel khurtoomun

... which translates as :

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The Elephant -

What is the elephant ?

And what do you understand what is the elephant ?

He has a scraggly tail and a very long trunk .

We can guarantee that this is a successful attempt to

imitating the superficial style of the Quran . Is clearly framed

in the opening verses of Surah al - Qariah or Surah al - Haaqqah .

However, with this model, it is not surprising that people do not

are willing to put their reputation at risk to prove its

literary excellence .

We should pause to consider : what other style

Literary produced a great literary work and indisputable , the

same time guaranteed to bring the most wretched failure to

anyone attempting to try it ?

Usually it's not a bad idea written imitate a style

successful. However, a challenge to produce a single

chapter like the Koran - the shortest chapter being merely three

verses of modest length - has proven impossible to

satisfied.

We must remember that not all Arabic speakers are

Muslims . Many are Christians and Jews . Some are atheists .

They live in all parts of the world. Among all these Arabs nãomuçulmanos , there are poets and prose writers

prominent and important literary critics . None of them claims

they or someone else has produced a job

Literary resembling the Quran , in both style

quality.

For someone who speaks Arabic , this is an obvious thing . any

Arab who looks at people's attempts to write the

style of the Quran generally falls into laughter at his

inability or banality .

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Those who did not speak Arabic , although they may not have this

experience directly, can ascertain that no

serious literary claim has been made .

Surely , there is subjectivity in any review

literary . That would be a problem in a challenge with a single

judge or a panel of judges , or if there is a biased criterion

as " only Muslims scholars can be judges ."

However , no such restriction in the challenge .

The general consensus of the international Arabic literary community -

and the Arab masses - is that there is nothing that satisfies

challenge. This is an objective standard evaluation .