We believe that this noble Qur'an is the word of the Lord of the worlds, and it was brought down by the Trustworthy Spirit, Jibrīl. This is regarded as common knowledge in Islam. Muslims have a consensus over this, and none of them disputes it. This issue - that the Qur'an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds - is established by countless proofs, one of which is:
Allah's testimony that this Qur'an is from Him. Allah Almighty says: {Say: "Whose testimony is the greatest?" Say: "Allah is Witness between me and you. This Qur’an has been revealed to me so that I may warn you thereby and whomsoever it reaches."} [Surat al-An‘ām: 19] He Almighty also says: {But Allah bears witness to what He has sent down to you, as He has sent it down with His knowledge.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 166]
Another proof is the angels' testimony that this Qur'an is a revelation from the All-Wise and Praiseworthy Lord, Who says: {But Allah bears witness to what He has sent down to you, as He has sent it down with His knowledge, and the angels bear witness; but sufficient is Allah as a Witness.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 166]
Another proof is its agreement with the teachings brought by the prophets (peace be upon them). An example is the verse that says: {Your Lord has ordained that you worship none but Him, and show kindness to parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, do not say to them a word of annoyance nor scold them, rather speak to them noble words.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 23] Till the verse that reads: {This is part of the wisdom that your Lord has revealed to you [O Prophet]. Do not set up any other god with Allah, or you will be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 39]
Allah Almighty also says: {He has sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming what came before it. And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 3] All these principles which Islam puts emphasis on are the very things called to and stressed by the previous messengers.
The proofs include testimony by the contemporary people of the book for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), which Allah Almighty mentions in the noble Qur’an, saying: {Say: "What do you think, if this [Qur’an] is really from Allah and yet you reject it, and a witness from the Children of Israel has testified in its favor and believed, whereas you persist in arrogance? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."} [Surat al-Ahqāf: 10] After the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed Waraqah about what he had seen, Waraqah said to him: "That is the same angel whom Allah sent to Mūsa." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (3392) and Muslim (160)]
It is reported that Negus asked Ja‘far (may Allah be pleased with him): "Do you have anything of what the Messenger came with?" So, Ja‘far recited to him some verses of the Qur’an. Thereupon, Negus said: "By Allah, these words and the words brought by Mūsa come out of the same lamp." [Narrated by Is'hāq ibn Rahwayh (1835), Ahmad (22498), Ibn Khuzaymah (2260), At-Tahāwi in Sharh Mushkil Al-Āthār (5598), and Abu Na‘īm in Al-Hilyah (1/115) and in Dalā’il An-Nubuwwah (194)]
Among them is testimony by the jinn that this Qur’an is a revelation from Allah Almighty and that it is consistent with what Mūsa (peace be upon him) came with: {And [remember] when We sent to you a group of jinn to listen to the Qur’an. When they heard it, they said [to one another]: "Listen attentively." Then when it was over, they returned to their people as warners. They said: "O our people, we have heard a scripture that has been sent down after Moses, confirming what came before it; it guides to the truth and to a straight path."} [Surat al-Ahqāf: 29-30] Allah Almighty also says: {Say: "It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened [to the Qur’an,] and they said: 'Indeed, we have heard a wondrous recitation that guides to the right way, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord.'"} [Surat al-Jinn: 1-2]
They also include testimony by the Quraysh disbelievers that this Qur’an is not the words of mankind and it differs from their speech. Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he recited some of the Qur’an to him. He seemed to have softened towards it. Abu Jahl came to know about that. So, he went to him and said: "O uncle, your people intend to gather together some money for you." He asked: 'Why?' He replied: "In order to gift you. It seems you went to Muhammad for financial gains." He retorted: "The Quraysh know that I am among the richest of them." Abu Jahl said: "Say something about him so that your people know that you reject him." He answered: "What can I say? By Allah, there is none among you who knows poetry and its various genres better than me, or even the poetry of jinn. By Allah, what he says bears no resemblance to these. By Allah, what he says has a sweetness, it is covered by brightness, its upper part is fruitful, while its bottom is affluent; and that it overcomes and is not overcome, and it crushes what is below it." [Narrated by Al-Hākim (3872) and Al-Bayhaqi in Ash-Shu‘ab (133) and in Dalā’il An-Nubuwwah (2/198)]
One of the proofs is that the Qur’an accords with what Allah Almighty wants from His servants. He, Exalted be He, says: {This is My straight path; follow it and do not follow other ways, lest they lead you away from His way. This is what He commands you, so that you may become righteous.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 153]
Another proof is the fact that the Qur’an contains divine knowledge, Shar‘i rulings, and noble ethics, all of which are consistent with people's natural disposition. Allah Almighty says: {Adhere sincerely to the true religion in all uprightness. This is the natural disposition with which Allah has created mankind. There is no change in Allah’s creation. This is the straight religion, but most people do not know.} [Surat ar-Rūm: 30]
Another proof is that the Qur’an calls to what is good for people and their well-being. This is because Allah is the Creator and He knows the needs of His servants and what is best for their religion, bodies, property, and homes. He, Glorified be He, says: {Does He not know His Own creation, when He is the Most Subtle, the All-Aware?} [Surat al-Mulk: 14] He Almighty gives no command but it serves the best interest and He lays down no prohibition but it seeks the maximum caution and protection.
Another proof is that the noble Qur’an accords with reason. Hence, after Allah Almighty mentions the main prohibitions in Surat al-An‘ām, He concludes them with the phrase: {so that you may understand}. The verse reads: {Say [O Prophet]: “Come, I will recite to you what your Lord has forbidden to you: do not associate any partners with Him, and honor your parents. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty, for We provide for you and for them. Do not approach shameful acts, whether openly or in secret. Do not kill the soul sanctified by Allah, except lawfully. This is what He commands you, so that you may understand."} [Surat al-An‘ām: 151]
The Qur’an addresses the people of intellect too many times to be counted. Moreover, Allah Almighty often asks His servants to think, reflect, and ponder His commands and prohibitions.
Another point is that the proofs offered by the noble Qur'an are too clear, eloquent, and cogent, and they are easily understandable to everyone. This does not apply to any human speech. Allah Almighty says: {This is Allah’s creation. So show Me what others beside Him have created. In fact, the wrongdoers are clearly misguided.} [Surat Luqmān: 11] He, Exalted be He, also says: {If there had been gods besides Allah in the heavens and earth, both realms would have fallen in disorder. Glory be to Allah – Lord of the Throne – far above what they ascribe [to Him].} [Surat al-Anbiyā’: 22] Moreover, its proofs cannot, by any means, lead to falsehood. They are too strong to be refuted or denied. The Almighty Lord says: {And say: "The truth has come and falsehood has perished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to perish."} [Surat al-Isrā’: 81]
Another proof is that the glorious Qur'an, which is the word of the Lord of all the worlds, is easy for everyone to understand. Allah Almighty says: {We have certainly made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember; is there anyone to take heed?} [Surat al-Qamar: 17] It was not usual that a person could write a book that addresses everyone and is easy for anyone to understand. This is only true in the case of this noble Book.
Another proof is that the noble Qur'an is preserved against any change or alteration. Allah Almighty says: {Indeed, it is We Who sent down the reminder and We are indeed its guardians.} [Surat al-Hijr: 9] Allah, the Exalted, determined it to be lasting and enduring till the Day of Judgment. This lastingness, permanence, and lack of change indicates that it is a revelation from the All-Wise and Praiseworthy Lord. Allah Almighty says: {Do they not then ponder on the Qur’an? If it had been from anyone other than Allah, they would have surely found in it many discrepancies.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 82]
As it endures and continues to be preserved and new sciences and discoveries emerge, we do not find any contradiction between it and any scientific fact; rather, all sciences agree with all that is mentioned in the Qur'an, like the creation of the heavens and the creation of mankind.
One of the proofs is that the Qur'an guides to what is most upright and includes all goodness. It tells about the Creator and the creation, the worldly life and the Hereafter, humankind and jinn, the commands and prohibitions, ethics and duties, and Paradise and Hellfire. It includes faith, deeds, and recompense. Allah, Exalted be He, says: {We have not neglected in the Book anything} [Surat al-An‘ām: 38] Allah Almighty also says: {Indeed, this Qur’an guides to what is most upright.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 9]
Another proof is that the noble Qur'an is a cure for diseases. Allah Almighty says: {O mankind, there has come to you an exhortation from your Lord, a cure for [illness] of the hearts, a guidance and mercy for the believers.} [Surat Yūnus: 57] No human speech is known to contain a cure for diseases of the heart and body, unlike this glorious Qur'an, which is the speech of the Lord of all the worlds.
Another proof is that Allah Almighty challenged humankind and jinn to produce the like of the Qur'an or a surah like its surahs. He, Exalted be He, says: {Or do they say: "He fabricated it?" Say: "Produce then one Chapter like it, and call upon whoever you can other than Allah, if you are truthful!"} [Surat Yūnus: 38] Making clear that there is no doubt about the Qur'an, Allah Almighty says: {This Qur’an could not possibly have been produced by anyone other than Allah. It is a confirmation of what came before it and an explanation of the Scripture, and is undoubtedly from the Lord of the worlds.} [Surat Yūnus: 37]
Another proof is that this Qur'an relates to us the stories of the past nations as they took place, though their stories were not familiar to the people of Makkah. However, Allah Almighty relates them to us. He, Exalted be He, says: {We relate to you [O Prophet] the best of stories through Our revelation of this Qur’an, although before this you were unaware of them.} [Surat Yūsuf: 3] This confirms that this is a revelation from an All-Wise, Praiseworthy Lord.
Another proof is that this glorious Qur'an is characterized by the utmost eloquence and comprises information about the unseen, as well as divine laws brought by an unlettered Messenger who could not read or write. Allah Almighty says: {You [O Prophet] never recited any book before this, nor did you write with your hand. Otherwise, the people of falsehood would have raised suspicions.} [Surat al-‘Ankabūt: 48] Allah Almighty also says: {Those who follow the Messenger – the unlettered Prophet – whose description they find in their Torah and the Gospel.} [Surat al-A‘rāf: 157]
One of the proofs is that a surah of the Qur'an would be revealed at sporadic times and different places; nonetheless, it is recited as if it were revealed all at once. On the other hand, people's style and talent would usually undergo change and variation if they author books over a long period of time.
Another proof is that Allah Almighty gave the Sunnah to the Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as He gave him the Qur'an. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, I have been given the Book and the like of it along with it." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd (46040, At-Tirmidhi (2664), Ibn Abi Shaybah in Al-Musannaf (24816) and in Al-Musnad (927), and Ahmad (17174)]
Another proof is that the Qur'an directs the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to the correct course of action. An example is the verse that says: {Were it not for a prior decree from Allah, you would have surely been afflicted with a great punishment for what you have taken [of ransom].} [Surat al-Anfāl: 68] In another verse, Allah Almighty says: {O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful to you, seeking to please your wives? Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surat at-Tahrīm: 1] And the verse that reads: {He frowned and turned away, when the blind man came to him. How would you know? Perhaps he might be purified, or he might take heed and benefit from the reminder? But he who was indifferent, you give him your full attention, although you are not to be blamed if he does not purify himself.} [Surat ‘Abasa: 1-7] And the verse that reads: {Had We not made you stand firm, you would nearly have inclined to them a little. In that case, We would have made you taste double punishment, both in this life and after death. Thereupon you would have found no helper against Us.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 74-75] If the Qur’an had come from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), he would not have recorded this about himself. This instruction to the noble Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is a categorical proof that the Qur’an did not come from him, but from an All-Knowing and All-Wise Lord.